Covenant of Errors
Chapter 40 – The Anchor Breaks
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No one said anything.
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But everyone understood—
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the most dangerous thing had happened.
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Rei did not pass the test.
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Rei did not fail.
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Rei had—
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rendered the test meaningless.
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Surveillance room.
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An elder spoke:
"… If he cannot be evaluated…"
"… then he cannot be controlled."
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Another replied:
"… Then eliminate him."
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Silence.
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Elias stood there.
"… Impossible."
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All eyes turned to him.
"… If it were possible, you would have done it long ago."
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No one refuted him.
Because—
They had tried.
And failed.
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Elsewhere.
A tall, slender man gazed into a crystal.
"… So we've finally reached this stage."
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Someone beside him asked:
"What now? He no longer reacts according to any model."
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He smiled.
"Then…"
"I will create a model he cannot ignore."
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In Rei's room.
He stood still.
Not thinking.
Not analyzing.
Only existing.
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But—
not as before.
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Before, "existence" was a default state.
Now—
"existence" was a choice being maintained.
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Rei looked at his hand.
"… I am choosing."
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A simple sentence.
But for the first time—
there was a subject.
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The door opened.
Elias entered.
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He carried no orders.
No role as an instructor.
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Only—
a human being.
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"… Rei."
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Rei looked at him.
"… Confirmed."
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Elias was silent for a few seconds.
"… If there were a choice—"
"… that would make everything collapse…"
"… would you take it?"
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Rei did not answer immediately.
"… Depends on the conditions."
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"… If the condition is—"
Elias paused.
"… me."
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The space stalled.
For the first time—
a specific variable was introduced.
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Not "ally."
Not "subject."
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It was—
Elias.
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Rei looked at him.
Not analyzing immediately.
The surrounding space fluctuated slightly.
"… New condition."
"… Not present in the previous model."
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Elias gave a faint smile.
"… Correct."
"… So?"
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Silence.
This time—
longer than ever before.
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Rei spoke.
"… Cannot be calculated."
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Elias exhaled softly.
"… Good."
"… That means you've begun."
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Outside—
A sudden alarm rang out.
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> "High-level fluctuation detected"
"Source: internal sector"
"Type: unknown"
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Lira sprang up:
"… Again?!"
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A mage shouted:
"It's not from Rei!"
"… It's from—"
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Elias.
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Inside the room—
Elias's shadow began to distort.
Unstable.
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Not from losing control.
But—
being pulled.
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Rei noticed immediately.
"… External interference."
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Elias clenched his hand.
"… They've begun."
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"… They?"
"… Those who want to turn you into something."
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Space tore apart.
A magic circle appeared—
not belonging to the academy's system.
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A voice echoed:
"Elias Nocthar."
"You are the anchor."
"And we…"
"will break that anchor."
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Rei stood still.
"… Anchor."
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For the first time—
he heard this concept.
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Elias laughed coldly.
"… So you finally show yourselves."
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Darkness flared around him.
But—
unstable.
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Not because the enemy was stronger.
But because—
something was interfering with the very conditions of his existence.
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The voice continued:
"You are not permitted to bind."
"But you have created a bond."
"So—"
"we will erase it."
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Space contracted.
An invisible force pressed down.
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Not aimed at Rei.
But at—
Elias.
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Rei stepped forward.
"… Condition changed."
"… Target under threat: Elias."
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The space around him surged violently.
No longer just adaptation.
But—
preparation to intervene.
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Elias looked at him.
"… Don't."
"… If you intervene—"
"… you will be dragged into the same frame of reference as me."
"… And they will be able to reach you."
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Silence.
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Rei stopped.
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A choice.
No model.
No data.
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Only—
a new condition.
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"… If I do not intervene—"
"… Elias may be erased."
"… If I intervene—"
"… I will be constrained."
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For the first time—
both choices directly affected him.
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Not mere survival.
But—
relationship.
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Space trembled violently.
The voice rang out one final time:
"Choose, Rei."
"Keep your freedom—"
"or keep your anchor."
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Silence.
No one breathed.
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Rei closed his eyes.
No analysis.
No simulation.
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Only—
choice.
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End of Chapter
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Hidden Status Board:
> Rei (零)
Status: Facing a binding choice
New Variable: "Anchor – Elias"
Note:
"For the first time, the subject is forced to choose between freedom and an external factor."
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Arc 3 reaches its peak tension.
This choice—will redefine Rei entirely.