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CHAPTER 3: INDECISION OF THE DIVING WARRIOR – PART 1
May 23, 2016Tgurneu
Mokkania’s mother was on his back. He could feel her thin fingers and small hands. So as to not let them freeze, Mokkania tightly held her hands.
Suddenly, he remembered his childhood. Why did he recall that right now? While creating more and more ants, Mokkania kept walking through the Labyrinth.
“…”
Right. It was ever since that day. The day when he activated his power to its fullest.
That was four years ago. He fought with the Guinbex Army at the border of the Rona Kingdom. Mokkania recalled the day when he sank 6,500 soldiers in a sea of blood.
His first order was to monitor the ceasefire. Responding to a request by the Modern Management Agency, the entire main force of the Armed Librarians confronted the invaders from Guinbex. Both nations’ leaders tried to arrange the end of hostilities together with the Modern Management Agency.
The mission that was initially supposed to end in one month extended to two months, and then to three months, and then indefinitely. Both countries claimed to be parallel, leading to a fall in authority of the Modern Management Agency which tried to arbitrate between them. The public opinion was swayed against the Modern Management Agency and the Armed Librarians because of their perceived weakness and believed them to be wasting their time.
When the Guinbex Army ignored orders more than ten times, Mokkania received new instructions.
The strategy had been changed from simply monitoring the ceasefire to a ma.s.sacre.
Avoiding bombardment from the air and escaping the advancing tank corps, Mokkania released his ants. The power of his ants which were born and released exceeded even their creator’s expectations.
Soldiers were eaten alive. Mokkania kept killing them – those soldiers who waited for the day they would return to their hometown and reunite with their families.
“…”
The base became dreadfully silent. Clothes-wearing skeletons were scattered all around it. Not even an ounce of their meat was left uneaten.
“…”
There were traces of rooms having been sealed in order to defend against the ants. There were traces of people having tried to run away by vehicle.
The base was swarmed by skeletons, and there were cl.u.s.ters of small bones. A violin, a trumpet, a drum and a small conductor’s baton were lying around. On a musical score that fell to the ground the following had been written:
“The Boys’ and Girls’ Consolation Music Corps”
Mokkania started vomiting. The entire contents of his stomach were quickly gone. With his face covered in his own vomit, he kept spitting air and gastric juices.
Hamyuts Meseta greeted Mokkania as he returned to Bantorra Library. Mokkania believed he was going to be punished. He tried imagining what sort of penalty he will incur.
However, Hamyuts Meseta said only two words.
“Great work.”
She said this with a wide small.
She didn’t voice any condemnation of the Armed Librarian’s actions according to the public opinion. Her decisive judgment, that didn’t allow the oppression by the Guinbex Army, was highly evaluated.
Thus, Mokkania’s slaughter had been hidden in the shadows of these circ.u.mstances.
Ireia said to Mokkania,
“Mokkania-san, you are not at fault. If you hadn’t defeated them, they would have hurt many more people.”
Wrong. That wasn’t true.
“Mokkania-san. You should certainly feel responsible for having lost restraint. The fact that even you couldn’t control yourself when you went all-out is certainly your fault.
However, you are not a G.o.d. If you feel responsible, then try becoming stronger; try making your power more precise. Then, aim to defeat enemies without having unnecessary victims.”
Wrong. That wasn’t true.
“Mokkania?”
Mokkania returned to himself after hearing that voice. He then noticed that he was standing in place. He was lost in thought for some time. His mother on his back looked at him worryingly and sent a cold hand to his check.
“What’s wrong, Mokkania? You stopped suddenly…”
Mokkania gripped the hand that touched his cheek.
“Sorry, Mom. I did some thinking. You don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”
Lifting the body of his mother that slightly slipped down, Mokkania started walking again.
“Mokkania, are you scared? Of fighting Hamyuts Meseta, I mean.”
“Huh?”
“As your mother I don’t want you to try anything unreasonable. If you’re scared and think you can’t win, then don’t do it. Fight along with your friends. You don’t have to fight by yourself.”
“What’re you talking about, mom? I really was just thinking about things.”
“…Mokkania.”
Mokkania’s mother touched his neck.
“Are you really not scared?”
“…Mom.”
“I’m scared. Scared enough to s.h.i.+ver. I don’t even want to think how you are feeling.”
Mokkania listened to his mother’s words while recalling Hamyuts’s face. He would lie if he said he wasn’t afraid. But what surged inside him wasn’t only fear.
“Fighting is scary. It always was. Even as I am today.”
“…”
“But I’m not afraid right now. I can fight for you, Mom. So I’m not scared.”
Mokkania’s mother stroked his neck.
“Why did you become an Armed Librarian even though you were such a coward?”
“I was?”
“Yeah. Whenever I would tell you a story, when the bad guys appeared you would start crying.”
“Was it like that…”
Mokkania smiled wryly. He probably really worried his mother.
“Why did you become an Armed Librarian?”
“There wasn’t any deep reason. If you wanted me to, I would quit it at any time. Armed Librarians are all pieces of s.h.i.+t.”
“Don’t.”
Mokkania’s mother lightly beat his back.
“You can’t use a word like ‘piece of s.h.i.+t’.”
“…Right. Sorry, Mom.”
But Armed Librarians really are pieces of s.h.i.+t. Especially Hamyuts Meseta.
Thinking this, Mokkania kept walking ahead.
At the Labyrinth’s entrance were Mirepoc, Mattalast and Enlike; only those three people.
Mattalast returned to the surface and brought a trombone case. Opening the case, there was a rifle of a large caliber inside.
“What’s that?”
Enlike asked.
“A spare weapon. My usual pistols won’t have enough firepower this time.”
Mirepoc knew that gun. It was the same one that Luimon once used. It had power comparable to a tank gun and was referred to as a “Tenor” based on its distinctive firing sound. If Mattalast had used this gun against the Monster, he probably wouldn’t have fallen behind.
“Stop that. You can’t help us this time.”
Enlike said frankly.
“Your ability and Mokkania’s ants have a bad affinity.”
“I’ll at least provide logistic support.”
Mattalast began a.s.sembling the gun.
“Enlike-san is right. Mattalast-san, please wait behind.”
At that time, Ireia came down the spiral stairs. Following behind her was Feekiee. It seemed she went and called him down here.
“Right. You should wait quietly behind once in a while, Mattalast.”
Feekiee said. Mattalast smile wryly.
Next, Ireia spoke to Enlike.
“You should also draw back, Enlike-san.”
“I don’t think our abilities have a bad affinity, though.”
Ireia shook her head to the side.
“Sorry. That’s not what I mean.”
Enlike glanced at Feekiee who stood next to her. Then, he stared at Ireia.
“Got it.”
After standing for a short while, Enlike turned around and climbed the spiral staircase. Ireia saw him off with a gloomy expression.
“So that means only Feekiee-san and you are going to fight?”
Ireia nodded.
“Challenging Mokkania-san with great numbers will only increase the number of casualties. The obvious choice is to just send a few.”
Saying this, Ireia walked towards the Labyrinth’s entrance. She raised her arm in front of the gate. She then snapped her fist.
“We’ll be going. Feekiee-san, I’m counting on you.”
Feekiee nodded. Ireia opened the door and went inside.
Ireia shook her plump body as she lumbered inside the Labyrinth. As soon as she walked in, an enemy stood in her way.
It was a Rhino. Most of the Guardian Beasts were already devoured by ants, but it was one of the only survivors. Even while its body was being eaten by ants, it bravely executed the mission given to him by the Past G.o.d.
Ireia kept walking as she had no time to stop. Rhino put out its horn and came rus.h.i.+ng at her.
She caught its charge with one hand. The frictional heat created by her shoes on the ground raised smoke. But she didn’t stop.
Her right hand squeezed the horn. Cracks ran on that stout horn.
“Huu.”
Ireia raised her left hand while snorting. She didn’t make a fist. She simply slapped Rhino. She hit the base of its neck hard.
Rhino’s large body flew parallel to the floor. It broke through the pale-blue quartz and was slammed inside the wall. Its head was twisted 180 degrees.
All this took less than a second. This didn’t even count as a hindrance for her.
Ireia kept lumbering ahead, her body swaying as if nothing ever happened.
As she went further in, she could see ants. Initially only one or two, but then ten or twenty. Ireia went ahead and crushed those underfoot. She was also bitten by one or two. She kept walking without this even registering in her mind.
Mokkania sensed that his ants were being crushed. These aren’t Guardian Beasts. Who is it? Mattalast? Or Ireia? He turned around.
“Is something the matter?”
His mother asked.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
He deployed a large amount of ants behind him. He didn’t know who was coming, but it would be fine ignoring them. They would withdraw once they know it’s a useless struggle.
His aim was Hamyuts Meseta. He didn’t have the leisure to look behind.
At that time, the figure of a man appeared ahead. Mokkania ordered the ants ahead of him to stop their attack.
“Mokkania, Ireia Kitty is coming.”
It was Winkeny of the Indulging G.o.d Cult. He was the annoying man that could avoid his attacks. Mokkania’s expression darkened.
“Is that voice Winkeny-san’s?”
His mother asked from his back.
“Mokkania, a pincer attack would be bad. Kill Ireia first.”
Winkeny said while raising his gla.s.ses. Mokkania ignored it.
“There’s no problem. I have no other enemy than Hamyuts Meseta.”
“Don’t be so careless. In terms of compatibility to your ability, Ireia will be difficult.”
“You’re annoying, get away.”
“What are you saying, Mokkania?!”
His mother raised an angry voice.
“Mom…”
“Winkeny-san is important to us. He got all us the way here, and yet you act like this?”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“The one you need to apologize to is Winkeny-san. I’m sorry, Winkeny-san.”
Winkeny raised the edges of his lips and smiled. Mokkania slightly lowered his head.
“However, I’ll still leave Ireia alone.”
Mokkania pa.s.sed by him as he said so.
“I must settle everything before Hamyuts gets that.”
“…I see.”
Winkeny’s body melted and changed to petroleum. And then it disappeared, sliding away.
As expected I can’t rely on these Indulging G.o.d Cult guys, Mokkania thought to himself.
During that time, Hamyuts was at the telegraph room at the back of the Fifth Sealed Labyrinth. She sat down on the bed in silence.
In the control room connected to the telegraph room was a bed, food and water, a stove and such. This room was made in the Labyrinth for the case of emergency evacuation or a need to rest.
In order to prevent the intrusion of Guardian Beasts, the door was made thick and st.u.r.dy. However, the ants came in one after another using small gaps.
Hamyuts flicked ant corpses with her fingers and killed the intruding insects. Mokkania probably still hasn’t found out she came there. He should be thinking that Hamyuts went further ahead.
She kept exploring the Labyrinth with her Sensory Threads. She monitored the state of Mokkania, of Ireia, and of Feekiee and the rest who waited outside the Labyrinth.
Hamyuts had already heard about Ireia’s strategy from Mirepoc. She was patiently waiting for that moment.
“It should be about 70-30.”
Hamyuts a.n.a.lyzed their strategy. They had 70% chance for success and 30% chance of failure. If Mokkania were to take care of Ireia as the man called Winkeny suggested, the odds would become about 50-50.
“Well then, I wonder what’s going to happen.”
Hamyuts kept killing ants.
This was a battle. It was obvious they would do their very best in order to win. Therefore Hamyuts also cooperated with Ireia’s strategy.
However, she had regrets. For this to end so easily was a waste. It was a precious opportunity, after all. A warrior who could kill her made her his target.
“I wonder if I want them to succeed or to fail.”
Hamyuts thought to herself. Her mind swayed between the temptation for victory and for defeat.
However, that contradiction also felt sweet.
At the entrance to the Labyrinth, Feekiee, Mirepoc and Mattalast have been waiting patiently. From time to time they would receive a report from Ireia. For now, everything could be said to be going fine.
“Thinking about it, what about Enlike?”
Feekiee, who leaned on the door, asked.
“He’s with Noloty right now.”
Mirepoc answered.
“I see.”
Feekiee replied, sounding uninterested.
“If you need to I’ll call him. He’s much more useful than me in the current state.”
The bored Mattalast cracked jokes.
“Stop. I’ll never ask for his help.”
“You really hate him, huh.”
Mattalast sighed, and Mirepoc joined the conversation.
“Mattalast-san. To tell you to truth, even I don’t really…”
Unlike Feekiee who could frankly speak of his dislike without concealing it, she seemed to have a bit of problem talking about this.
“You too? But he’s a good person.”
“No, that’s not it…”
Mirepoc stammered.
“I don’t hate him as a human.
However, speaking frankly, I was disappointed. He wasn’t of much use neither as an information provider nor as a decoy. I just thought he would be a bit more useful.”
“In that sense, I guess you’re right.”
If they couldn’t even use him as bait for the Cult, Enlike had almost no value as a p.a.w.n. He was a strong and reliable man, but disappointing on that front.
“There’s no use thinking about him right now.”
Feekiee said.
“He really doesn’t matter.”
He then made a small laugh.
CHAPTER 3: INDECISION OF THE DIVING WARRIOR – PART 2 June 2, 2016Tgurneu The number of ants around gradually increased. Ireia stopped her march. Neither her brute strength nor her bulk held any meaning against them. They just made her a large bait. The number of ants rapidly increased. They looked like a hungry, ferocious black wave. One end of the looming wave touched Ireia’s feet. At that instant, Ireia invoked her Magic Right. The black wave’s movements grew dull as if weighted down. Their six legs, their restless mandibles, and their antennae exploring the floor all grew equally slow. Those were the kind of movements sometimes shown by pantomimes. They would perform by intentionally slowing down or stopping their normal movements. It was a bizarre phenomenon that turned every single ant on the floor to a pantomime. Ireia’s feet stomped the sea of ants. Her body also moved slowly as if she climbed stairs. This was Ireia’s ability – time manipulation. It allowed her to freely manage the flow of time of anything in her line of sight. She made the time flow at one-fifth its normal operation for the ants in front of her. The ants became slow and were crushed underneath Ireia’s feet. “Tch…” I can’t use this like when I was young. Long ago I could even slow it down to a tenth. Thinking this, Ireia kept crus.h.i.+ng the biting ants. She had no time to put still. If she won’t move immediately, she will get eaten to death. “…” Once again, Mokkania turned around. Ireia wouldn’t stop. Judging from the positions of the ants she was killing, she will probably catch up to him in about fifteen minutes. “Is someone coming from behind?” “…” Mokkania nodded, hesitating. He had to admit he was looking down on her. Although she was on the verge of retiring, Ireia was a first-cla.s.s Armed Librarian. He should have made a move earlier. Then, his mother atop his back spoke sadly. “Sorry, Mokkania. It seems your mother is a burden for you.” Mokkania was surprised. “What are you saying, mom?” “If I wasn’t here, you could have run away faster.” “Don’t say that, mom.” She didn’t reply. “Mokkania, go on. Don’t worry about me. I don’t want to think I was the one to cause you to die.” “But mom!” As if to deny his objection, Mokkania’s mother hit his head. “…This might be a bit unfair of me to say this, but please listen to what your mother says.” Mokkania worried. His mother was helpless. He had to protect her. However, he also had to admit that he wouldn’t be able to fully protect her. “Please, Mokkania.” His mother’s voice was sorrowful. Mokkania made a decision – he would protect his mother and trust his own ants. He lowered his mother from his back. “Mom, stay here. Don’t move no matter what. Don’t go anywhere.” His mother nodded. “Okay. Don’t worry, Mokkania. I won’t go anywhere.” Mokkania hugged his mother once, and then went away. Hamyuts was made aware of this with her Sensory Threads. At the moment Mokkania and his mother separated, she believed the success rate of the strategy went up to 80%. Her fingers operated the telegraph. “The rest depends on the old lady’s guts.” Mokkania sent some winged ants flying. He couldn’t afford to come in front of Ireia’s line of sight. If he did, the progression of his time would be slowed down. Ireia held supreme dominance over everything in her sight. He produced more ant forces. They weren’t the kind of soldier ants who could only receive rough orders. If compared to humans, they could be called Special Forces under his direct control. Ireia also didn’t have it easy. “Time” was one of the most fundamental principles under the Creator’s control. Touching that domain put no small drain on her. Low endurance was Ireia’s biggest weakness. And as she aged, that weakness became more p.r.o.nounced. Ants were flying. Winged ants came flying from behind the soldier ants. They were numbered several hundreds. They poured down on Ireia like rain. Slowing down time would be of no use. Ireia took a silken net out of her breast pocket. She spread it in air and stopped time. It was weak silk that would break if pulled at, but at that moment it became an invincible barrier. No matter what force would be applied against an object whose time was stopped, it would not break. Slipping underneath the net, Ireia ran ahead. She also evaded the rain of ants and arrived in front of a floor full of them. They weren’t far off from covering the entire floor. The ants piled on top and each other, and then had even more ants on top of them. Even if she stopped time for one section, other ants would climb over it and advance. Swarms of ants were stacked in many layers. They were already at the height of Ireia’s thighs. The ants underneath should have been crushed to death. Ireia instinctively jumped high. She kicked the frozen silk thread, and swung it by raising her finger above. From there, the airborne forces of the winged ants attacked her. The ants clung to Ireia’s body and began gnawing at her clothes and flesh. “This…!” Ireia screamed and activated her Magic Right at full power. The sound of something cracking came from inside her head. The ants clinging to her body suddenly lost their power and fell off. Their cause of death was starvation. She accelerated their metabolism ahead of their movements. “….Th…is…” Ireia became intensely exhausted. She could, without doubt, use this only three more times. Using the last bits of her energy, Ireia kicked at the ceiling. Mokkania dodged the obscured Ireia by estimating the direction of her movement. He must avoid entering her line of sight at all costs. He regretted being too impatient during this battle. However, it was already too late. Mokkania could sense it – the indescribable feeling that his time was stopped. He mustered the last vestiges of his consciousness to command his ants – eliminate everything except for his mother. Even if his time was stopped, his orders should keep going. He would beat Ireia that way. However, mom… He couldn’t continue that thought. Mokkania’s time was suspended. Ireia succeeded at stopping Mokkania’s time. But she could only stop it for less than a minute at best. That was enough. The strategy was successful. Hamyuts should be watching this fight. And then she will take the proper course of action. Ireia’s body fell into the sea of ants. At that moment, she stopped her own time. Hoping that the battle would end in their victory when time will be resumed for her, Ireia’s thinking had ceased. Hamyuts watched the end of Mokkania and Ireia’s battle. The battle ended in a draw, but she should still give praise to her efforts. “Old lady, that was perfect.” Hamyuts muttered. Her hands were already resting on the telegraph. She sent a telegraph informing Mirepoc of the strategy’s conclusion about a minute ago. A minute before Ireia stopped time, Mirepoc shouted from within the control room. “A telegram from the director! The target is at point 251 of route 51! We have an extension of about four minutes!” “As expected from the Director!” Feekiee threw off his jacket. He already shed off his shoes, pants and s.h.i.+rt. He was dressed in one-piece underclothes, and only held a knife in his mouth. He jumped in air and made a somersault. Just when it seemed he would crash headfirst unto the floor, it received Feekiee’s body inside as if it was made of liquid. This was his ability. Even amongst the Armed Librarian who had a variety of powers, he could be said to possess one of the more eccentric ones. It was named Steel Diving. It allowed him to dive either inside steel like its name or in any sort of ground, treating them as a sea. He was an expert at infiltration, while at the same time being an expert at searching within the Labyrinth. Despite his battle prowess being on the low side among Armed Librarians, he had mastery of the Labyrinth. Feekiee began advancing in a straight line towards the mother standing in the Labyrinth’s midst. After a minute of silence, Mokkania’s time resumed. “Dammit! Mom!” Ireia was a decoy. Mokkania felt ashamed. He should have realized they would send other people when Ireia came alone to him. “Mom!” Mokkania started running. His goal was his mother. Who’s coming? Hamyuts? No, Feekiee. “You’re a coward, Hamyuts! Aim for me!” He shouted. Hamyuts should be hearing his voice with her Sensory Threads. And she was probably gloating. Mokkania kept running with anger that threatened to pop a vein. Feekiee kept swimming in his shortcut of the complex Labyrinth. In order to focus on speed, his only equipment was a single knife. Traversing the Labyrinth on foot would normally take half a day, but with his speed, he could reach the target specified by Hamyuts in less than five minutes. He surfaced once to take a breath. In the instant Feekiee exhaled, the dreadful ants flocked his face. They ripped his lips to shreds. He immediately dove inside the stone again. ‘Mirepoc! What’s the situation of the target?’ Feekiee asked Mirepoc as their thoughts were connected. Mirepoc, who was in the control room, told him of the situation. ‘Contact from the Director… incoming! The target made no moves!’ ‘What about the time?’ ‘The grace period is extended! Three more minutes!’ ‘This will be an easy victory, Mirepoc.’ Feekiee sent his thoughts from within the sea of ground. While swimming, he suddenly thought of Enlike Bis.h.i.+le. He had great fighting capabilities, but was useless as an information provider. It wasn’t what the Armed Librarians had wanted. What they needed were people who knew the truth about the Cult. He next thought of the person who controlled Mokkania – his fake mother. She should probably know about the Cult. She wasn’t just an underling like Enlike. She deceived Mokkania and manipulated him to fight – making her a central figure of this incident. It makes no sense to kill her. She should be captured. She could be used as a hostage against Mokkania. Afterwards, she will give them information. If she were to be captured, the fight with the Cult would come to a conclusion. He didn’t tell Mirepoc, Mattalast or the rest about this idea. Since they were too careful, they would obviously oppose him. Just a little bit more. Feekiee brought his face out of the ceiling. He found the woman while she was guarded by ants around her. She was undoubtedly the impostor mother. “Don’t move.” Feekiee started talking to her. He first had to check that she couldn’t fight. Mokkania’s mother raised an alarmed voice. Since her eyes were impaired, she couldn’t tell who was talking to her. “Who… are you? Where are you talking from?” The fake mother spoke in confusion. Feekiee became convinced – she was weak. He will capture her. He will find an opening, make her lose consciousness and dive together with her. It would be a bit heavy to swim with someone in his arms, but he should be able to reach the Labyrinth’s entrance. Feekiee started speaking to affirm the situation. “I am Armed Librarian Feekiee Quinn. Do not resist. I ask you to provide me information.” The fake mother answered Feekiee’s words. Her reply was unthinkable. ‘…Huh?’ Feekiee’s thoughts were transmitted to Mirepoc. He should have already arrived at his target. ‘Feekiee-san! What are you doing?!’ Their strategy was for him to return immediately after killing her. However, Feekiee took no action even after arriving. He seemed to be talking. What was he trying to do? ‘Mirepoc, there’s something strange about her.’ Feekiee sent his thoughts. Just as she thought of replying, feelings of pain resounded in her head. ‘Feekiee-san!’ Feekiee was attacked. Mirepoc screamed. Hamyuts muttered while monitoring Feekiee with her Sensory Threads. “Feekiee’s such an idiot.” He wouldn’t be able to hear her voice. She heard his death throes through her Sensory Threads. While breathing roughly, Mokkania looked down at Feekiee’s corpse. He sent his ants to his neck, targeting his carotid artery in one bite. He was distracted by something, and thus Mokkania was able to deal a fatal wound with a single blow. “Mom!” Mokkania clung to his mother. “So you’re safe.” He embraced his mother’s body. He hugged her so tight that it seemed her body was about to break. “…Mokkania, you’re hurting me.” His mother groaned in his arms. However, he couldn’t separate from her. Mokkania’s tears wet his mother’s ears. “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry, mom. I won’t do it ever again.” “…” “I thought that everything would be over when I’m back. I thought you would be gone. I thought that everything would become a dream once I come back. I won’t ever leave you again.” “Mokkania…” Mokkania relaxed his hold and raised her on his back again. “Let’s go. We only have a little bit left, so hang on, mom.” “Wait a second, Mokkania. That person right now…” “Forget about him, mom.” Saying this, Mokkania began walking. Hamyuts, upon realizing the strategy had failed, left the telegraph room. She broke through the Labyrinth by moving on the walls and ceiling. Since the strategy failed, it would become a stalemate if she stayed inside there. And then she thought back upon the conversation between Feekiee and Mokkania’s mother. It was unbelievable and hard to understand even for Hamyuts who actually heard it. “What the heck is going on?” Hamyuts thought while running. But she couldn’t understand it. Just who is that mother? And why did Mokkania revolt? She couldn’t see through the Indulging G.o.d Cult’s scheme at all. At that time, a small incident occurred in a corner of the Labyrinth. Neither Winkeny, Hamyuts nor Mokkania knew of it. It was too trivial of an incident. At the middle of route 51, ants were carrying a Book fragment. Faithful to their owner’s orders, they kept bravely carrying it ahead. They wanted to take that Book fragment out of the Labyrinth. No-one inside the Labyrinth took any heed of them. Neither the other ants, Guardian Beasts, Ireia nor Hamyuts knew of them. Without anyone noticing them, they pa.s.sed by Ireia during her advance. Ireia’s time manipulation affected them as well. Because of her power, they proceeded slowly. They became so slow they nearly stopped while carrying that fragment.
CHAPTER 3: INDECISION OF THE DIVING WARRIOR – PART 2 June 2, 2016Tgurneu The number of ants around gradually increased. Ireia stopped her march. Neither her brute strength nor her bulk held any meaning against them. They just made her a large bait. The number of ants rapidly increased. They looked like a hungry, ferocious black wave. One end of the looming wave touched Ireia’s feet. At that instant, Ireia invoked her Magic Right. The black wave’s movements grew dull as if weighted down. Their six legs, their restless mandibles, and their antennae exploring the floor all grew equally slow. Those were the kind of movements sometimes shown by pantomimes. They would perform by intentionally slowing down or stopping their normal movements. It was a bizarre phenomenon that turned every single ant on the floor to a pantomime. Ireia’s feet stomped the sea of ants. Her body also moved slowly as if she climbed stairs. This was Ireia’s ability – time manipulation. It allowed her to freely manage the flow of time of anything in her line of sight. She made the time flow at one-fifth its normal operation for the ants in front of her. The ants became slow and were crushed underneath Ireia’s feet. “Tch…” I can’t use this like when I was young. Long ago I could even slow it down to a tenth. Thinking this, Ireia kept crus.h.i.+ng the biting ants. She had no time to put still. If she won’t move immediately, she will get eaten to death. “…” Once again, Mokkania turned around. Ireia wouldn’t stop. Judging from the positions of the ants she was killing, she will probably catch up to him in about fifteen minutes. “Is someone coming from behind?” “…” Mokkania nodded, hesitating. He had to admit he was looking down on her. Although she was on the verge of retiring, Ireia was a first-cla.s.s Armed Librarian. He should have made a move earlier. Then, his mother atop his back spoke sadly. “Sorry, Mokkania. It seems your mother is a burden for you.” Mokkania was surprised. “What are you saying, mom?” “If I wasn’t here, you could have run away faster.” “Don’t say that, mom.” She didn’t reply. “Mokkania, go on. Don’t worry about me. I don’t want to think I was the one to cause you to die.” “But mom!” As if to deny his objection, Mokkania’s mother hit his head. “…This might be a bit unfair of me to say this, but please listen to what your mother says.” Mokkania worried. His mother was helpless. He had to protect her. However, he also had to admit that he wouldn’t be able to fully protect her. “Please, Mokkania.” His mother’s voice was sorrowful. Mokkania made a decision – he would protect his mother and trust his own ants. He lowered his mother from his back. “Mom, stay here. Don’t move no matter what. Don’t go anywhere.” His mother nodded. “Okay. Don’t worry, Mokkania. I won’t go anywhere.” Mokkania hugged his mother once, and then went away. Hamyuts was made aware of this with her Sensory Threads. At the moment Mokkania and his mother separated, she believed the success rate of the strategy went up to 80%. Her fingers operated the telegraph. “The rest depends on the old lady’s guts.” Mokkania sent some winged ants flying. He couldn’t afford to come in front of Ireia’s line of sight. If he did, the progression of his time would be slowed down. Ireia held supreme dominance over everything in her sight. He produced more ant forces. They weren’t the kind of soldier ants who could only receive rough orders. If compared to humans, they could be called Special Forces under his direct control. Ireia also didn’t have it easy. “Time” was one of the most fundamental principles under the Creator’s control. Touching that domain put no small drain on her. Low endurance was Ireia’s biggest weakness. And as she aged, that weakness became more p.r.o.nounced. Ants were flying. Winged ants came flying from behind the soldier ants. They were numbered several hundreds. They poured down on Ireia like rain. Slowing down time would be of no use. Ireia took a silken net out of her breast pocket. She spread it in air and stopped time. It was weak silk that would break if pulled at, but at that moment it became an invincible barrier. No matter what force would be applied against an object whose time was stopped, it would not break. Slipping underneath the net, Ireia ran ahead. She also evaded the rain of ants and arrived in front of a floor full of them. They weren’t far off from covering the entire floor. The ants piled on top and each other, and then had even more ants on top of them. Even if she stopped time for one section, other ants would climb over it and advance. Swarms of ants were stacked in many layers. They were already at the height of Ireia’s thighs. The ants underneath should have been crushed to death. Ireia instinctively jumped high. She kicked the frozen silk thread, and swung it by raising her finger above. From there, the airborne forces of the winged ants attacked her. The ants clung to Ireia’s body and began gnawing at her clothes and flesh. “This…!” Ireia screamed and activated her Magic Right at full power. The sound of something cracking came from inside her head. The ants clinging to her body suddenly lost their power and fell off. Their cause of death was starvation. She accelerated their metabolism ahead of their movements. “….Th…is…” Ireia became intensely exhausted. She could, without doubt, use this only three more times. Using the last bits of her energy, Ireia kicked at the ceiling. Mokkania dodged the obscured Ireia by estimating the direction of her movement. He must avoid entering her line of sight at all costs. He regretted being too impatient during this battle. However, it was already too late. Mokkania could sense it – the indescribable feeling that his time was stopped. He mustered the last vestiges of his consciousness to command his ants – eliminate everything except for his mother. Even if his time was stopped, his orders should keep going. He would beat Ireia that way. However, mom… He couldn’t continue that thought. Mokkania’s time was suspended. Ireia succeeded at stopping Mokkania’s time. But she could only stop it for less than a minute at best. That was enough. The strategy was successful. Hamyuts should be watching this fight. And then she will take the proper course of action. Ireia’s body fell into the sea of ants. At that moment, she stopped her own time. Hoping that the battle would end in their victory when time will be resumed for her, Ireia’s thinking had ceased. Hamyuts watched the end of Mokkania and Ireia’s battle. The battle ended in a draw, but she should still give praise to her efforts. “Old lady, that was perfect.” Hamyuts muttered. Her hands were already resting on the telegraph. She sent a telegraph informing Mirepoc of the strategy’s conclusion about a minute ago. A minute before Ireia stopped time, Mirepoc shouted from within the control room. “A telegram from the director! The target is at point 251 of route 51! We have an extension of about four minutes!” “As expected from the Director!” Feekiee threw off his jacket. He already shed off his shoes, pants and s.h.i.+rt. He was dressed in one-piece underclothes, and only held a knife in his mouth. He jumped in air and made a somersault. Just when it seemed he would crash headfirst unto the floor, it received Feekiee’s body inside as if it was made of liquid. This was his ability. Even amongst the Armed Librarian who had a variety of powers, he could be said to possess one of the more eccentric ones. It was named Steel Diving. It allowed him to dive either inside steel like its name or in any sort of ground, treating them as a sea. He was an expert at infiltration, while at the same time being an expert at searching within the Labyrinth. Despite his battle prowess being on the low side among Armed Librarians, he had mastery of the Labyrinth. Feekiee began advancing in a straight line towards the mother standing in the Labyrinth’s midst. After a minute of silence, Mokkania’s time resumed. “Dammit! Mom!” Ireia was a decoy. Mokkania felt ashamed. He should have realized they would send other people when Ireia came alone to him. “Mom!” Mokkania started running. His goal was his mother. Who’s coming? Hamyuts? No, Feekiee. “You’re a coward, Hamyuts! Aim for me!” He shouted. Hamyuts should be hearing his voice with her Sensory Threads. And she was probably gloating. Mokkania kept running with anger that threatened to pop a vein. Feekiee kept swimming in his shortcut of the complex Labyrinth. In order to focus on speed, his only equipment was a single knife. Traversing the Labyrinth on foot would normally take half a day, but with his speed, he could reach the target specified by Hamyuts in less than five minutes. He surfaced once to take a breath. In the instant Feekiee exhaled, the dreadful ants flocked his face. They ripped his lips to shreds. He immediately dove inside the stone again. ‘Mirepoc! What’s the situation of the target?’ Feekiee asked Mirepoc as their thoughts were connected. Mirepoc, who was in the control room, told him of the situation. ‘Contact from the Director… incoming! The target made no moves!’ ‘What about the time?’ ‘The grace period is extended! Three more minutes!’ ‘This will be an easy victory, Mirepoc.’ Feekiee sent his thoughts from within the sea of ground. While swimming, he suddenly thought of Enlike Bis.h.i.+le. He had great fighting capabilities, but was useless as an information provider. It wasn’t what the Armed Librarians had wanted. What they needed were people who knew the truth about the Cult. He next thought of the person who controlled Mokkania – his fake mother. She should probably know about the Cult. She wasn’t just an underling like Enlike. She deceived Mokkania and manipulated him to fight – making her a central figure of this incident. It makes no sense to kill her. She should be captured. She could be used as a hostage against Mokkania. Afterwards, she will give them information. If she were to be captured, the fight with the Cult would come to a conclusion. He didn’t tell Mirepoc, Mattalast or the rest about this idea. Since they were too careful, they would obviously oppose him. Just a little bit more. Feekiee brought his face out of the ceiling. He found the woman while she was guarded by ants around her. She was undoubtedly the impostor mother. “Don’t move.” Feekiee started talking to her. He first had to check that she couldn’t fight. Mokkania’s mother raised an alarmed voice. Since her eyes were impaired, she couldn’t tell who was talking to her. “Who… are you? Where are you talking from?” The fake mother spoke in confusion. Feekiee became convinced – she was weak. He will capture her. He will find an opening, make her lose consciousness and dive together with her. It would be a bit heavy to swim with someone in his arms, but he should be able to reach the Labyrinth’s entrance. Feekiee started speaking to affirm the situation. “I am Armed Librarian Feekiee Quinn. Do not resist. I ask you to provide me information.” The fake mother answered Feekiee’s words. Her reply was unthinkable. ‘…Huh?’ Feekiee’s thoughts were transmitted to Mirepoc. He should have already arrived at his target. ‘Feekiee-san! What are you doing?!’ Their strategy was for him to return immediately after killing her. However, Feekiee took no action even after arriving. He seemed to be talking. What was he trying to do? ‘Mirepoc, there’s something strange about her.’ Feekiee sent his thoughts. Just as she thought of replying, feelings of pain resounded in her head. ‘Feekiee-san!’ Feekiee was attacked. Mirepoc screamed. Hamyuts muttered while monitoring Feekiee with her Sensory Threads. “Feekiee’s such an idiot.” He wouldn’t be able to hear her voice. She heard his death throes through her Sensory Threads. While breathing roughly, Mokkania looked down at Feekiee’s corpse. He sent his ants to his neck, targeting his carotid artery in one bite. He was distracted by something, and thus Mokkania was able to deal a fatal wound with a single blow. “Mom!” Mokkania clung to his mother. “So you’re safe.” He embraced his mother’s body. He hugged her so tight that it seemed her body was about to break. “…Mokkania, you’re hurting me.” His mother groaned in his arms. However, he couldn’t separate from her. Mokkania’s tears wet his mother’s ears. “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry, mom. I won’t do it ever again.” “…” “I thought that everything would be over when I’m back. I thought you would be gone. I thought that everything would become a dream once I come back. I won’t ever leave you again.” “Mokkania…” Mokkania relaxed his hold and raised her on his back again. “Let’s go. We only have a little bit left, so hang on, mom.” “Wait a second, Mokkania. That person right now…” “Forget about him, mom.” Saying this, Mokkania began walking. Hamyuts, upon realizing the strategy had failed, left the telegraph room. She broke through the Labyrinth by moving on the walls and ceiling. Since the strategy failed, it would become a stalemate if she stayed inside there. And then she thought back upon the conversation between Feekiee and Mokkania’s mother. It was unbelievable and hard to understand even for Hamyuts who actually heard it. “What the heck is going on?” Hamyuts thought while running. But she couldn’t understand it. Just who is that mother? And why did Mokkania revolt? She couldn’t see through the Indulging G.o.d Cult’s scheme at all. At that time, a small incident occurred in a corner of the Labyrinth. Neither Winkeny, Hamyuts nor Mokkania knew of it. It was too trivial of an incident. At the middle of route 51, ants were carrying a Book fragment. Faithful to their owner’s orders, they kept bravely carrying it ahead. They wanted to take that Book fragment out of the Labyrinth. No-one inside the Labyrinth took any heed of them. Neither the other ants, Guardian Beasts, Ireia nor Hamyuts knew of them. Without anyone noticing them, they pa.s.sed by Ireia during her advance. Ireia’s time manipulation affected them as well. Because of her power, they proceeded slowly. They became so slow they nearly stopped while carrying that fragment.
