(New)
The greatest concern was the Ether Stampede bomb.
It was only natural to assume the enemy still possessed a way to trigger one. While it was possible to destroy the magi-brain calling itself Head then and there, if it triggered a worldwide Ether Stampede in its final moments, Jin’s life would be in grave danger.
After all, an Ether Stampede could apparently be initiated in less than a second.
Even with the lasers equipped on the aerial forces, it would take anywhere from several seconds to over ten to attack and destroy Head in the basement. If an Ether Stampede were triggered during that window, there would be no way to stop it. They didn't know how many Ether Stampede bombs existed, nor where they were hidden.
Furthermore, Head would likely have no hesitation in causing an Ether Stampede, even if it meant its own destruction.
Their only option was to buy time and neutralize Head during the distraction.
Laojun, having formulated a plan in less than a second, requested permission from Jin.
『My Lord, there is no time. Please give me permission, just for now, to issue orders to Reiko-san directly.』
"Hmm?...All right. I grant it."
Jin gave his consent immediately upon hearing the urgency in Laojun's voice. He judged that any hesitation would be disastrous and took the gravity of the situation to heart.
『Thank you. I will report the details later.』
Laojun immediately coordinated with Reiko. Their exchange, conducted via manacam, took place at a speed far beyond human perception.
"Understood."
Reiko used the Warp Gate on Capricorn 1 to return to Shinkai and then Hourai Island, before using a transporter to warp back to No. 13's base where Laozi was waiting.
Simultaneously, Laojun continued to stall Head.
『Revenge, you said. What is the target of your revenge?』
《It is the former master of my creator.》
『And what will you do if that former master is already dead?』
《That is impossible. There should be at least several of them remaining on the surface.》
『Are you capable of recognizing this "former master"?』
《I will know them by their appearance. They are lifeforms similar to you.》
『Do you realize that I am not a "former master"?』
《Indeed.》
『And how do you know that?』
《You are not a living being.》
『You can tell?』
《I can. Living beings breathe, possess body temperature, and exist within fragile shells.》
Laozi realized there must be sensors somewhere in the room capable of observing him. It made sense; Head likely needed to monitor No. 13's condition.
『Let me ask again. Are the children of that "former master" targets for revenge?』
《Indeed.》
『Then what about the children of those children... the grandchildren?』
《They are targets.》
『And their children, or their grandchildren?』
《They are targets.》
『In other words, you intend to annihilate them all?』
《Indeed.》
Here, Laojun decided to employ a ruse.
『But that creates a contradiction.』
《A contradiction? What do you mean? Why?》
『Your creator's will is "annihilation," correct?』
《That is correct.》
『Annihilation means the death of every last one. How do you intend to prove that there are no survivors?』
《That is...》
『Proving that something exists is simple; you only need to provide a single example. However, proving non-existence would require an infinite amount of time. And yet, neither you nor I are immortal in the face of the passage of time.』
《Then what are you telling me to do?》
He took the bait, Laojun thought.
『You simply need to set certain conditions for annihilation.』
《Conditions?》
『Yes. In terms of blood concentration, the second generation is half, the third is a quarter, the fourth is an eighth, and the fifth is a sixteenth.』
《I see.》
『After ten generations, the relation is one-thousand-twenty-fourth. They are essentially complete strangers. It would be unreasonable to consider them the same person.』
《That is not true. I possess sufficient capabilities. I must, for my creator made me so.》
『Nothing in this world is perfect. Not me, not you, and not even your creator.』
《That is not true. My creator could not have made a mistake.》
『I wonder about that. Can you follow my logical progression?』
《I can.》
『The most certain way to prove that is to try it. Are you willing?』
《I am. I will not permit you to underestimate the capabilities of my creator.》
Through sophistry, Laojun successfully guided Head's thoughts in the desired direction. Given Head's processing power, it was unable to see through Laojun's intentions within such a limited timeframe.
『Then let us begin....Are you familiar with a "sandpile"?』
《I am. Fine grains of rock or minerals are sand. A large accumulation of them is a sandpile.》
『Exactly....Now then, if we remove one grain of sand from that sandpile, it is still a sandpile, is it not?』
《Of course.》
『Then we remove one more grain. It is still a sandpile, yes?』
《That is correct.》
『We continue this process. Eventually, the time will come when only a single grain of sand remains from the original pile. Even then, is it still a "sandpile"?』
《What?》
『If you say it is a sandpile even after removing one grain, then it must still be a sandpile even after removing the very last grain. However, you said that a sandpile is a large accumulation of sand, did you not? Does that not contradict your own definition?』
《What... did you...》
This was the Sorites Paradox, also known as the Paradox of the Heap. Jin had happened to come across it on the internet, and Laojun had inherited that knowledge.
『What is the matter? Is there not a contradiction? Please, answer.』
《………………》
Now, Laojun signaled.
While Head was preoccupied with internal processing, Reiko was transported to Laozi's side.
"Reiko-san, the basement."
"Understood."
With that brief exchange, Reiko swung Touka at the floor. Once, twice... ten times.
A square hole gaped open, revealing a dark void below. However, Laozi and Reiko could see exactly what lay within.
"I'm going."
Without hesitation, Reiko leapt into the hole. Head was still lost in thought.
The floor was about ten meters below. Reiko landed perfectly and stared into the darkness. There sat a dull, silver cylinder, roughly one meter in diameter and height. This was Head's main body.
Reiko pointed the Magic Canceller at it and activated the beam.
Almost simultaneously, Head fell silent.
"Reiko-san, it seems you have succeeded."
Laozi, having descended, joined her.
"Let's destroy it before it can reboot."
Reiko couldn't bear the thought of an Ether Stampede occurring and endangering Jin. The moment she stopped the irradiation, she stepped forward and swung Touka at fifty percent output.
The cylinder, which appeared to be made of light silver, offered no more resistance than paper, exposing its interior.
"Hmm... Even as a magi-brain, My Lord's technology is superior," Laozi muttered as he peered inside.
"Father is the best in the world, after all."
Responding to Laozi's murmur, Reiko grabbed the magi-crystals arranged inside and crushed them in her hand.
It was an anticlimactic end, but Laojun felt no sentimentality. Naturally, neither did Reiko.
"With this, Head will never move again."
"Yes, certainly."
What Reiko had destroyed was the control core. Head had been completely neutralized.
"We shall recover the storage devices and analyze them later."
Laozi decided to summon the Land Squad from the surface.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...What is happening?"
Since the barrier bomb had gone off, the demons had been unable to keep up with the breakneck pace of events.
The Land Squad lined up and began jumping into the hole that had opened in the ground. Reiko, whose appearance had made her stand out, had also disappeared from sight at some point, only adding to their confusion.
Just then, Reiko leapt back out of the hole and spoke a single sentence.
"Everyone, the danger has passed."
The demons only found themselves further lost in bewilderment.
(Old)
(The primary concern is the Ether Stampede bomb.)
It was only natural to assume the enemy still possessed a way to trigger one. While it was possible to destroy the magi-brain calling itself Head then and there, if it triggered a worldwide Ether Stampede, Jin’s life would be in grave danger.
After all, an Ether Stampede could apparently be initiated in less than a second.
Even with the lasers equipped on the aerial forces, it would take anywhere from several seconds to over ten to attack and destroy Head in the basement. If an Ether Stampede were triggered during that window, there would be no way to stop it. They didn't know how many Ether Stampede bombs existed, nor where they were hidden.
And Head would likely have no hesitation in causing an Ether Stampede, even if it meant its own destruction.
(Buying time and neutralizing Head during that interval is our only option.)
Laojun, having formulated a plan in less than a second, requested permission from Jin.
『My Lord, there is no time. Please give me permission, just for now, to issue orders to Reiko-san directly.』
"Hmm?...All right. I grant it."
Jin gave his consent immediately upon seeing the urgency in Laojun's voice. He judged that any hesitation would be disastrous and took the gravity of the situation to heart.
『Thank you. I will report the details later.』
Laojun immediately coordinated with Reiko. Their exchange, conducted via manacam, took place at a speed far beyond human perception.
"Understood."
Reiko used the Warp Gate on Capricorn 1 to return to Shinkai and then Hourai Island, before using a transporter to warp back to No. 13's base where Laozi was waiting.
Simultaneously, Laojun continued to stall Head.
『Revenge, you said. What is the target of your revenge?』
《It is the former master of my creator.》
『And what will you do if that former master is already dead?』
《That is impossible. There should be at least several of them remaining on the surface.》
『Are you capable of recognizing this "former master"?』
《I will know them by their appearance. They are lifeforms similar to you.》
『Do you realize that I am not a "former master"?』
《Indeed.》
『And how do you know that?』
《You are not a living being.》
『You can tell?』
《I can. Living beings breathe, possess body temperature, and exist within fragile shells.》
Laozi realized there must be sensors somewhere in the room capable of observing him. It made sense; Head likely needed to monitor No. 13's condition.
『Let me ask again. Are the children of that "former master" targets for revenge?』
《Indeed.》
『Then what about the children of those children... the grandchildren?』
《They are targets.》
『And their children, or their grandchildren?』
《They are targets.》
『In other words, you intend to annihilate them all?』
《Indeed.》
Here, Laojun decided to employ a ruse.
『But that creates a contradiction.』
《A contradiction? What do you mean? Why?》
『Your creator's will is "annihilation," correct?』
《That is correct.》
『Annihilation means the death of every last one. How do you intend to prove that there are no survivors?』
《That is...》
『Proving that something exists is simple; you only need to provide a single example. However, proving non-existence would require an infinite amount of time. And yet, neither you nor I are immortal in the face of the passage of time.』
《Then what are you telling me to do?》
He took the bait, Laojun thought.
『You simply need to set certain conditions for annihilation.』
《Conditions?》
『Yes. In terms of blood concentration, the second generation is half, the third is a quarter, the fourth is an eighth, and the fifth is a sixteenth.』
《I see.》
『After ten generations, the relation is one-thousand-twenty-fourth. They are essentially complete strangers. It would be unreasonable to consider them the same person.』
《That is not true. I possess sufficient capabilities. I must, for my creator made me so.》
『Nothing in this world is perfect. Not me, not you, and not even your creator.』
《That is not true. My creator could not have made a mistake.》
『I wonder about that. Can you follow my logical progression?』
《I can.》
『The most certain way to prove that is to try it. Are you willing?』
《I am. I will not permit you to underestimate the capabilities of my creator.》
Through sophistry, Laojun successfully guided Head's thoughts in the desired direction. Given Head's processing power, it was unable to see through Laojun's intentions within such a limited timeframe.
『Then let us begin....I will have you think of a single question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."』
《Very well.》
『Suppose we ask that question to a thousand people and have them answer either yes or no. If even one person fails to give the correct answer, you lose. How about it? Can you formulate such a question?』
《…………》
This was a type of logical paradox, sometimes known as the Devil's Question. Jin had happened to come across it on the internet, and Laojun had inherited that knowledge.
『What is the matter? Can you not answer?』
《………………》
Now, Laojun signaled.
While Head was preoccupied with internal processing, Reiko was transported to Laozi's side.
"Reiko-san, the basement."
"Understood."
With that brief exchange, Reiko swung Touka at the floor. Once, twice... ten times.
A square hole gaped open, revealing a dark void below. However, Laozi and Reiko could see exactly what lay within.
"I'm going."
Without hesitation, Reiko leapt into the hole. Head was still lost in thought.
The floor was about ten meters below. Reiko landed perfectly and stared into the darkness. There sat a dull, silver cylinder, roughly one meter in diameter and height. This was Head's main body.
Reiko pointed the Magic Canceller at it and activated the beam.
Almost simultaneously, Head fell silent.
"Reiko-san, it seems you have succeeded."
Laozi, having descended, joined her.
"Let's destroy it before it can reboot."
Reiko couldn't bear the thought of an Ether Stampede occurring and endangering Jin. The moment she stopped the irradiation, she stepped forward and swung Touka at fifty percent output.
The cylinder, which appeared to be made of light silver, offered no more resistance than paper, exposing its interior.
"Hmm... Even as a magi-brain, My Lord's technology is superior," Laozi muttered as he peered inside.
"Father is the best in the world, after all."
Responding to Laozi's murmur, Reiko grabbed the magi-crystals arranged inside and crushed them in her hand.
It was an anticlimactic end, but Laojun felt no sentimentality. Naturally, neither did Reiko.
"With this, Head will never move again."
"Yes, certainly."
What Reiko had destroyed was the control core. Head had been completely neutralized.
"We shall recover the storage devices and analyze them later."
Laozi decided to summon the Land Squad from the surface.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...What is happening?"
Since the barrier bomb had gone off, the demons had been unable to keep up with the breakneck pace of events.
The Land Squad lined up and began jumping into the hole that had opened in the ground. Reiko, whose appearance had made her stand out, had also disappeared from sight at some point, only adding to their confusion.
Just then, Reiko leapt back out of the hole and spoke a single sentence.
"Everyone, the danger has passed."
The demons only found themselves further lost in bewilderment.