EP.277 Military Nation's Ideology
Before S could object for the sake of objecting, I preempted them.
"Now. If you're saying that, then you must know what trick I used, right?"
"...This one has the duty to prove—"
"Of course you do! Anyone can claim it's a trick. But you're all talk, while I actually changed the color of this card! At the very least, you need to point out how I changed it for your claim to have any meaning!"
The biggest problem with the Signal Corps is that they are inevitably rational. Despite stubbornly avoiding my gaze, they ended up answering my question.
"...Alchemy. You changed the color using alchemy!"
Buzz. A complete miss.
Because the deduction was so wrong, Signal Corps D, who was relatively more knowledgeable about alchemy, stepped forward to point it out without me having to say anything.
"Negation. Alchemy requires incantations, transmutation circles, and alchemical substances. None of those three were present just now."
"If not that, then the card must be a special type that turns red!"
Even while addressing a comrade, D spoke coldly.
"Signal Corps IS. That logic is the same as before. That kind of argument is useless."
"ID! If that's not a trick, then what is it! Are you saying it's a mystery?"
"This one did not say that. This one merely pointed out the blind spot in IS's argument."
"Then does ID have a way to explain it?"
"This one has witnessed similar behavior through the 'Window.' It's called a shell game—hiding an identical object somewhere and concealing the original one. Surely you switched it with another card hidden somewhere in your hand, sleeve, or clothing."
This one at least has a working brain. Far from the correct answer, but very desirable.
I spread my arms wide and shrugged.
"I'll give you a chance to prove it! Come on, would you like to check for yourselves?"
"No reason to refuse."
"Give me the card! I will check the card directly!"
Several Signal Corps members including S and D approached me. Their gazes were as if they would dissect me alive.
Haha. Unless they have remarkably sharp eyes, they won't notice. The Heart 9 is now filled with my blood.
I lightly brushed my finger against the edge of the card. An excellent magician can freely control even cutting their own hand. Squeezing out blood without it being noticeable, I pretended to blow on it while letting it seep inside. A narrow gap is the perfect environment for liquid to seep into. My blood seeped inside the card in an instant.
I used just a tiny bit of Tyr's Blood Manipulation here—just enough to make a drop of blood roll... but there's no one here who can notice that right now.
There's value in investing my precious blood. Look, the innocent Signal Corps members who know nothing are approaching a stranger barehanded with pure curiosity.
D rummaging through sleeves, S examining my card with alchemy. M sneaking up and fiddling with my hand. They were all fervently devoted to uncovering the secret.
'Stop...! That kind of contact is dangerous...!'
And only IA, restrained by Historia, realized this danger.
'He intends to mentally contaminate all the Signal Corps! By arousing curiosity with a trick, making them think for themselves!'
IA urgently deployed her innate sorcery. A spider web—an innate sorcery that binds multiple nearby Signal Corps members at once. With that, she tried to calm their excited emotions and instill wariness toward me.
'Signal Corps ID! IS! Withdraw your interest in him and keep your distance! If you heard this one's voice, acknowledge!'
However, even though the spider web shook violently, no response followed. Facing this situation for the first time, IA's mind grew desperate.
'Listen! Why can't you hear this one's voice...!'
Because, right now, most of your ability is being used to bind Captain Ivy.
IA soon realized that fact as well. Startled, IA checked her innate sorcery again. And was horrified.
Morning glories were pulling on the spider web. The fragile stems that couldn't rise without leaning on something had caught the sturdy spider web.
'Ivy! How did you—!'
The face of Captain Ivy, who had been standing like a stone statue, turned. The two conversed without a single word through the spider web connecting them.
'IA. You used all the strength to bind the modules in order to restrain this one. This one has become a body that cannot properly speak a single word without your permission.'
If Captain Ivy possessed a versatile innate sorcery that covered everything from long range to close range, IA was specialized in binding multiple targets at close range. That's why she became the A representing Module I. The most powerful synchronizer in this module.
But Captain Ivy had been A from the very beginning.
'However, because of that, your voice cannot reach the other Signal Corps either. As long as this one endures.'
'Endures...! How can you! Morning glories are bound to fall when they have nothing to lean on!'
'A place to lean is unnecessary.'
Captain Ivy straightened her posture. Then IA groaned, feeling a shock as if her mind was being sucked in. Not that it mattered, since Historia's hand covered her mouth and she couldn't even speak properly.
'That's not... a morning glory! You, no, you—!'
The stalk of the upright sunflower stood firmly resolute. Mere spider webs cannot bend a sturdy flower that faces the sun.
'This one can stand alone. This one exists wholly. Because of that, interference with other Signal Corps has weakened. But this one can defy you.'
'The one closest to A... already mentally contaminated!'
IA's body heaved. She threw a tantrum both mentally and physically, but with Captain Ivy holding her mind and Historia holding her body, she couldn't influence either.
In that moment, immense terror struck IA. A sense of alienation as if truly becoming alone. And a sense of powerlessness as if the situation was slipping out of her hands.
'This cannot be! Like this, the meaning of taking charge of Module I disappears...! Before he contaminates the other Signal Corps, we should discard the module...!'
Cornered, IA threw a gamble. A scheme to release the binding on Captain Ivy and issue orders to the other Signal Corps.
'This one will not allow that!'
At that moment, something grabbed the spider web that was about to retreat.
It was originally impossible. The spider web too was an unstable thing that couldn't maintain its form without grabbing onto something.
The innate sorceries of the Signal Corps are all like that. They have a structure where they collapse if they can't connect to each other, so the Signal Corps must always be connected to each other.
But now, the vine of the morning glory caught the end of that fragile spider web.
'Let go, Ivy!'
'These people have committed no sin. Therefore there is no reason for them to be discarded!'
'If they're going to be mentally contaminated, they should kill themselves first! That's the principle! To protect the Military Nation!'
'Then who will protect these people?'
IA shouted in fury.
'The Military Nation takes priority over the Signal Corps! Ivy! Are you intending to put the Military Nation in danger!'
'This one doesn't know what the Military Nation is! If this one protects, this one intends to protect both!'
'Convenient words! Since when could you decide what to protect?! We don't have that authority or ability! What we can protect are principles alone, and that alone protects this country! Let go, Ivy!'
No matter how much she shouted, no matter how fiercely she pushed with strong will, Captain Ivy remained unmoved. The sunflower, still resolute, neither bows its head nor closes its eyes.
'This one believes it can be done.'
'Belief. Uncertain and irresponsible belief! That means you're mentally contaminated!!'
Meanwhile, the Signal Corps fell into even greater confusion upon seeing another card I produced from my palm. Some tried hard to deny it, but still, some couldn't overcome their curiosity and asked what it was.
The rigid, inhuman appearance had quite disappeared by now. There were only girls filled with curiosity.
Having finally realized that the disaster they desperately wanted to avoid had reached right under their chins, IA screamed in powerlessness.
'Ah, ah...! Please, someone give an order! If only someone would do something about this place...!'
But there is no god in the Military Nation. Even angels are artificial mysteries summoned using Signal Corps as sacrifices, so who would answer her call...?
[I have heard your prayer.]
...Right at that moment.
[That day has finally come. The fateful day upon which destiny hinges.]
Something 'escaped' from IA's body.
Her innate sorcery, the spider web. An embodiment of imagery that originally should not be visible or tangible to others... suddenly wound around IA's body, and then wrapped IA's body like pure white clothing. Immediately after, IA moved.
"Ugh...!"
Despite Historia holding her from behind.
A white hand grabbed Historia's grasp. *Crack*—a sound that shouldn't come from her hand rang out. The sound of bone splitting and skin tearing, the sound of human flesh rupturing, came from Historia's hand.
"What kind of power...!"
A strength vastly surpassing Historia's grip that could crush even steel and change it into something else.
A miracle that would be absolutely impossible with IA's fragile body manifested right now in this narrow building along with a white halo. IA herself was terrified by what she had caused.
'The voice of the Military Nation...!'
[That is correct, Signal Corps. You who are more diligent and faithful than anyone. I have risen in answer to your call.]
'This one has failed. This one failed to properly manage the module, and let the anomalous existence mentally contaminate others. The current situation is...'
[I know.]
'...!'
[All of you are connected to me. It was also my will that told you to accept them. Now leave it to me and rest.]
Someone's voice resonated in IA's head. I couldn't read the thoughts of the speaking entity. I merely barely guessed its meaning indirectly by reading IA's thoughts.
Haha. Look at this. Mountains beyond mountains.
As expected, there was one more besides the Signal Corps.
'I will correct it... Please.'
IA accepted without resistance the unknown presence attempting to dominate her entire body. Right after IA's consciousness disappeared beyond the curtain.
The 'true' Aimeder threw Historia aside while spreading six brilliant pairs of wings.