Chapter 109

Episode 108: Awakening Modification

Miuye doesn’t know Kanon’s real lab.

Though she has visited the public lab many times, she has never been allowed into the sacred domain of the Deep Dream Project’s lab.

However, this does not mean Miuye cannot reach the lab.

“…This way.”

The accumulated information and her partially awakened Eye of Reason’s analytical ability were guiding her to Kanon’s lab.

The night school building echoed only with Miuye’s footsteps.

(I… I’ll end this.)

She was determined.

For the sole purpose of defeating her sister, Miuye continued moving forward.

There was no turning back now.

“…I’m getting hungry.”

Despite the medication not having worn off yet, Miuye’s body was demanding nourishment. It was nearing completion and seeking the final piece.

Using the analytical power of the Eye of Reason was also a factor.

It was natural for Miuye to feel hunger as she was consuming more energy than necessary to live as a human.

“I have to defeat my older sister. And then, me too…”

Clutching her stomach to mask the hunger, Miuye wobbled forward.

With each step, the rationality within her diminished, transforming her into a beast.

By the time she reached Kanon, she was certain she wouldn’t be herself anymore.

“Haa… haa…”

She regulated her breathing and thought.

Focusing solely on advancing while suppressing her instincts with reason.

And at the end of her self-destructive path, there she was.

“…You are…”

Under the moonlight, a silver-haired girl leaned against the wall, cradling a large scythe. The night breeze from the broken window gently stirred her hair.

“…Solciera.”

“Nice night, isn’t it, monster?”

Without looking at Miuye, Solciera said this, fiddling with a crystalline flower in her hand.

Gazing affectionately but mockingly at the flower, Solciera spoke before Miuye could.

“What does this flower look like to you?”

“…It’s crystallized magical power.”

“How unromantic. As a researcher, you get full marks, but as a person, you fail miserably. This is a flower. Because I wish it to be so.”

In Solciera’s hand, the flower rapidly withered.

A counterfeit flower made of crystal, yet it displayed the glory of life and its inevitable death as if it had a soul.

Cradling the withered flower lovingly, Solciera crushed it in her hand and finally looked at Miuye.

“Are you a monster? Or a human?”

“I’m a monster.”

“Fufu. Yes, that’s what you desire.”

“What’s so funny?”

Solciera pointed at Miuye.

“To be a monster, you’re quite adorable. Who would fear such a teary-eyed monster?”

“…Shut up! If you have nothing to say, leave me alone!”

Just as Miuye tried to pass Solciera, a pitch-black scythe appeared in front of her, blocking her way.

“What do you intend to do?”

“I don’t care whether you’re a monster or a human, but…”

Holding the scythe lazily, Solciera continued,

“I’ve been entrusted with the wish that you remain human. Fufu, isn’t it foolish and pure to impose one’s ideals onto someone else?”

An acquaintance’s face flashed in Miuye’s mind, but she shook it off and shouted,

“It’s fine already, stop concerning yourself with me! I’m grateful for your help back then. But because of that, it’s my turn now. With my own hands, I’ll kill my older sister. And then…”

“You’ll die too, won’t you?”

As if reading Miuye’s heart, Solciera announced.

Having read her determination and resolve, Solciera laughed and declared,

“Pointless. Thoroughly selfish thinking of a weakling.”

“…What did you say? I’m being selfish?”

“Pushing away the outstretched hand, pretending to be a monster, falling deeper. You lack the confidence to grasp the extended hand because you’re weak, don’t you?”

“Shut up!”

That was the trigger.

Miuye’s heart, already trampled and at its limit, snapped.

Anger pushed her further into starvation.

Mobilizing the little remaining rationality, Miuye clad her body in armor.

Uneven scales covered her, and her head became lizard-like.

Transforming into an incomplete dragon-like monster.

“If you’re going to interfere, I’ll take you down too…”

Even though she had come this far, her intent was still only to kill her sister and herself.

It wasn’t malice but rather lack of intent to kill.

Bored, Solciera retrieved another scythe.

Holding the emerald and black scythes, she taunted,

“You can bark all you want, but without the resolve to kill me, you’ll never slay your beloved older sister.”

“Grrr… SOLCIERA!”

Miuye swung her arm down at Solciera.

But Solciera transformed the spot where Miuye’s claws struck into black feathers that scattered around.

“Such clumsy steps. No one will dance with you like that.”

A sensation of someone leaning against her back.

There stood Solciera, having dodged Miuye’s attack.

“Shut up!”

Spinning around, Miuye swiped her claws horizontally.

But Solciera leapt and dramatically shook her head.

“Do you even have the spirit to fight? You couldn’t even defeat me, let alone kill your beloved older sister.”

“Shut up! Stop interfering with me!”

Her anger turned into a roar.

An invisible attack infused with magical sound waves surged toward Solciera.

Yet, despite being unseen, Solciera cleanly severed it with her scythe.

Only the windows to Solciera’s left and right shattered, scattering starlight everywhere.

A scene as if Solciera stood at the center of tiny stars.

A geometric magic circle floated in one of her eyes.

“…Magic Eye.”

“Matching yours? One might hope you’d be pleased, but…”

Though saying this, Solciera’s lips were twisted.

Seeing the mysterious magic eye whose abilities and activation conditions were unknown, Miuye frowned inwardly.

(The Eye of Reason can’t analyze it…!? Even though the magic eye should be right in front of me, analyzing it repeatedly yields the same result. That Solciera doesn’t possess a magic eye…)

The Eye of Reason, capable of analyzing everything, was akin to the divine eye.

If even the divine eye couldn’t discern its true nature, how exalted must this magic eye be?

And what price must she have paid to obtain it?

“Ah, aren’t you trembling? Are you afraid?”

“…”

Realizing she was shaking after being pointed out by Solciera, Miuye understood she was trembling not out of logic but survival instinct due to her state of starvation.

At this point, the outcome was already decided.

“Still, I can’t give up here!”

Unyielding, Miuye charged at Solciera.

Swinging her claws with full force, forgetting all restraint.

A full-power blow from a creature beyond human capability.

Without even looking, Solciera stared directly into Miuye’s eyes.

“Fufu, monotonous. Impulsive and passionate. Not that I dislike it.”

Solciera’s eyes emitted a faint light.

Her mysterious magic eye activated.

(Something’s coming!)

At the moment Miuye braced herself, her vision was overwhelmed by blinding light.

Blinded by the intense light, her wildly swinging arms only sliced through empty air.

Then, something touched her neck.

“Am I here?”

Through blurred vision, Miuye saw Solciera’s silhouette.

Coolly, Solciera had slipped into Miuye’s guard.

Her pale, slender hand reached for Miuye’s neck.

Understanding how terrifying it was to be touched by someone with interference capabilities, Miuye tried to retreat but was too late.

A magic circle spread across the floor centered on Solciera.

“Checkmate.”

The next instant, she felt her strength draining from her body.

Realizing it was the forced termination of her starvation state was already too late.

Before she could resist, Miuye was forcibly reverted to her human form.

“…”

Now just a girl, Miuye collapsed naked onto the floor.

There was nothing left she could do.

“Don’t interfere… I’ve finally made up my mind… I’ve accepted death…”

Crying like a child, Miuye crouched down.

As if avoiding reality, she squeezed out words.

“Don’t deny who I am…”

Solciera didn’t bother to look at her.

As if deeming her unworthy of attention, Solciera gazed at the starry sky and questioned,

“Is this truly what you want?”

“…I have to. This is my role.”

Sighing at those words, Solciera said,

“No. That’s not right, is it?”

Solciera’s blue eyes caught Miuye’s gaze.

Staring intently at her eyes, Solciera seemed to expect something from Miuye.

“What I’m asking is what you desire. Your ideals, your dreams.”

“How could I possibly hold onto dreams now? It would only bring pain!”

Quietly shaking her head, Solciera knelt before Miuye, stroking her cheek.

Then she smiled faintly.

“No matter what reality awaits, it’s no excuse to lose hope. Look at the stars. They shine proudly even in this darkness. Even if their own extinction lies ahead, they don’t dim their brilliance. That brilliance is what people call hope.”

Solciera gazed at Miuye.

As if she knew Miuye would rise again.

“Let me ask again. Miuye, what is your wish?”

Miuye had no clear answer.

To her, it felt like the world was shrouded in darkness, believing everything she had trusted was false.

She still didn’t know what to believe in such a world.

Still, one star guided her path.

“I…”

What came from Miuye’s mouth was a selfish ideal.

The first wish of a girl who knew nothing and was nothing.

A ridiculous fairytale.

But Solciera didn’t mock it.

“Yes. Surprisingly, not a bad answer.”

Petting her head, Solciera stood up and turned away.

“You seem fine now. Next, appropriate dress code.”

Between Miuye and Solciera, a magic circle appeared, dropping a uniform.

Not the usual Jilnias Academy uniform Miuye wore.

It was the Factom General Academy girls’ uniform.

“You’re facing your sister, so at least dress properly.”

“…Thank you.”

Miuye bowed her head, but Solciera glanced at her briefly before disappearing.

Silence returned, leaving Miuye alone.

But her eyes were different from before.

They burned brightly like stars, filled with strong light.

■

Yes, execution time.

“You shouldn’t suddenly strip a beautiful girl like that.”

No excuses.

Let’s die then. Should I gouge out my eyes first?

I tried not to look, really.

Should we start by stuffing our own organs into these ocular holes?

“Even punishing yourself is excessive. I’m taken aback.”

But I hadn’t anticipated her becoming completely naked.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. After all, I’ve seen Miuye naked twice now.

“But if we hadn’t done that, we couldn’t have completed her physical structure. We couldn’t input the bio-construct data while she was still wearing that armor.”

True, but…

Still, sin remains sin…

Because of guilt, I slightly buffed the Eye of Reason.

Sorry, Kanon.

Miuye is probably insanely strong now.

“Sister, Kei Natatakai, what’s wrong? Are you two talking silently?”

Nana perceived us as silent.

Sorry, Nana.

“Nothing. Let’s move on, shall we?”

“This biological data… We can use it to upgrade the Twin-Star Form quality. Good unexpected gain. Ciel, help construct the magical formula.”

“Yes, Sister.”

The sisters happily started crafting magic while I silently began moving.

Alright, next, I’ll watch Miuye and Kanon’s battle from the best seat!

Afterward, I’ll blind myself.

“Please refrain from actions that negatively affect Ciel.”

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