Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
chapter-276

Before S could object for the sake of objection, I preempted her.

"Now, if you claim it's a trick, do you know what trick I used?"

"...I am not obligated to prove anything."

"Of course you are! Anyone can claim it's a trick. But you’re just talking, and I actually changed the card's color! You need to explain how I did it for your claim to have any value!"

The biggest problem with the Signallers was that they were inevitably rational.

They might stubbornly avoid eye contact, but they still had to answer my question.

"...It's alchemy. You changed the color using alchemy!"

Wrong.

A completely off-base guess.

It was so wrong that another Signaller, D, who knew more about alchemy, pointed it out.

"Negative. Alchemy requires incantations, transmutation circles, and alchemic materials. None of those were present a moment ago."

"If it wasn't that, then the card must be of a special kind that can change color!"

Even when arguing with a colleague, D spoke coldly.

"Signaller I.S. That logic is the same as before. Such claims are useless."

"I.D.! If that wasn't a trick, then what was it? Are you saying it's magic?"

"I did not say that. I merely pointed out the flaws in I.S.'s argument."

"Then do you have an explanation?"

"I once saw a similar act through the 'Window.' It's called sleight of hand, hiding an identical object somewhere and replacing the original. He likely used another card hidden in his hand, sleeve, or clothes."

This one was at least thinking.

Still far from the answer, but promising.

I spread my arms wide and shrugged.

"I'll give you a chance to prove it! Would you like to check?"

"I have no reason to refuse."

"Please give me the card! I shall inspect it myself!"

S, D, and a few other Signallers approached me with a look as if they would dissect me alive.

Haha, unless you have a keen eye, you won’t notice.

The liquid filling Nine of Heart is actually my blood.

I lightly sliced the card's edge with my finger.

A skilled magician could cut without getting injured at will.

Without making it obvious, I squeezed out some blood and pretended to blow on the card while letting the liquid seep inside.

A narrow gap was a perfect environment for the liquid to seep through.

My blood quickly absorbed into the card.

I used a bit of Tyr's Bloodcraft, just enough to make a drop of blood roll… but no one here would recognize that.

My precious blood was worth it.

Look, these naive Signallers were approaching a stranger with pure curiosity.

D rummaged through my sleeves, S examined my card with alchemy, and M crept closer to touch my hand.

All were absorbed in uncovering the secret.

｢Stop it…! That kind of contact is dangerous…!｣

Only I.A., bound by Historia, realized the danger.

｢He plans to mentally contaminate all Signallers! By arousing their curiosity with tricks and making them think for themselves!｣

I.A. hastily activated her Unique Magic.

The Spiderweb was Unique Magic that binds multiple nearby Signallers at once.

She tried to calm their excitement and instill caution towards me.

｢Signallers I.D., I.S.! Stop focusing on him and keep your distance! Repeat if you heard me!｣

But despite the spiderweb shaking vigorously, there was no response.

For the first time, I.A. felt an urgent panic.

｢Listen! Why can't you hear my voice…!｣

Because most of your power is being used to bind Captain Abbey.

I.A. soon realized this.

Shocked, she rechecked her Unique Magic.

The morning glory was pulling on the spiderweb.

The delicate vine was tugging at the sturdy web.

｢Ivy! How did you…!｣

The stone-faced Captain Abbey turned her head.

Through the connecting spiderweb, they exchanged silent words.

｢I.A., you exhausted the Module's power to bind me. I can hardly speak without your permission.｣

If Captain Abbey’s Unique Magic covered both long and short distances, I.A.'s was specialized for binding multiple targets at close range.

That was why she became A, the administrator of Module I, with the strongest synchronization ability.

But Captain Abbey had been A from the start.

｢However, because of that, your voice can't reach the other Signallers as long as I endure.｣

｢Endure…! How can you! Morning glories always fall without support!｣

｢Support is unnecessary.｣

Captain Abbey stood upright.

I.A. felt a mind-numbing shock, though she couldn't scream because Historia was covering her mouth.

｢The morning glories… No! You…!｣

The sunflower stood firm.

A mere spiderweb couldn’t bend a resolute flower looking at the sun.

｢I can stand alone. I exist independently. Though my interference with other Signallers has weakened, I can still oppose you.｣

｢You, the closest to being an A… You've already been mentally contaminated!｣

I.A. thrashed both mentally and physically, but Captain Abbey held her mind, and Historia restrained her body, so she couldn’t affect anything.

An immense fear hit I.A..

A sense of isolation as if she were truly alone.

She felt that the situation was slipping out of her control.

｢This can't be! If this continues, Module I’s purpose is meaningless! I must terminate the Module before he contaminates the other Signallers…!｣

Desperate, I.A. gambled.

She tried to release the binding on Captain Abbey and command the other Signallers.

｢I won't allow that!｣

At that moment, something grabbed the retreating spiderweb.

It should’ve been impossible.

The web, like all Signallers’ Unique Magic, was unstable without something to hold onto.

They must always be connected.

But now, the weak end of the web was caught by the morning glory vine.

｢Let go, Ivy!｣

｢These people are innocent. There's no reason to terminate them!｣

｢They must die before their minds are contaminated! It's the rule to protect the Military State!｣

｢Then who will protect them?｣

I.A. shouted angrily.

｢The Military State comes before the Signallers! Ivy! Are you willing to endanger the Military State?!｣

｢I don’t know what the Military State is! If I must protect something, I will protect both!｣

｢Convenient words! When could you decide what to protect?! We don’t have the right or ability! We can only protect the rule, and that alone safeguards this country! I repeat, let go, Ivy!｣

No matter how much she shouted and pressured, Captain Abbey stood firm.

The resolute sunflower didn’t bow its head or close its eyes.

｢I believe I can.｣

｢Belief. Uncertain and foolish belief! That’s proof of your mental contamination!｣

Meanwhile, the Signallers were more confused by the card I produced.

Some denied it, but others, driven by curiosity, questioned what it was.

The rigid, inhuman demeanor was fading. They were now just curious girls.

Realizing the impending disaster she desperately tried to avoid, I.A. cried out helplessly.

｢Ah, ah…! Please, someone, give orders! Do something about this…!｣

But there were no gods in the Military State.

Even angels summoned through Signallers were artificial miracles.

Who would answer her call….

[I have heard your prayer.]

…Just then.

[At last, the destined day has arrived—the day on which our fate hangs.]

Something ‘emerged’ from I.A.’s body.

Her Unique Magic, the Spiderweb, normally invisible and intangible to others, suddenly wrapped around her body, encasing her like a white garment.

Immediately after, I.A. moved.

Despite Historia firmly holding her from behind.

“Ugh…!”

A white hand gripped Historia’s, producing an unpleasant cracking sound.

The sound of bones cracking, flesh tearing, and human tissue rupturing came from Historia's hand.

“What… This strength…!”

The force from the frail Signaller somehow surpassed Historia's grip strength.

A miracle impossible with I.A.’s frail body was now manifesting in this small building.

Even I.A. was shocked by what she had done.

｢The Voice of the Military State…!｣

『Indeed, Signaller. Most diligent and faithful one. I have come at your call.』

｢I have failed. I couldn’t properly manage the Module, allowing the enemy to cause mental contamination. The current situation is…｣

『I know.』

｢…!｣

『You are all connected to me. It was my will that you accept them. Now, rest and leave the rest to me.』

Someone's voice echoed in I.A.'s head.

I couldn’t read the thoughts of the speaking entity, only grasping its intent indirectly through I.A.’s thoughts.

Haha.

Look at that.

There's always another hurdle.

As expected, there is another one besides the Signallers.

｢I will rectify this… please.｣

I.A. accepted the unknown force without resistance.

As soon as her consciousness faded behind the veil, the 'True' Eimeder, with six radiant wings, flung Historia aside.