When we arrived at the activation point, we worked together to make the final preparations. The ghouls were densely packed together so that the explosion range could be kept to a minimum. Once I finished my share of the work, I rolled up the activation code for the warhead, and turned to Kon.
“Kon! I’ve done my part. The blast radius will be the minimum of roughly three kilometers, and the missile will detonate in 120 seconds. Have you finished setting up the escape boosters?”
“I’ve finished. We can make our escape at any time.”
I was reassured by the floating text that Kon produced. I took another look at the ghouls.
These ghouls are the victims of this war...
I would never forget this scene. I’d make sure this story was passed on to future generations so nothing like this could ever happen again. For the sake of a future where everyone could live and smile.
“Kon... let’s go.”
I buckled myself in and ignited the boosters. The Satanachia started to rapidly accelerate as we began our escape. The vibrations were incredible as we broke through the sound barrier. As I endured the G-forces, I watched the image on the rear main camera and saw a sphere of black light produced by the detonation of the missile warhead. This was probably the miniature black hole that Mom had told me about.
I watched it gradually grow larger as it engulfed the surroundings, then I closed my eyes and prayed that the ghouls would find happiness in the next life.
✦ ✦ ✦
I watched the satellite image of Kouki leading the ghouls to the detonation point.
How must he feel right now? By pure chance, Kouki has a huge number of ghouls under his command. There’s no way to protect him from feeling the misery of war. I worried about what that might do to Kouki’s mental state.
Shuuichi had recently returned from the battlefield. “Even so, it’s an incredible sight,” he said. “Together with the appearance of the powered suit Kouki’s using, it’s... I don’t know how to put it, but it’s, you know.”
Shuuichi was struggling for the words, but there was no way to sugarcoat it; what we were witnessing looked just like an army under the command of a demon. The other personnel in the CIC were watching the screen with wry smiles.
“You’re right. I had the same thought myself. But I worry. By chance, it was Kouki who had to see these ghouls close up. I hope this doesn’t affect him too much.”
“Miki, do you really think he was able to command the ghouls just by chance?”
“What are you suggesting?”
I didn’t know what Shuuichi was trying to say.
If he could control them for any other reason besides chance, Kouki would have told us so from the start. He’s not the type of boy to stand back and watch while people are pointlessly sacrificed!
I angrily defended Kouki to Shuuichi, but he replied with a calm and serious look on his face. “You believe that he knew about their weak point, but he hadn’t come up with a plan for handling them? And even before the war started, he was trying to hurry you into installing that roar device. Why would he do that? Don’t you suspect that he predicted this whole thing?”
“He can’t have... I won’t believe it. It’s not possible.”
“Kouki was shaking while we were talking in the conference room. At the time, I thought he was worrying about the possibility of sacrificing ten million people, but what if he was just angry? What if he was angry at this world and at us because we stopped moving forward? If his only concern was our ability to prosper here, then perhaps his plan was to use those ghouls to lay the world to ruin if we weren’t willing to keep moving forward.”
That’s not possible. That’s absurd nonsense, and I won’t believe it. But this is Kouki... How long has he been preparing for this? Since before the war? Since we first visited this world? From the moment he opened the moon relic? Could it be that he really can see the future?
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I sometimes wonder how much he can see.”
“Who knows? But whatever he can see, that doesn’t change the fact that he’s our precious son.”
“That’s true.”
He’s exactly right. No matter how much other people fear him, Kouki is our precious son. Even if no one else understands him, we’ll try to understand him. I firmed my resolve.
Clare then informed me of a new development while she was operating a terminal. “We have word from the alliance via the Merkava Kingdom. They are willing to surrender.”
“What are the surrender conditions?”
“None. Unconditional surrender.”
“Very well. Please accept.”
Clare received my instructions and began sending out instructions to various places. It looked as though the war was finally over. We’d been so busy lately that I suddenly felt ten years older.
When I looked back to the screen, the imaginary number weapon had been detonated and a black hole appeared. It was working exactly as the theory predicted, and Kouki had escaped the danger zone safely.
I know! I’ll make his favorite stew to improve my mood. He’ll be tired when he gets back, and I’m sure it’ll make him happy.
I told the personnel from the political department that I had work to do elsewhere. They desperately tried to stop me, but I ignored them and headed to the kitchen.
I was known for being a workaholic, but even I needed to take a break once in a while to stop myself from breaking down.