Chapter 39: The Reason He Fights

It must’ve been a direct hit.

Even the centipede’s armor couldn’t absorb the full impact. My leg was gone. The pain nearly made me scream, but screaming would give away my position. So I held it in. Still, one thought surfaced.

This is bad.

Really bad. The bleeding wouldn’t stop.

“Rat Unit, stabilize it with construction material.”

—Beep!

Warning!: Retreat is strongly recommended.

“Denied. I see no valid reason to withdraw.”

—Beep beep!

Warning!: Loss of left leg constitutes sufficient grounds for retreat.

“Even so, Rat Unit, we need money. And to get money, we need a commander’s head. We’ve stirred up enough chaos to finally read their emergency routes. Let’s ask them kindly to guide us to the one in charge, shall we?”

Intel always flows to the center. And at the center sits the commander.

Kill him.

That’s all there is to it.

—Beep?

My terminal buzzed, and messages from my Monoz lit up the screen.

Query: Why do you fight so hard, friend?

“Because they relied on me. Because they asked me to help.”

Query: Why must you be the one to do it?

“Because there’s no one else. The children came to me and said it themselves.”

Query: And for that… you’re willing to risk your life?

“If that’s all it takes to win, then it’s a cheap price to pay.”

Warning: This world is cruel.

Follow-up: Indeed. This world has betrayed you, friend.

Follow-up: Indeed. The children are merely clinging to you like parasites.

“I know that.”

The world is cruel.

Along with my memories, I lost my family. I wasn’t even allowed to cling to the precious things I once held dear. Instead, I was shown “educational materials” that made it clear: disobey, and you die. No debate. No choice. I had no option but to fight.

The world has betrayed us.

I know that too.

This world isn’t on the side of Sleepers like me. It exists only for the people of this era, and we’re just tools meant to keep it running.

Even the fact that the children rely on me. You could rephrase that as parasitism.

They found someone stronger than themselves, someone who’s soft-hearted in a world like this, and latched onto him for protection.

I know all of that.

And still, I also know that I can’t abandon them.

Because—

“I can’t help it, can I? I’m older than they are. I was a child once too. And the one who raised me was someone older than me. So now it’s my turn to do the same, isn’t it? Besides… it’s sad, isn’t it? Those kids were put to sleep because someone wanted them to live, right? Because someone hoped they’d live happily, they were placed in cold sleep, weren’t they? So if that wish doesn’t come true… isn’t that just a little sad?”

Contradiction noted: The same applies to you, friend.

Follow-up: Indeed. You too were placed in sleep by someone who wished for your happiness.

Follow-up: Indeed. Then your death would also be sad.

Follow-up: Indeed. To us, your death would be a deeply sad thing.

Confirmation: Our friend, even so, will you still fight?