God’s Child Chapters 41-45
Chapter 41
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“Go!”
Unprompted by Captain Jumolan’s voice, the two machines came together with a thunderous roller sound. Their guns shattered as they clashed in mid-air. Both men threw down the steel remnants that had served their purpose.
“So fast!” Captain Jumolan said as the Red Scorpion’s body slammed into the Carnivorous Turtle’s midsection. In a flash, the right arm punch burst into the left side of the Turtle’s torso. The impact caused the huge body of the ATH-14-GF Standing Turtle to spin to the right with a thud.
It appeared to be a part of the Turtle’s strategy. In fact, the right leg turnpick and the left leg roller dash rotated the huge body 360 degrees, and the synchronized left arm struck the right side of the Scorpion’s head. If it had been a direct hit, the scorpion’s head would have flown right off its shoulders.
The height difference between the heavy class Turtle and the mid class Dog was approximately 20cm. This difference was effective. The scorpion bent down slightly, and sparks flew off its rounded head as its antenna was broken off.
“That’s how aces fight!” Captain Jumolan shouted with delight. “Let’s bet on which one will win.”
His suggestion, which sounded like a child watching a battling match, was met with an immediate response by Lu.
“I’m in! What do you want to bet?”
“Uh, let’s see, three bottles of ganaha. What do you think, Mettalia?”
“Ha ha, a present for the professor.”
“Yes! Three bottles of ganaha!”
During their conversation, which seemed inappropriate, the battle continued between the ferocious Turtle and the Scorpion.
“Which one, captain?”
“Can’t you decide? I’m for the tortoise! The Carnivorous Turtle!”
“Then I’ll take the Red Scorpion.”
The fact that A.T.s imitated the human form was not arbitrary. It was an extension of physical ability. The heavy class could be considered superior to the mid class in every respect except for speed. However, even in speed, the tortoise seemed to be on an equal footing, perhaps due to the modification of its undercarriage. That was proof enough.
“That’s it! I don’t even care if it’s a draw. Let’s go!”
As if in response to the Captain’s proclamation, the Turtle matched the Scorpion’s attack with its own. When that happened, the difference between the heavy class and the mid class became clear.
Normally, the arm punch counted seven per side, a mechanism in which the arm shoots forward by the explosive pressure of liquid explosives. The Turtle’s palm blocked the last punch of the Scorpion. The Scorpion’s body recoiled about five meters and fell to one knee. The ejected cartridge bounced and rolled in front of him.
Both stopped moving. The giant Turtle stood on its haunches, the Scorpion on one knee. In fact, both had been waiting for this moment to come amidst the roar of the muscle cylinders and the creak of iron.
For the Turtle, it was where the opponent stopped to become a target in a shooting range. For the Scorpion, it was the moment when the poisonous stinger on its back would be released. The tortoise spat out all the remaining bullets from the machine gun concealed in its chest. At the same time, the Scorpion bent its other knee and fired the special gun attached to its backpack.
The Red Scorpion was hit by machine gun bullets at point-blank range and exploded into pieces. The Carnivorous Turtle was pierced through the cockpit by the elegant scorpion’s sting and ceased all its functions as it stood there.
“A draw…”
“Looks like it.”
There was no movement of the ganaha, but Captain Jumolan’s gambit continued. He urged for control of the hilltop.
“Mettalia, how long are you going to keep playing this ‘ken’ thing? Now hurry to the inscription!”
“I wasn’t the only one who was playing ken.”
“What? Who else?”
Something appeared in Captain Jumolan’s binoculars.
“The Rose of the Twin Swords!!”
It was standing serenely at the same distance as Child, with the inscription on the hilltop between them. Captain Jumolan felt the blood rush through his body.
(I’ve been waiting for this moment!)
He had understood his identity, his family background, his abilities, and his aspirations as soon as he was born. He could see them completely, so he took a gamble to turn himself into an inscrutable, ever-expanding monster with an unknown destination and unknown limits.
(That’s what I’m betting on!)
A clear voice came over the child’s receiver. “Are you Mettalia?”
The cool voice stirred up excitement in the child for the first time since he had become conscious of this world. The child answered.
“That’s what they call me here.”
“Here?”
“And sometimes called I’m called The Child. But I prefer to be called Lu.”
“I am called the Rose of the Twin Swords here, but when I was born, I was called Rosa Parvi.”
The two of them introduced themselves as they walked clockwise around the triangular inscription.
“Rosa Parvi, that’s a pretty name.”
“Lu is, too.”
“But this is a battleground. Call me Mettalia.”
“You can call me Rose of the Twin Swords.”
“I understand. By the way, Rose of the Twin Swords, do you know what this inscription means?”
“No, I can’t read these old letters. Can you?”
“A third of it is legible. I can deduce its meaning from the context. What it says is…”
“No need!” Rose of Twin Swords stated crisply. “My mission is to take effective control of this place, not to know the meaning.”
“I see. Then I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on. I have only one suggestion.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Whichever side wins, that’s the end of it. Let them all withdraw their forces.”
“All right. I will do that.”
Captain Jumolan interrupted the conversation. “Your mission is to secure the inscription. That is this company’s purpose. The company is intact. You will do your duty to the last man!”
“Captain Jumolan,” Lu answered patiently, “this is a pointless battle. If I lose, that’s the end of it. It’s not like you to push for something futile. In exchange, I’ll send you the words of the inscription as I understand them between blows. Make sure you keep track of them. See you later.”
As if those words were a signal, the Child and the Rose of the Twin Swords ignited the rollers under their feet and took their respective positions.
Chapter 42
See the original post here
Whichever shot was quicker, the fight began instantly, without hesitation.
“That’s accurate as expected.” The Child exclaimed in admiration as he dodged the machine-gun fire of the onrushing Rose of the Twin Swords.
Similarly, “You too, Mettalia.” The words of the other party in response were filled with feeling.
The Berserga carried a GAT-40-C assault rifle. The Child’s Scopedog held a GAT-22-C heavy machine gun. After a few rounds of shooting, “There’s no point in fighting.”
“That seems to be the case.”
The bullets from each side left a hair’s breadth of space between them. It was easy for both to avoid the bullets if they knew the velocity and trajectory of each other’s weapons.
“The flower of A.T. warfare is hand-to-hand combat.”
“That’s what I want.”
The firearms were released from the hands of both machines.
“Mettalia, as you can see, this is me.”
The twin swords on the arms of the pale violet machine glinted.
“Thorns on a rose?” As he said this, The Child equipped both of his fists with knuckle spikes.
(This is crazy!) Captain Jumolan gritted his teeth as he watched the two slowly move apart. (There’s no need for a one-on-one fight!)
It seemed certain that a group battle would have been won if Child had demonstrated his imagined command ability.
(Why would he willingly engage in hand-to-hand combat?)
The Captain couldn’t understand it.
“Whoa!”
Both of the units, reinforced for rough terrain, cut through the bedrock. The two machines came together in a straight line. Berserga’s extraordinarily long left sword was thrust out. The Dog opened its body to avoid the blow. The canine-tooth-like projection at the base of the sword tore through the reinforced armor of his chest.
Berserga’s movement did not stop. The moment they passed each other, it made a super-tight turn on the spot and, letting the right sword spin, struck the Dog’s right side.
“Whoa!!” The captain involuntarily jerked back as if he had taken the blow.
It seemed as if the Dog’s fuselage would be cut in half. If it had tried to avoid the right sword by force, it would have been literally cut in half. But the Dog did the opposite, leaning slightly toward Berserga. It was able to avoid the sword, but was knocked away by Berserga’s right arm and flew five meters to the side. The difference in horsepower between the H-class and M-class was obvious. And the attack did not stop for even a moment.
“Hmmm! Hah!” The sound of the Rose came over to the receiver. At the same time, the swords on both sides attacked the Dog without a giving him a moment to catch his breath. The Child caught the sword’s edge with its knuckle spikes, made of composite carbide alloy, and took that breath.
And then, “Mettalia, are you okay? Do you need backup?”
To the captain, the recoiling Dog seemed outmatched. His frustrated voice shook the receiver.
“No problem. Just record the inscription.”
“What did you say!?”
“I say unto you…”
“What the hell?”
“Don’t ask me again, I don’t have the time!” The child shouted as dodged and caught Berserga’s twin swords.
“Drowning in a sea of blood, swept away in a river of blood! Blood–”
“What? I can’t hear you!”
“Do not forget the five covenants of the summit you have reached!”
The Berserga stopped. “You’re underestimating me. Explaining the inscription in between blows?” Twin Sword’s stance changed. “I won’t hold back!”
The two swords filled with more power than before. “Twin swords! Light grinder!”
With a shout, Berserga’s twin swords became a shimmering crown of flowers. The two flowers attacked the Dog, which was bracing itself.
“Whoa!?”
To the onlookers, it looked like a mass of flashing lights with countless sparks. In the light, a sword of Quent steel and a knuckle spike of composite carbide were battling it out.
“Mettalia!!” Captain Jumolan shouted. All that came back was a string of words from the inscription.
“All colors are precious, each in its own way…”
“Yaaah, that’s irritating!” Rose shouted, pulling the phosphorescence away from the machine.
The two A.T.’s glared at each other, ten meters apart.
“Dare not desire to cross…”
“I’m telling you, it’s annoying!” Rose complained.
“I’m sorry. But we’re fighting because of this inscription. Rose of Twin Swords, I think you should know it.”
“I am a mercenary of Quent. I want nothing more than to fulfill my contract with my employer.”
“I see, then just ignore me.”
“I will!” As soon as she said this, the left of her two swords was folded into its shield. The right sword was held at hip level, and the body hunched down. From that stance, a fierce blow was released and the pale violet machine seemed to be dyed with a glorious killing spirit.
Chapter 43
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The attack power of the H-class A.T. Berserga made by Quent was concentrated in its right sword. If Lu failed to block it, he would be skewered. The adrenaline of the Child’s whole body and all of the Dog’s muscle cylinders boiled with polymer Ringer’s fluid.
(This protector is as useless as a piece of paper!)
Absolute mobility, skill, and willpower were channeled into tip of that sword held at waist height. At first glance, it looked as if the two metallic masses collided, reversed, and faced each other again in the space between their fingers. But…,
A murmur leaked from the Rose of Twin Swords, and the machine’s will to fight vanished. “I guess I lost.”
“No, the inscription also says, ‘First of all, do not desire to win’.”
“No, I’ve lost.”
The left arm of the Rose of the Twin Swords had fallen off its shoulder and was lying on the ground. The Dog had deflected the Berserga’s weight-bearing sword point with a right arm punch at the exact right moment, then used the momentum to leap into the opponent’s inner pocket and tear off its left arm.
“I, who am known as the Rose of Twin Swords…”
Rose’s machine dropped to one knee and picked up the long sword, still attached to its shield, which lay on the ground. It looked exactly like a loser praising a victor.
But the Child’s words continued. “And yet, do not abandon the lost. Five lights, five commandments…commandments…commandments…”
Captain Jumolan’s voice echoed through the receiver. “Mettalia! What happened? Did you win? Did you beat the Rose of Twin Swords?”
“Captain, I’m coming back.”
“You won! Where’s the inscription?”
The child turned away from the battlefield without answering the captain’s voice.
“Hmmm.”
Colonel Garalyan, having heard about the battle at Brozan Hill, let out a deep breath through both nostrils.
After a moment, “Then as a result of Mettalia pulling our troops out, the other four countries have pulled their forces out as well.”
“Sir!” Jumolan answered. “Brozan Hill is now deserted.”
Colonel Garalyan groaned and reached for the bottle of ganaha on his desk. He tossed a glass down his throat, and with a burp, he said, “so where’s Mettalia now?”
“Back at the arsenal…”
“The arsenal?”
“It looks like he’s messing around with the A.T.”
“A.T.? Hmph.” The colonel kept the drinks flowing. “And the inscription?”
“Here.” Captain Jumolan held out a page from a folder under his arm. The colonel took the piece of paper and began to read aloud.
“…Drowned in a sea of blood, swept away by a river of blood…Do not forget the five covenants of the summit you have reached. Do not desire to attack. All colors are precious, each in its own way. Dare not desire to cross. First of all, do not desire to win. And yet, do not abandon the lost. Five lights, five commandments…commandments…commandments…”
The colonel looked up from the text and asked Captain Jumolan, “Is that all?”
“That’s all Mettalia deciphered. I checked to see if there were other meanings, but the letters themselves have vanished, so they’re beyond reach. Of course, I checked with professional scholars, but they can’t help.”
“With Mettalia’s abilities, you mean…”
The colonel pulled out another bottle and poured more ganaha down his throat. It was as if he was confiding all his worries to it. He waved his hand while holding the glass. “You’re dismissed, captain.”
“Sir.”
When the Captain left the Colonel’s office, he was met by Captain Dromzen Pasdard and the rest of his house arrest team. When he was called into their quarters, there were Major Kromzender, Professor Bob, and Chirico.
The corners of Captain Jumolan’s mouth turned up sarcastically. “Well, what distinguished company this is.”
Captain Pasdard interrupted. “Captain, let’s hear what’s going on. We know that you and The Child took a company of armored grenadiers to Brozan Hill, and we know that your purpose was to secure the inscription on the hilltop by force. What we want to know is the result.”
“The fact that you’ve returned means something has been achieved,” Major Kromzender said. “Let’s hear about it. And one more thing: the child hasn’t returned. What happened to him?”
There was a pause after Major Kromzender’s question.
“Hmm. Excellent! Simple, clear, and to the point. That’s how you should question someone. Hahaha, but it will take some time for me to give you a satisfactory answer. May I sit down? I’m still somewhat fatigued. Heh heh heh.”
Professor Bob shifted the chair beside him and offered it to the Captain. “I didn’t realize. Please sit down.”
“Thank you.” The Captain promptly sat down and crossed his legs. “Now, let me answer your questions. First, all the countries have withdrawn their troops from Brozan Hill. There was a battle, but I would describe it as a draw. As for the inscription on the hilltop, Mettalia read it during the battle and sent it to me. It is believed that each army intercepted it and brought it back to their home countries.”
Captain Pasdard asked the obvious question. “What did it say?”
Jumolan tapped his skull with his index finger. “It is a short poem of some kind, but I have it memorized here. Shall I show it to you?” He chuckled, as if proud of himself.
“Of course,” Major Kromzender demanded, as if it were obvious.
“In that case…” The captain recited the inscription twice, easily and effortlessly. Everyone present tried to figure out what it meant, but could not grasp the point.
Eventually, Captain Pasdard asked, “So, what does it mean?”
“Well, that’s the point.” Jumolan crossed his legs as if to add weight to his words. “The inscription appeared on Brozan Hill, where the borders of five countries meet. It is known as the place where the heroes representing the five countries gathered and agreed to a cease-fire.”
At this point, Jumolan paused and looked around the room. Then he said confidently, “I’ve examined every word of that poem. I believe it expresses the fundamental spirit of the historical covenant.”
Each person in the room ran the poem through their mind, pondering it in their own way. When their line of thought seemed unified, Professor Bob’s forehead wrinkled.
“But I have a question…the relevance of the covenant to the poetry is… well, let’s not argue about that. The covenant between the five countries on Brozan Hill is a historical fact from 300 years ago. However, the inscription that appeared on the hilltop was in an archaic language that even experts in the field have difficulty deciphering. It seems to be not hundreds of years old, but thousands. What about that?”
It was indeed a scholarly analysis. In silence, all eyes fell on Captain Jumolan.
“Well, I don’t think you can ask me to answer that question,” he said. “This isn’t the time to be concerned with chronological consistency!” He looked puzzled, as if he were criticizing his own theory.
Chirico’s voice reminded them of their other question to the Captain. “What happened to Lu? Why isn’t he here?”
Chapter 44
See the original post here
“Mettalia is at the arsenal tinkering with the A.T.”
Chirico silently nodded slightly in response to Captain Jumolan’s answer.
“Tinkering with the A.T.?” Major Kromzender asked. “What for?”
“He’s taken an interest in the A.T., hasn’t he?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that literally. It’s not hard to see why, with all that talent.”
“Talent!?”
Captain Jumolan answered the Major’s repetitive questions. “The battle of Brozan Hill was ostensibly a five-way tie, but in reality it was a decisive victory for our forces, or rather for Mettalia. I wish you could have seen the Van Valarasa Kingdom’s Armored Division in action against the Rose of the Twin Swords”
Bob spoke casually. “The Rose of the Twin Swords? There’s something beautiful about that name, isn’t there?”
“No, no. Despite the sound of the name, she’s a skilled A.T. warrior who is well-known on this planet. She’s not a native of Glasseus, but a Quent mercenary. I don’t know her exact age because she is Quentian. But she’s a beautiful and dignified girl of 15 or 16. Mettalia is also at an impressionable age. I don’t know if this was a factor or not, but I won’t speculate. There may be a deeper meaning, heh heh heh.”
Jumolan’s signature smirk was tinged with a chuckle. “Let’s not talk like we’re holding something back. If you have something to say, say it clearly.”
Major Kromzender glared at the Captain, who finally gave in.
“Hahaha, yes, things are better when made clear. All right, I’ll come clean. I betrayed my late kingdom of Van Valarasa and sold Mettalia to Colonel Garalyan to satisfy my own ambitions. Our mutual aim is to push Mettalia to dominate the neighboring countries.”
“Ambitious people are everywhere,” the major spat.
“Is that so? Hahaha. The inscription appeared due to an unnatural lightning strike. It’s like a fuse has been lit. Sure enough, the five neighboring countries have suddenly become noisy. Everyone is wishing they had Brozan Hill in their hands. I, too, was anxious to push Mettalia to the forefront. However, he quickly extinguished the spark of the conflict. The A.T. forces of the five countries, who had been sent there in a rage, returned home satisfied with the result of a draw. The area is about to revert to its three hundred years of quiescence.”
Captain Pasdard interrupted. “Isn’t that a good thing? That’s what you’d call Mettalia, the work of the divine.”
“I’m not joking. Glasseus is 300 years behind the average civilization in the galaxy. It was abandoned as strategically worthless during the Hundred Years War. Even now, it does not have the industrial capacity to produce even a single A.T. on its own. Vested interests and old men in power are living comfortably. What this planet needs is not stability, but chaos! It’s chaos that feeds ambition!”
“All this so you can fatten your ambition, eh?” Pasdard accused.
“Progress and development!”
“I’m not going to argue with you about that. I’m sure there’s something you want to ask us. Say it clearly,” Pasdard urged the captain.
“Hahaha, that’s right.” Jumolan regained his composure. “Regarding Mettalia. Mettalia told me to call him Lu. You call him The Child.”
“Correct.”
“Even I receive important information about the Astragius Galaxy. ‘The Child’ is the codename for the successor of God.”
There was silence for a moment.
“I suppose there’s no point in hiding it.” Captain Pasdard glanced at Major Kromzender to get his agreement, then continued. “You’re right, but only that The Child is potentially the successor of God. We’re in charge of transferring him to Gilgameth military headquarters. This is of utmost concern to Gilgameth. If anyone stands in the way of this, the entire army will mobilize. You must understand that,” the captain added, almost as a threat.
“Of course,” he replied. “But I already know that much. What I want to know is what happened next. You’re transporting such an important person, why did you come down to this remote planet Glasseus? Why go out of your way? That’s the part I don’t understand.”
Captain Pasdard was speechless. Major Kromzender kept his mouth closed.
Eventually, Professor Bob shrugged his shoulders, as if there was no point in trying to hide it. “We were led here.”
“Led?”
“Yes, by God. Well, you’d better ask Chirico about that.”
The professor turned his head toward Chirico. Following his gaze, Captain Jumolan’s eyes lit up as he looked at Chirico.
“God led you? Why?” He asked, as if he were trying to take a bite.
Chirico finally spoke heavily. “I’d rather call Him Wiseman.”
Chapter 45
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“Lu may actually be Wiseman’s successor. He wants to put that to the test on this planet.”
Captain Jumolan was not satisfied with Chirico’s answer. “How? How does He want to test it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know!?”
Chirico’s curt words left everyone speechless. They seemed to be looking to each other for answers. Professor Bob thought of the amazing mathematical talent Lu used to solve the mysteries of the galaxy. Captain Pasdard recalled that godlike maneuvering skill. Major Kromzender ruminated on the child’s extraordinary growth data. And Captain Jumolan’s mind replayed his brilliant A.T. battle at Brozan Hill.
(It was far superior! On a whole different level! The Rose of the Twin Swords couldn’t even touch him! It was indeed the skill of Mettalia! But that’s not all…)
“The inscription!” Captain Jumolan exclaimed. “It’s the inscription!”
(What about the inscription?)
In response to everyone’s unasked question, he continued. “God, or Wiseman, shook up this dead, stagnant planet by creating the inscription. That’s it!”
Captain Jumolan looked around confidently at everyone.
“First of all, there was the rumor that Mettalia was going to descend to this planet. After hundreds of sedentary years, Glasseus was shaken by unrest. It created anxiety for vested interests and hope for the oppressed. Then, lightning struck Brozan Hill, where an inscription was planted by God himself. The five nations went into a frenzy over its meaning. The rulers, sensing God’s will in the inscription on the hilltop, desperately tried to occupy it, and in the end…”
“The struggle led to inevitable turmoil.”
“The child took it over.”
“And in the process, reaffirmed the meaning of the inscription.”
“With a single A.T.”
The Captain’s theory was followed by words of agreement.
“God is the embodiment of domination, governance, and resulting stability. Mettalia has proven to be a successor to that will.” Jumolan concluded with a smile.
“They say God doesn’t roll the dice, but why?” Professor Bob wondered.
“Professor, what do you mean?” the Captain inquired.
“Well, if God set all this up, it’s fine because Lu put it in check. But if he hadn’t, hundreds of years of peace might have been destroyed. That proves that he is the real thing, the heir apparent, doesn’t it?”
The Captain picked up from that thought. “If, by any chance, Lu hadn’t been able to contain it, that might have been the trigger that destroyed the stability here. I don’t think God gambles.”
“So this is not a gamble!” Captain Jumolan exclaimed. “It’s God!”
Chirico interrupted. “Not God. It’s Wiseman. Wiseman set up a system of domination and governance in the Astragius galaxy, but he knew that it would break down at some point. In order to control and govern the next geernation, he would usher in that break. That’s what led to the Hundred Years War.”
Chirico’s words shook the voiceless group.
“He believes that the most effective way to rule and reign in this world is to manipulate it through war.”
“Then…then…” The thought was robbing Jumolan of any logical words. “Why is God, or Wiseman…?”
“The test is not over,” Chirico said to the confused Captain.
“It isn’t? Then what happens next?” Jumolan, now even more confused, received a message from Colonel Garalyan.
“The Chairman wants to see you.”
Reluctant to leave, the Captain nevertheless stood up and made his way out of the room.
“Excuse me.”
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
Colonel Garalyan glanced at Captain Jumolan, who clicked the heels of his boots and saluted.
“Captain, you’re surprisingly easy to understand.”
“What?”
“I don’t know what you were doing, but I can see by the look on your face that you were interrupted in the middle of something. I can read people’s minds better than you think.”
Jumolan was at an unusual loss for words.
“Well, that’s all right. I want you to go to the military spaceport and pick up some guests.”
“Guests, sir?”
“Yes, all the way from Melkia. Quite an interesting group.”
“Interesting group?”
The Colonel’s tone was meaningful, but he said, “Hurry up, we don’t have time for this. I can explain it to you in the car.”
The Captain did as he was told and got into the vehicle that had already been prepared. As soon as the car started, its mobile phone rang. It was the colonel, speaking from his office.
“Captain, can you hear me? There are five guests. Four members of the Vanilla Trading Company of Gulphe, a free trading city on Melkia, and Dr. Jean Paul Rochina. A pretty interesting bunch, don’t you think?”
The colonel’s rambunctious words were lively.
“One of them is a young man named Saltio Vartla, who I’ve done business with before. Have you heard of Dr. Jean Paul Rochina before?”
“No. This is the first time I’ve heard of him.”
“Hahaha, even you with your keen nose don’t know everything. Dr. Rochina is an expert on Chirico and Wiseman.”
The captain let out a surprised voice. “What?”
To Be Continued