Episode 89

Within the labyrinth of Ire Hazlen’s mind, the Outer Gods were in turmoil, closely monitoring the unfolding events. Normally, Ire couldn’t sleep without Safaul’s express permission, yet she had collapsed from a mere attack by Calipers.

“How did this happen?”

“It must be Cartesia’s influence. We are in her realm, after all,” Safaul continued, tilting his head thoughtfully. “She might be physically frail, but her prowess in mental assaults is unmatched. Making an inferior being faint is trivial for her.”

More alarming, however, was the mind of Aidel, the one who had wielded the Calipers. “That boy is an enigma; his thoughts are completely opaque to me,” Safaul admitted.

“Is Cartesia shielding that human?”

“If so, they’re cut from the same cloth. How quaint,” scoffed an Outer God from the Darwin Legion, spatting phlegm.

Suddenly, one of the Outer Gods, visibly shaken, pointed and stammered, “Th-that deranged woman…”

In Aidel’s mind, a horrifying scene unfolded. About five or six Outer Gods, who had been residing within Ire Hazlen’s brain, were now entangled in a macabre tableau.

“Why do they all appear as human females?” Safaul inquired.

A flask-shaped Outer God responded, “Being from the same cohort as her, I understand their methods well. Our legion transforms captured foes into forms we deem lowest, playing with them as a form of debasement. We see it as the ultimate humiliation.”

“So, Cartesia views humans as the lowest form of life?”

“It seems they are only familiar with that one species of intelligent life.”

Adorned with ribbons, leashes, and even aprons, the captured gods were a bizarre spectacle. They had been mentally manipulated and stripped of their dignity. This was the power of <Bond>.

Across the scene, the trapped Outer Gods began to scream:

• Save us!
• This entity is unhinged!
• I can’t bear this any longer!

Their cries, pitiful and in feminine tones, filled the air. It was a disturbing sight, and neither rescue nor sympathy was forthcoming. Safaul turned away, indifferent.

“These were the ones who pledged their allegiance to you. Why abandon them?” someone challenged.

“Because they are weak,” Safaul coldly replied. In his grand scheme, there was no place for weakness.

After laying the unconscious Ire flat, I turned to the warden and stated, “I will take responsibility for this girl.”

“No.”

I wasn’t surprised.

“No matter if it’s the Reinhardt family, what’s impossible is impossible. Do you think our country operates on a caste system?”

“I’m not suggesting we send this girl outside,” I clarified.

“Then what?”

“I mean, since I was the one who knocked her out, I’ll take responsibility for her.”

I turned to Sonia, extending my hand. She blinked, sighed, and pulled out an electronic check from her wallet worth 10 million credits.

“I understand it’s not right to release her into society immediately. Could you consider transferring her to the Northern Sanctum instead?”

That’s how Ire ended up at the Northern Sanctum. The Sanctum, under the gaze of countless stars, seemed almost impervious to the Outer Gods, who couldn’t act freely within the ether energy radiated by the constellations. It resembled a religious facility from another era. While I didn’t believe in gods, I appreciated the cathedral-like ambiance.

In a world where demonic possession wasn’t uncommon, the Sanctum’s choir added a layer of serenity, making it a true sanctuary for humans. After contacting Ceti, Rustila, and Professor Feynman, Sonia and I committed ourselves to overseeing the protagonist’s recovery.

“You don’t even know this girl. You’ve paid for her treatment; why not just leave?” Sonia questioned.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I was responsible for her current state. We need to ensure she wakes up.” It was a matter of personal honor.

Ire Hazlen struggled to regain consciousness.

This formula suggested she was teetering on the brink of death. If ε reached zero, Ire would be lost forever. We needed to act swiftly as time was not on our side, but thankfully, we were not without options.

I had reserved this potion for dire emergencies. I hadn’t even used it when my younger sister, Ceti. But now, faced with the decision to use it on a stranger, I hesitated.

“…Am I trash?” I muttered to myself, appalled by my own reluctance. The idea that some lives might be worth more than others was abhorrent. If I had the means to save her, I should use them without hesitation.

The Pron value was reset. It was done.

“Sonia.”

“Yes, you called.”

“Let’s go make some food.” I rose and opened the door of the prayer room. There would be much to discuss once she awakened.

It had been a long time since I last felt this at peace. The taunting whispers of the Outer Gods were absent, and my body, usually weighed down by exhaustion, felt surprisingly rejuvenated. It was as if the stars themselves were bestowing their grace upon me. With caution, I opened my eyes, adjusting to the ceiling light that initially seemed too bright. Gradually, I propped myself up and took in my surroundings.

The Sanctum—a place that had become familiar over various cycles. Sometimes, I used it as my headquarters instead of Alcatraz. My mind was clear, unusually so. It appeared I had transitioned to the next cycle.

I sighed deeply, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet room. When would this cycle ever end? This relentless loop. I didn’t want to break, yet I found myself constantly breaking. If I stepped outside again, the Outer Gods would resume their assault. I would have to endure it all: relocating the relics, covertly aiding my allies’ growth, and even eliminating some human traitors.

I steeled myself. This torment wouldn’t cease until the Outer God Safaul was defeated. Clinging to this resolve, I revisited the events of previous cycles.

‘What did I overlook?’

Aidel von Reinhardt. Why was that villain still breathing? That was the question that plagued me. I began to analyze the flaws in my actions. These flaws had previously gone unnoticed under the mental onslaught of the Outer Gods.

‘Wait a minute… I didn’t eliminate Zelnya.’

Zelnya von Adelwein. Though she hadn’t committed any significant crimes during her time at the Academia, she was a contractor for an Outer God, the greatest future threat to humanity. Perhaps this oversight was the variable that had disrupted my plans.

Just then, the door to the recovery room swung open.

“You’ve awakened.”

Two figures stepped inside. My eyes widened in recognition.

“You are…!”

Instinctively, I backed into a corner. His appearance had altered, but the black hair and amber eyes were unmistakable. Furthermore, this was the villain known for his twisted nature and his constant companion, an android maid with navy blue hair.

Aidel von Reinhardt. He needed to be eliminated swiftly to prevent any further complications. Frantically, I reached for my waist. My gun—I needed it. But where had it gone? It should have been handed over when I arrived. Could it be…?

“Why are you so startled?” he asked, stepping closer.

“Don’t, don’t come near me!”

Ire frantically hurled whatever she could lay her hands on at him. Her fear of men wasn’t unfounded; it stemmed from too many encounters with male villains who served the Outer Gods, villains who leered and made lewd comments as they fought her.

“500 Pron to rape the girl in front of me? Thank you, Outer God!” Such vile remarks were not uncommon among these degenerates. Ire had made it a point to dispatch these scum with a bullet to the head whenever she crossed paths with them. Admittedly, they were under the sinister influence of the Outer Gods, which might have explained their behavior to some extent. But even those not under such influence seemed flawed in her experience.

Ire hailed from a frontier planet, often disparaged as the slum of the universe, where the caliber of men left much to be desired. Aidel was a prime example. Every encounter with him involved some form of harassment, and it invariably ended with him either being killed by an Outer God or suffering a dismal fate at her hands.

Now, that repulsive man was advancing toward her again.

“Get lost, die! Don’t come near me!”

Exhausting her makeshift arsenal, Ire grabbed a side table and flung it with all her might. Sonia, catching it with ease, sighed deeply.

“What an ungrateful person you are. Our young master not only implanted a device in your head but also brought you to Holy Spirit Hospital, covered your treatment expenses, and has been taking care of you. Yet, you respond so rashly…”

With a sharp snap, Sonia shifted into a karate stance.

“For the crime of attempting to harm my master, you deserve a beating,” she declared.

Smack! Aidel flicked Sonia on the forehead with a sudden motion. Sonia, an android, didn’t flinch, but her expression was unmistakably startled.

“What are you doing?” she asked, bewildered.

Aidel didn’t answer her question but instead snatched the headband off Sonia’s head. “Confiscated until you leave,” he declared.

Sonia made a sound of disappointment. “Ah! Give it back!”

“What’s so special about this that you keep wearing it?” Aidel teased, examining the headband.

“It’s cute. I want it back. Now!”

“Because it’s embarrassing, please take it off when talking to others…”

“I’ll count to three. One, two…”

“Even if you threaten me, I won’t give it back. Aaargh!”

Ultimately, Sonia overpowered Aidel and retrieved her headband. The skirmish between human and machine ended with the machine claiming victory.

Ire, observing the scene, felt something odd. He had always thought that Sonia and Aidel had a terrible relationship. Yet here they were, interacting with the ease and comfort of siblings. Realizing that something fundamental had shifted in their dynamics, Ire frowned.