"You did a great job, Vice-Leader Aria~" Eskieth patted my shoulder, praising my achievements.
"Shut up, and don't call me that. You were watching the whole time without intervening, weren't you?" I raised my suspicions, which were fairly obvious given her attitude.
"Come on now, it wasn't so bad."
"So I was right."
"Yep."
I sighed, unable to respond further due to her brazen attitude.
Even if they joined in, it wouldn't have made much of a difference.
If the solution were as simple as shooting a pillar of fire into the sky, then it wouldn't have been that bad, reiterating what she said.
A few minutes had passed since we freed ourselves from the dome of tar, or whatever that mess was.
The citizens were now under the protection of the angels, and everyone had regrouped, reporting their findings and the status of both inside and outside the Domain.
Outside the Domain, the situation was under control, thanks to our numbers, despite the thousands of Rottens swarming the city.
Inside the Domain, however, was where everything originated, resulting in far stronger Eldians, albeit at the cost of numbers.
That didn't mean there weren't any more Eldians left, as most had been spotted underground, resting in dark corners.
Like the one we fought, which everyone began calling "shades."
"Still, I'm truly surprised by what you did, little lab rat. You saved all the surviving civilians and resolved the situation in just a few minutes."
"..."
I caught the exhausted gazes of the civilians, as well as those of the other angels I hadn't seen before.
While I was staring off into nothing, Eskieth noticed my sour mood and my unusual clothing.
My original clothes had dissolved, leaving me exposed in ways that I shouldn't show to anyone.
In response, I created new garments from Ichor, trying to replicate my previous outfit.
"...Heh." Eskieth chuckled and placed her hand on my head.
Seeing that I didn't reject her touch, she began to caress my hair, just as others had done in the past.
...Seriously, does it feel that nice to pat my head?
"Of course, I was ready to help if things went south, but since that wasn't necessary, isn't that a relief?"
"...Fair."
"Are you sulking? Don't worry, I made sure to turn off surveillance when I saw you partially naked with your cute face, so it's fine."
"Hah."
"..."
"..."
As we watched in silence, the angels quietly distributed supplies to the civilians, their disdain evident at the sight of us.
Whispers filled the air, laden with contempt. Insults were directed at the angels, branding them subhumans and monsters devoid of emotions.
What could have happened to make them so infamous?
Eskieth, who had been observing my gaze since I remained silent, withdrew her hand and stood up from the wings that she had been using as a chair.
"Little lab rat, here's a pop quiz for you: why did Orion come to Demiurge as an ambassador instead of an executive of the organization?"
"Because it's a more official role rather than an organization name filled with crazy people?"
I tilted my head, curious about what the answer was. It was definitely something much deeper than that.
"How bold of you, though it's not like I don't like your sharp remarks~." She laughed at my response, but then crossed her arms to form an 'X' sign.
"But you're wrong~ It's a common misconception, but it was an intentional answer coming from you, I suppose," Eskieth smirked, clearly amused by my cunning personality.
Joking aside, her expression became more serious as she glanced at the other angels.
First, there was Anellia, who distributed supplies to civilians with a stoic demeanour, ignoring the insults hurled at her.
Then there was Nox, who isolated himself in a black cocoon generated from his wings' ability, seemingly unconcerned.
As for Lux... well, she wasn't here, and it was better that way, given her wild personality.
"I'm sure you've heard the rumours about our not-so-great reputation, and I won't deny that."
All angels shared one of two things in common, but never both:
Some people's emotions were numb, unable to express feelings regardless of the situation.
Others developed complexes and disorders, suffering from insanity due to an overflow of emotions.
To become the spear of this nation, significant sacrifices must be made to become an 'angel'—individuals who bear mysterious powers derived from their wings, a blend of both technology and mana.
However, the transformation comes at a cost.
"The kids from our squad were among the 'byproducts' of the first director's experiments."
"..."
I remained silent, having mixed emotions about what Project ANGEL truly entailed.
"Our organization originated from these sinister foundations that should have been dismantled as soon as HE was exposed... but our current Director took over after that chaos."
—Clench...!
Eskieth tightened her grip, trying to suppress her anger as memories flooded back.
"You're referring to the 2nd Director... Alathea? Did something happen—"
"Leader of the Xero Squad, we require assistance." An angel approached us, interrupting our conversation.
"...Let's continue this discussion later, once everything is finished, little lab rat." Eskieth's expression returned to normal, and she smiled as she walked beside the angel who had called her.
I reached out to her, but hesitated and sat back down, sensing there was no need to pursue the conversation further.
Eskieth turned back one last time, her eyes shimmering with a fierce flame—strong, yet weary.
"Here's one thing to remember, little lab rat. This organization was ultimately founded with one purpose," she said, reassuring me with her next words.
"To save humanity."
"...I see."
The two of them walk away from the crowd and begin a meeting, which I'm obviously not allowed to attend yet, as I joined them without my consent, thanks to the Director, who did so.
...
...
...
"Mgaaah! I hate complicated things...!" I exclaimed, scratching my head and slapping my face in frustration.
"I need to focus on the present, the present," I reminded myself, as we were still inside the Pylon's Domain, and it wasn't over yet.
I could tell that my confidence was lacking, as I was still consumed by guilt for not being able to save everyone.
Would there come a day when I would have to sacrifice one for the sake of many?
If that time ever comes, I hope such dilemmas won't arise.
I'm not selfless enough to make that choice, not ever.
—Tap... tap...
"Who's there?" I turned to my right and saw someone approaching me.
"Ah... can I join you?" she asked timidly, seeking permission before she sat beside me.
"Oh, you're the green-haired girl from earlier." I slumped my chair down even more, while she didn't have one.
"It's fine, I can sit on the floor—"
"You don't have to."
—Voom...!
Using my abilities in what felt like the silliest way possible, I transformed the chair I was sitting on into a couch, keeping Demiurge in mind: elegant, fancy, and extremely comfortable.
"W-Whoa..." she exclaimed in awe, mesmerized by how I performed what seemed like magic, which it actually was.
"Here, sit down," I smirked, proud of how I was using my abilities.
"Thank you..." She sat down beside me as I slumped in the chair with my arm resting on my cheek.
I might appear to be slacking off and doing nothing, but during this time, I was actually trying to figure out the location of the Pylon's Core and the Guardian.
These two were the most dangerous entities we needed to eliminate as quickly as possible.
"Sigh..."
But nothing came to mind, except for the unsettling mixture of the ocean, darkness, and machinery surrounding us.
"Do you have any thoughts about this wretched place?" I asked her, wanting to hear her opinions.
'M-Me?' She fiddled nervously, unsure of what to say.
"Hawawawa..."
'Mmmm...' Instead of disputing my question, I decided to observe her appearance.
She had long, green hair tied in a braid. She wore glasses and antique clothes that seemed out of place in Trestkania.
As I examined her carefully crafted facial features, reminiscent of a girl who often spent time in the library, there was something about her that felt strange yet warming.
"Are you not a Trestkanian?" I asked.
She fell silent, coming to terms with the reality of the question.
"...Hehe, yeah, I am," she nodded.
Painfully obvious, but due to her extravagant clothes compared to the rest of the Trestkanians, she must be someone special to remain calm after that.
...
...
...
"So, what did you want to talk to me about if you don't know what this place is?" I asked, picking up where we left off, not really expecting an answer.
Instead, I questioned why she had approached me.
"Oh, um... It's nothing! I just want to thank you for saving us..." She fiddled nervously, glancing at me with unease.
"There's no need to thank me. It's only natural to help people in need."
Her eyes widened with curiosity about me.
"...Is that what you really think?" She pressed, wanting me to repeat my response.
"...No, not really. But I still believe that no one should have to live a miserable life," I admitted, blurting out my true thoughts, but I stood by my conviction.
"Hehe." She giggled for some reason, her laughter light and unexpected.
"Hmm? What's so funny?"
"If it's you... Then I can trust you then."
—Tap!
"You were so amazing when you stepped up to protect us. I fell for you at that moment."
"???"
My mind went hazy, bewildered at her sudden confession.
Before I could ask what that was about, she stood up from the couch and placed her hands behind her back.
"My name is Lucy, yours?"
"...Aria."
Feeling that something was off, I stood up as well, wondering what she was about to do.
"I've noticed for a while now that everyone here is a foreigner, while I'm the only one of my nationality."
"What are you talking about?"
With that unsettling statement, she began to take off her top, planning to strip.
"Wait, what are you doing?! It's too early for this—"
"Look at me."
"..."
Between her breasts was a peculiar gem, large enough to be noticeable.
Wanting to believe this wasn't what I think it is, I didn't hesitate and infused mana into my eyes, just like I did back in the underground city.
Unrefined, but better than last time, my eyes became irritated.
I could see mana in the air, with the Trestkanians having barely any mana.
But for the girl named Lucy, an overwhelming amount of malice spewed forth, making me question how she hadn't gone insane yet.
"B-Blegh...!" I almost vomited when I looked at her, overflowing with near-limitless energy.
My heart sank into the abyss, my eyes widening not at the indecency of her nakedness, but at the sight of the jewel.
"I don't know how I came to be, nor are these memories mine..." She smiled, despite the gravity of the situation.
It was completely inhumane to do this to her—something I would have never imagined could happen until now.
"Morze... did Morze do this to you?"
In response, she nodded her head, equally unaware of the answer.
Ah... I see now.
An architecture of a vast land that clearly doesn't belong to Trestkania.
All of this was born from her—no, from Lucy's thoughts...
She was the very core of the Pylon itself.
"Please, I implore you... kill me—before my other self arrives."
—BOOM!!!
Right as she said that, the ground shook violently, and everything around us distorted.
"Vice-Leader!" Anellia approached me suddenly, but I was too dazed to notice the ground breaking beneath us.
Before doing anything else, I reached for Lucy's hand, the self-proclaimed core of the Pylon.
"N-No!" She screamed, struggling to free herself from its grasp.
A giant tentacle shot up from the ground, forming a wall around us.
—SHING!!!
With Lux's near-perfect intervention, she sliced the black tentacle that had emerged from beneath Lucy.
However, more tentacles appeared, and Lucy was captured and dragged back to where we had come from—the faculty.
"Damn it!" Lux cursed, unable to intervene in time.
Impossible, I thought, in this unbelievable situation.
"○●■○■●!!!" The guardian roared as it emerged from the faculty building where we were trapped.
Pylons after the 2nd Cardinal Sky, how did they descend without the red sky?
The hidden truth about the new generation of Pylons was known to few, only to select catalysts who thrived on bringing the most exquisite despair.
"Little lab rat, that is no longer human. That's a monster," Eskieth said, standing beside me.
With the civilians extremely close to where the fight would begin, only the five of us remained to subdue that creature while the others evacuated them.
"Whoa, is that a Kraken...?" Nox exclaimed, having never seen one before.
"Core has been detected. Commencing subjugation," Anella announced as she readied her drones, now at 100% energy.
"How pitiful. That young one," Lux muttered, expressing her empathy for it.
"The Core was... a human?" I still couldn't process it, as I had never written anything like this in my novel.
The dilemma I had contemplated just minutes before had now materialized: to choose to save many at the cost of one.