Pursuit into Saiba

(Babaluno)

Miss Viktorika summoned three rows of Playing-Card Soldiers to block Miluno's advance, and behind her...

The old man, who had merged with Fomalhaut, turned and stepped into the Wormhole Device.

"Huh? Who's that over there...?"

Aldebaran, hiding within the "Great Hand," replied:

"That's the 'Breeding Facility,' an absolutely forbidden area. Even those old fogies from the 'Supreme Council' aren't allowed in. That's..."

Sirius answered quickly:

"The Black-Lamp Factory that produces the Base Body —Spica already knew about that place."

"Oh? That saves me some trouble, but if they're invaded over there, the 'Supreme Council' won't just sit idly by. Even your City School will be in danger, you know?"

Sirius then asked, "Since no one can go in, how does anyone know that A-Ji went in?"

"You're not allowed to go in, but that doesn't mean you can't come out... What if someone has never come out?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Aldebaran then emerged from the body of the "Great Hand".

"There is something far more terrifying than the 'Great Hand' over there."

"Ancient Monster?"

"No, those are much more troublesome than Monster."

Aldebaran patted the "Great Hand" beside him, which bore a resemblance to Miluno.

"This Guardian of transitional civilization has little intelligence, only following a pre-set logic of action. Its duty in the 'Breeding Facility' is to preserve the spark. As long as the 'Breeding Facility' exists, as long as the 'Black Pool' exists, even if Monster of today are wiped out, they will be reborn one day..."

She shrugged as she spoke.

"Of course, this world doesn't have much time left either."

A copy of the "Great Will"?

Sirius frowned as well.

"'Guardian'? Security guards? I've never heard SpiCa mention such a thing..."

"Sirius, so I'm telling you this out of kindness, right? You got all the information about SpiCa from Betelgeuse, didn't you? That shut- Betelgeuse girl doesn't know as much as I do."

"Then how did you know?" I asked.

"Hmph? I know it! I'm a genius!"

Aldebaran stood with his hands on his hips, swaggering around for a while.

"In short, A-Ji is in danger right now. It would be a bit irrational for her to hide in a place like that just to avoid Mikoto... But if it's her, she might have ulterior motives for Past. After all, she rarely does anything meaningless."

"Perhaps she doesn't know what's going on there."

Sirius said this, and Viktorika looked serious as well.

She was the one who sent her father in; if anything were to happen to him, it would affect the interests of the entire witch class.

Aldebaran replied:

"I think she knows, at least knows what's inside, since no one who went in has ever come out again... but you shouldn't go in."

"You mean, we're supposed to stay here?"

"That's right. Of course, you could also take this opportunity to return to the City School and evacuate before the 'Supreme Council' reacts. This is your best option right now."

Sirius turned around and looked at me.

He shook his head again.

"That won't do, we have to bring A-Ji out."

Yes...

We still need to bring Dad back.

Aldebaran asked:

"What are you still worried about? Even if she manages to survive the 'Guardian,' the crime of trespassing will land her in jail. The 'Supreme Council' will no longer trust her, and she will no longer be an obstacle for us."

Judging from this, it seems like Dad is in serious danger...

"It has nothing to do with this."

Sirius had an unusually tense expression.

"A-Ji is Ceruno's father, Fomalhaut is my Fomalhaut friend, and they are also people who committed crimes against Earth, so I must take them back... But I have to ask, Aldebaran, Aldebaran you still the person I know?"

"Um?"

Aldebaran was momentarily speechless, but instead of answering the question, he avoided the topic.

"The Supreme Council will soon find out that someone has invaded the Breeding Facility, but they can't get in. So they'll most likely point the finger at the isolated City School. Although the Council lost some of its fighting force in the previous battle, it still retains a considerable number of elite troops and heavy firepower. It will be easier for them to annihilate the City School's manpower than you think... I mean, this is 'enemy' territory, you should act cautiously."

"So, you're not considered an 'enemy' anymore?"

Sirius's rhetorical question was somewhat sarcastic.

"Of course not~ I'll always be your ally~ right, Michan?"

I looked at Miluno, but she just scratched her cheek.

"Uh, is there no need to act anymore?"

Sure enough, I told you she'd recovered...

No, the sound is coming from inside the necklace?

"In hindsight, Aldebaran did indeed help me a lot."

Miluno said this, but she still offered an explanation.

"However, I'm not sure about her stance. She's targeting Sun Ji to give herself a chance to enter the 'Supreme Council'."

The implication is that Aldebaran is not necessarily an allied force.

Aldebaran himself explained, "A-Ji and I are on the same path but different paths. Our alliance is only temporary. Ultimately, we are destined to part ways and even clash, since her plans are too much of a hindrance to me."

Although I don't quite understand...

Did she use her father's tactics to force him to go to the Breeding Facility?

I went up to Miluno and gave her a hug, afraid that she would leave without a word like her father had.

"So, are there still witches in the Supreme Council's forces?"

Sirius, however, steered the conversation back to the topic.

Aldebaran replied, "Of course there are. There are quite a few awkward individuals who, despite undergoing Witchification Process surgery and possessing considerable strength, do not agree with A-Ji's propositions. That's why A-Ji's operation this time was rather hasty. If given more time, she can persuade even more Modified Witch to join her."

The word "rushed" doesn't really fit with Dad. Maybe Dad also felt there wasn't enough time?

"So, one last question, Aldebaran, you said A-Ji's plan is in the way, so what is your plan?"

"I?"

She looked at Miluno.

"I am awakening a true god, not a corrupt will condensed from negative emotions."

"Woof!"

Zara turned and disappeared into the Subspace.

Sirius ordered her to return to City School to report on the situation, and to instruct SpiCa to prepare for possible retaliatory actions, and to retreat with City School if necessary.

"Phase Shift" would allow her to easily pass through enemy lines, but how she'd explain it to SpiCa...

We might have to rely on Goldie to act as the dog translator.

The rest of us eventually followed our father into the Breeding Facility —the enemy's blood-producing center.

We passed through the Wormhole Device along the conveyor belt, and there was another conveyor belt on the other side.

However, there is more than one parallel passageway. The one we are standing on is the passageway connecting to the Second Research Institute, and there are other operating conveyor belts here as well.

This is a large hall shaped like an upside-down bowl. The complex, technologically advanced interior walls are lined with large, adjacent jars. Inside the jars are Base Body submerged in an unknown fluorescent liquid. These Base Body appear to have no consciousness and do not move; they are merely living materials, or perhaps... empty shells?

The precise and swift robotic arm removes the canister containing the Base Body from the wall and transports it to other operating production lines via conveyor belt.

It really is like a factory.

But just then...

The Wormhole Device behind us has shut down.