The Gnawing Void Force
...Hmm?
Fantasizing again? Your nose is bleeding.
No, I haven't been fantasizing, at least not consciously.
...I see.
It appears that I'm doing it subconsciously now.
You know the old saying, right?
The body moves before thinking... you open your eyes and the enemy's already defeated...
I believe I've reached the ultimate state of fantasizing.
What does that even mean...?
Anyway, Captain, let's resume training—
Hmm? Another nosebleed?
You're asking if I really had a fantasy this time? No, not really.
Honestly, absolutely nothi—
Besta? Besta?!
I ran to the hospital, carrying the fallen Besta on my back.
She has anemia.
What's odd is that she doesn't have any external injuries either.
I'll prescribe something for the anemia. Next patient, please.
Anemia...
I don't get it. I've never fainted from anemia before.
You think it's because of all the nosebleeds from fantasizing?
...Maybe so.
Back West, I only had Commander Ceres and Ms. Lydia as material.
But here in NOA, the inspiration is endless. So the nosebleeds increased.
Still, now that I've got medication, I'll try to keep my fantasies in check... Hmm?
Ms. Besta? Captain! *Huff* *Huff*
I've been running all over...*Huff* looking for you two...
....Mm.
Thank you.
Huh? *Huff* Thank me? But y-you have a nosebleed!
...Don't worry about that. What's going on?
Ah, right. A message just came in from... *Huff* the Western Liberators.
The Western Liberators?
Thanks!
Problem solved. Now the Western Liberators can finally enjoy hot water again.
Glad to help. But where is Commander Ceres?
Hmmm...?
She's a busy person, you know.
So you're stuck with just me this time!
...I see.
(She looks visibly disappointed.)
Besta pulled out the medicine she got from the hospital and took a dose.
Hmm? What's that?
Iron supplements.
I fainted earlier due to anemia.
...Iron supplements?
Mm... Is that so...? Hmm...
It's just temporary. No need to worry.
That's not the issue...
I don't think it's just anemia.
...What?
Don't you suspect anything else too, Ms. Besta?
The Void, perhaps...?
You think it's due to the Void Force?
Yes. I can't examine you properly through comms, but...
It's obvious. Your Void Force is stronger than before.
You know what I specialize in, right, Ms. Besta?
...You're the foremost expert on the Void in the Western Liberators.
Exactly. And as an expert, I'm telling you this.
What you're experiencing now is all caused by the Void!
...!
No way...!
Before, it was barely noticeable...
Did something affect you during the Journey? Or maybe it's a side effect from your training?
Either way, you've clearly changed. Didn't you notice any signs?
Like...
Like?
Your fantasies becoming more extreme?
You knew about her fantasies?
...Who wouldn't? You'd have to be blind not to.
She keeps giving me and Commander these sticky stares all the time. Of course I noticed.
Then that means...!
Yes. I've always known about your fantasies...
Then you knew I imagined ●●● with you!
...Hmm?
And Commander Ceres having ●●● with you, Ms. Lydia, while I was ●●●●ing you in the back!
The book you carry is secretly about ●●●, and that you'd read it under the covers every night while ●●●●●ing yourself!
And even the fantasies about ●●●●! ●●●! and even ●●●● play...
You knew all of it!
...
(I don't think she knew that much...)
H-hmm...
Yes, I knew all of it.
No way...!
What now?
Then...! Even about me doing ●●●● when I'm in pain...!
Me, you, and Commander Ceres having ●●● in one giant ●●● too? You knew about it all...?
Okay, that's enough.
Yes, I knew it all. And it's all the Void Force's fault!
One last piece of advice, Ms. Besta.
Stop fantasizing.
If you don't, very soon...
The Void Force will consume you completely.
After the call ended, silence followed.
That can't be...
So all my fantasies were caused by the Void?
No wonder it didn't feel right.
Why else would those filthy fantasies be running through my head 24/7?
It really was all the Void Force's doing.
Besta...
...I've made my decision.
Captain, starting today, I'll stop fantasizing.
If I do that, maybe the Void Force will stop growing stronger.
...I can do it. Yes.
No, I must!
I walked Besta back to her quarters, but neither of us said a word.
The silence hung heavy, just like it had after the call ended.