episode_0090

* Experimental Record No. 1

A pair of angels that had ceased functioning were discovered. Unlike the previous ones, these newly discovered objects have a clean appearance and complete components.

When I dropped the blood sample I had prepared on each individual, it soaked into their skin. After that, they watched the other individual for about two seconds before stopping.

To eliminate any possible variables, subsequent experiments are conducted with the two subjects separated.

***

“A pair? There was one more?”

The paper Hyunho was reading was a record of an experiment conducted at the laboratory, the one Kuzunoha had previously given him.

I had seen it once before, but at the time I didn’t have time to read it because of the battle that followed.

I almost passed over these records, so I’m glad I came back to see them now.

Hyunho moved his hand, thinking it was fortunate that he had been watching Kuzunoha closely to see how she operated the machine. This large device would be nothing more than a tin can if you didn’t know how to use it.

Jiiing-

As I manipulated the device by recalling my memory, the next page was printed out.

The writing engraved on the white paper was a report and personal records that the researcher had organized well. Hyunho looked through it and turned the page, expressing his gratitude to the diligent researcher.

“I don’t know who you are, but thank you.”

As I read the first page, which contained personal notes, the next page took the form of a well-organized report. It was understandable even to someone without professional knowledge.

Usually, when you make a report like this, it’s to show it to others. Unless you have OCD, you wouldn’t go through the hassle of making it like this every time.

Jiing, jieeing-

The machine began to slowly spit out the records contained within.

If I had known this would happen again, I should have kept it safe when Kuzunoha picked it out for me. Then I would have been able to prepare to some extent.

It was too late to regret it anyway. I folded the pile of papers that had been pulled out and organized them on the desk. Then I held the next report in my hand.

“If there was a pair… where would I use the other one?”

Hyunho sighed softly as he remembered being hit in the back of the head when he discovered the angel, and continued reading the notes in the next report.

* Experimental Record No. 4

The article I supported died.

In an instant, the entity’s restraints were broken and the knight’s armor caved in. The calculated output far exceeded this.

To prevent any accidents, the amount of blood injected at one time was limited to 5 ml in future experiments.

***

Output, operation, stop…

As for how to actually operate it, the researcher described the angel as a machine.

…That perspective may not be entirely wrong.

Even in religious books, angels are described as workers used by the goddess when she first shaped the world, so it is quite possible to treat them as simple machines.

But at least in this empire, it shouldn’t be treated that way. Isn’t it like belittling the royal bloodline?

‘Did you get hurt when you were attacked in the first place?’

Hyunho continued his thoughts as he flipped through the report, stopping his hand on one photo.

An incident noted in the notes of the fourth report.

– Huh? Where have I seen this before?

Bartholin opened his mouth after seeing the scene at the time of the accident.

As she said, the sight of the knight with blood streaming from the corner of his mouth and his chest sunk in with his armor seemed somehow familiar.

Especially on the knight’s chest – that is, the skin around the wound was dried and twisted.

Hyunho looked at the photo carefully and came to a conclusion.

“There is definitely a connection.”

The dry, gaunt appearance of a dying old man was not something a knight should have. Perhaps after he retired in old age.

It was clearly artificial. Hyunho stroked his hand, perhaps remembering the wound he had received at the Demon King’s Castle.

Although he is now fine thanks to the spirit and Bartholin, he still has the same wounds he received from the person presumed to be the former emperor.

A part of the body that appears as if a long time has passed.

Considering that the institute that submitted this report was active during the previous emperor’s reign and that it was of royal blood, it was hard to see this as a coincidence.

– Then isn’t it almost certain that the culprit has been identified?

“First of all. Is it because it is an accident and not related to the experiment that it is not written in detail?”

I looked through the detailed report, but it only contained the procedure and results of the experiment. There was only a single line about the accident.

“5 is close to repetition…”

Perhaps because experiments were restricted for safety reasons, there seems to have been no progress in research for a while.

So, reports 5 through 10 contained similar content. Unfortunately, there was no significant progress.

It was in Report No. 11 that something new appeared.

It was a point where we had to try a different experimental method than before.

* Experimental Record No. 11

I was given a succubus to use in my experiments.

He removed the energy-absorbing organs, including the tail, and gave what remained to the knight.

I watched it for two days, but there was no significant change in the individual, perhaps because the difference in rank was too great.

***

In the eleventh report, a demon suddenly appeared. A succubus at that.

An experiment to extract the power of an angel using a succubus.

Considering that succubi can absorb and utilize other people’s energy, it was a worthwhile experiment.

As the saying goes, you can’t get full from the first drink, but the 11th experiment didn’t produce any significant results.

But the important thing was the idea. And the fact that I had a succubus as material.

Considering that the battle with the Demon Tribe was in full swing at the time, it could be seen as having been captured on the battlefield…

The use of the succubus’ physical structure and organs was incorporated so naturally into the report.

Perhaps research using succubi had been going on before? Since the research lab isn’t located here, it must be being conducted somewhere else.

In most research, what comes before has an influence on what comes after.

The research on angels conducted at this institute was also conducted using other research as reference material. That would probably be research on the demon tribe.

Hyunho had no intention of talking about human rights by capturing and studying demons.

At that time, it was a life-threatening war, and the demons thought of humans as prey… so it is possible that humans viewed the demons as research material.

I was just curious as to what purpose the experiment was conducted for.

Could it be that both research utilizing succubi and research investigating angels are for the same purpose?

It’s just a conspiracy theory now, but I think that might change by the time I read the entire report.

“This is really interesting…”

Hyunho looked like he wanted to look over the report more, but he put it on a nearby desk with a regretful expression.

Anyway, it will take some time for the remaining reports to be printed. It would be better to read them when you have more free time.

Hyunho placed a simple barrier on the machine to avoid being caught up in the upcoming battle, and picked up his wooden sword.

“Just like you did when you came in. You know?”

– Aren’t you pushing me too hard?

I heard some blunt language, but I wasn’t worried. We had already gotten along once.

He said he had set up a barrier, but who knows. Hyunho moved between the machine and the hallway.

It was to protect the machine that still had a lot of data to extract.

“I think they noticed it too.”

Hyunho looked down the dark hallway.

There was no sign of life, but a faint noise could be heard. A noise that even Hyunho, who had surpassed human limitations, could faintly hear.

The sound that had been gradually getting closer finally stopped in one place.

“Sigh-!”

An attack without warning. Something flew out with a slap from the sword that was quickly swung.

What flew was a sharp, refined dagger. It was made of a material that absorbed light, so it could not be seen in the dark, perhaps because it was intended to attack from the darkness.

The silent attacks required a response through the senses, not the ears or eyes.

There is something behind him that he must protect, and Hyunho, who has no ranged attack, is in a disadvantageous situation where he must approach through the darkness.

…it might have been, but not now.

It is a thing of the past that the means of attack were limited to close range.

Even though close combat is still its specialty, that doesn’t mean it’s weak at long range.

There is no need to avoid the fight that is coming.

Rather, I’m a little excited about the opportunity to test out new features sooner than I thought.

“Okay, shall we give it a try?”

Hyunho kicked the floor and launched himself into the air.

Then, the wings spread open with a whoosh, and the body stopped in the air.

The wings made by Geumto and Baekto have an engine in the center, so there is no problem with flying, and each feather is meticulously made of metal.

The feather’s edge stood out sharply, to the point of being considered a craftsman’s spirit.

It’s not for decorating the wings, but for use as a projectile.

Card slam-

As if to let them know, Hyunho flapped his wings and rushed forward, and at the same time a noise like scraping iron plates was heard.

The feather that was shot must have stuck in the enemy.

Each feather was like a handmade weapon made with delicate hands.

Even if the enemy blocked all of the secrets, Hyunho, who had accelerated and flown, remained.

“Ugh-!”

Hyunho, who had become a single missile, ended his flight by piercing the opponent’s chest.

There were feathers stuck between the joints of the enemy’s arms and neck.

He stomped on his opponent with his foot and pulled out his sword, sparks flying from his chest.

The opponent, briefly visible in a small light, is a human-shaped iron robot.

In the darkness where you can’t see ahead, it’s faster to subdue your opponent than to identify him.

“Machine again?”

Hyunho turned pale as soon as he saw that sight.

A replica that looks exactly like the machines that were endlessly pouring out of the Demon King’s Castle. However, it is different from the past when each and every one of them was mass-produced.

Although it was a battle that ended in an instant, the feeling of the sword digging into my body was different.

I felt a lot of resistance, perhaps because the material had changed. The response speed also seemed to have improved.

I opened my mouth, brushing away the debris stuck to my sword.

“Ugh, I’m glad I finished it in one go. It would’ve been a headache if it had been longer, right?”

– Oh, oppa. If you say that…

If you come at me like last time, learning and responding, it’ll be a little difficult.

As soon as I thought that, a mechanical gripper flew out of the darkness.

“Eww-”

– I knew it!

No, it just happened because the timing was right. It’s not like something that didn’t exist before becomes something that didn’t exist just because I’m talking.

Hyunho made excuses in his head at the scolding he heard, then sat up again.

I was surprised by the forceful flying pincers, but they weren’t targeting me.

The target is the fallen doll.

The tongs dragged the doll back into the darkness.

– Aren’t you going to chase after me?

“Well, at least until all the reports are out?”

Even now, I can’t leave my seat until the machine slowly printing paper behind me has finished its job. What if someone comes in from behind while I’m away?

As I was quietly standing there, a mechanical sound came from across the hallway.

[Intruder suppression protocol activated]

[Convert the shape]