Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 41: Witnessing the World's Distortion

"So, what exactly are you trying to achieve by saying all this?"

Ramba Ral gritted his teeth as he looked at Eli. The fleeting sense of guilt he initially felt upon seeing the young man's face had now completely vanished.

"I'm just trying something," Eli replied.

"Trying something?" Ramba Ral was puzzled.

"If you are truly a follower of Deikun's ideals, your help might end this war sooner."

Though Eli's words were simple, both Sayla and Ramba Ral quickly understood the deeper implications.

"You want me to betray Zeon?!"

"I just want you to uphold Deikun's philosophy."

Faced with Ramba Ral's growing agitation, Eli appeared increasingly disinterested.

How did the protagonists in fan fiction manage to persuade Ramba Ral to join their side so effortlessly?

Looking at the man before him—shaken but still holding onto his principles—Eli felt no inclination to continue the conversation.

However, Ramba Ral wasn't ready to let it drop.

"Is this the Federation's idea?" he cautiously asked.

If the Federation was indeed keeping an eye on the situation here, Sayla's actions earlier could have placed her in serious danger.

"No, these are just my personal thoughts. Let's go. Chat time is over."

Eli raised his gun, signaling for Ramba Ral to turn and walk out the door.

"Mr. Eli, why are you interested in Deikun's philosophy?"

As Eli stepped halfway out the door, Sayla's voice stopped him.

Turning around, Eli gave Sayla a once-over. She exuded youthful vibrancy, yet her eyes betrayed a hidden sorrow that was hard to detect.

"He reminds me of someone. Someone who, under oppression, led his people to rise up—a truly great leader."

This was the first time Eli had openly mentioned his knowledge of the 21st century to someone in this world. Perhaps he saw similar qualities in both figures, which prompted his abrupt remark.

After a moment of hesitation, Eli decided to say more.

"Besides, I'm a space resident myself. I don't want to see space residents suffer even more under the stupidity of the Zabi family."

The values Eli had gained growing up under a nation led by such a leader compelled him to take action.

At least before the One Year War ended, he resolved to try to make a difference.

After finishing his conversation with Sayla, Eli escorted Ramba Ral to the makeshift prison Amuro had prepared.

The two walked in silence the entire way.

It wasn't until they reached the prison entrance, where Amuro and Fraw waited, that Ramba Ral broke his silence.

Eli had only asked Amuro to come, yet it seemed Fraw's instinct to care for Amuro had led her to follow him.

"You weren't slacking off, were you, Amuro?"

Eli teased as he observed the boy and girl loitering outside the door.

"Of course not! I did my job properly!"

Amuro's face flushed red, and he clenched his fists in a defensive manner, determined to prove himself.

"Hahaha, good~"

Eli chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair before preparing to take Ramba Ral inside.

On the other hand, Fraw, seeing Amuro bask in the attention, looked down to hide an inexplicable dissatisfaction stirring within her.

"He's not even your father…" she muttered.

But Eli soon ran into a problem—despite having a gun pressed against his back, Ramba Ral refused to move further.

Instead, Ramba Ral stared at Eli with a look of disappointment, as if seeing him in a new light.

"The Federation is actually using child soldiers?"

Even when Eli had previously denounced Zeon and criticized Deikun's ideals, Ramba Ral had not shown such fury.

Yet now, as he spoke, he noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the three before him.

"Isn't Zeon doing the same? Sending barely trained recruits to the front lines?"

"But still—"

"Moreover, isn't it Zeon's actions that caused this situation? Half the world's population disappeared overnight. The adults are gone, leaving children to inherit their hatred and take to the battlefield. If you're so enraged by this, why did you earlier insist on clinging to Zeon's ideals when I suggested a way to end the war sooner?"

Eli stared at the "kind-hearted uncle" before him, unwavering as he voiced his thoughts.

"Admit it—you, who wish to maintain the status quo, have closed your eyes to the world's corruption. So step aside and stop blocking my path. I'm going to Jaburo to try to end this pointless war."

With a clearer understanding of his purpose, Eli's actions naturally followed suit.

He had once told Shiro Tendou, "I'm just a soldier."

But now, aboard the White Base, he realized this might be the perfect opportunity for a soldier like him to change the course of the future.

People often said that the Universal Century's rare brilliance shone brightest during the One Year War, only to fade quickly.

Eli knew he couldn't alter the Federation's grand strategy, but he could try to influence the fates of a few individuals.

Even soldiers must think like soldiers.

Ramba Ral felt no pain in his body anymore.

Instead, he was overwhelmed by the ache in his heart.

The boy before him, younger even than Princess Artesia, was struggling to survive on this ship as his pursuer.

Ramba Ral would never shoot a child.

That was his principle as a "soldier."

Lowering his head, Ramba Ral made no further movements. He sat quietly on the small bed in the prison cell.

"I will not use child soldiers."

That was his bottom line.

"Is that so? Then perhaps you're one of the good people in Zeon. What a pity—good people don't last long in Zeon."

Unwavering, Eli locked the cell door and stared at Ramba Ral.

This man, willing to sacrifice so much to preserve what he had, was a product of Zeon's harsh political environment—a compromise born of adult helplessness.

But it didn't change the fact that he was still a soldier of Zeon—a perpetrator.

Eli turned to leave.

"Wait! If you truly want to end the war, why don't you start by releasing those kids? They're just service crew, insignificant to you!"

As if suddenly enlightened, Ramba Ral grabbed the bars and shouted at Eli.

Before Eli could respond, Amuro stepped forward, his anger unmasked.

"Don't look down on me! I'm the pilot of the Gundam!"

Ramba Ral's eyes widened in shock.

His legs buckled, and he collapsed backward, sitting on the bed in disbelief.

Even as Eli and the others walked away, he remained motionless.