Ch.287The Switch (7)

Sonia had changed noticeably compared to before. Her skin had become much softer, and she smelled nice as if wearing perfume. I could even hear her gentle breathing.

“So this is what it feels like to be alive. It’s a pleasant sensation.”

I was tightly embraced and received cute little kisses. It felt like connecting with a real human.

Sonia refused to let go of me until we reached our destination.

“Um, this is becoming problematic if you keep doing this…”

I thought of Rustila and Zernya. The guilt was overwhelming. When I asked her to show some restraint, Sonia made a sad face.

“I’ve been devoted to you my entire life since the moment I was assigned to you at birth. So those two ladies are allowed, but I can’t have even a brief moment?”

“…”

“Even just this moment would be enough. Please let me stay like this.”

My resolve weakens.

Even knowing this is essentially infidelity, Sonia’s tearful expression keeps breaking down my boundaries.

I couldn’t remain in this ambiguous situation forever.

After much deliberation, I made a decision.

“Listen, Sonia.”

“Yes, sir?”

“After this research is completed, I plan to try convincing Zernya.”

“That should be my responsibility, young master.”

“Your business is my business too.”

Until now, I’d been hesitant to express my opinions due to guilt. But it was time to clearly state my position.

It would be a difficult process, but better than remaining indecisive.

Of course, my doctorate comes first. I need the degree to become a professor, and I need to be a professor to conduct independent research. Only with independent research can I study graviton bombs and save this universe.

As soon as I arrived in Londinium, I donated the 3 billion peace prize money to the Particle Physics Institute. Thanks to the institute’s status as a public interest corporation, there was no gift tax.

[The prize money was well spent. Thank you.]

I sent a thank-you email to the Akea Committee with two attached photos. One was the receipt for purchasing an asteroid, and the other showed me with the institute staff, all giving thumbs up and smiling.

“What’s the afternoon schedule?”

“We’re supposed to check on the accelerator construction progress.”

Ireh, who had returned disguised as Sonia, answered.

“Let’s go, young master.”

When Ireh took wider steps than expected to stay close to me, I walked quickly to maintain distance.

At the construction site, a spectacular view unfolded. Gravity mining ships, transport vessels, and Planet Architecture drones flew around in dazzling patterns. I felt an overwhelming thrill watching them complete kilometer-long tubes in just minutes.

“Because the components are so large, we build the external structures separately like this before assembly,” the technician explained.

“After assembly, we fill the internal structures using androids and heavy equipment. Section 200,000 is currently under construction. Would you like to take a look?”

“Yes, please.”

Though I was a theorist, understanding the structure of experimental equipment was important. To become renowned in this field, one needs to excel in both theory and experimentation.

– I’m exhausted! Please help me!

I thought I heard something just now.

– Please let me rest a little! I’ve been moving metal pieces non-stop for a month! I’m going crazy!

Must be my imagination.

– Aaaaargh!

After the inspection, I returned to the lab. I had an energy bar for dinner while working on my doctoral dissertation.

[Gravitons and Dissipative Vortex Phenomena Within Singularities]

There was one main question I wanted to address in this paper:

Can we physically interfere with regions inside a black hole using gravitons?

My answer is YES, of course. I plan to develop the logic mathematically. Since it requires complex mathematics, I’ve been discussing and strengthening my arguments through messages with Edward.

The proposal for this dissertation had already been accepted. What remained was the main defense, and if gravitons were discovered before then, I would have much more to write about.

I dedicated all my evening hours to writing the dissertation.

“Young master, I don’t understand this part.”

Of course, when Ireh asked questions, I would think through them with her. While my doctorate was important, her research on external neural systems was equally necessary.

“Ireh, when we’re in the private lab, you can speak to me normally.”

“Ah…”

Ireh cleared her throat and changed her tone back to normal.

“Eidel, I don’t understand this.”

“Just a moment. Ah, this should work like this.”

I wasn’t conversing much with Ireh outside of work. While maintaining distance was appropriate, the main issue was that we couldn’t have casual conversations while she was disguised as Sonia.

Another day passed like this.

Before sleep, Sonia would reveal her true nature. Without removing her disguise, she would embrace me tightly and kiss my lips.

“Um, Sonia.”

“What is it?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to at least remove the disguise?”

“Is there a problem?”

Many problems.

“What does it matter? You can tell the difference anyway. Removing the disguise risks exposure, and more importantly, it reduces the time I can spend with you like this.”

Sonia giggled as she entangled her limbs with mine. It felt like Ireh was clinging to me. The guilt was doubled.

Days passed in this manner, and the particle accelerator was nearing completion.

With increased security, I thought everything would proceed smoothly.

Until the cult launched another large-scale terror attack.

***

Rewinding time to the day after Sonia’s failed abduction.

In the prayer room of the Dark Holy Spirit Cult, Magnus.

‘This can’t be. It’s impossible.’

The Saint couldn’t believe her eyes.

[— Causality has been fixed by an unknown force.]

[— Cannot rewind time before a certain point.]

The status window granted by the External God displayed strange messages.

‘I can’t turn back time?’

No matter how many times she looked, nothing changed.

The Saint mentally visualized a date. A virtual calendar and clock appeared, asking her to specify a return date.

Every date before yesterday had an X mark on it.

No doubt.

This was Laplace’s doing.

“This… this cannot be.”

The Saint removed her gloves and clasped her hands together. She looked down at her hands. In place of human hands were dark mechanical arms.

Not the price of a contract.

A blessing bestowed by the External God to her after she lost her arms in an accident. So she could pray with both hands.

“Almighty External God of Steel, what should I do now?”

The Saint closed her eyes devoutly and waited for divine guidance.

Silently, mechanical arms appeared from all directions and circled around her. It was a signal that she could open her eyes. The Saint gently lifted her eyelids.

[“My servant.”]

The External God’s voice came to her.

[“Eidel von Rheinland is no ordinary opponent. Like you, he is a being beyond human boundaries. If we cannot stop his research, the Idea of Immortality will disappear.”]

“Please show this humble girl the path forward.”

[“Preventing the accelerator’s completion is the highest priority. Destroy everything at the moment they are about to achieve success.”]

“You’re ordering a holy war, aren’t you?”

Holy war. Or spiritual warfare.

Some call it terrorism.

Launching a holy war requires extensive preparation. They must prepare operations while evading the Federation Army’s eyes and manage the budget collected from donations.

But it must be done.

“This time, no matter what.”

The Saint finished her prayer and left the oracle room. Countless believers were waiting for her.

“Look, it’s the Saint!”

“She looks divine today too.”

“Ah, truly beautiful.”

The Saint climbed onto the podium and cleared her throat. After reciting a brief prayer, she began her speech.

“Fellow believers, thank you for attending today. The External God will be moved by your devotion.”

“Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!”

“Currently, we are being persecuted by wicked scientists and the Federation Army. But this is a trial on our path to the Idea. If we overcome this trial, everyone can be saved.”

“Thank you, External God.”

“Today, the External God gave me an oracle. From now on, we will prepare for holy war for three months. Let us remove that monstrosity created by scientists and plant our Magnus Cult’s star flag in Londinium!”

Ooooh!

The Saint descended amid the cheers of believers. She placed a donation box before them. Then she went around the chapel, embracing each donor.

This was one reason why the number of believers was growing daily despite the Federation’s pressure.

Time passed quickly. The promised two months arrived, and the particle accelerator construction entered the test operation phase.

“Believers participating in this holy war will be the first to enter the Idea, according to the External God’s oracle. I will also participate directly to lead you with my humble body.”

“Oh, as expected of the Saint…”

“Now, let’s go stop the ‘End.'”

The Saint boarded a spaceship with well-trained believers. Not just one ship. The Steel External God with whom she had contracted provided avatar bodies as reinforcements, making their numbers uncountable.

Reassuring.

Failure was impossible.

The Saint and the Steel God’s legion flew at full speed and crashed into the nearly completed particle accelerator facility. Most were intercepted by Federation warships, but about 15% succeeded and exploded.

“Saint, look at that! The monstrosity made by those scientists is being destroyed!”

“External God, we have succeeded!”

“It’s too early to celebrate, believers. The holy war is just beginning.”

The Saint and her closest priests hijacked an orbital descent ship to enter Londinium. The External God’s subordinates were waiting in the descent ship.

The monsters, uncharacteristically, followed the Saint’s orders well. Believers who witnessed this had their faith strengthened even more.

Everything was going according to plan.

The Saint shouted:

“Today, let’s capture Eidel von Rheinland and offer his blood as sacrifice to our External God!”

Ooooh!

As soon as the Saint’s order was given, believers and monsters rushed into the research facility. Federation soldiers and security androids blocked their way but were no match for the avatar bodies.

They had prepared extensively.

Even if they failed, they could simply turn back time. The Saint was confident this operation would not fail.

Yes.

That’s what she thought until just seconds ago.

“Burn everything!”

“Kill anyone in a white coat or suit! If they look like physicists, kill them all!”

“For the Steel External Go— gack!”

From beyond the research facility corridor, something heavy flew through the air and struck the head of the priest who was shouting at the vanguard.

A vernier caliper.

A classical instrument for measuring the length of objects.

‘Huh?’

An ominous feeling.

The Saint instinctively stopped walking. Soon, footsteps were heard from the opposite direction.

It seemed to be more than one person.

“That’s…”

The person leading the opposition had black hair and golden eyes that looked like melted gold. He was tall and wore a lab coat.

A decadently handsome man. The Saint’s mouth fell open involuntarily.

“…Eidel von Rheinland?”

Whoosh, clack.

The caliper returned like a boomerang and wrapped around his hand.

“I was planning to run away from most troubles…”

Tap, tap.

The man tapped his palm with the caliper and said quietly:

“…but this won’t do.”

The next moment.

The avatar body right next to the Saint was struck by the caliper and fell over.