Chapter Sixty-five: Introspection
Tham!
Morgan slammed the front door of his car shut.
Artemisia sat by the right seat, while Maya sat at the passenger seat with her head still low.
Yes, Morgan rented this car and technically—
Naturally, he wasn't supposed to be driving, nor had he learned.
But with «Advanced Computational Power», rules like those becomes flexible.
Morgan could essentially perform a deep learning process as long as he had the source materials or books.
And one night of watching videos and reading manuals had made him into a professional driver.
Basically, another cheat abilities Morgan discovered he had after his power-up.
«Accelerated Cognitive Assimilation»
"You're not saying anything. The you I know would have begun shouting at me."
Morgan started the car, but the moment he did, Maya behind him said that.
He tilted his head back slightly, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
"Just as you've guessed, I've known about your identity since back in Japan."
Replying calmly, he turned his eyes back onto the road.
"I am past getting annoyed or things like that."
Morgan began driving while saying that as silence fell.
He had asked Artemisia herself if she wanted revenge.
After all, they did all those inhumane experiments on her and copied and deleted her memories.
Turned her into a living puppet, yet she has no desire to get her revenge.
Same with Ashley.
His sister too gave the same answer; as long as she was with him, she didn't care.
Maya slowly raised her head.
First of all, she glanced at Artemisia, who noticed his gaze, and then she turned her head with a smile.
Then she did towards Morgan.
He simply focused on the road.
"I see," Maya murmured.
She leaned back against the seat, finally lifting her head fully and resting it against the headrest.
Thanks to him, she had avoided brain death, or even worse.
But just as that bitter feeling was about to wash over her once more—
"Of course, I'll still punish you."
"Eh?"
Maya jolted, pulling herself forward. Her eyes snapped toward him behind the steering wheel.
"DEM is only going to get stronger, and I myself don't plan on lagging behind them."
"So, how about we do this? Become the world's top organization?"
Both females looked him over, their gazes lingering as they noticed the small, thin smile resting on his face.
It was Artemisia who spoke first.
"Our brain waves are synchronised, so you could say we're the same person, so if you want then I'll help."
She said calmly as she turned slightly toward him.
Maya's lips pursed as she glanced at Artemisia.
She had been beaten to it.
But unlike before, unlike the Maya who would have snapped, protested, or lashed out—
She couldn't anymore.
It was as if, the moment the name Kyo had been stripped away from her, the false façade she wore had been peeled off alongside it.
She inhaled quietly.
"…If you don't mind me, then, I'll do my best."
Morgan nodded with genuine satisfaction in his expression.
"Good, with SSS defecting, England is no longer safe."
Since yesterday, every member of SSS had been crashing in the hotel room right next to his.
Now that they were officially wanted, and now that Morgan had achieved what he came for..
It was time to go back.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
Ringgg~
The car's dashboard lit up as his phone connected automatically.
A name was displayed on the dashboard prompting Morgan's brows to raise slightly in thought.
"Mmh? It's him. He must've received my message."
Morgan murmured, glancing at the screen again.
"Beta, pick it up."
«Confirmed…»
Doot~
<
"Uh… I take it you received—"
<
<
Morgan could understand why he was that excited.
Afterall…
He'd robbed many important designs of DEM like the Ashcroft Series and Bandersnatcher.
With those files alone, they could create effective counter-weapons, and even push their development further.
And with the research on «Advanced Computational Powers»…
The simulations they had previously run with Avalon would become far easier to execute.
For hardcore scientists like them—
This was nothing short of dangling a carrot right in front of a rabbit.
"Uhh, of course, I also happen to have a few more of DEM's defectors with me—people I believe you'd be very pleased to work with."
Morgan said, glancing briefly at the dashboard display.
<
Hearing that, Morgan's eyes narrowed slightly
"You've heard?"
<
There was a brief pause, then—
<
Morgan let out a short breath through his nose.
Beside him, Artemisia laughed softly.
In truth, both of them had considered many different ways to dramatically burst into DEM's headquarters.
Breaking through the ceiling, or crashing through reinforced walls, and naturally, he didn't forget the NUKE.
…okay, most of them were Morgan's and Ashley's ideas.
However, if he were to go along with those wild ideas.
Wasn't that the same as immediately declaring hostility?
More importantly, after the stress of yesterday, Morgan wasn't particularly eager to put himself through another ordeal.
It had been Artemisia who suggested the alternative.
A completely normal choice, but one that still had a very clear impact.
<
"That's too much praise."
Morgan replied without hesitation.
Artemisia scratched her cheek lightly, turning her head toward him.
She studied his expression for a moment, then nodded. But before she could say anything—
"No, I don't think so, it's more than deserved."
Maya cut in from the passenger seat.
She shifted slightly, straightening her posture.
"Clair," Maya continued, turning her gaze toward him, "do you actually have any idea what you did yesterday?"
Morgan didn't reply right away.
Naturally, he knew she was talking about that attack that eat up the EMP interference and their stations.
Territory.
It is a subjective reality which every wizard can deploy where they manipulate reality within it.
However, what would an upgraded version of it be like?
"A subjective reality that can interfere with the reality outside of it."
Neither Morgan nor Artemisia denied it.
They both instinctively felt it yesterday. That feeling of invisibility...
"In other words, an Esper."
Morgan initially thought of that term.
The ability to control the world from their own personal world around them.
"Yes, it's not a stretch to say that."
Maya nodded, confirming his thoughts.
Her agreement brought a small smile to his face.
Having someone else he could openly discuss topics like this with, without simplification or restraint, was refreshing.
<
"With enough development, perhaps, a micro-realiser will no longer be needed."
Maya added that last part almost thoughtfully.
There was no concrete basis for it, but when she took Artemisia's earlier words into account, it all began to make sense.
In that case, it was more like this.
While Morgan was like the CPU, Artemisia was like the processor.
Morgan gives the command, and Artemisia computes it to give Morgan the desire effect he wants.
Then Morgan turns that 'desired effect' into reality.
"In other words, that is what I think is happening between you two."
Artemisia closed her eyes for a moment, taking those words in.
Was it because she left everything to Morgan?
For her, it had always felt simple, almost natural, to give him her powers.
But thinking about it now, it wasn't just simplicity.
It was more like.. she was content with that.
Letting him take the reins felt… right, in a way, however—
"I can still control my Territory without Clair's help, but indeed, I can't use it as optimally as Clair would."
Naturally, it was mutual with Morgan.
He could use his «Advanced Computational Domain» more optimally, but when it came down to functions…
Morgan was lacking in that aspect.
<>
<
Para's studies hadn't focused on brainwave theory or anything directly related to this field. It wasn't his specialty.
Though it wasn't entirely unrelated, either.
From what he understood, that explanation fit best.
However, at that moment, as if recalling something important—
«...!»
Beta in her digital space almost jumped.
Morgan clearly saw that.
"What's wrong?"
«No, I was confirming the possibility of Master being able to deploy Territory without a Micro-realiser…»
«It's indeed highly possible»
On the other hand—
Horizon at the End of Memories.
Within this white, void-like realm, set against the backdrop of a plain grassy field.
A lone figure entered the space.
Her presence stood out immediately.
"My, I was curious a bit, but… where?"
The black-and-red figure contrasted against the endless white as she took a cautious step backward.
Ahead of her stretched an infinite expanse of white-hole.
Behind her was a gentle hill, with an upward slope.
«Kuru-Kurucchi, can you hear me? I… I can't maintain this connection for long!»
Kurumi clicked her tongue elegantly, yet, she was clearly displeased.
She tilted her head and shook it playfully.
"Nia-san is still as useless as ever."
«Gah! Don't say that! I've gotten stronger, you know? But no matter how much you look at this, this is too much!»
The connection turned static for a brief moment.
«Telling me to infiltrate the connection between them and actually entering it—»
You're crazy.
That was what Nia wanted to say.
And honestly, she wasn't entirely wrong.
Still, the answer Kurumi sought was supposed to be here.
"«Advanced Calaculation» or whatever it is, I thought I'd ask. Knowing him, he might deflect the truth."
Facing the white-hole beyond this scenery, she muttered that.
But that wasn't what she truly wanted.
«Haaah! If you're sure you can withstand that white storm, then be my guest—but I'm pulling you out if anything happens!»
Kurumi's lips thinned, curving slowly into a knowing smile.
"Very much appreciated, Nia-san."
With that, she stepped forward.
Her boots pressed lightly into the pale ground, the sensation almost unreal beneath her feet.
As she moved, Kurumi turned her head back toward the hill.
Just as she did, she saw a figure standing on the hill with a one piece dress.
The fabric fluttered gently in an unseen wind, rippling softly against her legs.
And if Kurumi's eyes hadn't deceived her, the woman was smiling.
"Nia-san… what is that…?"
«Kurucchi. I advice to leave her alone…»
«It seems like she's the guardian of this place. Employer is behind it»
«..mm, though I don't fully understand how he did it, ah, though «Raziel» knows»
Kurumi nodded at those words.
Turning away from the figure on the hill, she faced forward and stepped straight into the white storm.
Nia had called it a storm, yet Kurumi couldn't feel anything at all.
She could feel neither wind, pressure, nor any resistance.
«Well, it's because of that girl you saw. If not for her, your consciousness would've taken a heavy blow.»
Kurumi raised her eyebrows slightly.
What a heavy place, she thought, yet her steps never slowed.
She continued onward.
As she advanced, she began to notice something strange behind her.
At first, it looked like a box. An opening into another place, then it flattened.
No… it was becoming thin, like paper, it was as if the space itself were folding.
It was like—
"Crossing dimensions."
«Mm? What did you say…? Wait, Kurucchi knows her stuff too? Iyaa~»
"Nia-san~"
Kurumi smiled sweetly with that tone, but the intent behind it was clearer than ever.
Feeling threatened, Nia wisely chose silence.
Kurumi pressed forward.
Then, she stopped, noticing a silhouette ahead.
A figure entirely covered in white, standing still with its back turned toward her.
Yet for Kurumi, who was far too familiar with that back.. she recognized him immediately.
"Clair?"
«Employer? No… that's not fully him. It's still him, but it's not entirely him, mm… «Raziel»?»
Hearing Nia's uncertainty, Kurumi understood immediately.
She could no longer rely completely on Nia, or her so-called omniscient tome.
"My, I didn't believe you'd be the one I'd encounter."
Slowly, the figure turned its head.
And as it did, the white form cracked and broke apart, fragmenting into countless pieces that scattered like ash.
What replaced it was golden strings of text.
They floated before her, symbols and formulas writing themselves endlessly in the air.
«…What? Is it calculating?»
"So, a subconscious part of him."
«Mmm. Hard to say»
Regardless of what she thought, the golden writings continued to write itself.
They did not calculate a single thing.
Rather, the countless calculations unfolding before her were.. Morgan's own abilities.
Divine Oscillation, Constance of the Universe, Spirit Formula, Universal Laws, Coordinates of the Neighboring World.
Kurumi's eyes moved rapidly from one line of golden text to another, following the texts.
Is he constantly computing all of this?
Her gaze shifted, drawn toward one particular section.
The Constance of the Universe.
She focused on it.
And as though responding directly to her will, every other golden writing dissolved into nothingness.
It faded away until only that single constant remained suspended before her.
And then…
Several more writings erupted into existence around it, branching outward from layer upon layer.
Finally, she understood.
…finally, she saw what the Constance of the Universe truly was.
«Deus»
Kurumi wasn't surprised.
She had prepared herself to hear the worst, yes, she had braced herself for it, yet still..
It managed to pull the corner of her lips downward, into a faint, involuntary frown.
Yet she didn't stop.
Her eyes continued scanning the space as countless complex equations filled the void once more.
There were formulas she didn't recognize.
But other than that, she saw a particular diagram of ten interconnected circles was even there.
Kurumi could have sworn she had seen it before.
«Thats the Tree of Life»
"Is that so? I thought it was an actual tree?"
She tilted her head, and even at this time, she still had the leisure to joke about.
But Nia didn't comment to save her life.
«Ah, found it, look forty five degree downwards»
And when she did, her eyes couldn't help but narrow.
There were several calculations for several possibilities and the end result.
Even her method was there.
Going back in time to murder her would result in one of many disasters.
Unfortunately, timeline erasure or existence erasure was just the beginning.
In the calculations…
There was another constant called «Beast» and its origins are unknown.
Morgan suspected—
While «Beast» originated from another timeline, there existed a terrifying possibility.
That several «Deus» might exist across every timeline.
Or worse, her existence rippled across countless universes, affecting them, causing variables like parallel worlds to exist.
'Is that even possible?'
«You see this in manga a lot, don't you? Parallel universes exist, so it's not a stretch…»
Kurumi's frown deepened.
So there were even greater consequences if she proceeded with her actions.
Morgan would disappear.
And that annoying fowl constantly talking inside her head would cease to exist as well.
Yet, despite that…
"What? Even if it's you… you should already know I can't give up."
The moment those words left her lips, the writings stopped mid-way. Then everything slowly vanished.
And.. a new calculation appeared.
Slowly, her lips curled.
"You obviously know I'm here, don't you...?"
In that same motion, she slowly raised her head to the endless white void above.
As she did, slowly, her existence at the «End of Memories» slowly began to fade.
Her vision slowly returned back to her.
Cool wind brushed against her face, slipping past her bangs and rustling the layers of her gothic dress.
Her «Astral Dress» fluttered softly.
"Oh, Kuru-Kurucchi is finally back. The second target is about to wrap up."
Nia's voice reached her ears immediately.
Kurumi turned her head.
It was Nia.
She sat at the edge of the rooftop dangling her legs while she looked into «Raziel».
In front, she could see a giant sized rabbit and some figure flying around it.
They weaved past crystals of icicle storm that shot towards them.
Yet, at this moment, that entire scene no longer mattered to Kurumi.
She turned away.
Her boots struck the rooftop with a firm tap as she stepped away from the edge.
Kurumi's hair swayed behind her, caught by the wind as she came to a stop.
"Next week, our target is «Typhoon»."
For a second, Nia blinked, looking over her shoulder, but eventually, she nodded.
"Okii~"