episode_0310

The first Violet Network experiment was conducted at the Violet Research Institute. Our initial attempt, fueled by our desire and curiosity for scientific progress, resulted in shocking outcomes.

“…No, my speech… why does it keep doing this! Ugh! Aieee!” What on earth was the problem? The result of the first Violet Network connection attempt was Uncle Yurik speaking and acting just like us.

「Gasp! Uncle is talking like us!」 「Did Uncle turn into a Violet too?」 Questions erupted in an instant. Unit 1 quickly suppressed the suspicions spreading like mold. 「Not at all! Uncle Yurik isn’t a beautiful girl! He’s a completely old man!」 「Oh, you’re right? Ugh!」 Thinking back now, it was nothing short of a terrible result. A man in his thirties acting like us! It would be better to see Bernike in a school uniform. At least she’s a girl.

“Ugh! Hyaak!” The man, convulsing in surprise, belatedly noticed my and the Professor-nim’s reactions and tried to close his mouth, but he kept letting out Violet-like screams involuntarily. Professor Albert, unable to bear watching, extended his index and middle fingers and drew a horizontal line in the air.

“Haa… Doctor, excuse me for a moment.” Immediately, the man’s lips were fixed as if glued, unable to open.

“Here’s the tablet. It would be better to communicate in writing. Now, try to express yourself.” The man wiped his face with his hand as if wiping sweat and tapped the tablet.

[Yes, it’s done. There seems to be no particular effect when writing.] Confirming the reply, the Professor-nim let out a short click of his tongue and adjusted his glasses.

“Doctor, could you explain the oscillation phase of ether waves and the interference pattern formation mechanism of the ether field?” The man scratched his head and immediately typed on the monitor. The screen was instantly filled with the answer.

[-When the oscillation phase of ether waves synchronizes, a stable interference pattern forms in the ether field. This is because the oscillations of individual ether particles constructively interfere with each other, creating a regular energy distribution. Conversely, if the oscillation phases are out of sync, destructive interference becomes dominant, causing the ether field’s energy distribution to become irregular and exhibit a disturbed pattern.] After exchanging several questions, Professor-nim’s hardened expression gradually softened.

“You can rest assured, it seems your memory and intelligence haven’t changed like a Violet. Your judgment, perception, and the language you use are those of an ordinary man in his thirties… So what on earth is the problem?”

[It’s probably the language center. But since writing is fine, it seems only the spoken language part is restricted.] Listening to their conversation, I felt a little offended. What’s so bad about our intelligence changing like ours?

「We’re geniuses!」 「Right!」 Anyway, the situation was somewhat understood. To understand it more clearly, I decided to ask the Professor-nim a question.

“So Professor-nim, why did Uncle show those strange symptoms earlier?” “The unique properties of the Violet Network affected the Doctor. There are several possible reasons for this. Firstly, your network has an enormous amount of information condensed within it. Simply attempting to observe it can put a great burden on an ordinary human brain, and it’s highly likely to have caused an information overload as a result.”

“Information overload?” “Although the true nature of your network is still hypothetical, that space where thousands of people exchange information simultaneously must undoubtedly be overflowing with vast data. Imagine it like a high-pressure liquid flowing through a pipe. What would happen if a hole suddenly opened in it? The contents of the pipe would gush out with immense pressure. That force would be too powerful for an individual to handle.”

[Besides the overwhelming amount of information, we also need to consider another possibility: the existence of the Apostle we absorbed previously. Could it be that the network itself has the ability to unilaterally assimilate targets that connect to it?] “Like digestive fluids in the intestines or the immune system, you mean. I’m not sure if it’s an appropriate analogy, but it could certainly work that way.” Oh, then we could use our network as a kind of attack method? Simply connecting to it might be enough to damage an opponent’s mind or assimilate them into one of us Violets. Why did we only realize this interesting possibility now, and not on the day we absorbed the Apostle?

“Of course, all of this is still just a hypothesis. Nevertheless, what’s somewhat reassuring is that he wasn’t completely assimilated and mutated into a Violet like an Apostle. Perhaps it’s because the experimental equipment we used was simple. But what’s clear is that there must be a safe way to access the network.” As I watched, a thought suddenly occurred to me, and I asked a question.

“Then how long does Uncle have to stay in that state?” “I’ve taken some magical measures just now. It’s only a problem with language use, so it’ll be resolved soon.” True to his word, by dusk, the man’s language abilities had returned to normal.

“Finally, I’ve got it back…!” “Wow, Uncle’s normal!” Watching him, one of the Violets came up with an amusing idea.

「It’d be funny if someone else saw Uncle squealing and shouting earlier!」 It seemed like the experiment was being recorded, so it’d be fun to use it to tease him later.

***

While the bizarre human experiment research was in full swing, other Violets gathered around our valiant tank friend.

「Cheolkwon! How are you doing?」 Technicians wearing thick protective gear approached, holding tools that looked like a combination of a welding torch and a fire hose. Something hissed as it sprayed from the end of the tool, and small sparks flew from the armor surface. Rust and strange foreign substances stuck to the massive hull, which had spent a long time in the dungeon, began to peel off one by one. The smooth armor plates gleamed under the light.

「Hmm, it feels like shedding old grime. It somehow feels like taking a bath. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s hard to get used to.」 Currently, Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon was staying at a private maintenance depot in the west. It was a place frequently visited by clans operating heavy machinery and tanks. With the Federal Army having withdrawn its fleet from the west, leaving only a few mobile units, there was no problem bringing in a super-heavy tank as long as it was well hidden.

“I thought this place would be trustworthy enough. How’s the field side?” “Yep! The fairy is satisfied! Come on, Cheolkwon. Come out!” I snapped my fingers. There was no problem since the people had stopped working and gone for a break. Soon, Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon appeared in the air.

“Hello. I am Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon. Nice to meet you, student.” Despite the sudden appearance of a tank fairy, Irene reacted indifferently. To be precise, she seemed to be trying her best to feign indifference. Because, after seeing it with her own eyes, she was as startled as a girl witnessing a rainbow unicorn from a fantasy. Of course, there were other reasons for her surprise.

“I can’t believe it… How could… such an artificial consciousness…!” Irene reacted sharply the moment she saw Cheolkwon. She scanned her surroundings with keen senses, in case anyone was watching.

“How did you summon this child here earlier?” “Oh? I didn’t explain in detail! There’s a way to avoid people’s attention. I discovered a pretty amazing trick while transporting the tank to the west. Cheolkwon, go back in!”

“Understood.” When I snapped my fingers with a distinct sound, a strange phenomenon occurred. Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon emitted a faint light and vanished.

“It disappeared… So that’s how it appeared. I see, there was a way like this.” “I told you. Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon is a fairy! If it’s a fairy, it can naturally hide or conceal its appearance.” Furthermore, Cheolkwon’s main body was the metal hull that had just been stripped of rust. She seemed hesitant, so we hadn’t tried any firearm experiments, but I didn’t think shooting at her human form would cause pain or damage.

“Strictly speaking, there’s another name for this child. A fusion, you said? According to the Federal Army’s magical beast identification code standards, it’s Code Psi. It falls under energy lifeforms or phase-shifting entities. To be more precise, it would be Code Gamma-Kai 3-Psi-Omicron.” “But she looks like a person. And she doesn’t hold malice towards people either! So she’s not a magical beast. She’s our Violet’s friend, so she’s a fairy! If she’s a magical beast, then are we magical beasts too?” “You’re not wrong.” I remembered something a professor at the academy once said. There had been talk in academic circles about whether Awakened individuals could also be classified as a type of magical beast. Anyway, Irene’s point had some validity. As I was thinking that, a loud boom suddenly reverberated. The source of the noise was the hull of the super-heavy tank in front of us. As the massive body, bound by chains, shook as if in an earthquake, the technicians at work flinched and stepped back.

“Cheolkwon?” 「No! I’m not a magical beast! That damned purple-haired girl! I’ll tear your mouth off!」 “…What’s wrong?” 「Violet! Tell that girl right now! I’m not a magical beast, I’m a person! Immediately!」 “Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon is angry. She says she’s a person, not a magical beast, to Irene.” 「This is an insult to the proud Federal Army Armored Corps! I demand an apology!」 The tank vibrated violently once more. Feeling embarrassed, Irene’s expression became more serious. Irene slowly approached the tank and placed her hand on its armor plate.

“I’m sorry, Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon. I think I misunderstood you, seeing you for the first time today. You are a person.” Once again, light flashed, and Cheolkwon reappeared. The little girl in military uniform stood with her arms crossed, glaring fiercely and pouting in annoyance.

“Do you get it now? I’m human! Not a magical beast. Understood?” “I apologize. I was too careless.” Cheolkwon, her cheeks puffed out in a sulk, disappeared again.

“…She seems like a child with a story. Do you know anything?” Irene asked. I simply shook my head. “I don’t know! Why is she like that?” That fairy, she seems like she’ll be a bit difficult to handle.