So sleepy...
Slumped over the workbench, her little head bobbing up and down, Eta felt as though she might close her eyes and collapse onto the floor at any moment. She had gone two full days and nights without sleep, forcing her brain to operate at maximum capacity the entire time.
"As I thought, this really was pushing it too far."
Eta gulped down the highly concentrated coffee beside her, barely managing to drive away her drowsiness. Once she had forced herself to perk up again, that thought crossed her mind.
Eta, one of the Seven Shadows, normally slept twelve hours a day. Unless something genuinely interested her, nothing in heaven or earth mattered more than sleep. She was the sort of person who practically seemed destined to die if deprived of it.
This time, however, she had forced herself through two days and nights without caring about the strain on her brain, mainly because she simply couldn't swallow the resentment of being stabbed in the back.
That was why she had stubbornly carried out comparative experiments on the technology shown in the photographs Zeta sent her, trying to determine its purpose. By combining the Cult of Diablos members' scam-filled project proposals from the group chat with Laugus's comments, she had worked backward to deduce the Cult of Diablos's scheme.
And now, after examining the Magic Circle that seemed to come from another world, Eta had more or less figured out what the Cult of Diablos was planning this time.
The problem was... understanding it only made it harder for her to comprehend.
Has the entire Cult of Diablos gone insane?
Has the whole world finally lost its mind?
That was the first thought that flashed through Eta's head when she realized what the Cult of Diablos intended to do.
After sending all the data she had finished analyzing to Zeta, Eta found herself left with only a few final tasks. Those would take time, since she had to wait for the computer to finish calculating the results, so she decided to use the opportunity to gather more information.
She swept the documents on her workbench aside, activated the Magitechnology display, opened a piece of software concealed behind layer upon layer of encryption, and clicked into one of its channels.
"Laugus, you shameless thief! Give me back Test Subject No. 712! She's mine!"
A few seconds later, an account named "Seeker of Truth" replied.
"Every advancement and breakthrough in technology consumes enormous amounts of funding and rare materials. Money is one thing, but when it comes to materials, until the technology itself reaches a breakthrough, demand almost always exceeds supply. A rare experimental specimen that came looking for me on its own is even harder to find."
"So that's your excuse for stealing my precious research material? Don't you have any of your own? And to think I let you and that bastard Kensei Kanase join my last research project. Screwing over me and Aya Tokoyogi once wasn't enough, so now you want to do it a second time?"
Eta filtered out most of Laugus's useless rambling and excuses.
Right now, she only wanted to tear into this damned thing.
"First, yes, I do have some. But those short-sighted idiots have absolutely no intention of approving my application. They want me to produce results first, then bring the finished product out for them to invest in. One of these days, I'll bring everything out and reveal all my reserves. For now, I can only freeload off you people a little. I'll definitely compensate everyone later."
"Second, to put it nicely, you invited us to research the same problem with you. To put it bluntly, only the two of us happened to have both the time and the interest in the topic you proposed. Everyone else either had no time or no interest. None of us owes anyone anything. As for how we use the results of our joint research after the project is finished, that's our own business. It has nothing to do with you."
How can you say that with a straight face?
Eta badly wanted to send those words.
Unfortunately, she knew he was right.
Even though she had worked the hardest, contributed the most, and been the most useful person in the entire project, she still couldn't use that as an argument. That was one of the unspoken rules of this group chat.
"You two, I find your dispute very interesting, but could you show a little public decency and follow the rules? This is a public channel. If you want to fight, take it to private messages!"
Just as Eta and Laugus's argument was growing increasingly heated, another account with a raven as its profile picture appeared and tried to calm things down.
"You're no better. When my test subject logged into my account back then, all of you just stood there and watched while Laugus tricked her into going with him."
"That was your own fault. Follow the rules and handle your own trades. If you get scammed, then you only have yourself to blame. That's how our circle works. If a kid doesn't know any better, then she can fall on her face a few more times until she learns."
Another account named "I'm Not the Weakest" jumped in and sided with Laugus to criticize Eta.
The moment Eta saw the username, however, she nearly burst out laughing.
"Laugh all you want. How much did Laugus or the Cult of Diablos pay you? You actually handed over something that outrageous? I even released my Life Star Technology. Now that you've given him your own work, aren't you worried Laugus might turn your technology against you?"
For the record, Eta was not the sort of person who threw childish tantrums.
Even when she came to settle a score with Laugus, she still argued according to reason.
Which meant that "I'm Not the Weakest" really had received benefits from Laugus. At the very least, he had just concluded a major deal with the Cult of Diablos. Otherwise, there was no reason he would have stepped forward to defend him.
Judging from the magical patterns in the photographs Zeta had taken, they did not belong to the "ancient script" system the Cult of Diablos specialized in.
In other words, they were part of an advanced magical system originating from another world.
After analysis and comparison, Eta had confirmed what it was.
Alchemy.
As for where the Cult of Diablos had obtained such advanced knowledge of alchemy...
Wasn't the answer sitting right here?
When it came to alchemy, among everyone in the group, if "I'm Not the Weakest" claimed to be second, no one would dare claim to be first.
"I don't have much choice. Because of the recent disaster, the barrier and a huge number of buildings all need to be rebuilt. Father ordered us to find our own way to earn the resources needed for reconstruction. If I don't obtain them from World No. 3, which has the richest raw resources and the greatest abundance of rare minerals, am I supposed to earn them from some other faction?"
"Anyway, whatever Laugus wants to do with that knowledge has nothing to do with me. If any of you are unlucky enough to run into him, or if you get attacked by Laugus, kid, then you'll have to fend for yourselves."
"Of course, kid, if you're willing to trade me your Life Star Technology, I could help you out a little. Or you can choose whatever alchemical knowledge you want from me. Lately, all the major Pantheons have been pouring their reserves into massive reconstruction projects. Everyone is so broke they can barely afford to pay the people under them."
"Damn that Lord Netheril. When he fought that Throne Angel, he didn't care whether the rest of us lived or died. Every barrier and building they blew apart cost me money."
Idiot.
Enjoy yourself while you can.
You don't even know what madness Laugus and the others are planning. Don't come crying when you hurt everyone, yourself included, and lose everything.
The more Eta read the group chat, the harder it became to keep her composure.
Still, she had already coaxed enough information out of them to confirm that her deductions were correct, so she couldn't be bothered arguing with the man any further.
Eta had always known that quite a few people in this group viewed her as an easy mark and a convenient source of free labor. They treated her like a child.
If that was what they wanted to believe, then fine.
After all, she thought of them as nothing more than gorillas.
How could the ramblings of mere gorillas possibly get under her skin?
"Seeker of Truth, just wait. I'm going to kill your entire family. I'll ruin every single plan you're working on right now. If you think you can use my people to complete your experiments, dream on."
[The Elf Closest to God] has been muted by an administrator.
Fallen Angel Governor General: "Everyone, please observe the rules of the group chat. This group exists only to provide a platform for communication and trade. You are responsible for arranging your own transactions. Whether you scam someone or get scammed yourself, all gains and losses are your own responsibility. However, please refrain from personal attacks afterward, and do not take your frustrations from real life out on other group members."
Fallen Angel Governor General: "By the way, Seeker of Truth, weren't you burned to death by the Third Primogenitor already? You're actually still alive, and you even have the energy to scam that kid?"
Seeker of Truth: "I did indeed die."
Eta narrowed her eyes at the notification that had appeared on the screen and the friendly exchange taking place among several members of the group.
She drew in a deep breath, gritted her teeth, closed the current window, then opened another profile she had labeled "Khaos Brigade."
One thought of causing trouble, and suddenly the whole world felt brighter.
"Fine. If this is how you're all going to act, then I might as well start preparing funds for my next escape plan right now. If my experimental materials get stolen, I can't blame anyone else, right? I'm not allowed to take my frustrations out on people in the group, right? You muted me, right? You keep calling me a kid, right? Fine. Just wait until you're all dead."
Muttering darkly to herself, Eta effortlessly finalized her next operation plan and sent it to the person who spent most of their time lurking invisibly in the group.
Then the two of them immediately began negotiating how they would divide the spoils once the plan succeeded.
"Hmm? It's already done?"
Time passed while Eta negotiated the split with the other party.
Only when the instrument beside her let out a beep did she stop.
Eta picked up the computer and began examining the data it had calculated from the information she entered.
Strictly speaking, she didn't even need to check.
According to Eta's calculations, the Cult of Diablos had already completed all the preparations for this operation. At this stage, there was no way to stop it.
Still, experiments demanded rigor, so she reviewed the calculations anyway.
And then...
She actually found something wrong.
Eta pointed at one equation on the simulation chart that didn't match the others, frowned, then went back and recalculated it from the beginning.
"Is it because Master destroyed the Cult of Diablos's experimental base ahead of schedule, leaving them short on production capacity?"
Eta answered her own question, then lowered her head and studied the simulation chart again.
"But if that's the case, and the longer they delay the worse the situation becomes, how does the Cult of Diablos plan to make up the missing portion now that their experimental base has been destroyed?"
Eta stood there in confusion, trying to approach the problem from the Cult of Diablos's perspective.
As for whether the Cult of Diablos might simply proceed slowly and postpone the plan, Eta did not even consider the possibility.
If they delayed it, then with Eta's intelligence and Zeta's ability to act, they could forget about ever succeeding at all.
Both sides understood that perfectly well.
"Hmm... I can't choose."
Right.
It wasn't that she couldn't think of an answer.
There were simply too many possible answers to choose from.
Once every moral boundary was discarded, there were countless ways to fill the gap, and Eta had an extremely pessimistic view of how low the Cult of Diablos was willing to go.
"No choice, then. I'll have Gamma, Beta, and Zeta keep a closer watch on things. If we still can't come up with an answer, we'll have to ask Master."
"But right now, sleep comes first. If I don't sleep soon, I'm going to die from exhaustion."
Having cheerfully decided to stop worrying about it, Eta sent out all her deductions and data.
Then, having finally reached her limit, she closed her eyes and collapsed onto the floor.
"Snore... snore..."
Snoring soon filled the room.
Despite it being broad daylight outside, the curtains had been drawn tightly shut to prevent a single ray of sunlight from entering.
A petite Elf with long purple hair and a white lab coat lay sprawled across the floor.
...
Inside the royal capital, near Marquis Despoht's mansion, Cid was crouched at a street corner beneath the blazing sun with Christina, secretly observing the scene in front of them.
Eliza Despoht, whom Cid had met several days earlier through the "Anti-Thirteen Nightblades" Alliance before it disbanded, was currently leading a group of subordinates in handing out drinking water and other supplies free of charge.
"Um... Christina-san, why exactly are we here?"
Cid had already been hiding there with her for nearly an hour.
He complained to Christina, who was glaring ahead with an angry expression.
He genuinely couldn't understand why he had ended up here or why he had to humor Christina's antics.
"To find Marquis Despoht, the last remaining member of the Thirteen Nightblades, and put an end to the greatest darkness hanging over this Kingdom!"
You're not even pretending anymore, are you?
"Then why are we staying here? There's no clue suggesting Marquis Despoht is anywhere nearby."
Cid deliberately played the fool, acting as though he had completely missed the meaning behind Christina's words, and complained like the perfect background character.
"..."
Christina glanced back at Cid, then pointed toward the group ahead of them.
"If I'm understanding you correctly, Christina-san, you're not planning to follow Eliza until she leads us to Marquis Despoht himself, are you?"
"Yes. She's Marquis Despoht's only daughter. If anyone is likely to know where Marquis Despoht is hiding right now, Eliza is the most obvious suspect."
Are you sane, Christina?
You want to target the heir of a marquis in broad daylight?
I still want to live for another few hundred million years as a background character.
Of course, Cid would never say any of that aloud.
He knew perfectly well that there was no reasoning with a madwoman, especially one already consumed by obsession.
At that point, even her own father standing in her way might get himself killed.
It was just like Kokabiel, who needed only one final Excalibur to complete the set. Even knowing there was a ninety-nine percent chance the last one was a trap, he still charged straight in.
When all thirteen members of the Thirteen Nightblades were still alive, Christina had rationally chosen to endure for the time being and avoid confronting them head-on.
But now that only one Nightblade remained, she was ready to go all-in.
Kill the final target, and she could liberate the Kingdom of Midgar in a single stroke.
It wasn't that she didn't understand the risk of failure.
But when victory was only one step away, even the most rational person could have their gambler's instincts awakened.
All they could think about was what would happen if they went all-in and won.
If not now, then when?
It became impossible to resist.
That was human nature.
It was also a fundamental flaw shared by every intelligent creature.
"Grit... grit..."
Cid heard a strange grinding sound nearby.
Pulled out of his internal criticism of human nature, he looked over in confusion.
Christina was grinding her teeth as she glared viciously at Eliza and the others.
"Traitor... vermin... parasite... cowardly fence-sitter..."
She continued muttering insults under her breath.
Seeming to notice Cid's confusion, Christina finally stopped and handed him the binoculars she had been holding.
Cid took them and looked toward the spot Christina had been watching.
He saw nothing unusual.
There was only Eliza and a group of her subordinates distributing supplies.
Although...
Among those subordinates was Isaac, the man who had been locked up only a few days earlier.
He had already been released on bail...?
Cid turned toward Christina.
Now he understood why she was so furious.
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