Hydra, the capital planet of the Banfield family.

Claudia had come to Christiana's office, seeking approval for a certain electronic document.

Seeing its contents, Christiana let out a small sigh and smiled.

"You know that even for elites, we observe them as C-rank rookies for several years before deciding on their promotion to knight rank, don't you?"

In the Banfield family, even elites are treated as C-rank for several years.

There are no exceptions, as only by surviving in battle can they even begin to be considered for promotion to B-rank.

A rapid promotion like Emma's would be an anomaly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Christiana looked slightly pleased at Claudia's reply.

She was happy because the subordinate who had brought her such troublesome paperwork was showing signs of growth.

"I never thought you, of all people, would recommend Second Lieutenant Emma Rodman for B-rank, Claudia."

"—It was simply that my evaluation was mistaken."

At her subordinate's curt reply, a mischievous thought sparked in Christiana's mind.

The details of the incident on Elias had been reported, and she pointed out an issue with Claudia's report.

"He was the only one who could see her talent. You don't need to blame yourself so much. More importantly, I hear you've decided not to pursue Melea's desertion. I thought you would have used that as a reason to discharge them all, Claudia."

Shoot the commanding colonel, the one responsible, and discharge the rest without question.

That's what Claudia had wanted for some time, yet she didn't choose that path this time.

"I was the one who didn't count them as part of our forces. The responsibility is mine."

"Indeed. If you had utilized them more effectively, the outcome might have been different."

Facing her smirking superior, Claudia asked about her own responsibility.

"Is that all?"

"If you're looking for punishment, I'm afraid you'll have to give up. I told you I don't have the luxury of letting you sit idle. You will continue to work for me."

The ever-serious Claudia showed her disapproval at a result that was unacceptable from a military discipline standpoint.

However, Christiana would not yield.

And so, she decided on the handling of Emma, who had been recommended by Claudia.

"—The promotion of Emma Rodman is approved. However, her assignment cannot be changed."

Hearing that she couldn't be transferred from the Melea, Claudia's eyes narrowed.

Why was she being left in a dead-end post?

"Why? The Second Lieutenant, as she is now—"

"We can't just place a knight who can't be deployed without her special mobile weapon anywhere we please. Besides, we've had a specific request from the Third Weapons Factory. They're saying they want to dispatch a development team to the Second Lieutenant's unit."

She informed her that after Emma had demonstrated her ability to pilot the Atalante, the Third Weapons Factory had proposed forming and sending a special team.

Considering Emma's unique talent, Claudia accepted it as unavoidable.

"So she'll be a test pilot for new models for a while."

"We'll operate the Melea itself as a test unit. However, there are a few complications."

Christiana let out a small sigh, and the formation details of an experimental unit with the Melea as its mother ship appeared before Claudia.

Claudia scowled.

The reason was a plan to modify the Melea for technology testing.

The problem was who had requested to perform the modifications.

"The Melea was manufactured by the Seventh Weapons Factory, wasn't it?"

"—They intend to acquire technology from the Third Weapons Factory through him. That's why they've offered to modify the Melea."

They argued that if the purpose was technology testing, then the light carrier would need to be modified.

"Is that acceptable? Such an act of using him is unforgivable."

Claudia showed her displeasure, but Christiana shook her head.

"'Lord Liam' himself has given his permission."

Hearing that it was Liam who gave permission, Claudia fell silent.

Christiana then decided on Emma Rodman's promotion on the spot.

"Second Lieutenant Emma Rodman will be promoted to First Lieutenant, effective today. Her first battle aside, her achievements in this recent operation were significant. —And she is a knight in whom he has placed his expectations."

Though slightly surprised, Claudia thanked Christiana.

"A promotion as well—thank you very much."

"It's fine. The First Lieutenant will be working hard for us from now on. Think of it as an advance on her payment."

Following the incident on Elias, Emma had achieved a promotion that surpassed even the elites.

However, Christiana worried as she imagined Emma's future.

"The hard part starts now."

◇

A nature park on Hydra.

Emma had come to a place with a good view, sitting on a bench and gazing at the scenery of Hydra.

It was the same view she had seen before heading to Elias.

She had been informed of her promotion in rank and grade, but Emma herself was pondering the nature of justice.

"What is my justice?"

After hearing Liam, who declared himself evil, speak, Emma began to think deeply about the justice she was aiming for.

The person she had been chasing called himself a villain.

That was what troubled Emma.

She had aimed to become a knight to protect the weak.

That feeling hadn't changed.

But the very person who embodied that justice, Liam, recognized himself as evil.

The one she was aiming for was a villain. —Was it right to keep chasing him?

And yet, that villain seemed more righteous than she was.

As she gazed at the peaceful scenery of Hydra, Emma agonized over what was right.

An elderly acquaintance sat down on the bench next to her.

Emma was surprised by the old man who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Gramps?! Y-you should say something if you're coming. You scared me."

"My apologies. However, it is a problem for a knight to be unaware when a civilian approaches."

"W-well, that's true, but..."

The old man smiled at the dejected Emma.

"I am glad to see you have returned safely."

"—Yeah."

"It seems you have something on your mind. If this old Brian will do, I would be happy to listen."

At the old man—Brian's—offer to listen, Emma looked up at the sky and confessed her true feelings.

"I was aiming for justice, but the person I admired was evil. He called himself a villain."

"Ah, that is..."

The old man brought a fist to his mouth, seemingly deep in thought.

Emma continued her consultation.

"I always thought he was a hero of justice, but he says he's a villain. I didn't know anything, and I couldn't see anything."

Emma couldn't believe that the one who had created the peaceful scenery spreading before her was a villain.

But he called himself a villain.

Emma didn't know what was right.

Above all, there was Liam's resolve to become a villain to create this scenery.

She started to feel ashamed of how carefree she had been in her pursuit of justice.

"Was I wrong?"

"—He is a kind person. That is why he, more than anyone, understands his own actions."

"Huh?"

With his head slightly bowed, the old man spoke of kindness.

"In order to protect this planet, he had to become strong. Stronger than anyone. And he had no choice but to stain his hands with blood."

"Gramps?"

"If you believe him to be a villain, then that is not a mistake. However, if you feel even the slightest sense of incongruity, please listen to that small feeling. If there is even a faint cry in your heart that says something is different—"

Hearing those words, Emma stood up and placed a hand on her chest.

Then, she listened to the voice of her own heart.

—Liam is evil.

As she told herself that, she felt like she could hear the voice of a young girl from deep within, saying that it wasn't true.

It was the Emma of her childhood.

She felt as if the girl who had decided to become a knight that day after seeing Avid was shouting with all her might that it wasn't true.

Look at the scenery before you, she seemed to say.

I believe in him, she seemed to say.

The Emma of her childhood seemed to be speaking to her with straightforward eyes.

Feeling as if her younger self had scolded her, Emma smiled through her tears.

Wiping them away.

"—I can't see him as a villain."

Seeing Emma like this, the old man brushed his finger over the corner of his eye.

He must have been happy with Emma's answer.

"If you think so, he too will be saved."

The old man also stood up.

"It will be difficult from here on. To receive a special mobile weapon is to be expected to work just as hard."

"Yeah."

The old man's words gave Emma a new resolve.

(I don't have time to be depressed. I've decided to keep moving forward on this path.)

What would she see if she chased after him?

Emma couldn't even imagine it yet.

The old man began to walk away.

"This Brian has high hopes for the future of a young knight."

He said one last thing to Emma.

But it was then that Emma realized something.

"Huh? How does the old man know about the Atalante? Wait? C-could it be—the old man is rich?!"

Emma couldn't begin to imagine who Brian was connected to.