Chapter 120: Unknown Existence

"Okay, so should we try to see if that method works?"

Well, setting aside whether or not I like what the Argos system does, I really wanted to do some sightseeing and see what was inside those buildings.

So we had to get a wristband.

But to do that, we’d have to find a way to get out of the city and go through a process that—who knows how complicated it might be, or how long it could take.

Patience and time are things I don’t have right now.

Besides, in the end, we might just end up with something that probably wouldn’t let us explore freely.

So it was better to see if the original plan worked.

"All right, after all, sightseeing and having fun are more important. Okay, let’s give it a try." (Iris)

As always, Iris already knew what I was thinking, and the axe in her hand—which was the Heart of Berserk—suddenly began to look strange; even without any heat present, it seemed to start melting and turning into a viscous liquid.

The method we had in mind revolved around one of the Heart of Berserk’s abilities.

This is because, in addition to being able to transform into other objects—such as daggers, swords, and the like—it also has another interesting function.

I watched as the axe, which had completely melted, now looked like blood, but that wasn’t the important part.

What mattered was that this shapeless red liquid, under Iris’s control, flowed toward the unconscious man’s bracelet and enveloped it.

We already understood that the bracelet was a magical artifact, and Iris’s axe had the ability to copy the capabilities imprinted on artifacts and other weapons.

In its normal state, it had five slots in its pommel, and according to the system, when it copies the functionality of an artifact or weapon, one slot is filled.

So Iris could endow the axe with the ability to function as five artifacts or weapons at the same time.

The process was quick.

In a matter of seconds, the bracelet was assimilated, and the red liquid returned to Iris’s hand.

The man no longer had a bracelet; Iris’s artifact had absorbed it.

And, as if to test whether it really worked, some of that red liquid wrapped around Iris’s wrist and took the shape of the bracelet.

The rest turned back into the axe, but it was smaller than before.

On top of that, the bracelet even changed color to the bluish-white of the originals. It’s really convenient and intriguing.

Basically, it turned into the bracelet, but now Iris was the owner.

"Well, do you think it’ll work? Or do we really have t-"

I was about to ask her if it worked, but suddenly I sensed danger.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum!

I felt my heart racing out of control.

A overwhelming sense of fear began to take hold of me.

I sensed something approaching, and I had to get out of here before it arrived.

I saw Iris in front of me, and she seemed to be feeling the same way.

Neither of us hesitated for a moment; we didn’t even communicate mentally.

I forced my body—paralyzed by fear—to move.

I pulled out a magic crystal and threw it on the ground.

A bright glow spread through that dark alley.

..

.

’Phew, what was that?’(Iris)

’I don’t know.’

I replied to Iris as she carried me like a sack of potatoes.

During the flash, we’d both escaped the scene and, as we’d originally planned, made our way out to blend into the crowd.

During our escape, I threw at least three crystals.

Even the people around us were affected by the last one I threw, but the important thing was that they didn’t see us rushing to blend in with the crowd.

The sensation had already faded at some point during our escape, and, honestly, I didn’t know what it was all about until the very end.

I acted on pure instinct; I threw the mana crystal on a hunch, and Iris grabbed me and got us out of there as fast as she could, without giving it much thought either.

Anyway, Iris set me down, and we looked back toward the alley we’d just come out of.

There was nothing and no one there. In fact, the only people at the entrance were the ones who’d been blinded—because I’d thrown another shard right after we left the alley.

Confusion and murmurs began to spread. People started to wonder what had actually happened.

Swoosh!

But at that moment, suddenly and to the amazement of everyone around, a group of winged men arrived.

These were obviously not ordinary citizens, as their flapping created a strong gust of wind.

Things calmed down abruptly. It seemed that the arrival of that group was all it took to quiet the crowd.

They were clad in armor goldens... which made me wonder if they were made of gold or some fantastical material.

Whatever it is, I want one of those. I feel like if I put it on, I could elevate my cosmos and draw strength from the constellations.

Putting my thoughts aside, the group—without stopping to check their surroundings after landing—entered the alley.

That’s when I remembered what the man had said: as soon as the Argos system detected someone without a bracelet, the guards would come.

These guys are great—unlike the rest, they really do look like angels; they give off a quiet sense of grandeur. In fact, they strike me as being very strong.

Even so, I don’t feel like they were the ones who made me run.

No, the sense of crisis I felt was more immediate and powerful, as if, a moment later, it would be absurdly dangerous and draw the attention of some very dangerous being.

’That was weird.’

’You’re telling me. Did it feel like I’d dodged a bullet by a few millimeters?’ (Iris)

’Hey, how can we compare that feeling if we’ve never dodged a bullet?’

’Yeah, right? How strange. Well, whatever. We have a problem with the device I just copied.’(Iris)

Hmm, it seemed we hadn’t succeeded yet, so Iris and I began to back through the crowd and move away from the spot.

..

.

"So you feel like it hasn’t been fully copied and you need to absorb more."

"Yeah, the artifact isn’t very powerful on its own, but it still didn’t work. Hmm, it’s a strange feeling. I don’t think it failed completely, but I think we need to do something else. Hmm, maybe consuming more similar artifacts will help?"(Iris)

"Again? How reliable is that feeling?"

’"Hmm, I’d say 50/50."(Iris)

"Hmm, just enough to give it another try. Phew, anyway, how much time has passed?"

"Let’s see, it took us less than five minutes to get here, fifteen minutes to explore until we noticed the problem, and then waiting, kidnapping, and interrogating took another ten minutes, plus a little more until we found this hideout."(Iris)

"You could’ve just said a little over thirty. Oh, wait—why did I ask? I’m timing it too. Well, whatever! Alright, let’s kidnap some more innocent civilians."

"Yeah!"(Iris)

I wasn’t going to give up on this so easily, so Iris and I looked for the perfect spot to kidnap unsuspecting citizens who blindly trusted the Argos system.

..

.

"Well, if it doesn’t work with four more, then we’ll have to give up and try the orthodox, legal method."

"Right. Let’s hope we get lucky this time. Everything’s ready for our escape, right?"(Iris)

"Yes."

This time I was ready. Not only would we escape on foot, but I already had the Traveler’s Clock in my hand and had set up a save point in another secluded alley.

In front of us lay four unconscious people.

It had taken us another ten minutes to kidnap them, subdue them, and then knock them out using ’gentle’ physical methods.

I don’t know if it was just luck or the norm since they’re the dominant race here, but they were all winged people.

But if they want to blame someone, they should blame themselves for not flying away and instead wandering into a secluded alley.

Although I also hope they’ll take it as a new life experience. I mean, it’s not every day you get knocked out by a stranger and taken to an even more remote place.

Anyway, I stood right next to Iris while she once again controlled the liquid-form axe to absorb the four bracelets.

As soon as she did, she’d activate the timer, and we’d get out of here.

The process repeated itself, but this time the metallic liquid flowed into all four bracelets at once and began to merge with them.

And after a moment, the instant I saw that the bracelets had been consumed...

I didn’t even wait for the liquid to return to Iris, since that sense of danger returned almost immediately.

It was faster than before.

And not only that, but I sensed a group of people rapidly approaching us. If I’m not mistaken, those were the guards I saw earlier. Their reaction time was no joke. It seems the first incident put them on high alert.

Even so, I was just a button press away from teleporting us, so I did.

..

.

"Ugh?! What the hell is that feeling?"(Iris)

"I wish I knew."

We appeared at the new location and left the Heart of the Berserker behind, but that didn’t matter because...

"Hmm, let’s see—I think it’s working now."

The next moment, Iris already had the great axe in her hand again.

That other secondary function—as well as being able to pinpoint their location regardless of distance—allowed us to summon them to us whenever we wanted.

I, too, could retrieve all my cards whenever I wanted.

Well, it was about time to see if we could finally make a copy of those strange bracelets and have some fun in this city.