Number Twenty-One

Kasgar and Lucius, as new recruits of the Third Legion, naturally had to undergo Space Marine augmentation.

However, with the Sons of the Emperor still rebuilding from ruins, the Gene-seed required for augmentation had to be extracted from Fulgrim's blood and cultivated slowly.

With Gene-seed currently in extreme short supply, the recruits could only undergo augmentation one by one through a lottery.

And evidently, Lucius had received this unexpected stroke of luck.

"Awesome!"

"Kasgar, get ready to spend every day eating cookies from now on, hahaha!"

Cheering, he skipped out after Apothecary Melusine.

"Wait!"

"Apothecary, may I ask how long I'll have to wait for my augmentation surgery?"

Seeing this, Kasgar hurriedly called after her.

"You?"

She looked Kasgar up and down. "Your situation is special. Most of your augmentation procedures won't be performed by me."

"Huh?"

Though she really did look like a mad doctor, perhaps one day she would earn the Warhammer title of "Legendary Body Modifier King."

Still, as the Emperor's Children's Chief Apothecary, her skill was unquestionably exceptional.

If Kasgar was not undergoing augmentation surgery under her care, then who would perform it?

"You'll find out when we reach Terra."

Melusine did not reveal much more. Leaving only those words behind, she shut the door and departed with Lucius.

Once Lucius had left, only Aqua and Kasgar remained in the room.

".Did I speak a little too harshly just now?"

Out of the blue, after she returned her blade to its sheath, Aqua asked awkwardly.

Her gaze was no longer as icy as before, but filled with gentle apology.

"Sorry. Whenever I'm fighting, I'm not very good at controlling my expression or my words."

"Whenever I win, I always habitually say some ill-timed taunts. If I hurt you, I'm truly sorry."

"It's nothing."

Kasgar answered with a smile.

"Actually, you did have a point."

"Fulgrim really has wasted too much time on me."

She was a Primarch who pursued perfection in everything.

Yet even she, with her superhuman abilities and willpower, had a vulnerable side.

"I can feel it. Ever since she recovered her memories and joined the Great Crusade, the burden on her shoulders has only grown heavier."

As a Primarch, she had to devote herself completely to the Great Crusade.

As a role model, she had to lead by example, making every word and action perfectly flawless.

As the mistress of the Third Legion, she could not dishonor the dead warriors who had been granted her double-headed eagle insignia.

And even... as the wife of Kasgar, she had to bury all that pressure deep inside, showing only her brightest smile and happiness to her beloved.

She could not disappoint the Emperor, her children, the fallen heroic spirits, or Kasgar.

She could not disappoint anyone.

She had to be... perfect.

Kasgar could sense the immense psychological pressure lurking beneath the lively exterior of the Violet Court Phoenix.

"I have to help her shoulder some of it."

"Otherwise, she may very well be crushed beneath it in the future."

Kasgar sighed heavily, the training sword in his hand still swinging without pause.

"But tell me, to what extent can I even help her?"

He gave a bitter smile.

"Is that why your sword looks so impatient?"

"Yes."

"How could I not understand that haste makes waste? But there are too many hardships ahead of us, and the enemies we must defeat are too powerful."

"If I don't try to push myself a little harder, then only the darkest ending awaits us in the future."

"I see."

Aqua nodded approvingly.

"Since you already possess the determination and fighting spirit to persevere, I naturally won't hold anything back in teaching you swordsmanship."

"Then please guide me well."

Kasgar nodded in return.

He felt that the distance between them had narrowed considerably.

Then he watched her pick up the cookie tray and walk toward him.

"--How about a cookie first?"

"Trust me, they're really delicious."

The dagger was finally revealed.

"Honorable Lady Aqua, I am grateful for your instruction in swordsmanship. But in this matter, please allow me to refuse."

"You really won't eat one?"

"--No."

Kasgar's gaze was resolute, his expression solemn.

He looked like a righteous hero, and also like a warrior preparing to meet death with generosity.

"Hmph. Fine, don't eat."

Aqua Duna angrily packed away the tray.

Then she picked up a training sword from the side and resumed her combat stance.

"In that case, are you ready, Kasgar?"

"Now, it's time for your guidance."

She deliberately emphasized those two words.

"Gasp--"

"Ow, ow, ow, ow."

Aqua Duna truly was a remarkably talented swordsmanship instructor.

If not for her excessive confidence in her own cooking.

Even Fulgrim, a Primarch skilled with the sword, would have to admit inferiority before the depth of Aqua's study of swordsmanship.

But at the same time.

The cookies she made were not something even the Twilight Commando, renowned for their resilience, could easily endure.

Aqua gave him two choices.

Eat, or do not eat.

Either way, the outcome seemed to lead to death.

Yet under the threat to his life, Kasgar still chose to endure her storm-like barrage of blows.

Feeling the many bruises all over his body, he felt rather helpless.

She claimed it was training his ability to withstand blows, but he had no doubt that quite a bit of it was retaliation.

"You didn't make her angry on your very first day, did you?"

Fulgrim teased as she applied white ointment to his back.

Whenever Fulgrim guided him in the past, she used the Love-Dove Sword. Even in sparring, she always stopped at the right point.

Seeing Kasgar beaten up like this, she felt distressed for him, but also rather amused by his misfortune.

"Gasp-- It still hurts so much."

"No. But by the way, Fulgrim."

"When is my Space Marine augmentation surgery scheduled?"

"Yours..."

Fulgrim leaned closer, gently covering Kasgar's ear with her hand as she whispered.

"The Emperor said that he would personally customize part of your augmentation surgery."

"Huh?"

The Pride of the Emperor.

He connected to that old acquaintance through Psychic Power communication.

"Old friend."

"Number Three has successfully returned to the Imperium. We are returning to Terra."

How did she perform?

"Far beyond my expectations."

As he spoke, a smile spread uncontrollably across his lips.

"I have to admit, your suggestion back then did make some sense."

You mean that among these little brats, there really needed to be some women to prevent domestic disputes?

Heh, I remember you didn't approve at the time.

"I do not deny that."

He admitted it.

"And this journey has brought an unexpected gain as well."

Unexpected, yet still within the plan.

"A newcomer will soon join our big family."

Oh?

"That is a very interesting fellow."

He raised his head and looked at the colorful radiance beyond the Geller Field.

A trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

"And from then on, we may call him--"

"Number Twenty-One."

Alpha Omega was also Number Twenty.