Gundam, Gravity Elegy

Amidst the teeth-grinding roar and devastating attacks, the Gundams in the battle scenes merely displayed the most primal violence.

Facing the overwhelming brutality, Kelster involuntarily narrowed his eyes:

"According to data sent from Odessa and other regions, the Federation's Black Gundam tends to use shields or similar weapons to strike the opponent's cockpit during battles. If that's not possible, they will use their fists and kicks, risking damage to electronic components to deliver heavy blows."

"It sounds like kids fighting..."

However, the consequences behind it are not something everyone can bear.

"According to the survivors' reports, among the few mechs they recovered, the pilots were in dire straits, suffering not only severe psychological trauma, but even worse... like the former 'White Ogre' of Squadron 441, who died with their bodies twisted and bones broken."

"That's outrageous! This is no longer within the scope of combat!"

"However, that's how Federation Gundams actually fight."

As Dr. Kelster watched the simulated images displayed on the screen, he narrowed his eyes.

"Tyrannical, cruel, and inhuman."

The black figure seemed tireless, relentlessly inflicting violence on the machine:

"'The Black Monster' lives up to its name."

'boom'

…………

'boom'

On the wide runway, black and blue machines collided.

Of course, it's not Gundam and tigers, but bumper cars.

To be honest, Gao Ren didn't understand what was so fun about this. This kind of simple collision game was far less impactful and exciting than the cockpit.

only……

"Hurry, brother, hurry up and crash into it!"

Upon hearing the excited sounds of the child in her arms, which resembled dancing with joy, the subtle thoughts that had been surfacing in her mind vanished without a trace.

Although he didn't really know what was so fun about bumper cars, that didn't matter, as long as Leslie was having fun, that was enough, wasn't it?

However, at the same time, a lingering question remained in his mind.

"Sister, hurry up and bump into him, knock this big bad guy over."

'boom'

Before he could turn and leave, another blue car rammed him.

Amidst the violent shaking and cheers, Gao Ren couldn't help but glance at the two blue bumper cars that were moving around him.

Looking at the two sisters sitting up there, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"Brother, they're coming at us!"

So, when exactly did things turn out this way?

Chapter Twenty-Two: Have You Heard of the New Humans? (Fourth Update)

To be honest, Leslie himself probably couldn't even remember what he said three minutes later, so Gao Ren didn't take his words seriously at all.

From his own perspective, he didn't want to complicate things that were originally simple, and he certainly didn't want to create any unnecessary complications.

But I don't know when it started, he seemed to get involved with strangers in a rather unnatural way.

Then, when I came to my senses, things had already turned out like this.

Ah, what a happy day!

As the pleasant sound lingered in her ears, the blonde woman named Tia simply stretched in her seat.

Meanwhile, the younger-looking girl next to her simply reached out her hand in this direction:

"menu."

Tini muttered:

"Give me the menu once you've looked at it, don't keep hogging it."

"But there are spare menus under the table, just take one yourself."

"Oh……"

After a moment of realization, the girl simply pulled out another paper menu, as if everything was natural, as if they had known each other for a long time.

But in reality, only Gao Ren himself knows that they have only known each other for seven or eight hours.

From the time after lunch until now, anticipating the popularity of various super-large amusement facilities, he decided not to be a sucker and chose some smaller facilities more suitable for children. That's how he bumped into another clever guy with the same plan.

Ultimately, it was nothing more than a chance encounter.

"But isn't it the right choice to only play with the small things?"

Tia glanced at her phone:

"There are still long lines at the Hollywood theme park, and the roller coaster line is at least two hours long."

"But I still really want to ride a roller coaster..."

Tini muttered under her breath, but her sister quickly retorted:

"But roller coasters aren't that fun. They say they're exciting, but they're not that great. And if we really want to ride a roller coaster, we'll have to spend at least a few hours queuing today... Ah-Ren, you agree, right?"

Then, the topic naturally came up.

But before he could respond, Tini just muttered:

"What he said is not of any reference value."

Those words, which were almost indistinguishable from those of a god, inevitably caused Gao Ren to reveal a subtle expression.

"I'm sorry, my sister rarely interacts with outsiders, so she's a little... awkward when she speaks..."

"It doesn't matter, children say the darndest things."

"But you don't look any older than me, you big bad guy."

Then, the girl kicked the step away.

But upon closer reflection, he realized that the step he had offered wasn't actually that difficult.

"Um... Tia, how old are you?"

"Me? About sixteen?"

"Oh, never mind then. I'm fourteen, about your age, right?"

I guess a two-year age difference is about right?

Gao Ren thought so, but unfortunately Tia's opinion was different from others.

"Is she taking her younger brother out alone at such a young age?"

"There's nothing we can do about it. My family is very busy. It's not easy to find work during the war, so my parents are very busy."

For Gao Ren now, this is practically a given, and he might even be able to retort at the end:

"What about you? Are your family members also very busy?"

Of course, Gao Ren didn't expect to get any response to such purely polite words.

but……

No.

Just as he took a bite of the pancake that was served, he heard a sound that resembled a landmine exploding.

"what?"

Before he could even try to salvage the situation, he saw that the woman in front of him had blocked all possible escape routes and defenses:

“We grew up in the institution and have no memory of what our parents look like.”

The smile on Tia's face made Gao Ren feel complicated.

On the one hand, he felt like he had stepped directly into a huge minefield, which made him feel somewhat overwhelmed.

On the other hand, he also felt a deep sense of shared sorrow.

"But since you can still come out and 'have fun' now, you must be doing pretty well, right?"

That's certainly the case now.

"That was before..."

Tia didn't speak, she shook her head, clearly not wanting to discuss it further.

After all, no one likes to reopen old wounds, especially since Gao Ren is just an outsider.

but……

"It's hell."

At that moment, Tini, who had been busy grilling the meat, looked up:

“Life in the institution is hell, and we can never go back to that place.”

Although her body remained completely still, a clear look of terror appeared in the girl's eyes.

“Tini…”

"Sister, we can't go back, we absolutely can't go back."

She started grabbing her sister's clothes and shaking her from side to side, while Tia helplessly shook along with her:

“I know. Now that we’ve come out of that place, of course we won’t go back.”

"It's good that I won't go back. I really don't want to... go back."

'patta'

After receiving a reassuring reply, the girl named Tini started shaking her head and then leaned on her sister's shoulder.

Of course, the grease from the grilled meat and yogurt sauce in her mouth also got on Tia's clothes.

However, the girl didn't pay much attention to this. She simply stroked her younger sister's head gently and then rested her head on her soft hair.

For a moment, the only music lingering on the dining table was the unique, warm, and cheerful music from the family-run restaurant in the amusement park.

In the silence, Gao Ren heard the girl's murmured words, which sounded like she was talking in her sleep:

"Sister Conti, why did you send us to a place like this..."

"...Is she asleep?"

"Yes, because a lot has happened, she falls asleep quickly once she gets tired."

"That's how kids are. Look, my little boy has fallen asleep too."

Gao Ren glanced at the little boy curled up on the sofa and chuckled twice.

"Haha."

He wanted to lighten the mood, but unfortunately, he just didn't seem to have the knack for it.

After chuckling awkwardly twice, he finally shut his mouth. His embarrassed expression made the girl smile and purse her lips.

"Do you care a lot?"

I guess so...

Gao Ren just chuckled dryly, but didn't deny anything.

Rather, when the parties involved are so open and honest, it would be an insult to pretend to be one at all.

"What happened between you two before? You mean... Sister Conti?"

“She is the older sister of me, Tini, and everyone else. She used to adopt many orphans like us.”

"That sounds like a good person...?"

Yes, at least that's how it sounds on the surface, but Gao Ren hasn't forgotten the girl's sleep-talking.

and so……

“She sent us to a research institution, saying it was a college where we could learn a skill, but it was just a research institute.”