I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

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"This came from Sikton's brain."

What Divius showed me was a writhing mass of thin threads. It looked like a distorted version of the old horror stories about horsehair worms.

The peculiar thing was its color. It shimmered with a silvery light.

"That's silver."

"Just silver? As in the precious metal silver?"

"Yeah. The kind used as a magical catalyst or made into jewelry."

"Is it like the brain-hacking devices used by the Silver Iron Magic Tower?"

"There's no magic at all. But it still… moves. It's like magic."

It wasn't 'magical' in the positive sense. It was an anomaly, a phenomenon outside the norm, something inexplicable.

Something that wasn't magic but seemed magical. There were many supernatural abilities comparable to magic, like chi or holy power, but they had all faded compared to magic.

If a magician at this point called something 'magical,' it could only be one thing.

"It's an extra-dimensional artifact."

Divius nodded.

"That thing crawled into his brain and manipulated his emotions and perceptions. Dimedes' brain had it too. While he might have used Bacchus' holy power to disarm himself by making him drunk…"

The mechanical hand attached to Divius' waist extended, retrieving the glass case containing Dimedes' corpse.

"Even in this guy's brain, there were tiny silver fragments. The other chimeras were likely brainwashed solely with holy power, but Dimedes, being a director, resisted to the end, so they inserted these silver threads."

I felt like sighing. Was Sikton also a kind of Eroder? Recently, there had been an oddly high number of reports involving Eroders, including the Blasphemia traitors.

"Were there Eroders hidden in the cult as well? This is an ominous sign."

"It's a bit ambiguous to call Sikton an Eroder. His body doesn't have the unique extra-dimensional wavelength. Sikton himself was probably implanted with this by an Eroder."

It made sense why Sikton was so eager to open a door to the extra-dimension. He likely had an implanted command to create a passage to it.

An Eroder using non-Eroder entities for their schemes.

It was indeed ironic. The Blasphemia traitors displayed similar behavior.

"Do you have any ideas?"

What should I do?

My deliberation was short. I couldn't make such an important decision alone.

"I'll consult with the president before giving you an answer."

It was protocol to get a superior's approval before sharing sensitive information.

***

There's something we need to discuss. Please come to my office once you confirm. That was the message from Orthes.

Even in the ash-filled Etna City with no pleasant morning sunlight, Carisia felt incredibly refreshed.

After quickly finishing her morning routine, she headed to the adjacent room. Orthes was seated at his desk, checking the latest Ether Network updates on the hologram projector embedded in his gauntlet.

"Ah, President."

"You seem to be enjoying your job these days. Summoning me on a holiday."

The corner of Orthes' mouth twitched slightly. That was his reaction when he wanted to say, 'What are you talking about?' but restrained himself.

But Carisia didn't mind Orthes' reactions.

Even when he complained about not wanting to work, he was always the one handling Hydra Corporation's most challenging tasks.

"You remember when I reported about Blasphemia's 'traitor faction'?"

"The participants of the Golden Desert operation. The ones who fell into the extra-dimension while fighting us and returned as Eroders?"

"There was an extra-dimensional brainwashing device in Sikton's brain. It's presumed to be the work of an Eroder."

Carisia understood all the points Orthes wanted to make, even those he left unsaid.

Blasphemia's elite who participated in the Golden Desert operation were now secretly working to open a door to the extra-dimension.

Orthes continued with the information he heard about the Divine Cult from Sikton. Secrets not yet disclosed to the other directors.

After hearing everything, Carisia nodded.

"For now, this is favorable news. Let's hold off on informing the directors."

"This is good news?"

"We have two new enemies of the Ten Towers. We might be able to execute the plan to destroy the White Light Magic Tower sooner."

Carisia started twirling her hair around her finger. It was a habit she displayed when deep in thought. By the time her hair wrapped around her finger five times, she spoke again.

"Using the Artificial Commandments as a bomb to─"

"That won't do."

Orthes interrupted Carisia sharply. It was a tone neither would use in official Hydra Corporation meetings.

"I was joking."

"It didn't sound like a joke to me."

The tension relieved by her jest, Carisia began calculating the situation coldly. Since Orthes had infiltrated as a secret inspector, information about the Blasphemia traitors had already reached the Ten Towers.

The traitors would have realized that their plot had been uncovered because the branch head they intended to meet never arrived.

A typical Eroder bent on destroying everything might not think so logically. But the Blasphemia traitors seemed to retain a significant level of rationality.

"When is the Ten Towers' busiest period?"

"They are busiest during events involving all the towers. Recently, the practical exams for tower certification in Elysion would be the busiest."

"They'll come then."

Who and why—those essential explanations were all omitted, but the meaning was clear between them.

The traitors, being weaker compared to the collective power of the Ten Towers, would likely commit a shocking act, such as terrorism, to divert attention when the towers were most occupied.

The executor of the terror would be a puppet implanted with commands, like Sikton. Even if they identified the traitor agent who created the puppet, it would be impossible to locate the traitors' true base as they would have already erased memories and the like.

"Sikton was probably a rehearsal for the puppet they'll use in the terror attack. And also a trap for when a Blasphemia agent came to investigate the Bacchus cult."

Carisia concluded her reasoning.

"…Should we refrain from attending?"

Orthes asked cautiously. Carisia shook her head.

"We should go. It's important to witness the Ten Towers' formidable power firsthand. You should contact the personnel you were planning to recruit as soon as we arrive."

Orthes nodded and took out a crystal relic from his pocket. He placed it on the table, and Carisia pushed it back.

After a few rounds of pushing the relic back and forth between them, they both stood up and raised their hands.

Their hands were in different shapes: Orthes had his fingers spread wide in a 'rock' gesture, and Carisia had her hand in a tightly clenched fist.

"…You cheated, didn't you?"

Carisia had never won against Orthes in rock-paper-scissors. Orthes shrugged.

"Either way, you should keep the crystal relic. Whether I won fairly or cheated, if you didn't notice, you're closer to danger than I am."

***

Kine tried to calm her trembling heart. It had already been two days since she was confined to this room.

The food brought to her was simple yet clean, but she couldn't bring herself to eat, fearing what might be in it.

She hadn't seen the narrow-eyed man again since the first day. She vowed that if she did, she wouldn't be shaken.

Bzzzt—

The door opened with a mechanical noise. Beyond it stood the narrow-eyed man and…

'Who is she…?'

A beautiful woman with white hair stood in front of the man. Her well-pressed black suit and white hair gave off an intimidating aura.

"President, this is the child, Kine."

President. Kine rolled the word around in her mind.

So…

'This person is above the narrow-eyed man?'

"Nice to meet you, Kine. Please take a look at this first."

The president sat in the chair beside the hospital bed and handed her a stack of papers. It was filled with complicated writing.

Being a wanderer of the Bacchus cult didn't mean she lacked education. Kine could read the first part of the document easily.

"A scholarship application?"

She read the next paragraph. Hydra Corporation, hereafter referred to as the Corporation. The scholarship applicant, hereafter referred to as the Applicant.

Below the defined terms was a detailed list of the support Hydra Corporation would provide to Kine.

"What does this mean?"

Kine asked, even though she knew. It was a contract with the devil. A more concrete version of the deal she made yesterday.

This question was a pitiful attempt to delay the inevitable.

***

'Sign it quickly. Quickly.'

I silently cheered for Kine's resolve.

Kine's potential was already proven. Within a year, she would fully blossom as a magician.

Once that happened, all divine investigation tasks could be delegated…!

I inwardly rejoiced, envisioning a happy future.

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