Chapter Three / 07 : 15 / Liberator

Now then. As for the atrocious villain who had just thrust all of Japan into the depths of terror and thrown the rest of the world into a crucible of frenzy—in other words, the boy who had declared that he would wipe Japan off the map in an unprecedented indiscriminate act of destruction...

“Ahhhhhhhhh~~~n... Oh~ yes yes yes~... this happiness is what I liiive for...”

He was kicking back as he was enveloped by a feeling of safety and security as if he were in his own home.

More concretely, he was rolling about with his face buried in the lap pillow of an automaton girl in a formal black dress as he squealed in delight.

The automaton girl providing the lap pillow—RyuZU—sighed, “Master Naoto, with all due respect, I suspect that just about anything would make you very happy considering the simple brain you were born with.”

However, Naoto countered while continuing to dig his face into her thighs, “How rude, RyuZU! And not just to me! Are you insinuating that there could possibly be a pillow more luxurious than your lap in this world?!”

“—Excuse me. It is the height of humiliation to be cornered with a sound argument from Master Naoto, but—it is true that nothing in this world could match the value of even a lock of my hair. With that in mind, my lap pillow must be an awe-inspiring, ultimate treasure that would draw the envy of even the gods... It is self-evident that making use of my lap pillow is a peerless luxury. I apologize for my mistake.” RyuZU lowered her head to apologize.

Seeing their exchange, the little automaton girl in red and white armor muttered with her index finger against her lower lip, “...Father, I’d like an order please...”

“Yeeees yes yes! Dive right into papa~n’s belly~! Comon!” As Naoto spread his arms and looked up at her with a silly grin, AnchoR dove into his belly with a pomf. “...Tee-hee... Father, you’re warm...”

Achieving Nirvana, Naoto slapped his forehead, yelling, “—Kaaaaaaah—!! No one else in the world is happier than me right now!”

“Well, Master Naoto, considering that you crushed the ephemeral happiness of the masses just a little while ago, that much is obvious.

Actually, even in absolute terms, considering that you get to monopolize the ultimate works of art that are AnchoR and myself—something that even the gods above would be envious of—it does not really matter how happy the rest of the world is, does it?”

—It was just as she said. Indeed, in the present moment, Naoto was rising beyond cloud nine. Naoto prayed to no one in particular, “Hohh... the great one who brought me as well as RyuZU and AnchoR into this world, whoever you are, I love you——!!”

Now, leaving that syrup-smeared, cloyingly sweet microcosm as it were...

—The Pillar of Heaven. On the twentieth floor of Tokyo’s alpine central management tower that, just as its name implied, pierced the heavens...

Right now, that floor was enveloped in an atmosphere that was as tense if not more so than during the battles that had taken place just a little while ago.

“Dr. Konrad! Everyone else too! How does the sensitivity feel?!” Marie yelled out.

Eighteen automata that were hurriedly doing work on the insanely detailed mechanisms of the Pillar of Heaven turned around and answered her with a thumbs-up in unison.

Those weren’t the responses of an AI—they were the responses of the eighteen clocksmiths remotely controlling the automata used for maintenance in the Pillar of Heaven.

The automata had been modified to allow for remote control and were being used by Marie’s associates scattered throughout Tokyo by way of the transmission station of the ruling party’s headquarters.

The eighteen were made up of the same Meisters who had lent their hands to Marie during the Akihabara Terror Incident in reverence for her. Their skills were top-notch even compared to other Meisters.

Currently, they were doing minute work remotely through a relay station—a setup which largely limited their senses as clocksmiths. Even so, under Marie’s command, they were able to work as one and showcase a manual finesse far beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

If the clocksmiths of the imperial guard who serviced the Pillar of Heaven’s mechanisms daily saw this sight—and keep in mind that they were Meisters who could become an immediate asset to Meister Guild upon joining, if they chose to do so—they would probably cry and submit their letters of resignation, saying, “From now on you’re the ones in charge of this place.”

And, “Ahh, it’s going well on our end too, Missy. ...Good grief, so this is the skill of a Meister? I can’t get enough of it.” Vermouth grinned.

Then— The voice of an old gentleman came out of the same voicebox. “Dr. Marie, don’t mind me. Most likely, this body is the most stable one here in terms of sensitivity.”

Hearing that, Vermouth sneered, moving only his mouth while the rest of his body was remotely controlled by Konrad. “Well duh gramps. This body’s sensitivity is the best ‘in many ways,’ right?”

Indeed. Though she didn’t want to admit it, Marie couldn’t help but agree with Vermouth. The transceiver equipped to Vermouth was a unique, custom-made article that Konrad had personally installed in the love automaton before Marie had used it as Vermouth’s body.

To begin with, resonance devices—in other words, non-contact coupled movements—required an element that was particularly difficult to create among all the man-made elements that had been discovered in the last thousand years.

Made with liberal use of an extremely precious material, close to 100% pure—these specific ones were known as super long-distance resonance gears. Their maximum range was about forty kilometers on average, give or take.

Put plainly, one could erect a building in the most expensive district of Tokyo for the price of just one of these super valuable gears. And furthermore, for personal use, one would need at least two of them, one for sending and one for receiving—so with some simple math, the cost would be double.

In the first place—normally, there’d be no need for super long-distance transmissions. The world was already thoroughly equipped with wired infrastructure. If one went through several relay stations, one could send a message to the opposite side of the Earth with almost no latency through a series of short-distance jumps.

As such, the only ones who would have a use for something like this would be limited to a small group of corporations, militaries, and high-ranking government officials—people who needed to regularly exchange information that they couldn’t risk being intercepted.

—However, there was another use for them. And that functionality was most likely the true reason that Konrad had this thing installed onto a love automaton of all things.

Super long-distance resonance gears had three big merits—distance, confidentiality, and information processing power.

Transmissions that went through relay stations obviously shared the relay station’s bandwidth with other users. As such, depending on how much traffic there was at any given time, the number of resonance gears one could couple at once were limited—which translates to the precision which one could remotely control an automaton being limited.

—But, when it came to super long-distance resonance gears, naturally, the amount of information that could be exchanged was far greater. For example—yes, it would be possible to receive information from all five senses at once.

Now then. As for the reason that Konrad not only had such an extremely expensive and scarce device but had installed it onto a love automaton... Thinking about it made Marie hold her head.

“But, it’s proved to be fortunate now... Yeah, don’t think too deeply about it, Marie,” Marie muttered, trying to persuade herself.

Seeing her expression, Vermouth grinned. “Hey Missy, did you know? These super long-distance gears were originally developed not for distance but informational throughput.”

“...So?”

“Sex is always the driving force behind everything in this wor—”

“Dr. Konrad, please shut him up. Please. I’m begging you.” With that, Marie cut the conversation short and returned to her own work.

Now that I think about it, something’s felt off ever since the emergency rendezvous point turned out to be that strip club— No, stop thinking about it... Marie refocused and announced, “Everyone, we’re eighteen seconds behind schedule! Work faster!”

There’s no time for that right now...

—The military probably won’t notice, but, if the fact that we’re using a relay station to remotely control the service automata here is discovered, they could copy the signal and interfere with our work.

In the worst case, they might even be able to trace the locations of the eighteen Meisters helping us.

Should that happen, we have to get as much done as we can now before—

“Miss Maëribell.” Called by her fake name, Marie looked up and saw a young woman—Houko—standing in front of her with a stiff expression.

She prompted Houko to go on with her gaze as she continued working, her hands continuing to type on the processor console connected to the Pillar of Heaven’s control mechanism.

“There is something that I have to ask no matter what.”

“—”

Marie could imagine what she wanted to ask. Without replying, Marie turned her gaze towards Naoto, who was frolicking about with two legendary automata right next to her.

Houko followed Marie’s gaze. “—From where did he procure the blueprint of the Pillar of Heaven?”

“Such a thing doesn’t exist. ...Does it?”

“No. That is why I am asking. Your group clearly grasps the structure of the Pillar of Heaven, more so than us, the ones who regularly maintain this place. Though you are the one supervising the work, he was the one who gave out the instructions to begin with.”

“—”

“As such, I can only think that he obtained the blueprint somehow.”

“That’s wrong. You said it yourself, such a thing doesn’t exist—but regardless, this guy didn’t know the structure of the Pillar of Heaven until he came here.”

“Do you think I can believe that?”

“No. ...But that’s the truth.”

Houko pressed Marie for an answer. “Well then—are you telling me that this boy fully grasped the structure of the Pillar of Heaven just by listening carefully in silence for six minutes?”

●

Impossible, Houko thought.

—The Pillar of Heaven was the literal backbone that supported the country known as Japan. It far exceeded core towers and clock towers of normal grids in terms of both scale and complexity in detail.

As such, even the Department of the Imperial Household didn’t fully grasp its structure. It had taken the country over a thousand years of analyzing it just to make a rudimentary diagram of its structure.

Even that rudimentary diagram was already on a higher level of classified information than other state secrets. Not even the prime minister was clued in as to where it was kept, much less given permission to copy it.

Even so, if one were to obtain that diagram, one still couldn’t possibly hope to fully grasp the structure of the Pillar of Heaven. It was just a fragment merely scratching the surface of its design.

And yet, you are saying that he managed to do so just by listening carefully for only six minutes? Houko could feel her complexion pale, something chillingly cold crept up against her spine. It was something she had felt when she learned firsthand of these adorable automatas’ capabilities, but—in a way, the sensation this time was far more extreme.

—Is this boy not far more dangerous than the automata that are “Y‘s” legacy? As if she guessed what Houko was thinking, the blonde girl—Marie—said, “I understand you having misgivings about this, but sorry, I can’t explain it. Could you maybe do me a favor and pretend you didn’t see anything?”

“I cannot,” Houko asserted. In the first place, the reason I allowed them free rein was because I thought that it would be for the nation’s good—in other words, I did so to use them.

On one hand, to have them take on the hate and blame for the country being on the brink of collapse. And on the other, to learn what the perpetrators of the Akihabara Terror Incident intended to do with the Pillar of Heaven.

Houko herself wasn’t a layman when it came to clocksmithing, she had formally studied it during her study abroad. Though she wasn’t as good as a Meister, she was a licensed Geselle.

She had planned on observing things like their procedure and techniques as well as their sources of information for the sake of the nation’s future security. She was seeking thorough countermeasures to prevent such an incident from ever happening again. She had gone along with them with those interests in mind, but...

“—”

Houko sharply narrowed her eyes. The answer to how they did what they did—is the ability of this boy? This exceedingly average looking boy who looks unremarkable from every angle? If he really can grasp the structure of the Pillar of Heaven just by listening carefully, what countermeasure could possibly be taken?

If that is the truth, then this boy in front of me is— “He is someone who cannot be allowed to exist—a grave threat to national security.”

Marie sighed. “Rest easy—or so I’d like to say. I very much do think that there’s a scientific explanation behind how his hearing works, but even I don’t understand its principles.”

In other words, his ability cannot be replicated. So, as long as he disappears, something like the Akihabara Terror Incident will never happen again— As Houko was considering that, Marie lowered her voice. “Let me warn you. Knowing you, I’m guessing that you’re probably thinking of ways to kill this guy once he’s served his purpose here, but...”

There was no need for Marie to go any further. Before either of them knew it, a black scythe had been nested against Houko’s throat. That scythe, of course, belonged to the automaton wearing a formal black dress.

“If you truly wish to end your own life, then please take half a step towards me. If you could do that then I promise that I will provide you with the most painless euthanasia in the world.”

The automaton’s topaz eyes showed no hint of emotion, just like those of a doll. The smaller one in red and white next to her also looked at Houko with an expressionless face. “...If you do bad things to Father... I’ll do, bad things, to you.”

“Whahh? Huh, wait, what’s going on?” the boy said with a blank expression, seemingly the only one who didn’t understand what was happening.

Houko sighed. It would be senseless to die for this. “I apologize. That was improper of me. As for your offer, I am quite fine, thank you, so I would appreciate it if you would retract your scythe,” Houko said as she took a step back.

The automaton wearing a formal black dress quietly retracted her scythe.

“...Do you get it now?” Marie asked.

Houko nodded with another sigh. “Yes. Unfortunately, it looks like there is nothing that I can do... I will think more on possible countermeasures to his ability at a future date and set things aside for now.”

●

—Looks like she gave up for now, thank goodness. As Marie placed a hand over her heart in relief at seeing her friend spared from death, she was surprised to see Houko take out a small device—something that looked like a choker. As Marie watched on looking puzzled, Houko put it on and smiled sweetly at Marie.

“Now then— It has been a long time, Marie.” Houko’s voice was completely different from before—the choker was a voice changer. It appeared that she had prepared it beforehand to make doubly sure that there would be no record of the princess and a terrorist speaking intimately with one another.

Thoroughly prepared as usual, Marie thought with a smile. “Yes. It’s been a while, Houko.”

“I am happy to see you again. This should be the first time since attending your funeral, I think.”

“Yeah, though that coffin was empty and I was actually in another country.”

“I knew that you were actually alive. But even so, I thought that I would never get the chance to see you again so...”

If it was the imperial princess and her friend from school, the younger daughter of the Breguets, there would be opportunities for them to meet. However, there would be no such chance or justification for Maëribell Halter to do the same. Unlike Marie with her colleagues and fellow Meisters, an imperial princess couldn’t just meet whomever she wished.

Though it was too late to do anything about it now—the outcome still made Marie feel lonely. She sighed. “—Yes, I’m glad that we were able to see each other again.” Lowering her eyes, she added, “So you’re still wearing the watch I gave you.”

“Of course. It is a precious gift, the work of a dear friend. After I parted with you, this watch has always been with me, sharing every minute.”

Grasping her left wrist with her right hand, Houko went on— “When I heard that you had lost your life in Kyoto Grid, I was unbearably grieved. For you to lose your life in my country of all places...that is what I would think back then... I know this is very much late, but I want to say that I am sorry.”

“There’s no reason for you to apologize. It was something that I had decided to do myself after all.”

The computer in front of Marie made mechanical popping sounds. A metal belt—a punch card—had countless holes punctured through it as it horizontally streamed by on top of the console.

“Moreover, I didn’t decide to come here because this is your country. Regardless of where the malfunctioning grid was, I’m sure that I would have done the same thing. Because that’s my job as a clocksmith.” Marie slid her finger across the belt, reading the contents of the punch cards that were rapidly streaming by as if it were Braille.

Seeing Marie continue to work even as they talked, Houko muttered, her voice sounding a little lonely, “...You are right. That is the kind of fair person that I remember you to be.”

Just then, “Hey hey, why are you friends with the Japanese princess Marie?” Naoto casually cut in from behind them as he lay sprawled out with his head resting on RyuZU’s thighs. It was a simply voiced, spur of the moment, question.

Marie sullenly clicked her tongue and slammed her hand on the console. “Naoto, it’s bad manners to interrupt a conversation, you know?”

“Ahh, sorry ’bout that— So anyways, why?”

“In short, she and I are friends from school,” Houko replied.

“—We got to know each other pretty well when I studied abroad in Europe for college. It wasn’t as much time as you might think though since she finished all her requirements and graduated in one month.”

“One month?!” Naoto squawked, his eyes wide open.

Marie shrugged. “If I hadn’t been playing with Houko, I would have been gone in a week.”

“Come now! That makes it sound like I was bothering you, you know?”

“Isn’t that more or less the truth? Are you going to claim otherwise when you were the one dragging me around everywhere?”

“That is a good joke, Marie. I am quite sure that you were the one who had the most fun running amok. What happened back then is still talked about at our alma mater to this day you know?”

With that exchange, Marie and Houko rekindled their old friendship. However— “I mean, I’m no expert, but shouldn’t there be attendants or something who follow along when the princess of a country studies abroad? Also, of all people, why was Marie the one you happened to befriend?”

Marie raised an eyebrow. “...Look here you. The Breguet Corporation stands at the top of the world as one of the Five Great Corporations, and our family originated from French aristocracy. I was the daughter of that noble family, you know? What problem could there be with me associating with the imperial princess of Japan?”

Naoto was making a face that said that he clearly hadn’t thought of that. “In that case, could it be that the reason that old man Halter calls you ‘princess’ is...”

“...? What about it? It’s a simple fact.”

“I thought it was sarcasm.”

“Like that could be the case. He obviously calls me that in praise of my overflowing intelligence, noble blood, and overall aura of elegance.”

Naoto’s face turned serious. “Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Was that supposed to be a gag?”

“...I’ll have you thoroughly tell me just what you mean by that later,” Marie growled while glaring at Naoto.

Seeing that, Houko chuckled. “You have changed a little, Marie. No, perhaps this was your true nature all along... I am a little envious.”

“...Houko?” Marie cocked her head in puzzlement.

However, Houko didn’t explain. Instead, the tone of her voice turned serious. “By the way, would you guys kindly tell me now? What do you actually plan to do by gaining control over the Pillar of Heaven?”

“That’s— You’re right, I guess we ought to let you know.” Marie nodded as she continued, “Houko, how much do you know about the enormous weapon that appeared in Akihabara?”

“I do not have any certain proof, but judging from the circumstances, it is clearly an electromagnetic weapon of some sort. From what I gathered from the intelligence reports, it is controlled by Shiga’s ex-military, who are trying to execute a coup d’état.”

“—As one would expect from you.” Marie nodded in admiration.

“So it is true then?”

“Yes, due to that electromagnetic weapon, Akihabara was magnetized. If things continue like this, I don’t know whether it’ll be possible to repair the city grid even if the enormous weapon is taken care of. So—” Marie paused. “—as this idiot had suggested—we plan to throw them into a crucible and boil them alive. Akihabara will be the crucible, and its temperature—should rise to roughly two thousand degrees.”

Hearing those words, Houko’s eyes opened wide.

She really is smart, Marie thought, It looks like she understood our scheme with just those tidbits of information.

—Heat all of Akihabara up, including the grid itself, until everything in the city reaches its respective Curie temperature. Under Naoto’s plan, the enormous weapon would be eliminated and Akihabara would be demagnetized all in one go.

“——”

Marie suddenly remembered something.

The first thing that Naoto said back in Akihabara Grid was what he would do with the ones who fired the EMP...

...Even though he shouldn’t have had any knowledge about electromagnetic technology, what he said was— “I’ll stuff the ones who dared to do this in a kettle and boil them alive.”

...Even though at that moment in time, he shouldn’t have known that things can be demagnetized given enough heat. This guy has always, consistently, all the way through—

Marie turned her gaze towards Naoto. Perhaps prompted by that, or perhaps not—as Marie may have literally been out of her field of sight—RyuZU, who had been stroking Naoto’s hair suddenly said, “Master Naoto... I am sincerely sorry.”

—Was that an apology I just heard? Did RyuZU really just sincerely, unsarcastically apologize to someone? Marie was astounded. She inadvertently fumbled her hands, nearly hitting the wrong key on the console. Even Naoto was surprised, he asked with wide eyes, “RyuZU?”

“Simply because I couldn’t safely demagnetize myself—the hands and shoulders of the one in charge of the planet’s fate are...” RyuZU quietly felt the tips of Naoto’s fingers, his palms, and then his shoulders with her dainty, pale hands.

Those were the places where Naoto had been scalded when he carried RyuZU over his shoulder to a cool place on the floor. Though his wounds weren’t festering thanks to the medical nanomachines, painful-looking keloids continued to line his skin in those places even now.

Marie was concerned about his burns as well. The cramps and the pain should disappear within a week, but as for whether he can regenerate the nerve tissue necessary for a delicate sense of touch paramount for a clocksmith... is something that I can’t say. I have no idea how well his wounds will heal.

And this was precisely why Marie couldn’t complain even though Naoto was messing around at a time like this. He had already done plenty—he deserved to rest.

“—”

Feeling like she lost to him for the umpteenth time in these last few days, Marie sighed. She recalled what Naoto had been like when she first met him.

He was just an ordinary boy who endlessly whined about the situation that he found himself in—and yet...

While I nearly broke down after the enormous weapon’s EMP, he on the other hand didn’t stop for a single second. He has continued taking the best course of action since then.

—The best course of action indeed. Seemingly without any concern whatsoever for the price he has had to pay to do so.

Even when Akihabara had been magnetized and all modern technology became unusable, when the people they trusted the most were left broken—in Marie’s case, that was Halter—but in Naoto’s... RyuZU was probably more important to him than his own life.

In the midst of that awful scenario, Naoto had managed to follow his intuition and moved RyuZU despite her burning up hot enough to melt the metal floor.

Without any sleep or rest, he endured an agonizing pain from his burns that would blamelessly leave one wishing for death. And all the while, he reassured AnchoR and went around the city trying to find a key to turn around the situation—

And this—is supposed to be an ordinary boy? A mere amateur? What a bad joke, Marie thought through clenched teeth.

Just how much am I going to rely on the power and determination of an ordinary boy, an amateur?

And in comparison, just what I have done? If Naoto hadn’t pulled me along, I might very well be in Akihabara right now, still wallowing in despair.

On top of all that— “It’s fine as long as you’re safe, RyuZU. I think stuff like this is what they call the proof of manliness? Haha.” —Even now, he still has his headphones off.

Naoto had his headphones off so that he would immediately notice should anything suddenly change. Despite the cold beads of sweat dotting his forehead, he was answering RyuZU with a gentle smile.

—That’s supposed to be an ordinary boy? Don’t make me laugh. That... That—is what I’ve always—always—been aspiring to—

“Oh, but if you feel sorry then how about giving me a reward for my efforts! More specifically! What I mean by a reward is—”

“I see, Master Naoto. You are telling me to serve as an outlet for your hopelessly twisted sexual desires, yes? Understood.”

“That’s wrong! —Uh, I mean, yeah, you’re wrong... I mean, not right now, yeah... I’ll leave that for another time, I think...” Naoto babbled as his nostrils flared.

—Seeing that, Marie hurriedly rejected her previous thought. Naoto continued, completely ignorant of any broken pedestals... “Ahhhh! Yeah! Not ‘right now!’ So, going back to my date with AnchoR—”

“To bring that up again right now, Master Naoto, I see that you are quite an admirable masochist. I understand now. Seeing that you wish to be spanked—where would you have me spank you?”

“Gee could you let me finish?! I, I didn’t want to leave you behind either! That’s why I got you a present—”

“—This is what Father gave me...♪” Cutting Naoto off, AnchoR beamed with the smile of an angel as she opened up her hand for RyuZU to see.

On her finger was a shiny—ring.

“——Master Naoto? I am having a little trouble understanding. Just how intense are you hoping to be spanked?”

“Put your scythes away please I’m begging you!! Take a good look it’s on the middle finger of her right hand, see?!” Naoto cried out.

RyuZU turned her gaze back onto AnchoR. AnchoR was looking at the ring on her hand tenderly, joyfully.

“...Father made this for me. He said that... it’s a good luck charm... to help me stay true to my own will...”

“It’s also supposed to protect against evil spirits. That’s what the salesperson said when I asked him—but well, I thought that if that’s the case then it’d be better if I made one for her myself. That happened as I was shopping around to find a gift for you during my date with AnchoR, you see— Now then...”

RyuZU tilted her head looking slightly lost. With a smile, Naoto revealed a small box from his pocket and opened it in front of RyuZU. Inside was a silvery, lustrous——ring.

“For my reward... could you give me your left hand without asking why?”

“......”

“It doesn’t really have any special meaning until I put a matching one on too, so you don’t have to worry about that—or is this still too much to ask?”

RyuZU didn’t answer him. Her expression didn’t change either. She simply nodded and held out her left hand.

Naoto gleefully smiled. Perhaps he caught a delicate change in the sound of RyuZU’s internal workings despite her indifferent outward appearance, something that no one else could hear.

“Thanks, RyuZU.” Naoto put the ring on the girl’s left ring finger.

“If you think having me accept this enough of a reward for the excessive care you showed to me, your follower... then I am sorry to say, but...” Contrary to her words, RyuZU tightly held onto the ring that had just been fitted onto her finger.

—I have to add this to the list, Marie thought.

This is yet another thing in his list of accomplishments up to now—he probably made this while I was busy with repairing RyuZU, giving Vermouth a new body, and preparing Halter’s brain pod.

Even in his downtime—he was doing something productive—making this ring.

“—Ordinary my buuutttt. As if someone like you can be called ordinary,” Marie murmured.

●

Houko had been listening to the conversation between the boy and the automaton in front of her. The two had just exchanged a traditional confirmation of love that has been repeated trillions of times on this planet.

Houko didn’t know what it felt like to love a machine. But she could tell that the boy was serious and that the automaton could answer his feelings.

Those were the only two things she could understand.

...But, this is not enough. It is necessary that I get to know this boy better. With that thought in mind, Houko quietly called out, “—Excuse me, may I ask you a couple questions?”

“Eh? Uhm, yeah...” Seemingly surprised, the boy raised his head. Houko could tell that he was nervous despite the arrogance he had shown.

It appears that he is simply not used to others striking up a conversation with him. Houko smiled sweetly. “My name is Houko. I believe you were Mr. Naoto Miura, right? Would it be alright if I called you Mr. Naoto?”

“—Er, yeah. Sure.”

“Thank you. Excuse my rudeness, but may I have you answer two questions for me?”

“Uh, err, what do you want to know?”

“The automaton next to you, whom you treasure a great deal, was injured by the enemy— Is that why you want to destroy the enormous weapon? For revenge?”

Upon being asked that—Naoto looked confused. “Eh, revenge? Hm... no. That’s not it. Because they made AnchoR do horrible things and even hurt RyuZU on top of that, I’m going to make them pay the price for that, I guess.”

“Make them pay the price... Is that not revenge?”

Out of his element, Naoto made a complicated face as he awkwardly tried to answer using polite language. “No, it’s more like I want to settle things or square things up... No, that’s not it either. I don’t like putting it that way, I’m not sure why. It’s complicated— Argh, basically, in short—” Naoto paused for a breath. “I want them to pay their dues—right. That’s it.”

Houko slightly tilted her head. “Their dues... you say?”

“Hm... I can’t explain it well, but...” Naoto rubbed his forehead. “Eating at a diner then leaving without paying is messed up, right? Don’t you think that if someone can’t pay then he shouldn’t have ordered something in the first place?”

“...So you are saying that given that they ate already, they should pay for their meal?”

“Right right. That’s it. That’s how I feel,” Naoto said with a smile, looking refreshed.

Houko nodded. “Thank you. Then, for my second question— With a talent like yours, would it not have been simpler just to purge Akihabara?”

“Hah—?” Naoto’s eyes widened.

“If cleaning up that enormous weapon is your goal, then it should have been easier to just make it sink into the earth along with the city from behind the scenes. Is that not so? You would not have had to brave such dangers in that case.”

“Uhmm.” Naoto looked a bit lost. “I mean, I heard that Tokyo as a whole would be damaged in that case... no?”

“Yes. As you say, Mr. Naoto, if Akihabara collapsed then all of Tokyo would probably collapse—but, what of it?”

Naoto was left speechless. Houko continued as she looked at Naoto with a steel gaze. “In my view, I had assumed that you were someone who would stop at nothing for the sake of your goals. And yet, you did not choose the most efficient method—why?”

“...But I mean, only the ones operating that enormous weapon are responsible. Everyone else has nothing to do with it, right?”

“———”

I see, so that is why he did not choose to purge Akihabara.

He said that he would have them pay the price. In other words, he would not seek payment from those who did not owe him anything. At the same time, it also means that he would not hesitate to pay the price himself.

I understand why he has not killed anyone up to now. It was not that he respected human life. It was not that he considered the impact his actions would have on Japan either.

He is simply seeking payment from the entity that harmed something precious to him. For that, he is prepared to pay any price. That—is all there is to it.

I see.

—If I make him an ally, he would probably be the most reliable companion there is.

—But if I make an enemy of him, I would have to be prepared to risk being sunk into the ground along with the nation.

Houko smiled, nodding. “I understand clearly now. As I thought, you are not one to be trusted, Mr. Naoto.”

“Ehhh?! That’s your conclusion after my explanation just now?! Did I say something strange?!”

Indeed, how could I possibly trust this boy? He would purge Tokyo without hesitation if he concluded that it was a necessary price to pay. At the very least, he has both the means and the nerve to do so.

Letting a person like him roam freely with neither a leash nor any contingency plan would be immensely dangerous—but... Keeping a smile on her face, Houko cheerfully said, “However—I also clearly understand why Marie trusts you now.”

“—Huh?”

“Hey, what the heck are you saying Houko?!” Marie cried out from behind while Naoto simply put on a blank face.

Ignoring her dear friend’s confused cry, Houko said with conviction, “Because, you are a very ‘fair’ person.”

Or perhaps—this boy is actually a terrifyingly avaricious and selfish human being.

But at the same time, I am convinced that he is “fair” through and through. He would not approve of “unfairness.” He would not tolerate injustice. He wouldn’t think, “I want this, but I don’t want to pay the price for it.”

“If you want something, then pay the price for it” — This boy holds himself to that doctrine as well. Obtaining something without cost—an unfair thought like that would probably not even cross his mind.

If he wanted something, he would pay the price, whatever it was. In short, it is just a question of whether he thinks it is worth it. If he does, then he would without hesitation. That is probably just the sort of person he is. Whether the price be his own life—or the lives of other people.

—For this reason, I should not involve myself any further with this boy and my dear friend.

Leaving her personal feelings aside, as the imperial princess of Japan, Houko would surely end up thinking about how best to use them. That line of thought would always linger in the corner of her mind. Naoto’s power was simply too enticing for Houko to keep herself from doing so—to keep herself “fair.”

Suddenly, the automaton—RyuZU—spoke up. “...Frankly, I am astonished. I never once considered that there could be someone aside from Master Naoto whose eyes are not blind.”

Houko chuckled at the questionable words of praise. “It is my honor to receive your praise. If a masterpiece of the great ‘Y’ says so, then I suppose there is hope for me yet.”

RyuZU continued, “Mistress Houko, was it...? May I give you a word of advice?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I would advise that you choose your friends better, as frankly, someone like Mistress Marie is hardly worthy of associating with you.”

“N, Now you look here—”

However, Houko stopped Marie with her hand while smiling at RyuZU. “In that case, Miss RyuZU was it? I have a word of advice for you as well—I do not know what you have against Marie, but refusing to acknowledge someone’s brilliance simply because you do not like her speaks badly not only of yourself, but your master as well, understand...?”

“———”

As RyuZU was taken aback, the tip of her nose paled. She opened her mouth, seeming to want to say something, but then closed it again. She then lowered her eyes and reluctantly nodded. “...I shall take your advice into consideration.”

RyuZU’s response made both Naoto and Marie’s eyes widen in unison. Their astonished faces were saying one thing. Namely— “She managed to make RyuZU submit to her...?!”

“Hey,” Naoto began, “Marie... old man Halter’s always calling you princess, but...”

“—But what?”

“Well, I was just thinking that real princesses sure are charismatic aren’t they...? I mean, really, everything about her is just on a whole other level from you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Marie put on a threatening smile. “—Maybe you could care to explain to me a little more specifically what you are trying to say, Mr. Naoto?”

“Her brain, face, chest, height, as well as her character and air of refinement—I could go on if you wish, but...” RyuZU indifferently answered in Naoto’s stead.

“Now. You. Two. Look. Heeeeeeeeeeeeere!!” Marie exploded.

Houko tried to stifle her laughter as she watched on.

●

“We’re about to reach eighty-two percent charge...!” the operator reported in an excited voice.

Gennai placidly nodded, upon which the adjutant standing next to him impatiently said, “...Your Excellency, could you kindly tell us what you plan to do in concrete terms now?”

Gennai briefly glanced at the adjutant’s face, but didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “...What do you think of this world?”

“Huh...? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s been a thousand years since the Clockwork Planet—the manmade world functioning right before our very eyes—was made. Even so, no one has been able to decipher, much less reproduce its technology.” Gennai sighed. “Do you think that understanding something like this as ‘science’ is acceptable?”

The adjutant made a quizzical face. “It’s true that there are still many mysteries regarding the clockwork technologies involved in the planet’s functions but... as they do in fact exist, wouldn’t it be truer to science and technology to make use of them regardless?”

“You’re exactly right. Your view couldn’t be more correct. Making use of things that operate on principles which no one understands because they’re there— Indeed, that’s science. But do you know what?”

“Your Excellency...?”

Gennai showed a sardonic smile to the confused adjutant. “It’s been thirty thousand years since humans obtained fire. Yet, it was only ten years before the planet was remade that we discovered that fire is actually a type of plasma—a form of electricity.

That means that for the 28,928 years before we unraveled that natural phenomenon, we were using fire without even knowing what it was. Truly scientific, right?

But do you realize that this and that are two completely separate matters? In other words—” He paused for a breath. “—The Clockwork Planet is not a product of nature. It is a man-made object.”

“That’s...”

“You see, this universe was made by some kind of god—perhaps one called coincidence. Exposing and making use of its laws is science. Technology. It’s theory, it’s theorem, it’s logic! But can I ask you one thing? By what ‘science’ was this manmade planet made?”

The adjutant couldn’t help but feel daunted from Gennai’s question, or rather, his sudden verbal attack and tone of voice. Gathering himself, he countered, “S, Still... it’s certain that the one who made this planet was ‘Y’—”

“Indeed, it’s just as you say. And that’s exactly why I shall assert that ‘Y’ wasn’t human.”

Seeing the clear madness—no, fanaticism—in Gennai’s eyes, the adjutant gulped. Paying him no mind, Gennai continued, “That figure—‘Y’—drew his blueprint based on theories that don’t exist!

Super technology? Unknown technology? You’re telling me that a single genius invented all this, and after a thousand years of trying there’s still no one who understands his theories?

I think it’d be slightly more believable if you told me that it was the technology of an advanced prehistoric civilization or the work of aliens... but unfortunately, I don’t love fairy tales enough to delude myself with such a fantasy.”

—I can understand trying to analyze natural phenomena that we have yet to explain.

Now that is science. That is the knowledge that humanity has continuously accumulated throughout its history.

...But to decipher the principles behind this manmade product that we’re standing on?

That doesn’t make sense. That’s the opposite of how things should be. As such, the one who drew the blueprint of this planet must have known theories that no one else knew from the very beginning.

—How this planet is said to be made is most definitely not within the realm of science.

And just where was “Y,” the one said to have done the impossible, supposed to have gotten his theories from?

Not only that, but the native ability of the automaton called AnchoR—Perpetual Gear...

A perpetual motion mechanism? It’s ludicrous! You expect me to accept such a fantasy as technology? Don’t screw with me!

Such a mechanism can only work according to physical laws that can’t possibly exist— It is in fact a rebellion against our very universe itself—!

Before Gennai knew it, the eyes of everyone in the room were on him. Their gazes revealed that they were confused, perplexed, baffled—maybe even terrified.

Upon noticing, Gennai angrily shouted, “We have continuously tried to analyze the Clockwork Planet for a thousand years... And yet, we have still failed to fully grasp it! Not its fundamental principles nor the many functions that we still don’t even have theories for! —Well then, Major, would you tell me your thoughts on the matter?”

“Your Excellency...”

“—Where did ‘Y’ find the principles behind this gigantic machine that humanity has yet to comprehend even after a thousand years of trying?”

There was no one... who could answer. The silence made Gennai recall when he had raised the same question a few days ago...

Thirty-one years ago, as Gennai was busy trying to fuse clockwork and electromagnetic technology together on the federal government’s orders, he realized something.

—Though humanity might never have unraveled all the secrets of the world, of the universe in which they lived, once upon a time, it had been one step away from uncovering at least a portion of those secrets. That portion was none other than what he himself was now researching, electromagnetism, a field through which humanity had once tried to define the universe.

—However, all of that knowledge crumbled away. On the day that the world was remade with clockwork by the entity known as “Y,” everything changed. And, when the federal government purged his city to cover up the truth—everything collapsed.

That was when all his existing theories had been thrown out the window. That was when he understood, painfully so, better than anyone else—that the one who really rewrote and rebuilt the world was none other than humanity.

Only, humanity didn’t change whatsoever even after the world was remade. Ironically enough—humanity was the one thing that even “Y” couldn’t change. On that day, inside Shiga’s collapsed core tower, Gennai became convinced—that “Y” wasn’t human.

Humanity doesn’t change. It can’t change. Only he was able to disprove all assumptions and arrogantly, insolently turn the whole world upside down.

There’s no way that that was the work of a human, he had thought. In that case, I can accept it. Whether “Y” was a god or a demon, as long as he was a monster that transcended human intellect, then there’s no way that we mediocre humans could do anything to him or his creation.

As he had resigned himself, Gennai gathered his troops together to survive. Even if defying a god like “Y” would be a sin, Gennai wouldn’t simply let himself be crushed by the other mediocre members of his species without a fight. He took over Mie, continued his research there, and at last, built the electromagnetic weapon that could destroy the world.

Upon which, he fell into despair once more. He had come to understand that the weapon, his brethren chasing after revenge with him, and even he himself were all nothing but ordinary existences in the end.

Whether one realizes it or not, in the end we’re all dancing in the palm of “Y’s” hand. How pointless...

—And so, becoming tired of it all, he retired.

I see, in the end, we mediocre humans have no way to oppose transcendent beings—as such, I was disappointed by history and thrown into despair by the world. And so I thought that it’d be fine if I lived out the rest of my life in resignation...

—Until I met that boy touting around one of “Y’s” automata.

“Sure, if you would be so kind as to humor a story an old man has to share first,” Gennai had said a few days ago.

An Initial-Y Series had suddenly appeared in the deep underground layers of Mie Grid, at the dwelling where he had decided he would die. And it was one worth talking to too, unlike the Fourth.

Gennai recalled the story of “Judgment Day,” an ancient myth. Supposedly, God would stand before mankind on the day of the apocalypse and lend his ears to their questions—and their justifications for the life they had led as well.

If that happens, then I’ll be able to hear God’s answer— With that faint hope, Gennai had raised a question regarding the one who made the Clockwork Planet— I’m referring to the riddle of his existence. In other words, where did “Y” come from?

Was he or she a god? A human?

Are we truly in reality—or is this a dream?

However— “Are you done with your foolish questions? If so, I would like to have you give me my invaluable time back.” The automaton had brushed aside the questions that he had raised. Her stone-cold topaz eyes were scoffing at him.

“Please do not take this too personally, I can see that you had the misfortune of being born with a smaller brain than a tick—not that I can really empathize. Do realize though, that labeling something you do not care to understand as the work of a god due to your own sloth is a style of living that comes naturally to the masses.

I am sure that to foolish humans, ‘Y’ must be a lofty figure worthy of being called a god... but confusing reality with fantasy is proof that you can no longer grasp even basic truths. With that in mind, it would probably be for the best if you immediately received the appropriate medical care...” RyuZU had said that with a smile, but her voice was full of disgust.

“—Are you fooling with me?” Gennai scowled, he was glaring at her with his moss-green eyes. “You call my questions foolish? A thousand years after ‘Y’ remade the planet, humanity still has yet to decipher the technologies he used...!”

“That appears to be the case, yes. I can clearly remember “Y’s” face when he gasped, ‘I can’t believe it,’ as he goggled at his own creation.”

“Throughout all those years... just how many scholars and clocksmiths dedicated years of their lives to arriving at the truth?! Though I may not have been worthy, I too was one of those people. Many a great person devoted his life to unravel this work of a god—and all of them were defeated. You dare scoff at that?”

“—Not at all. Quite the opposite, I value their effort highly.”

Upon those words, Gennai shut his mouth.

“But, as you said yourself—they were losers.”

“Yes, you’re right. I once thought I had hit upon something, but that too was an illusion in the e—”

However, the automaton coolly interrupted him. “That was when you ‘came to an end’— Yes? And so, you wasted the hard-fought, praiseworthy work you previously did in idleness...”

Judging that the automaton was toying with him, Gennai was on his feet before he knew it. “Answer me—what was ‘Y’ thinking when he remade the world?! Why did he throw us on to such a—vague and inexplicable, absurd and incomprehensible, contraption?!”

“—You’re an annoying grandpa aren’t you...” The one who replied was not the automaton, it was the boy who had fainted just a little while ago and had been resting on Gennai’s bed. The boy was glaring at him.

“Master Naoto,” the automaton girl chided. “You should still be resting... I will make this old man prepare an elevator for us, so—”

“Forget it, RyuZU,” the boy said as he slowly got up and shook his head. “...I overheard the conversation; this is a waste of time. Let’s leave this guy to his own devices and find another way to return to the surface.”

“You won’t be able to reach the surface you know. The current won’t flow to the elevator unless I give the order,” Gennai said sharply.

“Current? What’s that? ...Well, then hurry up and give the order or whatever for it. RyuZU and I don’t have time to waste.”

Gennai raised his voice. “I’m not done talking yet—!”

To which the boy scowled and said in an irritated tone, “Look here gramps, we’re busy okay? We’ve got AnchoR-chan’s case to take care of, which by the way, I’m off the walls pissed about! Turn the elevator on already, or else—”

“—What, are you going to kill me?” Gennai challenged. Part of it was due to his pride as an elder against an insolent youngster, and part of it was backlash against having the question that he had risked his life on being treated like the idle musings of a doddering old man.

However, the boy put on a blank face. “—Hah? Have you finally gone senile gramps? As if killing you would get the elevator moving. Turn the elevator on, or else—” Naoto paused, then declared with eyes that didn’t harbor even a single shred of doubt, “I’ll turn it back on myself. Elevators are those boxes that can rise so long as there’s a wire pulling it from above, right?”

And then, just as easily as he divulged the location of the elevator—Naoto described its structure—and Gennai was thrown into silence. At the same time, Gennai remembered that the boy was the master of an Initial-Y Series. It was “Y’s” legacy. The newest addition to mythology. An automaton that had been made by a god.

Gennai knew of their existence. He had seen the Fourth in operation before as well. However, this automaton wasn’t the Second, the Third, or any other in the series—but the First, YD01 [RyuZU]. Gennai belatedly recalled that no one had ever gotten past the First’s Master Confirmation.

“—Boy.” I was asking the wrong person— Gennai thought as he turned to face Naoto. “Let me ask you a question. Depending on your answer, I might be willing to turn the elevator on for you.”

The boy silently turned around. Staring straight into his light gray eyes, Gennai asked, “—Do you not have doubts about this world? This world that has mercilessly rebuffed all of humanity’s attempts to understand it?”

Living atop of this arcane, vague, hazy, and completely illogical planet... Do you really not have any doubts at all?

However, immediately after, Gennai was thrust with a reality that he would never have wanted to know—truth is always stranger than fiction. The most merciless, outrageous, simple, and boring answer—was the correct one. Despite thinking that he had no hope left in him to lose, Gennai despaired for the third time in his life.

The boy was unmistakably human. At the very least, he thoroughly looked like a human, he spoke a human language, and he acted as humans do.

And of all things, the boy saw through everything—including my despair—and said to me of all people, me, “—You’re free to keep calling yourself a loser and wasting your life away grumbling here if you want. But you see...” With disdain in his eyes, Naoto answered, “You paint with far too broad a brush, geezer. Who do you think you are to speak on behalf of all humanity?”

“———”

“Don’t lump us in with yourself.”

—In other words, “Don’t lump us in with someone who gave up like you, we won’t despair.”

That’s right—he spoke of what it means to be human.

Gennai sat back down in silence. Leaning back on his rocking chair, he let out a deep, long sigh, and nodded. “...Very well. I’ll tell someone to turn the power for the elevator on.”

Hearing that, the boy’s expression changed in a flash. “Oh? Geez gr~am~ps~! So you’re a reasonable guy after all! Alright RyuZU, let’s go!”

“Please wait, Master Naoto. You will faint again from a lack of oxygen if you run.”

With that little ruckus, the boy and the automaton rushed out of his home. As he saw them off with cloudy eyes, Gennai thought to himself, What a joke—that fellow, that boy clearly, plainly, obviously possesses unique eyes that can see through the illusions draped before humanity—and yet, he had the gall to ask me why I can’t see what he sees.

—So he might be human in appearance, true—those who babble that God made man in his image are a plenty.

However, that human-looking genius—whether he be a shapeshifter, superhuman, a transcendent being... A god or a demon—coolly asserted what it means to be human, despite not being human himself. With conviction, he said it without any hesitation.

Gennai sneered. The target of the maddeningly seething hatred within him had just been right before his eyes moments ago.

So you pretend to be a human huh, you arrogant, foolish god. In that case— “We’ll meet again, boy. Or rather...” —“Y” in the guise of man...

A shrill beeping noise rang out. Following it, a window popped up on the wall monitor’s screen and began to flash. His mind returning to the present, Gennai turned towards the operator. “—Answer me. What just happened?”

“Ah... r, right. We’ve just reached eighty-two percent charge...”

“Good.” Gennai nodded as he stood up. He slowly looked out over the entire control room—at the faces of all his subordinates who were crammed inside.

They were the faces of old comrades that had been following him since the time he was working diligently on electromagnetic research in Shiga Grid as well as some of their sons whom they had raised in Mie.

As he looked over the faces of people whom, for someone without any relatives like himself, he could even call family, Gennai thought— None of them matter.

If even the planet which we stand on is something ambiguous and uncertain, then in the end... the ones I see before me right now are also nothing but an ephemeral dream.

—If you really are a god, then I’ll let you kill me obediently.

But should you turn out to be a mere human—

Then I’ll have you know your limits—as a mediocre human just like the rest of us.

I’ll have you know your sin when you defied that limit in remaking this world. I’ll make you take responsibility for causing mankind to stagnate for a thousand years. When justice is served—perish in despair from your newfound knowledge, “Y”.

With a sense of indignation and hatred, but resignation as well, Gennai announced, “Good work, everyone. Well then—let me give you my ‘instructions.’”

—Immediately after, an ultra-high voltage current that could easily carbonize the human body ravaged the inside of the control room.

●

Naoto suddenly sprang up like a coiled spring. Eyes wide as could be, cold sweat was spurting out from his entire body.

“Master Naoto...?”

“Hey, what’s going on with you Naoto?”

RyuZU and Marie asked confusedly. AnchoR, who had been lying on Naoto’s stomach, also looked up at him in confusion. However, he didn’t have the luxury of answering them. A dangerous sound was ringing. His eardrums, his intuition—frankly, all of his senses—were screaming danger to him.

This isn’t just a threat to my life, it’s something even more sinister. It’s something I’ve never heard before—no, wait, I have heard this sound before!

“Oy... Are you kidding me—?!” Like I’d forget this sound, Naoto seethed, To think I’d have to hear this rank, disgusting, sickening sound again.

“What’s wrong, Naoto? The bypass will be finished in just a bi—”

“Marie!!” Naoto barked. “Gather all the clouds! Immediately! To the south of where we are! Get on it!!”

Marie must have seen something in his expression, she wasted no time following suit— “Ngh— Did you hear that everyone?! Gather the clouds at six o’clock from the twentieth floor! Commencing weather manipulation!” —There simply wasn’t room for doubt, any questions would have to wait, Marie was already furiously typing on the console‘s keyboard.

Immediately after, Naoto perceived the mechanical sounds of the Pillar of Heaven adjusting the temperature and humidity of its outer shell. As the atmosphere creaked and trembled, a massive amount of steam was produced—but...

“Ahhhhh God damnit! It’s no good, we won’t make it!! Everyone ruuuuuuuuuuun—!!!”

Naoto’s desperate cry reverberated throughout the huge floor. Then, exactly five seconds later...

—The light of destruction arrived and blew everything away.