The Trash Returned from Warhammer

The Dead Sea Scrolls—or rather, a portion of them.

Shinji listened quietly, using his psychic powers to ensure Ryoji Kaji wasn’t deceiving him while his brain analyzed the information at full speed.

The Dead Sea Scrolls sounded like some nonsensical religious text, but the fact that they had predicted the Second Impact and the arrival of the Angels changed everything. It was like the outline of a novel, where the observers were left to build the framework themselves.

SEELE had used them to write their ”Script,” establishing NERV in advance and creating the EVAs.

”Where did the Dead Sea Scrolls come from?”

”How should I know?”

Kaji spread his hands and quipped, ”Maybe they’re an instruction manual from a god. Without them, humanity wouldn’t stand a chance of fighting back.”

”Even if they exist, they are false gods,” Shinji emphasized. He paused, realizing that the scrolls had served a positive purpose in some respects.

Because they knew what was coming, preparations were made in advance; otherwise, Shinji’s return wouldn’t have mattered much against the sudden arrival of the Angels.

These Xenos—the Angels—were formidable. It would take at least a Chapter of Astartes or an Adeptus Mechanicus Titan to ensure the survival of humanity.

”I can understand all Angels originating from Adam, but what’s this about humanity originating from the Second Angel, Lilith?”

”I’m still looking into that. I’ve only seen a fragmented version of the scrolls. But according to the origins recorded there, both Adam and Lilith came from beyond Earth. Adam landed in Antarctica. Fifteen years ago, due to humanity’s overconfident contact, the Second Impact occurred. As for Lilith’s whereabouts, I’m still in the dark.”

Shinji nodded. He understood this much: even false gods were not things humans could easily manipulate. He didn’t care much about the relationship between Adam and the Angels.

It was just humans waking up a Warp daemon and its progeny; he had seen such things before.

However, this ”Lilith” made his eye twitch slightly, reminding him of Ritsuko Akagi’s research into the 92% genetic similarity between Angels and humans.

’Emperor, am I... impure?’

This self-doubt lasted only a moment before being suppressed by the deep-seated absolute logic of an Astartes.

He hadn’t chosen this body, nor could he control the origins of humanity in this world. In any case, there was no Inquisition here to issue a Purification Decree. The most important thing was—

This heart of loyalty had never wavered.

When in doubt, follow the Emperor’s guidance. Though his memories were incomplete, he had returned with a mission; there was no room for self-doubt or internal friction.

Furthermore, these ”Dead Sea Scrolls” weren’t necessarily trustworthy.

Suppressing his trance, he asked, ”If the scrolls only explain the origins of man and Angels and how to fight them, how can you be so sure SEELE has other motives?”

”Because of the ’Human Instrumentality Project.’ The name alone sounds ominous.”

”What is it?”

”I don’t know the specifics. It’s SEELE’s highest secret. Only the Human Instrumentality Committee knows the full content, and that Committee is the core of SEELE.”

”Gendo Ikari is in it too, I assume.” Shinji’s eyes flickered.

”Yes. Commander Ikari is one of the few who knows the full plan. But I advise you not to move against him; it would alert SEELE. Currently, the Second Division of the Strategic Self-Defense Force is stationed on the outskirts of Tokyo-3.”

Shinji nodded. To an Astartes, uncovering secrets was important, but solving the problem was paramount. Knowing the secret, he felt even less rushed.

According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, they were only at the Eighth Angel. There was plenty of time.

’Human Instrumentality? Even in the dark galaxy, the Emperor never sought to ’complete’ humanity. This is pure arrogance.’

Shinji was more concerned with something else.

”Since Adam and Lilith came from beyond Earth as equals, what lies above them?”

’How should I know?’

Kaji didn’t understand why the boy cared about this. He scratched his cheek. ”Maybe the true gods?”

”False gods!” Shinji emphasized for the second time, then fell into deep thought.

If he wasn’t mistaken, Adam and Lilith were related to the Negative Universe. But the Negative Universe was different from the Warp—through his direct contacts, he knew it lacked subjective, conscious entities.

’Did I miss something? But then, what about the evolution of the Angels?’

These were the puzzles that troubled him. As for the content of the ”Human Instrumentality Project,” he wasn’t particularly concerned. Any plan is driven by human will, and he currently represented the Emperor’s Will. The Emperor’s Logic should be SEELE’s Will.

”The primary conflict remains between humanity and the Angels. After all, if an Angel returns to Adam, it triggers the Third Impact, which is a cataclysm for all of mankind.”

”Phew, I’m glad you’re so sensible.”

Kaji breathed a sigh of relief. The reason he only wanted to warn the boy was that he feared a hot-headed youth would charge straight to SEELE to demand answers.

Those old men were all schemers who had long been prepared. If both sides dropped their masks, wouldn’t the Angels just reap the benefits?

”SEELE themselves are human; they shouldn’t be stupid enough to court self-destruction.”

Kaji thought for a moment and suggested, ”We investigate in secret while the main priority remains fighting the Angels. Once we figure out the content of the ’Human Instrumentality Project,’ we can make a judgment. Until then, don’t rattle anyone’s nerves.”

The use of ”we” was masterfully placed. However, the two of them were effectively on the same side—along with most of humanity—just wanting to live a good life after the Angels were gone.

”And if SEELE really is that stupid?” Shinji glanced at him.

”That’s exactly why I risked coming to find you.” Kaji broke into a smile; this conversation was an unexpected harvest for him. ”I can’t fight a titan like SEELE, but you can.”

If humanity wanted to survive the Angels, they needed his protection. No matter what SEELE plotted, as long as he and Unit-01 were there, problems could still be solved with violence.

That was Kaji’s thought. It was just that Shinji was more mature than expected, saving a lot of time on probing.

’Trusted because of strength?’

Shinji nodded without any pretense of modesty. It was fair to say that without his illustrious combat record, Kaji wouldn’t have sought him out. Shinji narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of bloodthirst.

”Then let’s cooperate. We’ll investigate the project together and find out SEELE’s true identity along the way.”

Actually, there was no need to investigate. The moment he heard the words ”Human Instrumentality Project,” even without knowing the details, he had already made a decision.

’SEELE must be brought under my control.’

With the sound of splashing water, Shinji rose from the hot spring, his skin slightly flushed from the soak. He took a few steps before being called back.

”Wait a second. I’ve told you this much—isn’t it my turn to ask a few questions?”

Kaji was full of curiosity. He had divulged almost all his secrets, yet the boy remained shrouded in mist.

’What is going on with the Security Department? Is Gendo Ikari really the type of man to swallow his pride just after a ’heart-to-heart’?’

Faced with these questions, the boy only shook his head slightly.

”No.”

-

-

-

’A total loss. I’ve been cleaned out.’

Kaji slowly got dressed, looking at the boy beside him, speechless. Not only did he have strength and presence, but he was also a master schemer.

Without giving a single guarantee or revealing a single secret, Shinji had squeezed out everything Kaji knew. It was a daylight robbery.

’How is he only fourteen? How is that even possible?’

Shaking his head, he could only comfort himself by thinking, ’At least I’ve clarified Shinji-kun’s stance; he can be the final insurance.’ After all, he was only good at finding problems; solving them was a job for the experts.

Since he had survived this time, it was time for a deeper investigation.

The man’s mind whirred as he followed Shinji out. Just as he lifted the curtain, a familiar voice came from nearby.

”Kaji-senpai? What are you doing here?”

Asuka looked pleasantly surprised, though she didn’t lunged forward as she used to.

”Ah, I’m on annual leave and decided to stop by. Misato is really something, not telling me about such a good thing.”

Kaji smiled again. Seamlessly switching between mindsets was a basic operation for a spy.

”Well, Misato-san does find you annoying,” Asuka joked, then looked at Shinji. ”You two were right next door just now? Why was it so quiet?”

’What?’

Kaji was dumbfounded. The initial commotion hadn’t been quiet at all. He looked at the boy with some suspicion and, seeing that cold gaze, decided to explain himself.

”Shinji-kun doesn’t talk much. We didn’t have much to chat about.”

”Exactly! He’s like a wooden gourd. You have no idea how awkward it is to be around him.”

Asuka felt she had found a kindred spirit, but before she could start complaining, Kaji interrupted her.

”But you two get along well. Don’t deny it; I can tell.”

As a master of romance, Kaji could see the change in the girl’s heart.

She looked enthusiastic, but she had actually begun to keep her distance from him. As for the reason, did it even need to be said?

He gave a bitter smile and followed the group to the dining hall. The inn had prepared a feast for the NERV staff. There, he saw Misato Katsuragi, who had been forcibly dragged up to eat.

”What are you doing here? Go back, go back! The budget doesn’t include people from the Inspection Department.”

Misato looked at him with wary eyes—no bashful rejection, just pure annoyance.

”I’m paying for myself, okay?”

The man’s skin was thick enough to withstand a positron cannon. He took a seat and deliberately changed the subject: ”By the way, where did Ritsuko run off to?”

”Back to HQ to write reports. Isn’t she just a workaholic?”

Mentioning her friend softened Misato’s expression slightly, but she didn’t follow the topic, turning instead to the side.

Asuka was laboriously explaining something while Rei Ayanami just nodded blankly and said ”Oh.” This dazed, cute look made Asuka even more agitated. As for Shinji?

He was already focusing on his food as if no one else were there.

”Have you two had enough? Hurry up and eat.”

”I’m not making a scene! Misato, you judge—aren’t he and I rivals? How can it be ’getting along well’ like Kaji-senpai said?”

”Yes, yes. Just eat before the food gets cold.”

”Agh! Shinji, you say it! I’ve never admitted defeat, have I?”

”Not with your mouth. Who knows about your heart.”

”Idiot Shinji! What are you saying!”

’Hahaha, I didn’t expect this young lady to be handled like this. But if she keeps up this twisted personality, she’ll definitely lose to the First Child. And this Rei Ayanami—she’s completely different from the reports.’

Kaji watched them bicker with a smile. The scene was truly heartwarming.

This world was full of brutal combat and treacherous conspiracies, and the pilots were clearly tragic children caught in a vortex of conflict—souls full of holes, used as tools that could be killed by monsters at any moment. That was why this scene felt so precious.

He understood Asuka’s past trauma and her warped personality. Seeing her acting out like this actually made him feel a bit relieved.

It was no longer a performance to protect her self-esteem; it was just a child venting emotions. It was normal, because she was, after all, just a fourteen-year-old girl.

But as he watched, the smile faded from the man’s face.

The long table filled with a feast felt like a tragic dividing line. On the other side of the table was Misato Katsuragi, drinking beer and laughing while teasing the kids; Rei Ayanami, eating in small bites and occasionally placing a piece of sashimi in the boy’s bowl; and Asuka, who, seeing Rei do it, did the same.

And then there was Shinji Ikari, buried in his food, not letting a single grain of rice go to waste.

Seeing a tipsy Misato wrap an arm around the boy’s neck, laughing and saying they would stay up all night, Ryoji Kaji felt a sense of suffocation as if he were being crushed on all fronts.

’I even lose to him in the field of romance? What kind of monster is this...’

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