The conditions at the Bellaros Detention Center where Theia was imprisoned are harsh. The solitary cells routinely reach under negative four degrees Fahrenheit, and the environnt is so barren that even describing it as 'dry' seems Like an understatent. One can literally feel the skin cracking.
There is absolutely no interaction allowed between the prisoners, and not even a minute of exercise ti is guaranteed.
Simply put, it's worse than being holess—a state she's all too familiar with, having experienced it firsthand.
Since being incarcerated, there hasn't been a single night where she hasn't lost sleep…
However, recently, there has been a small change.
“…lt's warm.”
Looking at the small stove, she felt grateful for the little things.
The slight warmth it provided was imnsely comforting. The mini humidifier placed beside her bed was equally valuable.
Given her past respiratory issues, these environntal factors were potentially Lifesaving.
“…”
A small stove. A palm-sized humidifier. Along with eight volus of academic humanities books.
These were the comforts she had received from the guards in exchange for a Lunchbox prepared by Shion Ascal. These small items were preserving her.
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of snow accumulating outside the window.
Every day, she imrsed herself in reading, deeply reflecting on herself. Ultimately, it was a contemplation about her ntor.
Theia had killed the ntor who had saved her Life with her own hands.
She couldn't tolerate his corruption.
…Because that was her taboo.
Knock-knock-
“You have a visitor.”
The guard said. Theia Lifted her gaze slightly.
“You don't have to go this ti.”
The guards1 words are usually the opposite. Visits that one must attend are the ones they dread, and those they are told they can skip are the ones they must attend.
“l'll go.”
She left her solitary cell, guided by the guards to the visiting room. Clanking in her shackles, she arrived to find—
Her ntor's daughter.
Emilia was there.
A middle-aged woman Looking at her, painted with complex shades of anger, sorrow, and bewildernt.
Only then did Theia realize her sin.
It wasn't a sin against her ntor. Excluding a monster who had forsaken his humanity was a creed she had upheld all her life.
However, she owed an apology to his daughter.
The old her had run away, unable to do so.
Because she was scared.
“…”
After a long ti, she had returned to that place.
Belatedly, she faced the daughter of the man she had killed.
The elders of Libra are like immortals Leisurely residing in the Aerial Garden. They are both rulers and retirees, collaborators and participants.
Their esteed treatnt isn't rely because they are descendants of Libra's Lineage.
Most Balancers think of them as old folks squandering the resources of the Aerial Garden and the assets of Libra, but thats not the reality.
They too were once the backbone of Libra.
They were soldiers at the forefront of Libra, as cunning strategists, and knights with endless loyalty.
Their title of 'elder' isn't just a nominal position reserved for the backroom.
However, the vast majority of 'Libra employees* working across the continent treat the elders like troubleso old n.
They disregard the achievents of the elders' youth and trivialize the networks they've built.
Outwardly, they show respect, but subtly, they treat them like parasites.
Thats why the ergence of Shion Ascal, a staunch supporter of the elders…No.
The arrival of this earnest young man was a topic of discussion even among the elders.
“Juror-?”
Elder Anakta asked.
“Yes, that's right.”
BeLanta replied while eating ice cream.
“…No. You an to tell you ca all this way with that precious invitation just to hear such an answer?”
“lts not just any answer. It was a crucial astrological reading.”
The elders, nurous and influential in the succession structure, hold significant sway in critical matters Like the Theia Esil case.
“Moreover…”
BeLanta covered her mouth with her palm. Anakta also leaned in slightly.
“…I heard that Holy Knight Athan might actually be a monster.”
“…”
Anakta blinked but soon furrowed his brow.
“What nonsense are you spouting, you fool? Have you lost your mind?”
“lf you don't understand, never mind. The jury trial is exactly what could shatter Theia's souL”
“… H mm.”
Anakta swallowed a sigh and ate a macaron.
By the way, this place is a newly opened dessert shop in Libra Section 1, a kind of welfare project recently introduced by Shion Ascal.
Of course, the elders can use it without spending a di.
“Did you hear about Elder Raymond?”
At Belanta's question, Anakta chuckled.
“Yeah. Heard he went to Bellario. Silly old man. Balancer Ascal had to rescue him.”
Among the elders, Shion Ascal had quickly beco known as a fixer.
“Speaking of Ascal, I heard a rumor. Theia asked Ascal why he serves Libra.”
Be Lanta was particularly in a good mood. He had received a prophecy that his grandson would pass.
“And?”
“That's when Ascal said…”
'My grandfather served Libra, and my father served Libra, so naturally, I must too.'
At this, Anakta also smiled contentedly. The aging elders found a strange fantasy in the idea of generations serving their clan.
“Quite the upstanding young man. Its been a long ti since we had a proper Balancer co in…”
anwhile, Zia was attending to her work in her room.
All preparations related to Derek's usurpation were already in place. She was just waiting for the right mont. The trial seed like the perfect opportunity.
Derek would pour all his assets and manpower into the trial, and Zia would strike then.
He might win the trial, but he would be Left with nothing in his grasp.
The only variable, of course… Derek's Balancers.
They were the most nurous among his siblings and if they decided to forcefully push through, Shion alone might struggle to handle it.
“l'll have to ask for help.”
But Shion would be able to solve it. He was like a skeleton key, always finding the right solution.
Zia placed the docunts related to the usurpation in a safe under the floor tiles. Then, she pulled out another docunt.
“A more efficient way to use the extre mana stone…”
This was the area Zia had been focusing on Lately. She was trying to advance weapon technology by using the extre mana stone more efficiently, but it was a tight spot. It had been a month ago, a week ago, yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow too.
[Should I ask Shion ???]
She scribbled on the paper.
But, well.
It was a magical engineering matter, so Shion might not be able to do anything about it.
“…”
Zia quietly got up. She needed to use the bathroom.
As she returned to her room after finishing in the bathroom.
“1”
The scene inside had changed dramatically, all because of one unexpected person. An intruder was sitting in her chair.
With long blue hair tied back in a ponytail, and one hand roughly flipping through docunts, it was Johanna.
“Sister…?”
Johanna, who had infiltrated without her knowing, had already activated her Magic Body.
Thud. She put down the docunts.
“Zia.”
Her complexion was calm but dangerous, and her voice was ominously soaked.
“Seems like you're embarking on quite a big project?”
“…Yes.”
Zia answered honestly for now. Johanna stood up.
“l'm curious. What do you want? It's too big a scale for your capabilities.”
“…”
Zia clenched her mouth shut. Had she been too careless? She hadn't expected such a sudden visit.
Johanna raised an eyebrow.
“I asked.”
“Uh… I…”
“Why on earth.”
She suddenly clenched her teeth.
“ln these work-related docunts too—”
With a gesture full of anger, she lifted the docunts and then pointed at a 'sentence' Zia had just scribbled.
[Should I ask Shion ???]
“Why are you writing such personal content?”
“…”
Zia was montarily flustered, but then swallowed her saliva.
It might not be as bad as she thought.
“Huh…?”
“You should clearly distinguish between work and personal matters. That is a very basic quality for a direct descendanL”
Johanna still glared at her with angry eyes.
“Do you not know what kind of man Shion Ascal is?”
“…”
Shion Ascal, what kind of man.
Zia couldn't quite grasp the aning of the words, but Johanna stubbornly continued.
“Knowing that, what? Are you just indulging in simple, one-dinsional pleasure? Are you harboring such a filthy heart?!”
Johanna's rebuke ca at an odd ti. From the beginning, the conversation had been strange for Zia.
“Sister… Is there sothing wrong with Shion…?”
Zia asked quietly.
“…”
Johanna paused at that mont. She suddenly realized.
Zia doesn't know about Shion's condition.
Why did I assu that Zia would naturally know about his limited ti?
And why hasn't Shion told Zia about it?
That's…
A Logic ford in Johanna's mind. At that mont, she felt as if sothing built up inside her was being washed away cleanly.
“You don't know, do you.”
Johanna pursed her Lips. It was almost like a smile.
“…wha?”
The fact that she didn't know was clear enough. Shion wasn't sincere with her. Loyalty and love are vastly different.
Shion is fulfilling his duty towards Zia, but that is not love. It's a pristine duty, devoid of any trace of love.
“The perfect distinction between public and private matters.”
“…Sister?”
Zia called out to Johanna.
“lts fine.”
Johanna smirked and waved her hand dismissively.
“The rest is less important.”
Sohow, she felt Like a victor. She tossed aside the docunts and placed her hand on Zia's shoulder.
“Good luck.”
Zia could never have Shion, even if she were to die and co back to life.
Johanna felt pleased, but a sudden thought made her heart sink again.
…Even if she were to die and co back to life, she couldn't have him either.
Unless she bears the pain.
Zia called over. She asked about the strange words Johanna had just said to her, but I chose to remain silent on that particular matter.
“lt seems Like Lady Johanna has beco… overly fond of you—a sort of side effect.”
“…”
Zia seed curious about what exactly had transpired between the two of us, but she didn't press further.
For , it was a success.
It was proof that she at Least harbored 'curiosity' towards .
“Okay… Now, about the most important issue…”
Zia brought up Derek's balancers.
“Yes, I've already thought of a thod.”
Reduce the numbers, or make deals under the table.
Derek's balancers aren't incredibly loyal, but they aren't completely devoid of loyalty either. So, like Balancer Smith, will definitely need to be eliminated, while others could be persuaded to join our side.
“Okay… I trust you.”
Zia didn't ask about the specifics of the plan. It ant 'do not spare any ans necessary?
It was the perfect attitude for cutting ties—implying that no matter who you employ or how you kill, it has nothing to do with .
But hey, I'm not offended.
There's no one harder to get close to than Zia.
Right now, I'm her second in command, but if I fail to demonstrate my worth, especially if balancers like Belingham Kantar show more exceptional talent, she'll replace in no ti.
Whether before or after the regression, thats just who Zia is.
“But what is this docunt about?”
“Ah…”
I pointed to the docunt she was scribbling on.
“lts about utilizing the extre mana stone… but there's a problem thats not resolving…”
“Hmm. May I take a look?”
“Sure… but it's quite scholarly…”
I picked up the docunt.
It was about enhancing the weapon efficiency of the extre mana stone.
“… H m m?”
My eyes widened in surprise.
This is, it was even featured in the news before the regression as one of the '13 Simple Yet Amazing Inventions?
And the inventor was Zia Libra even then.
So, this was the exact ti she was researching it.
“Difficult, isn't it…?”
Zia gave a wry smile.
“Give here…”
She reached out her hand to . As I handed back the docunt, I added,
“But you know,”
The Zia I've co to know always tends to overcomplicate things, assuming the worst-case scenarios. Thats why she often struggles with simple solutions.
“Why not just install a double circuit?”
I offered a too-simple hint to her, who was deep in thought.
“…Huh? Double?”
“Yes. The extre mana stone has too much power, making it difficult to utilize, right?”
“Thats true…”
“So, if you install a double circuit, it could fully transmit the power, increase efficiency, and improve safety, couldn't it?”
ln other words, not a single [—] circuit, but a double [=] circuit.
“lt can't be that simple…”
She was about to say it couldn't be that simple.
But Zia's words halted as sothing seed to strike her.
She stared blankly at the paper for what felt like two hours to .
“Let's see.”
She hastily picked up her pencil and began scribbling.
Scribble-scribble - scribble-scribble -
Her writing was a whirlwind of focus. Her hair seed to buzz with static electricity as if struck by it, puffing up like an owl fluffing its feathers.
“…Please Let know when you're done.”
I quietly sat beside her, waiting for her discovery.
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