◈ Episode 215

The human brain is a small yet infinitely vast universe.

The professor was personally experiencing the clichéd phrases that could come out of a book. She suddenly became aware of the mental connection that had developed between herself and the priest.

In contrast to the professor who was trapped in the shell of 'consciousness', the foreign substance that flowed in was free to float through the universe. As he followed its footsteps, the professor gradually began to see his 'self'.

Fragments of imperfect memories were embedded like shards of glass beneath the subconscious.

― … … What a disgusting creature.

― I don't lift a finger, but I always feel your gaze.

― How many ■■s are hidden in here…?

Parasites held in restraints, researchers observing through the window.

- Can you see me? Can you hear my ■■■■?

― No problem with pupillary reflex… …. Brain waves are also stable.

― … … Finally, success. Your name is … … .

The girl immersed in a special culture solution, the body temperature felt when held.

― I have to stop ■■… … . There is a way for me… ■■■.

― … … It's still premature ■■■. And the professor's ■■ too… .

― Professor, you don't know what ■■ is…! If we continue like this…!

Light seeping through the crack of a closed door, the voices of a man and a woman.

― I have no reason to throw away my ■■■■…

― That's… the same thing.

- So, Your Majesty, you must help me… … .

The Emperor receiving documents directly from the 'Professor'.

- This is what you wanted, Professor.

― From here on out, it might be different… … . Well, it might not be bad… … .

A machine with countless pipes and wires connected to it.

Electrode pads stuck to his forehead and massive text displayed on the screen.

And, and―

"Ugh…!"

The professor's consciousness, which had been sinking, suddenly returned to reality. She realized that she was lying down. Her whole body was covered in cold sweat, and the mists were floating before her eyes.

"Don't be so observant."

"When did I ever notice? I just looked at you because I thought you were a little different from last time."

"Of course it would be different. No matter how cleanly you cut a memory, the cross-section does not remain clean. You try to supplement it by scraping together the unconscious memories that remain in your body."

"Even if you explain it like that, I don't really understand. I hate complicated stories."

The voice I hear is becoming clearer and clearer.

"My memories were artificially cut off, and while I was recovering them in the form of dreams, hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations, my mind was torn apart. It was like pouring salt on a wound that was slowly healing. Isn't it inevitable that it will be a burden?"

"Does that mean if I leave it alone it will come to mind on its own?"

"That may be the case. It would probably take at least 10 or 20 years."

"hmm."

The professor grabbed her pounding head. As the saying goes, she was just stirring her subconscious, but her memories didn't come back. In the first place, her brain didn't have any complete memories.

Only the 'fragments' that were reconstructed arbitrarily exist. And through indirectly experiencing scenes from the past, I realized anew. A fact that is not very pleasant to the professor.

The 'professor' at that time was a very different person from the person I am now.

"So, child of the world. Did you figure something out?"

This was a procedure to obtain a clue. The idea was that if they could find out how they lost their memories, it would lead to a way to recover them.

The intended purpose was achieved.

There was a clue in the last fragment I looked at.

"I saw the Emperor of Shiran."

Although the face of the emperor killed by Kim Yi-Hyeon was different, he was certain that he was the same person. He had been the emperor of the empire since long ago, and was deeply involved in the parasite research of the Cellbrotics Lab behind the scenes.

"There was some kind of… facility. I don't know if it was a research lab, but I think I was held captive there. I don't think I would have been returned to the lab unharmed under those circumstances."

Shiran.

The professor found Shiran's shadow in the lost memory. In other words, the future course of action was decided. Since the 'action' of investigating Shiran was decided, the 'future' that followed could be predicted.

Nephritus stared at the professor. Numerous future paths unfolded before her eyes. There were paths where the professor would be brutally murdered, commit suicide, or look at the ruins in vain.

There were all sorts of possible outcomes.

Indiscriminate observations that included even the absurd possibility of lightning striking a moving car. The burden was strong enough, and the number was so large that it was difficult to use them as predictions of the future.

But anything can have its uses.

One that stands out among countless branches.

He began to slowly recite what he saw.

"…A secret facility without a single window, a huge machine connected to a bundle of wires that extend out in all directions like thorns. It seems quite old. And is that engraved in the center? Is that a name?"

"name?"

"Helena Fabiella. That's what it says."

The name of the former director of Cellbrox Labs.

This was information that Nephritus had no way of knowing.

Kim Lee-hyun nodded.

"It's confirmed."

Shiran has some business to attend to again.

* * *

Kim Ihyeon and his party left the Vidia Forest as soon as they finished their business.

Just like the last time I visited, I borrowed Altair's power to move. This was both Vidia's kindness to Kim I-hyeon and to keep the location of the forest a secret.

- Our companionship ends here.

― Vidia can no longer interfere with the events of the present lord and worldly affairs. I am merely a lowly servant bound by doctrines, so please understand.

- Then I look forward to the day we meet again.

With a final polite greeting, Altair disappeared into the mucus. Even his traces disappeared quickly, and the professor sighed as he looked down at the cleaned ground.

"It was the same when we first met… You're a strange person."

"That's true."

Kim Yi-hyeon also agreed. Even though they have interacted with each other several times, it is clear that Vidia is a group with many secrets. When did they exist and what exactly do they believe in?

The game company officially mentioned only a part of the settings. Rather, since there was less contact with them in the game, they were portrayed as more mysterious and bizarre beings.

"I don't think you need to know the details. There is a lot of knowledge in the world that is easier to live without knowing."

"...That's right. I think the research we conducted in the lab falls into that category as well."

"Well, I can't say anything since there may be circumstances that only the parties involved know."

It's a problem that has no answer from the beginning.

Shiran and Shalem had been researching the past with the belief that the lab would eradicate the disaster. They ended up bringing the destruction forward by hundreds of years, but they are still only halfway there.

"The result is important. If we can just resolve this situation, then Lab will have achieved a good cause. Kushan seems to think he is atonement, but that varies from person to person."

"속죄…."

After glancing at the professor who was muttering softly, Kim Yi-Hyeon looked out over the ridge.

In the distance, you can see the Lucerne Federation where the meeting took place. Altair did not send them straight to Shiran. That would be an interference in the secular world, and there was no need to do so in the first place.

'I need Maximilian's help anyway.'

There's no point in arriving before Maximilian. Besides, there's probably a lot of hostility towards Rapp within the current empire. There's no telling what might happen to you while you wait.

'I guess I'm quite the pacifist.'

Anyway, the problem is that everyone has deep misunderstandings.

"Let's stop by Lucerne first. We came back faster than expected, so there might still be some people left in the lab. Otherwise, we should find the Cilicia area or Albatross and leave Nephritsis there."

"Wouldn't it be better to just come back once?"

"There's a lot of waste in the route. Bastetira is so far away."

"Even so, you two are going to Shiran together?"

The professor is a non-combatant, and his only escort is Kim Lee-Hyeon.

If it were in the past, it would have been a lineup that was unstable in terms of power.

"Why, why not?"

I don't feel any lack anymore.

* * *

The summit gave Maximilian many things to think about.

'I didn't know they would do that much in rap…'

A single company, not even a country, is becoming the center of the continent. Of course, other countries will also conduct their own research on cracks. However, there is no guarantee when the results will come out.

As the current situation continues, Rap and Dustbone's position becomes more solid.

'That doesn't mean they are great people who would deliberately leave the situation alone.'

To begin with, the continent is currently tethered to a bomb necklace. The time limit is not very generous. No matter how high the status is, what's the point if the continent is destroyed?

Kim Yi-hyun's goal is to take advantage of the current situation where he has no choice but to rely on rap and dustbone, while ultimately seeking to resolve the situation.

Shiran is also in a situation where he has to pull out a number.

In that case, the conflict between Shiran and Rap needs to be resolved… … .

"Ha, my head hurts."

Maximilian leaned back in his chair and stretched his neck. Fatigue washed over him like waves. He was dizzy from all the work he had to do as soon as he returned to his home country.

Every time something like this happens, I realize it.

The impact of the Imperial Palace terrorism on Shiran and the international community. The rights and duties given to the monarch of a country. How heavy the responsibility is as a collaborator of terrorists and as the next emperor.

'The strange thing is that I don't feel like running away.'

I just felt out of breath sometimes and needed a moment to rest.

But even that was a luxury that Maximilian could not obtain.

"Lord Maximilian. An urgent message has arrived from the border checkpoint…."

"What happened? It's urgent."

"A man who was detained at a checkpoint is said to be claiming to be a representative of Dustborn."

"...What?"

Hearing the news from his subject, he clutched his forehead.

"What are you going to do?"

"Hey, first of all, let's verify your identity. No, there should be video data, right?"

"The description seems to match. There was a woman accompanying him, and it has been confirmed that she is a 'professor' at CellbroLogics Lab. The spelling has not been verified yet, but based on the circumstances, it seems certain that it is him."

It seems that he went to Shiran right after the meeting ended.

I was dying to know why, but other issues took priority.

"…But why on earth did you detain him?"

"That's a coincidence. Representative Dustborn's contamination level was measured to be extremely high, and the checkpoint strongly insisted that the parasite could not be allowed in..."

Maximilian couldn't hold back the sigh that escaped his lips.

* * *

Shiran's palace.

Kim Yi-hyun returned to a place he thought he would never visit again. This time, not as a terrorist, but as a guest. The attendants and guards left the room at the order to evacuate guests, leaving only the three of them in the reception room.

"Wow, this reunion is much earlier than I expected."

"I'm sorry I couldn't greet you properly during the meeting."

"It's okay. If we had said hello, things would have been more difficult."

Maximilian's expression showed a hint of joy. To him, Kim I-Hyeon was also a colleague who shared secrets about various past incidents.

Of course, worry is a separate story.

"So. What brings you here in such a hurry? To discuss the agenda separately from the meeting? If not, I'm sorry, but I can't see a single thing wrong with you."

"Oh, it's nothing."

It was an extremely scary introduction for others to hear.

"I have information that the Emperor has many hidden research labs. I think it might be helpful for the research being undertaken at Cellbrotics Lab. Maybe it might even provide a clue to the cracks?"

In that moment, a cold sweat ran down Maximilian's spine.

What I had been thinking a while ago just in case turned out to be true.

'You really know everything.'

Perhaps we have joined hands with someone greater than the emperor.

It was pointless to even pretend to be a fool. Didn't the two of them come running all the way to Shiran at this time? Even if the source of the information is unknown, it means that there is some certainty.

'If I respond with a lie, will my impression only get worse?'

Maximilian swallowed a sigh and made his decision.

The most effective solution.

"...If that's the case, there's someone better suited to the job than me."

To pass it on to someone else.