Gundam: From Piece to Player

"Freak".

"For someone like you to join the army is a disgrace to our army."

The senior military academy students surrounded the small-looking man in the middle and verbally abused him. At first, they only talked, but then one of them kicked the academy student to the ground.

Bullying.

The lore says the Zeon army has good discipline, doesn't it?

Such a thing is unbelievable.

Karma initially didn't want to get involved, but after hearing the muffled groans of the bullied person after being hit, she couldn't help herself.

"stop."

“That guy dares to interfere with us… Ah, Lord Kalmar.”

Upon seeing Karma, the senior military cadets' arrogance vanished without a trace, and they became as obsequious as dogs wagging their tails.

"Could you please leave?"

Karma spoke softly, but her voice was incredibly intimidating.

"Yes, yes, we'll leave right away."

The older students slunk away. The one who was bullied was a slender person. Judging from her rank, she was a freshman who had just enrolled. Her hair was neatly styled, even somewhat exquisite.

Karma had previously been told by Dozru that his long hair made him look too feminine, so he cut his hair short to enhance his masculinity.

The length of the hair on the person in front of us is clearly not up to standard.

He was wearing a men's uniform and shorts, but his blue eyes under his long eyelashes and the collarbone under his neck made Karma feel a little uneasy.

Karma shook her head, trying to clear her head.

This is a boy.

"Lord Kalmar?"

"Can you stand up?" Karma reached out and pulled the other person up from the ground, feeling a soft and delicate touch in her palm.

"Thank you," the boy said, glancing around furtively.

"He's afraid I'll ask him why he's being bullied," Karma guessed.

"It's not convenient to talk here, shall we go outside and find a more suitable place?"

"Ah."

The training ground, located on a hill, offers a wide view, and gazing at the distant scenery can help one temporarily forget their troubles.

After asking around, Kalma learned the other person's name—Sally Stride, from Colony 24, a colony with a large Asian population in Side 3, whose views were considered conservative even among the Geon people.

Why do those older students bully you?

"Well... it's probably because they found out what I bought. I should have hidden it better."

Sally slightly pulled open her collar to reveal a corner of her shoulder, where the bra strap securing her breasts was, allowing Karma to understand the source of the strange sensation she had felt earlier.

He said that there was absolutely nothing wrong with his sexual orientation.

Even if he's a boy, he's a problematic boy.

"Excuse me, may I ask Sally what your gender is?"

"do not know."

The being, whether boy or girl, shook her head.

"When I was a child, my parents took me to see a doctor, who said that I had a chromosomal abnormality."

Chapter 4 Seduction

Although I had heard of this situation in my previous life, I can only say that seeing is believing.

"Why not have the surgery done elsewhere?"

Unlike those 'new humans' who actively change their gender through medication, surgery, or other means.

This type of congenital disease had medical solutions as early as the old century. As long as the patient could confirm their gender identity, it could be resolved through surgery, and no medication was needed after the condition stabilized.

“I haven’t figured out my own gender,” Sally said, making a shocking statement.

“My family wants me to be a boy, but I want to be a girl.” Seeing Kalma’s disbelief, Sally stammered out the next sentence.

Just like how Karma, after traveling through time, tries to sever ties with the Zabi family in the future, it will all be in vain, objectively speaking.

"There's also the issue of cost. SIDE3 doesn't have the necessary medical facilities, and going to another SIDE for this kind of surgery would be too expensive for me."

Karma thought to herself that although Zeon was not a colony with advanced medical technology, it was not so backward that it could not even do this kind of technology.

It can't be done for other reasons.

"Sally, do you think you're brave enough? If you join the army now, you'll definitely face discrimination."

With Kiran's extreme nationalist propaganda aimed at strengthening national cohesion, emphasizing genetics and national superiority, and showing zero tolerance for homosexuality and deformities, Sally would probably have been killed in her infancy if she had been born any later.

“You’re right,” Sally said with a wry smile. “I’ve always been confused about my own existence, and even thought about suicide. When I was a child, I sent an email to Mr. Deacon, asking him what the New Humans were. I didn’t expect to get a reply. But he actually did.”

“Mr. Deakin told me, ‘You can just stay like this.’”

"The true new human has nothing to do with gender. As long as you use your own will and determination to create a new world with your own hands, you can also become a new human. This is the first time in my life that someone has said this to me, which has strengthened my will to live."

Sally continued.

Did Deakin reply?

Kalmar was skeptical, but it was indeed something the founding father of Zeon would say.

"So you think that joining the military can change the system through advancement and realize the ideals of the Founding Father?"

“You’re joking, sir.” Sally smiled gently. “My parents think I’m an eyesore. If I join the army as the male in the family, my family will receive better treatment. Or maybe the army is really short of people right now, which is why I was able to pass the check.”

This brings us to another situation.

Upon hearing this, Kalmar sighed inwardly. Although Zeon's population was twice that of the Third Reich before World War II, the federal government was even larger than that of the Central Powers.

Facing such monsters, it's almost like starting a total war, so the strategy is to accept all comers and fight a decisive battle as early as possible.

Regarding the establishment of the state of Zeon.

In fact, it is inseparable from the definition of the new human.

Karma initially thought they were superpowered individuals, until he read Zeon's independent textbooks for primary and secondary schools and looked through the country's historical documents.

Only then did I understand the true meaning of the new human race and the original intention behind Deikun's proposal of this concept.

The "new humans" do not refer to superhumans who possess superpowers, such as blocking satellite cannons, reversing time, or freely traveling through timelines.

Instead, it unites space colonists, regardless of gender or birth. Anyone who works hard and bravely explores and develops the universe can become a new kind of human being.

Understanding this makes it clear how blasphemous the Principality of Zeon is in its current form.

This ideal country, which should be free, inclusive, and actively exploring, has now been infected with a terrible virus.

Monarchy, extreme nationalism, a country with only twenty years of history has a privileged class, and when war breaks out, it adds inhumane attributes.

"If anyone causes you trouble later, just say I'm your friend."

Kalma said.

“But may I say this… It’s offensive, but I actually want to be friends with you.” Sally shyly extended her hand.

Although it's a kind of privilege, it's good if it works.

Karma extended her hand. "Just call me Karma. Are you a freshman this year?"

"Yes, you are my senior."

Sally smiled sweetly.

And so, Karma finally made some "new friends" at the military academy, besides Char.

In the following days, during her free time in the summer afternoons after studying, Karma would also ask him to go out and play outside of school.

Although she is also planning to do something big, Kalmar does not deny that she is looking forward to what might happen.

They found a newly opened restaurant and went for afternoon tea after watching a sci-fi movie.

"So, you want to start a military design company specializing in modification?"

"...Yes, guess why I did that."

"They probably have some dissatisfaction with our country's military products."

"That's one reason. Can you guess any others?"

“Making money is essential. If you want to advance further, you need money for any activity.” Sally looked around to make sure Karma’s bodyguards weren’t there.

"Zion has become a principality, and the question of who will succeed to the country will soon be on the agenda. As the youngest member of the Zabi family, you will probably find it difficult to compete with your older siblings in the army and parliament."

Karma smiled upon hearing this, "Half right and half wrong. It's true that I want to establish an organization, but I don't want to establish an organization that belongs to me. I want this organization to keep moving towards its goal, not to collapse just because I or an important person in it die."

“Legacy.” Sally took a sip of grape juice with a straw and quickly understood Karma’s meaning. “The founding father left a lot of legacy to Side 3, but with his passing, he became a national idol, became the ‘name’ of Side 3, while the most important ‘Zeon spirit’ was forgotten and distorted.”

She actually understands this.

It's not that I'm narrow-minded; based on Karma's experience over two lifetimes, women are adept at fighting for their own rights in politics, but have absolutely no interest in politics involving the national level.

Besides women, he also tried to talk to Char about how his father shaped Zeon's current national consciousness, but Char responded with perfunctory and impatient attitude.

Char is currently enjoying the process of taking revenge on the Zabi family; reclaiming Zeon is merely a bonus after the victory.

This person doesn't like taking responsibility, or at least he doesn't like the collateral responsibility that comes with being Deakin's son.

Are you interested in helping me?

"Although my senior helped me a lot, is it really fair to ask me to work for free in return?"

Sally clasped her hands together in a prayer-like gesture, and her winking and smiling appearance seemed to activate a bewitching spell.

"Well, I can pay you a salary." Karma managed to compose herself.

"No salary is needed. I just need you to come out with me once a week. I don't have many friends, but I enjoy getting along with you. Of course, you can pay for everything."