My dear witch, please turn evil according to the script!

Chapter 334 Cultists are acting quietly, but they must be up to no good.
After unexpectedly unlocking a new use for the runestone, Roland focused his attention on the runestone in front of him that seemed to have fallen into a dormant state.

This was the first time he had ever seen a primordial runestone in this state.

After all, strictly speaking, he only had two rune stones, both of which were rewards from the system.

The Sun Runestone is just a projection; strictly speaking, it's a basic runestone with reduced functionality.

Of these three runes, the World Tree and Sun runes are relatively more "self-aware".

The Thunderthorn, however, has not shown any self-awareness so far.

Even the exertion of strength is significantly limited.

Admittedly, this is the only rune that Roland has that can be used directly for killing, but to unleash its true power, it mainly relies on feigning injury, taking a defensive and counter-attacking approach, and so far no means of proactive attack have been discovered.

Roland can control the thorns freely, but their function is similar to that of a certain silver grass entanglement. At best, they can be used for minor control, or as a tool to deal damage and reflect damage, or to manipulate the thorn branches to retrieve things that are inconvenient to hold directly with hands.

Of course, this point was gradually forgotten as Roland's innate magical technique developed psychic power.

Even without exhibiting an overly active sense of self, the Thunderthorns functioned well. However, compared to the Sun and the World Tree, it was more like a tool, a tool with a strictly defined usage process.

Unlike the World Tree Runestone, Roland has found some ways to unlock its functions and has begun to try to unleash the power of the World Tree without relying on the World Tree Runestone.

However, the state of this unknown rune stone in front of them was truly silent.

Even when he held it in his hand, it still couldn't exert its power.

The state is somewhat similar to what the Demon King described: a runestone that has lost its original master but has been forcibly kept and controlled by other means.

It was as silent as an ordinary stone.

Roland sighed. It seemed he would have to study this carefully and discuss it further when he got back.

Roland put away the runestone but didn't rush to leave.

This research institute, and the things in this secret room, are probably the direct reason why this place was abandoned.

With the help of the magic lights that still function perfectly in the research institute, Roland easily saw the research data and experimental logs scattered all over the floor.

Clearly, the abandonment of this place was due to a sudden accident.

The monster I just killed... no, it was already dead, just a living corpse, its soul long gone.

He simply crushed a lump of flesh that was unable to resist using his telekinesis.

That thing must be the culprit that caused this place to be abandoned and even turned into ruins.

However, judging from the state of the rune... it might be a victim.

Human experimentation.

A word that Roland was no stranger to.

After briefly reviewing some experimental reports, he confirmed his hypothesis.

Although he couldn't understand most of the data, he could clearly understand the parts involving runes and alchemy.

The people in this research institute want to use rune technology and bio-alchemy to transform a girl with magical powers into a weapon against the Demon King's army.

However, research into the girl's magical powers has made no progress, so the research institute plans to conduct some "preliminary experiments".

This involves erasing the personality of the unnamed girl in the report, or experimental subject 423, to ensure the complete disappearance of her self-awareness. Researchers will then implant a control program to replace the girl's personality, thereby achieving control.

If this experiment succeeds, then even without weaponization modifications and the inability to mass-produce and deploy it to counter its special powers, it can still be ensured to serve as an absolutely obedient weapon to resist the Demon King's army.

Roland put down the lab report and sighed softly.

The results of the experiment are already quite clear.

The so-called magical power is probably just the primordial rune within the girl's body.

Similar to Cellinina's situation, but this girl, who didn't even leave her name and was called Experiment 423, clearly couldn't control the power of the runes as well as Cellinina.

No matter what, before the family was destroyed, Cherinina was a genuine powerful demon family with considerable strength.

This girl was an innocent girl captured from the Kingdom of Platia by the research institute for its plan to develop human weapons and mass-produce military equipment. She possessed a "mysterious power" that she herself might not be able to fully control.

As for the experimental log... Roland knew the result after just a few glances.

The record came to an abrupt end one day.

The expected thing happened.

Perhaps the runestone, possessing self-awareness, could no longer tolerate the cruelty and unleashed its true power.

Or perhaps, it was the girl's will to survive that activated the power of the rune at the crucial moment.

Or perhaps, in the worst-case scenario... the girl has become the very thing she just saw.

Desperate and furious souls began to howl, and the power of the runestones trembled along with that of their owners...

In the end, the girl was freed, while the sinner faced retribution.

Standing three hundred years in the future, exploring the past amidst these ruins, Roland felt a complex mix of emotions.

He, who has always had a good capacity for empathy, could completely understand the girl's actions.

Even basic morality and justice made Roland fully support the girl in carrying out this revenge.

He had no reason to blame the experimental girl who had suffered inhuman treatment.

Just before leaving, Roland noticed words written in a dusty notebook on the lab table, words that sounded like a researcher asking himself a question.

If such acts are committed against one's own kind in order to defeat the demons... then such humans are perhaps even more despicable than the demons themselves.

At least as long as people are willing to surrender, the Demon King's army won't use them for such experiments. Perhaps it's utterly useless, because they've already mastered the relevant technology.

Or perhaps it's because the brutal and arrogant demon race disdains conducting such sordid experiments.

They use alchemical materials to create familiars, while we humans... erase the consciousness of our own kind and then mold them into similar forms.

How pathetic.

Before the personality erasure is carried out tomorrow, let's try our best to take that child away.

We all know John perfectly well; this kid doesn't possess any magical powers, at least not the kind he can control.

The esteemed member of the Lancelot family is also willing to help us.

He will use the pretext of an inspection to lure the person in charge away tomorrow.

I will stay and buy time for you and Nice.

Although this is a laboratory established by the Empire... the Empire no longer exists, and the Lancelot family are now the kings of the Platia territory.

[If it weren't for the Elector's unwillingness to abandon this long-standing project, hoping to use it to defend against the Demon King's army that would inevitably besiege the city sooner or later, this place would have been abandoned long ago.]

I've prepared a secret escape route for you; you know where it is.

January 29th, Imperial Calendar Year 631

Roland paused in front of the notebook.

The calendar of the Hearst Empire, or rather the calendar of all human kingdoms on the continent, is the calendar of the Holy Lagnacia Empire.

That is, the Imperial Calendar.

631 years ago, which is 399 years ago.

In other words... the Lancelot family member who died in the laboratory was not the "self" he was playing in the dream.

It is very possible that this armored attire is a tradition of the Lancelot family?
After reading the diary entry, or rather, the comment, Roland sighed again.

Clearly, the escape was unsuccessful.

The silence of the rune stones and the corpses scattered all over the ground are the best proof.

The belated goodwill and repentance failed to bury the anger and despair.

A reasonable but imperfect ending.

……

"Hey Roland, when did you get back? Where's the old woman? I haven't seen her."

Roland had just returned to the garrison headquarters when he ran into Kalia.

This guy is unusually not eating while walking today.

"Ms. Flam is back, but she didn't come to see you?"

"No, I had no idea you were back." Kalia's expression was strange, but she quickly put her teacher out of her mind and turned to Roland with concern: "You didn't eat anything strange in Avalon this time, did you?"

"...It's generally quite normal." Roland said, "Even if it's an elven snack, at least I can accept mint-flavored desserts."

"That's good." Kalia breathed a sigh of relief, then inquired about what the Elf King and Roland had discussed.

Roland was unsure whether he should say anything about it.

Because he and Thran didn't have a long conversation.

It's more accurate to say that it was basically Thran who was unilaterally revealing information to Roland. Thran and the World Tree were like NPCs receiving rewards, just blindly handing out equipment and rewards to Roland.

In the past, Roland would have simply been happy.

But after learning more about his background and origins, Roland understood one thing.

The better the equipment you have now, the more extraordinary the enemy you'll be facing next will be.

Most importantly, he had no idea what kind of enemy he would be facing.

Could it be the Chaos Brotherhood?

Cult members are always quiet; they must be up to no good.

No matter how you look at it, these guys have been too quiet lately.

Logically speaking, the Archbishop of Hellfire had suffered a great loss at his hands, so there was no reason for him not to retaliate.

Even if they cause some trouble within the empire's borders?

Strangely, ever since the death of Cassius, the commander of the Sword Guard who took over the position of Bishop of Lust, the entire Chaos Brotherhood has become quiet, and even the signs of activity have decreased considerably.

Although this was partly due to imperial suppression and intensified searches.

However, Roland, now the Grand Duke of the Empire, has not heard of any Chaos Brotherhood members being captured recently.

It's like this group of crazy people who used to wander around causing trouble, but now they've gone completely underground.

The harm caused by such highly secretive cult members is immeasurable.

The catastrophe in Isfar is the best reason.

A Night Apostle whose power and ability are far inferior to those of the Chaos Brotherhood is still able to cause such a commotion.

If the Chaos Brotherhood is indeed concentrating its forces and planning a major attack on the Empire, this is not good news.

(End of this chapter)