episode_0213

While the cargo transport for pocket money was underway, our Violets went around meeting various people.

A detention center in the Central District.

Beyond the visiting room sat a brown-haired woman.

“Hello, Auntie!”

No. 1567 waved her hand with a bright face.

Auntie Enis, across the glass window, gave a weak smile.

“Hello, Violet… President-nim.”

“Speak comfortably! I’m not the President-nim anymore.”

Uncle Yurik said he was going for a visit, so I followed out of curiosity, and Auntie’s condition was clearly bad at a glance. She wasn’t a beautiful girl, but for an auntie, her face was quite pleasant to look at. In the month or two since I last saw her, she had already become gaunt.

[Prison is truly a scary place!]

[I must never go there.]

She seemed to have suffered a lot because of the hearings, investigations, and trials. Since her face was completely exposed on broadcast, her family must also be suffering a lot.

Still, it wasn’t all bad news.

“I heard from Uncle. That you’ll probably get out faster than expected?”

“The trial is still ongoing, but…that was the implication.”

Thanks to her active cooperation, it seems her sentence was somewhat reduced. Even so, it’s only a reduction from 30 years to 15.

Uncle Yurik, looking at Auntie with sympathy, spoke.

“Ms. Enis. Don’t worry too much. Your health is the top priority. I’ve already contacted your parents. They were very worried.”

“Th-thank you, Mr. Yurik… *sob*…”

Uncle was very worried about Auntie. Was it because they shared the commonality of being fellow researchers? Or perhaps because her supervising professor committed suicide after doing bad things, it seemed he felt uncomfortable just watching Auntie’s plight.

“Oh, right! I put money in your commissary account. Don’t starve and reflect on your actions well inside! Okay?”

“Thank you…”

Having finished what I had to say, I stepped back slightly. While we sat blankly watching, the two of them conversed.

“No. 317, visiting hours are over. I have something to tell you separately, so follow me!”

As visiting hours were drawing to a close, a Federal Army officer entered from behind and called Enis.

“Take care!”

If destiny allows, we’ll be able to see each other again someday.

“By the way, what did the two of you talk about?”

“It was nothing special. Just about how she was doing, and how the trial would proceed from now on…”

Even as we left the detention center, our conversation continued.

“It’s worrying. She said officers keep looking for and calling out prisoners who are former researchers like herself. She couldn’t give details, but it makes me a bit uneasy. I wonder if they’re trying to pin all the blame on them…”

“What’s there to be uneasy about? It’ll work out somehow.”

It’s a shame. She’s the technician who made our staffs and magic-attack gun accessories, after all.

[If I had known this, I shouldn’t have killed them all then! I should have let them live!]

Although it was only after enslaving the survivors that I learned this, it seems the important personnel responsible for artifact and magic equipment research and development had gathered in the Vittorio Dungeon. Auntie’s coworkers, who were all shot dead then, were surprisingly valuable individuals.

[Oh well, can’t be helped. Let’s just outsource it!]

Shaking off her regret, Violet No. 1567 finished the interview with the former slave—and current prisoner—and left.

Meanwhile, No. 98 confidently headed to the Helios Headquarters using the Special Operations Department identity issued by Irene.

As she entered the special hangar, she saw a large humanoid machine inside, surrounded by technicians.

“Hello!”

“Good morning.”

Strego Nix responded, raising his right arm slightly.

Irene’s father looked quite cheerful.

Soon, as Uncle Orion gestured, the people inside the hangar exited.

“Violet, this should be private enough for us to talk, shouldn’t it?”

“Yes. Thank you!”

As I answered Uncle’s words, my gaze drifted to one side. A jet-black display, which hadn’t been there before, was attached to Strego Nix’s head.

“What’s that?”

“Ah, this, you see.”

A moment later, the monitor attached to Strego Nix’s head turned on. Simple two eyes and a smiling mouth appeared, composed of twinkling blue dots, reminiscent of an emoticon.

“Wow.”

“It seems it’s hard to convey emotions with just a speaker. So I asked the staff to attach it. I thought emotional expression would be important to have proper conversations with my daughter, you see. What do you think? They say this is the new generation’s sensibility these days, so it should be fine, right?”

I quietly nodded my head.

“Uh… I think it suits you well.”

The cute emotional expressions on the LED screen attached to the terrifying mechanical body were quite awkward, but I decided to remain silent. Otherwise, Uncle Orion might be disappointed.

“Haha, that’s great! It was indeed good that I checked with Irene’s friend first.”

Strego Nix’s body seemed to bounce with excitement.

“By the way, how’s your mechanical body?”

“Why wouldn’t it be okay? It’s very sturdy and full of power. My arm and leg movements are awkward and stiff, but I think I’ll get used to it soon. Compared to when I was cut in half and causing trouble, this is much better.”

With the whirring sound of the motor, both hands slowly moved, making gestures.

“At this rate, I’ll be able to return to active duty soon. Then I’ll reappear on the field and make a grand declaration. ‘Here, the warrior of the Magic Spear has returned!’”

Uncle, like an actor, now spread both arms wide and struck an exaggerated pose.

“How about it, isn’t it cool?”

“It’s cool!”

Irene’s father, known to the public and what we knew, was thought to be a serious and extraordinary person. But to think he had such a kind and cheerful side.

[He’s more cheerful than I thought.]

[Different from our expectations!]

We had a light, everyday conversation for a while, about first-year school life and what had happened since then.

“Hehehe!”

“Hahaha!”

While we laughed and conversed for a long time, the emoticon on the LED screen smiled excitedly.

“Irene seems incredibly smart! She doesn’t seem to not know anything and she teaches me all sorts of things well.”

“That’s right. Irene was a very mature and kind child ever since she was little.”

The LED screen, which had been frantically lighting up with a smiling expression, suddenly turned black.

“And… she grew up too quickly.”

For a moment, Orion’s speaker fell silent. He seemed to be thinking of the incident where all her relatives had passed away.

“In the end, it’s probably mostly this foolish father’s fault.”

Strego Nix’s camera lens met our gaze.

“Your name is Violet, right? Thank you. Thank you very much for helping my daughter and for saving Irene.”

The mechanical body let out a creaking sound as it stood up from its spot and bowed.

“Ah, that was nothing…”

“And for fixing me. I also express my gratitude as the CEO regarding our clan.”

At Orion’s suddenly weighty remarks, I could only scratch my head.

“Aw, I just helped because we’re friends.”

“You don’t need to say that. From now on, no matter what happens, I and the Helios Clan will help you as our top priority.”

What should I say at a time like this?

[Right, let’s ask for a reward!]

I smiled brightly and said.

“Then please grant me one wish!”

Orion’s large cyborg body bowed slightly, as if to hear my words.

“Go on, tell me. I’ll do my best to…”

I answered.

“Please let me get the cafeteria food for free here! It was delicious, you know?”

The clan’s cafeteria here is buffet-style and very delicious.

[It was a wise choice! Free food!]

A moment later, a crackling mechanical sound, as if in embarrassment, was heard.

“Th-then, go ahead.”

After saying it, I realized my mistake.

[Wait, weren’t we already affiliated here?]

[That’s right. We’re in the Special Operations Department! Meals are free anyway!]

Feeling embarrassed, I finished the rest of the conversation and left.

While exiting the headquarters, I encountered an unexpected person: a neat-looking man in a black suit. He was the inspector.

“Ugh, Inspector! Why are you here?”

“I’m an invited guest. I came to meet Ms. Irene’s father.”

Saying that, the inspector swiftly entered.

[What is it?]

[Seems like they’re cooking up another secret plan.]

**

While handling deliveries, part-time jobs, and miscellaneous tasks, a group of Violets headed to the Southern District. This was because the academy had contacted them.

[I didn’t know we’d have an interview already.]

Violet passed through the main gate of Aegis Academy. Passing through the main building and several other buildings, while heading towards the faculty building, she encountered a familiar face after a long time. She cried out with joy.

“Adela Unnie!”

“Violet!”

As Violet bustled forward and spread her arms wide, the beautiful woman with wavy blonde hair responded with a hug.

“Congratulations! So you’re a proper junior now?”

“Hehe, that’s right!”

Violet’s eyes, as clear as red rubies, met Adela’s violet eyes. At that moment, Violet realized a new fact.

“Wait, then I should call you Senior-nim instead of Unnie now, shouldn’t I?”

“That’s right. Then, shall we try calling me Senior-nim?”

“Adela Senior-nim!”

Seeing Violet clearly enunciate, Adela cheered inwardly.

[Such a cute and capable child is our junior!]

From what I heard, both her written and practical exams were close to perfect scores, so this child would clearly become the treasure of Aegis Academy in the future.

[And she’ll be a great help to our family. She’s an Awakened with a rare and powerful unique ability, after all. Of course.]

She tried to compose herself, reassuring herself that the overwhelming anticipation she felt was purely for public reasons. As her thoughts continued, Adela suddenly realized that she was stroking Violet’s head.

“Oh, oh dear. How rude of me…”

“I’m fine, you know? You can stroke it, I don’t mind. I even like it!”

Round eyes, full of benevolence, looked at her with a smile.

“Th-then, shall I continue?”

“Yes, Senior-nim!”

Adela smiled awkwardly and raised her hand again. The two girls, like familiar sisters, headed together into the faculty building.

“You said you came for an interview, right?”

“Yes!”

The two of them eventually stopped in front of the principal’s office. Adela cleared her throat, and with a kind but slightly strict tone, began to explain.

“The Principal-nim is a kind person. But make sure to be as polite as possible. You received all the prior instructions, right?”

“Yes, I heard everything.”

“You don’t need to worry too much. Your acceptance has already been decided, after all. It’s purely because the Principal-nim was curious about what kind of student Violet is and decided to meet her in person. Understand?”

Violet knocked on the principal’s office door before entering. An elderly man with a benevolent appearance, sitting in the principal’s seat, waiting, spoke.

“Violet Dunhind Ruzilin.”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“First, I want to welcome you to Aegis Academy.”

No. 1 pondered.

[That person over there looks kinder than that Polaris Principal bastard!]

Comparing the appearance of the current academy principal to Principal Wilbur, whom they had beheaded previously, the Violets came to a conclusion.

[Seems like a good person.]

[First impression: pass!]