Chapter 49: The Path to Proving the Existence of the Heart
『 The dream keeps sinking... into memories that are even older, even darker...
Barbed wire torn apart, dark, massive hands are shattering everything. A giant pink flower drifts across the sky.
Where is this? How long has it been? 』
『 ....』
〘Zhu Yuan〙: The giant pink flower… It's Nineveh, right?
〘Qingyi〙: Looks like this is the memory Seed Sr. discovered in Hollow Zero regarding Seed.
....
『 "Someone… there are still signs of life here! Someone is still alive!" Seed Sr. looked toward Little Seed by the monument ahead, speaking with excitement.
Little Seed turned her head, tears streaming down, but her face remained expressionless, like a puppet.
"That's… a child! I knew it, the higher-ups shouldn't have ordered the search and rescue to stop… miracles really do exist! Someone is really still alive!" Seed Sr.'s tone grew increasingly excited.
"...Are you okay? Have you been trapped here all this time? Don't be afraid. I'm here to save you..."
"Warning, warning!"
The self-policing system emitted a warning sound, and then Seed Sr.'s weapon automatically aimed at Little Seed.
Seed Sr. looked in shock at his own hand, which had raised involuntarily.
"System warning. Target identified as extremely dangerous. Initiating termination sequence."
"Wait… wait! Don't… don't shoot, that child isn't some—"
"Warning. Tampering with the self-defense system is strictly prohibited. Warning, warning, warni#$@%..."
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
After destroying his own self-policing system, Seed Sr. let out a shrill cry of pain. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: I remember Trigger saying that intelligent constructs cannot disobey the self-policing system. What happens if they do?
〘Trigger〙: Seed Sr.'s life entered a countdown from that moment on…
....
『 "——!!" Seed woke up with a start, gasping for air.
"...It was just a dream."
This dream changed her perspective once again.
"Doing nothing won't work. He won't be able to come back."
"Become stronger… if only I could become stronger…"
Seed's expression shifted from sorrow and loss to determination, and then the scene changed. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: A familiar feeling.
〘Silver Wolf〙: Just how much does the developer of this game love multi-threaded narratives?
....
『 "Now that I think about it, the last time I spoke with that dull big guy was several years ago," Magus said.
"He was very honest, never thinking to hide his intentions."
Then, the scene showed the Obol Squad from the past: Seed Sr. sitting in front of a fence, Orpheus sitting on a nearby oil drum, and Trigger leaning against the fence.
Above them was a beautiful starry sky, filled with music from owls and other small birds.
Magus turned her head toward Seed Sr. and asked: "So, you submitted an application to join the Obol Squad, just so that after your slow death, that stray girl you picked up from Hollow Zero—whose origins are unknown—could be taken care of?"
"Hmph, I'm impressed you could say that in front of us. Or did you think that by telling the truth, I'd show leniency and accept a candle in the wind like you into the squad?"
"Captain Magus, isn't that a bit harsh…" Orpheus reminded.
"A candle in the wind… haha, I suppose that's true. A soldier like me, who could stop breathing at any moment during a mission—I doubt any squad would want me," Seed Sr. said, mocking himself.
"But I've heard through certain… unofficial channels… that you aren't just an ordinary military squad. Besides executing orders from the top, you're also secretly investigating clues about the Fall of the Old Capital."
"Tsk. Which blabbermouth was it this time?" Magus pursed her lips.
"The intel was correct, then… In that case, entrusting that child to you is the most appropriate choice. At least we're trying to do the same thing." Seeing Magus's reaction, Seed Sr. knew he had found the right people.
"So, what else do you want to investigate? The true origins of that girl?" Magus asked.
"Yes. Why could she survive in Hollow Zero for half a month without being corrupted, why did she appear alone in the ruins, and what did she experience before I met her…" Seed Sr. nodded.
"I want to know these things. I believe that only by conducting a deeper investigation into the Fall of the Old Capital can these secrets potentially surface."
"Hmph, you really don't hold anything back, big guy. Since that's the case, I have a question for you too, and you'd better keep being this honest."
"Recently, there have been several accidents with combat mechs in the barracks, ranging from rampages to spontaneous combustion, luckily without causing major disasters. Do these have anything to do with her?"
"Sister Magus!" Orpheus called out again.
"It's just a logical deduction! He's a mass-produced military Intelligent Construct. To ensure they don't disobey orders, they all have a self-defense system called the Iron Order installed in their logic core."
"And you heard it too — he destroyed his own logic core to save that girl... He didn't have to go that far unless he's trying to break free from the Iron Order!"
"...It identified the girl as a dangerous target that had to be eliminated, and he went against the system at the cost of his life — that's the only way I can see it."
Magus's deduction was accurate. Seed Sr. listened and smiled.
"Haha, you really are sharp. Sorry, I didn't mean to hide it… It's just that I didn't know how to bring it up."
"During a rescue mission a few months ago, the child was hiding in my cockpit. She witnessed the death of trapped civilians… After that, she didn't speak for a while, and all sorts of strange phenomena started to appear."
"It took me a while to realize that those mechanical accidents were related to her. But I believe it was never intentional on her part… That unknown power—she can't control it yet."
"Pardon my frankness, but this perhaps isn't a question of intention. Whether it's another accident like this or the higher-ups discovering she's the source… I assume the consequences are not something you can bear," Trigger, who was standing to the side, said to Seed Sr.
"Exactly! Throwing such a hot potato to us and then just dying yourself… do you think things are just that simple!" Magus looked at Seed Sr., furious.
"I am truly sorry. I know this is a very helpless request," Seed Sr. lowered his head, dejected.
But as Magus spoke the next sentence, Seed Sr. raised his head.
"At the very least, tell us how to get along with her and how to stabilize her state!" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: She's still a tsundere.
〘Huohuo〙: She's getting more and more like Tail.
〘Tail〙: Go away, go away, who's like her? This great one is definitely not a tsundere.
....
『 "You mean… you're willing to help me?" Seed Sr. looked at Magus, asking intermittently.
"Isn't that obvious! Otherwise, why would we have rushed over to save you when your body was suddenly paralyzed!" Magus finished speaking, turning her head away in anger, not wanting to see this dull big guy.
"The captain speaks a bit bluntly, but she means no harm. We've been observing you for some time," Trigger said.
"Thank you… Thank you all. As I thought, meeting you before my consciousness completely fades… is my good fortune."
"Stop with that mushy talk. If we had met sooner… we could have done more for you and that child." Magus's voice grew quieter as she spoke, and the barrel of her gun lowered.
"Being able to entrust her to you is enough for me… I don't want her background to remain a fog forever, and I don't want her to live on being viewed by everyone as an outcast. That's why I took action… for the truth."
"But unfortunately, I think I'm reaching my limit. Within a few months, my functions will likely cease completely," Seed Sr. whispered.
"How to get along with that child, how to stabilize her emotions—I will tell you all of it… But before that, I hope you can do me one small favor."
"Please keep my death a secret from her."
"To prevent her powers from losing control again?" Magus asked.
"Yes, as I said, witnessing others' deaths caused her powers to leak out a few times, but she seems to be gradually getting used to it… Now, even when fallen soldiers are brought back to the barracks, she doesn't lose control when she sees them." Seed Sr. nodded, then explained why he wanted them to hide the news of his death.
"I don't know if this should be considered a good thing or a bad thing. But perhaps she shouldn't be overloaded with this information right now… especially the news of my death. At least until the time is right… Please don't let her find out."
"Ha! You really know how to set a challenge for people, pulling this right after joining the squad!" Magus complained.
"I know you won't just sit by and watch, Magus," Seed Sr. said.
"Before you completely shut down, I'm going to work you to the bone, so remember that, big guy. Fight until the very last moment as a father, Seed."
"After I'm gone, that child will become the new Seed. And, I think perhaps I can't call myself her father… I've never had a family, and I can't understand what kind of relationship that is."
"I was born as a combat weapon for the military; the existence of a 'heart' is like a false proposition to me. And as for her… apart from the tears when we first met, she has never shown any other emotions. The military doctor told me she has no 'Heart'."
"I just wanted to embark on a journey with that child to prove that a 'Heart'. truly exists." 』
『 ....』