by Kamiya Yuu
“An, choR…couldn’t, destroy…even though…An-choR can only do this…”
–To obliterate the enemy, to destroy everything. That was her one reason to exist.
She defied the orders of her Master, Naoto, acted independently, and in the end–could not destroy at all.
Upon seeing this little girl lament with such eyes–Marie had an instinctive thought.
Her instincts however were yelling before her rational mind could: No, that’s the wrong way to think about this…
“…I want…an order…”
The flickering red eyes appeared to be holding in tears as they looked at Naoto and Marie.
Her words and expressions were akin to a perturbed, confused, teary young child, facing a mistake she could not salvage.
What she wanted was not an instruction or an order–but a punishment, a way to make up for her past misdeeds.
One had to wonder if Naoto realized this, but he spoke up,
“Alright, this is an order, AnchoR–”
Naoto told her directly,
“You can lift your head up high–and say ‘I worked hard, I want to be praised’.”
–AnchoR widened her eyes.
Her perturbed red eyes looked on unsteadily at RyuZU.
The latter merely closed her eyes silently, noting that she affirmed Naoto’s words.
The damaged girl was gasping for breath as she muttered,
“…An-choR…worked hard…?”
“Yep! Can’t find a girl more hardworking than you even if I try.”
AnchOR was gasping for breath. And after a pause, those eyes were staring at Marie.
With a trembling voice, she asked,
“…Mama…will you…allow AnchoR…to ask for…praise?”
“–”
At that moment, Marie felt an impulse rising from deep within her heart.
And then, she realized–
–That she was no longer against this girl calling her ‘mama’.
Marie reached out to touch AnchoR on the cheeks, felt the damaged artificial skin, and then, wrapped her arms behind AnchoR’s neck, cradling her like a baby.
Her ears picked up the sound of a heart.
Marie felt disgusted with herself–for actually treating this–no, this child as an ordinary automata, a terrifying weapon of destruction, so nauseatingly disgusted. Such a small child went out to get herself battered all over, willingly, all just to protect them. Also, she did actually protect them–yet looked as though she would be crying at any given moment, wondering if she could be praised.
Was that merely an ordinary automata? Without a heart? Who cared? I’m sick of hearing it, go to hell, damn it.
“Thanks, AnchoR…it’s been tough on you. You–really worked hard.”
Saying that, Marie gave a wry smile, thinking, I really don’t want to admit this–
But for some reason, she was able to understand Naoto–the emotions of that pervert who would propose to an automata.
Just an automata. Just a simulation–if she was to classify everything this way, and stop thinking…
Then humanity, would merely be a simulation machine of protein and biological signals.
If one had to ask if there was a heart–then prove that the heart does exist.”
“…Hiii…aaa…!!”
AnchoR shed a tear while remaining in Marie’s clutches.
Naoto patted AnchoR on the head, and gave the latter a harsh look as he narrowed his eyes,
“Also, AnchoR, you’re sorely mistaken about one thing. I got to give you a little scolding because of this.”
“…Uh…eh?”
“You say that you ‘only know how to destroy. AnchoR, you aren’t that kind of kid.”
Naoto said it so adamantly, and at the same time, AnchoR recalled–
–When I get back, papa will teach me–about myself which I don’t know of–
And as RyuZU said, Naoto stated the answer,
“AnchoR, you’re a smart kid who knows how to protect everyone, bring joy to everyone and have a smile. No matter how strong a girl like you is, that’s not violence–that’s ‘power’.
–Violence and power. It seemed AnchoR did not understand the difference between them, as she blinked.
Upon hearing Naoto’s words, Marie recalled,
“…’Trishula’–the symbol of power belonging to the God of Destruction Shiva. The Trident…”
This memory caused Marie to this. There’s no way Naoto should have any knowledge of such stuff
Despite being ignorant of it, he understood–no, he realized.
“–The characteristics defining the ‘power’ of the God of Destruction are ‘willpower’, ‘knowledge’–and ‘action’. Only by having the three conditions is there the ‘correct power’, and that’s how he became one of the three deities…it’s an ancient Asian myth.”
“So AnchoR–you can use your strength based on your own will, right?”
“Ah…”
AnchoR gasped, and her eyes widened.”
“You’re a kind kid, a smart kid, AnchoR. The power to destroy–is also the power to repair. It’s just like how you need to–‘accurately break things down’ when repairing a clock. That’s not violence. That’s a powerful ability.”
Naoto told AnchoR this with a gentle smile on his face.
“RyuZU did say that too, right? You got to listen to your older sister, you know? AnchoR, you’re an anchor–a force to limit. That’s why ‘Y’ gave you this name, right?”
Hearing this, AnchoR’s eyes flickered, her lips quivering, inadvertently letting out a voice.
Again, she faced Marie, and tentatively asked,
“…AnchoR…isn’t a bad kid? Mama…you aren’t scared, of AnchoR?”
At that moment–Marie felt really ashamed of herself.
She was seen through–the notion was that she was always scared of this girl, always thinking of this automata girl as a weapon, her heart dead set on setting a line between them.
–And so she, Marie, went along with her feelings and kissed AnchoR on the cheek. She then moved her lips onto the eyelids, the reddened cheeks, and then, was unable to hold back her passionate sobbing as she told AnchoR,
“How can I possibly, be scared of you…! AnchoR–”
–…
“Hey Missy, do you know? Even if it’s a movie, those tearful scenes can be rather annoying if dragged on for 10 minutes.”
Hearing that knock, Marie wiped her tears, and angrily turned her head around.
Vermouth poked his head in from the half-ajar door, knocking on the wall.
“Time to get to the next scene, shall we? For example, how the hell do we get out from here, or something?”
“–Of course by cruiser. If you get sick of it, don’t watch it.”
“Oh, like that can do. We just took a stroll in the air, and I was hoping that we’ll get a stroll on the sea! Now then–the upcoming scene will be us leaving the dock leisurely and our cruiser getting holes shot through them, right?”
Vermouth laughed sarcastically–but those eyes of his were absolutely serious.
The fact that the savage terrorists escape was probably known by all.
Leaving aside the land, air and sea routes–no, considering how that massive weapon appeared, it was likely that the deep underground was sealed off too.
If any suspicious cruiser was to casually appear, it would not be strange for it to be shot down without a warning.
But Naoto in turn responded to Vermouth’s doubt,
“Relax. In about–another 46 minutes? There’ll be a random tornado happening in this area. We’re going to charge through ‘that space’ during that time.”
“Oh, that can work. So who came up with the idea?”
“It’s Naoto of course. This is what a madman will come up with.”
“Of course it is, haha! As to be expected of your thinking, brat! I guess I’ll fuc–”
While Vermouth was about to
let out a really vulgar joke, he was slapped down by RyuZU’s scythe.
After a moment, the cruiser shutter opened.
A white ocean cruiser drifted in from the sea.
The cruiser was rather large, equipped with a kitchen, cabins, and even a simple workshop.
It docked without a hitch, and two men got off from it.
“…Hah, I guess I’ll stick with being human-shaped after all.”
“Hello, Professor Marie, I was a little late. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Getting off that cruiser was Halter, now back to his prosthetic self, and Conrad.
Marie went up to greet the duo, answering,
“Don’t say that now, Professor Conrad. You really took care of us here…a lot of things happened, and I nearly belittled you as a result. I might say though that I’m still having issues about it.”
Marie said with her eyes half opened.
However, Conrad seemed to omitted the parts detrimental to him, beaming,
“No no. I did benefit a lot on this job. It really was filled with excitement.”
Marie gave a vague smile, and then, gave Halter and glance, before asking,
“…But I have to say, you really did manage to get a full cyborg body to replace it.”
“Why yes. Because of this commotion, this country was for a moment in a state of no governance. I got quite a few stuff too, you know?”
Conrad noted cheerfully.
–Benefit a lot. That’s probably not just referring to experience or this cyborg–Marie gave a rigid smile. However, she could not let Halter escape while connected to the ‘Black Tortoise’. It really was unspeakable that she was begrudgingly requesting others for help.
“It’s a lot crude compared to the cyborg body from before. Doesn’t feel stable…and the face–I hope there’s a way to change it in the future.”
She said as she caressed Halter’s face, whose body looked entirely different from before.
His current appearance was young and handsome, his physique seemingly thinner because of the difference in muscle gear
The only common point between them was the bald head.
And also, he was wearing sunglasses to go along with his grey suit, the difference so stark it was as though a stranger was impersonating him.
But even so–Marie shrugged,
“Well, any current cyborg build will look crude compared to the 8th generation of the Breguets. We can count ourselves lucky to be able to get a replacement now–and your appearance is exposed. I guess it’s better not to go back to how you look dnow.”
“Are you silly? That’s the face before he’s turned into a cyborg, crafted out bg,
ased on the estimated aging process. You’re just going to give up because he’s a fugitive now? Don’t look now on a nice middle aged man here!”
Halter rubbed his bald head unhappily. Vermouth interrupted from the side.
“And speaking of which, I…don’t get one of those bodies? I’m thinking of going back to be a guy now.”
“How about you remain like that for the rest of your life?”
“Hey bitch–this thing’s not even a cyborg! Aren’t you just scaring me now!”
Vermouth yelled back, but suddenly, he noticed his crotch, saying,
“–But to be honest, I’m very concerned about this baby at my crotch. In times of emergency, the foreskin.”
“Relax Vermouth! I’ll get you some really ugly cyborg onto it! I suddenly remember that there’s something really filthy in front of me!”
Marie looked delighted–and appeared to be ready to modify all over Vermouth’s body. The latter looked away, and scanned his surroundings.
“Hm–well, since we’re all clear on the escape cruiser and our methods, can I ask one last thing–?”
Saying that, Vermouth turned to look at one corner of the dock.
With him leading on, everyone present turned to look at an old man, who had been placed aside.
–Gennai Hirayama, the ‘real’ mastermind–behind this entire sequence of events. His severed arm was crudely treated, and he was not tied up merely seated quiet on the chair.
“…I say, Missy, why is this old man over here?”
Vermouth and Halter both gave some really inorganic killing intent. But–
“Eh? I said we can cook him in the pot, you know? But we can use a drum nearby–”
Naoto said as he looked around. Marie ignored him, answering,
“I requested RyuZU this before the operation. I wanted to capture the mastermind alive if possible–”
Upon hearing this, Halter slapped his own forehead.
He looked down at the girl who was in her teens, saying,
“…I’ll tell you, Missy, it’s normal to have your conscience pricked when you kill, but there’ll be trouble if you keep this guy alive. Do you understand?”
Right–if they wanted to create an ‘evil’ that all belonged to a ‘single criminal cell’, it would be trouble for them to leave witnesses. Luckily–though Marie had no intention of looking so optimistic, but except for Gennai, all of the old Shiga ‘military’ were murdered.
In that case–
“Kill this guy, and everything will end. Do you want me to handle this for you? I’m as used to eliminating anyone and disposing his corpse as I am to drink a cup of tea. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll choose 6 different methods of death for you, from a quick one to the most torturous one, you know?”
…So these are ‘veterans’ on the battlefield’? Marie watched the two men give a frosty atmosphere, and sighed,
“…I’ll say that it’s a lie if I say that I’m so completely against burning him–”
Saying that, Marie gave Naoto a stern glare.
Naoto, who was half-heartedly–no, dead serious on looking around for a drum, sensed that look, and turned around,
“…Alright, if you want me to say something serious, I’ll say it–”
Naoto paused.
“FIrst, even if this old man is left alive, I guess it’s fine. Or I’ll say–he’ll end up killed anyway.”
Upon hearing this, Marie showed a skeptical look.
On the other hand, Halter, Vermouth, Conrad and RyuZU all looked enlightened.
“–I see. That is really the case.”
“If there’s news that there are survivors of the Shiga ‘military’ involved in the coup d’etat, we won’t be the only ones in trouble.”
“No matter the testimony, he will be deemed as one of us, and the verdict will end up being a death penalty for him.”
“It probably will save us all some time to silence (assassinate) him. Certainly, there will not be any issue.”
Upon hearing the trio of men, a machine, and Naoto who did not seem to say anything, Marie’s face tensed.
–Why are these guys always coming up with such foul-hearted thoughts right from the beginning?
Naoto continued to insist.
“If I have to state another reason–this old man seemed to be aiming for me alone, that’s one. If I left him alone, it’ll be like letting AnchoR and RyuZU kill someone, and I’m pissed about that, so that’s too. And if I have to say a third reason–”
Naoto looked down at the old man who remained seated, saying,
“I think there’s ‘someone else’ behind this old man”
–What…?
Right when the group was frowning away, Halter asked, voicing the thoughts of everyone else present.
“It’s true that there’s a lot of things I don’t get–but the basis of that is?”
“Eh, well…someone who really hates ‘Y’ until his head is off–won’t deliberately make use of ‘Y’s inheritance that is AnchoR, right? Also, there’s none of the electromagnetic technology he’s so proud of.”
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped.
Marie, and even Halter and Vermouth, ‘war-hardened’ men, missed out on this fact.
Assuming that AnchoR was at full power, it was easy for
her to destroy the ‘Yatsukahagi’–that would be the most ironic thing to this man’s actions, no?
Gennai took these stares, and lifted his head.
His face, including white hair and beard, was as pale as paper, only the metallic-colored eyes were filled with malicely, blazing with moisture.
“–Ahh, impressive.”
His voice was aloof, and hoarse.
“How impressive you are until the very end, ‘Y’–damned God.”
Naoto exhaled in annoyance.
“Aren’t you done with talking…I have a name, and it’s called Naoto Miura. Did you just create a ruckus because your dementia rocked your bonkers or something?”
“It’s impressive that he’s trying to destroy the world because of his dementia.”
Marie sarcastically noted with her eyes half opened. And then, she looked down at Gennai, asking,
“…You kept calling Naoto ‘Y’. For what reason?”
Hearing Marie’s doubt, Gennai slowly lifted his face.
In the face of those ominous grey metallic eyes looking up at her, Marie inadvertently backed off.
“–Marie Bell Breguet. The young genius of a clockwork technician. Pearl of the Breguet family–I really am disappointed that you do not understand.”
“What…?”
Marie muttered, and Gennai looked away from her.
He then looked at the faces of Halter, Vermouth and Conrad in order, saying,
“…You probably should have made contact with ‘Y’. I suppose that you aren’t so dull-witted to not have any thoughts after seeing such magic, such irrationality.”
Finally, he met Naoto in the eyes, concluding,
“–This body is not human.”
“No no, seriously, what is this old man saying now?”
Naoto quickly retorted, but Gennai ignored him, continuing,
“–You probably saw it. This boy easily contorted and remodified the world. Do you really believe…that the one able to do such a thing is just an ordinary human, an ordinary technician?”
Marie gasped.
Halter, Vermouth and Conrad too scowled. Having witnessed that work that surpassed the realm of God, it really was impossible for them to dismiss the old man’s words as nonsense.