episode_0027

Riding in an automatic carriage pulled by two steam horses that puffed out steam vigorously instead of snorting, we headed across the self-proclaimed World Capital towards a suburban mansion.

The Golden Mirror’s mansion, built in strict adherence to the Duchy Urban Planning Law, similarly resembled a towering tombstone in a graveyard.

The desolation and bleakness born from an obsession that cared for nothing other than stacking iron structures vertically, large and high.

The automatic carriage, led by the steam horses, moved indifferently into the interior of the matchbox-like mansion.

With the illusion of walking into the belly of a tomb, as the towering monument opened its mouth.

Furthermore, the interior of the monument was less like a wealthy man’s mansion and more like a technician’s workshop.

Inside the absurdly spacious and luxurious mansion, nothing among its facilities functioned for extravagance or luxury. Just like this city.

It was, quite literally, a workshop.

All sorts of clockwork parts, mechanical devices, compressed cylinders, and cogs lay scattered in disarray.

Beside them, human body parts – from arms and legs to heads – were piled up by type, literally forming mountains of corpses.

At the same time, I realized they were not dead people, but merely shells mimicking human forms.

Automatons, imitations of humans without souls.

A tomb of soulless corpses lay there.

“The child I intend to introduce…”

“Yes, as you see.”

As soon as I saw the sight, I vaguely understood something.

Golden Mirror Robert walked indifferently into the piles of corpses and pulled out a human imitation that lay uniquely out of place among them.

“Wake up, Ergo.”

The Golden Mirror whispered into its ear. Then, with his support, the automaton, which had been limp like a dead corpse, suddenly began to move, bending its limbs like something out of a horror movie.

“I respectfully propose to Sir Rain that this child become a new member of the Black Serpent, as the third-ranked member of the organization and in the name of the ‘Golden Mirror’.”

“…”

I did not answer immediately. I simply put a cigarette to my lips without a word and watched the automaton ‘Ergo’ rise to its feet.

Its appearance was androgynous, too delicately beautiful for a man, yet subtly dignified for a woman.

Outwardly, its body was exquisitely crafted, indistinguishable from a human’s. Yet, at the same time, it was as white, beautiful, and clean as white jade, utterly devoid of the defilement inherent in human desires.

“Receiving the same number ‘3’ as myself, taking the position of Rank 13.”

Golden Mirror Robert spoke in a voice imbued with unparalleled politeness, unlike any before.

A brief silence descended.

In the ensuing silence, no one spoke. Not Aria, not Alice, not Robert. All of them simply awaited my answer.

“…Why should I do that?”

So I asked the question that needed to be asked.

“This child is, in essence, no different from us.”

Golden Mirror Robert replied with a smile.

“Like us, it’s a fool incapable of doing anything on its own.”

“…”

“And the one who can lead that fool, who can wrap the puppet strings around that fool, is none other than Sir Rain before me… only you.”

Hearing those words, I fell silent again. The silence wasn’t long.

At the end of the silence, I raised my head and looked at the ‘applicant’ there. The androgynous automaton before me, with skin as white and beautiful as jade, did not even blink an eyebrow.

“What’s the meaning in that?”

I looked at it, then asked again.

It was the same question as ‘that time’.

“…It’s different.”

“What’s different?”

In an episode from the old works of Heroic Age, where villains converse, ‘Rain Grey’ had asked the Golden Mirror before him the same question then.

“As for me, I still don’t know anything.”

At that time, the Golden Mirror claimed to have developed an automaton more powerful and useful than anyone else, and just like now, he wished for it to be included at the lowest rank of the organization.

Exactly like now.

So I returned the same question as then.

“The proof is not my burden, Golden Mirror.”

The exact same line Rain Grey spoke in the game, as I remembered it.

It was a story from the old work.

“It’s different from that child back then—no, when my immaturity killed that child then—it’s different! I can assure you, from start to finish, everything is different!”

At that time, in the game, Rain Grey, just like now, unilaterally destroyed the automaton before him, claiming to put the Golden Mirror’s recommended applicant through an ‘initiation test’.

Remembering that scene, I had no other option but to act as I had then.

There was no choice but to label it an ‘initiation test’ again and destroy it at the end of the fight.

However, Golden Mirror Robert stood before me with an expression more desperate than ever.

At the same time, his expression, which usually maintained an air of composure before me, finally crumbled and collapsed before the name ‘Rain Grey’, just like anyone else’s, as he fell to his knees.

“Sir Rain—no, dare I say, our beloved leader of the Black Serpent!”

Kneeling, the Golden Mirror continued to speak as if pleading.

“Can you prove that fact, right now?”

“!”

And so, I asked again. Silence descended once more. In the silence, I opened my mouth.

“I’ll give you seven days.”

I spoke, opening my mouth.

“Prove it within that time.”

“Wh-What?”

“Everything.”

Everything. Exactly as I said.

Whatever he understood by those words, that was all I had to say.

Why he should join the Black Serpent as a new member, what help he could provide us, and what meaning and value there was in it.

At the same time, it wasn’t my burden to prove it. It was Golden Mirror Robert’s responsibility.

“Seven days.”

“!”

I reinforced my words again.

“And until then, I have a task for you.”

Disregarding his sarcasm, lingering resentment, or ill will displayed before me.

Towards the leader of that very organization, the secret society of the world’s most powerful and influential individuals.

“I have a matter to discuss with the most powerful person in this country, the Duchy.”

Returning once more to the beginning, to the clues laid before me and what I needed to pursue.

*

The next day.

I was once again walking through the city that made even seemingly sane people return mentally ill, a city that aspired to be the self-proclaimed World Capital.

Crossing the Arch of Triumph, built to commemorate a victory that had not yet come, from the very day this city was founded.

Before the carriage crossing the city’s center and the procession following it, everyone passing by stopped their steps and saluted in the Duchy style, showing their respect.

Stopping before the powerful and bowing their heads as if in subservience, this was an everyday occurrence in this country, packaged under the name of ‘patriotism, honor, and respect’.

Simply because the sight was so ridiculous, I silently turned my head away from the view beyond the carriage window.

The automatic carriage, led by five state-of-the-art military steam horses, finally came to a stop in the very center of the city.

As soon as it stopped, before the Duchy Honor Guard who opened the carriage door and saluted, I silently maintained my composure.

Never having imagined it would be this elaborate.

‘I have a matter to discuss with the most powerful person in this country.’

Those words were meant literally.

At the same time, I hadn’t intended to so overtly draw attention and display my presence before people.

Yet, it had ended up that way, so I had little else to say.

Amidst the honor guard and review who saluted with a more rigid posture than ever, I silently stepped out of the carriage.

I walked silently, stepping onto the red carpet that stretched out before me.

─At the same time, behind me, Aria and Alice, who usually stayed by my side, were not there.

I was alone.

Leaving the utterly grand ceremony and honor guard behind, I walked. I walked and walked, heading into the heart of the World Capital, a place that extended vertically without meaning and was utterly hollow.

A place engineered to subconsciously ‘overwhelm’ any first-time visitor.

Despite that, the only thought in my mind was that the hallway was unnecessarily long and wide.

A creak.

Finally reaching the end, all the cumbersome formalities concluded, and I stepped through.

“…W-Welcome!”

Nothing had changed.

“Führer.”

I silently uttered his name. The man seated in the office hastily smoothed his mustache and bowed his head.

“I’ve heard about it!”

The military.

The true power that governed this country, the Duchy of Germania.

There stood Führer Gustadolph Whitley, the man at the pinnacle of that very power.