Ateia made a sad smile and patted NSLICE-00P’s back.

“This is a hug, Seero. It’s a gesture of affection and comfort.”

“Requesting Elaboration: Why is NSLICE Ateia displaying affection and comfort towards this unit?”

Ateia’s smile turned soft.

“I’m showing you affection because you’re my friend, and you’ve saved my life over and over again. Thank you, for all you have done for me, and for saving me yet again.”

“Acknowledged.”

And then Ateia frowned.

“And comfort…because somehow, I saw your memories. I saw what they did to you, the ones who put your armor on. I don’t understand most of it but I saw them butcher you, and force you to be their killer. They…they did terrible things to you, Seero.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered.

“Objection: This unit has no memory of hostile acts by the original organization.”

Ateia’s frown deepened, but then she shook her head. She let go of NSLICE-00P and took a step back. There was a slight murmur in NSLICE-00P’s organic components that quickly settled.

“Well…if you don’t remember…maybe that’s for the best. But…please tell me those aren’t the people you’re searching for?”

“Negative. Clarification: This unit is no longer affiliated with her original developers, who have since been designated as hostile by her latest Commander.”

Ateia nodded as her face turned serious.

“Good.”

She then made a smile as best she could.

“Let’s…let’s get you some good memories, ok?”

“Statement: Diagnostics indicate this unit’s memory is fully functional. Upgrades to this unit’s memory are beneficial, but not necessary at this time.”

Ateia was about to respond when she heard a knock at the doorway. Taog stood there with his eyes on the ground. Ateia’s face fell, and then she turned to NSLICE-00P.

“…I’m sorry, Seero, I need to speak with Taog for a moment. Would…would you mind letting us speak alone for a bit?”

“Affirmative Response: This unit’s main goal was reassuring NSLICE Ateia that damage due to emotional controls was not intentional, and that NSLICE Ateia is still designated as a friendly.”

Ateia winced at the mention of the controls, but gave NSLICE-00P a smile anyways.

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, Seero. You saved my life, remember?”

“Acknowledged.”

With that, NSLICE-00P turned and left the room. And as she did, she logged her organic components’ blood pressure and cortisol levels reaching their lowest point in a long time.

Ateia and Taog stood in silence, both looking at the ground. Eventually, Ateia took a deep breath.

“…I’m sorry, Taog. I…didn’t want you to see me like that. But…with everything that happened…that’s still happening…I just…couldn’t hold it in…”

Taog immediately looked up and shook his head.

“No, you have nothing to apologize for, Ateia.”

He bit his lip and looked away.

“Rather…it’s me who needs to apologize. It was really you protecting me this entire time, and I didn’t realize how hard I made it on you. Can…can you forgive me?”

Suddenly Taog grunted. Ateia leapt over and gave him a hug. She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I just…I didn’t want you to suffer anymore. They were all so horrible to you! So…I didn’t want to hurt you either.”

Taog returned the embrace.

“And I don’t want to hurt you anymore. I don’t want anyone to hurt you. I won’t lose you again.”

They both began to cry in each other’s arms.

As NSLICE-00P returned to her room, Estrith entered the hall from the courtyard. Her eyes widened and then she turned to NSLICE-00P.

“Queen of the Dobhar…”

Estrith lowered her head and slapped her tail on the ground.

“…forgive me. I have failed you.”

NSLICE-00P turned to face her.

“Objection: Friendly Estrith Edilddaughter has not failed any high-priority directives.”

Estrith shook her head.

“I failed to protect you, and your comrade, as both my duty and my debts demanded.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered.

“Acknowledged. Objection: This unit severely underestimated the capabilities of the hostile force, and so fell into an ambush. Other units failing to respond in time is not indicative of insufficient capability in this case. All friendlies managed to avoid termination. No high-priority directives were violated as a result, countermeasures will be developed against the hostile capabilities displayed, and to shore up any unit deficiencies identified.”This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Estrith narrowed her eyes.

“…that may be, but it is still true that I have not taken this duty as seriously as I should. I will not allow that to continue.”

She took a deep breath.

“Queen of the Dobhar…no…”

Estrith bowed her head once more. Her King and her people had accepted NSLICE-00P. NSLICE-00P had spared no effort on behalf of the Dobhar, not even the littlest one. She was mighty and powerful as she who ruled the Dobhar should be.

Her King and her people would not want to lose NSLICE-00P.

And…when NSLICE-00P had actually been lost, Estrith found she didn’t want to lose the Queen of the Dobhar either.

“…My Queen. I, Estrith Edilddaughter, swear to be your spear. From now on, I shall give my utmost to defend you and your comrades. I will not neglect my duty again, and I will see all my debts repaid in full. And I will not let you fall, not while I still wield my spear.”

“Acknowledged.”

In the Monster Hangar, 01R had stopped his training and had his eyes fixed on the live feed. He watched while Estrith made her oath.

A fire burned in his chest. He now knew what he felt.

The Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen’s might that he could never match? The addition of new comrades who reacted in pain to their ascension?

None of that mattered.

What mattered was this: the vicious man-things had dared to strike against the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen. 01R, the other monsters, and even that otter-thing had not seen the attack coming, nor had they been able to respond to it. That was their failure.

“I see-understand now. The otter-thing’s words are good-admirable, yes yes.”

All the other monsters in the room turned to 01R as he spoke. He turned to face them all. 01R closed his eyes.

“We have failed-blundered, yes yes.”

All the monsters looked down…except Snuan, who was just glancing around.

Then 01R’s eyes shot open, and he snarled.

“Which means we must redouble-reinforce our efforts, yes yes! We will grow-become strong, so strong that no man-thing or monster-thing or Realm of Mana-place can resist-refuse us! We will never let-allow anyone to strike at the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen ever again, yes yes!”

All the monsters eyes shot open. Rats squeaked, spiders chittered, a cat meowed, dogs howled. And then each and every one of them threw themselves into hardcore training. Snuan crouched down the middle of them.

“You guys are weird-strange, yes yes.”

But before she could slip away, she felt a paw grip her shoulder. 01R stood before her.

“Come, Snuan! You will spar-train with me first, yes yes!”

“N-No, t-that’s fine-ok. A-Another would be better, yes yes.”

“Do not be shy-hesistant! You are one of the Wise-Mighty-Gracious Boss-Queen’s subordinates too! So you must grow strong-powerful as well, yes yes!”

Snuan started squirming.

“Stupid evil rat-thing, let me go-leave! You spar too hard-viciously, yes yes! I was so sore-aching I could barely move last time!”

Rattingtale peeked his head out of the entrance to his room. He squeaked to himself, fidgeting with his paws.

“Do you want to join?”

He jumped as 02S suddenly appeared behind him.

“D-Don’t ambush-surprise me like that, vicious spider-thing! And that is not the case, no no!”

She giggled and tilted her head.

“Oh?”

Rattingtale took a deep breath.

“It…is fine-ok. None of them wish-want me around anyways, yes yes. I know-understand too much of that traitorous 01R’s foul intent, he would desire-wish to get rid of me, yes yes.”

S chittered as an idea popped into her head.

“Then…why don’t I train with you?”

Rattingtale turned and stared at her.

“You?”

S nodded.

“Unless you think I’m traitorous-foul too?”

Rattingtale squeaked, and his ears fell against his head. ‘Training’ with a vicious spider-thing that could eat him alive was…not exactly an exciting idea.

But, well, he knew at this point that none of them would eat him as long as the Boss-Queen claimed him as hers. So…his options were to train with this spider-thing, bow before the definitely traitorous and foul 01R, or remain in his room doing nothing.

He made his choice.

“Well…I suppose-guess I could grace you with my presence, yes yes. We shall see-discover if you sufficient for training, yes yes.”

S giggled.

“Excellent.”

Rattingtale would soon discover that he had chosen…poorly.

Ateia and Taog separated from one another. Taog winced and rubbed his chest.

“What’s the matter Taog?”

Taog looked away.

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

Ateia crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Taog took a deep breath.

“Well…um…you kind of have a lot of armor on…and moved very fast…”

Ateia froze. She then flushed and looked away.

“Oh, um, sorry. Are you…are you ok?”

Taog made a wry smile and nodded.

“Fine, just a little tender.”

He then started chuckling while Ateia flushed some more.

“Maybe we could see if there’s anything to eat? I’d imagine you’re hungry after all this?”

Ateia blinked as she focused on her stomach. To her surprise…she didn’t feel very hungry at all. But still…food sounded good. She hadn’t actually eaten since this all started, after all.

“Ok, that sounds good.”

The two left the room and walked through the hallway for a bit when Ateia paused. Taog turned to glance at her.

“Ateia?”

She rubbed her chin and then nodded.

“You go ahead Taog. There’s…something I want to check on.”

He raised an eyebrow but went ahead. Ateia took a deep breath and then turned down another hallway. She walked until she found the entrance to an underground cellar, following a faint noise that she had heard. She opened up the door and descended down some stairs.

She found a stone cellar filled with wine barrels. And the sound she had first heard grew louder.

It was the sound of someone sobbing.

She walked through the cellar until she reached the back corner, where she saw someone in a heap, surrounded by wine bottles.

“Miss Agedia?”

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”

Agedia was curled up around herself and crying. Ateia slowly walked forward and gently touched her shoulder. Agedia flinched and then looked up. Her eyes went as wide as they could go. She then leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Ateia and burying her head into Ateia’s stomach.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I failed you! Again and again I failed you!”

Ateia’s eyes widened. Memories passed through her head once more.

She watched a failed Imperial Knight rampage through abandoned catacombs, striking down guards and monsters alike. She was bleeding from wounds all over her body, but she pressed forward by sheer force of will and the burning heat of her rage. Eventually, she came to a large chamber.

A group of hooded figures stood around a ritual formation that was all too familiar. One of them dragged a woman towards the center. A woman with a familiar face.

“Aedinia!”

The knight shouted. More soldiers moved to block her path, and she swung her lance. A hooded figure chanted and a massive magic circle formed on the ground. A multi-headed hydra appeared in the room, and began to snap at the knight.

“Out of my way!”

But her way was blocked. The woman looked at the knight, and made a sad smile. She whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

And then, as everyone’s attention turned to the knight, the woman grabbed a knife from her captor’s belt. Before he could respond, she plunged the knife into her own heart.

“NO!”

Ateia returned to the present, with Agedia still clutching onto her and repeating her apology. Her eyes went as wide as they could go and started quivering.

That…was the first time she ever saw her mother. She looked down at the woman sobbing into her waist. She took a deep breath.

Her heart was in turmoil…but right now there was something she needed to do. She reached down and gently rubbed Agedia’s head.

“I…I forgive you, Agedia. You…you tried to save her. You wanted to protect me too, didn’t you?”

“I let her die! And if NSLICE-00P hadn’t returned, you would have died too!”

“But she did, and I’m still alive.”

“Your mother died because of me! Because I wasn’t strong enough to protect her! And you got torn to shreds because I’m still not strong enough to protect you!”

Ateia’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s wrong. My mom didn’t die because of you, and I didn’t suffer because of you. Everything happened because of that Aesdes-forsaken cult.”