After successfully defending the Briga planetary system and defeating Phosphorus's special forces, the Queen's Army's attacks noticeably decreased.

Of course, the Pastel planetary system had suffered considerable damage.

But with Naiere still alive, their core military strength remained intact.

Additionally, my mother and most of the scientists at the Aether Belt Restoration Headquarters had survived.

In conclusion, the research team hadn't been disbanded.

I remained in the Pastel planetary system to handle the aftermath. They say that as soon as news spread that I hadn't died, military morale shot through the roof.

"I bet there's only one person feeling down right now—you."

Seti, who had been reprimanding me, suddenly said this.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's written all over your face. You're in a bad mood."

"It's because there's no solution..."

"Isn't it much better now than before?"

"Better? Hardly."

"Think about it. What was this world like before you showed up? People dying and going insane at every turn. Entire planets collapsing was nothing unusual. Compared to then, we're in a hopeful time now."

I scratched my head.

Maybe it was because I had just returned from attending the funeral for the elite swordsmen and meeting their bereaved families, but my shoulders felt especially heavy today.

Not only their deaths, but Sonia's situation was also unfortunate.

Sonia couldn't remember anything, including the fact that she had protected me.

I tried various methods to help her recover her memories, but nothing worked.

It's just one android, so why did it make me feel so bitter?

"I know it's tough. But you've shown us so much. You've shown that even insignificant humans can stand against outer gods. You're in a position where you can't afford to collapse."

"...Seti."

My sister's words were logical. They were also a plea. In a world where even constellations were manipulated by outer gods, where humans could no longer hold faith due to scientific advancement, humans had no choice but to believe in and rely on other humans.

That's why I needed to endure, she was saying.

Seti stepped closer to me. Her golden eyes, symbolic of the Rheinland family, reflected my pitiful state.

"Cheer up. You need to recover my sunken stocks."

"Alright... what?"

"As soon as rumors of your death spread, the gradually recovering stock prices all plummeted. Even with the God of Wealth and Investment, the prediction was too late. Ah, thinking about it makes me angry again! My money. What are you going to do about my money!"

Seti grabbed my collar and shook me vigorously.

Ah, damn it.

I was a fool to expect sympathy from my own sister.

No matter how much my sister shook me, only scraps of research papers and a few strands of hair fell from my body.

Seti threw me onto a makeshift bed and proceeded to give me a full-body massage.

"Ow! My leg! It hurts! I said it hurts!"

"It's all your fault! What about my money! You have to compensate me!"

"Why should I? You're the one who invested!"

"If I lose money, your salary gets cut too. Got it?"

"That makes no sense. I think it's time to reestablish the hierarchy..."

"Ow, ow, ow! Brother! My head! The spot where I hit the corner of the tablet seven years ago feels like it's going to crack!"

Sonia watched our fight in real-time. She could only fret and plead with us not to fight.

Seti showed me her trading account details while wailing. Seeing that she had lost trillions on "Eidel theme stocks," I began to understand why she was hitting me so hard. Wow, that money could fund several research projects.

Eventually, my sister managed to knock me down and take a mount position.

That's when Rustila walked in.

"Eidel, I got special leave today and came to—!"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Zernya. I'm pretty sure I told you not to monopolize Eidel when I'm not around."

"Haa, haa, you bi— Oh, sis. You're here?"

"Huh?"

"...Why?"

I had forgotten one fact.

From behind, Seti looked identical to Zernya.

It took less than three seconds for Rustila's face to fill with shock.

"You, you two, what were you trying to do?"

"Ah, sis! Wait! This is a misunderstanding! Don't go, listen to me! Wait, don't leave! It's a misunderstanding...! Ah shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuck!!"

I pushed the struggling Seti aside and got up with difficulty.

"Sister, calm down. Mind your language, it's vulgar."

"Is swearing the issue right now? You started this, and now I look like a crazy woman too! What are we going to do about this?"

"How is this my fault? You started it first!"

"This all happened because you almost died, so you started it first!"

"You really talk nonsense."

"It's not nonsense, it's the truth. You only see your one and only sister as an ATM!"

"But I'm using that money to protect the world!"

"Yes! That's why I'm telling you to cheer up! Earn your keep!"

Sonia, who had been fretting, stepped between us.

"Master Eidel, Miss Seti. I think you should go after her and explain first."

"Ugh, damn it."

Seti and I went outside the lab to find Rustila.

Rustila was huddled in the break room. We explained our ordinary sibling dynamics and comforted her.

"Really?"

"Really, I'm telling you."

"I thought you two had become the worst kind of people."

"Well, my brother used to be the worst kind of person."

The misunderstanding was finally resolved.

When we returned to the office, Sonia tapped my shoulder.

"Sonia?"

"This is a reprimand. While it's good that you play with your sister, I request that you prioritize your dignity as someone in an important position."

"That didn't hurt much for a reprimand..."

"If you were to get seriously injured, it would all be my responsibility. I have a legal obligation to protect you as your personal assistant."

"You're being so formal."

Sonia just bowed her head.

In the past, she would have beaten me senseless.

Would her memories ever return?

At that moment, Seti sprawled out on the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to stay here for a while."

"You're saying crazy things so casually, sister. This is my lab."

"You're using such casual expressions with your sister, brother."

Seti, still lying on the bed, opened a screen.

Click.

She took a photo of herself making a V-sign while lying down, with me standing behind her like a prop. She uploaded the photo to social media with a brief caption.

[Living with this idiot until the war ends. (#hashtag: Pastel Planetary System)]

How touching.

As soon as the post went up, comments flooded in. Out of curiosity, I checked the stock charts on a random exchange.

Needless to say, the stock prices were fluctuating wildly.

[Go long and hold tight!!!!]

[What? He almost died but isn't evacuating from Pastel?]

[Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess? Is Seti a goddess?]

[Stop talking about going long lol. Don't they know staying there means eventual death?]

[Their very existence moves markets]

There were both expectations and concerns.

But the expectations seemed to be winning. The proof was the rising market.

This was the opposite of what I had expected. I thought the stock would fall since having Seti in Pastel would increase the risk, but it didn't.

"Why is this happening?"

"What do you think money is?"

"Research funding."

"Ugh, you're such an idiot."

Seti sighed.

"Money is trust. It's belief. The belief that humanity will win this war is reflected in rising stock prices."

"What are they believing in?"

"They believe in you."

"...Hmm."

"Just know this one thing. People are less rational than you think."

People are not rational.

That's true.

Yet the reason we try to maintain rationality is because humans themselves know well the destructive power of emotions and feelings.

I set aside my worries about the fallen soldiers and Sonia for a moment.

Right now, the best thing I could do was direct research, hoping for peace in this city.

***

After lightly reprimanding Eidel, Sonia felt a strange sensation.

The feeling of hitting him seemed familiar.

It was as if she had done this before.

She tried searching her memory banks, but found nothing. She had only known Eidel von Rheinland for a few dozen hours.

"Troop replenishment, research facility expansion... there's a mountain of work."

"Want help?"

"I'd appreciate it."

"Most problems can be solved with money. We can bring in the Eastern Frontier Army as mercenaries, and for the research facility... the research for the Aether Belt restoration equipment is complete, right?"

"Yes, we were manufacturing it when everything was destroyed."

"The scientists are still alive, so with enough budget, we can rebuild. I'll cover this one specially."

"And survival bonuses for the scientists too, while you're at it."

"Ha, you scoundrel. Fine."

"You promise?"

"I said fine, didn't I?"

Sonia was surprised.

Unlike her first impression, Eidel and Seti seemed to get along extremely well.

Fighting yet not fighting, hostile yet not hostile. Despite it all, their affection for each other was clear.

Curious, she connected to the internet and searched for related information.

Family, siblings, love-hate relationship.

They were family and siblings, but Sonia's experience wasn't enough to accurately understand this kind of bond.

If people get along well, shouldn't they avoid fighting?

For now, Sonia decided to learn that such relationships exist.

That's when Eidel spoke to her.

"Come to think of it, Sonia, I should give you a special bonus too."