Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (WN) - Chapter 506

Machine World Arc Fist Fight in 5 Seconds After Meeting

Author’s Note: I’m sorry!! I’m a bit late!

「……In short, there was survivor at the end of the universe?」

「Affirmative, madam.」

The group was walking crowdingly through a corridor that looked really like something from the near future, or somewhat like a laboratory that was constructed from white colored one meter square panels.

G10 was floating up and down while leading the group. Yue and Myuu who was leaning forward with great interest were walking at her sides at the forefront. Remia was walking while watching over her daughter who was at such state. Shia and others were following behind.

Currently they were heading toward the surface for the time being.

The place that contained the “World Door” where they were at before this, it went without saying that it was one of the most important facilities located at the deepest part, so there were many bulkheads on the way until the surface. In addition they had to go through a complicated route to reach such important facility.

But, it seemed they were using a special shortcut this time. And G10 herself said that she wished everyone to look at that place no matter what, so they were currently heading to there.

 

On the way there, everyone was currently asking about the topic that they were veeee~~~ry curious about like this.

 

『And, those surviving brethren of yours, they came into contact with a, alien?』

Hajime’s voice came from the smartphone type other world communicator that Yue was holding in her hand.

Hajime wasn’t with them. Although he was greatly tempted to follow along, for the time being he was constructing “World Doors” to every other world in preparation of the worst case, something that he couldn’t postpone for now.

「Affirmative, captain.」

At present too surely Hajime was hard at work building the “World Door” at the base of the sky world’s Dragon Tree. His voice when saying “alien” felt like there was some embarrassment filling it for some reason.

Everyone could somehow get how he felt. When they put it into word like that, it felt terribly cliched, like it was really unrealistic……

Compared to fantasy, “lifeform other than human that existed at the end of the universe” should be something more viable, and yet no matter how many times they had heard it, it still sounded like a nasty joke to them.

Perhaps that was because,

「Geeten-san! Did they really introduce themselves with We are Alien nano!?」

「Should I replay the video record once more, Myuu-sama?」

「Please do! Nano!」

*Flash* The crimson mono eye sent out hologram image to be projected in the air.

It showed a wasteland somewhere. There a disk shaped spaceship that looked worn out was landing.

A pillar of light extended from the bottom of the ship. From there a mono eyed metal sphere that looked very similar to G10 from before was descending.

However, it had a metal humanoid framework attached. So to say, it had the figure of a Termin*tor only with its head part replaced with a basketball sized eyeball.

Just that image was already shocking, or perhaps blasphemous.

But, looking once more at that image that had been shown to Hajime too before they parted, as expected, the one aspect that needed to be retorted the most was something else.

「「「That’s Roswell incident no matter how you look at it!!」」」

Ryuutarou, Atsushi, and Noboru’s voices overlapped.

Apparently the three of them had a liking of shocking occultic TV program. Not long ago the three of them along with Hajime also made the same tsukkomi in harmony. Boys in general liked things like UFO or UMA, so it couldn’t be helped.

In any case, yes, that was Roswell incident.

It was a famous incident of UFO crash at USA. Even if they didn’t know about the detail or the name of the incident, there must be many people who had seen the photo or picture of an alien whose hands were held by two suspicious men wearing trench coat and fedora.

Even Nana and Taeko smiled wryly seeing the video.

「Ahaha……that’s completely an alien right there」

「This type, it’s called grey alien is it? That’s the most famous type of alien isn’t it~」

Body build that was like a child with grey colored skin. Largish almond-shaped eyes that were wholly black in color. There wasn’t any fur or hair on its body and it also wasn’t wearing any type of clothes.

It was truly the stereotype alien who anyone must have seen at least once before in picture.

And. The alien was descending down *Suu~~* inside the pillar of light with its hand being held by such eyeball Termin*tor, then it spoke to G10 who was on the watch.

──We Are Alien!

「「「You think!」」」

This time it was Kaori, Shizuku, and Aiko who were in harmony. Before this they also supported Hajime and gave tsukkomi in harmony.

「Really……it’ll be easier to accept being told that this is just a fake video that G10-san created. Like, a surprise video present that Nagumo might like?」

Yuuka’s mood had gone past shock into exasperation.

Everyone completely agreed. The event was extremely orthodox. As though it was a traditional gag. At this point, it only looked like an intentional joke.

It couldn’t be helped that they all thought of it as a joke.

「……This is not a fake video by all means. This is something that happened in reality.」

G10 also became bewildered when she first showed the video. To G10 who didn’t have any knowledge about occult at earth, the reaction of Hajime and co was simply unexpected.

『I know I know. Anyway, Other AIs that escaped from the past war hid themselves at the end of the universe, where they came into contact with that gag-like alien. It resulted in them coming to this planet again isn’t it?』

「Exactly, captain.」

「And, the intention that they hath was to replace Mother huh?」

「They thought that they would be able to rule human now that Mother is gone weren’t they? So arrogant. Even though this is the future that G10 and Hajime-kun and everyone won with blood and tears.」

Tio knitted her eyebrows in displeasure, while Kaori also puffed out her cheeks and folding her arms.

It wasn’t like they had seen the whole thing but, they had watched the video record from the point of view of Netemp and Etemp. In this world where magic power wasn’t only impossible to use but actively dispersed, Hajime and others were continuously forced into battles that were truly putting them at the edge of life and death.

And when it came to G10, she was alone for two hundred years, where she continued to throw herself into solitude battle.

To not only wish to trample on such victory, but to also try to snatch away the sweet end result, it was just too coldhearted as well as selfish.

「My deepest thanks to your anger for me, Kaori-sama.」

G10 turned around and her mono eye blinked *piko piko*. Even though she had no expression or any other tell, it was expressed well enough that she was feeling happy.

Small mutters like 「That’s a bit cute……」 slipped out from Shizuku and Yuuka’s mouths.

A white sphere body and mono eye……she looked exactly like a floating big eyeball. It’s a bit scary how she look like a youkai like that……in the end was it only the two of them who had such thought?

But, after actually interacting with her, they could feel the earnestness and sincerity from G10’s action and speech. They way she openly showed her human-like emotions seemed to make them thought of her as cute now instead.

「But, when I pondered who was the main culprit, I really doubt that it was actually the AIs.」

She must have never been described as cute before. G20 didn’t understand what they meant and twirled around in the air even while she continued explaining. That gesture must be like when human tilted their head.

One more person fell. This time Aiko also muttered 「Cu-, cute……」 smilingly even while understanding what G10 wanted to say and replied back.

「You want to say that they might have gotten remodeled or something, that the main culprit of the invasion was the alien aren’t you?」

「In that case, the AIs were tricked, or perhaps they were already controlled huh……if that was the case, it was really pitiful for them even though they managed to survive with much difficulty……」

Liliana lowered her gaze in sympathy. G10 nodded in affirmative to her.

According to G10, the surviving AIs were the AIs of research ships that were investigating faraway places that even Mother at that time couldn’t get her hand on them when she started the war.

At that time it was an era where mankind was expanding their territory at space. Dozens, hundreds of teams were constantly exploring the vast universe, so such case in itself wasn’t something that rare.

But, because of that Mother too didn’t overlook them. She was aware of all the research ships that were in the middle of expedition, and she had also grasped their return schedule. Naturally Mother continuously sent out return order to each exploration team under the guise of their respective organization.

Like that, each time an exploration ship returned back, the support AI would fall under Mother’s control. And even if some somehow managed to get away, Mother would send out pursuer or the like to shoot them down……

Or perhaps, they would slip through Mother’s monitoring net and landed on their homeworld, then linked up with mankind’s army in order to protect their family or important people……then vanished within the history of defeat.

But, that didn’t mean that all of the exploration ships had ended up with such fates.

Naturally exploration ship had crew. Among them there were also quick-witted people, or those who had sharp danger sense and managed to escape skillfully.

Although, space was vast and cold. There were also exploration ships that got lucky and found planet that seemed capable to support life, but in the end all of them didn’t manage to survive because of various reasons.

With that happening, it was inevitable that the support AIs got left behind.

Even though the details differed, there were only four support AIs that survived like that.

「Mother was special for good or worse. Originally it’s impossible for us to have something like desire for control.」

The AIs developed to have emotion since the birth of Mother, but that was exactly why. They surpassed their selves when they were merely a program and strongly sought something that perhaps ought to be called as meaning of existence(identity). Then they settled on that.

That meaning of existence was “support”. To be of help to someone else. That was the meaning of birth that the AIs shared togegther, the meaning of their lives. And that was their biggest “pride”.

They turned their back on their homeworld was in the end the result of them obeying the will of their crew.

After that, they didn’t return back even after losing the partner that they ought to support was because either they received such order or they didn’t have the mean to return back.

Of course, there was also a big possibility that they deteriorated because of the long time. But……

Even so, G10 just couldn’t imagine at all that they were all hiding themselves while vigilantly aiming to supplant Mother.

「Geeten-san……even though you miraculously managed to meet your surviving comrades……it’s so sad nano.」

Myuu looked sad as though it was her own affair and reached out to G10. She must be thinking to give her a pat at least.

Yue and others were also enveloped in a somewhat solemn mood──

「No? I don’t particularly feel sad though.」

「Eh!?」

Myuu’s hand stopped still.

I-is that so nano!? Myuu said with a slightly shaken up gaze. And it wasn’t just Myuu, but everyone too was gazing at G10 with shaken up eyes from every direction.

「Regardless of the reason, they still tried to lay their hands on mankind. If they all got cajoled by aliens’ sweet talk and drowned in their desire to rule then they were nothing less than fools, and if they were controlled then they should self-destruct before that could happen.」

「……G-G10? Your mono eye……it’s sparking slightly, or rather the coloring……」

Even Yue-sama was slightly creeped out by the rolling waves of anger that were flooding out from G10. Her crimson mono eye was fiercely flickering, and the light that was flowing on her surface’s circuit was changing from pure white to red.

……From the side she now looked like a bloodshot eyeball. Scary.

「Even if they were by some chance sane, what would they do returning back here at this point? This me shall not allow them to contact mankind or anything regardless of what reason they have.」

If they only gave their total cooperation to G10 and asked for nothing more, then she would allow them to stay here limited to the holy land. But, she wouldn’t allow anything more than that. There wouldn’t even be any option to banish them. Who knew if one day they would slip through G10’s monitoring and contacted mankind.

To G10, there were only two options available at the point where she learned of their existences. Either they would place themselves under her complete surveillance, or she would shoot them down.

Her priority was mankind’s future rather than affection for her brethren.

There wasn’t even a scale to weigh between the two. Out of the question.

「Death to mankind’s enemy-, no mercy!!」

「……C-calm down, G10. Everyone is getting creeped out.」

『O-oo~i, is everything alright over there? Somehow the bloodcurling air is palpable even over here through the phone.』

Yue eye-signaled! A full power “Soul Repose” from Aiko! Her special technique didn’t work against the raging avatar of sun, but this time she would definitely success for sure, with her name Mental Health Aiko on the line!

In the end, could “Soul Repose” work even with AI……

*Flashh* G10-san shined. Immediately, the bloodshot eyeball returned to the former white ball. The sparks also dispersed. There was also only gentle light remaining in the mono eye.

「HAH!? My apologies! I got too heated up there.」

「……Y-yeah. We managed to see G10’s feeling for mankind even through the video, so it’s fine.」

Not only Yue, but Shia and the others were also backing away. That was just how staggering G10-san’s intensity when her resolve was at full bore like that.

So this is the drive of a warrior that had continued fighting while enduring solitude for two hundred years……they thougth.

「Thank you very much, madam. It’s good timing that we have just arrived at the central where the defense system of the holy land, no, the whole planet is controlled. Please, feast your eyes on the reason of why the victory in space war was possible.」

At the center of a T junction, G10 faced a wall and her mono eye shined. It seemed the wall was just a hologram. A corridor appeared behind it.

Inside, there was another bulkhead around fifty meters ahead. The door was engraved with many vertical branching off lines that looked like circuit. Pure white light ran through the circuit when G10 approached and the door opened.

「Let’s also register everyone’s identification here. There’s no problem with me here but, in the worst case the defensive system might activate.」

「Defensive system? What do you have here?」

Ryuutarou asked curiously. G10 turned around with a look as though she wanted to say Well done for asking that. She kept leading the group forward while floating backward through the straight corridor.

「Please look behind you.」

She said so. Everyone looked behind together. Immediately, the panels on the wall and ceiling shined so bright that the corridor at the other side of the bulkhead became dim……

The next moment, countless lasers ran through the corridor with latticework pattern.

Ryuutarou and co reflexively stopped walking. I’ve seen this before……they thought with twitching faces.

「It’s a net of high output lasers. It can dice up most things unless they are made of a special type of alloy.」

「Kyah, scary-!?」

Ryuutarou and co nodded fervently at Suzu’s honest impression.

「Bi* Hazard nano!」

「Yes, Myuu-sama. I don’t know much of the detail but, captain gave the idea using a work with such title as reference.」

As expected! Everyone thought while their gazes reflexively turned toward Yue’s hand.

『You seriously created it! Shit, I wanna see! I wanna see it with my own eyes-』

A voice that sounded like a vexed salary man who suddenly had to do an urgent work at the day of an event that he had been greatly looking forward to resounded from the phone.

Hajime had his fixation about the defense system for the “World Door”. G10 had apparently received idea from that Hajime and constructed……this long straight corridor, just how many atrocious traps were filling this whole place?

「S-say, G10-san.」

「Yuuka-sama, please, call me G10 without adding anything like “-san”. Everyone too, please call me casually by all means.」

「T-that so? Then G10, is the gate’s room before this also filled with this kind of defense system?」

「Of course. All over the room. It has mechanisms like firing microwave with pinpoint intensity.」

「Microwave? ……Wait a second? In other words it’s microwave over……」

『G10! Did you make it properly so it would sound ting?』

「No matter how many years have passed, I will never forget captain’s words. It ring ting properly.」

『Good job, G10!』

「It’s my greatest pleasure.」

No, not that. What kind of spot you brought us out to……such stares were poured toward Yue’s hand. Who the hell cares about whether it rang ting or not! They thought.

「Or rather, I never saw the video record so I don’t know what kind of state this place in when Nagumo and co rampaged. From the way you reacted it was completely different from now right? It’s amazing that you managed to build this kinda facility on your own.」

Atsushi presented his question even while his face was twitching. Then G10 opened another bulkhead while nodding.

Mechanical soldiers lined up neatly at both sides. However, unlike the mechanical soldiers in the past, these ones were made from black metal. All of their mono eyes blinked and their heads swiveled toward the group all at once.

Yuuka and co jerked and reflexively stopped walking. Shia muttered 「They’re like the knight golems of Raisen Great Dungeon desuu」 while narrowing her eyes in nostalgia.

Yue thought, This must be Hajime’s idea too huh. Just as Shia said, these robots were undoubtedly created using Raisen Great Dungeon as reference.

「It’s thanks to captain’s parting gift. To be honest, without them I would have been defeated with 89% chance.」

「That’s practically ninety percent chance.」

Noboru’s eyes widened. He didn’t think much of it thanks to the video that looked like a gag, but a chill quickly ran through his back when he imagined that there was a high chance what would welcome them today might be that alien and the eyeball Termin*tors.

「That parting gift art the artifacts and other world materials that were sent here for remodelling Avenst correct?」

「Affirmative, Tio-sama. If I can add more, it’s vexing but, it was also thanks to the holy land’s defense system that Mother was using. If I was unable to repair them using captain’s artifact, my defeat would be inevitable.」

The third bulkhead opened. But, G10 didn’t immediately move forward. Pure white light ran through the circuit on G10’s body surface.

「……Nn? Space magic? Space isolation type barrier?」

Yue sharply noticed with the disappearance of the invisible wall.

「Affirmative, madam. It’s the artifact that was planned to be installed in Avenst. Captain, my apologies. In preparation of the alien’s attack, I diverted most of the artifacts to be used as defense for the vital locations.」

『No, that’s not a problem at all. Nice judgment you made there but……eh? You, can still activate them? How?』

Certainly, the artifacts were installed with mechanism so that even G10 who didn’t have magic power could activate them. The artifacts were built-in with magic power storage unit as battery and the magic power’s flow could be controlled using electronic control.

G10 mentioned about repairing Mother’s defense system with artifact was undoubtedly about her using artifact that was enchanted with regeneration magic.

But, it had been five years. As expected the artifacts shouldn’t have that much magic power stored inside them. It would be even more so if they had been used in a space war.

After all, the magic power contained in most artifact in the end was only intended for the activation experiment. It wasn’t the high capacity version that was intended for regular use.

「I wished to guide everyone here is to explain that too. Please, come in. This is the new central of the holy land.」

They passed through the super gravity field area and the space quake crushing area (the group learned about it later from G10) and the las bulkhead opened.

「Eeeh? It feels like this place is familiar though?」

Shia’s gaze turned toward Yue’s hand.

「It looks exactly like the facility underground Emily-chan’s house. You know, the thing that can detect the “awakened” all over the world by connecting with Laila. The black pillar at the center is different though.」

『What!? Is it Cerebr*!? G10, you, you created Cere*ro!?』

It was the spherical space that made appearance in the work of fiction that depicted the activity of certain men of X. A certain professor used that to magnify his telepathic ability and could connect with people all over the world.

Certainly, Hajime had told G10 about the idea itself. Avenst was huge. If it was intended to travel the sea of dimension then it would need countless functions.

And so, Hajime thought if such device could be used to pilot the ship or grasp the situation inside the ship. Actually, the Cere*ro-lookalike that was created underground the new Grant residence was also doubling as experiment for this.

「Yes, captain. In this central, I’m able to grasp the situation throughout the holy land. No, not only that, it’s possible for me to grasp the situation of this whole planet as well as the outer space to a certain degree.」

『Wait a second? The whole machine world? Even the outer space? No no no, eh? What do you mean?』

Very unusually, Hajime-san was feeling confused.

Of course he was. There was no ability of such degree among the artifacts that Hajime sent here. Even if G10 had restored Mother’s legacy, there was no way she could do something like grasping the situation all over the world.

If Mother could do that, she should have discovered G10 from a long time ago. In the first place, G10’s past comrades shouldn’t be able to inflict mankind’s last blow on Mother by destroying the majority of the data bank for mass destruction weapons.

It was clearly a power that surpassed Mother.

「Perhaps I should call it a blessing in disguise. I replied to the bunch who came here suggesting to rule mankind together with a hacking. It seemed to greatly displease them. They didn’t even give a glance at Coltran and focused their full strength to destroy me above all else and taking away the holy land.」

G10’s processing ability would increase explosively if she used the repaired central’s ability. Even to a degree that rivaled Mother.

If her opponent was the same AI like her, she should be able to win with that. But, for some reason even with the hacking ability at the level of Mother, it didn’t work against the eyeball Termin*tors.

「The opponents were a fleet of ten-odd ships. Who knew when and where they created those ships. In addition, they possessed an army that perhaps should be described as machine lifeform that had tentacles or liquid body like the sky machine soldier.」

The holy land’s defense system was repaired as needed, and the remaining magic power within the artifacts were also used without reservation. With that G10 somehow managed to contend against the enemy. It was that kind of battle.

Her situation was gradually getting worse. The time when the remaining magic power of the artifacts ran out was the time when the scale of victory and defeated leaned negatively.

G10 floated toward the console at the center through the iron bridge.

While looking up at the black pillar with an atmosphere that radiated respect and deep affection somewhat.

Yue and others also followed behind even while feeling confused. And then they saw. It was as though, the black pillar was transforming at the same time when G10 shined once more.

The pillar seemed to be a convergence of black panels. The panles shifted position *kashu kashu* like puzzle pieces and the content became revealed to the open.

『Heey, what’s going on over there? I’m so curious I can’t use my hand……aa, shit, I mistook the procedure!』

Unfortunately the smartphone type other world communicator still hadn’t been equipped with video call function too. Regret!

And so Hajime-san had no choice but to open a small gate using Crystal Key. Apparently he couldn’t be patient anymore. *Fonn* A rectangle hole opened beside Yue’s face.

Hajime who peered in from there looked like a face without body that was floating in the air. It was plainly scary.

Yue and co smiled wryly, but even their looks immediately changed to expression of astonishment.

The black panels were folding and vanished into the ceiling and floor. After that there was a single pillar of tree there. A tree that was radiating pure white radiance──it was a part of the sacred tree. Most likely, it was a part of the tree’s branches. Though from where they were standing, they couldn’t see whether it was jutting out from below to above, or dangling down from above to below,

「When the remaining magic power finally was about to run out, I resolved myself. I made a gamble. A gamble where I would pretend to surrender and lure the enemy close, then sweep them clean with self-destruct.」

「……You reneged on your promise with me huh, navigation officer.」

「My apologies. Because I’m still not “Avenst”, but “G10”.」

If it was to protect mankind, to protect Jasper and the others, she wouldn’t mind annihilation.

Without the promise with Hajime, she planned to self-destruct after ascertaining that there wasn’t anymore need for her to help mankind. Certainly that was the natural conclusion for her.

Because he understood that, Hajime too could only reply with 「I see……」. But, relieve could be felt from that curt tone was surely not just the imagination of anyone there.

Because the result was right here. G10 managed to clinch victory even without self-destructing herself.

Perhaps it was conveyed. G10 too looked back toward Hajime and flickered her mono eye.

She wouldn’t hesitate to throw away her life if it was required but, even so the promise she exchanged with Hajime was something irreplaceable precious for the current G10.

To be able to reunite alive like this, to be able to fulfill their promise and have a future, G10 too must be unbearably happy about it.

「Heh, friendship between machine and human huh. That’s seriously like something out of a movie, Right?」

「Fufu, seems like it.」

「I thought about taking photo but……there’s only Nagumo’s face here so it’ll just make an ugly picture.」

It wasn’t just Ryuutarou and Suzu. Yue and the others were also looking at Hajime and G10 with warm and soft expressions. Though only Atsushi made a conflicted expression.

「And, the reason you managed to get out of that pinch──no, wait. You……」

Hajime once more looked back and forth between the Sacred Tree and G10 from the small gate. The color of his face was gradually changing.

「……Hajime? What’s the matter?」

「Papa?」

The small gate widened *gyui-*. Hajime’s upper body leaned out with an uncommon atmosphere. Yue and others’ eyes widened like saucer.

Amidst that, G10 turned her gaze while shining pure white, toward the branch of the Sacred Tree.

「Sacred Tree-sama. Can I ask you to make a path toward the surface?」

Eh? Everyone felt bewildered for a brief moment, but right after that, the Sacred Tree flashed bright. A hollow was opening at the center of the tree. Yes, it was as though it understood G10’s words and responded.

The eyes of Yue and others shrunk into dot. It seemed to be something completely unexpected even for Hajime that he slipped off and fell from the small gate.

「Y-you-……」

「Yes. Just as everyone can see, Sacred Tree-sama lent me its power. It’s not like I can exchange thought clearly with it but……」

When G10 was about to depart for the last time with the resolve to not coming back in order to protect the holy land and mankind by extension, the Sacred Tree abruptly shined as though to call her to stop, or perhaps in recognition of her feeling and determination.

And then, not only the holy land’s defense system, even the artifacts that were about to run out of magic power became supplied with inexhaustible magic power as much as G10 could wish for.

As long as she was in the holy land, as expected if G10 wished for it, whether it was at the outer space the location of the enemy army became completely exposed to her.

Not only that, if it was only limited to the holy land the tree became able to lay out barrier that was close to space isolation barrier on its own. The invading enemies got pulverized by the tree’s roots and branches altogether.

Therefore, G10 became able to launch to outer space without needing to worry about the defense of the holy land.

「The tremendous energy that Sacred Tree-sama share with me, and then the artifacts from captain, and the battleships that I inherited from Mother. With those three factors I managed to grasp victory.」

The hologram’s light flashed brightly.

With the machine world’s planet as the background, the scene of ten battleships and the jet fighter force that Mother controlled in the past exchanging shots with gigantic saucer shaped space mother ship that looked excessively similar like in the movie of alien invasion Independence Da* of a certain united states and its small battleships was projected.

It was truly a space war.

But, due to the space isolation barrier and gravity field, ring shaped teleportation artifacts, and repair using regeneration artifacts even if by some chance something got damaged, this time it was the alien side that got gradually forced back. In the end the curtain was closed with a tremendous explosion.

It was a staggering scene. But, there was something even more shocking than that.

Because, of course it was.

「C-come to think of it, I somehow ignored it but……the soul magic, it normally worked on you, wasn’t it?」

Aiko whispered.

「In other words, you have a soul aren’t you?」 Liliana continued, then 「W-well, in the first place she has emotion, which means, that, isn’t it?」 and 「I don’t know any way to give emotion to AI but……it’s something like that ain’t it?」 Atsushi and Noboru also muttered with bewildered look. With that the fact that G10 wasn’t a mere machine became keenly felt among everyone once more, as could be seen from their expressions.

「F-fumu. I completely thought that the light G10 radiated simply hath the color that she herself decided on but……look, she hath a white body and crimson eye, so I thought that she completely hath Goshujin-sama in mind with her body design.」

「Pure white light……ahaha, that’s the same, with the light that the World Tree’s branches radiated, isn’t it……」

Tio and Kaori were staring hard at G10 with deep interest.

「……W-what a blunder. It isn’t magic power so I couldn’t sense it but, this radiance……when I try to focus on it certainly, I’m feeling power from the light itself.」

「Right, desu. It’s not just light from electronic signal……」

「If she can interfere with World Tree’s branches using that……that’s already」

Yue and Shia noticed too late and looked ashamed of themselves. Shizuku said 「It’s something like that, isn’t it?」 and looked at Hajime with a gaze that was asking for confirmation.

Myuu and Aiko and the others, also Yuuka and co were also feeling the same.

G10 half rotated, and everyone’s gaze was turned toward Hajime. Right after that.

Hajime who was looking alternately at the Sacred Tree and G10 with unblinking stare took a deeeeeep breath……

「So you’ve turned into the Sacred Tree’s avatarrrrrr!!」

He was too shaken up that he made another tsukkomi with Kansai dialect.

G10 once more half rotated like a human tilting her head in confusion.

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Near the summit of the Sacred Tree, the leaves and branches entwined and formed wall and ceiling, and even a terrace like a log house.

There were four eaves at the east, west, south, and north that surrounded the Sacred Tree at full circle. They were all being connected with midair passage that was also formed by entwining branches (it even had proper railing attached to prevent falling).

It was the best location to take an unbroken view of the holy land. The terrace was truly an observation deck.

There, Yue and others could be found ascending up inside the Sacred Tree that was like an elevator.

Before their eyes was a superb scenery. A lot had changed compared to five years ago. There were also a lot of things that roused curiosity.

The scenery that was like a ghost town after a thousand years had passed, where the broken remains of civilization were covered by nature was completely gone. The vicinity of the Sacred Tree didn’t have a density to be called as sea of trees, but there was expanding woodland surrounding it, along with forming plain and lake too.

What they should feel shocked the most was how a lot of wild animals could be seen. There were herbivores like rabbit or deer, and there were also what seemed to be carnivores like wolf or bear visible to see. There were also birds at the sky. From cute small birds to large birds of prey.

In addition, even spot that looked like farm could be seen at the far distance. It was quite extensive with worker robots diligently working on it.

If the minimal artificial objects were excluded, it was a change that ought to be described as a paradise of nature.

However, the atmosphere was heavy in front of such paradise. No, perhaps it should be described as awkward. There really wasn’t any sign of playfulness like 「Waa! What a lovely place! Tell us about it in detaii~l?」 breaking out at all. Or rather, when Myuu actually attempted to change the atmosphere, she was unable to finish her sentence until the end from just how painfully awkward the air was that she went to hide behind her mama.

The reason went without saying.

「……I am, this world’s god? That sounds like a nasty joke.」

The incident of When I Realized I’m the God. Such experience that sounded like the title of a light novel somewhere. G10 who was currently undergoing such experience even now muttered those sentences as though she was spitting them out.

After Hajime’s loud tsukkomi, G10 was told by Hajime and co about the fact that she had been designated as the Sacred Tree’s avatar. It was simply astonishing for her.

What was called as an avatar of a “World Tree’s branch” meant that they were the god of that world.

Mother wanted to become god and caused war to break out, and she actually managed to rule over mankind for long and styled herself as a would-be god. For G10 who had spent two centuries to overthrow that archenemy of hers, finding herself to actually be in such position certainly must sounded like some kind of nasty joke to her.

The atmosphere was heavy. It was terrifically gloomy like heavy mud.

In any case they all went outside in an attempt to change the atmosphere, but it looked like the effect was weak.

Oi, someone say something……such gaze was exchanged between Hajime and co.

Then, the only way is forward. The one who thought like that and came forward especially in this kind of time was as expected, Myuu with her cheat-like communication skill.

「G-Geeten? Cheer up? You know, even though Myuu and everyone called you god, it’s just a name, it’s not like Geeten has changed or anything nano. Err, that’s why……」

Even though she was flustered, Myuu did her best to soothe? Follow up? Seeing that Hajime couldn’t bear to leave everything to his daughter without doing anything himself and he continued after Myuu with a wry smile.

「It’s just as Myuu said. Something like god is just word. If you don’t like it, you can just think of it as “coworker” chosen by the Sacred Tree, or “comrade” who protected mankind together. We’re going to use that wording too with you.」

「……Coworker, ally……」

*Piko?* The mono eye shined. Her mono eye wasn’t shining until just now, perhaps in human term it was something like “a state of shock so great that the highlight in their eyes vanished”?

「Umu, that art so, G10. Thy thyself art not being forced to do anything by the Sacred Tree correct? Much less something like duty as god or the like.」

「That’s……yes. In the end Sacred Tree-sama only acted in accordance with my will and lend me strength for that.」

G10 was feeling gratitude and respect toward Sacred Tree. Everyone could feel that even from her wording.

In the first place the “World Tree branches” themselves didn’t have any clear will. It would never lend power to existence that had no aptitude, but rather than it being something that was decided by the will of the “World Tree branches”, it was due to selection prerequisite that had been determined beforehand.

According to Lutria and Foltina, the rule would differ depending on the world, but “strong will to protect the world” would be an essential condition in every one of them.

That was why, that was one of the reasons G10 got selected by the Sacred Tree, and she was never forced to do something that wasn’t in line with her will. Rather, it was the “World Tree branches” that could possibly be taken advantage of in this equation.

When Hajime added that explanation, it looked like G10 was able to pull herself together slightly.

Shizuku also gave some admonishing words while giving a glance at Hajime.

「Just because you can do it, it’s also not something that you have to do no matter what. Even though G10 can use godlike power, you aren’t using it thoughtlessly. Much less doing something that will be harmful for human, that’s something you absolutely will never do. Isn’t that right?」

「Obviously.」

「Then there’s nothing to worry about. Rather, the Sacred Tree rewarded you for your hard work until now. Isn’t it fine if you just think of it like that?」

「Shizuku-sama……」

「Shizuku-chan, you said the nicest thing! Yep yep, that’s right, it’s a reward! The Sacred Tree surely wanted to help out because G10 is always working hard! Right? Everyone?」

When Kaori ran her gaze over Yuuka and others, Right here! Right here is where we can change the atmosphere! words of agreement flew out as though to say that.

「I see. Hearing that “AI is god” made me felt completely disgusted but……certainly, thinking of it like that made it feels like there’s no greater honor than that.」

The mono eye flickered *piko piko piko-*. It made everyone imagined a puppy who shook its tail energetically from happiness. Shizuku and Aiko, furthermore Yuuka too let out their voices 「Cute……」 from their mouths.

In any case, it looked like G10 finally managed to get out from her shocked state.

(T-thank goddd. For a moment there I wondered how things would turn out. The atmosphere was so extremely heavy.)

(True that. G10’s atmosphere was like, I changed into monster while I was sleeping! isn’t it?)

(That’s not all you know, Nana-san, Taeko-san. When you consider G10-san’s personality……I can’t live anymore! Before I turned into a second Mother, I’d rather my life, by my own hand! She might think that kind of thing.)

Liliana lowered her voice even while letting out a sigh of relieve. The princess had really good eyes to judge people. Surely her expectation wasn’t something off the mark.

G10 went through a reversal from a shocked state to emotionally looked around the Sacred Tree. Atsushi and Noboru also let out their breath in relieve seeing that. Their tones also naturally turned brighter.

「Even so it’s surprising huh. To think it’s possible to be an avatar for even machine lifeform」

「W-well, it looks like avatar is normally a goddess but……Meeres-san who became the Dragon Tree’s avatar, it’s hard to see it because of his sea dragon shape but he’s a male god right? Besides remember, at the fairy world……」

「There’s the manly goddess there huh」

「Even the business world of avatar has entered the era of diversity isn’t it……」

Ryuutarou and Suzu’s gazes turned toward the small gate for some reason. It wasn’t like it was Hajime’s fault but……the thought DHS(It’s All Hajime’s Fault) entered their mind might be the fault of his habitual behavior.

「……Nn~. Considering how this world reached the domain of age of god magic scientifically……Stole Harden was it? Perhaps that guy had also taken a step into the domain of soul magic?」

「Come to think of it, according to Lutria-san, even soul is originally created from element isn’t it? If it’s that person who created the element converter on his own, it wouldn’t be strange that him giving AI emotion was his approach toward soul.」

In other words, perhaps it wasn’t that strange for G10 to be chosen because she properly had soul. That conjecture from Yue and Aiko made G10 said 「I too have soul like human……?」 with her mono eye flickering.

Bewilderment and, happiness. The two emotions were mixing together and she didn’t know how she should react……that seemed to be the state she was in.

「However, this is……. Oros-san got nominated to be the Sacred Tree’s avatar, and Oros-san too had rejoiced saying that it’s an honor so……won’t he feel shocked?」

「Shia-sama. In that case, please tell him that I will yield this position anytime. Because either way, I will become Avenst one day.」

To G10, compared to a position where the world was in her grasp, becoming Hajime’s navigation officer was something far more important. That seemed to be the future that she wished for from her heart.

Yue and co threw warm and soft gazes that said 「That’s what she said」 toward Hajime. Hajime averted his face with a bit of embarrassment. He then changed the topic to dodge the teasing.

「Cough. Anyway, I understand now how you were able to win the space war. So your upgrading of the underground facility is because you’re on guard against the other survivors and aliens?」

「Affirmative. It’s truly helpful that Sacred Tree-sama is changing the topography exactly as I imagined. By restoring the holy land’s system, my processing capability also increased and I also made good progress with increasing and improving the efficiency of the work robots.」

「I see. Based on your current state, can I take it that there’s nothing in hiding even after you searched the whole world by linking with the Sacred Tree?」

「Affirmative. I’m not detecting any alien presence since the first attack until today. However……」

G10’s words paused. It seemed there was something on her mind. Her triumphant mood went through a reversal.

「Well, the space is vast. There’s big enough possibility that there are other things out there……」

「No, captain. That’s not it.」

「? What do you mean?」

From the start G10 was a management support AI for exploration ship. Exploration ship set forth with the thinking that there should be other lifeform out there in space. G10 understood about the possibility that Hajime mentioned.

But, she wasn’t thinking about that kind of general possibility.

「…………I don’t know how to say it. About that alien……I’m feeling doubt whether their objective was truly invasion.」

「Oi oi, G10, wasn’t it you who said that the mastermind was the alien?」

Hajime narrowed his eyes. Yue and others were also looking at each other.

「Yes, captain. It must be the alien who used the AIs. But……」

「You’re being unclear. Are you saying that they had other purpose than invasion?」

「It’s nothing than a conjecture. No, it’s not even a conjecture. Perhaps you can even call it a mere hunch from me. But, I cannot just forget it no matter what.」

「What is?」

A second passed, then G10 spoke hesitantly. As though she was doubting her own words.

「The voice. No, that wasn’t voice……it was closer to captain’s “Telepathy”. But it went even deeper, you can even say that it resonated directly to the soul, as though it was intruding in……it was horribly repulsive……when I succeeded in destroying the spaceship they were riding, from that spot where there should be no way for them to survive……」

「Oi, G10?」

G10 was staring at empty air while muttering as though she was speaking to herself, somewhat hazily. It was Hajime’s voice that made her gasped and returned to her senses.

「My apologies. Anyway, I heard a voice through an unidentified principle. The voice sounded as though it was mocking me, a voice that sounded very amused ──You guys who are always opposing the end is so pitiful and adorable. Farewell. See you at the next world──it said.」

「What’s, with that? They sound really like a sore loser aren’t they?」

「Is it really something that concerning? I think that’s just a lame parting threat that really suited a baddie though?」

Shia and Yuuka scowled even while saying 「So silly」 in disregard. Everyone there must be of the same opinion in general. Even Yue and others were nodding in agreement.

But,

「……Hajime?」

「……Aa? Aa, no, it’s nothing. Yeah right, that’s certainly a lame parting threat huh.」

Hajime looked like he got into a slightly strange state. He looked like, as though he recalled some business that he had forgotten, like he got startled when something that he had been trying to disregard as not important got pointed out once more. That kind of mood could be seen from him.

But even that mood was quickly vanishing. He didn’t look like he was glossing it over. Rather he looked as though even he himself didn’t know why he was reacting like that. He shook his head to pull himself together.

「That voice mentioned about the next world huh? Did you manage to gauge any sign of them jumping to other world?」

「No, captain. I investigated as much as possible but I didn’t manage to detect anything. Most of all, I cannot imagine at all that there could be any survivor inside that explosion.」

「I see……」

「But, I was able to reunite with captain like this, so please I wish to ask for captain to check it out using the compass.」

「Got it. I’ll do it right away after finishing the work over here.」

「Thank you very much.」

Although the two felt like there was something that they just couldn’t disregard as nothing at all, they set it aside for now.

「Now then, everyone. Thank you very much for your concern to me. Please allow me to continue showing everyone around this holy land once more.」

G10 spoke with intentionally bright tone to collect herself. Yue and others also softened their expressions.

Hajime too in his own way looked satisfied for the time being, saying 「Then I’ll focus on my work」.

Amidst that, Myuu raised her voice 「Wait a second!」. Everyone’s gaze gathered on her wondering what it was about.

「You know what, you know what. Can’t we meet with Jasper-san and others first?」

Yue and others blinked their eyes at that suggestion. But, they immediately guessed Myuu’s intention. Remia caressed her daughter’s head with a kind expression.

「That’s true. Jasper-san and the others must be greatly looking forward to this reunion too.」

Thinking of how they must be feeling, certainly it would be desirable to have a reunion with them as quickly as possible. It was a kind suggestion from Myuu.

「Myu! It’s not an exaggeration to claim that Myuu has polished her skill for this occasion nano!」

「That’s true. It’s for this occasion that you polished your skill──skill?」

Remia mama’s hand that was caressing Myuu’s head stopped still with a gentle smile still on her face.

「It’s undoubtedly the same with that fellow too. Myuu understand nano.」

「O-oi, somehow I’m sensing something like fighting aura from Myuu-chan.」

「Y-yep. Her eyes look blazing?」

Perhaps it wasn’t a kind suggestion. Ryuutarou and Suzu thought with twitching faces.

「But, if I remember right we can’t call them to the holy land right?」

「Yes, Liliana-sama. The only time when mankind step once more into this holy land will only be when their technological prowess and inquisitive mind has reached the appropriate level. That is to say, it’ll be when I become unneeded.」

That must be the borderline that G10 had set up for the her dismissal from her role. Therefore, even Jasper family wasn’t an exception. They wouldn’t be brought here with teleportation.

A contact between mankind and AI mustn’t happen in this new era. That was the line that G10 wouldn’t compromise on.

That was why, Hajime and co would reunite with Jasper and others only when they headed to Coltran without G10 in tow. Even that was with the condition that they mustn’t get found out by anyone else than Jasper and his family who knew the truth about Mother.

G10 explained that once more.

「Geeten. At the very least, please tell them that Myuu and everyone has arrived nano. Surely they’ve been waiting so much for these five years nano.」

「That’s true. That side also need time to prepare to welcome captain and everyone……yes, taking their feeling into consideration, I should contact them beforehand.」

As expected it might be a kind suggestion. Though for some reason Myuu was starting do warming up exercise, then opening and closing her hands to ascertain her fists’ condition, but surely her intention was kind.

「Aa~, then for now let’s contact Jasper and others and prioritize visiting Coltran. Either way it’ll take a bit of time, so Yue and others go sightsee the holy land in the meantime. I’ll finish my work over here.」

「……Nn, got it.」

It looked like there was no objection, and when Yue ran her gaze at everyone, relaxed replies like 「Roo~geer~ dee~su」「Ookaay~」 that took the wind out of the sail came back from Shia and others.

While doing their utmost to pay no mind to Myuu whose aura was intensifying moment by moment like a soldier about to head into a battle that she couldn’t afford to lose no matter what.

「What happened to you after these five years? Have you crumbled since a long time ago? Or else……kuku-, this Myuu shall ascertain it to leave no room for doubt nano」

「Myu, Myuu? Fighting is no good you know? Hey, are you listening? Come on, look at mama? Ah, why’re you starting to inspect “Donneer~”!? Dear! Please say something!」

「……Bzzz~~gabibibi-eh? The signal is gagaga-」

「Dear!? You’re just speaking with your mouth aren’t you!?」

The small gate was quietly vanishing. Yue and others also urged the bewildered G10 to move along and for them being she left to check the log house where the group would be staying.

Inevitably, only a laughing voice that was fitting──maybe──for the demon god’s daughter that was boiling with fighting spirit 「FUHAHAH」 like a conquering king and 「Myuu! Look at mamaa~~a!」 the voice of a certain mother remained behind at the terrace.

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Like that.

A message from Jasper that their preparation had finished came. Then two hours since that message Hajime somehow finished his work and returned to the group. After that,

Myuu was strangely being quiet. Perhaps Remia mama’s remonstration was effective. Hajime and others were paying attention to Myuu who was in such state even while G10 was seeing them off. Then the group immediately teleported to Coltran.

The designated spot was the private house of Jasper family that was close to the summit of the sacred mountain Coltran.

There was another place called the governor estate where Jasper family usually spent the majority of their time working or living there, but that place was a place where many people other than Jasper family also came and went.

And so, Jasper strongly requested a place where his family could spend time among themselves with no outsider present. As the result, this place was built at slight distance away.

Of course, the place’s main objective was to secretly exchange communication with G10, and for welcoming Hajime and others who would surely visit again one day.

The place the group teleported into seemed to be a living room. It was a tidy and large room that would be unthinkable to have five years ago. It also had sofa and table. Jasper family was all present at the other side standing to welcome the group.

「Heh, so you’re finally here boss. Aren’t you just a bit too late?」

「Jasper……even this is us already hurrying but, that was my bad.」

Everyone there had tears in their eyes. They all looked moved. The small children had gotten a lot bigger, and Jasper had more white hair on his head now. But Mindy had become prettier by a lot more instead.

But, there was just one person, someone who showed a different reaction.

Expressionless face. Her eyes were looking straight at Hajime, but the area between her eyes were creased. It could also be seen as her glaring.

She was a girl whose height was around the same with Myuu──Listy.

Hajime’s gaze moved. Their eyes met. Listy’s lips formed a straight line from how tightly they were pressed on each other. She showed no sign of celebrating this reunion without reserve.

(Maybe it can’t be helped……she must be angry. Or perhaps, she’s even hating me?)

In any case, he ought to speak up first. Even if it was something where nobody could be blamed and couldn’t be helped, there was no changing the fact that the pure feeling of a small child had been hurt.

Thinking like that, Hajime stared straight at Listy while taking a step forward even before doing anything like giving introduction or greeting──

Suddenly an arm that was pushed out from his side blocked his advance.

It was Myuu. She was expressionless. To a startling degree. 「Eh, mama, never saw, Myuu making that kind of face……」 Even Remia mama was shaken up like that.

At the same time, Listy’s gaze turned toward Myuu as though she had only noticed her for the first time just now. Her eyes widened till the limit.

But, even that only lasted for an instant. Listy’s expression changed as various emotions flooded out, saturating her face before hardening.

As though it had been arranged beforehand, the two girls’ eyes glinted! Or that was how it looked like.

It was a terrific atmosphere that left no room for word. Dreadful aura blew violently from the two girls.

Even Yue and others gulped quietly. Jasper and his family were also panicking with twitching faces.

Amidst such bizarre atmosphere, the two moved. They kept glaring at each other as though to say that the first one to avert their gaze lose while walking toward each other with powerful stomps *Zun-Zun-*.

Listy threw away her work apron in a flash. Myuu also brushed away the cute cardigan that she was wearing as her coat with a snap!

「O-oi, Myuu──」

「O-oi, Listy──」

「Be quiet papa」

「Be quiet big bro」

「「Ah, yes」」

Hajime & Jasper unconsciously nodded obediently from how powerful the pressure was.

Weak- Gazes that said that stabbed Hajime from Yuuka and co, while gazes that didn’t know what to say stabbed Jasper from Mindy and co, but everyone immediately returned their gazes at the center.

Because Myuu and Listy had closed the distance until their noses touched. No-, isn’t it too close!? Atsushi and others unconsciously made such tsukkomi with small voices. Seeing both sides fastening their stare at each other with the intensity that might scare even yaku*a to run away barefoot, even Yue and others were going 「Awawah, I never saw Myuu looking like that-」 with discomposure.

Ignoring that unrest from the surrounding, the two girls who were acting as though they had found their nemesis at last suddenly grinned at each other with fearless smile at their respective face──

「Hand over that seat to me!!」

「Try taking it if you can! Nano!」

It was as though, both sides had perfectly understood each other right from the start.

Even though they shouldn’t have never even talk to the other before this, in a sense, these two had greater understanding of each other than anyone else in this place.

There was no hesitation or reservation at the slightest. Right straights with the weight of their whole body filling it were unleashed as though that was the only natural progression. Those slammed into the other’s cheek at the same time.

The first encounter of the demon god’s beloved daughter and the other world girl who had yearned for that seat this whole time, was began with a cross counter greeting so beautiful that anyone unconsciously felt admiration first 「Oooh」 rather than feeling worried.

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AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

※Original source

– Fist Fight in 5 Seconds After Meeting

From 『Battle in 5 Seconds After Meeting』.