When I met the Primarch, my first thought was that he was such an enormous human being that even those gigantic Space Marines looked small beside him.
The sheer majesty and charisma of his existence bore down on me.
That charisma alone made me want to devote my very body to serving him.
As I dropped to one knee, he stopped me.
Then he asked me a question.
"Just who are you?"
What was that supposed to mean?
The thought crossed my mind, but I answered reflexively.
"I am Radian, a Guardsman of the 141st Yenitenis Regiment."
"I know that, Guardsman Radian. There is something special about you."
"What do you mean...?"
No matter how I thought about it, aside from having done something extraordinary this time, I was just an ordinary Guardsman.
Other than having been reincarnated into this world, I had simply lived on a hive world before enlisting.
Was using a bolter rather than a lasgun unusual for a Guardsman?
"There are priorities, so let us set that aside for now. Guardsman, you have accomplished something truly great. Your achievement is so great that it is difficult to decide what reward would be fitting."
The Primarch placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a light pat.
"Given the state of the galaxy, granting you this planet would feel less like a reward and more like a punishment. I will gift you an estate on Terra and promise you a position befitting it."
My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
An estate on Terra.
For a Primarch to speak of an estate and a position could only mean he intended to grant me a post at least equal to that of an ordinary planetary governor.
In other words, I could become a noble.
The income would be enormous as well, and Mother and I would be able to live truly happy lives.
Overcome with joy, I fell to both knees and cried out.
"Your grace is beyond measure!"
"You know words like that. There truly is something special about you."
Ah...
Most Guardsmen from hive worlds could barely read or write properly, much less attend school.
Even I had only barely learned after becoming a Guardsman, when Commissar Adriana taught me.
Yet those were the sort of words only a person with some education could use.
Thinking I had made a mistake, I was drenched in sweat in an instant.
"Let us overlook that for now. I shall have you properly educated and provide you with sufficient support. Is there anything else you desire?"
...There was something I had considered aboard the Thunderhawk.
I spoke to the Primarch.
"Demigod, could you allow my mother to live on Terra?"
Since it was a reward bestowed by the Primarch, it would certainly be carried out.
But it would take a long time, and until then Mother would continue suffering in that miserable hive.
"It can be done, Guardsman. You are devoted to your mother."
When I mentioned my mother, the Primarch answered with a smile.
Unlike the other Primarchs, he had had a kind foster father and foster mother.
Having had parents like blood kin, the Primarch must have sympathized with my words.
"Aide, find Guardsman Radian's mother. Send her to Terra, so she may be cared for first."
"Yes, my lord!"
Hearing those words, I could no longer hold back my tears.
Mother.
Until I became a Guardsman, she had cared for me, pushing even a single piece of bread toward me while saying she was not hungry.
She had worn the same single outfit for decades, yet always found clothes for me.
"Thank you. Thank you so much..."
Nothing but tears and words of thanks would come out.
At last, I would be able to repay my mother.
The Primarch comforted me.
"That should settle the matter of your reward. Tigurius and Guardsman Radian, you alone will follow me."
The Primarch looked at me with a grave expression.
"There is something we must discover."
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