Mr. Zero came somewhere in town.

After walking around the area without finding anything, he took out a box from his suitcase, and then took out the mechanical parts in it.

"It didn't have to be like this...... But after the 'stuff' on the Darkhaven side leaked...... It has to be over as soon as possible. ”

He knocked on an invisible door with parts.

Then the door appeared behind him and opened.

"......" The people in the group looked at him strangely, and finally said, "Mr. Zero, please." ”

So he straightened his hat and walked through the door.

Then the door shut.

......

Mr. Zero stares around him at the machine-made objects that have a strong sense of the times and look even older than the current era. They are stacked on top of each other, but they play an artifact effect that is impossible to achieve with the prototypes of machines in today's era. Why is that?

In front of me was a normal-looking human. He...... Or her voice doesn't sound like a normal human voice, but there's an inexplicable sense of coldness.

Next to the seat, a hammer that looked like it should never be wielded by this slender figure leaned against the armrest, and the other party could hold it with a slight reach.

It feels like if you can't talk about it, you will burst out and blow your head out.

Mr. Zero smiled bitterly in his heart and muttered to himself.

But this can only be the case, otherwise the "light" that has been aroused will never be able to resist or even bring it back to sleep.

In the space between these countless mechanical creations, there is such a small meeting place.

However, Mr. Zero always felt that this space seemed to be filled with some strange pungent smell all along.

There are also many people around the meeting place who seem to have become semi-mechanical. They were each doing their own business, and they didn't stop to look this way, but Mr. Zero knew that more than half of their attention must be on himself.

It's not a good feeling to be out of control like this, but I'm almost used to it.

After all, it has always been the case with the body of a mortal to hover between these weirdness.

"You have brought one of the cores of our Lord. A cold voice came from the other side, echoing around the mechanical space.

"You can join us and get the gift of my lord directly, and promotion to immortality is just a snap of your fingers. ”

“...... No, no. I still want to be a 'person' for a while longer. Mr. Zero replied with a smile as he continued to look around.

“...... What is there to be nostalgic for in that inferior life form?" the other party seemed to be really puzzled.

"The lower flesh bleeds, it gets sick, it dies easily, it has a short life, and the body is damaged and cannot even be replaced. ”

"None of these weaknesses are present in the mechanical body. The other said, "With your wisdom, you can't tell the difference between the two, right?"

However, Mr. Zero knew that he and the robots were so different in concept that they could barely communicate on the matter...... And the more advanced the better.

He couldn't help but shake his head as he looked at the dense pipelines, deformed mechanical skeletons, exposed internal organs, and even brains on the people around him.

Although the person in front of him is not much different from a normal person, he is afraid that he is completely mechanical inside.

I can't accept abnormal powers. Your own resistance is both a blessing and a curse.

However, it seems that this purely physical modification is also possible......?

It would be great if you could strengthen yourself in this way, at least when facing certain problems.

However, he is still a "person".

I used to be proud of being a "human".

For the time being, I still hope to keep it personal.

"Probably the aesthetics are unacceptable, haha. Mr. Zero laughed.

......After a moment of silence, the figure on the other side suddenly said, "You must know that here, in this war fortress that we have built for God, it is easy for me to take away the 'core' in your hands for no price. ”

“...... Then why don't you try to see if I have the means to destroy it, even though it will cause the power to leak out...... But, anyway, it's been wiped out by the divine power of the secular church here, isn't it?"

Mr. Zero said lightly.

Suddenly, as if surprised, he pointed to a cyborg in the distance who didn't look like a human and said, "That's ...... Dwarves in legends?"

“...... Be. The other seemed to be surprised by his astonishment, "You don't even admire the grandeur of this fortress, why do you make such a noise?"

"Dwarf...... Strange, how can the dwarves enter this world under the laws of the current situation? I don't feel any new drastic 'changes'......"

Mr. Zero began to speak words that were not easy to understand.

The other party seemed to roughly guess what he meant, shook his head and said, "He can only survive here for the time being, and he can't enter the world on your side." ”

"God-blessed, it's like another shattered world. ”

Mr. Zero had a look of sudden realization—but with a completely different meaning.

"You will be able to understand these things, you are not real creatures or some kind of modified creatures. You are part of this phenomenon in the first place, part of the God-induced changes, right?" he said with an almost inquiring look.

“...... Return to the kingdom of God and form a divine body...... This is our doctrine, the long-cherished wish of our believers. Unfortunately, I am the only one who can understand this knowledge. Although, perhaps, we are gradually dissolving into God's 'concept'. ”

"In this regard, the flesh and blood have gone far beyond us. ”

"That's why they're stronger than us. ”

He prayed in a low voice for a while before he said, "But it's not because our gods are inferior to them, it's just that we believers are too shallow." Nor did he see the slightest fear or resistance to the fact that he was about to "melt" into something.

That's why I hate fanatics...... Mr. Zero whispered in his mind again.

"Now, you can tell me exactly what you want. The other party said.

And so, the long tug-off began.

......

So, when Mr. Zero and another man in a robe reappeared in the town, they saw this.

Two young girls walked hand in hand through the corners and alleys of the town.

Their singing together also spread throughout the town.

Under the breeze, the long hair of the two fluttered gently.

The figures of one black and one white hide each other.

Together, they sang familiar nursery rhymes.

Their songs reverberated throughout the town.

Mr. Zero was surprised to walk through the door in the void, and then closed the bronze door when the gray-robed man had also walked out.

They followed the song, too, and along the way, Mr. Zero stretched out his palm, as if touching something suspended in the air but unable to see.

"It's almost a song that is transforming into an anomaly...... That's amazing......"

He gradually approached the girl in a thin white dress.

"Exactly, what is the source......

......

The girl had made the last bit of her way.

She finally sprinkled her warm songs all over town.

She stopped.

She smiled and said to Miss Angel beside her, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" said Annott, confused.

The sound of the leaves trembling.

The sound of birds cowering in their nests.

The sound of the wind passing over our heads.

The sound of flowers blooming.

The sound of the roots stretching.

The sound of our steps in contact with the land......

The girl said with a misty look in her eyes.

These voices can't be heard so clearly, right?

Annott had no choice but to respond.

Could this be just her dying hallucination, although worried, this somewhat rude thought still appeared in Annott's heart.

She knew that Mr. Zero was right behind them, so she ......

No, please listen carefully.

Just like me in the past, I used to be trapped in the courtyard to recuperate because of this body and couldn't go out......

Think of this as the only music you can hear in your life......

Annott could hardly understand or believe it, but seeing the girl's look of longing for someone to understand her, Annott finally closed her eyes and felt quietly.

After all, she still couldn't hear the sound world that the girl described, which only existed in silence.

She heard her own heartbeat first, and she heard the girl's heartbeat.

She heard whispers in the room next to the street.

What is it......

She took another deep breath and closed her eyes as she listened.

What's ...... It's changing.

It was like the sound of gears turning.

It's like the sound of a chain sliding.

She heard the rumbling of mechanical collisions.

She heard the grunt of flesh grinding.

She heard an indescribable "light" descending.

So what is it exactly...... Why do you hear these strange noises?

Annott wanted to keep going.

But something hit her serenity.

She seemed to "hear" the sound of life passing in the body of the girl next to her.

“...... Ahh Screamed.

The girl fell into Annot's arms.

"That's nice...... The townsfolk who were able to bring their voices to me...... In the midst of this plague, soothe their nervous hearts with their favorite songs...... Really, satisfied. ”

"Your townspeople?" asked Mr. Zero, as he approached the dying girl.

"Ah...... Maybe that's not accurate...... I'm the daughter of the lord here...... Shall I speak of my father's people......" In the dying stupor, the maiden snorted.

Annott took the girl's hand, feeling her hand turn cold.

She deeply felt the passage of life from the girl's shell, and felt that the soul in that shell was about to be pulled to an unknown place.

"Mr. Zero, Mr. Zero!" Annott shouted to Mr. Zero with a trembling voice.

"What's wrong, Annott?" Mr. Zero looked troubled.

"She, she's going to die, she's going to die!" the girl looked like she was about to cry.

"Yes, I know. Mr. Zero looked at the girl's pale face and gradually hollow eyes, and said calmly.

"But Annot, you must know that birth, old age, sickness and death are the inevitable course of life. Interrupting someone's death also destroys the integrity of her life. And you see, there are times when taking away a person's death is more angry and painful for her than taking away her life. ”

Obviously, I made that decision before, but now I can't help but want to save her.

Such a self is really immature, Annott thought.

"But ......"

"But Annot, there are so many people dying every moment, no matter how much you try to save them, you can't save them one by one. And I haven't seen you show more sympathy for them. Is it just because she died in front of your eyes, or just because your relationship with her has become so good in this short half a day? ”

He whispered in her ear, "For angels, justice is necessary more than mercy." ”

The girl seemed to be finally sobering up a little.

"Okay, okay. Annott whispered.

"But her soul is going to be taken away by anomalous things!At least, at least let her soul go where it needs to go?" Having made up her mind, Annott grabbed the corner of Mr. Zero's clothes: "Haven't you been fighting against malicious anomalies? Haven't you always protected people and the peace of the world? Isn't it your duty to defeat and drive away harmful anomalies?If, if you can, at least help her...... Just help me fight off this ill-intentioned anomaly, please......" Now the fragile Miss Angel can only endure her tears, make a strong appearance, and pray for Mr. Zero's help.

It's like praying to the gods you serve.

"And she, she helped me hear something...... I don't know exactly, but maybe that's what you're asking me to 'perceive', Mr. Zero?" Annott wanted to say this, but was afraid that Mr. Zero would feel like he was coercing him, and that it would only turn into a small snort.

"Ah, that's annoying...... What is it that gives you the illusion that I am against the anomaly......"

“...... Huh, isn't it?"

Although he complained that he was not prepared for this unexpected situation, Zero still bent down to check the specific situation of the girl.

"However, I'm just the most ordinary ordinary person, I don't have any special powers, so don't expect too much from me?"

"If only all the ordinary people in this world could be like you. Although Annott had tears in her eyes, she almost burst into tears at this moment.

"No one will believe you if you tell the truth......" Zero sighed, straightened up again, took a handkerchief from the middle of nowhere, and reached out to hold Annott's face to wipe away her tears. "It's good to laugh, it's good to laugh. You see, you don't know how old you are, maybe even a divine creature much older than me, how come you make me feel every day that you are my daughter or something, and I am the b...... Elderly-like ......"

"I'm your mother!" Annott puffed up and glared at Mr. Zero.

She didn't worry anymore, because since Mr. Zero had agreed, it must be fine.

She was so superstitious about him.

"I said, you guys don't feel so nervous, okay. Mr. Zero, you don't know how to trap that child's soul, the anomaly who signed the contract is about to come to the door? ”

The gray-robed man, who had been silently watching the farce in front of him, spoke and said in an emotionless voice.

The dead girl was gradually covered with sigils, and finally turned into black gas to form a mysterious magic circle.

A hazy shadow gradually emerged.

"What can I do? Of course you did it. "Zero still doesn't feel nervous.

“...... What?I?Why me?" The gray-robed man looked extremely confused. "Why should I give your daughter...... Isn't it necessary to clean up the hands and tails of you and this girl?"

"Please, what can a mortal like me do in such an emergency. Zero smiled a little wickedly, "Come to think of it, the only thing I can use for a weak chicken like mine is probably the contents of the test tube, right?"

“...... Hmm? You're threatening me, and you have a lot of other means or props, right?"

"No, I don't. Zero shrugged, ignoring the other's last words. "I'm just thinking, if I use this kind of thing, will I accidentally spill somewhere......? What kind of parts? If it breaks, it's going to be a problem......."

"Hey, you put that part in the box......"

"Really? Zero pulled out a small metal object from his pocket and held it up to the sun—in fact, it was only the afterglow of the setting sun—admiring the glittering lines on it, "Ah, I don't know what this thing looks so delicate and ingenious, ingenious......

“......”

After putting it away again, he softened, "Besides, you also said that the blood in the liquid is...... Isn't that what if the seal is unlocked and it really attracts the Lord's attention?"

“......”

Well, there is no moderation at all.

"So, I'm sorry to do it, look at you, the head of the dignified mechanical church, the high priest, the mechanical pope, the person closest to God, the great restorer favored by the gods, what a great existence, such a small anomaly, you haven't moved your fingers and disappeared?"

“......”

The gray-robed man moved forward in silence, but Zero knew he must be gritting his teeth at the moment...... But do robots do this way?

"Remember, we're all null and void from the previous agreements, sir. Such a voice came from the robes. He stepped forward and approached the direction of the shadow.

Zero smiled and bowed slightly.

The black shadow finally appeared completely, just like the image of the devil in people's imaginations.

"According to the contract, I have come to collect your soul. Whoever dares to break his oath shall be condemned to hell forever and obey the great devil and ...... Ahh

Different from the previously foreseen scene, at the moment when the devil appeared, before the gray-robed man could make a move, he screamed miserably when he saw Mr. Zero's face.

"It's you, it's you, why is it ......" The devil shuddered for a moment, and finally shook his head, "Since it's Mr. Zero, then do whatever you want." The power of the contract can't stop you. ”

His figure faded, and the sigil on the girl's body faded away.

"But it's not that she won't suffer if I don't come to ask for my soul...... Her natural weakness is the result of an anomaly to which she was naturally attached. She is dead now, and it is also the moment when the sleeping anomaly awakens and eats the host's soul. ”

The devil finally left a message: "I would have responded to her contract but I just wanted to take it away with the anomaly...... But since you're Mr. Zero, you must have a way to deal with it......"

When the devil was gone, Annott and the Pope of the Machine turned their heads to look at Mr. Zero with an expression of "what the hell have you done to make even the devil afraid of this".

"Whew, it's really a devil's anomaly, and it's not strange...... ......He couldn't help but smile wryly when he saw the looks of the other two.

"Ah, what the hell have I done before...... Let me think...... Oooh. Come to think of it. Zero said thoughtfully.

"Their 'Great Devil' has long been sealed by me, in a cross jewel. Later, I accidentally lost my ...... in an incident And then by the way, I gave it to a nice young man who helped me find it. ”

"What's that kid's name...... Amber, is that the name?" Zero struggled to pick up the name from the heap of memories.

“......”

“......”

"Why are you looking at me like that?, Mr. Pope, please pick her up and we'll go to her parents.

Although the devil praised me so much, as an ordinary person, I really didn't think of anything at all.

I'll have to get to the background before I can move on. Zero said without any change in his expression.

“...... Why me again?" asked the gray-robed man after a long pause.

"I'm a man, and it's not good to hold a young girl after all. And she...... Are you embarrassed to let such a 'small' girl come and hug it?" Zero ignored Annott's protest and pressed the other's head with one hand, "As for you...... It doesn't seem to be a matter of concern. ”

"That's right. Only the lower beings would have so deliberately divided men and women into men. The cyborg under the gray robe replied in a neutral voice that was still cold, "Eternal immortals don't need to reproduce to perpetuate themselves, and naturally there is no need to be free of male and female differences. ”

His mind seemed to be pure reason, so he picked up the girl's body and began to walk in a certain direction, "Because of the anchorage nearby, I do know where the so-called lord of this human town is. ”

"That couldn't be better. Zero pulled Annott up and walked beside the robot, and said, "But since you didn't really make a move, does that mean our previous agreement still counts?" and then stuffed his suitcase into the other party's arms - free hand to pull Annott.

This time, I clearly felt that the other party's eyes hidden under the hood were staring at me.

It turns out that robots can really stare at people. But maybe it's just because the other party is special?

Thinking so casually, Zero suddenly heard the other party say, "You're not Mr. Zero, are you?"

Annott looked at the Mechanical Pope with some surprise, and then at Zero in surprise.

"Why do you say that?"

"The way you perform before and after feels completely different. ”

"Really?"

Yes.

The cyborg stared at him as he walked, and Annott looked at the two of them with a look of increasing bewilderment.

"Who knows?" he didn't look at the two of them, just looked at the sky in the distance and sighed, "It's such a beautiful sky that people want to embrace." ”

Mr. Zero tapped his cane and said.