Three Watches, Mi

(Miluno)

The base of the pyramid was completely different from the impression left in my dream.

Is this how tourists who make pilgrimages to sacred sites feel?

Forget about that seemingly Great Will pillar of light shooting into the sky; this godforsaken place doesn't even have a single lamp. There's only a faint, eerie light shining down from above the Deep Well, making it so dark it's terrifying.

Mono asked:

"Huh? Doesn't the helmet have infrared night vision?"

I tapped the helmet of the Ghost Combat Suit; yes, the night vision was definitely working.

"But it's still not very clear. Infrared light can't penetrate these Crystal to form an image... No, should I say it's too transparent?"

Aside from Betelgeuse and Mono, nothing else could be seen; it was all the same no matter where you looked.

Ding--!

Betelgeuse's eyepiece suddenly lit up, emitting a light like a 20,000-lumen lamp. The light refracted within the Crystal wall, making the surroundings even brighter, and I was able to see my surroundings clearly.

This area is similar to a central plaza, where passageways converge from all directions.

"It's completely empty? It seems the 'Supreme Council' really has no intention of developing this place."

The Crystal's transparent structure remains intact; the lowest level of the World Center is still the pristine state it was countless years ago, only now the Natives are gone.

However, such an empty place...

What did you find here?

They specifically called me down, but even after I could see my surroundings clearly, I still "couldn't see anything." This godforsaken place only had Crystal and more crystal mines; there wasn't even a gas spring.

"So, does that mean people without vision can't even see a treasure right in front of them?"

Betelgeuse first mocked me, then answered with its back turned to me:

"There's an Ancient Superbrain here. The records inside might give you the answers you're looking for, but this clone's capabilities aren't enough to analyze it. The best way is to take it back and decipher it slowly."

"..."

Feeling uncomfortable being looked up and down by me, she turned around and asked:

"What's wrong?"

"No, nothing. I just found out you can talk. I thought your clone was malfunctioning and didn't have a speaker."

"..."

You can't really come up with the reason that "the eyepiece has become a searchlight, so I have to speak," can you?

If the real Betelgeuse were here, wouldn't it blush?

The little thing was whimpering in my ear.

"Hey, aren't you afraid she'll chop you up if you say that?"

Therefore, I will not say it...

Betelgeuse silently pulled a fire axe from its "Arsenal".

Will I get attacked even if I don't tell?

The robot girl raised the fire axe high and slammed it down on the ground. Sparks flew from the axe blade, but it didn't leave a single mark on the ground.

Were Ancient Computer buried even deeper underground?

"Little Can, you can't get it open!"

Mono leaned closer to remind him:

"Although these Crystal have lost their contents, their hardness is comparable to that of the Star Crystal. It will be a bit difficult for you to destroy them with the strength of your clone... Let Miluno do the heavy lifting."

Huh? Just because she can't cut it doesn't mean I can.

The little creature replied, "You really have no idea about your superhuman strength! Besides, can't we turn into witches?"

Do you want me to become a witch again?

"This Ancient Computer is very important to me! It may have recorded the reason for the world's destruction! It might even be able to figure out my identity!"

The little thing is chattering away in my head.

The discovery of Betelgeuse was the most valuable thing to her, at least more useful than the Annihilation Bomb.

"Since we can't take the Annihilation Bomb with us, we can at least take something of value back with us."

My head is throbbing from her yelling.

"Okay, let's go then."

A profound darkness overflowed from the Morning Star Crystal, flowing around me in a fluid manner.

"Hey, can I control it?"

"No."

"Snort!"

The fluid darkness emerged, circled once, and then merged into Black Crystal within my body, with a curved horn sprouting from my left forehead.

"I'm used to it, but why do I only have one horn?"

I asked casually, Mono answered casually as well.

"Who knows? Maybe it's because the two are heavier?"

I think even one is quite heavy.

Seeing that I had transformed into a witch again, Betelgeuse was momentarily stunned. I took the opportunity to snatch the fire axe from her hand and, while accelerating, smashed it at the spot she was trying to cleave.

The ground hadn't even shattered, but the axe had exceeded its plastic deformation limit and shattered into dust.

But that's still a minor issue.

When the huge impact echoed through the Deep Well, I realized it was a terrible idea.

"With such a loud noise, those guys in the 'Supreme Council' definitely heard it. And since there's still light here, they'll surely send someone down, right?"

Mono, however, said in a cryptic tone:

"Statistics show that the success rate of escaping is highest if each robbery is completed within three minutes. So as long as we are quick enough, they won't have time to catch us!"

Yes, that makes a lot of sense.

But bank robbers probably don't need to use a fire axe to break open a safe, right?

"Then let's take this opportunity to try out the new power of Witchification!"

New forces?

The little thing pointed to the three metal pocket watches of different sizes on my chest.

"Your pocket watch isn't just for decoration!"

"Huh?"

Now that you mention it, I'm a little curious.

The fusion with Sirius was merely a comprehensive enhancement; although the magical power reached the level of a witch, no new power was gained.

From this perspective, since Witchification incorporates the power of Outer Path, perhaps it is even stronger?

"Why is it a question? Of course it's because my power is stronger!"

The little thing is making noises in my head.

"Then, Master Mono, how shall you use your power?"

All three pocket watches have buttons; they are more like old-fashioned stopwatches with hands that move than pocket watches.

"I call these three watches the 'Past Moment,' the 'Present Moment,' and... the 'Future Moment.'"

The little thing introduced itself in a very serious manner.

"First, press 'Past Moment' to restore the fire axe in our hands."

In my understanding, "the Past" should be a substitute for Rewind the hourglass.

But when I pressed the button on the watch, my consciousness, holding the pocket watch, sprang out of my body, and the second hand on the dial began to reverse.

I Rewind self, and the fire axe in my hand began to regenerate.

The little thing continued:

"Seize the opportunity and stop the Past Moment!"

The button on the dial I pressed the moment the fire axe was reassembled pulled me back into my body.

"The time reversal you just experienced was a unique time granted to you by the power of the pocket watch; it doesn't exist for anyone else in this world."

"Does not exist?"

"Hmm! To others, it just looks like you suddenly reverted to the state you were in a few seconds ago—it happened in an instant!"

If the hourglass during magical girl arcades was Rewind by pressing back;

"Past Moment" simply means clicking the playback progress bar.

By analogy, I think I understand the power of these three pocket watches.