Preface

A short standalone story.

*There are various announcements in the afterword, so please check it out if you can!

“Why are you over here, anyway? Bell.”

“Figure it out, Nagisa. Today, Kaguya and my mom are at Dad’s place.”

“…That paints a really unpleasant picture.”

My name is Bell Silfield.

My father is Kenya Mikazuki, the world’s strongest KOG pilot. My mother is Reina Silfield, who’s strong enough to rival him.

I’m what you might call the second-generation offspring of celebrities.

Today, my father’s second wife—no, she’d get furious if I phrased it that way—his first or second wife, Kaguya, and my own mom are staying over at the house, so I made a run for it.

At their age, they’re still all lovey-dovey and getting along great. It’s a sign of a solid marriage, sure, but for us kids, it’s pure agony.

“Oh, right! Hey, hey! Since you’re here, why don’t you star in my video?”

“Ehhh…”

And standing before me is Nagisa Mikazuki. She’s the same age as me but technically my older half-sister.

She does idol stuff as a hobby.

Well, she insists that’s her real job, but her actual profession is ace pilot in the World Knight Order’s 8th Unit.

I’m a tad stronger than her, but she’s still a powerhouse.

[Dancing with Bell Silfield, My Big Bro, in KOG]

It’s a weird title, but anyway, Nagisa and I head to the simulator room at home and log into the virtual world.

We can’t exactly use actual humanoid decisive battle weapons like KOG just to film a video, after all.

And so, reluctantly, I pilot the KOG and mimic the dance Nagisa is doing right in front of me.

Only unit commanders could pull off maneuvers at this level.

“Since we’re at it! Why don’t we film ‘dancing with’ videos with a bunch of different people and make it go mega-viral?”

“Different people?”

“Hmm, Road’s a lock, right? And Reina, my mom, Dad… Byakuren… Uncle Isshin…”

“The names you’re dropping are way too big. They’re all national leaders.”

Road was the leader who dissolved his empire, turning Freedom into the world’s strongest economy through his leadership.

Even with nationwide votes in the name of equality, Road never shows any sign of losing.

He’s also chief of staff for the World Knight Order and vice chair of the World Alliance.

Byakuren is the World Alliance chair, and Uncle Isshin is Japan’s prime minister.

“Let’s at least ask! Road, wanna dance?”

“You’re scary for how casually you can message them.”

…

“Haha, sure thing. I’m no dancer, but five seconds should do it, right?”

“Yes! I’ll edit them all together!”

“He actually said yes…”

We barge into Road’s workplace.

Up on the top floor of a massive skyscraper, Nagisa teaches him the dance.

It’s a pretty wild scene, but to us, he’s as close as a father figure.

“Thank you! Keep up the good work!”

“Yeah, say hi to Kenya for me.”

We exchange greetings and leave the room.

“Who next… Oh, let’s ask Thor from the Knight Order too!”

“I’m scared of how fearless you are.”

Thor.

Formerly the EU’s strongest KOG pilot.

Now division commander of the World Knight Order’s 4th Division. Stronger than me or Nagisa, a battle-hardened knight.

His strictness is legendary.

…

“Haha, sounds good. For the World Knight Order’s image campaign, eh?”

“Yes! Gotta soften that scary image!”

“He said yes too…”

After that, Nagisa drags every bigwig she can find into dancing.

I wanted to retort that she’s probably the only one in the world who could pull this off.

But surprisingly, everyone starts off shocked but agrees readily.

And finally…

…

“I see. A splendid idea!”

“Thank you, Byakuren!”

“Even the world’s top leader said yes…”

Byakuren, supreme council chair of the World Alliance.

Former Asia Union rep, now one of the two people steering the world alongside Road.

We’ve crossed borders and ended up here.

It’s a bit too freewheeling, but the World Knight Order is a proper white-collar job with paid leave!

“What a fine world we have.”

“Just hit a button to record and boom—global stream in seconds!”

“…Heh, no, that’s not it. Twenty years ago, this would’ve been unthinkable.”

Byakuren seemed to reminisce a bit.

I’ve heard the story from Road.

Road of the Earthguard Empire tried to conquer the world. The world’s strongest knight stopped him.

World War was on the brink, billions dying, hatred chaining endlessly.

But my dad changed it.

Not by executing Road, but by breaking the cycle with his own ego.

I know opinions were divided, but this is the world now.

It’s at peace.

“You young ones with your brand-new values are growing up. Soon, the generation that truly joins hands from the heart, as Road said, will be here. Hatred lingers in the world still, but you’re free to roam unbound. Nothing could make me happier.”

With that, Byakuren patted our heads.

That’s when I finally got it.

Why all these world leaders agreed without a hint of annoyance.

The world they’re building is one where this is normal.

That’s why Road, Thor, Byakuren, Uncle Isshin—they all seemed delighted.

“The world is yours, young knights.”

“Yes!!“

…

“We’re hooome!!”

“W-Welcome back!! Wait, hold on! Just wait a sec, you two!!”

At night, Nagisa and I burst through the front door.

Dad’s voice comes out in a total panic.

“Huff… huff… Coming home so suddenly… Welcome back.”

“Dad, your shirt’s inside out.”

“Huh!?”

Nagisa points it out in a low, icy tone.

Dad’s flustered, and then from behind come my disheveled mom and Nagisa’s mom.

“B-Bell. You said you weren’t coming back tonight…”

“W-Welcome hooome~”

Flushed skin, messy hair and clothes.

This sucks.

Sucks big time, but they were probably at it the whole time.

At their age? Gross—just thinking about it makes me wanna hurl.

“Look! Reina, Mom, Dad!”

“Hm?”

Nagisa shows them today’s footage.

“You’re the last ones! Come on, quick quick!”

“Sheesh, what a handful…”

“Heh, shall we dance then, dear?”

“Gotta show off our still-sexy, youthful side!”

…

“Alright, done! And uploaded!”

The finished video spreads across the world at light speed.

No one expected the globe’s heavyweights to bust moves, so people replayed it endlessly.

Kids’ reactions were mostly eye-rolls like, “What’re the adults doing?”

But adults? Totally different.

Some even cried watching it.

Little by little, everyone started to feel it.

The endless chain of human wars—killing, taking, seeming eternal.

It’s changing now.

People thought nations could never understand each other, yet here they are, hand in hand.

Laughing and dancing together.

The adults who got it couldn’t help but hope for the future.

“Whoa… Views hit a billion… The ad revenue’s gonna be insane…”

“Gimme half.”

The masterminds behind it? Just grinning over the incoming cash.