SWNOVELXO Chapter 239: Strange and Stranger
The wind screamed over the mountain pass. Snow scattered like dust, whipped into spirals by the cold. At the cliff's edge, something massive loomed — half buried in the slope, leaning out over the abyss like it had once tried to stand and changed it's mind.
The Engine of Creation.
It's torso was lodged into the jagged stone, tilted with the weight of centuries. The arms were frozen mid-motion, one reaching toward the sky, the other half-curled like it had tried to catch something. The neck ended in a wide, blackened socket of scorched and melted steel. The broken head.
Sunny summoned the Lance of Preservation, then commanded the hulking giant to kneel. As the machine suddenly activated, it's torso moved closer to the stone platform — unlike the rest of Jarilo-VI, this area was forcefully melted due to the violent explosions brought on by Cocolia's final attack.
Seele squinted as it moved.
"Still gives me the creeps."
Sunny snorted as Clara approached the ruined neck, where torn cables and molten fixtures stuck out like veins from a cauterized wound.
"Maybe you should use me as an example, and stop being scared of unfrightening things — hey!"
Seele clicked her tongue. Her leg must have felt like it kicked a boulder.
"Count yourself lucky, jerk."
Sunny stared at her in disdain.
'This is no way to be treating your employer!'
Turning his attention back towards Clara, who was scanning the neck with a focused expression. He wasn't quite sure how she was going to find anything in that mess, but he guessed that she must have had her ways.
A few moments later, she climbed back down, effortlessly landing on the stone platform as she walked back towards them. Svarog, who had been idle, suddenly blinked as his pink eye changed color. As it turned to a bright blue, a holographic image had formed, appearing before Sunny and Seele.
They stared in shock.
"…Since when could Svarog do this?"
In response to Seele's question, Clara explained:
"I thought that relying only on audio files wasn't very good, so I added a hologram system to Mister Svarog!"
Sunny recalled when Svarog had used audio transmissions to reveal the underlying truths of Belobog, like the origins of the Stellaron.
Observing the holographic structure, he recognized it to be the blueprint of the Engine of Creation. There were silver channels running through the chassis, with nodes of the same color being placed at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, pelvis, and knees. At the center of it's chest was what seemed to be a furnace of some kind.
What truly caught Sunny's attention, however, is that not only was the head colored in red, but there was a crimson node that was linked to the silvery channels.
He asked what it was supposed to be. Svarog replied:
"Answer: That is where the Essence regulator was originally placed. It has been surgically removed without causing any damage to any surrounding parts. The perpetrator is most likely knowledgeable about the Engine of Creation's structure."
Sunny nodded.
"I've come to conclusion!"
Feeling eyes on him, he triumphantly smirked.
"The suspect… knows about robots!"
Nobody spoke for a few seconds. As Seele palmed her face, Clara asked:
"…What else?"
Sunny blinked.
"That's it. I mean, how many people familiar with robotics exist on this snowball? We'll find them in a day."
Seele shook her head in disbelief as she turned to leave.
"'We'? I don't know if that's some kind of space language you guys have, but if we're losing Underworld terms, then there is no 'we'. Bye."
Before Sunny could say anything, Seele disappeared in a haze of illusory butterflies. He stared at the spot she had been standing for a few moments, before humming to himself in deep thought.
"It looks like she couldn't handle my presence. That's to be expected, considering I'm me, but I thought she would last longer."
Sunny shook his head in disappointment, paused, then dismissed the Lance of Preservation under Clara's gaze. Feeling the Haughty shadow slip off his body, he shivered.
'Idiot. You're not supposed to say that aloud.'
The arrogant fellow simply tuned out his complaints, instead showing off to it's siblings, who were both annoyed and enthused.
Turning back to Clara, Sunny sighed.
"I guess that's it for now. Shadow detective Sunless is going home to get rid of this stupid coat…"
Maybe having the Haughty shadow influence his actions wasn't very smart.
"Before that, are you hungry? Let me tell you, I can make a mean syrup vessel—"
"Negative: Clara is prohibited from taking food from strangers…"
"Wha— I'm not a stranger!"
"…Or strange individuals."
"…Touché, Svarog. Touché…"