Chapter 11 Backstory (Patreon)

Captain Rose steps forward, eyes wide, looking at me as if I've just revealed some long-forgotten secret.

Her cheeks flush a faint red—an oddly human reaction that catches me off guard. "...You know about it?"

Huh, I felt relief when I remember it. I still have some small memories about her considering she was one of my favorite side characters in Nier Automata.

I almost forgot about her considering I read that long long long long ago.

And I am even more surprised that the timeline did not change that much. I thought there would be an alternative timeline since I arrived here.

I nod, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction at finally recalling her. It's a small memory, but it feels good to recognize her. 

Captain Rose's gaze softens, a mix of pride and disbelief flickering in her eyes. It's as if she's not used to being recognized for her feats, especially in such a personal way by humans. "That was… a long time ago. I didn't think anyone still remembered."

"Remember? I'd be shocked if people didn't know about it!" I exclaimed, placing a hand on her shoulder. To my surprise, she let out a soft, girlish squeak—a sound that caught me off guard, but I brushed it aside. "You and your unit were practically heroes! You liberated Pearl Harbor, putting an end to the machine activity in the Pacific! Thanks to your actions, you opened a path for us to finally push back in this region!"

Honestly, it was pure luck that I managed to know her story, I practically knew the story of her background since she was an interesting character.

Hooray to me being a fan of Nier...

Rose's mouth opened and closed, her cheeks turning a noticeable shade of red—an oddly human reaction for an android. Her flustered expression was a stark contrast to the stoic demeanor she had moments ago, and it was honestly kind of charming.

"Y-yes! T-that's just something any android in my position would do, so… there's no need to thank us!" she stammered, trying to regain her composure.

I couldn't help but smile at her reaction. It was surprising, considering she was an android—her emotions felt so authentic, so human.

It was a far cry from the earlier models I remembered, whose expressions were often rigid and mechanical, struggling to display even a hint of emotion. The Devola and Popola model were a exception since they are rensponsible for the most important project on the planet but that's not the point.

Now I can at least tell she was embarrassed which was kid cute.

I gently squeezed Rose's shoulder, looking her directly in the eye. "No, thank you. Your actions were heroic, and a hero deserves to be recognized as one."

Our gazes locked, and for a moment, it felt like time had stood still. Her eyes were full of fascination, like a kid meeting their favorite hero.

But then, to my surprise, tears began to well up in her eyes, shimmering with a mix of emotion.

Oops… I hadn't intended to make her cry. Feeling a bit flustered, I instinctively reached up and gently wiped away a tear from her cheek.

She felt soft, and squishy now that I think about it.

But murmur begins to break out among the androids.

"Wow, I've never seen this side of the Captain before," one android whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.

"She looks like a stranger now," another added, their tone filled with shock.

Regaining her composure, she glared at the androids around her. "Enough. This isn't the time for gossip," she snapped, her voice sharp. "Get back to your guard!"

In a single order, everyone regained their composure and resumed guarding by looking around the area. None of them dare to look at us in our direction now.

Now that I think about it, if Captain Rose is here then that means...who was her name again? Anuoamo... Atemona...Anemona..

I snap my hand and look around the android "Is there someone here with the name of Anemone?"

"Anemone?" Captain Rose calls hers out among the crowd

"I am here" I look over the source of the sound and see she is making her way here while getting things through from the crowd of androids surrounding us 

She covered her body with a green clothing coat.

Honestly, she is almost like one of those religious people. Especially the women who always wear thin clothing that covers their entire body.

I look up and down and begin to observe closely her body all the way to her face.

"I-it kind of embarrassing to have such an intense stare"

Oh.. right must be uncomfortable, I scrach my head and look away in nervous "Right sorry Anemone, just curious that's all"

"Curious..?" Anemone stopped at a standstill and mumbled to herself.

While she stands still in shock I continue to walk feeling my stamina slowly drain, dammit despite training my best I am still too easily exhausted.

"But still... I thought that the council of humanity was aware of me being here?"

"Like I said, I came to this camp for a different reason."

Captain Rose decides to speak up "...I am sorry for interrupting your conservation sir" We both look at her and she flinches "B-but if I may ask can we know what kind of mission you are doing? maybe we can assist you?"

Now that I think about it... Maybe this is a chance? I can take advantage of them while I have fooled them?

I should do that then.

"I can tell you later but for now I just want both of us to have a conversation without interruption."

As we walked back to the camp while being surrounded by androids on all sides, I was a bit uncomfortable having so many bodyguards, I usually have one or two since the need for them is unnecessary since I was powerful enough to take an entire legion army on my own.

But the reason I felt uncomfortable was that their gaze was rather strange.

It was the gaze of devotion at their god, and it was directed to both me and Aria.

I know those gaze since I frequently see many people who are looking for guidance from their gods in this dark world.

Heh, gods. I never believed in gods, and if he was real he would not let humanity extinct.

And if he was real, I would punch him in the face for sending me here.

I looked over to the human girl to see if she had any reaction and she was completely fine. But more like she was bored and wanted to go home with the way her expression showed.

She must have gotten used to it, I meant she practically spent an entire 2 weeks together with these androids.

Horaay to her human adaptability.

I try to make a light talk with her considering we are going to spend time together as a fellow human. So let's ask her the most obvious reason she is here.

"So why are you still on Earth, not on the moon like the other?"

Knowing these androids on how she explains the character of these androids, there is no way those in the hinger up of android won't send her somewhere safer.

The space could have been off-limit since there is a limitation on how humans handle gravity and the amount of training needed to survive in space, but at least she should be transported to a more safe area where there least amount of machines.

And I don't think being surrounded by machines on all sides is not a safe place at all.

"It's a long story," She sighs a little.

"I will take it from here," Captain Rose said.

Captain Rose then begins to explain the plan that High Command, or what android refers to as the highest officer in the Army Of Humanity has given orders to her.

They can't really just send some huge number of force to guard the area, that will alert both the alien and the machine that there is something important around the area that they sent a huge number of force here.

The high command knows that this machine keeps track of a number of Androids 24/7, so the risk was too high.

So instead the High command had a different idea and it was rather simple.

Rather than sending a huge amount of army and making the machine notice the presence of humans, they are going to send an elite squad of androids that is going to guard her.

It was to completely hide her existence on Earth until further plan was laid out by the Army of Humanity.

But it's only a temporary plan, they still wish to send her to the safest location but for now, they will slowly send Android little by little until when the area is secure. They will send transport and send her out from this region.

But of course, if there is an attack, every single android army on the entire continent Will send reinforcement to this area for support in case of emergency.