I Favor the Villainess - CH 263

Feb 21 2021

The sacristy deep within the great cathedral was normally closed off.

This was where the Tears of the Moon and other sacred artifacts the church possessed were stored.

In order to borrow one of those sacred artifacts, it was necessary to obtain permission from two or more clergy of rank cardinal or higher.

However, to enter, it seemed that the Pope’s approval would suffice.

Accompanied by the pope, Lily-sama, Irie and I entered the sacristy.

“It’s here.”

The Pope pointed at the innermost wall.

While it appeared to be a normal wall at a glance, when the Pope placed her hand over the wall, slid open to the side revealing an entrance.

Peeking inside, I could see stairs leading downward.

“Knowledge of this entrance is only passed down between generations of Popes. Beyond here lies the server room that contains the mainframe.”

With those words, the Pope led the way down the stairs.

We followed behind her.

Beyond this is TAIM’s territory. As I mentioned before, there is a defense system in place.”

“Do you think it will go well?”

“I don’t know. Let’s take a bet on the Demon Queen’s proposal.”

Once Lily-sama, who was behind us, entered, the door closed behind us.

That instant, our surroundings became pitch dark, but lights soon flickered on.

Not magic lights, but a light powered by science. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

“Intruder Detected. Intruder Detected. Forced Removal Systems Engaged.”

An alert, voiced by a mechanical voice echoed throughout the area.

The walls on our left and right opened up revealing guns which immediately locked on to us.

Though we steeled ourselves for the attack, the gun’s movements now seemed hesitant.

“System Has Raised Exception For Council. Until Council Resolution, System Administrator Privileges Will Suspend.”

“Council Has Rejected The Exception. 30 Minutes Until Administrator Privileges Are Restored.”

“Objection Raised To Previous Rejection. Suspension Of Administrator Privileges Will Be Extended.”

Though I did not understand the details, it appeared that the defense system was not able to operate normally.

『We will interfere with the system by raising objections.』

Before we entered the server room, using Sandrine-san’s body, the Demon Queen proposed that solution.

The details involved using the Demon Queen, Pope, Irie, and myself, who were all equivalent to system terminals to interfere with the system’s operations.

Essentially, we had submitted doubts to the legitimacy of TAIM’s administrator privileges.

After our battle with the Demon Queen, it appears that she had been captured by TAIM and thrown into something like the system’s recycle bin.

However, while she still had her administrator privileges, she had actually made an independent backdoor into the system.

The Demon Queen had held suspicions of TAIM’s betrayal.

Then, with the Demon Queen’s cooperation, we forced our way into the system.

As the loop system made decisions by combining input from multiple different units, even TAIM couldn’t bypass something like this.

Of course, we hadn’t yet stolen back the administrator privileges from TAIM, but we had managed to temporarily suspend them.

To begin with, the fact that TAIM currently held administrator privileges by taking advantage of an irregularity where there was no standing administrator, was an incredible feat.

When I asked the Demon Queen why she was cooperating with me,

『I am not cooperating with you. There is just no other option in order to save Claire-sama.』

She said those words with scorn.

I couldn’t help but think that her answer was very fitting of me.

“Let’s hurry. We don’t know how long we have before TAIM recovers the privileges.”

“Yes.”

We then hurried down the stairs.

With the Pope, who was a slow walker, on my back, we hurried.

Shortly after descending the spiral stairs, a large room came into our vision.

“This is…”

“Yes. The server room.”

Nodding, the Pope once again placed her hand over the wall.

Perhaps it was set up to recognize fingerprints?

“…”

I had heard it was a server room, so I had imagined one like I had seen in the 21st century, but what was before me now was a giant box as large as a building.

The majority of the box was black, constructed with metallic parts. On its surface, light pulsed back and forth as though through veins.

As the light continued to flicker and pulse, rather than a computer, the object gave the impression of a living breathing organism.

“So this is…?”

“Yes, this is the very core of the loop system, TAIM’s true body, and the root of all of the nanomachines scattered throughout the world―the mainframe.”

When faced with this existence that had maintained human history for an overwhelmingly long amount of time, I felt a mix of awe and fear.

Rather than standing before machinery, I felt as though I was in the presence of something sacred.

“Really now… You all truly don’t know when to give up, do you.”

Along with the sound of a bell, a lone girl appeared before us.

She had silver hair and red eyes―a familiar combination for this world, but her beauty was unparalleled.

This girl, who possessed charm that could only be described as transcendental was―

“TAIM…”

“How do you do, Rei Taylor, I believe this is the first time we’ve met in this form.”

TAIM gave a feeble smile.

Even with such a subtle change in expression, I was shocked how charming I perceived the motion. I could only shudder in response.

This being is dangerous, my instincts screamed that at me.

“GIve back Claire-sama!”

I screamed those words, forcefully shutting out the fear that welled up within me.

As TAIM shook her head in response to my words,

“That’s not something that I can do. She must continue to sleep, for the sake of humanity’s eternal existence.”

“We won’t let you do something so selfish. If it comes to it, we’ll bring this whole server room down―”

“Do you think Claire François would truly desire such a thing?”

“Eh?”

In response to TAIM’s line that had interrupted my words, I unwittingly stopped talking.

“There seems to be a slight misunderstanding, Rei Taylor. You think that I’m forcing Claire François to sleep, don’t you?”

“Where is the misunderstanding in that?”

“It’s a huge misunderstanding. Claire François is offering her body to the system of her own free will.”

As she spoke those words, she wore an affectionate smile.

“That’s a lie!”

“It is not a lie. If you have doubts, why not confirm for yourself?”

“Eh?”

“Right now, Claire-sama has quantized and is within the system. I’ll guide you to where she is.”

I hesitated.

Just like that, I could… meet Claire-sama…?

“You mustn’t, Rei Taylor. This is a trap.”

As my heart had begun to waver, the Pope called out to me.

“The quantum world is the world of the soul. If you dive into the system, your body here will be completely defenseless. There is no guarantee that TAIM won’t do something during that time.”

“Could I ask you to refrain from tarnishing my reputation? Claris Répète III. If you’re worried, I will promise. I will not lay even a finger on Rei Taylor’s body.”

“TAIM, while you do not lie, you do not tell the entire truth either. Can you say that Rei Tailor’s soul won’t become trapped by the system as well?”

“…”

This time, TAIM did not object.

It appears that TAIM had intended to trap my soul within the system.

“TAIM, if I am able to convince Claire-sama and she desires to return to this world, would you release her?”

“Yes, very well.”

“Rei Taylor!”

“R-rei-san!”

“I think it’d be best if you didn’t.”

While TAIM instantly nodded to my suggestion, the Pope and the others rushed to stop me.

“E-even if you don’t do something like that, this… machine? Or whatever, if we just break that, we can save Claire-sama!”

“Exactly. In the first place, it’s suspicious if Claire François is truly trapped in the system of her own will. Claire François isn’t that kind of person.”

“It is exactly as you two say… but, I think she would definitely take it to heart.”

I turned to face Lily-sama and the others.

“I don’t believe that Claire-sama is willingly trapped within the system either. However, considering Claire-sama’s personality, if we destroyed this system, essential to humanity’s continued existence, even if we saved her she would hold it against herself until the end.”

“T-that’s…”

“… quite… possible.”

Aside from Irie, the other three here knew Claire-sama well.

They instantly understood my worries.

“But even then, all of that only matters if she’s alive, right? Before we worry about whether or not she’ll hold it against herself, shouldn’t we worry freeing her from this system or whatever?”

“Let me make one thing clear.”

Responding to Irie’s words, TAIM spoke.

“If this server room is destroyed, the quantized data that it contains will also be destroyed.That is to say, Claire François’ soul too, would be lost for eternity.”

“So simply put, I have no choice but to go and convince her, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

It appears there never really was an alternative.

W-wait please wait, Rei-san. Let’s think about it―”

“We don’t have much time. If we dawdle, TAIM will recover her administrator privileges. If that happens, we’re just rats in a bag.”

“B-but…”

“Lily-sama, please believe in me, and wait.”

“… That’s unfair, Rei-san.”

Even as tears formed in her eyes, Lily-sama nodded.

Truly, the guilt I felt for putting her through all this only intensified.

“Well then, TAIM, please send me.”

“Very well. Then, Rei Taylor, I wish you a good journey.”

When TAIM placed her hand over my head, my consciousness began to slip―.

Before dropping off completely.