♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢
Dabi and Yona, clinging to each other, trembled in fear as they looked at EAT.
But EAT glanced at the children one by one and, as he had prepared, spoke calmly.
EAT: "Warriors of the universe! The Demon King's army will soon arrive.
Will you not stand against them?"
Dabi: "P-please spare us..."
Yona: "We're sorry..."
EAT: (raising his voice) "Spare you? Who are you asking to spare you! And what did you even do wrong?!"
Yona & Dabi: "Aaaah~~!@"
EAT raised his voice without realizing it.
At that moment, Polun's advice came back to him.
("Be gentle with the children~ alright? They're still young, so just be kind and warm~ okay? I'm counting on you~")
EAT: "Ahem… my apologies. My voice got louder without me noticing.
But if you are to fight the Demon King's army, you must train. Stand up!"
However, Dabi and Yona were too overwhelmed with fear to hear anything EAT was saying.
EAT's attempts to calm them down with various words had no effect.
As time passed and nothing went as planned, EAT grew flustered.
Having never dealt with children before, he paused for a moment—then finally spoke again.
EAT: "Ah, um… warriors! Why don't you turn around for a moment?
—I've prepared incredible weapons for the war!"
Dabi: "Please… spare us..."
Yona: "Me too..."
EAT: "Haah… please, I'm begging you, just look behind you once. Please?"
Only then did Dabi slowly turn around.
There stood suit-type robots, each as large as a Roland gorilla, imposing and magnificent.
Dabi and Yona stood with their mouths open, overwhelmed by the sight.
Dabi: "Th-this… wow!"
Yona: "Wow, it's a real robot!"
EAT couldn't miss this opportunity.
He had to completely capture their attention.
EAT: "Warriors! Now then—would you like to try boarding them? You'll control them yourselves!"
Dabi: "Whoa!"
Yona: "Yes! I want to try!"
Before they knew it, their fear disappeared—replaced entirely by curiosity.
Like realizing you're dreaming but still unable to escape the dream,
they were completely drawn in, smiling brightly and bursting with excitement.
Dabi: "Doctor, let me ride it!"
Yona: "Me too!"
EAT: "Good! Warriors, stand before the robot and shout your names!"
Dabi and Yona stood before the robots they liked.
Yona, excited, nodded at Dabi, and he responded with a grin and a thumbs-up.
Dabi: (grinning) "Ready?"
Yona: "Let's do it!"
They shouted their names.
The giant robots gently lifted them and guided them into the cockpit within their chests.
The hatch closed, and darkness fell briefly.
Then the interior lights turned on—and the children cheered endlessly.
Dabi: "This is insane! It's really a robot! What is all this?!"
Yona: "Dabi, this is amazing! It even smells really good!"
EAT hurriedly opened the manual and began instructing them.
EAT: "Warriors, your first training! Hold the controller, secure your feet—
first, try walking. Then—"
But the excited children didn't listen.
EAT nearly snapped—but remembered Polun's request and held back.
After much effort, he managed to calm them down and teach them basic controls.
EAT: "Now, try practicing on your own." (He looks exhausted)
Yona: "Yes, Doctor!"
Dabi: "Hmm…" (frustrated)
Yona began moving her robot, slowly but steadily.
Dabi, however, struggled without progress.
Watching him, EAT thought to himself:
"Will that child be my greatest trial…?"
♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢
Yona gradually improved.
Thanks to her guidance, Dabi's skills improved noticeably as well.
Next, EAT began explaining how to use weapons.
Yona opened the hatch on the robot's thigh and grabbed the dagger handle.
She then carefully guided Dabi step by step.
Dabi followed her instructions.
At that moment, EAT recalled Polun's advice again.
("EAT, children improve when you praise them. Alright? Please praise them a lot.")
EAT nodded and praised them generously.
EAT: "Excellent, warriors! Truly worthy of being warriors of the universe. Now—"
At that exact moment—
Dabi's robot hurled its dagger straight toward Yona at terrifying speed.
Yona was shocked but narrowly dodged it.
The dagger didn't stop—it flew toward the observation room behind.
It pierced halfway through the glass in front of EAT before stopping.
Dabi: "Ah! Doctor, I'm sorry! I messed up!"
EAT: "..."
EAT lightly pushed the blade with his finger.
It was sharp enough to sting.
Anger rose—but Ina's face flashed in his mind.
He forced himself to calm down.
"Ina… can I really do this? The great trial has begun again."
EAT had to decide.
If he kept focusing on practice, it might take days.
Time wasn't urgent—but it wasn't something he could waste either.
So he made a decision.
He would send them into real battle.
EAT: "Warriors! Training is sufficient. The Demon King's minions are nearly here.
Prepare to sortie immediately!"
Yona: "Already? Isn't that too soon?"
Dabi: "Huh? Are we really going like this?"
Yona: "You definitely can't~"
Dabi: "Yeah… wait—what?!"
Dabi: "What did you say?!"
Before Dabi could protest, EAT pressed the launch button.
Dabi: "Wait!"
The robots transformed and launched out of the base.
Outside was vast outer space.
Countless enemies approached.
Dabi and Yona trembled.
Yona slowly pulled out a large gun and fired.
Her first accidental shot pierced a monster's wing.
Dabi was amazed.
Dabi: "Yona, that was incredible! How did you do that?"
Yona: "Ah—!"
Yona: "Aaaah!"
Yona panicked.
Dabi calmed her down.
But the massive enemies overwhelmed them.
Eventually, they screamed and fired wildly.
Their first mission ended.
Yona: 50 points.
Dabi: 7 points.
Maximum score: 1000.
Mission failed.
EAT praised them anyway.
They regained their spirits slightly.
But EAT looked troubled.
He had only one solution—praise.
"If you continue training step by step, you'll improve quickly. Well done, warriors."
The children gained strength from his encouragement.
Their skills improved—but they couldn't clear missions.
EAT tore through the manual in frustration.
Yona: ~450 points.
Dabi: ~300 points.
Yona suddenly spoke.
Yona: "Ellie…! That's it!"
Dabi: "Why Ellie?"
EAT: "What is Ellie?"
Yona: "Ellie is our friend!"
Dabi: "He's good with machines!"
Yona: "And he's really good at games!"
Dabi: "Yeah!"
EAT: "...games?"
The next day, they brought Ellie.
The training resumed.
Ellie was amazed.
"Wow! A robot!"
He boarded.
Ellie: "Wow… it smells nice!"
Yona: "Right? It smells good!"
Ellie quickly mastered control.
He moved the robot naturally.
He could even balance objects on its hands.
Dabi and Yona were impressed.
Soon, they reached similar levels.
Together, they launched again.
Ellie: "I'm nervous!"
Dabi: "Don't worry! I'll help!"
Yona: "Trust me!"
In space, Ellie trembled.
"I'm… in space…!"
Enemies appeared.
Ellie grew scared.
Then Dabi charged.
Yona followed.
Encouraged, Ellie joined.
Then—
Ellie accelerated suddenly.
He switched to swords and charged forward.
He cut through enemies effortlessly.
EAT threw away his ice cream and watched intensely.
Dabi and Yona followed him.
EAT smiled.
He had found the answer.
Later—
they returned.
Yona: "Wow, I'm sweating!"
Dabi: "Following Ellie makes you sweat!"
Ellie: "That was fun!"
EAT ran over.
"Yona: 610. Dabi: 500. Ellie: 830!"
EAT was excited.
But the children's smiles faded.
Only Ellie seemed dissatisfied.
EAT realized—
something was wrong.
Score competition brought no joy.
Later, EAT tried to destroy the scoring system with an axe.
The children stopped him.
He unplugged it instead.
After that—
they no longer compared scores.
They only celebrated together.
EAT learned:
What mattered was not results—but the children's hearts.
---
The scoring system had been introduced by Polun.
It was not the King's order.
It was his personal decision.
The King was furious.
Polun was summoned—and scolded.
Polun cried.
"Uwaaaah~!"
-4 B END