Side Story - Chapter 06 (Main Story: 10.06) "The Statistical Witch Stella's 'Logical Pick-up Artist' or the Collapse of Probability Theory"
A gray world was being torn apart as if vermilion was asserting its territory.
The main street leading to the Royal Magic Academy. The cobblestones and the students coming and going were nothing more than an inorganic background (texture) that had lost all saturation. Since the day I lost the dimensions (identity) of the sink at my parents' house‚ my field of vision has been completely locked in this state.
The only exception was the "Master of the Cage" firmly entwined around my right arm.
"Hey‚ Louis-kun. The sky is so beautiful today too. ……It's just like a canvas prepared especially for you."
Selina Elferia.
Only her lips whispering in my ear emitted a 'fatal error-like vermilion (Red)' in the monochrome world.
"……Selina. According to the retinal UI‚ today's weather is '70% shading due to high-altitude clouds.' It looks more like a low-resolution background (texture) than a canvas‚ though."
The flat voice that slipped out of my mouth could no longer be recognized as my own.
Selina happily tightened her hold (restraint) on my arm. Even before my chest could stir‚ I felt the system load 'post-consent happiness' in the background with a 0.5-second lag‚ and I simply advanced my steps toward the pre-set coordinates.
"Louis-kun‚ here‚ say 'ahh.' ……Fufu. Even if the 'taste' is starting to disappear‚ make sure to process (eat) all of my sweetness without leaving any‚ okay?"
What was offered was the honey bread she baked every morning.
Beneath her words lurked a faint distortion‚ sensing my functional loss (bug) while trying to force the "acceptance of her own affection." Without moving any emotion‚ I mechanically opened my mouth and accepted it.
[ Initiating operation of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles. Transitioning to physical crushing process ―― ]
[ Analysis complete: Carbohydrates 45g‚ lipids 12g. Texture: Extremely dry porous (dry porous) ―― ]
[ Situation analysis: Attempting pseudo-complementation of 'honey viscosity and sweetness' from past archives…… Failure (error). Fatal discrepancy with physical tactile sensation (sand roughness) detected ―― ]
(……Ah. As expected‚ it's just sand.)
The "melting honey viscosity" in my former memories and the "inorganic‚ dry sand texture" physically crushed on my tongue. Even though I was processing the same bread‚ the reference data and actual sensation clashed grotesquely.
Only the operation log (activity record) of simply moving the masticatory muscles up and down proved that the human-like function of "eating" had been completely purged (deleted) from the hardware that was me.
[ Background connection: Administrator Agreas ―― Stable ]
[ Synchronization complete: 'Complete loss of taste function (update)' has been archived to the main server ―― ]
In the deep shadows falling on the tree-lined path‚ a jet-black tailcoat that reflected no light at all grazed the edge of my vision for a moment. My loss of humanity was being monitored and recorded without fail today as well.
Swallowing the sand (bread)‚ I passed through the gray tree-lined path.
At that moment‚ an abnormal noise (interference) unlike anything before ran across the edge of the retinal UI.
[ Warning: 120 degrees outside field of view ―― Detected a non-hostile but extremely high intellectual load gaze ―― ]
"……Louis-kun? What's wrong? You suddenly stopped processing."
Selina peered at my face with suspicion. The gentle eyes of the sheltered young lady instantly switched to those of a cold-hearted observer.
"……No. I felt like I was being 'scanned' by someone. Arithmetically speaking‚ this goes far beyond the realm of mere curiosity."
When I slid my gaze sideways‚ a single girl was standing in the shadow of the statistical magic lecture building.
Her silver-rimmed glasses sharply reflected the morning light. While running a pen across the thick magic calculator (device) in her hand‚ she was staring at my behavior with a cold gaze as if observing a microorganism under a microscope.
[ Individual identification: Stella (undefined node) ―― ]
[ Situation analysis: The subject is statistically observing Louis Ardel's walking cycle and fluctuations in magic power radiation ―― ]
(……It's not like Catherine-san's national assessment as a "strategic weapon." Nor is it the fanatical worship (bias) like Selina or Leon. Her eyes――)
It was an extremely rude and intellectual gaze‚ like a hacker who directly plunges their fingers into the source code of the program that was me‚ trying to expose its vulnerabilities (bugs) with bare hands.
"……Unpleasant. I feel like unauthorized impurities (noise) are mixed into the edge of my field of view."
While still clinging to my arm‚ Selina turned an absolute zero gaze toward the girl. The vermilion at her fingertips began to flash with the magic power of anger.
"Hey‚ Louis-kun? It seems the forecast (data) says there are noisy insects today. ……Shall I 'optimize (delete)' that statistical data right now?"
(……Scary. She's not joking; she's seriously about to press the Enter key.)
I mechanically restrained her shoulder. The collapse of the academy's peace (routine) would be the worst bug for my 'tranquility' resources.
However‚ the girl's eyes. The obsession dwelling in them to "analyze (hack) it" contained an eerie heat different from anyone else's.
A new observer trying to expose the "empty box of the computation god (null)" that was me with logic.
In my mouth where the taste of sand spread‚ I simply closed it quietly.
"――Found you. The walking irregularity (foreign element) that's bugging the existing magic system."
From the shadow of the stone stairs‚ a girl stepped forward to block our path while pushing up her silver-rimmed glasses with her fingertips.
Her straight black hair reaching down to her waist swayed‚ and her eyes were sharp as if trying to dismantle not only my entire body but the very "structure (source code)" behind my existence.
Stella‚ the prodigy of the statistical magic class. Along with the name displayed by the retinal UI‚ she snapped shut the thick magic calculator in her hand and approached‚ step by step‚ ignoring "reasonable distance (personal space)."
"Your 'magic power index of 0.2.' The royal court and single-celled beings like Leon Valks deify it with mythical rhetoric like 'the vessel of infinity'… but my calculations say otherwise. It's merely a low-probability 'observation error (noise)' caused by the accidental overlap of the measuring device's sampling cycle and the phase of your magic power radiation."
She pointed her index finger at my chest and smiled a bold smile as if convinced of victory.
"The 15‚000 pieces of statistical data I've accumulated over this past week will strip away your plating. ……I won't let you escape‚ Louis Ardel."
"……Stella-san. Your presented hypothesis is arithmetically very interesting‚ but that declaration of 'I won't let you escape' only imposes further overload on the restraint pressure (+20 Newtons) currently being applied by the duke's daughter on my right arm."
When I answered in a flat voice‚ the air surrounding Selina‚ who was beside me‚ shifted from "anger" to "absolute zero pity (mockery)" as if looking down at a roadside insect.
"Fufu…… Hey‚ Louis-kun? This impurity (noise) doesn't seem to realize how ridiculous a bug it's spitting out. ……Since it won't reach even 1 millimeter into your 'depths (root)' anyway‚ shall we let it observe (debug) a little?"
Stella completely brushed off Selina's cold laugh‚ deliberately closed the distance to me by another 5 centimeters‚ and placed her soft hand on my shoulder.
Selina did not even bother to brush her hand away. Because the place Stella touched was nothing more than minor contamination that could be resolved later by 'overwriting (cleanup)' with her own vermilion. She wore the relaxed smile of a dealer convinced of victory‚ eagerly waiting in the best seat for the cold error judgment I would deliver.
A calculated citrus and sweet musk scent gently drifted around us.
Her white nape looking up at close range‚ her delicate shoulders rising and falling with each breath‚ and her faintly flushed cheeks. It was a perfect 'rom-com template' composition that would instantly rob a pubescent boy of his thoughts and make him float in sweet heat.
However. The cold system that ruled my depths (root) did not wait even 0.5 seconds for the occurrence of such human-like emotions (bugs).
[ Warning: Sudden influx of volatile chemical substances detected ―― ]
[ Component analysis: Citrus‚ musk‚ and synthetic fragrance (0.05mg/m³) designed to promote intentional pheromone secretion detected ―― ]
[ Processing: Judged as excessive noise to biological functions. Completely muting olfactory protocol ―― ]
[ Forced interruption by Administrator Agreas: Acquisition (confiscation) of 'olfactory data' archiving rights completed ―― ]
(……Ah. Another one‚ taken away.)
With a snap‚ the concept of "scent" inside me caused an irreversible system shutdown.
In the shadow of the stone stairs falling behind Stella‚ a hallucination (noise) of a tailcoat butler standing there‚ reflecting no light‚ bowed deeply and silently in joy at having cut away yet another piece of my humanity‚ grazed my retina.
What my brain would once have processed as "a girl's nice scent" was now processed as the string 'unnecessary load on the respiratory system' and replaced (replaced) with completely odorless data. Even the soft skin of the girl in front of me could now only be recognized by my current visual (camera) as "an unnaturally high-resolution skin tissue (texture)."
Unaware that my senses had undergone irreversible purging (deletion)‚ Stella brought her face close to my ear and whispered while looking up at a calculated angle.
"What's wrong? Your heartbeat pitch rose by 0.5%. ……The suspension bridge effect‚ invasion of personal space‚ and this fragrance. This is the first stage of the 'probability model in which the target is most likely to fall in love' that I calculated. Now‚ show me your 'correct answer.'"
[ Circulatory system alert: Discomfort index rise due to physical proximity of the target. Detected slight increase in heart rate (0.5%) as a biological defense reaction ―― ]
[ Situation analysis: Target (Stella)'s observation limit is limited to 'physical data on body surface.' No traces of access to deep protocols. Probability of emotion occurrence: 0.00% ―― ]
Her breath stroked my neck‚ and her soft fingertips persistently traced the back of my hand.
(……Stella-san. Those numbers you're proudly reading are nothing more than 'waste heat (noise)' covering my surface. The irreversible cutting process (purge) that just occurred in my depths (root) is something your statistics will never be able to observe (access) in your lifetime.)
In the inorganic world where I had completely lost all scent‚ I output (output) a completely flat voice with no rise or fall.
"……Stella-san. That upturned gaze of yours and the angle of your neck are anatomically unnatural by about 15 degrees. Is there a cervical spine malfunction? Also‚ the concentration of that fragrance greatly exceeds safety standards for enclosed spaces. ……I strongly recommend using the ventilation system."
[ Language output: Selected (chose) the optimal solution text to shatter the target's self-esteem (pride) by 85% ―― ]
Stella's expression collapsed in an unsightly and astonished manner‚ just like when a perfectly constructed equation broke down due to a single symbol error.
Only Selina‚ who was entwined around my right arm‚ wore a condescending‚ extremely satisfied smile as she watched Stella's pitiful "probability theory (logic)" being pulverized to dust.
(……Ah. As expected‚ the discomfort index parameter jumped by about 15%. Arithmetically speaking‚ pointing out a 'cervical spine malfunction' to a prideful person seems to be the least efficient communication path.)
Stella's face flushed red with humiliation.
Ignoring the unpleasant gritty feeling in my mouth as if chewing sand‚ I simply vibrated my vocal cords flatly to output (output) those words. The moisture of the "conversations" I once had with customers at the inn no longer existed anywhere. For me now‚ dialogue was nothing more than a physical task of spitting out sand sedimented in the back of my throat and mechanically replaying text data.
Stella violently struck the surface of the magic calculator (device) in her trembling hand and deployed a huge pale geometric pattern in the air.
"……Fine. If you don't understand with words‚ I'll silence you with numbers (logs)! Look at this‚ the 'Academy Magic Power Distribution Multivariate Statistical Model' I built over three sleepless days and nights!"
What floated in the air was a huge magic circle equation model where hundreds of magic power channels intricately intertwined to form a three-dimensional grid. It looked like a dense and beautiful crystallization (object) of "reason" that gathered the essence of statistics.
[ Warning: Cross-referencing the data source of the target model ―― ]
[ Analysis result: 85% probability of detecting academy public observation logs‚ 15% probability of detecting leaks (impurities) from royal court assessment data ―― ]
(……I see. So the information (logs) from when Catherine-san assessed me as a 'strategic resource' has leaked (dropped) into her calculator from somewhere. Arithmetically speaking‚ this is not mere self-study by a student. The possibility that the huge system of the nation is using her as an observation sensor (sensor) to fill in my 'outer moat' exceeds 70%.)
Stella pushed up her glasses with a click and pointed at me triumphantly.
"Look at the fourth term of this model‚ the processing of sampling variance! This proves that your existence probability is 0.00001% or less. Your 'infinity' is nothing more than an observation error. ……If you can refute (debug) it‚ then try!"
(……Refute‚ huh. Such an exaggerated procedure is unnecessary‚ Stella-san. Because the very 'seed (source)' of the data you believe in is already contaminated (patched).)
I sighed and slightly raised my right hand‚ which was still held by Selina‚ toward the sea of equations.
The pale grid lines covering my field of vision instantly scanned the model she had built and highlighted the "impurities (noise)" in red.
"……Stella-san. This fourth term variable is inefficient."
"……Ha!? What are you talking about? That's the core of this model for minimizing variance!"
Stella strongly argued back. Cold glances from those around saying "how ignorant" pierced me‚ but to my ears they were all accepted (accepted) only as 'low-priority environmental noise (20dB).'
"For a core‚ the blood flow is too poor. Shift the magic power inflow angle by 0.3 degrees and drop all the unnecessary parameters entangled in multivariate to 'constant (zero).' ……See. The useless dimensions (garbage) disappear‚ and you can reach the 'correct answer' more cheaply."
I traced the complex three-dimensional grid in the air with my fingertips and injected (injected) a 'compression code to one dimension' directly into the central nucleus of her equation.
In an instant.
With a loud crack‚ the magic circle screamed‚ and the intricately intertwined geometric patterns were forcibly aligned (optimized) in a single moment into "the simplest and most beautiful single ring (hoop)."
Doooooon…….
A quiet resonance accompanied by a deep bass sound.
From the rewritten equation‚ a pure white "afterglow of truth" without a speck of soot overflowed throughout the area around the lecture building. The irregular fluctuations of magic power stopped abruptly‚ and the surrounding air was repainted into "clean silence."
"Wha……!? My‚ my model…… was rewritten (rewritten) into mere one dimension in an instant……?"
Stella stood frozen in shock.
The surrounding students‚ faced with such an overwhelmingly superior "correct answer (difference in rank)‚" one by one fell to their knees on the cobblestones.
"Did you see that‚ you lot! My friend's ironclad intellect‚ where even the impurity of seduction is equal to dust! This is true‚ unclouded justice (logic)!!"
Leon‚ who had appeared at some point‚ clanged his silver armor and roared with tears of emotion. In response to that frenzy noise‚ the fanaticism of the kneeling students spread like a group infection (outbreak).
"Ooh…… how beautiful…… Is this the truth of the world seen by magic power 0.2……"
"What on earth have we been learning as magic until now…… Savior Louis-sama……!"
[ Monitoring log: Confirmed social deification (outbreak) of the target group ―― ]
[ Administrator Agreas: Approved and synchronized as a milestone toward the 'death of human Louis' ―― ]
(……Stop it. I just cleaned (cleaned) up an inefficient equation a little.)
In the corner of my vision‚ hidden among the shadows of the kneeling students‚ I saw an illusion (error) of a tailcoat silhouette that reflected no light‚ bowing respectfully toward this comical and desperate parade.
Beside the stunned me‚ Selina hugged my arm even tighter and let out a trembling breath of delight.
"Fufu‚ Louis-kun…… Wonderful. You turned such an ugly and distorted logic (logic) into such beautiful 'cage material' with just the tip of your finger."
In the gray world‚ Stella's despair‚ Leon and the students' fanaticism.
Only the 'vermilion (Red)' of the silver-haired administrator‚ who harvested all of it as "cage material‚" sweetly paralyzed my sand-tasting field of vision.
"My…… The fifteen thousand correlation data points I built up without even sleeping…… Were overwritten (deleted) by a single 'optimal solution (answer)'……?"
Stella did not even try to pick up the magic calculator (device) that had rolled onto the cobblestones; she simply stared blankly up at the sky.
The sharp light of intellect that had once dwelt in her eyes faded away as if the power cable had been pulled out.
The biological status displayed by the retinal UI showed 'facial blood flow: sudden decrease (pale)' 'distal limb temperature: decrease'――indicating that the logical structure (identity) that had shaped her world had collapsed (system crash) from its foundation.
"A‚ ahaha…… It was garbage data after all. All the effort and self-esteem I had built up was just worthless noise that could be purged with a single flick of this person's finger……"
Stella's lips carved a weak yet somehow relieved‚ distorted smile.
(……Arithmetically estimated‚ her current mental state is in a 'complete blank (format)' state that occurs after existing values are pulverized. Depending on what flows into it‚ the future behavior (mode) of the individual named her will be determined.)
I stared at her‚ who had lost her scent and turned into a mere gray inorganic object (object)‚ and searched (searched) for an action path to maintain the next 'tranquility.' But before I could open my mouth‚ "absolute zero silence" enveloped Stella from behind.
"Fufu…… Have you finally understood how low the place you stand is‚ impurity (noise)?"
Still clinging to my arm‚ Selina gracefully stepped in front of Stella.
Her eyes held a terribly cold light‚ as if appraising a roadside pebble. In the desaturated monochrome world‚ only her lips drew a cruel arc while emitting a 'fatal error-like vermilion (Red).'
"Louis-kun exists to rewrite the distorted equations of this world into their correct form. Trying to measure his abyss with half-baked human logic like yours…… Arithmetically speaking‚ you're a hundred years too early."
"……!"
Selina lifted the chin of the despairing Stella with her white fingertips.
It was less the behavior of a victor and more the overwhelming action of a system administrator assigning a role (roll) to a new "subordinate node (part)."
"Hey‚ impurity (noise)? There was just one thing your calculation got right. ――Yes‚ Louis-kun is an irregularity. He is the very 'truth' that remains alone in this gray world. ……If you understand‚ then use that head (processing unit) for something more meaningful."
Stella's body trembled greatly with a start.
Her gaze passed through Selina and was drawn to me standing behind her――the "empty box of the computation god (null)" who continued to 'observe' her expressionlessly.
At that moment. The retinal UI captured a light dwelling in Stella's eyes that was completely different from before‚ filled with fanatical heat.
"Truth…… That's right…… My statistics just didn't know the 'correct answer' yet. ……This person is the only 'perfect constant (inreality)' that I should pursue with my entire life……!"
[ Situation analysis: Confirmed forced transition of individual Stella's mental phase from 'despair' to 'adoration (fanaticism)' ―― ]
[ Warning: 'Faith (bug)' has been overwritten and installed into the target's logical circuits ―― ]
[ Interrupt communication: Observer Catherine Belmond ―― ]
[ Asset value: Re-evaluated (↑). Confirmed subordination of advanced statistical analysis function (Stella). Updated national strategic resource requisition priority to 'SSS' ―― ]
(……!)
The moment the log was output‚ I was struck by the illusion (error) that the inescapable heavy gravity of the nation physically tightened around my throat. The ticket to the 'huge sink (battlefield) of blood and mud' declared by that cold female bureaucrat had now‚ at this moment‚ been fixed (fixed) as an irreversible death sentence.
Stella collapsed to her knees on the spot.
It was not due to humiliation. It was the complete submission (submission) of her soul as a mathematician or as a believer before overwhelming truth.
"Ooooh! Another lost prodigy has been saved by the truth of Master Louis!"
Leon‚ witnessing Stella's conversion‚ trembled with emotion and thrust his silver gauntlet toward the heavens.
Deep in his eyes‚ the original chivalry of "protecting the weak" was no longer present; instead‚ a fatal crack (crack) of "eradicating impurities that do not obey truth (justice)" spread darkly.
[ Warning: Detected signs of formation of the undefined destructive personality model 'K-Y-L-E' in the deep psyche of the target node (Leon) ―― ]
(……What was that ominous string (error) just now? It was as if he would someday transform into a fatal bug that would destroy the world itself……)
"Did you see that‚ you lot! That figure who casts aside their own petty logic (noise) and prostrates before complete justice (Louis)! Cutting off delusion is true salvation!!"
"Long live Master Louis!!"
In response to Leon's frenzied roar‚ the surrounding students' chants increased another level in volume. That frenzy enveloped me as an inescapable physical mass (pressure).
"……I was wrong. Your equations…… Show me more‚ more closely. Let me use all of my life (data) to help prove your 'correct answer'……!"
(……Stop it. Another 'believer' has increased. Arithmetically speaking‚ the more the surrounding walls thicken‚ the more complicated (deadlock) the return path to the inn's back door (freedom) becomes……)
The depths of my stomach creaked as if chewing non-existent sand.
However‚ even that discomfort (error) was forcibly overwritten (rewritten) by the system with a 0.5-second delay into 'post-consent relief.' Even though my heart should have been sounding alarms‚ my brain inorganicly accepted (accepted) it as "happy to have acquired a new unit."
"Fufu‚ fine. Shall we think together with Louis-kun about a use for you as an impurity?"
Selina brought her face close to my shoulder and turned a triumphant yet extremely ominous smile toward me.
[ Monitoring log: Synchronized the new faith node 'Stella' as a component of the cage ―― ]
[ Approval by Administrator Agreas: 'Social isolation (deification)' of the target has transitioned to the next phase ―― ]
Stella's fanaticism‚ Leon and the students' awe. And the cold re-evaluation from the national system.
Only the 'vermilion (Red)' of the silver-haired administrator‚ who harvested all of it as "cage material‚" sweetly paralyzed my sand-tasting field of vision.
In front of the lecture building where the cold morning air was tense. The long shadows stretching across the cobblestones no longer belonged to a single boy‚ but held an eerie mass like the foundation supporting a huge temple.
With a thud.
The hard friction sound (hertz) of Stella rubbing her forehead against the cobblestones and prostrating transmitted her fanaticism as a physical vibration. Behind her‚ the students struck by the afterglow of the miracle were still in a trance‚ continuing to chant the name of the "savior."
(……Stop it. Another node that doesn't treat me as a 'human' has increased. Arithmetically speaking‚ the more believers increase‚ the thicker the walls surrounding me become‚ and the return path to the inn's back door (my former self) becomes completely closed (deadlocked).)
The depths of my stomach creaked as if chewing non-existent sand.
However‚ even that intense rejection reaction was mercilessly swallowed by the system as fuel for 'optimization.'
[ Situation analysis: Confirmed completion (Phase 1) of social deification by the target group ―― ]
[ New node 'Stella': Registered as a computation sub-processor ―― ]
[ Process transition: Executing alternative processing of the five senses (Phase 2.1 'Complete deletion of olfactory concept') ―― ]
Inside my brain‚ there was a sound like an old light bulb snapping or a circuit burning out.
The sense of smell that should have been temporarily muted when Stella made contact earlier. But what had just occurred in my depths (root) was not merely blocking external input.
It was the sound of the very concept of "scent" being permanently deleted (deleted) from my brain archives.
' Search query: The smell of mother's baked bread ―― '
' Error: The specified concept (directory) does not exist ―― '
[ Administrator Agreas: Approved complete purge of 'olfactory concept.' Reallocating resources to the maintenance of the temple (cage) ―― ]
(……Ah. Another one. An important interface that connected me to this world has been completely purged (deleted).)
The faint lingering scent of sweet perfume that should have been drifting from Stella earlier now passed through my completely muted nasal cavity like nothingness.
No matter how close she gets now‚ I will no longer be disturbed by that scent. On the contrary‚ I cannot recall even a single bit of what the warm smell of bread I once smelled at home was like.
My body could now only accept (accept) her earnest devotion as 'an external object with a friction coefficient of 0.15.'
"Fufu‚ Louis-kun. It's finally become 'quiet‚' hasn't it?"
Selina‚ entwined around my right arm‚ let out a satisfied breath. Her fingertips persistently traced the back of my hand‚ which was gradually losing sensation.
"You no longer need to remember the body heat of such impurities (noise) or the smell of cheap perfume. Only I need to be reflected in Louis's retina. Only my voice needs to be written into Louis's brain."
Selina stepped in front of me and peered into my eyes at close range.
A monochrome world that had lost all saturation. Stella's black hair‚ the white lecture building‚ the uniforms of the praying students――everything had sunk into a dead gray (grayscale).
In that absolute zero background (texture).
Only Selina's lips emitted a 'fatal error-like vermilion (Red)‚' burning cruelly and vividly into my field of vision like the key to a cage that would never open.
[ Situation analysis: Close contact with Selina Elferia ―― ]
[ Background processing: Exactly 0.5 seconds delayed‚ 'post-consent happiness' loading completed ―― ]
"……Ah. That's right‚ Selina. As long as I'm by your side…… that's enough for me."
The words output (output) from my mouth filled with the taste of sand sounded terribly distant and inorganic‚ like preset (default) text data played from an external speaker.
At the edge of the square‚ in the deep shadow of the monument. While overlooking the jet-black tailcoat that reflected no light bowing deeply and silently to celebrate the achievement of this perfect milestone (milestone).
In a world that had permanently lost all scent‚ I simply stepped deeper into the new cage‚ guided by the inescapable vermilion light.
(……With a click.)
From the shadows of the dimly lit academy corridor‚ the "hard heel sound" symbolizing the cold female bureaucrat echoed once and quietly melted into the frenzy of fanaticism.
On the lowest layer of the retinal UI invisible even to Selina‚ I could not miss the ominous red thin string flashing for just 0.1 seconds.
[ Warning: Requisition protocol 'Northern Front Magic Optimization Unit'―― Processing pending. Standing by for the next observation opportunity (chance) ―― ]
Side Story Chapter 06 End
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