Interstellar Orbital Ship Hyperion 

Body horror, mentions of pregnancy

"Hey there, everyone! From the cradle to the grave, welcome to Infinity Shopping, here to make your life rosy! Let's get right to showing off today's hot new product!"

"Why, Din, what will we be introducing today?"

"Oh, Michelle, you're shining brightly today, as always! Now then, here's the item I have to show you. Have a look."

"Oh, my! How wonderful—it's got all kinds of gadgets on it! Just what does it do?"

"Exciting, isn't it? This is Libra Dynamics' latest anti-crime product!"

"Anti-crime, you say!?"

"That's right! Has this ever happened to you, Michelle? A burglar enters your home and you have to deal with them all on your own—what can you use to drive them away?"

"Why yes, it has!"

"Indeed. But...worry no longer! Both Michelle, and you on the other side of the screen! If you use this, there's nothing to fear! This self-defense keychain solves it all! First, to neutralize your opponent—"

"Hey, Din, what's this tube thing for?"

"Ah! If you point that at me—"

Pshhh!

"Agh! M-My eyes!"

"Wow! Din fell to the floor instantly!"

"Urrrgh... A-Amazing as always, Michelle! You made great use of it without my explanation! This is a simple, handy pepper spray! And right now, we have a limited quantity of this stylish designer's edition!"

"Oh, my, you've still got energy to talk. Perhaps I should try the others."

"Eeek! Please have mercy!"

----------

Who was the benefactor of Megacity Libra? If one were to ask, not a day would go by without her name coming up—Ibis Harbinger, founder of Libra Dynamics. Though she hardly appeared in the public sphere, the citizens of Libra unknowingly came into contact with her work in their everyday lives. Military, daily life, research, amusement—her influence extended to all kinds of fields. It was thanks to her and the support of Libra Dynamics that Libra could become a megacity.

But just what sort of person was she? Though she was something of a mysterious figure who rarely showed herself in the city's governance, her principles were quite simple. She loved the unknown, nothing more. New horizons of science and human progress were pioneered by the insatiable inquiring minds of great predecessors. Ibis was yet another pursuer of the unknown in that lineage.

She first made a name for herself with the paper she published in her twenties. At the time, the scientific community tended to think little of papers written by women, but her paper caused a stir in that community and eventually led to the founding of Libra Dynamics. Her research, which questioned preconceived notions and challenged the unknown, occasionally shook ethical boundaries. She received plenty of unwarranted criticism for it, but she carried on her research with an iron will, redefining what was already known.

Ibis Harbinger always looked toward tomorrow. She harbored within her heart a deep love for humanity and a great sense of responsibility for the future.

"You want me to investigate?"

"Yes. I believe this matter is suited to you."

Ibis had been summoned to the mayor's office at Libra's city hall, where the elderly mayor presented her with a certain document. It was about ten pages thick, with nothing but "Libra Heim" written on the cover. Thinking this was likely a consultation about town planning, Ibis turned the page—and her hand froze.

"What is this...?"

Seeing her reflexively knit her brows, the elderly mayor let out an amused laugh.

"Horrid, isn't it? Seems not even you've seen this before."

Ibis turned to the next page.

The hastily-prepared document had several attached photos of bizarre scenes. People whose bodies had fused with the building, people with part of their bodies oddly stretched, and finally, a human with two people's heads and arms growing from their body. It was uncanny, like looking at a poorly made composite photo.

When Ibis finished reading the document, she narrowed her eyes curiously, and said, "How mysterious... You've certainly piqued my interest."

"You think? Honestly, we're at a total loss on this. We've set up barricades so no one can enter Libra Heim, but we can't keep 'em up forever. That's why we'd like you to look into the cause. You're the brains here."

Ibis, who had earned the trust of all kinds of VIPs in politics and business, occasionally received ridiculous demands. Supplying cutting-edge technology for cheap, handling matters that were difficult for the government, even personal requests, like invitations to dinner. However, it was because she always responded to such requests that she earned their deep trust. From an outsider's perspective, she might seem to be forced into troublesome odd jobs, but her motive was to gain a political advantage by always keeping them in her debt.

"What do you say, Ibis?"

"Of course. I'd be happy to accept."

"Oh, much appreciated! I'll let the folks on scene know at once."

"Understood."

Ibis was quick to agree. She formed a survey team at once and set about investigating the Libra Heim incident.

She arrived on the scene before evening fell and gazed up at the strange state of Libra Heim beyond the barricade, a subtle smile at the corners of her mouth.

"It's been 'displaced,' has it?"

It was no wonder Ibis had that impression. Libra Heim looked to be overlapped with and displaced by a building of a different color. The cracks running along the walls and spots where the paint had weathered away were all unnaturally cut short at the seam between buildings.

"Analysis team, how's the situation inside?"

"Nothing especially abnormal as of now."

"Any survivors?"

"None reported. As far as we know, all of the people who seem to be the building's residents have been 'mutated,' so most likely there are none."

"I see," Ibis replied flatly, then continued, "I'll head in as well."

"Ms. Ibis? We still haven't confirmed whether it's safe!"

"With so many abnormalities occurring, some may be lost with the passage of time. Will we still be able to discover the cause if that happens?"

"But if anything were to happen to you, it would risk the future of Libra Dynamics!"

"Even if we fail to innovate, my management is not so lackluster as to leave my employees stranded right away."

Ibis was stubborn. She wouldn't step back in this situation, no matter what anyone said. Perhaps her men understood that about her, as they made no more attempts to stop her, and contacted the team inside the building.

"We've been waiting for you, Ms. Ibis."

Ibis met up with the leader of the investigation team waiting on standby at the front entrance, and softly put a hand on his shoulder in recognition of his work. There was a dull thud of metal on metal. When Ibis joined the investigation, she changed from her deep blue suit into protective gear. The protective gear enveloping her body was a specially-made enhanced version of the investigation team's boosted armor, which she wore when surveying dangerous places.

"How far has the investigation progressed?"

"We'll be commencing our survey of what seems to be the top floor shortly."

"What do you mean, 'seems to be'?"

"This might sound absurd, but after surveying the sixth floor, we confirmed that there is a 'seventh floor' that Libra Heim should not have."

"And there is no mechanical room or penthouse?"

"Correct. The mechanical room is separate, and there are no single-room floors such as a penthouse here."

Ibis recalled the exterior of Libra Heim she had seen earlier. If the vertically displaced section was at the seventh floor, then what he was saying certainly wasn't off base.

Then who lived on that seventh floor that appeared so suddenly?

"...No, it couldn't be."

She dismissed the preposterous thought that popped into her head, but she couldn't stop the curiosity welling in her heart.

"Is this the realm of mystery, or the realm of human knowledge..."

She wanted to learn the truth quickly. Ibis set off to investigate while trying to contain her excitement.

Ibis had arrived at the sixth floor, finished confirming that the hallway was safe, and was just about to begin searching for survivors. When she held her hand in front of her, a translucent box-like object appeared in midair. It contained a record of the residents who lived in this building. According to the report, there were two residents on the sixth floor.

"So only the Winsled couple live on this floor?"

The door to the couple's apartment had been left ajar. Believing that they were still alive, Ibis and the investigation team entered the Winsleds' apartment. What awaited them there was something clearly distinct from anything they had encountered thus far.

"What is that?"

Stunned speechless, Ibis stared ahead at something lying there that could only be described as alien. A translucent upper body reminiscent of a red and blue sea slug-like mollusk, and a human lower body. The pale skin visible through the openings in the ripped jeans only made it look eerier. Was this, too, somehow connected to the events at Libra Heim? As the investigation team stepped away from it in fear, Ibis alone resolutely drew closer, calmly analyzing it.

"Judging by the time of the incident, the state of the scene, and the physique of the lower body...it is highly likely this is the wife, Bridget."

To come to an accurate conclusion, she would likely need to bring her to the research lab and conduct a detailed examination. This thing was all too lacking in traces of humanity, let alone easily identifiable dental records. Ibis marked her as an unidentified object and was about to order her retrieval, when a crack appeared in her head and she suddenly began to crumble.

"!?"

The collapse stopped before reaching her lower body. Only the lower abdomen and arm remained intact without cracking. She had to prevent any further collapse no matter what. So, Ibis thought to repurpose the special coolant used to cool her boosted armor. She tore the tube that moved a working mechanical arm, and pointed the coolant gas leaking out toward the unidentified body. There was a risk that the gas would cause another collapse, but fortunately, that did not occur.

"...Phew."

Ibis breathed a sigh of relief and was about to order her subordinates to retrieve her when she noticed something.

The body's abdomen...is torn?

There was no mistaking it. The body's lower abdomen was translucent, so it was hard to see with the naked eye, but the mark on it was not a fracture caused by the cracking, but man-made, resembling what one might call a "hesitation wound." She checked the area once more and found, mixed in with the unidentified body's remains, a kitchen knife stained with a bluish-black liquid.

"It can't be—"

Ibis had drawn a conclusion from what little information she had.

"She may have been pregnant."

Then the person who seemed to have removed the child could be none other than her currently missing spouse.

"Everett Winsled. Where are you now?"

Megacity Libra was a massive city with over ten million citizens. Naturally, finding just one person among them, Everett Winsled, posed a major challenge. Fortunately, because he was on the move with the child he removed from Bridget, his movements could be tracked in his distinct situation by the traffic control system Libra Dynamics had built. Everett had gone to a hospital not far from Libra Heim to get the baby medical care. According to the hospital records they obtained, the baby's name was William. He looked like any normal child, his respiratory and immune functions were no different from other children's, and there were no abnormal values from his blood test.

"That concludes the report."

"Much appreciated."

Two weeks had passed since the incident. In the CEO's office on the top floor of Libra Dynamics, Ibis received an investigation report on the series of incidents.

"How would you like us to deal with them?"

"Deal with? You make us sound like some sort of evil organization."

"M-My apologies."

The man was about to bow his head when Ibis raised her hand to stop him.

"It's no problem. Well, it will be sufficient to track his movements for now. His background check has already shown that he isn't the sort of scoundrel to abandon a child and run."

Ibis continued, giving him instructions, "Now, dispatch personnel to the decadent zone, where he lives. He'll need 'helpful neighbors' in his new life."

"Understood."

"Please take care that he doesn't catch on."

The man nodded and left the room. Ibis watched him go, then contacted the mayor who requested her help about the details of the case.

"You sure kept me waiting, Ibis. Well then, have you figured out what caused it?"

"Yes."

Ibis spoke calmly. Libra Heim had been struck by a "super-localized earthquake." That earthquake caused the "subsidence" of land under part of the building, which affected its appearance. And, there was someone conducting "inhumane human experiments" inside the building. Ibis did not give these false reports to protect her own interests. If she spoke honestly, she would give the mayor and the citizens needless anxiety. Likewise, she wanted to protect Everett and William's lives.

"Wow... Unbelievable. To think someone would come after our Libra like that..."

Not noticing Ibis's lies, the elderly mayor made a sour face.

"Considering Libra's population, it is only natural such people will appear," Ibis said.

"Well then, have you found the ringleader?"

"We discovered the ringleader crushed under the structure collapsed by the earthquake. We continued to investigate whether there were any conspirators, but we believe they were most likely the sole perpetrator."

"Oho, I see!"

"In addition, there is a possibility that the police who went to the scene inhaled chemicals used in the experiments, so we have taken the liberty of arranging for them to be housed at the asylum."

"Wow you've spared no measures. Just what I'd expect from you, Ibis."

The elderly mayor, who hoped to settle the matter, had no complaints about Ibis's perfect handling of it. The mayor's chipper voice echoed through the terminal.

"Truly, a wonderful job! I knew I was right to count on you! Then, to celebrate solving the case, how about dinn—"

"I do have a favor I'd like to ask of you, if that's all right."

The mayor instantly fell silent at the gentle tone of voice that was so different from her usual coldness. The mayor's expectant breathing filled the silence.

"W-What is it?"

"There may be aftershocks in the Libra Heim area. I'd like my company to purchase the entire district. Of course, I'll take responsibility for all the troublesome procedures."

"...Oh, that's all..."

"Heh, something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing at all!"

The mayor coughed with a forced ahem! and readily accepted Ibis's proposal. The mayor's voice seemed somewhat down, but Ibis paid it no mind and calmly continued discussing the acquisition.

Having finished all of her work, Ibis hurried elsewhere without going home. That place was one of her personal research labs that not even her general staff were aware existed. No sooner had she arrived at the laboratory than she changed from her blue suit into a white labcoat, passed through the antechamber, donned protective gear, and headed into the lab. She had come here after hearing the report that the autopsy of the bodies collected at Libra Heim was complete.

The lab's vertical construction allowed her to look out over the entire room from the entrance. There were four small rooms inside, where varying tasks were carried out according to their purpose. Presently, all four were being used for autopsies. Ibis headed to the room where the autopsy that most interested her was being performed.

There were two rectangular dissection tables in the middle of the room, upon which lay the bodies whose autopsies had just been completed. A researcher looked over his shoulder when Ibis entered the room.

"I've been waiting for you, Ms. Ibis!"

It was hard to make out his expression through the protective gear, but his voice shook with delight. It was as if he had made the breakthrough of the century.

"Good work. What have you learned?"

"Right. If you'll have a look at this..."

He removed the sheet atop the corpse, revealing a mutant figure covered head to toe in black body hair. This mutant was a body discovered on the seventh floor that shouldn't exist, after Ibis and her team had finished their investigation of the sixth. It was an especially drastic mutation, giving it an appearance like that of a werewolf. Its enlarged body and fangs protruding from its jaw looked like they could tear apart the likes of Ibis easily.

"Is it the same as the wolves we know?"

"The characteristics are extremely similar. But...it seems different from what we know," the researcher said, slightly lifting the mutant's lower back. Its skin had been carefully peeled away from the back to the buttocks. "This part resembles the characteristics of wolves, and the fascia covering the muscles is thicker than that of humans. However, the underlying structure is more human than wolf."

"So this specimen is a new species with characteristics of both—a werewolf, you might say?"

"Yes, there's no other way to put it."

Next, from the stainless steel containers lined up by the table, he showed her the organs extracted from the werewolf. His touch was gentle, as if cherishing his own child.

"We won't know without a more thorough examination, but I believe the cells and enzymes most likely have the same traits."

"Hm..."

Ibis looked at the mutant again. It's beautiful, she thought. From the frame and body hair, to the sharp fangs and claws, and its bulging muscles, it didn't seem the slightest bit unnatural or artificial. This specimen could only have evolved to become this way over many years. None but God could do such a thing. The creation of life was a power permitted only to God.

Then, Ibis thought, If a new werewolf could be created from the werewolf's corpse—

As she weighed ethics against curiosity, she asked herself, "Are you going to step in, Ibis Harbinger?"

"Oh, that's right!"

The man's shout drowned out her own muttering.

"How about we call this guy 'Werewolf'?"

It was the name of a typical monster in the world of fiction. Its outward characteristics were quite similar, so it was only natural he would want to call it that.

"Hm, that's fine. I'll leave the continued examination of this specimen to you."

"Yes, ma'am! Thank you very much!"

"Oh, and one more thing?"

Ibis called out to him as he was about to cheerfully get back to work, and asked, "This is nothing more than my own hunch, but... Don't you think there's a possibility he came from another world?"

"A different world...?"

It was such a preposterous idea she was doubting her own sanity for even uttering it. But to Ibis, it was more interesting that way.

"A world with a different evolutionary tree from our own."

If such a world truly existed... How exciting those words were. Ibis smiled, her eyes twinkling with the fire of a young girl thinking about unknown worlds.

In addition to her main job, Ibis continued investigating the cause of the incident on that night. Based on various evidence left at the building, she believed another world different from the one they lived in was deeply connected to the incident. However, she had not pinned down what could cause an event of that scale.

And so, one day, after three years passed...

Ibis received a regular report on Everett's activity from her secretary. The report detailed the daily lives of Everett and his son William in the decadent zone. The observer seemed to have built up a good relationship with him, writing detailed accounts of his struggles as a single father. But today's report was different from usual. Ibis took an interest in the covert photo taken of Everett that was attached to the document.

"What is this box?"

"That would be the device made from scrap material Mr. Everett collected at his junk shop," the secretary answered. Then, he explained that Everett was using that device to ask for funding from investors. "According to the investors, it can 'peek' into parallel worlds."

"...Oh?"

Ibis narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Have any investors come forward?"

"No. They determined it had no benefit to them. Most of them didn't even try to hear him out to the end. Some tried listening to him, but the moment he played a video of an apparent parallel world from the device, they got angry and left."

"Hm, I see."

Ibis relaxed her tightly closed lips, shut her eyes, and thought about Everett. He had seen the sorry sight that once was his wife at Libra Heim, discovered the existence of other worlds, and devised a unique method to observe them. But he was just a man with no funding or development capabilities. Research was a battle with the self. One might fail or be overtaken by the younger generation, yet one must maintain a strong will that will not give in to fear or anxiety. It was pressing onward into a domain where not even the bright beam of a lighthouse would reach, suffering all the while. Even Ibis, with her many achievements, knew the taste of suffering. That was why, just by knowing that someone she had no direct involvement with was looking the same direction, her heart raced with excitement.

...I'd like to exchange words with him directly.

However, Ibis and Everett's circumstances and positions were different. An evil organization would have many such means, like kidnapping, but Libra Dynamics was not one. She would need a reason to make contact, but it was a different story if he gave her the opportunity.

"Let's prepare the perfect stage for Mr. Everett."

"Meaning?"

"I'll be going to see him personally. I will be enough to fund his research."

----------

Several days later, Ibis made her way to the presentation Everett unveiled for potential investors. The venue, the "Everett Multiverse Institute," seemed to be a room in a run-down office building near the decadent zone. As she thought, it's no wonder they've refused to invest, Ibis climbed the stairs. She heard from her secretary beforehand that the presentation should have already begun, but it was deathly quiet inside the building, not a sign of life anywhere. As Ibis arrived at the fourth floor, Ibis heard a man's voice from an open door at the back.

"Haaaaaah, that's the stuff...!"

Sure enough, the discussion had ended in failure. With a smile, Ibis strolled to Everett's room and spoke to him as he stood there with a bottle in one hand.

"Oh, is the presentation already over?"

Like an angel from heaven, the unexpected appearance of Libra Dynamics CEO Ibis Harbinger made Everett's face turn pale. Ibis rarely appeared in the public eye, but judging by his response, he knew exactly who she was. Having avoided the trouble of explaining, Ibis briefly explained her situation, and listened to Everett's thoughts on parallel worlds and the circumstances behind creating the device. Everett's story was nothing but a pipe dream—it was clear to see why not a single person had offered to invest in it. But Ibis knew about the Libra Heim incident. She was different. They delved deeper into his ideas, sometimes earnestly, sometimes joking.

"So, observing parallel worlds... If you can make it a reality, it could change the world in a major way."

"It would undoubtedly be revolutionary. We're still just observing for now, but if we improve the device's functionality, we'll eventually be able to intervene in other worlds."

"You already have a plan?"

"I do. Well, it's not much more than an armchair theory right now."

Everett answered excitedly. He had completely relaxed, speaking at great length with the eloquence of a scholar.

"Heh, our conversation was truly fascinating."

"Ah...thank you. Actually, I should apologize for joking around. I didn't think I'd be speaking to the founder of Libra Dynamics..."

"Oh, it's all right. I don't get opportunities to ignore my standing and chat like this."

"Haha, well, then if you say so..."

"Hmm, you still look rather glum."

"Well...you're the first person who's ever seriously listened to me."

Everett laughed with a comical shrug. His every word and expression reflected his deep exhaustion from his funding being constantly rejected.

How nostalgic. When Libra Dynamics had just been founded, I, too, struggled to find my first investors...

Ibis suddenly realized she had forgotten her own standing and begun to truly want to support him. She laughed at herself. Then, after exchanging a few more words, she asked one last question before discussing funding.

"So, on the matter of finances..." Everett began.

"Before that, may I ask you one thing?"

"What's that?"

"I had my secretary look into you. I recall that you used to teach at a university—what made you abandon your position and research the multiverse?"

"Well..."

Ibis didn't miss the sorrow that rose to his face.

"Do you know about the Libra Heim incident?"

"Yes. I've heard about it to a certain extent."

"Right, then."

Everett closed his eyes as if thinking back to that day, and began to talk about what happened. Ibis already knew the majority of it, but she came to learn the reason he was unharmed.

"I died and came back to life that day. Now, I live to chase after the phenomenon that drove Bridget to such a terrible fate."

"So you've devoted three years to your research just to identify the cause?"

"Honestly, I don't have any more interest in the advancement of science or bettering humanity. As long as I can find the reason that hell came to be..."

Then, Everett realized he was clenching his fists, and apologized.

"Sorry. I got too heated."

"No, I should apologize for the impolite question," Ibis replied with a small shake of the head, before continuing, "I'm glad I came here. Now that I know the principles you follow, I can invest in your research without reservations."

"You mean—"

"Yes," Ibis said with a forceful nod, and extended a hand, looking Everett straight in the eyes. When he took her hand, it would mark a great stride in researching the multiverse.

Come on, take my hand.

Everett seemed as if he was about to take her hand, but he raised his hand halfway and stopped.

"What is it?" Ibis asked.

"Um, why are you funding me?"

Of course Everett found it too good to be true. With a gentle smile, Ibis explained her thinking.

"Your research sparked my curiosity, and your passion moved me."

Those were her genuine feelings. Everett grasped her hand back, and vowed to put everything he had into completing his device.

Twelve years after the Libra Heim incident...

Improvement after improvement to Everett's multiverse observation device had transformed it from a small box to a wide gateway, reaching the phase where it could theoretically interfere with parallel worlds. And today was the momentous day they would carry out that first interaction.

As he made the final adjustments at Ibis's private laboratory, Everett looked nervously at the device.

"Finally time, huh...?"

William's face flashed through his mind. As the experiment drew closer, he was staying at the lab more often. Even when he occasionally went home, the experiment was always flickering in the corner of his mind, so he was distracted, unable to have a proper conversation with William.

William was twelve years old. He was blessed with friends, and he was no longer the age where he needed to look after him, but he still regretted not having the time to spare for his son. If this research was a success, he would spend just as much time making up for it. As he thought about that, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Are you nervous, Rett?"

That calm voice was Ibis. Wearing a white labcoat over her dark blue suit, she came over to Everett's side. She was about to begin the experiment of the century, but her steps were light.

"Of course I am. Two more hours, and we find out if I'm the world's biggest charlatan or a great name that'll go down in history."

"If the result isn't what we hoped for, I don't intend to blame you."

"Yeah, but..."

"What's the saying—'fail fast, learn faster'? We're always learning."

"H-Hey! Don't say that; it's bad luck!"

Not expecting to be told that, Everett waved his arms in protest. Ibis laughed out loud looking at him.

After a little while, her serious expression came right back, and she said, "You are the man I've placed my trust in. Have a little confidence, Everett Winsled."

Ibis placed a hand on Everett's shoulder, as if entrusting her own will to him.

"Yeah... Right."

"Good. Now, I'll be watching over your great achievement from the observation deck. Let's raise a toast about it afterward."

With that, Ibis headed to the observation deck where she could look down at the device.

Two hours later, the experiment finally began. The researchers working as assistants operated the device according to Everett's instructions. Ibis admired Everett proudly, but she suddenly heard a cold mechanical in her earphones say, "Ms. Ibis."

It was the AI that managed the lab.

"What is it?"

"Someone is attempting to infiltrate the laboratory."

"Ridiculous... Are they camouflaged? Who is this enemy?"

"Unknown."

"Then, how many are there?"

"Un—"

—Bang!

Communication with the AI cut off after that.

"What happened? Answer me."

There was no response for as long as she waited. Something odd was happening. Presumably the intruder was from a rival company, but they wouldn't attempt to stop the experiment.

Then, who were they? She didn't have the time to think about it. Ibis equipped the boosted armor she had prepared just in case, and faced the unidentified intruder.

Ibis activated all the defense robots camouflaged against the hallway walls at once, forming a solid line of defense. The intruder wouldn't reach Everett without breaking through that line. At the end of the long, straight hallway, it turned 90 degrees, after which there was a staircase to the floor above. There were rooms to the left and right where research equipment and materials were kept, but there was nowhere for someone to hide in them. In other words, as soon as they appeared here, the intruder would be instantly decimated by the robots' concentrated fire.

Next, Ibis deployed a mechanical arm to remove a panel from the wall and connect directly to the cables inside. Ibis operated the console that appeared in midair with fluid typing motions, and rectangular panels popped up in front of her one after another. They showed footage from the security cameras stationed all over the lab. With her flawless system in order, Ibis searched for the intruder's present location. She confirmed that the entrance to the lab had been destroyed. The intruder should have been somewhere, but no matter where she looked, they were nowhere to be found.

"Where...? Where are you hiding?"

Just then, as if answering her question, there was a faint sound from beyond the defensive line.

"!?"

The defense robots responded to the noise promptly, aiming their guns in its direction all at once. As the red glow of their laser sights concentrated on a single point—

"There's nowhere to run, intruder! Show yourself!"

"D-Don't shoot!"

A high-pitched voice ill-suited to the tense atmosphere rang out. The echo made the gender hard to distinguish, but it was most likely a child. The owner of the voice timidly came out from the turn in the hall. The person Ibis saw was a small boy with black hair—

"Wha—William Winsled? What are you doing h—"

That momentary discomposure dulled Ibis's judgement. Just as a silver light flitted behind William's back, something pierced the heads of the robots at the forefront of the defensive line. It was a sword of shining silver liquid.

The intruder.

"!?"

Ibis glared down the hallway past the defensive line. However, as hard as she looked, she couldn't spot the intruder themself. The camera footage projected in midair, too, captured nothing but a faint silver glow.

"...Optical camouflage!?"

Optical camouflage that hid even the outset of an attack was something not even Libra Dynamics had achieved at a practical stage. But the enemy in front of her could do just that. As Ibis stood unable to deal with it, the intruder wordlessly turned the defense robots to scrap metal, one by one. It was only a matter of time until they reached Everett.

Just then, a robot that survived the intruder's attack made a strange sound and charged toward William, who leaned against the hallway wall. Perhaps it was malfunctioning, or mistaking him for the enemy. She issued orders to the robot at once, but it showed no sign of stopping.

"...!"

With her boosted armor, she could eliminate the robot while protecting William. However, that would mean handing the path to Everett over to the intruder. Ibis had to make a choice. Protect Everett, or protect William? Ibis chose—

"No you don't!"

William.

With her boosted armor at maximum output, Ibis charged in a straight line and smashed the head of the robot approaching him. Then, after making sure it had completely ceased functioning, she hurried over to William, still leaning against the wall unmoving.

"Are you hurt?"

"..."

He didn't answer. He was probably terrified.

"Goodness, you've been a naughty kid. Did you follow after Rett?"

William didn't answer.

"It's dangerous here. You should get to the stairs—"

Then, Ibis noticed something strange about him. William was smiling. There was no trace of childish innocence in his face. Only something inscrutable and uncanny. Was he always this kind of kid? It was all too contradictory to the William she heard about from Everett and her reports.

Then...what is this "thing" standing in front of me?

The next moment, a pale silver light came from the body of the boy who looked like William.

"What...?"

Ibis immediately tried to lean away from him. But William wouldn't let her. With unthinkable speed for a child, he stretched out an arm and pinned Ibis down, reinforced armor and all. Even with the help of her boosted armor, William wouldn't budge an inch.

"You won't escape," he said, his voice frightfully cold. Then, he reached his other arm up to Ibis's eyes. He held a small cylindrical object that gave off a blue-white light. Somehow, Ibis couldn't look away from that pale light. She stared at it as it blinked, feeling that her sense of time was rapidly going wrong. Time stretched on, growing longer and thinner. Every time the interval of the blinks changed, Ibis felt as if some kind of "core" inside her was being gently peeled away, bit by bit, and dissipating.

"Ah...ah..."

Her thoughts dulled, her words losing meaning as they left her mouth. She roamed a seemingly eternal labyrinth of time. In the middle of it all, Everett's face just barely flashed through her mind. Then, the pale light flickered violently.

I, I...

Why am I here?

What was I doing?

And just who am I?

She couldn't recall a thing. Words bubbled up inside her mind, tried to take shape, and dispersed, smashed to pieces. Ibis Harbinger's memory and consciousness were caught in an endless torrent of light, and melted away.

----------

"Ah...!?"

Ibis awoke in a white room. When she opened her eyes slightly and looked around, she saw that her haggard body was connected to some kind of device next to her bed by thin tubes.

"Where...am I...?"

"You're awake, Ms. Ibis. No, would it be better to call you Ms. Evis here?"

There was a voice out of nowhere. She turned her head in the direction of the voice and realized there was a man sitting on a chair. He was awfully hard to describe. Between his blank expression that made his emotions unreadable and the distinct look of his shaved head and gray suit, she couldn't get a clear impression of him.

"Ibis or Evis, call me whatever you like."

"Is that so? Then I'll call you Ibis according to your preference."

Ibis didn't understand what he meant by 'preference.'

"Well? Who are you?" she asked.

"I am your secretary, John Doe. I've served you for a long time...but it's no wonder with your current condition."

Feeling somewhat miffed at his self-important manner of speech, Ibis continued questioning him. "What do you mean?"

"Please, stay calm and listen."

John Doe explained thoroughly what had happened to her.

Two years ago, Ibis was caught in an unexplained accident at the laboratory she worked at in secret. She narrowly clung to life with her boosted armor, but a thorough examination revealed that she had some kind of brain damage. The damage impacted the part of her brain responsible for memory.

"You've completely lost your memory, Ms. Ibis. Further investigation will clarify the extent of your impairment."

"Oh... Sorry for doubting you."

"No need."

"By the way, where are we?"

"This is the asylum you once purchased. This room was created to harbor VIPs, but, well, to think you yourself would end up here..."

"Do you have any other questions?" he added.

Ibis shook her head and asked to be left alone for a while, urging John Doe to leave the room.

"If anything happens, please, call me at once."

John Doe's footsteps faded away and the room fell silent. Ibis thought to reevaluate her situation and began tearing out all the tubes. However, the throbbing pain in her head stopped her from moving.

"Damn it..."

An indescribable frustration burned in her chest. She didn't understand what, but she felt as if she had lost something important to her. Maybe it was time, or someone precious. She never imagined it could be so frustrating not to know what her feelings were about. It was as if something was locked away inside her, never to be opened.

"I'm...Ibis Harbinger..."

No matter how much she murmured that name to herself, it still felt like a stranger's name. Her conviction must have been unwavering. She must have had a great undertaking to accomplish. But now that the foundation of her very self had been shaken, it all felt hollow.

"Damn iiiiiit!"

She was a mere shadow of she who contributed so greatly to the progression of mankind and science. Her empty gaze fell on the aurora trailing over Megacity Libra—the Librarian Wave, slithering through the air as if to mock her.