Chapter 365: Infiltration, the Keystone Gate!
North Island.
In the research district of Itogami Island's northern sector, corporate laboratories stood in neat rows.
At one corner of this futuristic street, the most artificial island-like area on the island, many former research facilities remained.
A four-story building, its shape almost a perfect rectangular prism.
Perhaps to protect secrets, windows were sparse, so it didn't feel overly oppressive despite being sealed off.
For criminals seeking a hideout, this was an ideal environment.
"What are we doing here? Judging by the corporate logos, this should have been a laboratory affiliated with Lottanlencia."
The two stood before one of the abandoned buildings. Yukina looked at him, her expression guarded.
After leaving Yukina's rented apartment, Mahiro had brought her straight here.
Could the Fourth Primogenitor's Vessel be hidden here, or was there some other earth-shattering conspiracy?
Should she report the situation to the Elders now?
Yukina's thoughts swirled, remembering the Elders' words that the Fourth Primogenitor still walked the world in the form of a Vessel.
Just as she was about to continue her wild speculations, a light chop landed on her head.
"Ouch."
"Stop overthinking. Since I brought you here, keep your mouth shut and don't ask unnecessary questions or imagine things! Otherwise, I'll tie you up—using your Lion King Organization's traditional methods!"
At his words, Yukina, who had been about to voice her displeasure, immediately fell silent.
She quickly covered her mouth, afraid to let out a single word.
She knew all too well that this big pervert meant what he said.
But that didn't stop her from glaring at him fiercely!
Only, her flushed cheeks and ears, tinged with embarrassment at the thought of rope techniques, made her glare seem more coquettish than threatening.
Mahiro said nothing more, merely smiling as he glanced at the now-compliant Yukina beside him. He took her hand, casually dispelling the simple illusion spell on the door, and walked straight into the abandoned research building.
Yukina tried to pull her hand free, but once they entered the laboratory, she stopped struggling, stunned by what she saw.
As Yukina had mentioned earlier, this had indeed once been a research facility for a Lottanlencia-based corporation.
But the research conducted here was on artificial lifeforms!
Artificial lifeforms are a general term for life created through biochemical technology.
The decisive difference from synthetic organisms is that even their genetic units are entirely designed under human manipulation. Though technically challenging, this allows for relatively greater design freedom.
The original method for creating artificial lifeforms is said to have been established as early as the 16th century. For the purpose of creating cheap labor or ideal human companions, such research has continued under various hands over the years.
However, in the end, artificial lifeforms never became widely popularized among the general public.
There are two main reasons for this.
The first is ethical issues.
Creating life is an act of humans encroaching upon the domain of gods, or the Creator, and there has been deep-rooted opposition to this, particularly from religious circles.
Furthermore, whether to grant human rights to created artificial lifeforms has been a subject of intense debate, with no conclusion reached to this day.
Another issue is simply the cost of production. Whether used as labor or deployed as soldiers on the battlefield, the manufacturing process for artificial lifeforms is overly intricate and too expensive.
Using real humans through cloning technology is overwhelmingly cheaper and more convenient.
Thus, it is said that almost no one manufactures artificial lifeforms anymore, and the number of scientists researching them has drastically declined.
Yet here, in this long-abandoned research institute, not only are the research facilities still operational, but the rows of cultivation tanks are also filled with artificial lifeforms of various sizes!
Floating in the amber-colored solution were numerous peculiar creatures, each about the size of a small dog.
They resembled legendary magical beasts or beautiful fairies.
In any case, these were not forms of life found in nature.
Yukina, who had never seen such a sight before, was utterly stunned!
"Yotsuba-senpai, what is this...?"
Yukina turned her head, instinctively wanting to ask, but she noticed that Mahiro seemed to be deep in thought or perhaps lost in some memory.
He had seen far too many such things at the Fourth Research Institute of the Yotsuba family.
Though they weren't cultivating magical beasts or fairies, there were plenty of failed experiments and many malformed creations.
Very few could walk out of the cultivation tanks at the Fourth Research Institute.
He might be considered one, while Sakurai Minami and Sakurai Honami were among the few successful products of the "Sakura" series, along with others like the "Kotohiki" series.
Thinking of this, Mahiro felt an inexplicable surge of emotions.
He involuntarily raised his hand toward the cylindrical cultivation tanks filled with amber nutrient solution and softly whispered:
"Mist Dispersion."
A deep blue Psionic Light swirled around him for a moment.
The next second, countless tiny bubbles suddenly rose inside the cultivation tanks, as if the nutrient solution within had been boiled at high temperatures, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.
Then, a faint cracking sound could be heard.
Fine cracks appeared on the glass covers of the cultivation tanks.
Under the pressure of gases and the trapped nutrient solution, the cracks multiplied, rapidly spreading and expanding.
Finally unable to withstand the internal pressure, with a crash, many of the cultivation tanks shattered simultaneously.
The murky nutrient solution splattered out, flooding the floor and filling the air with a foul, pungent odor.
Mahiro seemed unaffected, his expression unchanged as he softly said:
"Let's go."
With that, he led Yukina, stepping over the nutrient solution as they continued deeper into the research institute.
However, when they reached the largest cultivation vessel in the deepest part, they looked up to find that this massive tank was empty, containing only the nutrient solution filling it!
Yukina was about to ask if it had always been empty, but she immediately turned her back to Mahiro, retrieved Snowdrift Wolf from the guitar case behind her, and with a few clicks, the collapsed Snowdrift Wolf was released, transforming into a cross-shaped spear.
Yukina lowered her stance, spear at the ready, her gaze fixed intently on a blind spot near the water tank.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
Following her sharp command, a petite figure slowly emerged.
It was a girl with dreamlike blue hair, her pale blue irises emotionlessly watching Yukina point the spear toward her.
Her slender, delicate frame was draped only in a thin, robe-like garment resembling surgical attire.
Water still dripped from her hair, soaking the fabric and clinging to her skin, creating an almost nude, provocative appearance.
Clearly, she had just emerged from the cultivation tank not long ago.
One could even clearly see her bare jade-like feet stepping on the cold tile floor.
This was the artificial girl, Astarte, who had previously been accompanying Rudolf.
At that moment, Astarte suddenly spoke quietly:
"...Warning. Please leave this place immediately."
"And if we don't?"
Yukina's sharp eyes locked onto the artificial girl who had suddenly appeared before her.
But Astarte merely tilted her head slightly, as if not expecting such a response. She repeated her words flatly, still without any attempt to conceal:
"Soon, this island will sink. Please escape before then. As far as possible... escape..."
"The island... will sink? What do you mean...!"
A chilling sensation ran up Yukina's spine, causing her to murmur.
She knew very well that as an artificially cultivated tool, Astarte did not possess the "function" to lie. In other words, everything she said was true.
Just as Yukina raised her spear tip toward the artificial girl, intending to press further and take action—
Mahiro suddenly reached out a large hand and gently pressed down the Snowdrift Wolf in her grasp.
"Yotsuba-senpai?"
"Not an enemy."
Mahiro simply replied, then turned his gaze to Astarte and asked:
"Where's your Exorcist?"
Astarte did not answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze from Yukina to another spot.
There, where there had been no one before, a burly figure suddenly appeared—a large man wearing solemn priestly robes and an armored reinforcement suit.
"That is... an Exorcist from the Western European Church, Loatan Lancia?"
Yukina muttered to herself, recognizing his identity at a glance.
"Oh, so it's a tool cultivated by the Lion King Organization."
Rudolf also sized up Yukina, his tone equally discourteous.
Under the dim lighting, Rudolf slowly raised the long-handled halberd in his hand, its blade emitting a chilling gleam.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.
"Have you decided, Exorcist?"
Mahiro's sudden words broke the standoff between the two. Rudolf immediately lowered his long-handled halberd obediently and smiled:
"Mr. Yotsuba Mahiro, how can you guarantee you will help me reclaim the immortal treasure revered as the pivot of this place?"
"Simple."
Mahiro said calmly, "After helping you reclaim it, give Astarte to me. Consider it an exchange, goods for payment. As for the rest, whether you believe me or not is your business. Unless you think I have any reason to deceive you."
As he spoke, he glanced toward the shattered cultivation tanks behind Rudolf.
Rudolf noticed as well.
No, rather, from the moment the two intruded, everything had been under his surveillance. Naturally, he was aware of exactly what had transpired.
To silently eliminate the demon beasts and fairies cultivated within the tanks—
Possessing such means, there truly was no need to deceive him.
After a moment of contemplation, Rudolf solemnly declared:
"Fine, I believe you. I hope we can fulfill each other's long-held wishes."
Witnessing the two reach some peculiar agreement, Yukina, still utterly bewildered, desperately hoped Mahiro would provide her with an answer.
Yet Mahiro responded to her with only a single sentence—
"Ask what you should, and refrain from asking what you shouldn't. Don't forget your duty: you are a Watcher of the Lion King Organization, not my guardian."
That simple remark instantly shattered all of Yukina's illusions.
Meanwhile, Rudolf's gaze toward Yukina and Mahiro now carried a hint of scrutiny.
In the past, to complete the construction of Itogami Island, Itogami Senra had seized the saintly relics revered as divine by the Western European Church, using their arm as the cornerstone to stabilize the island's altar.
This cornerstone was concealed in the deepest level of the Keystone Gate at the center of Itogami Island, guarded by heavy security.
It lay at a depth of 220 meters below the sea surface.
Like an eternal prison, buried deep beneath the ocean where even light could not reach.
The conical outer walls designed to withstand high water pressure evoked an atmosphere reminiscent of the mythical Tower of Babylon.
But inside, it was more坚固 than a末日 fortress, boasting压倒性的 steel mass, with wall thicknesses even more恐怖 and离谱 than ship armor.
Yet now, this impregnable fortress was breached by the arriving quartet.
"Astarte, break open the gate of the cornerstone."
"Command accepted. Execute, Rose Fingers."
Instantly, the airtight wall separating the deepest level emitted a screeching, agonized creak, gradually being forced apart.
A pair of transparent giant hands radiating虹色光辉 tore through the 70-centimeter-thick armor as if it were aluminum foil.
It was a towering humanoid Beast Vassal.
At the center of the脊兽's chest, the host could be seen imprisoned within, like a core, continuously supplying Magical Power to the Beast Vassal.
That host was precisely the少女 with blue长发 and淡蓝色 eyes—the Artificial Lifeform Astarte.
Following behind were the burly, robe-clad洛坦陵奇亚 Exorcist Rudolf Eustach, along with Mahiro and Himeragi Yukina.
At this moment, Yukina stared dumbfounded at everything unfolding before her.
What... what have I done?!
She could not comprehend her own actions at this moment.
To have actually obediently followed behind this瑟狼大魔头, alongside that洛坦陵奇亚 Exorcist, engaging in criminal activity!
No, this was no mere crime—this was about destroying the entire Itogami Island!
She had now understood why Astarte said the island would sink.
The immortal treasure that Mahiro and Rudolf had previously conspired to seize was precisely the sacred artifact suppressed at the deepest level of the Keystone Gate!
It was the anchor connecting the four directions of Itogami Island—east, west, north, and south!
If the sacred artifact were forcibly taken, this entire Itogami Island would undoubtedly crumble and collapse into the sea in an instant!
But what should she do?
Yukina's heart was filled with hesitation.
She had secretly contacted the Elders, but the response they gave her was—
"Let him proceed. This is the jurisdiction of the Witch of the Void. If the Witch of the Void does not intervene, we need only remain on standby."
Was this truly acceptable?
Was it really all right to gamble the lives of hundreds of thousands on the island on a single person?
Just as Yukina hesitated, uncertain of what to do, Mahiro and the others had already advanced deeper into the Keystone Gate.
Upon reaching the next door, Astarte was about to act but was stopped by Mahiro, who placed a hand on her shoulder.
Astarte looked up at him in confusion, then turned to her master as if asking what to do.
Before Rudolf could speak, Mahiro said:
"Leave it to me. I don't want the loli I obtain to be a defective product with a short lifespan."
Beast Vassals are summoned creatures from another world.
To materialize them, the host must share their own lifespan with the Beast Vassal.
Though it varies depending on the type of Beast Vassal, it is said that if an ordinary human were to summon one, their lifespan would be exhausted in an instant.
For a Beast Vassal, the host's life is purely a sacrifice.
Even if the host is an Artificial Lifeform, this limitation remains unchanged.
Although Astarte, who had been adjusted to coexist with a Beast Vassal, was granted a lifespan far longer than that of an ordinary human, it still had its limits and could not compare to that of a Vampire.
Rudolf naturally understood this, so he nodded, signaling Astarte to step back.
Following the command, Astarte retreated behind him. Immediately after, she heard Mahiro chanting an incantation.
"Cold steel queen, Demon King Killing Sacred Sword—"
"—Become a blade of steel here and aid me in slaying all enemies!"
[As you wish.]
Est's voice quietly echoed in Mahiro's heart, and a stream of light emanated from the holy mark on the back of his hand, landing in his palm.
When the light faded, what appeared in Mahiro's hand was not the expected Demon King Killing Sacred Sword.
Instead, it was a silver-white, technologically styled pistol.
The flat muzzle indicated that this gun did not fire bullets.
This was a weapon Est had constructed herself, referencing the Card Assisted Design he once possessed.
Though called the Demon King Killing Sacred Sword, as a guardian deity, Est was not limited to swords alone. What form she took depended entirely on the user's thoughts.
Mahiro raised the Card Assisted Design in his hand, aimed the muzzle at the door before him, and pulled the trigger.
"Clouds Scatter, Dew Vanishes."
The muzzle flashed with a blinding light.
Immediately, the door ahead burst into dust and disappeared.
To be precise, it was not just the door in front of them—every door leading to the deepest level was perfectly decomposed.
Witnessing this, Rudolf's expression turned grave, and cold sweat had already begun to seep down his back.
This man's performance was even more terrifying than anything observed in the research institute!
Thank goodness I chose to cooperate with this man; otherwise, I might have died silently without a trace.
Even Yukina was stunned at this moment.
Silently crushing such a thick armored door engraved with defensive spells into dust.
Could this really be done by a human?
Aiba Asagi, who was working overtime due to the intrusion, shared the same thought.
"What's going on? Why is this happening?! Who dares to be so bold..."
Aiba Asagi was in her apartment, clutching her laptop like a talisman, watching lines of code flowing across the screen with a frown.
Her fingers almost blurred into afterimages, flying across the keyboard as she typed.
She was connecting to the management corporation's server to check the situation inside Keystone Gate.
Just a while ago, she received a call from the corporation saying Keystone Gate had been breached, so she wanted to confirm the internal situation and also check the number of intruders.
But it turned out that all surveillance inside Keystone Gate had been hacked!
"Moguai, think of a way now!"
"No way, miss. The opponent's skills are no less than yours."
A mechanical voice came from the headphones—that was Aiba Asagi's partner, a sort of artificial intelligence entity.
Upon hearing Moguai's words, Aiba Asagi slumped back in her chair, feeling a wave of exhaustion.
Can't compete, absolutely can't compete!
This was natural. Although she was the world's strongest hacker, that was limited to this world.
Mahiro possessed technology from the more technologically advanced Witchcraft world, the skills of Fujibayashi Kyouko, known as the Electronic Witch.
Even if she couldn't completely block Aiba Asagi, trapping her for an hour was still possible.
After an hour, everything would be settled.
At this moment, all barriers along the path to the bottom had been forcibly opened, and the intruder had reached the thirtyth floor.
Still moving downward rapidly!
All encountered guards along the way were knocked unconscious.
The Itogami Island security forces had already notified the Demon Hunters to mobilize!