Hesta stared at Pakart for a long time without blinking.
The little person in her mind had already clutched their head in both hands, pacing in circles and lamenting—So this person was...
Oh God, Stella had introduced me to...
After a brief lapse of focus, Hesta turned to look elsewhere, her expression remaining calm.
"So it was you," Hesta said softly. "Even now, I often think back on life at the base."
"Was that a beautiful memory?"
"...Very beautiful," Hesta said. "Thank you for your design."
"There must have been some turbulence too, though."
Hesta glanced at Pakart. "Why do you say that?"
"Because the Quicksilver Needles were different from ordinary children," Pakart said. "The children who became reserves had often already lost many important people, and every one of them possessed astonishing destructive power. Once conflict broke out, the consequences were always terrible."
"...It was all right," Hesta said. "That experience taught me a few things too."
"Such as?"
"The base's protection for newcomers could be called comprehensive. Every rule and every disciplinary measure did its utmost to build a fortress capable of resisting malice. But no matter how solid a fortress appeared, there were always people who could get through it," Hesta said. "No matter how meticulous the rules were, there would always be someone who could circumvent them."
"If I told you that those complex rules—such as the rating system, the protection order system, and the reward and punishment system—were not meant to completely shield the children from all malice," Pakart said, "as you said, it is impossible to build an absolutely impregnable barrier, because there will always be people who can get around it.
All rules, the moment they are presented, plainly tell everyone what the people who made them want to reward, punish, protect, and