Gear Era 1016, February 6th, 10.34am.
Approximately 75km below the city of Mie, at the bottom of the city’s structures.
It slowly began to move, in that place the residents on the surface would definitely not see.
That was a massive metal spider.
320m tall, 932m long
The size was so massive it was unfathomable to think that it could move, and yet it was rumbling as it moved forward.
It burrowed up from the deep underground at the bottom of the city—in fact, space itself, and proceeded forth while breaking free from gravity itself.
In front of it was the Capital sphere of Japan—the Multiple Grid Tokyo.
Slowly, it began to move forward.
It would probably take half a day to arrive.
But while burrowing through the Clockwork Planet, the hollow floating in space, it continued to approach its prey accurately, desiring to deal a fatal blow, and surely this was an exceptionally dangerous thing that may end up destroying this planet.
This ominous spider continued to climb without anyone knowing, but a shadow observed it in secrecy.
“So it began to move…?”
The silver hair swayed as the profile muttered,
“This thing is really hideous beyond anything one is allowed to see…but it really is threatening.”
While saying these spiteful words, the shadow, RyuZU, narrowed her eyes.
Once she confirmed the monster’s actions, path and speed, she silently left the scene without anyone catching sight of her.
●
Gear Era 1016, February 6th, 6.27pm
There was a construct called the 4th Clock Tower at Tokyo, Japan, Grid Akihabara, Yasukuni Highway.
Basically, all Clock Towers were to be controlled under the ‘military’, but this was a rare exception used for technical research, and the nearby college was entrusted with the maintenance.
Some people were walking through the campus of this Akihabara Technical College.
They were dressed in similar blue work clothes, pushing carts that were carrying large loads, passing through the campus brazenly under the red sunset. There were still many students and teaching faculty in school, but none of them noticed those them walking in the campus.
And so, with nobody to obstruct them, they arrived at the cargo entrance of the Clock Tower.
There was a metal door and a little guard room set up there, and a guard, slightly aged, stared suspiciously at the group that was delivering this large set of cargo.
Their leader, a massive man akin to a standing bear, smiled as he raised his voice,
“Hello! Good work there. Thank you for always taking care of us here.”
“Y-yeah, many thanks…may I know what do you need?”
The guard answered vaguely, and the hulking figure bared his teeth, showing a refreshing smile, fishing out a document from the document bag tucked under his armpit.
“We’re from Success Transporters, here to deliver the new observation equipment.”
“Eh, I never heard of that before…?”
“Ah great. This is a bother. Did they make a mistake with the contact again?”
The hulking man gave an exaggerated frown, and let out a little grumble,
“It’s the 3rd time this year. These college professors really suck at dealing with the procedures properly…ah, it’s nothing, pardon me.”
“Don’t worry, I understand.”
The large man apologized, and the guard gave a bitter smile, saying,
“I guess it’s most likely Professor Kizaki? There are students always complaining about him behind his back, but he’s so careless despite him being so serious to them.”
“Eh, well, it seems like he’s being the same as usual.”
The large man looked worried as he bent his back, and pointed at the document that was handed out,
“I heard that Professor Kizaki was suddenly dispatched from today onwards, and we couldn’t contact him. He wanted to get to work immediately, so he requested for us to set up the equipment while he is on leave here…I guess it’s inconvenient after all?”
“Hm…well, you do need a request form from the professors in the first place…”
The guard expressed his sympathy, and nodded,
“Well, your documents look rather formal here, so I guess it’s fine. I’ll give the professor a reminder once you come back>”
“Thank you very much! You’re seriously a great help here!”
“No no, you have worked hard there. I shall open the door now.”
The kind-hearted guard maintained his smile as he pressed the switch beside his hand.
The door opened, and the hulking man received the stamped document, bowing as he expressed his thanks.
The gang dressed in work clothes pushed the cart as they entered the cargo path.
Once they made sure the guard room could not be seen, the hulking man—Halter, let out a laugh, saying,
“—Anyway, the security at college’s typically like this, Professor Hannes.”
“This really is unbelievable, Halter.”
Answering him was the man pushing the cart behind him. That middle-aged man had a chiseled, rectangular face, and did not seem to be one who would show much emotion.
“That one document alone’s enough to get anyone of unknown identity into the Clock Tower?”
“The ‘military’ definitely won’t do that. For normal people however, they look at the clothes and attitude It’s not easy to end up suspicious if you wear some jumpsuits from a freight company and say some words there.”
The name, Hannes, gave a look of disapproval,
“But it’s really a nice coincidence that the professor went out, huh?”
“Ah, not really, that was an arrangement by the Breguets.”
“…What did you just say?”
“It’s a college, and not a place to be rude. We just randomly arranged some work and got the professor to leave. Thanks to that, we’re going to be the only ones in this Clock Tower.”
After hearing Halter’s words, Hannes let out a deep sigh, and repeated,
“…This is seriously unbelievable.”
“You did once work with that tomboy, but it seems like you’re by-the-book there.”
Halter raised his lips as he teased.
However, Hannes looked stumped as he immediately answered back,
“Tomboy? As far as I know, she’s a lady who’s very serious, honest and outstanding, no?”
“…Well, words themselves aren’t very convenient.”
That description was not necessarily wrong, but it did seem amiss somewhere.
Halter took a deep breath, shook his head, and changed the topic,
“Anyway, if anything happens here, I’ll deal with it, professor, so please focus on your work. We’ll set the limit, including the setting up of the equipment to be 4 hours. Is that okay?”
“Of course. I am a Meister after all. Trust me on it.”
Hannes, the ex Observation team leader of the Meister Guild, boasted this proudly.
And in response to those words, Halter gave a wry smile, nodded and lowered his head.
“—I guess it is rude on my part.”
●
Gear Era 1016, February 8th, 0:00.
Just right before the day that would be recorded in the annuls of human history.
Marie Bell Breguet was at Grid Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan, the First Clock Tower.
She was in a room filled with clockwork functions similar to that of the Core Tower, and in that room, there were dozens of technicians hard at work.
—They had to control the Core Tower and the various Clock Towers to execute Marie’s plan.
And they were all working on this job without any break.
Of course, they were not part of the Technical Forces which regularly maintain the place.
Their race, gender and ages were all different, and their clothing, equipment lacked a sense of cohesion. The only common them they had was the Chronopass they had on their wrists.
That was the proof of a Meister.
A highly intricate clock with 9 faces of various sizes.
That was a medal given to the highest of the 200 million Clockwork Technicians.
No matter how many hundreds Technicians came to work together, they would be no match for a Meister. These Technicians themselves had extraordinary talent and abilities , and amongst them, one of them called out,
“Professor Marie!”
Marie, engrossed in scribbling calculations at the work desk, lifted her head.
“Yes, go head.”
“We’ve confirmed numbers 3340 to 7990. All checks in all levels have been completed.”
“—Got it. Affirmed. Good work.”
Marie nodded, and this time, another technician staring at the communicator yelled,
“Report! The 4th Clock Tower has reported that all level functions have been completed. Now transferring the temperature control system and administrator limits to all levels.”
“—Understood. Please reply ‘When it’s about time for the operation, please escape immediately once the final checks are done’. Also, relay the same message to the other Clock Towers.”
A few incoming reports, some affirmations and instructions given later, Marie took a large breath.
She sat on the chair, stretching her back to loosen her tense muscles.
And a man, recently entering old age, spoke up,
“We finally made it.”
He elegantly placed the cup giving off steam on the table, and continued,
“Red tea, with lots of honey and milk. I do remember you saying you like sweet things?”
Marie’s expression eased as she picked the cup up.
“Thank you, Mechanic Leader Conrad.”
“I’m no longer a Mechanic Team leader, Professor Marie.”
The man, Conrad, calmly corrected,
“…So you are.”
Holding the steaming cup at her lips, Marie lowered her eyes.
Back when Marie was with the ‘Meister Guild’, Conrad was the team leader of the Mechanics, and was responsible for assisting Marie. He was an experienced, capable technician, and stayed till the end of the crisis in Kyoto.
After that incident, he resigned from the ‘Guild’, and turned to working as a freelance clockwork technician on the streets. The one who helped investigate the suspicious movements of the Tokyo ‘military’ was none other than Conrad himself.
“The most important thing is that the work is finished without any hitches…we’ll have to overexert everyone.”
“No no, all of us do enjoy working with you. In fact, it seems all the Clock Towers are emptied, so the works a lot easier.”
“…Though this is one huge criminal operation.”
She tasted the sweet hot red tea, and paused.
She wondered about these technicians who were with her here, and the ones working in the other Clock Towers.
Most of them were like Conrad, formerly Marie’s subordinates, Meisters who quit the ‘Guild’ after the Kyoto incident and became unemployed.
—We’ll hijack the city’s functions and take on the invading massive weapon.
Anyone would have wondered that Marie’s plan was reckless, and yet they took part without commenting on it.
These people had valuable skills, and most likely, they would have obtained the jobs and treatments they desired; yet they participated in this plan that was without rewards, and even criminal.
For they were requested by Marie Bell Breguet; that was their only reason.
And after recalling this fact, Marie felt so much heartfelt thanksgiving and gratitude, her cheeks blushing.
“I’m really—grateful.”
At that moment, the communicator on the table let out a ringtone.
Marie pressed the receiving switch, and there were the words,
“—Marie, you ready?”
It was Naoto’s voice. He seemed a little excited, his voice shriller than usual.
Marie curled her lips, saying to the voice receiver,
“—Of course. Who do you think I am?”
“I’ll leave it to you then, Meister.”
“Of course. Please finish your job too.”
Understood. Naoto answered so briefly, and the call got cut.
Marie switched off the communicator, and Conrad asked,
“Was that ‘him’?”
“Yes. It’s Naoto Miura.”
Marie nodded, and Conrad muttered as he let out a sigh,
“I did witness it personally yesterday, but I do find it unbelievable no matter how I look at it. He managed to observe the Core Tower and the 12 Clock Towers just by his own hearing at that level of assistance equipment…”
“But it’s reality.”
Naoto managed to hear the entire structure of Akihabara, and Marie translated it into a diagram.
They analyzed the structure of the Core Tower and the various Clock Towers, and manipulated 4 Clock Towers to hijack the Core Tower to create a system that could freely manipulate the temperature and communications network—
Such a ridiculous job would need hundreds of years to be grasped, yet Naoto and Marie were able to complete it all in 3 days.
“If the Core Tower is the brain of the city, the Clock Towers will be the organs. For example, this would be basically nudging the organs to interfere with the brain…the Core Tower and the Clock Towers are linked, so theoretically speaking, it isn’t impossible, but…it’s surprising.”
Of course, this was completed with the help of dozens of Meisters, but…
Conrad let out a mutter with a deep voice,
“As a Clockwork Technician myself, I am very terrified.”
Conrad himself was a Meister, the apex of all Clockwork Technicians.
It could be said that he had researched on the latest clockwork technology humanity had, and was well versed in them. It was not a boast; he really had the accomplishments and experiences to back that up.
But the talent he could not understand at all existed in this current reality,
“Somehow, I wonder…if that talent of his is really some a human has?”
“He’s a human, Professor Conrad.”
Marie immediately answered, and lowered her eyes,
“He’s not a convenient God, and he’s not a convenient magician. He’s no different from us, just an ordinary idiot that can be seen everywhere.”
“…”
“But though he’s an idiot—looking at what happened in Kyoto back then, and this incident, he’s a lot better than the brains of those guys who planned those stuff. No matter how abnormal that ability is—Naoto’s filled with ‘humanity’ at least.”
Humans certainly were not correct, not completely perfect, not truly omnipotent.
No matter who it was, everyone was born without a value, foolishly making mistakes, and yet if the way to live was to work hard, obtain the meaning of human life and progress forward,
—Then Naoto Miura would be the most human-like person Marie Bell Breguet knew of.
Conrad briefly stared at Marie,
“—Yes. You are right here.”
And so, he quietly muttered.
And then, it seemed he had a sudden notion as he spoke up,
“Actually I had been wondering all this time, but,”
“Yes?”
Marie tilted her head, and Conrad muttered in a teasing mutter,
“You really are bad at faking your true personality.”
“Eh…?”
Marie blurted out a stunned voice.
And Conrad grinned, saying,
“But I do think this true self of yours makes you more charming, Professor Marie.”
“—P-please don’t tease me here!”
Conrad enjoyed the pouting face of the girl, ostensibly a granddaugther to him, and turned his head.
The technicians had stopped working for some time, staring at their conversation, and Conrad looked back at their faces, clapping his hands.
With a deep, astringent voice, he said,
“…Now then, it’s about time, everyone. Let us all enjoy the instance before history’s changed.”
●
February 7th, right when it was about to be February 8th.
The events that would be called the ‘Akihabara Terrorist Incident’, and the prelude incident to the ‘February 8th uprising’ began.
—On a boy’s command,
There was an intense quake spanning a 30km radius with Akihabara Grids as the epicenter.
All communication functions ceased, and the “Resonance Gears” within started to function beyond their specifications.
The core towers of gear arrays, which regulated the functions of the city, started acting in a way never seen before.
This was neither an ordinary malfunction nor a sign of defect after years of wear and tear. The systems were running normally, but for some reason, it was not running according to its manager’s instructions.
And 5 minutes after it happened.
The communication functions, which had ceased for a while, suddenly started to work again.
The people, who were unable to do anything and watched the developments in silence, heard a ‘criminal statement’ through the television and radio from a ridiculously agitated criminal. “Good evening, ladies—and—gentlemen!! And all foolish, mediocre and ordinary citizens who do not fit these categories!! Pardon me for disturbing your enjoyment of the weekend night!!”
The voice being broadcasted was doctored to resemble a drunk emcee speaking, echoing everywhere.
After hearing these words, Conrad frowned, seemingly perturbed,
“Deary me, I really can’t keep up with the thinking of young people these days…”
And beside him, Marie, who too had her head in her hands, groaned,
“No…actually, do you mind not thinking of that idiot as a representative of young people?”
Marie and Conrad had to stay with the system construction, and so they left the criminal statement for Naoto to handle, yet it ended up like that.
This unprecedented, never to be replicated historic event—was contrasted with an overly crude criminal statement; it was too late even though Marie regretted it.
“Ahh, goodness, I’ll definitely tell him off later!—How’s the false information going?”
The clockwork technician in charge of the control panel answered,
“Proceeding successfully! All 168 channels maintained. No signs of it being discovered!”
“—Understood. Observation team, where’s the gigantic weapon?”
“It’s moving below Grid Shibuya right no! Looking at the ‘military’s actions, it’ll take about 56 minutes before both sides meet!”
“—Understood. Looks like it’s going successfully. Please prepare the temperature controls!”
Marie proceeded with the next instruction, and Conrad said,
“Professor Marie, the rest can be left to us.”
“…Please do so. Now then, I’ll meet up with them as planned and proceed with the next phase. Once the operation is done, please escape immediately.”
Understood. After hearing the replies in unison, Marie grabbed her coat and bag, before racing out.
Putting on her coat, she ran up the emergency stairs to the roof of the Clock Tower.
The warm night wind grazed her cheeks.
The light gears converted gravity as light, and with the brightness lighting everything, no stars could be seen in the sky.
All she could see what the silver moon and the ‘Equatorial Spring’ that was revolving due to the moon’s gravity.
She could hear Naoto’s ridiculous ‘criminal statement’ from some speakers.
Marie yelled,
“Ryu—ZU!!”
“—There is no need to shout as I am here to pick you up, Master Marie.”
A cold voice could be heard from behind.
Marie turned back, and found the silhouette of the automata with the silver hair swaying in the night wind.
“In fact, it is you who is late by two seconds, Master Marie. In this situation where a slight delay may result in a precarious situation, this failure is—”
“Then hurry up and make up for lost time!”
Marie growled as she leapt at RyuZU.
RyuZU was obviously looking uppity—and so, she unwillingly, picked Marie up in a cradle before moving.
She leaped off the roof.
They were headed towards Naoto who was at the roof of a building in front of the station, stating his ‘criminal intent’ alone. That would be the place where they would meet up.
Holding Marie, RyuZU raced through the streets of Akihabara. It seemed there was a tense, wary atmosphere from the streets passing by below them due to the ‘criminal statement’.
“—uu, let’s begin!”
Marie muttered briefly as she raised her finger.
She was pointing at the red steel tower in the night sky—the ancient relic called the Tokyo Tower could be seen gradually frozen white.
“It’s about time for the final phase of this operation.”
The frozen Tokyo Tower was shattered, and it was to show to the entire Tokyo a visible threat.
It was a show of power to affirm that Grid Akihabara was under control. Once that was done, they would immediately end the declaration and proceed to the next phase.
With an icy tone, RyuZU continued,
“More importantly, and something I have been worried about right from the beginning, is that the enemy has taken action 2 minutes and 37 seconds faster than what I expected.”
RyuZU tilted her head aside slightly, looking afar.
Marie looked over at where RyuZU was looking at, and found 3 large shadows flying silently through the night sky.
“Silent helicopters…!”
Those were military weapons with assault-type automata’s stored within them. All three of them were headed in the same path as them—headed towards the roof where Naoto was.
As there was real information revealed when Naoto stated his intent, it was to be expected that they would have grasped his actual location, yet it was faster than what they expected.
There was also a difference in speed between the silent helicopters flying in the air and RyuZU who was jumping around on the roofs, causing the distance between them to pull upon.
—If this kept up, Naoto would be attacked by the silent helicopters before RyuZU could even reach him.
“And I can see that there are security automatas on the ground.”
Marie looked down upon hearing RyuZU’s words, and found that the security automatas were chasing towards the building Naoto was at with rotating red lights. There were dozens of them.
They were a lot weaker in threat compared to the silent helicopters, but they still could not be left ignored. They had the appearances of walking cylinders, but a single one was sufficient in suppressing a human of flesh and blood.
—What do I do?
Just when Marie was frowning and wondering how to respond, RyuZU whispered,
“Master Marie, do you have a weapon, am I correct?”
“Eh? Of course, I do have the Coil Spear, but why…?”
Marie nodded in affirmation, and RyuZU stoically responded,
“Now then, I have to hasten myself, so I shall leave the small fries below to you.”
“Eh? —Kyaaa!!!?”
Marie was thrown into orbit before she could even answer, and shrieked.
While spinning around, she hurriedly drew the anchor wire from her holster, and fired it.
And on the other hand, RyuZU, having thrown her ‘excess baggage’ aside, chased after the helicopters with increased speed.
“Ow-owowow…that shitty automata…!”
Marie cussed as she lifted her face, but gasped,
“““Suspicious persons discovered—”””
Warning sirens blared.
She landed right in the middle of the security automatas that were racing through the streets.
And at this moment, they were surrounding this suspicious girl who fell from the sky, and was armed with a weapon.
“Wai…!”
Marie hurriedly drew the Coil Spear from the holster on her waist.
And at the same time, the security automatas, having determined the increased threat level, poked out the barrels of their riot guns.
“““Resistance determined—eliminating.”””
“If you’re going to drop me off somewhere, at least put me in a better place, you piece of scrap—!”
Marie yelled, neither screaming nor growling, and retreated away from that place.
Gunshots could be heard immediately afterwards.
●
Afterwards,
Marie broke through countless dangerous situations, before finally wiping out all the security automatas.
Once she was sure she did not miss out on any enemy, she hurriedly raced to the roof of the building.
She ran up the emergency staircase, ignoring the severed wreckages of the burning helicopters.
And once she arrived at the roof, she found the automata that were reduced to scraps, Halter with his back facing her, Naoto who was sprawled on the floor for some reason, and—
“—!”
A nonchalant looking RyuZU.
Once she found RyuZU, Marie fired the Coil Spear without a second thought.
The bullet raced towards RyuZU without deviating—only to miss because the latter took a step back.
“…That was dangerous, Princess.”
“Halter.”
The girl quickly approached as she greeted Halter, who was giving off cold sweat.
“Go catch that relic there. I must open her apart and create her personality structure today.”
Halter shrugged and sighed,
“Please don’t make me do something so impossible, Milady. How do you expect me to do that?”
“How else are you going to show off your real ability? Go catch that relic with that marine-style, close combat fighting skills or something—it’s fine if you break it though.”
“I’ve always been in the armed forces. Anyway, what’s going on?”
Marie did not answer as she swung the small gunblade—the Coil Spear in her right hand to the ground, and changed it into its blade form.
“THIS DAMNED RELIC—LEFT ME BEHIND AND RAN OFF JUST WHEN WE WERE SURROUNDED BY THE SECURITY AUTOMATONS!”
Having lost her patience, Marie raised her voice.
She roared with all her might as she swung the blade at RyuZU. The sharp swing, combined with the momentum from the upper body, was easily dodged by RyuZU however as she lightly leapt to dodge it.
“Oh my, the plating has worn off.”
“YOU’RE TOO NOISY!”
“If it had been Miss Marie, who always proclaims herself to be a genius girl who can do everything, the mere disposable Automatons should not have been a problem, no matter if there were 10 or 20 of them, am I correct?”
“HOW IN THE WORLD IS THAT POSSIBLE!? I NEARLY THOUGHT I WOULD DIE BACK THEN!!”
“Such—”
RyuZU widened her eyes in surprise.
“…I am sorry. Though I have tried my best to underestimate Miss Marie as much as I could, I never thought you would be such a perfect small fry…please allow me to express my deepest apologizes.”
“…I’ll rip you apart! I’ll definitely rip you apart…!”
Marie’s Coil Spear changed form, and just when she was about to deploy its blade…
“Quiet—”
Naoto was still sprawled on the concrete floor, muttering with a hushed voice.
The trio reacted to this voice, ceased their actions, and turned their stares silently at him.
Naoto placed his ear on the concrete roof, and continued:
“Those guys—are headed to the “Activation Bureau”, just as we had planned.”
Things are going well. Marie thought.
The Tokyo ‘military’ gathered at the Tokyo Core Tower were led to the underground due to the false information they leaked. If things were to proceed so smoothly, the gigantic weapon would meet the ‘military’ at the bottom of the city.
“3021 Automatons, and 1765 foot soldiers.
“…I guess that’s all the stationed troops they could immediately deploy.”
Halter scratched his head and smiled, while Marie kept her Coil Spear, and said,
“But our location has been confirmed, right?”
“From what I can hear from here, there are seven of them coming—not the silent helicopters though. They’re real Gatling assault helicopters—without any Automatons in them.”
“Those are the heavy arms helicopters Japan currently has that it can mobilize…the PTK-A74, huh?”
RyuZU asked:
“Do they possess a significant amount of threat?”
“These are independent unmanned assault helicopters with two Resonance Cannons on them…to put it this way, seven of them can turn this area into complete ash without resupply.”
“Alright, let’s go. Hey, Naoto, how much time do we have left?”
Halter asked, and Naoto then suddenly got up.
“They’ll arrive in—another 372 seconds.”
“Let us retreat before we meet any enemies then. I will carry the luggage.”
RyuZU stacked Naoto’s equipment together and raised it easily.
In the meantime, Naoto pulled out the unnecessary cables from his headphones, and put his headphones on again. He then switched on the Noise Canceller.
…Ahh. He took a deep breath.
…It’s finally peaceful now.
Upon seeing Naoto like this, Marie asked softly,
“Hey, Naoto, are you alright?”
“…Hm, sorta.”
Though Naoto nodded, to Marie, it seemed he was forcing himself.
His face was ridiculously pale, and there was a lot of sweat dripping from his forehead.
—I guess she thought.
No matter how much of an extraordinary talent that was, it was not some convenient miracle. It was a power that was beyond an equivalent price.
While Naoto staggered to his feet, Marie expressed her concerns, saying,
“You do feel some burden from that, after all…”
“No. It’s my fault…sorry.”
Then, Naoto gave a thumbs up behind him.
“It seems there’s a brothel in that building over there.”
“………………………………Huh??”
“They’re always—~ yapping here and there, making a ruckus without reading the moo—”
Before she could hear the rest, an utterly blushing Marie punched Naoto right in the chin.
And while Marie was silently stomping on the back of Naoto’s head whilst the latter had collapsed, Halter spoke up,
“Forget about it, Milady. That brain juice will affect the world’s future.”
“The ways of this world are too crazy.”
“…Well, how exactly, does it sound absurd coming from you?”
While Naoto groaned from right under Marie’s foot, Halter sighed, saying,
“Let’s hurry up. It’s not the time for some small play.”
“…Ah, don’t worry, Halter.”
Naoto said as he staggered to his feet, patted off the dust on his clothes, and adjusted his headphones.
“As long as we work together, a metropolis with a population of 40 million will be in our hands.”
“…It’ll be great if that happens.”
Halter patted his bald head as he muttered,
And the 4 of them ran down the emergency staircase.
They passed the helicopters that had exploded upon landing, and ran to the rotary in front of the station.
The large monitor in front of the station was displaying an emergency broadcast, clearly reporting this unprecedented terrorist attack.
They stopped in the plaza packed with evacuees, and Halter said,
“Now then, as Milady and I have agreed, once we make sure the professors have evacuated, we’ll be working for you in the workshop.”
“We’ll leave AnchoR to you guys. Don’t get careless and die there.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Naoto merely smiled back at Marie’s words.
But at this moment, RyuZU interrupted, trying to convince her to stay,
“No, my apologies, but do you mind coming along with us, Master Marie?”
Marie tilted her head in skepticism,
“—Me too?”
“RyuZU?”
Naoto did not understand her question, and RyuZU lowered her eyes slightly, looking docile,
“I can be certain that I cannot beat AnchoR by myself when the latter is at full power. What I proposed to Master Naoto was a chance to make the impossible possible—if anything is to happen to Master Naoto, I suppose I may not be able to operate.”
“…”
“For that reason, I wish to have Master Marie come along too just in case.”
And after saying that, RyuZU gave a deep bow.
Marie silently widened her eyes.
Even after considering the spiteful tongue filter that RyuZU had, Marie was unable to accept the former’s attitude towards anyone other than Naoto as mere bugs, and yet RyuZU actually lowered her head.
Marie gulped, and slowly nodded,
“—Okay then. I don’t think I have a way to deal with AnchoR, but if you think that’s the case, I guess it’s fine to just go along with you. Live or die, I’ll be with you guys until the very end.”
“That is a nice resolve you have, Master Marie.”
RyuZU lifted her head, and spoke that with a straight face.
Marie turned back to look up at Halter’s massive body
“Halter, are you able to handle all that alone?”
“Yeah, there’s still Professor Conrad. That old man isn’t an amateur there. Even without you around, Milady, it’s just commanding all the workers to leave.”
“…If you dare show any disrespect to Professor Conrad, I’m going to choke you later.”
Marie glared furiously at a joking Halter.
And from aside, Naoto interrupted in surprise,
“Hey, Professor Conrad’s that old man, right? Is this really alright?”
“Yeah. Don’t be fooled by his appearance—”
Marie shrugged,
“He’s able to beat a dozen of light-armored automatas or so with just a screwdriver.”
“…What!?”
Naoto exclaimed, and Halter complained,
“To be honest, I’m really not good at dealing with that man. He had to insist that he knows all the structures of my prosthetics, and can beat be down without using any external force…”
“…No no no, that should be a lie, right? Was that too much of an exaggeration?”
“He really isn’t bluffing, you know?”
Marie firmly concluded.
And from the bottom of his heart, Naoto asked with a skeptical look.
“I didn’t think it’s possible…but are the people in the ‘Guild’ martial oriented like Marie?”
“That’s not possible, is it? It’s basically an Intelligence organization.”
“…Of course!”
Naoto heaved a sigh of relief, and Marie continued,
But since maintaining the Clock Towers is a battle of physical strength, everyone would have trained their bodies somewhat, you know? On a side note, Professor Conrad’s the one who taught me self-defense.”
“…That nasty thing’s self-defense?”
Naoto recalled the leg techniques Marie used to take down two ‘military’ soldiers in an instant, and his back shivered in fear.
—That has to be a technique to kill no matter how I think about that.
“Well, besides,”
Marie curled her lips into a smile, saying,
“When fighting against the Earth’s ‘military’, I have to at least do some crush—self-defense.”
“You just said ‘crushing’ there, didn’t you!?”
Naoto shrieked, and Marie replied with a grin.
After that, Halter bid them farewell, and the trio departed the scene.
They were headed towards the underground parking lots in front of the station.
To wait for AnchoR, they chose a very spacious place that was devoid of perrsons.
Though they took a position where they could observe the entrance, RyuZU muttered,
“…Will she really come here?”
“She will.”
“She’ll.”
In response to RyuZU’s question, both Marie and Naoto concluded this based on different reasons,
“Our actions are probably not within the plans of those guys; there’s no way they can predict someone starting a terrorist attack to hijack the city’s functions. In that case, all the parties involved can’t possibly ignore us here, and AnchoR’s the only one able to fight RyuZU.”
“…That girl will definitely come, to meet you, AnchoR. To be precise, it’s to get you, RyuZU—to destroy her.”
Naoto narrowed his eyes, and stared into RyuZU’s eyes as he said,
“But there’s no way I’ll allow that. I’ll end this with both sides safe and sound. So RyuZU—please stop AnchoR.”
“Yes, since it is as you wish, Master Naoto. Furthermore—”
RyuZU placed her hand on her chest,
“…Conservatively put, I wish to avoid hurting my little sister as much as I can.”
She lowered her eyes, stating her true thoughts.
—Afterwards,
AnchoR appeared from the entrance of the underground parking lots.
●
The basement was dim.
And this place, far from the chaos on the surface, was filled with a tranquil atmosphere.
The two Initial-Y series units faced off against each other, from about 30m apart.
That was a distance so close for both sides, they could instantly shrink it.
On one side was a young girl automata in a red and white dress—AnchoR.
On the other side was a silver-haired girl automata in a black and white dress—RyuZU.
Though there were Naoto and Marie, standing still and gulping tensely behind RyuZU, AnchoR was looking at her big sister through the mask.
And with a calm tone, RyuZU said,
“Do you hear me, AnchoR?”
There was no answer.
But RyuZU did not mind as she continued,
“Your voice is heard by my Master. You are restrained by a filthy machine, your soul trampled. I thoroughly understand the humiliation you’re suffering, but—”
She paused,
“I absolutely refuse to destroy you.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she continued to declare to the still silent AnchoR.
“As your older sister, and as my Master’s servant, I will save you. For that reason, you need to fight too, AnchoR. Not for anyone else, but for your own will; you have to protect your own will.”
AnchoR did not answer.
But the cube dangling in front of the chest fell from the chain and silently floated.
RyuZU took on the challenge, and made a step forward.
“I’m going.”
—The voice came out.
It was not the usual carefree, melodic voice.
The professional, robotic voice that came with RyuZU’s words—or rather, the declaration,
“Defining Declaration—Initial-Y series Unit 1 ‘Yourslave’ RyuZU.”
Immediately afterwards,
AnchoR, who had been silent till this point, finally let out a voice,
“Defining Declaration—Initial-Y series Unit 4 ‘Trishula’ AnchoR.”
The transformations began.
With Naoto and Marie watching, the two Initial-Y series unit barged into the territory the humans living in this world definitely could not know of.
“Inherent function—Imaginary Time (Mute Scream)…beginning activation sequence.”
“Inherent function—Ten Thousand Flowers Fragrance Box (Power Reservoir)…beginning transformation sequence.”
Those were the insistence of resistance for those two.
And at this instance—they clearly stated their intents to break the laws of Physics
Naoto gasped.
The otherworldly logic hidden within RyuZU’s body was beginning to show itself.
At the same time, the gnashing of the gears echoed, and with a snap, like dominoes falling, RyuZU’s black dress became a different color and make. It became a translucent veil revealing the white skin, a pearl-colored wedding dress wrapping the slender body tightly.
The golden eyes had a ruby glint in them.
“–Beginning shift from 1st clock ‘Real Time’ to 2nd clock ‘Imaginary Time’.”
“Threat level, Category Two’—difference loop, 12th Shift.”
You’re kidding Marie gulped.
Did—AnchoR just say 12th?
Marie did not know anything about AnchoR’s Inherent Functions. Unlike Naoto, she could not grasp that instinctively, but she was able to at least deduce.
When they first met at Mie, she remembered AnchoR saying 3rd. That should have been the case. Assuming that it meant the Imaginary energy output or a limiter, the 12th would be—
While Marie was terrified, the girl’s appeared gradually changed.
The cube floating at her chest twisted, and began to spin at near light speed levels.
The radiant black hair was dyed a bloody crimson. The pure white armor expanded ominously, and the glowing red lines covered the now black armor psychotically.
The angelic halo spinning above the head became a demonic horn.
The black mask covering the girl’s face gave a cracking sound.
“Activating (Chrono Hook)—jumping from real movement to imaginary movement.”
“Activating (Chrono Hook)—beginning Imaginary Output from Perpetual Gear, emerge.
RyuZU and AnchoR took a step forward at the same time.
Those actions were not just a physical change in position; it signified the mutations formed in those two units this world would not allow.
Imaginary time ran wild, and an infinite amount of heat accelerated, causing despair in the current universe.
AnchoR raised her voice plainly,
“Execute command…declaration, target in the front ‘RyuZU’—target to be destroyed.”
In response, RyuZU smiled.
“Bring it on, ‘AnchoR’, I shall etch the pride of an older sister on you.”
Both sisters called each other by name, facing each other again, and then—
RyuZU raised the hems of her skirt slightly.
While AnchoR got on her limbs, sprawled on the ground like a beat.
Like a marriage declaration.
Like a yell of lament.
Both of them said the final words that were radical and heretical to the world.
“—Relative Mobility (Mute Scream)—”
“—Absolute Mobility (Bloody Murder)—”
And so, the two legends clashed.
Naoto and Marie were unable grasp what happened afterwards.
●
RyuZU raced through this imaginary time.
And in the time where reality stood still indefinitely—a fraction of a second, she subjugated this place.
That was an imaginary space that could not possibly exist in this universe.
A space of paradox where the laws of physics were subjected to fallacy.
As long as she remained in this state, nobody would be able to hurt her, and nobody could escape from her blades through any means.
However—
The little sister facing off against her too was an extraordinary existence that defied this world.
Nobody would be able to detect RyuZU’s attacks in this imaginary time, yet AnchoR jumped to dodge it.
The bloody crimson hair let out an arch.
And at the same time, AnchoR stepped on the empty space, swinging her right hand.
The massive hand equipped with a claw was intending to rip RyuZU along with the imaginary time.
“—”
RyuZU did not show any surprise on her face. With leisurely, elegant movements, she dodged the claw, and pulled her distance.
This was to be expected at least—no, anticipated.
Even if RyuZu could break through the limits of time and take action, AnchoR was able to catch up through brute force. The infinite heat caused a derailment in the universe, and wrenched open the gap in space.
In this still world, RyuZU danced elegantly.
AnchoR in turn violently invaded the change in space.
Both automatas defied conventional ‘time’ through their drastically different processes.
RyuZU raised her hand.
The Initial-Y series Unit 1 ‘Yourslave’ RyuZU.”
She, expected to be a follower, had two black scythes pointing out from her skirt as her weapons. She is rather lacking compared to AnchoR, who was expected to be weapon with a countless number of weapons in her.
For that reason, RyuZU proclaimed herself to be the weakest, that she was the unit least suited for fighting amongst the sisters.
However—
“That—does not mean defeat in any way.”
The black scythes obeyed RyuZU’s will as they swung at an incoming AnchoR from left and right.
The slashes were quick and precise.
These two elegant, otherworldly knives remained steady as they continued to slash at anything indiscriminately, dissecting everything to bits.
However,the sharp blades got blocked by something, and let out a crisp sound.
“…!?”
RyuZU shifted her center of gravity, and skipped lightly as she turned around.
Using the momentum, AnchoR attacked.
RyuZU affirmed it; there seemed to be a ripple waving about at the empty space where the scythes got parried.
And the cube floating above AnchoR’s head twisted as it transformed.
“Space manipulation…!”
That was the basic ability of AnchoR’s weapon. Against RyuZU’s scythes, she timed the attacks and contorted small spaces to form shields.
RyuZU’s scythes did not have the ability to break through contorted space.
“…”
RyuZU again swung her scythes, prioritizing speed as she increased the attacks and swung wildly, this time anticipating that the enemy would block.
“—!”
But they got parried away.
Ripples appeared in the air along with AnchoR’s voiceless sounds, ripples appeared in the air, taking down RyuZU’s slashes completely.
While RyuZU was feeling anxious, AnchoR gave pursuit.
Both sides were well matched in speed—correction, RyuZU was a little faster.
This Imaginary time granted RyuZU an advantage.
No matter how much AnchoR accelerated and gave pursuit, her ability, the manipulation of space, would cause a little lag. The proof was that she did not use the countless weapons that should have been stored in her, and manipulated space only to defend.
In other words—AnchoR had to personally kill RyuZU personally.
However,
“—!”
AnchoR swung her claw. RyuZU managed to jump to the right and dodge this attack at the last moment.
The claw however swung through the space, and caused an intense quake in the space.
At the same time, the car behind RyuZU vanished.
It was reduced to dust, leaving nothing behind.
The heat AnchoR had was enough energy to open time ruptures, and it was gathered generously in her right hook.
—As long as a single claw grazed by, RyuZU’s body would be ripped apart before she could even resist.
Yes. Alone? Sealing the weapons was not considered a handicap; the main issue was that RyuZU’s attacks could not break through AnchoR’s defenses. Even if RyuZU could act a little faster, her functions would cease sooner or laster when the energy in the spring was used up. Perhaps even before that, she would be caught and crushed into dust.
That was the conclusion—the outcome of this battle that would soon happen.
However—
“Things are as I expected—no, just as planned.”
RyuZU muttered this as as she dodged the claw that ripped through space with utmost conviction.
Her face showed no fear. That was something she already understood beforehand.
—3 days ago.
During the strategic meeting, Naoto and RyuZU had this conversation.
“If I am to fight AnchoR head on, my chances of winning is zero.”
RyuZU concluded, and Naoto looked distraught, saying,
“It’s not like you have to win though? As long as you’re able to break that mask—”
“It means the same thing, Master Naoto. There exists a difference in combat abilities between AnchoR and me that I cannot hope to overcome.”
“…Even if you use your inherent function?”
“Yes. Even if I do activate the Imaginary Time, AnchoR will catch up to me through brute force. That girl has the infinite heat to achieve this.”
“In that case, there’s only one answer.”
Upon seeing her master nod, RyuZU asked,
“And that is?”
It’s simple, Noto answered.
“—Just use me as a shield.”
“That is unacceptable.”
RyuZU immediately dismissed this, and stared at Naoto,
“There is no worth considering it. Do you really understand what you just proposed?”
“But there’s no other way.”
“There is. That is to avoid the battle.”
RyuZU’s stare was beyond freezing point as she declared,
“If I may bluntly say so, AnchoR’s imprisonment is simply a trivial issue compared to endangering you, Master Naoto. Even if Tokyo is to collapse and millions, billions of humans inferior to mitochondria are to fall to the bottom of the planet, I do not care—”
Yes, that was the one bottom line RyuZU definitely would not cross.
“—”
RyuZU jumped.
With the scythes hooking to the pipes at the ceiling, she swung her body.
Because of this action, she again dodged AnchoR’s claw at the last moment, avoiding destruction.
At the same time, she looked behind. The silhouette of her little sister kept attacking. The massive amount of heat stored in the latter’s body was contorting the surrounding space just by being there.
It was like fire, ominously engulfing AnchoR’s body.
RyuZU turned her body around, and kicked the ceiling.
The 2 scythes and legs activated the 3 dimensions in the sealed space—she moved in like a pinball towards AnchoR’s range—
But AnchoR remained unfazed.
The cube transformed into a non-Euclidean geometry.
“—!?”
A large scale contortion occurred, and the web of space attacked RyuZU.
One of the extended scythes got caught by that web, and an intense tremor shook the body. Like paper scraps, the caught scythe was crushed, and her center of gravity was tilted, before she was thrown out.
Right at the moment her body was about to be thrown to the wall, RyuZU used the remaining scythe to cut off the damaged scythe, for it was useless, merely a hindrance.
Now freed in her posture, she landed directly on the wall—and immediately jumped all.
At that instance, the wall she used as footing was blown to smithereens.
—She recalled.
“And please do pardon my impudence here, Master Naoto, but you sacrificing your life will not solve anything. A human body cannot even form an obstacle in the face of AnchoR’s might.”
RyuZU then lowered her head, whispering,
“Master Naoto. Do you think it is fine even if you do die?”
“Hm? Why do you ask?”
Naoto merely chuckled lightheartedly, and answered,
“That’s not it, RyuZU. I’m betting my life here, but I don’t want to die at all. I don’t intend to sacrific your life, RyuZU, and I don’t intend to abandon AnchoR>’
The golden eyes looked down, and RyuZU sighed,
She shook her head.
“That is an impossible luxury. Honestly put, it is a foolish, reckless act.”
“Well, maybe that’s true. For some reason however, I don’t think I’ll fail.”
The gray eyes blinked a few times, and Naoto declared,
“Yeah—I won’t die. AnchoR won’t kill me, and also, I believe that you’ll definitely do it. Besides—”
She lost a weapon.
That meant that she had fewer options left. Lowered were the number of attacks, choices of evading, and minimum limit of damage allowed—in other words, RyuZU chances of survival.
But even so—
“There is no—problem.”
RyuZU lit her red eyes as she spun the clock.
She got faster, speedy, quicker—and more nimble!
She controlled her body. She dominated time and space. She managed how the battle went. She was able to do all that, and she understood that she would win if she could do those.
Thanks to the massive interference in space, she lost a weapon, but managed to gain distance.
It was merely a small amount of time, less than a fraction in this imaginary time—but even so, that was undoubtedly a chance.
RyuZU looked at AnchoR, and jumped back. The latter continued to give chase.
It was meaningless to consider the capabilities or differences in combat ability.
For her master, for Naoto said that she could do it.
For Naoto said that he believed in RyuZU’s abilities, so RyuZU believed in herself.
And more than anyone else, RyuZU herself believed in her little sister.
—Her master did say.
“But—AnchoR can’t kill humans. Isn’t that right?”
RyuZU could not deny those words.
She merely asked without changing her expression.
“…But that child is currently being controlled”
“But she’s still trying her best to resist.”
With unfaltering eyes, Naoto stared at RyuZU’s eyes, and concluded.
“The proof is that Anchor didn’t attack Marie or me in the underground. She was always attacking you and uncle Halter.”
“She probably prioritized those of a higher threat level.”
“That may be true.”
Naoto heartily agreed, but he immediately shook his head,
“But I don’t think that’s a case. I’m confident about that. To prove that, I’m willing to bet my life to save AnchoR.”
And besides Naoto continued,
“That kid did say that she wants her big sister to save her.”
“—”
“AnchoR can’t hurt humans, so if you use me as a shield to create an opening, you’ll definitely be able to use that opportunity to destroy that mask, right?”
Now that he asked this…RyuZU did not reply.
Based on logical thinking, RyuZU was unable to accept Naoto’s plan as it was too risky. However, she could not lie and say that it was impossible.
That was why she was silent.
And Naoto smiled, seemingly having expected that, and said to RyuZU,
“Hm, well—this is an order, RyuZU. We’re to use me as a shield to save your little sister.”
—At this point, it was meaningless for her to hesitate.
She gauged the distance.
And affirmed herself, behind her, the still pursuing AnchoR, and the timing.
The latter, giving chase as she ripped through the contorted space, was just like a little comet.
“AnchoR.”
RyuZU called out,
“I believe in you.”
She could not see the face of her little sister, covered by the mask.
Only the silhouette, now the embodiment of destruction, closing in.
The simulation was complete. She had the plan drawn up.
RyuZU smiled, and slowed down slightly.
That alone caused her to be within AnchoR’s striking distance, and the latter raised the massive right claw.
The one hit that could destroy anything came swinging.
At that moment—RyuZU jumped up.
It was not actually a dodge; at this distance and timing, where time still stood, the one swing woul have crushed RyuZU’s body completely.
However—that would be if AnchoR had continued to maintain her acceleration.
The instance RyuZU jumped up, AnchoR saw the thing behind her, and immediately froze.
She slowed down greatly.
The heat strong enough to contort space vanished like a furnace that was put out due to its fuel exhausted.
In other words—she was perfectly still in this imaginary time.
RyuZU curled her lips alluringly.
“You—really worked hard there.”
She praised as she swung her scythe.
A black scythe grazed past AnchoR’s mask like numerous slashes.
She stopped the gears from spinning, severed the circuits, and utterly disintegrated the mask, not sparing even a single screw.
Finally, she knocked aside the massive claw dangling above the blond girl’s head, and muttered,
“But it is time for you to rest. Master Naoto shall repair you immediately.
—Normal time had resumed.
And AnchoR’s body was sent flying, overwhelmed by the rampant power within her.
●
Naoto and Marie could not observe what happened in the Imaginary time.
And thus, what they could only understand where the booms, winds and impacts, the destructive scars that utterly damaged the carpark, RyuZu with her spring run out, and a thoroughly wounded AnchoR sent playing.
The little girl body hit the wall hard, and Naoto shrieked,
“Woah!? AnchoR!!”
He hurriedly scampered over, carrying that lifeless body.
Bluntly put, AnchoR was in a terrible state. She reverted back from the black devilish look to the white girl, but her body clearly showed severe damages.
It was as if she was hit by an incoming trucker. Either that, or she was smashed badly by a gigantic hammer.
In fact, it was due to the explosion caused by the sudden cessation of power output, similar to how an engine that was indefinitely accelerated was forcibly shut down. The energy capable of ripping the Imaginary time apart hit AnchoR herself,
“Ah…th-the insides are still working…thank goodness.”
Naoto heaved a sigh of relief. He pricked his ears to listen in on AnchoR, making sure that the functions within were running normally…
Marie nodded,
“Anyway, go wind RyuZU’s spring for now. I’ll do some emergency repairs in the meantime.”
“O-okay, I’ll leave it to you, Marie…!”
And Marie made use of the time RyuZU restarted as she got down to repairing AnchoR
But even so, she was unable to do much.
She merely did some simple checks on the body, and stopped the parts that were causing burden on her body. If she were to actually repair it, she would need the equipment at the workshop at Naoto’s ears.
After the preliminary treatment, Marie let out a little sigh,
“…But I can’t actually believe that we actually did it. To be honest, I really couldn’t believe that RyuZU would agree to the plan to use Naoto as the shield…”
That RyuZU definitely would not have agreed to endanger Naoto.
That was not just what Marie thought; that should actually be the case in the first place.
Of course, an automata would not disobey a master’s orders, but RyuZU was not restrained by such a natural restraint. When necessary, she could ignore Naoto’s orders.
But even so, that was the reality.
“…That is all because I believe in Master Naoto.”
A cold voice could be heard from behind.
Marie turned back to look, and found RyuZU, now with her spring winded, standing there.
“Master Naoto is a exceptional person beyond that of an ordinary human—and this Master Naoto has said that he believes in me. Thus, I had a duty to repay his belief. Also, since Master Naoto indicated that he believes in AnchoR too, I have to believe in my little sister no matter what.”
And thus, the result was a huge success.
AnchoR was injured badly, but she was repaired. They managed to win in a battle they absolutely had no chance of winning, achieved their objective, and attained a sufficient result.
Naoto believed in RyuZU and AnchoR, RyuZU believed in Naoto, and both RyuZU and AnchoR risked their lives to repay his trust.
Marie earnestly felt that it was a beautiful thing.
“…Yeah, the relationship between you two is nice. I stand corrected.”
“I am grateful that you are willing to accompany us, Master Marie Yes, trust is one thing, but there is also doubt in reality. I should have prepared some failsafe after all.”
“…Hm? It’s strange hearing you say such a discreet hing?”
Marie tilted her head slightly in, not realizing at all that in the time she did not recognize, how she was mere millimeters away from dying.
At this moment, Naoto, having taken off the earphones, spoke up softly,
“Oh…?”
“What’s the matter? What did you hear?”
“It’s nothing, just that I heard something very shocking from the underground…looks like we have a winner here. The sound of that massive weapon’s stopped.”
“Now that’s good news. Our efforts in starting that big event’s not wasted here.”
Having said this, Marie stood up,
“Now then, let’s get moving first. We need to hurry up and get AnchoR back to the workshop for repairs.”
●
—I’m so sleepy
The girl wandered in the sweet white mist, or maybe swimming in it.
Perhaps she was even flying.
Everything felt very vague to her; unsettled, vague, ambiguous—but even so, the light floating in front of her eyes were flashing, as certain as the warmth in her chest.
—What’s going on?
She once had such a feeling at a certain time and place.
After wondering about it for a little, the girl immediately got an answer. It was simple.
That was when she was born.
When she was born in a pure white room that was very warm and seemingly very interested; it was that sort of a feeling.
There were a few people around, saying very pleasant things to her.
—But it was weird.
She could not remember what exactly did she say back then.
She was very amused to hear it, and it was delightful and addictive, yet why could she not recall it?
The girl felt an abrupt anguish, and had a little urge to cry.
At that moment,
She heard some voices that felt nostalgic for some reason.
“—That’s why I say it has to be like this!”
“Stop kidding around with me here! The imaginary function back then and now this eternal function!? How do you expect me to repair this thing—you want to fight against this universe!?”
“Ahh, seriously, I sad that part doesn’t need to be repaired! Isn’t there an escapement that reduces friction to zero? Just adjust the gears meshing that part!”
“Do you mind telling me how do you mesh something with zero friction!?”
—The voices felt so nostalgic, yet she did not know them.
But even so, her mind became warm for some reason, and she got a little happy.
And so, the girl realized that a certain thing was meshed together correctly, a mass of energy that could be seemingly scooped out and eaten spreading from deep within her chest.
“Ehh!! I might as well do this myself! Just give me the screwdriver!”
“Huh!? Wh-what are you doing!? I’m scared just looking at what you’re doing! Who even holds it in such an absurd manner, hey, are you going to destroy it!?”
“It’s because you’re dragging your feet with this, Marie!”
“Nnn—yu…whatever! Just instruct me on what part to deal with here. I’ll do as you instruct here.”
“I said already it’s the 3 manouevres on the right of the 40,325,831st common circuit!?”
“Where do I start counting to get that number anyway!? I’ll really hang you if you don’t act reasonably here!”
—It’s really nostalgic
The strength spread all over her body, and the original vague thing gradually became clear.
First, she recalled her name. AnchoR. Yes, that was the one thing she could recall. That was the name she had when she was born, when everyone celebrated her birth.
That was an important—name and oath.
“Anyway! What’s with this structure that’s so meaningless, incomprehensible and unidentifiable!”
“Now then, I shall explain this in a way your pathetic brain can understand, Master Marie.”
The girl blinked.
She knew this voice. Surely, it was her older sister’s voice. It was truly a very nostalgic voice, and she could clearly recall the voices of her family. The voices of her most beloved, treasured people.
“AnchoR here has a ‘Perpetual Gear’, which in other words means that she can obtain energy from the automatically spinning spring, allowing her to move without any loss. This energy is all converted to heat, and stored within this cube. AnchoR’s space manipulation and weapon storage, summoning are all done through this infinite heat. Her actual function is basically the ‘Perpetual Gear’ only. Do you understand?”
“I don’t understand! You mind telling me the theory behind it!?”
“…Master Naoto. Master Marie’s incompetence is way beyond my estimation. Please provide the explaination.”
“—Basically, there’s such a thing.”
“I don’t want to accept such an explanation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
—Pfft she let a little chuckle.
The fog scattered like the curtains parting.
The reactivation was complete. All the functions were running as normal. The Perpetual Gear, running normally. All green.
She was correctly recognizing that she was not having a dream, but that it was reality.
—But even so—
The girl had a nostalgic feeling before, that even in the dream, this heart of hers had always understood this clearly, that when she was completed, that was truly the case…
The instant she had that notion, AnchoR opened her eyes.
There were 3 faces in front of her.
One of them was a face she knew. She always had a smile, but it was obvious she was concerned. That would be her eldest sister, RyuZU.
As for the other two…
“Morning, AnchoR? You feeling alright?”
“—There should be no problems. Probably, I guess.”
“You really aren’t so sure here, self-proclaimed genius. Well, it is a rare fact to have you admit that AnchoR’s structure is beyond your capabilities.”
They were faces and voice she did not know.
But even so, the impression they had on her began to overlap with the important memories in her mind for some reason.
AnchoR was about to speak up, but she hesitated a little.
She was a little worried as to how she was to address them.
—Ahh.
The answer came immediately.
She knew of the most earnest, wonderful greeting.
“—Papa, mama, sister…good morning…”
…And for some reason…
The instant she said this, the trio staring closely at her had their faces frozen.
●
At a place rather close to Akihabara, Conrad and company had set up a hiding place.
There was a workshop filled with ample equipment over there, and after moving the wrecked AnchoR over there, Marie and Naoto spent 3 hours repairing her.
AnchoR was finally restarted successfully, but after hearing her first words
The faces of Naoto, Marie and RyuZU cringed at that instance.
“…I guess AnchoR’s repairs did fail after all. Ahh, I did emphasis not to let Master Marie handle the repais.”
RyuZU lamented in an exaggerated manner, and Marie lashed out at her,
“Shut up, you there! Do you understand how I feel right now!? Why of all people do I have to be a couple with this pervert here!? This is the first time I had such a humiliation in my life!”
On the other hand, Naoto knelt down halfway to meet AnchoR’s eyes, and spoke with a gentle voice,
“AnchoR, you hear me~? Hear~ this carefully, okay~? This big brother~ here doesn’t have such poor tastes. My bride is decided to be RyuZU. Understand? I have good tastes, right?”
But the one cause, AnchoR tilted her head, stunned, as she asked,
“Papa…I can’t call you that?”
Naoto broke into a huge grin, and shook his head,
“No no no, listen carefully, AnchoR. You can call me that, no problems at all. Yeah. To be honest, I’m really so happy to hear you call me papa that I’m shaking.”
“Woah!?”
Marie groaned, looking as if she just saw a cockroach that was accidentally crushed.
But Naoto ignored Marie’s reaction as he continued,
“But this one, you want to call this one mama? I’ll end up being a couple with this one here, and that’ll be really surprising, right? My bride here is RyuZU, and I’ll really get a nightmare if I’m to be associated with this protein-based, feral, foul-tempered girl. You understand that~?”
“—You know that I’m the one to have a nightmare here, right? Even if I do want to find another man to play with, you’re the last one I’ll choose!”
“…?”
I don’t know what I did wrong here? AnchoR tilted her head, shook it, and scampered towards Marie, embracing her tightly.
Naoto let out a shriek as he hollered,
“Ahh!! You’re sneaky, Marie. I’m envious, let’s swap!!”
“Shut up. Don’t approach me, you pervert!”
Marie glared at Naoto heinously as she frowned.
AnchoR’s face, now rid of the mask, resembled a young tender girl no matter how one looked at it.
A simple inspection would show that her functions were running. Her expressions lacked change, and her vocabulary and logical thinking were a little lacking. Most probably, it was her personality setting at work.
But it was a little weird seeing her being so clingy without the master identification done.
The concept of an automata having ‘parents’ was strange in itself, let alone ‘imprinting’, and one had to wonder what sort of a joke it was?
Marie continued to embrace AnchoR as she asked RyuZU,
“What’s going on? Does she have a circuit that makes her think that ones repairing her are her parents? It’s one thing to be a cheap automata, but will an Initial-Y series actually make use of such a crude master identification?”
“…No, this has nothing to do with master identification. It seems it was caused by an erratic memory.”
RyuZU scowled as she emphasized,
“You hear, AnchoR? It is enough for you to call Master Naoto papa, for that one here is just a side bonus.”
“Hey, you.”
“In other words, she is one of the tools for Master Naoto to use. You understand?”
RyuZU ignored Marie’s protests as she explained this reminder,
—However,
AnchoR continued to cling onto Marie tightly, tilting her head as she asked,
“…I can’t?”
“nyaa~ 11:41, 3 August 2015 (UTC)Uu!!! It’s not like you can’t! You can call her that if you like, AnchoR! I don’t mind at all!! Yeah, endure that little bit, mama!!”
“GYYAAHHH!!!? Stop saying such disgusting things, you pervert!?”
“BWAH!!?”
Naoto was about to embrace AnchoR along with Marie, only to be sent flying back from a sharp swinging kick from Marie.
And as she watched Naoto writhe on the floor in pain, RyuZU looked stunned as she said,
“Master Naoto, I shall advise you not to dote too much. There is a need to be strict when the time comes for it, no?”
“This is really weird after all! Can’t you think of something!?”
Marie yelled out a shriek, and grabbed AnchoR’s shoulders as she tried to pull her distance.
But unexpectedly, AnchoR looked up at Marie’s face,
“Mama…?”
“I said already that I’m not your…”
She was left speechless.
“…”
Marie stared at the face of the tender girl that continued to look up at her.
There was no extraordinary expression shown on that face, but…
“—!”
…Uu, so cute!
“No no, don’t get emotional here! Get back to normal!”
She hurriedly shook her head to change her thinking. She would end up like that pervert. She could not allow herself to commit this ridiculous shame where one would suspect if she had the right to live on.
Marie thought of a way to counter it, and immediately said,
“Anyway, let’s finish the master identification. This strange imprinting here may be cured b that.”
If an override of her recognition was done, she could at least use a master’s authority to order a change in formal address, even if it was not perfect.”
“…I see. We cannot allow this to drag on.”
And then, RyuZU faced the girl that continued to cling onto Marie, gently calling her name,
“AnchoR.”
“…? What’s the matter, sister?”
“I want to be sure of something. Right now, you do not have any master registered, right?”
Yes. AnchoR nodded.
“Very good. Now then, AnchoR, I have a suggestion—”
At this point, RyuZU grabbed Naoto, still rolling on the floor in pain, by the collar, guuh and brought his face right in front of AnchoR while ignoring Naoto’s voiceless groans.
“I want to make an introduction. This is Master Naoto Miura, currently my master. Do you have any intention to register him as your master?”
Stunned, AnchoR tilted her head.
She approached Naoto’s suffering face, and asked,
“—Papa, you want to be my master?”
“Oh—? Ohh, I do I do! Yes yes super duper yes!”
Naoto affirmed AnchoR’s question, and raised his hands to indicated his intense desire.
“—Un, I understand.”
Once AnchoR said that, she nodded and left Marie.
At that moment.
The already stoic looking AnchoR erased all signs of her will.
The light in the red eyes gradually vanished, becoming dull-looking glass eyeballs as they captured Naoto’s profile.
“…!?”
Shocked, Naoto gasped.
AnchoR did not make any reaction to that as she silently spoke,
“Master identification condition—question: ‘what am I’?”
The automatic voice was extremely robotic, monotonous as it asked.
Once he witnessed this change, Naoto and Marie looked over at RyuZU.
And the latter took their stares as she nodded,
“This is the formal master recognition procedure for AnchoR. If you can provide the correct answer, you will be officially recognized as a master—though nobody had answered it till this day.”
Maybe, Marie asked,
“RyuZU, do you know the answer?”
“Yes, I do.”
RyuZU continued unflinchingly as she nodded, and said,
“But I suppose it is meaningless to ask me that question. To use the words you said before, Master Marie, this is not a ‘crude master identification’ that allows cheating.”
“…”
“Also, a second challenge is not permitted. For anyone, there is only one chance to answer—if the answer is wrong, the next answer will not be accepted even if it is correct.”
…I see. Marie nodded.
“So that’s why that ‘mask’ was used.”
Marie had been skeptical as to why the master identification was skipped, and that they had to use that device that faked the recognition as if it was passed. Finally, she got an answer.
“So it’s just because the master identification wasn’t passed? Looking at a prior instance like RyuZU, I’m really wondering if she’ll obey the orders unconditionally just because of the identification…”
But even so, she could not just let things stand like this.
Marie turned her head to look at Naoto.
“You can’t get this answer wrong, Naoto. Got to be careful here—”
But—
Before Marie’s warning was taken to heart, Naoto had already looked at AnchoR right in the eyes, simply replying,
“—AnchoR’s a cute girl, right? If I use common sense.”
“At least listen to what others have to say, you!?”
Marie screamed and hollered at Naoto, but the latter merely laughed it off, saying,
“What nonsense are you saying now? Isn’t the answer extremely obvious here? AnchoR’s a pretty loli here. What other answer is there? Ah, a little sister type?”
…This one’s a lost cause. Got to hurry and think of something here…
Marie groaned as she looked up at the sky. This idiot actually answered this extremely important question with his inner desires so unabashedly.
“…No, calm down, Marie. Naoto’s the only one who failed. I haven’t answered yet. There should be another chance…”
Marie cupped her head as she grumbled quietly to herself.
And at that moment.
“—Recognition completed.”
And along with this stoic voice, the light was reignited in AnchoR’s eyes.
“…Huh?”
Stunned, Marie widened her eyes.
“Alright!”
Naoto energetically gave a victory pose, and RyuZU beside him nodded in satisfaction.
“It is truly wonderful to be successful. This is to be expected of you, Master Naoto. An instant answer, outstanding.”
“Wait, ehh!? What’s with that correct answer!?”
“I suppose there is no need to ask what is the problem here, Master Marie, for it is as you just saw. Master Naoto’s answer is the master recognition code, and that is all.”
…No no no.
Marie shook a hand, indicating her utter disbelief,
“Normally thinking, the answer to such a question will be the ‘design objective’ based on the functions, or a message ‘Y’ left behind, right?”
That answer that was instinctively made by this pervert was actually the correct answer, and nobody had managed to answer it correct for years. Was such a thing possible…?
But RyuZU seemed to be mocking Marie’s words as she said,
“Well, I guess ordinary people who think of themselves as geniuses are only able to think that much. The so-called truth is simply that simple, and only with true wisdom are able to see through it.”
“But even so, the answer’s…’a girl’?”
“Amongst us sisters, AnchoR is the only child created as a ‘weapon’. The infinite violence of the Perpetual gear; this is the ‘design objective’ of AnchoR However, do you think it is fine for such a person to pass the master recognition just with that answer?”
“This is…”
Marie was speechless, and RyuZU sneered as she continued,
“And if I may be so unsophisticated as to quip, the answer Master Naoto gave, recognizing AnchoR as a ‘girl’, is a show that he truly understood ‘Y’s message.”
She paused.
“To obtain infinite violence, there is a need to have a will that is unwilling to use violence. That is how it is.”
“…”
“AnchoR, or anchor, means an added restraint of the power. If you look at the meaning of the name given for this girl, I suppose the answer is not that illogical.”
She could not refute that argument.
Marie turned to Naoto, and felt a little suspicious as she asked,
“Did…you even think that much into this when you answered, Naoto?”
Once she asked this, Naoto was flabbergasted.
“Eh? Of course not.”
—I guess.
Marie merely closed her eyes slightly, and in front of her, Naoto spread his arms wide, praising,
“AnchoR is this wonderful, amazing piece of art you see, so sexy here, an automata so cute the body is writhing in pain no? Even with those ridiculous weapons equipped on her, so what? Isn’t that similar to RyuZU?”
While Naoto continued to rattle on, a voice coldly rang from behind,
“—How audacious of you to commit infidelity with my little sister, Master Naoto.”
“Eh—ah, no, that’s not it! It’s true that my bride here’s RyuZU! It’s a different thing from this though—yeah, I just think of AnchoR as my daughter!”
RyuZU’s eyes lost their lustre.
“You actually lust after your daughter…it seems you are increasingly beyond hope…”
“…Ah, are you jealous? You’re cute there, Miss RyuZU.”
The next instance, RyuZu smacked Naoto down onto the floor.
And at that moment,
AnchoR, who remained silent till this point, spoke up,
“—Please give a command.”
●
“…?”
Naoto gave a skeptical look, and got up from the ground.
Once she took Naoto’s stare, AnchoR repeated,
“—Please give a command.”
“AnchoR?”
“Yes—this unit is the 4th unit of the Initial-Y series, ‘Trishula’ AnchoR. Master Naoto Miura, recognized—please give a command.”
Although it was not so much as an automated voice, it was an extremely monotonous reply.
The emotionless expression and tone were no different from before, but one could no longer sense from AnchoR the tender, childish girl personality.
Naoto frantically turned back, yelling,
“RyuZU! That doesn’t seem right here! Is there something wrong with AnchoR!?”
“So the answer’s wrong after all…”
Marie muttered, and Naoto growled,
“Ack! You gotta be kidding me here! What other answer do you think there is here!?”
“No—AnchoR’s functions are normal, Master Naoto.”
RyuZU answered, and Naoto turned his head towards her,
“—Ugh, what’s going on here then?”
“It’s simple. In this state—AnchoR, having passed the master recognition, is not allowed to have ‘free will’.”
All emotions vanished from Naoto’s face, and he turned to meet RyuZU,
“What does that mean?”
“I did mention it before, that AnchoR is the only child created to be a ‘weapon’. If she has a will beyond that of her master’s, she is not considered to be a ‘weapon’. Thus, when AnchoR is set to have a master, she loses her free will.”
“…Then, what did you just say about a will not to use violence?”
“Everything is to be left to the master, including this. This is AnchoR.”
While Naoto showed no attempts in hiding his rage, RyuZU plainly told him this.
Marie then interrupted,
“Wait. In that case, what’s AnchoR’s state if she doesn’t have the master identification completed?”
“When AnchoR is yet to have a master, she has the free will to find a suitable master to control her combat ability. In terms of use however, there is a big limitation.”
“What limitation?”
“Simply, AnchoR cannot kill or hurt humans.”
…I see. Marie nodded.
Without a master, the safety function would be activated according to ‘AnchoR’s will’, but when a suitable master was found, she would fulfill the function as a pure ‘weapon’.
That was the setting that was embedded within AnchoR.
“…Well, common sense did go out of the window when automatas do have free will, so considering this, I have to say this system is decent…”
“—Decent? What do you mean by that joke here!!”
Naoto yelled agitatedly.
“I saved AnchoR not because I wanted a ‘weapon’! You knew this would happen, RyuZU. Why didn’t you tell me this!?”
“…Master Naoto.”
Upon seeing the glaring expression Naoto showed, RyuZU lowered her eyes, and gently whispered,
“I knew that you would be enraged. However, did you actually forget? Both AnchoR and I are automatas.”
“…”
“I understand very well that you have the personal belief, and that you love AnchoR and me for having free will, but we are not humans. We have the ‘inherent functions’, we have a clear specific ‘design objective’, and we have an unyielding ‘mission’. We wish for a master to fulfill our functions, and to determine our raison d’etre.”
“But, in that case, RyuZU…!”
“I live as the ‘Yourslave’. It is to be expected that I am different from AnchoR, created to be the ‘Trishula’.”
“—”
At that instance, Naoto wanted to scream…but did not do so.
He merely bit his lips, endured as he lowered his head, and whispered,
“But even so, what am I supposed to do now?”
“Master Naoto, I believe that you will be able to treat AnchoR well.”
“…”
Naoto did not answer.
He lowered his head, looked in front, and clenched his fists.
Upon seeing him look so dejected, Marie called him tentatively,
“Naoto…?”
“—I’m pissed here.”
“Huh?”
Naoto lifted his face.
He frowned hard, and glared at RyuZU, Marie and AnchoR in turn, before saying,
“…I just feel very pissed. How can such a thing happened. You say that a girl doesn’t need that sort of will, just because she’s an automata. Now I’m really angry hearing that! I’m the master, and the master’s orders are absolute, so listen to me and obey.”
RyuZU quickly answered,
“Right now, AnchoR is 100% committed to fulfilling your will, Master Naoto.”
“That’s not it! It’s true now, but I don’t have any intention of that! Ahh, enough already! Anyway, papa won’t recognize this AnchoR now!”
Marie could not bear this any longer as she raised her voice,
“Please calm down already. You’re just rambling away now, you know?”
“Shut up, you idiot.”
Naoto snapped back, and again faced AnchoR>
He stared right at those red eyes, and called her name,
“AnchoR.”
The weapon calmly answered,
“Yes—please give a command.”
“What do you want to do, AnchoR?”
Naoto asked.
The weapon immediately stopped, and answered,
“—Error, commands unspecified. Requesting for more details.”
Naoto continued to ask,
“AnchoR, I want you to tell me what do you want to do?”
“Yes—to fulfill the role of the ‘Trishula’ AnchoR as appropriately possible.”
The weapon clearly answered.
And from behind, RyuZU calmly said to Naoto,
“Master Naoto, if I may remind you, AnchoR now has no free will.”
“She does.”
Naoto simply concluded.
And RyuZU silently asked,
“What makes you think that way?”
“If AnchoR does not have free will, I would have been killed a long time ago. She should have been resisting all the time when she was controlled by the ‘mask’.”
There was the ‘strange noise’ coming from AnchoR when she was controlled, and that was not just the grinding of the machinery.
That ‘strange noise’ proved that AnchoR had a will.
Naoto recalled that voice, he recalled that anguished cry.
That was the basis of his conclusion.
He stared at the girl in front of him, and continued,
“You said that was your ‘mission’, isn’t it, AnchoR?”
“Yes.”
“Other than that, what else do you like to do and want to do, AnchoR?”
“Yes—for specific recognition, is this a request to reveal information about AnchoR’s free will?”
“Yes! What do you wish for with your free will, AnchoR?”
“Yes—answering now. This machine’s free will is currently in a frozen state.”
“Okay. Now this is my command. Remove it.”
Naoto said it so leisurely, and after a short pause, the weapon continued,
“..Yes—for specific recognition, do you wish for this machine to act on its own will?”
“I mean I want you to act on your free will, AnchoR.”
“Yes—is this a command to remove all limiters?”
“Well, I guess that’s the case?”
“Meaning that all emotional circuits are opened, thawing free thinking process, allowing permission to provide views—”
“Yes yes! All of that’s correct. Your own will, AnchoR!”
—Afterwards.
Naoto’s ears could hear the countless gears in AnchoR’s body meshing together again.
That was the signal of the rules being changed.
The sound of the fate that was dealt being turned around.
AnchoR’s eyes flickered right in front of Naoto’s vision.
Her lips were quivering, and she let out a voice,
She asked,
“…I can do anything, I want?”
“Of course.”
Naoto answered without hesitation.
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
After hearing the decisive answer, AnchoR’s eyes were looking around.
While she was tentatively wondering if she should say it, feeling lost,
No emotions were on her face, and only her stare and voice showed conveyed some anxiety as she said,
“…I wish, to allow allowed.”
“Eh?”
“…I wish, I can be allowed…to cry.”
“That’s…”
Marie wondered if she misheard that. She did not understand what AnchoR meant by whether she could cry.
But Naoto immediately nodded back.
He gently patted AnchoR’s face, and permitted her,
“You can cry.”
AnchoR’s face was completely contorted.
Her red eyes showed large beads of tears, and soon, they began to drip down her.
“…I hope, to do something else.”
“Yes.”
“Can I, touch you…?”
“Of course.”
Naoto nodded, and AnchoR took a step forward, tentatively touching Naoto’s chest.
AnchoR continued to ask,
“Can I, apologize…?”
“There’s nothing to apologize about, but you can do so.”
Naoto permitted, and AnchoR immediately buried her face in Naoto’s chest, sobbing.
She continued to cry as she choked on her words, repeating ‘sorry’ over and over again.
It was a soft whimper at first, only to gradually become a loud bawling in the end.
Upon witnessing this scene, Marie whispered,
“Hey, RyuZU.”
“What is the matter, Master Marie?”
“I’ll ask you this. Is this according to your plan?”
After saying this, Marie stared at RyuZU right in the eyes.
The former’s eyes seemed to be yearning for the truth, but RyuZU merely smiled ‘as per usual’,
“I did say this beforehand, did I not? I believed that Master Naoto would be able to treat AnchoR well.”
Marie took a breath, and her shoulders dropped heavily as she folded her arms and faced RyuZU.
“You really are quite the impudent person, RyuZU.”
“Yes, it is to be expected for people lacking in brains like you to view me as such, Master Marie.”
Unexpectedly, RyuZU did not deny this, and without any gloom, she smiled as she continued,
“I am ‘Yourslave’. I am not designed to be one for many words or lead others. I merely ‘believe’ that Master Naoto does not need my help to find his own truth.”
—In fact.
Naoto did respond to her expectations, and seemingly proud of her master, RyuZU showed a smile.
In response, Marie seemed convinced as she sighed,
“Can I ask you another thing?”
“What is it?”
“I never asked this before—what basis is it that you recognize Naoto as your master?”
Upon hearing that question, RyuZU raised her eyebrows in surprise,
“—Now this is a strange one. I did remember emphasizing it over and over again. No, please pardon me. I did not have any expectations for you, Master Marie, when your feeble memory is as lacking as your chest.”
“—”
While Marie endured her rage silently, RyuZU continued,
“Because amongst the humans who continued to wander pathetically, Master Naoto is the most outstanding of them all.”
She paused, and smiled,
“—And no matter where Master Naoto goes to, I can believe that this is ‘where I should follow to’.”
AnchoR, still sobbing away, continued to whimper in an interrupted manner,
“…I don’t, have to destroy, anything? I don’t have, to kill?”
“Yes, you don’t have to do that!”
Naoto continued to hug the trembling girl as he nodded firmly.
And at that moment,
The cube hanging in front of AnchoR’s chest let out a deep twisting sound.
And at the same time, a large ripple appeared in space.
Over there was the opening leading to the ‘armory’ not belonging to this world.
And so, just like how AnchoR pulled her weapons previously, there was a certain thing popped out from that hole, rolling on the floor of this workshop.
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