Estimated reading time: ~6 minutes
Chapter 89
「She’s less injured than I thought.」
「No, it’s the opposite. She used too much energy on regeneration and now she can’t move. The fact that tentacles are growing out is proof of that. It’s because she used her abilities as a ‘SOD’.」
「Is ‘SOD’ the name of an organization or a species?」
「Both. Originally it was a species name that came to be used as an organization name. That’s why I’m a ‘SOD’ who defected from ‘SOD’.」
「What a pain.」
I’m wearing a mask, but Teo rushed out without one. Yet he shows no signs of oxygen deprivation. I wonder if he’s fine with low oxygen levels like Reina, but then he suddenly starts coughing and signals to me. Thinking he might need a mask, I toss him a spare one and it seems I guessed correctly as he immediately puts it on. Apparently, the fog was damaging his throat.
Teo lifts up the collapsed Kurage beside the crystal tree, carefully climbs up the Falschblau, and seats her in the hollow of its shoulder. After laying her there, Teo tells me to get moving. Ugh, I really don’t want to just carry her like this.
Through the mask’s voice communication and the Falschblau’s camera, I can see what’s happening on the shoulder. The swaying of the Falschblau as it starts walking finally rouses Kurage. This troublemaker who tried to spawn-kill me the moment she logged into Ver3.00 slightly moves the jellyfish-like tentacles protruding from her waist and makes a surprised face upon touching Teo.
「Teo…?」
「Hey Kurage, long time no see.」
Teo greets her with the unexpected nickname. I wonder if she’s his ex-girlfriend or something – their level of familiarity is on a whole different scale. It’s a bit vulgar, but I realize this is why Teo protected her when she spawn-killed. But then Kurage’s eyes widen, not at Teo, but at the Falschblau.
「Orange…! You bastard.」
「Yeah, yeah, calm down loser. That fight ended with the ‘Scorch Wars’. The ones here are a human counting down until they become mere reference data, and a real human. Besides, even if you struggle, you’ll just get dodged again.」
「I don’t really get Kurage’s background, so explain it to me. It’s troublesome if she suddenly appears and treats me like a rival.」
Hearing this, Kurage sits up from Teo’s lap with an expression mixed with anger and emptiness. Teo ponders for a moment on how to respond.
According to him, this blonde woman, Kurage, was a former executive of ‘SOD’ and one of the leaders of the ‘Scorch Wars’. However, after being defeated and captured, she was fitted with bombs and deployed as a fighting force. Indeed, her work clothes have several belts wrapped around them, and a black collar asserts its presence.
As the Falschblau moves forward, I consider listening to her story for a bit. If ‘HAO’ is the future, then the ‘Scorch Wars’ should break out soon. If I gather information about it, I might be able to navigate it well. Like buying stocks somewhere, for example.
「What caused the ‘Scorch Wars’ to happen?」
「…You’re asking me that?」
「Should I answer? In short, it became unavoidable. Both the ‘Reformists’ and Kōmitsu Solutions played their cards well.」
「? That’s different from what I heard.」
The conversation gets harder to follow in the deep fog. When I ask Teo, an unexpected answer comes back. Of course, ‘SOD’ isn’t a group of people with a death wish. They’re an organization opposed to Hereafter Corporation, clinging to past glory. And their Machine Beast-like bodies make for excellent samples.
In this situation, they face persecution and, if caught, endless days as experimental subjects with no way to fight back. Frustration accumulates endlessly, and the radicalization of their doctrines knows no bounds. Amidst this, ‘HAO’ begins, and Kōmitsu Solutions declares they will kill their god. In response, a comrade mutters:
『We must give a warning. To the insolent fools who say they will kill our god.』
『We must make them pay for our persecution. People should show us proper reverence.』
『Our plans are superior to theirs. If we show the power to execute them, they will prostrate before us and revere us as saviors.』
These words, preying on their anger and distorted pride, quickly spread within ‘SOD’, making an attack on Kōmitsu Solutions inevitable. The ones orchestrating this from behind the scenes were none other than—
「The ‘Reformists’.」
「Correct. They aimed to pin the anger of the troublesome ‘SOD’ on Kōmitsu Solutions while also weakening them. In response, they set up the New Technology Exhibition as a trap.」
「A trap?」
「…World leaders and company representatives would be there. We had to demonstrate our power. The optimal timing for that was the opening or closing ceremony, the moment when all the VIPs would gather in one place. Even though I knew I was being led into it, I couldn’t stop it. Because back then, I too was someone whose distorted pride had run wild.」
「So the ‘Reformists’ let the ‘SOD’, which they had triggered to explode, get caught in the trap and rounded them all up to suppress the ‘Scorch Wars’.」
I vaguely recall being told that the ‘Scorch Wars’ started as a conflict between those who didn’t believe in or allow timeline alteration and Kōmitsu Solutions, with the cause of the outbreak remaining unclear. In reality, ‘SOD’ charged in first, followed by those who didn’t believe in timeline alteration and those ensnared by vested interests trying to crush Kōmitsu Solutions. By decisively framing it as terrorists vs. the righteous Kōmitsu Solutions and ending it in an instant, they made it impossible for anyone to join the terrorist side and escalate the situation. Well, no one wants to side with terrorists, and even if they do, they can’t justify it, so it won’t last long.
Incidentally, if they hadn’t guided them, the target would have apparently expanded to Space Ignition Industries and other ‘Reformist’ allies, spreading the damage worldwide. By making them focus solely on Kōmitsu Solutions in Japan, they contained the battlefield to some extent. Though saying 「contained」 is an understatement, according to Teo. Judging from his expression, it must have turned into quite a mess…
…Wait a minute, then there’s no need for a battle royale, right? Wouldn’t it be more troublesome if something unfavorable happens while drawing so much attention? To me, who had this thought, Teo continued, 「Probably, but…」 And he didn’t tell me anything more, saying to see for myself.
「We’re going to find out why the Strains can ‘synchronize’.」
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