187 – Imperfect Technology
“Wow…”
The admiration came out of nowhere. I can’t believe this place actually exists.
Aurora shining brightly in the dark night sky. A splendid building lies beneath it.
The magic circle on top of the huge golden spring informed us that this was the Magic Engineering Society.
Anyway, because of the location, I felt an unrealistic beauty.
By the way, where is this place? If you see an aurora, does that mean it’s near the poles?
It couldn’t have been Antarctica in terms of time, so it was highly likely that it was near the North Pole.
I’ve heard that auroras sometimes appear in Northern Europe, such as Norway and Iceland, so it’s probably closer to that.
Even if you try to guess based on the routes you have passed, it is difficult to make a hasty prediction because you have been passing through tunnels that have been blocked in all directions for quite a long time.
“Where is this located?”
After confirming that the train had come to a complete stop, I asked the engineer next to me.
“I can’t tell you right now. I’ll let you know when you sign up for a membership.”
From noble mtl dot com.
“This is the answer I expected.”
Well, I didn’t feel like sharing it with ordinary people. It doesn’t mean that I am an ordinary person.
“You can enter through the front door over there.”
“Yes? Aren’t you going in with me?”
“An engineer cannot get off a train. Shouldn’t we go back and pick up passengers?”
Does that mean I have to go there alone?
When I was forced to stick together for half a day and chatter, I begged for some time alone, but I was a little worried when I thought I would be left alone in an unfamiliar place.
It’s not an ordinary place, especially since it’s the headquarters of an enigmatic yet very suspicious group.
“Don’t worry. If you go inside, the guide will be there.”
“Okay. First of all, thank you for your help.”
As I watched the train depart, I realized belatedly that the train to return had disappeared.
How do I get to my house…?
The leaving train disappeared into the distance without a chance to catch it.
Let’s slowly think about the way to return later, and let’s go inside.
When I got closer, I could only admire it.
While acting as a thief, I looked around all kinds of buildings.
From the magic academy to the palace, the executive headquarters, and even the dragon palace in the sea.
However, the building of the society was aesthetically perfect enough to be called the best in comparison.
How should I explain it? It seemed like a timeless design.
Perhaps the effect of the background is large. The midnight aurora is a cheat key.
Clearing all my thoughts, I approached the front door, and the door opened automatically even though no one was there.
Are you saying it’s not the hideout of an organization with state-of-the-art technology? Well, this much wasn’t particularly surprising considering the magic engineering I’ve seen so far.
The real surprise came right after.
Thump!
“Ouch!”
A steel doll pops out of nowhere when you step inside. He lowered his head as if to say hello, and looked at the quiet figure.
I thought it was really heartbreaking.
Anyway, is this really what I’m thinking? Are you a real android?
Recalling what I heard from the head of the institute earlier, I cautiously asked a question.
“…Are you the guide by any chance?”
Surely. A doll that stands up without saying a word and turns around to lead the way.
Anyway, the atmosphere seemed to ask him to follow him, but he started following him.
And the internal structure that I looked around was more than expected. You can be sure that each decoration placed in the open hall is more sophisticated than anything you have ever seen.
Overall, the color combination of black and gold made the image itself luxurious.
I’ve been thinking about it to some extent since I first saw the train ticket, but the one real design is amazing. Wouldn’t it have worked even if they had just competed with the design without the technical skills of magic engineering?
I felt one thing while following the doll to the building of the society.
No one was visible. I couldn’t detect anyone’s presence except for me.
The only beings roaming the wide space are iron dolls identical to the guides.
A question that comes to my mind as I feel as if the genre has changed in an instant.
Could it be that the person I’m trying to meet called the vice president isn’t an android?
If it’s really like that, the picture will be very strange.
A group of androids with state-of-the-art technology wishing for the death of a girl.
Isn’t this too full of personality to be compared to the organization that followed the thief and called for a revolution?
In front of a splendid visit that I finally reached while ignoring the rising anxiety.
When the doll opened the door, the interior that looked like the president’s office was also very clean and modern.
At this point, I feel defeated.
I was proud of our foundation as an innovative design that was ahead of the times, but it was embarrassing to show my business card in front of a conference.
When I went inside, someone was sitting in a chair. At first glance, fortunately, he seemed like an ordinary person. Or maybe it’s an Android that’s crafted to be deceivingly sophisticated.
Cool all-back hair and sharp horn-rimmed glasses.
Overall, he was a man wearing a suit that fit his body with a cold impression.
He stared at me as I entered the room and greeted me in a businesslike tone.
“Nice to meet you. Mr. Chloe Morris.”
“How did you know my name?”
“Let’s say the information power of the society is the answer. I think the first priority is to talk, would you like to sit down?”
No. Let’s not be discouraged. Even if I look like this, I am a veteran who has gone through all kinds of ups and downs.
No matter how great you are, your status will be higher than that of a country’s princess? Have you ever had a snowball fight with the spirit of the lake? I am a person who jokes with the goddess every day.
After forcibly instilling confidence, I took a seat across from him with his eyes wide open.
The other party went straight to the point as if nothing was wrong.
“I heard the general story. He wants to subscribe to our membership.”
Did you hear about it? The head of the institute told me that he was busy talking about himself while sticking with me all the time. Could it be that they secretly eavesdropped on our conversation?
“Yes. To be honest, I want to be closer than just being a member.”
“I don’t see that kind of ambition as bad. It doesn’t matter too much that you are the thief who caused a stir in Britannia. There is only one thing that matters to us.”
It was not difficult to guess what it was.
“You must have heard the qualifications to become a member from the head of the institution.”
“Yes. You must help kill a girl. Is that right?”
“Exactly.”
“Why?”
To my question, he answered calmly, fixing his glasses.
“Because that is the reason why the Society was founded.”
“·······.”
Rather than being convinced, it only made me more confused.
The purpose of the establishment of the Magic Engineering Society is to kill someone? Wasn’t it to preserve the magical engineering skills lost when Dr. Franken died? It’s so different from the superficial reasons I knew.
Obviously, after hearing this, I couldn’t understand it. A more detailed explanation was needed.
“So… Vice-president?”
“That’s my job and responsibility, but when calling, please feel free to call me an operator.”
The vice president is more comfortable.
As is the case with the head of the institution, it seems that this society has a special calling method rather than a name.
I don’t think it’s because it’s not just a vice-president to call it an operator, it’s an operator.
No, now it’s more about solving the question than about the name.
“Tell me clearly. What did the target girl do wrong? Or for what reason are you trying to kill me?”
“Hmm. That sounds like a pretty long story. I will tell you everything from the beginning.”
When the moment finally came for the truth to be revealed, I pricked up my ears and focused as much as I could on what would follow.
“Did you see the guide who took you to this place?”
“Yes. Are you an android?”
“Android? If you mean a robot, it’s similar, but different. They are more like golems, so to speak.”
Android and Golem.
The images pointed to by the two words may be similar, but the principle of operation is completely different.
And magic engineering is a technology that combines the two into one.
In other words, the guides and the dolls that roamed around the conference are android golems that combine science and magic.
To be honest, I never imagined that the society would have this level of technology.
From noble mtl dot com.
“Why didn’t you reveal this technology to the world? I know that there are very few people who know about the existence of trains.”
“The reason is simple. It’s because magic engineering is still an unfinished technology.”
“Incomplete?”
The operator nodded.
“Yes. The genius to save humanity developed technology to lead the future, but disappeared right before completion. That is the current magic engineering. It has a lot of potential, but it is unstable.”
I realized what that word meant through the following explanation.
“You asked why we didn’t reveal this technology to the world? This is because the more magical engineering is used, the more the world will perish.”
“… Huh?”