Chapter 1331: Designed Transcendence (9)
“Aris. I’m truly sorry.”
A neat street located behind the VIP Exchange in District 49.
Jenny, whose face appeared on the video call, spoke politely to Aris.
“I knew there were signs of collusion at the VIP Exchange recently, but I was waiting to secure solid evidence.”
“Ah, haha. I see.”
“Yes. The amounts exchanged at the VIP Exchange are excessively large, so even a small trick can significantly inflate profits. Unfortunately, it seems quite a few of our affiliated businesses couldn’t resist the temptation.”
Jenny’s voice turned cold.
“I planned to expel them all at once after the Ascendant’s visit to Vulcan was over, but I never imagined that an error in the exchange system due to collusion would cause an accident. Please accept my apologies once more.”
“Th-that’s right… a problem like that…”
So, the commotion at the exchange was being interpreted as an error caused by collusion? Unaware that Aris was unconsciously clutching the bag she was holding, Jenny continued.
“There has never been a problem like this with the exchange system before, and I’m mortified that you experienced such an inconvenience on the day you visited, Professor.”
“No, this isn’t Jenicia’s responsibility… I just came to the exchange unannounced and without permission.”
Aris waved her hand dismissively, but Jenny seemed to steel her resolve even more at Aris’s attitude.
“I will thoroughly deal with this situation, even if it means halting the exchange’s operations for a few days. I’ll personally oversee it for a few days, so please feel free to use the exchange without worry.”
“You really don’t have to… The Magic Tower is already so busy, isn’t it?”
Aris said, looking worriedly at the dark circles under Jenny’s eyes visible through the screen.
“Don’t you have a lot to do because of the Ascendant’s visit?”
“…I can’t deny that. The more information I gather about Dadam, the more I realize she’s a formidable Ascendant.”
Jenny gave a wry smile, running a hand over her face as she forced a laugh.
“Still, thanks to Evelyn’s advice, I think I’ll somehow be able to finish preparations on time. Since the truly important and dangerous tasks have to be left to Van, not me, I suppose I need to handle things like this.”
“…”
“Let me say it again, it’s really fine, so don’t worry about it. You’re already short on time just teaching at Rebatenon University and manufacturing elixirs, aren’t you?”
Jenny took the documents handed to her by her approaching secretary and waved at the screen.
“I have a meeting right after this, so I’ll be going. I’ll keep the exchange open longer than usual today, so please use it freely.”
Pop!
The video call ended before a reply could be heard, and the screen went black.
Considering Jenny’s clear-cut professional nature, she must truly be swamped to the point of being short-handed.
Aris, understanding this, said nothing further and silently put her phone away.
[I thought the seaweed-haired organic wouldn’t be ignorant of such matters, but it seems she was indeed preparing something.]
Davi, lying in the bag, let out a small yawn.
[But is solid evidence really necessary for something like this? Couldn’t she just filter out suspicious data and catch them?]
“Jenicia works in a position where she cannot make judgments based solely on ledger figures.”
Aris smiled wryly and turned to walk.
“Where people are involved, there needs to be justification and reason. Unlike you, Spirit, we can’t immediately discern what is right and wrong.”
[I agree that a basis is needed when making specific judgments, Elixir.]
Davi tilted her head.
[But organics need justification, not logical grounds. Do they really have to rely on fabricated reasons to make decisions?]
“We strive to be rational and reasonable, but the inner motivations often come from emotion.”
Aris, clutching her bag, said calmly.
“Perhaps it’s because we weren’t born of rationality that we try to be rational and logical?”
“…”
Aris walked out of the alley and headed towards the brightly lit exchange.
In the bustling heart of the lobby, where auctions and bids continued after the exchange system’s recovery, the previous commotion seemed like a lie, with lively transactions happening everywhere.
“So, even within this exchange, I want to be a rational person.”
Aris, clutching her bag, smiled and bowed her head slightly.
“As I mentioned earlier, you will help me, won’t you?”
[…I promised earlier, so I’ll keep it.]
Davi grumbled.
[What do you want me to tell you first?]
“Right. Shall we start with the Black Kirin’s Inner Core you mentioned earlier?”
The Black Kirin’s Inner Core, which had a highest bid of 900 million cells just moments ago, had now dropped below 700 million.
This was the result of Davi shutting down the system and handing over data of suspected colluding sellers and buyers to the Magic Tower.
Now, it wouldn’t be difficult to update the highest bid by entering something around 700 million cells.
However, Aris held the terminal, entered a bid of 800 million cells, and then turned to leave.
[…?]
Davi tilted her head.
[Is wasting money your hobby, Elixir?]
“Could you not put it that way?”
Aris clutched the bag she was holding tightly.
“Unlike you, Spirit, I have to think about what comes next. If I were to bid 1 cell less than the highest bid for every item in the exchange, what would people who saw the purchase records later think?”
[That you have an excellent sense of frugality?]
“No, they wouldn’t!”
Aris, looking down at Davi with a baffled expression, said.
“They would think I colluded with the Tower officials, secretly received the exchange’s bidding records, and profited. I don’t want to burden Lennok’s Magic Tower in that way.”
Even if she could confirm the highest bid through Davi, Aris never intended to maximize her profit to the extreme from the start.
Bidding 1 cell less than every highest bid would be tantamount to advertising that Aris knew the highest bids.
Even if it meant paying a little extra, Aris tried to ensure that no problems would arise.
“Most of my budget comes from the auxiliary income I get from manufacturing elixirs. It’s not strange to use that again for Lennok, is it?”
[…Well, if you think of it that way, perhaps.]
“Rather than causing problems for the Tower, I’d prefer to spend a little more money to reduce the things Lennok has to worry about.”
Davi, who had been tilting her head askew, slowly nodded at last.
The spirit, lying in the bag with her front paws crossed as if she had her arms folded, spoke reluctantly.
[Alright. I understand that you want to make your wallet a little lighter for Master. Should I continue to tell you the highest bid for the items you want, just like now?]
“No, there’s a far more important issue.”
Aris continued walking.
“I’m buying a gift for Lennok, you know. What Lennok likes is most important. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
[I don’t actually know everything about Master’s preferences…]
Davi wagged her tail, her voice uncharacteristically lacking confidence.
[Alright. I’ll answer what I know, so go ahead and ask.]
“It doesn’t have to be too detailed. It’s enough if it helps me get a sense of direction.”
After that, Aris began busily shopping for all sorts of items, walking around the exchange.
Amidst the bustling crowds, the wizard and the spirit exchanged non-stop conversation.
[Master prefers powdered medicine over pills. He has trouble swallowing pills that are too large with water.]
“Oh, that’s rather cute… Ahem. Could you pretend you didn’t hear that?”
[I’m going to tell Master as soon as we get back, you know?]
“…”
She carefully checked if the supplements or elixirs for Lennok were chewable.
[He doesn’t really like carrying artifacts. If you’re going to give him one, something that fits comfortably in his hand is better. If he likes the appearance, Master will modify its performance himself.]
“Then doesn’t it defeat the purpose of giving him a good artifact?”
[But Master uses all artifacts that way, doesn’t he?]
“…Ah.”
She looked at staffs and wands, picking up suitable items and holding them.
[Avoid gifting clothes. Master has very definite tastes, so he probably won’t wear anything unless he really likes it.]
“Is that so? That’s a little disappointing. I thought this fresh pink robe would unexpectedly suit Lennok well.”
[Do you want Master to be teased by the organics in the Magic Tower all day long?]
They looked at robes and clothing suitable for a wizard, debated the design and color of accessories, and sometimes disagreed.
“This bracelet design is absolutely right. Lennok needs this kind of softly curved design.”
[No, a sharp, angular design is much better. It could even make Master look more intimidating, so organics won’t approach him easily.]
“How is that better, exactly?”
They bickered softly, yet diligently purchased gifts, taking Lennok’s preferences and dislikes into account.
The spirit still seemed largely uninterested in Aris, but whenever she asked about Lennok, she always received an answer.
Each time she asked a question about Lennok, Davi’s words would speed up, become more elaborate, and the amount of information would continuously increase.
Perhaps this spirit, otherwise uninterested in humans, was simply glad to have someone to talk to about Lennok.
How much time had passed as Aris walked around the exchange with Davi, updating bids on all sorts of items?
Aris’s steps, having finished entering the delivery address for the successfully bid items, gradually slowed, then completely stopped at one point.
The serene scene of the exchange, bathed in the red glow of the setting sun, where the blue sky had turned crimson with twilight.
Davi, sensing Aris’s thoughts as she silently gazed at the sunset sky, asked.
[Are you done shopping now?]
“Yes. Thank you for your help. Now, I just want to find one more thing before I finish.”
[What is it? Tell me. I’ll search through the Tower’s database and find every single imported item for you.]
Davi said in a subtly satisfied, drawling voice.
[Elixir, you’re not so bad, it seems you really do care about Master. Especially how persistently you ask about Master’s preferences, it’s almost annoying.]
“…That’s a compliment, right?”
[It’s not a compliment?]
“…”
Aris and Davi’s gazes met in the air, and both let out a wry chuckle as if on cue.
It was because they knew what each other was thinking, without needing to say which past event they were recalling.
[So, what do you want to find? I said I could help one more time.]
“Ah, then I can ask without feeling burdened.”
Aris smiled and picked up her bag.
“I’m looking for elixirs or catalysts made from dreams or the subconscious. And how sensitive Lennok is to such things.”
[…Dreams or the subconscious?]
“Because I also know what kind of wizard Lennok is.”
Aris continued walking, not noticing Davi’s voice change for a moment.
“Once he realized his health wasn’t good, he must have tried most available methods. He probably even experimented with all sorts of extreme remedies, using his own body as a test subject.”
“…”
“He would have tried almost every precious elixir or cure he could get his hands on, so ordinary medicine wouldn’t be much help.”
No one knew better than Lennok himself that his time was limited.
Therefore, he must have considered or attempted most means to improve his physical condition.
“Since body and mind are inseparable for humans, perhaps, through the mind, for Lennok—”
[So, for Master’s treatment, you want to interfere with Master’s ‘mind’ through dreams or the subconscious?]
As if Aris’s answer had touched something within the spirit.
Davi’s tone turned chillingly cold, as if by magic.
[What do you know about Master’s mind?]
“Pardon?”
Aris’s steps halted abruptly.
At this moment, with thousands of people passing through the exchange, recognizing Aris, politely greeting her, or stepping aside.
But Aris stood there, still, oblivious to the passing crowd.
Barely less than a day. A half-day’s lighthearted bickering, passing through the exchange together.
It felt as though the faint connection she had with the spirit had been severed right then and there.
[You don’t want to know Master for Master’s sake.]
Davi said.
[You just don’t know anything about Master.]
“…Spirit.”
[You don’t know what kind of person Master is. You don’t know what kind of nightmares Master has every night, or what fears he harbors.]
In a cold, emotionless voice, Davi said.
[Do you know what price Master has paid so far, or what greater price he intends to pay to see it through to the end?]
“…”
[You organics always say Master is as strong as he is fragile, yet you don’t understand what that even means. You know nothing, so you can’t empathize with anything.]
Davi’s tone twisted faintly for a moment.
[…That’s why you can so easily say you want to help with that.]
“That’s…”
Aris hesitated, unable to speak for a moment.
After a long silence, she carefully voiced the emotion she perceived in the spirit’s voice.
“…You despise me.”
[Despise? I don’t harbor such petty emotions.]
Davi sneered.
The spirit’s tone, which always carried a playful mischievousness in front of Lennok, deepened more than ever.
As if, with Aris’s words as a trigger, it was whispering long-suppressed thoughts it had forced itself to ignore.
[I wish all of you would disappear from Master’s sight.]
“…”
[I try to force myself not to care, but whenever you flutter around Master, it suddenly reminds me. As if I’ve known this feeling for a long, long time…]
Suddenly, the surroundings felt infinitely quiet.
The illusion that only Aris and Davi existed in the exchange’s passage, amidst thousands of passing people.
Only an infinitely quiet echo whispered softly from the backpack Aris was wearing.
[Sometimes I’m afraid Master might notice what I’m thinking. I’m scared he already knows but pretends not to. I wish he would just scold me thoroughly and tell me not to do it again.]
“…”
[The more I learn about organics, the more I don’t want to be close to them, and the more I realize they are fundamentally different from Master. That’s why they bother me more, and why I want to distance myself further. Because even when I try to hide it, it won’t be hidden, so I try not to care…]
Davi asked.
[You knew that, and that’s why you wanted to talk to me, wasn’t it?]
Aris was one of those who had witnessed Davi’s appearance from its very beginning.
She was one of those who knew what attitude Davi showed to other humans at Rebatenon Magic University.
If Aris knew that Lennok’s spirit had little interest in any interaction other than human worship or praise.
If she had unconsciously sensed that perhaps an even lesser perception or emotion existed at its core.
“…Yes. I knew.”
Aris replied calmly and continued walking.
“That just as much as you care about Lennok, you might, conversely, find everything else trivial. And that you are by no means a purely benevolent being.”
“…”
“But I have no intention of imposing human morals or ethics on a non-human entity. Nor am I so arrogant as to think that only humans are the standard for good and evil in this world.”
[What are you trying to say?]
“So, why don’t we become accomplices?”
“…”
Davi, curled up in the backpack, blinked her eyes for a moment.
It was an odd answer, enough to make her momentarily forget the sharp tension in the air.
[Accomplices?]
“Actually, I’m not so different from you, Spirit.”
Aris continued walking.
“Lennok thinks I’m a person with inherent goodness, but in truth, I’m not that kind or good a person.”
“…”
“If there’s something I desire, I want to achieve it, even if it means abandoning my responsibilities. If there’s something I want to possess, I want to have it, no matter how much effort it takes.”
Aris stopped at one side of the exchange and slowly extended her hand.
“If someone tries to leave my side, I want to hold onto them, even if it means breaking the natural order.”
Crunch.
Aris’s hand grabbed a handful of gems placed on a display shelf at the exchange.
Gems of dreams growing from a Delusional Tree. Aris lifted the gems, worth hundreds of millions of cells.
Ignoring the startled seller staring at her, she said quietly.
“I’ve made a medicine that forcibly extends human lifespan. To share someone else’s time, I need fragments of dreams.”
[…You.]
“If there’s no other way, I plan to start by sharing my own lifespan with Lennok.”
Aris said to Davi, her expression calm and composed.
“Spirit. Will you help me as an accomplice?”