Chapter 110

Episode 109: Reverie Genius

I felt as if I had been dreaming for a long time.

A pleasant dream, like drifting at the bottom of the water.

The dead family came back to life, and all unpleasant things ceased to exist.

From now on, only happiness would continue forever.

I wanted to stay in that dream forever.

While staring blankly at the ceiling, Kanon realized she had woken up from the dream without noticing.

“…I have to conduct an experiment for Yume-chan.”

She got up shakily and started walking.

To return to the dream once more.

However, reality struck her like nails pinning her down.

“Older Sister”

Hearing her name called, she turned around.

There was a familiar face at the entrance of the lab.

It was the same face as her adorable younger sister, yet it belonged to a different being.

Still, Kanon smiled as a sister would.

“…Hmm, what’s wrong? Miyme, you’re not supposed to be here.”

Miyme looked straight at Kanon with a very unpleasant expression.

“I’ve come to stop you, Older Sister.”

“So…you must be a failure too, then?”

There should be no unpleasant things in my world of dreams.

No noise, no enemies, no tragedies are necessary.

My world should overflow with happiness.

“There’s still time. I’ll repent alongside you. So―”

“Eh, what are you talking about?”

Kanon tilted her head.

Miyme’s words were completely incomprehensible to her.

Because…

“What sins am I talking about? Did I do something bad?”

Is fantasizing about daily life with the family a sin worth bearing?

For Kanon, this is almost akin to charity.

Unconditional love for the family.

Kanon defined herself as a sister who loves her younger sister.

“If I haven’t done anything wrong, there’s nothing to atone for, right? I don’t understand what Miyme is saying.”

“…Is that so? It seems you’re already broken beyond repair.”

“That’s annoying. Lately, everyone keeps saying that. The one that’s broken is this world. This incomplete world that took Yume away from me. The creator god must be an idiot.”

Shaking her head with a sigh, Kanon walked to the monitor and began operating the console. There was no time to waste on meaningless exchanges; she should focus on reviving her beloved younger sister as soon as possible.

“That last attempt failed…but the physical body was almost perfect. Yes. Next, I’ll start with implanting the prerequisite memories―”

As Kanon muttered to herself and began planning the creation of a new individual for the Deep Dream Project, something white and unfamiliar crossed her path. It was the Divided Death.

When the Divided Death collided with the monitor, it caused a small Explosion, destroying it.

Looking at the shattered monitor, Kanon tilted her head and scratched it carelessly.

Then, she turned around with a plastered smile.

“What’s going on?”

“I said I’d stop you,” replied Miyme.

“I see…Miyme is foolish.”

The two faced each other, a brief silence hanging between them.

“Divided Death”

Their voices overlapped.

At that moment, Kanon’s eyes widened.

Countless white butterflies appeared behind Miyme.

The pristine death untainted by any color unfolded with Miyme as its master.

“Let’s fight, Older Sister. Our first and last sibling quarrel.”

“A creation like you…”

Thus began the battle between geniuses.

■

At Jilnias Academy, the strongest students undoubtedly hold the title of Doctor.

Unlike S Rank, they cannot interfere with concepts, but their versatility makes them formidable enough to surpass even S Rank if given ample preparation. It might even be possible to defeat them.

Among these kings of knowledge, standing at the very pinnacle, is the second genius after Zero One: Kanon of the Void.

Her talent is not innate but acquired through sheer tenacity.

Thus, she is insatiable and terrifying.

That’s why, whenever someone acquainted with her was asked about “Kanon’s Defeat,” the response was always the same.

—Impossible.

Genius means the strongest at Jilnias Academy.

The Student Council is insignificant.

Even S Rank transcends.

That is Doctor Kanon of the Void.

“Divided Death!”

Black butterflies flew in unison.

In front of them were Miyme and her white butterflies.

“Divided Death”

Calmly and methodically, Miyme commanded the Divided Death behind her.

Arcane magical symbols were etched into her eyes.

The two Divided Deaths clashed, causing small Explosions.

Imagining Miyme through the flames, Kanon frowned.

“The complete awakening of the Eye of Reason…this is troublesome.”

The true power of the Eye of Reason lies in analysis and reproduction.

Through this, the recreation of Yume’s physical form became the goal of the Deep Dream Project.

Yes, the Eye of Reason is merely for recreating the physical form.

I have no memory of unlocking any functions beyond that.

“But since I created you!”

The number of Divided Deaths increased.

For those who use magic, it absorbs magical power; for others, it overwhelms with sheer quantity.

Its simplicity makes surpassing it exceedingly difficult.

“No matter how strong you become, you can’t defeat your creator―”

White butterflies were overwhelmed in numbers and shot down.

Yet, Miyme did not look down.

Amidst the swirling butterflies, Miyme let her right hand trail along the floor.

“Emergency Summon―Ruruika”

A white dolphin materialized.

The dolphin approached Miyme affectionately, rubbing against her.

“Please help me.”

Miyme mounted the dolphin, weaving through the rain of black butterflies.

Seeing this, Kanon stared wide-eyed.

“Complete recreation of Ruruika? You’re fully utilizing the power of the Eye of Reason. That’s not good, such irregularities shouldn’t exist.”

“I wouldn’t be able to defeat Older Sister otherwise.”

“My dear, you’re no longer my little sister!”

The number of Divided Deaths controlled by Kanon increased.

Forming ranks resembling black arms, the Divided Deaths moved in sync with Kanon’s gestures and thrust forward.

Once touched, they drain magical power and crush with overwhelming numbers, the arms of death.

“It wasn’t just Solciera and Konie’s swords that were strange. In truth, Divided Death doesn’t lose! It’s invincible! There’s no way the Eye of Reason alone could counteract it!”

An arm made of Divided Death caught the dolphin’s tail.

Watching the dolphin crumble and lose its magic upon contact, Miyme leaped off and rolled on the ground.

Then, she touched the floor.

“Emergency Summon! Loron!”

A white crocodile appeared, taking over from the dolphin as it carried Miyme on its back and swam away.

Moving at an unimaginable speed for its size, the distance between it and the Divided Death grew wider.

“Always running away. Are you just looking at the backs of the weak? That’s no good. You need to keep your eyes on me. Someone as strong and smart as me. And you must always listen to me…right?”

“Dodge, Loron!”

The color of the Divided Death changed.

From black to red.

Accelerated to bullet-speed, the Divided Death headed towards Miyme.

Miyme leaned her upper body slightly, touching the floor with her fingertips.

Instantly, a wall surged up behind her, becoming a shield to protect her.

But it only held off the first wave.

As long as Kanon’s magical power persists, it’s impossible to completely defend against the infinite onslaught of Divided Death attacks.

“Guh!?”

Within a second, the wall was shattered, and the Divided Death flew towards Miyme.

The white crocodile hurled Miyme off its back and shielded her, disintegrating into pieces.

(Received several hits on my body. But I can still stand…)

Thanks to the wall and the crocodile, the number of Divided Deaths that directly hit Miyme was minimized.

Even so, for an ordinary person, they would be akin to bullets, leading to certain death. But Miyme is different.

Being an Explorer and possessing the supreme body crafted by the genius Kanon, she is not ordinary.

“Not yet…not yet!”

Thus, Miyme stood up.

Clutching her fists, she pounded the floor to gather her resolve and faced forward.

Before her stretched a crimson wall.

The space filled entirely with Divided Death.

All capable of high-speed movement, making evasion impossible.

Kanon spread her hands against the crimson backdrop.

“I know the maximum output of the Eye of Reason. The theoretical ability to wield autonomous weapons. But that’s all. That’s why I left it alone.”

There is no flaw in this plan.

Saying this, Kanon smiled.

“Give up. If you let me examine your body peacefully, I might keep you as a guinea pig. How does that sound? When Yume comes back, you might become a pet. Of course, if you survive.”

This proposal stemmed not from kindness but from desire for the completed body of Miyme.

If the battle continues, Miyme’s body will be damaged and die. That would be wasteful.

This, precisely, is the essence of Kanon’s extended hand.

A self-centered and calculating thought process that Kanon calls love.

“One last request―wouldn’t it be nice to listen to me?”

In response to the question, Miyme clenched her fist.

Seeing this, Kanon sighed deeply, perhaps disappointed.

Then, she pointed at Miyme.

“That’s enough, break apart!”

Upon Kanon’s command, the Divided Death launched.

Facing an overwhelming number of Divided Death projectiles unlike anything seen before, Miyme thought deeply.

(The Eye of Reason can reproduce weapons. Reproduction through analysis has indeed manifested objects. But―is that all?)

Despite reaching the limits of the Eye of Reason, Miyme saw beyond.

The scenery beyond the supposed limit.

And further ahead, a star shining with extraordinary brilliance.

“…Something closer, more aligned with my desires.”

The muttering words went unnoticed by Miyme.

They were merely fragments of stray thoughts.

In less than a second, as the Divided Death struck, Miyme reached the conclusion after billions of thoughts.

“So, it was simple after all―”

Smiling slyly, Miyme was enveloped by the direct impact of Divided Death, disappearing into the crimson depths.

Witnessing this, Kanon let out a regretful “Ah well.”

“Defying me, how foolish. Everyone’s so foolish.”

Kanon said this and created a chair from Divided Death, sitting down.

She intended to wait patiently until confirming Miyme’s remains.

“Hurry up and retrieve the eye, rethink the plan, and then…hmm?”

Suddenly, she felt heat.

Had the lab’s temperature control malfunctioned during the battle?

She tilted her head, pondering this.

This heat in the middle of summer was unpleasant.

As Kanon thought to investigate the cause, a voice rang out.

“―Act 1”

A voice emerged from within the Divided Death.

From the gaps in the crimson mass of Divided Death, something white flickered.

Something so hot it distorted the surrounding space.

By the time Kanon realized it was flames, it was already too late.

The Divided Death was burned to ashes.

Standing amidst the world of white flames and ash was a lone girl.

In her hands, two pistols emitted streams of white fire.

“…What have you done?”

“Simple stuff,” replied Miyme.

She raised her face.

In her eyes glowed unseen geometric patterns.

“I borrowed the strongest flames known to me. That’s all.”

With a single step forward from Miyme,

the surrounding Divided Death fell to ashes.

Approaching Divided Death was scattered by converging artillery fire, while dolphins and crocodiles swimming nearby kicked them away one after another.

The whimsical, ideal world imagined by children truly existed in this reality.

“Everything I’ve done until now has been fake. But because of that! From here on, I’ll begin my true story!”

Raising her gun, Miyme declared loudly.

It was akin to a newborn’s cry.

“Let’s settle this, Older Sister!”

At this moment, the ending of the story was undeniably rewritten.

A simple click of the heart can easily convey your support. (Login required.)