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Dialogue for the Upcoming Peace Negotiation

 

「Vasa has entered the sealed section alone. He’s heading this way.」

「Is he coming?」

「I think Vasa wants to talk to you, Kou. That’s why he let Blue escape and didn’t finish off Müller-san. That’s what it feels to me at least.」

「…I think so too. I don’t know what his aim is, though.」

Kou pondered the situation.

「Should I talk to him? Or should I just fight him without question? Asia’s Aimer, what should I do? No, just tell me what you think.」

「…I think you should talk to him. As I said, he deliberately chose not to kill your companions because he doesn’t want to be your enemy. And… this might sound strange, but I think you two might actually get along.」

「I’m not sure about getting along… but if I hadn’t become an EX Rank Development Engineer, Vasa probably would have taken on that role. There must be something there.」

Kou couldn’t quite grasp it. This was war. Killing and being killed were inevitable.

But it seemed that the enemy was avoiding tactics like taking hostages or going around killing Kou’s acquaintances.

It was clearly part of their strategy. Yet, it felt deeply unsettling.

「Then let me offer my advice as well. I also believe you should talk to him. Entering talks with him can not only help reduce casualties in this battle but help the overall war as well.」

「Master!」

The consciousness of Master, which had been dormant within Aimer, surfaced.

「What do you want to achieve in this war?」

「What I want… I want to repel the enemy and end the war quickly.」

「If the enemy were a mindless horde of Murders, the only option would be a fight to the death. But the opponent is an organization, an army composed of human beings who live in a society. There’s no need to fight an annihilation battle.」

「What do you mean?」

「By engaging in dialogue, we could potentially pave the way for a future ceasefire. Ideally, even a peace agreement. Although they don’t seem like the type to agree to such terms… depending on the situation, it could be possible.」

「Situation?」

「Every war has conditions for victory. Our goals are to defend Asia and the Fortress Area and to destroy the Megareus. The enemy’s victory condition is our subjugation. And… the lives of key figures and leaders will also play a role in these calculations.」

「Key figures…?」

「In our case, that would be you, Jenny, Barry, and perhaps even Aimer, depending on the circumstances. On the enemy’s side, it would be Vasa or one of the demigods— the Stones who parasitize human bodies. The decisions and treatment of these key figures will deeply influence both sides whether in victory or defeat.」

「…」

Kou was troubled. He had never deeply considered the strategic victory conditions.

「If you and Vasa can establish a relationship where dialogue is possible, an end to the war through negotiations may be possible. We need to create an environment where strategic maneuvering for such a negotiation is possible. We are at a disadvantage, which is why we must have as many options as possible. Even if our hand is weak, we can’t forget the high cards—an Ace or a King is worth more than a two.」

「Do you really think I can handle negotiations?」

「It’s a strategic dialogue for the upcoming peace negotiations. Victory or defeat is merely an outcome. The goal is to explore a compromise where both sides can meet halfway. Of course, if the demands are impossible to meet, the negotiations could break down.」

「Finding common ground, huh…」

「Exactly. Achieving peace requires persistent negotiation.」

「I’m worried I won’t handle it well.」

「Not fond of negotiations? Would you rather let Aimer handle it?」

Master smiled mischievously.

「I’ll do it.」

Kou didn’t want to impose on Aimer any longer. Master knew this. She couldn’t allow Kou to depend on Aimer either. This was something Kou had to do for himself.

「That’s the spirit. Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you, and so will Asia’s Aimer.」

This time, Master’s smile was full of confidence.

「There’s no need to overthink it. Just treat it as small talk. You have plenty of common ground, you are both Development Engineers, after all. Even salespeople start with small talk before getting to the point. You should have asked Fuyuki for advice on that.」

「Even back on Earth, the salespeople I knew always said they never started with the main topic.」

「Exactly. It’s easy to come off as overeager when you’re only focused on the result. You’ll learn this better through experience.」

「Master, you’re as tough as ever.」

「I don’t think I’m as harsh as Astraea, though. You learn faster by doing.」

「I have no comeback to that.」

「Do your best. We’re here for you.」

Master consciousness retreated and Aimer’s body’s control returned to Asia’s Aimer.

「Kou…」

「Don’t worry. I won’t move from here, and I’ll think carefully about what to say.」

He was concerned about Blue and Müller. But he couldn’t move. Vasa was undoubtedly on his way.

More importantly, he couldn’t let Aimer handle the negotiation. If he was the target, even more so. All he could do was focus on fulfilling his role.

「The defensive line has been breached by two Corvus types. They’re leaping across the rooftops in the building cluster at Point E.」

「That’s the route to the sealed section.」

「Takaba-san and Chiba-san have gone out to intercept. They should engage in about five minutes.」

「They’re tough opponents, but those two should be able to handle them. If Vasa is in that transformable silhouette… then it’s likely Bardo and another Development Engineer.」

If Hyoue and Yuzuki couldn’t win, it would be a struggle even for Kou. The Corvus type had the same capabilities as the Lanius C, which had similar capabilities as the Accipiters the two piloted.

The Corvus was indeed a formidable opponent, but it was limited by being a melee-focused Silhouette. There weren’t many who could best those two in swordplay. For those who primarily relied on ranged weapons, it would be difficult to maximize the machine’s performance without considerable ingenuity.

「Kou. He’s coming.」

「Yeah.」

The first time Kou rescued Asia, Bardo had been waiting for him. Now, it was his turn to wait.

The room was different in shape from the one he had met Bardo, but it was still vast. This chamber alone spanned several kilometers.

Kou found himself thinking absurd thoughts, like how the patience of a dungeon boss must be impressive—waiting deep in the labyrinth without taking any action, no wonder they would become talkative when a visitor finally arrived.

The door slid open, and Vasa’s Bogatyri appeared. He was holding a weapon, but it wasn’t raised.

「Surprising. It seems you’re prepared to talk. Nice to meet you, Kou, Knight of Asia. My name is Vasa.」

「I’m Kou. Knight of Asia, huh? I won’t deny it. I figured you wanted to talk based on your actions.」

Kou activated the communication link. There was no reason to hide anymore.

「I’m glad we’re getting straight to the point. —Asia, I know you’re listening. I’d like to speak with Kou alone. Can you give us some privacy?」

Vasa called out, not realizing that Asia was right behind Kou.

The deepest part of the sealed section was enveloped in a strange magnetic field.

「All communications have been cut off. Even the MCS recording functions are down. You know your stuff well. I take it you’re on board with this too?」

「That’s right. I’m not good at deceit or trickery. —Though I must admit, I’m also curious about that machine of yours.」

「The feeling is mutual. I’m interested in why you’ve continued to modify one of the earliest Lanius models. But before we get into that, let’s clear up some misunderstandings.」

「Misunderstandings? I know you’re acting for Asia’s sake.」

「Oh?」

Vasa gave a faint smile.

「You’re quick to the point. And now, I’m even more interested in you. Well then, let’s have a chat.」

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

「A machine identical to Takaba’s has appeared!」

Bardo, who was piloting the Corvus, relayed this to Castor. They were moving by leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Even if there were enemies, they were snipers—easy enough to cut down.

「I’ll leave Takaba to you.」

「Yes, sir!」

Takaba Hyoue’s Accipiter appeared directly in front of Bardo’s Corvus. Meanwhile, on a taller building above them, Castor faced off against Chiba Yuzuki’s Accipiter.

「Bardo-kun, it’s been a while since the Orbital Elevator battle. Looks like you’ve honed your skills even more.」

「Heh, glad to see you’re still kicking, old man.」

「I’ll let you in on something. The one piloting the silhouette over there, she’s stronger than me.」

「Oh? Then I’ll share something with you too. The pilot of the other Corvus—he’s my master.」

「What?」

A bad feeling crept over Takaba. But he knew Bardo wasn’t someone who would let him turn his back and walk away unscathed.

On the other hand, Chiba Yuzuki also felt a chill run down her spine. She and her opponent had assumed identical mid-stance positions—a move called the ‘Seigan’. The tip of the opponent’s blade was always aimed at her vital points.

「No openings at all. Who are you?」

Her opponent opened a private communication channel. Wanting to understand the identity of this unknown enemy, she decided to respond.

「And who are you? To be able to take such a well-practiced stance in that silhouette…」

A silhouette, while a vehicle, could be trained to mimic its pilot’s movements. The fact that it could assume a stance without any openings was proof that the pilot himself was equally skilled.

「My name is Castor, a Hemitheos, a demigod.」

「I’m Chiba Yuzuki.」

They exchanged names, and Yuzuki couldn’t help but let a small smile slip at the thought of how this felt like something out of a period drama.

Upon seeing Yuzuki, the enemy seemed slightly taken aback. The enemy was a man dressed in a tunic modeled after the ancient Greek chiton, with a cloak called an abolla draped over his shoulders. The hood was pulled low, revealing only his mouth—it was the same attire all known demigods had worn.

「A woman?」

「You shouldn’t underestimate me just because of that.」

Inwardly, she hoped he would though. Even the slightest lapse in concentration could mean death against an opponent like this.

「I won’t.」

He moved. The tip of Castor’s blade trembled slightly.

「But you might lose just because you’re a woman.」

Castor shook his head, pulling back his hood. The sight that met Yuzuki was so shocking it took her breath away.

That shock wasn’t just emotional—it became a physical force.

Castor’s blade pierced through the MCS of Yuzuki’s Accipiter, driving through her abdomen and even the seat’s backrest beyond.