Covenant of Error
Chapter 37 – Reaction Threshold
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The testing area fell silent after that entity left.
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No more major fluctuations.
No more conflict.
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But—
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The air… felt heavier than before.
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Lira kept staring at the spot where the creature had vanished.
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"…It didn't attack."
"…It didn't do anything."
Her voice lowered:
"…Just like you."
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Rei didn't respond.
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He remained standing there.
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His gaze fixed on the empty point.
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Elias observed him.
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"…You're processing data."
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Rei gave a slight nod.
"…Confirmed."
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"…Conclusion?"
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A pause.
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Longer than usual.
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"…Incomplete."
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"What's incomplete?"
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Rei looked down at his hand.
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"…The reaction."
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The space around him fluctuated slightly.
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Not unstable.
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But—
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no longer completely neutral.
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Elias noticed immediately.
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"…You've changed."
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Rei didn't deny it.
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"…There is deviation."
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Far away—
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The tall, slender man continued observing through the crystal.
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"It's begun…"
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Someone beside him asked:
"Isn't that just a minor fluctuation?"
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He shook his head.
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"No."
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"That's emotional latency."
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"He didn't react immediately."
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"But he… is no longer completely empty."
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Back at the testing area—
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Elias stepped closer to Rei.
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"…Do you understand what just happened?"
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Rei replied:
"…Confirmed."
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"Explain."
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"…A similar entity was eliminated."
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"…And?"
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Rei paused.
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This time—
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He didn't answer immediately.
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"…Not optimal."
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Lira frowned:
"'Not optimal' again?"
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Rei looked at her.
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"…If that existence had continued—"
"…data could have been collected."
"…analysis could have been performed."
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"…But it was erased."
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"…Wasteful."
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Silence.
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Lira exhaled sharply:
"…Is that really how you see everything?"
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Rei didn't respond.
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But—
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Inside his mind—
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Something else appeared.
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Not logic.
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Not analysis.
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Just—
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a sense of incompleteness.
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Vague.
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Not strong enough.
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But present.
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> "Inefficiency" ≠ the whole conclusion
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Rei frowned slightly.
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"…Error margin."
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Elias immediately took notice.
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"…What did you just say?"
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Rei answered:
"…The conclusion contains an error margin."
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"Due to what?"
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Silence.
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"…Undetermined."
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Far away—
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The tall, slender man smiled.
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"That's right…"
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"It's finally appeared."
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"The thing he cannot fully analyze."
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He turned to the others:
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"Prepare the next phase."
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"We will no longer destroy things similar to him."
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"We will…"
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"create something he must choose."
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In the testing area—
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A light breeze passed through.
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Rei stood still.
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But this time—
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Not completely motionless.
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A very slight fluctuation—
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emerged from within.
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Not caused by the environment.
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But—
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by himself.
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Elias spoke softly:
"…You're beginning to react."
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Rei looked at him.
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"…Unstable."
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"…But present."
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Lira stepped closer.
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"…If you continue like this…"
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"…you won't remain 'undefined' anymore."
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Rei didn't respond.
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He looked ahead.
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At the place where the creature once stood.
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There was nothing left.
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But—
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This time—
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He remembered that location.
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Not for strategy.
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But—
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because he did not want to lose similar data again.
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A very small reason.
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But—
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It was the first time—
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Rei had a form of "intent" not directly tied to survival.
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End of Chapter.
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Hidden Status Panel:
> Rei (零)
Status: Internal deviation emerging
Reaction: Emotional latency (incomplete)
Note:
"The subject is beginning to develop unpredictable elements in the decision-making process."
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Arc 3 continues.
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No longer external pressure.
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Rei is beginning to change from within.