Chương 170: Chapter 50: “Unless You Reach Out Your Hand”

"Scorched-Earth... Strategic Destruction Weapon..." Just hearing it, it was an ominous designation.

"What is that?"

"A demon weapon said to have turned this world into a dead planet in the blink of an eye in the past. Only one unit remained, and it was reused as a guardian of the system."

"Such a thing..." Plato hung his head and shook it slightly.

"We can't see even a shadow of it yet... but it will come here soon. We are finished..."

"Why do you conclude it's the end? I—""If a natural disaster occurred right here and now, do you think you could do anything about it?" Because he, who was usually quiet, suddenly raised his voice, Lilna swallowed her words as if taken aback. Casting a reckless glance at her, he sighed again.

"... It's a story on that level. There's nothing we can do." He seemed to have given up completely.

"But..." Seeing him despairing, Lilna couldn't continue her words. Taking over after her, I said. Putting the determination welling up in my chest into words.

"Even so. You shouldn't give up easily. We have to do everything we can. You can whine after that."

"You are..." Plato threw a gaze back at me as if fed up. But his eyes are searching my eyes intently. I've experienced desperate situations many times. I've even been to the brink of the world ending. I failed many times. But I've overcome just as many times. It's not just my power. There are many things I couldn't have reached unless I combined the power of my friends and unless luck sided with my resolve. In the end, there are things I couldn't reach no matter what. I don't know the boundary.

That's why I have to struggle endlessly. I have to do what I can. What this hand can reach is limited. But possibility is only given to those who reach out their hands.

"I'll bring everyone. First, let's gather as much fighting power as possible, and then stop the Prelions. To reduce the victims even a little."

"After that, what will you do? Don't tell me... you intend to fight seriously?" To Plato groaning with a face of disbelief, I nodded strongly.

"Of course. We won't know until we try to the end, right?"

"You... Do you understand? What you are trying to face...!" When he pressed me and our eyes met clearly. He seemed to gasp. He must have felt unwavering determination from me. That it doesn't matter what the opponent is. Just do it. Instead of blame, what came out was another sigh. He looks completely amazed. I wonder how many times I've been amazed at like this. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"What is it? Really... You, again and again. Why do you struggle so much? Why don't you try to give up? Who on earth are you..."

"Just a traveler. But I've seen despair in my own way. I also know that there is just as much hope." I'm still just a greenhorn, though. But I think I know a little. That even if it looks miserable, there is a certain value in struggling.

"If we're going to die even if we do nothing anyway, let's just do it. See. It's much more hopeful than continuing meaningless killing between Natura and Humite."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the enemy we should defeat is clearer than ever, and we just have to win. There are no hard feelings at all."

"Fu, fufu... Hahaha! You're right!" I look at Lilna, who started laughing as if it were uncontrollably funny. She was directing a passionate gaze at me.

"I hate idiots who don't look at reality. But, Yu. I don't dislike an idiot like you."

"Thanks. I'll say this just in case, though. It's not like I'm not scared." Plato didn't say anything anymore. A light of strong will seemed to dwell in his eyes a little. At this rate, he should be fine.

"Lilna. While I'm away for a bit, I'm counting on you if anything happens."

"Of course. Leave it to me." Now. Teleportation Magic to Luonhumite, and...

"Ah, right." Right. I forgot something important.

"Before I go, shall we clarify just one thing? I hate leaving hard feelings." I was already convinced. So I have no anger towards him anymore. I looked Plato firmly in the eye and declared.

"You killed Mina and William. But you didn't kill Tranity. The Prelion did it on its own. Isn't that right?"

"Was that so?" Saying so, Lilna didn't seem that surprised anymore. Prelions are also equipped with beam rifles like Plato. If it was almost like a surprise attack, there was nothing she, a non-combat type, could do. That must be the truth. I heard from Lilna. You care about your comrades. You couldn't kill her.

"...... I couldn't stop it. It's like I let her die. What's the difference from me killing her?" After a long silence, Plato groaned as if finally resigned. I had various thoughts, but I decided to smile at him.

"Throwing Ryuto too. You were always worrying and fighting alone. I think it's okay to acknowledge yourself for at least that much." Saying only that, I teleported to Luonhumite without adding any more unnecessary meddling. To face the death match starting from now on with full power, borrowing the help of everyone in Humite waiting at the villa. Lilna and Plato. Only the two of them were left behind on the spot. Plato looks at Lilna with an awkward face. She was staring back at him straight.

In those eyes staring at him, the intense agitation and indignation from when they were hostile were no longer included. He sighed.

"Tell that hopeless good-natured person. Having one's heart seen through isn't always a pleasant thing."

"Fufu. I agree completely. Having someone step into your circumstances with muddy shoes isn't very pleasant." Silence flows for a while. The one who broke it first was Lilna.

"I'm sorry. For not being able to believe you until the end."

"It's fine. At that time, I seriously intended to 'fix' you." Plato, who said so, had a refreshed face as if a burden had been lifted. He had returned to the him as the vice-captain who supported her. Falling into a hopeless situation, it can be said that he finally made up his mind. To the extent that it became ridiculous why he was worrying so much. He felt rather refreshed.

"Well then... I'm going. I can't keep you company going to die together like good friends."

"You have something else you should do, don't you? You have that look in your eyes." Plato only shrugged his shoulders and didn't deny it. Instead, he sighed grandly. A sigh he didn't know how many times it had been.

"Good grief... Everyone. Let me act cool a little."

"It's okay. You look cool enough to me now."

"Haa... If it comes to this, there is no choice but to do what I can. Rather than sitting and waiting for ruin." Then, staring back firmly into her blue eyes, he said honestly this time. Words he couldn't say when confronting her in front of the Hundred Machine Council came out honestly without hesitation for some reason now.

"I... wanted you to live, in whatever form." Lilna didn't say anything back. She just nodded silently. Twenty years ago, he, who was spending lonely days as a monitor of Project D, accidentally found her, the target of investigation, at the investigation site. Lilna. Liet Luenso Natura. It is said that she was named with the meaning of " One who protects and guides Natura correctly." She is considered the posthumous work of the solitary genius researcher, Lewis Baget.

Lewis Baget was a person whose name was listed at the top of the watch list as an opponent of the plan. Naturally, Lewis's data was also in the system. Most of what he developed is also listed. Lilna should have undoubtedly become a true enemy for the plan. Therefore, she had to be eliminated as soon as she was found. But he couldn't kill her. He just couldn't kill the comrade of the old era he finally found. He proposed. To implant CPD in her too and use her as a pawn of the plan.

That was the only way to keep her alive. The proposal was accepted shortly after. The twenty years since then were happy for him too. Even knowing that it was nothing but days of deception. He was happy. Days that were not lonely. He thought of them like family.

"I wanted the folks at Dielevats to live too." Perhaps because he cherished them, he became overprotective. As a result, he misjudged. He ended up letting precious comrades die before his eyes. He should have let them fight sooner. Even if it might be nothing but a futile struggle. He should have respected her original mission and wish. It is already irreversible, but at least from now on, let's let her do as she wishes. He thought so. Then, I will support from the shadows.

She has her battlefield, and I have my duty to fulfill. It seems the time has come to pay the price for remaining a powerless observer for these two thousand years.

"Don't die. Lilna."

"You too. Plato." Instead of a reply, floating an awkward bitter smile, Plato disappeared into the depths of the city alone.