Ch.302302. Astrid (2)

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There’s a lot I want to ask, a lot I want to question.

But I suppose this is what I should ask first.

“…How did you end up like this?”

I ask with a trembling voice.

It’s absurd that a person could even be alive in such a state, but I should at least know how this happened.

“Was it those bastards who did this?”

The Demonic Spire is the first and most likely candidate among those who could commit such insanity.

-No. More precisely, I did this to myself.

And the answer to my question came very directly.

-To clarify the facts, the Demonic Spire didn’t make me like this. This procedure was something I performed on myself.

“…”

My expression immediately goes blank at this response.

Why?

What reason could there be to do something like this to oneself?

-I would have died if I hadn’t done this.

Before I could even ask that question, the voice synthesizer freely offered that answer.

-My body, that is, ‘human Astrid’s’ lifespan was already long exhausted. If I hadn’t forcibly preserved my consciousness like this, I would have been dead long ago.

“…”

-So, um.

An awkward voice continued.

-The Demonic Spire is full of garbage people, that’s true, but at least in this case, they’re not entirely to blame. After all, I created the conditions that led to this state.

“…What exactly was that?”

-That’s a secret♥

“…”

Is this person for real?

I glare at the talking brain before me with an expression of complete exasperation.

How can she even think of joking in this situation?

But ignoring my reaction, Astrid’s words continued.

-Well, I think that should answer some of your questions anyway.

“What questions?”

-Why I never showed my face until now. Why Armin knew nothing about my whereabouts.

“…”

-…I’m sorry. No matter what, I didn’t want to show myself like this.

I swallow all the words rising inside me as that bitter-sounding voice comes through.

My head is a mess.

As I’ve said before, it would be a lie to say I didn’t think my so-called mother was an incredibly shameless person. I knew perfectly well how much father had longed for her all those years.

But.

“…”

In this condition…

I sigh.

“…So you can’t explain why you ended up like this?”

-Not now.

A firm answer comes back.

-But I can promise you one thing. Once everything at the Demonic Spire is resolved, I can tell you for certain.

“…”

I silently run my hand through my hair at those words.

So, for now, that topic is on hold.

It’s a subject I could dig into endlessly if I wanted to, but she doesn’t seem like she’ll talk no matter how much I press.

Besides, there are more pressing matters to attend to first.

“…Let me ask just one thing.”

So.

The reason why she ended up like this is “something she can’t tell me now,” but Astrid just said that the Demonic Spire wasn’t “entirely” to blame for her condition.

That means…

“You just said the Demonic Spire wasn’t ‘entirely’ to blame for your condition.”

-Did I?

“Then does that mean they contributed in some way to doing this to you?”

-Originally, the plan was to take just my vital organs and transfer them to a newly created ‘artificial body.’ But there’s someone blocking that process. Someone who says he’ll keep me in this state until I give him what he wants.

“Who?”

-You met him recently, didn’t you? Professor Mobius.

From before, in that auditorium.

The man who ordered Bogart Marquis to unleash magic on me to collect data.

“…Why is he deliberately blocking it?”

-…

“He wouldn’t do something this insane without a reason. Keeping a human in this state.”

A silence filled with bitterness returned.

Seeming to sense that it was too painful for her to say herself, Alpha, who had been standing quietly with arms crossed beside us, spoke instead.

“Because he’s using you and your family as research subjects.”

“…What?”

“Professor Astrid is strongly opposed to it, but… Mobius has long had an extreme interest in demons and those connected to them. Since she won’t cooperate, this is his way of punishing her.”

“…”

I can feel the flesh around my eyes twitching.

The very idea that such a subhuman exists makes my mind go blank.

Punishment?

Can turning someone into this state be explained with such a simple word?

And he’s using my family as hostages to do this?

“…That bastard needs to be killed.”

I barely manage to spit out those words.

The same level of disgust I felt when meeting Count Nicholas rises up inside me.

This is the second time I’ve encountered a monster who can’t be treated as human, but it’s clear I’ll never get used to the feeling.

“I agree with that statement.”

Alpha, who had been quietly observing me, nodded.

“But taking immediate action wouldn’t be wise.”

I look at Alpha with narrowed eyes, demanding an explanation.

“As I mentioned earlier, all these devices maintaining Professor Astrid’s life are under Mobius’s control. If we act rashly, he’ll immediately use that to threaten us.”

“…That’s true.”

What he wants is related to me.

The reason Astrid is still alive is because he thinks I still have ‘value’ to him.

If I seriously try to kill him, he would turn off these life support systems without hesitation.

“So we need to walk a fine line while building a ‘foundation.’ Gradually taking away the control he currently holds in the Demonic Spire.”

“Explain that in more detail.”

“Professor Mobius holds the highest position among the scholars in the Demonic Spire. He’s essentially acting as the ‘Tower Master.'”

“…Acting as?”

His tone suggests that there’s a real Tower Master elsewhere, and someone who shouldn’t be in that position is pretending to be one.

“Yes. The previous Tower Master is missing. Professor Mobius was his apprentice… but after the Tower Master’s whereabouts became unknown, he began to take complete control of the Demonic Spire like a fish in water.”

Alpha added that while the Demonic Spire’s research had always been slightly outside normal boundaries, teetering on the edge between human and beast, it was around that time that it began to truly spiral out of control.

-The Demonic Spire has been corrupted by evil.

That’s what he meant when he said that before.

“Unfortunately, all the doctors and professors in the Demonic Spire are each twisted in their own way, so they have no complaints about the current system.”

“…”

Mobius can hold Astrid’s life in his hands and wield such immense power only because the other professors, who are satisfied with the current system, turn a blind eye.

Alpha’s explanation was that it would be best to shake this system from its foundations.

“And after gradually chipping away at Mobius’s support base.”

Alpha grinned and raised his index finger.

“When the crucial moment comes, just once.”

With one concentrated blow to burst it all.

“We send him straight to hell.”

“…”

“That would suit your style better, wouldn’t it, Darwood Campbell?”

Hearing those words, I take a deep breath to organize my boiling thoughts.

Yes, this is an issue that needs to be resolved slowly, not hastily.

Since there’s a hostage involved, it’s right to start with the smaller knots, unlike before.

However.

When the time comes.

This Mobius will see quite an interesting fate.

In my way.

Thoroughly.

“…But how exactly do we shake his support base?”

When I asked that question, Alpha glanced at the life support system containing Astrid’s organs.

Then the two eyeballs among the organs in the device swiveled to meet Alpha’s gaze.

It’s an incredibly grotesque scene, but at least I can tell these two don’t have anything to say and are awkwardly looking at each other.

-…That’s something we need to figure out from now on.

“…Right?”

-All the professors and doctors in the Demonic Spire are mentally unhinged in one way or another, so we can’t immediately think of a good strategy…

“…Right…?”

“…”

Have I ever seen such unprepared people?

Fortunately, it seems they’re not completely without ideas, as Alpha stroked his chin and spoke again.

“There is one card we definitely hold.”

“A card?”

“Although it’s limited to the form of combat, you have one opportunity to face each researcher in the Demonic Spire.”

Alpha continued with that explanation.

“Additionally, you’re the most important figure related to demons. All researchers will be eager to communicate with you. There are more than enough opportunities for ‘interaction.'”

“So somehow I should try to persuade them or whatever?”

“I believe you can do it.”

“…Wait a minute.”

After listening to everything, I interrupt, feeling something strange.

I don’t know what it is, but these people seem strangely confident that I’ll succeed in persuasion despite having almost no basis for it.

What exactly makes them think that?

“It’s simple.”

Alpha responded to my thoughts with a voice full of conviction.

“Half of the researchers are women.”

“…”

“They’re crazy, they don’t hesitate to do bad things, and they’re women. Isn’t that your specialty?”

“…”

What exactly do you take me for?

-I believe in my son in that area too!

Will you shut up?

●

Alpha said something like this recently.

Astrid’s research wing, filled with all kinds of twisted life forms, isn’t even that terrible compared to the rest of the Demonic Spire.

And so.

For the preliminary work of taking down the Demonic Spire, the person both Alpha and Astrid recommended is this Dr. Boris Leitman.

Anyway, he’s the first person I’ve been recommended to persuade during the process of “data accumulation” through “combat.” I suppose he’s considered the easiest target.

“…”

Right.

The easiest target.

But why is the request…

“You want me to fight THAT?”

“Y-yes! Please! We’ll talk after this!”

When I asked that question, such a stammering response came from the control booth at the very top of the colosseum where I’m currently located.

Though clearly embarrassed, he’s making it absolutely clear that if I want to talk, I need to fight what’s in front of me first.

Right.

Absolutely.

“…”

And as I turn my head, there is…

————-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A “giant mecha dinosaur” spewing lasers from its mouth.

“I-isn’t it cool?! It’s my masterpiece No. 1! I just can’t resist dinosaurs-!”

“…”

“Mech-Gigatonosaurus with laser batteries that decompose targets at the quantum level, plus a giant axe it can hold in its mouth and swing around, and even a jetpack for the ultimate luxury spec-!”

Well.

The Demonic Spire is definitely not an easy place.

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