Chapter 113
Chapter 113 – Raine’s Lab
The lab was twenty stories high . The building was built that way by referring to the remnants of buildings seen in an abandoned city in the middle of Gallia .
Even from a distance, the building remnant easily had a hundred or more floors . When compared to that, despite our best efforts to reproduce it, we’re still inferior .
The guards greeted and allowed us to pass .
The interior of the lab used different lighting than the ones used outside . Raine once told me, that there was something called a ‘power plant’ in the military district, and the district drew the electricity to power the lightings from there .
Roxy who was on my side, said this while pointing at the lighting on the ceiling .
[I believe it can light up due to a special material called filament . Somehow, the material will light up if electricity run through it . Pity that such technology was currently only available in the military district . People’s quality of life will definitely improved if it spread to the whole kingdom . ]
[That’s right . Such is Gallia’s technology and science, almost like magic in itself . Raine also said the same thing . If this kind of technology spreads, perhaps it’s possible to create a world where its people no longer have to rely on natural skill . ]
[Isn’t that wonderful!? I hope that such a world can be realized soon . ]
Roxy got excited from imagining that . So I decided to tell her about the project that I’d been working on alongside Aaron and Eris .
I actually wanted to show off and surprise her when it’s already done, but even if I told her in advance, it’ll still be amazing to look at the real thing .
[Actually, in Barbatos territory――we are planning to apply the technology we have here in the military district . ]
[Eeh, is it true!?]
She nearly jumped in surprise . That’s par for the course .
So far, the research in the military district had been shrouded in secrecy . Regular civilians were not allowed to know about it .
But after Eris returned to the capital, that situation changed .
[Eris wanted to make a model city that utilized this technology, and she chose Hauzen . We’re currently building a power plant there . ]
[Really, you should’ve told me sooner!]
[Sorry, sorry . At some point, I thought about showing Roxy around the city once it’s been completed . ]
[It’s like Fai said just now . It’ll be the first step toward a city that doesn’t rely on skills . By all means, please invite me when that time comes!]
We walked along the white passage, then entered some sort of vehicle called elevator that could automatically brought us up or down the building .
Raine’s lab is in the topmost floor . When Roxy pushed a button, the elevator door automatically closed and moved up .
[It feels strange no matter how many times I’ve used this . This feeling of moving while standing still . ]
[I’ve not gotten used to it as well . But it makes it easier to move from floor to floor . ]
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[Indeed . It’s convenient . ]
We talked about Hauzen until the elevator suddenly stopped . We’re on the twentieth floor already according to the display panel .
Well, here was Raine’s lab…when we’re about to exit the elevator, a scarlet haired girl appeared before us .
As soon as the girl saw me and Roxy, she rushed towards us . And immediately, she jumped at Roxy .
With a loud noise, she crashed into the elevator wall face first .
[It hu～rts! Roxy-sama, why did you avoid me!? Fate-san too . ]
[Ermm… . because you are scary?]
[How cruel! Accept me as always, please accept me, I’ll even give you a good morning kiss!]
The crimson faced Roxy immediately denied it .
[No! Miria, don’t speak a lie!]
Miria looked alternately between me and Roxy .
[Somehow… . . I feel something weird . Roxy-sama denies it while Fate-san is around . The way the two of you talk is also felt different . When Roxy-sama sounded like Fate-san, and Fate-san sounded like Roxy-sama . Eh, is my head going bonkers?]
[Oh, so it’s something usual? How strange…]
[What does this mean!? Fate-san… . no, Roxy-sama? I knew something was wrong!]
Miria became even more confused . I could almost imagine steam coming out of her head .
Since I couldn’t help it, after both of us got of the elevator, I gave a short explanation about the body switching . I’m kinda got used to it after the third times or so .
Miria was still slightly confused, but was quite convinced otherwise . She’s a girl with high adaptability after all .
[I see… . . So that’s the case . Roxy-sama is in Fate-san’s body, while Fate-san is in Roxy-sama’s body… . . how enviable! I also want to switch bodies with Roxy-sama . The possibility would be endless! Guhehehehe… . . ]
Don’t say such a ridiculous thing in front of the person involved…… look, Roxy’s standing there with a pale face and teary eyes .
[Thank goodness I switched body with Fate . I have no idea what would happen with my body if I switched with Miria…]
She put her hand to her chest to calm herself . While I tapped her shoulder gently to sympathize .
Today, Miria apparently had waited in ambush here for Roxy . To be exact, she’d been laying in wait here for about two hours . Makes me wonder just how big her obsession to Roxy is . On the other hand, the research staffs must be troubled by her antics .
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[This girl went rampant as usual]
[Kuu～, don’t say such a thing while you are in Roxy-sama’s body . If it’s Roxy-sama, she would’ve felt happy because I’d been loyally waiting for her here!]
[That’s not what I’ll do!]
As always, it’s always noisy when all three of us are together, but I felt like the noise had been getting worse ever since Roxy and I switched body .
[What should I do!?]
[What is it, what is it? What’s the matter?]
[It’s because like this… . . I couldn’t hug Roxy-sama! Because it’s actually Fate-san inside Roxy-sama body . And meanwhile Roxy-sama has Fate-san’s appearance… . what should I do now!?]
[Just cut it out!]
[I won’t!]
Miria fell apart, tearing up so hard I thought she’d cry tears of blood eventually . All the while slamming her fist on the floor
A staff member passed by with suspicion on his face . If this goes on further, we might end up unable to enter the facility anymore .
I’ll just take the hit this once . Although I don’t feel really good about it, I need to fix her mood . Trying to emulate Roxy’s goddess-like smile as best as I can, I spoke .
[Now, now, Miria . If you keep sitting there, you’ll only get in other people’s way . ]
[Roxy-sama!]
It seemed that my acting was quite spot on, as Miria excitedly jumped up back to her feet .
But that’s the full extend of it, nothing more .
[Kuu～, to think I’ll fall for it . It’s still Fate-san who’re speaking!]
[What are you talking about? I am Roxy . Now, come to me . Let me hug you!]
[Fuaaaaa… . . ]
Seeing me waiting with both arms raised, Miria was attracted to approach .
[Even if I know the truth, even if I know……my body…]
[Fufufufu! Miria, come quickly . ]
[Ye~~~s!]
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When Miria was about to jump into my hug, Roxy, still in my appearance cut in to block her .
She narrowed her eyes, seemingly angry .
[What in the world are you two doing! We are in emergency here!]
[ [ Yes, pardon me ] ]
I guessed I’ve gone a bit too far . Because Miria used to treat me with scorn, it’s like a breath of fresh air seeing her acting positively towards me like that .
Finally sober, Miria spoke to Roxy .
[I’m used to being hugged by Roxy-sama to help cheer myself up . Now what should I do?]
[Even if you say so… . with the current condition . . ]
[Uuuu… . . It’s Roxy-sama inside, Roxy-sama inside]
Saying that repeatedly, Miria drowned herself in Roxy’s hug . I don’t really approve that… . so I received a slight damage while watching the scene unfolded .
[It felt uncomfortable because it’s Fate-san’s body, but I recovered since what’s inside is Roxy-sama . Let’s do our best today! Onward, to Raine’s lab!]
That was a bit messy . As a man, it’s only natural for me to have a tougher body . Especially so with the muscle training Aaron imposed on me .
Well, at least she regained her mood . With Miria on the lead, we walked towards Raine’s lab .
After getting off the elevator, her working station is on the left side at the end of the pathway .
I’d been getting in and out of this place quite often recently, to the point I’ve almost consider this place my own room . Raine wasn’t that friendly of a girl, so she usually busied with her own research despite the fact that I was still in the room . Even today, she’s working on her research silently without paying attention to whether she already had her breakfast or not .
That’s why I always brought a snack with me . Since once she saw me carrying food, she’d jump at it right away like a hungry rabbit . In any case, her father Mugan told me to make sure that she eats meals whenever I had some free time .
At first, I didn’t know why Mugan asked me to do so, which left me wondering just how bad his daughter’s eating habit were . But after witnessing it with my own eyes, I finally understood the reasoning behind it .
As we stood in front of the lab, an automatic door opened for us . Once we entered, we were greeted by a pile of trash .
Yes, Raine was that kind of unorganized girl . Very different to Roxy’s organized and neat room .
[The room is dirty as per usual, eh?]
[Eee, I’ve cleaned it up a little yesterday… . and it’s already dirty again… . ]
[Where did my and Roxy-sama’s hard work go…]
Her eyes were fixed on the research equipment, sometimes looked away to see the panel . It appeared that she pulled an all-nighter again, judging from the bags on her eyelids .
She noticed our arrival, and greeted with her sleepy face .
[Hi, I thought that you’d come . Morning!]
[Good morning!]
[Good morning]
[It’s not the time to greet each other relaxedly! We need to explain the situation fast . Let me be the one talking to Raine!]
The supercharged Miria motivatedly told Raine what had happened to the two of us .
[Ah, it’s fine . I know the cause already . ]
[Ehh!?]
That reply came out of nowhere, rendering me loss for words . Raine came up to me and Roxy, with Miria still standing on Roxy’s side .
And then, she stared at us with her eyes that were slightly hidden by her hair .
[As I thought, you two really switched bodies . How does it feel? Was there something wrong?]
She waved at us, then returned to her working desk, beginning to type something .
[I see now . ]
[What do you mean?]
[Well, you simply switched body, but the effect hasn’t fully influenced the two of you yet . Ah, that package, is it for me?]
Raine fished out the sandwich and promptly ate it . It’s almost like I’m feeding some sort of a pet .
No no, this isn’t the time and place to think about something like that .
She said it just now . The full effect hadn’t influenced us yet .
After finished eating, Raine resumed talking
[If you two stay in this state for too long… . . it may proven to be dangerous, since the body and soul doesn’t match . Worst case scenario, you might end up dead . ]
[ [ EEEEEEEEeeee ] ]
It’s actually life threatening . The body switching is already harsh as it is… . but turns out it didn’t end there .
I turned to Roxy, wondering to myself on what should we do . Seeing us like that, Raine let out a laugh .
[That’s why, I’ve been ditching sleep to think up a solution . I’ll tell you the result right away, so have a seat around here first . ]
We scrubbed away the trash to make some room for us to sit .