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In the dark car, the atmosphere around the Scholarship Officer was icy.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Violet!”

“Usually, everyone claims that.”

It seemed he thought I was an Apostle donning Violet’s skin.

Even the way he placed his hand on his sword’s hilt seemed to suggest that.

Sophie El, sensing the discomfort from that Scholarship Officer’s attitude, intervened.

“Seijis! What are you saying? This kid is definitely Violet! I can guarantee that, having fought that monster myself!”

“Just hold on. Those creatures are crafty. They might have used double deception.”

He continued to pry.

“If you are an Apostle, what do you know? Listen—’Monad, Pleroma. Platinum Dawn Society. Apex Gate,’ doesn’t anything ring a bell?”

I tilted my head and quickly replied.

“I don’t know! I understand Monad because the Apostle babbled about it, but I don’t remember well!”

“Seriously? You’re the Apostle?”

“Oh snap.”

Unit 2501 grunted and pondered.

It was true, just like Seijis said— I was that Apostle, but for some reason, I couldn’t remember it clearly now.

I never thought I would find myself in the situation of a test-taker facing a blank mind after studying all night.

“Ugh, I really don’t know!”

“Why not? Unit 2501, you said you were that Apostle.”

“Right now, I’m Violet.”

I just wanted to go home and rest, but what kind of situation was this?

I grumbled while glaring at Seijis.

The Scholarship Officer’s black eyes were sharp, like a surgeon dissecting the surgery site.

“…Alright. Then, do you hear any strange whispers? Does it feel like someone is constantly whispering or throwing provocative words at you?”

“No? Nothing like that.”

“…Then, ah, I had this.”

Seijis spread his hands.

Magical power converged into a point, a small flash that rose like a blooming flower.

Before my eyes, a strange shape appeared as a pattern.

It was complex for a symbol but simple for a magic circle.

“Do you really not have any thoughts about this?”

It did look a bit interesting, but I wondered what was so special about it.

“I don’t know.”

Perhaps testing my reaction, the Scholarship Officer then dispelled the pattern as if he finally understood.

“…If there’s no reaction even after showing this, I can trust you. You are indeed Violet.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It’s a method to distinguish a normal person from an Apostle without measuring the magical spectrum. Those guys can’t just ignore this.”

I suppose it was a symbol that had an effect in differentiating those creatures.

It had no effect on me, though. Was it because of how I appeared?

For some reason, Seijis’s reactions, which had been rigid until now, started to soften a bit.

Still, the questions didn’t end.

“You absorbed the Apostle? Is that really true?”

“Yeah, since it directly entered my network, I was able to seize the opportunity!”

I explained everything that had happened.

Meeting the Apostle, the struggles, punishing the Apostle who invaded the network, getting hit by a nuclear bomb while fighting the army of monsters, and subduing the Apostle alongside the Helios Strike Force.

“In the end, I won, and I became nice. I hate conquering! From now on, I’ll do good things for people and friends!”

After listening carefully to my words, the Scholarship Officer asked.

“Unit 2501, do you think you might be able to use powers? You know, reality manipulation.”

“That?”

Wait a minute, I was an Apostle. The Apostle was another version of me.

Wouldn’t I be able to use it?

Filled with anticipation, I raised my right hand.

“Now that I think about it, I can! I’ll give it a try!”

Seijis’s expression turned to one of horror. His strong hand hurriedly grabbed my arm.

“Wait! It’s dangerous here. This is your first time using it with this body.”

“Oh, right? Then I’ll try it outside! This is a parking lot. There’s nobody here—”

“Wait!”

“Stop!”

The Scholarship Officer siblings held me back as I tried to get out of the car.

A short while later, after arriving at a secluded Riverside Clearing, I was finally permitted to demonstrate my ability.

“Can I do it now? I really want to try!”

“…Fine. Go ahead. But don’t do anything big. Just a tiny wish, like a small favor. Got it?”

“I got it all! Then I’ll show my power!”

I raised my arm. I didn’t know how I would use it, but I definitely was that Apostle, Violet.

So I should be able to do it.

<How do I use this?>

<Well, I’m sure it’ll work somehow!>

Since it’s reality manipulation, it means I can create something from nothing, right?

I raised my arm.

I held a wish.

<I’m hungry, so let’s make some food!>

I began. I focused, and start—!

“Eh?”

Nothing happened.

Even after trying hard for ten minutes, there was no change.

With a sulky face, Unit 2501 lowered her arm.

“It seems I can’t do it. I give up.”

“…Alright.”

How strange. I was an Apostle. Why couldn’t I use my powers?

While pondering in the car on the way back to the Academy, I found no answers.

—

Seijis kept an eye on Violet until she trudged toward the dormitory.

“Nothing to say?”

Turning my head to the side seat, I found an unusually angry Sophie El with her arms crossed.

“What I faced today was the first experience I’ve had while working in the Inspection Bureau. I was shocked to encounter the Obsidian Legion, but to make matters worse, I fought against a suddenly attacking army of monsters. I even had to battle beings from another dimension for the first time and took a nuclear strike.”

A moment ago, feeling a throbbing pain from a quick strike by the Apostle, she inspected her left arm uncomfortably.

“But Violet said, ‘The Scholarship Officer said if you do this and that, you can face an Apostle!'”

Seeing Seijis, captivated by the transparent black eyes of his sister, sighed curtly and maintained silence.

“You knew all this while I didn’t, and even the heir to a prestigious clan like Irene doesn’t know. I thought I told you everything the last time, but I didn’t know you were hiding something else.”

“…This doesn’t seem like the time to talk about it. Let’s discuss later…”

“When later? Until another being from another dimension crawls out and starts killing people? Until an academy turns into ashes like Polaris? Explain everything right now. And where did you go earlier?”

Seijis pondered carefully over the words he would spit out next.

If he answered, it would ease things. He might also share some burdens.

But was it really right to tell his only family about this?

In the next moment, he reached a conclusion. Fine, let’s talk. Just to an extent that it won’t cross the line.

“Fine. Then listen closely…”

The knowledge he spilled was the dangerous truth that pierced the world’s facade, a cohesion of the federal government, massive clans, and the top brass of numerous secret societies that remained unified in silence. The danger of these secrets overshadowed even the complex interests of the Rust Room and the continent.

Simply knowing could put one in danger.

‘I didn’t need to say this so soon.’

More preparation was required.

The time was too early. People weren’t ready yet to face the terror from beyond two dimensions.

Was that all? The students who might become future heroes, the capable ones hadn’t even enrolled yet or appeared on the stage of this world. He had to wait.

All he could do was cut down the enemy’s forefronts in the meantime, reducing sacrifices.

Most of the burden had to be shouldered alone.

‘But everything has sped up.’

From some moment on, the situation had twisted.

The Aegis Academy attack by the Apostle last year should have been much more discreet. Magnavis had suddenly collapsed and retreated from the continent.

The curtain opening in the midst of the southern region and the emergence of the Erosion Zone was something that was never meant to happen.

The butterfly effect impacted more greatly than anticipated, and the unknown enemies that had been covertly active showed signs of moving years earlier than expected.

Not to mention, it was impossible to predict what kind of storm the scattered assets of Magnavis after its collapse would cause.

Irene Solstice’s father was an example. A person who should have died had become a twisted bipedal combat machine, and the existing history was half trash-canned.

Could it be related to Violet’s changing trajectory?

Sophie El, who had been listening to the explanations calmly, tightly shut her eyes.

The flood of unfamiliar information made her eyes and head throb.

Was it because she had seen the Apostle too many times? Or because she had heard about the dismal future?

“*sigh*”

After several deep sighs, Sophie El slowly opened her mouth.

“Alright, all of this is fine. I get that the Apostle is a henchman sent by the people who started the great war a century ago. And that they had been hiding in the academy city all this time, scheming.”

How pitifully secretive her younger sister was. She grumbled resentfully.

“*sigh* How foolish! You idiot! You were facing that dangerous thing alone? You should have told me! What kind of logic says you came from the future and will shoulder all of it alone?”

“…I’m sorry. But I had no choice. Just knowing about their existence or identity is enough to be dangerous.”

Seeing her younger sister turn her face away expressionlessly, Sophie El clicked her tongue inwardly.

Ever since last year, she had changed suddenly. What had she seen from the future to become so bleak?

She understood logically, but emotionally, it was hard to accept.

Was she really that untrustworthy?

A question mark popped up in Sophie El’s mind, filled with annoyance.

“Didn’t you say that the Aedos were that dangerous?”

“Just as I said earlier. They’ve crushed all resistance in an instant. The federal forces, the plans of four clans that had given their blood and flesh, the numerous secret council strategies, and the wisdom of the academy—all were rendered meaningless.”

Sophie El blurted out a question.

“Were there no ones with powers like Violet in the future?”

“No. There were no means to absorb or mentally manipulate Apostles. There may be cases of being manipulated in reverse… What are you trying to say?”

Did a smile appear on Sophie El’s lips?

“Then how about asking Violet for help? If she absorbed that terrifying monster, wouldn’t it be a great help in protecting the world?”

The Scholarship Officer was left speechless by the sudden suggestion.

“…Could it be because of that boundless witch? I understand you are wary of that girl, but that hasn’t happened yet. Violet is not a witch. Oh my dear stubborn sister. You can see from the weekly psychological tests or counseling results, Violet is a kind female student who is a bit clumsy, but just loves to hang out and have friends. Can’t you shed a little bit of doubt?”

“…”

Seijis thought his sister’s words were reasonable.

He knew it himself. Logically, he declared that girl was different from that murderous witch.

Little by little, thoughts of trusting Violet started to emerge in his mind.

‘It’s not wrong. But…’

However, he could no longer discern what was what.

‘What on earth is that?’

Now, Violet had become an indescribable being from beyond comprehension.

To crush that monster in a mental battle directly?

Was such a thing even possible?

The Scholarship Officer’s mind became entangled.

—

We fell into contemplation throughout the night.

“Cheat! I want to use a cheat!”

At dawn, all the Violets across the academy city repeated strange attempts.

“Reality Manipulation! Come out! Cake! Chicken! Steak!”

They were like a cult, lighting fires and dancing about.

“Magic Formula Development! Reality Manipulation!”

Those believing complex beast laws and practices would stimulate the Apostle’s abilities.

“Magical Power! Focus your magical power! If we gather Ether, something will happen!”

Groups that directly injected magical power into Unit 2501’s head.

“Unit 2501! Do you see anything?”

“I don’t know, um, I’m dizzy! Agh! No way!”

-Purrrr!

With a sizzle, Unit 2501’s head exploded, finishing the experiment.

“It doesn’t work.”

The Violets pondered.

Where might the root of the problem be?

Why did Unit 2501 lose her reality manipulation ability upon becoming an Apostle?

“Could it be a body issue?”

Unit 2, who had kept silent, suggested an idea.

“Think about it. Apostles were way larger than us. They looked completely different from the beings in our world!”

“Like aliens.”

Exactly. Perhaps it could be a hardware issue. If that was true, it would be a sad revelation for our Violet.

“I lost my power in exchange for a cute girl’s body.”

“Ugh! So to use a cheat, I have to turn into an ugly alien.”

The more they thought about it, the more dreadful it became.

No academy would accept a six-meter alien.

Sister Adela and the others would probably hate that too.

There was another point that made them uneasy.

“Okay, I get that we can’t use our abilities, but why can’t we remember? The Apostle’s memories.”

All the Violets shared all memories. But Unit 2501 had no recollection of being an Apostle before becoming Violet.

What could the reason be?

“I died within the network. Then wouldn’t there be something left there?”

“Now that you mention it, could it be?”

The answer was likely within the Violet Network.

The place where they previously discovered the Vision Memory Chip during their research on magical parallel processing was indeed inside their mental space.

“Great, then let’s explore! Unit 2501, now that you’re a Violet, let’s go for a tour of the Violet Network!”

“It’s a place we’ll use a lot from now on. Let’s take a look!”

“Alright!”

Thus, I toured the Violet Network.

Unit 2501 looked around curiously.

Just hours ago, the place where they had fought fiercely had completely erased any traces of battle.

“How wonderful!”

At the entrance of the network, two statues stood in the vast Violet Plaza welcoming us.

Little girls waved their hands as they passed before the large, muted statues.

“Hello, General!”

As we passed through the plaza, cities within the Violet Network with strange scenery adorned our journey.

The Violet War Memorial Hall recording new victories.

A Violet beach with pirate ships and aircraft carriers floating above.

A 1:1 model that would someday stand somewhere in reality—specially designed for Violet.

“Over there is the Violet Hotel, and over there is the Violet amusement park.”

“There’s even a Violet mock battlefield for brave Violets!”

Rotating turrets mounted on the rooftops monitored the surroundings, and the road beneath opened up, where tanks and fighter jets burst out.

“What you just saw are the defensive facilities meant to annihilate invaders. There’s even a Violet prison to hold captives! It complies with international law, you know.”

“That’s impressive!”

Overwhelmed by all this, Unit 2501 cheered.

“The network is vast!”

While diligently exploring the ins and outs of this network, Unit 2501 seemed to feel something and lifted her head, turning it this way and that.

“Do you recall anything?”

“I don’t know! But something is calling me. It’s close!”

Unit 2501 rushed ahead. The place where the Violets’ footsteps came to a stop was a serene, tranquil lake with a laid-back atmosphere.

“There! There! There’s something!”

Thousands of Violets dove into the lake.

Before long, we emerged from the lake with a huge square cube that had been submerged at the bottom.

The surface of the cube was riddled with countless square holes like Swiss cheese.

“What is this?”

Unit 1, as the representative, touched the square object.

The cube covered in holes transformed into a pile of books upon contact.

“Uh…”

The moment I touched it, I understood.

“I see!”

It was the part of the memories of the Apostle I had lost when I became a Violet.

“What do you see?”

I couldn’t understand.

“I see static!”

Interpretation was impossible.

It felt like staring at a fuzzy gray screen of a tube television.

Fleeting images and blurred, hard-to-understand places floated in my head.

“Unit 2501, what about you?”

“I don’t know either! It’s not different for me.”

Nothing improved. I struggled to make sense of these ‘memories.’ The result was barren.

Reading the memories of an Apostle felt like reading a book in an alien language.

The words were visible, but deciphering what they meant was impossible.

“I think I somewhat get it…”

On a large scale, I could see several patterns emerging.

If similar scenes and images repeated and if they could be correlated to our thought processes, I might fully absorb and interpret them.

However, I still couldn’t grasp anything. No, it felt fundamentally misaligned.

The mental legacy left by the Apostles couldn’t be swallowed on our level.

It felt like forcing a bucket of tough food that couldn’t be digested down one’s throat.

Putting a Blu-ray disc in a floppy disk drive would surely be more compatible.

Eventually, by dawn, we could salvage only a few words. Even that was acquired merely when Unit 2501 made contact with her former self right before becoming Violet.

“Pandemic?”

Something little by little resurfaced. A box for making snacks and a bad plan.

Apostles had opened this box and produced something strange with the power that came out of it.

“Wait, if it involves a disease…”

“Ariel?”

Wait, was Ariel’s illness also a result of their schemes?

“But the Apostles are all dead.”

“Right.”

It was said that curses or magic tend to unravel if the sorcerers die.

I didn’t know where that strange magic they created had gone, but it should have vanished.

By now, everything should be alright.

“Then… let’s go visit her tomorrow!”

“That sounds good!”

The fatigued Violets gradually fell asleep one by one.

 

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