episode_0334

15 minutes before the Omega Protocol declaration.

The agent slowly approached Enrica, as if walking on thin ice. This target for sealing and recruitment was an Awakened One with a considerably threatening constitution. According to the few remaining records of Sellafield Research Institute, this child possessed high potential to cause a major incident, regardless of which clan or corporation she fell into.

There were many superhumans in this world, but Awakened Ones with power capable of strategic-level destruction by themselves were rare. And the small girl before her, if she grew with sufficient support and training, had the power to annihilate an entire city by herself.

Anomalous entities that could upset the balance must be managed. Whether technology or people.

She lightly flicked a finger. Like ripples spreading on a calm lake, small waves spread through the aether floating in the air.

Continuous mental interference at a non-obtrusive level. The start of a continuous, light suggestion.

“Enrica. We have been dispatched from the Luminexa Foundation’s Intellectual Property Containment and Enforcement Department. The reason we came to find you is simple. It is to manage you.”

“Like Sellafield Research Institute?”

“You’re quick to understand.”

The girl, sipping hot chocolate, gazed at the agent with amber eyes mixed with suspicion and fear.

“Your ability can hurt those around you. We intend to manage that for you. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Even with her blurring vision, Enrica stammered her reply.

“Management is fine. I decided to go to an academy. I plan to study there and learn how to control my power. Then there won’t be any problems.”

The agent slowly bent her head towards Enrica. Under an incomprehensible pressure, Enrica nervously looked up at the agent.

“Enrica, do you remember your childhood?”

“What about it?”

“Your first awakening occurred when you were 6 years and 4 months old. The location was a kindergarten. Considering that typical Awakened Ones irregularly awaken in their late teens or adulthood, this is an extremely unusual case. At that time, you couldn’t control your power, and as a result, a medium-scale radiation exposure incident occurred. There were no fatalities, but 17 victims occurred within the kindergarten, and two of them are still suffering from chronic radiation exposure aftereffects to this day. It seems the treatment wasn’t clean, you see.”

“…”

“Afterwards, your family quickly moved. Exactly 18 days later, a second incident occurred. It was a rampage caused by your unstable mental state and immature magic power control ability. As a result, three nearby houses were completely destroyed, with 2 severely injured and 11 lightly injured. The total damages amounted to 7,543,000 credits. This was a huge sum that your family couldn’t handle at the time.”

Under the sudden deluge of pressure, Enrica let out a short gasp.

“Even after that, numerous large and small damage incidents were reported. The 121st Street incident, the Venders Street disturbance, and the collapse of Ravendome are examples. Do you remember?”

It’s hard, even breathing is difficult. The reasons she was transferred to the research institute spilling unfiltered from another’s mouth was too painful. She wanted to cover her ears.

“It seems you remember. Of course, you should remember. Because these are incidents you caused. This type of accident can recur at any time, Enrica.”

When her uncomfortable past was mentioned, Enrica closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. The agent smiled inwardly and continued the pressure.

“Yes, we’re back to square one. Then I suppose I should first explain why we do these things—”

**

10 minutes before the Omega Protocol declaration.

Violet opened her eyes to a flood of stimuli. When strong signals from the network woke her, she was already surrounded by people in hazmat suits.

“Who are you?!”

Although she asked the question, Violet recognized the true identity of the beings before her. Intellectual Property Containment and Enforcement Department agents. Luminexa’s hounds.

“Quiet.”

With the sudden onset of dizziness, Violet’s mouth closed. It wouldn’t move, as if locked. Why was she so dizzy? Was it because of the Foundation-made restraints on her wrists? Her magic power wasn’t activating.

There might be another cause. Violet blinked her red eyes a few times and accelerated her network.

“Hmm, there are cobwebs in her head. I’ll clear them!” “Clean up! Clean up!”

Her tangled mind became clean, like a house after a thorough cleaning. As the dizziness faded, Violet realized she had been subjected to something similar to mental manipulation. She could move her mouth now, but decided not to protest the anti-democratic act committed in her mind. This was because the Containment and Enforcement Department agents’ fingers were clearly resting on their menacing weapons.

The agent in front of her fortunately didn’t seem to notice that the suggestion had been broken.

“That’s what we want to ask. Who are you?”

The subtle pressure disappeared. She could open her mouth now.

“I am me! More importantly, where’s my friend? Who are you? Aren’t you going to answer—”

Violet suddenly felt a severe headache. A piercing pain, as if someone was infiltrating her network. Despite feeling puzzled, she suppressed her curiosity and waited. There was nothing she could do anyway, tied up with restraints.

“What, is this one an apostle? Unit 2501. Is that your friend?” “No. Looks human.”

Her inventory was still usable, so there was no problem. Violet decided she would self-destruct if need be, and pretended not to resist.

“Ugh… nooo…”

“Stay still.”

The Containment and Enforcement Department interrogator touched Violet’s head. A unique ability activated. In the fleeting moment minds connected.

For the first and last time as a Containment and Enforcement Department interrogator, she felt bewildered.

‘Why can’t I read her?’

**

5 minutes before the Omega Protocol declaration.

Kalia was navigating a monotonous labyrinth made of massive pipes and concrete. This bizarre place distorted her sense of time and was detached from reality, yet at the same time, it evoked a strangely familiar feeling.

The disharmony between familiarity and strangeness brought her an uncomfortable feeling.

‘How can a place like this exist?’

The corridor Kalia was walking through—if it could be called a corridor—exuded both a familiar and unfamiliar atmosphere. It felt like an endless sprawl of a shopping mall after closing hours, a midnight underground parking lot, and an empty train station all mixed together.

The fact that not a single demonic beast was visible was a relief, but for Kalia, who had to be on high alert every time she turned a corner or passed through a corridor, it wasn’t a particularly welcome situation. Concentration was like a resource, and if used continuously, it would eventually run dry like a well in a drought.

“Oo oo?”

“Caw! Caw!”

Animal cries heard amidst her annoyance. Kalia, turning the third corner with a ‘no way’ feeling, was met with an unexpectedly welcome sight. Standing in the middle of the corridor was a monkey wearing a bag. The monkey was loudly squawking and fighting with the two crows in front of it.

“Ooh-kik! Ooh-kik!” “The direction where the boss is felt is that way! Why do you keep getting lost?”

“Caw! Caw!” “No! It’s that way!”

To Kalia, the animals clearly seemed to be arguing. She recalled that Violet’s new animal subordinates were connected through a network.

Although she couldn’t understand what they were saying, their actions of stomping their feet, flapping their wings, and waving their arms on the spot resembled a heated human argument.

“Huh? You guys are Violet’s pets, right?”

“Oo oo?”

The monkey, encountering an unexpected acquaintance in an unfamiliar place, brightened up and ran over. It was good that it had escaped from the car stealthily from the suspicious humans, but it had been wandering for a long time, not knowing where its owner and the owner’s friend had disappeared to.

Kalia also felt glad, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but ponder the limitations of their species. She knew they understood words, but how on earth should she communicate?

“Uh… yes, monkey. You. Your name is Cocoa, right?”

The monkey nodded its head.

“You guys are also looking for Violet now, aren’t you? Have you found anything out?”

Cocoa scratched its head as if in a complex situation. It was clear that nodding or shaking its head alone couldn’t properly convey the current situation. A sudden thought occurred. Cocoa hastily rummaged through its bag.

Kalia’s gaze, which had been curiously observing the monkey’s actions, soon shifted to the monkey’s hand. What lay in the monkey’s palm was a smartphone. Cocoa tapped the smartphone and then held out the screen to Kalia.

[Couldn’t find her. Currently, the mice are searching! The crows haven’t had any results.]

“Oh, you know how to write… So, that’s what’s happening…?”

[Strange! It’s too unfamiliar and weird here… The smell isn’t very clear either…]

The animals’ bewilderment was obvious at a glance. Kalia could guess that these animal subordinates had entered an otherworldly space like a dungeon for the first time.

‘Still, I’ve got companions, haven’t I? I should think positively…’

When Kalia, joined by her unexpected companions, went through the maze-like corridors a few more times, they encountered a second uninvited guest.

[Found something strange. Blueberry detected something at the 3rd path there. What could it be?]

“Blueberry? Ah… one of your mice? What did it find?”

[It’s people! Not the boss. They’re tied up! And there are people with guns around.]

“What did you say?”

Instantly, a small flame ignited within Kalia. She instinctively began to sprint down the otherworldly passage. The situation was highly suspicious. Could there be new victims?

She wasn’t particularly worried about Violet.

‘That one’s invincible. But if they’re the kind of people who kidnap others suddenly in the path…’

It could be Enrica, or perhaps there are other victims besides those two.

Now that she knew, she couldn’t just pass by.

—Thump!

Kalia, who sprinted fiercely into the corridor, was met with an unexpected sight. Men in suits, tightly bound, and grim-looking figures holding syringes to their necks suddenly turned their heads towards her. The scene visible to her eyes was blurry, like a shattered mirror.

In her astonishment, she felt a sense of déjà vu. The visual effects Violet displayed when executing operations and the aura of the armed figures before her felt similar.

‘Is it perception-inhibiting equipment?’

The members of the Naval Joint Operations Team also couldn’t hide their bewilderment. This otherworldly space was only accessible via Circlev, so how had a girl like this gotten here?

The team members exchanged quick glances.

‘A mercenary?’

‘Doesn’t matter. Let’s deal with her.’

The air, filled with bewilderment, instantly became tense. Three seconds later, both sides pointed their guns at each other.

—Rat-a-tat-tat!

Gunshots suddenly echoed within the quiet otherworldly space.

**

3 minutes before the Omega Protocol declaration.

The agent continued speaking to Enrica, who was sinking into melancholy.

“Have you ever heard of Corpus Infection?”

“What’s that? I think I’ve heard of it, but I don’t really know.”

In response to Enrica’s curiosity, the Containment and Enforcement Department agent flicked a finger in the air. Instantly, a hologram appeared with subliminal meme images subtly interspersed throughout, designed to weaken the opponent’s self-confidence. Confirming Enrica’s pupils were wavering, the agent continued speaking.

“Corpus Infection was an epidemic that was prevalent long before you were born, over a decade ago. For Awakened Ones, it merely worsened their condition, but for non-Awakened Ones, it was fatal. It spread through the air and developed after an irregular incubation period. In its early stages, it showed cold symptoms, but in later stages, the skin would turn black and harden. Patients would eventually suffer seizures and die.”

The hologram flickered repeatedly.

“Until Raphlaxia developed a cure, there was no way to treat it with any medication, healing magic, or even unique abilities or artifacts.”

“That’s a scary disease… But why are you telling me this? Does it mean my ability is as bad as that disease…?”

The agent shook their head.

“Actually, though people have forgotten, there’s a hidden truth behind the origin of this epidemic. The virus that caused Corpus Infection was created by a corporation. It was an artificial aether virus utilizing nanotechnology and magic engineering. Do you know why they did that?”

“I don’t know. Did they do it to do something bad?”

“No. They created this virus with genuinely good intentions. The company’s scientists wanted to create an effective biological weapon against demonic beasts. They wanted to end this tedious war with their weapon. However, due to a management error, the virus leaked, and it acted completely differently from its original intent. An enormous number of victims resulted, and most were non-Awakened Ones, far removed from aether. The very people we must protect.”

Blue lights flickered repeatedly before Enrica’s amber eyes.

“Enrica, this world is so vulnerable. In front of superhuman Awakened Ones who can wield aether, this world is like a house of cards. If one carelessly waves their hand, the world collapses far too easily. But foolish individuals only seek to abuse the power given to them. In today’s world, it has become too easy for individuals or organizations to obtain advanced technologies or dangerous artifacts that can burn cities and sink continents with just a little effort. Even if evil people harbor just a little malice, the world collapses in an instant. Do you want to see this world collapse?”

Images of her friends flashed before Enrica’s eyes. The two friends she met in the research institute, who hadn’t yet woken up in the hospital. Her new friend Violet, whom she met for the first time outside. And the wider world she hadn’t yet seen. Dungeons, adventures…

Enrica shook her head vigorously.

“No!”

“That’s right. You agree too. Someone must exercise restraint so that this fragile world doesn’t shatter. To prevent bad people from obtaining uncontrolled weapons more dangerous than nuclear bombs, to prevent them from gaining power to easily curse others. That’s our job. To prevent your world, your friends, from being hurt.”

A soft but dark and sticky sound seeped into Enrica’s ears.

“Enrica Maitner. Can you help ensure the world doesn’t collapse?”

Enrica, as if entranced, looked at the empty air with vacant eyes and replied.

“Yes, I don’t want the world to collapse.”

She didn’t want the world to turn bad. Because she had so many things she wanted to do.

Therefore…

Suddenly, her new friend’s voice struck her mind like lightning.

—Freedom! Democracy! —We must live freely!

Therefore, she must overcome this constitution with her own power. Not by running away, nor by hiding, but proudly.

In the end, Enrica was able to recall it with difficulty.

Her own wish.

She wanted to live freely.

Enrica’s thoughts, which had been tangled like a messy skein of yarn, began to unravel one by one.

**

1 minute before the Omega Protocol declaration.

“It’s being delayed too much. Is there some problem…?”

As an agent approached, the interrogator raised her hand to indicate there was no problem.

“No, it seems to be a constitutional issue. Her mental strength is stronger than expected. It took time to access her memories…”

The Containment and Enforcement Department interrogator murmured so and dove into the abyss of consciousness. Passing through depths as sticky as tar, she smiled inwardly as she felt the scene before her eyes transform as expected. The blurred form of a library emerged onto the surface.

Those with unique abilities related to the mind or skilled in mental manipulation magic view human consciousness and thoughts from their own perspective. It’s similar to how even the same magic formula appears in different shapes and forms to each individual. To her, a human was a library. Countless memories and thoughts were arrayed on shelves in the form of books, and the interrogator simply needed to pull out the one she desired and modify or tear it up as she pleased.

‘Right, what will your library look like?’

Lifting a book from the shelf, the interrogator smiled with interest. Mixing personal feelings and interest with her duty was one of the things strictly prohibited by the Foundation, but sometimes, enjoying such small deviations wasn’t so bad.

The moment she opened the first page of the book, she sympathized with the feelings of someone with dyslexia.

She couldn’t read it.

‘Why?’

Her senses, which had been demanding an explanation for this bizarre situation, conveyed an even more astonishing sight. The library, which should have slowly revealed itself, was continuously, endlessly expanding. The space kept growing, as if mocking her that what she had seen so far was only a fraction.

‘A human’s memories, this vast?’

Faced with incomprehensible memories, the interrogator tried to put the book back on the shelf. Until she met a pair of flickering red eyes beyond the shelf, through a gap in the books.

“Here she is!”

The yellow-haired girl shouted that and poked her head through the shelves. The panicked interrogator recoiled, only to be met by girls swarming from all directions.

Red eyes, yellow hair, those eyes. Everywhere, and nowhere!

“Doesn’t seem like an apostle? What is it? Unit 2501, you’re not from the previous workplace, are you?”

“She’s human! Isn’t it just a unique ability or magic?”

“Oh, I see!”

The interrogator attempted to disengage. Her attempt to rapidly float out of the abyss of consciousness was halted.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The girls growled playfully.

“So she’s human, after all?”

One Violet murmured.

“If she came in, it means erosion is possible, right? Shall we absorb her too?”

“That’s a good idea!”

Hearing the word ‘absorb,’ the interrogator ran with all her might.

“Yay! Let’s go!”

Her long experience and abilities miraculously allowed her to avoid being caught. Soon, she crashed with all her might into the closest window of the library.

—Shatter!

Fragments of thought pierced her body, but she didn’t care. She had to live. She could escape from here.

If she were caught here, surely—

—Thump!

At the cold, hard feel of gray pavement, the interrogator stumbled to her feet. Hesitating at the strange sensation, she raised her head and was met with an indescribable sense of despair.

A vast plaza where two statues stood in a row.

“A c-city…”

Only then did the Intellectual Property Containment and Enforcement Department agent realize the truth. That what she had seen was merely a fraction.

It was impossible for a human to construct such a vast mental space internally.

Then what was this? Activating a syllogism.

Humans cannot construct such a massive mental image.

The girl she connected to had constructed a colossal domain.

Therefore, the target before her was…

“Not… human…!”

As numerous girls approached, armed with tools, the interrogator in reality opened her mouth with difficulty. It was the final signal drawn forth by her training and will as an elite agent of the Foundation.

“Hahahaha….”

In terror, the woman collapsed. Unit 2501, at the forefront, charged forward with an iron pipe.

“Democracy, here we come!”

Sensing something amiss, the Containment and Enforcement Department agents turned to each other and drew their weapons.

“Aaaaaargh!”

“—Emergency! Emergency! Code Black! Code Black! Omega Protocol!”

Magic power began to swirl around the screaming interrogator’s entire body. The agents’ actions were mechanical and swift. They mercilessly swung their rifle butts, knocking her down.

Bang!

With subsequent gunfire, the interrogator’s head was blown off. Violet quickly scrambled up from the spot and charged. The girl’s two arms were severed.

“Gah!”

Violet, face down on the floor. Seeing magic power swirling around the girl who was not yet dead, confirming shots poured down upon her in succession.

As if bolt saturation wasn’t enough, one agent took out a large firearm and charged its energy. Plasma as hot as the sun incinerated the spot where the interrogator and the two girls had been.

The situation had ended. The three elite agents, panting from the shocking situation, stared at the spot for a long time.

“…Reported to the field. Reinforcements will come. Damn it, what was that monster?”

“I don’t know…”

“Damn, what was that…”

As soon as one agent, catching his breath, murmured, the floor erupted as if exploding.

Soldiers in black combat suits surged from within.

“Waaaaah!”

The resisting agents were swallowed by the wave of soldiers.