by Kamiya Yuu
“–Right, let’s decide on who’s a better fit with AnchoR.”
“…Heh?”
“The one who can repair both AnchoR and RyuZU completely will have custody. You got a problem!?”
Hearing that, Marie gave a relaxed sneer,
“Didn’t you forget, young Naoto? The parts AnchoR use–no, same goes for RyuZU. Both of them have parts beyond normal specifications! Are you able to get materials of equivalent parts without my influence and connections!?”
“Ha! –I’ll think of a way to get it. So, tell me what I need to do!”
Fufu Marie snorted gleefully.
“You need a nanoparts branch on the level of the International Technical Research Center. The Breguets have it, and at my house, I have parts for RyuZU–all the spare parts made from the nanoparts…on my word go…I’ll–ah!”
Marie’s confident look froze for an instant.
“Damn it–I don’t have AnchoR’s parts! Ugh…in that case, I can only attack my old house’s ‘factory’…!”
Marie bit her fingernails and growled, and this time, Naoto was giggling away, spiting her,
“Now it’s equal opportunity for us! Next destination decided! We’re going to attack Marie’s house–no, wait. Why do we have to?”
Naoto tilted his head in confusion, and Marie said in a dumbfounded manner,
“Do you think I can go back to my old house and say, ‘sorry, I’m an international fugitive now, please let me use my family resources♥’, and my house will say ‘of course’? You think my dad’s an idiot!? It’ll be a big hit to the Breguets if he’s suspected to be involved with an international terrorist group. I can see me shooting at me once he sees me, you know!? That’s why we’re going to start attacking them! And while we’re at it, let’s start a fight with another Enterprise for no reason at all to make it look like it’s without bias…ahh, now that it’s a rare chance, let’s go hit the Vacherons–just to tear them up.”
Naoto nodded in agreement. He clenched his fist, giving a thumbs up.
“Alright, that’s it. We’re doing this! AnchoR, watch papa be a hero out there.”
“Please wait and watch mama show off her dignity to this useless bum, AnchoR♪”
“…? …Okay!”
AnchoR did not understand what was going on at all–
But it appeared the duo was delighted, so she nodded and smiled.
Halter slapped his forehead, and told them,
“More importantly, you you two…if we’re going to ride this broken boat to France, at least figure out where we are right now…? If possible, look behind us.”
Hearing that, Marie sighed in annoyance.
She continued to embrace AnchoR on the shoulders, stroking the latter’s hair, and asked Halter,
“What…? Again? They’re annoying…where are the pursuers from this time?”
Half a month passed, and it was the third time they were attacked.
They managed to fight them off, but if this kept up, it was going to get annoying.
While Marie nonchalantly asked, Halter gave a proper answer,
“Who knows…right now, we’re in the Bengal Bay. Myanmar, Malaysia, Bangladesh–where exactly?”
Your choice, Halter’s words were basically implying this, and Marie turned to look behind.
She saw a high speed pursuit boat on the other end, and miniature boat automata headed straight for this cruiser. It appeared that they were faster, and were going to catch up soon.”
“–That’s the Thai coastal police, you know? I was under pursuit before, so I know.”
Vermouth poked his head out from the deck terrace as he responded.
“Goodness…we’re practically in the Indian Ocean, and the Thai coastal guards are mobilized…now this is getting troublesome.”
Halter rubbed his head and groaned, but Naoto did not mind as he asked,
“Is that referring to us? Or political issues?”
“Political–”
Naoto immediately concluded, and activated the the Thermobaric Buster that was originally on the ‘Black Tortoise’–now equipped on the aft of the cruiser. However–
“Hey, Marie, I thought of something good. Let’s snatch that cruiser.”
He suddenly suggested with a grin, and Halter rubbed his bald head, asking,
“–You intend to cross the Indian Ocean on a military ship? That’s way too obvious. It’s like waving a flag to everyone and saying that we’re here.”
“It’s no different from our actions being caught even though we aren’t waving a flag. Also, we aren’t crossing the Indian Ocean. We’re getting on shore.”
Naoto said that, and Marie considered, while Halter frowned in shock.
Vermouth was the only one smiling away.
“Now this is a good idea. Thailand is a good country, you know–? Gentle, pretty women, and there’s a third gender over there, you know? I think they’ll be really welcoming of ‘Naoko’, won’t they?”
Vermouth gleefully continued with a vulgar joke, and Marie sighed, saying,
“…But this is a good idea. It’s frustrating, but really a good idea, Naoto.”
“Oh? What is it, Milady? Pumped up now?”
“I’m suggesting that we go from Thailand to France on land. Don’t lump me with you, pervert.”
“…Travel on land from Thailand? For what reason?”
Naoto tilted his head as he asked this savage looking Marie, and Marie nodded,
“It’s the Grid Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit.”
She said in one breath.
Naoto frowned hard, stared at Marie, and asked,
“…Sorry, but what kind of spell is that?”
“That’s the official name of the Thai Capital, Grid Bangkok.”
She immediately answered, and continued,
“Bangkok–the Multiple Grid in Thailand. There was once a crisis of the functions failing, and the ‘Guild’ once interfered. Back then, they had an agreement between the 5 Grids, the 4 neighboring countries that were Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bangladesh…basically, there’s a lot of holes in the border and a lot of illegal passages. We can get parts for AnchoR and RyuZU, and we get go North to India.”
“–Politics really is incredible…”
“Anyway, that means–”
This time, Marie showed an exceptionally savage sneer as she told Naoto,
“We’ll sink all the boat automata, knock out the crew on the pursuit boat, take over, and just enter the Thai military port without issue.”
–She’s probably poisoned by Naoto. Halter thought.
Of course, Halter would not say it out, for he did not know what reaction he would get if he did so.
“Haha! Right now, I’m going to be sure just in case. Are you going to be pirates and capture a pursuit boat? Do you know how many cannons and weapons that thing contains?”
Vermouth screeched, and Naoto too yelled back agitatedly,
“6 of the 15cm machine guns, 18 of the silo missile, 121 people on board, 28 flight automata–should be easy, right?”
“Brilliant! This is really crazy! Let’s turn the cruiser around–and attack!”
Vermouth grinned away as he turned the cruiser around.
RyuZU seemed to pay no attention to this commotion, and she seemed to realize something as she said,
“Speaking of which, Master Marie–there is something I have to tell you.”
“–I have a bad feeling about this, but what is it?”
Yes, RyuZU nodded, and said,
“No matter how you try to create a ruckus out this, AnchoR’s Master shall be Master Naoto. She cannot move a certain distance away from him, so do take note.”
RyuZU’s reminder caused Marie’s eyes to widen, her breathing frantic.
She felt dizzy, her disappointment leading to her consciousnes
s fading.
So, what did that mean? If she wanted to continue having AnchoR–
“–I-I have to stay with this pervert on my own will!?”
Marie shrieked in shock,
Halter watched the group yap away, and really felt peeved as he retorted,
“…Have you guys forgotten that we’re all international fugitives wanted by the whole world? No matter whether we like it or not, we need to move together.”
“”How’s such a dumb thing possible!?””
“…You guys are the dumb ones, seriously…”
Naoto and Marie exclaimed in unison, causing Halter to sigh hard.
At this point, now that they had to fight alone against a massive force, he had the increasing feeling that he was foolish for being the only one sweating over this.
And then, he suddenly turned to Vermouth, who was steering the boat, saying,
“–Oh, right, kid. Where do you want to follow us to?”
“What’s with this, bro? Aren’t we on the same boat in having only our heads left? You don’t have to be wary of me like this, right?”
Vermouth snickered.
“Eh, just find me a place and leave me on shore, and I do intend to say goodbye. Before that though, please help me get back my normal body. It’s too cruel to leave me in such a body and go, right?”
Vermouth referred to the blonde hot smoking body, and Halter nodded,
It’s true, halter thought If I’m in the same situation, I’ll like to get out of this sooner.
“And even when we’re on our separate ways, I’ll come back to help if there’s anything interesting. These brats are coming up with some really interesting things–”
I guess. Halter shrugged, and opened the metallic box beside him by kicking hi.
The box opened with a bam, and there’s lots of treasure within it–no, there were all kinds of weapons ranging from rifles and anti-tank cannons.
He grabbed a massive Gear Launcher from within, and carried it on his shoulder.
Naoto suddenly seemed to have thought of something as he said,
“I say, Marie, maybe we should be issuing a warning at this time now, right?”
“You’re right. Let me think…I’m not too good in Thai…”
“Oh? So there’s a subject the super genius girl isn’t good at? That surprised me. In that case, leave it to me.”
Vermouth teased, and Marie frowned,
“You know how to speak Thai?’
“I said that it’s a ‘good country’, isn’t it? I used to be an Agent, you know? Don’t look down on me, Missy.”
“…I feel that losing to you is the second most infuriating thing to me in this world. Once we get to Thailand, I’m going to familiarize myself with it.”
“Go ahead–so? What do I say?”
“…Let me think. Give up on resistance and hand over that pursuit boat. You’ll get court martialed if a cruiser snatches a boat, but relax. Just tell them that the ‘Second Upsilon’ did it to gain sympathy, okay?”
“Okay, don’t get wet because of my proficiently in foreign languages, okay?”
Vermouth laughed, and took a deep breath.
Then, he yelled at the speaker equipped on the cruiser.
“เห..เห้ย..เรือลาดตระเวนลำที่อยู่ข้างลางนั่น! มันน่าหงุดหงิดที่พวกซิงขับเธออยู่, เนอะ? ฉันจะทำให้เธอครางด้วยลีลาส่ายสะโพกของฉันจนเธอต้องร้องขออีก!
ถ้าไม่อยากให้พวกนั้นขี่เธอก็ทำให้ห้องควบคุมเปียกซะก่อนซิ! ไอพวกซิงทั้งหลายที่กำลังสั่นอยู่บนนั้น รีบๆกระโดดลงทะเลได้แล้ว!”
"Ah--ah--hey, that patrol boat down there! Kinda pissed to have a virgin riding on you, right? I'll get you panting with some amazing hip techniques that you'll be begging for more! Wet your bridge first if you don't want others riding on you! Those virgins riding on it and cowering, hurry up and jump into the sea!"
–After that, the hail of bullets rained upon the cruiser, indicating the futility of those words.
Marie was knocked down by the explosions and water pillars from up close, askking incredulously,
“…What did you say?”
“I said what I was told to do.”
Vermouth nonchalantly answered.
Halter gave a lethargic sigh, nodding,
“…Yeah. Looks like they felt the sincerity of this kid. There’s no way they can feel anything that doesn’t exist in the first place.”
“Hahahaa! Translating is really difficult, bro!”
Vermouth exclaimed, showing no intention of reflecting upon his actions as he answered.
The bullets glided past the sky, ripping through the oceans. The explosions shook the atmosphere, and the intense waves hit the yacht.
In this emergency, Marie yelled happily,
“Final confirmation! Vermouth in charge of the wheel! Approach them and dodge the bullets at maximum speed! Halter’s in charge of firepower! Sink the boat automata using the Gear Launchers and machine guns!”
Naoto said,
“RyuZU, once we get close enough for you to jump on, knock them all out. AnchoR, watch papa hijack the wheel of the pursuit boat!”
“Understood.”
“…Papa, mama, do your best…!”
RyuZU bowed elegantly, and AnchoR smiled as she cheered on.
…As he watched that exchange.
Halter wondered.
Whether Naoto and Marie actually realized it.
The indisputable fact–that those two were already ‘equal to Gods’ on this planet.
It did not matter whether those two were really humans, it did not matter how they defined themselves.
No matter how they assumed themselves, how would the ordinary people who knew of their power view them–
The public called them Second Upsilon–the Second Coming of ‘Y’, that was what it meant.
It was to be expected that the world would not simply sit back and watch them.
The world could not possibly ignore the ‘Gods’ who existed in reality–who possessed such a tremendous power.
Naoto and Marie had grown.
They practically leapt into the realm of Gods in one step, and surpassed it.
That was what he felt in Kyoto, the dreams he harbored in his youth that became reality.
But on the other hand, the uneasiness he had back then seemed to increase by the day–
For him to have such a feeling, that would indicate–
“I’m getting old now, am I?”
Halter inadvertently blurted out such familiar lines, and sighed,
And then, he spoke to the black clothed automata not too far away, who was following Naoto’s instructions and preparing to end everything with ‘Mute Scream’ at any given moment, saying,
“Hey, Missy. RyuZU.”
“How callous–I suppose I did mention it before, but what is it?”
“Do you think this is the ‘gear of fate’ at work?”
Halter asked.
RyuZU silently answered with an elegant smile,
“I do not have a function that can observe such a thing, however–”
She slowly lifted her stare.
And looking over to where she was looking–it was the ‘Equatorial Spring’ that continued to spin in the distant sky.
RyuZU asked,
“Which direction does that spring appear to be moving towards?”
“…The right.”
“Really? But if you move down South from here, past the equator, and look at that spring again, your answer will be ‘left’.”
…The cruiser continued to shake.
The b
ullets rained upon them, and any one hit could have reduced the cruiser to shrapnel. In such a situation however, RyuZU continued to look up at the clear sky, and continued on,
“The truth is something subjective as according to how many observers there are–but there is only one fact. It is spinning right now, and that is the main point, no?”
…The automata discussed a philosophical issue through an observer effect.
Halter could not help but feel skeptical.
But at the same time, is it convincing because she said it–he wondered.
The automata that could move in imaginary time, and had negative output.
This fact was that time was simply a matter of truth.
No matter how distorted, or how it spun in reverse…he could not deny that it was spinning…and that was fate.
On the other end of his sight, the duo who had the abilities to change the world were discussing while being fired upon.
“Hey Halter! You need to do something! That’s a lousy body, but man the machine gun at least!”
“We’re running out on the Thermobaric Buster shots, uncle! Get to work!”
“–So that is how it is, Master Scrap Metal. You should be getting to work, no?”
…Goodness.
He gave a wry smile.
“…Well, since it’s the God of fate leading us, I’ll go on until the very end.”
Sayin that, he aimed the Gear Launcher he carried upon his shoulder.
He imagined the day in the past when the world ended–and when it was recreated.
He faced the truth that the day would arrive again.
He laughed that no matter how old he was, he ultimately was a brat no different from the kids in front of him
Halter rubbed his bald head, and slowly squeezed the trigger.
–Tick tock, tick tock.
The gears spun.
Regularly, mechanically, inevitably.
And so, they continued to count time as it existed.
Even as clocks stopped, it meant nothing.
Even when damaged, twisted, the wheel of time would continue to spin.