■ Calendar 2X46, Central Dome, The Deepest Layer
One month before the “Experiment Start”
Late at night, in the audio-visual room
“…It’s open.”
Shizuku was alone in the audio-visual room, using a data terminal.
She had not turned on any lights, and hid in the shadow of her desk to stay out of the surveillance cameras’ blind spots. The only reason she was using this place, which was freely accessible during free time, secretly late at night was for one reason.
If anyone saw her, she would surely be reprimanded.
Unlocking the data terminal, which should have been restricted, and accessing information that only those with Central Dome management qualifications could touch, was not only a violation of the rules of this “hothouse” but a complete crime that broke the laws of the Dome’s inhabitants.
However, in this hothouse where everything was originally restricted, it was impossible to commit a crime. Yet, Shizuku was doing just that.
And it wasn’t as if she had a purpose for doing it. At least, she hadn’t done it because she wanted to.
“I just had something I needed to look up. But the security was so tough, I just couldn’t manage it.”
Shinsuke had said that with a troubled look on his face. So, she decided to help. That was her motivation. With just that, she had bypassed the security that had been troubling Shinsuke so much.
She had been designed and born with high intelligence, but no one knew that it had reached the point of breaking through the Dome’s security.
And then, she saw something she shouldn’t have.
[Moon God Project]
She saw the most important plan, accessible only to those in the deepest layer of the Dome’s core.
“[…Based on the experimental results above, to become the owner of a magic power processing workshop, a certain amount of magic power storage, in other words, the strengthening of the soul, is essential. This was set by Dr. Israilia in the initial stage—]”
“[…However, in this world, very few individuals have achieved soul strengthening to the extent that they can control a god.—]”
“[…Children are raised in an environment filled with magic power from childhood, and then their souls are converged into one to strengthen them.—]”
Shizuku felt a coldness spread through her insides.
She understood what this plan meant. She understood that the children in this plan were themselves. And the fact that, in the end, they would be integrated into a single person.
Soul Integration
Of course, it was unlikely that this would be done through humane methods. If it were based on humane principles, there would be no reason to hide it so thoroughly. They could do it openly and create the strongest soldiers to defeat the evil Israilia.
Because they couldn’t do that, they were hiding it like this.
And the ones who would be sacrificed next were herself and her companions.
I have to stop it. No, I have to tell everyone to escape—
〈You must not tell〉
But, as if against her will, her muscles stiffened, and Shizuku fell.
It was strange. As if her will and her body’s reactions diverged, Shizuku couldn’t move. It even became difficult to breathe, and Shizuku became unable to make a sound, panicking.
〈You must not tell〉
This was the education imprinted on her soul since birth.
The mission of salvation, the aptitude of a saint carved into the depths of her subconscious.
It was as if it was directly appealing to her, hitting her again and again.
〈To save everyone, I will tell them everything and let them escape. If I do that, I will not be able to save the world.〉
A future where her companions, who were like family, were killed must not happen. No, even if they weren’t family, such inhumane acts should not be allowed.
The days she had spent in this hothouse, her companions, had given her a sense of morality. They had given her reasonable, ordinary emotions.
〈If you do that, what will happen to the future of this world?〉
But the sense of mission to save the world controlled her and them far more deeply.
There was no malice or selfishness in the plan. The calmly written, mechanical text lamented the extensive thought processes and their dead ends, the fatal resource shortages, and the despair and self-deprecation of having to resort to inhumane actions.
The one who created this plan did not wish for it. It was simply that there was nothing else they could do. They could not possibly make it in time with the “Labyrinth Weapons” that were currently encroaching on Israilia. The resources to maintain the Dome would run out in just a few more years. These were undeniable facts.
〈Revealing the plan, or escaping, means the destruction of the world.〉
Naturally, Shizuku clawed at her own chest. A terrible sense of impatience enveloped her. She realized that the person who first wrote this plan must have felt the same way.
There were so many things she should have thought about, so many things she should have taken action on, but she rolled on the ground like a bug, being beaten down.
〈Are you〉〈going to〉〈abandon the world?〉
Time flowed by idly, and then
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
The next day, in the “school” classroom
“Ahhh, good morning… Shinsuke.”
“Morning, Ren. Your bedhead’s pretty bad.”
“I played games too much before sleeping yesterday.”
As usual, the children gathered and spent time before the start of class. The children were relaxing in the classroom as they pleased. Ren and Shinsuke were enjoying a typical morning.
“At this rate, your test scores will drop!”
“Tests are fine. More importantly, next month is the field trip, right?! I’m looking forward to it!!”
“Even so, we’ll just end up playing in the hall.”
“This year it’s the sea!! The sea!!!”
When Ren shouted loudly, laughter erupted from around the classroom. His liveliness was as usual. Sometimes he could be a bit noisy, but no one there truly disliked him.
“You really love the sea, don’t you? I’m getting tired of it.”
“It’s great!! Blue sea! Blue sky! White sandy beach and white skin!!”
“Pervert.”
“Eh, no, wait, stop it! It’s a general statement, a general statement!!!”
Even Mami, who always retorted to him, still admired him. No matter how much she badmouthed him, the corners of her mouth would slightly turn up.
It was a kind world. Everyone showed respect to everyone else. The hothouse was complete.
“Oh, Shizuku! You’re late! What happened!”
And on that day, unusually, Shizuku was the last to arrive late to class.
Normally, she would be seated at her desk 15 minutes before class started, but today she was late. It was unusual for the model student she was, so all the children looked at her with concern.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t sleep very well yesterday.”
“Hah, I knew it, Shizuku, you were playing games too, weren’t you? The new D&G, right?”
“Don’t compare me to you, idiot.”
“What did you say!!”
Even so, when Shizuku smiled slightly, everyone laughed at her as usual. She still seemed a little down, but they treated her as usual, all the more concerned for her.
“…Are you alright? Shizuku. You’re not really feeling unwell, are you?”
Only Shinsuke stood a little apart, frowning. He peered into her face with concern and asked.
“Or did you find something?”
“No, Master Shinsuke.”
But Shizuku shook her head and smiled at Shinsuke’s question.
“I didn’t find anything.”
Shizuku lied and then, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!”
And Shizuku’s head was crushed into pulp by a giant, black, monstrous arm that appeared from behind her.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Ul witnessed the young Shizuku being crushed into a bloody mince right before his eyes.
A pool of red blood formed in the small classroom filled only with children. Meat scraps splattered around, bouncing off Shizuku’s classmates, who were frozen in smiles. A suffocating smell of iron filled the air, but more than that, a presence emitting an overwhelming stench had appeared in the classroom.
“AAAAAA!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!”
The black monster continued to beat the pool of bloody mince.
It was a monstrous creature. A mass of black flesh, over 3 meters tall. Its limbs were barely distinguishable, but everything else lacked uniformity, twisted asymmetrically. Its right arm was swollen like a log, while its left arm was festering, appearing to rot. Its right leg spread out on the ground like mucus, emitting a foul odor, and its left leg was broken, unable to withstand the impact of its violently swinging arms.
The grotesque monster, repeating destruction and self-destruction, crushed the young Shizuku before Ul’s eyes.
“…”
Ul scratched his head as he watched. There was no sign of panic. Ignoring the fleshy bits of Shizuku clinging to his feet, he walked towards the black monster. The monster, its arms stained crimson, stood there dumbfounded. But as Ul approached, it raised its arms defensively.
Ul moved close enough for the blood-stained black fist to fall directly if swung down, and opened his mouth.
“Yo, Shizuku.”
The black monster did not bring its fist down. Instead, it slowly approached Ul and emitted a grotesque voice, the origin of which was indiscernible.
“—U…ru…”
“You look different. Did you cut your hair?”
Shizuku, who had transformed into a grotesque black monster, and Ul reunited.
