27 The End Approaches 4

'——Question'

'...Just talking won't surprise me anymore'

The query from the terminal.

A low, male electronic voice. Jin was slightly surprised at that detail, having assumed the voice belonged to a female form by default.

'You said... just talking?'

'Look into the mirror'

Edelweiss, by contrast, appeared startled.

Perhaps because she had never encountered another of her kind with intelligence.

'Is that weapon... a Harmonic Razer?'

No need to answer.

No need to deliberately provide information to an enemy.

Yet Jin somehow responded.

Perhaps because the tone was not a question, but a confirmation.

And then—

'Yeah. That's right. Seems it was originally yours, too'

The original specifications were already fully known to the opponent, anyway.

It wouldn't be significant information.

'Understood. Thank you for the answer'

"...Edelweiss. Did you know it could speak?"

『...No.』

A hesitation, then the denial returned. Mio didn't need to ask again. After all, she barely knew her own kind.

『At least, not within my knowledge base.』

"If it can communicate—"

perhaps there's room for negotiation, like you two.

Whether the intent reached the other side or not.

A groan-like thought reached through.

Even without attempting to read the other’s mind, surface layers inevitably overlapped.

Edelweiss’s response to Jin’s sudden idea was unmistakably oppositional.

『Warning. Secondary priority: elimination of Queen ASID—by extension, total annihilation of all ASID.』

The words continued. Edelweiss entered combat mode.

It was understandable, given that she had been told directly she would be killed.

From Mio’s body, both fear and a resolve to confront it simultaneously emanated.

Soku stepped forward to protect Mio.

Jin, too, felt the same. The moment thought shifted to combat. Before that, something else had caught Jin’s attention.

This inevitable end.

The terminal of the entity said to destroy the universe.

It just issued a warning.

『Immediate evacuation. My primary objective is the protection of the driver and their candidate. By extension, the safeguarding of all humanity.』

"...What the hell."

The words were utterly unexpected.

A declaration of protection from someone who had just been told repeatedly about an imminent, universe-scale crisis.

To not be surprised would be impossible.

"What the hell is going on here?"

『I do not comprehend it myself.』

A genuine confusion echoed from Edelweiss.

It must be unexpected even for her.

That reaction confirms at least that Edelweiss believes the approaching end is an entity that will destroy the cosmos.

『Repeating. Withdraw immediately. My armaments are designed for annihilation. Eliminating you while preserving the driver is unfeasible.』

In short, Edelweiss is demanding they disengage—intent only on destroying Mio and herself.

"……One question—so, from your perspective, is that one also an ASID?"

『Affirmative. My sensors register all data as identifying that unit as ASID. Withdraw immediately. Or cease the core unit. Acid Frame is my protected target.』

『……What is an Acid Frame?』

"A mobile weapon humans used long ago... What the hell is this thing?"

Origin is completely unknown.

I had believed the Terminus people originated from their home planet, yet this statement—rather than anything from them—resembles information only humans, specifically Earth-born humans, could possess.

The Terminus people refer to ASID as Hagure. Only humanity calls it ASID.

Continuing this dialogue is one option. The mystery may unravel—yet—

This terminal declared Edelweiss to be Terminus, declared the Terminus people to be ASID.

Declared them to be targets for extermination.

Its objective—annihilation of Queen-type units—declared Mio’s death.

Then, it is an enemy.

Even if the claim of protecting humanity were true, it holds no meaning if her daughter is not included.

I do not care what humanity will think a century from now.

I do not care what humanity thought a century ago.

At this moment—right now—Jin sees the terminal as an enemy.

Thank you for the warning. But—should you succeed in your purpose, mine will be undone. Die here. End.

I don’t understand any of this, but don’t lump everyone together without knowing their circumstances!

Shu barked. To equate even the Terminus people with ASID was too crude, even by their standards.

Besides, judging from their actions just moments ago, their words cannot be trusted.

The terminal had shown no concern for humanity at that time.

These words are not lies—yet still, disbelief remains.

There is no foundation built for trust.

‘Warning failed. Target individual classified as ASID collaborator. Removed from protection list—now eliminating.’

‘Coming, Edelweiss!’

‘Do not worry, Jin. I have been on standby since moments ago.’

The heaviness of movement felt moments ago was absent. Ether leaked from the aperture, yet the terminal seemed unable to harness it.

Curiously, the terminal did not, as it had before in front of Litera, draw in surrounding ether.

It fought using only its own reactor.

Its output—again, approximately two thousand rami.

As if there were a single limit set in that vicinity.

Replacing the lost equipment, it grasped two weapons extending from its back with both hands.

The barrel extending through the armpit was the Ether Cannon.

And the blade drawn from behind the shoulder—was the Long Sword.

Jin’s expression twitched slightly upon recognizing its true nature.

“……hey now.”

‘Interesting.’

Edelweiss’s battle fervor heightened upon seeing the opponent’s armament, rather than diminishing.

‘To be honest, Jin. I wasn’t entirely pleased that my blade was merely a mimicry.’

‘Is that so.’

‘Perhaps this was the chance I’d been waiting for—to declare my true form as the genuine Harmonic Razer.’

‘Well, that’s good then.’

Jin offered a detached reply, his attention fixed on Edelweiss, whose tone carried an odd, misplaced excitement. He studied her movements.

Close range—Long Sword. The Harmonic Razer.

Far range—Ether Cannon.

No gap in range.

Ether Vulcan and Ether Dagger concealed as well.

Against her, only one Harmonic Razer.

No complaints.

Not that there were any—yet still, if this was an imitation of the end, she might have at least mimicked the armament.

‘Hmph… Jin. Do you have something against my blade?’

No, not at all. This much... a fair handicap, isn't it? For us.

The abundance of armament does not decide the outcome.

The skill of the pilot is the final determinant.

Hold the breath.

The subtle movement of the lungs caused by breathing.

That is what must be feared.

The first strike.

A single blow of maximum precision.

Jin is gradually becoming accustomed to handling this armament.

It is the same as Ether weaponry.

Sharpening the spatial vibration.

Not slashing blindly at the surroundings.

The blade needs only the thickness of a single skin.

Instead, a blade that cannot be defended against—invincible.

No thought of prolonged combat.

Decide it in one strike.

But for that to happen.

The sacrifice required to achieve it—

‘Don’t hesitate.’

Edelweiss presses against his back, sensing his hesitation.

'You're the same as us. If the processor survives, everything else can be repaired!'

The decision was made by that voice.

Crossing paths.

Their positions reversed.

No room for intervention from the defender who had been preparing to assist.

The outcome was decided in an instant.

'Warning. Numerous units equivalent to this one are likely to exist.'

'Not interested.'

Edelweiss's left arm was severed.

Mio's stifled cry echoes.

'In the event of re-encounter with this unit—swift destruction. Uncertain whether it can intervene.'

'No need to tell me that.'

A line spread across the terminal's frame.

Straight from head to crotch.

'Final question. Has humanity reconciled with ASID?'

'...At least I came to believe there are still allies worth reaching out to.'

A deviation begins at that line.

The right half and left half separate.

——Understood. This unit focuses on preventing termination.

With those words, the terminal disintegrated.

Ignoring it, Jin mutters.

"Try not to make things so complicated... I'm not the one for mental labor."

He whispers an apology, voice small, staring at the impossibly smooth cross-section of Edelweiss's arm.

"Sorry. I couldn't think of another way to win."

"It matters not. When we fought before, I was hurt far worse."

"True. That's right."

The remains of the terminal linger. From them, Edelweiss retrieves the intact Long Sword and lets out a satisfied sound.

"Moreover, an unexpected prize. I am content."