episode_0114

The fifth day since the attack on the Sagittarius colony.

Shootaaa

it is raining.

From the artificial precipitation regulator installed on the colony’s ceiling, rain falls from the sky as if expressing condolences to the entire colony.

It’s not actual moisture.

How precious a resource is water in space and colonies?

Just the water that people use to drink costs tens of thousands of credits per bottle, and pouring it down from the sky like this is luxury itself.

It is rain made of ether.

It is a kind of mysterious phenomenon that uses the property change of ether to make water pour down like rain.

Since it is not real water, you can pour it on as much as you like.

Some people may ask whether it is okay to pour out ether, a resource that can be used everywhere in the colony, like this, but this rain of ether is someone’s tears.

“Isn’t it truly a pity, Instructor Cloud?”

Unlike usual, a green-haired woman dressed all in black approaches next to me.

Black dress and black parasol.

What’s unique about him is that he’s wearing the same round glasses as usual.

“What should I call you? chairman? Or Arnold Neumann?”

“Now that I’m here as my ‘real self’, I think you can call me by my real name.”

“…World Tree, Emerald Yggdrasil.”

“Personally, I hope to be called Starlight.”

Starlight.

A colony that came across through a dimensional jump next to the Sagittarius Colony, and is the origin and entity of the Starlight Colony.

“Nevertheless, the word colony chairman suits me better.”

“Then what about Principal Starlight?”

“…As you wish.”

Principal Starlight smiles bitterly.

It is not an environment to laugh, but the fact that he laughs in this situation is proof of how well this Chang Se-su has learned about humans.

“Do you know that, instructor? In Starlight Colony, it rained foxes every time someone died.”

“Yes. I know. They sprinkled ether rain to comfort the dead.”

“That rain is falling on Sagittarius Colony now.”

“…That’s right. Because the colony is now ‘docked’.”

The Starlight Colony was established next to the Sagittarius Colony.

It is not simply a small colony orbiting like a planet or satellite, but is physically connected to the Sagittarius colony and moving together.

“Is this on purpose?”

I used the panel to launch a hologram and held up a photo in front of it.

“Your true self…embodying the appearance of the ‘World Tree’.”

What should I say about the connection between the two colonies? It looks like the tree trunk and roots extending from the Starlight Colony are tightly attached to the Sagittarius Colony.

“Instructor. Have you ever seen The Little Prince?”

“Of course. Isn’t this a novel from Earth?”

“Yes. If you look at that fairy tale… there is a scene like that in the illustration. Three baobab trees growing on the planet.”

“…….”

I think it was a tree bigger than a planet.

It would be true if the illustrations were different, but wasn’t that baobab tree not a very good image from the planet’s perspective?

“There is no particular meaning. I just came up with that image. The world tree extends above the planet called Sagittarius Colony. Starlight Colony located at the end of the World Tree. The inside is…consisting of an orbital elevator.”

“Your etheric roots reach the Sagittarius Colony. If he wanted to, he could erode the entire Sagittarius colony.”

For a moment, light sparkles on the glasses.

The eyes were momentarily invisible because the glasses were half-obscured by the light.

“If it wants to, the Starlight Colony can erode and eat the Sagittarius Colony. You can use ether to consume all the information rights of this colony and then turn it into a colony planet.”

“Oh my, do I seem that extreme?”

“Isn’t the Creation Tree a being who is fully capable of doing that? And you have a sign you can put up now.”

“……The number of creation is three.”

The world tree Yggdrasil appeared as an orbital elevator connecting colony to colony.

The remaining two Genesis Beasts also maintain their positions as aces protecting the colony.

There-

“You, the legendary hero. Paladin. Guardians of the Galaxy.”

There is another hope.

“It is just the name of an old man who has already retired for nearly 7 years.”

“Everyone saw that old thing pierce the black storm that was the pride of Sagittarius. Even though they are said to have been together with the disciples and the being who controlled the creation of the world, the people of this Sagittarius Colony clearly saw the glory of the past.”

Yggdrasil and Starlight extend a hand toward me.

“Won’t you spend a little more of that glory for us?”

“…….”

“I already know the answer. I already know how you act and what your mindset is.”

“If you say so…”

“That’s why I’m asking you so politely.”

“By what?”

“If my concepts and knowledge about humans and the information I have accumulated so far are correct, forcing actions on others is oppression and oppression. Please be courteous, Paladin.”

That’s not what an AI creature from outer space is saying.

“Please, as a human being, Trev Cloud.”

Speaking as the Chairman of Starlight Colony.

Shoot!

it is raining.

The rain flowing outside is an etheric rain, a drizzle that feels like crying along with the people at the joint funeral.

Because it is made of ether, your clothes will not get wet, and even if the ground becomes stagnant, it will not turn into muddy water and splash around, but rather, it can be said to be a mysterious phenomenon in itself where the ether component stays in the ground.

At least, it will be enough to erase the tears shed by the countless people who bowed their heads in the face of someone’s death.

“Chairman, no, principal.”

I stretched out my hand.

“Thank you for asking, but you can say it in a different way.”

“Which?”

“Work instructions.”

Even though I knew it was made of ether, I felt like I could feel some warmth in its hands.

“You are the principal, and I am the instructor. Then there is only one thing left.”

“…Can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course, Principal.”

I took off my vision aid and visor.

” Additional work such as organizing external events to raise the academy’s status is not a problem for instructors. ”

Coo coo coo.

A drone flies into the sky and shines a light on us.

Chairman Starlight had already disappeared along with the fog, and I quietly stepped forward and put on the sunglasses I had prepared.

“Trev Cloud.”

Colony-wide live.

“A pilot who had the nickname Paladin before retirement.”

A statement that will probably spread throughout the universe.

“Right now, I am nothing more or less than Trev Cloud.”

I spoke clearly to everyone.

“If it is to protect you, I will raise my spear again.”

Wow!!

Cheers ring out.

The cheers of relatives who are not dead, which is not appropriate for a funeral.

Heroes are with us.

Shoot!

Aether is still raining from the sky, wetting the shoulders of those who are sobbing.

* * *

After a while.

“Is everyone gathered?”

I gathered all the platoon officials in a conference room set up in Green Camp, Starlight Colony.

“As everyone has already heard several times, this instructor used to work under the alias Paladin.”

Aria, Lavender, Andy, Jessie, Jason, and Hanae all look at me.

“As a paladin, I only step forward when necessary. My optic nerves were being destroyed, and I wanted to die as a full human being. This is a matter of faith. I have been through countless battlefields that you are not aware of. You could say he’s young, but as a pilot, it’s understandable for an old man on the verge of death to make the final choice, or something like that.”

Just as heroes who have been active for generations in cinematic movies retire, choosing to spend time with their loved ones.

“I came to the Academy to raise the next generation before I leave completely.”

Instructor, standing at the academy.

“But not anymore.”

Extend your hands to the sides.

“Let me introduce you. This is the Sapphire Unicorn, a being that was active as the creator of this side in the past.”

[Everyone, nice to meet you.]

A hologram flashes on the wrist panel, and a woman in blue appears.

[Officially, he is the chairman of the Zodiac 12 Alliance.]

“…….”

[How can Chang Se-su be the chairman of the coalition? You might be wondering: Well, it’s common for Super AI to act as a system that governs humanity, right? That’s it.]

“I will not accept any questions. We just hear the situation from the chairman to explain our next goal.”

[Then, straight to the point.]

A sapphire unicorn shared the screen in front of each platoon member.

[A weak etheric singularity was detected in Scorpi Colony and Sagar Palace.]

“Ether…Singularity?”

[yes. A miracle that originally could not exist for them occurred.]

The Chairman is sparing his words as much as possible, but in the end, there is one thing he wants to say.

[I think I got my hands on one of the creation trees. Those who will buy it.]

The Scorpie Colony gained power.

“From now on, we will go to defeat those who threaten the peace of our galaxy.”

“Well, I have a question.”

Lavender carefully raises her hand.

“How…?”

“By moving the entire colony.”

“…Yes?”

[It’s simple.]

Beep beep.

[Docking is completed, and permission has been obtained from Chairman December. Some people in the Sagittarius Colony say that opinions should be decided through voting, but in these situations, there are many cases where decisions are made by the arbitrariness of the Aether. Hehehe.]

[In the Universal Century…sigh.]

A new hologram appeared, and Chairman Starlight and Vice Principal Stella appeared together.

[Everything is my responsibility, Chairman of Starlight Colony. Right, Federation Chairman Sapphire?]

[……Well, as the person who caused the conflict, I will suppress the remaining colonies as much as possible, so I will leave it up to them to resolve the entity that caused the problem.]

[then….]

[Through ‘cooperation’, the debt owed to each colony will be repaid by the alliance.]

[nice!]

Chairman Starlight smiled brighter than ever.

[ha. Anyway, there’s nothing to think about. Partner, can you tell me?]

“Lazeo.”

The moment I took over the microphone from Sapphire, the expression on my face became a little odd.

‘As expected, calling yourself a partner with the chairman of the coalition might feel a bit distant.’

When it comes to cooperative relationships with beings that encompass the cosmic order, wouldn’t there be a moment when a person seems like a person of too high a level?

Although I have those concerns, I have to do my best in my position.

“Everyone, listen carefully.”

I popped up a place on a huge screen.

“From now on, move the colony yourself.”

At the end of the place along the orbit, there is a colony.

“Invade the Scorpie colony directly and hold them responsible for breaking the peace of the universe.”

Destination, Scorpie Colony.

“We will build it thoroughly so that no one can recklessly start a war again.”