Chapter 105: Crusade

Throughout the flight, Aleph and Kurumi continued to talk about various things. Only when they were alone could the two catch up. The latter also respected Aleph's time with his friends, more so when she just came back from years of disappearance.

'What did I miss out on~?'

Stemming from her desire to catch up, Kurumi adapted this approach. Even though she was 'attached' to him, she couldn't take all of his time, more so when Aleph is busy saving this world.

Of course, it didn't go unnoticed under Aleph's sight.

'...It's cute…'

This phrase came to his mind once again. It remains unknown how many girls had he said this to, however.

Soon, he arrived in MOTH's temporary headquarters outside the city. The city was currently filled with undeads and honkai beasts. Unless they wanted to bomb this place, the best way to obliterate them without using much resources is through military personnel. That would spend more resources, however.

Click.

Aleph made sure to disengaged the suit first before flying using the EM propulsers.

Hum-!

The thin circular reactor on his back started glowing. The concentration of honkai energy in his surroundings increased. 

'Just like my original suit…'

In his neck was a device that reads the brain's electrical signals. It made it possible to control the battlesuit's functions with a thought. If it wasn't there, an artificial intelligence would've been required to better use it.

Tap.

Everyone on the landing pad was surprised by Aleph's arrival. It didn't last for long as a red-haired woman with a long-sleeved black dress arrived.

"The headquarters stated you will arrive… Doctor Aleph."

"It's nearly been a year, Major Himeko."

"It is so."

The one who received him was none other than Major Himeko. Most of Fire MOTH's branches had a Major as the highest ranking personnel. She was one of the people responsible for 'retaking' cities in this eastern region.

"I haven't given my thanks yet. Those experimental data were sufficient enough to push my studies further." He said.

"Mn. That was our duty. Doctor Aleph's contributions were far more than what we gave. It should be us giving our thanks."

Seeing Himeko speak formally—without her usual 'aunt' accent and her old-lady wordings—Aleph felt a bit startled.

"Ahem. There's no need to be this formal. I heard many things about you from Hua."

"Oh?"

Inevitably, their conversation's topic shifted to Hua as they walked into the debriefing room.

"Hua is a nice girl. She is always active when it comes to saving her comrades. Of course, there are downsides to it." Himeko slowly explained. "I have also heard about you from her."

"Really?"

She nodded to his words before continuing:

"I am afraid it will take a toll on her. Since we are in this line of work, it's nearly impossible to save everyone."

Knowing Aleph's closeness to Hua, Himeko didn't hesitate to let out her worries. She already said it before to the girl, but the latter didn't seem to take it into her heart.

If the comrades you spent a lot of time with end up getting killed, it could lead to feelings of self-blame.

"I know, I am being nosy with this. But… I have seen enough people wind up like that."

"..."

Aleph recalled his daily conversations with Hua. Most of it got something to do with her daily life as well as questions about martial arts training. There are only a few when it comes to her military operations.

Usually, it ends up being summarized into "It went well" or "It went bad, but things went well in the end".

'I neglected her… I'm thankful enough for Major Himeko to be here.'

Just like the Current Era Himeko, the HIMEKO in front of him cared a lot for her team. 

Although she leads an entire battalion, they also have a task force when it comes to missions that could only be done by a select group of people. Hua belonged to that elite group led by her.

"...I understand." Aleph replied. "I will look into it."

Hearing his response, Himeko moved onto the more professional matters—that is, Aleph's purpose for his visit into this region.

"There are emperor-class honkai beasts in several cities. We haven't received a resupply as of yet…"

The situation painted by Himeko made Aleph frown. Usually, an emperor-class honkai beast warrants a special ammunition supply made of miniaturized clean nuclear bombs. However, the global situation was extremely dire to the point the supplies were nearly running thin. The logistics are also another problem, something that pushed Aleph to forsake the usual transport ships and go in there alone.

The tactical bombs made of honkai were something that could only be used in desperate situations. Of course, that comes with a cost. 

Although emperor-class honkai beasts could be killed in this way, the concentration of honkai energy would increase. It was a move that sacrificed the future for the present.

To that, the best response is to call in people who are strong enough to deal with the problem without using honkai bombs.

'One in this city, then…'

For a while, Aleph learned about the frontline in person.

*****

"I can see why you didn't want me to come here."

Kurumi's voice rang inside Aleph's head.

"Yeah. Your world is far better than mine. If it weren't for the honkai…" He muttered before changing the subject. "Anyways, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There's still that thing on the Moon."

His fist tightened as he recalled the sixth Herrscher who managed to escape in the Sea of Quanta. He doesn't know whether her power acts like a portal—akin to the Eye of the Deep in the game—or another thing altogether. If it was the latter and she could simultaneously appear out of nowhere, her danger rating becomes higher.

For now, he asked Mei to keep a lookout of the place where she disappeared.

'She was wronged, but if it comes to it…'

"...It's an uglier place compared to your world." Aleph commented.

"Hee..? No. There is also an ugly side of my world, too. If it did not have that, my city wouldn't be filled with dead bodies."

"Fair point…"

Bam-!

In the midst of the city, a large honkai beast in the shape of a praying mantis caused a couple of buildings to collapse. Within this desolate place, it served as the 'warlord'.

"Five days and this much happened. I'll need to visit other places next."

His crusade against the enemies of the world formally began.