﻿\setgamedatatitle("Minerva_06")

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A prison cell within the labyrinth.
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\text
Minerva, locked inside, made no attempt to escape―
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Instead, she spent her time exploring her own inner self.

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Right now, Minerva realized that most of the emotions
filling her were classified as 'anxiety' and 'fear.'

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Back when she was one with Structa, all things in the world
were understood through that wisdom, and there was no such
thing as 'fear.'
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With no concept of lifespan, there was neither past nor
future, and so 'anxiety' could not arise.
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When she 'incarnated,' she was given only the bare minimum
knowledge needed to function in this world, extracted from
Structa's shared memory.
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That was a far cry from the infinite wisdom of Structa
itself―one human's intelligence and brain capacity had their
limits, and it couldn't be helped.
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Not knowing is frightening. All she could perceive were the
few events within the range of her body's sensory organs.

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Even then, with limited knowledge, she couldn't always grasp
their true nature.
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―Looking back now, maybe the reason she fought so fiercely
and desperately with her sword was to forget that fear.

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There's also the matter of the future. This incarnated body
has a lifespan, and no matter what she does, it will weaken
and die after a certain period.
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If she suffers major damage or is left in a state where
maintenance is impossible, she could break down and stop
functioning even sooner.
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If that happens, her very consciousness would vanish at the
same time―it's only natural to feel 'anxiety' about that.

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\text("Minerva")
But. If that's the case, I have a question―
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\text
Minerva murmured to herself in the cell.
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\text("Minerva")
'Fear' and 'anxiety.' Both are primitive concepts... They
were included in the shared memory I brought with me.

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\text("Minerva")
And yet, until I 'incarnated' and gained a body, I could
never truly understand what they meant―

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It wasn't just those two emotions. Minerva recalled the time
she was dragged before Caym and violated.

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\text
From the start, his approach was never gentle. Precisely
because of that, Minerva learned the meaning of many
emotions.
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The first thing she felt was, of course, 'fear.'
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Being thrown into this unknown world brought a far more
intense 'fear' than anything she'd ever felt before.

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She didn't even know what he wanted from her―an
incomprehensible other was invading her body.

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'agony.'

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'Sadness' at having something precious stolen and trampled.
'Anger,' and 'humiliation.'

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Then slowly, 'pleasure' began to well up in her body. That
pleasure brought 'joy' to her heart.

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They say reproduction is an important act for living beings
with bodies to continue their finite lives.

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So, to encourage it, 'pleasure' is given as a reward―there
was at least that much written in the shared memory she
brought.
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But no matter how many times she read it, without a body of
flesh, she could never truly understand what it was like.

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In the first place, she probably never even thought such
information had any meaning, nor did she have any interest
in it.
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\text("Minerva")
――I always thought the Structors possessed all wisdom. That
by sharing and preserving all knowledge in this world, they
truly did.
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\text("Minerva")
Because of that, I took it for granted that justice was on
our side.
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\text
Minerva recalls the countless people and monsters she killed
with her own hands―their faces, their final words.

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Now, even their 'anger' is something she can vividly
understand.
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\text("Minerva")
If there is wisdom that can only be gained by having a body,
then who can guarantee that even Verlnya-sama isn't
mistaken――
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\text
Lost in thought, Minerva senses footsteps and the presence
of someone outside the cell.

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\text("Caym")
How are you feeling, Valkyrie? I came to check on you.

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\text("Minerva")
Caym. Have you come to rape me again?
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\text("Caym")
That wasn't my intention... but if you're begging for it, I
wouldn't mind obliging you.

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\text("Caym")
Hey, jailer. Open this cell.
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\text("Jail Guard")
H-huh?! But...
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The goblin war veteran acting as jailer looks confused.

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\text("Caym")
I'm giving you an order. Just open it.
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\text("Jail Guard")
W-well, it's just that Risbell-sama said... even if the
Demon Lord comes, don't open it...

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\text("Caym")
Tch...! That Risbell. Anyway, open it. I'm the king of the
Demon Lord's army, aren't I?

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\text("Jail Guard")
She must have expected you'd say that, so she took the cell
key to her own room...

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\text("Caym")
...Seriously! Fine then. Hey, jailer, at least go over there
for now.
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\text
Yes, sir, the jailer says, scurrying away. He's probably
heading straight to report to Risbell.

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\text
Minerva, who had been watching the exchange, lets out a soft
chuckle.
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\text("Minerva")
So things don't always go your way, even for the king of
Diabolica――
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\text("Caym")
...Hmph! Looks like you've learned sarcasm and backtalk.
Well then.
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Caym sits down in the chair the jailer had been using.
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\text("Caym")
Whatever. Actually, I wanted to have a little talk with you.

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\text("Minerva")
A talk... Yes, I was thinking the same.

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\text
Caym looks surprised. Up until now, Minerva hadn't answered
any of Risbell's interrogations.

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\text("Minerva")
Ask what you want to know. I don't have much knowledge with
me, but if I can answer, I will.

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\text("Caym")
O-oh... That's unexpected, honestly.
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\text("Minerva")
Is that so?
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\text("Caym")
Of course it is... Anyway, uh, first of all...

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Caym knows this is a golden opportunity. He can't let it
slip by.
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\text("Caym")
First off. Why have you all been doing what you do? Why have
you been acting like this until now?

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\text("Caym")
Why do you treat us as your enemies? As far as I know, we've
never harmed any of your so-called Structors.

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\text("Minerva")
That is―it's because we Structors seek order and stability
in this world.
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\text("Minerva")
The existence of Diabolica brings chaos to this world.
That's why we must eliminate them.
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\text
Minerva answers smoothly. From the way she responds, it's
clear these are dogmatic teachings drilled into her.

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\text("Caym")
I see. But you know, the incitement and agitation you all
have caused brings just as much destruction and chaos to the
world.
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\text("Caym")
...Am I wrong, Valkyrie?
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\text("Minerva")
..................
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\text
Minerva doesn't answer. ―She must have started to question
things herself, which is why she's talking to Caym now.

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\text("Caym")
One more question. Why do you all hate Diabolica so much?
Who decided they bring chaos in the first place?

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\text
She starts to answer―then Minerva looks surprised at
herself. She must have realized she doesn't have an answer.

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\text("Caym")
If there's no basis for it, then it's just a baseless rumor.
I can't accept being killed over something like that.

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\text("Minerva")
Th-that's―since the beginning of the Structors, Diabolica
have been seen as symbols of evil, enemies to be hated.

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\text("Caym")
But wait, aren't you all from a different world called Elkio
or something?

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\text("Caym")
Why would the name Diabolica suddenly come up in a place
like that? There's no connection at all.

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\text("Minerva")
That's true. I don't know. I don't understand anything...

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Minerva holds her head in her hands. Caym lets out a sigh.

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\text("Caym")
Well, let's leave it at that for today. Get some rest.

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\text("Minerva")
...Sorry.
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\text
Looking pitiful, Minerva stares intently at her own hands.


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\text("Caym")
What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?
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\text("Minerva")
No... or maybe I am...

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\text("Minerva")
Back when I was a pure Structor... we were one and all, all
and one, a perfect existence.

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\text("Minerva")
But now that I've incarnated like this, it's not the same. I
can't be certain of anything anymore...

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\text("Caym")
Well, don't worry about it too much. That's pretty much how
life is.
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\text("Minerva")
Huh...? Is that so?
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\text("Caym")
Yeah. Most of the time, you're just feeling your way
through. You worry, and your thoughts change all the time.
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\text("Caym")
But you don't have time to just sit around lost. Youth
doesn't last forever.
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\text("Minerva")
...That's ridiculous.
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\text("Caym")
That's what makes it fun. ...Looks like I'll have to teach
you more about how to live as a human.

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\text("Caym")
For now, why don't I call you to my bed and give you a
thorough lesson there?
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\text("Minerva")
Ugh... you filthy bastard!
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\text("Caym")
That's the spirit. ...I'll come check on you again later.

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\text
Caym laughed and walked away, leaving Minerva alone in the
cell―

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