Chapter 646: Enforcer (3)

Artemeyer, the architect of the Ascension Gate. The very individual who designed the Gate, the supreme project on which Machina, the Machine City, staked all its possibilities. A researcher who vanished with the project’s failure, his very name erased from Machina’s history. Maiya was now saying that Artemeyer’s name originally belonged to The Doctor.

‘…I see.’ Though it was unexpected, Lennok didn’t waver much and quickly accepted the fact. In retrospect, there had been quite a lot of evidence suggesting The Doctor was Artemeyer, or someone of comparable standing.

The way Maiya and The Doctor seemed to have known each other from way back in Pandemonium. The Doctor’s attitude, always showing interest in researching and investigating information about the Old World. And even the fact that the divine statue he had created existed as replicas throughout the Machine City, Machina.

It was clear that The Doctor had once conducted research on the Old World in this Machine City. And considering the capabilities and genius he displayed in Pandemonium, it wouldn’t be strange at all if he had been directly involved in the design of the Ascension Gate, beyond just a research position.

But the reason Lennok hadn’t thought The Doctor was Artemeyer, even knowing all this, was probably because Lennok had judged him to be someone who wouldn’t be tied down to one place, dedicating himself to a massive project.

Although he moved according to the Director’s words, The Doctor’s plans and methods were quite idiosyncratic and arbitrary, even within Pandemonium. Lennok hadn’t believed such a person would once have been affiliated with the Machine City, serving as the design lead for the Ascension Gate project.

[That’s not my lingering regret, Maiya. I can’t agree with that statement.] The Doctor, his voice turned cold, laughed from beyond the blood portal Maiya had created.

[All I did was design the theory of the Ascension Gate into a feasible blueprint. You placed conditions and met the price on Jura’s Libra, didn’t you?]

“…”

[I didn’t think the project’s failure would lead to the void of the Old World, but it’s not my lingering regret that it didn’t stop once it failed to reach its goal.]

The Doctor’s reply, laced with faint derision.

[The very idea of extracting meaning from beyond the silence was flawed from the start. Everyone knew such problems would arise. What’s the point of trying to fix it now?]

Tap, tap… The Doctor mumbled, accompanied by the lazy sound of something being tapped.

[You’re just repeating a futile effort that won’t end in one go, Maiya… It’s far from the fundamental solution you seek.]

Even knowing Maiya’s intense obsession with the failure of the Ascension Gate, he didn’t hesitate to openly mock it. Far from feeling responsibility or burden for the Gate’s failure, he seemed to view it as a natural outcome. In fact, judging by The Doctor’s words, it even seemed as if he was trying to dissuade Maiya from getting involved in Machina’s affairs at this point.

Lennok, who had been silently listening to their conversation from behind, his eyes glinting.

‘So he participated in the Ascension Gate project through some kind of deal, but had no interest in the outcome?’

But even so, the fact that The Doctor designed the Gate didn’t disappear. The Doctor seemed to think his contribution to the project was minor, but Lennok, on the contrary, was realizing the extent of his capabilities from that very answer.

What did it mean to design the theory of the Ascension Gate into a feasible blueprint? It was the genius of quantifying non-existent Mind Imprints and Will-thoughts, and possibilities, bringing them into the realm of calculation and research. What The Doctor spoke of was the fruit of a talent that had reached the pinnacle of theoretical actualization, something even Lennok couldn’t be sure he could replicate.

It was no coincidence that even now, with Artemeyer’s name completely forgotten in this city, he was still remembered as the architect of the Ascension Gate. It was clear that The Doctor’s abilities had played a crucial role in the process of concretely designing the project.

The Doctor’s words, openly pointing out and mocking the Ascension Gate’s failure. But instead of getting angry at The Doctor’s remarks, Maiya silently watched the blood dripping from her forearm.

The dripping blood rose, transforming into the shape of a gate, connecting her with The Doctor, but it wouldn’t last long. At this point, with The Doctor’s unwillingness to directly intervene exposed, she had to leave at least a minimal result. The words she needed to say were set.

“Hermes is one of the very few Transcendants who have been with a God-Slayer.”

[God-Slayer?]

“Even if it’s not to fix this current situation, we need to observe that causality. Am I wrong?”

[…]

The silent Doctor laughed.

[…I see. Was someone listening? It would have been easier for both of us if you had said something sooner.]

“…”

Maiya didn’t reply further, but Lennok immediately understood what the two were discussing. Hermes was one of the extremely rare Old World beings connected to the Director. That’s why Maiya had told The Doctor about the need to observe the situation, even if it wasn’t to fix the failure of the Ascension Gate. However, referring to the Director as “God-Slayer” was merely a simple message to prevent Lennok from knowing the Director’s true identity. The Doctor instantly read the intent behind those words and subtly noticed Lennok’s presence.

[Alright. If that’s the reason, then there’s no helping it.] A refreshingly swift change in attitude, awkward given his dissuasive stance just moments before. Maiya, too, nodded, as if she had expected The Doctor’s reaction.

“The time we can maintain contact isn’t long. If you have anything to say about the Gate, tell me quickly.”

[Something to say… Ah, I see.] The Doctor seemed to ponder for a moment, then laughed as if realizing something.

[Coincidentally, I have some information about the Old World Transcendants in my database. I’ll explain Hermes to you.]

“…Information about Hermes still remains?”

[Hermes Orokhnier. Chancellor of the Ruined Kingdom, Ghost of Steel, Commander of Platinum. A Transcendent who gained qualification by transcending Hierarchy based on Mass Manipulation Magic, researching the boundaries between matter and non-matter.] Without waiting for a reply, The Doctor continued swiftly in an even tone.

[He was said to be a commander worth a thousand, possessing military might akin to a legion. He seems to have been an outstanding war proxy, with his accomplishments recorded in the history of the Old World over decades.]

“…”

[A cold and mechanical disposition. Five nations destroyed. One civilization obliterated. He was once revered as a god, but seemed to have no interest in keeping followers.]

Lennok listened to the words and tried to recall if there had been anyone like Hermes in World 2.0, but no boss or character came to mind. Could he have been a Transcendent who existed after Lennok stopped playing World 2.0?

Maiya, too, heard the words and fell silent, her expression complex as if lost in thought. The Doctor neatly ignored their reactions and mumbled as if looking through an old book.

[He acquired the qualification to challenge ascension, but never officially attempted it. However, among the Transcendants of the Old World, no one ever attempted…] The Doctor’s words, which had been reading along, suddenly stopped.

“Doctor, what is it?”

[Heh heh… I think I understand why Hermes’s ego existed beyond the Gate. He never intended to transcend the world from the very beginning.] The Doctor replied, letting out a low chuckle.

[I pretty much know what needs to be done. I’ve left a contingency near the Machine City. I’ll send you the coordinates; you can handle the rest.]

“Alright.”

Maiya replied coolly, slowly rubbing her forearm.

“I’ll hear the rest after everything is done.”

[Suit yourself. Just don’t get too deeply involved in the void of the Old World. As you know—] The Doctor paused, then whispered from beyond the slowly closing blood portal.

[—We’re already intertwined with the most dangerous possibility from that old world.]

For a moment, Maiya’s lips twitched faintly, as if the very act of him calling him that was awkward.

“Possibility, you say…”

[It’s not our job to judge the value of the Old World. Don’t forget that.] The Doctor’s voice, mumbled in a strange tone, faded as his footsteps receded. Small footsteps, as if he had turned his back and walked away from beyond the gate.

[Under absolute standards, everything merely exists within the realm of calculation. The rest…] Beyond the dispersing presence, only The Doctor’s message quietly echoed.

Maiya listened to those words, then slowly rubbed her forearm to stop the bleeding and retracted her blood magic. Turning with an expressionless face, she gave Lennok a slight nod.

“I’ve received the coordinates. Let’s move for now.”

But instead of replying, Lennok stared at her and said,

“I understand you want to stop Hermes. You seem to think this is one of the failures that was predetermined.”

“…”

“Then why do you need my help instead of acting directly yourself?”

“Along with the failure of the Ascension Gate…”

Maiya said that, then her lips twisted faintly. As if merely mentioning that fact was unbearable. After a brief silence, she slowly opened her mouth.

“I made an oath on the Libra and relinquished all authority. Interference with the central systems, including the Machine City’s Ex Machina, is forbidden to me.”

“The Libra?”

“Jura’s Libra. It’s a type of quantified contract created in the central city of Ars Nova by reinterpreting the Geas.”

Maiya explained casually.

“Because the contract proceeds by mediating through a fallen status, it acts as a prohibition where only high-hierarchy superhumans can stake a price.”

“So you mean you want to minimize intervention due to the prohibition?”

“The backlash from the contract won’t harm me.” Maiya’s eyes, fixed on Lennok as she crossed her arms, turned cold.

“It’s the very value that the contractor staked on the Libra, the most precious and obsessed-over one.”

“…”

What she valued most was the well-being of the Machine City, or something of comparable value. She was implying that if she violated the prohibition and intervened too heavily, the Machine City itself could be destroyed.

“If I were to confront Hermes directly myself, it might actually end up helping him. I want to avoid that at all costs.”

So, as an exile, she was stripped of all authority to intervene in the system, meaning she wasn’t even allowed to approach? Yet, Maiya secretly returned to this city, trying to stop Hermes, who sought to overturn the entire city. This was proof that even after being abandoned by the city, Maiya still mulled over Machina’s failures, constantly replaying them in her mind.

“Hermes’s existence is one of the most fatal and dangerous variables among the many we considered when preparing the project.” Maiya said, having quickly stopped the bleeding and cleaned up the traces.

“A mind consumed by the ego of a qualified Transcendent can no longer be considered human. It merely becomes a component that moves to call forth its true self, according to the encroached memories.”

“…”

“Before I was exiled, I wanted to prepare thoroughly for the risks associated with him, but…”

She probably hadn’t spoken those words hoping for Lennok’s understanding. Her words were the kind that could never be truly grasped without some prior knowledge of Maiya’s past and circumstances.

But precisely because of that, Lennok understood why Maiya had temporarily returned to Machina at this time. She hadn’t returned to fix the failure of the Ascension Gate, or to find a fundamental solution. However, she had returned to Machina to fulfill the responsibility for her own failure, because she had anticipated that something like this might happen someday.

Outside the city, the Maiya he had encountered was an outlaw who perpetrated sacrifice, slaughter, destruction, and ruin. But the Maiya who returned to Machina was still a guardian and an enforcer, fulfilling her responsibilities to the city.