[Re:write] Episode 52: The Blueprint for a Counterattack and the Sage's New Weapon

—Rewrite despair.

[For first-time readers] If you want to grasp the world-building first,
the link to the beginning of the story, Episode 1, is here
👉　Episode 1: The Observer Wakes in the Forest
For the general guide and synopsis of the work, click here
👉　For those reading 'Re:write' for the first time | Episode Guide & Work Overview

The inn room was still submerged in the depths of night.

The lamp's flame was turned down low, casting a faint light only on the tabletop. The smell of oil mixed with the damp scent of old wood, and no sounds from the village reached them from outside the window.

In the center of it all, a mist was floating.

A 'Mist Diorama' reconstructed by Kai based on the observational data brought back by Mist.
Cloudy particles gathered together, three-dimensionally forming the tunnels of the abandoned mine.
Narrow tunnels, broken side passages, collapsed vertical shafts.
All of it was suspended over the table in lines so delicate they seemed as if they would unravel with a single breath.

Only the hollow space in the center was different from the rest.

The mist was avoiding that spot.
As if pushed back by an invisible pressure, the white particles stopped at the outer edge, creating a featureless void.
It was clear to anyone's eyes that high-density magic was present there.

Kai lifted his gaze from the crystal plate in his hand.

“—I will present the operation overview.”

His voice was quiet. But it was enough to slice through the air in the room.

“Objective: The complete destruction of the target 'Siren Node.' However, information on the enemy is overwhelmingly insufficient. A frontal assault is defined as a suicidal act.”

Thin formulas of light flowed across the surface of the crystal plate.
As Kai's fingers slid over the Mist Diorama, two water droplets emerged.
They were small marks indicating the separate bodies of Undine and Mist.

“Therefore, this time as well, we will execute a phased attack test using the 'remote separate bodies' of Undine and Mist.”

No one interrupted immediately.

The lamp's wick crackled softly.

Kai shifted his gaze to Aria.
“Aria. You will control Mist's separate body. Keep the 'Shield of Silence' deployed around the scout. That will be the lifeline of this operation.”

Aria's gaze fell upon the water droplets on the table. Her fingertips lightly pinched the fabric of her sleeve.
“...Even if they are separate bodies, I still don't like the idea of them getting hurt.”

Her voice was small. But it did not fade away.
Kai did not cut off her words immediately. He adjusted the position of the water droplets, moving the mark for Mist even further away from its main body.

Because it's dangerous, I'll do it remotely. If any damage occurs, I'll disconnect immediately. Your judgment will be my top priority.

Aria nodded slightly. The surface of the water droplets rippled as they caught the lamplight.
Kai continued.

I will control the Undine and attempt physical interference with the node. Collisions with ice blocks, heating with boiling water, erosion via high-pressure steam. The goal is to identify the enemy's defensive properties and blind spots.

Three paths of varying density were etched into the foggy tunnel.
A thin dashed line, a broken sequence of dots, and a line with thick edges.
Each headed toward the central void, stopping just before making contact.

...I see.

In the darkness, Drake crossed his arms. The legs of his chair scraped lightly against the floorboards.

Instead of just charging in and punching, you're going to use your fingertips to find out where a punch would be most effective first, huh? It's cautious, and it doesn't suit my style, but it's rational.

Physical observation alone is incomplete!
A high-pitched voice suddenly cut in. Round glasses caught the light on the table and shone white.
It was Ellara.

That node is a mass of high-density magic! It emits a 'song' at regular intervals. If so, what we should try is 'interference with the magic itself'!

What do you mean?
Kai asked back. The temperature of his voice remained unchanged.

We'll hit it with completely different, chaotic magical noise! We'll force a 'confusion' into its thought circuits!

Ellara lifted a metal mass from her feet and placed it on the table.
Thud, the wooden board rang out low.
The foggy miniature garden distorted slightly. Crystals, gears, and pulsing plant vines. It was a mass that looked as if they had been forcibly bound together.
The tip of a vine twitched on its own.

Aria pulled her chair back by half a step.

I call it the 'Chaotic Chorus Grenade'! It's a new weapon packed with the best of my alchemy!

Ellara puffed out her chest.

If you activate this, it will completely scramble the flow of magic within a ten-meter radius! It can temporarily paralyze all spellcasting! ...Well, it's still in the experimental stage, so it might even cause our own magic to misfire!
You can't use something that dangerous! Are you trying to take our own allies down with it, you bomb-crazy girl!

Drake's roar echoed through the small room.

Scientific progress always comes with some risks!
It doesn't look like it's just 'some' risk!
Judging performance by appearance is unscientific, Drake.
Inventions that make you want to run away just by looking at them usually have dangerous insides too!

Ellara pouted in dissatisfaction. The vines on the metal mass moved once more.
Kai did not stop the two from arguing. He was tracking the placement of the crystals, the meshing of the gears, and the pulsation cycle of the vines with his eyes alone.

...Interesting.

With those words, Drake stopped speaking.

"Your theory is rational. You fill the enemy's cognitive domain with a torrent of unprocessable information, causing it to self-destruct. It shares the same underlying philosophy as the 'Information Poison' I am conceptualizing."

Kai's finger traced the outer edge of the mist garden.
A thin, circular line emerged there.

"I will incorporate the deployment of that weapon as the trump card for the final stage."
"Really!? Yes!"

Elara thrust her fist into the air.
Drake placed a hand on his forehead.

"Hey, wait. Don't include us as test subjects."
"No problem."
"What do you mean?"
"I will limit the operational range."
"Will limiting it make it safe?"
"I can limit the range where danger occurs."
"Try making an effort not to let danger occur in the first place!"

Elara nodded with satisfaction, and Drake let out a deep sigh.
A very faint smile appeared on Aria's lips. It vanished immediately, but the tense atmosphere eased just a little.

Kai took his hand off the crystal plate.
The formulas running across the surface faded away.

"The operation is finalized."

With that single statement, the room's temperature returned to normal.
Paths were layered onto the mist tunnel.
Scouting, soundproofing, physical interference, magical disruption, and retreat routes.
Lines of white particles increased, intertwined, and eventually settled on the table as a single procedure.

Aria stopped her finger at a distance where it wouldn't touch the mist mark.
Drake checked the position of his sword belt.
Elara checked the fasteners on her new weapon twice, and for some reason, only looked satisfied on the third time.

Finally, Kai looked at the blank space in the center.
That was the only part that still refused to accept the mist.

Before dawn.

Five shadows left the inn. The floorboards creaked, and the door closed. The footsteps remaining in the hallway quickly descended to the floor below.

On the table, the mist garden had begun to lose its outline.
Deprived of its master's magical supply, the bonds of the fine particles were coming undone.
The tunnel vanished.
The branch paths faded.
Only the blank space in the center remained black until the very end.

Eventually, that too dissolved into white.
Outside the window, the eastern ridgeline blurred slightly.

In the distance, a night bird sang once.

To read the continuation/background

Click here for the link to the beginning of the story, Episode 1
👉　Episode 1: The Observer Wakes in the Forest
Click here for the general guide and summary of the work
👉　For those reading 'Re:write' for the first time | Episode Guide and Work Information
👇 Click here for a summary of the story of the novel 'Re:write' so far.

Click here for my self-introduction article.
It also includes summaries of each work and links to the magazines.👇