The contact lens working with the radar displayed a map of the upper area, and Qualia ran to the position of the ancient magic stone.
Ace also ran along with him, as a fellow member of Hello World.
“Qualia, why did Liebe appear? You defeated him.”
“That is unclear, but the sequence of vital activities stopping was not normal. There is a possibility that Liebe’s vital activities were not fully stopped.”
“Understood. We will attempt to eliminate him again.”
Other knights of Clearance were also ordered by Kernel to rush to the Black Hole ancient magic stone. A unit that was sent ahead was just about to reach it.
Qualia also confirmed who they were to Ace by seeing black armor.
“Request explanation. Under what rules are you eliminating Liebe? Based on Ddos’ instructions? Based on your will as a member of Hello World?”
As they ran, Ace came across two types of people.
One was beast people, members of Azure Skies. The trauma led them to grab their heads and crouch upon seeing a magic doll approaching. But Ace did not follow Ddos’ instructions, and the beast people were eventually taken away by other knights.
The other was dead humans in tatters. Ace stopped a few times, and burned their dead faces into her heart.
“I don’t understand my role, but I do think that these people should not have been killed. I hypothesize that neutralizing the cause of this, Liebe, is what I should do.”
“Understood.”
“…Qualia, is my hypothesis wrong?”
“That is not for Qualia to decide. That is an optimal solution for you to work out.”
“Understood.”
“But Qualia reached the same conclusion.”
Ace nodded slightly, a gesture she never did when she was under Ddos.
They then ran down a street, and encountered knights of Clearance, along with another chivalric order.
They were knights of Troy, and they were evacuating civilians.
Leading them was Troy’s commander, Woodhorse, who gave orders to both knights and civilians alike. The way the people’s faces brightened up when they came in contact with Troy showed how much Woodhorse was trusted.
“Detecting Woodhorse.”
Said Qualia, and Woodhorse responded.
“Qualia! We have trouble right on the tails of yesterday… Liebe of Azure Skies is rampaging in the upper area! Some of Troy’s knights also fell victim…”
It seemed Troy encountered him before Qualia or Clearance, and some of the knights’ blood was shed by those claws.
“So? I feel like you are devoting too many people to the evacuation.”
“Duke Kernel!?”
Woodhorse’s surprise once again showed how high Kernel’s position was.
“I apologize for what the fifth division…”
“That is in the past. How about answering the question? Liebe’s Stealth is troubling, but I believe you could pin him down with this many knights. Why not assign some more to taking down Liebe?”
“Well…”
Woodhorse talked to Kernel and Qualia quietly, so as not to create panic between the civilians.
“…He has a Black Hole ancient magic stone. If that is activated, this whole area will be wiped out. That is why I decided to prioritize evacuating as many people as possible from the upper area.”
“Eh… A Black Hole… That’s just awful.”
Kernel crossed his arms and spoke as if he was hearing about it for the first time, but not even attempting to make it sound convincing.
“By the way… How do you know about Liebe holding a Black Hole ancient magic stone?”
“Eh?”
Kernel had not disclosed that information to anyone outside Clearance. Aside from them, the only ones who knew were Qualia, through his radar system, and Ace, who fought Liebe alongside him.
And then there were Lobelia and Ina.
The only way for Troy to know about this was a leak in Clearance. But Kernel had full trust in them, and complete confidence in their managerial abilities.
And so, that left said question.
Kernel also noticed Woodhorse’s head shaking for a moment.
“…He is holding it in his right hand. And the knights heard him say things that suggested it was a Black Hole ancient magic stone.”
“I see.”
Kernel slowly nodded. There were no conclusive holes in Woodhorse’s explanation.
He cornered him, but dealing with Liebe was more important.
“Then please continue evacuating civilians.”
Woodhorse sighed deeply, as he watched Qualia, and Kernel and his knights head further into the upper area, and leaned against a building.
“…That was close. It sure is hard for knights, because they have to be conscious of hierarchical relations.”
There was a voice from the other side of the wall.
Woodhorse seemed not particularly surprised, as he responded while continuing to give instructions to the knights and civilians.
“Backdoor?”
“Did that man called Kernel realize it? That you diverted the ancient magic stones?”
“…If he did, I must try even harder to get him to the upper area.”
For a moment, Woodhorse smiled. But not the warm smile supported by the people, but a cold smile that served himself.
“They all need to be swallowed by that Black Hole, including that troublesome Qualia.”
And so, Woodhorse also evacuated to the lower area.
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