kscans

Chapter 185 - Episode 4: A Change in Policy

After that, Luiza entered the waiting room, and together we watched over Alfina until morning. Luiza seemed to want to say something, but I explained to her that I had developed more serious doubts about the burden the crystal was placing on Alfina.

I admit it was cowardly, but I concentrated on the question of how to ensure Alfina's safety. I also requested an investigation into any data that might be generated by the presence of that room.

Of course, if Alfina were to blame me for my actions, I would not deny what I did, nor would I make excuses. My actions at that time were unmistakably those of a man driven by base desires. I want to believe it wasn't only that, but in that moment, it certainly was.

More than anything, if something similar were to happen again, I don't have the confidence that I wouldn't do the same thing.

Of course, I don't believe that my feelings of cherishing Alfina and my desire for her as a woman are fundamentally contradictory. However, for now, I decided to focus solely on Alfina's safety and the crystal's impending disaster.

Two days passed after that. In the morning, Alfina walked towards me in the Grand Duke's residence hallway. While I felt relieved by her steady gait, my heart raced at her approach, the first since that night.

"Ah, Ricardo—"

"Alfina-sama. Good morning."

Guilt, worry, and an impulse that shamelessly resurfaced, all weighed on me. Carrying these feelings, I greeted Alfina. Carefully, I kept a step more distance than usual.

"…Good morning, Ricardo-kun."

Alfina returned my greeting. Her smile was stiffer than usual.

"How are you feeling?"

I recalled Alfina's pained expression in front of the crystal that night.

"I'm fine. Ricardo-kun………… I've caused you to worry, haven't I?"

Her expression, which seemed to worry about me instead, stirred both my guilt and another emotion.

When I went to the entrance, I noticed two carriages prepared. I then realized that one of them bore the mark of the Cathedral. I panicked.

"Was there contact again?"

Only three days had passed since the last crystal reaction. Had the interval shortened?

"No. But, last time I was almost able to grasp the image of the prophecy, so it wouldn't be strange if the next one came sooner. Therefore,"

"B-but, you shouldn't overexert yourself."

"It's a role only I can fulfill."

Alfina wore a slightly troubled expression.

"The next disaster has the potential to involve many people, doesn't it? I want to do everything I can."

"But, if Alfina-sama takes on too great a burden for that…"

"If a major disaster occurs, my own life will be in danger. It's not someone else's problem, you know."

Alfina pointed to herself. I couldn't deny it. The danger in this situation was twofold. One was, of course, the disaster itself. The other was what is known as a scapegoat.

"Therefore, I will, by all means, proceed with measures for the prophecy, and also swiftly advance preparations for measuring the Blood Mountains."

"…………For me to obtain proper primary information, even just a little. Isn't that the fundamental principle?"

Alfina said this, as if admonishing me. I couldn't deny it. Thinking based on insufficient information is extremely inefficient. The only thing more inefficient than that would be to demand perfect information.

"Besides, that sight was…"

"Alfina-sama?"

"No, Ricardo-kun, you shouldn't overdo it either. Considering everything so far, I'm more worried about you than myself."

At Alfina's words, I could only fall silent. But…

"Senpai."

Mia tugged at my sleeve. Luiza stood in front of me.

"We must respect Alfina-sama's thoughts as well. Just in case, it has been decided that I will stay in that room."

Luiza said. I had heard that from Euphillia. It was the correct measure, and it offered some reassurance, but it wasn't a fundamental solution.

"The documents Vinder-kun mentioned as well… their nature makes it difficult, but I will investigate them."

Luiza whispered into my ear.

"…Understood."

I boarded the carriage heading to the academy. Alfina's carriage and mine, which had exited the gate side by side, parted ways at the next corner. Alfina would obtain information about the disaster from the crystal, while I would create a method to analyze fluctuations in the magic veins. I knew that this was a realistic and appropriate course of action.

Just because the crystal was dangerous didn't mean that this world was built in such a way that merely dealing with the crystal itself would suffice.

But…

"…Whatever the disaster of the prophecy may be, we need power to repel it."

I muttered, watching the back of Alfina's carriage from the rear window. In the end, there's no doubt that power will be the decisive factor. How can we obtain that power?

◇◇

Leonard-senpai, who had just been questioning us about the crystal measurements, was now struggling in another room to compile a report. After all, it was the measurement of the crystal, a national treasure, which had been forced upon them quite aggressively, in many ways. The impatience from the Royal Palace urging them on was palpable even to us.

"…The crystal measurement results are as already provided. As for me, I believe the crystal's danger is high. I want to accelerate the research as much as possible. I want to start working on improving the magic staff."

I lowered my voice slightly in front of the remaining lab members.

"I am worried that Princess-sama is shouldering a greater burden than ever before. …However, I don't believe our previous approach was wrong."

Fulsy said, a troubled expression on his face.

"…Ah, but."

I glanced at Maytyl.

"If possible, I'd like to take a more proactive approach."

Formulating a disaster hypothesis as soon as possible, and securing final countermeasures against the disaster, I feel it would be unwise if these weren't pursued in parallel. As for the latter, the greatest power within reach at the current stage is the improvement of that magic staff which produces the spiraling flame. At the very least, that possibility must be considered.

"Specifically? The management of the magic staff has been moved to the Magic Dormitory, you know…"

Noel lowered her voice. Once Maytyl's arrival here was decided, the research-use magic staff that had been in the lab was also moved to the Magic Dormitory for safekeeping. Originally, the magic staff confiscated from the Empire was war booty of the First Knight Order.

By the way, analysis of the immovable magic staff had not progressed. Our policy was first and foremost basic research for magic vein measurement, so there were no objections.

However, after seeing Alfina in that state, I couldn't say that anymore. As far as I heard from Euphillia, progress on a new agreement with the Empire was, as expected, sluggish. No, wait, was it decided that an envoy would at least be dispatched to the Empire?

"There must be improvements that can be made even without the magic staff itself. Instead of altering the spell formula, we can strengthen the properties of the circuit itself. After all, we have sorcery experts here…"

I looked at the silent Maytyl. It was she who had originally been rushing applied research, not basic research.

"I'm glad you're motivated, but are you telling me to betray my homeland?"

"N-no, that's not it. If the disaster is large-scale, it would affect the Empire as well…"

"The possibility is high, yes. But, at this point, it's still just a possibility, isn't it? We haven't even received the results of the magic vein spectrum analysis."

"The Ancient Dragon Eye was said to be dangerous—"

"I certainly said that. But, I also said that I don't know the reason why the users of the Ancient Dragon Eye died out. In other words, this is also speculation. In fact, Princess Alfina-denka is standing and walking on her own two feet, isn't she? The side effects of this are not that simple."

Saying that, Maytyl opened her right hand. There, she had a magic circle tattoo, much smaller compared to that of a Horse-Dragon Knight. Even I had seen the swollen arms of Imperial prisoners.

"That's true, but…"

"I've seen the measurement results too. Wavelengths even further outside the crimson. But, isn't the amount of magic power itself not that great?"

"No, that's… not about the quantity, well, quantity too, but I think the quality is the problem… That's what Alfina-sama…"

I panicked.

"First of all, Ricardo's state from that measurement is a little strange. …Is there a possibility that he's being swayed by personal feelings and making a mistake in judgment?"

"That's not………… I won't say it's not the case, but I'm trying to remain calm."

"Hmph, you don't deny that your own heart is in turmoil, do you…"

Maytyl looked into my eyes and gave a sarcastic smile. Then she shrugged.

"Then, explain to me, in a way I can understand, why Ricardo is worried. If I'm convinced by your explanation, I might consider cooperating. It's difficult given my position, but I might be able to exert some influence on our home country through Lisabet."

Maytyl had completely changed her attitude. Ah, right, she's the only one who could voice that opinion in this place.

"…………"

"What, is it such a grave secret?"

"No, that's not it. I just thought it was good that Maytyl-denka was here."

"Hmph! …I'm just interested in Ricardo's information."

Maytyl inexplicably panicked. No, I already knew that. Well, I think the information I'm about to discuss is a little, or rather, very different from what Maytyl expects. The biggest problem is my own shaky understanding.

After all, it's about the relationship between information, energy, and wavelength. It would be the physical definition of information.

"Simply put, the prophecy's super high-density 'information' is a 'super high-density' 'wavelength,' and it means 'super high energy.'"

I uttered knowledge that I myself was unsure if I fully understood. Of course, the three of them all looked bewildered. Now, how should I explain this?