Covenant of Sin
Chapter 36 – Experimental Zone
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Three days later.
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Rei was taken out of the monitoring area.
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No shackles.
No suppression.
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Only—
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a mission.
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The outskirts of the academy.
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A sealed-off zone.
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Distorted terrain.
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Unstable space.
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Lira stood behind, her voice tense:
"… This isn't a normal field operation."
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Elias looked around.
"… This is the old testing zone."
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"The place where the incident happened?"
"… Yeah."
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Rei stepped in first.
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Without hesitation.
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The moment he set foot inside—
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The space trembled slightly.
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Not because of Rei.
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But because of—
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a reaction.
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> "Incompatible entity detected"
"Environment adjusting"
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Rei stopped.
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Closed his eyes.
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"… Natural deviation."
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Not caused by humans.
Not by any underground organization.
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It was a zone that had once been… somewhat like him.
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Elias frowned.
"… Be careful. This place once recorded summoning collapse phenomena."
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Rei opened his eyes.
"… High compatibility."
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A response that left both of them silent.
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The space ahead—
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Rippled.
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A form appeared.
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Unclear.
Unfixed.
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Like a creature.
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But incomplete.
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Lira stepped back:
"… What is that?"
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Elias answered:
"… Something that failed to be summoned."
"… Or more precisely—"
"… something the system discarded."
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The creature moved.
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No footsteps.
No clear direction.
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But—
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It headed toward Rei.
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Rei didn't step back.
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He only observed.
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> Analysis: unstable
Structure: similar to out-of-system region
Conclusion: "closely resembling"
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The creature stopped in front of him.
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It didn't attack.
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It simply… existed.
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A strange moment.
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Two entities—
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Standing face to face.
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No combat.
No hostility.
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Only… recognition.
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Lira whispered:
"… Why isn't it attacking?"
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Elias replied slowly:
"… Because Rei… isn't its target."
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Rei raised his hand.
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The space around both sides fluctuated.
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No collision.
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But—
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synchronization.
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The creature trembled slightly.
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As if—
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it realized something.
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> "Similar subject"
"Elimination not required"
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But—
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Suddenly—
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A surge of mana shot in from afar.
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Piercing through space.
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Striking the creature directly.
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It shattered.
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No explosion.
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Just… dissolved.
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Rei turned his head.
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Elias had already raised a shadow barrier.
"… Not us."
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Lira panicked:
"Then who?!"
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A voice echoed from afar:
"Reaction exactly as predicted."
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Space opened.
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A tall, thin man stepped out.
"… The environment is compatible with him."
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Rei stared straight ahead.
"… You broke it."
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The man smiled faintly:
"That's right."
"I needed to see—"
"—how you would react when something 'like you' is erased."
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Silence.
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Lira snapped:
"Are you insane?!"
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He didn't care.
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Only watched Rei.
"… What do you feel?"
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Rei stood still.
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No anger.
No strong fluctuation.
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Only…
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an answer.
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"… Inefficient."
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A pause.
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The man frowned.
"… Inefficient?"
"… That action produced no benefit."
"Not emotions?"
"… No."
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Elias looked at Rei.
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He understood.
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It wasn't that Rei didn't recognize it.
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But—
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He didn't react the way they expected.
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The tall man exhaled lightly.
"… Then it's not enough."
"I'll increase the level."
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He turned away.
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Before disappearing—
"Next time—"
"I'll show you something you can't ignore."
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Space closed.
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Silence.
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Lira turned to Rei:
"… You really didn't feel anything?"
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Rei looked at the place where the creature had vanished.
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One second.
Two seconds.
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"… Undefined."
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Not denial.
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But—
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For the first time… something he couldn't define.
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Elias spoke softly:
"… That's exactly what makes it dangerous."
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End of Chapter.
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Hidden Status Board:
> Rei (零)
Status: Compatible with out-of-system environment
Emotional Response: Undefined
Note:
"The subject has begun interacting with similar entities and is unable to define internal responses."
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Arc 3 continues to escalate.
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It is no longer a simple experiment.
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They are trying to force Rei… to become something.