EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 162 Using Tiga's power to slaughter humanity?
"...Shinji-kun! How is it?!"

She had barely left the command room and hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath when Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji approached her with worried expressions.

"Huh? You two have been waiting at the door the whole time? Are you really that free since the apostles aren't coming?"

Shinji Ikari scratched his head. In some ways, these two are really similar.

"...Of course I care—! You specifically called Vice Commander Fuyutsuki here...isn't it just to try and recruit him?"

"What do you mean by 'trying to recruit him'? Can't you put it more nicely...?"

Shinji Ikari rolled his eyes at Misato Katsuragi... This guy, why does he make us sound like a bunch of bandits?

"I didn't try to win anyone over. I was just confirming Vice Commander Fuyutsuki's true intentions... If we don't share the same goals, I won't try to win anyone over."

That's the truth. People like Kaworu Nagisa and Gendo Ikari... from the very beginning, they showed no interest in the future of humanity and were only obsessed with one person... Shinji Ikari never tried to persuade them.

"So, what's the conclusion?"

"Hmm, even though Vice Commander Fuyutsuki is quite old, he still seems to retain some of the youthful vigor he had back then... If you have any questions, especially with the committee or SEELE, just ask him."

"marvelous--!"

Misato Katsuragi cheered and then ran straight into the conference room… It seems that when she couldn't determine whether Kozo Fuyutsuki was friend or foe, there were many things she couldn't conveniently ask him…

Now that she has Shinji Ikari's approval, she can confidently ask Fuyutsuki directly about some core secrets and procedures she doesn't know how to follow.

"I never imagined, boss, that you could make Vice Commander Fuyutsuki betray Commander Ikari. What kind of magic is this?"

Kaji Ryoji didn't stay with Katsuragi Misato while she worked overtime. Instead, he looked at Ikari Shinji's face with a tender and admiring gaze... His eyes were filled with, "As expected of the BOSS! As expected of the man I follow!"

Shinji Ikari felt a chill run down his spine...

"Hey... if you're so free, go get some work. Although there's really nothing going on lately... you can enjoy some leisurely time."

The recent string of troubles has even made Shinji Ikari feel tired, but at least... now that most of the Angels have been eliminated, he can finally take a good rest before SEELE gets into trouble again.

"By the way, Shinji-kun, there's something important I'd like to ask you about."

"……what?"

"...If the attacking enemy isn't an apostle or a monster...but a human, can we still get Ultraman's help?"

"...Who knows..."

Shinji Ikari was stunned for a moment, and then... he could only manage a bitter, bleak smile.

This is a question that even Shinji Ikari shouldn't be sure about... but it's very likely to happen in the upcoming battle.

SEELE deliberately stationed a division near headquarters, but they dared not directly suppress the headquarters because they were wary of EVA's terrifying combat power...

But what if the enemy uses some means to render EVA powerless? Then, facing main battle tanks and well-trained regular troops...

NERV's security and intelligence departments alone could absolutely not withstand a direct confrontation.

So, what should I do?
…To become Tiga, and use Tiga's power…to slaughter humanity?
—How could I possibly do that?

Then... Tiga the Unchanging Castle... just watched helplessly as his comrades and allies were shot dead by the regular army?

—How could I possibly do that!
"...Don't talk nonsense. Power up!" Just as his inner anxiety and frantic struggle to break through the door nearly caused Shinji Ikari to bite his lip until it bled...

The man in the black suit and sunglasses, who had noticed the conversation, punched Kaji Ryoji hard in the face.

"Woo!"

The sudden physical attack, coupled with the opponent's robust physique, sent Kaji Ryoji flying with a loud thud as he crashed into the wall.

"Kensaki...?"

Kyoji Kaji, who was still dizzy from the beating, looked up and saw Kenzaki Kyoya with an angry expression... It was rare, it seemed to be the first time that this robot-like man had so frankly revealed his inner emotions.

"What are you angry about... Waaah!"

Kaji Ryoji stood up, completely bewildered, but Kenzaki Kyoya caught up with him, grabbed Kaji by the collar, and slammed him against the wall once again.

"If you dare ask Shinji Ikari such a stupid question again, I'll really smash your mouth in!"

Looking into Kenzaki Kyoya's eyes, which were blazing with anger, Kaji Ryoji finally realized... what his question just now really meant...

Ultraman is the force that protects humanity.

When faced with external enemies, or those unreasonable and sudden tragedies... they can appear like heroes, like miracles, and offer salvation to humanity!
And Kaji Ryoji actually wants to use this sacred power... to intervene in the ugly civil war between humans?!
"Do you want Shinji to kill someone?!"

The angry roar, which made all the other staff members in the corridor curiously peek out, echoed throughout the headquarters.

"I...I'm sorry, that's not what I meant..."

Kaji Ryoji glanced away guiltily... He also realized the kind of predicament his problem would push the boy in front of him into.

"Kenzaki... Okay, calm down..."

Seeing Kenzaki Kyoya's furious outburst, Shinji Ikari felt much better, patting Kenzaki Kyoya's arm to signal him to put Kaji Ryoji down.

Since the BOSS personally intervened to mediate, Kenzaki Kyouya naturally wouldn't refuse... However, he didn't give him a kind look either, and directly let go, letting Kaji Ryoji fall to the ground with a thud.

"Shinji-kun, please rest assured—"

Then, Kenzaki Kyoya solemnly took off his glasses... his face filled with determination as he swore an oath to Ikari Shinji.

“The situation that Kaji Ryoji just described will absolutely not happen.”

"Kenzaki..."

"Ultraman's power is meant to help humanity fight against those unreasonable tragedies... while the internal conflicts within humanity should naturally be resolved by humanity itself."

Yes, that's what Kenzaki Kyoya insisted on—why he worked so diligently under Shinji Ikari every day...it was so that he could use human power to solve human problems as much as possible.

"So, Shinji... please save the power of Ultraman to destroy monsters or Angels. As for humanity's problems... whether it's SEELE or the Battle Self-Defense Force... we humans will find a way to solve them ourselves. We will never let you, Shinji, be forced into... a desperate situation where you have to use the power of Ultraman to kill someone!"

Looking at Kenzaki Kyouya, Kaji Ryoji fully realized his foolishness and simply bowed his head to Ikari Shinji.

"It was my fault, Shinji. I realize... Our value lies in preventing you from facing such a dilemma, so... please rest assured. I will absolutely not let you use Ultraman's power to kill humans!"

(End of this chapter)