39 The Day of Prophecy

‘Ah. No mistake. This is the end.’

Sevens declared this, having glimpsed Edelweiss’s memory.

The long-awaited confrontation with Sevens.

Had Edelweiss not interfered, the matter would have concluded last time.

Now restored to her original body, she held the Harmonic Lazer she had seized from the terminal in one hand, and her own weapon in the other, as if inspecting them.

She showed no inclination to join the conversation.

A month had passed since Jin and the others had returned to the convoy to reassess Mio’s security protocol, before once again visiting Terminus’s home planet.

‘An entity sealed in hyperspace… to have regained enough power to generate substitute bodies…’

‘That spear of his… a spear? Both Edelweiss and Mio judged this weapon capable of destroying space itself… but in truth, what’s the actual threat?’

It can be done. In fact, this origin—the End—has destroyed countless universes. The sub-space is merely its residue.

Sharon, listening in via Jin’s Raven, murmured in response to those words.

"There was something similar in the records Harold left behind."

It was fortunate that time had passed. We were able to seize Harold’s遗物.

Most were recovered by Byron Corporation, the family’s estate and headquarters. Sharon had apparently taken a look.

"So it really can destroy them?"

Jin muttered, a faint unease in his voice.

Now, recalling that he had unknowingly stopped the destruction of the universe at that time, he felt a chill of dread.

One misstep, and this moment would never have come to pass.

Still, it feels like a matter meant for someone higher up. But no matter—the Edelweiss refuses to acknowledge that.

While acknowledging the value system of others, Terminus's doctrine—emphasizing strength above all—asserts itself unyieldingly.

Forcing it upon others may be possible.

Yet, if we are to consider what comes next, failing to respect the other culture makes coexistence a dream within a dream.

Edelweiss, for instance, does adapt to human customs when joining the convoy. Though she hesitated considerably in adopting their clothing.

Thus, we align with their doctrine. Here, the strongest human—Jin—stands as the representative.

Sharon remains strictly an advisor.

“Um… Seven-san. I have a question.”

‘Ah. Ask anything.’

“What exactly does ‘the End’ mean? It felt… familiar. Like us.’

Mio’s ‘us’ refers, ultimately, to the people of Terminus.

Jin, too, had wondered about this.

ASID——originally, like the people of Terminus, even the eight clans among the Nine Clans were unlike them.

Thus, it was natural to consider that ‘the End’ might be something akin to the people of Terminus.

‘...According to inherited memory from the First, the End was created when our ancestors still bore fleshly bodies.’

‘So it was artificial…’

‘Well, I’ll accept that more than believing something capable of destroying the universe arose naturally.’

‘True.’

‘It was created from the beginning solely to destroy. We took our current form as a countermeasure against it… so it is said.’

In the end, Seven was not a participant. The seventh generation. A considerable span of time has passed.

Another original Queen might have known the era firsthand, but communication with them is impossible by design.

‘And one more thing. Whether this is true or not is uncertain…’

"Surprise me with something ridiculous now? I wouldn't be startled."

"Ah. That’s easier to say. We’re all said to have migrated here from a destroyed universe…"

The words were, frankly, beyond expectation.

Jin and Sharon fell silent.

Mio reacted with genuine shock.

"…I’m an alien?"

"No, Mio was born here, so that can’t be right…?"

"Huh. That’s a shock, alright."

Yet, strangely, the alternative felt more plausible.

If the end of the cosmos, the ASID, and the Terminans were all forged on the same star…

Then the idea that the original universe had not been destroyed felt deeply off.

Instead, it made more sense that their original universe had already been annihilated, and they had barely escaped to this final cosmos—sealing their enemy in the process.

That version of events felt far more coherent.

We have preserved intelligence by inheritance... yet we have also lost much knowledge. There are many things we do not understand.

"...But that makes no sense."

Yes, their origins would make sense if that legend were true.

Yet another contradiction arises simultaneously.

"They knew of humanity. No—worse still."

They even spoke of protecting people.

"What do you make of that?"

"I do not understand..."

"Ah, well... actually..."

Sharon timidly raised her hand.

"Ah, there was information at my family's estate."

"Oh, Sharon's family is amazing."

Mio said this without hesitation, her admiration genuine. Jin, however, could not stop staring, mouth agape.

"Information about that?"

"Yes... well, Jin, you've probably heard of it? You know, Type Zero."

"Wasn't that just an urban legend?"

"A legend you'd be erased for hearing about."

It's different from the urban legend I know...

Jin prompted the rest, despite the unsettling nature of the tale.

"Type Zero—the designation at the time was Victim. A unit that protected the precursor to the migratory fleet, the floating city, on Earth 150 years ago."

"Annihilation… protecting people?"

"Quite the opposite. It appears someone was piloting it."

"Hmm."

It was Edelweiss who showed interest in that statement.

"Someone controls that thing? A rival to the likes of Higashi Jin, no doubt."

"I'm not entirely certain who was aboard. The information is strangely scarce. Not just about Type Zero—about it in general."

"Is your family background really this cursed...?"

Jin felt a chill. Why did the family hold onto so many secrets, so many unspoken facts?

After all, he was about to become one of its most terrifying members.

Jin, who had finally clarified his relationship with Sharon, faced one issue.

It was the matter of the Byron family—a household that had endured since the founding of the移民 fleet.

As Harold had once complained—children of the Byron family were all unmarried, without exception.

Sharon’s parents did not press the matter, not that they cared greatly—after all, the Byron lineage was typically this way—but even so, the family line risked extinction.

Apparently, only now did they begin to feel the urgency.

Yet they were merely a collection of individuals, each devoted to their own interests. No one would respond to a sudden demand to marry, to produce heirs. It was inevitable.

Then came the unexpected proposal—the marriage of their youngest daughter.

They pleaded with him to take residence in the family, unwilling to let the bloodline end.

Jin, who had no particular attachment to a name like Tōgō, saw no issue with it. It was merely a surname arbitrarily assigned by the facility personnel.

The more he listened, the clearer it became that the Byron family was a dangerous one.

‘I cannot comprehend why the End had chosen to side with humanity. But… didn’t it also declare that it would destroy us if we protected that individual?’

‘That’s right. It even told us to get off it.’

‘Then coexistence with us is impossible.’

‘…Yeah.’

‘If I may propose a hypothesis—perhaps the proxy body fought alongside humanity for some reason… that particular one must have been exceptional. Subsequent proxies were then copies of it. That is a possibility.’

In the end, it remained a hypothesis.

The truth remains unknown.

‘We must remain vigilant… and do our best to prepare our forces.’

‘An alliance between two species.’

At present, cooperation with the Terminus people is limited to the Third Fleet.

The purpose behind it is to extend this movement to the entire human population.

Beneath this effort lies another objective.

A grand plan has emerged: to unite two species and actively seek out other intelligent life forms that may exist within this cosmos, forging alliances in the same manner.

‘If possible, I would like to speak again with the comrades who fell with Hagure—’

‘...That will be difficult for us.’

Unlike the Terminus people, there is no room for negotiation.

Even if they regain their intelligence, they have killed too many. The resistance they provoked during joint operations with the Terminus people would be incomparable.

‘Still, there may come a day when we must overlook that...’

The inevitable end approaching will be the same one that once expelled the Nine Clans, beginning with the Terminus people.

Thus, it is natural to wish to add our human military strength to an equal level of force.

‘Continue to prepare.’

Sevens spoke with a strained expression. A battle with no end in sight. The fight would continue, unseen enemy and all.

‘Eventually, the end will come. So that our light may not be extinguished on that day…’

Sevens said.

It was not a statement seeking reply.

Yet.

“It’s alright. It won’t resume operations for at least a century.”

Jin and Edelweiss snapped into combat readiness at the voice.

Backs turned toward each other, positioning themselves between Sevens and Mio.

Sevens too rotated his massive frame, surveying the surroundings.

Only Mio remained bewildered.

“…Sister Frederica?”

The figure standing on Mio’s form, atop her head, unnoticed until now.

Sharon stared, dazed.

“Finally broke one seal—gained a little strength back. But seems she used it all up in this proxy body.”

Frederica Byron spoke as if discussing the weather.

To Shirley, she was always just an older sister.

A petite frame, indistinguishable in age from Mio, despite being older.

Jin maintained maximum vigilance from both Raven and Edelweiss toward her.

…Jin?

Do you see nothing but a human here?

Throat dry with tension.

The soundless suppression of Mio’s head—meaning she could have been killed at any moment.

Neither Jin nor Edelweiss were exempt.

No one in this place had noticed Frederica’s presence until her voice became audible.

That alone marked her as no ordinary person.

Not just that.

…Why does a human exhibit reactor resonance?

Yes. From Frederica, resonance similar to an Ether Reactor emanated.

In fact, she was actively drawing surrounding ether into her own body, controlling it.

“This is something I’ve heard secondhand,”

With that preamble.

“This Ether Reactor they speak of on this side—apparently it’s a device that opens a micro-portal to a subspace and draws ether from within.”

She uttered something no one had ever heard before.

“There are likely other factors involved. But that reaction—surely it’s referring to the subspace gate I’ve been opening.”

‘Ah. May I ask something in return?’

“Yes, please. Actually, I’ve come to see you. Terminus Seven.”

‘I see… Then let me ask. How many generations are you?’

The question left everyone present bewildered.

Except for one.

‘You’re right, as you suspect. Seven. I am not his substitute body, but his agent. Merely a courier, a detective of sorts.’

Solving mysteries is my role, she said, and smiled faintly.

"My commander’s a bit scatterbrained. Wanted to make contact with the Terminus people, but couldn’t locate them—had quite the difficulty."

Frederica shrugged and said that.

"Third Fleet showing up like this was a relief. Thanks to you, I finally know where they are."

Only then did Frederica turn her gaze toward Jin.

"...Huh."

Cold. Like the look one gives to livestock or some other object.

Jin felt a chill run down his spine. Undoubtedly an enemy.

Having made that judgment—

Edelweiss lowered her stance.

"Hey."

"What?"

"Never mind that. Just—be on guard."

"No hostility here."

"No, no, no! There’s plenty of it!"

"...Is that so?"

Jin tilted his head. Was this one really so devoid of crisis awareness?

Looking over, Seven wasn’t on guard either.

Mio just looked uncomfortable, her head resting on her own lap.

No one harbors hostility toward Frederica.

Rather, Frederica is the only one directing hostility—toward herself. Why… exactly…

“Ah, Jin.”

Sharon speaks, apologetic.

“Perhaps… the mistress is hostile because… well…”

“Unforgivable…”

Before Sharon can finish, Frederica lets out a bitter cry.

“You’re going to marry my sweet Sharon? I can’t forgive that…! You said you’d marry me when we were young…!”

“Mistress… she’s… well, what people call a siscon… I suppose…”

“Understood.”

Frederica had been glaring with the venom of blood-tears, but then, as if sensing something, lifts her gaze slightly upward.

“I know. Now, the main point—this is a warning from my master, Terminus Seven.”

She speaks flatly. She is nothing but a messenger.

Do not proceed with further self-enhancement. This is the boundary. Cross it, and you too will be tainted by the End.

……What?

You understand, don’t you? You who were once touched by the taint.

She turns her gaze toward Edelweiss and Jin.

The taint of the End. There is familiarity.

I was the one who activated the Resonance Ether Reactor.

Yes. Critical operation of the RER easily surpasses that boundary. Fortunately, your compatibility is poor—so it did not open abruptly.

Poor compatibility? Jin feels a slight shock.

So, the Reactor’s output…?

Two thousand Lami. Beyond that, adverse effects. Through the gateway to the subspace, the End will erode you.

If Frederica’s words earlier were accurate, then the Ether Reactor was equivalent to accessing a space sealed with annihilation.

The more ether drawn from there, the larger the gate.

Jin understood that once this exceeded a certain threshold, the annihilation on the other side could interfere.

“But, Sister Frederica. Then why is it safe with something like the Longinus-class? And what about Mio-chan from Laitera?”

“Simple. The former is structurally too different. Even if it tried to erode, there’s no will—no processor to enable it.”

Indeed, assault frames shared a structure similar to ASID, but ships were entirely different in design.

Thus, annihilation could only interfere with ASID or the Terminans people.

“As for that young lady over there—another matter entirely. She’s been continuously remaking herself.”

"Is that so?"

"Is that really so?"

Mio and Shirley exchanged glances over the communication link.

Shirley, of course—but had Mio been unaware as well?

"The original body and the human body. They maintain mutual backups, synchronizing their consciousnesses. Perhaps instinctual. In this way, if one is destroyed, the other survives. They’re almost a different species now."

'Hmm.'

"Ooh... I'm incredible."

Previously, Mio had always perished whenever either body was destroyed.

Now, however, because they serve as backups for each other, she has overcome the weakness the Terminans had never possessed.

Mio herself seemed utterly unaware.

"About a month ago, she began imitating humanity even more than before. My master said it would eventually become impossible to distinguish her from a human."

"Good," said Frederica.

Ah… I see. The other flocks were absorbed into extinction, their self-enhancement reaching its limit.

That's right. There's still one—only you—who has escaped the assimilation—so the other eight haven't been fully consumed yet. Now, it's seven...

A part of it was inaudible to Jin. Sharon seemed to share the same confusion, her brow furrowing.

If you're absorbed into Terminus, the swarm that holds back the end will vanish. So you must prioritize maintaining the current state.

...There's nothing to be done about it.

Jin wonders why he trusts the words of the sudden opponent so completely, but Seven seems to have accepted them entirely.

"Then over there—"

Frederica pointed at Jin, saying so.

I'll kill you if I make Shirley sad.

Jin, threatening with a killing intent he had rarely felt before—then vanished once more.

Without warning, like mist.

...What the hell was that thing?

Jin mutters this toward Frederica, who vanished after saying only what she intended to say.

Sharon is apologizing, saying her sister is sorry—but is that really the issue?

Jin wonders who could be the one carrying information so obscure even Seventh is unfamiliar with it.

And why have you not made contact until now?

"Does Seven have any idea who its master is?"

The inference could be made that the master might need to hide and remain concealed.

To exist without exposing even a trace of oneself—such a way of being could not be accepted without a compelling reason.

Ah. Indeed. But I cannot say it.

"Can't say it?"

There are constraints. Even for me.

She says it with a look of apology.

But our duty remains unchanged. We have been granted a century’s reprieve. Within that time, we must devise a means to resist the end.

Jin interpreted the overt deflection as a clear indication: no more words would be spoken, could not be spoken.

"Ah, yes... that's right..."

A century, Jin thought.

The next great battle would likely be there.

But—Jin would not live to see it.

Even if he did, combat would be impossible.

Yet Mio would surely be there.

That thought filled Jin with helplessness.

This is the first part of today's episode.

The final part will be updated around 6 p.m.