God’s Child Chapters 21-25
Chapter 21
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They returned to the inn to verify the “winning strategy.”
“Perfect!” Exploring battling’s win-loss record over the past few months had been the right approach. Bob’s eyes lit up and he did not hide his excitement. “If you don’t get greedy and go for the hard stuff, you’ll win a hundred battles!”
But Lu answered, “Bob, that’s not true.”
“What, what’s the difference?”
“The battling win/loss is not the same as an invariant constant. In battling, the future is undetermined.”
“Of course! That’s why it’s a gamble! But this prediction is an almost perfect winning strategy!”
“Almost, right? But if powerful, unrepresented variables are added to the mix, predictions, or rather results, can be easily overturned.”
“Lu, we’re not talking about math! This is all about battling, all about gambling!”
“Bob, what you’re saying is contradictory. It’s not logical.”
“What do you know, Lu?”
While they debated, Chirico was trying to figure out the strange feeling in his chest that he felt at the battling venue.
(What was that…?)
Days passed without an answer to that question, no matter how often he thought about it. In that time, Bob had been going to the battling arena to avoid Chirico and Lu’s scrutiny. He said nothing when he returned to the inn, but judging from his expressions, his winning strategy seemed to be working.
(I’m the one who woke up the sleeping child.)
Chirico did not dare mention it. Lu was quietly finishing his thesis. And eventually, Bob returned.
“This is it.”
The climactic bout between the two battling venues in Higneus, one run by the military and the other by the police, was coming up the next day.
“We have plenty of money. You don’t have to go for the hard line.”
Brimming with confidence, Bob showed them the money he had won and saved over the past few days.
“The winning formula we’ve developed works one hundred percent of the time. This is the result.”
Then came the day of the top battle.
“Lu, are you coming?”
“Today is the day I finished my thesis” Lu replied breezily to Chirico.
Leaving Lu at the inn, Chirico and Bob headed for the venue of the showdown. It was an open-top amphitheater, chosen as a Real Battle spec venue with military partitions. Waiting for the final bout, neither Chirico nor Bob lifted a finger during the preliminaries.
“Bob, thanks to your earnings, we don’t have to roll over.”
Bob was a little embarrassed about the last few days. “Is that sarcasm?”
“Well, let’s just say we’re well funded. We only need one shot to win.”
Bob puffed out his chest with pride.
The summit battle was held once a year in the form of a Real Battle with live ammunition. The air in the hall was filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke and polymer ringer solution. The excitement of witnessing the life and death of a human being filled the venue with a brutal excitement. The game went on until only the finale remained.
“It’s finally time” Chirico said, looking at the ever-changing odds table.
“The odds are flowing in favor of the military’s Grey Dagger, as expected,” Bob said. “Most people probably see an advantage in someone used to Real Battle. But then again…” Bob swallowed his next words and looked around cautiously. According to the winning strategy he devised from his accumulated data, the winner would be Spotty Hornet on the police side, defying the odds.
“Chirico, I’m going to buy in according to the winning strategy.”
“Spotty Hornet’s signature move is disguised by that big scythe spear. He’s tougher than he looks, Let’s bet on him.”
“Good. The odds are stable. I’ll buy in!”
Bob went straight to the betting booth and shoved in all the cash he could find. The bookie was impressed.
“All of this?”
“All of it.”
As Bob grabbed a stack of betting slips and turned to leave, a high-pitched, shrill voice whispered into his ear.
“You bought a lot there.”
Bob turned around with a chill and saw a sly fox face with a wicked grin.
“Zergio!”
As Bob jumped away, Chirico moved up beside him.
“Aren’t you a pair?” Zergio chuckled.
“You…”
Chirico felt like he understood what had been bothering him for the past few days. After all, the three of them had been seen together. He assumed this guy had been watching Bob’s every move since then.
(He’s planning something.)
As Chirico took a step forward, Zergio jumped three steps back.
“Whoa! You better not make a scene here, you’ll get yourselves in trouble.”
Zergio continued to speak while measuring the distance.
“You’ve become quite a celebrity. That Lu kid is a bigger deal than I thought. After all, the military is looking all over for him.”
As Chirico took another step forward, Zergio took four steps back and snickered.
“Stay away from me, you’re too dangerous.”
He slowly backed away and kept his distance until a huge figure stepped in front of him.
“Zuobo!”
Ignoring Bob’s outcry, the big man gave Zergio a stiff thumbs-up, as if something had been accomplished.
“Okay.”
Zergio nodded, “Goodbye and good luck.”
With that flippant remark, the two disappeared into the crowd.
“Those two!” Chirico looked toward where Zuobo come from, then broke into a run. “Damn!”
He hurried through the crowd and down the corridor that circled the perimeter of the colosseum, ignoring voices calling for him to stop. When he arrived at the entrance area, he saw several nervous figures. Without saying a word, he slipped in.
An A.T. painted in black and yellow stood there in its downform pose. He saw a man in a pilot suit leaning against its bent steel leg and moaning, his left hand hanging limp. The men surrounding him were asking irrelevant questions.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’ve been hurt!
“Are you okay?”
“Can you ride it?”
The pilot grunted in response to the questions of the men surrounding him. “Ugh…that big guy broke my arm,” the pilot shouted, examining his limp arm. “Out of nowhere! My shoulder is broken, too! I can’t do this!”
“What’s the alternative?”
“It’s too late for that!
“Damn it, they’re dirty!”
Chirico pushed through the group of breathless men.
“I’ll get in.”
All eyes in the room shifted to Chirico.
“Who are you?”
“No time to explain, I’m used to A.T.s.”
Chirico put his foot on the step.
“Wait…”
“What?”
The pilot whispered something in Chirico’s ear. Chirico nodded.
“I’ll take the enemy.”
With that, Chirico leapt up into the cockpit.
Chapter 22
See the original post here
(It always smells the same in here.)
Gripping the control stick and looking at the thinly glowing equipment, Chirico felt a strange sense of relief at the narrow confines. The iron gate creaked up in front of his A.T. and he walked into the light.
“Hey! What are you doing? Who are you?”
A muffled voice came over the communicator, probably from the pit.
“I’m betting a lot of money on the Hornet,” Chirico answered. “We can’t afford to lose this match!”
“Are you trying to replace me? This is Real Battle!”
Chirico was already resigned to this new path of fate. “I know.”
“Once the siren goes off, there’s no stopping it!”
“He’s already waiting.”
The opponent had already entered the colosseum, its jet-black body reflecting the dazzling light.
“Grey Dagger is unbeatable here in Higneus.”
“Maybe Hornet will be, too.”
“There it is!”
The voice was muffled by the starting siren. The two machines faced each other in the center of the colosseum. Cheers filled the arena to take over for the siren. Soon they died down in anticipation of the brutal show that was about to begin.
A deep voice rang out through Chirico’s communicator. “I’m your gravedigger.”
Then the audience cheered again. The audio between opponents was being broadcast openly, a gimmick to increase the excitement.
“Even gravediggers can be stung by bees.”
The audience, probably Hornet fans, also cheered to Chirico’s voice.
“Stab me if you can!”
The heavy machine gun in Grey Dagger’s right hand erupted with fire. The gliding wheel of Chirico’s Hornet shrieked loudly and he exchanged gunfire easily. The audience shook with a wow. The battle had begun.
Hornet was designed with an emphasis on speed with a light fuselage. As it closed the distance, its scythe lance struck Grey Dagger sideways. This opponent was the reigning machine at the top of this colosseum.
“Not even a scratch!”
A pile banker was unleashed from the left hand of Grey Dagger, which had dodged the scythe spear. A light shock was felt on Hornet’s left hip.
“Bees aren’t the only ones who can sting.”
Chirico ran the A.T. through an S-shaped course with the voice at his back. Machine-gun fire followed in his wake.
(Doing pretty well)
Chirico’s entire body was filled with adrenaline. Then, slight vibrations began to spread throughout the colosseum.
“Now it’s time for the real thing!”
As if to encourage Grey Dagger’s confident voice, several thick iron barriers rose up from the floor. It was a common trick at venues that held Real Battles. In other words, an image of urban warfare. Chirico hid behind a nearby barrier and inspected the impacted left hip armor. A pile banker was deeply embedded there.
(This means his pile banker is disposable.)
Grey Dagger’s whole body was imaged on Chirico’s HUD.
(4 units on each leg, the first one is here. That means 8 more to go. Heavy machine gun with dual magazine, 240 rounds, one anti-A.T. mine on the hip…something like that.)
It could be said that the equipment was surprisingly light.
(That’s how confident he is.)
Chirico also reassessed his own arsenal. The tip of the sickle spear was a pile banker, a fixed slide type loaded with three explosive. The Hornet was equipped with a gatling on its waist, but it had only 60 rounds.
“Here I come!”
While huddled against the barrier, Chirico could feel the vibration caused by the Dagger’s gliding wheels.
(Right or left?)
He gave it his full attention.
(No, I can’t tell!)
The forest of barriers interfered with each other, making noise and vibration useless.
“This way!”
On the spur of the moment, Chirico leapt toward 3 o’clock. In the nick of time, a machine-gun round struck from 9 o’clock. In an instant, Hornet had gotten around behind the barrier. Chirico relied on the screams of the audience at 9 o’clock.
“That was good, Hornet, but it won’t happen again.”
Before Grey Dagger’s voice could finish, the sound of machine guns rang out and screams and shouts swirled throughout the colosseum. Grey Dagger fired machine-gun rounds into the audience in all directions, laughing wildly.
“That’s what Real Battle is all about!”
Chirico’s ears rang from the sound.
(This is his garden. If it drags on, I’m at a disadvantage!)
He was determined.
(Attack!)
Hornet sped out from behind the barrier, seeking Grey Dagger.
“Hahahahahaha, don’t be in a hurry. Beggars in a hurry end up with less.”
Gray Dagger seemed to be enjoying himself, peeking out from barriers all over the place, firing with his abundance of ammunition. Taking a slight chance, Hornet activated the gatling gun at its waist.
“Come on, don’t use up such valuable ammo.” As if giving advice to his enemy.
(Also, a barrage of fire?)
As Chirico checked his remaining bullets, Gray Dagger appeared leisurely from behind a barrier in the distance.
“Let’s take a chance on a head-on shootout. If you’re lucky, your gatling will turn me into a beehive. If not, I’ll fire all my bullets into that heap.”
It sounded like a fair shot, depending on how you looked at it.
(I don’t know what he’s thinking.)
As Chirico thought this, Grey Dagger launched forward with a roller dash. Reflexively, Hornet’s gliding wheel also sparked and screeched. The excitement and cheers of the audience inflated the space of colosseum to the ultimate level.
In an instant, Chirico, the gravedigger, and the audience were all drawn into a world of slow motion. Opposing machine-gun rounds penetrated the space in search of their targets, in a stalemate of time stretched by consciousness. In this slow-moving morass, both Chirico and the gravedigger felt hot bullets scraping each other’s steel skin.
The two machines passed each other, then reversed. When they faced each other again, compressed time returned to the flow of reality. It may have been less than a second. The audience, freed from the magic, verbally confirmed the current situation.
“Hornet has run out of bullets!”
“But Grey Dagger doesn’t have his heavy machine gun!”
“Hornet’s spear knocked it down!”
“What’s that?”
“There’s something stuck in Hornet’s side!”
“It’s a pile banker! Grey Dagger’s pile banker!”
Both Chirico and the gravedigger did what each needed to, looking ahead to the next moment in the momentary shootout.
“Don’t do it, Hornet. Neither of us has anything to fire.”
“It’s not a fatal would, but my side hurts.”
“Haha, two more centimeters to the right, and I would have cut the nerve in your leg.”
“Let’s go!”
This was their home. Chirico rushed forward with his sickle at his waist, thinking he’d lose the advantage if he lingered. Grey Dagger greeted him calmly. The venue was buzzing with excitement, hand-to-hand combat being the flower of battle. Sparks and fumes rose at Hornet’s feet as it closed the distance to Grey Dagger.
The pile banker of the outstretched scythe spear was poised to strike Grey Dagger. If it hit, the tip would penetrate through to the other side. But Grey Dagger used a one-legged turnpick to open himself up 90 degrees for an arm punch. Hornet blocked the attack with its long handle and without a moment’s hesitation rammed its pile banker toward Dagger’s feet.
“Waaaah!”
Grey Dagger’s body rose about 30cm off the ground.
“Crap!”
The banker’s momentum drove it into the floor. Hornet stopped moving for a moment, and Grey Dagger immersed itself in the forest of barriers. It was truly a gigantic labyrinth. And Grey Dagger was its master.
(Where is he?)
A muffled explosion reached Chirico’s ears as he searched for the enemy. He looked back and saw Grey Dagger in the distance, its right hand doing a “come here” gesture.
“Don’t run away. Let’s get this over with.”
Chirico rushed forward with his sickle spear. Then something tripped up roller dash’s right leg.
“Whoa!”
He lost his balance, but was saved by a barrier and barely regained his position. He checked his feet and found a pile banker that had been shot into the floor.
“Here, here, I’m here.”
He look toward the voice and saw Grey Dagger doing the come-hither thing again.
“Are you just playing with me?”
“You’re a pretty fun guy. Come here.”
Hornet dashed forward, and was almost tripped up by another embedded pile banker. When he looked ahead, Gray Dagger was gone.
“What are you up to?” he called into the communicator.
“At the very least, you should watch your step. I’m not moving again. The next time we meet, that’s where it’s going to happen.”
“I hope so. I’m not really into this stuff.”
“Hahahahahaha.”
When the laughter ended, there was silence. Realizing that a settlement was near, the spectators remained silent. Only Hornet’s footsteps echoed in the colosseum.
“Hm?”
Another pile banker was erected in Hornet’s path. Chirico avoided that direction and chose a detour.
“Again!”
Another banker waited there. Clearly a signpost leading deeper into the labyrinth.
“Hmm, I’ll play into your hands.”
Another one appeared ahead.
“This way?”
Chirico avoided the banker and went around to the side, where yet another had been placed. He avoided it.
“This way?”
Grey Dagger was at the far end of the road.
‘You’re drunk, stumbling toward your own grave,” he said mockingly.
There was no banker between him and his foe anymore. The remaining one was still attached to Dagger’s arm, a sign of confidence that it was all he needed.
“Come on,” he called out.
Hornet’s gliding wheel howled. Grey Dagger awaited as Hornet dashed toward him. Just before the two were about to collide, an explosion occurred at Hornet’s feet. The anti-A.T. mines.
Hornet, flying through the air with momentum, landed behind Grey Dagger. Dagger’s last pile banker was perfectly positioned over the cockpit.
“That’s the game.”
Grey Dagger’s pile banker exploded. Both lumps of iron had stopped moving.
Grey Dagger’s pile banker was deeply embedded in Hornet’s cockpit. Hornet’s hand was perfectly positioned against the side of Grey Dagger’s cockpit.
Eventually, the hand was removed to reveal a steel needle dripping with blood.
“Sorry, this is Hornet’s hidden needle.”
Chirico then stood up to push Grey Dagger away and opened his cockpit. The pile banker had stabbed through the hatch. Although the space inside was narrow, there had been just enough room. Chirico prevailed by predicting where Grey Dagger would aim at the last second.
“I was wondering where you’d use the anti-A.T. mines. That was the only place left.”
Chirico had used the sickle spear for the last time as a fulcrum for his high jump to avoid a direct hit from the mine.
The barriers went down and the gladiators were exposed to the public.
“Hornet! Hornet!”
The cheers of the audience rocked the colosseum.
(The battle is over. But…)
Chirico was having a hard time holding down the feeling in his chest that would not go away.
Chapter 23
See the original post here
The thing that has been nagging at Chirico for the past few days revealed itself.
“Hm?” Standing in the open cockpit, he looked up to the sky. “That’s it…”
A squadron of TH-32s descended rapidly out of the clouds. It was known as an A.T. Fly, and of course each one had a heavily-armed A.T. suspended from its belly.
“Strategic Space Command. Drop Corps.”
It was the elite of the elite. The A.Ts were released and an iron cavalry descended on the colosseum. A total of eight machines surrounded the Hornet with machine gun muzzles at the ready; more than enough force to shred an unarmed, injured opponent. A calm, trained voice spoke through the communicator.
“Sergeant Chirico Cuvie, can you hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you. But I’ve been away from the army too long to be called a sergeant.”
“Hmm. Then I will call you Chirico. Look at the front of the auditorium.”
Chirico turned his attention to where he’d been directed.
“Lu!”
There stood Lu. An officer was with him.
“Chirico, do you see the child?”
“I see him.”
“I’m next to him. I am Major Dadot Kromzender of the Strategic Space Command. I’ve been ordered by Space Force Headquarters to protect and transport both you and the child. Hopefully, I’ll be able to complete my mission safely. Will you follow my instructions?”
There was no room for thought.
“All right, I’ll do as you say.”
Lu and Chirico were detained at the military joint headquarters on the planet Rado. The two were housed separately and could not see each other. A few days passed, and Major Kromzender appeared before Chirico.
“Chirico, thank you for your cooperation. If you have any requests, let me know, and I’ll do what I can.”
“Understood.”
Chirico decided to trust the Major.
“There’s a man we stayed with here in Higneus. His name is Bob…”
“You mean that rich professor, Bobul Sharazain?”
“Uh…”
“Rest assured, the professor and his large sum of money are safe. Right now, he and the child are fiddling around with some tricky mathematical formulas.”
“Really…”
One of the nags in Chirico’s chest disappeared. Zergio and Zuobo also crossed his mind, but they didn’t matter anymore.
“Anything else?”
“Not particularly.”
He wanted to see Lu and Bob, but if this were permitted he already would have.
(What happens now?)
He felt it would be useless to ask this question as well.
A few days passed. One day the soldier on duty showed up with a set of evening clothes.
“Change your clothes. A guest will arrive this evening. The Major is inviting you to dinner.”
“No need to change. And I won’t eat.”
“He said you’d say that, but I am to tell you that the child and the professor will both be present.”
Chirico did not change his clothes, but agreed to eat.
“Come on. The Major is waiting for you.”
Chirico followed him and was taken to the dining room of the base’s officers’ club. The Major was already seated.
“I’m glad you came. The child and the professor will be here soon.”
“Who’s the guest?”
“Doctor Godrun Luftienko. He arrived today from Melkia.”
Chirico felt his role was coming to an end.
“We have a little time before everyone arrives,” the major continued. “Chirico, please tell me, who is the child? There are rumors that he is the son of God, but what does that mean?”
“You haven’t heard?”
“My only mission is to get you and the child safely to Melkia.”
“Hmm…”
“I’m going to complete my mission. That’s what military men do. But I’d at least like to know what I’m escorting from this remote area to Melkia.”
Chirico felt inclined to tell the Major some things. “I don’t believe in God or the military or anything like that, but the way things are in this world…there are things that have to be done. I made a promise that I would take care of Lu.”
“To who, God?”
“No… probably to myself.”
“What do you mean by ‘take care’?”
“That we’d eat, sleep, and be together. We’ve been doing that for a while now, but he’s a little different.”
“According to the professor, he’s a math genius.”
“That’s part of it, but maybe not the only part.”
“Is he the son of God, as they say?”
“He’ll decide for himself what he wants to be.”
Their conversation ended when Lu and Bob entered the room.
“Chirico.”
“Lu. Bob.”
Just by calling each other by name, the three confirmed each other’s safety. Without a pause, Doctor Luftienko entered the room. The Doctor took one look at the child and his eyes widened with disbelief.
“Are you really the child?”
Lu answered with a smile. “Doctor, it’s been a while.”
“You’re growing up! I’m very happy.”
The tension melted from his voice and body.
“It’s country cuisine from the middle of nowhere, but please make yourselves at home tonight.”
Dinner began with this simple greeting by the Major, then proceeded in silence. The desire to avoid sensitive topics led to few words. The doctor chose the blandest statement he could think of.
“Higneus is famous for its aurora, but what’s the best season for it?”
“It’s already here,” the major answered. “The aurora is always out, but the sun never sets in the summer. She’s a shy maiden who doesn’t show her face until dark.”
“Well, then.”
“With any luck, it’ll be out again this evening. You can see it from the window of your room, Doctor.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”
“When the aurora starts to appear more frequently, we head straight into winter. Winters here in Higneus are long and hard. We’ll be heading to Melkia soon. Thanks to you, I don’t have to spend the winter here. I’m grateful.”
“Major…” Bob stopped eating and asked, “When you say ‘we,’ do you include me in that?”
“Yes.”
The major’s answer was simple, but the doctor’s was more suggestive.
“Professor, both you and Chirico are needed to verify the child’s growth.”
Chapter 24
See the original post here
A few days later, Lu’s transfer began. Leaving the military port of Higneus, a Gilgameth Space Force cruiser set out on a direct course for Melkia.
During the voyage, Lu, Chirico and Bob were guaranteed freedom on board with no restrictions on their movements. Day after day, the ship sailed through a sea of pitch-black darkness and twinkling stars far and near.
One day, the three of them met in the lounge.
“Lu, where’s your paper?” Chirico asked.
“I finished a week ago.”
“It’s perfect,” Bob offered with a drumbeat of support. “No matter where you look, there are no flaws or contradictions.”
“Then that battling money will live on.” Chirico said.
“About that…” Bob was about to say something, but Lu cut him off.
“That wasn’t a gamble.”
Chirico looked at Lu suspiciously, not understanding what he was saying.
“Gambling means that no matter how high the probability the predicted outcome is, there is no definitive future in the end. That’s why it’s a gamble.”
“Lu and I did the math again after that,” Bob added. “Because of Zuobo’s intervention, a great deal of change occurred. The calculations weren’t as hard as the Quent 3,000 Year Prediction though. When we carefully recalculated it…”
Again, Lu interrupted. “We re-calculated it over and over again. Bob and I came at it from different directions, but the result was the same in each case, the answer was an absolute victory for Hornet. Even though it was a gamble, there was an absolute.”
Bob jumped back in. “Even in the pre-final calculations, Hornet certainly had a better chance of winning. It wasn’t a determined future, only a matter of probability. But as I said before, conditions changed after Hornet’s pilot was injured by Zuobo. That changed the variables in the calculation. But when we did the math, 98.9999999999% became 100! No matter how many times we re-calculated! In other words, what I thought was a variable added later turned out to be a constant!”
The lounge went quiet after that. Outside the window was the same darkness.
And then, “It’s all about results.”
Chirico stood up. “Anyway, now you can use that money to spread the paper about that perfect finish throughout the Astragius galaxy.”
With that, he left the lounge.
Looking at the monitor, the major questioned the doctor.
“It seems like a battling story, but I don’t see another story there. Doctor, what were they talking about?”
“I think the two of them, the child and the professor, must have noticed Chirico’s unusual abilities.”
“Unusual?”
“I’m sorry, Major, you weren’t informed.”
It was a secret monitor room. All images and sounds inside the ship could be surveilled there. This was the condition that guaranteed relative freedom for Chirico, Lu, and Bob.
“Hmm… In a sense, this is an important secret. It’s also an open secret, so it’s safe for you to know.”
The doctor told the major what he knew about Chirico.
“I’m surprised,” the major responded. “I never realized what I perceived as hearsay existed right in front of me.”
“I don’t know how much of it is true. But you can see from the child’s observations over the past few days that near-miracles do exist.”
“Exactly.”
“Come to think of it, the child understood everything about A.T.s in two hours.”
“I heard that he was inspired by the battling he saw at Higneus,” the major confirmed. “Apparently, he barged into the hangar demanding to know about them. He learned everything about the structure and function in less than two hours. According to reports, he’s reached a level where he can handle the ship’s A.T.s like a veteran mechanic. Now he want to be taught how to ride one, too.”
“A child piloting an A.T.!”
“I have orders from headquarters to respond to their requests as best we can and to observe them.”
“His intelligence is beyond what is commonly referred to as genius. This has already been confirmed. But piloting an A.T.! This is interesting! Why not let him do it? I see no reason to object.”
“Hmm…”
Shortly after their conversation, Lu visited the A.T. unit on the ship.
“Captain. This boy wants to ride an A.T.”
“What?”
“I have permission,” Lu said, standing in front of the captain. “Please put me in an A.T.”
“Even if you ask me to put you in one,” the captain answered, “it would be impossible to operate it inside the ship. Would you like to try the training simulator? It’s tough in its own way.”
The ship was equipped with a simulator to maintain the skills and physical fitness of the A.T. pilots for the long voyage.
“Please.”
After a quick briefing, Lu sat down in the simulated cockpit.
“Tighten your belt.”
“Tightened.”
When he responded to the voice on the headset, Lu heard a startup sound and all functions were activated.
“Walk forward.”
He followed the operator’s voice and could feel the A.T.’s movement throughout his body. It felt strangely like wearing thick-soled shoes, but he soon got used to it.
“Try a 90-degree turn to the right.”
He could turn without difficulty.
“Then left.”
This was also cleared easily.
“Stop!”
This was more difficult than turning, but Lu was able to handle it without a hitch.
“Okay, without turning around, take three steps back.”
Lu took in the instructions one by one with his whole body.
“Trot!”
“Gallop!”
“Jump!”
“Bend down!”
“Roller dash! Go straight!”
“Turn to three o’clock!”
“Turnpick left rotation!”
The operator flashed instructions to the simulator’s control console in rapid succession,
“That’s enough.”
The captain stopped him from behind the operating table.
“Sir!”
“Come out and get some rest,” the captain said into the mic.
When the cockpit opened and Lu came out, the captain looked astounded. “This can’t be your first time.”
“It’s my first time.”
The captain looked intently into Lu’s face.
“This is virtual, but the simulator’s movements are almost identical to those of the real machine. Even an active duty pilot would break a sweat after that much time.”
Lu did not care about their skeptical looks.
“The A.T.’s movements have entered my body,” he said casually. “I want to fight next.”
Chapter 25
See the original post here
“Did you hear about it?”
“I heard. The child fought a virtual war in an A.T. simulator.”
The major and the doctor looked at each other in surprise. The major gasped when he saw the results of the virtual battle that appeared on his monitor.
“These results are unbelievable!”
“He didn’t take a single scratch in either the group or individual competitions. Is it possible for an amateur beginner to do something like this, Major?”
At the doctor’s question, the major shook his head silently.
Lu’s A.T. game in the simulator was a hot topic among the three companions.
“Lou, did you play a virtual battle in A.T.simulator?” Bob asked. “They say you’re on a winning streak, is that true?”
“It’s no lie.”
“I don’t think it was a lie, but it’s still amazing. Even veterans don’t score that well in hand to hand combat. Isn’t this great, Chirico?”
Chirico didn’t answer.
“Lu, why did you get into an A.T.?” he asked.
“I wanted to do what you do.”
Without a pause, Chirico said, “Don’t do it again.”
After a moment, the child nodded. There wasn’t the usual “Why, why?” afterward.
“Oh, you don’t ride anymore?” Bob said. “I would have liked to have seen the two of you play against each other.”
There was no answer from either of them.
The voyage to Melkia continued, and Lu’s daily routine was reported verbatim to Gilgameth joint headquarters. The Chairman, Chief of Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces, Director of the Military Planning Department, Head of the Astragius Galaxy Joint Council and others were gathered around, their brows furrowed and their arms folded, sinking into their own thoughts.
Finally, someone asked, “Now, what do you think of the result?”
The most senior member of the council spoke gravely.
“IQ, IS, IT, IJ, IV. All of these test numbers are well beyond the realm of what we would normally call genius.”
“Especially mathematics. Apparently they’ve answered the 3,000-year-old Quent question. It was joint research with a former professor, but in reality, it was mostly the child’s idea, conception, and validation.”
“He seems to be voraciously interested in everything. He observed the maneuvering techniques of a starship and understood everything in three days with just a few questions.”
“It’s a trivial thing, but he’s an ace when it comes to handling an A.T.”
“Hmm…”
Once again, silence reigned. Then a member of the Astragius Galaxy joint council muttered, “The question is whether or not he really is the child of God…”
The Chairman of Gilgameth Joint Headquarters nodded his head in agreement. “Very true. But we do not properly recognize God himself. The body of Marteal worshipped Wiseman as the god of Astragius for thousands of years.”
The director of the Astragius Galaxy Military Planning Department added a loud declaration. “But the more one examines the history of the galaxy, the more one cannot doubt its existence. There is no doubt in my mind that God is in this galaxy!”
The commander-in-chief of the Military Command touched his temples with his fingertips as he spoke. “According to Dr. Rochina, the self-proclaimed ‘servant of Wiseman,’ God felt his own decline during the Hundred Years War, and recognized the need for a successor. According to him, Wiseman nominated that ‘Chirico Cuvie.’ But Chirico refused and decided to kill God! What about each of you? Hypothetically speaking… if you were appointed as God’s successor, would you be able to reject it?”
The Chief of the General Staff grunted in response. “It’s incomprehensible! I can’t imagine being born a man and not wanting to rule the world!”
A deep sigh simultaneously occurred. The president spoke up. “What I don’t understand even more is that God would entrust the man who transgressed against him with the upbringing of the child!”
“Who is Chirico?”
“I don’t understand God’s will!”
“Is the child really the Son of God?”
“What are we to do as children of God?”
“What does child think of himself?”
“What should we do about Chirico? No, what is Chirico himself thinking?”
Doubts begat questions begat doubts, and the problem grew impossible to resolve. A remark from the longest-serving member of the Astragius Galaxy joint council only added to the confusion.
“Can’t the military alone take care of all these problems? You say it’s only the military, but those incompetent politicians have no idea what they’re doing…”
The chairman of the Gilgameth military joint headquarters swallowed his words as if he needed to conceal a delicious story.
“Spreading the word will only cause confusion. There is still time before the transfer ship arrives at Melkia. Let’s watch what progress is made in the meantime. In any case, we must wait for the arrival of the Son of God.”
In his heart, he calculated that once he had the Son of God in his hands, he would be able to rule the galaxy. The council postponed the issue.
Around that time, the situation began to develop in a way that was different from what everyone expected.
“Captain! Information from joint headquarters in the Trockhov sector. A Balarant fleet is moving, and if it continues at this rate, it will intersect our course!”
“What? What for? How could they have detected this ship’s movement?”
A shock ran through the child’s transport ship.
“What’s the size of the enemy fleet?”
“We don’t have details, but it’s the size of a flotilla!”
“I don’t know if that includes battleships, but in any case…”
A single cruiser was no match for them.
“Hold a meeting. Gather the staff in the mission room!”
There, the captain called the executive crew to order.
“I take full responsibility for the transfer of the child. You have the right to be present.”
The major appeared.
“Major…” The captain seemed to think for a moment, but then remembered his orders and allowed him to join the meeting. “Of course. Come in.”
“Thank you.”
The moment after the Major walked through the door of the mission room, the child slipped in behind him, to everyone’s surprise.
“The child!”
“I won’t disturb you.”
He said it plainly and casually sat down in a chair in one corner. The strategy meeting proceeded in the presence of both the Major and the child.
“We’ve decide to continue on this course” the captain eventually concluded. Naturally, this meant avoiding contact with the enemy fleet and bypassing the space minefields left over from the previous war. This course would also avoid neutral space in order not to cause any friction. The captain courteously asked for the Major’s opinion.
“Any suggestions?”
“No, nothing. I just want to understand what the situation is for myself and the child. I appreciate your consideration.”
The Major and the child returned to the lounge. The doctor, Bob and Chirico were waiting for the information they brought back.
“What was the meeting about?” asked the doctor.
“If we continue on our way, we can expect contact with Balarant’s fleet. Thus, a change of course was discussed. Well, it was a reasonable decision.”
The child projected a space map on the lounge’s monitor.
“Our ship is currently here. The Balarant cruising fleet will proceed like this, and if it continues at this rate, we will make contact here. Therefore, our ship changed course to avoid the mine belt and bypass neutral space. This is how we’ll proceed to Melkia.”
Chirico muttered to himself as he focused on the map.
(Led! We’re being led!)
To Be Continued