Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 214 Am I actually the willful one?

"According to the report, the abnormal magic power phenomenon in the Y-634 area lasted for about 15 seconds. During the period, the overall magic power concentration remained near the average magic power level of the western continent in the current season. However, the instantaneous peak value exceeded the critical point of 50 O'S. The difference is quite significant. I don't think this is reasonable. I suggest that the association headquarters immediately send researchers to investigate and convene a philosopher's meeting to discuss it..."

The cold room seemed to have only the color of steel, making it look stern and monotonous. The girl named Carabosse was discussing with her adjutant how to deal with the report on magical anomalies that had been submitted earlier. The cold voice suddenly stopped, and her slender and heroic eyebrows were slightly raised, as if someone had drawn a sword there, revealing a sharp and direct doubt.

This abrupt interruption was like a smooth and beautiful piece of music being cut off. Adjutant Floyd, who was listening attentively, showed the same puzzled expression as her: "What happened, Lord Carabosse?"

Caraboss hesitated for a moment, and did not answer. Instead, he asked a question: "Floyd, do you know what countermeasures we formulated after we completed the annihilation of the Creation Goddess Cult in the Y-634 area to prevent them from making a comeback and affecting the implementation of the Eden Project?"

"this--"

Freud hesitated, not because he didn't know, but because he knew it very well. Or rather, all members of the association who were above the level of philosophers should know this. Even though Freud had only been promoted to philosopher for a short time, he had memorized these important files.

He just didn't understand why Lord Carabosse would suddenly ask about this. Could it be that he was testing his familiarity with the archives?
Although he was confused, he had worked with his superior for many years, and had known her for even longer. He knew what kind of person she was and would never make a point without a purpose, so he did not question her. Based on what was written in the file and his own understanding, he condensed the answer, which was originally so complicated that it would require hundreds of papers to explain, into a few simple sentences:
"On the one hand, we will wipe out the remnants of the Goddess of Creation and continue to suppress their living space until they are driven to the continent across the sea. Now the scale is no longer a concern. On the other hand, we will deal with the seven saints who lead the Goddess of Creation: the Patriarch, the Mentor, the Angel, the Controller, the Creator, the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Knight..."

Mentioning the most powerful enemies the Society had ever encountered, even though he had never faced them in person, his eyes still unconsciously revealed a solemn look: "Lady Eve cast a curse on their souls, so that even if they reincarnate again, they will be bound and unable to interfere with the operation of earthly civilization. If I remember correctly, the effects of the curses are different, but they all come from the power of the adults."

The power of Carabosse is naturally one of them.

"Yes."

Carabosse leaned back against the cold metal chair and looked up at the dull ceiling. Beside her, outside the transparent glass porthole was the boundless starry sky. “In fact, our relationship didn’t have to be so tense, but our differences in philosophy determined the outcome of a fight to the death. I don’t regret it, but I did feel regretful.”

Karabosse's fingertips unconsciously stroked the smooth white paper. Every black word on it reflected the coldness and ruthlessness of the vast universe.

"Yes, it is for our common great cause."

Floyd asked out of curiosity and also to change the subject, "Why do you mention this suddenly, Lord Carabosse? Although the Y-634 area was the site of the original battle with the Goddess of Creation, it has been such a long time since they were sealed. The current abnormal magic phenomenon should not be related to this."

"I thought so too, until just now, when something unexpected happened to me."

Floyd was speechless for a moment. After a long silence, he said: "This is everyone's decision."

"Are you surprised too?" Floyd was so surprised for the first time since he entered the room, even more so than when he heard that Carabosse was going to convene a meeting of philosophers. It was hard for him to imagine what could have caused this always reserved, noble and calm officer to have such a human-like mood.

"It's an accident, but it's also quite interesting. Perhaps you who studies human emotions and dreams will be interested in this." Carabosse spoke calmly, as if she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her. "The curse that was derived from my power may have been caused by the long time, or it may be because the power of the girl's royal power can even affect invisible and intangible concepts... In short, it has unknowingly given birth to its own consciousness. Now, it can be said to be my second personality."

"The second personality?" "Yes, and just a minute ago, she made a request to me through the connection with the main consciousness, hoping to release the young queen who was bound by her and return her the freedom she deserves... It seems that after a long time of getting along with her, she was disturbed by her strong emotions and developed emotions such as sympathy and pity."

Carabosse rubbed her brow as she spoke. She didn't feel embarrassed, but just felt very emotional. "When we asked Eve to cast the curse, we never expected this to happen."

Floyd also took several minutes to digest this news, and then shook his head helplessly: "The power of the king is indeed magical. I am afraid that even Lady Eve cannot explain its principle. So, Lord Carabosse, what do you think of the request of the second personality?"

Carabosse said, "Too willful."

Freud disagreed, even though the other party was his superior. "A secondary personality that is far away from the main consciousness is equivalent to a newborn baby. According to the basic dependency theory, it is normal for it to have emotional thinking logic towards another conscious subject that it lives with day and night. Lord Carabosse, you are a bit too harsh."

"No, you misunderstood me, Freud. When I said willful, I wasn't referring to her, but myself." Carabosse slowly stood up, withdrew his gaze from the ceiling, and glanced at the sea of ​​stars outside the window: "Even though I knew this was a necessary trade-off, even though I knew this was everyone's common wish, even though I knew that the Eden Project had no room for failure... But for a moment, I still had the urge to agree to her request."

"After all, she is very much like me in the past."

He is indecisive and too soft-hearted. Even when dealing with enemies, he cannot be completely ruthless and often has unnecessary sympathy and pity. Only after he has learned enough lessons will he suddenly realize that the interaction between people does not mean that you will get the same return if you are sincere. The emotions of living beings are far more complicated than what they show.

It was only after the passage of a long time and after experiencing countless betrayals and exploitation that I understood this truth; and as my second personality, what kind of test does this newly born consciousness need to go through before it can grow into a real person?
She was a little dazed.

"Lord Carabosse..." Floyd, the adjutant, looked a little worried, but no one knew what he was worried about.

"Don't worry, Freud, I'm no longer at the age of making decisions based on impulse and emotion."

Carabosse smiled slightly, the curve of his mouth so shallow that it was almost invisible: "Leave this matter to me. In addition, the once sealed girl Wang Quan is trying to return, which may have an unpredictable impact on the implementation of the Eden Project. This information needs to be brought to the meeting and discussed together with the report on the abnormal magic phenomenon just now. Therefore, the original meeting level will be raised to a witch meeting, and you will notify the participants. Considering the round-trip distance between the earth and the moon, the meeting will be held on the same day two weeks later."

"In addition, during the meeting, the daily management, maintenance and operation of the Alien Philosopher can be temporarily handed over to other ship officers. I believe they will not let me down. The monitoring and research of the March horizon, the garrison mission of the extraterrestrial disaster beast protection network, the patrol of the interstellar cruise force, etc., will continue to be carried out according to the original arrangement, and the relevant person in charge will be the first person responsible. Each department will hold a meeting every three days to report on their work. If they encounter special circumstances and cannot make a decision, they can use the "Emergency Communication Position" to contact the association headquarters..."

As she spoke, Floyd nodded in agreement. When there were occasional disagreements, the two would discuss them, but they would soon reach a conclusion. With such a high level of efficiency, all matters were quickly properly arranged. All that was needed next was to hold a general meeting of ship officers on the Alien Philosopher to discuss the matter.

Those who have different opinions on these arrangements can raise them and make changes at the meeting, but usually they don't, because every member of this huge steel creation deeply trusts their leader, the witch of the night who commands thousands of stars, moonlight and even the silence of the universe - Carabosse.

For example, Freud never asked how Carabosse would respond to her alter ego.

He knew very well in his heart that there would be no second answer to this question.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)