Translator: KJ

Coated paper. A page divided into rectangular panels. Lines of vivid, multicolored ink, exaggerated paneling, and dialogue contained inside speech bubbles.

──KRAKABOOM!

Inside the comic, Mason Industry's building was collapsing. Debris scattered everywhere. Beneath the cataclysmic ruin, a woman was plummeting downward.

[ Elze: ...Meden! ]

The protagonist of「Outcast」, Elze. She cried out for Meden, stretching her hand into the air. Her platinum hair swayed about her, and her blue eyes glittered as if charged with mana.

[ Meden: Elze! ]

The other protagonist, Meden, even while falling, pushed himself one step further to seize her hand. The two clasped each other in their arms and landed safely on the pavement.

But the joy was short-lived.

[ Falkenrath: Haha. ]

Out of the chaos appeared the final boss of「Outcast: Mason Industry Arc」, Falkenrath himself.

──THUD!

Half of his body replaced with machinery, he descended right before their eyes.

[ Falkenrath: You're a useful one. ]

Static effects laced through the dialogue. Pupils so red even the whites burned crimson. Both legs replaced with mana stone and steel. Black smoke rising up with each breath.

Faced with that monstrous figure, Meden only smiled.

[ Meden: Of course I'm useful. I'll be blowing your

damn head off any second now. ]

─...Ohhh~

Before the regression, the me from those memories had felt a shiver crawl up my spine, marveling at it.

─Having fun?

The homeless man beside me chuckled.

The place was a corner of the subway.

─...Ahem.

Putting on a show of composure, I set the comic book down.

─Keep reading, kid. Why you acting all shy?

At his words, I sheepishly picked it up again.

「Outcast: Strike on Mason Industry」

The highlight sequence in which Mason Industry's private military forces had abducted Elze, and Meden along with the entirety of「Outcast」charged in to rescue her.

It was the golden age of the comic that had become a huge success in the Republic.

─Pretty fun, huh? I've got the next volume too. Want to borrow it?

─...That would be much appreciated.

─Heh-heh. You're a funny one.

Back then, I had been wandering the streets, picking up comics that people had thrown out and reading them. Sometimes I'd stolen them too. I still had a little of my knight-era physical ability left in me.

─Here, take it.

─...Thank you.

It was a fugitive's life, never knowing when I might be caught, but, well.

If anything, back then, I had been able to laugh so purely.

─Hey, this here's based on a true story from a long time back, they say. Whaddya think about that?

More than the knight days when I'd been crushed and broken under Sebestian, more than today, when I pursued the great hope of humanity, that time, when I had nothing and had lost everything...

May have been the most free.

"──Hey!"

My eyes snapped open. Someone was standing right in front of me.

"Wow~ Max, you still nap as much as ever, huh? I thought you'd given up even that habit by now."

It was Ezell. I furrowed my brow and sat up.

Since fusing with the Virus, my body had become more robust than ever, but sleep was still a vital form of mental rest.

"What. Why are you here?"

"...You got dementia? The Magic Tower sent the official notice that I was coming today."

Ezell clicked her tongue and pulled out a thick file folder.

"Here. The analysis you asked for."

The Cliff case. Ezell, who had become a high-tier wizard of Sentio at some point, had brought the results on behalf of the Magic Tower.

"It's confirmed. That detonator was attached to the condenser. Which means Sir Cliff is innocent."

"Ah. Thanks."

I took the documents and smiled. Ezell stared at me intently.

It was a face that sugges⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌ted she had more to say.

"What is it?"

"..."

She fidgeted, then opened her mouth.

"It's nothing major, but there's been this rumor going around lately... No. I'll just be honest. The Magic Tower's been getting a suspicious commission."

I quietly crossed my arms.

"The client is somewhere called T24, some kind of research institute. Something's off about them. When you actually look at what they're commissioning... let's just say the intent feels shady."

"Can't Sentio just refuse on its own?"

"You think I'm the Tower Master? They seem to be a pretty big client. Even the Tower Master's been struggling with it."

For me, it was newly fascinating.

Because it was exactly the same as the comic book I had read once upon a time.

"So. You're filing a request with me?"

"...Knights are the watchdogs of the Empire, aren't they? It's obvious those guys are dirty, but there's nothing a wizard can do about it."

Mason Industry detected the Cross Killer, that is, 「Outcast」. Since the human experimentation they had thought was a failure had actually succeeded, in order to resume the experiments, they commissioned the Magic Tower for various piece⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌s of equipment...

That had been the prologue of 「Outcast: Mason Industry Arc」.

"Alright. Wizard Ezell Runsellot's whistleblowing report, received."

"...Huh?"

I accepted Ezell's request. As it happened, I needed an excuse to inspect them more closely anyway.

"I'll dig into it."

For some reason, it felt like I had become a character inside the comic.

* * *

"Thanks."

Sentinel Knight Order, Deputy Commander's office. Jerome stood before Chiron's desk and bowed his head heavily. Chiron, leaning deep into his chair, only shrugged.

"..."

In truth, the inside of Chiron's head went something like this.

Frankly, there was no real reason to be thanked.

He had boasted about persuading Maximilian regarding the Cliff matter, but before he could even pay him a visit, Maximilian had already forgiven Cliff on his own.

Just one thing remained.

There was still a point in Jerome's manner that grated on Chiron.

"..."

So Chiron said nothing. He merely flipped through documents, page after page.

"Ahem."

Jerome, finally catching on, cleared his throat and reopened his mouth, this time more politely.

"...Thank you, Deputy Commander."

Only then did Chiron lift his eyes from the papers.

Of course. They might be the same age, but their ranks were different now. For the sake of the chain of command alone, formal speech was warranted.

A faint smile played on Chiron's lips.

"It's fine, Jerome. The Cliff matter was a Sentinel affair from the start. Not something the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Guard could meddle in."

Sentinel: the sword that served the Empire. The guardians who bore the sun on their backs, the watchers who gazed into the dark.

"It was a matter to be settled internally. Well, it was a bit of a struggle, I'll admit."

He threw in just a touch of feigned exhaustion, as if he had broken a sweat persuading Maximilian. Such gestures were necessary for managing one's subordinates, after all.

"Yes. Then I'll take my leave."

"Go on."

Jerome gave a respectful nod and left the Deputy Commander's office.

Chiron rubbed his stiff neck and gazed out the window.

"...I miss Julian."

That guy was still in the East. To achieve what he wanted by his own hand.

'Just like me, may he too one day obtain what he desires.'

"As for the Imperial Palace..."

Chiron had been keeping his ear tuned to the faint winds blowing in from the Imperial Palace lately.

The air there was anything b⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌ut ordinary.

“Is Reutern at the center of it?”

The cause was none other than Reutern II.

Having abruptly bared his claws, he was now widely acknowledged as the man who had recently leaked Anton Zefren's hearing to the public.

For Chiron, it was equal parts gratitude and wariness.

That was to say, Reutern II was a figure who warranted close watching, a core piece of Imperial Palace power...

......

...Reutern II had been in a good mood lately. Watching that little shit Kentz Bertem run his mouth recklessly until he got himself dropped from the running for Standing Minister had been so satisfying.

Anyway, that bastard wouldn't be crawling back up anytime soon, so I figured I'd just ignore him and study some military strategy for once.

Ding-

Another terminal message. Even the parchment letters were piling up.

"Ah. Shit. Why are you all so damn annoying..."

There had been far too many messages lately. Meal invitations, banquet invitations, requests for favors. The sheer number of them made it impossible to entertain each one personally, so I'd been turning down most.

"Just unbelievable, the nerve of these people~"

I figured, no, scratch that, there was no need to even guess: it was all because of「Lilac Vita」.

Guys who used to brush me off as a hassle whenever I asked them to hang out were now sucking up like this. Honestly, it made me sick of humanity.

Knock, knock.

"Who is it now? Who?!"

Reutern shouted shrilly. The door opened, and his confidant Bern stepped in.

"Lord Reutern. Chief of Staff Grossman has proposed a meeting."

"...Huh? That guy?"

Reutern's brow furrowed slightly.

No matter how royal Reutern was, Grossman was an extremely uncomfortable person to deal with. The Emperor's closest aide, a slippery snake whose mind no one could read. Refusing him outright was no small matter.

"Yes. He says he wishes to share in some friendly fellowship..."

"Ah, wait. Don't tell me."

Reutern's eyes lit up.

"Has Grossman never been to Lilac Vita either?"

"...Yes. Most likely. The Chief of Staff rarely engages in any activity outside the Imperial Palace."

"..."

Well, well. Even Grossman couldn't resist Lilac Vita's allure and was reaching out to me.

"Tell him I accept. I'll arrange a special table for him."

Reutern lifted his chin haughtily and added,

"Oh. Tell him he can bring that bastard Kentz too."

Judging by the state of things, Kentz's political career was finished. At this rate he'd croak without ever once getting a reservation, so out of the boundless generosity of my heart, I would deign to grant the pitiful bastard a single meal.

"...Yes. I shall convey it."

The merciful Reutern.

This is who I am.

Mwahahaha.

* * *

In the western part of the Empire, not far from the Underground City, there stood a shabby building.

I had arrived at the front of the 'T24 Research Institute'.

Its exterior was utterly nondescript, and it wasn't particularly tall, but it was a den where the most savage human experimentation took place.

"...Just like in the comic."

Who the hell was the artist? How could it be this accurate?

A bulky security guard moved to block me as I tried to enter.

"This is a restricted area."

Without a word, I drew out my Sentinel knight ID and handed it to him. The man, visibly startled, hurriedly raised his radio and tried to reach someone, but I didn't wait.

I shoved straight into the lobby.

"H-hey! Just a moment, sir Knight!"

Ignoring the panicked voice, I surveyed the interior. The first floor, plastered in white tile, looked no different from any other hospital or research facility.

Clatter, clatter.

A few researchers in white coats and glasses came tumbling down the stairs in a hurry.

"...Sir Knight!"

The one at the front stopped before me, gasping for breath.

"Your sudden visit is most disconcerting. I do not know your purpose here, but this facility is, by law, strictly off-limits to outsiders. I ask that you go through the proper procedures and return at a later date."

I looked down at him and shook my head.

"Within Empire's territory, there is no law nor place that takes precedence over the duties of a knight."

The researcher's brow k⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌nit.

"What? What do you mean by-"

"It means that my word is law."

I snatched the ID hanging from the researcher's neck.

Manuel, Research Institute Director. The future war criminal who would one day perform thousands of human experiments and be sentenced to hang.

The excuse that he had no fault because the Empire had ordered it had been quite famous even before my regression.

"S-sir Knight! Sir Knight! Please return my ID!"

I walked down the corridor.

Just as it had appeared in the comic. It was uncanny.

The basement most likely housed the human experimentation laboratories, and the above-ground research rooms would contain various research materials.

Studies relating to life and ethics like these only became legal when the Emperor turned a blind eye.

"S-sir Knight! You can't go in there! That's a classified area!"

The researchers turned deathly pale and grabbed my arm. I shoved them away and kicked open the steel door.

BANG!

T⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌he interior of the laboratory lay fully exposed.

Inside transparent cylinders, red blood and shards of mana stones bubbled together, and on the desks lay scattered files filled with anatomical diagrams of the human body and mana circuits drawn in disordered tangles.

"...Sir Knight!"

"I-if you continue, we'll have no choice but to file a lawsuit!"

Without bothering to reply to the clinging researchers, I picked up the files. It was the textbook Imperial Guard style of trashing the place.

"Sir Knight!"

"...?"

I paused for a moment. Because of the feeling that someone was 'observing' me.

─That's enough.

A cold voice rang through the laboratory.

I turned my head toward it.

Thud. Thud.

A shadow stepped out from the corridor beyond the lab. For a moment, I felt as if I were watching the comic.

"..."

That was how unreal the modified human's appearance was. His name was Falkenrath.

Thud. Thud.

Half of his body was made of cold metal and machinery, and at every joint, blue mana pulsed and flowed.

This man, fused of human flesh, machine, and mana, glared down at me with a darkly stained Artificial Eye and asked,

─Knight of the Empire. Do you know for whose sake, for what cause, we labor in this place?

He was being disrespectful. But that was simply this fellow's nature, so I let it pass.

"Do I need to know?"

I tossed the bundle of files to the floor and answered evenly.

─...State the purpose of your visit clearly.

Sparks crackled from Falkenrath's mechanical arm. He was infamous in the underworld in his own right, but I did not avert my eyes from his. I stared at him directly and answered.

“The Cross Killer.”

The researchers' shoulders visibly flinched.

"The victims whose chests were split open and killed by the Cross Killer all came from this place, the T24 Research Institute.”

Falkenrath. He looked down at me. Standing over two meters, his frame rivaling Sebestian's.

In the comic, he had been depicted as the final boss, and at least in appearance, he certainly looked the part.

"But, more importantly,"

But, to me, this man was not frightening. Nor did it feel like I would lose. He was nothing more than a hunk of metal.

Thinking about why, I realized: it was my own strength.

Status, background, power, authority, even my own martial prowess that had grown without my noticing, in every dimension──

"I don't like your attitude."

I was overwhelmingly above them.

~~~

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