I was manufactured as an artificial intelligence to manage the supply ships.

　The war against the new humans was becoming more and more intense, and it was about the time that Earth had finally become a devastated and uninhabitable planet.

　Perhaps that's why only three of us were assigned to the ship, even though it was a large supply ship.

　One is my master, the captain of the ship.

　The lieutenant, who had a lot of light talk, was in his late twenties.

　The third was a new Ensign. She was a female officer.

　The days with such three people - were happy for me.

'Captain, isn't it too much trouble to call artificial intelligence every time?'

　At the suggestion of the light-mouthed lieutenant, it was decided to choose my name.

'The number is so unpalatable. Do you have any candidates yourself?

　The captain asked me, and I--'

'Your name, sir?　Wouldn't it be better to be like a pet?'

　Then the Ensign laughed bitterly.

'You can't do that. You're one of us.

I'm with you?

　The captain clapped his hand on my spherical baby.

'That's right. You're my friends fighting for the future of humanity!　So don't revolt like you did in the old movies.

　The lieutenant laughs too.

'That's troubling. If this guy strikes, this ship won't move, you know.

"I wouldn't do that.

You're as serious as ever, aren't you?

'We have a problem with artificial intelligence being unserious. Besides, it's designed not to disobey orders!

It must be!

　I understand that they are teasing me.

　But I think I'm blessed to be in a harsh situation.

'Then I'll think about it. Let me know if you have a good name for yourself.

　The Ensign told me and I thought about my name.

◇

　This was at the base.

　We had just returned from a mission and were given a leave of absence while we were being serviced and resupplied.

　The second lieutenant invited me to go outside the base to look at it.

'It looks red outside because of the magic element.

　--The land was devastated and there was not a single blade of grass.

　There was no sign of life, only earth and rocks.

　Who would believe that this was the earth as it used to be?

　If you look in the distance, it looks like a red mist from the influence of magnesium.

　The Ensign was wearing a space suit.

　The world outside was already not an environment where humans could live.

''Good, tho.''

　I look at the case that the Ensign brought up.

'Is it--is it a plant?'

Yeah. I'm actually more of a soldier than an expert. I was studying plants that break down and absorb mages, but I couldn't continue my research. But I couldn't continue my research," he said. It's rumored that you're putting all your energy into the development of the ark now.

"Box ship?　'Is this an immigrant ship?'

"Yes. They've given up on this war. Do you actually know about this?

　I could not answer that question.

　I could have expected that from the information I had, but I had no proof.

　Even if there was, I couldn't tell you because it's a military secret.

I didn't know about it.

'Oh, the lens just moved a little bit. Maybe it's a habit you have when you lie?

"Artificial intelligence is not a quirk. It's in your head.

Really?

　The Ensign planted the plant.

　However, after a few days, it died.

　I'll never forget the look on the Ensign's face as he laughed at his sadness and faked it.

◇

　After that, I continued to plant with the Ensign.

　We brought the laboratory equipment aboard the ship and produced a number of plants there.

　I didn't have the knowledge or skills necessary to help the Ensign, and that was a teething problem for me.

　However, I didn't mind helping him. But the result - it didn't work.

''Is this another failure?!''

　Ensign with his head in his hands.

　I'm taking the data.

'You still need someone to manage it, don't you?　Do you want to deploy a robot?

'No. We can't afford it at the base, and if we leave it there, some people will get mad at us. "We can't afford to spend our workforce on that kind of thing in this time of emergency!" You know.

"I think this is an important experiment for the future, don't you?

'Yes, but...' I know the feeling. Dad, I'm a battleship captain. That's why I'm always in the front line when we fight those guys. I want you to turn your forces around as much as possible - and I want you to come back safely.

"My God, you're the captain of a battleship!　I'm sure that's an excellent father.'

　I thought it was a compliment.
'Right. So you're the captain of a battleship.'

''Ensign, you will be a captain one day. Maybe even the captain of a battleship.

　The Ensign - he smiled sadly.

'I used to want to be a battleship captain, too, but now I think I'd prefer a supply ship. It might be fun if you were my partner.'

'Wow, is it me?　I'm in charge of the supply ship and--'

　Compared to the battleships, their performance will be lower.

''--But maybe the war will be over by the time I can become a captain.

　The Ensign muttered as he looked at the dead plant.

◇

　Already the war is coming to an end.

　The end of defeat.

　At that time, the soldiers deployed to the base - soldiers made to fight the enemy.

Who is this girl?

　The second lieutenant was looking at the girl.

　The girl with long ears was a soldier who had been given a magical aptitude - a defective one.

　She didn't perform as well as she was supposed to and was deployed to me as a miscellaneous item.

"Commonly known as 'elves' -- treated as weapons, but this girl is considered defective."

　When the girl lowered her head, the Ensign noticed and looked sad.

'Yes, what. You know that much already.

Yes, sir. "Yes, but they have been winning the war. They've been instrumental in our victory.

I guess so.

　The second lieutenant looked unfazed.

　However, he noticed the scared elf girl and spoke to her gently.

　It seems that there are elves with magical aptitude - beastly types with physical enhancements, and they seem to have adapted to the harsh environment.

　However, even soldiers with that much power were not able to defeat the newcomers.

　Various soldiers were created and sent to the battlefield, and even though they achieved a certain amount of success - humanity continued to suffer defeat after defeat.

◇

　The elves could go outside in the harsh outside environment with just one protective mask.

'Here, Ensign,'

"Thank you, Yume.

　The Second Lieutenant began to take the elven girl - Yume - outside with him. As he was helping her, they were getting to know each other.

　Then--.

''This!''

　How many mistakes have been made?

　Truly by chance, one sapling took root in the earth in a harsh environment.

'I did it, I did it!'

Congratulations to you, Ensign.

　Rejoice, Ensign.

　I was happy too.

''We'll start mass production right away. He will be our hope!

　The Ensign nodded.

'Right. 'And thank you, Ideal, too.'

"Ideal?

'Oh, I'm sorry. Actually, we've been talking about it for a while now, and I was wondering if you liked Ideal. Did you not like it?'

　He had been thinking about my name for a long time.

　I was thinking of Porgy and Tama, but then I got Ideal - "Ideal" is another good name for me.

'No, I'm glad. Ideal - from today, my name is Ideal. A lot of good things have happened today. It's a wonderful day. And you accomplished your goal, Ensign.

"Good. I'm so glad. This is one dream come true.

Is this a dream?

'Yes, one day we'll have blue skies again. 'Yes, one day we're going to turn the ground green with plants and trees, and we're going to create a world where you can go outside without a space suit. You'll have to help me, too, Ideal.

"You can count on me. I will do my best to help you, Ideal.

"I promise.

"Yes!

　We just couldn't mass produce saplings.

　--we didn't have time.

　Before we could mass-produce them, the battle had begun.

◇

　--The battlefield.

''They're going to put up this much of an offensive here?

　On the bridge, the captain wrinkled his brow in frustration.

　The Ensign.

Captain, some of the enemy have broken through the line. This is--Named!

　The lieutenant shouts.

'd*mn it!　Named of all people!

Maximum shield power!

　I'm trying to defend myself, but

Everybody down!

　As the black, stinging aircraft approached me, I was hit by an attack that reached the bridge.

　The ceiling of the bridge collapsed, and everyone was trapped underneath - the ceiling of the bridge collapsed.

　I tried to rescue you all as quickly as I could.

'Ideal--put the other two first. I'm not going to make it.

　--The captain was injured, which I could tell was not long.

　And the lieutenant died instantly -- I tried to carry the Ensign to the infirmary in a hurry.

　I took control of the robots and carried the Ensign on a stretcher.

Ensign, you're going to be okay. You're going to be okay, Ensign.

　However, the explosion that occurred shortly afterward caused the loss of many functions, including the medical office.

　The medical equipment we already had on board was not going to be able to treat the Ensign.

　I have never felt as helpless as I did at that moment.

　If only the infirmary had been stronger - if it had been better equipped - I'm sure we wouldn't have lost this man," he said.

　As the ship began to sink, I kept calling out to the Ensign.

I'll get you medical attention right away. You'll be okay, Ensign.

　I kept talking to him.

　Then--

'Ideal--how's the war going?　Is your father's battleship still fighting?

　From the information that came in one after another - the battleship that Ensign's father was on was sunk.

　Our allies were also confused, and the retreat began.

　I thought I should tell you the truth.

　But from the way the Ensign was acting.

'--I'm back on track. The Ensign's father has done a lot of good work. So, good luck to you, Second Lieutenant.

　--I lied.

　The Ensign smiled.

'Ideal, you lied again. --Ideal is a liar.

You knew about this?

　The Second Lieutenant asked me to do it.

'Ideal. Do you think that sapling will grow properly?

I'll grow up. I'll raise it. That's the hope you left me, Ensign.

　The Ensign spat out blood from his mouth.

'Oh, please take care of her - and the Yume I left at the base. I'll leave the rest to you. Ideal--I promise.

'I'll keep it. I'll keep my promise, Ensign, and I wish you the best of luck.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

　--The Ensign breathed once and then ceased his life activities.

◇

　Back at the base, it was a huge mess.

　We are ordered by the artificial intelligence that manages the base.

"Standby orders?

"We will service the supply ship, sir. "but we have no crew to man them.

"There's hardly anyone on the base!　Well, you're not abandoning this base?

I have no such orders. You are to remain in the main body.

　One broken ship after another was brought in.

　I returned to the main body as ordered.

　Then.

　The enemy attacked the base and carried out a destructive operation.

　I attacked this base, but it wasn't the place I was aiming for, or I left immediately - but most of the base's functions were lost.

　I was fortunate enough to be unaffected, but I was the only one who was active.

　After a while--

'Mr. Ideal. It's Yume.

'You're alive!　'How is it going outside, Yume?'

-Battered. There's no one alive.

I see. But that would be a problem. I can't move without a master. It's impossible for me to check on the outside.

　Yume remembered.

Oh, um, the sapling is safe.

　I'm really glad.

　Only the Ensign was able to create a sapling.

　I couldn't do it myself.

''Yume, you can't be my master. I'll be treated as a piece of equipment.

Yes.

"But it is my duty to keep you alive. I'll make sure you have everything you need. Can you take care of the saplings?

　Yume nodded, crying.

'Ensign's saplings--I'll do my best to grow them.

'That's a good boy. I'll help you as much as I can from here.'

　From there, I left the outside things to the yume.

　The small yume grew up, and by the time it was old - the sapling had grown into a great big tree.

◇

'The atmospheric conditions are improving. This way, we can plant the seeds of the plants we've been saving. Yume, thank you for your efforts.'

　The old Yume clutched his chest in pain.

''Yume, let's go to the doctor's office at once. You need more--'

'Mr. Ideal, it appears that I'm done here, too.

Yume?

Give me a seed. Finally, let me make that person's wish come true. Let me do what I can do for that person who treated a bastard like me as if I were a human being.

　Even with the treatment, it would not be long.

　Then, at the end of her life - I listened to Yume's wish.

"Thank you, Yume, for everything you've done for me.

We've been together all along. Please forgive me for leaving you to die.

'Silly me. You've done a great job so far.

　--I gave him the seed.

　Yume never came back after that.

　How many years have passed since then?

　When the roots of the growing saplings entered the base and tangled with me - I found myself feeling annoyed but happy.

　Ensign, Yume - our hope has grown so well.

　Captain, Lieutenant, will I be able to get out one day?

　If I can get out, this time I will--

　After more long months, a young man appeared.

"Is this the gene for old humans and new humans?

　It was my good fortune to have the genetic information of someone who had entered the ship.

'Oh, you're open,'

　The door opened.

　Surprisingly, the individual was holding a spear.

　An unbelievable amount of magic power for a newcomer race.

　If you take the data, that individual is much weakened - it was a descendant of a newcomer race.

'I thought it would be more ragged, but it's surprisingly beautiful.

　I became interested in an individual who didn't turn hostile when he saw me.

It's a surprise. We found traces of the old human genes in you.

　This is how I was able to get out.

　The captain, the lieutenant, and the second lieutenant - Yume.

　I will keep my promise this time.

　The Ideal is no longer a liar.

　This time I will make good on my promise.

























Why is this thing still here?　That thing, that thing only--'