Does the mechanical girl dream of the Messiah?

"Ok?"

"Luna should trust Muirand more."

"Ok?"

Ashlee shook her head.

"That is to say, Luna should believe that Myuland has the ability to solve the problems that will happen next. As a country that has persisted in this decadent world for so long and has prospered to this day, it is not difficult for this fortress-like city to drive out the invading enemies or deal with the undead hiding in the streets. Whether it is a dragon or a lich, Myuland cannot encounter an unsolvable crisis."

"Um……"

Lunicia was in deep thought, and it seemed that she was really listening to Ashlee's advice.

"Mulland is not like Marie. Marie, a chaotic, weak, and divided country, is still able to severely damage a lich that suddenly attacks. Muland is much stronger than Marie. With some preparation, there is an 80% chance that it will be able to completely annihilate enemies of the level of 'Legacy of Natya' without even causing any damage. Considering this point, there is actually no need for Lunicia to stay here."

"Well...if this can be of some help...?"

Lunicia was still planning to struggle a little.

"With Lunicia's strength, it's probably not worth mentioning in the eyes of the entire Myuland."

Ella frowned but said nothing - after all, if Ashlee succeeded in her persuasion, Lunithia would be able to stay away from potential danger. What might happen to Myurande next might not be worth mentioning to Myurande, but it might cause Lunithia to encounter an accident, which was something Ella did not want to see, so there was no need to care about the small difference in wording.

"Besides, if what happens next is a conflict within the Myurand Grand Council, who should Lunisia choose to help and who should she be against? If a huge crisis arises that even Myurand cannot resist, Luna going to Zelhar to apply for assistance for Myurand will be more effective than staying here, compared to waiting to die with Myurand."

——I have nothing to say...

Lunicia was speechless. She admitted that what Ashtherin said was right: even if her desire to help those in trouble was not wrong, she should think about how to achieve it. At least in the current situation, her staying here would either be of no help or would be far less helpful than if she left.

"Okay, then I'll listen to Ashley—"

Just like that, with Ella booking the boat tickets, Lunicia packing the luggage, and Ashatherine choosing the places to visit in the afternoon, the spacious guest room became busy again.

In the swaying heat of tea, you can vaguely see the scenery outside the window. The streets in the distance are no longer as deserted as yesterday. The carnival last night did not seem to make the citizens feel tired. Whether they went home early after watching the opera or went to the pub to spend the second half of the night, at noon, everyone once again cheered up and stepped out of the door to prepare for the next celebration. On the streets, on the signs of shops, on street lights and fire hydrants, colorful flags, streamers and banners are hung in every conceivable position as a celebration of the festival. If tomorrow is Carnival, then today is the eve of Carnival. Since you want to enjoy the atmosphere of Carnival, you certainly can't miss the preparations for the eve of the festival. When the lights are lit and the fireworks are launched, you can get joy and pride from the "Mulland National Day" which only happens once a year.

In this celebratory atmosphere, the group once again stepped out of the hotel's glass door -

Today is our last day in Myrand, so let's visit some places with Myrand characteristics: first, the Stone Cellar Library, followed by the Ipatto Civic Square, then the Myrand Theater, and finally the Alexandria Cathedral and the Alexandria Tribunal, these two names actually refer to the same building.

Today, according to Ashlee, the fog of the prayer is a little thicker than yesterday, but it is still not a problem, so there is no need to worry about it. Leave the worries behind, forget the doubts for the time being, if there is anything to know, put your hope on the contact personnel in Amblissburg, and let them find out the information of Muland. On the last day before leaving, the only day left, just devote yourself to the journey.

Go and feel the characteristics of this ancient city, and experience the charm of this mountaintop city. You may not have the chance to come again, and when you come next time, everything may not be the same as before. Just treat this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and imprint everything you see in your eyes. Those huge stone buildings of different colors, those sculptures full of the classical atmosphere of the southeast of Mu Continent, those deep-colored oil paintings, those angular crystal lamps - listen to the sound of the door of the dome opening and closing, accompanied by the sound of the mechanism biting, accompanied by the click of the overlapping gears, the sense of loneliness will be magnified in the depths of those huge ancient buildings, wandering in the corridors lined with stone pillars on both sides, just like strolling in the kingdom of giants in the legend.

It is truly a kingdom carved out of the mountains.

From afternoon to dusk, and from dusk to late night.

This country is not big, it is just a city plus a few areas. If we use this standard, have we already eaten all the delicacies of "this country"? Recalling the content of the dinner, I held Ella and Ashlee's hands and strolled on the brick road illuminated by street lights.

The dark clouds tonight seemed thicker than usual, and even thicker than before. However, the weather did not become colder, and the north wind did not roar again. No matter how thick the darkness was, it would still be dispelled by the lights on this land, so it was not taken seriously and was not taken seriously by people.

The streets became empty again. Most citizens had returned home, probably in order to get up on time the next morning and join the carnival. Only people like Lunicia, who had no chance to participate in the celebration, would stay up late and look relaxed at this time.

In the Stone Cellar Library, many collections are displayed in order on the stone bookshelves, and in the depths that informal members cannot enter, it is said that there are many precious original texts; the Ipatto Civic Square is broad and tidy, with birdcage-shaped flower beds arranged into the holy emblems of the twelve gods. The statues of the heroes who founded Muland also stand here for people to admire, and the facilities prepared for the celebration are also being built and look like they will be completed soon; the Muland Grand Theater is more deserted than usual. People flocked in large numbers at the attraction of "Sitzberg" and left in large numbers after the show, which gave Lunicia and her party the opportunity to visit the magnificent white dome... The most valuable places in this ancient city are now left with Lunicia's footprints.

Only here is left.

The hour hand will soon point to twelve, when the huge bronze bell on the building will ring, announcing the end of the day. It is both an end and a beginning. In the philosophy of the God of Time and Judgment, only the moment when the sun is at its highest and the moment when the moon is at its highest are worth ringing the bell. That is the beginning and end of the day, as well as the halfway point of the day.

This is the last holy place of Alexander's faith, the largest and best-preserved of the existing relics of the God of Time and Judgment. Even before setting foot in it, just passing the gate and walking on the avenue in front of it, just gazing at the huge stone gate from a distance, those neat and solemn columns symbolizing the scale of time, it seems as if you can hear the words from the distant past, the stern, steady and solemn verdict of the God.

This is not only a timekeeping ground, but also a cathedral and a court. Everything about the god of time and judgment can be presented in this magnificent building.

Go and visit it - I just don't know if you can still hear the words of the gods there.

Gently pushing the huge stone main door, the huge door with the Alexander emblem and court imagery carved on it did not move at all. That's right, this door might not be opened normally. After a careful search, she indeed found the iron door used for normal passage not far away. Lunisia breathed a sigh of relief, walked quickly, and then held the door handle.

"……what?"

Also motionless.

According to the sign at the gate, it was still open now. Places like cathedrals were usually open 24 hours a day, and there were clergy on duty all day, taking turns to maintain order in the sanctuary. The Cathedral of Alexandria was no exception. But Lunisia looked around and found that every door was tightly closed. Not only was it tightly closed, it was even locked. No matter how she fiddled with it, nothing happened.

The hour hand slowly moved towards twelve, the minute hand also moved from eleven to twelve, and the second hand was as fast as ever.

The night grew darker, and the heavy grey clouds trembled, just like Lunisia's increasingly anxious mood.

"What's wrong, Lady Luna?"

"The door won't open—"

Lunicia looked embarrassed, but Ella didn't think it was difficult.

"It's still opening hours...do you want to force the lock open?"

"That's not good!"

This sounds like blasphemy.

At this time, Ashlee stopped floating, she jumped down from mid-air, and stepped lightly on the white stone ground with her feet. A hint of doubt appeared on her face, which usually lacked expression.

“…Luna.”

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Something seems wrong."

"Of course something is wrong. Why are all the doors locked—"

"No, that's not it."

Ashlee turned around and looked in a certain direction from where she came.

"Luna, did you notice? There is no guard here."

"Eh? Ah..."

The hour hand slowly moved toward twelve, and so did the minute and second hands, except that for these two, it represented the number fifty-nine.

It was not until Ashleelin pointed this out that Lunisia suddenly realized that something seemed to be missing here. Turning back, she looked in the direction Ashleelin was looking. The lights at the guard post were on, but it was empty, with no one inside. It was clearly open now, and there was no temporary closure notice posted, but every door was locked, and the guards originally stationed here were dispersed?

"...Yeah, it's really strange."

Why does this happen?

Just as Lunicia was thinking about this and was about to ask something else, she suddenly froze.

Click.

The cover of the pocket watch hanging around the waist opened automatically, and as the hour, minute and second hands swung, the gears inside the pocket watch made a sound, causing the hour hand to shake and slowly point to twelve.

Click.

The watch was tied on Ella Hepper's wrist. On the elegant silver dial, as the hour, minute and second hands swung, the gears inside the watch made a sound, causing the hour hand to shake and slowly point to twelve.

Click.

Inside Ashlee's body, in a device that could not be analyzed by modern technology and was beyond the comprehension of today's mechanical technicians, the timing device representing hours, minutes, and seconds moved joyfully with that brief moment. Because the second moved forward by one, the second position returned to zero again, and the minute also moved forward by one, and then the minute also returned to zero, until the hour moved forward by one, completing a cycle of twelve. The gears then made a sound, causing the time marked in Ashlee's consciousness to shake and slowly point to the position of twelve.

Click. Click. Click.

In every place in this city, on every device used to record time and indicate the movement of time, as the hour hand, minute hand and second hand swing, as the structures representing hours, minutes and seconds move forward, the gears of each timing device make a sound, causing the hour hand to shake and slowly point to twelve.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

All the watch covers were opened, all the pendulums swung, and all things that could show time could no longer be concealed in this city. Time, time, time, things that flowed like a long river, things that fell like sand, things that melted like ice, were revealed to the world unhindered between the sound of gears, heralding the moment from 11:59:59 to 12:00.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

Until now, Lunicia discovered it.

At some point, the mechanical girl named Ashetherin and the secret code mage named Ella Heper stopped moving. They stopped moving, stopped talking, stopped breathing, stopped their heartbeats, their blood stopped flowing, their thoughts stopped working, and they stopped at the moment of their existence because of the division of time, and remained the same because the next moment did not come.

Time has stopped.

Dang——dang——dang——

In the stopped time, in this only moment, except for the horrified Lunicia, only the clocks pointing to twelve o'clock, only the bronze bell high above the temple, were still operating according to their original trajectory. In this infinitely stretched moment of twelve o'clock, the bells rang with the arrival of twelve o'clock, grand, hollow, and terrifying.

Dang-d ...

Something has arrived here with the arrival of twelve o'clock.

In the pitch-black sky covered with dark clouds and without stars or moon, a silent roar echoed, as if one was stuffed into a huge mechanical structure, listening to the countless gears meshing and rubbing against each other, dulled by rust, and making frightening noises because of the dullness, the bride and groom on the music box twisted each other's heads off, rotten brains jumped out of the wall clock, ashes fell from one end of the hourglass to the other, corpses were stuck on the sundial, necks were broken on the knots, and countless corpses were hanging and swinging, like the pendulum under the big clock - something has descended, something has arrived, something has fallen, something has changed from non-existence to existence, invisible, turbid, dark, empty, decayed, decaying, great -

Death has come.

……

…………

………………

........................

..............................

............................................................

Click.

"They are humans, but nothing special can be seen. The one on the left is about 122 years old, with no other notable features. The one on the right is about 130 years old, and has undergone mechanical transformation. His legs and left arm have been replaced, and his internal structure has been shielded, so we cannot analyze them. Their appearance has been intentionally concealed, so we cannot obtain it either."

"That's really not any useful information..."

Click. Click. Click.

“Don’t just scan other people.”

As the group walked towards the area used to divide the modes of transportation, Lunicia hung the pocket watch on her waist, and at the same time, another thing was put into her pocket.

A hanging sickle, a huge black sword, in a city surrounded by wind and snow, the noble lady holding the oars is masked with a black veil, using bones as candles and a skull as a seat. She is both a symbol of stagnation and a ferryman to the end. Just looking at this vivid picture, it seems as if you can feel the gaze of the goddess Lucy and look into the eyes of the gods.

It was an inverted picture of the Grim Reaper.

The touch of the card brought the Saint back to this noisy reality—

——From the infinitely resounding sound of gears.

Interlude

"..."

Even his long breaths were full of power. People like Sesteen Pelancitine, even when he closed his eyes to rest, would exude an aura that was difficult to approach.

"Opera House" Lusa Efayeret was happy to have some free time. The time when Systine was recuperating was also a good opportunity for her to sort out the numerous thoughts in her mind.

"Arbitrator" Leah Efayeret is on guard duty. The "Opera House" does not intend to rely entirely on self-discipline units for its safety, especially in a place like this. It is necessary to be extremely vigilant, otherwise who knows when an accident will happen or when someone will suddenly die.

If they were to capsize in a place like this, the next time she and the "Arbiter" opened their eyes, their memories would be traced back to before the Battle of Twek. This was something Ms. Lusa didn't want to see. As for the safety of Sestine Perancitin? She could think about it herself. Anyway, the "Opera House" was very sure that even if all the autonomous units and mechanical creations on this ship were destroyed, she would survive.

Live on until the day her obsession disappears.

She will never die until she fulfills her wish. In the eyes of the "Opera House", the woman named Sestine is such an existence.

It was absurd and ridiculous, and it didn't seem like a conclusion that could be born from rational thinking. But what did it matter? From the day it was called the "Opera House", from the day it gave itself and its sister machine a name, from the day it witnessed her being called the "Master Brain", the mechanical puppet had already accepted the fact that it had no connection with rationality.

Although she didn't get close, Lusa still sat upright on the exquisite red velvet high stool, staring at the black paladin who was resting with his eyes closed on the sofa.

Sometimes, she would also feel confused about this person's lifestyle, and as a result, she would have all kinds of chaotic thoughts.

For example, the fact that this woman named Sesteen is still a paladin is enough to bring about numerous doubts, or to explain many facts: for example, she has never violated her oath, and her current goal has not fundamentally changed from the day she became a paladin; for example, even if the remnants of the "Iron Leviathan" create conflicts and bloodshed on earth, her behavior of cooperating with them is not regarded by herself or even her gods as an act of plunging into darkness; for example, she looks contradictory, but in fact, perhaps in the depths of her humanity, she is not that contradictory, and perhaps she is more focused and consistent than anything she has encountered...

If she does not regard the existence of the "Iron Leviathan" as an evil that must be eliminated, then in her eyes, what kind of thoughts and feelings does she have towards these mechanical creations gathered under the main brain?

Her disciple, the holy warrior dressed in pure white, who seemed to be untouched by a speck of dust, seemed to be completely opposite to her master at first glance, but in the end they were of the same lineage, and they had more in common than first appeared.

It was precisely because she wanted to figure out these things that Rosa chose to continue staying beside Systine and dancing with this woman who, in her eyes, was no different from a dragon.

She had no ill feelings towards Systin. She had heard about the unclear relationship between the "Avatar" and Systin, but unlike some of her colleagues, she would not feel disgusted by it. On the one hand, her sensitive female intuition told her what the so-called "relationship between the two" was. On the other hand, she herself was known for her bad taste in the "Iron Leviathan". She would only choose to watch the fun happily on things like this.

——So, what do you think? Dark Paladin.

Analyzing gods is one of the eternal propositions brought about by technological development. For Lusa, analyzing gods is just for her shallow curiosity. Perhaps from this holy warrior who has never betrayed his oath, she can get a glimpse of the thoughts of gods she has never seen.

How long had it been?

In the sea of ​​clouds, looking up, all you can see are clouds. This poisonous cloud is so thick that even military airships can hardly fly over it to worship the sun, stars, and moon. Time here has become even more lacking in reference points. Clocks and internal timekeeping devices, and the mechanical puppets called "Opera House" are too lazy to even look at them.

The flight did not stop and for the time being, no accidents occurred.

It's smooth and boring, almost lethargic.

But the long breathing sound coming from her ears made this boring time a little interesting, so she didn't plan to sleep. Lusha was very curious about when Systin would wake up.

As if responding to her expectations, the single golden eye slowly opened.