“Sorry for the sudden call, Dowd Campbell.”

    A voice made of electronic noises let out those words.

    “I heard you were supposed to be enjoying your vacation around this time.”

    “...Honestly, I wouldn’t call that vacation enjoyable.”

    Just thinking back about it a little already gave me war flashbacks.

    I mean, recalling how I exposed my naked body to a bunch of people wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory.

    As I said such words with a bitter smile, the massive steel figure across from me shrugged.

    This fella was the same cyborg I’ve bumped into a few times before.

    Alpha, from the Magic Tower. The guy Caliban called an ‘Executor’ and was scared shitless of.

    “Still, originally, this was supposed to happen a little later. And yet we just changed the schedule and summoned you without prior notice whatsoever. The apology was warranted.”

    “...Can’t argue with that.”

    Not that I wanted to argue anyway.

    “Honestly, I didn’t expect to get dragged here so suddenly either.”

    Right now, I was on my way to the Magic Tower with this guy.

    Why? Because of the ‘transport’ matter related to Marquis Bogut, or at least that was what they told me.

    “Likewise. This is the first time I’ve seen the higher-ups pushing an issue this hard.”

    “Pushing this hard?”

    “They mentioned that they wanted to see you as soon as possible, and that you’re their top priority research subject or something.”

    “I thought I’m just here to escort a prisoner.”

    “On paper, yes.”

    “...”

    Alpha slowly turned his head.

    “Well, the guy being escorted is one thing, but it seems your importance inside the Magic Tower has skyrocketed for some reason. I have no idea why.”

    Huh? Those folks usually would just hole up in their labs without stepping out. What had gotten into them?

    Alpha let out a sigh before continuing.

    “They even sent this so you could get there faster... This is really an unprecedented case.”

    Saying that, Alpha tapped on the seat of the ‘flying object’ we were currently riding.

    In Sera, the most commonly used transportation was carriage.

    Considering that it was the most formal-looking and had been used the longest by the people of the world, it made sense, but...

    It wasn’t like the tech level of the world was super low. Things like steam-powered trains or fantasy-esque portals are also commonly used here.

    However...

    An anti-gravity hovercar was just a whole different story...

    “...”

    “...”

    “...”

    Eleanor and Chancellor Sullivan—who were riding the thing with me—were clearly dumbfounded as they stared at how quickly we left the ground behind.

    I’ve been on planes before, but I’ve never got into a floating car like this.

    A floating car that could carry five people at that.

    Unlike me, who at least had some experience being up in the air, I could only imagine how shocked Eleanor and Sullivan must be.

    Anyway, if you were wondering why these two were here...

    Chancellor Sullivan would be acting as the empire’s representative, while Eleanor...

    “...”

    ...Wait, why was she here again?

    I mean, she told me, ‘I also got permission to enter the Magic Tower,’ and Alpha didn’t stop her, so chances were it was legit.

    ...As for how, if I could guess...

    It was probably because Professor Astrid—they had met and chatted with once, so it was plausible—hooked her up with the tower.

    They probably had made some kind of arrangement prior to this.

    “...How high are we going to go?”

    While I was thinking that, Eleanor asked while looking uncharacteristically pale.

    Unless I face this whole thing head-on, nothing would be resolved.

    ●

    “Whoa.”

    As soon as we got off at the ‘stop,’ that exclamation slipped out.

    While yes, Alpha told us there weren’t many residents here, I didn’t expect ‘androids’ to be strolling around like it’s nothing.

    Eleanor and Sullivan, who got off the hovercar with me, also looked around nervously.

    “...The floor is all made of rare metals...”

    “...Even the Imperial Palace wasn’t built this extravagantly...”

    “...Are those...automated automatons...?”

    “For automatons, their movements are way too smooth. They look like real humans...”

    These two were big-shots back in their home country, but here, they felt tiny.

    Like they said, fear came from the unknown. How could you keep your cool when unknown things were roaming about?

    “I’m going to take this guy and toss him somewhere appropriate. In the meantime, we’ll prepare your accommodations, so feel free to rest until tomorrow.”

    “Is there something scheduled for tomorrow?”

    When I asked as such, Alpha quietly spun his laser-processed lens and looked at me.

    “There’s a hearing for Marquis Bogut tomorrow. They’ll probably request your presence there.”

    “...But why...?”

    “You’ll find out when you get there.”

    He said it calmly.

    As he spoke, Alpha locked his gaze—heavier than usual—with mine.

    “Oh, and. When you attend the hearing, can I ask you for one favor?”

    “...What is it?”

    What is this all of a sudden?

    As I tilted my head, confused...

    Alpha let out a smirk after a brief pause, and continued.

    “You probably won’t have a pleasant experience while you’re here.”

    “Excuse me?”

    And then...

    “The Magic Tower is corrupt, Dowd Campbell. It’s tainted by evil.”

    Those words came out. Out of nowhere.

    There was no pretense, no context, no background, no nothing prior to this.

    “Professor Astrid, myself, and this fool claiming to be a prisoner have known this for a long time.”

    He just said those words clearly.

    While looking straight at me as he spoke.

    It was hard to read a machine’s expression, but the feelings behind his words were crystal clear.

    Pity towards someone getting caught up in a huge trouble.

    And...

    A subtle hint of an unknown ‘expectation’ lingering at its edge.

    “So, resist.”

    “...”

    “Because the stage has been set for quite some time.”

    As I stood there silently, processing the weight of his words...

    Alpha let out a chuckle and continued.

    “Oh, and...”

    His lens glanced over Eleanor and Chancellor Sullivan.

    “Have a good night.”

    “...”

    “All of you probably are going to share the same room.”

    Weird. That sentence sounds more ominous than the previous ones... Or maybe it’s just my /genesisforsaken