Story Reader / Main Story / 27 Aeon Reforged / Story
27-29 Reshaped Spine
Watanabe,
I think I'm no longer with you by the time you hear this.
I don't know how long it will take for this message to reach you.
Just like I'm unsure if we will succeed.
We must have succeeded if this reaches you, right?
Take some time to listen to my rambling.
Tsuru left too early, and I spent too little time with you, so you became too mature and too quiet when you were still young.
But how could a father not understand his child?
I know the question that has bothered you since your youth, and I was waiting for you to ask, but you never did.
Just when I thought it would be a shadow you'd deliberately avoid, you told me that you were joining the military when you were 18.
I was scared then. I was afraid you were following the same path because of me and Tsuru, but you gave me an unexpected answer.
So, my son, do you understand why your mother made that choice now?
Would you make the same decision if you do?
Let me tell you my answer, since I probably won't hear yours.
Unity is the foundation of civilization.
Civilization evolves from savagery. Survival of the fittest is the law of savages, not the law of a civilization.
Civilization emerges to resist savagery, to defy the natural law of survival of the fittest.
We won't abandon our weaker compatriots or bow to natural disasters. The only thing that can make us give up is ourselves.
Why is there still so much selfishness, scheming, and betrayal then? You might ask.
Because unity is painful.
Before we build civilization, we are still a part of nature.
Our animal instincts make us avoid harm and seek gains, but the continuation of civilization requires us to defy this instinct and learn to give and share.
So, does civilization still matter? Does unity still matter?
You may find yourself asking this question over and over again in the future because the path you choose won't be easy.
I want to tell you that it matters.
Civilization matters. Unity matters.
The process of unity has a price, but its rewards can be shared and passed on.
The reason humanity has come this far, the reason civilization has endured, is due to the continuation of each instance of unity.
This comes from another instinct of ours—love.
Love and unity have helped humanity traverse the past and present, Watanabe.
I believe it will help us traverse the future, just as it did over ten thousand years ago.
You may face hardships, injustice, and even betrayal during this journey.
That's when you should look back...
Look at those you've saved...
Look at those who have influenced you...
Look at those you've influenced...
Look at those who made the same choices.
The era of the World Government has passed...
But when you realize that immense space power isn't the Golden Age, and the World Government isn't the Golden Age...
When you understand that the Golden Age isn't the text in the history books, but the beliefs, thoughts, and actions of the people...
That's when you'll create your own Golden Age.
Love and unity will be passed on, and humanity will rely on them to rebuild the spine of the world.
So, Watanabe, this path is destined to be difficult...
But it will never be lonely.
I believe that humanity will choose love and unity in this calamity as it did before.
Even though there might be occasional disagreements and conflicts, we will certainly fulfill our initial promise in the end.
A World for All.
I believe that humanity will once again talk about science, art, and the future amidst flowers and green grass under a blue sky.
Then, we will surely see your footprints in the universe and hear your stories as stardust in the sky.
...
The time has come. I must go ahead in order to protect those I love and the world I cherish.
So this is the last thing I want to say to you.
I love you, Watanabe, and I will always be proud of you.
...
The message in the terminal ends here. Words that have never been heard finally reach the ears they were meant for after decades.
Dad...
Watanabe found this message while sifting through Ballard's belongings. How his father's message ended up in Ballard's hands is something Watanabe will never know.
The conflict Ballard deliberately incited has gradually died down since his passing and Watanabe's return.
Having learned the truth, the people rejoice in Watanabe's return while beginning to denounce those advocating for war.
As Ballard predicted, the situation was out of his control the moment he had to rely on Watanabe's prominence to stir up people's hatred.
The spark lit by hatred could naturally be extinguished by the return of the "resurrected."
But this does not mean the unrest has left no impact...
Boss, the Babylonia delegation is arriving soon.
The tense relationship between Forsaken and Babylonia has not eased with the end of the conflict.
Neither side plans to withdraw their troops from the border without any precautions.
Hmm... Got it.
Watanabe looks at the medal in his hand. It is another item left by Ballard.
The launch codes for the 7295 missiles scattered in space are in there. With this sword, Babylonia will never rest easy.
And now, it is in Watanabe's hands.
As long as he holds this sword, Forsaken will not abandon the territory they have gained, and Babylonia can never truly reconcile with them.
It will be hard to achieve real peace in this prisoner's dilemma.
Unity comes at a price...
What do you believe in? What do you stand for? Who do you fight for?!
I understood it a long time ago.
He grips the medal tightly in his hand. It is a sword he will never let go.
Unity does not mean one side compromising to the other, nor does it mean one side surrendering to the other.
Sometimes, matching forces can calm both sides down so that they sit at the negotiation table.
But those are the two sides of the coin—one says peace, the other destruction.
If either side decides to flip the coin and press the button, at least one side will face total annihilation.
Will Watanabe press the button? Will Babylonia fire the Longinus Arsenal? Those questions will accompany Watanabe for the rest of his life.
He does not intend to hide the existence of this sword, even if it makes him a thorn in Babylonia's side again.
Those who hate Babylonia will crave this power of destruction, and those who seek reconciliation will despise its hostility.
This is the price of unity...
He loves his comrades so deeply. How can he let them be at the mercy of others?
He will bring greater fear, if only for lasting peace.
Over here, Commandant.
Lee stands guard before you, cautiously moving forward while staying alert to every blind spot.
Liv, can I have an update on the surroundings?
There are no unknown signals within a ten-kilometer radius.
Understood. Stay vigilant.
After Gray Raven brought you back to Babylonia, the Star of Life immediately arranged a full medical check-up.
It was then that they learned what you had gone through during your disappearance.
No, you made the right choice, Commandant.
The Purifying Force rooted out several moles in the conservation area after that, and they all had your full profile.
If you went to the conservation area rashly, you could have run into them.
Seeing that you still want to say something, Lucia cuts you off.
Just focus on recovering, Commandant. Leave security to us.
Lee does not speak, but he nods in agreement.
Commandant...
Having finished checking your medicine, Liv turns to look at you with almost pleading eyes.
...
Commander Nikola has also agreed.
Good!
Please take your medication, then, Commandant.
Three days after your return, you receive an invitation from the Diplomatic Court to join a negotiation with the Forsaken in the central buffer zone.
Lee, keep an eye on the surroundings. I'll check the transport craft.
We won't lose you again.
What a tight unit you are. Alright, I'll let you inspect it.
Anyone who doubts the quality of my transport craft usually gets a whack on the head from me.
Are you the pilot this time, Bridget?
We're the Support Force. We go wherever we're needed.
And I'm sure you'll feel more at ease if the pilot is someone familiar.
A man in a suit walks over.
First of all, I want to thank you for coming, Gray Raven Commandant.
...
Indeed, we invited you partly because of your good relationship with the Forsaken.
After all, this is our first negotiation since then. We want to show more goodwill.
But...
His tone suddenly shifts, and he stares at you sharply.
You know what your stand should be, right?
And that is...?
Watanabe puts away the medal and turns toward those who await him.
Let's go. It's time for us...
To reforge the spine of this era.
Putting down a box taller than himself, Changyu wipes nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
Phew... Finally.
Even though it's a town full of drunkards, the defenses aren't too shabby...
Next up is... Ah, speak of the devil.
How did things go, Changyu?
I've reached the designated spot, just waiting for our contact.
But this guy was barely alive when I arrived. Don't blame me for any loss.
The royal family will find a way to save him.
Is there something special about this guy?
You wouldn't have made a bad deal.
The royal family needs people like this, doesn't it?
I'm quite eager to see how many obstacles this "Scorpio" can eliminate for us.
You shouldn't have released that announcement.
It's rare to see you oppose me so directly.
We are just spectators... We are not qualified to intervene. All we need to do is watch quietly until the chess game is decided.
These were your exact words. Why are you going against them now?
Using my own words against me... You've become more "human," Gestalt.
And you?
Why did you do it when you knew that releasing the sealed information equates to releasing the "contaminating memetics"?
"Dominik".
...It's been a long time since anyone called me that.
My reason was simple. I wanted to inject a dose of sedative into humanity at their most irrational moment to prevent them from destroying each other.
The "contaminating memetics" can bring destruction too, and a more sweeping one at that.
But we can delay it.
The countdown has already begun. We can no longer stop it.
I stopped it for the first time during the moment of the Punishing Virus outbreak by ordering global satellites to self-destruct and taking myself down.
Nithart and you stopped it the second time during the Post-Pandemic Age.
We don't have a second Nithart or an uncontaminated you anymore.
Who else can stop it?
Unless you can find the real Dominik?
I'm just the memory data Dominik left before they entered Reactor One. I don't know what state they are in right now.
Even though I had some ideas after reading that Omega File, I'm afraid there's no way for me to verify them.
However, a reference for the solution of the "contaminating memetics" may have already appeared.
A grand ringed city with labyrinthine streets, densely packed buildings, and vast underground spaces appear before "Dominik".
Has it begun?
It has begun.
