Paradox-Roid | Chapter 9

[healingbonds]

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(Crackle of receiver)

Bradley: Hey, it’s Bradley. ......Tsk. Not you.

Police: Chief Bain! The Crime Suppression HQ sent an emergency request for backup regarding that rogue Assist-Roid in the neighboring town......

Bradley: Get Nero on it. He’ll take care of it before you even get to blast your sirens. ......Ah, it’s nothing, just taking care of things on my end.
What do you want? I don’t have time to spare. I’m not gonna babysit some kid’s first errand like last time.



Bradley: ......You want me to look for someone? Another Assist-Roid? What’s the identification number...... It doesn’t have a signal?
Haha, forget it. My guys are pretty merciless. They’d have turned it into scrap by now if it were signalless.
...........Is that a threat I hear...... Fine, fine! I’ll try my best. Later then.

(Click of receiver)

Bradley: ............ A no-signal...... That’s right, Cain called in saying something like that.......
Those damn Assist-Roids are nothing but trouble!

✦✧☾✧✦

After Rustica finishes analyzing Owen’s IC chip, he slots it into the back of Owen’s neck as he sits unmoving.
Then, he inserts the mana plate into Owen’s chest.
After a short while, Owen slowly opens his eyes. He blinks a few times, looking around him.

Owen: That was it?

Cain: That was it. It was no big deal, right?

Owen: It was no big deal.

Akira: Isn’t that great, Owen?

Cain: So, Rustica. Did you figure out Owen’s owner?

Rustica: .............

Cain: Rustica?

Rustica, who had been scrutinizing Owen, snaps back to his own senses.
He shakes his head, speaking rapidly like he’s trying to cover something up.

Rustica: Ah, nothing...... More like....... I couldn’t get anything.

Owen: What?

Cain: But why? You took out his IC chip and analyzed it, right?

Rustica: .............

Heathcliff: .......It was a dummy, wasn’t it?

Rustica: Heathcliff......

Heathcliff: Sorry, I was glancing over your shoulder. Owen doesn’t have an IC chip installed. Nor is he registered with an operational purpose or handler.
Isn’t that right, Rustica?

Akira: That means......?

Rustica presses his lips together. He stares at Owen with a mix of feelings in his eyes.
Somehow, I sense a trace of nostalgia in his gaze.
But then he closes his eyes, as if he’s running away.

Rustica: ......I’m sorry, Cain. I can’t get involved with this any further.

Cain: Can’t get involved? What do you mean?

Rustica: This is beyond me. Chloe, please see our customers out.

Chloe: But they’re troubled. And it’d be such a shame if Owen couldn’t find his owner.

Owen: Not really. I get to eat the CBSC. Hey, take me there already.

Cain: Wa—......Wait, Rustica. At this rate, he’ll get turned into scrap metal.

Owen: Scrap metal!? Even though I did what you told me to? Cain. Lend me that gun.

Cain: No way. Why do you ask?

Owen: I’m going to kill you.

Cain: Keep saying that and you’ll really get taken apart!

Owen: You’re the one who said it first! Being turned into scrap metal means death to me! Am I wrong?

Cain: .............

Owen: You’re the one who threatened to kill me first. If someone wants to kill me, I’ll kill them first.
What’s wrong with that?

Owen shoots a sideways glare at Cain. He seems hostile, yet also innocent.
Cain raises his hands in defeat.

Cain: ......You’re not wrong. I did start it.

Owen: ..........

Cain: But it’s still dangerous. It’ll be dangerous for all of us. Let’s talk through things carefully and peacefully.

Owen: You won’t bring up scrap metal again?

Cain: I won’t.

Owen: You promise?

Cain: I promise. I won’t let either of you get turned into scrap metal — Owen, Akira.

Rustica: Cain......

Cain: Hey, Rustica. Do you really not know anything? Can you give me any hint at all?

Rustica: .......I don’t know anything. Please don’t drag us into this.
I won’t be able to go on living if anything happens to Chloe. This is the safe haven I finally found for myself.

Chloe: ......If anything happens to me? Is something going to happen to me, not Rustica?

Chloe asks, puzzled. Suddenly, Rustica turns pale.
He shoves Cain towards the exit, evidently panicking.

Rustica: ......Please leave. Don’t come here anymore.

But no matter how much he shoves, Rustica’s slender arms fail to make Cain budge a single inch.
Gasping for breath, Rustica turns to look at Chloe.

Rustica: ......C-Chloe, help me.......

Chloe: I don’t wanna. Cain is my friend. We promised to take photos together.

Rustica: ......Chloe, this is for your sake!

Chloe: I won’t!

Cain mutters in shock, gaping at their exchange.

Cain: ......What’s happening......?
Assist-Roids can show a certain level of resistance according to their owner’s preferences, but......
This almost seems like any other argument...... It’s as if Chloe has a real heart.......

Rustica’s fingers twitch.
And that’s when we hear the sound of approaching sirens.

Chapter 8 << | index | >> Chapter 10