"Hm? What do you mean?"
Asked the middle-age man with a stern face, wearing a military uniform befitting his rank, seemingly confused with the question.
"Eh?"
Asked the girl in her 20's with ponytails, wearing a slim bodysuit along with many weird weapons armed, similarly dumbfounded.
Their looks are vastly different, like a play girl trying to seduce a soldier but failing spectacularly. But due to the speciality of their job, this was… tolerable.
"But didn't you call off the attack and tell us to retreat…?"
"No? Why wouldn't I, first Lieutenant?"
Both parties are confused by all of this, as others are just standing behind just as dumbfounded by their conversation.
Earlier, while they're in hot pursuit of the new Spirit
And yet, when returning back here, they found out that their commander never announced such a command, as she thought we were called back by Kirtitani, the General of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force or GJSDF.
But, as clearly mentioned by his mouth, he also didn't issue such a thing with Ryoko in any way, which is really confusing.
And while all the members are still in chaos about this whole thing, back at the line, the short white-haired, who's also the one striking the Spirit in vain, just keeps quiet while indulging in her own thoughts…
"This is… fascinating."
Said the lady with pale blue hair with a one-sided ponytail and a remarkable beauty, despite the black circle under her eyes. She's currently analyzing the bunches of scrap in a humanoid shape, while the twin tails standing beside eager to listen for the result.
"Commander, I've finished the body."
"What did you find?"
"… Not much."
The twin tails raise her eyebrow with the Head Analysis words, confusing about what she meant.
"What I mean is that, this thing here is useless. It has no system nor hardware that could theoretically contain any command that could make it theoretically work in any way… In short, this thing is empty."
"What?! Then what just happened earlier?!"
Hearing the Head Analysis explain it all without a break, the twin tails freak out as she remembers back then.
"All the numbers don't lie, commander. The thing we have here… is now no more than an empty shell."
"… What do you mean by that?"
Hearing the twin tails confusion once again, the pale lady turns up the monitor showing the internal structure of the mangles. As what's depicted on the screen, the whole thing is merely attached together which in turns make it barely function… safe for one.
It looks like a round ball, centered in the head with wires connected to other parts of this mangles. In fact, it looks nothing like what they've seen.
"The analyzes show that this part is merely a transceiver, which in turns controls the whole body. Meaning that this body is practically a drone, controlling from afar."
"A drone…"
"But that's the weird part…"
"Hm?"
As if answering the twin tails with another confused look, the lady shows another result from the analysis.
"Normally, a receiver was built to accept signals from somewhere else, which our techs should be able to immediately pinpoint the source… But no matter how much we tried, the source is rather… bizarre."
"How bizarre?"
"The receiver takes command from… nowhere."
"What?!"
The twin tails scream all surprise with the lady revelation, but the other didn't budging one bit with her rather childish demeanor.
"It's true, there's no established connection to any place to the receiver, as if this thing's taking command from nothing."
"…"
The twin tails, clearly looking distraught and shocked, tilt her head a bit backward trying to take in this information.
"Also…"
"There's more?"
"According to the remaining fuel in its tank, I've located where it possibly might be…"
"Hm? So we know where it is?"
The twin tails eyes brighten with the lady's revelation, seemingly believing that they could uncover all of this.
In contrast, the other eyes just keep dimmer with the twin tails words, making her begin to feel unease.
"There's only one place that it could theoretically come from… and it's the DEM Japan Branch Headquarter."
"WHAT?!"
The twin tails, once again, screaming all surprise with a hint of fear yet confused with the lady's words.
As of their knowledge, DEM, short for Deux Ex Machine Industries, is the mastermind behind all of AST operations and supply, which is also a direct enemy of their organizations, those who are behind the
But, since their organization is so secretive compared to the DEM, only their top leaders ever know of the Ratatoskr existence.
It's so secret in fact, that outside of the center part of Tengu city, where they currently reside on, and is also the DEM Japanese Branch Headquarter, everywhere else is under their control.
But still, to think that those at the Headquarter could spend their time and effort, despite under heavy over-time as far as they know, building such a crappy drone that seems barely attached is quite unbelievable.
To believe that the DEM would send this piece of junk over the Spirit for a talk is harder than believing in Santa's existence, so to say…
"… Ugh, what is this day? First is the
Feeling exhausted with all of this, the twin tails falls on her back and lets out a sorrowful sigh, as the lady just blatantly staring at her.
And to none of their concern, a red flash vaguely flashed in the camera at the corner of the room…
Impressive, to think they'd actually this far with such little hint I gave them.
So they weren't as incompetent as I initially thought…
… Also, for the… Stark… learning…
First, I have to credit where credits are due.
Like, yeah, Stark… methods… seems pretty effective with women.
While I'd love to choke him to death, I have to admit he did have that playboy aura.
Still, while I did admire such an attitude, I honestly can't just blatantly follow it.
Considering the girl's alarming attitude, doing this might get me sliced in half.
And considering I was at my creation's mercy a few days ago, I won't let myself be careless anymore.
… So much for "creating the thing they dread", considering he was supposed to be my last body.
In the end, despite such valuable information from Stark… I happily can't use any of them.
Well, not all of them though.
So now… what to do next? Building a new body?
I could try, yes, but the previous factory is a no-no.
Since their speciality isn't on humanoid machines, it took me quite a while to gather parts for that crappy body.
I wonder… where to build the new body…?
Seems like I have to look further than this city for now…
A few passed ever since, without any further Spirit activity.
During this time, the
There's no camera feed, no records, no one working on any working chains…
In fact, they can't find anything related to humanoid drone-like machinery in that facility at all.
So, despite their effort once again, they're now stuck in a dead end.
On the other side, exactly in the AST side, things are not exactly peaceful either.
Because of that call, the GJSDF immediately looked for its source only to find that they're all coming from nowhere.
Although their techs aren't up to date with those on the
And yet, despite their best, none of them could find any possible leads of those phone calls, leaving them puzzled.
Not only that they can hack into all 10
So, even without any Spirit activity during this time, the AST along with GJSDF are still on high alert ready for actions at any given moment.
In a way, everything just keeps being quiet, as all the sides hold their breath waiting for something to break the ominous silence…
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu—
And at last, the gear of fate moves once again…
… Again.
That light… bought me here again…
The same sky, the same brilliant, the same scenery.
As if I never left this place in the first place.
… I…
[Since we're both from other worlds, why not see new things 'round here?]
A metallic yet… friendly, in some way, voice echoes in my mind.
Ugh! Why did I even think of that… thing?
Did it think I would be that naive to actually believe in its words…
Hmph…
?!
As I still recall its words, I suddenly feel someone approaching. And, to my annoyance, they're too familiar.
It was the mecha squad again…!!
"All engaged!!"
With a scream, all of them aim their metal rod at me and open fires but none landed on me, as I just call forth my
Tch… such useless attempt.
With an annoying thought, I fired many energy balls, a move I just recently learned, at them.
Every single one of those balls missed the target… is what I would say.
As the mecha squad successfully dodged them, all of the balls suddenly explode which disturb their position, even making some of them fall down.
"Fall back!!"
Seemingly aware of my capability, all of them quickly retracted further from me, leaving me a bit more space to breathe.
Still, the moment is short-live, as they once again shower me with those toys, which I easily blocked with my
How annoying…
Why are they all this stubborn?!
As I ran out of patience with them, one of them suddenly approached me with a blade on his hand.
This is… the same one as last time, isn't it? Well, doesn't matter.
Then, without a warning or even a huff, both of us commenced in a sword fight, with the advantages quickly falling by my side.
… Yet, in spite of this overwhelming victory, I feel nothing.
"You Spirit… I won't lose!!"
… Why? This one… so much hostility… for what?
Why are they attacking me?! What have I done?!
What… am I?
Why do I even… exist?
What's my purpose for being in this realm, to be hunted down by those squads…?
As I was still deep in my thoughts, I quickly ended the sword fight by kicking the others away at what seemed like a wall and braced myself at the others, ready to take them on again…
…?
What the?
A few moments flew by, and I suddenly realized that their attack had stopped.
The mecha squad hanging in the air, still wary of me, but have completely halted their attacks.
This is, just like the last time…
Which means… it could be—
No, it can't be! Gotta hole myself together!
No way that it will appear again—
"Been sometime isn't it,
As I was still conflicted with myself, a familiar yet empty voice came from behind me as I turned around to confirm it.
Standing there is a young teenager with metallic colored spiky hair, wearing a black and white clothes with a cape flowing behind.
But the most eyecatching about him… is those red-eyes of it. They look so vicious, dangerous…
"You… the one from last time…"
"How honored for you to remember this one."
The man, or it, making a dramatic gesture with my question.
"Well then, shall we begin our… date?"
CRACK!
A loud sound echoes through the whole room, as the twin tails unknowingly smash the lollipop.
Everyone slightly looks back at her, but seeing nothing more of her focusing expression on the screen.
"What?"
With a question mark clearly on her head, the twin tails take another lollipop in her mouth. Seeing this, everyone then returns to their job, which of course closely observes the dialogue of
Just now, as they're all ready to observe, the same scenario as last time happened again with the AST suddenly startled and retreating back. But instead of some drone popping out like last time, it's an entirely strange teenager.
But, to their shock, the teenager shrouded himself in a coat of dense
And, even more to their horror, none of their detectors could catch up with such an amount of
Then, based on the
"So… what will we do, commander?"
"Hm… what about the
"It's still at a rather mundane rate, commander."
"I see…"
The twin tails fall into thinking a bit, then clap her hand with the final decision.
"Until further notice, we'll just supervise them."
With a confident smirk, the twin tails paying close attention on the screen, where the 2 of them continue to communicate with each other…
"Date…?"
I raise my eyebrows, confused about what it just said…
"Ah my bad, it just means hanging out. So, are you still up for the offer?"
With a clearly fake expression, it quickly relieved me from uncertainty.
… Speaking of which, I feel a bit uneasy with this guy.
Although this thing looks like one of those who attack me, it feels nothing like them, as if it's just a… mask…
"What's up with your look? Seems like a fake isn't it?"
"… Oh my, you can see through that?"
"Yeah, and it feels weird."
"Heh."
With a small huff, its outline suddenly changed, revealing a metallic body full of mechanical parts instead of a human-like one, which honestly twitched my eyebrow a bit.
"This is… your true form?"
"Yeah, not trying to fool you there though. I wear the facade to help you with the date. Not really wanted everyone to freak out seeing such monstrosity walking with a beauty like you ."
… Is it, really doing all that just for me?
"… Fine."
Let out a sigh, I accepted its offer while dematerializing my
"Well then, before we make it, may I ask for your name?"
That thing's asked with a friendly tone, as I let out a huff and tend to answer it…
… Only for me to get stuck in my throat.
"Hm, my name is…"
…
"I… have none."
"Hm?"
"I have no name… or identity. I have nothing except this power…"
I frowned while answering it with hesitation, trying to avoid its gaze.
Now thinking about it, I don't really have anything.
Outside of this power, I basically own nothing else.
No memory, no relatives… no identity.
As if I never existed as of now.
All I ever know except this world is that empty void… with no one else except myself…
"I see…"
The thing suddenly spoke up as I started to feel really weird…
"After all… we're not that different."
I slightly widened my eyes with his seemingly touching response.
Because, in that last part, I somehow saw something vaguely going on his face…
Something… feels oddly familiar, yet so honest…
Hm…
"Let's skip this part and go for our stroll, shall we?"
"Yeah…"
I quickly hid my concern back inside and walked with it, but it suddenly stopped me dead in my tracks.
What the…? Why did he—
"Before we go, may I ask about your clothes?"
"My… clothes?"
Raising my eyebrow in confusion with his question, I look down on my body.
Huh… So that it mentions it, I did wear something… Wait, if I remember correctly…
"I think I can with
"
"Yeah."
The thing slightly tilted its head with my answer, acting all confusing seeming with what I just said… probably, not that I can see its expression that well.
"Adonai… name of God…"
That thing then began to mumble something, and based on what I can eardrop on, seemingly about the name of my Astral Dress… wait, why do I know what it's called?
… Welp, not that I can understand any of that though.
"You fine?"
"Oh, my apology. It's nothing much."
The thing, as of hearing my question, then popping out of its thought and apologizing to me.
I, though, wasn't that much eager in the matter… since I don't know what it's talking about.
"So… what do you want me to change into?"
"Well, not yet."
The thing shook its head and then, to my surprise, started to float in the air.
"What…?"
"Can you fly?"
"… I think, yeah…"
With a bit of concentration, albeit still feeling confused with this thing's intentions, I started to float in front of it.
"I see, then please follow me."
With a smile, the thing then started to shoot itself in the air as I then followed it behind, trying not to speed up too much.
For real though, why did it do all of this… complicated things?
With a silent sigh, we quickly both made our way out of the place…
Hm… Adonai Melek…
Interesting, to think she named her Astral Dress after the gracious name of God…
As far as I know, neither DEM or Ratatoskr knew about the Spirit Astral Dress namesake…
Also, based on what I heard earlier, she also possessed a signature weapon called
I'm curious though, how did they decide their Astral Dress and Angel name? I doubt that they really make it themself, consider that they're all pretty hard to remember.
… Maybe I can ask for that later. There'll be times for everything.
Right now? I gotta make sure she knows what humanity truly is…