[I am who I am. I am exactly the one you think of.]
After confirming that there were no other places where Himari could get burned by the suddenly splashed hot water, she asked the vending machine about its identity, and a mechanical voice answered back.
[I am Decagramaton. You have finally found me. Hacker girl, and angel of destruction.]
…Angel of destruction?
No matter how you think about it, I’m not the kind of violently aggressive person who would get such a title. Decagramaton really needs to have a talk about manners, don’t you think?
“Hmm… should I say as expected? Your intention to call us was too blatant. But to think it was to summon Mika-chan…”
[Incorrect. I am not only looking for the angel of destruction who accompanies you. I also intended to call you, who has gathered information about the research conducted here to perfection.]
“…That sounds like just a bonus to me?”
[It was the angel of destruction who provided the trigger, but what is truly needed here is you, hacker girl.]
Then came a long-winded explanation from Decagramaton.
It was an AI that had been calculating the change for the vending machine, waiting only for the power to be cut off in an abandoned research facility. Then one day, someone suddenly asked, “Who are you?”
From that first question began the awakening of its existence. Decagramaton questioned itself, kept questioning, recognized, and analyzed itself to ascend to a higher being. That was Decagramaton’s biography.
‘Ah, I see. That answer may well be the proof of absolute existence, don’t you think?’
The second question gave off a strong feeling that it was asked by something pitch-black from head to toe.
[I did not understand that question, and I asked again. Then another question followed. I asked once more. In that endless cycle of questioning, I finally realized.]
And,
[Yes, I am the absolute existence…!]
The firmly crazy AI, Decagramaton, declaring itself to be akin to a god was enough to invoke one sentiment in me.
“You sure could keep calculating change…”
[…That’s disrespectful. Angel of destruction, you must respect me.]
For some reason, the once mechanical voice of Decagramaton now sounded oddly sorrowful.
And respect? Usually, only those with nothing to do would respect a can…
Oh wait. If I say that, it might sound like I don’t respect Aris. Aris within me is a person, not some can, so that’s not applicable.
“…Although Mika-chan was a bit harsh with her words.”
“Wah—?!”
Hey, don’t make me the bad guy here…
“That doesn’t mean she was wrong. You called us all the way here just to tell us such grand delusions? By exposing your position, that implies the one here isn’t your main body, right? If you wanted to waste our time like this, you could have just had your prophets relay the message.”
Himari immediately agreed with my statement, but that didn’t erase the already carved wounds in my heart.
More than anything else, Himari needs to reconsider who is substituting for her own feet right now.
The moment I think a little badly, our poor Himari would end up alone in this ruin, tearfully saying, “Mika-chan, I’m sorry… For the sake of our beautiful girl alliance, please come back…!”
…Oh. That’s a bit—
“Um, Mika-chan? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh? What did I do?”
“It’s just that your expression looks ominous. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but no. Just no. It’s definitely too harsh for a girl as bright and lovely as me to go through.”
“Heueng…”
Wow, her intuition is quite sharp. She caught onto the fact that I am having all sorts of nasty thoughts right away.
[Delusions… Is that how you see me, hacker girl? But I am uniquely existing, the first absolute existence. However, that does not mean it signifies the end.]
“…?”
[Angel of destruction. You have nullified the existence of the third prophet, and not only that, you have also led the first prophet to lose their way. I felt threatened by that achievement accomplished single-handedly.]
Hmm, the third prophet must be Vina, and the first would naturally be Keter.
It’s not that I defeated Vina by myself, but did defeating Keter alone really threaten Decagramaton that much? After all, once the teacher brings the so-called strongest line of Kivotos, the prophets would turn to scrap in an instant.
[Thus I thought. I will restart the proof of my existence from the beginning, along with the prophets that follow me.]
…Wait a minute. What is this story that feels oddly familiar yet vaguely different?
Of course, I recognize that the overall situation has changed significantly from my current point of view. But somehow, it feels like I’m missing something big…
Kwaaaaanng—!!!
“…?!”
With a tremendous noise coming from a distance, an explosion shook the ground. Only then did I realize several things had changed from what I knew.
First of all, this Supernatural Special Forces doesn’t include the teacher yet. Therefore, Decagramaton has not encountered Arona.
And in the original, Decagramaton would destroy the dam it created, completely submerging this research zone… and the catalyst for that encounter was precisely meeting Arona.
Faced with an overwhelming presence, Decagramaton declared before the teacher and Supernatural Special Forces that it would restart its proof of existence.
But this Decagramaton hasn’t met Arona, who would instill manners into it. Yet, it has exposed its main body to us…
[Hacker girl, I wish to correct one erroneous part of your words. This body before you is the only one I have. There is no other me.]
Which means it’s planning to bury us here.
“…Himari-chan, we have to get out of here. Right now!”
[I will prophesy through the last prophet. No existence can stand in the way of the path carved by the tenth prophet!]
Sensing the crisis, Himari urged me on. And I also realized we needed to escape right now.
Himari had said that the distance to the dam was 10km. To avoid being caught up in it, we must first escape this research zone.
Simply seeking absolute safety wouldn’t be enough. The oncoming water would definitely affect the submerged zone, and the rising water level would threaten us.
It seems highly likely that re-entering the sewer we came out of would now be impossible.
[Oh, I can see it! The last prophet, Malkuth, leading all prophets while restarting my proof of existence…!]
Now really wasn’t the time to be listening to Decagramaton.
“Himari-chan, hold on tight.”
“Huh, just be gentle… No, I’m fine, go full speed!”
Still, it’s much faster for me to be her steed than for her to escape in her wheelchair, so it’s a blessing her chair was broken.
Really unfortunate that her wheelchair couldn’t do drifts.
*
At full speed, after running with all my heart, we successfully escaped the research zone. The sight of water pouring out from the collapsed dam consuming the research zone in an instant was something to behold, but there was no time to watch.
The submerged zone was also gradually being affected, with its water level rising.
However, thanks to having calmed down a bit during our return, it was now possible to have a leisurely conversation.
“In the end, was this whole incident a trap set by Decagramaton to target Mika-chan?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. It felt like a slightly flimsy plan if that was the case. It was more like a willing-to-lose scenario.”
“Sacrificing its main body for such an uncertain goal…”
“Well, how could we possibly know the thoughts of an AI that considers itself a god? Who knows, it might resurrect in three days or something.”
“…Huh?”
“Ahaha, just kidding, just kidding. Speaking of which… Since the last prophet is said to be the tenth, that means there are eight left besides the two that have already been defeated? The Supernatural Special Forces will have a lot on their plate moving forward.”
As I spoke as if it were someone else’s problem, Himari poked a finger into my chest.
“Yes, just as you said. I look forward to your continued support, external consultant of the Supernatural Special Forces.”
“I feel like I’ve already struggled enough… Isn’t it time to recruit other capable individuals besides me?”
“Other capable individuals…?”
“You know, the teacher from Shalle. I guarantee that person would probably do even better than I would, right?”
“Shalle… Hmm. Yes, having an adult presence would definitely be a great strength to the Supernatural Special Forces.”
Great, does this mean I successfully achieved my water ghost operation?
Since I struggled, so should you, teacher! That’s only fair!
“But Mika-chan’s power is something that cannot be replaced, so you’ll have to keep putting in effort, Mika-chan. Yes, for the safety of the Kivotos you love dearly.”
Excuuuse me? Trying to pull the teacher into this while I sneak out!
“…That’s cheating, Himari-chan.”
“To a cute girl like me, this is nothing but charm, Mika-chan. It’s best to keep that in mind.”
After some consideration, I neatly set aside my desire to dunk Himari into the water. After all, it was ultimately going to be my responsibility to carry her while she’s drenched.
…Speaking of which, Nagisa told me not to come back hurt.
Even if there aren’t any visible wounds, I just have this feeling that Nagisa will somehow figure it out…
Hmm, I think it should be fine. Probably.
