I’ll Always Return to You

 

「I wonder if Kou and the others are okay…」

Matt waited anxiously for Kou and the others to return, stationed at Realm.

As someone who wasn’t a pilot, he had felt uneasy about joining them. He was far better suited to commanding the ship.

「Worry not. They already sent word that the mission was a success. With that team, failure is hardly a possibility.」

It was Echidna—inhabiting the body that had once been Libya—who reassured him.

「Yeah, I know…」

Just as he was speaking—

「Matt!」

A voice called out. He turned to see a beautiful girl with dusky skin, dressed in the same ceremonial outfit as Asia.

「…Libya!」

Her presence was unmistakable. Matt instantly understood, and his joy overflowed.

Libya threw herself into his arms.

「I’m back, Matt. This—this is my true self.」

「Welcome home, Libya. I’m glad. Looks like everything went well.」

They gazed into each other’s eyes, then shared a bashful smile.

「You two really are such a pair, honestly.」

Echidna chuckled playfully.

「If you’re set on having a child, I could serve as the vessel. A surrogate priestess, of sorts. After all, I am a part of you. It’s possible, you know.」

「Echidna, what on earth are you saying?! Don’t talk like some… harlot!」

Flushed bright red, Libya was thrown completely off by the sudden declaration of her former offshot.

Matt, meanwhile, froze like a statue. Echidna and Libya’s conversation had skipped several steps—no, leaped over them entirely.

「I am a symbol of debauchery, you know. Right up there with the Whore of Babylon.」

Indeed, in the medieval era, Echidna had been depicted as a wicked prostitute.

Her teasing apparently finished, Echidna moved away from the pair and headed toward Kou. She had sensed that her presence was hindering their progress.

「To think that thing came from me… I’m sorry, Matt.」

「It’s alright, Libya. —I’ll soon head back to Planet Asia for a little while.」

At those words, Libya lowered her gaze.

「…I see. Of course. That makes sense.」

She smiled faintly, but the sadness in her eyes betrayed her disappointment.

「Those days we spent building the Quattro Silhouette prototype together… They meant a lot to me. Sharing meals, working late in the underground factory—striving toward a common goal.」

「What are you talking about? We’ll still be together.」

「Huh…?」

「I’m only returning to prepare for handing off the company. Once that’s done, I’ll rejoin the next Trireme fleet expedition and return to Planet Libya. I’ll come back to you—no matter what. So just wait for me a little longer, Libya.」

Libya’s breath caught in her throat, and then—her face lit up with unrestrained joy.

「Matt!」

She hadn’t expected such words from him.

The two joined hands, pledging themselves to one another.

「…That’s when you’re supposed to throw yourself into his arms, you know. All slow-burn like this is too frustrating to watch. Really, you should’ve just pinned him down—bam.」

Watching them from afar, Echidna muttered to herself.

Asia, who had just arrived, spoke up quietly.

「You are Libya too. You’re basically criticizing yourself, you know? It sure is weird to see an offshoot play the matchmaker for the main body…」

「Don’t say that, Asia-dono. If I didn’t nudge things along, they’d never progress. And besides—that is my original, I am not a bystander.」

「Fair enough…」

「So, Matt’s chosen to live on this planet.」

Kou felt a tinge of loneliness at his friend’s decision. But more than that, he felt pride and happiness.

「We’ll be heading back to Planet Asia. Thanks for sticking with us this far.」

「Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you, Kou. Planet Asia is your home, after all!」

「Yeah.」

Kou nodded firmly.

◆　　◆　　◆　　◆　　◆

「So you are really leaving, Flack.」

「Sorry, Arthur.」

「No need to apologize. It was because of you that I could rise to my full potential. If anything, I should be the one to apologize. My apologies for involving you in our battle. I am thankful for your help.」

Flack spoke with Arthur, now returned to his true form.

The massive, gleaming silver knight sounded gentler than usual.

「Libya-sama will be stationed where Echidna-sama once resided. Though I liked Arthur-sama’s avatar, it is this form that befits my lord best.」

Morgan informed Kou. The Another Level Silhouette—Arthur—was to be Libya’s protector, and the representative of the Mythology Weapons.

「But Arthur’s castle is here in Realm. Who will protect Libya in his place?」

「The Kashas, Bastet, the Cat Sith, and the Habetrots will be moving to her side. Many humans are likely to follow her as well. Fortunately, Realm and Libya are geographically close. Should anything arise, we can transfer data instantly to Polymetis.」

Just as Asia could, Libya’s data could now be transferred. The Stones had once needed to seize all the locations the planetary AI could transfer to prevent her escape.

Now, with Libya entrenched in both the trench depths and Planet Libya’s central factory, suppressing her would be near impossible.

「That’s reassuring. A truly ironclad defense.」

The Kashas and Cat Siths—Mythology Weapons who had wreaked havoc in the tight spaces of Echidna’s factory.

And there were the Habetrots—Mythology Weapons based on the spirit protector of the brides, who wielded seven Panjandrums as their personal armory. An overwhelming force.

「We will not intervene in the conflict between the Kryptos and the Teras. Please understand that.」

While Arthur and Flack said their farewells, Arima turned to inform Kou.

Kou shook his head.

「The Teras, infused with the Murders factor, are now part of this planet, the same as the other intelligent beings. Now that humans and Teras have to live together, conflict is inevitable. The Teras don’t want humans to disappear, yes—but they only see them as resources.」

「To them, humans just need to be alive; the rest is of no consequence. They won’t drive humanity to extinction, though. And human factions have begun to organize. We’re inching toward equilibrium.」

「The real problem is if the Stones strike again.」

「Let them. I welcome it.」

Arima’s smile twisted into something dark. In that moment, his true nature showed.

「If that happens, Libya and I—perhaps both of us—will retaliate with full force. Libya herself proposed it, and I have no reason to refuse. You have my word.」

That expression hinted at violent retribution.

「I don’t expect Libya will show them mercy.」

「Of course not. She was driven to the brink of self-erasure, and her people were slaughtered en masse. That fury rivals even my own destructive urges. —That rage likely synced with Typhon and spurred my main body to action.」

「Makes sense.」

There was no reason for Libya and Arima to be at odds.

To Typhon, only those who sided with the Twelve Olympians were enemies. Humanity was of no concern to him.

「Thank you, Arima. For keeping your promise—for staying as Arima until Flack leaves.」

It was Kou’s heartfelt request—his pact with Arima.

「You’re welcome. I’ll remain Arima for a while longer. Luckily, I’ve forged strong ties with Polymetis and Arthur too. The old me could never have done that.」

「Then… if I return to this planet one day—will we meet again?」

「As long as I haven’t tired of being Arima, we will.」

Arima laughed, innocent as a child.

「Haha. Good enough for me.」

Kou laughed back and held out his hand. Arima hesitated for just a moment before clasping it.

「I’ll go say goodbye to Flack now.」

「Alright.」

The boy ran off toward Flack.

Kou watched over them with a gentle gaze.

 

AN:

Matt has decided to move to Planet Libya. Interestingly, romantic relationships between planetary super AIs and humans are unprecedented in the Nemesis System—after all, the AIs rarely manifest in physical form.

The Twelve Olympians in their avatars did do whatever they pleased, though.

As for Matt’s company, Gallop Company, a certain someone just happens to be free. Kurt has returned, stepping down from CEO to resume his role as a senior VP and development engineer. So no shortage of talent!

Matt is popular, so the other Therianthropes might be jealous… They may end up following him to Planet Libya, too!

Next time marks the conclusion of the Planet Libya arc. We’ll have a short interlude, then leap into a brand new chapter.

My biggest takeaways: it leaned a bit too mythological, and it dragged on a little. I’ll keep that in mind going forward.

The next arc is going to get gritty.

Hang in there, Matt! Is Echidna actually evil?! The old Echidna factory is now the Kingdom of Cats (including P)!