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"Shut up!! Shut up, shut up, shut up!! Why aren't you fighting back?! Why aren't you fighting back—!! Bastard! Bastard! Where's your Cassius?! Where's your positron cannon?! Give it to me!!!"

"Aaaaaah!!! Someone come here!"

"What's wrong with you?! Guards! Hurry up!"

Suddenly bursting through the wall, the bloodied and mangled Unit-01 stirred up ripples like a stone thrown into a calm lake. But then, Unit-04 charged out without any hesitation, grabbing Unit-01's shoulder with its left hand and slamming down with its right fist!

"Resist!! You fucking aren't allowed to—have—pity—me!!!"

--boom!

Unit-01's head was slammed to one side, and just as it was about to strike again, a blue figure suddenly appeared from the side and grabbed Unit-04's wrist. Hikari, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, grabbed Unit-04, while two members of the guard team pounced from both sides and locked it in place.

"Hoshino?! What are you doing here? And are you alright?"

"Ahem... Sorry, I damaged your house. Is anyone hurt, ahem..."

Hoshino, coughing up blood, leaned against the wall to stand up, his gaze still fixed on the struggling Unit-04. Hikari, seeing this, quickly said:

"You're the one who's most injured! What are you saying? Go find a new room to get treated. I know about its condition, but you can't..."

"It's alright, thank you Hikari... but this is what I deserve. My naivety led to this tragedy, and I should bear the consequences."

Unit-01 waved to Hikari, then walked towards Unit-04, which was being held by the guards. Ignoring the Galactic Crusaders watching the spectacle, he opened his arms and hugged Unit-04 tightly. Ignoring its struggles, he walked back into the damaged room, and a solid AT field completely enveloped the inside.

"Sigh... Why are young people these days so stubborn..."

Hikari sighed. It was Hikari who recognized the extraordinary similarity in biological reactions between Unit-04 and Unit-01, which led him to advocate for its return. Naturally, he had also read Zeta's report.

"By the way, why did Hoshino suddenly appear in the Land of Light?"

Hikari, who was talking to himself, was about to ask someone when Anila, who was already a little stunned, suddenly leaned closer and said cautiously:

"I heard her say before... that she's getting married after she goes back..."

"what?"

……

Meanwhile, Hoshino Yui brought Unit-04 back to the sealed room, revealing for the first time a glimpse of its immense power. Unit-04, struggling to break free but unable to budge, instead revealed an excited smile:

"That's it! Come on, kill me!! You think you're so strong? Kill me again! Kill me with your Lance of Cassius!!"

"...You know I won't lay a hand on you. After I learned that you had developed self-awareness, you are an individual to me who deserves equal respect."

Unit-01 did not release Unit-04, and Hoshino Yui continued speaking:

“I don’t think I can make you forgive me for what I did. I was thinking of taking you away, but maybe leaving you in the Land of Light is a good choice.”

Hoshino Yui just noticed that when it was being controlled by the people of the Land of Light, it showed no signs of resistance, just like before it met the girl. At least when facing these kind-hearted warriors of light, its emotions were very stable.

Furthermore, Unit-04 has not yet gone to the point of being indiscriminate in its hatred for Hoshino Yui, which is what prompts the girl to consider whether keeping her in the Land of Light is a good choice.

For some reason, Unit 4, which had been quiet for a while, suddenly started struggling again:

"The second time! The second time! You're ignoring me again!! You bastard, everything you're saying is bullshit! Die!!"

P.S.: Originally, I planned to write about Unit 233333 in Silver Grid 3, as a card that Tartarus found to restrain the protagonist and Sagittarius. I even wanted the protagonist to replicate the scene where Xiang Xiang was fixed in the Underworld by the mass-produced unit using a replica of Longinus lol. But I was backstabbed and had to give up.

Home is where the heart is: Chapter 635 Making Up for Mistakes

A barrage of artillery fire erupted from the armor of Unit 4, and attacks imbued with the power of the Absolut clan rained down between the two. Unit 4 abandoned its defenses and brazenly attempted to inflict wounds on the girl through a mutually destructive process.

Hoshino Yui quickly let go and pushed Unit-04 away, letting the flames and explosions engulf her. Unit-04, staggering back, immediately flipped over, drew her sword, and charged into the flames, aiming straight for Unit-01's throat!

—Clang!

The sharp blade clashed against the armor, accompanied by the mournful clang of metal striking metal. The girl grasped Unit-04's arms once more, but this time, Hoshino Yui hesitated before speaking:

"Cough cough... I didn't mean to abandon you, you cough cough... want to stay by my side? Don't you hate me?"

"You're talking nonsense! I wish I could kill you right now!"

Unit 4's rebuttal was still very strong, but it seemed somewhat lacking in confidence. Seeing this, Hoshino no longer hesitated, extended his AT field, and pressed directly towards Unit 4.

Upon seeing this, it immediately began to struggle fiercely. This time, however, the girl finally revealed her strength, subduing all the attacks launched by Unit 4 with a wave of her hand. Then, she forcefully pressed her own AT field onto it. As clones, their AT fields shattered after a brief period of synchronization—

"Why did you abandon me...Mom, why didn't you save me?"

"Don't hit me... Please, Mom... It hurts so much... Someone is controlling me... Help me, it hurts so much... Mom—!"

"Why did you want to kill me? Why wouldn't you save me? Is it because I'm a mistake? I begged you so much, why did you look at me like that? Mom, I hate you..."

A torrent of chaotic thoughts from Unit-04 surged forth, the pleas and prayers from the past constantly assaulting the girl's reason. Hoshino Yui had thought she wouldn't lose her composure like this, but...

"Do you want revenge on your mother?"

"……revenge?"

"Hmm... to put it another way, do you want to ask your mother why she abandoned you?"

"……want……"

"Come with me, and I will give you strength. As long as you follow my instructions, I can help you see your mother."

Tartarus's image also appeared in its memory, clearly indicating a conversation that took place after it was rescued. However, Hoshino Yui was no longer able to concentrate on examining its memories.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"

In the desolate space of consciousness, Hoshino Yui, who had returned to her human form, hugged the small girl less than a meter tall in front of her tightly. She rarely cried, but the intense guilt and the pain and hatred she had inflicted on her overwhelmed the girl's rationality.

Unit-4 hung its head, silent, its clenched fists trembling. As Hoshino Yui peered at it, it also glimpsed the girl's memories. It began to doubt everything about itself; it turned out that its own mother had never even known of its own birth…

Emptiness and powerlessness overwhelmed Unit-04, which had always acted on hatred. Its pent-up hatred felt like it had hit cotton, unable to be vented.

Hoshino Yui sensed the powerlessness emanating from it, so in the real world, Unit-01 released its grip, Cassius fell into its hand, and then, in front of it, handed the gun handle to Unit-04.

“Use it to pierce me… if it will make your heart feel any better.”

"you……"

Unit-04 looked down at the crimson Spear of Cassius in its hand, the sharp tip already aimed at Unit-01's chest. Its hands, which should have been firm, trembled uncontrollably.

Hoshino Yui didn't say anything more. The message she wanted to convey had already been given to her when the AT field broke. The girl looked at the weapon that had been with her for a long time. With her current strength, she knew that Cassius's single piercing attack wouldn't be enough to kill her.

Probably. The girl's judgment was based solely on her understanding of the weapon and her own abilities. Hoshino Yui could only guarantee that her soul would survive.

The trembling tip of the gun approached Unit-01, the sharp blade almost touching it, but it finally stopped. With a thud, Cassius was thrown to the ground by Unit-04. It instinctively looked at Hoshino Yui, bewildered and at a loss.

"Sigh... Let's go."

The girl sighed softly, picked up Cassius with a wave of her hand, then took Unit-4's hand, released the sealed AT field, and reappeared in front of everyone.

"Hoshino! How are you?! I'll go get Mother of Ultra to heal you right now!"

Zero, for some unknown reason, rushed back and, the instant the AT field disappeared, dashed to Hoshino Yui, scrutinizing the particularly intimidating-looking Unit-01. The others followed Zero in single file. Hoshino Yui looked over and discovered not only Hikari, but also a glimpse of the First Generation…

"I'm fine, just some minor injuries. But I have something else to tell you."

"Hey, let's talk about this later. You're being too reckless. Both of you, come over here for an examination!"

But the girls' conversation was interrupted once again. Anila rushed over, grabbed Hoshino Yui's arm, and pulled her outside, with Unit-04 following behind. Zero, watching this scene, cheerfully greeted Hoshino Yui.

"Haha~ Don't worry, it'll be over soon. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby."

Before Hoshino Yui could even greet the first generation, she was dragged into another room by this tough Crusader member, and then the two of them were enclosed in a transparent glass enclosure to begin treatment and examination.

"What...what do you intend to do with me?"

It spoke first, even though it saw into Hoshino Yui's heart, it seemed that the girl couldn't feel at ease unless she spoke her words.

"I'm taking you home. I'm sorry for what happened before. I won't abandon you, never."

"……Um."

"That's good, you're finally willing to speak. By the way, Ms. Hoshino, have you decided on her name yet?"

Anila, who was controlling the equipment to release the medicine and radiation to treat the body, joined the conversation. From the moment Unit 4 was brought in until Hoshino Yui arrived, it had been very withdrawn. This was the first time she had seen it willing to communicate with people.

Upon hearing this, Unit 4 turned to look at Hoshino Yui, its eyes filled with longing, like a puppy craving recognition.

Home is where the heart is: Chapter 636 Name and Invitation

Faced with this question, Hoshino Yui thought for a moment and asked:

"When you were with Absolut, did anyone give you a name?"

"No……"

The girl nodded. Although she didn't know what Tartarus had done with Unit 4, it seemed that he hadn't instilled any strange ideas in him.

"Before that, may I ask you why you changed your external armor to its current form? You should have looked like Zero before."

Its current appearance is almost identical to the red Unit-02 in Hoshino Yui's memory, and the appearance of this image does indeed leave the girl somewhat bewildered.

“It’s the way I remember it. Tartarus said that maybe we could use this to shake you, Mother, so he made the armor I have now.”

"I see..."

Hoshino Yui nodded. It seemed that Tartarus rescued it to target her, just like when it ambushed them during their time travel. However, she didn't know why it was intercepted by the people of the Land of Light halfway through.

Thinking this way, the girl came up with a name:

"Anyway... I'll call you Asuka as your nickname. It's a name I use occasionally. Do you mind? If you do, I'll think of another one."

Hoshino Yui, who has no talent for naming things, frankly brought out a pseudonym she often uses. Of course, it's just a nickname; the girl plans to discuss her official name with Sagitaly when she gets back.

"Is it a name your mother used? I don't mind."

"Okay, then I'll call you Asuka."

When Hoshino Yui first uttered that name, the girl looked at Asuka, who had mixed feelings and nowhere to vent them, and she knew that the responsibility for this child had fallen on her shoulders.

"Alright, your injuries are all healed. Also, Ms. Hoshino... why is your body in such a strange state? This is the first time I've ever seen someone coexist with a gigantic body and a shrunken body through quantum superposition."

As a medical professional, Anila expressed appropriate curiosity and concern about Unit-01's condition. After all, common sense tells us that most people's gigantic state is a transformation of form, but Ms. Hoshino is different. Her two forms belong to the same individual in a quantum sense, yet they exist simultaneously.

"This might be related to the power of Unit-01. It wasn't originally my gigantic form; it just happened to become me by some twist of fate."

Sitting up in bed, Hoshino Yui offered a brief explanation before changing the subject:

"I have something to discuss with Zero, so I'll be going now?"

"Okay, go ahead. Also, regarding Asuka, I suggest you come to the Land of Light for a check-up after some time. After all, no one can say for sure whether Tartarus might have left any tricks inside her."

Once she got into the zone, Anila fully demonstrated the professionalism of a doctor, not only reminding Hoshino Yui what she needed to pay attention to as a parent, but also what kind of tests she could do at home to identify the causes of some symptoms.

If it weren't for the fact that Asuka's mental state wasn't very good and that she clearly expressed her disgust at being separated from Hoshino-san, Anila would have actually wanted Asuka to stay in the Land of Light for a while longer.