Chapter 133: Rainy Night
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 133: Rainy Night
Amidst the thunderous roar of countless gears and mechanical parts in motion...
Amidst Teacher Mela’s fanatical cries...
Muen stood frozen in a daze.
Artificial what? Authority who? Created what now?
Was "Authority" the kind of thing that could even be man-made?
And what was with this terrifying plot device? This was the kind of thing usually pulled out during the grand finale for the protagonist to shoulder while fighting the final boss to the death!
According to the plot of the original novel, they hadn't even finished the Academy Arc yet!
"Based on my original calculations, I should have woken up five years from now to implement this plan."
A touch of melancholy suddenly surfaced in Mela’s amber eyes. "But since I’ve awakened early, and the threads of fate have become so tangled that even I cannot predict them, I have no choice but to move this step forward."
So this thing really was meant to be an end-game reveal?!
"Then... Teacher Mela, why exactly did you bring me here?"
Muen’s legs felt a bit weak, and his voice trembled. "I don't think I can be of much help."
Muen had originally thought Teacher Mela wanted to use him to research some terrifying forbidden magic or something similar. He had come prepared to do or die.
But he hadn't expected her to pull out something like this.
How was he supposed to help? He couldn't even understand the principles behind how those gears stayed suspended in mid-air and moved on their own. Aside from hiding in the back, waving a little flag, and cheering for the boss, what else could he do?
"Regarding that..."
Teacher Mela suddenly turned around, giving Muen a meaningful smile.
Muen shuddered under her gaze and instinctively clutched his collar, backing away slowly. "What... what are you planning to do?"
"Well, although I shouted quite loudly just now, this is actually only the embryonic form of an Authority. It’s still far from being a true Authority."
Mela spoke with an innocent expression. "After all, how could a lifeless object created through alchemy and magic ever become a true Authority on the same level as a deity?"
"Is... is that so? So?"
"So..."
Mela swept her small hand through the air as if gathering everything around them into her palm. "They need a vessel. A... living vessel."
"A vessel?"
Muen’s mind went blank for a second.
Then, as if a nuclear bomb had been detonated in his brain, the realization made his scalp tingle.
"A vessel? Who?"
"Who else could it be?" Mela asked, looking puzzled. "Is there a third person here?"
"Me?"
Muen looked at the massive mechanical creation—the full scale of which was still hidden in the shadows—and then looked down at his own thin arms and legs. He shook his head frantically. "No, no, no. It’s too big. It won't fit."
"It will!"
"It definitely won't! I'll be broken!"
"I said it will, so it will!"
Mela was resolute. "And of course, I won't just stuff something this massive directly into your body. I’ll definitely make some modifications."
"Modifications?" Muen gestured with his hands. "Like, modifying this thing to be small enough to fit in a pocket?"
"No, modifying you so that anything can be stuffed inside," Mela said seriously.
"..."
After a brief moment of profound silence, Muen seemed to have finally processed the situation. He looked up, his face grim. "So, is it too late for me to get off this ride?"
"You want to leave?"
Mela let out a cold laugh.
Then, she snapped her fingers.
Accompanied by the grinding of machinery, the massive door slammed shut with a boom.
Immediately following that, the sound of countless locks clicking into place echoed from the door.
"You took my knife and now you want to leave? I’ve welded the door shut."
From behind Mela, various drills, chainsaws, axes, screwdrivers, and mechanical arms emerged like a peacock spreading its tail. The cold glint of the metal turned Muen’s face pale.
"Are you ready to receive your teacher’s love? My dear student," Mela said with a kind, gentle smile.
*
That night.
Imperial Capital Belland, Lower District.
Rain washed over the muddy ground, leaving behind twisted patterns that looked like the works of an abstract painter.
Under the gloomy sky, a girl with bun-style hair held a large umbrella, trying her best to keep the silver-haired figure in front of her from being soaked.
However, the silver-haired figure seemed to find the umbrella an obstruction. She pushed it aside and stepped into the downpour, indifferent to the fact that her uniform was instantly drenched.
Ahead, an area cordoned off by bright yellow tape was brightly lit.
Many figures in black raincoats were busy on the flat ground near the river, carefully collecting something and occasionally placing small numbered markers on the ground.
At the center of their activity, one could faintly see white lines outlining the silhouette of a deceased person.
It was clearly a crime scene.
Celicia lifted the tape and walked into the center. Looking at the corpse on the ground wearing a familiar uniform, her cold face remained expressionless, but her hands had unconsciously clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white.
"Your Highness."
A balding middle-aged man appeared beside Celicia at some point, constantly wiping his face with a handkerchief. It was unclear whether he was wiping away sweat or rain.
"The identity of the deceased has been confirmed."
"Speak."
"Teke Rhode. He was indeed a student of St. Maria Academy, second year."
"Rhode?"
"He was the fourth son of Count Rhode. Although he has three older brothers, he was highly favored by the Count due to his decent talent."
Before he could finish, a commotion broke out at the edge of the cordon.
Horses neighed.
A grim-faced man stepped out of a carriage emblazoned with the Rhode family crest, shouting at the guards blocking his path.
"Let me through! Do you know who I am? I am Count Rhode! I want to see my son!"
The scene descended into chaos.
The guards brought by Count Rhode clashed with the local police. For a moment, the noise was so great it almost drowned out the sound of the rain.
"Tell him to get lost," Celicia said suddenly, her voice cold.
"Eh?" The balding man blinked. "Those exact words?"
"Those exact words." Celicia paused. "Also, tell him that I will give him an explanation."
With Celicia’s guarantee, Count Rhode was furious, but he had no choice but to leave. The area fell quiet once more, the black-clad guards returning to their silent work, leaving only the sound of the rain filling the world.
Celicia looked down at the corpse.
The blood around the body had been washed away by the heavy rain, but the chest of the corpse was still stained a deep, vivid red.
Through the tattered uniform on the left side of the chest, one could vaguely see that the body was missing a vital part.
"Cause of death?" Celicia asked, looking away.
"It’s... as Your Highness sees."
The balding middle-aged man wiped his forehead vigorously, though the rain made it impossible to stay dry.
"The victim died from having his heart ripped out."