The Trash Returned from Warhammer

So hot.

Ayanami Rei slowly woke up; the scalding LCL from moments ago had caused her to lose consciousness. Fortunately, Misato Katsuragi was no fool and had ejected the entry plug immediately.

It proved that the Angel was still too stupid. It lacked the intelligence to judge the overall situation, acting purely on instinct; once it realized it had been twice heavily damaged by Unit-00, it instantly shifted its hatred.

However, Unit-00 could never have fired a third shot. The entire machine had suffered severe meltdown damage.

’It’s so quiet. Did we win?’

The interior of the cockpit was deathly silent, as if she were isolated from the rest of the world. The scorching LCL fluid made her miserable, as if she were in a fiery hell, with every passing second burning her nerves.

Yet, Rei did not call for help or struggle. She just lay there blankly on the seat, staring through the murky, turbid LCL.

’What does it matter if we won? But... what is this feeling of happiness after defeating the Angel? No, this happiness isn’t from the victory itself, but from the fact that I was of help?’

The silence of the cockpit was well-suited for contemplating life, but before she could think deeper, she heard the sound of twisting steel.

Creeeeak.

The hatch, deformed by the high temperature, was being torn open by some immense force. Like pulling the ring on a soda can, the hatch buckled visibly before being completely ripped away with a loud ”boom.”

The LCL fluid surged out all at once, and the night breeze, heavy with the scent of blood, rushed in. Rei remained motionless, staring blankly at the torn hatch where moonlight was now shining through.

Soon, just as she had hoped in her heart, the black-haired youth appeared at the opening. He leaned half his body in, head tilted. His gaze wasn’t gentle, nor was it hurried; there was only a reassuring firmness.

Even if you were truly in hell, once this boy arrived, he would lead you out through the slaughter.

”Are you heavily injured? Do you require emergency treatment?” Seeing her silence, Shinji inquired. His words were as hard as steel.

”No.” Rei simply stared at him for a long time before pursing her lips.

”I’m sorry. I disobeyed orders.”

The original order was for Unit-00 to retreat immediately after the first shot, leaving the rest to Unit-01. But she had held her ground and stayed until the very end.

”Do not dwell on it. A combat plan is never perfect. On-the-spot judgment is more important. I underestimated the Angel’s reaction speed. Had you not drawn its hatred a second time, it wouldn’t have been settled so easily. At the very least, Tokyo-3 would have been severely damaged by the combat aftershocks.”

Shinji answered matter-of-factly. Every word was devoid of personal emotion, yet Rei found them comforting to hear, and a faint smile inadvertently graced her lips.

Without being prompted, and acting as an extension of last night’s smile, it was there. Shinji paused for a moment, suddenly finding Rei to be much more ”vivid.”

It wasn’t about the smile itself, but the fact that she understood how to break the constraints of an order and use her own consciousness to make a correct judgment.

”That’s a beautiful smile. The moonlight suits you better than the sunset,” he praised from the bottom of his heart.

This time, it was Rei’s turn to be stunned.

She couldn’t help but avert her eyes, not daring to meet Shinji’s burning gaze. At the same time, she felt her cheeks flush—was it a neural residue from the LCL?

”Thank you for protecting me.”

She thought of the final exchange. The Angel of Thunder’s last strike would have been enough to kill her, but Unit-01 had forced the beam into two halves, charging straight up against the current.

It hadn’t been necessary; a sneak attack from behind would have been more efficient.

”Because you protected me as well,” Shinji answered readily. This brotherhood of entrusting one’s back to another made him nostalgic, and he couldn’t help but reach out his hand.

”Come. Let us enjoy the glory of victory together. This is a right earned by the loyal.”

Her crimson eyes lowered, seeing the hand extended before her. Rei grasped it without hesitation. Though they had held hands the night before, the distance between them at this moment felt much closer.

With a slight pull, Shinji drew her out of the scorching cockpit and into the moonlight. A cool breeze blew past, and Rei narrowed her eyes contentedly.

In this moment, she had made her choice.

-

-

-

”That’s quite an exaggeration. Does that guy have to tear the enemy into eight pieces every single time?”

Misato Katsuragi stood on the ruins of the hilltop, grimacing at the horrific scene in the distant city.

The massive Angel of Thunder had truly been torn into eight pieces. The gushing blood had stained the skyscrapers red, and the blood-red Unit-01 stood next to the observation deck, radiating a chilling aura.

”Tch. They say the Angels are demons, but the EVA looks more like a demon.”

”To be more precise, it’s Shinji-kun who is like a demon. This is entirely the result of his will.” Ritsuko Akagi lit a cigarette, breathing in the air thick with the scent of blood.

”Ritsuko, what are you saying? Shinji is the one piloting Unit-01, so of course it’s his will. Could Unit-01 move on its own will or something?” Misato threw up her hands, muttering about how ”that kid makes me clean up his mess every time, the municipal committee is going to be screaming bloody murder.”

’That’s not necessarily true.’

Ritsuko didn’t answer. She turned her head slightly to see the boy and girl holding hands, with many staff members around them clapping and cheering.

People weren’t blind. Shinji Ikari not only possessed overwhelming combat power but also understood tactical planning. One person was equivalent to several departments.

Who would dare look at him as just a child now?

His illustrious military achievements were built upon a pile of Angel corpses. That steady temperament always gave one the illusion that he was forty-one years old.

Ritsuko glanced at the ground nearby. The entry plug’s hatch was twisted and deformed, looking as if it had been snapped off by a crane. She couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

’Is this guy even human?’

”Seeing them like this, does the guilt in your heart feel a bit better?” Misato Katsuragi suddenly wrapped her arms around Ritsuko’s neck from behind, giggling.

”Originally, I was having a headache over how to guardian a shut-in kid and how to influence him. Now look—even Rei has been influenced by him.”

”Yes. Being able to protect humanity while enjoying life, having both is not bad at all. Truly worth celebrating.”

’Is the situation really that great?’

Ritsuko’s expression became strange. She looked at her ”idiot” best friend who knew nothing, then at the boy and girl holding hands—especially Ayanami Rei. If one looked closely, a shallow smile could be seen on her face.

She was no longer as cold as a doll, nor did she need someone to tell her ”just smile” to show one. ”Smiling” was gradually becoming an instinct.

Rei had changed. This was not a good thing. Those old men treated her as a mere tool; would they tolerate her possessing humanity?

Now that Commander Ikari was away, many informants from the Security Department had moved in. Her changes would surely reach the ears of those old men soon.

And then there was Unit-01. It hadn’t shown any independent consciousness yet. Well, that made sense—Shinji no longer needed ”her” protection.

Ritsuko Akagi’s gaze was somewhat dazed. The script was completely unrecognizable. Shinji Ikari had used his own strength to alter the tracks of destiny.

”Hey, why aren’t you happy?” Misato looked over suspiciously. The scene was so heartwarming: the boy had saved the world and gained everyone’s affirmation and respect.

”It doesn’t matter to me.” Ritsuko tucked her hands back into her lab coat, hesitating for a moment before saying, ”But I’m afraid some people won’t be happy about this.”

”Who?” The smile on Misato’s face vanished instantly. Seeing that Ritsuko didn’t want to answer, she didn’t press, merely snorting coldly. ”But there’s one thing I can guarantee—whoever dares to cross him will definitely die a miserable death.”

’Die a miserable death? Are you talking about those people?’

Ritsuko felt like laughing. Everything was under the control of SEELE. Let alone a single youth—the fates of great nations and countless people were all manipulated by an invisible hand. Being able to deal with the Angels with NERV’s support was already remarkable, but could he really contend with the whole world?

But looking at the boy’s upright back, and the demon-like Unit-01 beside him still dripping with blood, the mockery froze on her face.

She suddenly found she couldn’t laugh.

If 40K is a hyper-excited straight line—with an endless supply of enemies to kill and wars to fight—then life in one’s hometown is like a parabola, where the climaxes and the mundane are clearly demarcated.

Having grown accustomed to it, Shinji had come to agree with some of Misato Katsuragi’s philosophies.

In this place, one didn’t have to keep their nerves frayed at all times. If the Angels didn’t show up, all you could do was wait. Routine training tasks were largely meaningless; even if you sat in a simulator twenty-four hours a day, if you couldn’t pierce an Angel’s AT Field, you simply couldn’t.

The way to increase combat power lay in raising the synchronization rate—which, for Shinji, meant psychic power. And psychic power could only be obtained by using a defeated Angel as a gateway, briefly touching the Sea of Souls. No matter how much he hurried, it was useless.

So why not take it easy? Proper relaxation was more conducive to peak combat performance.

Shinji found his mindset shifting.

As for the other primary objective, there was no rush.

Without NERV, who would maintain Unit-01? Without Unit-01, not even a Primarch could likely duel an Angel in the flesh. This complex war machine, much like the Empire, was riddled with secrets. As an Astartes, he had no moral hang-ups. There was no such thing as a perfect organization; all lives are the Emperor’s currency—the only difference lies in their denomination.

As long as NERV didn’t obstruct him and continued to fight the Angels with everything they had, there was no need for a falling out. Internal strife is the most foolish choice when the Angels remain undefeated. Besides, as a Blood Ravens Librarian, Shinji had been privy to many terrifying secrets.

For instance, the discovery made while excavating a secret ruin regarding the Second Emp... cough, cough. None of that mattered. Regardless, secrets like the ”nature of the Angels” or the ”puppets behind NERV” needed investigating, but there was no hurry.

”The most rational choice is to uncover the secrets through the gentlest and most hidden means. With the growth in psychic power from defeating the third Angel, this route is actually simpler.

It’s the most logical choice: find the secrets without triggering alarms, while minimizing the losses incurred by internal purges.”

On the school rooftop, Shinji lightly wiped his hands. He looked at the group of bruised and swollen senpai before him, reflecting on how the sin of envy truly disfigures a person.

These people had come looking for trouble again. This time, it had nothing to do with Ayanami Rei; it was simply that Shinji Ikari was so arrogant that the older ”big brothers” felt their authority was being challenged.

And then... well, there was no ”and then.”

NERV’s Intelligence Department was getting sloppier. Is this how they handled security?

Shinji glanced at the handymen chatting in the corner of the playground. These people weren’t even pretending anymore, just collecting their paychecks and slacking off every day.

”But this is fine. Who wouldn’t want experimental subjects delivered to their door?”

Shinji looked down at the blonde boy kneeling on the ground. The boy’s expression was blank; he answered honestly no matter what Shinji asked.

Indeed, after defeating the Fifth Angel, his psychic power was now capable of controlling these untrained civilians.

The humans of this world seemed to come with an inherent AT Field, granting them high psychic resistance. This resistance varied according to the strength of their will and included some special individuals.

He looked at another boy, a classmate from Class 2-A. He had colluded with the upperclassmen, was similarly untrained, and had a fragile will, yet his mental resistance was much higher.

”It’s almost certain now: the humans of this world have high resistance to mental-type psychic powers but zero resistance to physical types. Even those with high mental resistance can be weakened through physical torture or psychological trauma, allowing for suggestions or direct control.”

Shinji nodded with satisfaction. He wasn’t particularly good at ”talk-no-jutsu,” but he knew physical torture all too well. He slowly turned his head as several people rushed forward with a shout.

Toji Suzuhara led the way with a bamboo sword, followed by Kensuke Aida, who held a DV camera in one hand for evidence and a long bench in the other. The two charged onto the roof as if to bolster their own courage, then froze in their tracks.

”Huh? You took care of them all??”

”A bunch of untrained trash. They posed no threat.” Shinji’s fists were covered in blood, but his expression was remarkably gentle.

Regardless of whether these two were useful, their spirit in supporting a comrade was worth commending.

”Iwate-senpai is the captain of the Karate Club! And that guy Yamashita is a famous delinquent; they say he’s invincible in a fight!”

Shinji glanced at the two boys, who were noticeably more muscular, and shook his head with disdain: ”The training they received is beneath contempt.”

There was no need to use psychic powers; he had floored them all with one hand. The process wasn’t even worth remembering.

”Hey, Sora! You backstabbing bastard! I was wondering why you were acting so suspicious, calling Shinji away!” Seeing his classmate, Toji immediately ran over to interrogate him. Meanwhile, Kensuke slapped his forehead and turned to run.

”The Class Rep went to get the teacher! I’ll go stop her!”

Shinji ignored the noisy pair and turned his head to see a slender figure coming up the stairs.

”Ayanami, you came to help too?”

”Yes. You were in danger. I came to protect you, though it seems it wasn’t necessary.” Ayanami Rei lowered her right hand, which had been hidden behind her back.

Seeing Shinji’s expression, her eyes changed slightly. ”The way you’re looking at me makes me unhappy, though I don’t know why.”

’With those thin arms and legs, you came to support me? If it weren’t for the NERV Intelligence Department’s protection, you—who don’t know the wickedness of the human heart—would be the one in danger.’

Shinji looked the girl up and down and couldn’t help but ask, ”You ran here to support me empty-handed? There was a Karate Club captain in there.”

”I brought a weapon.” Ayanami reached behind her back. Under Shinji’s expectant gaze, she pulled out a ruler about twenty centimeters long and gave it a weak, ineffective flick.

Pfft.

Shinji burst out laughing. Rei’s ”I have a secret weapon” expression paired with the ruler in her hand was comedic to a battle-hardened warrior.

He then saw Rei’s eyes widen as an expression of ”anger” appeared on her face for the first time.

”Sorry, I appreciate the sentiment. But next time, remember to bring a different weapon—maybe a bench like Kensuke.”

”Am I allowed to be angry?” Ayanami approached step by step, her crimson eyes wide, her thin lips pursed.

”Of course.”

Whack.

As soon as he spoke, he was hit on the head. Shinji rubbed his head and looked at the girl, whose anger had yet to subside.

”Alright, that actually kind of hurt.”

Another small interlude passed. The reputation of the delinquent Shinji Ikari grew even louder at First Municipal Middle School; it was likely no one would dare provoke him again.

As for the aftermath, NERV would naturally handle it. As long as no one died, spending a bit of the budget was nothing.

Shinji didn’t give it a second thought. When the bell rang, he led the indignant girl back to their peaceful daily life.

Indeed, the shock of an Angel’s arrival was merely a brief climax. This slow-paced, peaceful life was the norm. If the city center weren’t cordoned off and the Angel’s blood on the playground weren’t yet cleaned away, those breath-stealing combat operations would feel like a dream.

However, Shinji rarely doubted his existence these days. Whenever he felt pensive, he would silently recite the Emperor’s name.

The Holy Emperor had sent him to a ”Paradise World” where he could fulfill his Astartes oath while enjoying a peaceful life like an ordinary person.

What mercy! To think I forgot how I even got back.

This was perhaps Shinji’s greatest frustration: he had lost a segment of memory—the most important segment.

Unfortunately, there were no answers, only a slow search.

’Perhaps the answer will come when all the Angels are defeated and my psychic power reaches its peak. Or do I need to explore the Negative Universe more deeply?’

This answer was more important than the origin of the Angels. Shinji propped up his head, automatically filtering out the boring lecture. After thinking for a long time, he still had no lead.

’Ah, well. One step at a time.’

He wasn’t in a hurry. He just stared at Ayanami Rei, watching as she arrogantly pulled out a thick novel and flipped through it on her desk. Her fingers, dotted with a few band-aids, brushed through her ice-blue short hair.

He had noticed her injuries this morning but didn’t ask. Hearing the ”ping-ping” of notifications on the computer, he looked back to see that those slacking off in class were sending messages.

[Ikari-kun, you’re so MAN! Are you really dating Ayanami-san?]

[Can I call you Shinji? Come check out the Astronomy Club; the pretty girls there are all interested in you.]

[Ikari, was that monster from the other day hard to deal with?]

[My dad asked me to thank you for him; he said the monster was only a few hundred meters away from him.]

[Shinji, Shinji! What’s the word on that volunteer thing of mine?]

The youth replied to none of them. Feeling the warm summer breeze blowing in through the window, he closed his eyes comfortably.

The feeling of being trusted by everyone, of being at the center of the conversation...

It felt pretty good.

NERV, Berlin Branch.

The screen in the operation briefing room flickered, playing scenes reminiscent of a sci-fi blockbuster. A purple mechanical unit surged through a battlefield.

It dashed through a city, gripping a long axe to cleave through an AT Field, severing the legs of the Water Angel before stepping on it and delivering a fatal blow with the axe.

Equipped with heavy armament, it nimbly dodged a whip of light, its sprint creating a shockwave powerful enough to topple houses, before its savage chainsword decapitated the Day Angel.

It dropped from ten thousand meters in the air to ambush the Angel of Thunder, hacking through layer upon layer of AT Fields, and even charging upward against a beam to tear it into eight pieces.

Directly opposite the screen, a girl with long orange-red hair and deep blue eyes watched silently.

She blinked, her mouth falling open wider and wider.

’What kind of monster is this!?’

Precisely because she had undergone rigorous training, the girl was horrified. The efficient combat style, the accurate and flawless commands, and the extremely agile movements left her unable to process the situation.

It was art—absolute art of slaughter.

Regardless of how powerful the Angels were, the Third Children remained silent. His long-range shooting was incredibly accurate, and his close-quarters combat was ferocious to the extreme. Watching the Unit-01 covered in blood, standing over the scattered remains, the girl’s shoulders trembled slightly.

There was no deus ex machina; every attack was understandable. And that was exactly why it was so terrifying. In the hands of that person, Unit-01 had become a perfect killing machine, grinding the Angels into dust with a dazzling array of techniques and tactics.

”Asuka, what do you think of the Third Children?”

The lights in the briefing room were suddenly switched on. A man with a ponytail and a stubbly beard stood to the side, his eyes full of interest.

”Th-this is the Third Children? Didn’t Intelligence say he had never undergone any training?” The girl named Asuka turned around, her tongue feeling tied as she pointed at the screen.

”What’s going on there? He crushed the Third Angel the first time he piloted an EVA, and he even ended up commanding the people at NERV Headquarters!”

Dodging, seeking cover, suppressive fire, using obstacles to block an Angel’s attack—how many simulated battles would one have to go through to find such a perfect path?

”Uh, that’s a long story.” Kaji Ryoji was equally bewildered.

He had heard rumors; the higher-ups were questioning reality itself and, as a result, doubting Gendo Ikari’s loyalty.

To repeat the old refrain: it was expected that Unit-01 would go berserk and slap the Third Angel to death. It was precisely because each action was understandable, but the sum of them was completely incomprehensible, that it made people suspicious.

”Just tell me if this Third Children is strong or not. Honestly, even I was startled when I saw it.”

Asuka lowered her head. Her bangs cast a shadow over her expression, and her body shuddered for an instant, as if something sensitive had been stung.

A few seconds later, when she lifted her head again, her face was full of defiance.

”Average, I guess. A lot of his maneuvers relied on support from Unit-00. I’m the ace meticulously cultivated by NERV, you know! If it were me, I definitely could have done better!”

”Uh, Asuka, if a colleague is strong, we should be happy.”

”No, I am actually better than him, Kaji-senpai!” The girl raised her voice, her blue eyes seemingly ablaze.

”I’ll be going to Headquarters soon. Just watch when I get there—I’ll definitely be better than him.”

Kaji Ryoji looked at the angry girl, knowing she was always sensitive about certain things, so he laughed it off and continued watching Unit-01 on the screen.

However, this Shinji Ikari was truly something else. He had exceeded everyone’s expectations, causing the higher-ups to become anxious.

Gendo Ikari was trapped at the Arctic branch; he couldn’t explain at all why his own son was so powerful. As for SEELE’s reaction, that was even more interesting.

Defeating the Angels was a good thing—why were they anxious? Was defeating the Angels not enough?

The two sides were clashing. Gendo wanted to get away, and SEELE wanted to complete ”that” project. Why were they so concerned about Unit-01? Was Unit-01 that important to the plan?

Kaji Ryoji smelled something unusual. Through his investigations, he knew many things, but even more secrets remained hidden in the night. It was time to take a step further.

”Kaji-senpai, I really can do it!” Asuka grabbed his sleeve, clearly having misunderstood him. What he was thinking about had nothing to do with her.

The man lowered his head, looking at the girl who seemed to be acting spoiled toward her father, and laughed. ”I believe you. How about this: you prepare yourself. It won’t be long before we go to Tokyo-3. We’ll see who’s who when we get there.”

He turned and walked away. There were more important things to do; he didn’t have time to indulge a child’s tantrum.

”Wait a second.” Asuka called him back, her expression very uneasy. ”Do you have the Third Children’s contact information? Can you help me find it?”

Her childlike competitive behavior made Kaji feel helpless, so he nodded, saying he would give it to her later.

The door closed. The girl gripped her fists tightly. Watching the blood-soaked Unit-01 on the screen, her gaze was filled with both defiance and a pathological sense of fear.

Piloting an EVA was the meaning of her existence.

She was the strongest, and she had to be the strongest.

”This is the only place I belong. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely will not give it to anyone!”

.

.

.

In the dim briefing room, Gendo Ikari rested his hands in front of his lips, silently watching the five old men in front of him.

The progress report was finished. The technology for manufacturing EVAs had matured; the construction of Unit-05 was proceeding quickly, and the budget for Unit-06 had been approved. Gendo knew SEELE’s intentions.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Since countries had seen Unit-01’s performance and were no longer opposing it, there was no harm in building more units.

He didn’t care about any of that. The plan needed to be advanced; he couldn’t be a construction foreman in these frozen wastelands forever.

”We have read the report. You have done very well. Your talent is indeed the best,” Chairman Keel said with an approving nod. All smart people have their own ideas; what matters is whether those ideas affect the overall plan.

”Unit-06 has begun construction. I would like to ask how long this isolation review will last?” Gendo didn’t care for their approval.

”Don’t be impatient, Ikari. The Fifth Angel has been defeated, proving that NERV can complete the first step of the plan even without your command.” The long-nosed old man’s laugh was

sharp. Suddenly, his tone shifted: ”Setting aside the Third Children’s combat power for a moment, haven’t you gone a bit too far?”

”Indeed. That doll is merely a tool for Complement. Developing humanity will cause deviations in the plan. This is dangerous. You didn’t need to let the Third Children do these meaningless things,” another added.

Gendo’s hands, resting against his lips, tightened slightly. It made sense that Rei’s changes couldn’t be hidden from SEELE, but emotionally, he was frustrated.

’Great. You’re digging behind my back, and I’m the one taking the blame?’

He felt he had become the ”King of Scapegoats.”

When did I ever tell Shinji Ikari to influence Rei? According to Fuyutsuki, Rei had even refused his own commands.

’Too many things are slipping out of my control. This cannot continue.’

He did not argue or explain, saying quietly: ”But you have also noticed the changes in the Angels. This is highly abnormal.”

”The Dead Sea Scrolls only gave us the steps; they did not specify the exact details regarding the Angels. However, you are correct: the Angels are indeed more powerful than anticipated.”

Chairman Keel wasn’t a fool. There were researchers other than Ritsuko Akagi. The Angels were becoming ”smarter”—a form of instinct distinct from ”intelligence.”

”The U.S. Seventh Fleet suffered heavy losses. The Angels have actually learned to preset the battlefield.” Julian, the representative for France, turned his head. ”I have to acknowledge the value of the Third Children. Without him, something would certainly have gone wrong this time.”

There were 15 members in SEELE, and the core Executive Committee—the Human Instrumentality Committee—consisted of 6. Excluding Gendo, the remaining five old men represented England, America, Russia, France, and Germany.

These five were the most powerful people on Earth; they could manipulate a nation’s politics at will, and their resolutions would be conveyed to the remaining members.

”This is the significance of the Third Children’s existence.”

Even though he didn’t want to in the slightest, Gendo nodded, striking while the iron was hot: ”Gentlemen, the premise of the Human Instrumentality Project is the defeat of all Angels. As the Commander of NERV, I must maintain the direction.”

”Are you saying that the NERV plan has nothing to do with you now?” the English representative, wearing glasses with a yellow spot, asked with a sneer.

”That is correct, Commissioner John.” Gendo looked back unflinchingly. ”Whether you believe it or not, NERV currently lacks someone to oversee the big picture. Or would you like to send another one of the twelve?”

”If that were the case, you wouldn’t be sitting there. Ikari, you are important, but not irreplaceable,” Chairman Keel interrupted the argument, saying seriously: ”Very well, I agree to let you return to Headquarters. Remember, there must be no more trouble. The Angels have appeared, and Human Instrumentality must not stop.”

’Finally, I can go back and take charge.’

Gendo felt both joy and tension. He knew SEELE’s patience was running thin. No matter how smart he was or how great his ambitions, it would only take one bullet to end it. As for how to get the out-of-control plan back on track, he already had a solution.

Just show some kindness and be nicer to Shinji Ikari. Isn’t that what he’s fighting for?

”I understand.”

Gendo’s holographic projection vanished. The remaining five sat in silence for a moment. They all knew Gendo had ulterior motives, they just didn’t know how deep they went and whether they could be tolerated.

But these old men were used to staying behind the scenes; they needed someone to go out and do the dirty work, and the best candidate was Gendo Ikari.

”Gendo Ikari has issues, but he likely didn’t lie,” one old man said.

”If it wasn’t deliberately trained by him, what about the Third Children? Who among you thinks a fourteen-year-old brat is a genius?”

”Hah, that’s no longer a question of being a genius. According to the intelligence sent back, he even knows how to win people’s hearts. If we don’t let Gendo go back, NERV’s control will slip.”

”Are you talking about Misato Katsuragi? That kind of thing can just be replaced.”

”That wouldn’t be enough. The Third Children is very valuable. Without him, we wouldn’t even be able to take the first step of defeating all the Angels.”

”It is precisely because he is valuable that we must find out his background. Don’t forget that Unit-01 is a spare part—it is far more precious than a mere pilot.”

Arguments broke out, one after another. Each representative had a different opinion. Chairman Keel listened silently, tapping the table lightly.

All voices ceased instantly. This was respect for the Chairman, and awe of the world’s most powerful nation he commanded. That control was absolute; a U.S. president had once resisted his orders, and his head had immediately been opened up.

”Intelligence has sent back a preliminary report. He has turned the entire NERV headquarters into an iron fortress,” Keel said slowly. The chain reaction caused by Unit-01’s battle with the Third Angel had made SEELE alert prematurely.

”Since his loyalty is not absolute, we must prepare for both eventualities. Accelerate the construction of Units-03 and 04, increase investment in Units-05 and 06, and increase the investment in the JA Project. We need more complete armaments. The pilots required will be selected by me personally.”

Everyone nodded. This was the most secure plan. In SEELE’s eyes, Shinji Ikari and Gendo Ikari were one and the same, and the former’s combat power was extremely dangerous.

If Gendo Ikari had ulterior motives, they had to possess the ability to suppress NERV and continue the fight against the Angels.

”In addition, I agree with Mark’s plan. Since Gendo Ikari had no reason to lie, I would rather see what exactly is going on with the Third Children. But remember: you must ensure his safety.” Keel leaned forward, gripping his right fist tightly.

”Humanity must complete Instrumentality. There can be no mistakes!”

Ah, Gendo Ikari’s life must be quite difficult.

Shinji rested his chin in his hand, his mind continuing to drift away during class. Regarding this father of his, he didn’t actually harbor any complex or tangled emotions.

The reason was simple: such a trivial matter was not worthy of an Astartes’ inner conflict.

His impressions of Gendo in his memory were blurred, and all of them were none-too-pleasant. A normal youth might have become sensitive, harboring a yearning to be close yet fearing the approach, but for him—

I served for over a hundred years, experienced countless battles, and slaughtered a myriad of enemies. Moreover, in the 40K era, ”familial affection” is utterly meaningless. To say something slightly sacrilegious:

The greatest harm dealt to the Imperium and humanity was caused by that Great Heresy ten thousand years ago, and the Primarchs were all sons of the Emperor.

As for the filthy affairs among the nobility, Shinji had seen more than his fair share. In the value system of an Astartes, even the closest and kindest parents, once corrupted by Chaos, required only one course of action:

A punch to burst the head, followed by a magazine of bolts to prevent resurrection.

”However, he still has some value. As the Commander of NERV, he must know a great deal and can coordinate resources from various sectors. For now, his sins do not warrant death.”

In class, the youth was formulating a truly terrifying plan, only snapping back to reality when the bell rang.

The matter of Gendo Ikari could wait until he returned. This man was worth more alive than dead.

”Shin—ji—, how is the progress on that volunteer thing of mine?”

As soon as class ended, Kensuke Aida hugged him from behind. Previously, he wouldn’t have dared touch Shinji’s body, for fear he’d be sent flying the moment he made contact.

Shinji shifted his body somewhat uncomfortably, finally breaking free from the entanglement. He frowned and asked, ”Are you sure you want to work for NERV? This isn’t child’s play.”

Kensuke Aida immediately snapped to attention; having spent so much time together, he already knew how to interact with the other: ”This is my chance to prove my fealty to the Emperor. I shall offer absolute loyalty!”

”Your loyalty is commendable.” Shinji indeed smiled and patted the thin boy on the shoulder. ”I mentioned it to Major Katsuragi. She didn’t quite understand, but she carried out my order.”

Age was not an issue at all for him. Let alone fourteen, four-year-old children killing people in the trash heaps of a Hive World’s lower levels was a regular occurrence.

What mattered were loyalty and capability.

’An order? I recall Miss Misato is the Operations Director.’

Toji Suzuhara really wanted to retort, but looking at his excited best friend, he couldn’t find the words.

Kensuke had always been a fanatic military geek, and after hanging out with Shinji, he’d started going crazy too. I heard that sometimes he even follows along with special training; not only has he become much bulkier, but his aura has also changed significantly.

After inquiring about the training content, Toji was even more stunned. It wasn’t just physical training.

Shinji actually took this kid to Hachime Street to pick fights with local thugs, saying that ”only scars can forge a will of steel.”

”Truly insane. I just need to take care of my little sister.” Toji curled his lip, uninterested in saving the world. Then he saw Ayanami Rei walking over.

This girl, who usually kept people at a distance, had also changed quite a bit. Although she generally still wore an expressionless look, her entire presence was much more ”vivid.”

’Because of him, so many people have changed.’

Toji looked at the youth in the front seat. Shinji seemed to possess a kind of magic, radiating a cold-blooded aura that made people want to follow him—as if piloting an EVA was merely the most basic of tasks.

”Shinji-kun, these are the books I wish to read.” Ayanami Rei placed several books on the desk. Ever since the last ”date operation,” Shinji had implemented a book censorship system to prevent corruption by Slaanesh.

Shinji nodded and flipped through them. Rei’s reading range was becoming broader, absorbing knowledge like a sponge. No—to be precise, she was absorbing humanity from human knowledge.

From literary classics to psychology research journals, and even fashion magazines and cookbooks.

”Rei, are you interested in fashion now?” Shinji picked up a magazine and shook it; he knew nothing about such things.

”The Class Rep said that women should know how to dress themselves.”

”Hmm, that does make some sense.” Shinji wasn’t old-fashioned. Looking at the beautiful woman on the magazine cover, he added, ”Life is the seasoning between battles; the pursuit of beauty is part of that.”

In the back seat, Toji covered his face. Every time he watched these two oddballs converse, it made him question his life.

’Are you guys giving a combat report or dating? Can you stop being so formal?’

Yet, Ayanami Rei was precisely the type to appreciate this. She caught a glimpse of Shinji flipping through the magazine with a look of disdain.

”Shinji-kun, do you like long hair or short hair?”

Shinji happened to arrive at a long-haired model and replied casually, ”Long hair, I suppose. It’s more novel. I’m truly sick of seeing all sorts of bald heads and buzz cuts.”

Rei looked at her own hair, her expression darkening slightly, but she etched it into her heart. She then saw him pick a few books out of the pile.

”’The Pet Girl of Sakurasou’—this sounds highly sacrilegious. Reading forbidden.”

”Oh, I have already finished that book. And I feel the female lead is somewhat similar to me.”

’Then why the hell are you letting me censor it? Rei has become quite cunning.’

Shinji glanced at the girl and asked casually, ”Similar in what way?”

”Like her, Shinji-kun has also taken me to experience many very ’comfortable’ things, so I also want to be Shinji-kun’s pet...”

The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly became bizarre. Even Toji Suzuhara, who had been internally complaining, sat bolt upright with a look of profound respect.

An ordinary person in this atmosphere would probably be too ashamed to lift their head, but Shinji mused for a moment and nodded calmly.

”So that’s what ’Pet Girl’ means. Censorship complete. Judged as corruption; must be sealed immediately.” He put the book back into his own bag and stood up expressionlessly:

”Alright, we should head to Headquarters to report. Fujiwara, it’s your turn for cleaning duty today; be more serious with your tasks, no looking around. Sakurai, why are you looking at me? Focus.”

The students lowered their heads, none daring to meet his eyes. Yet they all felt that while Shinji was fierce, his prestige was very high; all of Class 2-A listened to him.

Shinji led Rei downstairs and changed into outdoor shoes in the foyer. Just as he opened his locker, a stack of letters tumbled out. He didn’t even need to look to know what they were.

”Again. Don’t these girls have anything better to do all day?”

That’s right, they were all love letters. Initially, when he saw ”Meet at the gym after school,” he thought someone was trying to challenge him, only to find a single frail girl when he went there.

”Shinji-kun is very popular. After all, you’re handsome, a hero who saved the world, and you have a powerful aura.” Hikari Horaki, who was leaving school at the same time, smiled and looked Shinji over.

He looked very refined; if one just looked at his face, there was a girl-like delicacy to him. But beneath the white short-sleeved shirt was a powerful physique, paired with the aura of a veteran of a hundred battles—it was as if standing there, he could shield the world from any storm.

’Handsome?’

Shinji looked at the mirror on the locker and snorted with disdain. His body was gradually becoming stronger, but this face simply wouldn’t change.

Back in the day, my head was twice this size, I had a buzz cut, several shiny service studs on my brow bone, and a through-and-through scar extending from my jaw to my neck. That face looked truly loyal.

Unfortunately, there’s no going back.

He sighed, only to see Ayanami Rei bend down and pick up those letters one by one.

”Rei, what are you doing?”

Ice-blue hair hid her expression. The girl answered coldly, ”Collecting them. Then, tomorrow, I shall return them to the senders one by one.”

’Hiss... Rei has actually learned a sense of crisis? She knows how to mark her territory??’

Hikari Horaki was dumbfounded, but Shinji, other than feeling the tone was a bit cold, didn’t pay it any mind. Feeling a vibration in his pocket, he took out his phone.

The phone was provided by Misato; he certainly wouldn’t refuse such a convenient communication tool. However, seeing the number, he frowned.

An international call? An encrypted line?

The combination of the two was a bit strange. Shinji didn’t recall having any interaction with other NERV branches. Even if there were official business, they should contact Misato.

After a brief hesitation, he pressed the call button and put it to his ear, hearing a somewhat nasal, slightly haughty female voice.

”Hallo, are you the Third Children, Shinji Ikari?”

’Not very old. Hasn’t undergone specialized disguise training. Harbors a mysterious hostility toward me. Expressing emotions quite fully.’

In an instant, Shinji analyzed a great deal and asked coldly in return, ”It is I. And who are you?”

”Then listen well! I am the Second Children, the ace of NERV’s European branch—” The girl emphasized the words ”Second” and ”Ace” with a light snort:

”Asuka Langley Soryu!”

”Asuka Langley Soryu?”

Upon hearing this name, Shinji’s brain immediately began rotating at high speed. He had seen the profile of this Second Children in NERV’s classified files; an image of her appearance even surfaced in his mind.

A fourteen-year-old girl with long, orange-red hair and a confident expression.

She sounded lively, the opposite type to Rei, prone to using exaggerated tones—but it seemed more like a mask for insecurity, as a true warrior could never possess such exaggerated emotions.

Asuka had no idea that through this first phone call across ten thousand kilometers, she had already given herself away.

A battle-hardened warrior never brags about themselves. Do I go around telling people I killed hundreds of thousands of enemies in 40K and completed hundreds of impossible missions?

”Oh.”

That was Shinji’s response. It caused Asuka, on the other end of the line, to blink and clutch her phone in a daze.

’Hey, hey, where’s your reaction? You could at least question me a little!’

”You... did you really understand?”

”Asuka Langley Soryu. Fourteen years old. Japanese-German. Second Children...”

”Are you an idiot? I’m not asking you to recite my registry! I said I’m the Second! The Second Children!”

”And?”

Asuka’s grip on the receiver tightened. Right—And? What did that represent? It wasn’t like she could make this Shinji Ikari call her ”Senpai.”

”Ahem! So the point is, I am the ace of the European branch!”

”To be precise, a simulation ace. NERV Headquarters has your combat data; it’s all quite good, but simulations and actual combat are entirely different. I’ve seen too many kings of the training ground wet their pants on the battlefield.” Shinji turned serious, correcting her childish mindset and launching into an analysis.

’Oh, oh, oh, he’s right.’

Asuka listened quietly, her expression one of surprise, nodding occasionally, and then...

’Wait, how did this turn into him lecturing me!?’

”You dare look down on me? Just you wait! I’ll be in Japan soon, and I’ll definitely snatch the title of ’Strongest EVA Pilot’ out of your hands! Those three Angels were nothing. Just you wait, I’ll definitely be stronger than you!”

Asuka was simple and direct. Sure enough, the incessant lecturing stopped. She couldn’t help but let out a small smile.

’Hmph, scared you, didn’t I? When it comes to combat will, I’m much more formidable than a late-comer like you.’

She waited for Shinji to lower his posture. After a while, she heard a voice of immense satisfaction.

”Good! Very spirited!

Second Children, it seems I have nothing to worry about. You, too, are a warrior of unspeakable loyalty!”

Shinji was a sucker for this. If Asuka had been a soft-spoken, delicate girl, he wouldn’t have spared her a glance, but this declaration of war was very much to his liking.

Competitions existed between the various Astartes Chapters as well. When he met brothers from other Chapters, the two sides wouldn’t greet each other with smiles; they would merely share a look—

Then, they would take up their chainswords and boltguns to slaughter heretics even more frantically, competing to see who was more loyal.

’How nostalgic. The ones I met back then must have been the Lamenters Chapter. Despite their many tribulations, their loyalty remained indestructible. May the Emperor protect them on their journey.’

Both fell into a long silence. Shinji was lost in nostalgia, while Asuka, far away in Berlin, was scratching her head.

’Me? Unspeakable loyalty? Very spirited? Huh?’

She felt as if she weren’t talking to a fellow human being on Earth. And why did he go silent after such an outburst?

”Hey, are you mocking me? I’ve seen plenty of tactics like this. Let me tell you, trying to suck up to me isn’t going to work!”

”I would never mock a loyal warrior, nor would I ever desecrate such a noble soul.” Shinji snapped out of his memories and took a deep breath, answering in a respectful and solemn voice:

”Asuka Soryu, I look forward to your arrival at Headquarters. I believe we will surely become great battle-brothers. If there is anything you do not understand then, you may ask me, and I will kindly inform you!”

’Wait... is he... is he praising me? Why? And why is his voice so loud? My ears are ringing.’

Asuka felt her brain failing to keep up. Shouldn’t he be angry at such a provocation? Shouldn’t he be backing down? Why was she feeling... happy as she listened?

The girl was suspicious. The girl was confused. The girl turned beet-red.

”Y-you’re just looking down on me! Just you wait! Just wait!”

She hurriedly hung up the phone, feeling like she would go berserk if the conversation continued any longer. She stood there in a daze for a while before beginning to freak out.

’Damn it! This Shinji Ikari is so annoying! He actually mocked me, and in such a bizarre way!’

Her anger was overflowing, but on second thought, she felt the guy was very strange. His tone didn’t sound like he was being sarcastic or mocking on purpose; every word had been sincere and full of expectation.

’Loyalty? Battle-brothers? Is he talking about me?’

Beep-beep-beep.

The sudden ringtone gave her a fright. She scrambled to answer, immediately blurting out: ”It’s too late to apologize now! Just wait until I get to Headquarters to settle the score with you!”

”Uh, Asuka, what score are you settling with me?” Kaji Ryoji’s voice came through the receiver. Without waiting for the girl to explain, the man chuckled: ”It seems your first conversation with Shinji-kun wasn’t very friendly. I forgot to tell you, Shinji-kun is an eccentric; communication might be a bit difficult.”

’You should have mentioned something that important sooner! You let me use my usual tactics on a brat, and I got blindsided!’

Asuka bit her lip. After the call, she did indeed feel things were very strange, as if that boy wasn’t even her contemporary. But her personality would never allow her to admit it.

”It wasn’t that exaggerated. He’s just a brat with a weird personality, a small matter. I’ll have him under my thumb in no time.”

”Then that would be a big help. It’s like this: the transfer orders have come through. Next week, Unit-02 will be sent to Tokyo-3. I’ll be traveling along with it, so I’ll leave the introduction to you.”

”Really?” Asuka’s eyes lit up, then she became nervous again.

’That Shinji Ikari is hard to handle. How am I supposed to introduce them?’

But since she had already talked big, she could only brace herself and say:

”Just leave it to me! Watch as this Young Lady uses a clever little trick to make him perfectly obedient.”

”Haha, then I’ll look forward to the show. Shinji-kun is quite handsome; you two should get along well.”

The call ended. Asuka froze in place. For some reason, Kaji Ryoji’s laughter was so grating.

BAM!

She kicked the wardrobe door, causing the surface to dent. She leaned her hands against the door, her orange-red hair hanging down, as she whispered to herself:

”Everyone looks down on me. Everyone looks down on me. I must be the strongest; only then will everyone notice me.”

She breathed heavily, her expression twisting as if under mental contamination.

After a long time, she crouched down trembling and clutched her leg.

’Hiss... ow, ow, ow...’