Lance Charge on the Arkship, But No Mount

"Hello, Miss Kal'tsit. And what should I call this young lady?"

"Her name is Amiya. She is Rhodes Island's new leader."

Hearing Kal'tsit introduce her, the little girl tried hard to stand up straight and said to Claude with a slight stammer.

"Welcome, Mr. Claude. I hope we can establish a g-good cooperative relationship."

"Of course. That is my hope as well." Claude bent down, extended his hand, and shook her tiny palm.

Centaurea took the child for a medical examination. After all, this was one of the most advanced places for treating Oripathy. Since they had such a rare opportunity, they should thoroughly examine her infection. Meanwhile, Claude was reviewing the contract. He had just carefully discussed the details of their cooperation with Kal'tsit and Amiya.

Claude hoped to establish a long-term partnership with them and purchase Oripathy suppressants from them over an extended period. They had argued over the price of the suppressants for a long time before finally agreeing on a figure that satisfied both sides. Claude carefully inspected the contract they had drafted and was pleased to find that there were no hidden tricks within it. He signed it happily, then paid half the deposit. The remaining half would be paid after he received all the medicine.

"Mr. Claude, I would like to invite you to tour Rhodes Island so we may deepen our mutual understanding. What do you think?"

Kal'tsit stopped Claude just as he was about to leave after saying goodbye.

"Of course. I'd be delighted." Claude readily accepted the woman's invitation. He was quite curious about Rhodes Island as well.

"Then I will have Operator Dobermann show you around. She is one of our more senior operators. I have something to attend to, so please excuse me for now."

"Very well. Please go ahead, Miss Kal'tsit."

"This is our operator training area. Our operators hone their combat skills here." A tall, slender Perro woman with long black hair was introducing the various facilities of Rhodes Island to Claude.

Claude leaned over the railing and looked at the operators training on the deck below. They came from all kinds of races, and Claude even spotted Sarkaz among them, a race he had not encountered before. Quite a few infected operators wore monitoring devices, yet there was not the slightest hint of discord between them and the uninfected. Here, the infected were not treated differently. They received the same treatment as everyone else, which greatly impressed Claude.

What pleased Claude most was the atmosphere here. He could not see the cruel rule of Ursus, nor could he see the invisible exploitation and oppression of Kazimierz's capitalists. It was as though human relationships had returned to their original, most essential state. Everyone was equal; there was no question of one person oppressing another.

As he watched the operators training diligently, Claude saw expectation and enthusiasm for the future in their eyes. They had confidence in their futures, something rarely seen on the snowfields of Ursus.

"Your company's operators seem very skilled at squad combat. From what I can see, their training seems focused on that."

"You are correct, Mr. Claude. Squad combat is our company's basic mode of operation. We are also very confident in this area and consider ourselves at the forefront."

"This approach is indeed highly suited to your company's organizational structure. It can have unexpected effects under all kinds of circumstances. But if you will forgive my frankness, this style of combat places extremely high demands on the commander's abilities. There is also almost no room for error. Once a commander makes a mistake, it could very well lead to the entire force being wiped out. It requires extraordinary mental fortitude from the commander and places immense psychological pressure on them. If there were two or more senior commanders with comparable abilities, this situation should be improved."

Miss Dobermann suddenly looked surprised, as if Claude had hit upon something. After a long while, she let out a long breath.

"I almost thought you had worked here before, Mr. Claude. For a time, our situation was essentially just as you described. But I'm afraid I cannot disclose this matter to you."

"I understand. Matters like that are confidential anywhere."

A loud bell suddenly rang out on the deck. The training operators stopped what they were doing, gathered their belongings, and left in small groups, chatting and laughing.

"Mr. Claude, it seems it is time for lunch. Please come to the cafeteria with me."

"Of course, no problem. I'm looking forward to it." Claude could tell that Miss Dobermann was trying to change the subject, so he went along with it and agreed. Following her, he headed down the stairs beside the deck.

Rhodes Island's cafeteria was enormous, large enough to accommodate thousands of people eating at once. It was already bustling with noise. The operators lined up at the various serving windows, swiping their meal cards to collect their food. The air gradually filled with a rich, sweet aroma. Smelling that wonderful scent, Claude found himself getting hungry as well. Talking with Dobermann, he joined the line behind one of the serving windows.

He took a multipurpose tray and utensils from a nearby table. As he waited, Claude observed the operators around him. The scene always reminded him of a university cafeteria. Just as noisy, just as full of small groups gathering together to eat. Everyone wore relaxed smiles. Some were even using both hands, stuffing themselves with bread and roasted meat...

Then Claude spotted a familiar figure. She was wearing the new clothes he had bought for her, happily eating with a blissful, silly grin spread across her face.

As though she sensed something, she suddenly turned and spotted Claude. Delight appeared on her face. Waving her greasy hand, she called his name, though with her mouth stuffed full of food, it came out extremely unclear.

"...Claud~."

Claude waved to calm her down for the moment, since the line was nearly at his turn.

When he reached the counter, Dobermann swiped her card for his portion as well, allowing him to simply collect his meal. Behind the counter stood a tall Forte man, who accepted Claude's tray with an enthusiastic smile. Using a huge ladle, he gave Claude a generous scoop of braised potatoes and meat. Then he added a bowl of steaming thick soup and several pieces of bread from the side.

"Here is your meal, sir. This should not be too little, right?" he asked as he handed the tray to Claude.

"Of course. This is more than enough. Thank you." Claude nodded in return.

Carrying the steaming food, Claude walked over to the child. She hurriedly squeezed to one side to make room for him, while Miss Dobermann sat opposite him. Claude took a bite of the braised potatoes and meat. The rich, savory flavor made him close his eyes in enjoyment.

What an interesting place.

A New Beginning: Ceobe and Vulcan

Whatever else could be said about Rhodes Island, their food was certainly excellent. After finishing the last bite of braised potatoes and meat, Claude came to that conclusion. Even food prepared in a cafeteria tasted this wonderful, which pleased him greatly. He also began seriously considering the idea of leaving the child here.

After placing his empty tray in the return area, Claude pulled out a napkin and wiped his mouth.

"I want another serving." The girl's clear voice rang out behind him.

When he turned around, the child was standing at the serving window for the sixth time. Feeling the surprised looks Rhodes Island's operators were giving her, Claude somehow felt a trace of embarrassment too, as if he were the one being stared at.

He could not help covering his mouth and coughing twice, drawing the child's attention. Carrying her freshly served food, she ran happily over to Claude. Then she grabbed a cooked meat patty and tried to hand it to him.

"...That is not what I meant. Are you full?" Claude instinctively accepted the meat patty she offered. Hearing his question, the blonde girl hesitated, her face taking on a thoughtful expression before she answered.

"With this, I'll be full."

Claude looked at the innocent child, and his expression softened. He reached out and rubbed her head, feeling the softness of her large ears against his palm. "Don't go hungry. Once you're full, come find me."

He greeted Miss Dobermann and asked her to charge the child's meals to his account.

"It is all right, Mr. Claude. You are our honored guest. How could we charge you over something like this? Let this young lady eat as much as she likes."

Feeling her goodwill, Claude did not say anything more and gladly accepted.

Claude found Centaurea on an outdoor balcony beneath the setting sun. The fiery sunset painted half her face red. Claude walked over and leaned against the railing beside the girl. Looking at the sun, nearly hidden beyond the distant mountains, Claude suddenly spoke.

"This place seems pretty nice, doesn't it?"

"It is indeed quite nice. Much better than where I was before." A trace of inexplicable resentment showed in Centaurea's tone.

"What do you think about leaving this child here? She is very strong. She should be able to join this company."

"I think we should ask what she wants first. She might not necessarily like staying in a place like this."

Claude fell silent for a moment. "You're right. When she comes over later, I'll ask her what she thinks."

"Are you always like this?" the white-haired girl beside him suddenly asked again.

"Like what?"

"When you encounter a stranger wandering alone, someone who has nothing to do with you, you help them without asking for anything in return. You even consider their future for them. Are you always like this?"

"Do you see that over there?" Claude suddenly asked an entirely unrelated question. Centaurea turned her head and saw that the distant sky was faintly bright. But she knew perfectly well that it was the lights of the Great Knight Territory, shining through the night without rest.

"Of course. That is the Great Knight Territory."

"Do you know? I actually like that place very much."

Centaurea looked somewhat surprised. Claude had opposed the Commercial Union at every turn in that city. She had assumed he disliked the scene the Commercial Union had created.

Claude looked toward the sunset, now completely obscured by the mountains.

"Because that sight represents humanity's prosperity. Humanity built civilization upon this land full of disasters. Even though that civilization has many flaws, it also possesses shining qualities. I am proud of humanity's prosperity and flourishing. I hope to see it continue forever, cast off its flaws, and become better and stronger."

"So I will never stand by unmoved when I see an innocent person before me who needs help. As long as she survives, countless possibilities can grow from her, and those possibilities are often what drive civilization forward. Even if an innocent person never encounters any disaster or enemy, never makes any great contribution, and simply lives out a peaceful life, that alone can move me. I sincerely look forward to such possibilities. To me, that is the finest reward."

"You really are a strange person." As the sun sank beyond the horizon, Centaurea's face was shrouded in shadow. Her expression could not be seen.

"But you are also an impressive person." The lights outside Rhodes Island's hull suddenly switched on, illuminating the faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Right? I think I'm a little impressive too." Claude remained leaning against the railing as the cool night breeze brushed through his hair, revealing only the half of his face lit by the lights.

"Thud, thud, thud!" Rapid footsteps suddenly came from behind him. Claude turned around and saw a blonde figure charging toward him, a battle axe gleaming coldly in her hand.

Faced with such a dangerous situation, Claude did not change expression. He opened his arms and steadily caught the figure. He had already recognized who it was.

"Claude!!" The blonde girl hugged Claude. She looked incredibly happy, jumping and bouncing about. Claude reached out to rub her hair and ears, calming the child down.

"I know my name now!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"I met a really kind big sister. She treated me to something delicious called a honey cake. She told me that the words on my axe said Ceobe. My name is Ceobe!!"

"Is that so? Where is the kind person you met? We should thank her properly."

"Come with me! Come with me! That kind big sister is in here." Ceobe took both their hands and pulled them inside.

Before long, they arrived outside a room. It did not look very large from the outside, but they could hear the clanging of metal being struck within. Ceobe went up to the door and knocked on it loudly. The sounds of iron being hammered inside stopped as well.

The door soon opened, and a Forte woman emerged. What stood out was that one of the horns on her head was broken, and one of her legs was a mechanical prosthetic. Yet judging by how naturally she walked, it must have been a high-end model. She wore heavy fireproof clothing and held a hammer in one hand, looking as though she had been working.

Claude stepped forward and spoke first.

"Hello. We are friends of this child. She came here with us."

Hearing Claude's voice, the woman came back to herself. She glanced at Ceobe, then transferred the hammer from her right hand to her left and shook Claude's hand.

"Hello. I am an operator of Rhodes Island. You may call me Vulcan."

"I am Claude, and this young lady is Centaurea."

"Greetings to you both. If you do not mind, please come in for some tea." As she spoke, she stepped aside.

"Thank you." The two of them entered through the doorway, with Ceobe following behind.

Upon entering the room, they saw a huge Originium furnace and an anvil. There were some scattered mechanical devices elsewhere, but not many overall. This woman seemed to be a craftsman, but unlike the other craftsmen Claude had met, she still appeared to insist on forging weapons with an anvil and hammer.

Only a small section of the room contained a small table and four chairs. Not long after they sat down, Vulcan brought over a plate of glossy pastries and several cups of freshly brewed black tea.

"Please, help yourselves." The moment she finished speaking, Ceobe grabbed a pastry and eagerly bit into it. The pastry's oily outer crust crumbled into crisp flakes that fell from the corner of her mouth. The child hurriedly tried to catch the crumbs with her hands, looking utterly unwilling to waste even a little. Seeing this, Claude took out a napkin and wrapped the honey cake in her hand with it, letting the crumbs fall inside.

"Thank you very much for taking care of this child. To be honest, she has been searching for her name all this time. We thought we would have to travel to Minos before we could find an answer."

"It was nothing, just a small matter. The battle axe this child is carrying happened to have Minosian writing on it, so I was able to recognize it. Perhaps her parents were Minosians as well."

"That is certainly possible. When we met this child, she was wandering alone. She did not know anything when we asked her. She only knew that she had been wandering ever since she became aware of herself, and that the writing on the axe in her hand was her name."

The group continued talking for a while, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

"Mr. Claude, may I have a look at your sword?" Vulcan suddenly seemed to notice something and asked Claude.

Claude lowered his head to look at Mercy hanging at his waist, immediately understanding. This was likely a craftsman's keen instinct for fine weapons. Without another word, Claude drew Mercy from its sheath.

As the blade left its sheath, the temperature of the already stuffy room, warmed by the Originium furnace, dropped several degrees. A blinding white gleam flashed across the blade, so sharp that merely looking at it felt as though it could cut one's eyes.

Just as Claude was about to hand the sword to her, the blade in her hand suddenly trembled. In the blink of an eye, its keen edge cut through her protective glove. Claude reacted quickly and immediately grabbed the hilt, preventing her from being injured. The instant Mercy returned to his hand, the trembling stopped. Yet Claude could clearly sense the bloodlust of the sinister longsword in his hand. It was a will that appeared directly in his mind, without any specific words, only intense emotion conveying its desire.

Vulcan looked at her glove in surprise. She had not noticed anything unusual about the sword, merely assuming that it was so sharp that even a light touch had cut through her thick heat-resistant glove.

Be quiet. Claude spoke within his mind. The next second, the unfamiliar will in his mind immediately calmed down. He frowned slightly. He had not expected the sword to be so dangerous to others. If his reaction had been even a little slower, the blade would already have cut off Vulcan's fingers.

"I'm sorry, Miss Vulcan. This sword may be rather dangerous, so I cannot allow you to touch it directly." Claude spoke to Vulcan with some embarrassment.

"It is all right, Mr. Claude. Seeing it like this is enough." After speaking, Vulcan stared fixedly at the keen blade in Claude's hand.

"What incredible craftsmanship. I have never seen a sword blade finished with such exquisite precision. This must be a weapon made by the greatest of craftsmen!!" Miss Vulcan, who had seemed calm and composed ever since they met, suddenly lost her composure. She stared at the sword while muttering to herself.

It was only after quite some time that she gradually calmed down. Raising her head, she spoke to Claude.

"Mr. Claude, aside from being sharp, does this sword have any other special qualities? Please, you must tell me."

"I have indeed discovered some unusual things about it. For example... this."

As soon as he finished speaking, the blade in his hand began to flow like mercury. The sword's shape changed, and before long, a broad, heavy executioner's sword appeared before them. It suddenly became much heavier in Claude's hand. This terrifying weapon looked capable of cleaving a person from head to toe in two without the slightest effort.

Vulcan stared wide-eyed at the transforming blade. In all her life, she had never seen, nor even heard of, such a bizarre weapon. Even more astonishingly, as the sword changed shape, it began to release a blood-red mist that curled around the blade.

Everyone except Claude felt the veins in their hands throb, as if their blood were about to burst through the confines of their bodies. The sensation came quickly and vanished just as fast. Soon, they no longer felt it.

"This is truly..." Vulcan no longer seemed to know what to say. Everything she had encountered today had left a deeper impression on her than the entirety of her past life combined.

"All right, Mr. Claude. You can put the sword away now." Hearing this, Claude changed the sword back into its original form and returned it to its sheath.

"Mr. Claude, can you tell me how you obtained this sword?" Vulcan looked at Claude with great curiosity. She was extremely interested in the origins of the blade.

"Of course. This was something I encountered not long ago..."

As she listened to Claude's account, Vulcan frowned and began to ponder.

The story was not particularly long, and he soon finished telling it.

"Mr. Claude, I believe it is possible that this sword chose you."

"Chose me?"