271: Mass-Produced Magatsuki

"Is this the mass-produced Magatsuki?"

"Yeah, that's right. Don't touch it—it hasn't been neutralized yet."

I captured the foolish noble who tried to use a mass-produced Magatsuki against me at the dance hall.

As for that foolish noble, they're currently undergoing interrogation by our intelligence unit—including personnel from the Vanilla Genroot family—behind the scenes, so I can safely leave things to them now.

Togotto was just being manipulated, but this one actively chose to use it, so they should at least have some basic information.

"Wait, aren't they neutralized!?"

"Something about the mod setup—or the OS—seems off. I was just about to take a closer look."

So, my current situation is that I've brought back the mass-produced Magatsuki—more precisely, the metal ring containing Magatsuki—as evidence, returning to the room where Viridianiya and the others are.

Thus, here I am, the one decked out as the greenhouse attendant.

Moreover, the moment I returned, Viridianiya immediately began reading the report submitted by Memokshi with an almost frightening level of seriousness.

There's really no other way to describe it—something utterly terrifying. So both I and Joharis deliberately ignore it, yeah.

"Hmm, hmm."

"Master Satu. There might be mechanisms that don't rely on the mod configuration, so after the investigation, please run it with the mods disabled."

"I know."

As previously mentioned, the mass-produced Magatsuki is a metal ring.

Its size is just right for wearing around a human wrist or ankle.

It's gold in color, with no patterns or gems—simple in design, almost plain as a decorative item.

And, feeling it with my fingers... even when worn properly, it still lacks output when it comes to me.

"Rero."

"...I can't imagine showing this scene to someone unfamiliar, can you, Master Joharis?"

"I agree, Master Joharis. Anyone who sees it carelessly would surely be disturbed."

Yeah, there are limits to what you can detect with just your fingers.

With that said, I lightly taste the mass-produced Magatsuki.

And then, I chew on the results...

I see. It feels like the Magatsuki's OS has been shattered, and a mod designed to serve as a substitute for mind control has been embedded to compensate. A tiny amount of Magatsuki is mixed into the metal that makes up most of this bracelet. So, the genuine short-sword type Magatsuki is probably crushed, blended in, and expanded in volume like that.

Is that still considered alive from Magatsuki's perspective?

"Umm, it's kind of like half-dead, half-alive. It'd be in the same state as the other Magatsuki sealed away. If the right conditions arise, it might revive from here... but basically, it's dead. That's the gist."

"I see, that's dangerous."

"Of course."

Well, I mean, it's quite crude in its current state.

With just one short-sword-type Magatsuki, there are all sorts of problems, and the Magatsuki's will is too strong, so it's like a diluted version of itself.

But I do want the ability to brainwash or manipulate people, so I forcibly connected it with a similar mod.

It's like transfusing blood from a different blood type into a person—unless it's a cosmic monster, it'd definitely be fatal, or even I'd probably die.

That's precisely because Magatsuki is already close to death.

"Considering the mod's configuration, is it accurate to say that the bracelet's effect is to brainwash and manipulate thoughts?"

"That's correct. Since Magatsuki's OS is intertwined, it's harder to notice than regular brainwashing mods, and even harder to undo. But the effect itself... well, it's like the core, the main unit, is being controlled in a way that benefits whoever holds the primary device."

"Can we locate the position of the primary unit?"

"Hmm... It already feels like this thing has been completely severed from the network connected to the main unit. I can't track it myself."

"Is that so."

The effect is simple in nature.

It will act in a way that's convenient for whoever holds the master unit—though how much it actually changes a person is debatable.

Still, "convenient" is subjective—depending on who's judging. Given how brainwashed individuals think, their values, and their cost-benefit reasoning, actions that could be fatal to the master unit might still seem perfectly reasonable to them.

And as for who holds the master unit... it's almost certainly Prince Shinku Birum or someone close to him.

Apparently, the criterion for determining which unit becomes the master depends on the amount of Magatsuki it contains.

So, somewhere, there must be processed Magatsuki that's been reduced to around 51% of its original amount.

Hmm, even though it's a space monster harming the empire, it's strangely beginning to seem a bit pitiful.

That's about all we can tell from the mod. Since the report needs to be completed quickly... neutralization. Then, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Understood, Lord Sata."

I blow ink onto the device, systematically destroying only the OS and mod contained within the mass-produced Magatsuki.

Since there were no mods related to structural integrity, there should be ample traces indicating who modified it, where, and how.

So, I'll hand it over to Memoku for a preliminary structural inspection before using it for a thorough investigation.

"……"

Vilijanila hadn't said a single word until now... but she's now rapidly operating her information terminal, issuing commands with terrifying intensity.

Honestly, it's a bit scary.

Hmm, touching my tail or wings was simply unpleasant, and being drugged with sleeping pills or laxatives was outright criminal, so if I were to say anything, it'd probably be to just… not go overboard.

"……"

"「「……」」"

……

I'll keep quiet. It's too scary.

You shouldn't get close to dangerous things.