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| Chapter 74 | Book 6 • Chapter 75 | Chapter 76 |
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My life's been set in stone since before I was born. The Watchman of the Island of Woe. That's what I'm gonna be. People born into the Shroud family possess a blood curse that burns blot. And they have a signature spell that opens and closes the gate to the Underworld. |
Researcher A |
Young Idia is truly exceptional. He excels both in magic and his studies. He's even impressed experts with his technomantic engineering work. That boy's a bona fide genius. |
Researcher B |
It's true. Styx's future is in good hands. |
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"What do you want to be when you grow up?" If I were a normal kid, I bet someone would've asked me that. Would it kill someone to ask me that just once? |
| "Shoot for glory among the stars and soar like a comet!" |
| *gaming noises* |
| You can do it, Idy! Get those Chronos Force losers! |
| WOO! Cleared hard mode without taking any damage! |
| You rock, Idy! Take that, Chronos Force! |
| Maaan... I wish I could go on an adventure in the outside world like the hero in Star Rogue. |
| Me too! I wanna go adventuring with you! Then we'd take down the bad guys and become heroes. |
| Heroes, huh... Maybe you could be one, but I doubt I could. |
| Why's that? I want us both to be. |
| 'Cuz when I grow up, I'm gonna have to take over running things for the family. |
| Okay, but what if you do it before you grow up? |
| Before I grow up, huh... |
| Yeah! It's okay to go on adventures as long as you're not grown up yet, right? |
| Y'know, maybe it IS okay for me to go outside as long as I do it before I take over. If I could just bypass HQ's security, it'd be easy to slip through the Oceanus Gate and get off the island. So... ...You wanna go on an adventure? |
| Yeah! Let's do it! |
| Okay. Just leave it to your big bro. |
|
It was simple curiosity. I just wanted a little adventure. I never imagined... ...the horror that would follow. |
| Heh heh. Shutting off the security is a piece of cake for me. It really shouldn't be this easy to hack it. |
| Wow... I've never been in here before. |
| Make sure to stay close, Ortho. We'll need an amphibious technomantic vehicle to get through the Oceanus Gate. Gimme a sec. I'll just access the hangar admin system and... |
| *alarms* |
PA System |
Red alert. Security systems have been compromised by an external cyberattack. All locks in Tartarus have been disengaged. Subject ROS-3367A has escaped from its lab. All Charon troops, report to Tartarus immediately! All noncombatants, evacuate to the shelters! |
| *alarms* |
| Idy? What's with all the noise? |
| Wait... Did I just do that?! Oh no, I'd better get it back online! |
| *typing* |
| Idy... |
| Don't worry. I'm right here. |
| No, look! There's something at the end of the hall! |
| Huh? |
??? |
GRR... |
| Eep... It's a monster! |
??? |
GRRR... GRAAAH! |
| *crash* |
|
Everything after that is a blank for me. By the time I woke up, Ortho was gone. |
Researcher A |
I can't believe a 10-year-old hacked the most sophisticated security system in the world... |
Researcher C |
He's too smart for his own good. Who could've predicted his brilliance would lead to such tragedy? |
Researcher |
I understand the Phantoms that escaped got banished to the Underworld all at once. |
Researcher B |
I mean, it was the only way, but still... What a truly unfortunate accident. |
| It was all my fault. All because I made that stupid remark about going on an adventure. I couldn't even protect my brother. Some genius I am. What a joke of a hero! I just want Ortho back... Give him back to me! Give me all of Ortho... His body, his personality, his memories, EVERYTHING! I WANT IT ALL BACK! |
If he isn't coming back, I'll just make him. It's okay. I remember everything about him. I know I can recreate Ortho perfectly. We promised we'd go on an adventure together... ...Just leave it to your big bro. |
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| Chapter 74 | Book 6 • Chapter 75 | Chapter 76 |
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