episode_0413

Near the Rustroom Southern Highway, people bustled around the collapsed, ruined warehouse building. Beneath the hazy, leaden clouds, everyone’s faces were dark and rigid.

It was due to the commotion that had occurred in the middle of the night.

Armored Knights stood grumbling in various places, their expressions betraying obvious discomfort.

The knights’ sense of injustice was entirely understandable.

“Damn it! Of all times, the Commander-nim himself came first thing in the morning!”

A voice laced with annoyance leaked from inside the armored helmet. A fellow knight standing nearby nodded in deep agreement.

“You too? Our squad got chewed out fiercely…”

The gunfight that erupted in the dead of night instantly shattered the city’s quiet. The problem was that during the commotion of the unavoidable pursuit, the terrorist in question intervened in the murderer’s chase and openly threatened the strike team and arrest squad.

That news pushed Cordo, who was already in a foul mood, to the brink of explosion.

The knights certainly had reason to feel wronged. Fundamentally, a strike team wearing heavy armor was inherently slow and sluggish when responding to such urgent situations.

However, for the Knights of Restraid, the cause wasn’t important. Their unwritten rule was to do as ordered from above.

“Search thoroughly! We need to find something! Your bodies aren’t moving! Aren’t you going to move faster!”

One of the Armored Knights raised his voice and shouted. The knights were venting the bitterness of being severely reprimanded since morning by threatening auxiliary forces and non-combatants.

In truth, all these actions were half-hearted formalities, and the knights knew that well.

“That terrorist bastard, didn’t he already capture and kill that murderer? Maybe he’ll reveal it via an anonymous network stream soon.”

A knight slightly lifted his helmet and whispered to his comrade. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.

“Then we’ll be screwed again! Just today, the Commander-nim himself said we’ve become lazy and rotten, didn’t he? If that happens, they’ll work us like crazy with special training and all… *Sigh*…”

It would be great if they could find something to use as an excuse, but that was all the Armored Knights could do.

Sadly, one more factor arose that would further annoy the already exasperated knights.

Personnel completely different from Restraid’s official investigation team, people they had never seen before, were searching the site as if it were their own home.

-Clank!

The knight turned.

“Hey! Who the hell are you guys! Reporters? Can’t you see it’s off-limits?”

The knights’ heavy armor creaked menacingly. Faded metal surfaces bore clear marks of multiple battles. One knight brazenly grabbed a person by the collar.

Seeing the seemingly bookish man taking pictures and searching through debris and battle traces nearby clearly got on his nerves.

The knight’s gauntlet firmly gripped the other man’s nape.

“Where did you come from?”

The man swayed, losing his balance under the intimidating mechanical voice and the glare of the cold metal helmet.

His glasses slid slightly down his nose, and he gave an embarrassed laugh, pushing them up with his hand.

“Ahaha… We’re from the Congressional Federal Intelligence Agency! We’re from the Forensic Science Department of the Federal Intelligence Agency, here for investigation. I was sure headquarters informed you…”

His voice grew progressively fainter towards the end. A red light blinked menacingly from the Armored Knight’s helmet.

“The Federation? Are you kidding me?-”

The knight’s gauntleted fingers tightened further around the man’s neck.

“Aargh! It’s true!”

The man’s face turned red from the choking pain. Fortunately, the rough treatment ended quickly.

A knight touched the ear part of his helmet, receiving a communication, and his posture subtly shifted.

「They are indeed people sent by the Congress! Just monitor them appropriately to prevent them from doing anything unnecessary. Blocking them too much will only cause problems!」

The knight grumbled at the superior’s order but decided not to say anything further. Instead, he expressed his displeasure by roughly flinging the man to the ground with a thud.

Other colleagues quickly rushed over and helped up the man who had tumbled.

“If you mess around, I’ll smash your skull in. Understand?”

The Armored Knight’s voice rumbled like a growl. The man hunched his body awkwardly.

As if gauging the mood of the knight who had yelled at them, the Federal Intelligence Agency personnel cautiously surveyed their surroundings.

While his colleagues took a few photos, the man who had been thrown to the ground earlier foolishly examined the traces around him.

The man’s eyes changed in an instant.

“Ohh…”

His gaze stopped at the traces left on the nearby ground. A small hole indented in the flower bed’s base was striking.

He picked up a rolling stick and carefully rummaged through the ground when the monitoring knight’s gaze was directed elsewhere.

A thick, heavy, cone-shaped metal object glinted faintly in his palm under the dim sunlight.

It was a bullet. Except that it was slightly longer and somewhat unusual compared to conventional ones.

The man couldn’t help but notice the bullet’s rear. A uniquely shaped tail with several thin holes and a heavy warhead.

Upon closer inspection, he also saw traces of small but violent explosions that had impacted the walls and floor, along with numerous tiny metal fragments.

“A rocket-propelled bullet.”

The man, carefully touching the unexploded bullet that had miraculously survived, fell into deep thought.

While various personal firearms existed throughout Trist and the Academy City, cases using bullets requiring such precise processing and design were extremely rare.

This was a technology attempted multiple times in weapons history, only to be repeatedly thwarted. It required extremely precise processing techniques and advanced know-how.

Suddenly, a scene flashed through the man’s mind like lightning.

It was the memory of grotesque, lobster-like creatures firing strange weapons from their claws in a blizzard-ridden world.

The man couldn’t help but recall the unexpected traces he had found recently at Luminex’s fallen base.

Weapons that rained down miniature rockets. Was it truly just a coincidence?

‘Could it be that these beings have already understood Nornir’s technology?’

The man’s train of thought, meticulously tracing connections, was broken by a voice from nearby.

The Federal Intelligence Agency agents were looking for him.

“Director-nim? I think you should come over here.”

After quickly hiding the bullet in a secret pocket within his clothes, the man followed to where he was directed.

Perhaps it was a detail missed by Restraid’s investigation, but black bloodstains, as if splattered, were clearly visible among the concrete rubble on the outskirts where the warehouse debris lay scattered.

The man pretended to collect a sample and lightly touched it with his finger.

“…!”

He flinched as if an electric current had passed through him.

Though faint, what he felt was a familiar and well-known wavelength.

“Something unexpected here… to catch two rabbits at once [a proverb about achieving two goals with one action]… Ah, it’s nothing.”

He smiled gently and made an excuse to the puzzled agent who was watching him, then slowly stood up.

It was an unexpected achievement.

Although they had come because suspicious signs were detected, to find such clear evidence was remarkable.

“The scent of a detestable traitor.”

The man’s eyes glinted coldly.

A clue to the traitor who disappeared a century ago had been found.

**

Our Violets’ barracks are currently dispersed in various locations.

Originally, they were hidden in a redevelopment zone on the outskirts of the central district, but due to some scheme, those who tracked our location launched a cruise missile attack, destroying the homes we had grown fond of.

「It’s okay! We got more houses!」

Yes, our Violets can live anywhere there’s water, electricity, and internet. Therefore, any inconspicuous, shabby place can be used as a home.

Of course, security needs to be thorough.

「Well, it’s just a base, anyway!」

Learning from the fight against Luminex, major facilities were moved to the Violet Command Center in the Carnac Archipelago.

If necessary, new ones can be created and deployed. Furthermore, with the option of the deadlock spaces left by Luminex, there was no major problem with large-scale troop operations and deployment.

Most importantly, the apartments that can house all our Violets only exist in our Violet City.

「Violet Apartment Complex 2 is complete!」

Resource expansion and supply were proceeding smoothly. Kale’s management system had grown to the level of a small city.

Our Violets’ direct involvement became less crucial. They only needed to focus purely on combat.

「And later, we’re going to build self-sufficient food production facilities! How about that, Leader?」

Kale shows me the future design plans via the network. Countless pieces of information unfold like augmented reality before my eyes as I survey the archipelago’s undeveloped areas.

Illusions of roads and buildings clearly emerged over the cleared bushland and empty lots I was standing on.

The appearance of this blueprint, superimposed on reality, was truly a Violet paradise descended upon Earth.

「Ohh! It’s a real city! Did you design this too?」

Beyond the network, Kale, in the Cascadian Island hangar, shakes his head.

「That’s not it, Leader. I just imitated some of this world’s architectural styles and designs. My purpose is solely focused on military facilities and combat roles.」

I see. Hearing that, the buildings’ composition did have a somewhat stark and simple aspect.

It seemed Kale lacked artistic sensibility. Was it because he was a military machine?

The disappointment was temporary, and the network became active again.

「Alright! Then our Violets will fill in that lacking aspect!」

「Let’s show them avatar art!」

Just as the Violets were beginning to brainstorm ideas, the Scholar-nim next to me plopped down and spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

“Violet, can you really trust that woman?”

My thoughts stopped at the sudden question. ‘That woman’ must refer to Exoria. The Scholar-nim’s eyes were filled with anxiety.

Though less frequent lately, his eyes occasionally seemed to blur like an antique doll’s eyeballs whenever he looked into the distant beyond.

「Better than fish eyes, I guess!」

I understand. Seeing us, who had reverted to small Violets after the duel, must have left an unpleasant impression.

「The load on the network was severe!」

I shrugged. Although I had become a small Violet, I would recover quickly, so it wasn’t a major problem.

More importantly, after fighting with the Exile, my mind felt clearer.

Once I recover, I should meet her again to discuss catching that murderer, while I’m at the amusement park with Ariel. A slight smile played on my lips at the thought.

「Well, she’s an easy one to catch, so it won’t be difficult!」

Scholar-nim’s face was still filled with concern.

“Arsite cannot be trusted. All the clans had their own grand objectives, but Arsite’s has never been revealed. Moreover, the murderer causing this havoc right now came from them, didn’t they? That might also be part of their plan, Violet.”

It was a perfectly valid point.

All four major clans have bad temperaments. Restraid is the most arrogant clan, Magnaris is somewhat gloomy. Luminex is narrow-minded.

But among them, Arsite was undoubtedly the most suspicious and secretive.

However, I had a way to resolve Scholar-nim’s doubts. I smiled confidently and leaned towards Seijis.

“Don’t worry, Scholar-nim! I’ll show you something fun. Watch closely?”

“…?”

Scholar-nim’s eyebrows raised in question. I spread my hand and gathered a little mana, scattering it into the air.

Red mana shimmered like tiny stars at my fingertips.

It was an ability I had gained through simple prank spells I’d learned for fun in the past, and insights I’d acquired while fighting within the domain this time.

A small, red-haired girl appeared above my palm. The form was blurry, but it was clearly her.

“Oh, when did she get so small? Anyway, she and I are faintly connected right now. So I’ve placed a few simple restrictions!”

Scholar-nim peered at my palm with suspicious eyes.

“Restrictions?”

“Yeah! For example, if I do this… Oh, she’s speaking now.”

I moved my finger slightly.

The girl on my palm was looking intently ahead of her and muttering something with a serious expression.

I could see the girl’s lips moving.

Then, she touched her mouth and neck, and in the middle of talking, she suddenly let out a shrill cry.

“Aargh!”

I giggled. The girl’s form on my palm swayed with my laughter.

“See? It’s a prohibition!”

Scholar-nim merely wore a bewildered expression until my further explanation followed.

**

At that moment, in Arsite’s underground garden.

“I told you. I didn’t intend to speak in the first place. And even if I tried, I couldn’t.”

The tiny red-haired girl sighed deeply. Her flame-like hair shimmered as if alive under the blue light of the underground garden.

Little Exoria had no choice but to refuse several requests from the manager. Each time a short syllable slipped out, a shadow deepened on Elena’s expressionless face. Her neat suit felt even colder in contrast to the surrounding plants.

“Madam Exoria, can you not circumvent or evade it?”

Elena’s voice was as cool as ever, but a fleeting furrow between her brows revealed her impatience.

“No. Ariel has thoroughly placed a prohibition on me. I can feel it.”

Little Exoria rubbed the back of her head as if in distress. Her slender fingers carefully traced the relic restraint embedded in her head. The slight tingling sensation beneath the device, a mixture of metal and crystal, was less intense than when she thought about or discussed the Monarch of Monad.

Currently, another prohibition was placed within her mind.

While it was possible to weaken the effects of the peculiar suppression Violet had placed, extracting it without being detected was impossible.

“So, the identity of the Ariel Group is…”

Exoria’s small body stiffened rigidly.

“Aargh!…that’s it. So if I ‘Aargh?’, it’ll be ‘Aargh!’”

After uttering such a ridiculous sound, Exoria extended her hand and received a pen, paper, and a tablet.

Her hand could be seen trembling slightly.

The writing she defiantly scribbled or typed was no different.

[Ariel is Aargh!.]

[The terrorist’s identity is Aargh!.]

Elena sighed, peering at the screen. Her pale fingers lightly tapped the tablet screen.

“This level of prohibition, it’s from an unnameable throne.”

“It’s okay!”

Exoria waved her arms from her seat.

“As much as they suppress me, I can also read their intentions. The Ariel Group didn’t lie. They can certainly be our potential allies!”

Seeing Exoria speak with a rarely seen cheerful and childlike demeanor, Elena felt a throbbing in her head.

She lightly pressed her temples. According to Exoria’s own explanation, her current state was only a temporary problem and solvable, but it was impossible not to feel anxious with one of Arsite’s current top powers in the form of a child in front of her.

“First, the problem with the Talyu agent… let’s try to reach an agreement with them!”

Though her appearance was somewhat childlike, Elena listened calmly without showing her feelings.

After all, the Eidos exile in front of her had been a top advisor since Arsite’s founding. Her wisdom and judgment could not be disregarded.

And when she had heard the entire story, Elena cautiously agreed.

“I see. That possibility is positive.”

The rigid line of her shoulders relaxed slightly.

In a way, it was changing one’s attitude towards a former enemy as easily as flipping one’s palm [a proverb about changing one’s stance easily], but it was necessary.

The general manager felt no need to insist.

“Very well, then, Chief Advisor-nim. Please try to negotiate. It’s only right that we resolve what we’ve caused.”

“Yes!”

At the sight of little Exoria’s bright smile, Elena briefly closed her eyes tightly.

‘Oh, God…’

Otherwise, she felt her composure would crumble.

**

In the Carnac Archipelago, several housing complexes were neatly erected.

The sound of automated construction equipment diligently erecting frameworks and building walls and floors constantly echoed. The sight of blue lasers precisely cutting materials and ponderous mechanical arms neatly stacking concrete blocks was like building a giant beehive.

Most were hibernation body storage warehouses, apartments, and various welfare centers built for the Violets, but some special areas were set aside for the Violets’ loyal subordinates.

In a large empty lot named , where construction had not yet begun, a small commotion was stirring.

A group of mice were diligently running through the park, their tiny paws moving without rest.

It was called V-Mouse Special Training.

“We… Squeak! …must become… Squeak! …strong!”

As Lemon the mouse puffed out his small chest and shouted vigorously, the other mice followed without delay.

Sweat beads gleamed on their gray fur.

“Like last time… again! We can’t! …be useless!”

The mice kicked off the ground and ran, panting. Their tiny hearts pounded as if they would burst.

The reason was clear. They had failed again.

Following that avatar murderer, the mice had been utterly useless against the evil demon from another realm that had appeared this time.

The helplessness of being able to do nothing in front of that enormous being persistently tormented the small mice.

The mice continued their run, chastising themselves with regret and guilt. It was then that Raspberry the mouse, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped.

“Squeak…! What’s the point of this? Reality won’t change anyway…”

At Raspberry’s words, the mice following him stopped one by one. Lemon stood up on his two hind legs and waved his front paws in the air.

“Raspberry! What are you doing! How can you protect the animal spirit with such a weak mindset?”

Lemon’s whiskers trembled with anger.

“That’s right! Training and practice are the only way to survive! Sitting around won’t change reality!”

At the other mice’s fervent squeaking, Raspberry faltered. His small eyes were filled with confusion.

However, the young mouse soon muttered with a cynical expression.

“But is there an answer just by practicing? Other animals have already started using the Master’s power, even if just a little!”

“!”

At Raspberry’s cold remark, the mice flinched.

In the last battle, some animals had unknowingly awakened acceleration abilities. Scenes of other large quadrupedal animals, monkeys, and birds running like light, leaving afterimages, were already being shared through the network.

But the mice couldn’t do that.

“We’re small! Didn’t you hear what Head Researcher-nim Yurik said? Our mice have small brains and weak bodies, so our processing power is low! Of course, we can do less. That’s reality. Why go out of our way to suffer like this! I’m sick of it!”

Raspberry’s small body trembled with anger as he quoted Yurik.

The mice flinched again, and some looked at each other uneasily. Unable to bear it any longer, Orange darted forward and shouted.

“Hey! Raspberry! Stop talking so gloomily! Why are you forcing your melancholy on your fellow mouse comrades? Squeak! We’re going to do it!”

“Orange! You idiot! Squeak!… That’s reckless!”

Raspberry retorted sharply.

“Reckless? We’ll only know if we try!”

The tips of the two mice’s noses drew so close they almost touched, creating a tense atmosphere.

The V-Mouse training ended in disarray after the quarrel. The mice dispersed, lost in their own thoughts.

Raspberry, who had turned his back and run away in melancholy, suddenly stopped on a small hill. He could see other mice still diligently running in the distance.

He wondered if he had unnecessarily devalued the other mice’s fervent efforts due to his own emotions.

“Squeak… Everyone must be gloomy… Did I just get annoyed for no reason… while everyone else is trying…”

Plod plod. Behind Raspberry, who was walking listlessly, a chilling voice secretly seeped in.

-Why are you so gloomy? Of course, a mere mouse would be weak.

“A mouse, a mere mouse…”

It was similar to the Master’s voice, yet somehow as cold as steel and heavily imbued with the stench of blood.

Strangely, not a shred of doubt arose in Raspberry’s gloomy mind.

-Your thoughts are correct. Those fools are simply idiotic. What kind of influence could a tiny mouse possibly have on the course of a battle?

“B-but other mice are working hard…”

The voice coldly scoffed.

-Working hard at what? Do you think anything will change just by trying? Head Researcher-nim Yurik said it himself. There’s a limit to what you V-Mice can do. You haven’t said a single wrong thing. You weren’t wrong.

“Not wrong… Squeak…”

Deep gloom filled Raspberry’s small eyes. Raspberry’s drooping whiskers swayed weakly.

-Do you understand reality now?

“Reality…”

Raspberry was at a loss, overwhelmed by a sudden surge of bitterness.

-Yes, weak mouse. Knowing your place and simply staying huddled in a corner is the right thing to do. Tell the truth to the other mice…

“Hah, some bitch is spouting nonsense to our little squeaker.”

The voice lingering in his ears was cut off in an instant. Raspberry snapped back to his senses at the sudden, gruff voice.

“Squeak?”

Turning his head, he saw a man with impressive whiskers, wearing a worn trench coat.

“Hey, you foolish squeaker! Stop thinking useless thoughts and stand up straight.”

The man spoke gruffly, tapping Raspberry’s head. Raspberry unconsciously straightened his body. He knew well who the being in front of him was through the Master’s network.

“Gasp! That ghost from last time! Eek-”

The man twisted the corner of his mouth upwards and barked.

“You’re thinking too much. Squeaker, just run forward! Don’t think about anything else! Your friends are waiting! You know what to tell them, right?”

“Ah! Understood! General!”

Raspberry, standing at attention, shouted loudly and darted off.

The General vanished like a mirage.

‘What was that? Why did the General…’

Strangely, the gloom and anger that had just been weighing down Raspberry had completely vanished.

Towards his fellow mouse comrades waiting in the distance, Raspberry shouted vigorously.

“Squeak! I’m sorry about earlier!”