The ancient Automata came to life and spoke. In other words, they were witnessing history, but.
âMig. Ht. You. Be M. Y mast. Er? My. Na. Me. Is. Ann.â
The Automata knew her name was An, but regarding anything other than that,
âMy. Apologies bu. T I. Do not. Have any. Other. Infor. Mation.â
She unfortunately said. As expected, even the Automata mustâve had her important information erased. It was an obvious measure against the possibility of capture by the enemy.
âHmm, looks like thereâs nothing more to see here.â
Reinhardt concluded after investigating the room where the golems were.
âAnd so, what are you going to do about these golems and that Automata?â
At that moment, a voice could be heard from the passage they had come through.
âHoh, hohahahahaha! Extraordinary! Most extraordinary! Good work, and thank you!â
It was the self-proclaimed archeologist they had met during the day, Rucall.
âRucall! Why are you here!â
Reinhardt asked and Rucall laughed again.
âHahaha, didnât I tell you Iâm investigating these ruins? For the sake of the Unifilers!â
âThe Unifilers!â
It turned out that Rucall was an underling of the Unifilers.
âDuring the day, I thought you werenât ordinary people, so I sent a report by pigeon. Then in the evening, a reply arrived. To my surprise, Reinhardt and Jin, youâre the two talented people we Unifilers have our eyes on, arenât you!â
In his excitement Rucall fluently talked on and on.
âShouldnât I then loyally offer this finding, along with you two to the Unifilers! Uhahahahaha!â
Rucall let out a laugh like he had gone mad.
Then, Jin felt a light tug on his sleeve and turned around to look. There was the Automata from just now, Ann.
âMas. Ter. Tha. T per. Sonâs. Stra. Nge st. Ate isâŠâ
It was hard to comprehend and her voice was low, but Jin listened carefully to what Ann had to say.
âI see. Itâs good that you told me. Thanks, Ann.â
Even after Jin finished listening to what Ann had to say, Rucall was still hooting and hollering while laughing.
âUhahahahaha! Come on, you both, wonât you come with me!â
Jin only had a single thing to say to Rucall.
âMake me.â
âHuh?â
To Jinâs cold reply, as youâd expect Rucall stopped smiling and had astrange look on his face.
âWhat, did you say?â
âI said make me, you fanatic.â
Jin went even further.
âUnifilers? You really think you can do such a thing? In that case you arenât even a fanatic. Just an idiot.â
After Jin went that far, Rucallâs face turned bright red and he flew into a rage.
âWha-wha-wha-what are you saying? You bastard, do you even understand what youâre talking about?â
Jin said indifferently,
âUnifying the continent, right? In the first place, Dinar Kingdomâs rule extended over just a part of the continent at its most. And even thought because of the population shortage it then couldnât maintain itself, collapsed and turned into smaller nations, you say you want to unify the country into a one similar to that timeâs with force? You make me laugh. Oh, I suppose Unifilers are then a comedy troupe?â
Even Reinhardt was wide-eyed in shock at the un-Jin-like sharp words, but it goes without saying that Rucall was the one who was most shocked.
âWha-wha-what?â
âDo you have a poor memory? How many times do I have to say it?â
âYouâre making fun of me!â
âYeah, that I am.â
âD-d-damn you!â
âYouâre red like a lobsterâŠOh, if I say it like that you probably wonât understand. Oh yeah, youâre like a boiling kettle.â
âArgh!â
âH-hey, Jin?â
Reinhardt said worriedly as Jin was acting unusual. Jin replied with a low voice.
âSsh. Wait just a bit longer.â
âO-okay.â
âRather than magicians, arenât Unifilers a group of idioticians?â
âU-uaaaaaaaargh!â
âN. Ow.â
At Annâs mark, Jin fired a spell.
â[Stun].â
âAgh!?â
Then Rucall collapsed on the spot.
âOhh, it should be over now.â
Jin took a breath and Reinhardt asked a question.
âJin, what was that magic just now?â
âAh, you mean [Stun]? Itâs a magic that, utilizing lightning magic, gives the other party an electric shock for barely an instant, paralyzing them. Itâs effective againts human opponents.â
Jin explained and Reinhardt admired,
âHmm, is that also a benefit from âscienceâ? You make me want to take lessons in science from you more and more, Jin.â
âYeah, when weâve got the chance.â
Jin had also come to think that way little by little.
âFirst is this guy.â
Using the fainted Rucallâs own robe they tied him up. They tied him up and Reinhard asked Jin a question seeming marvelled.
âHey Jin, earlier when you faced this guy you stirred him up a lot, but was there a reason behind that?â
Jin nodded. He then replied to Reinhardt with a question.
âDid you feel that his response was somehow strange?â
âHm? Yeah, come to think of it. But isnât that what youâd expect from a religious fanatic?â
Reinhardt replied, but Jin said no.
âTry to remember. Dominique too felt like that when she showed her true colors, right?â
Reinhardt tried recollecting what happened that time. And then he thought that indeed, maybe what they both had in common was their seeming abnormal excitement.
âWell, she did get so upset that I thought it strange.â
He replied and Jin said thatâs exactly what he felt like, and nodded.
âWell, I hear that thereâs a possibility that that might be because of the influence of [Hypno].â
âWhatâs [Hypno]?â
It could very well be described as a version of hypnotism magic. But where did Jin get that information, Reinhardt was surely thinking. Then he noticed that the Automata was next to Jin and,
âCould it be, you heard it from that Automata?â
He asked. Jin smiled and replied to confirm.
âYeah. Ann told me that.â
Ann began to begin the supplementary explanation, or so they thought, when unexpectedly the one who began to speak was Reiko who had moved next to Ann without anyone noticing.
âThe magic known as [Hypno] is something that appears to manipulate targeted people as one pleases, but that is not the case.â
âEh?â
It was a detail both Jin and Reinhardt were hearing for the first time.
âIn the case of [Hypno], manipulating everything about the target person is impossible. Then speaking of what it is able to do, it can guide the targetâs actions. In other words, in Rucallâs case he was made to continue investigating the ruins, see.â
The two reached comprehension then.
âAh, so thatâs why in spite of not having any results, he spent ten years in a place like this.â
Usually, one wouldnât be in ancient ruins that seemed to hold nothing to find for ten years. The two felt much better knowing the reason for that.
âIn addition, having him report to the Unifilers supporting him, that much it can do.â
âI see. So, why did you know he was affected by [Hypno]?â
Reinhardt asked the most pressing question and,
âThe person under [Hypno] enters a light state of agitation with things regarding the party who bestowed them with their âgoalâ and âdirectionsâ.â
She explained. Indeed, Jin said and nodded once.
âIs that so. Certainly at that time Dominique also felt like that.â
âRucall wasnât just in a light state of agitation though.â
There was also a reply to Reinhardtâs doubts.
âIt appeared to be the degree of excitement associated with orders instilled forcibly.â
âI see. In that case, doesnât that mean Rucall wasnât originally a Unifiler. But why stir him up so much?â
Reinhardtâs question was only natural. Even to Jin, at that time Ann had only told him to
provocate Rucall. And the answer to that question was,
âThat is because if the affected person receives a shock when they have reached their highest state of agitation, they wake up from [Hypno].â
And that was Annâs explanation conveyed through Reiko.
âYou mean that therefore, thereâs a possibility that Rucall will wake up from [Hypno] now. Alright, shall we try waiting until he comes to?â