episode_0141

Science Facility Revarude

“…Was it two days? Or three…? I thought it’d be over a month before we’d meet again, but it seems we met unexpectedly quickly.”

“Uh… probably two days… Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe, Mr. Dio V Runner… But how did you find this place? Aria and I had to decipher the codes to get in here…”

“Ah. I ended up here while being chased by some strange creatures. Still, it’s impressive you managed to figure out the secrets of this place. I hadn’t even grasped them yet…”

“Hahahaha….!! The secret is… because I was here!!”

Dio V Runner was greatly surprised that we had managed to uncover the secrets of this place, so Aria puffed out her chest triumphantly, declaring that she was the secret. Well… she’s not wrong. Aria had done most of the code deciphering while I was sleeping.

“You deciphered the codes? You truly are an amazing Saint, Aria. Zeke, you seem to be a very lucky man. Seeing such a capable companion by your side.”

“Hahahahaha!! I always hear it, but no matter when I hear it, it always feels so natural! It’s only natural for me to do that much, given that I adore Zeke-nim!!”

As Dio V Runner praised her further, Aria’s shoulders seemed to rise as if they’d pierce the ceiling. Hahaha…. Why am I feeling burdened when it’s not even my praise…? No… This isn’t the time for this kind of conversation!

“Ahem…. Anyway, Mr. Dio V Runner. You don’t know what’s going on right now, do you?”

“Uh, that’s right. I know a few things, but… hmm…. From the looks on your faces, it seems like we all have a lot to say to each other…. I think it’d be better if we each just shared one important piece of information first. To start with me, there are Saints and Priests here. I was just fighting about twenty Saints and Priests, but when strange creatures attacked, I escaped from them and came here.”

“….What?!”

When Dio V Runner revealed that he had just been fighting Saints and Priests, I stared, dumbfounded and shocked. What? There are still Saints and Priests here? Does that mean the mineral Tiamel is still here?! Ah…! Right! The Saints and Priests hadn’t discovered this passage yet…!! They must have come here to collect more Tiamel, or to explore if there was more Tiamel here!

“Then it’s our turn to speak. Zeke-nim and I just discovered that there’s a living researcher here. We even spoke with him directly. And it seems that researcher released these strange creatures.”

“…! There was really a survivor here…. Wait. That means you two saw that corpse too.”

When Aria revealed that they had discovered a living researcher here, Dio V Runner surmised that we had also seen the corpse. What?! Mr. Dio V Runner also saw that withered corpse?! Ah… I suppose since this place is so large, there must be many corpses…

“In that case, this alarm was sounded by that researcher to exclude us, and these strange creatures were released to kill us…. It seems certain that we need to stop that researcher first. Hey, Zeke. Are you alright?”

“Phew… I’m surprised by all these completely unexpected developments… As Mr. Dio V Runner said, we need to hurry and stop that researcher. That’s why we were planning to go deep inside.”

“That’s right! And that researcher is trying to ruin this world that Zeke-nim and I will live in together…”

“I already know that well enough, so there’s no need to emphasize it further, Aria… Besides, I don’t wish for such a thing, either.”

When Aria tried to emphasize again that this world was one she and I would live in together, I cut her off, saying it was enough. How many times does she have to say this…? As I grew tired of Aria continuously emphasizing the same thing, Dio V Runner nodded and looked behind him, speaking.

“Hmmmm…. First, since we’re short on time, I’ll summarize it simply. Outside, there are Saints and Priests who are presumed to have been targeting this place for a while. They claim that they were the ones who killed all the researchers here previously.”

“Yes, that’s right. A test subject girl who survived here also testified that the Saints and Priests massacred the people in this place. Haaaaaah…. Dealing with just one researcher is already a headache, but now we have to face the Saints and Priests too….”

“But don’t they not know how to get into this biological lab? If someone just blocks that open entrance, they won’t be able to get in here.”

When I felt overwhelmed by having to deal with not only the researcher and test subjects but also the Saints and Priests, Aria suggested that we simply block the only entrance into this place. I then shook my head, disagreeing with Aria’s suggestion, and explained.

“They’ve probably realized there are survivors here, so they’ll definitely find this secret lab by any means necessary. So, first, with your help, we need to reach the researcher and the girl faster than them. Aria, have you figured out all the paths around here?”

“Yes, Zeke-nim. You can go this way!”

“Then we’ll talk about the rest while we move. Honestly, there’s a lot I need to tell you all….”

Realizing that we needed to reach the researcher and the test subject girl faster than the Saints and Priests, I followed Aria, who had just used her detection ability to map out the geography of this secret lab. Then Dio V Runner followed us, explaining.

“First, I’ll tell you everything I’ve found. The name of this facility is Revarude, and its purpose is interdimensional exploration and investigation of creatures from other dimensions.”

“However, the truth of this facility, as Zeke-nim and I discovered, was a place for researching creatures from other dimensions. The strange creatures Mr. Dio V Runner mentioned seeing were likely test subjects born from the horrifying experiments conducted here.”

“Hmm… In that case, interdimensional exploration was merely a facade. Their ultimate goal is to research and experiment on creatures from other dimensions. A curious explorer like you would know why that is, wouldn’t you, Zeke?”

“Yes. Clues about interdimensional exploration were rarely found outside, but the biolabs are hidden away like this.”

When Dio V Runner asked if I could surmise why the ultimate goal of this place was to research and experiment on creatures from other dimensions, I nodded and replied. To commit such wicked acts, no matter how fascinating the creatures from other dimensions may be… This place is utterly unforgivable. Having learned the truth about this place, my curiosity was replaced only by a growing sense of disgust.

“Places like this should be completely destroyed without a trace. If someone with excessive curiosity, like the researchers here, were to set foot in this place, they might fall into a misguided fascination and plunge others into suffering.”

“Hmm…. Then, when that time comes, can I destroy this facility as much as I want? I hadn’t liked this facility because it had been monopolizing all of Zeke-nim’s attention until now. Well… mechanical devices like cameras are somewhat useful, but… to provoke Zeke-nim’s anger to this extent… I find it quite audacious….!!”

“….You can destroy it, but…. You know how vast and huge this facility is, don’t you, Aria? Will it be possible?”

“Yes! Hahahaha…. I have a special move that I haven’t shown Zeke-nim yet….!!”

“Ah… Hahaha… I see… Then I’ll have to step back when that time comes so I don’t get in the way…”

When Aria confidently claimed she could blow away this facility with a special move she hadn’t shown me yet, I let out an awkward laugh and said I’d have to step back when that time came. If that’s true… it must be an enormous ability capable of destroying this facility in one go… I’d have to evacuate everyone else…? Wait… everyone else? Ah… Oh no!!!

“Oh, right!! Yuria!!! Tiavel!!!”

“…? Yuria? Did you even meet a Snow Maiden? But… why are you suddenly looking for that Snow Maiden?”

I remembered that Yuria and Tiavel were also here, besides us, and was greatly shocked that I had forgotten about them. W-What should I do?! Yuria and Tiavel wouldn’t know that the researcher released test subjects, would they?! Just as I was worrying greatly about Yuria and Tiavel.

“…!! That’s Zeke’s voice!! Zeke!!! Saint!!! Are you both there?!”

“….Tch. They should have just been eaten by the test subjects. It’s impressive they survived.”

“….You’re still cold to anyone other than Zeke, Aria…”

Hearing my shout, Yuria called out asking if we were here and immediately ran to this spot. Aria then scowled, disgusted that Yuria was alive, and Dio V Runner frowned at Aria’s reaction. And at that moment, Yuria, who had approached close enough for her face to be visible, saw Dio V Runner next to me and cried out in surprise.

“Huh…. Huh?! Mr. D-Dio V Runner?! Were you really here?!”

“Uh…. I’m also really surprised that you’re here, Yuria. More importantly… it looks like you were being chased by test subjects, weren’t you? Seeing how you came running, panting like that…? Wait. Who is that child?”

Dio V Runner, seeing Yuria rush to our location, panting, surmised that Yuria was being chased by test subjects. Then he saw Tiavel held in Yuria’s arms, tilted his head, and asked. Haaaaah… This would be a long explanation…. But we don’t have time for that in this situation….

“We can explain later. Let’s go! Didn’t we agree to talk while we move anyway!”

“Gasp…. Gasp…. What? What are you talking about, Zeke?”

“Ah… right. Yuria. For now, follow us. I’ll explain everything as we go.”

When Yuria saw us hurrying somewhere, she looked bewildered and asked where we were going. Then Dio V Runner said he’d explain everything as they went, following Aria and me who had started moving first, and Yuria, looking confused, put Tiavel down from her arms and followed Dio V Runner. So, as I walked down the corridor, I explained the things we had experienced to Yuria, and after hearing the explanation, Yuria sighed deeply and said.

“Haaaaaah… After Saints and Priests, now a survivor in this place? This place really has it all….”

“I know… Honestly, I was so bewildered that I couldn’t help but sigh… Ah, right. Mr. Dio V Runner. Please continue what you were about to say earlier.”

As Yuria sighed, as if exasperated by how much was happening in this place, I sympathized with her feelings. Then, realizing that there were things Dio V Runner hadn’t been able to explain to us due to various overlapping events, I asked him to resume his explanation, and Dio V Runner nodded, beginning to explain to us.

“Hmm. Understood. First, it seems this Revarude facility has passed through various dimensions. According to the data I found on the other side, they collected samples of creatures inhabiting each dimension as they passed through. Those are probably the monstrous test subjects with various combined body parts that we all saw.”

“Zeke-nim and I saw that some of the test subjects seemed to have body parts from creatures of the Crentid World attached. This means they had already begun operating in this world a long time ago.”

“It seems so. However, such acts can be strictly punished by dimensional law. Because excessive curiosity leads others to ruin, everyone supposedly agreed that it was good to establish laws to prevent such actions. If caught by R.S., they’ll probably rot in prison for at least a million years.”

“A-A million!?”

When Dio V Runner explained that researching and experimenting with creatures from other dimensions like this could be strictly punished by dimensional law, and if caught by R.S., they would rot in prison for at least a million years, everyone except Aria was greatly shocked. Well, I mean… it’s true that they did wrong, but for them to rot there *that* long?!

“Anyway, this place is truly unlucky. The dimensional path to the Ellum Dimension is unique, and due to its constantly shifting location, it’s quite difficult to enter under normal circumstances….”

“But I think I had a bit of luck. Since I found a tool that can preserve Zeke-nim’s various appearances like this. Teeheeheehee…. It’s wonderful….”

“I don’t think it’s worth endangering the world just to get one of those….”

When Aria smiled contentedly, saying that Revarude coming to the Crentid World and allowing her to find a camera that could capture my various appearances was a bit of luck for her, I frowned and disagreed with her opinion. Then Dio V Runner cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention, and continued his explanation.

“Ahem… Anyway, there are many machines here made from minerals obtained from other dimensions. Some minerals have the ability to store special powers, so it’s probably why the Saints and Priests targeted this place.”

“Ah, that’s probably correct. The test subject girl we met earlier told us that there’s a mineral called Tiamel here, and the Saints and Priests are after it.”

“Tiamel? Haaaaah… A troublesome mineral is here… Tiamel is an ore from another dimension, a mineral with a similar appearance to quartz. It’s said that this mineral has a special ability to store one’s power.”

Upon hearing that Tiamel was an ore from another dimension with a similar appearance to quartz, Aria and I immediately understood. All the spheres of heavenly light outside were made using the Tiamel from here… There’s probably a storage facility for Tiamel somewhere in this facility, and the Saints and Priests seem to be targeting that storage.

“For now, that’s all I’ve learned. To summarize, regardless, this is an illegal facility that has violated dimensional law, and it must be destroyed without fail.”

“Then I’ll explain the clues Tiavel and I found this time. First… knowing this much about the place, you already know that all the corpses here are the researchers of this place, killed by the Saints and Priests, right?”

“Uh, I know that…. Wait… you found something too?”

When Dio V Runner finished his explanation, Yuria offered to explain the clues she and Tiavel found, asking if I knew that the mummified bodies here were all researchers from this place, killed by the Saints and Priests. I was surprised that Yuria had found something while we were entering this place. Then Yuria nodded and said.

“Uh. It seems they were trying to do something using that mineral called Tiamel. I don’t know what their hidden agenda was, but… I found a strange blueprint that is presumed to have been drawn by them. Look at this.”

“…..? This… isn’t this the statue we saw before coming to the Herlos region, Aria?”

“Huh? Oh my…. It really is? This is…. the statue of Goddess Camilla.”

When Yuria showed a blueprint, I called out to Aria, asking if what was drawn on the blueprint wasn’t the statue we had seen. Aria confirmed it was, and upon recognizing the statue on the blueprint as that of Goddess Camilla, Yuria continued her explanation.

“I don’t know whose god this is, but I had a fragment of a broken sphere of heavenly light, you see? Then, when I saw a statue that looked like it was being made but left unfinished in the room where I found this blueprint, I immediately compared it with the fragment. And Tiavel recognized it at a glance. She said this statue and the fragment I had seemed to be made of the same mineral…”

“….If that’s true, it seems they also have some hidden agenda… Then isn’t it decided, Zeke.”

When Yuria, through Tiavel, speculated that the unfinished statue and the fragment she had seemed to be made from the same ore, Dio V Runner realized that the Saints and Priests were up to something suspicious here, and asked me as if we already knew what we had to do. I then nodded and looked down the long corridor, saying.

“Yes. The researcher and the Saints. It seems we need to stop both of them.”