Chapter One / 07 : 20 / Explorer

While all of Earth’s humanity had indeed made a life atop the “Y’s” enormous gears, not all of those gears were the same.

Cities that had been important before the Earth’s clockwork mechanization—for instance the capitals of developed countries or major financial centers—possessed special mechanisms that differed from ordinary cities.

Tokyo Multiple Grid was one of them. It was the nucleus of Japan, formed from the composite of many city grids. As Japan’s greatest population center amongst all the cities in the nation, Tokyo Multiple Grid was at the forefront of politics, power, communications, education, industry, and culture—it was a composite city that could be considered a microcosm of Japan itself.

And within Tokyo, Kasumigaseki Grid was considered the political sector. It was an administrative city that housed both the National Diet Building and the buildings of the various government ministries. On a regular day, Kasumigaseki was simply a quiet city where civil servants of the various ministries solemnly went about their work.

Today however, from late last night to the present morning, the city had been practically a warzone. At the moment, there was no end to the ongoing crisis in sight.

The staff of the Ministry of Defense and the National Police Agency were dashing about with desperate looks on their faces.

The scrambling bureaucrats in charge of the lines of communication with the other ministries were working their resonance phones to the fullest as they shouted into their receivers.

And at the center of Kasumigaseki Grid, where the building of the current ruling party stood, in one of its many conference rooms—the Anti-Terror Committee was holding an emergency meeting...

“—So, just what is going on here?” the incumbent prime minister of Japan leisurely inquired.

Having paid no mind to the great disturbance that had been going on since late last night, when the man finally showed up to the meeting at dawn, he had casually cut across the room to take his seat at the head of the table. Currently, he was nonchalantly looking about as he absentmindedly sipped his tea.

“I’ve only heard that there was some sort of terrorism late last night. I’m guessing that the situation has been brought under control by now?”

“—Prime minister, with due respect, the situation is far more dire than you think,” the chief cabinet secretary replied.

The prime minister scowled. “Don’t tell me that there’ve been civilian casualties? Hey you, that’s not okay! I just formed my cabinet, you know! If my approval rating drops again because of this...”

“The situation is far beyond that. Akihabara Grid is currently not functioning.”

“—What’d you say?” the prime minister couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Not only that, an enormous unknown weapon belonging to an armed group is currently occupying Akihabara.”

The prime minister muttered with his mouth agape, “An enormous unknown weapon...?”

“It’s exceedingly enormous—a super ultra-dreadnought class mobile ground weapon. The Seventh Aerial Squad of Yokosuka Grid had deployed in the gray of morning to intercept it, but I just received news a little while ago that they’ve been wiped out...”

Upon receiving that report, the baffled prime minister started to look anxious for the first time. “Hey now, that’s not okay. Tactical fighters are quite expensive, aren’t they? We just cut the defense budget last year you know. The media’s going to have a field day with me.”

“Like I said, the situation has progressed far beyond that, prime minister.”

“Prime minister, please listen to his explanation for now.” The secretary general of the ruling party pointed to a man as he cut in from the side.

The one being pointed at was a young man in his early thirties. He was tall and bony with tousled hair that he hadn’t put much effort into combing. The young man was wearing jeans and a casual leather jacket which overall, gave off a somewhat unreliable impression. His informal attire stood out all the more amongst all the bureaucrats clad in suits.

“...And you are?” the prime minister asked suspiciously.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is Yuu Karasawa. I’m a civilian Meister—I was sent here by the Ministry of Technology as a consultant today,” the man responded with a slack smile.

“A Meister...?” the prime minister said dubiously.

The man presented his chrono compass—the proof of being a Meister—to the prime minister. After the confirmation of his identity, the man continued with a pained grin, “Frankly, the situation at hand couldn’t be worse. An armed group has taken over Akihabara Grid after all—if the enormous weapon invades other grids as well, the damage done will surely grow even greater.”

“What are we sitting around for then? We ought to subjugate the terrorist scum without a moment’s delay, no? Isn’t that why we have a military?” There was an edge to the prime minister’s voice that showed his irritation.

Karasawa answered the prime minister calmly with a smile, “It isn’t so simple. Tokyo’s security force discovered the enormous weapon deep underground and intercepted it back when the terrorism first broke out late last night—but they were entirely wiped out.”

“—Hah?”

“Furthermore, the fighters of the Seventh Aerial Squad that were shot down just a little while ago were in CzFG-11’s, the newest model out there. Taking the skill of the pilots into account, that squad was the most powerful aerial force that the military possessed.”

Karasawa paused to let that register.

“When we confirmed that they had been wiped out, we tried firing at the enemy directly with Tokyo’s defensive cannon tower... however, despite confirming that all shells hit, we were unable to deal any damage to the target’s armor.”

The prime minister stared at the man in mute amazement for some time before turning towards the minister of defense. “...Just what have you all been spending the yearly defense budget on? You’re telling me that you can’t even subjugate mere terrorists?”

The minister of defense blushed as he answered in a low restrained voice, “With due respect, our military armaments are limited to normal weapons that were intended for inter-municipal warfare. We do not possess a weapon with enough firepower to deal with a situation like this.”

“Hey you, that’s a problem. Protecting the city is your ministry’s job, isn’t it? Yet you’re telling me that you all can’t even subjugate mere terrorists.”

“...Our role is to defend the country from a foreign invasion. An immensely destructive weapon suddenly appearing out of nowhere from within the nation is entirely beyond expectations—”

“I don’t care about the fine details of our military,” the prime minister, who was legally the supreme military authority, blurted out before continuing, “Can’t you launch a cruise missile or whatever and annihilate it already?”

Karasawa interjected with another smile, “The enemy possesses the anti-air capabilities to one-sidedly exterminate our newest tactical fighters, you know? Not only that, it has plating that can withstand a direct hit from the defensive cannon tower—surely, you’re not thinking of launching an AMM against one of our own cities are you?”

“...an AMM?”

“I’m talking about an antimatter missile... In antiquity, a nuclear missile would have been the closest thing to it.”

“Oh, I see... then say so from the start. You specialists are always so quick to resort to jargon— Anyway, that wouldn’t work. It’d incur backlash from the people.” The prime minister shook his head, immediately rejecting that option. “So, what does the military plan to do?”

Karasawa assertively replied, “In short, subjugating the armed group with a head-on attack is impossible under the present circumstances.”

“Hey you, telling me that doesn’t make it okay. This is due to the military’s negligence, isn’t it? The responsibility lies with—”

“It doesn’t matter whom the responsibility lies with right now.”

The chief cabinet secretary interjected. He was reputed to have an iron-clad level of patience, but even he couldn’t hide the irritation in his voice—

“Listen, alright? Due to this terrorist weapon, Akihabara Grid has ceased functioning. For all practical considerations, it’s the same as though it were destroyed. If we leave the situation as is, it’ll only be a matter of time before the other grids are destroyed as well. We must deal with the situation immediately.”

“Like I was saying, that’s the military’s jo—”

“The military cannot bring the situation under control. As such, we must consider the next-best option. Enacting it would require your authority as prime minister.”

“Mine?”

“We must purge Akihabara Grid immediately. Please give the authorization to do so.”

The prime minister darted his eyes about in a panic. “Hey you, what are you saying so abruptly? There’s no way we could do that!”

“There’s no other choice.”

At this point, Karasawa stopped smiling for the first time. Standing up, he raised a hand before interjecting, “Ah—excuse me. As the technology consultant, I really can’t recommend purging Akihabara as the countermeasure...”

The chief cabinet secretary turned around and glared at Karasawa with eyes like needles. “—Why is that?”

“Because Akihabara isn’t simply another city. Structurally, it’s a critical component of Tokyo as a whole operating smoothly. If it’s purged, the other grids will definitely be affected.”

“But that’s how a purge is by nature, no?” the chief cabinet secretary answered sharply. “Thanks to that weapon, Akihabara might as well have been destroyed already. According to your words, shouldn’t the other grids have already been affected?”

“Yes, of course. Currently, the other grids are compensating by burdening themselves with Akihabara’s workload. Nothing’s going to happen today or tomorrow... however, they’ll surely fail within six months’ time if things keep up like this.”

“Is there any prospect of repairing Akihabara as it is right now within those six months?”

“That depends on how badly it was damaged. As of right now, I can’t tell you anything for certain. However, if we were to gain the full support of Meister Guild, I can’t say that it’d be impossi—”

“Out of the question,” the chief cabinet secretary said, cutting Karasawa off. “I can understand you wanting to play up your former employer, but clinging to such uncertain, wishful thinking and averting your eyes to the practical threat before us is simply irresponsible— Well, Prime minister?!”

Karasawa tried to object, but the chief cabinet secretary ignored him while pressing the prime minister for a decision.

Seeing the secretary’s intense countenance, the prime minister quailed. Despite that, he still disjointedly objected as cold sweat oozed out of his forehead, “However... uh, what about the residents? We just tried to purge Kyoto not so long ago. If we try to conduct a compulsory purge of Akihabara now, wouldn’t the backlash from the public... be something else?”

“Eight hours have already passed since the incident began. The evacuation of the residents is already complete, it’s a grid with a small population to begin with.”

“Wait, chief cabinet secretary! You’re being too rash!” the female diet member who served as the minister of foreign affairs yelled to interject. “There’s still a chance that Akihabara can be repaired, right? Furthermore, the enemy’s identity and objective still isn’t clear. We should try negotiating with the enemy first!”

“Is now the time to suggest something so complacent? We should take a bold measure. There might be problems later, but we should prioritize resolving the situation at hand immediately, no?”

“Purging Akihabara wouldn’t just be the problem of our nation! Other countries would react as w—”

“As long as the situation ends up being promptly resolved, we can gloss over the purge any which way, no?”

“What kind of foolishness are you spouting! That inclination towards covering things up is exactly what brought about the downfall of the previous administration! If we adopt such a hardline stance here, censure from other countries will be unavoidable!”

“Dealing with that is your job isn’t it?!”

“That’s exactly why I’m telling you that I can’t accept your resolution from my standpoint as foreign minister! We should try reaching for a peaceful resolution first—!!”

The chief cabinet secretary and the foreign minister shouted back and forth in an uproar. The prime minister, who was stuck between them, simply looked on nervously—the words, “What should I do about the next election?” were clearly written on his flustered face.

Maybe I chose the wrong job to take up after Meister Guild... Karasawa internally groaned as he sat back down and reclined in his chair. While staring at the quarrel that was far beyond his control, he sighed in exasperation.

—Absolutely ridiculous.

The chief executive is incompetent, he has no proposals of his own and can’t make any decisions.

The chief cabinet secretary who does accurately grasp the situation is a proactive realist, but his ideas are far too drastic.

Then we have the foreign minister, an idealist who, while she does understand the situation, probably can’t offer a practical solution.

—It’s like nothing has changed in a thousand years. Actually, make that two thousand years. Or more. No matter how far one goes back, politics have surely always been like this.

Even my old home Meister Guild, a nonprofit organization that operated beyond borders, was no stranger to politics like this.

Maybe this game of power is the true nature of humanity...

As he was enveloped by a sense of resignation, Karasawa narrowed his eyes. Dr. Marie... are Dr. Konrad and the other Meisters safe...?

Karasawa had an accurate grasp of the details of the Akihabara Terror Incident. Actually, he was an accomplice that assisted them with the clean-up.

In his previous job at Meister Guild, he was in the first division, second company’s communications department—he had worked under Marie, who led the company. Because of that bond, he had readily agreed when Marie had come to him seeking help, but...

...Expecting me to be able to handle a situation like this is unreasonable, Dr. Marie, he grumbled internally, while making sure not to show it on his face.

The existence of the enormous weapon may be one thing, but Akihabara Grid collapsing is clearly not part of the plan.

—In other words, we failed.

I should probably try to contact her somehow to discuss how we should deal with the situation from here, but— Seeing the internal feud unfolding before him, Karasawa sighed for what might have been the hundredth time today.

“I wonder if I’m going to be paid overtime for this...”

●

The sun was already high in the sky indiscriminately showering warm, white light across the city. However, even at midday, there was a place that its light didn’t reach.

In one corner of Ueno Grid was a slightly soiled underground shopping district—supposedly, it was a red-light district that bustled with the nightlife, but around this time of day, it was just a deserted street lined by shuttered doors.

There was only one place here open at this time of day. Cheap-looking neon gears languidly flickered before the mildly dirtied flower decorations which adorned the building’s front.

There was no front door, but one could hear lively music coming from the back. The place had been made so one couldn’t see anything from the entrance.

In front of such an establishment were three people. One of them, a petite boy—Naoto—was quietly reading the words on the place’s sign aloud. “The Ueno Strip...?”

The girl beside him silently lowered her gaze to where an old poster pasted on the wall fully came into sight...

“150% true to life! The real deal! Pole dancers with everything exposed—!!”

Along with that incendiary text was an automaton girl who looked about Marie’s age. She was situated in a such a way that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find to be appealing to a prurient interest. Which is to say, that the poster both depicted and described, in a patently offensive way, extreme sexual conduct that even when taken as a whole, lacked any serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

In other words, it was obscene.

“—ngh?!” Marie reflexively turned her face away.

I don’t know what’s what anymore... Actually, I do. Everything, everything’s filthy. Impure. One could even call it repulsive. I don’t even want to think about what that poster is referring to as “150% true to life.”

Behind Naoto and Marie, AnchoR curiously asked with RyuZU still on her back, “Father...? What kind of store is this...?”

“Ah— It’s eternally too early for you to know, so I think it’s best if we save that talk till you’re a grown up...” Naoto replied, dodging the question before whispering out of the corner of his mouth to Marie, “Hey... you’re sure that this is the right address, right?”

“...That... should be the case... Yes, indeed it should.”

“But I mean—”

“Don’t say it.”

“No, I’m gonna say it. No matter how you look at it, this place is exclusively for those who’re eighteen years or older, you know?!”

“Like I’d know anything about that! This is definitely the right address, okay!” Marie yelled, her face flushing bright red.

The business the two were creating a commotion in front of was a back-alley sex shop no matter how one looked at it. A special strip club, so to speak.

But it wasn’t one where live human girls danced. No, it was a place of “refined” interest where pleasure automata wore scandalous clothes, danced scandalous dances, and provided scandalous service—it was a debaucherous theater born from the degradation of modern society and the cultivated tastes of “elevated” men.

Normally, Marie wouldn’t ever look at such a place, much less step foot inside it. However, though she checked over and over again, this was indeed the rendezvous point that Konrad had designated in case of an emergency.

Just then, someone came out from the back, perhaps because he heard the commotion by the entrance. It was a classy old man wearing a well-tailored suit with gusto.

“—Dr. Marie! I’m so glad you’re alright...!”

Marie froze still on the spot. Sure enough, the one standing there was Konrad. His characteristic monocle was continuously swirling in colors as it reflected the light of the neon gears—the combination couldn’t have been more awkward.

“Dr. Marie, what happened?! Just what is going on—”

—That’s exactly what I want to know. There’s a heap of things that I should report to him and just as many things that I need to consult with him on. It’s true that I’m relieved to be able to meet the old man, but frankly—because of the location, I can’t bring myself to feel happy at all...

As she was assaulted by an intense feeling of lethargy, Marie asked, “Um... Dr. Konrad. Er... this place has the equipment at least... right?”

“Of course. Don’t just stand by the door. Come on in.”

As if it were an obvious question...

While Marie couldn’t make sense of anything, she did agree that they shouldn’t be discussing these matters in public, so she followed him on back.

...She had to muster a significant amount of courage to step through the doorway though...

Behind her, she could hear Naoto instructing AnchoR: “AnchoR-chan. Keep your eyes on the floor. It’ll be bad for your upbringing otherwise.”

“...? Okay...”

●

“—Hmm. I see... It appears that the situation is more serious than I expected,” Konrad said solemnly as he led the way, but honestly, Marie wasn’t paying much attention. Despite the gravity of the topic at hand, this carnal place filled with “oooh’s” and “ahhhn’s” had made it impossible for Marie to maintain a serious attitude from the get-go.

The inside of the establishment was almost exactly as Marie had imagined, but at the same time, it didn’t fail to surprise her.

The interior was dimly lit with red light, so one couldn’t see very far inside. The automata dancing on the stage, however, were clear as day. 150% true to life, they worked the poles to the intense beats of some extremely loud, exotic music...

The real problem though, were the leather sofas that sat along the walkway. They appeared to be customer seating and came with a partition screen that provided privacy from the outside.

—If that’s the case, then why’re there a pair of legs sticking out from the top of that screen? What kind of awkward sitting position is that?!

And why is the sofa creaking so much...?

Hey, what do you mean, “I’m coming”?! Aren’t you already there?!

Hwah? Some woman’s underwear just flew over my head! Just what kind of miracle is that supposed to be—?!

—Such decadence. Such depravity. Such immorality!! Marie locked her eyes facing forward, her face flushed bright red. However, just then, a nude, curvaceous automaton—her magnificent breasts on full display—brushed past Marie with a sensual wink.

Marie’s emerald eyes lost their luster. She was dead inside. Behind her, the fully-equipped pleasure automaton coquettishly smiled at Konrad as she drew nearer and nearer to a panicking Naoto, who, eyes darting about, became frozen stiff.

“—Gyahuhwha?!” Feeling a soft hand caress his butt, Naoto let out a strange noise.

AnchoR, who was still obediently staring at the ground next to him, asked, “...? Father, what’s wrong?”

“A, Ahh nono... Children mustn’t look!”

“You shouldn’t be looking either! Heck, I’m not supposed to be looking either, you know?!” Marie retorted, unable to put up with things any longer.

Catching those words, Vermouth flippantly said from under her arm, “Hahaha, relax your shoulders, princess. Is this your first time in a place like this? I heard that your new job is being a terrorist, no? No need to mind any silly laws at this point.”

“That ain’t the problem!” —It’s absolutely filthy! Marie nearly shouted before restraining herself in consideration of Dr. Konrad.

Making their way past that unwholesome space, the gang entered a back room where inside was a staircase leading to an underground level. Descending the stairs, they briefly walked through a hallway before coming across a wide room.

“—Here we are. Sorry, it’s a little dirty.”

The room Konrad guided them to was considerably more respectable than the upper floor. At the very least, there was nothing so conspicuously obscene. The lighting was a bright clean white and the loud music above was inaudible. The only things in the room were a simple bed, sofa, table, and some assorted basic necessities. There was a thick door in the back of the room. It seemed like the workshop lay beyond it.

Finally calming down, Marie let out a deep, deep sigh. She then threw out the question that had been burning inside her. “I’d like to explain the situation but... could I ask you just one question before that, Dr. Konrad? —Why did you choose this place?”

Konrad looked puzzled. “Isn’t it nice? —Does it not suit your tastes?”

“Did you think it would?” Marie replied coldly.

Vermouth cackled. “That so? It’s a nice venue, don’t you think? I’d love to visit this place again while equipped with my lower half.”

“In that case, let me give you a coupon later. There’s a discount for staying the whole day,” Konrad said smilingly.

Vermouth grinned. “Despite your appearance, you know what’s good, gramps. If you could give me a smoke as well I’d be in heaven.”

“Unfortunately, I quit smoking many years ago, you see.”

“That’s a shame. Smoking is a man’s duty, you know.”

“At my age, a good glass of scotch is more than enough.”

“...Dr. Konrad?” Marie shot a sharp look at the old man with the appearance of a gentleman.

Holding his hands up in surrender, Konrad explained— “A close friend of mine owns this business, you see.”

“A friend of yours does?!”

“Yes, the owner is an old friend of mine. Once in a while I come here to tune up the showgirls for him and in return he treats me to a drink.”

“Dear lord, you were using your skills as a Meister on an establishment like this...?!” Marie eyes went wide with shock.

Bursting into laughter at how the girl who felt like his granddaughter was reacting, Konrad shrugged his shoulders.

“Business here has been quite good lately. Supposedly the girls’ dancing has gotten better, which is why my friend gladly provided us a hiding place here today. And,” he continued in a whisper, “this isn’t something that you can go around telling people, but this place is also an auction house for illegal automata.”

“—Hah?”

“Well, it’s a black market dealing in high-class automata sporting illegal parts marketed towards men. The authorities turn a blind eye to it because they have ties here themselves, so it’s a perfect hiding place that comes with a workshop.”

“Wow, politics sure is dirty...” Naoto grumbled from the side.

Feeling so disgusted that she was getting a headache, Marie held her head and sighed.

—No, he’s right. There was the workshop in Akihabara Grid too. That Dr. Konrad, an Englishman, has so many connections in Japan is simply remarkable.

It may not be able to match a full-fledged workshop, but it’s at least equipped with the basics. Beyond that, while there isn’t any military-grade stuff here, there’s still a ton of illegal parts and high-grade materials.

However—to be honest. Putting that aside... should this really be allowed? Dr. Konrad was someone that I’d always believed to be a fine gentleman. He’s a senior clocksmith to whom I give my utmost respect, as well as a master craftsman from which I’ve learned a great deal.

But of all things, to think that that person was secretly a pervert like Naoto...!

That fact gave Marie such despair that she felt as if her legs would give out from under her. “Well... in any case.” She shook her head, switching gears. There are more important things than that right now.

Holding up one of the head casings under her arm—Halter’s—Marie said, “First, can I ask you to take care of preserving his mind? He’s been magnetized... but if the brain inside is unharmed, then he should be fine if we just switch out his head casing, right?”

She didn’t dare mention the words, “If he’s still alive.”

—Halter was burning from being magnetized. That Vermouth was fine was a miracle as he said himself. If Halter’s artificial body broke down before the life preservation mechanism could activate—I don’t want to think about it, but it’s possible that Halter’s already brain-dead. As of right now—there’s absolutely no guarantee that he’s alright.

Konrad nodded, appearing to have grasped Halter’s situation. “Hmm... so he needs a reverse-transplant brain operation, yes? That’s the specialty of one of my acquaintances, a back-alley doctor. I’ll make the arrangements with him immediately.”

“Please do. And also...” Marie hesitated a little before asking, “—Doctor Konrad, would you be able to get a spare artificial body for Halter? Within thirty-two hours... no, within twelve hours if possible.”

“...That’s impossible even for me.”

“———”

“Simply acquiring a military-grade artificial body right now would be exceedingly difficult to begin with. Dangerous even. Actually, to be honest with you, just before you guys arrived, some bureaucrats on an inspection run had stopped by here. Even here. Again, keep in mind that not only does this store not sell any military-grade goods, it also has ties with politicians.”

“...”

“I suspect that the underground vendors throughout Tokyo are being exposed right now. Acquiring a military-grade automaton in this city would be impossible right now. The moment you get one, you’ll be hunted down.”

“Is that so...” ...Then, what should I do? Even though Marie knew that their hopes were slim from the beginning, she still felt crestfallen upon having reality thrust before her.

Seeing Marie’s countenance darken, Konrad said gently, “...First, let’s connect his brain to a life preservation device right this second. There shouldn’t be any problem in waiting until that’s done to consider what to do about his artificial body.”

“—Yes, please... take care of him.” Marie surrendered Halter’s head over to Konrad who swiftly set off, leaving the room. She then slapped her cheeks with both hands.

I don’t have time to be dilly-dallying.

Turning around, Marie faced Naoto, who was standing in a corner of the room. “Naoto, carry RyuZU into the workshop and put her up on a hanger. While you’re doing that... I’ll find some suitable parts to make something like an auto-fan, so cool her with that.”

Naoto nodded, but seemed unsure. “Right... but wouldn’t cooling her with water or ice be faster?”

“Seriously... do they teach you nothing at school? If you cool something extremely hot too quickly, it’ll crack or deform. —RyuZU did what she did because she thought it was the right choice... Believe in her.”

—I know I’m stretching things a great deal, but... It seemed like AnchoR noticed Marie’s gaze, because she inadvertently raised her head—

“...? Mother?”

“Stop calling me that,” Marie curtly warned AnchoR before looking away.

The built-in anti-magnetic shielding of Halter’s artificial body was currently the world’s best. His body had been designed to be able to function even in the mock ionosphere that the Planet Governors produced for a short period of time.

However, the enormous weapon’s EMP had easily pierced through that shielding and totaled his body.

Given that AnchoR and RyuZU were not only able to endure such a powerful EMP, but even demagnetize themselves on their own—there could only be one conclusion.

—“Y” had anticipated electromagnetic attacks from the very beginning.

This adorable little lump of absurdity that’s currently tilting her head at me proves that. In that case, RyuZU should also recover once she cools back down—it may be ridiculous, but I’m convinced of it.

“———”

...How ludicrous. Halter’s artificial body—that is, the culmination of the Breguets’ full technological efforts—didn’t stand a chance against that EMP, and yet, an antique doll that had been made a thousand years ago is walking around just fine as if nothing happened?

—In that case, what exactly have we accomplished up to now...?!

Disgrace, powerlessness, and above all, anger at herself for her weakness prodded at Marie’s heart... however, she couldn’t outwardly express it. That would be too disgraceful.

Marie took a deep breath and locked away her melancholy. Steeling herself, she headed to the back of the workshop to get started.

“...Ohh.” Taking a look around, Marie found some surprisingly decent equipment. Even if it was an old model, there was a device for machining out parts for automata. Not only that, but the workbench and automata hangers were quality ones that could withstand the abuse of a professional clocksmith.

If nothing else, this might be the best there is for a personal workshop.

“As expected from Dr. Konrad...”

For the time being, Marie decided to gloss over the fact that the equipment here was used for the dolls dancing on the upper floor. Naoto, who had followed after her, asked, “Oy Marie, is this hanger fine?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Roger— Well then, AnchoR-chan, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Okaaay,” AnchoR cheerfully replied before hanging her sister’s body up on a hanger that was close to the workbench.

Now that there was good lighting, it was clear just how awful RyuZU’s injuries were...

Her abdomen was the most damaged area.

Not only were her clothes melted there, but even her artificial skin itself. The trauma had caused her inner mechanisms to be exposed, including her main cylinder. An entire bundle of extremely fine wires that served as her pseudo-nerves had been torn apart and were protruding outward from the wound.

—She seemed to be missing several parts as well.

The deformation of her skeletal frame was worse than expected too. Even if they restored her power, as she is now, she surely wouldn’t be able to maneuver her arms and legs properly.

If that’s how bad things look on the outside, just how bad is the damage on the inside...? Naoto anxiously looked over RyuZU. Her injuries look far more painful than my measly burns, but more than that—there’s something that’s—

“...Father, Big Sister... will be okay, right?”

Hearing AnchoR’s worry, Naoto crisply changed his expression into a smile. “Of course silly~ The reason RyuZU did what she did was because it was the right choice. So she’ll be just fine! You don’t need to worry, okay AnchoR?”

Still worried for her sister, AnchoR’s shoulders drooped, so Naoto patted her head.

—The palms of your hands have awful burns too, you know. Marie let out a soft sigh before exiting to the previous room. There was a first aid kit mounted on the wall near the entrance. She opened it up, took out its contents, and returned to the workshop.

“...Come over here, we have to hurry up and treat you too,” Marie said while holding up a syringe. “These are medical nanomachines. If you don’t want to die from your burns becoming infected then hurry up and take off your clothes and sit over there.”

“...Oh, thank you.” Giving his brief thanks, Naoto obediently followed her instructions. His face tightened from the pain as he slowly took off his scorched clothes and threw them in a corner. He then sat down on the ground.

Marie readied the syringe—a cylinder that was as thick as a can of juice—by peeling off the film on its tip. “Just so you know, don’t expect this to be some kind of cure-all. So long as you don’t get an artificial skin transplant or a skin graft—there’ll always be scars.”

“Not a problem. As long as I can move my hands I’m happy.”

Marie let out a sigh. Naoto’s back was just as blistered as she had anticipated. Aligning the syringe against it, she applied pressure.

The needle thrust painlessly inside his skin. Pressing down on the plunger, Marie injected an ample amount of medical nanomachines into the worst of Naoto’s burns.

The nanomachines would keep his wounds sterile and even assist in tissue regeneration until all his wounds were fully healed. Naoto may have been lucky that such materials were on hand, but in all honesty— What Marie had just done was a test.

The medical nanomachines were powerful, but they also caused extreme pain after injection. Marie had deliberately chosen not to mention this.

The intense pain of having nanomachines stir up everything from one’s bones and muscle fibers to one’s skin layers and nerves should be unbearable enough to make an adult man cry out for mercy, but Naoto didn’t let out a single groan.

I don’t think it’s that his nerves endings are dead. As proof of that, his face is heavily twisted and his tightly clenched fists are trembling.

However, in the end, Naoto never verbalized his agony; instead, he simply let out a deep sigh.

“...Wait here, I’ll see if I can find some clothes for you.”

“Right, sorry for the trouble. Please do.”

Feeling as if she had lost to him somehow, Marie left the room.

“—————”

Naoto had clutched RyuZU and moved her simply because his intuition had told him it was necessary to do so. The expression he wore and the words he said back then, and now his current stoicism, played over and over again in Marie’s mind.

...I suspect that...No, I’m sure of it. There’s no room for doubt. Had that guy, that gigantic fool determined that it was “necessary,” he would have even cut off his own limbs without hesitation.

A chill ran down her spine.

That expression, that look of his, convinces me of that fact. It isn’t resolve. No, it’s something else—that quality of his that lets him assert that his decision was simply a matter of course, for some reason, it really...

After managing to find a change of clothes for Naoto somehow, Marie returned to the workshop. She handed Naoto what appeared to be some sort of promotional item, a T-shirt with the logo of a store printed on it.

As he ran his arms through the shirt’s sleeves, Naoto appeared to remember something. “Oh, by the way, what are you gonna do about that old man?” Naoto was looking at the head that Marie had offhandedly laid upon the workbench.

As they focused on him, Vermouth said, seemingly discontent, “Do you guys not have souls or something? If you’ve forgotten then let me remind you: It wouldn’t be strange if I died any second, you know? Hurry up and hook me up to a life preservation device, please.”

Marie shook her head. “...God, and then there’s this guy, who’s something else in his own right. Why are you and Naoto both so... Meh, forget it.” Marie changed the subject while ignoring the picture of the sexy-looking automaton with her legs spread wide open printed on the back of Naoto’s shirt. “In any case, I can’t let you sleep just yet. I still have things I want to get out of you.”

“Give me a break would you... Wait, hey. Hey hey, wait you dirty sow! What the hell are you planning on doing?!”

“I’m going to kindly link you to a suitable automaton. I’ll install a life preservation device inside as well, so rest assured.”

“You’re seriously insane you shitty bitch! You’re telling me that your master plan is to connect me to a dutch wife?! What the hell do you take a man’s dignity for?!”

“No such thing,” Marie coolly asserted as she pulled on a hanger holding up a doll towards the workbench. Then she off-handedly—at least, that was how it looked to Naoto—plucked off the doll’s head and plunked Vermouth’s right in its place.

“......Damn it. Is this crazy princess for real...” Vermouth felt a chill as he glared at the self-proclaimed genius in front of him in disbelief.

It wasn’t due to his aversion to being transplanted onto a female body. It was because he had no choice but to acknowledge that this sheltered little brat of a princess was indeed worthy of being called a genius.

Vermouth was terrified.

—In the first place, full body cyborgs and automata were completely different machines. One was a reproduction of the very “essence” of the human body, while the other only merely replicated its “functions.”

Put simply, automata did not have brains. Depending on the model, an automaton could continue to operate even after losing its head. Full body cyborgs, on the other hand, housed a live brain.

Because of this, all artificial cyborg bodies were made to replicate the vast majority of the human body’s structure. If that wasn’t done, the brain would reject the artificial body.

And yet, this little brat managed to exchange an automaton’s head with mine like it was nothing. Not only that, my brain doesn’t feel out of place at all... how she installed a life preservation device inside before I even realized it is simply inhuman.

Vermouth muttered, seemingly lost in admiration, “—I see, so you weren’t a ghost but a demon. Sorry for the various things I said, princess. If you’re a demon, it’s only natural that you’re lascivious— Gyaaahh?!”

Vermouth had cried out from the pain of having all of his nerves connected to the automaton in one go. Behind him, Marie said cheerfully, “Now then, let’s sort out what we know about the situation—”

●

The Anti-Terror Committee’s meeting was embroiled in turmoil. As the gravity and danger of the situation sank in, the debate became rowdier and rowdier.

—In any case, we should resolve to purge Akihabara. No, we should try negotiating with the criminals first. How about reassembling the military of the neighboring grids and counterattacking? We should consider evacuating the residents first. We should consult with other countries and take a united response...

Various opinions were given and refuted. They couldn’t come to a decision. As a whole, the meeting had yet to advance even one step closer to its destination.

A minister of state, who was against the purge, raised his hand. “Fortunately, I don’t think we have to worry about the Pillar of Heaven being attacked considering its relative position to the enemy, no—?”

“Are you still asleep?” the minister of defense spat. “So long as they have their main cannon, they can hit anything in Tokyo! It doesn’t matter whether there are grids in the way.

If they want to, they can shoot right through any of the grids, just like they did with Akihabara! That thing intentionally turned up in Akihabara because it’s the bottommost grid of Tokyo, so that means that the entirety of Tokyo is in its firing range, understand?!”

A different Diet member shouted, seeming agitated, “In the first place, what in the world is that weapon?! Whether it be the power of its main cannon or how it invaded Akihabara from the deepest underground layer, aren’t its capabilities simply too absurd...!”

As he spoke, he stood up and looked across the faces of everyone in the room. There, he noticed the existence of the civilian consultant sitting in a corner. “You! Just what is the enemy armed with?!”

The consultant—Karasawa—tilted his head with a blank expression. “Are you asking me?”

“Who else is there?!”

“I’m glad to hear that. I thought I’d been forgotten,” Karasawa said, smiling sweetly. He then stood up while scratching his head. “Um—you were asking about enemy’s armaments, right? I’m happy to take a guess.”

“Get your act together! What do you think you were hired for?!”

“With due respect, I was hired as a consultant on clockwork technology—I’m not versed in the field of electromagnetics, something that we all know violates the international treaty.”

The meeting instantly fell into silence. The diet member who questioned Karasawa was taken aback. Yet another minister of state asked Karasawa with a pale expression on his face, “Electromagnetic technology you say...?”

“Yes. I’ve carefully read through every single word of the report. There’s no other possible explanation,” Karasawa said crisply as his voice carried through the silent room.

“First, as far as what their main cannon responsible for firing through Akihabara could be, I have absolutely no idea. However, I do know that what they emitted afterwards was an electromagnetic pulse. The armor that was capable of withstanding shots from Tokyo’s defensive cannon tower is also likely to be a magnetic shield or something. And the fighter planes? That was probably a railgun.”

Agonized moans of terror resounded from the faces of the committee members. Desperately clinging to some last ray of hope, the minister of state asked, “Umm— Is there any chance at all that they’re utilizing some sort of new clockwork technology?”

“No. That weapon produced two phenomena that no clockwork mechanism, no matter how it’s used, could ever create.”

In other words,

“The magnetization of the entirety of Akihabara Grid and furthermore the nullification of Tokyo’s resonance cannons—those two things can’t be explained with clockwork engineering even in reference to the current leading theories being researched by the Five Great Corporations.”

Considering the capabilities of certain composite materials, it’s possible that the armor which withstood Tokyo’s defensive cannon tower was just that. There also exist clockwork mechanisms that could produce something akin to the super-ultra high velocity cannon that shot down the fighter planes, at least, in theory.

However, nullifying the resonance cannons is simply impossible at a fundamental level. If something can defy cracking from resonance, it wouldn’t be due to its material—the only possible explanation would be that it has an outer membrane that can’t resonate.

And keeping in mind that Akihabara Grid was magnetized—the most natural conjecture would be that the weapon had a magnetic coating.

“—B, But this should be outside your expertise as well! You can’t say for sure can you?!” Getting ahold of himself, the diet member who had been the first to ask Karasawa for his opinion exclaimed.

Karasawa nodded with a frivolous smile. “Yeah, that’s true. After all, if I was well-versed in electromagnetic technology, that’d automatically make me a criminal.”

“—It’s technology that violates international law as set by the IGMO, you know? Since even researching it is forbidden, I think the real question is why a weapon that employs so much of that forbidden technology is in Japan. Isn’t that far more important?”

The diet member’s face turned paler than paper.

—There’s no way that such a thing suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The research necessary to create it must’ve began a long time ago and probably in Japan at that. I’d bet anything that at least some of you know the truth behind what’s going on... was what Karasawa had said between the lines.

All present at the meeting were blown away by the bomb that the civilian had dropped on them. An uproar ensued.

“D, Do you have any proof!”

“That’s right! Don’t spout out irresponsible speculation when you don’t even have any proof!”

“Please excuse me for that,” Karasawa said placidly as he was crucified by everyone’s gazes. “However, the threat that looms below us is an undeniable reality you see, so I have simply given my thoughts on the matter as befitting my role as a consultant, nothing more.”

The committee fell dead silent. However, within seconds, they began making remarks intended to sound out the truth from one another. As the committee was consumed by mutual suspicion, the meeting plunged even further into the depths.

If I were to immediately report this matter to the IGMO, this country would be on the brinks just from that... Karasawa sat back down while entertaining that dangerous thought.

If knowledge of this spreads worldwide, the international community would surely adopt harsh sanctions against Japan at the bare minimum.

Well, their saving grace is that the weapon is brandishing its spear against them... but honestly, will “terrorism” really serve as an excuse for this situation?

The international treaty that the IGMO and its affiliates wrote covered many different things. And this was what Karasawa grasped of the present situation:

—First, the research on as well as use of electromagnetic technology.

—Second, the manufacture of any weapon capable of dealing grave damage to a municipal grid.

—Third, the great expenditure of Earth’s limited resources on any enormous product that doesn’t contribute to running the planet.

—Fourth, the implementation of a cannon turret with a firing range of fifty kilometers or greater on any weapon.

—And Fifth, doing all of the above—without special permission from the IGMO and therefore being in possession of such a weapon without a security council resolution.

Forget just the IGMO, these five facts alone trampled all over ten articles of the international treaty as written by the international grid security council (IGSC), the international electromagnetism agency (IEA), and the world resource organization (WRO).

...But in the end, we’re all birds of a feather.

Indeed—every country has possessed illegal weapons of a similar nature since antiquity.

No nation in existence abided by the rules. If there was one, it’d be an insignificant third world country. If nothing else, each country at least trusted that the rest of the world community would violate the treaty—otherwise there’d be no need for the IGMO to have an inspecting body in the first place.

It’s precisely because of this unspoken truth that the penalty for the exposure of any illegal weapons always ended with mere sanctions. The real issue was that the rogue weapon wasn’t under government control.

Frankly, things would be much simpler if that weapon had invaded a foreign country.

If that were the case, the situation would simply end with an international armed response. As extraordinarily powerful as that weapon is, it wouldn’t be able to hold off the pressure forever. It would eventually meet its demise, succumbing to the difference in sheer numbers.

However powerful a weapon it may be, in the end, it’s still just a single weapon of war. It isn’t enough to sway the balance of power in the world, and tactically speaking, attacking with just a single unit severely limits your options.

However, if such a weapon is pointing its cannon at its own country... then what?

At this very moment, the committee was switching gears. No longer satisfied with shouting at one another, they were now verbally lynching a diet member with a suspicious background while in a wild uproar.

Watching the ensuing chaos, Karasawa inadvertently discovered the terrorists’ endgame—I see. So this must be what the enemy was aiming for. Sons of bitches...

●

“...So you’re saying that, in short, the feds and their military will both self-destruct just by virtue of that weapon sitting there in Akihabara—and all the Shiga guys have to do is just sit back and watch it happen...?” Marie muttered in a trembling voice.

You’re telling me that that weapon—or rather, the people inside that weapon, thought that far ahead?

Vermouth confirmed Marie’s suspicions with his gaze. “But if that conjecture’s correct, then things will get troublesome... ain’t that right kid?”

“Yeah. I mean, the Shiga guys have no intention of letting things end there, after all.”

“...What do you mean by that.”

Naoto sighed, shaking his head. “I said that the weapon won’t move... but at the same it can’t move.”

“......”

“I don’t know anything about electromagnetic technology... but it’s not like it can just move without a power source, right?”

“Well yeah... the weapon should have a battery or generator of some sort, but—” Marie muttered.

Satisfied with her answer, Naoto nodded. “That thing’s power probably comes from gears.”

“—Hah?” Marie’s jaw dropped. Is he saying that the weapon in question, which is equipped with technology antithetical to all clockwork devices, uses clockwork technology itself...? But if that’s the case, wouldn’t it ruin itself?

As question marks popped up all over Marie’s face, Vermouth sighed. “It appears that they combined conductive gears with an insulator. So apparently the weapon isn’t simply a revival of ancient technology—but a hybrid design that utilizes the best of both worlds.”

Marie furrowed her brows. “It makes sense in theory... but is such a thing really possible?”

“They made it possible. That’s precisely why that enormous object can still move after emitting an EMP,” Vermouth sneered. “The mobile composite electromagnetic assault weapon, Yatsukahagi—that seems to be its official name. Feel free to laugh. After all, the ones who named it weren’t the guys from Shiga but the feds.”

“...What’d you say?”

“In the blueprint that my team found, the original proposal had been thoughtfully attached alongside it— What do you think was written on it?”

Before Marie could answer, Vermouth spat, “—‘We hereby approve the research and production of a mobile composite electromagnetic assault weapon on the twenty-fifth of March in the 985^th Year of the Wheel’— It came with the signatures of the prime minister, chief cabinet secretary, and minister of defense at the time, you know? What a riot right?!”

Marie didn’t find that the least bit funny. Seeing her expression tense, Vermouth said, “...Well, in short, the power source of that enormous thing is no different from other clockwork devices. It uses spring generators that draw energy from gravity. I don’t know how many it has in total though...”

“—It has 1,033 of them. The sound they make is strange, but its undeniably the sound of springs. And, the enemy is currently recharging them.”

Marie and Vermouth looked at Naoto in disbelief.

Paying no mind to their stares, Naoto scowled as he continued, “That initial burst of light which caused that... what was it called, an electromagnetic pulse? The weapon probably used up all its power on it. I don’t know why, but after that, it’s been continuing to recharge while sustaining itself on ten percent of its available power.

Because of that, based on the last sound I heard from it before we left Akihabara Grid, it’ll take 71 hours 32 minutes and 12 seconds before it replenishes to its full capacity. It’s been five hours since then, so... there’s roughly 66 hours remaining. It shouldn’t be able to move during this time.”

Vermouth was bewildered. “——Oy kid, you’ve seen the blueprint? —No, that wouldn’t be enough to explain how you know all that. Just who the hell are you, you bastard?”

Ignoring Vermouth, who was understandably baffled, Marie pressed Naoto. “—You said that for the next 66 hours and 30 minutes, that weapon can’t move? Are you certain?”

Naoto shook his head. “I’m not sure since I know absolutely nothing about electromagnetic technology. If it cuts off the charging to some of its armaments, it might be able to move again sooner.

Also, I don’t know what it’s been spending that ten percent on, but if it shuts off whatever’s consuming that energy, the charging should speed up to the same extent—but that’s not the problem.”

“Wait... there’s more...?”

Seeing Marie looking lost, Vermouth interjected, “Despite it being checkmate, they’re still bothering to recharge the weapon. Do you still not get it, you sheltered princess?”

“—!”

Eyes glaring, Marie turned around to face him, but Vermouth merely laughed. “This isn’t terrorism—it’s a coup d’état. Sure, they plan to wait for the feds to self-destruct—but from there it’s on to phase two, whatever that may be.”

—At that moment, Marie finally understood. She was flabbergasted, dumbfounded. Her emerald eyes were as wide as saucers... With everything that’d just been said, there could only be one conclusion. Namely—that the federal government was on its deathbed.

So that’s what Vermouth meant by “checkmate.” Terrorism? This isn’t something so cute. They are on the verge of overthrowing the government after having literally put the feds in check.

No wonder they always got the better of us despite our crafty plans. Considering just how much time, how much obsession, how much endless spite Mie’s—no, Shiga’s military of old must have put into their plan—it’s only natural that we, who’ve only been reacting to an impending crisis, would be utterly crushed.

—With that in mind, think about what you can do right now, Marie.

The enemy has the heart of Tokyo at knifepoint.

Akihabara Grid has been magnetized, so the control system bypass that we worked so hard to create is no longer an option.

And, the government cabinet is probably in total chaos right now, just as they planned.

As for what they plan to do afterwards, Naoto and Vermouth aren’t sure either.

But at any rate, it’s inevitable that the feds will self-destruct. Not to mention, if other countries find out about that weapon—in the worst-case scenario, the IGMO might even consider an armed intervention due to international security concerns.

If the use of Tall Wand—the anti-surface assault satellite is authorized, Tokyo will vanish from the Earth.

No, even if the international community didn’t take any action for the time being, it would still only be a matter of time.

Marie imagined the hypothetical best and worst-case scenarios in her mind.

—In the best-case scenario—the Shiga guys succeed in their goal and seize power over this country.

If they’re the ones in power, demagnetizing and restoring Akihabara might be possible given their expertise in electromagnetic technology. However, in exchange, the entire world would view Japan as a rogue nation and immediately move forward with military sanctions.

—In the worst-case scenario—the situation at hand is resolved through a foreign armed intervention by coalition.

That would probably be the quickest way to resolve the situation. However, that would also signify the destruction of Tokyo, something that would affect all of East Asia’s grids and likely embroil the world in total war as a result.

Such a horrifying possibility isn’t so far-fetched, if I may say so myself... And facing a situation of this scale, what can we even do at this point...?

We’ve lost RyuZU and Halter, two big components of our fighting force, and AnchoR is currently without her supernatural combat capabilities too... No, even if everyone was at a hundred percent, what could we do?

An imploding national government and an enormous weapon that complicates international affairs just by existing. Japan will surely end up in a stand-off with the principal nations of the world.

As it were, what could we, a few self-proclaimed terrorists—possibly do?

There’s only one answer... Absolutely nothing.

The second Marie came to that conclusion, Naoto sprang to his feet, his face totally serious. “Hey AnchoR, let’s go on a daytrip somewhere.”

“...A daytrip?” The young automaton girl tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Yeah, I mean, you haven’t been able to do what you wanted to for a whole thousand years thanks to that cursed limiter, right? Let’s go check out a bunch of different things,” Naoto said while extending his hand towards her.

“...Yay!” AnchoR happily grinned as she took Naoto’s hand.

Marie stared at Naoto in disbelief. “—Are your heart and nerves made of some sort of super tough alloy or something? What are you thinking? Are you planning to stroll around shopping as one of the most wanted terrorists in the country right now?”

However, upon seeing Naoto’s gaze, she swallowed her breath.

—She felt as if her heart had been clutched by something.

Naoto’s eyes weren’t wavering in the slightest.

“Isn’t it obvious?” With enough determination to rekindle Marie’s fading hope, Naoto concluded— “I’m going out to do what I can.”

●

“...I’d like an order, please.”

“Yeah! Yeah! anything’s fine! What is it~?” Naoto instantly nodded with a slovenly smile.

AnchoR happily beamed as she pointed towards a trinket shop two buildings down. “...Can we take a look, inside that store?”

“Any store is fine! If there’s anything you want— Heck, I’ll buy out the whole store if you’d like!”

“Hey, Naoto,” Marie called out from behind, she seemed to be looking through him rather than at him. She was out of sighs at this point. “I’ll ask on the off chance that you actually have a good reason: What are you doing right now?”

“—I’m doing what I should be doing right now!” Naoto replied crisply, his gray eyes shining. “Everything that AnchoR-chan has wanted to do but couldn’t all this time—!! Now! I’ll grant all of her wishes with my own hands—!! What else could there be besides that?!”

Marie didn’t answer him. She simply smiled a dry, empty smile as she looked up at the bright blue sky. “...The weather’s nice today isn’t it? That reminds me, there was an ice cream shop I wanted to try. Maybe I should stop by before the sun sets on Tokyo...” she muttered as her shoulders drooped. Her words were already filled with calm resignation.

They were in a shopping district of Ueno Grid, which was situated immediately above Akihabara. The sign on the arch at the entrance read “Ameya Alley” in an old font. The street was filled with liveliness, almost as if the events of last night had just been a bad dream. Despite it being daytime on a weekday, there was no end to the number of people walking around.

Seeing the great amount of displayed merchandise protruding onto the street and hearing the shouted deals from the stalls—Marie felt a strange sense of pity... none of the people around her suspected a thing.

—After all, a gag order had been imposed. They knew nothing about the enormous weapon that had appeared in Akihabara this morning.

Marie had received a report from their mole, but even without it, she could have easily guessed that the government would take such a measure.

“An electromagnetic weapon that violates the international treaty suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the center of Tokyo yesterday. Its goal is a coup d’état and even now, it’s occupying Akihabara, and putting all of Tokyo in danger of being destroyed.”

There’s no way they could honestly report such a thing to the populace. The feds—no, not just them, anyone who would be inconvenienced by the truth should have used their full authority to censor the news.

—It was the obvious response.

We’re talking about a national-level crisis here, not to mention the fact that it all stemmed from something that the feds sowed in the first place.

As Naoto anticipated and Vermouth stated, that weapon is a bomb that had dealt a lethal blow to the feds just by surfacing in Tokyo. It’s obvious that it’d spell bad news for the feds if the citizens found out about this—but it’d spell even worse news for them if the various member nations of the IGMO found out.

...Really, how ironic. For the feds, there’s a silver lining—thanks to the EMP that the weapon released, all the equipment that could prove its existence was silenced across the board.

On top of that, because Marie and Naoto had issued the advance notice of their own terrorist attack, Akihabara’s residents had all been evacuated. Because of that, it just so happened that the two had served to divert the citizens’ attention as well.

Looking up, Marie saw a large street-side television reporting on the Akihabara Terror Incident that had occurred last night:

“Due to the advance notice given by terrorists last night regarding a plot to freeze Akihabara, the city is currently under lockdown. The government has prohibited travel to the city so as to ensure the safety of all metropolitan residents. Furthermore, the government has announced that the identities of the terrorists have already been identified and that they have a promising lead on their whereabouts. Chief Cabinet Secretary Orihata remarked that...”

—That was the news report. Of course, the feds hadn’t actually discovered anything about Marie’s group.

It appears that even at this late a stage, the feds still want to hide the existence of the weapon from the populace. They must be retarded, Marie scoffed.

Once that weapon starts up again and begins moving, the truth will be known immediately. Not to mention, if even a single scoop-hungry journalist ignores the lockdown and takes a news helicopter down into Akihabara right now, it’ll all be over.

However... if Naoto and Vermouth are right, that’s exactly what those Shiga guys want to happen.

The more the government tries to coverup the weapon that destroyed Akihabara, the angrier both their own citizens and other countries will be when the truth is exposed—if that comes pass, the populace and the world community could become bigger threats to the current government than the weapon in question itself.

And what have the feds been doing in the meantime? Nothing but pointing fingers at each other in an attempt to shield themselves from blame— “...Hmph,” Marie snorted as she looked up at the sky through her sunglasses.

Seeing yet another high-speed helicopter fly past above, she smirked. I’d be willing to bet that the one in that helicopter is a fleeing government official.

“Playing the victim and seeking asylum abroad huh... It’s only a matter of time before knowledge of the situation spreads to the neighboring countries.”

—In short, the peaceful and lively everyday scenery before me will end in just a few more hours. What’ll befall all of Tokyo then is surely...

“...Fath— Mother, I’d like, an order, please.”

“Yes yes~! Papa will let you do anything you want— No, I mean Mama will!”

Marie slumped her shoulders. ...Just what am I doing right now?

The one AnchoR had called Mother wasn’t Marie. Well, that’s not to say that Marie had ever accepted AnchoR calling her that in the first place, but in short— AnchoR was addressing Naoto, who had replied with a sloppy, smitten expression.

Going out into public required them to disguise themselves. One could say that that was all there was to it, but the process had been like a nightmare for Marie.

The makeup artist for the automata girls that Konrad had introduced them to had been a massive deviant. She was a gaudy woman who was the very picture of the term “lady of the night.”

The second Naoto and Marie entered the dressing room, the first thing she had yelled out was this: “Kyah—! How wonderful! Dr. Konrad! Can I really dress up these cute little fellows?! I’m gonna get serious you know?!”

“Yes, I’m counting on you.”

“Ufufu~♪ It’s been so long since I dressed up humans! I’m dying to show off what I can do once I get my hands on them ♡.”

—At that moment, an indescribable chill ran down Marie’s spine. Naoto had looked somewhat uneasy himself, at least, at first but...

In a dazzling flurry, the makeup artist had ripped off Naoto’s clothes, applied light makeup to his face, put a wig on him, and clothed him in a dress. Finally, she had him stand in front of a mirror, upon which— “H...Huh? Holy crap, could it be—that I’m actually pretty cute ♡?”

—Naoto had acquired a new kink.

As Marie was caught in despair, AnchoR’s eyes were glittering next to her. “...Father, you look cute... ngh♪”

Receiving AnchoR’s high praise, at that very moment, Naoto immediately awakened. “I see— I see! So Papa really is cute~! If AnchoR-chan says so then it’s like God said so, so I guess I am cuuute ♡,” Naoto yelled as he picked AnchoR up in his arms and spun joyfully right out the store.

What an admirable pervert. I’m jealous even. I too wish that I could just forget everything and chase after butterflies right now from the bottom of my heart...

“Now then ♪, you’re up next sweetie—”

“I’m just fine thank you—!!” Marie rejected the poison fangs of the perverted woman with all the strength that she could muster. Who knows what I’ll end up looking like if I leave myself in this woman’s hands.

One could say that me managing to quickly rearrange my hair, snatch a pair of sunglasses, and find a suitable change of clothes, before scrambling away to safety was the silver lining in that mess...

After dispelling the cursed memory from her mind with a shake of her head, Marie muttered, feeling fed up, “Seriously, what’s everyone doing when a bomb that’s likely to lead to a regional—no, an international crisis—is sparking right before our eyes.”

Apparently, Naoto heard her mutter with his sharp ears because he chided, “It can’t be helped can it? How can the people here make a fuss over something they don’t know about? I was in the same position during Kyoto’s incident until you showed up. That’s just how it is.”

“I’m talking about people like you—you total pervert!!” Marie angrily shouted at Naoto. “You’re in the group of people who know the truth aren’t you?! Worry a bit won’t you! Actually, before that...” Sensing that they were making a scene, Marie quickly lowered her voice. Still, she was unable to stifle her anger.

She glared at Naoto, who was scowling himself, hissing, “Have some restraint would you? So you had a fetish for crossdressing on top of everything else? I see that your disease has finally become terminal!”

—Naoto had declared that he was going to do what should be done. This boy had displayed the resolve to accept any sacrifice necessary to that end.

Yeah, okay. Considering that we might all be dead soon enough, I’ll admit it. His decisiveness, his resolve, his unwavering proactiveness—those are the things that I lack right now. Naive as I was, I was even moved for a second back there.

And yet—this was the action the pervert decided to take using any means necessary with his perverted proactiveness and perverted judgment, even going so far as to brave the risk of being discovered by our enemies... A fun and relaxed date with a little machine girl while in drag.

—If we weren’t in public, I’d take him to the ground this very second and beat him till he blacked out.

“Fath— Mother... Is it... okay for me to want that?”

“My, what a cute stuffed animal that is! AnchoR-chan, you have great taste~♪ Forget permission to want it, I’ll buy it for you!”

Lost on cloud nine, the pervert and the doll continued their date, paying no mind to Marie who was doing her best to prevent herself from committing murder.

To be honest, even now, I’d still love nothing more than to drag him into an alley and beat him to death. A different thought suddenly popped into Marie’s mind. “Hey... Naoko-chan. You’re acting quite generous, but if I recall correctly, wasn’t RyuZU the one who earned that money for you?”

Naoto tilted his head looking puzzled. “Yeah, what about it?”

“You’re always calling RyuZU your wife, and yet you’re going to spend her money on some other girl?” Marie looked at him as if he were scum.

However, Naoto swiftly countered, “Stupid fool. RyuZU is my wife and AnchoR is my daughter. What’s wrong with a parent spending money on his child?”

“......I get it now, so just do whatever you want.”

“Sure, I would’ve anyway, even without you telling me to!”

—Really now, what am I doing. Marie thought.

First, she detested how she couldn’t do anything about the current shit-show situation. Second, it irked her that there was a multimodal pervert enjoying a merry old date at a time like this. And third and possibly most of all, it pissed her off that said incorrigible pervert—

“Oy Mama! If you don’t hurry up, we’re gonna leave you behind, you know?!” Naoto yelled while waving at her.

—actually looked damn good as a girl. Every part of him.

As Marie answered with a groan, she inadvertently looked away. In the display window of a boutique shop she saw her own reflection. She looked like a teenage girl from a foreign country. Her light blond hair was put up in a ponytail which showed off the straps of her thin, almost transparent camisole. She’d concealed her characteristic emerald eyes behind a pair of heavily shaded sunglasses.

Next, upon turning her eyes towards the pervert in front of her, she saw what appeared to be—if she turned a blind eye to everything she knew—a beautiful teenage girl, one that might be found on the cover of some fashion magazine.

Naoto was wearing a thin, blue summer coat over his dress and soft, high-laced boots. He had a childish but well-proportioned face and pristine, porcelain skin due to being a shut-in. With the wig and the cat-ear hood as well... he looked like a real girl through and through...

That cherubic-looking girl was laughing as she walked alongside an even more cherubic-looking child—which one would be hard-pressed to believe was actually an automaton—while holding hands... Who would ever think that they could be terrorists?

In this congested crowd of people, the two of them gathered attention simply by walking together. All of the onlookers saw them as a pleasant sight for sore eyes.

—Yeah, why don’t I just kill them. That’d be lovely.

Without realizing that she was drawing plenty of fascinated attention from the crowd herself, the blond-haired foreigner girl sporting a poppish look, chased after the two ferociously.

●

A nearby street television was playing a detailed follow-up report on the Akihabara Terror Incident:

“...This boy is Naoto Miura, age 16. He is a prime suspect believed to be involved in the bootlegging of illegal military automata parts and the trafficking of automata that have been illegally modified with them.

Our experts have pointed out the likelihood that he has ties with the international armed organization Avant Ceglie. The suspect appears to have been attending Tadasunomori High School, a public school in Kyoto as a cover.

However, it is extremely likely that the information in his family register is fabricated, so the police and the military are requesting those who may know anything about him to step forward—”

A blown-up picture of Naoto in his normal attire was displayed on the gigantic screen. It must have been a picture taken of him on the rooftop last night, as Halter could be seen in the background as well.

Across the street from the public television, that very same villainous fiend of a boy—Naoto—couldn’t keep himself from grinning. “Wow, I’m really something else aren’t I? What’s that supposed to be anyway? The backstory for the protagonist of a manga?” He shuddered as he sipped his cold vanilla shake.

Marie, who had been stuffing her face with apple pie across from him answered sardonically, “Well yeah, no one would believe them if they announced that the one who pulled off such a grand terrorist plot was just some high school student. It’d be humiliating for them if they don’t play you up to some extent.”

“Even so, didn’t they put too much effort into it? I mean, what’s this ‘Avant Ceglie’ thing about?”

“If I remember correctly, it’s an armed organization that’s having a grand old time in Europe. Some pretentious idiot called Cagliostro is the leader... in reality they’re just a small group that focuses on international fraud.”

“Oh, I see,” Naoto replied, not seeming particularly interested. He then pouted, “Actually, all things considered, shouldn’t the one on the screen be you, not me? ‘An illegitimate clocksmith who participates in terrorist activities while attending school with a falsified family register’ —When you think about it, there’s someone here who fits that bill perfectly.”

“Don’t point your straw at me, pervert,” Marie sullenly groaned as she sipped her chocolate shake.

“—The man beside him is Halter Vainney, age unknown. He is a full-body cyborg mercenary and there are records of him being involved in many international conflicts. He also bears a reputation as an infamous professional terrorist...”

Marie’s eyes widened. “Well would you look at that, they’re actually reporting the truth on Halter.”

“Wow, really? Old man Halter comes from that sort of background? ...Well, I guess it makes sense. He’s tough enough to serve as a bodyguard for a walking bomb like you, after all.”

“Who are you calling a walking bomb? —Well, Halter’s supposedly famous in that line of work, you know? Famous enough that the talking head knew of him as well.”

“—Also, two female students who were reportedly friends of the suspect went missing around the same time. Their safety is currently a matter of concern...” Next, the faces of a blond-haired girl and a silver-haired girl—Marie and RyuZU—were displayed. Considering that they were wearing uniforms, the pictures were probably taken from the school’s student register.

Naoto looked dissatisfied. “...The ringleader is treated as a victim while me and old man Halter are treated as international villains... Life’s really unfair isn’t it? Well, whatever.”

“It’s probably karma for your everyday conduct as opposed to mine.”

“I’m a saint compared to you.” Naoto scowled, but his expression changed as he suddenly remembered something. “By the way, is this gonna be okay for you? They’re displaying your photo on live TV when you should be dead you know?”

“Don’t worry. They’ll never suspect that the girl in the picture is the ‘deceased’ Marie.”

“...Why?” Did you use the authority of the Breguets or something? —Naoto looked as if he wanted to say that.

“I can guess what you’re thinking, but you’re off the mark. I’m the one who severed my ties with the Breguet family, so there’s no way I can borrow their authority.” Marie narrowed her eyes slightly. “...I simply took the liberty of using my elder sister’s cover. That’s why it’s absolutely impossible for anyone to catch me—apart from her.”

—And to be honest, when I think about what would happen if she were to find out, I think I’d rather be caught by the military or the police instead.

●

Throwing her emptied paper cup and wrapping paper into the trash can, Marie let out a sigh. While exiting the restaurant to where Naoto and AnchoR were waiting, she mused over a question she’d thrown on the back burner.

—Now then, in the end, what does the situation look like right now...?

Funnily enough, the feds are using our previous actions to their own advantage—I mean, it’s incredibly frustrating—but at least there haven’t been any civilian casualties thanks to the precautionary measures we took.

Who knows how many tens of thousands of people would have died from the initial main cannon shot or the accidents following in the wake of the EMP? Without us necessitating Akihabara’s evacuation, things could have been far worse.

In that sense, our actions weren’t completely meaningless. That’s the one thing we can take pride in—but now, it’s being used against us. We’ve indirectly helped the feds cover up the incident and that’s ultimately aiding Shiga’s ex-military in their plans as well.

I find that fact simply—

“Mother... I’d like an order, please.”

“—Huh, eh, what?” Marie jolted up after having lost her train of thought. Before she had known it, AnchoR was right there in front of her, looking up at her with a worried face.

“Mother... you’re ‘crying.’ ...Please give me an order to help you.”

—Crying? Me? Marie inadvertently felt the corners of her eyes just to be sure... but they weren’t wet. As I suspected, even if “Y” was the one who made her, an automaton’s an automaton in the end. She might not be able to process human expressions very well. Somehow, that feels like a relief... Wait, why should I feel relieved? Before Marie could answer her own question—

“...You’re crying... You’re saying ‘help me.’ ...That’s why I’d like an order to help you, please.”

“—”

Marie was really astonished now. Though it hadn’t been very clear to her up until now, Marie felt something like disgust towards AnchoR. Upon those words, however, that disgust had lost its place and was now lingering inside her with nowhere to go.

AnchoR’s an automaton. There’s no doubt about that.

Marie could understand the psychology behind loving a doll as a doll. She thought dolls were cute as well. However, as a completely separate matter, the clocksmith within her still thought of that as just a man-made creation.

Automata aren’t human, in the same way that I’m not an automaton. In that case, is it weird of me to want dolls to act like dolls? No, it’s common sense.

It’s also only natural that I feel disgust towards her uncanniness. She’s made me realize that she makes me feel uncomfortable, something that I was previously unaware of before.

“...Is AnchoR not good enough to help you?”

No. This is weird. It’s impossible.

Marie didn’t know of any doll that acted like this. A human-shaped automaton was expressing sorrow right in front of her, and it just didn’t feel right to her somehow. It defied any logical sense.

“...Well... In that case, AnchoR— Can you destroy that thing?” —I shouldn’t think too deeply about this, Marie’s intuition told her. Obeying that, Marie gave the doll the order she had requested.

“...Would that help Mother?”

“Yeah, that’s right. If you could damage that thing enough that some of its abilities are limited, the situation would considerably change.”

Yeah— If I can utilize AnchoR to change things, that would be the best choice. If that enormous weapon is destroyed before the public finds out about the current gag order, the situation will improve considerably. At the very least, things won’t go according to their plans.

Since we were the ones who broadcast the advance notice of our terrorist attack...

“Everything was just a terrorist plot that the government successfully subjugated.” —If that narrative passes in the public eye, then the situation will come to a better conclusion than where it’s currently headed.

However, while Marie was thinking that, AnchoR replied with the smile of a pure and innocent child, “Well then, Father will help you, Mother... so don’t cry, okay?”

Marie was dumbfounded. What are you talking about? Marie reflexively searched for Naoto with her eyes but— “...Wha— Hey, Nao— Wh, What’s wrong with you?!” Marie barely managed to restrain herself from screaming out his name as she rushed towards him in a fluster.

Naoto was sitting on the ground by the roadside panting heavily, his face was completely pale. “...Ah— Marie. Hey, mind getting me a migraine pill...? An anesthetic would be fine too as long as it doesn’t make me fall asleep,” Naoto said with a strained smile, his face covered in sweat.

Getting a close look at him, Marie finally realized— “Hey... wait... What happened to your headphones?!”

“—What the heck are you saying Marie? They obviously broke back in Akihabara...”

That’s right. He threw them away right in front of my eyes. But more importantly— “If you have the time to pamper a doll then go buy new headphones first! How stupid can you be?!”

Marie couldn’t imagine the world that Naoto perceived, but even she could faintly hear the strange noises coming from Akihabara, the grid below.

There’s no way that Naoto doesn’t hear that.

Actually, considering that Naoto has been talking to us through 100% noise-canceling headphones this whole time, now that he’s not wearing them, wouldn’t the world be way too loud for him? Not to mention we’re in the middle of a bustling street right now...!

Wincing, Naoto shook his head with a weak smile. “I don’t need them yet... If I buy them now, I’m not confident that I’ll be able to stand not putting them on.”

“This isn’t the time to be saying stupid crap like that! Do you know how pale your face looks right now...?! You look like you’re about to die!”

“Ah— Please stop, Marie. The temptation is seriously hard for me to resist right now.”

—The temptation? What? Marie was confused by what Naoto was saying, but looking into his eyes, she found her answer. His gray, quivering eyes told her everything she needed to know.

“If I lose focus right now, I’ll immediately want to drive a screwdriver into my head and end it—” That’s what his eyes were telling her.

Naoto groaned, “...Once I find what I’m looking for, I’ll go buy new headphones as fast as humanly possible, even without you telling me to. So please just get me some painkillers for now.”

Overpowered by Naoto’s resolve, Marie inadvertently nodded. “A, Alright... but what are you looking for Naoto?” There should have been a drugstore at the corner of the last street we were on... Almost in two places at once, Marie hurriedly looked around in a panic to confirm her memory while awaiting his answer.

In complete contrast to Marie, who by AnchoR’s estimate had been “on the verge of tears,” Naoto said faintly, feebly—with eyes filled to the brim with a fierce, almost uncontrollable determination—some words which made Marie goggle: “It’s obvious... I’m looking for a way to win! Someway that we can thoroughly beat the crap out of the ones who had the gall to do such a thing to RyuZU!”

●

“Father, can you please order me to pet your head...?”

“Oh~ sure, sure! Father will recover in no time if you pet his head!” Naoto was happily playing with AnchoR. Throwing caution to the wind, he had taken painkillers—an entire pack of them.

It’s true that I was a little worried by his pained face.

Apart from the moments that he touched AnchoR, Naoto’s face had been twisted the whole time. Marie now knew that it wasn’t simply due to the pain from his burns.

Naoto should be feeling pain much greater than that right now.

“...” Marie looked down, in silence. She was ashamed of herself.

When all’s said and done—Naoto has been doing what he said he would this whole time.

He’s been doing what he could.

On the other hand, I’ve been simply standing around doing nothing, stuck worrying about things beyond my control.

As Naoto pet AnchoR, he looked up at Marie. “...Marie, just making sure but: Akihabara is one of the components that makes up Tokyo Multiple Grid, so it can’t be purged, right?”

“...Yes. While it isn’t impossible for the system to execute its purge, all of Tokyo would be affected, so a purge wouldn’t make any sense.”

Clock towers were what governed the municipal functions of the grids—and what governed the clock towers was the core tower. And, what governed the core towers of every Japanese city was Japan’s horological control tower colloquially known as the Pillar of Heaven.

Unlike the core towers which extended deep underground, just as its name implies, the Pillar of Heaven was an enormous structure that reached towards the heavens.

“It’s easy to understand if you think of Tokyo as one big clock. If Akihabara Grid is purged, all of Tokyo might collapse along with it—and if that happens, a chain reaction might start affecting all of Japan. At the worst, all of East Asia might be devastated. That’s how much of an effect purging Akihabara can have.”

“In that case.” Naoto smiled. “Thinking about it the other way, even if Akihabara Grid isn’t functioning, it should still be possible to alter its current condition from a neighboring grid, right? —Ah~ thanks to you, Papa’s all better now AnchoR!”

“...Really? You mean it? You still look like you’re hurting, Father...”

“If it’s for the sake of my wife and daughter, this level of pain is nothing! —So, going back to what I was saying...” Naoto flashed a daring smile. “We can just heat it up, or burn it if that’s easier. Akihabara Grid, I mean, and that weapon along with it.”

“———”

Marie stared on in mute amazement. Words wouldn’t come to her.

The bypass we used when we broadcast our fake warning has been magnetized and is no longer usable.

Even if it weren’t, that plan isn’t as simple as Naoto’s making it out to be. Given that our bypass is out of order, it should already be impossible to manipulate Akihabara Grid’s municipal functions but...

“—Even if one grid stops functioning, the neighboring grids will shoulder its functions and maintain the status quo, right? If the status quo can be maintained, then naturally, it should be possible to destroy it as well. Right?”

—So in short, this whole time, just as he said he would... This guy has been thinking of nothing but how to boil Shiga’s ex-military alive. Feeling half-relieved upon that revelation, Marie asked, “...So, have you discovered anything useful?”

“Not yet. I’ve found several bypasses, but it seems like going through just Ueno Grid alone won’t have much of an effect.

It’s probably just like you said, Tokyo Multiple Grid is one system and the countless intertwined governing mechanisms are covering for Akihabara Grid’s burden right now but...” Naoto continued emphatically, “Just one more... If I can confirm just one more thing—!”

Naoto practically snarled like a wounded animal, “I’ll beat them and beat them until those bastards cry. Until then, I’m not going to wear any headphones.”

Then, in a complete reversal, as if he were a different person entirely, Naoto sat AnchoR on his shoulders and rose with a carefree smile.

“—But finding things that AnchoR-chan wants to do is important as well! She has to take back a thousand years’ worth of desires you know! How could I make her wait any longer!

Alrighty, where should we go next, AnchoR! Should we check out some clothes? Though, the ones you’re wearing right now are cute already! I have absolutely no complaints about them!”

However, AnchoR muttered from atop his shoulders, “But Father... Mother asked me, if I can, destroy that...”

Naoto whirled around in anger. “Marie! You were still saying things like that?!”

“Y, Yeah... After all, if she can destroy it, then—” It’d be a much quicker and easier solution than trying to heat Akihabara up through its neighboring grids.

Before Marie could finish her thought, Naoto interrupted her. “That’s a no. Absolutely not! What do you take AnchoR-chan to be, you walking landmine?”

What, you ask? Well obviously— The clocksmith inside her was saying this: —An automaton that’s the embodiment of absurd and unreasonable violence. Isn’t she a weapon that was made precisely for times like these?

But before Marie could answer, Naoto continued, “...Well, if AnchoR was in perfect shape—then yeah, she could easily send an unseemly piece of junk like that off to the recycling plant in one hit. AnchoR’s a strong one after all—but...”

“Uhm... I’m sorry...”

“You don’t need to apologize, AnchoR! There’s no need to listen to the babbling nonsense of a walking landmine. Especially when she pretends not to know any better.”

“Wha—” Marie reflexively tried to defend herself, but Naoto glared at her.

“Didn’t she say that she needs to recharge? I’m pretty sure I remember that she was using her Twelfth Balance Wheel when she was fighting RyuZU. If she used that right now, she’d only last a few seconds—that is, a few seconds from AnchoR’s frame of reference, to be clear.

In any case, she’d have to revert back to her First Balance Wheel after that, so she’d be left vulnerable in the resting state that she’s in right now. So, even as powerful as AnchoR-chan is, do you really think it’s reasonable to ask her to destroy that stupidly enormous piece of garbage in such a short amount of time?”

“...That’s—”

“In order to operate for a meaningful amount of time at her greatest output, she would need to continue storing the excess energy that her perpetual gear is putting out.

Let’s see...” Naoto paused to strain his ears. “—It’ll take about 160 hours. The enemy will become operational before that... So forget the convenient thought of making AnchoR solve everything—and, more importantly—!!”

Naoto said with a hint of scorn, “Don’t go and shove all the burden onto a child! Were you planning to just sit back and watch? —How selfish can you be?! Aren’t you ashamed? Frankly, I’m disgusted with you.”

“—ngh!” Marie was trembling as her entire body flared up, it was as if her blood was boiling. The words “humiliation” and “shame” could barely scratch the surface of the emotions that were broiling her brain right now.

However, AnchoR said hesitantly, “...But Father... Is there any other way—?”

“There isn’t. But even without another option, having you fight against that thing is rejected, denied, forbidden, and absolutely no good!”

“...O, Okay...” Overpowered by Naoto, AnchoR fell into silence.

—What are they talking about? Marie was irritated that the conversation had drifted away from her understanding. It was a pattern that she had grown to hate. Once again things were being decided through an alien logic and morality that were completely foreign to her—left out of the picture, Marie could only grind her teeth in frustration.

“...I’m sorry,” AnchoR said from atop Naoto’s shoulders, hanging her head down.

As Marie’s heart was pierced by the sorrowful tone of AnchoR’s voice, Naoto said mockingly, “Wow Marie... making a child who’s been depressed for a thousand years even sadder, could this be the very peak of sadism?”

“N, No— That’s not what I was trying to d—”

“...I’m sorry, Mother.”

“I told you to stop calling me that— Argh no, come on! I get it! I understand! I was wrong, I’m sorry! So don’t make that face—!!” ...Even Marie herself didn’t understand what she was trying to say.

Lamenting this, lamenting that, and in the end, coming up with nothing.

And to top it all off, I had the immature thought of resolving the situation by conveniently leaving everything to a little girl.

And while I’ve been trying to pass the buck, Naoto has been— No, even now, he’s gathering as much information as he can. He’s been practically killing himself to come up with a way to break the impasse we’re in.

Now that I think about it—ever since the EMP hit, this guy hasn’t stopped for a single moment.

And you, Marie Bell Breguet?

Just what have you been doing?

“——”

Marie clenched her teeth so hard that it felt like her molars would crack.

If I continue to become this pathetic at every little surprise, I’m really gonna come to hate myself.

Just how many times, how many hours, how many days, how many years am I going to twiddle my thumbs before I finally learn my lesson...!

“—Naoto.”

“Yeah yeah, what?”

“Sorry, but I’ll be heading back before you guys. AnchoR, can I leave this guy in your care?”

“...If that’s Mother’s orders—”

“It isn’t an order. It’s a request. I’ll leave this guy—Naoto—to you. If you guys are found by the police or the military shake them off as best you can and return to base.”

Marie hadn’t realized—but at that moment, for the very first time, she had treated AnchoR not as not a doll, but as a comrade. Only AnchoR picked up on it.

“...Okay, a request. It’s much more important than an order...” Seeing AnchoR nod with a smile like a blossoming flower, Marie nodded as well.

Naoto didn’t ask where she was going to go.

Marie didn’t tell him either.

My brain is finally working again after that fiasco with the EMP. That’s all there is to it.

I’m simply going to do what I can—what I should be doing—without hesitation, I’m going to give it all I’ve got—!

●

After Marie fully disappeared from their sight, AnchoR said, “Mother wasn’t crying anymore... Father, you’re amazing!”

“...She’s actually an amazing person too, you know,” Naoto whispered to her with a somewhat ambiguous smile. “She’s a genius.”

“...Ge-ni-us?”

“Yeah, it means she’s a su~per ama~zing person.”

“...She’s more amazing than amazing?”

Seeing AnchoR’s eyes open wide while hugging her stuffed animal, Naoto felt at ease. The two resumed their walk. “Yeah! It’s a secret that I said that though!”

He began to walk faster and faster, breaking into a jog.

“That girl wastes her time worrying about the strangest things—but when push comes to shove, she’s a genius that always pulls through in a pinch. She’s different from a guy like me.”

Geniuses probably have their own worries that only they can understand, Naoto thought. But even so, for a genius like her to waste her time stressing over trivial things is—annoying, to put it mildly.

I mean, for someone to be so smart that they loop right back around into turning stupid, now that’s stupid.

“Well, it looks like I’m feeling a little better, so let’s do what we can as well! Alright, let’s go somewhere that’s a little far away next. Full speed ahead!”

“...Okay.” Atop his shoulders, AnchoR was lost in thought as the wind brushed past her face.

—My amazing father is saying that my mother is even more amazing than amazing. If the two of them are here, no one will have to die. Everyone will be saved and start smiling again. Big Sister too!

Feeling a sense of hope for the future for the first time in a thousand years, AnchoR smiled.

“———”

“...Father, I’d like an order, please.”

“R, Right... Umm, yeah, you see... there’s a, a sporting goods store, over there, so...” Between wheezes, Naoto’s voice began to flag. “C, Could you buy me some water... and an oxygen can?”

Without the slightest dignity as a father, Naoto’s form slowly wilted until he was fully prostrate on the ground. Lungs heaving, he couldn’t do anything but watch as AnchoR scurried off to the store.

●

“—Excuse me, prime minister. What... did you say just now?” the defense minister asked, his voice trembling. He spoke for everyone present with that question.

The meaningless, fruitless conference of the Anti-Terror Committee was still going strong. The conference had been adjourned several times now. It was now in its fifth meeting.

In face of what the prime minister—the representative of the ruling party—had just said out of nowhere, none of the committee members could conceal their astonishment or terror.

The prime minister shook his head, seeming dissatisfied with the committee’s response. “It’s just like I said. I was on the hotline with the IGMO just now and I’ve just finished explaining the situation our nation is in. And—” He took a breath, before emphatically declaring: “I made an emergency request for the use of Tall Wand on Akihabara Grid.”

The meeting room didn’t erupt into a clamor. Just the opposite, everyone was flabbergasted. The room was simply covered in silence.

With a face as if he had just chewed on a bitter pill, the chief cabinet secretary stepped forward from behind the prime minister, who was puffing up his chest, full of confidence.

He explained in a strained voice to all present, “The gag order is reaching its limits. It’s only a matter of time before our present situation is discovered by other countries.

Once that happens, they will eventually propose the use of Tall Wand on Japan. Regardless of which nation brings it up, it’s inevitable that all the countries of Asia will oppose it, in which case a war is likely to happen.”

...We know that already, Everyone in the room probably thought at once. At the very least, apart from the prime minister, everyone in this room—regardless of what their position is—should have swallowed that solemn truth.

Wasn’t the purpose of this committee to decide what to do based on that premise, and isn’t that also why we’ve been arguing at an impasse this whole time—?

“But,” the chief cabinet secretary continued despite everyone staring on in mute amazement, “if we request assistance for resolving the situation by reporting this national scandal ourselves, then it’s a different story. We’ll disclose all the information on the target that we currently have to the IGMO and have them destroy it along with the grid.

As of right now, the militaries of the neighboring countries and Meister Guild are heading towards us as quickly as possible. This is the best action we can take to keep the damage done from destroying Akihabara Grid to the bare minimum. This is also our best means of avoiding the worst-case scenario of a world war. —That’s the prime minister’s reasoning.”

The chief cabinet secretary ended his explanation like so. The terrifying tone of the words he had added at the end made it apparent to all the members present how he really felt.

After hearing the chief cabinet secretary’s explanation, everyone simply had one thought. It was a singular question that for a single miraculous moment, united the opinions of the committee members for the very first time. Namely, that thought was— “What the hell are you saying?”

If it’s a joke, it’s in poor taste—and if it’s the truth, that makes it even nastier.

The defense minister bellowed, “—Prime minister! Do you have your wits about?! I can make countless rebuttals, but first—calling what you just did at your own discretion above your legal authority wouldn’t be enough!!”

However, the prime minister simply replied with a composed face, “—It’s an emergency right now.”

As everyone was at a loss for words, the prime minister puffed out his chest as he continued, “As this country’s prime minister, I hereby declare a state of national emergency! Everyone, the fate of the nation is in jeopardy right now. We don’t have the luxury of waiting for the target, Yatsukahagi, to begin moving again!”

He really did it...! That god damn son of a bitch... ugh! As angry roars filled the room, Karasawa felt a chill creeping up his spine.

—There’s an utter fool here. Not the prime minister. He’s nothing but an idiot not even worth mentioning. But I’m certain of it. There’s a god damn son of a bitch here, an utter fool who gave our idiot prime minister that insane idea.

An utter fool who inflated our idiot prime minister’s ego. Look at him, he really thinks he’s the cock of the walk.

In short, this is what happened:

—“Even if you stay quiet and continue observing the situation, in the end you’ll be forced to take responsibility and resign. In that case, why not avoid that scenario by making an appeal to the citizens as well as the other countries that you’re a sincerely faithful prime minister? After the situation is resolved, you can evade responsibility by blaming everything on the previous administration that held the power in this country for such a long time.”

That should more or less cover the nonsense that the utter fool crammed into the prime minister’s head.

In the first place—do you think that if you make a request for the use of Tall Wand that the IGMO will answer with a “Understood, it’ll be delivered to you in thirty minutes,” like a pizza place or something?

—Tall wand was the most powerful anti-surface weapon of mass destruction in known existence. It was made using the scientific theories from the ancient era. An orbital satellite, Tall Wand was a simple device that worked by dropping a rod made of heavy alloy at something on the Earth’s surface from its platform up in space.

While there were no records of its use—Tall Wand was understood to possess a destructive power that could easily pulverize a city. Using it required a majority vote of at least three-fourths of the IGMO’s executive committee in favor.

However, as there are seven Asian countries in the executive committee in the current term—getting a favorable decision would not be easy.

There’s no way that this idiot, who I’m not even sure knows what kind of weapon Tall Wand is, has the diplomatic skills to have gotten the IGMO to authorize its use in such a short time.

Which means that—without a doubt, this is all a part of someone’s pre-arranged scenario, everything’s been scripted from the start...!

“—Yes, you’re right! A declaration of national emergency is in order...! After all, prime minister, the nation will be left in ruins if it’s left to an incompetent like you!!” the defense minister bellowed, the veins by his temples popping.

Rebuked right to his face, the prime minister unsurprisingly responded in kind. “Watch your mouth, Mr. Tokita! Who do you think I—”

“Shut up! I have no intention of speaking with a traitor. In light of this national crisis, I hereby strip you of all your power by my authority as this country’s minister of defense!”

The defense minister continued shouting with the intensity of a conflagration, proclaiming, “As of now, the military will temporarily seize the authority of the prime minister! At the same time, we indict you for inciting civil unrest as well as treason!!”

“Wh, What did you say?!” the prime minister—or rather, the man who was now designated the ex-prime minister—yelled, looking startled.

Slamming a thick bundle of documents on the table in front of him, the defense minister howled, “You! Despite knowing of that illegal weapon’s dangers, you gave it your tacit consent! The evidence that you tried to use it to strengthen your political foothold is right here!

However, as soon as that plan failed, you conspired with foreign countries to greatly harm our nation for the sake of escaping responsibility! This is none other than a breach of faith against our nation!”

“Th, That’s a false accusation! What do you think you’re saying?!”

“Your squirming is unsightly! The evidence is already in order! —Play it!!” The second the defense minister yelled that out, a video was projected onto the enormous screen hanging on the front wall of the meeting room.

The video showed a somewhat dimly lit room. In the center of the room was an old man wearing an aged military uniform. He was sitting in a chair. The viewers couldn’t make out the expression on his face due to the dim lighting, but the old man indifferently said:

“I’m sorry, prime minister—but to try to use us as a tool, I can only say that you’re belittling us. If you’re looking down on us as naive ideologues who fancy themselves revolutionaries, then I shall have you pay with your blood. We shall impeach those of you in the federal government and mete out our enmity and indignation on equal terms.”

As the short video ended, the room was filled with a commotion. It was a clamor of animosity and outrage directed towards the prime minister.

In the midst of it all, the defense minister shouted in triumph, “—Ex-prime minister, this is the enemy’s proclamation of criminal intent that our public security police found on your computer. Pretending to be a faithful public servant while concealing something like this is quite the joke isn’t it?!”

“I—I’ve never seen this video before! I know nothing of this!!”

“Shut it! We’ll hear all your excuses in the interrogation room— Take him away!” Two military officers that had been standing behind the defense minister stepped forward and took positions by the ex-prime minister’s sides before trying to escort him outside.

However, a minister of state blocked their way. “With all due respect, defense minister! I’d like you to hear what I have to say as well!

Regarding the order that a section of the military was given two weeks ago to be on standby which resulted in a hole in Tokyo’s security force’s defenses! Isn’t that the underlying cause of that terror broadcast from Akihabara?!

Actually—who but the Technical Force of Tokyo’s military would have the technology and knowledge to make that possible?!”

“Wha— What are you trying to say!”

“Are you not currently playing the part of the hero in a situation you helped instigate yourself?!”

“What nonsense! That’s an insult that I can’t let slide you bastard!!”

“In that case, I’d like you to answer my question—!”

...At this point, the meeting was in such pandemonium that no one could put things back in order. Before Karasawa realized it, even the prime minister, who had been in the middle of being escorted out, was a part of the clamor again, set on repeating his own claims without a clue as to what anyone else was saying.

There’s no doubt about it at this point. Someone’s definitely pulling the strings here...! Karasawa groaned a step away from the center of the commotion. Everything’s simply falling into place too perfectly.

Whether it be the prime minister acting at his own discretion, the coup d’état by the military, or the indictment against the defense minister just now, it all happened like clockwork.

Things will no longer end with just the collapse of the government cabinet. It’s only a matter of time before all the different factions of the federal government, including the military, fracture and a civil war begins.

Is it the double agent from Shiga’s ex-military described in the intelligence report provided by Dr. Marie...? No— In this whole chain of events, the Akihabara Terror Incident was the one thing that the mastermind shouldn’t have accounted for.

That event had been an unprecedented miracle. Even having known all the details, Karasawa had doubted the plan was possible when he first heard of it from Marie.

But now, even that unforeseeable miracle was being used as a part of the present scripted scenario.

A monster who’s even successfully using the magic of Dr. Marie’s group against us— Is the identity of that monster really Shiga’s ex-military?

...I can’t help but feel that that isn’t quite right.

Taking a little time to get a good look at the room that was currently embroiled in chaos—Karasawa became convinced, albeit reluctantly, that— I’m the only one capable of thinking rationally in this room right now.

Has the grave situation thrown them into disarray, or are these the true faces of our excellent elected officials?

While hoping that it was the former as a Japanese citizen, Karasawa came to this conclusion: At this point, I have no choice but to investigate matters myself... though it’s extremely dangerous.

What can you do? I guess, it’s my job as a consultant— No, actually, this clearly falls outside of the call of duty, doesn’t it. Karasawa shook his head with a bitter smile.

At the same time, his sharp gaze focused on one person. A suspicious man who, like himself, wasn’t taking part in the commotion. A step apart, that man was currently trying to sneak out of the room.

Well then, I guess I’ll have you show me your tail at least...! With a sly smile Karasawa erased his own presence and set off in the pursuit of the escaping man.

●

Even after the sun set on the Tokyo metropolis, the city didn’t sleep. In a complete reversal of how desolate it was during the day, the underground shopping center was now filled with lively voices and light from neon gears. Naoto and AnchoR returned to base, jostled by the crowd along the way.

As they entered the workshop, Vermouth, who had been left on a hanger called out cheerfully, “Sup kid— Wait, huh? What’s with the cute dress? Where’re your balls kid? C’mon, show me real quick. I’m worried that a bad mister will assault you.”

“So someone like you, old man?”

“Hey now is that any way to address a lady? Not that this whole dutch wife situation was my idea— So what happened, kid? Bahaha,” Vermouth laughed as he tilted his head.

Naoto was looking towards the workbench in the room. His eyes had been locked there since he entered the workshop. There, he could see Marie’s back as she repaired the heavily damaged RyuZU.

“...How long has it been since Marie started working?”

It had been nearly seven hours since Marie had left Naoto and AnchoR and returned alone. During that time, Naoto and AnchoR walked all around Ueno Grid and even Sakuradamon Grid as well— Still, Naoto didn’t think that RyuZU would have cooled down by the time Marie had gotten back.

“Yeah.” Vermouth nodded, answering with a bitter smile, “I can imagine how you feel— Four hours. She’s been at it like that for four whole hours.”

“——”

“Of course, she wasn’t twiddling her thumbs while she waited. She was making preparations, trimming replacement parts and assembling them. Once RyuZU’s body cooled down— Well, she’s been like that the whole time.”

Even as the two spoke, Marie continued working. Most likely—no, without a doubt—she hadn’t even noticed that Naoto and AnchoR were back.

“What a bad joke, right? Is what we’re seeing even humanly possible?”

—Indeed, it was a terrible joke. It was something that Naoto was intimately familiar with—the miracle he had had the privilege of seeing in Kyoto. It was the apex of an art form that could only be described as a divine feat.

It was like the air was grating. The physical laws of the world seemed to distort around the petite blond-haired girl.

Screws, cylinders, wires, springs, gears—every single clockwork part in her vicinity defied gravity—or rather, they flew up and returned to their proper places so rapidly and so precisely, that it was as if time were being unwound. At least, it looked that way to others.

Raw materials were refined, nerves were tuned, and mechanisms were adjusted. She was like a conductor operating with a grace that could bring one to tears. The girl’s breaths, her blood flow, even the gliding of her bones and muscles were all in splendid harmony. Marie was performing the symphony of a god.

—Is this really a living, breathing human? Naoto began to doubt his own eyes. Am I not seeing an artisanal music box of the highest order? An instrument made in the human form with an absolutely transcendent technique?

Watching Marie defy her human limits, AnchoR asked quietly, “Father— Is this... ‘genius’?”

“—Yeah, that’s right. It sure is... goddammit.” As Naoto nodded, he grit his teeth in vexation.

Back then, I was simply moved. I even felt envious of how beautiful it was. I was entranced by her forceful, even violent technique—by a talent that felt like it could even remake the world.

But now, I’m feeling something so much more. Jealousy, thirst. If it was any other automaton or maybe a core tower that was being repaired, then I wouldn’t care, but... Why is the person over there, the one repairing RyuZU? Why is that person not me?!

Suddenly, the melody broke down.

“—Haa! I’m out of sugar! My chocolate, where’s my chocolate... Ah, there it was... Hmm...? Oh, Naoto, you’re back?”

Upon remembering to properly breathe, Marie had fallen over on the spot. As she munched on a bar of chocolate that she’d taken out of her pocket, she noticed Naoto’s presence and raised her head. Naoto nodded lightly in response. He still looked queasy.

“Yeah... I’m back~”

“...Mother, we’re back.”

“Yes, welcome back— Did you find what you were looking for?” Marie asked, seeing new headphones sitting atop Naoto’s bed of black hair.

Naoto nodded before hesitantly asking, “Yeah... but first, Marie, could I ask you a little something?”

“What? Ah, do you mind if I answer you while I work?”

“No, not at all.”

Marie nodded as she returned to the workbench. Her work pace was slower than before as she was a little less focused—but even so, it was still far faster than what an ordinary person would be capable of.

“So, what’d you want to ask?”

“...Marie, how are you repairing RyuZU? You can’t get compatible replacement parts for her from the stores can you?”

Marie didn’t slow down at all as she answered, “Aside from that absurd Imaginary Gear, I can fix the rest of her mechanisms one way or another. RyuZU was originally owned by and kept under the care of my family—the Breguets—you know?

Do you have any idea how many times I analyzed and rearranged her parts to try to get her to operate? —Even without her blueprint, I’ve memorized her mechanisms down to the arrangement of her nanogears.”

Seeing Naoto stay silent, Marie lowered her gaze onto an object on the floor in her vicinity. She was looking at what looked like a corpse but was really a thoroughly dismantled automaton lying on the ground.

“Fortunately, there are a ton of automata here that used high grade materials for shitty, indecent purposes... Let’s see, how many did I take apart in all?”

Vermouth answered, “Twenty-seven.”

“Ah, yes yes. After I dismantled twenty-seven automata, I had all the parts I needed.”

“Hey Princess, try to be a little more thoughtful, eh? That gramps called Konrad was making a teary face like it was the end of the world you know?”

“Like I care. These objects are evil,” Marie muttered with a straight face. She then turned around to face Naoto as if she had just remembered something. She pointed her screwdriver at Naoto with a snap.

“Just so you know—my ears aren’t as handy as yours. What I can do with the equipment available here amounts to nothing more than first aid. Making the final adjustments is your job, got it?” she said teasingly.

Naoto slightly nodded as he looked away. While being somewhat surprised by his reaction, Marie resumed her work.

“Ah, what about old man Halter?”

“—I couldn’t get an artificial body for him. I’m putting his case on the...” That’s a lie, Marie muttered internally. No, not exactly. It’s true that I couldn’t get an artificial body for him, but because of that, I tried hooking him up to a speech device instead.

—But there was no response.

It isn’t certain. But, even with a proper procedure, transplanting the brain pod into another artificial body would undeniably involve a fair amount of risk. Not to mention, considering what had happened, it wouldn’t be strange if the damage reached his brain as well—

“Rather than that, could you give me a hand? I’d like three resonance-linking autonomous movements.”

“—Sorry, I can’t make those.”

“In that case, just the circuits would be fine, so make me—”

“—I can’t do that either. What you’re doing right now is way beyond my understanding,” Naoto said as he shuffled off to a corner of the room and sat down.

Marie sounded a bit irked as she reproached him. “Now look here... shouldn’t you have learned how to construct circuits in middle school? Why can’t you even do something as easy as that? Have you never thought that throwing your school fees down the drain is wasteful?”

Naoto raised his voice and retorted, “Oyyy oy Marie, I have no idea what you’re talking about! But don’t go underestimating machine enthusiasts! I’ve read through my textbooks so many times that they’re all worn out, and who knows how many manuals I bought with the pittance of a fortune left to me—I don’t even remember myself!”

“You. Not. Remembering. Is exactly the problem here—tch! Don’t say it like it’s something you should be proud of!” Marie yelled back, matching his tone. “—For god’s sake! Why can’t you do it when you have such handy ears...”

Do you have any idea how many times I thought— “If only I had superhuman hearing like you...”

I wouldn’t waste even a single second if I suddenly got it now. I would immediately get to work mastering it and show you all I can do with it, and yet you...

Marie shot a resentful glance at Naoto, but he simply replied, “Good question. I’m mystified by it myself. Because, you know, no matter how many textbooks and manuals I read—I don’t understand the things written in them one bit!”

“Stop taking pride in something so stupid! I’ll knock you down, you know?! Ahh, the poor trees that were wasted on you...” Marie sighed, as she felt a migraine coming on, probably because she had blown a fuse.

Taking another bite of her chocolate bar, she stopped. Suddenly, a question arose in her mind, ...Why can’t he do it? She wasn’t attacking him. She was genuinely perplexed.

There’s no way he isn’t trying, I mean, we’re talking about Naoto here—!

An idiot who loves, and only loves machines—so much so that he seriously fell in love with a mechanical girl, he even proposed to her for god’s sake.

I could understand it if we were only talking about general subjects. This guy truly has zero interest in things that don’t appeal to him. However, when it comes to machines— He should have been paying attention in technology class.

He gave up because he couldn’t understand it?

—As if. I can’t imagine this guy giving up. So much so that even just hearing him say that he can’t do something feels out of place. I understand at least that much—about this boy. Marie was proud of this.

In that case, why can’t he do it despite having that level of resolve and such an absurd talent? It’s not like he has a bad memory. He isn’t hopelessly incapable either. In the first place, even if he could grasp all of RyuZU’s inner workings, would that alone have been enough to fix RyuZU’s malfunction—?

Marie cast the doubt that arose in her mind at Naoto. “—Hey, didn’t you fix RyuZU up back in Kyoto? How did you do it back then?”

“I just fumbled around inside her with my hands.”

Dumbfounded, Marie repeated Naoto’s words. “...Fumbled around, you say?”

“I don’t understand the explanations written in the textbooks, so I just fumbled around with her parts until the unpleasant sound I heard inside her went away through trial and error.” Naoto answered with a sigh.

—Simply ridiculous. Does this guy not understand how complex of a machine an automaton as advanced as RyuZU is? With that talent of his, he should—even more so than me.

I don’t get it. This guy has to be making some ridiculously basic mistake... Wait. At that moment, Marie felt an indescribably chilling thought creep up inside her mind— Or perhaps, even though I think I get it, I’m actually the one missing something ridiculously basic...

“———”

Marie stopped thinking about it. She felt that it was a dangerous line of thought.

“...I really don’t get you, you pervert.” She partitioned off her thoughts with a curse and changed the topic. “So, is that all you wanted to ask? What happened with things on your end?”

“Right.” Naoto nodded before beginning, “Marie, that remarkably gargantuan tower—the Pillar of Heaven was it? That isn’t under the jurisdiction of the military right?”

“...Hm? That’s right, it’s under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency. Why do you ask?”

“The Imperial Household Agency? Then that means... ahh, I see.” Naoto nodded with a knowing face.

With that, Vermouth seemed to have caught wind of what Naoto was thinking. Vermouth explained, “This nation known as Japan is rooted in old traditions that began well before the planet was recreated with gears. No one can make a move there.

Kid, as a Japanese, you should know what I’m talking about right? A de facto inviolable territory—it’s the perfect place to build what’s literally ‘the cornerstone of the nation’ that governs the core towers which are the nucleus of Tokyo’s various grids.”

Naoto looked at him with a suspicious squint, muttering, “...It doesn’t sound that way to me.”

“Well duh! That’s nothing more than a pretext after all!” Vermouth cackled.

Lost in their exchange, Marie confusedly asked, “...What do you mean?” At risk of being left out by the familiar pattern—Marie suddenly gasped. “Naoto, just what are you thinking?” Her voice was trembling a little.

However, the boy being asked looked bold. Naoto was not wavering in the slightest. His gray eyes glittered daringly, and his lips were curled in the smile of a kid that was up to no good.

Naoto said something that made Marie doubt her ears, Vermouth explode into laughter, and AnchoR tilt her head— He thrust the fruit of his labors before Marie.

“I’m just gonna skip to the conclusion, Marie. We’re gonna take over the Pillar of Heaven—or should I say, the Imperial Palace.”

●

What Naoto had spent half a day looking for—was namely a way to win. As for the method, simply calling his plan outrageous wouldn’t do it justice.

“—So yeah, what do you think?” Naoto asked as he finished going over his plan.

“Hah— Hahaah! Oy kid— Oh Naoto-chan! My eyes didn’t deceive me after all! You plan is as interesting as it gets! You’re on your way to becoming a good scumbag kid— Actually, you might be one already!”

“Father... you’re amazing—!!”

Vermouth convulsed with wild laughter while AnchoR’s eyes sparkled. Only Marie was left astonished. She said, as if struggling to breathe, “—You...you aren’t sane. Do you truly understand everything you just said?”

“Well, yeah? —Come on Marie, try recalling what happened,” Naoto said as he raised his index finger. “Who was the first one to claim responsibility for the terrorism, us or them?”

—Us. We announced that we would freeze Akihabara.

“Who’s the one being taken as the perpetrator for this chain of incidents?”

—Us. Indeed, it’s being reported on the news. Feeling a chill run down her spine, Marie gulped.

“So why not just go ahead and answer all of their expectations by playing the part they gave us? Fiendishly at that. How about a name befitting a group that’s related to that international armed organization, whatever it was. For example, Mr. Naoto Miura and His Merry Friends—” Naoto said with a twisted smirk that didn’t suit his baby face.

“We were responsible for everything” —An exceedingly simple and straightforward “evil” that anyone could easily recognize. It would be the creation of a convenient culprit—a scapegoat for everyone to easily lay the blame.

“If they want to put on a farce then let’s gaudily dance to their tune. So much so that that enormous piece of junk is overshadowed and we steal the show! Coup d’états? Conspiracies? No one will be made to take responsibility for something that ‘never happened.’ After all, everything was caused by a random group of terrorists blindsiding everyone ♡.”

With just one move—just like how Shiga’s ex-military put the feds in checkmate, this time, they’ll be the ones put in a corner. Seeing Naoto’s ominous sneer, Marie shuddered.

—The logic checks out. However, does this guy understand what that method would imply?

“With just this—we can jam them into a boiling crucible, that crucible being Akihabara, and the firewood to fuel it will be the Pillar of Heaven.”

He does. He really does. He’s suggesting it despite knowing the ramifications. Upon discerning both reason—and madness—from the glint of his eyes, Marie finally understood.

—It takes a lot to make Naoto Miura truly angry. Even if someone made fun of him or cursed at him, it would be inconsequential to this boy.

However—there’s probably just one thing that Naoto Miura can’t forgive, one extra-large landmine that he has. And Shiga’s bunch stepped right on it not once, but twice.

The first time was restraining AnchoR with that mask. The second time was wrecking RyuZU with that EMP.

I finally understand why Naoto was abnormally composed upon waking up after fainting. This guy completely snapped at that moment. He was possessed by an endlessly cool, stark rage.

—It’s just the same as his burns. If Naoto finds something to be necessary, he’ll do it. He’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. When you get down to it, that’s all it is—but how many people actually have the resolve to literally pay any and every “price” to achieve their goals?

—Naoto Miura is scary. Marie acknowledged that that was how she felt. But that wasn’t all, deep down Maire thought that —Naoto Miura is strong.

Even though she thought it was a pointless, frivolous hypothetical, she still couldn’t stop herself from thinking it:

—If I were ever to make this guy my enemy, would I be able to win? If I used all of my knowledge, my skills, my connections, and... Basically, if I fully use everything I have at my disposal...

“Naoto Miura’s specs are no match for Marie Bell Breguet’s.” —That should... be the case. But why is it then that I can’t imagine a world where I beat this guy...

“Hey, princess. I implore you from the bottom of my heart. I won’t be spoiled and ask for a military-grade artificial body, so could you please switch me to another body that I can move properly in at the bare minimum?”

Marie, who had been at a loss for words, turned to face the man who was meekly speaking. What she saw as she looked over—was AnchoR with her eyes sparkling and Vermouth looking like he’d found his resolve.

Naoto is AnchoR’s master. It’s only natural that she’d obey him—but “—Are you seriously on board with Naoto’s plan? Hell awaits whether the plan succeeds or fails you know?!”

That’s right, even if everything does go according to Naoto’s plan, we’d still become “evil”—heinous, insurmountable epic villains.

This man has no obligation or motive to take that burden on. He’s just a spy who lent his services to some corporation for money. He has neither a sense of justice nor any sort of creed; he’s simply an outlaw that works for money. A criminal. I don’t trust him, nor should I. That’s the kind of man he is.

However, Vermouth answered without shifting his gaze away from Marie, “Didn’t I say that his plan is interesting? —Does a man need a better reason than that?”

“——”

“You can’t understand? Well, that’s fine. But I’m serious. In fact, there’s only been... yep, only one other time in my life that I was this serious.”

Inadvertently having her curiosity piqued, Marie asked, “Just for reference, what was the first time?”

“It was for some stupid dream,” Vermouth instantly replied, as a bitter, cringing smile surfaced on his face. “I screwed up though. Then, as I was drifting through my second life as a cyborg, like a dead man really, that runt over there—”

“Ah... I’m, sor—”

“—saved me. I remembered just as I was about to kick the bucket—that I’m alive.” Vermouth turned his gaze towards Naoto. “Then, as fate would have it, when I woke up to my third life, this brat was here.

A crazy bastard who says he’ll crush anyone who rubs him the wrong way—no matter who they are. I’m ‘in love.’ I would very much like to have a front row seat. I want to see just how far this kid’ll go. What kind of schemes he’ll perpetrate.”

Marie sighed. Exasperated, she gave Vermouth and Naoto a look that said, “I can’t understand the two of you from the bottom of my heart.”

AnchoR looked up at her, asking, “...Mother, are you scared? AnchoR will... protect you, so...”

“What are you getting cold feet for, princess? Hurry off to the dressing room and put on some lucky panties for your date tonight. This is the part where you’re supposed to shake your ass to mark the start of our imminent counterattack, you know?” Vermouth laughed, egging Marie on.

“What are you saying Miste— Miss? Not that it really matters, but this won’t be a counterattack,” Naoto corrected him, sounding exasperated. “After all, the feds were the ones who were attacked by the guys from Shiga, not us. And Marie—”

“...What do you want?”

Seeing that Marie was still hesitating Naoto said—with the bright, innocent smile of a child, “When you were a kid... didn’t you ever see other kids desperately trying to make sand castles in the sandbox—and think it’d be crazy fun to kick their sand hills into oblivion and run away?”

—Marie suddenly remembered.

When I discarded my identity as a Breguet and a Meister. When I decided to call myself a terrorist after thwarting the compulsory purge of Kyoto... Back then, on the rooftop of that school, just what did I say to this guy?

“We probably wouldn’t be praised or thanked by anyone—”

“—but it would definitely———”

Marie sighed with a bitter smile. She ran a hand through her hair and scratched roughly. “—You two really are hopeless boneheads aren’t you?”

“But it sounds fun right?” Naoto smiled.

Though she got the sense that her resolve was being dragged out and manipulated by Naoto’s smile, strangely, that didn’t feel unpleasant to her—Marie nodded.

I get it now—I’m an idiot too.

And so, at this time, at this very moment, with the frivolous air of children plotting a prank, the crime that would be the first and last of its kind in scale was set into motion.