But Doing Good Was Still Worth Persisting In

"Ah?"

Watching Arthur, who no longer had even a trace of the quick wit he had shown while saving people, Ramesses sighed.

He was honestly pretty damn stupid too. Whatever the Emperor said, he followed, without ever considering that the Emperor had never treated them as people.

Then he spoke helplessly.

"Are we going to just leave these people alone?"

At the edge of the square, the red-armored Thousand Sons Librarian asked his three cousins.

"Of course not."

They all answered in unison.

Wasn't the core reason they were standing here to protect people?

"Since we won't abandon them, why would the Emperor give up exploiting us for free? Can we go into the Warp and cause trouble for him? Or should we ignore these people?"

Ramesses's three questions left the other three speechless.

Damn it!

Everyone wore miserable expressions.

Was this what one would expect from a guy who got beaten into the ICU by four creditors because he freeloaded?

Anyone who could resist punching him over something like that was truly something else.

"Now I get it."

Romulus had now experienced what it had felt like for most Primarchs to deal with the Emperor back then.

That utterly bastard-like attitude of treating you purely as a tool because you were useful was simply unbelievable.

Although the rebel Primarchs all looked like clowns compared to Rogal Dorn, there was a reason the Horus Heresy had managed to pull in half the Primarchs.

"All we can say is that doing good doesn't always bring good rewards."

Karna could not help rubbing his forehead.

The Emperor's stunt had inevitably dealt a blow to everyone's spirits.

After all, they had all inevitably held onto a certain image of the Emperor as humanity's Guardian. But after witnessing this kind of behavior from him, some of that image had inevitably shattered.

Because of their understanding of this world, the Transmigrators' first thought had been to seek the protection of this guardian deity of humanity for his people. Out of moral conscience, they had not minded paying a price themselves.

But wasn't it a little too inhuman to forcibly dump the humans you wanted to protect into their arms?

And—

Listening to the various prayers to the Emperor and the melodious hymns from behind them, everyone could not help feeling a sense of disappointment, despite having been mentally prepared for it.

After all, just a few hours ago, they had been ordinary young people from an ordinary world. If you joined an operation and saved a bunch of foreigners, only for them to stand there thanking God instead of you, you would feel upset too.

They were people too. After putting in so much, it was only natural that they needed some positive feedback.

Even a little praise would have been nice.

"My lords."

A call interrupted their gloom.

After everyone straightened their appearance, Ramesses waved a hand and dispelled the psychic barrier.

"Sister Arabella."

Arthur narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sister Arabella before him, as well as Alex and Kovek behind her, slightly puzzled.

"What is it?"

"Commissar Alex and Colonel Kovek hope to have an audience with you."

What were they looking for me for at this time?

A flicker of doubt passed through his mind, but Arthur immediately agreed.

"No matter."

At that, Arabella gave a devout bow, then yielded her place to speak with the Angel to the two men behind her.

"What is it that you need?"

Arthur asked calmly.

"Honored Astartes."

Standing within the central hall cleansed by the Emperor's holy radiance, Colonel Kovek carefully took out an old but still well-maintained Lasgun pistol. He held it up with both hands while doing his utmost to suppress the excitement in his heart.

He had never dreamed that he would survive such a desperate situation, much less that he would fight side by side with such a noble Astartes who cared for ordinary mortals.

"..."

Seeing Colonel Kovek's gesture, Arthur nodded slightly and assumed a listening posture.

"On Cadia, when each of us reaches the age at which we can open our eyes, the gift we receive is a weapon bestowed by our elders. When our fingers first begin to grasp, the beams it fires can save us from the gaze of heretics and evils."

Colonel Kovek began to speak, gently stroking the weapon in his hands, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"It witnessed my journey from infant to man. It witnessed the lives of every Cadian as they grew into the Emperor's currency. It is a reflection of how Cadians have remained unyielding before countless Chaos offensives."

As he spoke, Colonel Kovek's gaze grew ever more reluctant, as though he wished to etch the appearance of the weapon into his heart.

"And now, I hope it can become a gift—a gift carrying the gratitude of myself and the 2,600 warriors of Cadia's 43rd Regiment, Broken Sword. Thank you for giving us the chance to continue fighting for humanity."

Those who rose to lead the Astra Militarum were not necessarily the best fighters, but they were certainly the ones who best understood human relationships.

They could also see the goodwill the Angels of the Emperor had shown them at every moment.

And they were trying to repay that goodwill in their own way.

"I sincerely hope you will accept this gift. May you and your battle-brothers stand unyielding, just as Cadia does."

At last, his voice carried a note of unease. He feared that his actions might offend the Astartes's customs and thus profane this sacred gift of thanks.

The silence lasted for a while. Only after roughly ten seconds did Arthur reach out and take the Lasgun pistol.

It was a very ordinary model, one even produced by an Industrial World.

"Thank you for your gift."

Under the envious gazes of the three behind him, Arthur said, "I will treasure it."

The three immediately breathed sighs of relief.

"But—"

The three instantly looked at Arthur solemnly.

No matter what the Angel requested, they would certainly fulfill it.

"I was not the only one who helped you."

Arthur pulled the three people behind him forward, including Ramesses, whose markings had been disguised with psychic power.

"Without my comrades' support, we might have long since been swallowed by the tides of the Warp. Without my comrades' support, I would not have had the confidence to help you."

"Just as every one of your victories was built alongside the comrades at your side, if I lost them, I too would be unable to witness the honor I have today."

"Therefore, I also hope that we can all receive the blessings of the Cadians."

Arthur asked gently.

"Tell me, Colonel Kovek, are we qualified?"

"Of course, my lords."

Colonel Kovek flushed red with excitement.

"It is our honor!"

Colonel Kovek, carrying the Angel's hopes, hurried back to the Astra Militarum ranks.

"So, what do you think?"

Watching a group of men who had just gotten off operating tables begin squaring up to compete for honor, Arthur turned his head toward his companions.

Yet his free hand still fondly toyed with the Lasgun pistol, which was completely mismatched to the size of his palm.

"Well, doing good doesn't always bring good rewards."

Karna turned his face away, looked at the ceiling, and shrugged again.

"But doing good is still worth persisting in."