165 – Excerpt Severed

“Phaedra. Are you *sulking*?”

“Don’t use that antiquated name on me. A jest can bloom into a grave misstep.”

Back in her sanctum, Pandora faced a middle-aged man, his pupils harboring miniature clocks.

Though the man’s visage betrayed little outward emotion, Pandora knew. His temper was, at present, a smoldering thing.

The sentiment held captive in his face began to spill from his lips.

“Exposing your visage and abilities to the outside world was not part of the scheme. Furthermore, the expenditure of a priceless artifact… you hold your head high, I presume, only because the resulting accomplishment might mitigate these transgressions?”

“Who do you think I am? Of course the outcome was favorable. Your mood will improve markedly when you hear it.”

“Expound.”

“Consider this: we validated a crucial component of His advent. Give ear.”

Pandora began her explanation with the unavoidable detection due to a divergence wrought by nature, unpredictable and untamable. She transitioned into an account of the breach.

She made certain to emphasize the critical success of forcibly opening the rift. The man’s demeanor thawed ever so slightly.

“Hmm…”

“Well? How does the achievement of this Pandora strike you?”

“I concede.”

He admitted that her contributions were of a magnitude meriting the prideful tilt of Pandora’s chin.

He also accepted the extenuating circumstances, and thus resolved to level no further recriminations against Pandora’s actions.

What was done was done; dwelling on it served no purpose. And Pandora was an irreplaceable asset, a follower too valuable to simply discard.

“If there are other anomalies, relay them.”

“Ah, I’ll be summoning Hecate. Acceptable?”

“Did you encounter difficulties when confronting a Grand General?”

“I also require a resupply of new specimens for the shadows, and… the ordeal has stressed me. I require some dermatological replenishment.”

It was natural that the protagonists, along with others, were ignorant of the true identity of the summoned creatures that Pandora used.

Because those creatures, forged by Hecate through the merging of various monsters and humans, were then draped in shadows and pruned with shears.

“The provision of subjects is, I grant, a necessity. However, the squandering of young women under the pretense of ‘dermatological replenishment’ is an unnecessary dissipation. You are cognizant, I trust, that the resources of the Black Hand are not for personal indulgence, but for Him?”

“Needlessly verbose, you are. I am well aware. I do so out of necessity. After all I have earned you, must you be so parsimonious?”

“I remain unconvinced.”

“Deem my beautification as a peculiar form of motivation. Considering the value I bring, it would be in our overall interest to tend to my mental well being, so that i can focus on research.”

The man, after a moment’s consideration, nodded in assent and rose.

During the brief journey to the door, the man completed his contemplations.

With his hand on the knob, he pronounced his decree to Pandora.

“Let it be known: all scheduled affairs are canceled. For a time, you will immerse yourself in research, consolidating this accomplishment.”

“Why is that?”

As Pandora registered her doubt, the man smoothed his eyes.

The clock hand in his pupil ticked once.

“The Grand General of the Samhwa Kingdom is known to me. Therefore, this encounter deviates from the established schema.”

“Hmm, I was unaware.”

“His nerves will be considerably frayed. I harbor the notion to simply leave things be because security will be tightened, also, the goal of covering up using brute force also requires certainty.

“As you wish. We’ve already waited this long, a further delay will effect little.”

And with that, their discourse concluded.

As soon as the man vacated the seat, Pandora immediately called Hex.

*

Rohan dialed Juyeon the moment the situation settled.

He’d heard from the constable that the trouble wasn’t limited to the mall; the outside was just as bad. Juyeon must have been swamped, the academy city in such a state, because she didn’t answer.

Rohan had no choice but to make do with leaving a message, explaining the situation and assuring her the cadets were safe.

It was almost two hours before he received a reply from Juyeon, telling him he’d done well.

Considering how meticulously Juyeon usually kept up with communications, Rohan found this to be quite unusual.

He immediately asked if something was wrong, but Juyeon merely told him there wasn’t, and to focus on making the most of his vacation.

‘Maybe I should check in with the drill instructor…’

It was hard to pinpoint anything particularly strange about Juyeon’s reaction.

But it simply bothered him.

He planned to remain in the academy city until their trip to the Sepia Islands, so maybe he could pester her for a meal, using his cadet privilege.

Afterward, as always, everyday life returned to the academy city.

As if trying to forget the disaster that had suddenly befallen them, the commercial district flourished with even greater vigor.

Gilbert’s group didn’t alter their plans and departed for the Sepia Islands.

And the girls’ swimsuit shopping ultimately transformed into an individual endeavor.

Sion and Clara seemed intent on revisiting the shopping mall within the academy city. Ichinose and Noah, on the other hand, appeared to be purchasing theirs in the Samhwa Republic.

“Rohan. We should be going now. I’ll see you in the Samhwa Republic next time.”

As evening arrived, a vehicle sent by Ichinose’s parents pulled up to the academy city.

Ichinose reluctantly forced her feet to move, boarding the car.

Noah, leaning out the window, grabbed Sion and Clara to exchange boisterous farewells.

Rohan turned to the girl on the opposite side, her eyes closed, and called her name.

“Ichinose.”

“…Yes?”

“Contact me if anything happens. Stay healthy.”

Ichinose’s lips twitched at Rohan’s words.

She felt happy, reassured by the sense that he would come running to solve any problems.

“I can contact you even if nothing happens, right?”

“Of course. It’s all the better if there’s nothing.”

“Hehe.”

Ichinose was satisfied with Rohan’s response, as if questioning something so obvious.

Sharing a smile, Rohan didn’t forget the important matter.

“Be sure to give your father and mother my regards.”

“Yes. I will. You take care of yourself too, Rohan.”

The two girls boarded the luxurious vehicle and departed from Elysium, the academy city, headed for the Samhwa Republic.

Rohan silently watched the car depart. Sion and Clara waved their hands slightly at Noah, who was still leaning out the window.

“…”

The thought of not seeing Ichinose and Noah for a while saddened Rohan as well.

…

Rohan figured there was a high chance he’d be vulnerable today, so he decided to stay at Sion’s mansion for the night.

He finished his preparations to fall asleep at any moment and lay down in bed.

The bed Sion had given him was wider and more comfortable than the ones in the dorm.

‘Should I start right away?’

He then pulls out one of the files waiting for their turn.

[Restricted Video #1 Partial Censorship Removed – Viewable]

This video was from when he first fell into the monolith with Sion and Clara.

A thing he suddenly saw while wandering under the scorching heat.

He vividly remembered being overwhelmed by an inexplicable fatigue after watching it, which was also why he was currently imposing on Sion’s mansion.

‘It was a video sharing the perspective of that man called the Clan Head.’

He didn’t know which censorship was removed.

The word ‘partial’ still bothered him, but he’d watch it first.

[Playing Restricted Video #1]

A notification window popped up, and his consciousness subsided.

“…”

Tick. Tock. Tick.

The man was walking inside an antique building, just like back then.

Inside some building that existed in the now-nonexistent Southern Solarea.

“Hmm.”

The man called the Clan Head stopped walking to admire a painting hanging in the hallway.

An oil painting depicting the dawning horizon. The title of the work was─.

‘Illumination.’

Rohan remembered. It was also written at the bottom.

He could still feel the emotions this man felt.

The Clan Head really liked the painting, Illumination.

With that appreciation, he made a decision. The moment he was about to start his daily routine, someone approached.

The video’s content hadn’t changed yet.

“Clan Head!”

The man who was quietly admiring the painting turned his head when the presence he had been reading spoke.

The woman approaching with a greeting was the adopted daughter of a person named Failer.

Rohan remembered.

She was someone the Clan Head kept close while remaining wary.

“■■■. You’re out early.”

The place where her name should be was still filled with static and noise.

Her face was also pixelated like a mosaic, making it impossible to see.

Just as Rohan clicked his tongue in disappointment and watched, a change occurred.

[Censorship Removed]

Time rewound a few seconds.

It went back to the part where the Clan Head was admiring the painting.

“Lord!”

“Pandora. You’re out early.”

The hidden name restored itself.

The concealed face recomposed, revealing a familiar visage.

Pandora appeared more modest than she had at the shopping mall, but she unmistakably retained her distinctive eyes.

“…!”

Surprise. Though, relief was the greater feeling.

It was something he’d anticipated to a degree.

‘From the moment I met Pandora, the quest title was [Confront the Mastermind of the Southern Demise].’

Just as he expected. A feeling like receiving the stamp of certainty on a suspected notion.

Information he’d gleaned beforehand wove itself into a connecting narrative.

‘If that’s the case…’

He continued observing.

He now also understood the phrase, “partial censorship.”

After the Lord parted ways with Pandora and arrived at his office.

A woman was with the small child presumed to be Rohan himself. Her face remained unseen.

[Ending Restricted Access Video #1]

Rohan opened his eyes.

He clenched and unclenched his fist, checking his condition.

‘A little tired, but that’s all.’

Even with fatigue, he wasn’t so unbalanced that he would collapse as before.

Now, in this moment of composure.

What he had to do was clear.

[The Third Transcendence Shines Forth]