Chapter Two / 07 : 30 / Produtorre

“Arrrrgggggghhhhhh, GoooOOOOD! Wha~~t’s up with this mechanism, dammittt!” Marie screeched resoundingly in the workshop of her hotel suite. The light of dawn was shining through the windows.

“I’ll have AnchoR all fixed up by the time you’re back.” —or so Marie had boldly claimed, but she hadn’t been able to make much progress thus far.

—Correction, that was too generous a description. She hadn’t made any progress thus far.

In the first place, she couldn’t even comprehend how the artificial limbs that Naoto had attached to AnchoR’s distorted main frame were even working at all, considering how incompatible they were, so she had no idea where to even begin.

With AnchoR’s torso opened up before her, Marie was struggling hard to figure something out; regardless, time mercilessly continued to pass. As she thought about how much time she’d wasted, she became all the more irritated and anguished, causing her mind to stiffen.

Caught fully in a downward spiral, Marie crouched down with her head in her hands.

“Uh, uhmm... Mother, I’m sorry...?” AnchoR muttered despondently. She was currently hanging from a heavy-duty hanger made for automata.

Upon which, Marie instantly looked up in a hurry and said, “Ah— Ahh, no no no!! It’s not your fault!! If anyone is at fault—”

—It’d be me, Marie thought. But her pride wouldn’t allow her to say that, so instead she declared with a smile, “It’s Naoto ♪.”

On the whole, everything wrong with this world can just be blamed on that guy.

After all, he repaired AnchoR in such an arcane way without giving any thought to making it understandable to other clocksmiths, so he can’t really say that he’s completely blameless here.

Regardless, I’ll definitely figure it out, so I’m not at fault in any way. Q.E.D.

Pulling herself together, Marie stood back up and got back to work.

As she disassembled the mechanism she had put together back into parts, she muttered, “So this one didn’t work either, huh... Really now, what’s the deal with this.”

She sighed.

Just then,

“—Yo. What’s going on?”

Surprised, Marie turned around, upon which she saw Halter standing by the entrance to the workshop. He was still wearing a suit, but he had loosened his tie.

“Well, ain’t this a rare sight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you fail this much before, princess,” Halter said as he gazed at the complex mechanisms and high-grade parts scattered all over the floor.

However, Marie snorted defiantly. “Hmph. Fail? Take a closer look. Or what, are prototypes failures to you?”

“That so? But princess, what’s the point in being prideful in front of me?”

“I’m telling you I really haven’t failed,” Marie pouted sullenly. “See, these were my attempts to apply the awareness I felt with that wretched boy’s guidance... I feel like I’ve begun to understand something ever since that day. But I’m not sure what that something is, so I’m making some prototypes to test for now.”

“...Don’t you have the cart before the horse?” Halter said as he picked up a small cylinder by his feet. “Surely it’d be wiser to try putting a prototype together after first verifying the theory behind it...”

“It’s already certain that modern clockwork theory is wrong. —Actually, strictly speaking, it isn’t wrong in any way. Its interpretation is simply too narrow. In essence, though, modern clockwork theory and how people like ‘Y’ and Naoto see the world are fully congruent with each other. For example—”

Marie looked up for a few seconds to think, then continued, “Right, for example, it was believed that atoms are the smallest units of mass, yes?”

“Yeah.”

“However, as electrons, protons, neutrons, and eventually even subatomic and elementary particles were discovered, it became clear that there were units of mass even smaller than an atom—with that in mind, I’ve got a question for you.” Marie paused for a breath. “Did atoms simply disappear after subatomic particles were discovered?”

“......”

“It’s the same idea. The difference between modern theory and Naoto’s intuitive knowledge is simply a matter of scope. But even if one drew up a blueprint based on modern theory, there’s no way they’d be able to make something that applies more advanced concepts, right? That’s why I’m trying to put the awareness I had back then into form first, however crude it may be.”

“...So? Have you made any headway?” Halter asked mildly.

Marie nodded. “What if we assume that the smallest building block in the universe is actually an oscillation—like vibrations and waves? That both AnchoR’s Perpetual Gear and RyuZU’s Imaginary Gear follow a wave function that wouldn’t be possible in modern theory? What if the answer is something as simple as that...?”

“Even if you ask me...”

“If modern theory was entirely wrong, then we wouldn’t have been able to analyze the structure of this Clockwork Planet at all—but that’s not the case. We do understand some parts of it. ...We may have gotten the fundamentals wrong, but the theory we’ve built on top of that isn’t,” Marie declared with poise.

To which Halter laughed bitterly and said, “...That’s all, you dare say?”

“Yes,” Marie asserted. “Even if you supplement the theory of universal gravitation with the theory of relativity, the fact that all matter exerts gravity doesn’t change. Likewise, atomic theory wasn’t completely overhauled when it was supplemented with quantum theory. It is still correct, in that atoms exist as a unit of matter. We’d simply reached yet a deeper level of understanding.”

As she spoke, Marie stood up and paced the room with one hand on her waist. She continued in the tone of a lecture, “According to all present theories, RyuZU and AnchoR’s inherent abilities should be impossible. As such, what’s wrong has to be modern theory. Both dual time and perpetual motion can be realized by simply configuring gears in the right way. Even if you look away from that fact, reality won’t budge one bit. In that case, there has to be some kind of logic behind it—”

What Marie was looking for was a way to explain what she had saw a month ago at the Pillar of Heaven—the world as Naoto regularly saw it, and as she had saw it back then.

Everything is wrong, but at the same time everything is correct. Modern theory hasn’t been disproven, but rather expanded upon—what I experienced back then were phenomena governed by higher principles.

Given that that’s the case, I should be able to figure it out.

Naoto—and ‘Y’ are proof that it’s possible.

“If modern science can’t explain, we’ll use future science instead. That’s all there is to it. As soon as today or tomorrow, I’ll come up with the futuristic theory that explains it—!”

Just as the present is created from the past, the future is created from the present.

With every passing second, everything now becomes mere relics of the past. In the end, that’s all that modern science and theory amount to. In that case, if I just pin down a new theory for our universe, it’ll redefine—no, become modern science and theory itself.

Marie declared boldly, “—Modern theory? Give me one second and I’ll render it obsolete.”

●

Halter sighed a little after hearing Marie’s declaration.

The girl was putting on a brave act.

Despite her confident words, the so-called “prototypes” all over the floor showed how difficult it was.

Indeed—Marie ended up making no progress in her work on this day.

Orange light was now shining into the workshop. She had worked the entire time since her declaration in the morning until the sun had crossed the meridian and begun to set in the west... Despite that, she hadn’t been able to make anything.

Well, this was to be expected, Halter thought.

The idea that she spoke of, that the fundamentals of modern clockwork theory are wrong, is absolutely not something that can be dismissed as that simply being all there is to it.

All sets of modern theories—are fundamentally based on the religious belief that their axioms are true.

All scholars derived theories and deduced theorems based on those axioms.

What is called a set of theories is the summation of those numerous layers of logic.

—To reject that was, in the example of religion, akin to rejecting the fundamental premise that God exists.

All the theology and doctrines built on top of that unprovable axiom would lose their significance, having been dealt a lethal blow.

“......”

Halter gazed at the back of the petite girl who continued to work in silence.

—To continue with this analogy, Marie had lost her faith in God. But now, she was trying to prove the existence of an entirely new God.

It wasn’t work that could be finished in one day.

In fact, the work might not even be something that’s possible for humans to accomplish.

The girl was putting on a brave act.

But—she had said, “I feel like I’ve begun to understand something ever since that day.”

...Most likely, Marie had experienced what it was like to be God that day. At the very least, she had caught a glimpse of the world from His perspective.

Halter, though, couldn’t even begin to imagine what that would be like...

But, knowing her, she’d probably be able to accomplish it eventually, because she’s a relentless, dogged girl who refuses to believe that anything’s impossible.

—In that case, Halter thought as he gently closed his eyes to think after checking that Marie was facing the other way.

—What can I do to help?

“Marie,” Halter called from behind her.

Marie was still fiddling with AnchoR’s mechanisms. She answered shortly without stopping her hands, “—What?”

“It’s about time you get some rest. As someone with a living body, you’ll collapse if you don’t eat.”

Marie turned around with her mouth open, looking like she wanted to counter his suggestion, but ended up staring up in silence.

...It appeared that she couldn’t come up with a good argument.

Perhaps she realized how overworked her brain was, for she nodded grudgingly. “Alright. Could you go now to save a seat for us, then? I’ll come down once I close AnchoR back up.”

“Roger.” Halter nodded, then headed off to the first floor of the hotel.

After he sat down at an empty table and waited a short while, Marie came down with AnchoR in hand.

Marie sat down; AnchoR then sat down in her lap. After Marie ordered her food, she said, “Sorry, AnchoR. I didn’t mean to take up your whole day.”

“Not at all... Forget me. How about you, Mother? Are you okay?”

“Me? I’m perfectly fine. I used to do two or three all-nighters in a row all the time when I was in Meister Guild, so this is nothing,” Mare said with a smile as she combed through AnchoR’s black hair with her fingers.

Seemingly embarrassed, AnchoR wriggled a bit; but she then said with downcast eyes, “But... you seem shaky somehow, you know?”

“...Yeah, you might be right. But hey, if you give Mom a biiig hug, I think Mom’ll feel a lot better.”

“Uhmm... like this?”

“Ngggggh, so angels really do exist after all—” Marie said. Her cheeks were practically melting away from bliss when she noticed Halter’s gaze. “...What are you looking at me for?”

Baffled, Halter muttered, “Nothing... I just always assumed that if the princess were ever to have a child, you’d be the kind of mom that treats her kids harshly.”

“Hah? Isn’t that obvious? I wouldn’t pamper on someone just because they’re my child.”

“—Mind takin’ a look at the mirror before you say that again, Miss?” Halter groaned with his eyes half-closed. Just as Marie was going to respond—

“What the?! Marie, what do you think you’re doing I’m so jealous simply outrageous let me take your place right this moment please I beg you I’ll do anything!”

“Master Naoto, please refrain from casually making propositions like that. Saying that you will do anything is no different from signing a contract to be a slave. ...Also, if I were the one to grant you your wish, would you make the same offer? —I am not really asking with any particular reason in mind, just so you know.”

Upon turning around, Marie found the source of the ruckus by the entrance of the hotel.

They looked like they’d been shopping, as their clothes were different from what they had been wearing yesterday and RyuZU was also carrying a large bag on her back.

“—Welcome back. Took you quite a while, huh,” Marie said sardonically with AnchoR tightly in her arms. “So, you ditched your beloved daughter’s repair and went on a leisurely date with your wife? Ah yes, such wonderful parents— Your parental rights are rescinded. I take it there’s no objection?”

“How rude of you!! How very, very rude of you!! I wouldn’t call myself her father if I didn’t value family! And you call yourself her mom?!” Naoto retorted indignantly as he sat down at the table. “In the first place, you don’t even have any idea what we had to go through while we were gone!!”

“Are you suggesting that you did anything besides happily enjoy a shopping date with your wife as if you were on a vacation?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that! The problem is what came after that!! Guess what happened when we entered a shop that had a bunch of women’s clothes on display called Kathey?!”

“...If I recall correctly, kathey means ladyboy in Thai—”

Naoto slammed the table as he ranted hysterically, cutting Marie off. “After greeting me with a smile and saying, ‘Welcome to the new you,’ they took me to an operating table! I nearly lost my manhood back there!!”

He then turned around and said, “Heck, why didn’t you stop them, RyuZU! You know that I don’t understand the language here! I thought for sure that it was all over when they laid me onto the operating table, you know?!”

However, RyuZU tilted her head with a blank face and said, “I thought for sure that what had happened was that you had resolved to say goodbye to who you were, Master Naoto, so I thought that, in keeping with my name of YourSlave, it was my duty as your follower to respect your—”

“How could I possibly have made the reservation myself when I don’t even understand Thai?!” Naoto shouted as he looked around angrily with bulging eyes, “Now that I think about it, the only one who’d be bored enough to harass me like this is that old man Vermouth! That bastard, the next time I see you I’ll hook your brain pod to a barrel-shaped cleaning automaton, ya hear!!”

“Still, I must say, considering that the makeup artists in this city seem to be exceptionally skilled, should you not in fact thank him for giving you an opportunity to touch up your shabby-looking face, Master Naoto?”

“Now look here!! I don’t want to hear you calling me a pervert ever again!! When you clearly just want to see me in drag, am I wrong?!” Naoto yelled, practically tearing off his hair in frustration.

However, RyuZU threw out her chest and responded unabashedly with poise, “With all due respect, Master Naoto, that shop was an unusual one for this city, in that it had refined taste. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from an outstanding professional makeup artist, so I thought I would watch for a bit. After all, though there is no particular need for you to be disguised during our stay here, knowing how to put on an elaborate disguise for you is a skill that might very well prove useful further down the line.”

“Sure, but why do I have to disguise myself as a girl?! If I genuinely awaken to such interests, how will you make it up to me?!”

However,

“Father, you’re cute, you know?”

“Well now, given that you are who you are, Master Naoto, what problem is there, really, if another item was added to your long list of fetishes at this point?”

Pincered by both RyuZU and AnchoR, Naoto sank into silence. He put his hand on his chin and narrowed his eyes as he pondered things over.

“...................................................Hmm.”

Instinctively sensing something unsettling, Marie called out, “...Hey, Naoto? Hello?”

However, instead of replying, Naoto began a one-man Q&A session.

“—Let’s think about this logically. Am I a stud? —Negative. In all my life, I’ve never been complimented on my looks. Then, do I make a pretty girl? —Affirmative. AnchoR has deemed me to be cute and RyuZU is aggressively trying to make me cross-dress. In other words, I’ve been acknowledged by two transcendent beauties that I make a pretty girl. Given that—the fact that I make a pretty girl is as clear as day— Huh?” Naoto said with a serious face. “Say, is there really a need for me to be a man? Hey RyuZU, AnchoR. If you guys don’t mind me becoming your wife and your mom respectively, I’ll go back to that shop and—”

Seeing that Naoto had clearly lost it, Marie leaned over from across the table and grabbed onto Naoto’s collar, yelling as she jolted him back and forth, “Stop that! Of course AnchoR will mind!! If you become even more of a pervert then I’ll stick you out to the authorities on a skewer, got it?!”

Meanwhile, RyuZU looked at Marie with a cold gaze. “—Well now? I wonder, did that turn of phrase stem from your sense of inadequacy due to your body not sticking out where it should, Mistress Marie? In that case, places that can help with that are a dime a dozen in this city. Please, there is no need to hold back. How about you give having your body stick out where it should a try?”

“I’m really gonna slaughter you, you know?!” Marie shouted, baring her fangs. Then, out of breath, she huffed and puffed for a bit. After catching her breath, she rubbed her temple with one hand as if she had a headache and said, with weight in her words, “—Listen up, okay? Please ingrain this into the memory of your flawed AI that you self-proclaim to be number one in the world. Every time you cast such doubts on me, I feel incredibly insulted. The humiliation is such that I couldn’t describe it to you in any language.”

“In that case, how about you stop interfering with what Master Naoto wants for himself?”

“I don’t give a damn what he wants to do with his thing! But! His perverseness is out of control already as is! So much so, I feel disgusted just being near him! If his unique hearing ends up damaged from him messing with his own body, he’ll devolve from someone who’s useful, albeit perverted, into just a useless pervert—should that happen, his thing won’t be the only thing that’s discarded as useless, got it?!”

Having watched the developments up to this point, Halter commented calmly, “Say Naoto, let me be frank—do you want to become like that greenhorn?”

Naoto clapped and said, “Alright, forget everything I just said!”

He immediately took back his words.

Upon which, RyuZU got up from her chair and unpacked her bag, spreading its contents, a bunch of boxes, onto the floor. She then casually tossed them onto the table.

“Now~then, AnchoR~? Daddy’s brought something for you~♪”

“Hey, don’t put that kind of stuff on the table we’re going to eat from.”

“Now now, I’m just going to give her a peek for now,” Naoto said as he opened one of the boxes.

Inside it was a small, cylindrical mechanical part buried in packaging.

Marie muttered with a puzzled face, “...What’s this?”

“Listen, would you? Like I said, it’s something for AnchoR. It’s a small hex spring manufactured by Audemars. If it’s whittled down a bit we can use it for AnchoR’s shock absorber, right? With this model, even with AnchoR’s main frame being bent, there shouldn’t be a problem connecting it. It was really tough to get this, you know~. It took a lot to convince the old man at the shop to part ways with it...” Naoto began, eager to detail the hardships he had to go through.

As he was telling his story, Marie’s lips stiffened as she stared at the part. It appeared that she felt ashamed that Naoto had managed to find a compatible part for AnchoR, while she hadn’t accomplished anything.

As he gazed at her profile, Halter smiled bitterly.

—She can’t bring herself to just praise him honestly for a job well done. Her pride won’t let her. But at the same time, it also won’t allow her to ignore his contribution.

Marie looked like she was struggling inside with how to respond. She finally seemed to reach a decision after some time.

“W, Well done, Naoto... but I think it’d be better to put it away for now. Let’s examine it more closely in the workshop after we’re done eating,” she said, her voice quivering ever so slightly.

Just then.

“—Oy, what was that sound just now?” Naoto abruptly muttered with a dead-serious face.

Immediately after, the roar of gunshots rang out.

And not just one or two shots from a pistol, either, but the cacophony of multiple machine guns.

Shrieking and screaming followed. Judging by the volume of the sounds, the chaos wasn’t happening right outside the hotel, but it also wasn’t far enough that they could just ignore it.

An air of nervousness ran through all the customers in the restaurant, including Halter and the rest.

“Ahh, don’t worry, everyone! A search is being conducted, that’s all!” the receptionist at the hotel’s front desk shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth.

One of the diners asked, looking suspicious, “A search, you say?”

“Apparently some Chinese gang bought in some refugees behind Restaurant’s back, the fools that they are. Well, the gang members themselves were already purged a few days ago, but they had stuffed their merchandise in an apartment near here. So basically, the gist is that Arsenal’s troops have gone to clean up.”

“Oy, you better be sure about that.”

“I do apologize. This was something that I’d been notified of by my superiors beforehand, but the decision was that it’d be troublesome for us if they knew that we knew, so I was ordered to stay quiet about it until the raid began. Please understand.”

“Guess it can’t be helped... good grief.”

“Making us worry like that...”

After some moaning and groaning, the customers resumed with their meals as if nothing had happened.

—All the while, gunshots and screams continued to sound without pause.

Naoto stood up with a grim expression.

“Naoto,” Halter said with a subdued voice, “you heard him. There’s no need to worry about the noise. Forget about it.”

“Are you kidding me, old man?! It may be one thing if it’s just gunshots—but that’s the scream of a child, you know?!”

“...ngh!”

Upon those words, Marie’s expression also turned grim. She wasn’t fully standing yet, but her bottom was off the seat.

As he looked at the two, who seemed like they might rush out of here any second now, Halter said dispassionately, “Oy, what’re you two planning to do?”

“Ain’t that obvious!”

“Halter, I wouldn’t care if it were the criminals of the city getting killed, but I can’t overlook innocent children getting killed. We have to save them somehow...” Marie said restlessly with a grave face.

However, Halter gazed at her and asked, unmoved, “Save them? Then what?”

Caught by surprise by that question, Marie’s eyes widened.

“Well—”

“Can you look after those refugees after you save them? And what are you going to do about the Arsenal squad? Are you going to kill them all and turn this entire city upside down?”

Marie couldn’t answer him. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t manage to say anything.

Halter continued, “This whole city’s a powder keg. If the power balance among the three ruling syndicates in the city was disturbed, everything will go up in flames in one fell swoop. If that happens, how many people do you think will die? Do you think it’d be fewer than those refugees? How can you be sure that the syndicate who seizes power after such a calamity would be better than the ones at the top right now?”

Naoto couldn’t take it anymore.

“—Screw your reasoning, that’s just bullshit!”

“It may be bullshit, but am I wrong?” Halter replied calmly. He then peered into Naoto’s eyes suddenly and said, “—Why are you so mad, anyway?”

“What do you mean, why...”

“What does the life or death of those pathetic humans have to do with you? I thought you weren’t interested in mere lumps of protein?”

“Halter! You don’t have to put it like that—”

“Marie, the same goes for you. If you want to strive for social justice, indulge yourself in that luxury elsewhere,” Halter said as he gave a hard stare at the boy and girl who were trembling with grim faces. “This city is a wicked place—Marie, didn’t you explain that to Naoto yourself yesterday? Or is my memory playing tricks on me? Have you also forgotten that you told him not to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“So what... are you telling me to just forsake them?!”

“That’s right.” Halter nodded coldly. “I’ll tell it to your face. Making a mess of the situation out of casual sympathy won’t bring happiness to anyone—don’t get too conceited, you brats. Do you think you’ve become gods or something?”

“...Damn it!” Naoto stood up in indignation.

“Oy.”

Without turning around to face Halter, Naoto said, “I’m gonna go to our room and sleep! —happy?” He then headed towards the elevator by the staircase.

Marie stood up slowly and muttered, “...Sorry. I know you’re warning me for my own good and also that you’re right. It’s simply a matter of me being unable to accept it. But still...”

She looked at Halter with her tears in her eyes.

“I feel sick about it.”

Halter nodded. “—Yeah. I won’t tell you to accept it, either. But abide by my words. Alright?”

Marie didn’t reply.

She simply slumped her shoulders, looking crestfallen, and left her seat to follow after Naoto.

As he gazed absentmindedly at the two seats that had become empty, Halter suddenly realized something.

—I’d kill for some alcohol right now.

If possible, yes, something similar to the cocktail that that Miss who’s now dead made last night—a sweet but fierce drink.

“Uh... Uhm, Grandpa Robot,” AnchoR said mildly, “cheer, up, okay?”

Hearing her words, Halter smiled bitterly. “...Thanks Missy. But well, I won’t shamelessly ask that you call me big brother, so could you at least call me uncle instead?”

“? But Grandpa Robot... From what I can tell, it looks like your brain pod was made back in...”

“—I see.”

Halter felt a chill run down his back. A sense of danger entangled his spine while climbing up like a vine.

—Even if her appearance is that of a cute little girl, there’s no mistake that she’s the Initial-Y made with the goal of absolute dominance in battle. Her reputation as the strongest automaton ever is no lie. With just a glance at me, she’s able to extract information like that.

“And also,” AnchoR continued, “Grandpa... you’re an automaton, right? Just like AnchoR.”

“—”

Halter’s smile grew wider.

He picked up his chair and turned it so that he faced AnchoR directly, then asked with poise, “Does it look that way to you, Missy?”

“...? Am I wrong?” AnchoR tilted her head with a blank face.

Her expression was one of genuine confusion.

The sky is blue. Things fall down, not up. Fire is hot. Light is fast. God exists— To AnchoR, what she had said was a truth as self-evident as these, which was why she was nonplussed, and it very much showed on her face.

...This automaton distinguishes between humans and machines.

And so, this is how that fearsome pair of analytical eyes defines the current Vainney Halter, huh.

“You’re not a human, but a mere machine.”

“Aw shucks. Even with all these robotic parts, in my own view, I’m still human,” Halter muttered with a bitter laugh.

To which AnchoR widened her eyes and said, “...Really?”

“It’s true that I’m practically all machine, but the brain inside my brain pod is still human, you know? If people knew how old my actual brain is, then I’d be called a geezer by everyone.”

—Frankly, Halter himself didn’t know the exact number of years. His artificial body’s appearance was set to that of a man in his late thirties, but if the brain is older than double an artificial body’s set age, then the two would be incompatible.

“He is right, AnchoR. He is not an automaton,” RyuZU suddenly interjected in a quiet voice. “That said, naturally he is not human, either. In other words, he is neither a doll nor a human, nor can he fully become one or the other. He is simply an incomplete piece of junk.”

“...Oy oy, rather harsh aren’t we, Ms. Doll.”

“I have only simply stated the truth. I could list countless differences between you and me. From having versus not having a brain pod to basic functionalities, field of detection, output, class, intelligence, elegance, weight, and the ability to take care of Master Naoto. Oh, and amount of hair as well.”

“Just so you know, a man’s worth isn’t determined by the amount of hair he has. It’s determined by how much heart he has.”

“Is that so? —Let me ask then, do you have a heart?”

Being attacked relentlessly like this, even Halter felt hurt. At the same time, he felt like something was off with RyuZU.

RyuZU’s wicked tongue wasn’t anything new. However, her abuse should stem from the inexplicable abusive verbal filter she was programmed with; in other words, she shouldn’t actually mean the harsh things she said.

However, Halter sensed genuine malice in RyuZU’s words just now, somehow.

—Malice?

“Kinda funny for an automaton to say that, don’t you think?”

“Indeed, I am an automaton.” RyuZU nodded. “God made man in His image, and man made automaton in man’s image. In that case, just what does that make you? If you are neither automaton nor human, then who was it that made you?”

“...My, an automaton that believes in God? How intriguing.”

“It is not faith. It is simply knowledge of the fact—that God does exist.”

“That so? Unfortunately, I’ve never seen Him myself, you see.”

“Is that right? So, you think that if you have not seen something with your own eyes then it could not exist, I see,” RyuZU sneered. “You discarded the limitations of being human yourself, yet you still call yourself human on the basis of retaining a human brain, when in reality, you are nothing but a sham. You close your eyes and ears to the truth by your own volition, then claim that God does not exist—Haha, sorry, please do continue to entertain me with your ridiculous lines.”

“Sorry, but both my eyes and ears are working just fine.”

“Right, you can only receive information through those sensors of yours. You believe the world to be limited to only what you have personally experienced and assumptions that others have made for you. Until you doubt that truth of yours—until you realize that there exist infinite worlds and the universe is boundless, you will forever be just a slave, and the brain you are so proud of will continue to merely be the part of your body that turns the gears.”

“I get it,” Halter said as he motioned for RyuZU to stop with his hand. He then stared at RyuZU and sneered, “Are you saying that there are as many worlds as there are observers? I’ve got no interest in philosophy. I will admit that some of my sensors aren’t as sensitive as human sensory organs, but in the end, that’s inconsequential... It’s all about how you use them. There are plenty of people who don’t understand the truth of this world despite having organic bodies.”

“Indeed, there are countless beings on this planet who pretend to be human with brains that lose to those of mites—clumps of protein, if you will. So there is no need to be too hard on yourself, you know? In the end, all you have done is betray the fact that you are simply yet another blockhead among the billions of others.”

“—”

The tension in the air was practically palpable. AnchoR looked back and forth between the two timidly.

RyuZU took AnchoR’s hand and quietly stood up. She then looked down on Halter coldly as she continued with words that were as sharp as a blade. “‘That which I have never seen or heard about does not exist’—that is the perspective, as well as the limit, of the fools who make up the vast majority of people that populate this planet. That is exactly why, while there are humans who doubt whether love or God truly exist, there are none who doubt whether money or power do—despite both love and God being self-evident truths that hardly need proving. It says a lot about humanity.”

With that parting remark, RyuZU and AnchoR left the restaurant.

●

All alone by himself now, Halter sank into silence in his seat. Then, when the noise outside finally settled down—when there were no more gunshots or screams to be heard—he ordered a cup of whiskey.

“...Yet another blockhead among the billions, huh,” he muttered with a bitter smile.

Damn right I am.

Halter had no will to refute RyuZU’s words; in fact, he agreed with her. He felt nothing at all towards that accusation, not even a little resentment or humiliation.

He had been standing on the battlefield with a gun in hand since his earliest memory as a little brat. While he had been immersed in countless victories and defeats, he had become an adult all of a sudden, and then before he knew it, a cyborg.

That was how he had simply lived to this day. He hadn’t done anything special. He used his head when he should; he did what had to be done when he should. Like so, he took on life one day at a time and completed the challenges it threw at him.

—After a while, people around him began calling him Oberon and his mobile suit Overwork, as the legendary mercenary who pulled off a miracle comeback when he had been an inch away from death’s door—

“What a bunch of idiots.”

—Just who are you guys talking about? ’Cause it ain’t me.

There’s no such thing as fate or miracles in this world.

Nor is there a god who conveniently appears out of nowhere and solves everything for you when you need help.

That’s exactly why average Joes like myself have such a hard time living.

If you act purely with cold logic, you’ll end up bumping heads with others. But if you let yourself be caught by emotion, then everyone’ll die. That said, a single lone wolf sticking to his guns and doing his own thing can only get so far. All sorts of problems would pop up.

That’s exactly why if the humans who understand what must be done—however troublesome or precarious it may be—don’t follow through with it, not a single thing in the difficult world we live in would function properly.

That’s what it means to keep the gears of society turning.

“—In other words, this is yet another one of those cases,” Halter muttered with a sigh, then tilted his rocks glass and took a sip. As he gazed at the clear amber liquid, his thoughts flew back to what happened yesterday.

—What Kiu Tai Yu wants is clear: supremacy over Shangri-La Grid.

He plans to seize control over this powder keg of a city with our help, and use it to control the current political instability that’s arisen from word of the city sheltering Second Ypsilon getting out.

That isn’t a lie. I’m certain about that.

It doesn’t cause a problem for us in any way to meet his demands. Obediently doing as we’re told, then leaving after picking up the stuff we came for, is the easiest and safest way out of this situation.

However—would Naoto and Marie accept that reasoning and do as they’re told?

The answer is no.

I already figured that would be the case, but with that display just now, I’m absolutely certain.

Naoto may go around saying that he has no interest in humans, but he isn’t as cold-blooded as he likes to make himself out to be. And though Marie should still be somewhat more experienced in the ways of the world in comparison, it appears that she still isn’t mature enough to take on dirty work when necessary.

In short, they’re kids. Both Naoto and Marie still don’t have it in them to become adults like that.

That is both their strength—and their fatal weakness.

“...Well, what can you do, I guess,” Halter mumbled as he took a gulp of whiskey.

They’re kids, after all. Even if they possess godlike powers, they’re still just kids. It’s only natural that they think like kids as well.

As the powerful alcohol went down, Halter felt the burn in his tongue and his throat and his entire body flared up with heat—as his brain processed such somesthetic signals, he continued to ponder.

—The two will surely spurn Kiu Tai Yu’s demands, and they have enough power to do so... against their own good.

And then what would happen?

If the deal breaks down, Kiu Tai Yu will turn all of Arsenal’s power against us.

But not necessarily to win. He’s considered the possibility of RyuZU’s counterattack destroying this entire city—in fact, he actively hopes for such an outcome.

He clearly spelled out that possibility to me. It may have been a threat, but it wasn’t a lie.

—He doesn’t care which scenario happens.

The only difference is that one would lead to development, and the other reconstruction. Both would equally be killer business opportunities for him. As long as he can secure his own safety and profits, the method couldn’t matter less to him.

Even so, it’s not like we can just kill him. If we do, the rest of Arsenal would come after us without reservation, knowing that the deal is off, resulting in a showdown between us and them just the same. In fact, without a top figure who can ultimately bring the situation under control, things will probably turn out far worse.

“...In short, eliminating him physically would be futile.”

Halter grimaced.

In fact, it’d be counterproductive.

—Should we become embroiled in a war against all of Shangri-La Grid, can RyuZU alone really protect Naoto and Marie?

Well, she probably can.

It shouldn’t be even close to possible for this city’s military strength to overcome an Initial-Y automaton. And as for the Initial-Y automaton headed here as their reinforcement that that man hinted at, I don’t really see it being a fatal issue.

...But people would die. And in great numbers, at that.

Should that happen, will those two kids be able to withstand that fact without crumbling?

It might just be the case that such a mental wound would leave them with a far more debilitating handicap than a physical one.

It might just be me overthinking things. It could be that I’m just being overprotective.

But I’m not confident enough to put them to such a test—not now. Not yet, at least.

“...In the end, there’s only one move I can make, huh,” he muttered with a nod.

—Hand Naoto Miura over to Kiu Tai Yu.

It certainly isn’t ideal, but it’s the best option I’ve got.

We can at least avoid an all-out war with Shangri-La Grid that way, if nothing else.

Though of course, that would make me a traitor, but...

It would let me uphold my duty of protecting Marie as well.

Naoto will be released once he’s done his job as well. Kiu is well aware that, should he dispose of Naoto, a raging RyuZU will pay him back without thinking of the consequences. He isn’t some chump who would overlook something like that in his calculations. He’s a first-class villain— There, Halter laughed bitterly.

It was because he realized that he hadn’t considered how RyuZU would pay him back himself.

“Man, that’s a scary thought...”

Contrary to his words, however, Halter was still smiling.

...It wasn’t that he wasn’t afraid of RyuZU, nor was it that he thought that RyuZU wouldn’t kill him.

In fact, that automaton probably wouldn’t hesitate one bit to kill me, should the need arise. And if we end up in a confrontation, I can’t imagine that I’d be able to escape.

Halter knew that perfectly well, yet he didn’t falter.

—Let’s do it.

It doesn’t matter that I was called a machine by a couple of automata; if the humans who understand what must be done don’t follow through with it, not a single thing in the difficult world we live in would function properly.

“Tell this to Kiu Tai Yu,” Halter said aloud.

At first, it wasn’t clear whom he was talking to, as before him were only empty seats and nothing else.

However, the man sitting back-to-back against him at a different table stirred a little.

Halter muttered, “—I accept the deal. I’ll execute the plan at 14:00 tomorrow at the eastern part of the central marketplace. Also, prepare for me the following items...”

After he finished giving his detailed instructions, the man behind him nodded and stood up readily.

As he watched the messenger pay his bill then leave with a sidelong glance, he gulped down his drink.

“...”

There’s nothing more to say at this point.

—The die has been cast.

●

The next day,

“Why—did you betray us?!”

“Halter——!!”

Marie’s bellow of anger reverberated in the eastern part of the marketplace in Shangri-La Grid on Chang Klang street

However, it was futile.

The script had already been written. Regardless of what she said now, she wouldn’t be able to overwrite it.

By seizing Naoto first thing, Halter had been able to seal RyuZU’s movements.

Even for an automaton that moved as fast as she did, it was impossible to block a 15 mm APCR round fired point-blank. The explosive power of the round was such that just a graze would be enough to blow the delicate head of a human off like a needle and a balloon.

If she activated Mute Scream, there was a chance that she could cut Halter down before he could fire.

However, Halter wasn’t the only one targeting Naoto here.

There were countless snipers in position.

There were hitmen mixed in with the surrounding pedestrians as well.

Not to mention, bombs made with gunpowder had been set all over in this area.

If RyuZU activated Mute Scream and failed to take down even one of them during that time, Naoto would become defenseless when it ended, as she would shut down from her spring being fully unwound.

“—”

RyuZU probably understood that, for she was staring at Halter with eyes filled with bloodlust, instead of taking action.

Despite the fact that he had nearly eliminated all chances of RyuZU making a move, it was no fun whatsoever to be targeted by an opponent who could take him apart down to every screw in his body in less than a second. The piercing terror along he felt along his spine almost made him unwittingly drop his gun.

However, Halter hid his terror with all his body and spirit and put on a smile.

“...Grandpa Robot.” Meanwhile, AnchoR spoke dispassionately by RyuZU’s side, her face expressionless like a Noh mask. “Let go, of Father.”

“No can do, Missy,” Halter answered with a sneer.

AnchoR swiftly narrowed her eyes, “Let go, right now.”

“No thanks.”

“If you don’t, I’ll do horrible things... to you, you know?”

“Oh? Are you capable of that in your current state?”

—If AnchoR was in normal condition, it would have been a piece of cake for her.

She’d be able to eliminate Halter before he could pull the trigger, mow down all the bullets that would then come flying at her, and protect Naoto and Marie from the bombs’ blasts by using spatial manipulation.

As the one who boasted the highest combat strength in the Initial-Y Series, she certainly would have been able to.

—However, she was currently heavily damaged.

Forget combat maneuvering, her body couldn’t even withstand the output for everyday movements right now with its makeshift parts.

In her current state, it’d be difficult for her to manipulate space—or so he had heard.

However,

“I, can,” AnchoR asserted as she took a step forward staggeringly.

...So she’s mentally prepared to go through with a suicide attack, huh.

Halter nodded. If she takes me down without care for her own life, RyuZU would be able to escape with Naoto faster than the shots from the snipers could reach him—

It was the one and only way for them to overturn the situation and rescue Naoto.

It appeared that RyuZU and AnchoR were on the same page, for they exchanged glances— However,

“—No!” Naoto yelled sharply.

Halter smiled, That’s right. Naoto will generously block the one hole there is in this plan for me.

If AnchoR raised her output right now to combat levels, she’d truly end up beyond hope for recovery this time—the one who said that was none other than Naoto himself, so there’s no way he’d allow it to happen.

“Thanks,” Halter whispered with a smile. “Man, you really saved me there. I’ll overlook the fact that you spoke just now, despite being ordered not to. If you didn’t say that, I’d be dead by now. You don’t disappoint; I’m glad I bet my life on you.”

Naoto replied with a sullen face, “It wasn’t for your sake. It was for AnchoR’s.”

“I know, but even so—thanks, Naoto.”

“Halter,” Marie said in a chilling voice, “I’ll ask you one last time. ...Just what kind of prank is this? Depending on your answer, I’ll despise you more than anyone else in this world.”

Her eyes reflected anger, hatred, and... just a little bit of hope.

Halter sighed.

This girl isn’t foolish by any means.

She has the intellect to judge the authenticity of someone’s actions and consider the possible explanations behind them.

Even as fury and bewilderment is assaulting her mind, she’s still calmly calculating that there should be some sort of good intent or circumstances behind my actions.

It’s not just the fragile delusion of a girl who can’t accept reality. It’s the logical and rational conclusion she drew after considering all the countless interactions she’s had with me up to now.

She’s absolutely right on the mark—but at the same time, terribly mistaken.

Halter shrugged. “Don’t make me repeat myself over and over again—It’s work.”

“...”

That’s right, this is my job.

I’m simply doing what needs to be done. There’s no need to hesitate if this is the best way to achieve my objective. Fulfill your duties, Vainney Halter.

“Well Marie, I warned you plenty, didn’t I? Did you think the party you had assembled was invincible just because you went on a little rampage in Kyoto and Tokyo by chance? —Don’t get carried away. It really isn’t difficult at all to eliminate you and your friends.”

—That’s right, I’ve no reason to deceive this bratty little girl.

I’ve just about gotten sick of babysitting a brat. It’s not like I’m getting compensated enough for risking my life to do so, either. Guess I’ll take the opportunity to get out of it while I can by earning some cash that’ll last me for a while here.

I’ll fill my heart with malice. I’ll blot out any good will I had. Pride, you say? Screw that. Did you think your lofty ideals would resound with mercenary scum like myself, who only cares for number one? As if I can put up with a buncha brats playing house a second longer. As far as employers go, I’ll wag my tail at the one who pays me more. Anyone would do that. And so would I.

“‘I’ll make enemies of the entire world.’ ...Looks like you thought too lightly of what that truly means, huh?”

Halter curled his lips.

It was what Marie probably detested the most out of anything, the sneer of a sleazebag whose soul was rotten through and through—

“Oh, I see. I understand perfectly now,” Marie said. All emotion had left her eyes without a trace. There was no anger, no hatred left—she was looking at him as if he were a pebble on the street.

It seemed that she had determined that he wasn’t someone worth confronting with such emotions and had given up on him.

“If I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.”

Halter replied, “—That’s impossible. For you, at least.”

And so, Halter calmly dragged Naoto away, making sure that his gun was pressed tight against Naoto’s head at all times as he watched RyuZU and AnchoR with utmost vigilance.

●

As Halter turned the corner from Chang Klan Road onto Loi Kroh Road, he found a black car that had been prepared for him. It wasn’t some kind of run-down second-hand car, but a special vehicle that had been made to be bulletproof.

Halter shoved Naoto into the back seat, then got in himself and closed the door.

Smoked glass partitioned the front seats from the back seats. He said to the driver through the glass, “All ready here.”

The car immediately flew off aggressively.

“Phew,” Halter sighed.

To which Naoto sullenly said while glaring at the gun’s enormous muzzle, “—Would you put that dangerous thing away already? You’re safe now, aren’t you?”

“Sorry about that.” Halter nodded with a bitter laugh, promptly putting away his gun.

Naoto pouted, “...So? What do you plan to do, old man?”

“Sorry about this,” Halter apologized again before continuing, “Rest assured—well, that might be asking for too much, but at least know that I have no intention to sell you off or kill you.”

“You expect me to believe that right after you abduct me?”

“Oy oy, Naoto. Use the correct term. Abducting is tricking someone into following you. Taking someone away by force, like I did, is called kidnapping.”

“Like I care about that,” Naoto growled with his eyes half-closed. “So, where are you taking me?”

“To this city’s core tower,” Halter replied. “There’s a villain who wants to commission you to do a job for him. The details are too bothersome to explain, so I’m going to omit them, but basically, if you don’t accept his request, every last bit of this city will end up like roast chicken.”

“Too bothersome, you say... and who’s the villain you’re talking about, anyway?”

“—Kiu Tai Yu. Well, to put it simply, he’s a total shitbag madman.”

Naoto furrowed his eyebrows and muttered, “Umm... If I remember right, is that Arsenal’s boss?”

“Ohh. I’m surprised you remember.”

“Well it was only two days ago that you told me... and actually, didn’t you also say that he was someone who wouldn’t make a foolish pass at us so long as we didn’t cause any unnecessary trouble?”

“...It hurts when you put it that way,” Halter replied with a grimace, then sighed deeply. “Even if neither side had that intention, sometimes things just don’t quite go the way you want. Well, you can think of it this way: thanks to an idiot stirring up trouble for us by listening to his dick instead of his brain, we’re now stuck wiping his ass.”

“Wow, I’d love to beat that guy to death...”

“Rejoice, that’s already happened. ...I’m guessing he’s been turned into ground meat by now?” Halter replied nonchalantly.

That made Naoto shut right up. His face began to pale as well.

Halter laughed bitterly. “Don’t worry, that’s not going to happen to you. You should be released unharmed as long as you do your job. I imagine you’re not too happy about all this, but as odious as this shitty city is, even you wouldn’t want it to be roasted whole, would you?”

“...Well, that’s true, but...”

“For things be resolved peacefully, I needed either you or Marie to do some work for him, but I figured that I’d just get a sour face from you guys if I asked straight up. Well, just think of it as a not-all-that interesting field trip that you’re being forced to go on, if you would, and give up.”

“Did you really have to go this far, though?” Naoto groaned with a sigh. “The next time you show your face before RyuZU, you’ll be sliced and diced in an instant.”

“Thanks for the warning, I guess.”

As Halter and Naoto were talking, the car had passed through Tha Phae Gate.

It appeared that the boulevard had been cleared beforehand, as there was none of the congestion that they had experienced when they first came to the city now, allowing the car to smoothly advance to the heart of the city—stopping right in front of the core tower.

“We’re getting off now. The villain’s waiting,” Halter said.

Naoto nodded silently.

●

The core tower of Shangri-La Grid was practically a stronghold.

The building had originally been a temple made of stone—it used to be a landmark that served as a tourist attraction, but was moved from its original site when it was repurposed. It now had an imposing aura with its armored plating and machine guns, and none of the serenity of a temple was left.

The one thing about it that looked pretty odd for a core tower was the unusually fancy stone elephants ornamenting the outer walls.

After passing through a checkpoint, Halter and Naoto entered the building, the latter still somewhat reluctantly.

As the two walked through the hall, they could hear gangsters with stereotypically villainous faces looking on from a distance and whispering to each other:

“A kid like that is a member of Second Ypsilon?”

“Wow, he’s seriously still just a brat. I thought it had to be a mistake.”

“Is he really the real deal...?”

Ignoring those voices, the two entered a dimly lit hallway from the hall and kept straight.

Eventually, they arrived at what appeared to be an office room deep down the hallway. A man dressed gaudily to the point that he looked out-of-place in an office and a teenage girl were waiting for Halter and Naoto there.

The man with short red hair and a flashy suit spread out his hands and said, “—Hey, hey! I was just about done with waiting, Mr. Oberon!” He then bent forward so extremely that it was unnatural to match Naoto’s eye level and sneered patronizingly, “So yooou’re Mr. Naoto Miura? I’m terribly sorry for inviting you by such means, but I’m truly honored to meet the super terrorist that everyone’s been talking about... Would you mind shaking my hand?”

However, Naoto didn’t answer.

It wasn’t really an act of defiance, but rather simply because his eyes, his ears, all of his senses—were fully focused on the teenage girl instead.

She had peach-colored hair which had been made into side tails and large, round facial features with sparkling sapphire eyes—in a word, the impish countenance of a feisty girl.

In human terms, she had the slender frame of a girl around junior high age; yet, she was fairly busty and her body had all the right curves.

She was wearing a wreath of flowers on her head, a collar in the shape of a gear around her neck, a black lustrous corset, and thigh-high socks—topping it all off was the punk lolita dress that exposed her shoulders and chest, accentuating her curvaceous body.

She was of a different type from the quiet beauty RyuZU or the adorably angelic AnchoR, a perfect beauty that was thoroughly bewitching despite still going through adolescence.

I can’t really explain it—but the more I look at her, the more I want to bully her. On second thought, I want to be bullied by her more.

She’s provoking both those conflicting desires in me—!

“Hmmm? ...This is the guy?” the girl said with a voice that was sweet and alluring, but in a cold tone. “—He looks dull. A chump like him is Eldest Sister’s first boyfriend? Pfft—how lame.”

“Oh dearrr. That can’t be the first thing out of your mouth, Ms. TemP. Interpersonal relationships begin with a greeting! You should introduce yourself properly,” the red-haired man said.

In response, TemP pouted and turned the other way. “I do not really intend to become friends with him, anyway.”

Without a moment’s break,

“Hahaha—you’re a naughty little kitten, aren’t’cha.”

Naoto began to approach TemP, swaying about from side to side in a sickening manner with his lecherous eyes locked on to her. The moment he got in range of her, he grabbed her hand with over-the-top dexterity so as not to let her get away.

“What the, what are you—”

Startled, she pulled her hand back, which caused her to stumble.

Naoto wasn’t about to let his prey go. He drove her to the wall vigorously in the manner of an eager suitor asking the princess for a dance—or how a spider would seize its prey, then bam, he slammed his hand onto the wall to the right of her.

It was a wall pin.

“Fufu, nice to meet you, TemP-chan. My name is Naoto Miura—that’s right, I’m the man who was born to become your master, the soul whom you’re bound to by the red string of fate.”

“Wha? Huh?” TemP said, looking awfully flustered as she ducked her head and stared at Naoto.

“Wh—What in the world are you saying out of nowhere? I already have a master...”

“Ahhh, such tragedy! My heart’s about to split from sorrow! But I won’t be discouraged, you know. That’s because my heart was already yours since the moment I laid my eyes on you for the first time... Fufu.”

“Ngh, are you serious? ...I, Is this the so-called ‘love triangle’ that I’ve heard about...?!”

“That’s right. Please listen to what my soul is shouting, TemP-chan. —I’m head over heels for you. Would it be too impertinent for me to hope for a favorable answer...? Well?!”

As he sputtered tomfoolery—correction, intimate talk—Naoto aggressively pressed closer.

In response, TemP blushed and looked at him with wavering eyes.

Despite being bewildered by his behavior, her heart had been intensely shaken. The boy had very much piqued her interest.

“L-L, Lies! D, Do not think that I am not aware you are Elder Sister’s boyfriend.”

“Yeah, RyuZU’s my wife, of course. Not only that, AnchoR’s my daughter.”

“As I thought— Y, You are shameless!”

“But does that contradict the fact that I love you in any way, TemP-chan?”

Upon which TemP’s eyes widened greatly.

She faltered, “T, That is... But...”

“I’ll say it as many times as necessary. I love you. I’m absolutely confident that the one who loves you the most in this universe is me, TemP-chan. Won’t you... believe me?”

“I, I cannot believe you...” Temp said, shaking her head. However, both her gesture and her voice were terribly frail.

As he passionately gazed right into her eyes, Naoto gently held TemP’s chin.

“—Then, would you let me prove it? My love for you, that is.”

“G, Gosh,” TemP panted, her entire body trembling. “T... That will not do. You will not tempt me... I would never... betray Master...”

“C’mon, lil’ kitty. Where’s the problem? Love is infinite, you know...!”

As he briskly and unabashedly rested his other hand on her waist, he lifted up her chin.

As Naoto crept closer and closer, TemP squeezed her eyes shut.

“No—”

They were now close enough that they could feel each other’s breaths.

Peeking her eyes open, their gazes met just as their lips were about to touch— That instant...

“Y—You caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan’t—ngh!!” TemP screeched, slapping away Naoto’s hand.

Her face was so red that it approached the limits of what her facial mechanisms could actually produce. She shook her head left and right rapidly like a dog shaking off water and then ran out the door so quickly that she could have easily bumped into something and fallen.

Having been left hanging, Naoto had fallen flat on his butt. He muttered dumbfoundedly, “...Is she just shy, or?”

“No, I think the problem is something more fundamental than that,” Halter said with a reproachful gaze.

To which Naoto scratched his head looking stumped and said, “Well, I am the meek type when it comes to girls, after all... you think I should be more aggressive and really lay it on her?”

“...How could you possibly be more aggressive than that?” Halter sighed.

“Hey... could it be that he’s one of those cases...?” the red-haired man, Kiu Tai Yu, said to Halter in a low voice. “Took some amphetamines from a random street dealer and heavily damaged his brain?”

“If only... I’m sorry to say that this is just how he was born.”

“Must be bliss to be able to trip out without drugs... Looks like he’s real chipper, eh?”

“In a way, sure,” Halter said while averting his gaze

Kiu Tai Yu clapped and said, “So—now then, Mr. Naoto. Now that we’ve both breathed in some good air and relaxed a bit, how about we get down to business?”

“Hm...? About what again?” Naoto muttered as he turned around to face the one who addressed him.

Once he identified Kiu Tai Yu, he finally recalled why he was brought here. He answered sullenly with his eyes half-closed, “—I’ll keep it simple: no.”

“Ohh...?”

“As for why I’ve been brought here, Old Man Halter already explained this and that. In short, I’m supposed to do whatever you tell me to, yeah? No thanks.” Naoto stood up mindfully and brushed off the dust that had stuck to the back of his pants.

Kiu Tai Yu sneered smugly, “My, my... Looks like I’ve been disliked quite a bit, ehh. I wonder why that isss... when I’m only saying that I want sovereignty over this city.”

“...Sovereignty?”

“I want to seize control over the core tower and act like God in this Shangri-La Grid! It’s something that your troupe has done plenty of, no? I just want you to lend me that power of yours for just a little bittt... It shouldn’t really be all that hard for you, isn’t that right? Hm?” Kiu said while raising an eyebrow.

Naoto had been listening with a suspicious face, but he suddenly furrowed his brows even tighter.

“...There was a commotion yesterday near the hotel that we’re staying at, yeah?”

“Hm? Is that so?”

“Soldiers of yours were firing off machine guns.”

“—If I may correct you, Arsenal doesn’t have any soldiers, you know? They’re simply armed security personnel. There’s neither a military nor a police force here in Shangri-La...”

“I don’t care what you call them,” Naoto snorted. “I don’t really get the situation, but they had no mercy, even on children... You expect me to hand sovereignty of this city over to the boss of a syndicate like that? Keep dreaming.”

“Oh my, what a terrible misunderstanding. I believe this is what they call a difference of opinion. Let’s talk it out, shall we!” Kiu shouted as he spread his hands.

He then sprung on his heels with sprightliness and pulled out a bulky file binder from one of his desk’s drawers, then wet his fingertips with his tongue before flipping through the pages.

“Hum de du~m ♪ ...Ah, is this it? I see, I see, refugee processing, huh.”

After looking through the single-page document, Kiu nodded with a smile. “Allow me to be frank: that’s just business as usual for us—there’s nothing wrong with it at all.”

“Nothing wrong with it at all?” Naoto growled in a subdued voice. “—You say that even when you shot children down?”

“So shooting adults is fine with you, then?”

“That’s not the problem here and you know it!!”

“Haah? Then do enlighten me, because I’m feeling quiiite lost here.”

After he put the file binder back inside the drawer, Kiu shrugged theatrically and continued, “They were ‘merchandise’ that some monkeys lacking in intelligence smuggled into the city from some rural area. But see, we can’t allow that kind of business to operate outside of our control. I thoroughly enjoyed grinding up those delusional idiots starting from their fingertips and making them into meat pie, though I had to suffer through their pathetic excuses. So!” Kiu paused to let out a deep sigh. “Unfortunately, their ‘merchandise’ were now just bad financial liabilities. Now then, what should we do? If we just leave them be, some other idiots will just make fools of themselves yet again along with another mess. Public order will begin to fray. Dealing with the situation appropriately is part of our duty to maintain the public order, understand?”

“...Still, you didn’t have to shoot them to death.”

“What else could we have done, then? Tell me,” Kiu said with a puzzled face. “Refugees or not, children eat. They shit and fart. They need housing and clothes. Who’s going to foot the cost of all that? Or would you have them work to support themselves? Are you seriously stupid enough to believe that monkeys who can’t even write their own name or calculate what one plus one is could make a living for themselves in this city without stirring up some sort of trouble?”

Naoto remained silent.

Seeing Naoto’s response, Kiu sneered mockingly. As he wagged his finger, he said, “Tsk tsk tsk. In short, after taking all such factors into account, I determined through a comprehensive cost-performance analysis that putting them down without dilly-dallying was the best option for everyone. Don’t you think those children were better off saying goodbye to this shitty world too? Fret not; they say that children are as innocent as angels, so letting them die now would guarantee them tickets to heaven.”

“...In that case, you’re definitely going to hell, no doubt about it.”

“Well now, I wonder about that.” Kiu shrugged as he sat down on top of his desk. “Am I really doing such a horrible thing? I crushed a criminal organization that flouted the rules of this city and proactively eliminated elements that could cause future trouble as part of my duty to maintain the public order here... I’ll admit, our methods are more severe than what other grids might choose to adopt. But it wouldn’t be a fair comparison unless you also factored in the crime rate and the standard of quality of life index as well, yeah?”

“...Are you suggesting that you’re doing a good thing, then?”

“Not really? I’m just doing what’s necessary. Though, now that I think about it—compared to the grid purge that you guys have attempted in Japan not once, but twice— Oh right, excuse me, that’s just the narrative—I think what I’ve done is far more peaceful and moral, nooo...?”

“......”

Naoto didn’t reply, only clicking his tongue.

Kiu’s smile deepened. He got off the desk and said as he extended his hand out theatrically, “I can provide you with the goods you desire. —I’ll say this right now, you’re making a very dangerous choice here, you know? After all, you and your friends are suu~per~terrorists who’ve made enemies of the entire world.”

“However,” Kiu continued as he took on a quieter tone, “if you guys occupy this city and I’m the one who’s forced to help—then it becomes a different story.”

“Haah? You’re the one who’s threatening us.”

“I’m talking about the narrative. You! Forcefully! Hijacked the core tower which is under my management! And made some illegal modifications to it in an inexplicable way. Then, the pitiful and helpless hunk that is Kiu Tai Yu had no choice but to cave to your demands and provide you with the goods you seek. Ahh—how pitiful I am!” Kiu said in a monotone voice as he faked sobbing, going so far as to pull out a handkerchief and pat his eyes with it. Then, in a sudden reversal, he casually tossed the used handkerchief away and continued, “But if bad fortune comes, then good fortune will be sure to follow. After you guys leave, the other syndicates that are thorns in my side will all just happen to break down from internal strife. —It’s a strange world we live in, isn’t it? But that’ll be after you guys leave. It’ll be completely unrelated to you guys. And so, the public order in this city will become good and I’ll make a killing... I can’t imagine that you’d have any complaints about this scenario?”

“But I do—it makes me want to vomit.”

“Oh, I seeee.” Kiu nodded with a sneer. “It makes you want to vomit, huh—yes, I get it. That’s a big proooblem. You and I were born and raised differently, after all... it might be difficult for us to mutually understand each other. Still, I should have respected your right to your own opinion, so I apologize on that point. But tell me.”

Right then—Kiu grabbed Naoto by his collar with just one hand and held him up.

Naoto was left dangling in the air, strangled by Kiu. Kiu’s grip strength was much more powerful than his slender body would suggest. Gravity and Kiu’s grip made it so that Naoto couldn’t breathe—

“Guh... ngh...”

“You have others do the dirty work so you don’t have to dirty your own hands. Despite that, you act like you’re a saint and everyone else is a sinner—this very typical Japanese attitude is what baffles me. Who’s really the one with screws loose in his head, Mr. Scummy Monkey?”

Naoto’s vision began to dim from lack of oxygen, but he could still see Kiu’s face.

Kiu had on neither an expression of mockery nor lament; his face was completely expressionless, as if all emotion had been effaced from it. His muddy, bog-like eyes seemed as if he saw everything around him as worthless. It gave one the impression that his soul was as hollow as a bottomless pit.

“Oy, cut it out,” Halter warned.

Suddenly being released, Naoto dropped to the floor. Pain ran through his butt as he coughed violently.

Looking up, he saw that Halter had grabbed Kiu by the wrist from the side.

Kiu blinked a few times before muttering, “...Whoopsies.”

He then put on a fishy smile again as he gazed at Naoto. “Ahhh! Sorry about that, my lips and hands moved before I even realized it! Now then, Mr. Naoto, would you pleeease not make me have to spew some embarrassing line that’s all too cliche?” He paused for a breath and continued, “—You ain’t got the right of choice, bud. If you believe that your own delicate, worthless life is valuable, could you please just do as you’re told and work your ass off for me?”

●

With two fierce-looking gangsters each pulling on one of his arms, Naoto was dragged into the core of Shangri-La Grid’s core tower.

They rode an elevator down to the depths of the grid.

Having been separated from Halter now, and without RyuZU by his side either, even Naoto, who usually acted like he feared absolutely nothing, couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy and fearful.

They won’t kill me— he thought.

But if I brainlessly make a scene, I sure don’t get the feeling that they’d let me off with a slap on the wrist.

As the elevator doors opened, what Naoto saw was practically like a village of nomads.

Here and there, in this broad space surrounded by clockwork, were provisional workshops with curtains and panels that a great number of fierce-looking men were constantly going in and out of.

There was no doubt from their appearance that they were criminals, but the work clothes and tool belts they had on implied that they were clocksmiths as well. There were those with chrono compasses, the proof of a Meister, among them as well.

As Naoto entered the room, they all turned to look at Naoto with judgmental eyes.

“—Ridiculous,” a man of Middle Eastern descent standing at the forefront of the group said with a scowl.

“A sniveling brat like this is supposed to be the second coming of ‘Y’? What a terrible joke. I can tell he’s got no skills just by looking at him.”

“It’s just as Sabur says. We’re supposed to tinker with the core tower based on this brat’s instructions? Boss is going too far with his joke.”

...Well, what they’re saying is true. Naoto sighed deeply, as he was still under the restraint of the two who brought him here.

RyuZU probably wouldn’t hesitate to murder them for what they just said if she were here, but there’s nothing I can really refute about what they said. Still, this is how I’m treated after being forcefully taken here? Give me a break...

Naoto pouted and growled, “I didn’t come here ’cause I wanted to. If I’m unneeded, then let me leave already.”

Upon which the man called Sabur leaned down and got right up in Naoto’s face. He glared sharply at Naoto, saying, “I’d love nothing more than to do just that, brat. This isn’t a playground for children. If you’re an imposter then there’d be no need for us to hold back either. We’ll mince you right up and feed you to the rats.”

Another clocksmith chimed in with eyes full of derision, “Oy brat, just what kind of trick did you use to fake controlling a core tower? Do tell.”

“Nah, a kid like this could never have pulled off such a stunt. Isn’t the rumor that the Initial-Y Series are ‘Y’s’ maintenance machines a more credible explanation?”

Losing his patience, Naoto groaned, “...God, every last one of you is just saying whatever the hell you want...”

He then shook his head vigorously so that the fluorescent-green noise-canceling headphones on his head would fall off, as his arms were restrained.

—You owe me big time, Old Man.

He glared at Sabur through his bangs, which had covered his eyes from the shaking earlier.

“—You’re not a live human, are you? You’ve done a good job of maintaining your artificial skin, but you’re definitely a full-body cyborg.”

To which Sabur cautiously took half a step back and said, “...So what?”

“Let’s see... looks like the base was probably a Master G Series from the LeCoultre Corporation. It’s the one that has a good reputation for the precision of its movements. But I see that you’ve had it modded quite a bit. Most notably, your right hand. That’s the hand part that the Caliber IV maintenance automaton uses, right? But man, when was the last time you had maintenance done? Your right hand is desynced from the rest of your body by 0.002 seconds. You’re letting the extreme precision of your body go to waste like that, you know,” Naoto fired off successively, then he turned his attention to the fat Caucasian clocksmith next to Sabur. “You’re even worse.”

“I, I’ve got a human body, you kn—”

“Not that, you big oaf, I’m talking about your measurement device. Your effort to be frugal may be praiseworthy, but the speed of its gears hasn’t been calibrated correctly, and the resonance frequencies of the sensor plate are all over the place... Just how do you plan to measure anything with that? Are you stupid? Do you want to die?”

The Caucasian clocksmith darted his eyes in embarrassment and hid the measurement device he was holding behind his back.

Naoto sighed deeply, then turned around to face the central pillar and said, “—The core tower here has thirty-five floors in total... which is pretty deep. It seems like there’s another camp on the twentieth floor, and that there are four hundred fifty-seven maintenance automata in stand-by there at the moment. —Am I wrong?”

“......”

A wave of nervousness spread through the clocksmiths.

Sabur glared at Naoto grimly. “How did you know all that, brat? Have you secretly snuck in here before?”

“I can tell that much just by listening to the sounds.”

“Sounds?”

“That’s the kind of special ability I have. I don’t need any equipment. I can analyze the structure of any machine just by listening to its operating noise.”

“Bullshit!”

“Yeah! There’s no way that’s possible!”

Several clocksmiths shouted out angrily.

However, Sabur turned to look at them, his grim expression unchanged. “But the numbers he just gave were all accurate. How do you explain that, then?”

“...Maybe he found a blueprint of this tower lying around somewhere?”

“I’ve never heard of there being such a thing. It isn’t a realistic explanation. To begin with, it still wouldn’t explain how he knew even the number of maintenance automata we have,” Sabur said.

To which his subordinates all swallowed their objections.

They may be petty criminals, but all the clocksmiths here were well-known for their skills in this city. Despite the knee-jerk backlash just now, they weren’t the type to deny something that had just been demonstrated before their eyes without giving it fair consideration.

And, no matter how hard it was to believe, once they came to understand that it was the truth, what infected all of them was something that resembled absolute terror.

—This guy isn’t human.

He’s something else with merely the form of a human.

Whatever the case, one thing’s for sure: he’s something that exists outside the realm of our assumptions...

As Sabur looked at Naoto with an eerie look in his eyes, he said, “...Very well. We’ll believe you for now.” He paused before continuing in a pretentious tone, “We’re the clocksmiths who’ve been commissioned by Kiu Tai Yu to create a control system for the core tower and clock towers of this city. We’ve also been told to listen to your instructions for the details of the work.”

“In that case,” Naoto began, “let me go around measuring things first.”

Naoto shook off the two gangsters who had been holding him, freeing his hands.

“Like I said earlier, I don’t need any special equipment to measure things. Nonetheless, a core tower is too complex for me to analyze from one spot. I need to walk around and listen from multiple locations to analyze the structure in its entirety.”

“Alright. But you’ll have a guard with you.”

“Then make it a clocksmith with excellent skills. I need someone to translate for me.”

“...Translate?”

“I can’t read clockwork diagrams,” Naoto muttered awkwardly. “I can only explain verbally where things are and how they operate, so I need someone that can translate record that into something that’s understandable for the rest of you. ...That’s what I’ve relied on Marie for up to now, but she isn’t here, so.”

Upon learning that Naoto couldn’t even read schemes, Sabur didn’t even try to hide his condescension. At the same time, though, he now seemed to have an even eerier look in his eyes as he turned around and asked, “—Does anyone want to go with him?”

However, no one volunteered.

Everyone remained dead silent as they looked around to see how others were reacting.

—I get that someone needs to keep a watch on him, but I don’t want to get involved with such a freak.

Their internal thoughts were obvious, from the looks on their faces and their body language.

Just then,

“—I’ll look after him.”

Someone had spoken up.

The one who had come forward was an old man of small stature wearing a dark brown suit. His tangled white hair and wrinkly face were paired with amber eyes that had the glint of a ripe intellect.

Beside him was an antiquated maid automaton pulling a gigantic trunk case.

Greatly surprised, Naoto asked inadvertently, “—You’re here, Master? And Nono, too.”

“You’re volunteering, Sr. Giovanni?” Sabur asked with widened eyes.

To which the old man—Giovanni—nodded and said, “As fate would have it, this isn’t my first time seeing that kid, you see. My helper Nono can keep watch over him. As far as skills as a clocksmith are concerned—am I not good enough?”

“...Of course not. If you’re willing to do it, I don’t think anyone here would object.”

“Well then, leave the rest to me, if you would.”

With that settled, the clocksmiths all withdrew to their tent workshops in droves.

All by themselves now, Naoto and Giovanni looked at each other.

Naoto said, “Hi. Funny seeing you again here of all places, and so soon.”

“Si— Our last meeting was only thirty-four hours ago, Mr. Naoto Miura.”

“Nice to see you again too, Nono. So, why are you here, Master?” Naoto asked.

Giovanni shrugged. “Pretty much right after you left, Kiu Tai Yu abruptly canceled the five years’ worth of work he had recently commissioned from me and forced me to take on this job instead.”

“...The reason you couldn’t take on our request was because of a commission from that crazy old man?”

“Something wrong with that? Whether a criminal syndicate or an armed group, a customer is a customer. For my part, I simply try to turn in work that I’m proud of that’s worthy of my reputation.”

“...Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Not particularly? Well, it’s true that that man is crazy. But even so, as long as you do a proper job for him, he isn’t someone who’d put the squeeze on those in honest trades.”

“...I was forcefully brought here against my will, though?”

“You consider your occupation respectable?”

Being called out right to his face, Naoto fell silent.

...It looked like even he wasn’t so shameless as to claim otherwise.

Giovanni chuckled. “Well, rest easy—that may be easier said than done, I guess, but if he promised that he’d let you go after you do your job, then he isn’t lying. He doesn’t believe in baiting someone like that if he plans to kill them.”

“Halter... an old man that’s in my group, said something similar.”

...It’s not like their words are enough to truly ease my mind, though.

That said, I do feel a little better now that I’m seeing a familiar face.

Naoto nodded, to which Giovanni said, “Well then, it’s probably not a good idea to continue chatting here. Some of the guys here are awfully short-tempered, so let’s not test them. We can keep chatting as we go.”

●

Giovanni continued speaking as they entered the elevator to head to the next floor. “I must say, though, I was a little surprised earlier. I’d heard about some of the criminal feats that you guys have perpetrated, but it looks like you’ve got quite an interesting talent, eh.”

To which Naoto sighed, muttering, “...Is what I have really a talent?”

“Hmm?”

“To be honest, I’m not really sure. To me, it just seems so natural. Like, I don’t understand how others can’t do it.”

—Naoto recalled the incident that had happened a month ago in Tokyo.

When the Pillar of Heaven had been on the brink of being destroyed, he and Marie had shared their abilities with one another.

Under those extreme circumstances, Marie’s theory and his intuition together had demonstrated that human potential was limitless and the universe was yet incomplete.

“According to Marie, apparently, I can see the outcome from the very beginning. I can tell how an incomplete mechanism should sound when it’s complete.”

“...You’re gifted.” Giovanni nodded. “What is known as our current body of theories is the accumulation of discoveries and proofs, but there are, in fact, those among us who possess something that exists outside of that system of knowledge—those who clearly aren’t merely exceptionally bright, but have been given a gift by God. They’re certainly rare, though.”

“...Can that really be called a talent?” Naoto questioned.

Giovanni tilted his head slightly and asked, “How do you see it?”

“That description doesn’t sound quite right to me... Or, I don’t know exactly how to put it, but I feel like I’m not moving forward...” Naoto said as he scratched his head with both hands in frustration. “‘Your intuition is absolutely correct, so just bring it down to a level that others can understand.’—is what Marie told me, but that girl actually put together what was in my head just by me describing it to her verbally.”

That’s decisively different from me, who only had the answer in my head.

Just by receiving a small hint, Marie was able to materialize it.

She pulled off such a feat just by honing her skills as a mortal, without having received any gift from God.

Yet, I’m supposed to be the one that’s talented? Does merely knowing the answer really make me a genius?

“—As things stand, I think Marie’s a far more amazing clocksmith than me.”

Naoto was a little surprised at how readily those words came out.

He didn’t want to admit it—especially not to Marie herself. He’d never admit it to her, even if he were tortured.

However, for some reason he was able to be honest with himself effortlessly before this senior master who was far beyond his realm.

“Hmm... I see.” The old man nodded, then readily added, “You can rest assured, boy. It’s an astounding fact that your intuition is absolutely spot on. But in terms of technical skill, that Miss is a far superior, otherworldly clocksmith to you.”

Naoto gulped, then asked, “—You think so?”

“I sure do. You should know that better than anyone yourself. I completely agree as well. Her skills are on an entirely different plane from yours or mine.”

Naoto widened his eyes.

Giovanni asked, looking perplexed, “What’s the matter?”

“Well... it just surprised me to hear you rate Marie so highly.”

“That’s just the objective truth. Comprehensively speaking, that Miss is the greatest clocksmith in the world.”

The elevator stopped. Ding. The doors opened.

As he walked out of the elevator, Giovanni looked back and continued, “She’s mastered the cutting-edge technologies based on modern theory better than anyone else, and is capable of expanding upon that base of knowledge to innovate new technologies that are even better herself. ...But, that’s something you’re not capable of as of right now, right?”

“...Right.” Naoto nodded.

...Yeah, that’s something that’d be absolutely impossible for me as I am right now.

Naoto Miura can only come up with the answer to existing questions; he can’t come up with any new questions to answer himself.

Giovanni continued, “It’s true that you have a rare talent that ordinary people could never hope to attain. But, if all you do with it is try to imitate ‘Y’—then let me inform you in no uncertain terms: you could be replaced in any number of ways.”

“—”

“So you can analyze the structure of any machinery, even a core tower, just by listening carefully? I see, that’s amazing. It’s a special ability that warrants international caution, for sure. But a group of elite clocksmiths could do the same thing, given enough time. The only difference is that you can do it in several minutes, all by yourself. Of course, that difference in efficiency is equivalent to immense sums of money. However, they would also be able to record the information they gather in a way that can be shared with all clocksmiths.”

“...I can’t do that either.”

“Right.” Giovanni nodded. “The accumulation of tiny defects in the planet’s mechanisms has caused there to be some impairments in their functions—but even so, the planet is still running as a whole. Even without you, the planet’s mechanisms can at least be maintained. It’s simply a difference of time and resources. But something that can be reproduced with enough time and money can’t be called a divine feat.”

The old man smiled, then nodded again. “That’s why you can rest easy, boy. While it’s true that you have a special aptitude, it’s not as big a deal as the news these days would have you believe. It’s nothing that that Miss should be jealous about either—at least, not yet.”

“—Is that right, now.”

Naoto couldn’t help but smile.

Objectively speaking, he was just told some very harsh things; despite that, what he felt right now was neither despair nor resignation.

Now that I’m sure that this intuition of mine is correct, the rest is—

Naoto laughed bitterly. “Yeah, I feel reassured now. But...”

A question had suddenly popped into Naoto’s head.

“Despite your high praise for her just now, weren’t you quite an ass to her in person?”

“Well, sorry for being a petty old geezer,” Giovanni said, his face souring. “It isn’t so much that I’m reluctant to admit that a little brat who could be my granddaughter is a far greater clocksmith than myself—but I’m not so senile yet that I could play the part of a kind old man without feeling awkward.”

Naoto burst out laughing.

“That’s why you provoked her like that?”

“Sure is. A brat blessed with more talent and better circumstances than me comes to me and brazenly gives me this, ‘I’m not good enough, so please lend me a hand’ crap. How disrespectful is that? She may be a brilliant youngster—but she ought to work harder before expecting luxury.”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Naoto began laughing so hard that he bent over and had to hold his sides to try to stop.

—This grandpa is suuuch a character.

Seeing Naoto convulse with laughter without saying anything, Giovanni said, “But—I should correct you on one thing.” He pointed to his automaton companion who was standing next to him and continued, “I had no intention of being an ass. All I did was tell her the truth—Nono.”

“Si—”

Nono opened up the trunk case she had been pulling around up until now.

Naoto looked at what was inside with a puzzled face at first—but then his jaws dropped.

He had been sure that it would be a measurement device or a machine tool, but in reality it was something completely different.

The thing that was enclosed in a transparent case, and that looked akin to the spine and ribs of humans, was—

“—A main frame for an automaton?”

As far as Naoto knew, it didn’t fit the model of any maker.

It was complete haute couture. As it wasn’t in operation at the moment, even Naoto couldn’t guess the details of its functionality, but considering its size, which looked like it would be just right for a young girl automaton—

“—No way, is this for AnchoR?!”

“I had a little time to kill once my work was canceled before they brought me here. I guess I can be honest with you now: it was a job that I wanted to jump on immediately, once I had the time. You guys challenged me to make something better than what ‘Y’ did—if I didn’t take it up, I wouldn’t be able to call myself a clocksmith, would I?”

Impossible.

A little time to kill? It’s only been two days since. The amount of time he would have had to work on it should have been one night at most.

Actually, before that—

“Master... could it be that you’ve tinkered with AnchoR’s parts before?”

“No? That was the first time I saw an Initial-Y Series. Like any other clocksmith, I do want to open one of them up and see their inner workings at least once in my life, though.”

“Then how did you make this?!” Naoto yelled out half-impulsively.

He hasn’t had the chance to analyze her structure, and it’s not like there’s a detailed specsheet for AnchoR that he could have used as reference for her main frame, either.

Just how did he make a main frame for AnchoR, despite that?

Giovanni broke into a gleeful smile. “I was able to see her moving right in front of me when you guys came to my workshop, up close and personal—for me, that’s more than enough.”

There’s no way such a thing could be true.

It might be just barely believable if we were talking about a mass-market model automaton, but we’re talking about an Initial-Y here. We’re talking about AnchoR.

Naoto knew just how complicated and delicate AnchoR’s structure was better than anyone else.

Common sense would dictate that there’s no way this thing could be compatible with her.

At least, that should be the case...

...But yet, I’m almost sure this is going to work.

As unbelievable as it is, that’s the feeling I get.

“Master...”

“This main frame should allow that little pipsqueak to function without a hitch. As for the parts you should connect to it, if that Miss has racked her brains about it, she should already have it figured out.”

“...What a terrible joke.”

Feeling completely blindsided, Naoto held his head and groaned, “You show me something like this, yet claim that Marie is a better clocksmith than yourself? ...If she heard you say that, she’d go absolutely ballistic. I could even see her dying from all her rage.”

There’s no doubt that her screech would resound throughout this entire grid.

Giovanni shrugged with the expression of a child that just succeeded in a prank. “What I said was that, comprehensively speaking, she’s undoubtedly a better clocksmith than me. But I would proudly assert that, when it comes to this specific field, I’m a better clocksmith than ‘Y’, even.”

“—”

Naoto had no objections. Of course he wouldn’t.

After all, the unquestionable proof of that was staring right at him.

“Let me guarantee it. As clocksmiths, you two have more talent than the rest of the entire world—but I’m an artigiano, you know? And in this specific field, the difference in ability between you two and myself are like heaven and earth.”

Giovanni smiled.

“—I told you guys, didn’t I? That I wasn’t doing any work that an amateur could possibly help with.”