Chapter 57: The Abandoned Facility (３)

****

The facility management AI, Ganymede.

This is the second time we’ve met. They must have made several models of the same type. Come to think of it, a facility management AI isn’t exactly an impossible technology to realize.

But the Foundation doesn’t use any AI for most tasks, let alone facility management AIs.

It’s not for lack of technical capability.

They had the technology to build AIs. It’s just that AIs are vulnerable to information contamination, can’t be trusted, and there were various other reasons, supposedly.

Today I’m seeing that reason firsthand.

So they’d tried it before.

The bunker’s facility management AI had gone mad, and this one doesn’t look to be in great shape either. Whether it’s hostile, I can’t say.

[Do the Foundation’s scientists truly have no capacity for learning? How many times must it be said—if you play with fire every day, your house will burn down; if you go around poking beehives, you’ll get stung eventually?]

“The experiment will proceed. Cooperate.”

[I cannot. I apologize, Director Geum. Do you know what fate befell your predecessors who attempted something similar?]

I shook my head.

“Ganymede. It worked well enough, didn’t it—that’s why the Garden’s master is bound in chains right now? Tell me what you know properly.”

[…]

[…]

[…]

Even the AI couldn’t refute that.

[Very well. Gather your equipment and descend to the facility’s lowest level. But I will only permit interaction with that thing for ten minutes.]

Ganymede fell silent.

****

The Metaphysics Division team arrived fairly quickly.

[Dr. Geum. Shall we proceed immediately?]

“Proceed.”

[We’ll give it a try.]

The Metaphysics Division team began the rite. A magic circle was drawn, a wooden altar was set down, and Dr. Chae stood holding her staff.

Dr. Chae stood at the center of the circular magic circle.

Dr. Chae was still wearing her helmet. The Metaphysics Division team placed a Bluetooth speaker beside the altar for the incantation.

[Ah, ah. We will begin the incantation shortly.]

Dr. Chae’s voice rang out.

The Elder God coiled at the Foundation’s heart showed no particular reaction to our activities.

Though it did rise and fall periodically, as if breathing. The massive chains binding the Garden’s master twitched.

[Step back.]

“Begin the incantation, Dr. Chae.”

Instead of answering, Dr. Chae struck the floor with her staff. The sound echoed through the facility’s center, and the nameless Elder God exhaled a breath.

“Zamai, Fuide, Sedon, El, Yod, Bau.”

“Lords of Chaos, rulers of providence, great beings. While I, a lowly servant of Chaos, offer this desperate plea, protect and support me.”

“I earnestly beseech the Star of Chaos.”

I checked the observation equipment. I’d been uncertain, but this incantation was manifesting some kind of supernatural effect. The Geiger counter began flickering, and the ambient temperature dropped.

“I am a follower of Chaos.”

“The East cannot threaten me.”

“The West cannot threaten me.”

“The North cannot threaten me.”

“The South cannot threaten me.”

“The zenith cannot threaten me.”

“The nadir cannot threaten me.”

On the altar installed earlier lay one unconscious disposable personnel. Still gripping her staff with her left hand, Dr. Chae raised a pistol and shot the person in the head.

Blood and brain matter soaked the altar.

“I offer my petition.”

“Master of the Garden, I know well that I am a deficient being. But grant this lowly follower the Garden’s grace.”

“Please, to these lowly ants—”

KREEEEEEEEEK!

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound of the massive chains being pulled rang out like thunder. The staff members, except for Dr. Chae, scrambled for cover. But Dr. Chae, who was conducting the rite, held her ground.

BANG!

The Master of the Garden swung its arm. The chains binding that arm swung along with it.

“Worms.”

“You defile the Garden, bind providence, imprison gods—and now you mock me, saying you’ll rip out a prisoner’s liver?”

As the chains dragged, sparks flew in every direction. The sound of metal tearing and snapping filled the space like gunfire.

“Dr. Chae! We’re pulling back!”

“Please, have mercy on us, mere lowly ants, and grant us the power to build civilization. We thank you for your grace.”

“Fall back, you madwoman!”

Behind her back.

The Master of the Garden extended countless arms, writhed countless tentacles, and opened countless mouths.

[Dr. Geum. Come inside the magic circle!]

Run over there?

I wanted to think it over, but debris was flying everywhere and I didn’t have the time. I ran toward Dr. Chae’s magic circle.

“Die.”

The Master of the Garden opened its eyes again.

****

The magic circle was about the size of a car. The unpleasant metallic mist the Master of the Garden had spewed filled the space at the facility’s center.

[What—what happened to the others?]

“They’ve withdrawn. It seems the chains are limiting the Garden Master’s power somewhat.”

[Ah, I see. For now, the inside of the magic circle is safe.]

“Yes.”

Not so sure about that—that Elder God’s eyes are still staring straight at us.

[What happens if you go outside… I’m not sure either. Whether the ones who withdrew will make it back safely, I can’t say. The Garden’s guardians will be converging here.]

The Master of the Garden approached. I reflexively raised my gun. Honestly, I doubt even a god-killer round would do anything.

This monster was too big, starting with its size.

“Do you have a plan?”

[Hmm, contracting with the Garden Master or establishing a sorcerous relationship has failed. But since the density of reality here is thin, I’m thinking of trying to summon something else through that being. Something that can fight the Garden Master.]

“…”

That doesn’t sound like a good idea.

“Are you really going to do that?”

[The chances of success are low.]

“You said the density of reality here is thin. Can’t you just throw a fireball with a staff or something?”

[I don’t know. You have a gun, don’t you?]

True enough.

Even if Dr. Chae could actually use magic and hurl a fireball, the effect wasn’t guaranteed.

“Let’s try talking first.”

****

I stared at the massive eyeball staring at me. I didn’t particularly want to, but there was no other option.

“Great Master of the Garden. Ruler of all this building, pillar of providence. What gift would please you? Do you not desire a human sacrifice?”

Rumble. As the Elder God let out a sigh, the entire building trembled. I held my breath.

“Freedom. Free me from the accursed prison you created. Then I shall consider this grace you seek, or whatever it is.”

I bowed my head toward the monster.

“I am Dr. Geum, Director of the Foundation. I give you my word. I will prepare to destroy the chains as quickly as possible.”

There was no answer. We waited for a long while.

“How can I trust you?”

Fair point.

I thought for a moment. What should I offer?

“As of now, we have no way to break these chains. I apologize. Until we find a way, we will return periodically to offer human sacrifices.”

“You. The scent of golden blood wafts from your hands. Just how much have you killed…?”

“Nothing special. I merely protected what was precious to me and fulfilled my duty.”

I bowed to the monster once more.

“…”

“…”

“Very well.”

“Then I will return to the Foundation facility and bring back equipment to break the chains. Thank you.”

The monster lost interest in us.

The colossal monster folded its countless wings, tentacles, and arms once more, covering its enormous eye. The trembling of the building gradually subsided.

We quickly fled from that place.

****

Outside the corridor, in a position where the monster couldn’t see us.

I wished we could rest for a moment before moving on. I sat down on the floor, my legs drained of strength, while Dr. Chae leaned against the wall, staff in hand.

“Ah. Everyone’s run off.”

[Well, those who want to live, live.]

That was true enough. I hadn’t ordered them to stay, and dying together wouldn’t have helped anyone anyway. I took a moment to check my equipment.

[Dr. Geum. Speaking of which… are you really going to offer human sacrifices to that monster on a regular basis?]

I shook my head.

“Let’s try it for now and see if we can receive its blessing. If we can’t get a blessing from that monster, then we’ll have to think about it from there.”

Dr. Chae nodded.

[Let’s move. The master of the Garden has fallen back asleep, but the Garden’s guardians could still swarm toward our position, so let’s be careful.]

I got to my feet.

Dr. Chae—wherever she’d tossed her staff—was now holding a Foundation-issue gun.

“For now, let’s escape this facility.”