Imperial IX-3

After locking myself away in the laboratory for several hours, Rina arrives.

"Please, have a drink. It's a beverage from the East called tea."

"Tea? I didn't know they had that here..."

I take a sip.

It doesn't taste quite like I imagined, but it's still delicious.

"Taro. I've come with a request today."

"What is it?"

"Please take a look at this."

Rina takes a thin document from the tray.

It was Neumann's paper concerning the creation of the human-body mana stone—something that should have been visible only to me.

"Why... why would you have that..."

"If you're going to hide documents, you should hide them properly."

"Isn't this going a bit too far?"

"I'm truly sorry. I'll make up for this sin in any way you ask. But still, I must fulfill... no, I must satisfy my desire."

"What? You think you can just create a human-body mana stone and seek revenge? That won't work."

"Revenge... Mr. Taro, you've seen my knight corps, haven't you?"

"Yeah..."

"Don't you feel sorry for them? They have a way back... and yet, knowing that, you do nothing..."

A vague sense of dread creeps over me. I glance at the research documents I'd been writing.

Left haphazardly, carelessly—so easy to see...

A flash of memory from childhood resurfaces—being scolded for not keeping things tidy.

"I don't really understand what this is about..."

"The 'universal cell-based human body magic stone generation using organisms highly reactive to magic stones'—this is the magic stone therapy method you completed. I don't know the details myself, but you've written that with this technique, treatment is possible even in areas where recovery magic stones cannot reach."

"...That method uses a specific person as material. It's still incomplete. Using such a technique is no different from what Noiman does. I... can't do that."

"Even if I wished it?"

"Yes, that's something that must not be done. It would be a sin to me."

"I see. Forgive me."

Rina left the room, her expression terribly sorrowful.

I'm not in the mood to continue my research anymore.

I cleared off the desk and left the laboratory.

Rina walked down the hallway, her spirits utterly crushed.

I had no choice but to carry on, even if I had to force myself. They had devoted themselves to me completely—choosing to follow me into a life they could never truly rest in, a life of constant uncertainty.

We appear to be living in peace, thanks to Mr. Taro... Without him, we couldn’t even properly handle a single Beastman. Our status within the Empire remains uncertain.

It'll be fine... There are ways. But everyone will surely regret it.

"Whoa," "Whoa!"

At the hallway corner, Lina nearly collides with Noelle.

"Wh-what's wrong, Lina? You look terrible."

"No, it's nothing serious..."

"Liar. You're lying. I can tell, even if it's not obvious. Something happened, right? Hmm, Taro?"

"Sharp as ever. But I'm fine. I won't trouble you, Noelle."

That's a lie too. What happened?

...Yes, that's right. I might be causing trouble for Noel. Have you ever comforted Taro, Noel?

? Well, he's surprisingly fragile in some ways.

For a brief moment, Noel seemed to have flushed red.

Taro-san is easy to understand, so that might be a problem. I'd end up being a burden if that's the case.

I felt as though a crack had formed in my heart.

"Are you comforting Taro too, Lina?"

Hearing those words, I widened my eyes.

"Do you really understand what you're saying...? Really?"

"Oh, right. That's how it usually is. Hmm, but maybe it's okay?"

I felt encouraged by the honest expression—neither forced nor deceitful.

That night, I lay restless in my room.

Closing my eyes, I thought about what had happened during the day.

I never thought Lina would say something like that...

The fact that a knight stayed by my side through all of this must mean a great deal.

Looking back, it was only natural. I had risked my life, lived as a fugitive, and ultimately abandoned my homeland.

I wanted to repay those who had gone so far for me.

That feeling was powerful.

It's not the technology itself that's evil.

Being immature, and without knowing how things will turn out for myself or for society, we might end up being treated like human experiments. That’s what’s wrong.

Perhaps sleepiness has finally come, my senses growing hazy.

Thoughts are weakening.

My body feels hot, as if someone were warming me from within.

"Mr. Taro, even if it is your home, leaving the door unlocked and half-open is rather reckless, don’t you think?"

Is that so? It's my own home, so what's the harm?

...

I opened my eyes, staring wide-eyed at the person in front of me.

"Why are you here? Rina?"

"I was hoping you'd panic a little more, but I suppose it's fine. I'll show you my resolve now."

"No matter what, I can't use my abilities. Why now, when the war has already ended?"

"My war isn't over. You don't want to use the technology you've created. But I want you to. This is a battle, isn't it?"

"True enough. But I must warn you—I'm strong. You won't stand a chance against me."

"Oh? Fighting isn't just about force. In fact, most battles in this world are waged without violence."

The moon, hidden behind the clouds, suddenly emerged, flooding the room with sudden light.

Her figure was wrapped in a delicate silk veil, as if she had just overcome her illness from the gemstone sickness. Yet, thanks to her recovery, her body now had a remarkably feminine form.

"Ugh, my body feels hot."

"Good. I heard it was delayed-acting, so I was worried whether it was working. It's said to be a very potent aphrodisiac."

"Like afternoon tea..."

Rina smiled, gently confirming that it was the correct answer.

"What's remarkable about you, Taro, is that you're beyond this world—but that also brings risks. Let me tell you something. The strength of my body, my resolve, and the way people without weapons fight... all of these are mine."

Her clothes began to slip away.

Bathed in moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, and I couldn't look away.

"It's alright. You bear no guilt. The guilt is mine. That sense of guilt belongs to me. Just surrender yourself to me."

I wake to the morning sun and the sound of birds singing.

Not once, not twice... What am I doing? I'm so simple.

And what am I supposed to do now?

I recall I never replied to Noelle at all.

Because of my own failures, problems keep piling up.

"I should take responsibility for the technology I created." I remember Neumann now.

I know it.

All of this is my own doing.

I must take responsibility.

But to the world, my actions are wrong. I should have done this quietly, without being seen...

It felt like I'd truly become a demon lord...

Lina stirs awake.

She rubs her sleepy eyes and notices her own form.

Hastily, she covers herself with a nearby cloth.

"Lina, I'll do my best. But if I judge it's beyond our limits, I'm stopping immediately—no discussion. Got it!"

"Yes, thank you."

From that day on, I started spending long periods locked away in the basement.