The point where the trees vanish and the meadow begins.
A memory blinks about how, for safety reasons, trees are intentionally cleared out within a certain distance from the city, making it easier to spot monsters if they approach.
It’s like a string of related searches, memories of defensive structures or examples of easy-to-create barriers glimmering in my mind.
I stand before the Twilight Association, holding the jumbled machinery that looks like a chaotic mess thrown together.
The original creators of the Twilight Association are not among us anymore. The group was started by those I met on the ship, but they’ve all perished.
Some died trying to save people during the great fire in Bern City, while others were trampled as they fled.
There are those who were executed first as examples when the protests in Bern City were suppressed, and others who died fighting.
Some became dust from blind projectiles.
Yet, the only thing standing at the front is a harvesting machine.
With the machines that disable magic power, the only ones with strength are the harvesting machines.
The upside-down sea still ripples above my head, yet I made my way here instead of fleeing.
Does that mean there’s a lot piled up?
“You are….”
The harvesting machine at the front recognized my face.
“Hello.”
One by one, they stop walking and approach me.
I expected only the harvesting machine to come, but some non-harvesters also recognize my face. This is a bit surprising.
“Why are you here?”
The harvesting machine standing in front of me turns out to be one that wants to create a nation. It’s rallying for the establishment of a new country.
What would be the best way to respond here?
I could keep wearing the mask of benevolence, but that might get me turned into a god by those who crave religion.
I wish they would see themselves as a god instead of me, but I don’t see anyone like that around. Of course, when forming a cult, it’s easier to maintain the organization if you have a separate deity.
But it seems no harvesting machine thinks that far.
Just like Yasle, who once was a genuinely proper religious leader, perfected the idea of a cult religion, those who have tasted religion are usually better at understanding it.
Put another way, in this world where religion has nearly collapsed, the likelihood of that knowledge being absent is high.
They tend to worship an easily worshipped object blindly, and when it no longer resonates with them, affection swiftly turns to hate.
Such targets are bothersome.
So here, it’s better to show humanity.
“I came to pursue Victoria.”
And it aligns with Polaris’s perspective as well.
“Victoria?”
People murmur among themselves.
“Are you saying you side with Victoria?”
I glance back.
Polaris has a grip on Victoria, and she looks exceedingly angry. Listening in on her mutterings, she complains about the world’s interference while she’s only trying to find her parents.
That’s right.
Victoria just came to look for her parents.
But I don’t point that out.
Instead, I respond like this.
“Yes, that’s right.”
I add an image of myself as a selfish person. Perfect timing, the situation is favorable.
“Why, why is this happening! We’re the ones who suffered! We sought the truth in Bern City, only to be oppressed as malicious protestors! The military attacked the citizens they were supposed to protect! Now, everyone is an enemy! You were the only one who helped us!”
The logical structure seems off.
The events they encountered took place after I created the harvesting machines.
Yet, they see the struggles they faced as a shared experience because of the memories of being harvesters.
So, they ask why I abandoned them after helping them back then.
“The entire Bern City was ruined by those who do not live in Bern City.”
I could ignore them and let them go on comforting themselves, but I decide to make my first move. The company that is least known must be mentioned first.
“Pride Industry.”
I subtly glance with the harvesting machine’s perspective. I check whether anyone is moving, bit by bit.
“Gun and Rufu Company.”
No one seems to be moving here either?
And finally,
“Rocket Mobile Company.”
Right after, a sharp steel spike soared towards me. It lodged itself in my chest. Multiple spikes, piercing like a hedgehog.
“What, what is this!”
“Who is it!”
“This is the one, catch them!”
“What? It’s flying here too! There are many! Find them!”
I stretch out a hand and calm Victoria.
If I don’t, everyone here will drown from the water falling from above.
“I-I know how to heal!”
“So do I!”
At that moment, two harvesting machines dashed over. A man and a woman. People around them cleared a path, claiming they had psychic abilities to heal.
Right.
But I know.
One of them. The woman is from a company. She raced over faster than the man, placed her hand on my chest, and then slammed down with her opposite arm.
Crack.
“What, what the hell is she doing!”
But the man who rushed over screamed in horror, while the woman couldn’t utter a word. No, everyone present was in shock.
Because she was already dead.
A cylinder, as thick as two fingers, came down from the sky and pierced through the woman’s skull.
With a crack, part of her body was ripped away into the water. Head and heart, along with all her organs were destroyed, resulting in instant death.
“How many times must a bell die for me to see? Why do you all keep grabbing others’ ankles? Is it too much to just want to see if my mom and dad are safe? Why do you keep stopping me!”
Victoria’s emotions, which she had bottled up inside, burst out like a dam breaking. Polaris looked startled at Victoria, and those who heard her couldn’t have guessed this would happen, staring at her in disbelief.
But there’s a problem.
Victoria’s scream is not released to find relief.
“I can’t hold this in anymore.”
That was the sound of the last dam breaking.
Her voice, filled with sticky hatred, permeates the quiet air.
With that statement, those who felt a sense of foreboding turned their gaze toward Victoria. She glared at them, her expression pitiful.
As if some people suddenly realized what loomed above them, a few looked up at the sky.
But it was too late.
“Drown.”
The ocean poured down upon the earth.
Yet, there were no deaths. The harvesting machines of the Twilight Association weren’t completely foolish.
Even if water filled the sky, they took the gamble to confront Victoria.
They believed there was confidence in being able to kill Victoria.
The object that up until now had been thought of as a machine that rendered magic power useless began to shine. Then, it enveloped people in a purple barrier from the falling water.
As the protective shield covered the surroundings, the water couldn’t break through and flowed off to the sides.
Not all magic relies solely on physics. There exists strange magic reminiscent of tales from long ago.
Unless the liquid is conjured by magic, normal water seems difficult to pierce.
Before me was a wall of water, reminiscent of the sea parting as the tide ebbed away.
And within the water, purple orbs glimmer like clusters of grapes that had fallen to the ground.
At that moment, the exterior of the purple orbs turned into a pristine white solid.
In other words, it was freezing.
The water that couldn’t penetrate the barrier froze immediately, creating a white cocoon akin to a sea urchin. And then flares of light flickered around that cocoon before it exploded.
No, it was not gunpowder. It was not exploding due to some ability.
A massive amount of gas was produced, then expanded.
Right.
That’s correct.
Electrolyzing water yields oxygen and hydrogen. Despite the potential for explosion due to electricity, what comes out is still water, and the gas rises.
That’s how the area in front of me is. Multiple purple shields have appeared, and some areas hold their ground purely with shields, while right in front of me, others block the gushing water with their abilities.
Not everyone is safe.
When the shield formed, several people barely caught on the outer edge of the shield were dragged out and drowned.
For all intents and purposes, it was tantamount to slaughter, so I thought Polaris might intervene.
Yet Polaris also observed the fallen sea before her with a cold expression.
It bore the semblance of relief that those who were meant to die had died.
Victoria glared at those trapped in the ocean with eyes filled with murderous intent.
That’s right. No matter how powerful psychic abilities are, there are limits.
Even when harvesters faced each other in that first world, there were limits to their powers. So, in the later stages, it was essential how they applied those abilities in battles.
Some adapted it for martial arts, others fused it with magic, while some maneuvered their surroundings to move around.
Maybe this is where Victoria’s limits lie.
So I tried to approach Victoria.
No, I was about to try. Victoria raised her hands, adopting a posture akin to strangling her neck.
“Drown. Drown. Drown. Drown. Drown. Drown. Drown. Drown.”
And murmuring like a curse, Victoria continues.
With each word, the water around here turns darker and more turbid.
Or the water might be compressing even more.
Crack.
The purple semicircle begins to crumple, and various luminous phenomena around begin to fade. It seems like there’s no space left to do something.
Before me appears a black wall. Its density is so high that the light emitting from within can’t be seen.
Then, that wall slowly starts to rotate. With a grinding sound, the layers are being sliced off, from toe height to knee height, left to right, then the next slice left, the one above, right…
Like it’s being blended up.
With an ear-piercing rumble difficult to fathom, the height diminishes.
I rush toward Victoria and grab her arms. Even though I know it’s grotesque to see someone impaled with multiple nails moving around as if they’re fine!
“Stop it!”
But the sound behind me doesn’t cease. So, I slap Victoria’s cheeks.
My meticulously crafted harvesting machine could break! It’s nice that warmth is good, but the memories I put in to create this thing are at risk of evaporating!
“Stop it, Victoria! How many do you plan to kill? I’m not troubled by this, and everyone should have understood by now, so just stop!”
