Chapter 108

〈I destroyed it immediately.〉

Fourteen years ago. Her father’s voice seeped through the door.

〈That’s not the problem right now! Benny already saw it. That! Why did you leave it out like that instead of keeping it locked in a proper safe?〉

Rene expressed his frustration.

〈……〉

〈Let me ask again. Was it really the blueprint for NOK One?〉

When there was no response, Rene asked again.

〈Yes.〉

〈……〉

〈It was something I meticulously calculated and recorded. I organized it so thoroughly that I could recall it even in my dreams.〉

〈……〉

It was a conversation they had outside after putting her to sleep. Because she had been lightly dozing, the voices sounded vivid.

She was terrified. She felt like the biggest criminal in the world, as though she had committed an unforgivable sin. Perhaps she really had made a grave mistake. But to be branded a traitor just for having seen it once seemed absurd.

〈Keep it a secret.〉

Rene spoke resolutely.

〈……〉

〈Director, and Tiago. Keep this a secret. Don’t tell anyone who doesn’t already know. Make sure those who do know stay silent. I’ll also ask Benny to be cautious.〉

That memory was as clear as if it had happened yesterday. She even remembered the damp bed sheets she buried her face into that day, and the exact spot where her tears had stained the pillow.

“Shh, Benny.”

Costance’s voice called to her. Before she realized it, she was trembling in his arms.

“……Alres, Dr. Rydier.”

With a shaky voice, she called out to the researchers who had been there fourteen years ago. She could feel the gazes of Alres and the doctor behind her.

“Was what I saw that day really NOK One?”

She had never doubted it. Even if she had, there was no one to ask, so she had kept it locked inside her heart.

“……”

Even the radio fell silent for a moment. Alres and Dr. Rydier seemed to be carefully choosing their words, as they didn’t answer immediately.

“Benny. As I said earlier, neither the doctor nor I can be sure. It’s just… I don’t know either.”

Alres answered in a voice still tinged with shock.

“After you witnessed it that day, the Director destroyed the blueprint immediately. And we never asked you anything.”

Alres spoke plainly, stating only the facts. Only the dead knew the truth.

The announcer explained that abnormalities had emerged in NOK atomic fission. The NOK atoms could no longer generate the massive energy they once did.

Because of this, NOK, which the government had used to create devastating military weapons, had suddenly become a useless atom.

Even Rando, which had already developed some level of destructive weaponry using NOK, was no exception.

〈I just wanted you to be happy.〉

The destructive weapons were gone.

How was she supposed to process this situation?

She felt confused. Like a fool.

She recalled the words her father had spoken. The more she tried to grasp their meaning, the less she understood him.

Lowering her head, she looked at Costance’s large hand, which had been holding hers the entire time.

“……Costance.”

“Benny.”

That dependable hand alone brought her an indescribable sense of comfort.

Even though the efforts she had protected for fourteen years had turned out to be futile, and despite the chaos of the situation, she hadn’t fallen apart because of that hand.

“……”

Nathan looked out the window.

As they followed the massive cape, the surface of a small submarine emerged above the water. Costance, who had been gently wiping the tears from her cheeks, raised his head.

“How did you manage to bring that submarine here?”

Nathan shrugged.

“We didn’t bring it here. The Papal States don’t have submarines or submersibles to begin with. That was purchased from a university for marine exploration. It was old, so we got it at a low price.”

“No escort ships?”

“The goal is to escape unnoticed. Having an escort ship would increase the likelihood of detection. Toramde wouldn’t immediately suspect that the Papal States would bring a submersible without escort ships.”

Costance frowned.

“And if we get caught?”

“We all get captured.”

***

The submarine surfaced as soon as they got out of the car. The priests gave a brief rundown of the warnings and guided them inside. Since it was designed for exploration, the interior space was limited. The priest mentioned that it could accommodate up to ten people.

But there were already nine of them. Considering the three priests who had brought the submersible, the number far exceeded ten.

“If the situation becomes dangerous, abandon the vehicle and protect yourselves.”

Nathan’s voice came from behind. Watching the priests move to the driver’s seat without getting out of the car, she realized they were aware of the lack of space.

“Those two priests will drive the car as a decoy.”

Noticing her gaze, Costance explained the situation.

It was a literal life-or-death decoy mission.

“Benny. Go inside slowly.”

She was the first to board the submersible.

“……Ah.”

The interior was filled with unfamiliar machinery. Pipes and wires were tangled along the walls, and lights flickered above them. In front of her, the deep color of the sea was visible, but with the lights off, it felt as though they had descended into the deep ocean.

The submersible was cramped, with no proper seating.

Once Costance, Julia, and the others entered, the space became packed. It was uncertain whether Nathan could even fit inside.

“We’ve exceeded the maximum weight capacity.”

Sure enough, the priest in the pilot seat expressed concern after seeing the overloaded weight on the gauges.

“What? That’s impossible. We checked at the start.”

The priest in the co-pilot seat also checked the instruments.

“Benny, please wait a moment.”

Hearing this, Costance asked for her understanding and moved toward the co-pilot seat.

“I have some knowledge of submersibles. What’s the maximum capacity for this one?”

“It was built for research purposes. The recommended capacity is six people, but I’ve heard it can hold up to ten.”

“Have you replaced the engine?”

“Yes, we removed the original diesel engine and installed another one.”

“The engine’s weight must have increased.”

Although the submersible could still operate, the risk was high.

“Then I’ll get out.”

She was startled by the words she heard from behind.

“I’ll ride in the car outside and act as a decoy.”

The voice belonged to Julia.

“W-What are you saying…?”

Alres asked, his face pale.

“My father is still in Toramde’s capital.”

She spoke.

“Sorry for not mentioning it earlier. Actually… my father was captured as a spy.”

Julia cautiously revealed.

“The last news I heard about my father was that he was coordinating with an international lawyer.”

Julia Perredit.

She recalled that Julia’s father had been a long-time spy for Rando and had been taken by the agency.

“B-But you can meet your father after we reach the Papal States, can’t you?”

Alres’s expression wavered.

“My father’s trial is soon. No verdict has been reached yet. If he’s sentenced to death… I don’t want to die, but I also don’t want to lose my father.”

“……”

“If I ride in that car, it’ll make the decoy more effective. Honestly, I was planning to part ways with you all once we escaped from this damned agency.”

Julia spoke with a determined tone.

“That’s not acceptable.”

Nathan, who appeared at the submersible’s entrance, answered. With his characteristic emotionless expression, he stared down at Julia.

“You know where and how we’re escaping.”

Nathan didn’t trust Julia. His tone implied concern about what would happen if the car was captured by the agency, causing her eyes to waver uneasily.

“And the agency has no reason to spare you.”

Nathan finally boarded the submersible.

“B-But my father…! And the submersible can’t handle the weight.”

“That’s only an issue when diving deep. We’ll only navigate at a depth that can accommodate this many people.”

The submersible’s hatch closed.

Before Julia could say more, the engine started.

“I can’t abandon my father.”

“For now, you must come with us.”

“……What about my father?”

“Julia. Now that you’ve joined us, you’ll have to accept the risks. You’re aware of how dire our situation is, aren’t you?”

“……”

She began to cry. The sight of the strong-willed Julia breaking down was unfamiliar.

She was caught up in this mess because of her.

“Julia.”

She was the first to speak, but Alres acted faster.

He wiped Julia’s tears and comforted her. Overwhelmed by his gentle touch, Julia cried harder, eventually burying her face in his chest.

The hum of the submersible mixed with Julia’s sobs. The deep, resonant vibrations felt as vast and profound as the sea.