CH 120

April 446 of the Monarchy Calendar.

During the Second Battle of the Hercules Star System, the Transition Gate connected to the Apollo Star System suddenly disappeared.

The lack of a normal interstellar communication network between the Monarchy and the Hercules System caused disruption in the Rear Command Center of the Apollo System, which lost contact with the front line.

A few hours later, the transition gate was connected and a Reconnaissance Ship belonging to Fortress Kerviel jumped through for just a few minutes, much to the relief of the Rear Command Center.

[This is Reconnaissance Ship 02 of the 3rd Recon Squadron belonging to Fortress Kerviel. Emergency message from Fleet Admiral Amakawa, Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, to General Listner, Commander of the Rear Command Center.]

Whatever the nature of the report, the worst has been avoided.

In the current Monarchy of Diete, where every star system has been territorialized and its defenses have been perfected, as long as Queen Yuna, who unites all the Royal people, and Commander-in-Chief Hart, who is her sword and shield, are safe, they will not be shaken even if the invasion operation fails.

The fact that the succession of the throne from Yuna to the next Sovereign has become possible is also a result of the current situation.

Even if the expeditionary force is annihilated, the Royal Army can be rebuilt as long as Hart, who can provide spirit crystals and create realms, is safe.

However, the report brought back by the reconnaissance ship was outrageous.

The report of a supernova level explosion on the Royal Army easily knocked down the Rear Command Center.

The shocked Rear Command Center could not restart until the Transition Gate was reconnected and a second report of the cancellation of the operation was received from Hart.

[By order of the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet Admiral Amakawa, we are canceling the operation to capture the Hercules System.]

To begin with, the Hercules Star System has vanished from the Milky Way… apparently.

To go to the Andromeda Galaxy, which is at least 2.5 million light-years away, and it would take 1250 years for humans to reach it, since it takes a month and a half one way to reach even 250 light-years away.

Even if they were dispatched, no one will be able to reach it in their lifetime.

From a practical point of view, there was no choice but to cancel the operation.

[All forces building frontline bases on the outer rim of the Hercules System, you are also ordered to cease operations and to withdraw completely. Send a communications unit toward the frontline from the MacLir System, the nearest system.]

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief, General Collette Listner, who issued the abort order, gave up on continuing the operation.

Rebuilding the devastated army would also be a problem, but compared to the problems of the Andromeda Galaxy, the prospects were far better.

Of course, rebuilding the military is no easy task.

The forces committed to the Second Battle of Hercules included 164.13 million Surtr, 180 million Israfel, the core fleets of six star systems, a large number of regular and aristocratic fleets, and 42 strategic satellites.

They were led by the Fleet Admiral, the Chief of Staff, seven Fleet Commanders with the rank of General, and two Princes who also served to select the next Sovereign.

Now that Hart, who is the most irreplaceable, is safe, the Monarchy’s forces can be rebuilt when everything else is gone, but the attack on Ten-to would have to be reconsidered.

The cost of rebuilding the Royal Army will vary depending on how much damage has been done, but it is certain that at least 100 million fighter pilots will have to be replenished.

Even though the war results obtained after such a large amount of damage should have defeated the enemy Daemon Emperor, the birth of a new Daemon Emperor forced a reevaluation of the war results.

In addition, there was contact with an advanced alien civilization that possessed Daemons in the Andromeda Galaxy.

Although she could not make a decision without more information, Collette was certain of one thing at this stage.

“Even if the Princes are safe, Yuna’s abdication is out of the question.”

The third report from Hart arrived ten days later.

After the offer of negotiations was accepted, Hart decided to move to the Orias Star System, which was under Crocell, by stationing a guide, Valak 773, a white dwarf Administrative Intellect affiliated with Uvall, in the spaceport within the fortress.

The safety of Valak 773 is confirmed by Lulu, who has temporarily taken control of the star system.

Valak 773 is a Linnell-like entity with complete control. The motherland of Uvall, which manages Valak 773, has ordered it to guide Hart and his group.

There is no possibility of harm to Hart.

Even if it were to go on a rampage inside Fortress Kerviel, where Lulu and Maya are based, the two would be able to subdue it immediately, so Hart has accepted Valak 773 into the fortress.

A reconnaissance ship was sent to the home country to relay the third report.

Lulu connected the transition gate from Valak 773 to the Apollo System, just as she had done during the Second Battle of Hercules.

“This is all just unbelievable.”

Hart remained relatively calm as he watched Claudia’s wide-eyed amazement and reasonable reaction.

Perhaps his position as the Chief Executive of the Monarchy of Diete in the Andromeda Galaxy had heightened his sense of responsibility.

Effective immediately, the following must be reported to the Milky Way:

The safety of Fortress Kerviel was reported shortly after the jump.

Even when they decided to cancel the operation again, they sent reports.

As long as they were unable to return at this point, it was only natural that they would send a third report, a follow-up report. But Hart himself reflected on his actions during that time and wondered if he had gone too far by acting independently.

As for making contact with an advanced alien civilization fighting the Daemons, that should have been done through Yuna.

(Tenka has already made contact with an advanced civilization. As long as the technology can be transported to Ten-to, the defeat of the Monarchy in the Milky Way Galaxy is inevitable unless the Monarchy acquires competing technology.)

Hart was convinced that the Monarchy would be defeated if he didn’t act dogmatically.

Hart was the only human being who could provide the spirit crystals that Goetia wanted.

If he was criticized for being stingy, should he argue that he had just given away his personal possessions in exchange for technology that would enable him to counter Gremory, who was now targeting them?

Hart, troubled by this excuse, sent a third report to the Monarchy, reopening the question, “Why is it wrong to protect the Monarchy by acquiring counter-technology in the first place?”, with his own strong conviction.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the Tenka Hercules Alliance for bringing about the current situation.

“Do the people of the Tenka Hercules Alliance understand that the current situation is one in which an advanced alien civilization is threatening to take over the human race?”

“What do you mean?”

Claudia asked Hart, who spat out bitterly.

Hart explained his perception of the current situation to Claudia, as a way of summarizing his own thoughts.

“Let’s assume that it was a time when the Monarchy of Diete and the Former Coalition were fighting on equal terms.”

“Yes.”

“The Coalition then discovered a new star system, where there were primitive people chasing animals with clubs in their hands. Now it turns out that these primitives have Daemons that they can use to overwhelm the Monarchy. The Coalition would try to seize the Daemons. So far, so good.”

“Yes, I don’t think they’ll let it go.”

If the positions of the Coalition and the Monarchy were reversed, the Monarchy would not leave the Daemons unattended either.

They would ask the primitives how to use the Daemon crystals, and adopt a method that would allow them to be mass-produced as much as possible.

From the perspective of an interstellar civilization, primitives running around the world with clubs in hand are insignificant opponents, and there is no way they would treat them as equals.

The greatest concession is to interpret it as a mercy to the primitives to provide food assistance instead of forcibly taking their Daemon crystals.

Hart thought that such a hypothetical situation could be applied to the current state of humanity and Goetia.

“If we trace modern humans back to 130,000 years ago, we would have been chasing animals with clubs in hand. Since humans only started wearing clothes about 70,000 years ago, they were almost no different from animals 130,000 years ago.”

“Yes.”

“And Goetia, the massive interstellar civilization of the Andromeda Galaxy, became quantum thought vessels that humanity had not yet reached, more than 130,000 years ago. Humanity, as seen from Goetia, is equivalent to the primitive man who hunts animals naked with a club, as seen from humanity. And they have Spirits and Daemons. Now, what do we do?”

An advanced civilization deprives primitive people of their strategic resources.

Claudia swallowed her spit and there was a small sound in her throat.

And instead of Claudia, who was at a loss for an answer, Bertrand, the Chief of General Staff, expressed his concern.

“Then, the negotiations that Your Excellency the Fleet Admiral is trying to conduct are dangerous, aren’t they? I doubt that an interstellar civilization would conduct proper negotiations with primitive people?”

“That’s why I said the current situation is precarious. What have you done?”

If humanity finds primitive people of different origins, there is no doubt that they will be placed under protective control.

If the ruler and the ruled are the same human race, offspring will be born through interbreeding, so the parents will act to establish the rights of the children, the children will act as mediators between the two, and the situation will gradually improve.

Human history has proven this, and even in the Monarchy, the MacLireans of the former Coalition were being nationalized and completely annexed by re-educating their history over several generations.

In an advanced alien civilization from another galaxy, however, this would not be the case.

How do humans treat chimps and gorillas? Who can guarantee that they will not receive the same treatment from Goetia?

If humanity is treated the same way as chimps and gorillas, humanity would be spared from annihilation unless the Goetian civilization and social system collapses. And some planets could be made to function as spacious zoos.

At the same time, however, the possibility of developing a civilization or advancing to another continent or another star system would also be closed.

So, Hart lamented what they had done.

The encounter with an alien civilization from another galaxy, 2.5 million light-years away, would have been better if humans had reached the Andromeda Galaxy on their own or after another 2.5 million years. That way, the technological gap would have narrowed and there would have been enough resources to compete.

However, as long as the Tenka Hercules Alliance had already made contact at this juncture, the Monarchy of Diete could no longer sit idly by.

“Goetia is an advanced scientific civilization, but not a super civilization capable of intergalactic travel. We, on the other hand, are magical civilizations with spirits that can travel between galaxies. And we have a common enemy: the Daemons. By having spirits as a third entity to mediate between humans and Goetia, reasonable negotiations can be established.”

It is not a fox borrowing the power of a tiger, but a primitive man borrowing the power of a high-dimensional life form.

However, given the worst-case scenario, it would be the best possible solution. Much better than living in a zoo.

The Monarchy of Diete probably had no choice but to invade the Hercules System.

As long as Hart is alive, it is possible to maintain a truce and continue development while maintaining superiority, but after his death, they would have lost.

(If they deliberately destroy their own inhabited planets and let higher-ranked Daemons feast on tens of billions of humans, they can certainly create Daemon Kings. In order to increase the number of Daemon Kings, I doubt that Tenka Hercules would avoid this path.)

It is an impossible delusion that all future powers will always remain humane in the face of a way to ensure victory over the Monarchy.

In the name of eliminating dangers and for their own development or for some other cause, someone will increase the number of Daemon Kings.

Eventually, the Tenka Hercules Alliance, which has increased the number of Daemon Kings, will wage a war in which two Daemon Kings challenge one Spirit King.

If two against one is not enough to win, how about three against one?

In such a battle, the Monarchy would have no chance of victory.

Therefore, if the current Tenka Hercules Alliance is left unchecked, the Monarchy will be defeated in the distant future after Hart’s death.

With such a future danger in mind, Hart, the leading authority on spirits, could not leave Hercules alone and agree to an immediate and simple truce.

Therefore, the Monarchy of Diete probably had no choice but to invade the Hercules System.

“The Monarchy had no choice but to invade the Hercules System.”

The current situation of jumping to the Andromeda Galaxy was inevitable.

As for the inevitable path, Hart decided that there was no need to reflect on it, and then considered future measures.

『Lulu, how much power is left in the Spirit God’s energy crystal?』

『Only 20%. We don’t have much room for maneuvering, so we should suspend the next invasion of the Hercules Star System.』

『Yes. Of course, I have no intention of proceeding.』

The amount of energy used in the Second Battle of Hercules is 20%.

With that, she was able to defeat the Daemon Emperor, but even if she tried to reproduce the same event, the opponent’s defense force was increased by Gremory’s large fleet.

Attacking Gremory, which had destroyed thousands of Israfel crafts reinforced within Lulu’s realm with just one ship, is simply suicidal.

The Third Battle of the Hercules Star System was in no condition to be conducted.

『We must seal the Ten-to Transition Gate in the Milky Way Galaxy and stop Gremory’s invasion. This would require a Spirit Emperor. I would also like to build a Transition Gate in the Andromeda Galaxy to establish a means of transportation between the two galaxies. This can be done by a Spirit King, but…』

Hart wondered if it was possible to create a temporary realm and then remove it, as was done in Valak 773.

『I would like Lulu, who possesses the energy crystal body of the Spirit God, or Maya, who has absorbed and transformed the power of the Daemon Emperor, to create a Spirit King-level advanced Spirit. I’m going to have that advanced spirit feed on the Machaon System, promote it to Spirit King, and place it in the Andromeda Galaxy. That way, even if they territorialize the Ten-to and the Andromeda Galaxy, Lulu or Maya should be able to return to our hands…』

In order to be promoted from an advanced spirit to a Spirit King, you must use an inhabited planet where humanity’s miasma has accumulated. As a candidate, Hart recalled the Machaon Star System, where the people of the Solar System were relocated.

They will re-migrate those who were relocated from the Solar System to the Machaon Star System, destroy the remaining planets and convert the miasma.

If they were originally Spirit King level, not much energy would be needed for the promotion.

The Machaon Star System has enough miasma because it has been inhabited by Royal citizens for a long time. If the criminals are left in the planetary prison and the former Solar System people who refuse to immigrate are also left behind, the system will not be completely uninhabited. So, Hart thought, it should be possible to promote them.

This would be a terrible situation for the former Solar System people who had just been forced to emigrate to the Machaon Star System, but if they did not do so, the Monarchy of Diete would perish.

As Ishidor of Hercules claimed, this is a battle for survival. And the enemy has joined with the advanced alien civilization, Gremory.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Monarchy’s Armed Forces, Hart could not make a decision that would lead to the Monarchy’s defeat and destruction.

Understanding Hart’s situation, Lulu accepted the request.

『Alright, Lulu will wait in the Andromeda Galaxy to open the gate for Papa’s return. Maya, please make the capture of the Ten-to Star System your top priority, and use the remaining energy to create two advanced spirits with King-level power. Papa will take care of them to create two Spirit Kings in the Machaon Star System.』

『Will Maya sit on Ten-to?』

Lulu spoke proudly to Maya, who was staring at her sister curiously.

『No no no. For Maya’s energy recovery, please create two Spirit King-level alters, and place one in the Ten-to to replace her. After that, we’ll go back to the Andromeda Galaxy, place an alter there as well, and we will return to Papa together.』

Lulu held out the index fingers of both hands and quickly crossed them.

『I want to use Grandma’s energy crystals to raise Papa’s level when I turn him into a spirit, so please do your best to preserve them as much as possible. From the beginning, let’s make him an advanced spirit on par with the peculiar King-class.』

『Very well, that will do.』

Maya turned her dark eyes to her sister’s fingertips, finally nodding slightly.

On the other hand, Hart, who had heard what the sisters had said, thanked Lulu for doing her best.

At the same time, he tried to understand what Lulu had said about “creating a Spirit King-level alter to recover Maya’s energy and replacing it in a territorialized star system”.

In the case of mass-produced spirits, the Spirit Emperor Janet, who created a realm in the Diete Star System, is doing it with the spirit crystals for the large fighter craft Israfel.

Should he consider it as a functionally enhanced version of the same thing?

In the distant future, when the scope of humanity’s activities is spread over many star systems, even if a realm is established in one star system, it will not be possible to collect the energy of all humanity.

When they reached that level of civilization, Hart wondered if the spirits would increase the number of Spirit Kings to collect energy, but apparently there was also a way to use alters as energy collecting annexes.

Hart was worried about how efficient the recovery would be and whether Mira and the others could move, but he put aside the things that he would not tell.

『Now we must seal the Ten-to Transition Gate immediately. I trust that you will help me in this endeavor.』

After sending home the fourth report, the fourth bomb calling for the destruction of the Machaon Star System, Hart left for Crocell’s Orias System.