Atop the walls of Rose Line, the foremost line of Ark's defenses, one can see things unseen from other lines.
"Do you see it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Over there. I mean the landscape of the old Black Line. It once stood where Rose Line is now, as the frontmost defense of Ark."
Sergeant Alex Hope's gaze turned toward the old territory of Black Line.
As if staring into a distant place, countless emotions flickered across his eyes.
"Yes, I see it."
"Do you know why the Black Line fell?"
"Not really."
Truthfully, I knew. But there was no reason to pretend.
What I knew of the long-fallen Black Line's history always felt somewhat off.
"The Black Line fell because of a Grade-2 illusion-type monster, a doppelgänger, that had slipped in among the refugees. Of course, it makes no sense that a single monster could bring down Ark's foremost line of defense… but that's how it happened. Do you know why?"
Sergeant Alex Hope gave a bitter smile.
"The doppelgänger, being a Grade-2 illusion-type monster, possessed intelligence equal to—or greater than—that of humans. Naturally, it knew it couldn't destroy Black Line through brute force."
As he said, the Black Line was once Ark's first line of defense before Rose Line.
Naturally, its protection against beasts and monsters was considered among the finest within Ark, and bringing it down wouldn't be easy even for a high-ranking illusion-type monster.
Sergeant Alex Hope was referring exactly to this point.
"So, the doppelgänger used an extremely human method. It built a following among the refugees who'd arrived at Black Line and incited them. With plausible words, it blinded their eyes and sealed their ears."
"Incitement?"
"Yes. Had it stopped there, the fall of Black Line might have been avoided. But the doppelgänger, who had become the center of the refugees, didn't intend to stop."
"The words it spread were simple: "Why should we sacrifice ourselves for others?" A short phrase, but convincing enough to stir the hearts of Black Line's citizens."
Sergeant Alex Hope's voice cracked.
"The citizens of Black Line inevitably agreed with the incitement. It was a fundamental injustice Ark had harbored since its very creation."
His gaze shifted from Rose Line back to Black Line.
What was once Ark's protective front had become a land of death, where beasts and monsters now hid.
Though Ark still regularly sent subjugation forces to Black Line, it couldn't stop new beasts and monsters from settling in with every new wave.
"That's when we realized… humans are far weaker and more uncontrollable than we thought."
Sergeant Alex Hope didn't say exactly what happened on the day Black Line fell.
But that much was enough.
What he wanted to say had already been made clear.
"If only… refugees had never been let into Ark in the first place."
He said that, then quickly turned his gaze to me.
"Ah, I suppose that's not something I should be saying in front of you, Carl."
"Think nothing of it."
"No, I've said too much. I've been troubled by one thing or another lately…"
He spoke with genuine remorse.
"It's fine."
"…Thank you for saying so, Carl Marcus. You are a considerate man. A good man… I suppose."
He let his words trail off.
Then, with a tinge of sadness, he looked again toward Black Line.
"Humans are weak. Even with good intentions, a small push from someone nearby can make them act in ways contrary to those intentions. And… I'm probably no different."
He gave a bitter smile as he said this.
Only I could understand the true meaning behind his words.
* * *
At last, a strange light flickered in Sergeant Alex Hope's usually calm eyes as the Kronos Union began to appear over the horizon.
"They're coming."
"Yes."
What could he be thinking?
I couldn't know exactly, but one thing was certain—he did not welcome the arrival of the Kronos Union.
The Rose Cross Order was that kind of group from the start.
"I suppose I should be going now."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for taking the time, Carl Marcus."
The conversation with Sergeant Alex Hope, though brief, felt like a sign of what was to come in Ark.
It probably wasn't just my imagination.
'It can't be helped.'
It would be nice if we could persuade Sergeant Alex Hope and the Rose Cross Order.
But trying to sway those with firmly held convictions using mere words—that's the height of naive arrogance.
'It was bound to happen anyway.'
Even if the alliance with the Kronos Union brought great benefits to Ark, there were bound to be those who opposed it.
There were many reasons.
National security concerns were the most typical justification, followed by practical issues like having to share limited resources.
Of course, strictly speaking, these concerns seemed minor compared to the benefits of the alliance, but humans are creatures that react more to loss than to gain.
And that remains true, even when one has already calculated the costs and benefits.
'For now… I should go out to greet them.'
After the short encounter with Sergeant Alex Hope, I began to walk.
To welcome the Kronos Union, which had now come right up to the gates of Ark.
* * *
In front of Rose Line's Rose-19 Gate.
As arranged beforehand, Ganesha Tripathi waited with the mayor of Rose Line and several influential figures.
"You made it right on time."
"Yes."
"Let's go. The Kronos Union delegation will arrive shortly."
Even though it was an agreed-upon matter, Ark couldn't just let a large foreign military force walk in unannounced. We had to first speak with the delegation sent by Kronos.
And naturally, I was expected to be there as well.
"Open the gate."
"Understood."
At Ganesha Tripathi's order, the firmly shut Rose-19 Gate began to open.
Gugugugugu…
As the view beyond the horizon slowly revealed itself, a few vehicles could be seen approaching Ark.
At last, the Kronos Union delegation was arriving in Ark.
A moment that should never have come to pass—a formal alliance—was now becoming reality.
'Hmm.'
As expected of the influential figures of Rose Line, none of them showed any sign of nervousness.
No, it was more like supreme confidence that they could handle anything that happened.
"They're passing through!"
"Close the gate again once they're through."
"Yes, sir!"
With the soldier's shout, the Kronos Union vehicles passed through Rose Line's gate, and the Rose-19 Gate shut once more.
From this moment, the delegation's lives were effectively in Rose Line's hands.
Of course, if Ark made any rash moves now, not only would the alliance collapse, but with the multi-wave threat looming, they might end up in a war—so yes, the situation was indeed tense.
The vehicles that had passed through the gate soon came to a halt.
One by one, doors opened, and the mayor, Ganesha Tripathi, influential figures, and soldiers of Rose Line went out to greet them—with me.
"..."
A brief moment of tension filled the air.
But it quickly dissipated with a bright, ringing voice.
"Brother!"
Lania stepped out of the vehicle and skipped toward me.
While it wasn't a secret in Ark that I was Lania's family, I hadn't expected this—even now.
'…No, she's doing this on purpose.'
Lania was no fool.
In fact, she was so competent that, in the original timeline, she would go on to become the second-in-command of the Kronos Union—and Ark's worst nightmare.
Even if this wasn't part of a strict plan, the fact that she acted meant she had already calculated the outcome.
"Brother, have you been well?"
"Yes."
Strangely, thanks to that, the heavy atmosphere dissolved, and the Kronos delegation began to emerge from their vehicles.
Whether she intended it or not, things were unfolding exactly as Lania wanted.
"Welcome. Welcome to Ark."
Most of the faces were familiar.
From Diallo to Lania Marcus and Julius—the very core of the Kronos Union leadership.
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
Diallo, representing Kronos, stepped forward and shook Ganesha Tripathi's hand.
"I'm Ganesha Tripathi. I humbly serve as a council member of Rose Line. A pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Diallo."
"Shall we move elsewhere? We've prepared several things for those weary from the journey."
"I appreciate the thought, but I'd rather settle something first. After all, the soldiers outside are just as weary from the journey."
Diallo declined her suggestion with a smile.
"Ah, that was careless of me. Rest assured, we've prepared accommodations for them as well."
"Thank you for the consideration."
Even from the first meeting, there was subtle tension.
But that was unavoidable.
Whether it was Ark or Kronos, everyone ultimately looked out for themselves.
The leaders of Rose Line and Kronos exchanged introductions.
Then Diallo, while walking, turned his gaze to me.
"Carl Marcus."
"Something you want to say?"
"We've come this far because of your word. So… I hope your judgment was right."
"It was everyone's judgment."
Diallo's expression shifted subtly.
"Hmm… Sounds like you're trying to dodge responsibility, but I'll take it another way."
"That other meaning is probably the correct one."
"You're still good with words."
Diallo chuckled lightly.
With that, the leaders of Rose Line and the Kronos Union had finally gathered in one place.
'Now the real part begins.'
I followed behind them.