"Huh?"
Looking at Arthur, who seemed nothing like the quick-witted hero from when he saved people earlier, Ramses let out a sigh.
Truth be told, he was being pretty dense too—just blindly doing whatever the Emperor said, without considering that the Emperor didn't even see them as real people.
He finally spoke helplessly.
"Are we just going to leave these people alone?"
At the edge of the plaza, the red-armored Thousand Sons psyker asked the three cousins.
"Of course not."
They all answered in unison.
Wasn't their whole purpose here to protect people?
"Since we won't, then why would the Emperor pass up the chance to freeload off us? Can we actually go to the Warp and cause him trouble? Or are we supposed to ignore these people?"
Ramses's triple-question left the others in awkward silence.
Damn!
Everyone's faces turned sour.
No wonder this was the guy who once got beaten into the ICU by four debt collectors for trying to freeload himself.
That they managed to resist punching him right now was already something.
"Exactly."
Romulus finally got a taste of what most of the Primarchs must have felt when dealing with the Emperor back in the day.
That raw, unapologetic "you're only useful as my tool" vibe was overwhelming.
Though compared to Rogal Dorn the rebellious Primarchs were all clowns, there was still a reason Horus managed to rope in half the Primarchs during the Heresy.
"All I can say is that doing good deeds doesn't always pay off."
Karna rubbed his forehead.
Having just been played by the Emperor, their morale inevitably took a hit.
They had always seen the Emperor, through a filter, as Humanity's great protector. But after witnessing this kind of maneuver, some of that filter cracked.
Based on what they knew of this world, the first thing travelers like them thought of was to seek protection from this guardian god of mankind. And morally, they didn't mind paying a price to do so.
But shoving the humans you claim to protect into their arms without a word of consideration? That was cold.
And then—
Hearing the prayers and hymns to the Emperor rising behind them, even though they had braced themselves, they still felt a pang of disappointment.
A few hours ago, they had been ordinary young people from an ordinary world. Now, after saving a bunch of foreigners' lives through their own actions, all those people did was thank God, not them. That would sting anyone.
They were human too. They needed some kind of positive feedback for what they had done.
Even just a simple "good job" would have been enough.
"Milord."
A voice interrupted their gloom.
After tidying up their appearance, Ramses waved his hand and dispelled the psychic barrier.
"Sister Arabella."
Arthur narrowed his eyes, looking at the Sister of Battle Arabella, and at Alex and Kovek behind her, slightly puzzled.
"What is it?"
"Commissar Alex and Colonel Kovek request an audience with you."
Why are they seeking me now?
A flicker of doubt passed through Arthur's mind, but he quickly agreed.
"No problem."
Arabella bowed devoutly and stepped aside, giving space for the two men to approach the "angel."
"What do you need?"
Arthur asked calmly.
"Honored Astartes."
Standing in the central hall bathed in the Emperor's holy radiance, Colonel Kovek carefully produced a somewhat old but well-maintained laspistol, holding it up with both hands, struggling to suppress his excitement.
He had never dreamed he would escape such a hopeless situation alive, let alone fight side by side with such a noble Astartes who actually cared about mortals.
"..."
Seeing his movements, Arthur nodded lightly, signaling that he was listening.
"In Cadia, when each of us reaches the age to open our eyes, the gift we receive from our elders is a weapon. From the first time our tiny fingers pull the trigger and fire a beam of light, it saves us from the gaze of heresy and corruption."
Colonel Kovek spoke while gently caressing the weapon, his gaze full of memories.
"It has witnessed my growth from an infant to a man. It has witnessed every Cadian grow into a life spent as the Emperor's currency. It is the symbol of how Cadia has stood unbroken through countless Chaos onslaughts."
As he spoke, his eyes grew more sentimental, as if trying to carve the weapon's image forever into his heart.
"And now, I hope it can become a gift—a token of gratitude carrying myself and the 2,600 warriors of Cadia's 43rd Regiment, the 'Broken Sword.' Thank you for giving us the chance to keep fighting for Humanity."
To rise to command within the Astra Militarum wasn't about being the deadliest fighter, but the one who best understood human nature.
And they could see clearly the constant goodwill this angel of the Emperor radiated toward them.
This was their way of repaying that kindness.
"I sincerely hope you will accept this gift, and may you and your battle-brothers stand unshaken, like Cadia."
His voice trembled at the end. He was terrified that this might be seen as offensive to Astartes culture, and that he might be profaning what he meant as a sacred offering.
Silence hung for a moment—about ten seconds—before Arthur finally reached out and took the laspistol.
It was an ordinary model, just industrial-grade.
"Thank you for your gift."
With three envious gazes burning into his back, Arthur said, "I'll keep it well."
The three immediately let out a sigh of relief.
"But—"
They straightened instantly, listening intently.
Whatever the angel asked, they would fulfill without question.
"I was not the only one who aided you."
Arthur pulled his comrades forward, including Ramses, who had cloaked his armor markings with psychic camouflage.
"Without my battle-brothers, we would have long been drowned in the tides of the Warp. Without my battle-brothers, I would not have had the courage to stand by you.
Just as your victories are built together with your comrades, if I lost mine, I too could never stand here to share this honor."
"So I ask that all of us be granted the blessing of Cadia."
Arthur asked gently.
"Colonel Kovek, may we be worthy?"
"Of course, milord."
Colonel Kovek's face flushed red with excitement.
"It is our honor!"
Carrying the angel's request, Colonel Kovek quickly returned to the Guard regiment.
"So, how'd it go?"
Watching a bunch of soldiers, fresh off the surgery tables, already squaring up for honor duels, Arthur turned his head to his companions.
In his free hand, he still absentmindedly played with the laspistol, far too small for his massive grip.
"Well, maybe doing good deeds doesn't always pay off."
Karna looked at the ceiling and shrugged again.
"But still, we have to keep doing good deeds."
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