Chapter 43

Chapter 43 is the forty-third chapter of the Astra Lost in Space manga. It is the sixth chapter of the Galem arc and, in the compiled volumes, the sixth chapter of the fifth volume.

Synopsis
Charce begins to recall his memories of his early days as a young clone in the Imperial Palace. His entire life was meant to serve as the king's vessel and to forfeit his life when the time came to the king. Officially, he was considered to be the child of a retainer and was given top treatment in physical training and education. While studying as a child, he grew interested in learning about plants and animals and all biological things. He began to befriend the princess and generally had a content life.

When he turned 17, the Genome Control Act was passed, and King Vix ordered him to go on a suicide mission using a portable wormhole technology to destroy all evidence of the clones. He was permitted to transfer to Caird High School and make new friends before he died. Charce notes that his entire purpose in his life was to accept the king's orders.

Aries asks about his earlier story of being a noble's son and running away from home, and he states that it was mostly lies to gain sympathy with the others. Zack wonders he couldn't have just made a public announcement to get the originals arrested, but Charce firmly replies that the king's orders were absolute and that he was willing to die for the king.

Kanata says it's plain wrong for the way he acted, but Charce continues to retort, saying that no one could judge him on what was right or wrong. He mentions that in the past, people used to believe in dogmas such as religion and politics in order to protect the places they lived and worshiped, even if they had to sacrifice their own lives to uphold their beliefs, and that they were raised that way to carry out their orders. He states that so many people did this and never knew their life's meaning, but he knew all along what his purpose was.

Kanata challenges him, asking if he thought this was all an act and if Charce still truly cared about his friends. Although Charce tries to deny it, Kanata mentions that Charce helped to make it this far on their journey home, and grabs a hold of him, saying that he won't let Charce say that they weren't friends. Charce continues to deny it.

Kanata asks there were two separate times, once on Planet Vilavurs and another on Planet Galem to assassinate the group, but Charce never chose to carry it out. But Charce mentions that the only reason he never killed off the entire group was that he wanted to take Aries home. While his original intention was to kill everyone, he soon learned more about Aries and her photographic memory, along with her heterochromia, and ultimately her similar appearance to Princess Seira, the daughter of King Vix.