Chapter 142 174: I, Emperor’s Champion, Life Mentor.

Shinji didn't exactly harbor malice toward the suddenly appearing Kaworu Nagisa; in fact, the very concept of "good and evil" didn't really exist in his mind.

Does one need malice to hunt a xeno? It was purely a matter of work and mission. There was no "Ghost" style romance in him; an Astartes, no matter how beautiful the "female ghost" they encountered, would only blow her head off with a boltgun and follow up with a full magazine.

The reason Kaworu remained alive was similar to Gendo Ikari: he possessed survival value, and the cost of a forced kill wasn't worth the payoff. At the very least, in Shinji's design, SEELE should stay alive until all the ritual implements were ready.

A strange presence had appeared in Tokyo-3. SEELE didn't dare order the Fourth Children to report to headquarters, and Kaworu did nothing redundant. This time, "Owl" was actually loyal; he reported the surveillance findings exactly as they were—after all, there was nothing to hide.

He didn't execute his mission, nor did he plot any secret conspiracies. He simply stayed quietly by the shores of Lake Ashi, enchanting the passing men and women with his looks. Occasionally, he would "happen" to run into Shinji on the road, offering a gentle greeting without much conversation before passing by.

"This Fourth Children is so weird."

Asuka turned her head, watching the slender back walk away. "He doesn't report to HQ, he doesn't go to school... I heard he spends all day painting by Lake Ashi. He's a bigger tax thief than Misato."

It was nonsensical. What kind of pilot was this? Was NERV paying him to slack off by the lake?

"Asuka, don't you think he's really handsome?"

Chihaya Rin's eyes were sparkling as she whispered, "Handsome and graceful, he's basically the perfect boyfriend. How do you think he compares to Shinji-kun?"

Asuka immediately looked at Shinji in front of her, then at the distant Kaworu. Logic told her there was simply no comparison.

What comparison could there be between a "steel-straight" guy and the ultimate "warm" guy? Kaworu was indeed perfect: soft-spoken, empathetic, and possessed an innate charm that appealed to everyone.

"Uh, that idiot is still easier on the eyes. At least, at least..."

Asuka thought for a long time. From a boyfriend-selection perspective, she really couldn't find a single area where Shinji beat Kaworu. She just stiffened her neck and said: "At least that idiot looks sturdier. His, uh, health is better."

"Oh boy, you're not being objective once we talk about the person you like."

"Quiet! Don't talk nonsense."

Shinji listened quietly, his own mind full of question marks. This Kaworu was too "normal." He spent all day as a tax thief by the lake, showed no intent to force a closeness, and didn't even use that unique charm to try and find an opening through those close to Shinji.

He maintained a subtle distance, staying in a state of being both detached and present.

"What exactly does the Fourth Children want?"

Rei Ayanami was also confused. She asked hesitantly, "I thought he was coming to school. Wouldn't that be a good opportunity?"

Kaworu wore the First Municipal Middle School uniform every day, and his enrollment had been transferred by NERV, yet he hadn't shown up for a single day.

"He's waiting for my permission. In a sense, he is a formidable opponent. His EQ is extremely high; he knows that acting on his own would trigger a backlash from me."

If Kaworu actually showed up in Class 2-A, he'd be forcing Shinji's hand. Even if their battle would likely kill all the students, an Astartes never falls for the "hostage" play.

The current Shinji might hesitate, but hesitation means annoyance, and that debt would eventually be settled on Kaworu's head.

"It sounds like... he's a good person? I think he's already seen through my identity, yet he hasn't contacted me privately."

"Is that why you went out for a walk in the middle of the night yesterday?"

Shinji glared at the girl. Seeing Rei lower her head, he sighed.

Both were soul-vessels, but why was the EQ gap so massive? He had raised Rei Ayanami step by step like a daughter; she started as a doll. Kaworu, however, started at max level; his conduct was practically flawless.

He was as gentle as a breeze and kept his place perfectly. Anyone else would have lowered their guard long ago. Fortunately, Shinji had a heart of iron and had no intention of "understanding" an enemy.

Lately, he had been troubled by how to retain Adam's soul. According to Ritsuko Akagi's calculations, while Kaworu and Rei looked similar, they were fundamentally different—the biggest difference being autonomy.

Kaworu could freely choose life or death; he was more like a complete living entity. Such an important specimen couldn't just be killed off like other Angels.

If Adam remained incomplete, Lilith would have to be completed, which meant Rei Ayanami's fate would remain unchanged.

"I have to find a way to make it willing to become a sacrifice. But guiding its will is easier said than done."

The plan was stuck. From the recent observations, Kaworu was almost flawless—not like Rei, who was a blank sheet of paper that could be colored at will.

"Fine. He wants to find answers? I'll give him answers."

"You want to make contact with him?" Rei asked, somewhat worried.

"No rush. SEELE won't let him wait too long. He'll come to me eventually. Until the Thirteenth Angel attacks, I will focus entirely on dealing with it."

Shinji set a boundary. He wouldn't leave any lingering threats.

'Let's leave it at that for now.'

Shinji decided to ignore this inexplicably appearing Angel. It wasn't harmful, yet it was careful enough to be like a "chicken rib"—tasteless to keep, but a waste to discard. He might as well ignore it; he couldn't let a chicken rib consume all his energy.

"What are you two whispering about so sneakily?"

Asuka suddenly appeared behind them. Silent eavesdropping was becoming her passive skill. "Is it also because of that weird Fourth Children? Unit-03 hasn't arrived yet; what do you think he's doing at headquarters?"

"Making friends with me."

"Ha! Thick-skinned, aren't we? Tell me, are you feeling a sense of crisis? That Kaworu is indeed very handsome. Chihaya is totally smitten."

Asuka said this mockingly, but seeing no trace of a "crisis" on Shinji's face, she immediately felt frustrated. This guy was impenetrable—no soft or hard approach worked. He was a real piece of work.

"Whatever. Misato's a pain too; a 'connected' recruit shows up and she doesn't even introduce him. It's not right to just keep ignoring him like this."

She acted like the "Big Sister" of the group, unaware that Misato Katsuragi had been watching Kaworu through binoculars all last night. Without Shinji's briefing, she never would have guessed this youth had anything to do with the Angels.

"Don't worry. That Kaworu will come to me."

'Why you? Why is one boy so focused on another?'

Asuka didn't quite get it, but she didn't care about Kaworu anyway. So what if he was handsome? You can't eat looks. She quickly put it out of her mind.

"Spring break starts tomorrow. About the arrangements we talked about last time..."

It was nearly February 2016. First Municipal Middle School was about to start a month-long spring break. However, Asuka's humble expression made her look like a schoolgirl asking an elder for red-envelope money.

'Time flies.'

Shinji raised an eyebrow. He had been in Tokyo-3 for nearly nine months. Because there were so few battles, the days slipped by unnoticed—until a pair of small hands waved in front of his eyes, bringing him back to reality.

"We have to be on duty. It's impossible to leave Tokyo-3. Give up on that idea early."

"I know, but now certain people can't leave either!"

Asuka looked at Kensuke and Toji with a look of schadenfreude that was truly infuriating.

These two had secretly become backup EVA pilots and likewise had to stay on standby. Of course, Asuka wasn't "salted fish" enough to go off playing by herself while dumping the responsibility on two rookies.

Looking at his two pleading friends, Shinji shook his head cold-bloodedly. "Yes. All five of us must stay. This is the price of earning honor."

"Ah... and I was talking about going diving in Okinawa."

"Yeah, I wanted to go to Hawaii and take some photos of the Pacific Fleet."

No matter how much they complained, Shinji wouldn't soften his heart. You joined the crew and now you want to bail? There's no such thing as a free lunch. But seeing the dazed Hikari Horaki and Maya Ibuki, he pondered for a moment.

"Relaxing around the outskirts of Tokyo-3 is still fine. Since we're all together, this spring break won't be boring."

As the core figure of the team, his "next-best" proposal was immediately met with unanimous approval.

"True. As long as we're together, we could play 'Old Maid' every day and it'd be fine."

"Why is it always 'Old Maid'? Asuka's game library has been updated."

"How about an expedition? There are lots of abandoned apartment buildings in the Old City district—all with urban legends."

"The beach is fine too. Asuka, didn't you buy a new swimsuit? Just make do with that. It'll let me finish the Class Rep's tasks too."

The group discussed as they walked toward the cake shop in front of the station. It had practically become their secret base. They were going to have a good talk about how to arrange the spring break.

Surrounded by the crowd, Shinji listened to the Class Rep complain about the soccer club. He looked up and saw a slender silhouette on a rooftop not far away. The look Kaworu gave him was full of confusion, as if asking:

'Bearing such a heavy destiny, why is your side still filled with happy smiles? Clearly cruel and cold-blooded, yet able to enjoy a peaceful daily life like a true fourteen-year-old... this sense of contrast is too strong. It makes the boy look like two different people.'

Indeed, Shinji sometimes found it strange himself.

Why was it always noisy around him, always full of laughter, yet he could still carry out his mission without ever faltering in battle?

He didn't need anyone's understanding or recognition. As long as he did things according to plan, a group of comrades would naturally coalesce around him. As for the reason?

It must be the Emperor's guidance.

Glancing at Asuka, Rei, and the others, Shinji suddenly had a realization. He hadn't consciously tried to do anything, yet he had quietly changed the fates of many people.

Interesting. How did I, an Emperor's Champion, end up as a life mentor?

'Hey, didn't you want to explore destiny and find the meaning of your existence?'

He suddenly had an idea. There was no need to rack his brains for a strategy, nor any need to spend energy on him. He would just continue living at his current pace.

While this Angel of Free Will watches... won't he eventually grasp the meaning of Loyalty?

Read ahead (100 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting