episode_0042

Although the Creation Tree is often called a ‘beast’, it is also classified as an AI with an ego.

The former can truly be said to be a ‘wild being.’

The latter is AI, which can be seen as a being that supports or assists humans.

From the former perspective, if the beastly aspect of a ‘disaster’ is emphasized, such as the Red Moon suppressing the Starlight Colony.

To compare the latter in one word –

“The Creation Tree that decided to help humans can be said to be a kind of ‘spirit’.”

From the latter perspective, after considering what would be an appropriate more human-friendly term, I decided to use the word ‘spirit’.

“In English, it is called ‘familiar’. Did you understand? It is a word that originated on Earth, not a colony, so it can be a bit difficult.”

“Uh, um…”

Lavender could hardly answer properly.

He simply bowed his head silently in response to my question and quietly followed me as I walked ahead.

“Usually there are a lot of questions, but today it’s particularly quiet.”

“Well, that’s…!”

“Are you hiding something from this instructor?”

“…….”

Lavender quietly shakes her head.

However, even if you express it that way in your head, I already guess it through your facial expressions, eye movements, and unconscious actions.

There is also something to hide.

And what it is hiding.

“Lavender.”

“Yes, yes, instructor!”

“This instructor has seen quite a lot as a member of the ghost unit.”

“……!!”

Lavender swallows and clenches her fists.

“So, this instructor knows quite a lot and has experienced a lot. An experience that you think is very special may be just a familiar experience to this instructor.”

“Ho, perhaps…?”

“For example, if you shoot an ally from behind.”

Lavender’s face, which had been filled with anticipation, briefly appeared astonished and embarrassed.

“It was a real battle.”

“That, that….”

“It wasn’t even a mistake. It wasn’t like I just pulled the trigger like a reflex. With clear determination, this instructor shot the back of the friendly aircraft in front of him. Direction exactly where the cockpit is.”

“, suddenly….”

“Are you surprised that he suddenly said something you didn’t expect?”

“!!”

Lavender opens her eyes wide and is surprised.

“Why. Did you think that we would talk about a different topic rather than about Agun Osa?”

“Well, that is…”

“Then, tell me the topic you were thinking about. Before entering the hangar.”

“…….”

Should I say it?

Or maybe I won’t say it.

My personal expectations are-

“…If we get in the cockpit together, I’ll tell you then.”

“It’s a wise decision, and I’m grateful at the same time.”

It’s a little different from what I expected, but it’s a satisfying answer.

“I’ll give you 90 points.”

“Is it out of 100?”

“No. Out of 200 points.”

“…You make me really expect something and then you disappoint me.”

“Of course, the answer I could give 200 points for was ‘Never answer.’”

“……Yes?”

While Lavender was panicking, I opened the hangar door.

Weeeeing.

As soon as the door opens, the hangar’s unique iron smell fills your nose.

If there were people walking around, it would have smelled like people somewhere, but the only people walking around were androids.

“Android K-244.”

“Yes, Instructor Cloud.”

“We will begin ‘special training’ in this hangar at the current time. Block all entrances and tell anyone trying to enter the hangar to obtain permission from the cloud instructor.”

“I will follow your orders.”

After the androids headed to the warehouse with the maintenance supplies, they immediately started moving quickly and stood in front of all the entrances and exits of the hangar.

Systemically, the entrance is locked, but at the same time, androids are physically standing and guarding the place beyond the locked door.

“Instructor. This is….”

“With this, it’s just the two of us left in the hangar.”

“Ah, ah…?”

Lavender blushes and distances herself from me.

He wiggles his fingers and slowly moves his body closer to his aircraft.

“Couldn’t you have linked that attitude to the answer from a little while ago?”

“……Yes?”

“Can I trust others? How much can you trust? This is a debate that humanity has agonized over countless times, but at least one thing is clear about the ‘ether bus’.”

“!!”

I passed Lavender and stepped onto the simple elevator that went up to the cockpit of Harkon N, which was almost like Lavender’s private plane.

“Ether Bus, Creation Water, Infinite Power. You should not tell your family or loved ones about this.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Of course, all humans need a bamboo forest. Oh, is there this fairy tale in Starlight Colony too?”

“Are you talking about the fairy tale about the king’s ears being donkey ears?”

“Okay. If you have a secret that you cannot share with others, you need at least your own bamboo forest where you can freely reveal that secret. Then…”

It rattled.

The elevator stopped exactly in front of the cockpit, and I used the panel on my wrist to connect to Lavender’s aircraft.

“Lavender student. I don’t know what will happen to the instructor now, but let’s at least make this clear before going in.”

Rattling.

The entrance to the cockpit was opened.

“If someone asks you if you have an ether bus, you have to say absolutely no, even if it means your family being held hostage will be shot to death.”

The inside was extremely cold, and it was no different from the aircraft that ordinary female pilots often fly.

“Lavender.”

“Yes…!”

Lavender used the elevator opposite to go up to the cockpit.

“Now, if we go in here, no one will be able to hear our conversation while we are in here.”

There is only one entrance, but just because the cockpit is for one person does not necessarily mean there is enough space for just one person.

“Last question. Chang Se-su, is it related?”

“If you ask me if it is related….”

Lavender took a deep breath for a moment.

“…I guess that’s all I have to say, that I was set adrift because of the Creation Tree.”

The truth was hidden until the end.

“200 points.”

“Ah….”

“Relax and go inside. Close the cockpit so you can feel safe too.”

“…Yes!”

After Lavender entered the cockpit first, I bowed my head and stood in the space behind the seat where Lavender was sitting, holding the backrest.

“Um.”

“Hey, instructor…?”

” Now that I think about it, if the electromagnetic waves from the cockpit enter my eyes, my optic nerves will also suffer quite a bit of damage.”

“Ah, that’s…!”

“But, among the cockpits, there is a case where it is the only one that doesn’t get hit.”

When wavelengths other than electromagnetic waves are emitted.

“For some reason, it doesn’t sting that much now.”

“Ah….”

“Then, let me ask you. Lavender student.”

I grabbed Lavender’s head from behind with both hands.

“Although it didn’t have much nutritional significance, what did I eat that was delicious by myself? Huh?”

“Uh, well, that is…”

“Answer me.”

Wow.

“Ah, ah! It hurts…!”

“It is a scalp massage. Good for blood circulation and skin beauty.”

“Ah, oops, I’m sorry…!!”

“What are you sorry about?”

“Ho, alone…. that, that….”

Lavender cried and made a small circle with her hands.

“Second, chocolate pie….”

“…….”

Wow.

“Ah, ah! Oh, it really hurts!!”

“I’m sorry. Stop in an instant, without even the instructor knowing.”

Without realizing it, I suddenly gained strength.

And at the same time-

Fazizik.

A light burst of purple electricity flashed above the monitor.

“This is true. The spirit of Choco Pie is now losing his temper because his partner is getting scolded.”

“Oh, now, just a moment. If it comes out now…!”

“It’s okay. lavender. Activate Harkon. Only then will the parties involved express their opinions in earnest.”

“Ugh, uh….”

Lavender put her hand on the panel to authenticate the operation, and then activated Harkon.

Flashing.

In Harkon’s unique, universal design that can be seen anywhere, whether on simulator devices or anywhere else, a halo of purple light passes by so quickly that it’s suspicious.

“Nice to meet you. The instructor of Lavender’s students is called Cloud.”

The front monitor turns black, and something sticks its head out to the right of the monitor.

[Po, I don’t think violence is allowed….]

Just as a person’s words were printed and played back as is, the sentence appeared as is, accompanied by a purple speech bubble.

“It’s not violence, it’s a massage.”

[Well, that’s not the massage I know!]

“…It feels like there are two Lavender. Is this your first time talking to a human?”

[Well, that can’t be possible!]

The wolf, which looks like a deformed character, opens its mouth like a growl and threatens me.

[Well, I don’t know what your ‘real’ self is, but that doesn’t mean you can treat my partner like that…!]

“Partner?”

for a moment.

what?

[Well, of course! I’m a partner, partner!]

“…Lavender. Let me ask you one question.”

“Well, what is the answer…?”

“No lies, just the truth. Otherwise, this instructor will no longer be able to teach you.”

“Well, like that…!”

Lavender was scared.

“Feh, Fenrir! Now, shut up for a moment! got it? This person is definitely not a bad person!”

[Come on, partner! That person is very dangerous, ugh!! Ugh!!]

Lavender just stretched out her hand towards Fenrir in the panel, but Fenrir seemed to have been blocked from the moment his mouth was pressed by Lavender’s hand and could no longer speak.

“Ha….”

This is the worst situation.

“Surely, you even did ‘Possession’?”

“Yes…?”

[That, how?!]

Lavender tilts her head, and Fenrir is shocked.

[Da, what on earth are you?! I knew it was a suspicious mask, but the only thing I knew was that-]

“That is.”

I-