Ch.263Unforgettable Memory (2)

After successfully defending the Briga planetary system and defeating Phosphorus’s special forces, the queen’s army’s attacks noticeably decreased.

Of course, the Pastel planetary system suffered considerable damage.

But with Naiere still alive, their core military strength remained intact.

Also, most of the scientists from my mother’s team and the Aether Belt Restoration Headquarters survived.

In conclusion, the research team wasn’t disbanded.

I remained in the Pastel planetary system to handle the aftermath. They say that as soon as news spread that I hadn’t died, military morale shot through the roof.

“I bet there’s only one person feeling down right now—you.”

Seti suddenly said this while reprimanding me.

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s written all over your face. You’re in a bad mood.”

“It’s because there’s no solution…”

“Isn’t it much better now than before?”

“Better? Hardly.”

“Think about it. What was this world like before you showed up? People dying and going insane at every turn. Entire planets being destroyed was nothing unusual. Compared to then, we’re in a hopeful time now.”

I scratched my head.

Maybe it was because I had just attended the funeral for the elite swordsmen and met with their bereaved families, but my shoulders felt especially heavy today.

Not only their deaths, but Sonia’s situation was also unfortunate.

Sonia couldn’t remember anything, including the fact that she had protected me.

We tried various methods to help her recover her memories, but it was all in vain.

I don’t know why I feel so bitter about an android.

“I know it’s hard. But you’ve shown us so much. You’ve shown that even insignificant humans can stand against outer gods. You’re in a position where you can’t fall apart.”

“…Seti.”

My sister’s words were logical. They were also a plea. In a world where even constellations were swayed by outer gods, where humans could no longer hold faith due to scientific advancement, humans had no choice but to believe in and rely on other humans.

So I had to endure, she was saying.

Seti stepped closer to me. Her golden eyes, symbolic of the Rheinland family, reflected my pitiful figure.

“Cheer up. You need to recover my sunken stocks.”

“Alright… what?”

“As soon as rumors of your death spread, the gradually recovering stock prices all plummeted. Even with the God of Wealth and Investment, the prediction was too late. Ah, thinking about it makes me angry again! My money. What are you going to do about my money!”

Seti grabbed my collar and shook me vigorously.

Ah, damn it.

I was a fool to expect sympathy from my own sister.

No matter how much my sister shook me, only scraps of research papers and a few strands of hair fell from my body.

Seti threw me onto a makeshift bed and gave me a full-body massage.

“Ow! My leg! It hurts! I said it hurts!”

“It’s all your fault! What about my money! You have to compensate me!”

“Why me! You’re the one who invested!”

“If I lose money, your salary gets cut too. Got it?”

“That makes no sense. I think we need to establish the hierarchy again…”

“Ow, ow! Brother! My head! The spot where I hit the corner of the tablet seven years ago feels like it’s going to crack!”

Sonia watched our fight in real-time. She could only fret and tell us not to fight, unable to do anything else.

Seti showed me her trading account details and wailed. Seeing that she had lost trillions on “Eidel theme stocks,” I began to understand why she was hitting me so hard. Wow, that money could fund several research projects.

Eventually, my sister managed to knock me down and take a mount position.

Just then, Rustila walked in.

“Eidel, I got a reward vacation today and came to—!”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Zernya. I’m pretty sure I told you not to monopolize Eidel when I’m not around.”

“Haa, haa, you bi— Oh, sis. You’re here?”

“Huh?”

“…Why?”

I had forgotten one fact.

From behind, Seti looked so similar to Zernya that they were almost indistinguishable.

It took less than three seconds for Rustila’s face to fill with shock.

“You, you two, what were you trying to do?”

“Ah, sis! Wait! This is a misunderstanding! Don’t go, listen to me! Wait, don’t leave! It’s a misunderstanding…! Ah shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuck!!”

I pushed aside the struggling Seti and got up with difficulty.

“Sister, calm down. Refrain from cursing, it’s vulgar.”

“Is cursing the issue right now? You started this and now I look like a crazy woman too! What are we going to do about this!”

“How is this my fault? You started it first!”

“This all happened because you almost died, so you started it first!”

“You really talk nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense, it’s the truth. You only see your one and only sister as an ATM!”

“But I’m using that money to protect the world!”

“Yes! That’s why I’m telling you to cheer up! Earn your keep!”

Sonia, who had been fretting, stepped between us.

“Master Eidel, Lady Seti. I think you should go after her and explain first.”

“Ha, damn it.”

Seti and I went outside the lab to find Rustila.

Rustila was huddled in the break room. We explained our ordinary sibling dynamics and comforted her.

“Really?”

“Really, I’m telling you.”

“I thought you two had become the worst of humanity.”

“Well, my brother used to be the worst of humanity.”

The misunderstanding was finally resolved.

When we returned to the office, Sonia tapped my shoulder.

“Sonia?”

“This is a reprimand. While it’s good that you play with your sister, I request that you prioritize your dignity as someone in an important position.”

“That didn’t hurt much for a reprimand…”

“If you were to get seriously injured, it would all be my responsibility. I have a legal obligation to protect you as your exclusive attendant.”

“You’re being so formal.”

Sonia just bowed her head.

In the past, she would have beaten me severely.

Is there truly no sign of her memories returning?

At that moment, Seti sprawled out on the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to stay here for a while.”

“You’re talking crazy, sister. This is my research lab.”

“You’re using such expressions so casually with your sister, brother.”

Seti, still lying on the bed, opened a screen.

Click.

She took a photo of herself making a V-sign while lying down, with me standing behind her like a prop. She uploaded the photo to social media with a brief caption.

[Living with this idiot until the war ends. (#hashtag: Pastel planetary system)]

How touching.

As soon as the post went up, comments flooded in. Out of curiosity, I checked the stock charts on a random exchange.

Need I say more?

The stock prices were fluctuating wildly.

[Go long and hold tight!!!!]

[What? He almost died but isn’t withdrawing from Pastel?]

[Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess?]

[Stop talking about going long lol. Don’t they know staying there means eventual death?]

[Their very existence is market-moving]

There were both expectations and concerns.

But the expectations seemed to be winning. The proof was the rising market.

This was the opposite of what I expected. I thought the stock would fall since having Seti in Pastel would increase the risk, but it didn’t.

“Why is this happening?”

“What do you think money is?”

“Research funds.”

“Ugh, you’re such an idiot.”

Seti sighed.

“Money is trust. It’s belief. The belief that humanity will win this war is reflected in rising stock prices.”

“Believing in what?”

“Believing in you.”

“…Huh.”

“Just know this one thing. People are less rational than you think.”

People are not rational.

That’s true.

Yet the reason we try to maintain rationality is because humans themselves know well the destructive power of emotions and feelings.

I put aside my worries about the fallen soldiers and Sonia for a moment.

Right now, the best thing I could do was direct research, hoping for this city’s peace.

***

After lightly reprimanding Eidel, Sonia felt a strange sensation.

The feeling of hitting him seemed familiar.

It was as if she had experienced this before.

She tried searching her memory, but found nothing. She had only known Eidel von Rheinland for a few dozen hours.

“Troop replenishment, research facility expansion… there’s a mountain of work to do.”

“Want help?”

“I’d appreciate it.”

“Most problems can be solved with money. We can bring in the Eastern Defense Forces as mercenaries for troops, and for the research facility… the research for the Aether Belt restoration equipment is complete, right?”

“Yes, we were manufacturing it, but it was all destroyed.”

“Since the scientists are still alive, we just need a budget to rebuild. I’ll cover this one specially.”

“And survival bonuses for the scientists too, while you’re at it.”

“Ha, you rascal. Fine.”

“You promise?”

“I said fine, didn’t I!”

Sonia was surprised.

Unlike her first impression, Eidel and Seti seemed to get along extremely well.

Fighting yet not fighting, hostile yet not hostile. Despite this, their affection for each other was clear.

Curious, she connected to the internet and searched for related information.

Family, siblings, love-hate relationship.

They were family and siblings, but Sonia’s experience wasn’t enough to accurately understand this kind of bond.

If people get along well, shouldn’t they avoid fighting?

For now, Sonia decided to learn that such relationships exist.

Just then, Eidel spoke to her.

“Come to think of it, Sonia, I should give you a special bonus too.”