As a knight, I had the authority to access the intelligence of the Central Secret Police Bureau. Of course, it was not possible for matters that were extremely confidential- that is, not even documented but the information regarding this particular report was relatively easy to obtain. The report itself was as follows. -A wanted criminal was allegedly seen at the shop operated by the subject, unexplained loud noises often occurred late at night, and above all, suspicion was heightened because the subject is a member of the Yaken race- “......The name is Yukia Tariq.” It was a development similar to that before my regression. The outcome of the Gigantes terror incident was so famous that it had been featured in special reports, so the names involved in it remained vividly in my memory. "A Yaken." The Yakens, descendants of ancient beastkin, are a subspecies that faces severe discrimination on the continent. Their population is smaller even than the Ezenheim race, but they are the most visibly distinct race in appearance. Their sharply slanted eyes, high-bridged noses, and beastlike facial features appear alien even when compared to any ethnicity within the Empire. To make matters worse, this Yaken named Yukia has white hair and red eyes. However, before my regression, the bald Edmon had clearly said this. ‘With the help of the Yaken race, we held out to some extent at the beginning. They had the strength to resist the dimensional devourers.......’ Therefore, the Yakens had to become my allies, and I had transferred Yukia and her family, who had been detained by the Central Secret Police Bureau, to my jurisdiction in the Genen substation. “Do you know why you were brought here?” I picked up the cipher text found in her shop. A faint mana wave unique to the Ezenheim race lingered on it. It was evidence that an Ezenheim was among the terrorists of the Gigantes incident, or at least among those who had ordered it. “.......” She did not answer. The one word she had spoken, my name, in her foreign-sounding pronunciation, had been the last. I paid it no mind and handed over another stack of documents. “Yukia Tariq. I looked into you.” The report cards from when she had attended the academy. Almost every section showed near-perfect scores. “You were very talented.” Even so, the reason Yukia Tariq had been expelled from university was purely due to her origin and race. “A Yaken who immigrated to the Empire. With someone like you demonstrating elite-level ability, there must’ve been envy and jealousy.” In the Empire, there exists a recently emerging 'Aran Myth'. At the beginning of time, the Arans were the noblest bloodline, and below them, various Westerners and Easterners were stacked like a pyramid. At the very bottom, buried in the muddy ground, lay the subspecies. It is a truly pathetic and worthless delusion, yet the faltering Empire clings to it as its doctrine. “From now on, I’ll ask a few questions. You may answer them, or not.” I picked up the questionnaire. It was a manual handed to those suspected of being dissidents. “Do you harbor any dissatisfaction with the Empire?” “.......” As I looked at the silent Yaken, I thought about the Yaken race. They were the hope of humanity in a doomed future. “Do you possess books banned by the Empire?” “.......” I did not know exactly what aspect of them constituted “hope”, but I had to consider more deeply the meaning of “necessary for humanity”. It meant, conversely, that they were not necessary for the Ezenheim. And the Ezenheim are a people who consider even the Revolutionary forces as expendables in pursuit of their own cause. “Have you ever joined an unlawful organization that threatens the peace of the Empire?” “.......” Therefore, the theory that Yukia, a high-ranking member of the Revolutionary forces, had carelessly prepared her operation so sloppily that even a neighbor noticed, it was far less convincing than the hypothesis that she had been betrayed by the Ezenheim. “Do you, regarding the Empire.......” She did not answer a single one of my questions, and I set down the questionnaire. All answers were marked as [No]. In the Empire, the right to remain silent is not truly a right. The meaning of silence is determined solely by the interrogator. "Sir Knight." Just then, an investigator entered. I stood up from my seat and stepped outside. At the Genen substation’s cafeteria, the orphanage children were eating their meals. I opened the door to the adjacent interview room. [Interview Room] Inside was a man who claimed to be Yukia’s uncle. “Mr. Entikkan.” I addressed the middle-aged Yaken who resembled a wolf. “Your niece inside isn’t saying a word.” “She’s probably not fluent in the Imperial language. She’s been wandering all over the continent with her father, you see.” Entikkan offered an explanation with a nervous tone. I looked over the documents laid on the interview room table. They detailed the financial flow and all expenditures of the tiny orphanage he ran. There was not a trace of “revolution” to be found. "It is clean." It was a remark of admiration. “I’ve never seen someone run something as modest as an orphanage so cleanly, like you do.” Sometimes, there are people like this. People who leave nothing for themselves, and only give to others. Entikkan was one of those kinds. “And yet you were suspected just because you’re a Yaken.” After the fall of the Empire, I once read a book titled 「The Art of Interrogation」. The author, while pointing out the inefficiency of torture, described the ‘most ultimate interrogation’, and that was to become an ally. “Yes. Everyone looks at us and says we have the faces of traitors and rebels.” “I don’t think that way. Arans and Yakens can be friends even within the Empire.” “......Are you referring to the relationship between dogs and humans?” To Entikkan’s self-mocking question, I looked him straight in the eye. “Some humans, you see, would give their lives to protect their dogs. It depends on how the bond is built, and what kind of hardships they've gone through together.” If dogs had the same lifespan as humans, perhaps they would be treated as complete family members. No, they might even become more trustworthy than family. Because dogs don’t betray humans. “Mr. Entikkan. I’d like to make you a proposal.” “......A proposal?” “Yes. I need people. People who can become my eyes and ears... and people with enough talent to do so. Such people are always needed, and always in short supply.” Yukia Tariq is a member of the Revolutionary forces. However, I am fully willing to test the thickness of her conviction. “You’re asking me to persuade Yukia?” “Yes.” Yukia Tariq will definitely accept. Because Maximilian von Ebenholtz is a key surveillance target of the Revolutionary forces. “I’ll give you a week.” If you want to turn an enemy into an ally, you need to be willing to take on at least this level of risk. “I’ll be waiting for a positive response.” If I want to make her mine, first I must keep her by my side. *** Reutern II gazed at the mana stone cube placed in the study several times a day. A master-grade cube. Within the flawlessly pure crystal cube, a blue light shimmered as if it were alive. When held in one’s hand, it felt cold yet smooth. Not like a rock at all. Rather, it was a mysterious sensation, as though one were touching pure mana itself. This perfectly refined, beautiful form was akin to a work of art, merely looking at it filled one's heart with satisfaction. Reutern II also quite liked the letter that had come along with the cube from Maximilian. 「To the Honorable Lord Reutern, First, I offer my sincerest apologies for the delay in delivering the promised item due to my foolishness. It may sound like a poor excuse, but the truth is, I had been waiting for this small gift I wanted to present to you. This mana stone, containing the purest and most radiant light, is something that might be forged only once a year in our workshop. I believed it was finally worthy of your eminence, Lord Reutern. Imagining this humble item held in your hands, I can’t tell you how eagerly I awaited its completion as soon as possible.......」 In fact, he had read the letter once and thrown it away, but anyway, he gave him the cube. Whenever Reutern walked through the Imperial Palace, he proudly displayed the cube like a necklace. “What is that jewel, Lord Reutern?” “I’ve never seen such a radiant jewel before. Where did you acquire it?” “Jewel? That’s a mana stone, not a jewel?” “How much would it cost to obtain something like that.......” At the nobles’ admiration in the Imperial Palace, Reutern II let out a hearty laugh and said, “You can’t really put a price on it. At most one or two are produced per year. I do not know what Max was thinking when he gave this to me either~" He enjoyed that kind of reaction. What’s more, the「Aura Sphere」manifested through this rare mana stone would serve as the perfect shield against any possible assassination attempts. However, there was one problem... “Lord Reutern. Currently, Maximilian has unauthorized-ly taken the Yaken arrested by the Secret Police Bureau-" “Ah, fuck.” It was Lutz. Ever since the Arnolt incident, the department chief of his directly affiliated agency had been fixated on Maximilian. “Tell me later, later.” “I didn’t think an incident occurring right now could be postponed.” “Then don’t tell me at all. It’s not even important.” "......Yes. I understand." Lutz mumbled his lips and left, and Reutern watched his retreating figure with narrowed eyes. “Look at that. So rude, isn’t he?” And....... [Lutz: Yes. I understand.] [Reutern II: Look at that. So rude, isn’t he?] All of those words were wiretapped and delivered to Maximilian. In some ways, Reutern II was a easy man. He has no complex ideology or grand cause. His emotions, possessions, and pride are all that matter to him. He has absolutely no interest in public crises such as bombing terrorism that could shake the Empire or the agitation of the Revolutionary forces. He reacts far more sensitively to personal discomforts. He is that emotional, and that simple. Just the tiniest spark, like tossing an ember onto dry leaves, and he would explode. For a man who already treats commoners like pigs and dogs, taking a life wouldn’t even register as a problem. Maximilian quietly contemplated the “form” of the spark he would throw at Reutern II. *** The day of Empire Point’s Aerial Drop Training. As an instructor observer, I looked around at the cadets inside the transport aircraft. The atmosphere had definitely changed. Thanks to the recent changes in academy regulations, the cadets’ discipline had been tightened considerably. In exchange, the air itself had become dull and heavy, but thinking of it as the tension right before entering the battlefield, it wasn’t a bad thing. “Prepare!” At my signal, the rear ramp opened. KWAHHHH──! The atmosphere rushed in like a crashing wave. “Drop!” The transport's altitude was 3,000m. From a place higher than the clouds, the cadets hurled their bodies into the void. One, two, three, four, five... dozens of elites instantly shrank to mere dots. Even under the crushing pressure of gravity, they stabilized their posture, deployed mana as they had been taught, and began descending in their own unique styles. I observed them from above. Come to think of it, in a knight’s descent, there’s a clear difference according to talent. Some cadets rely on parachutes or wingsuits and simply fall in line with gravity. Others go beyond descent, almost “fly”. By regulating the density of mana emitted from their bodies, they maneuver freely like aircraft. This is a realm not attainable through pure training alone, but entirely dependent on the nature and sensitivity of one’s mana, a matter of talent. “Impressive.” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺 Right now, the cadet who was showing a knight-level descent quality, despite still being a cadet, was named [Hannah Usar]. She had been the peer of Jacob, whom I had killed. ....... After the drop training, inside the Cadet Commander’s Office at Empire Point. “In my opinion, this drop capability will become a major distinguishing factor for knights in the future.” Tap. Cadet Commander Dane put down his teacup. I continued. “Descent is, in fact, mana control in midair. Cadets whose descent capabilities fall significantly short likely won’t become knights.” Dane glanced out the window at the transport aircraft that had just lifted off. These days at Empire Point, the transport aircraft takes off and lands six times a day. “......If it were in the past, I would have been skeptical of what you’re saying.” Dane nodded. “But now I agree. More than the descent itself, the ability to control mana in the air is becoming the true measure of a cadet’s real skill.” Compared to the ground, the air presents far more variables. Being able to manipulate mana precisely even under the extreme conditions of air resistance and gravity pressing down on the body is proof of exceptional control, mana density, and courage. What can be faked on the ground as “mana control” is laid bare in the sky as one’s true ability. “It’s a virtuous cycle. The skills developed in the air carry over to the ground as well. In fact, some cadets say that five minutes in the air helps their mana training more than five days on the ground.” It might be a slight exaggeration, but it meant that it was genuinely beneficial. “That’s why even though we’re running the transport aircraft every day, every hour, it’s still not enough.” As he spoke, Dane glanced at me, clearly hinting. It seemed like he wanted another one. I nodded willingly. "In fact, new sponsorship will go next month." “Hohoho, well. I wasn’t expecting that... ahem. Thank you. Come to think of it, perhaps the sky really is the most fitting stage for a knight.” Dane smiled. Next to his desk, there were things like a sleeping bag and a tent. “Looks like you’re preparing for a vacation.” “Citizen's Day is just two days away. I’d like to spend at least one day buried in the mountains with Loki.” Citizen's Day. It’s a day when all labor and government work cease. For reference, Loki is the dog raised by the cadet commander. There was also a photo frame on his desk with a picture of him and the dog. I suddenly became curious. “Commander Dane, what does this Loki mean to you?” Dane made an odd face, then touched the tip of his nose as he answered. “Well. For me... my son and daughter are all independent now... so this guy’s basically like a new child I’m raising.” “I see.” The Yakens, too, resemble dogs as a race. The Aran theory of pet species... It might sound like sophistry, but someday, I’ll need at least one reason to protect them. “Well then.” I left Empire Point and got into my car. For the first time in a while, I took the wheel myself, without an aide. Driving alone, I arrived at the place. A forest of chimneys spewing gray smoke, an industrial zone where mechanical noise vibrated through the air. It was a villa perched on a hill overlooking all of Gigantes. I entered and placed a book I had brought on the table. [Illusion Techniques: Color Transformation] A technique book. Illusion techniques are considered the most difficult category among all types of techniques, but not for my virus. I placed my hand over my collarbone and looked into the mirror. Thump. The virus’s intuition was transmitted to me. An instinctive sensation that skips the complex theory of the technique, reads only the mana circuits, and extracts the result. That sensation took the form of a technique and spread across my whole body. In the mirror, the golden eyes rippled like ink and gradually darkened. The result: jet-black irises and hair, black as pitch. “Haa......” I stood by the window. I gazed at Gigantes spread out beyond and was lost in thought for a moment. From this point on, even I no longer know the detailed developments that will unfold inside Gigantes. But I must be able to respond even to the unknown. I cannot rely forever on memories from before my regression. The future has already changed, and the variables have increased. The key is my judgment and ability to adapt. I must test myself. “.......” I changed into the Gigantes security uniform I had prepared in advance. I pulled the security cap low over my head and hung a real security ID card around my neck. I was ready for work.