147
Sight is our most important sense.
I was fighting the shadows without it. I didn’t even need to make a sound for echolocation.
Ka-Ang!
The thunderous noise spread without stopping.
I was processing auditory signals and information in the visual center. No matter how good my brain function was, it would have been impossible without the auditory enhancement training I had done.
It’s a bit tricky to explain what it looks like. It looks like white threads clumping together to form a shape in the darkness.
Whenever a sound or vibration was felt, a white thread was drawn, drawing the surroundings in real time.
Kiiiiiing!
Because of the enhanced brain function, even the sounds seemed to be stretched.
At first, I was confused. I thought it would be quite difficult since I lost my vision.
But less than five seconds later, I saw the sound as if I was seeing with my eyes. I couldn’t see the color, but the shape felt clear.
Clear auditory vision, like real-time radar.
It was because of Jin-Gau’s medicine. The auditory vision was so clear that it was incomparable to the echolocation I had been using. I didn’t even feel the discomfort of losing my sight.
In some areas, the auditory vision was more three-dimensional than the visual. I could see even parts that I would miss with my eyes, such as the auxiliary arm stored on the shadow’s back.
Kiririk!
The shadow’s back opened and an arm emerged. The shadow used its three arms freely. Even its auxiliary arm moved delicately like its original arm.
Boom!
The shadow’s auxiliary arm aimed at me with a pistol.
Kiing!
I tilted the Crucis at an angle to deflect the bullet. It was a high-power, large-caliber bullet, so my hands felt tingly.
‘He’s done here.’
I figured out the guy. The shadow had used up all of its power. The auxiliary arm stored on its back must have been one of the secret weapons.
All that remained was my counterattack. I braced the base of Crucis’s blade with my left hand and prepared to swing it in short slashes.
Whoosh!
I didn’t swing the Crucis long and wide. It was different from how I usually used it. I held it short and aimed for the weak points of the bastard.
Since I had a complete understanding of the enemy, there was no need for unnecessary large movements. I just had to attack the appropriate location. Short, precise stabs and slashes followed.
With each blow of my own, fragments of the thing flew off. At first, only fingers and skin were torn off, but later arms were severed and legs were torn off from the knees.
Chijik, squeak.
All of Shadow’s limbs were blown away. His auxiliary arms were also hanging loosely.
Woohoo!
I stepped on the shadow’s body and placed Crucis on his forehead.
“You die here.”
I muttered. First of all, the opponent was also an imperial soldier and a former member of the Royal Guard. I wanted to show him the bare minimum of courtesy.
The reason he and I fought was because we had different positions. There was no emotional reason.
“That, that’s right, sir.”
The shadow spoke in an old voice.
“What’s your name and what would you like to say?”
“Hey, what’s your name?”
Shadow’s eyes were clouded. He couldn’t even remember his own name.
I bit my lower lip. It may sound funny, but I felt sorry for the man who was under my feet. How could the words of a loyal guard be like this… … .
He lost his human part and became a part of a machine, unable to forget himself.
I know that the Empire and the Emperor have a cause, but there have been too many who have fallen under it.
Crack.
I ground my teeth without realizing it.
“This, name, this, name, I, am, who?”
The shadow spoke quietly. I hoped he would remember who he was. But it didn’t seem easy.
And I don’t have much time.
“Then goodbye, nameless senior.”
I tried to strike Shadow’s head with Crux.
“senior?”
The shadow reacted to the word senior. Let’s wait a little longer. I can give you that much leeway.
“You must have been a guard. Technically, you’re my senior.”
I hoped that at least some remnants of the human era remained.
“Ah, I, yeah, ah, ah, lo, Lowzen.”
I opened my eyes wide.
I think I understand why Agatha believes in fate and superstition. There are often things in the world that are difficult to dismiss as coincidences and are inevitably inevitable.
The Irregular Senior that Grace was looking for was right here.
“I’ll give your regards to Grace.”
“……thanks.”
I pressed down on Crucis with both hands and hit the shadow’s head.
Kwajik!
His only living organ, his brain, was torn away under my blade.
I’m not happy about winning against the strong. I’m just annoyed. It’s a murder I don’t like. And it’s like I cheated.
* * *
Even after the battle was over, my eyesight did not recover. It seemed like a permanent loss, not a temporary one.
There is no need to feel a sense of loss. If you survive, you can undergo reconstructive surgery.
Thud, thud.
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I was climbing the stairs. Because of my heightened state of arousal, my perceived time had increased significantly.
What would normally feel like a short flight of stairs felt like an eternity of punishment. In fact, it felt like several days had already passed since the drugs had been administered to my brain.
But even though I felt like I had been awake for several days, I didn’t feel tired at all.
I have to meet with Heilas before the effects of the drug wear off.
‘What do you want to do when you meet? Noel’s memories? Sharing information?’
That was the goal at first. But now that things have gotten this far, I wonder if that really means much.
Now that the shadow has appeared, the Emperor will probably know the general outline of the situation. The power of Francesque that I have barely created may easily collapse.
… … As expected, the Emperor was the most powerful force. The other forces had little chance of winning. If my priority was survival, I had to side with the Emperor.
‘Perhaps all this is in the hands of the Emperor… … .’
It’s an ending I really don’t want to imagine.
The tribute of Heilas, Ivan’s impulsive actions, Francisc’s popular uprising… … and even my own struggles were all under the Emperor’s prediction.
Honestly, if this is true, I’m going to despair. If all of this is someone’s plot and scheme, then where is my free will, and what was the meaning of my suffering?
The 21-story building I am in now is the headquarters of the sealed off Earth. The inside is a mess, having been ransacked by the mob. However, at the top, there will be Heilas and a military general.
Damn it.
The stairs ended. I saw the entrance to the conference room.
Squeak.
I reached out and opened the door. The reflection of the sound allowed me to see the people inside.
’24 people.’
I went inside, counting in my mind.
“You’re here, Luca.”
“Heilas said calmly as he greeted me in his office. He was sitting in the middle of the conference room.
“I’m a little tired.”
“Sit over there. There’s water here, so you can quench your thirst.”
I sat down across from Heilas, deliberately making loud footsteps.
The conference room was quiet, but it wasn’t empty. The great military generals, high-ranking officers, and some guards were sitting on chairs, bound. Their mouths were gagged, and their limbs were paralyzed, their limbs were limp and weak.
They have already all fallen for Heilas’s scheme.
OMG.
I looked around without turning my head and with the sound.
Eight of the Emperor’s shadows stood along the walls of the conference room. They were probably the same type of people as the dead ‘Rozen’ I saw. Those who had lost their egos and were left with only combat skills and loyalty.
The Emperor would have sent the Shadows while accepting Heilas’ tribute. That would mean that the deal between the Emperor and Heilas was almost done.
“… … This is miserable, Ivan.”
I couldn’t see, but I turned my head to Ivan and said. Ivan was sitting at the head of the conference room with broken arms and legs.
Ivan chuckled, shaking his shoulders.
“That’s right. I secretly looked down on my father, but he’s not that easy. More importantly, the fact that Heilas was a more complex person than I thought was the decisive factor. Oh, and… … .”
Ivan couldn’t continue speaking. The shadow standing behind him also gagged Ivan’s mouth.
Ivan, who joined hands with Heilas, was cornered. Although he was a member of the royal family, he might die. Furthermore, Ivan was not a member of the royal family known to the public. He could be disposed of more easily than Francis.
Rather, it was more likely that Francis would survive this situation in some way, because if Francis suddenly stopped appearing in public, public opinion toward the royal family would rapidly deteriorate.
I raised my head and looked at Heilas.
“The water tastes good.”
I said while drinking water.
“I prepared it carefully. I thought you had a very hard day.”
“Even if I have a hard time, I don’t think it’ll be as hard as you, sir.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m going on vacation soon.”
It must be a vacation from which you can never return.
“I have a gift for you. It should have been given to you, Captain.”
I took out the chip containing Noel’s memories and pushed it forward.
“Is this what you came all the way here to give me? How many times have you disobeyed my orders?”
There was a hint of anger in Heilas’ words. His eyes must have been glaring at me.
“It’s common for children to not listen to their parents.”
Heilas laughed at my words.
“That’s true. Well, since you’re here, does that mean that Pygon and Iskan aren’t from this world?”
It seems that Haylas cut off contact with Pygon and Iskan to maintain secrecy. He must have just given orders and instructions to the Aquarius and started on his final plan.
“I have no shame in saying this, but that’s how it turned out.”
“I underestimated your abilities.”
“I wouldn’t have come this far if I hadn’t seen this. It helped me make up for the experience I lacked.”
I lightly tapped the table and pointed to the chip, indirectly emphasizing its importance.
“Luka, I don’t know what you saw through this. And I also found out your identity through Ivan. I had many shortcomings, but the lack of information was the biggest problem.”
It seemed so. And so, it was surprising.
Heilas came here with only insufficient information. He did not know about the relationship between Noel and Agatha, nor that Kinuan and I were the Emperor’s Watchers. He figured out the Imperial intentions on his own and moved.
In the pitch-black darkness, I reached out my hand one by one, and moved only based on my feelings and guesses. I was in the most disadvantageous position in terms of information.
‘From Heila’s point of view, all of the circumstances were just speculation.’
But he didn’t even show any sign of fear and acted like he knew everything. In reality, he was a man who had less information than I did.
“I don’t blame you for deceiving me and hiding secrets and information. We used each other. I can’t even imagine how desperate you, an Irregular, must have been to survive this far. I could never know, having grown up in a much better environment than you. But I respect you for that.”
I flinched.
‘honor.’
I never imagined that Haylas would look at me with such emotion. It was the first time I felt like I was opening up.
Perhaps the reason I came here was… not for a grand reason. I slowly looked inside myself.
“I wanted to talk to you before everything was over.”
Heilas took a portable container of alcohol from his bosom. He turned the glass upside down, shook it, poured the alcohol, and pushed it towards me.
“Have a drink, son.”
Well, I feel a little sorry to hear you call me son. I felt I should say this before I start the story.
“I’m saying this just in case, but I hope you won’t be upset after hearing it.”
“If you hit me hard on the back of the head here, I won’t be angry. Rather, I think you’ll find it amusing. Although I don’t think you have that kind of desperate measure.”
I licked my lips. It’s an awkward thing to say in many ways. But it’s something I absolutely have to say.
“I like Giselle. Not as siblings, but as man and woman.”
Heilas’ hand, which was pouring alcohol into a glass, suddenly stopped.
“… … That’s a bit difficult. Just keep it in your heart.”
I continued speaking, prepared to get hit.
“I already slept.”
Heilas tilted his head and stared at me intently. His silence was harsh.
Woodduck.
The container that Heilas was holding crumpled. The alcohol flowed from his palm.
… … I shouldn’t have said that.
