Chapter 262: Decision & Meeting
After Tolle returned that night, he noticed that Kudelia and Fumitan were both wearing the same pendant on their chests. It seemed Kudelia had bought them as gifts on Jupiter.
Leaning against Tolle, Kudelia told Tolle and Fumitan about what had happened that day.
Looking dejected, Kudelia asked, "If I keep moving forward, more blood will be shed. What should I do?"
Tolle glanced at Fumitan, deciding to throw the question to her first. Holding Kudelia close, he asked, "Fumitan, what do you think?"
Kudelia happily echoed him, "Yes, Fumitan, do you have any good advice?"
After thinking for a moment, Fumitan replied, "As a maid, I really don't dare make arbitrary judgments.
But since we're already enemies of Gjallarhorn, we can't go to Mars now.
In that case, the answer is obvious."
Kudelia nodded in agreement. "Yes, I know that too. I just didn't have the courage to admit it.
Thank you, Fumitan. You're always supporting me from behind."
Tolle also nodded. "Mm, I understand what Fumitan means.
Going forward means many will die now. Stopping means many will die in the future. But if you retreat, not only will the people who already died have done so for nothing, many more will still die later.
So, Kudelia, you no longer have the right to retreat or stop.
For the present and a better future—for preventing the appearance of irregular child soldiers like Tekkadan—you have no choice but to advance."
"Yes… I have to be brave and face everything, even if it costs me my life."
Tolle decided it was about time to be honest with them. Since he had already brainwashed them, he wasn't worried about Fumitan betraying him.
He gently released the two of them and took out two storage–space bracelets from his storage space in front of them.
Seeing their astonished expressions, he slowly said, "Actually, I'm not from this world…"
Tolle explained his situation to them, including how, after arriving in this world, he saw the dire condition of Mars and wanted to save the oppressed.
His goal in gathering the space pirates was also to prepare for emergencies—there would likely be a battle with the Gjallarhorn forces in the future.
He also told them that he didn't have much time left in this world—just over three months. After escorting Kudelia to Earth, he might be forced to return to his original world.
And he had no idea when he would return again, though one thing was certain—he would come back someday.
After explaining everything, Tolle asked Kudelia and Fumitan, "Kudelia, Fumitan—when I leave, would you come with me?"
Kudelia fell silent for a moment before answering with firm resolve, "I'm sorry, Tolle—I can't go with you this time. Let me finish what I must do on Mars first, then we'll leave together. I'll wait for your next arrival. I'll keep waiting."
Fumitan also answered with determination, "Mm. My lady still needs my care, so I'll stay with her. I'll wait for your next arrival as well. I'll always wait."
He couldn't take them with him this time, but hearing that they would always wait for him warmed his heart.
"All right, I won't force you. But I still have a few gifts for you."
Tolle had Nami perform longevity modifications on Kudelia and Fumitan, which were completed within minutes.
"All done. That burst of static just now was the modification process. Your bodies are now ageless, with lifespans of two to three thousand years. That should be more than enough time to wait for me."
Both of them stared at Tolle in disbelief, unsure what to say. Tolle continued, "Kudelia, I'm leaving the Spark Group to you as well. There's enough power in the spaceport to stand against Gjallarhorn.
If needed, you can use it to negotiate or fight them and better support the future elimination of irregular child soldiers."
Kudelia stared at Tolle, overwhelmed, her heart burning with excitement that wouldn't settle.
After some discussion, Tolle brought Kudelia and Fumitan into the battleship's core space so they could meet Lin Minmei, Ange, and the others.
They all got along well, though it caused Tolle a headache—the number of people in the group battles kept growing, and he was starting to have trouble keeping up physically.
Early the next morning, Kudelia brought Tolle and Orga to see McMurdo again.
Wearing a self-satisfied smile, McMurdo asked, "You're here. Have you made up your minds, Miss Kudelia Aina Bernstein?"
Kudelia nodded, looking at her hands. "Mm. My hands are already stained with blood—Tekkadan's blood.
If we stop now, it would be a betrayal of the blood they shed for me."
"Oh? Then will Tekkadan accept this? Will they still escort you to Earth?"
Orga answered solemnly, "We will support Miss Kudelia and escort her safely to Earth. Even if we must give our lives, we will complete the mission."
Tolle added to McMurdo, "Old man, I'm here too. Don't worry—we'll definitely get Kudelia to Earth. And Teiwaz will become the designated enterprise."
After finalizing the discussion with McMurdo—
It was decided that the guides for the journey to Earth would be Amida and Lafter from Turbines.
They made slight alterations to the color schemes of their two Hundred Refinements suits, turning them into two Hyakuren Shadows.
However, due to Tolle's involvement, Orga did not form a brotherhood with Naze as he had originally.
Still, under McMurdo's assistance, Merribit boarded the Isaribi as originally planned.