"So... what just happened...?"
The two Seeles asked in unison, looking completely bewildered.
"Bronya thinks that based on the mysterious voice's final hint to us... it should be some kind of World Bubble's judgment mechanism... That explosion was a judgment outcome. By the way, do you remember the direction of the explosion?"
Bronya looked at the others, hoping to get an answer.
"Um, it seems to be that tallest building, yes, that hundred-meter building with the Fire Moth mark carved on it..."
Bronie thought for a moment, looked out the window, and pointed to the most conspicuous building in the city: a landmark structure covered in black, opaque glass.
"Excuse me, excuse me! Do you know if there's any important event happening soon???"
Long-haired Seele grabbed a passing cafe waiter and started trying to get some information out of him...
"Important events...? You are members of Fire Moth, aren't you? Surely you know the news about the defeat of the 12th Herrscher?"
"To boost public morale, this city is holding celebrations... These are some of the few days the city is actually lively. You all should remember to go and relax too..."
The waiter, who had been grabbed, smiled at Seele, explained for a moment, and then hurriedly left.
"The 12th Herrscher... Bronya, do Schicksal's or Anti-Entropy's records describe this Herrscher from the Previous Era?"
"The 12th Herrscher, the Herrscher of Corruption... Um, according to the records, she can be called a key factor in the downfall of the Previous Era..."
"She seemed to be an existence like a memetic virus. According to the few remaining records, she invaded the living beings, machines, and sick of the civilization at the time, using this to control Fire Moth's arsenal and launch strategic-level weapons all over the world..."
"The Previous Era then fell into decline after this."
"In other words, this group of people's celebration... is more like an apocalyptic carnival? I can understand that explosion now..."
Bronie and Veliona nodded thoughtfully.
"Bronya's hypothesis is actually different from yours... That distant explosion earlier looked like some kind of weapon being activated... Let Bronya think for a moment, Bronya seems to have seen this scene in a report..."
"I've got it! This explosion is very similar to the photographic records of the Judgement of Shamash in the intelligence Schicksal previously received about Arc City..."
"Eh... Bronya, the way you put it, it really does seem similar."
Bronie, who had been reminded by Bronya and was a direct witness present at the time, nodded.
"So... why did a MANTIS of the Fire Moth use Shamash at the festival and cause an explosion...?"
Just as the old confusion was resolved, new doubts followed one after another....
"Um... Seele has a discovery..."
Short-haired Seele, who had been silent until now, softly chimed into the discussion.
"Oh, does Little Seele have an idea or a lead? Why don't you tell us?"
The other three nodded encouragingly to the girl, waiting for her to continue.
"It's just... Seele found this on her person. I wonder if the other me and the two Bronya sisters have one too..."
The blue-haired girl pushed an employee ID card across the table.
It was a work permit with the girl's name and a large headshot... The back was stamped with the Fire Moth emblem...
"...?"
Staring at the ID card—or rather, the IC card—the others fell into deep thought, then began searching their own pockets.
Soon, three more ID cards were produced.
"What departments are you all in? Mine says Armed Department... Which actually suits me quite well."
Long-haired Seele inspected her own ID card and nodded in satisfaction.
"Bronya and Bronie are in the Technical Support Department."
The two "ducks" exchanged a glance, seemingly recognizing each other as rivals.
"Seele... Seele is in the Logistics Department."
"Excellent—we'll probably have employee dorms and all... And if we're lucky, we can even get into the central area of the victory celebration—"
"We'll be able to see what's going on then... Maybe even get into a fight."
Veliona rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
"Ahem, let's fill our stomachs before we start fighting..."
Adhering to the principle of "eating first when the opportunity arises," Bronie grabbed the cafe's menu.
While the group in the Sea of Quanta was discussing what to eat, the Anti-Entropy leaders in Sea of Quanta City were staring at the silent Eye of the Deep, grinding their teeth in frustration.
"What is wrong with this thing?! It suddenly started up, but now it doesn't react at all no matter how much energy we pump into it?!"
Tesla kicked the tightly sealed Eye of the Deep on the ground in a fury, her face a picture of irritation.
"Ah... I found a supplementary manual for the Eye of the Deep... hmm... the title is quite unique..."
Doctor Yssring scrolled through her tablet, appearing to have found something new.
"Ah, Green-Haired Seaweed Head, what did you find? What strange title is it? Tell me about it."
The Lobster-Haired Doctor kicked the Eye of the Deep device on the ground a few more times and turned her attention to Yssring by her side.
"Hmm... It's so long—"
"Eye of the Deep Technical Operation Manual, Revised, Revised Again, Final Revision Do Not Touch, Not Even If Dr. MEI Holds a Knife to My Throat Will I Revise This Again, The One Before This Was Already Threatened with a Knife Fine-Tuned and Thoroughly Revised Edition 13.0pro+???"
"This book serves as a supplement for the maintenance and repair instructions of the Eye of the Deep. For details, see Entry 1551..."
With a contorted expression, Yssring scrolled the page number to 1551, then read out the contents above word by word:
"In the event that the Eye of the Deep crashes or fails to respond to charging... do not press the initialization button on the control panel. That thing was only made to deceive the superiors during inspections, it is slow and inefficient..."
"Based on long-term practice... researchers are requested to wear size 42 sneakers and violently kick each of the six launch devices of the Eye of the Deep seven times... The force for each of the seven kicks is as follows...???"
"....?"
Tesla, Einstein, and Yssring, the three top scientists of Anti-Entropy, stared at each other... and then their expressions gradually began to twist. Meanwhile, Welt Yang and Welt Joyce, who had arrived at the scene later, slapped their own faces with their palms.
Immediately after, the two gentlemen directly pushed the others, who were still lingering above the main gate, out and began to violently kick those six launch devices using the method from the manual...
-
"I have a feeling that the technology of the Previous Era... sometimes has its unreliable moments..."
"Who knows... As long as it works. After all, this is experience gained through the practice of our predecessors, even if it looks a bit ridiculous... We should get ready to rescue them now."