Chapter 107

Episode 106: The Successor Avenger

The lab used in the Deep Dream Project was fully constructed by Kanon utilizing her authority and talents as a doctor. As such, it remains a secret location within the academy, known to very few.

The only ones aware of this place besides Kanon are the other doctors who obtained information through the Society, her supporter Konie, and…

“You’ve come, Luka.”

The pass Luka held was still valid.

This meant that in Kanon’s mind, Luka was not yet an obstacle.

Kanon glanced at Luka before resuming her operations on the console. Despite wearing a smile, there was a hint of anxiety.

“Wow, Solciera really got to me. Bringing something like that out… The Society has thrown up its hands. I’m feeling pretty down.”

“―GM04, Ruruika.”

Beside Luka, a mechanical dolphin leapt.

Summoning Ruruika at a time when it wasn’t necessary made Kanon tilt her head in confusion. She then paused her actions and turned around.

“…Luka, what’s wrong? We don’t need her right now.”

Seeing Kanon’s perplexed face, Luka clenched her fists and swallowed hard before speaking hesitantly.

“Kanon, let’s stop this. We need to confront our past once more.”

Without changing her expression, Kanon replied.

“Hmm… So you’re choosing that side.”

Their exchange was far too brief to be called a rift between friends. There was no sorrow or solemnity, merely a tone that confirmed facts.

But in this moment, Luka had undoubtedly become Kanon’s adversary.

“Did Konie persuade you? Or did your contact with Solciera change something? Either way, we can’t let obstacles remain—Divided Death.”

Kanon sat back in her chair and waved her fingers like a conductor, unleashing butterflies.

“I won’t kill you. It’s a thank-you for everything so far. But I’ll make sure you regret betraying me enough to die from the pain.”

“…I’ll stop you.”

“Aha! Come on then, coward!”

As if welcoming her, the butterflies spread out in black waves. Right in the center, a path leading to Kanon continued as if beckoning her.

With all other options eliminated except going straight ahead, Luka knew this was expected.

(As expected, she’s restricted Ruruika’s mobility. However…)

Luka retrieved and donned a mechanically rigged mask covering her mouth from the extended domain.

“Ruruika.”

At the call, the mechanical dolphin appeared before Luka, who leaped onto its back.

In a position resembling riding a motorcycle, Luka directed Ruruika towards Kanon.

“That’s nice, Luka’s can be ridden. Mine can’t—though I can do things like this.”

Even as Ruruika approached, Kanon maintained her innocent smile while manipulating Divided Death.

She gathered the butterflies in Luka’s direction, forming a guillotine.

Composed of Divided Death, which absorbs magical power, it was undoubtedly lethal with a single strike. However, Luka didn’t slow down; she accelerated instead.

“Dive initiation.”

The instant the guillotine fell, Ruruika, having moved forward some distance with its master aboard, lightly leapt and submerged into the floor alongside Luka.

Just as if diving into water, ripples spread across the floor where they had been, and the guillotine struck the ground, returning to butterflies.

Witnessing this scene, Kanon let out an impressed sound.

“I see. You’ve improved Ruruika’s dungeon space generation ability. Being able to dive with someone might be useful for movement and espionage.”

The deployment of localized dungeon spaces within Jilnias Academy had become commonplace. By further modifying and applying technology involving special autonomous weapons like Ruruika, Luka had developed her own unique methods.

(This technology is my original creation. Neither Konie nor Kanon knows about it!)

A dungeon space without a dungeon master was perpetually collapsing from the edges. Clinging to Ruruika’s dorsal fin, Luka prepared additional weapons amidst a world filled with incomplete objects composed of white and black.

Her opponent was a doctor far above her rank.

Thus, it was clear that her own strength alone wouldn’t suffice.

“—Ah, behind you.”

Without looking, Kanon detected Ruruika’s emergence.

Thanks to her connection with Divided Death, there were no blind spots.

“Ruruika!”

Ruruika’s belly slid open, releasing three specially designed small missiles made of magic alloy.

Though powerful enough for indoor use, Kanon effortlessly defended by creating walls using Divided Death.

Her hair fluttered in the explosion as she smiled and pointed her fingers at Luka.

“Boom.”

Countless Divided Deaths lurking behind launched like machine-gun fire.

“Gah!”

Luka rapidly dove underground again, evading Divided Death.

Seeing her disappearance, Kanon sighed dismissively.

“This is such a hassle.”

For her, this was merely an annoying situation. Defeat was unimaginable.

“That’s just generating a dungeon space. Since you’re hiding, there must be an anomaly in magic depth. If I hit it with opposing magic waves…”

Divided Deaths gathered at a certain point and flapped their wings.

This was amplification of magic waves through resonance.

Kanon’s extraordinary talent lay in perfectly manual-operating over a thousand autonomous weapons and fully understanding the numerical data of Ruruika’s generated dungeon space.

Through this, Divided Death was producing a wave of magic completely opposite to Ruruika’s dungeon space.

The previously flawless flapping of wings caused parts of the floor to undulate abnormally.

Soon after, Ruruika emerged with a high-pitched cry akin to a scream.

“Don’t do that in front of me. Crushing a dungeon space is easy, you know.”

“…Ruruika!”

Luka glared and dove again, moving chaotically through the floor, walls, and ceiling faster than before.

Watching this spectacle, Kanon sighed exasperatedly.

“Is that all? Well, it’d be enough against an ordinary opponent. Normally, that would be an absolutely uninterferable space. But… didn’t I help develop the GM series? Don’t you remember?”

The room was already filled with Divided Death.

The black waves of Divided Death synchronized their flapping once more.

“I have all the combat patterns to defeat you memorized. Of course, the same goes for the other GM series. That’s why, even with the entire Student Council, I can’t be defeated. Even Hishou… well, yeah, I could handle it somehow. He’s stupid anyway.”

Saying this, Kanon nonchalantly sipped instant coffee.

From the start, this wasn’t a battle for her.

Rather, it was akin to discipline.

There was an absolute gap between them.

“Oh, there.”

“Wha!?”

Divided Deaths gathered and flapped their wings at the spot Kanon indicated.

Before long, Ruruika, hidden within the wall, was pushed out due to the collapse of the dungeon space.

Seeing Ruruika and Luka sprawled on the floor, Kanon laughed without delivering the final blow.

“Are you alright? Didn’t fall on your face, did you? Luka has a good face, so be careful. Though you probably don’t care about your appearance, huh? Be a little more girlish!”

It was just like their usual banter.

The difference was that the person in front of her was someone who had been a friend until moments ago.

“Well, it’s about time I catch you. Surely Miuye is also in Luka’s lab, right? I’ll retrieve her too… though dealing with Solciera comes first, doesn’t it? Hmm, tough choice. What should I do?”

Muttering under her breath, none of Luka’s form appeared in Kanon’s eyes.

Even without her making a move, Divided Death constrained Luka.

Or so it should have been.

“…Hmm?”

The Divided Death heading to restrain Luka was repelled and slammed into the wall by a massive tail-like structure emerging from the floor.

All entities in the vicinity were swept away by the massive tail extending from the ground.

Seeing the fallen Divided Death, Kanon tilted her head in confusion upon looking at Luka.

“What was that?”

Luka remained silent.

Slowly standing up, Luka showed off the Dive Gear attached to her left arm.

It was different from what she usually wore.

However, Kanon immediately recognized whose it was.

“Konie’s Dive Gear?”

“It took me a while to make it usable, but now I’m finally ready. Did you truly think I was merely running away?”

“…Haha, impressive. You tricked me. Good job.”

Kanon clapped her hands.

Yet, unlike before, there was no trace of a smile in her eyes.

A single dorsal fin and a massive shadow were circling.

Looking at Luka at the center, Kanon became genuinely interested for the first time.

“What did you do?”

“Simple. I’m using both Konie’s Dive Gear and mine simultaneously.”

“Hmm, that’s not much of an answer, is it?”

Kanon scratched her head as if troubled.

Seeing it was obvious.

What wasn’t clear was…

“That kind of processing is impossible for a human brain, isn’t it?”

What enabled it was Luka herself.

“Then go figure it out, Doctor. Aren’t you smarter than me?”

“Haha, yeah! Let’s quickly knock you down and uncover it!”

Excited by Kanon’s voice, Divided Death changed color.

Transforming into fiery red feathers, Divided Death attacked Luka at a speed incomparable to before.

“Please lend me your strength, Loron.”

In response, a mechanically rigged crocodile roared and emerged from the floor.

Its thicker armor compared to regular autonomous weapons protected Luka from the bullet-like Divided Death.

“Still tough, Loron. Customized specifically against me, huh? Konie is really troublesome. Guess ambushing you earlier was the right choice. That thing can’t be fully operated by anyone other than Konie at 100%, right?”

Even from Kanon’s perspective, Loron as an autonomous weapon was exceptional.

Equipped with “just strong stuff” according to Konie’s sense, it had transformed into a monstrous machine uncontrollable by anyone but her.

“Anyway, there’s a trick to simultaneous Dive Gear usage. I’ll conduct an experiment to see how long your recklessness lasts!”

“Not necessary. I don’t have time to keep company with you. I need to return to Miuye and Konie soon.”

Luka leaped onto Loron.

Reaching behind her back,

“Borrowing your sword and crocodile.”

The enormous greatsword mounted on Loron.

Pulling it out, Luka shouldered it.

However, her footing wavered, showing instability.

Perhaps she wasn’t accustomed to wielding weapons.

At her rather awkward stance, Kanon couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Pfft, hahaha! No way, Luka can’t use something like that! How embarrassing. You’re not used to handling weapons, are you?”

Luka didn’t refute Kanon’s laughter.

(She’s right. Indeed, I can’t swing this greatsword. However… this wasn’t designed to be used as a weapon.)

Managing to hold the greatsword, Luka jumped off Loron and plunged it forcefully into the floor.

Instantly, the mechanism activated, causing parts to transform and expand repeatedly.

Eventually, the greatsword turned into a single antenna embedded in the ground.

“Huh? What’s this? How does it…!?”

Out of the corner of her vision, one Divided Death fell to the ground.

Kanon recognized this scene.

“—It’s the same as Solciera’s! An armed device solely intended to neutralize Divided Death!”

Though differing in approach from Solciera’s emerald scythe, Konie’s solution matched Solciera’s.

Jian Jian E E, meaning the jamming device disrupting communication among all nearby Divided Deaths, rendered them incapable of action.

“The main event begins now. Ruruika, Loron!”

Mounting Ruruika, Luka sped off alongside Loron.

While normally supposed to defend, the confused Divided Deaths scattered or fell to the ground.

“Tch, so annoying!”

Quickly re-establishing connections with a few groups, Kanon attempted to intercept Luka.

However, these forces, far weaker than her previous army, were crushed by Loron advancing ahead.

“Ugh, today’s my unlucky day!”

The roles had reversed from earlier.

Standing up, Kanon struggled to control the nearest Divided Deaths to create a defensive wall.

Abandoning interception for a sturdy defense.

(Knowing how to operate someone else’s Dive Gear and jamming Divided Death. Neither will last long.)

Understanding she still had chances despite her anxiety, Kanon anticipated the extent of Luka’s strain.

All she had to do was wait for Luka to collapse.

(Guarding will be fine. This battle is my victory.)

Smirking behind the wall, Kanon realized neither Ruruika nor Loron could fully penetrate the wall of Divided Death.

Because any destroyed parts would instantly be replenished.

Although significantly diminished by jamming, it was still sufficient defense.

However, this applied only if Luka aimed to defeat Kanon.

“…Huh?”

Without slowing down, Luka passed by the wall Kanon had built.

Approaching the console near the wall, Luka connected her Dive Gear.

“Wh-what!?”

Kanon shouted, realizing Luka’s objective.

“You’re planning to steal Miyme’s data!”

“This will complete Miyme. As a human being.”

“Not possible! Without following the correct procedures, she won’t be Miyme anymore!”

Luka’s goal.

To steal the final data necessary for constructing Miyme’s physical body.

The essential information gradually granted to Data Droids as humans.

She had entirely stripped away the source.

“Ruruika!”

Forcefully disconnecting the cable used for connection, Luka ordered Ruruika and quickly turned around.

Then she hurried toward the door.

“Not letting you escape! How dare you, that’s my important data!”

Divided Death pursued Luka.

Gradually, as the jamming effect faded, the number of Divided Death Kanon controlled returned to normal.

(I can only endure for a few seconds at most. But because of that, I could surprise you.)

All for this moment.

From the start, Luka never thought she could defeat Kanon.

(Head-on confrontation would result in failure. Hence, this is my form of resistance, Kanon…)

“Just a little more…!”

Accelerating toward the exit with Ruruika.

Behind her, Loron valiantly defended against the approaching Divided Death.

Crushing them with its large jaws and sweeping them away with its tail, even after being consumed by Divided Death, Loron bought precious seconds.

(Thank you. I will definitely bring this back…)

The current Kanon cannot leave this lab.

Her inaction despite knowing Miyme’s location proved it.

Solciera, the absolute presence, had confined Kanon within the safety of her own lab.

“Just a li’l bit more…”

Dizziness struck.

Her brain had reached its limit from simultaneously using two Dive Gears.

Looking at the blood dripping from her nose onto Ruruika’s back, Luka realized she was bleeding.

“Ah…”

Once aware, the collapse came swiftly.

“Uh, ah…”

Struggling to maintain consciousness, Luka had already surpassed what could be managed mentally.

Her consciousness momentarily flickered.

Switching to autopilot mode, Ruruika attempted to evade Divided Death but, in a purely computational showdown, the advantage went to Divided Death.

“…!”

Suddenly, Ruruika ejected its master from its back.

As Ruruika was engulfed by Divided Death, Luka rolled on the floor.

“Ah, Ru, Rui ka…”

Whipping herself back to reality amid despair at losing her partner, Luka began crawling along the floor.

But escaping was impossible.

“Ha, caught you.”

The cheerful voice from behind.

Luka understood.

No need to look.

Kanon stood towering above her.

“That’s bad. You’re making me want to kill you like Konie.”

Saying this, Kanon bent down before Luka.

“Give it back? Then I’ll forgive you.”

“…”

“Give it back.”

The smile remained unchanged.

However, the surrounding Divided Death revealed Kanon’s emotions.

Luka glared up at Kanon with all her remaining strength.

“No. If you want it so badly, then kill me. Doing so will leave you truly alone.”

“What are you saying? …I’ve been alone for a long time.”

Saying this, Kanon casually raised her hand.

The nearby Divided Death merged together, forming several small spears.

“See you, Luka. Thanks for everything.”

Without hesitation, Kanon swung her hand down, devoid of regret.

(Miyme, Konie… I…)

Facing the countless spears heading towards her, Luka bowed her head.

“—Raise your head. Did you not decide to resist?”

Thunder.

The entire area was scorched by emerald lightning.

The spears surrounding Luka, the Divided Death blocking the exit, defeat, death—all were forcibly swept away.

“Get up! Do you realize where you are! Hurry… hurry and finish her off!”

Recognizing whose attack it was, Kanon screamed like a tantrum-throwing child while grabbing a dissection scalpel and swinging it at Luka.

At that moment, lightning struck between the two.

An earth-shaking roar.

Amidst the flashes and sparks, an extended hand intercepted Kanon’s arm.

“Unbecoming. Are you also inexperienced with weapons?”

“Solciera…!”

“Good evening, Doctor.”

Solciera smiled.

Then she deployed a small magic circle on Kanon’s abdomen.

Despite having one arm restrained, unable to escape, Kanon found herself at close range with the converging artillery attack aimed at her abdomen.

“Ugh, gaah!?”

Struck directly by the artillery attack without giving her a chance to command the Divided Death, Kanon was slammed against the wall. Her breath was forcefully expelled, and the creaking sounds of her body echoed loudly.

Even an explorer, when hit this squarely, couldn’t act immediately.

(Kill me…!)

Desperately trying to stand while catching her breath, Kanon watched as Solciera muttered.

“Don’t be so frightened. I have no intention of killing you. My interest has already faded.”

A transfer magic circle unfolded around Solciera and Luka.

“Judgment shall be passed by those fit to do so. Until then, curl up in a corner and repent.”

“F-fricking kidding me!”

Somehow managing to move the Divided Death towards Solciera, but by the time it reached, she was already gone.

Attempting to stand, Kanon’s trembling knees gave way, causing her to slump back down. Punching the wall, she crouched down, hugging her knees.

“Damn… damn damn damn damn! Why does everyone interfere…!?”

The cries of a young girl echoed throughout the room.

There, amidst it all, was not a doctor or a genius.

Just a single child.