The message came from her friend at the institute, Ai Katagiri, who was responsible for developing a series of secret technologies at Z3 Research Institute, specifically the insider technology of Kyoto Infinity, which were never made public; there were no channels for market distribution, and the progress of development was highly confidential.
Although they worked on cutting-edge technology and explored the limits of science, research was increasingly becoming a bottomless pit. Thus, funding for the Z3 Research Institute was the most prone to be cut. Key members of the tech team were constantly being reassigned, leaving the Witch Researchers to shoulder an exceptionally heavy burden of research tasks, and overwork had become the norm.
"Xiao Ai?" Miyazato Kazama replied to the message.
"Kazama!" Ai Katagiri sounded quite cheerful on the other end, "I heard you were transferred from the institute, where did you go?"
"A new company." Having met many newcomers at Nestor Corporation, Kazama finally heard a familiar voice again, which made her nostalgic.
"New environment, new look, congratulations." Ai Katagiri and Miyazato Kazama had a very close personal relationship; they received scientific training in the same batch, but in the end, they were assigned to different research institutes.
No matter what the future and prospects of Nestor Corporation were, for now, Kazama was quite satisfied.
"How about you?" Kazama showed concern for her friend’s progress, "What are you working on right now? The projects at Z3 are all top-notch, right?"
"Of course, the finest data equipment," Ai said, "I’m designing a brand-new architecture for a supercomputer, with data operating capabilities that lead the world, a type of supercomputer that can compete with Kyushu High Pavilion’s ’Universal Sky Dragon’ and Lighthouse Core’s ’Star Ring’!"
Xiao Ai was still as energetic as ever. Kazama couldn’t help but feel satisfied. Even though 8 years had passed, she vividly remembered the past. Although they were assigned to different institutes and their chance to meet was cut off, they often maintained contact through messages.
"The environment here is nice, and although my compensation hasn’t come through yet, it should be fine," Kazama said lightly, "I guess it will allow me to live decently here."
"That’s good..." Ai’s voice sounded weak.
"What’s wrong?" Kazama sensed something amiss.
"I... I don’t know," Ai murmured, "I feel very uncomfortable, a bit sick."
"Then go... go see a doctor," Kazama’s heart trembled.
"I had a severe fever yesterday and my left leg is in a lot of pain," Ai’s voice trembled, "It’s the same today... Ah... Kazama... the company hasn’t approved my sick leave yet, and I haven’t been diagnosed with anything. But I checked with the auto-doctor, there’s a tumor in my left knee..."
"You... you apply for emergency treatment... you..." Kazama clenched her jaw. She could hear a desperation in her friend’s voice that she could not suppress, and yet she was too far away to be of any help, "...you go see a doctor, go have surgery... your... your life..."
"I feel very uncomfortable. Today, when I left my workstation, my left leg felt as if it was broken. I took two boxes of painkillers. It’s a serious illness, and I don’t want to treat it. Isn’t this a good opportunity to leave reality behind?"
"Xiao Ai... please..."
"...I took a look at the hospital next to the institute. There are so many sick people in this world, and I’m going to become one of them. The company will sell my organs, isn’t that helping others?"
"Don’t talk nonsense... you..." Kazama felt a splitting headache.
"I’m trying to make a will," Ai said, "I want to give you all the money in my cash card before I die, just a little bit, over ten thousand. Can you buy some new clothes with it?"
"No... it’s not..." Kazama sobbed, "It’s not that difficult... it’s not that complicated... please... keep living, alright?"
"I used to think about it, but not anymore." Ai ended the communication.
The whole world seemed to split open before Kazama. The joy that came with the new work environment vanished in an instant, and she fell backward onto her bed. Her whole body shrank back weakly, her nose tingled, and tears emerged from her eyes. Too many things had slipped through her fingers—dignity, fate, and security. Everything she wanted to cling to was crumbling.
She knew that her current efforts had value, but it was both too late and not enough.
When would she be free from the guilt brought on by weakness and powerlessness?
What was desperate was that she didn’t need just a little power, but extremely strong power that could change the current situation.
Kazama weakly crawled to the head of the bed, wanting to turn off the light. She looked up and suddenly saw 102 appear in front of her, as though she had teleported in.
"102?" Kazama was perplexed, "You..."
"I am 101." 101 corrected Kazama’s misconception.
"Twins?" Kazama was surprised, "What is this..."
"I am here to take you to meet someone," 101 said, "She is the savior, protector, and goddess of all witches."
"What can she do? Play charlatan tricks?" Kazama’s tone was harsh.
As a Witch Researcher, she couldn’t tolerate too much hollow delusion. She wanted to see all falsehoods deconstructed by precise numbers and formulas, just as their lives were being spelled out by pain and hopelessness.
"You’ll know once you go." 101 placed a hand on Kazama’s shoulder and led her into the secret chamber.
In that instant, the scenery around Miyazato Kazama changed, and she found herself in a pitch-black environment where she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. She had seen too many similar methods used to instill fear with darkness; the Secret Ritual Group employed this approach to handle newcomers, forcing them to accept all concepts thrust upon them amidst panic and confusion, causing them to lose the ability to discern right from wrong.
Miyazato Kazama suddenly realized.
Given the current situation, Nestor Corporation was nothing more than a Secret Ritual Group dominated by witches under the guise of a company. No wonder everyone seemed to move in mysterious ways, as if harboring endless secrets. This much, Miyazato Kazama could see very clearly.
As a Witch Researcher, Miyazato Kazama had enough psychological preparation for all this, and she knew she wouldn’t be subdued by such methods, thus she appeared extraordinarily composed, even colder than before.
Before she had the chance to say anything, a hand reached towards her face, fingers wiping away the tears from Miyazato Kazama’s eyes.
Candles were lit by the 101, and under the glow, Miyazato Kazama saw a breathtakingly beautiful witch standing in front of her. The moment she saw her, Miyazato Kazama temporarily lost her ability to speak.
It wasn’t that the witch had an intimidating aura, nor was her appearance particularly horrifying; rather... she appeared more noble than any other witch Miyazato Kazama had ever seen, making her feel utterly shameful by comparison.
Miyazato Kazama felt that witches and beasts were similar, each with their own claws and courage, but both were caged by humans. She considered herself among the more active and impulsive of the beasts, often biting and scratching at the iron bars, forcefully expressing her own stance. But the witch before her had transcended the category of "beasts" and returned to the essence of a witch, displaying their most distinct characteristic: transcendence. Even the most rebellious beast could not compare to a truly noble witch.
"You... Your..." Miyazato Kazama struggled to speak.
"I am Farosa," the witch gently wiped the tears from Miyazato Kazama’s face, "Do you feel aggrieved? Why is that?"
"Because I... lack the power," Miyazato Kazama clenched her teeth, "I don’t have the power to do what I want to do."
"What is your magic power?" Farosa took the wine glass handed to her by the 101, cradling it in her hands, while observing Miyazato Kazama with a profound gaze, half scrutinizing, half curious.
"And you?" Miyazato Kazama took a deep breath, maintaining her composure, "I’d like to know yours first."
"Killing, and restoration," Farosa said softly, "I can end life, or reverse the cycle of rebirth, all in a single thought. I am the embodiment of disaster, the overturner of the world."
"You seem... different from the rest," Miyazato Kazama pursed her lips, Farosa’s impression was too deep, or rather, a certain degree of shock, from any perspective, Farosa surpassed her understanding.
"Because I have traversed the long passage of time in the mundane world," Farosa said, "History is but a noun to me; I am history itself, and moreover, the sum of the past, present, and future."
Miyazato Kazama released her magic power.
Her magic power was to summon spheres of light to some extent; two golden spheres drifted up behind her, looking like embryos in the womb that had not yet grown limbs and organs, with various primitive features, yet indistinguishable as to what they would become after taking shape.
"What is this?" Farosa observed.
"According to the report, it’s some sort of psychic entity that has yet to reveal its true identity," Miyazato Kazama explained, "But I feel... remarkably familiar with it, as if it’s a part of me... Unfortunately, my magic power is too weak to exhibit any distinct features."
"I can make them grow," Farosa said, "I can advance your magic power, allowing you to evolve from a fledgling witch to a Lower-rank Witch. At that moment, you might discover what lies behind these spheres of light."
"Power evolution?" Miyazato Kazama was stunned, "This is... in history, it’s only something... only a deity could do."
"I’ve already told you," 101 said with irritation, as if failing to understand Miyazato Kazama’s obtuseness, "She is the Witch Goddess."
"Then... what must I do to receive such a boon?" Miyazato Kazama asked.
"Say: ’I submit to Farosa, the Witch Goddess.’"
Miyazato Kazama took a deep breath, thought of Ai Katagiri, thought of her life, thought of the nights and days of pain and torment. Her desire for power surpassed everything before; she wanted to see the world crumble before her eyes, and all of it required magic power, the strength to become a truly formidable witch!
"Submit?" Miyazato Kazama knelt before Farosa, "Why speak of mere submission! Witch Goddess! I am willing to trade my soul to you!"
"Very well," Farosa placed her hand on Miyazato Kazama’s head.
A connection with the stars was established, Miyazato Kazama was ready to communicate with the Galaxy, missing only the opportunity for communication. Now, that channel was opened and strengthened, a surge of magic power emerged from Miyazato Kazama’s heart, flowing into her Magic Circuit.
The long-standing shackles were broken, Miyazato Kazama lifted her head, her body filled with a scale of magic power several times more potent than before. She couldn’t help but raise her hand, summoning those "spheres of light" again, their number increasing from two to three.
Three shimmering spheres, now transformed into three figures identical to Miyazato Kazama herself, stood by her side, with vacant gazes, Miyazato Kazama distinctly felt her will closely connected with these separated "selves," these three doppelgangers becoming subordinate branches of Miyazato Kazama’s will.
"Quite interesting," Farosa looked at everything unfolding before her, "It’s an entirely new type of magic power."
Miyazato Kazama closed her eyes, carefully assimilating her newly acquired abilities, her other doppelgangers doing the same. After a while, they opened their eyes in unison.
Without the need for anyone else, "they" were a team, with a harmony of minds.
"Beehive mentality." Miyazato Kazama suddenly understood her real power, trembling with excitement, "... My magic power is... ’Queen Bee’."