Chapter 41 - Sometimes a miracle can change the world

Rewinding a little, just before Adam and Augustus finished their battle with the last two golden guardians, the rest of the group's fight against the Lord of Envy had come to an end—though not without a steep price. Drake was in critical condition, and Thaddeus had suffered a fatal wound while protecting Sebastian in a moment of impulse, one he couldn’t even understand himself.

Beside the body of young Volta stood both Sebastian and Li, the latter watching the situation in utter shock. Just moments ago, Li had been consumed by anxiety, as his entire plan relied on Thaddeus surviving this ordeal. However, that thought quickly fled his mind upon noticing how bizarre the scene had become. From the wound in the boy’s chest—caused by the scythe’s blade—a black liquid with a sharp, pungent odor was oozing out… That wasn’t blood, it was oil.

As the old man cautiously moved Thaddeus' stained shirt aside, a look of horror spread across his face. Beneath the wound, instead of flesh and bone, he saw a strange mechanism embedded in the boy's chest. It was barely functioning, leaking the same black liquid, and appeared to be on the verge of breaking down completely.

“The fuck is this? … Are you some kind of robot?!”

Li stared in disbelief, unable to fully process what he was seeing, but before he could continue, Sebastian interrupted him. His gaze was fixed on the intricate mechanism inside Thaddeus’ chest, eyes wide with a strange intensity, as if somehow, he could make sense of the bizarre machinery.

"No… This is a device that's replacing his heart."

The old man's passive skill, [Foreign Machinery Understanding Lv1], had activated as soon as he closely observed the mechanical components, giving him a surprisingly detailed understanding of how they functioned. It appeared to be a sort of artificial heart, pumping blood through a special valve—something so delicate and advanced that it would be impossible to recreate in the real world. Sebastian gave a brief summary of what he was understanding as he examined the boy more closely, who, by the way, had managed to recover enough to finally speak, though his voice was weak and labored.

“N-no, th-there's n-nothing you c-can d-do... The c-components f-for my m-metal heart a-are i-impossible t-to f-find”

Thaddeus stammered, his voice trembling as rivers of tears began to flow from his eyes, and soon after, he started sobbing with a tone of bitterness and helplessness.

"M-my life, m-my d-desire to he-help the w-world... all lost. W-why did I d-do it? I d-don't want t-to d-die, I w-want to s-see my f-father a-again. There w-was still s-so m-much left t-to do... F-forgive m-me for w-wasting the s-second c-chance at l-life you g-gave me."

Hearing that was truly horrific, as the regret and despair in the boy's cries were palpable, making it difficult for even Li to watch. However, Sebastian didn’t give up; he took out the tool bag he had brought from the laboratory and desperately began trying to repair the mechanical heart, guided by his years of experience in watchmaking and the information flowing in his mind thanks to his skill and title.

While he worked, Kazue had approached the others to ask for help with the unconscious and seriously burned Drake, but nothing they had would truly help him at that moment. All they could do was have both the girl and Nikolai carefully move his body closer to the others. They then attempted to pour water on him and gently clean the burned areas, knowing that it wouldn't actually help, but they had to try something, at the very least.

Meanwhile, Sebastian had not stopped working quickly yet delicately on the device, which he had miraculously begun to repair since the cut Thaddeus had suffered was completely clean. However, as he progressed, he realized that saving Thaddeus was entirely impossible, as the mechanical heart operated on oil as fuel, a liquid already lost in an unrecoverable amount. He might be able to reassemble it, but that would be of no use if there was no way to make it function again.

Finally, after a few seconds, Sebastian ceased his task and set down his tools while observing his hands stained with blood and oil, knowing he would be unable to help the boy who had sacrificed his life to save him. Even though he still believed it was all a dream, it was too cruel to endure, and tears began to stream down his face, tracing the wrinkles on his face.

"I'm sorry, forgive me... I can't help you, I'm trying, I really am trying..."

Sebastian sobbed, frustrated with himself like never before in all his years of life; however, the response he received from Thaddeus was a smile, a genuine smile that concealed the pain he should have been feeling at that moment.

“D-don’t worry... E-ven with e-everything, I’m g-glad you’re o-okay... I n-never got the chance to t-tell you, but you remind m-me a l-lot of how my f-father used to be b-before my m-mother passed a-away. P-perhaps that’s why my m-mind instinctively tried to p-protect you...”

That broke Sebastian, and he began to cry bitterly. Even Li chose to look away and get up from the spot.

"C-can I a-ask you f-for o-one favor, if it's n-not too m-much trouble? ... C-could you t-take m-my hand and l-let me i-imagine that y-you are m-my father? I w-won't b-be able to s-say goodbye."

Thaddeus finished by saying, doing his utmost to lift his right arm slightly. The elderly man beside him responded, holding it firmly as the boy closed his eyes and began to apologize with the last of his breath, repeating his regret for wasting the second life his father had given him. Sebastian didn't know what to do and simply clasped his hands together to pray for a miracle. But what answered his prayers were not divine words, but a whisper that only he could hear. When he looked up, he saw it was Falk, the little aviatrix, perched right above his hands.

They looked at each other, but no real conversation took place between them. They simply locked eyes, and that was it—or at least that's how it appeared to everyone else. However, in the depths of Sebastian's mind, something was indeed happening. To his surprise, Falk’s voice echoed inside his head, soft and high-pitched, like that of a small child.

"You can help him. You can still save his life. We can still save him."

Whispered Falk's voice, filled with a calm but urgent hope.

“But—But How?”

“Use me, use my life, give it to him, I will be more than happy to be part of Brother Thaddy.”

Sebastian couldn't understand what was happening; he had no idea how his mechanical bird could be speaking to him. Falk seemed to notice his confusion, tilting his head slightly—something that the old man could have sworn resembled a smile, though it was impossible for the fixed face of the small automaton.

"I'm not an automaton. I'm a child, or at least I think I was... I have vague memories of my life.”

At that moment, a flood of images surged through Sebastian’s mind, coming from the few memories Falk had shared with him. They enveloped his surroundings, giving him the sensation of actually being there. He saw fragmented scenes of a child, whose face remained unseen, playing on the outskirts of a coastal village. Then, a large group of mysterious figures in black robes arrived, capturing him along with all the civilians they could find.

The scene shifted dramatically to a dark, grim laboratory littered with human remains. The child’s body was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a small flame floating inside a strange compartment. This container was being transported toward the head of none other than the mechanical serpent they had encountered upon their arrival in that world.

“But what I do remember is that, when I opened my eyes again, I saw you, smiling at me and giving me a name. Little by little, I regained consciousness and appreciated how much you cared for me, how you accompanied me and played with me. The same with Brother Thaddy, always curious and friendly with me, saying how much he liked me... I wish I could have known more of your other friends."

The entire explanation was too overwhelming for Sebastian. Though it essentially confirmed the long-suspected mystery of the mechanical sea monsters—often mentioned throughout their journey—being powered not by mechanical principles, but by using the souls of living beings, the old man couldn't piece it all together, not in his current state of mind.

"But, how could I...?"

It was at that moment that Falk's body began to change. The mechanism on his back opened up, and the bird's core was revealed before Sebastian's eyes. No longer was it a gear-shaped, strangely colored piece—it had now become a small, gently flickering blue flame, very similar to the ones possessed by the golden guardians.

“Use me, please, before it’s too late.”

The childlike voice spoke again, this time with a slightly more urgent tone, aware that every second they wasted there was irreplaceable in saving Thaddeus' life. Before Sebastian could respond, the small soul floated gently toward him, resting on his palms.

The old man couldn't hold back his tears with everything that was happening—facing one tragedy after another and now forced to make a decision. Although they hadn’t spent much time together, Falk had been a small ray of joy for him, especially since he reminded Sebastian of the original Falk, his old pet who had accompanied him during the happiest years of his life with his wife and son. However, there was also Thaddeus, with whom he had formed a small bond ever since they met at the Armada headquarters and whose interactions and natural curiosity reminded him greatly of a very dear person.

Even so, he didn't think much about it. He knew what he had to do and simply brought the small blue flame closer to himself, whispering through his tears.

“Thank you.”

Not wasting another minute, Sebastian carefully carried the bluish flame toward the open wound in the young Volta's chest. By that time, Thaddeus was incredibly pale, and his mechanical heart was barely functioning, even after having been patched. At first, nothing happened. Falk's soul settled into the compartment that had once been filled with oil and remained silent for a few moments. Had it failed? Was it too late? The elderly clockmaker didn’t know what to think. However, a moment later, the internal mechanism of the device gradually began to increase its operation, while the little flame slowly grew dimmer and dimmer.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"It was for such a short time, but I had so much fun. Thank you so much!... I was truly happy by your side!"

The childlike voice of the Aviatrix spoke one last time as its soul dissipated completely, vanishing into nothingness.

Immediately after that, a system window appeared before Sebastian's eyes, surprising him that something like this would happen to him, especially.

⌠Notice: User Sebastian Rüegg is trying to emulate [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv5] of user Alaric Faulkner.⌡ ⌠Warning: User Sebastian Rüegg potential and knowledge of [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv5] is too low to emulate it correctly.⌡ ⌠…⌡ ⌠User Alaric Faulkner is no longer detected in the realms; the impact of [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv5] on the current scenario is lowering.⌡ ⌠Warning: User Sebastian Rüegg potential and knowledge of [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv3 (Debuffed)] is too low to emulate it correctly.⌡ ⌠…⌡ ⌠A scenario character tied to original user Alaric Faulkner is acknowledging user Sebastian Rüegg as the new possessor; the impact of [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv3 (Debuffed)] on the current scenario is lowering.⌡ ⌠…⌡ ⌠Notice: User Sebastian Rüegg has successfully emulated [Personal Skill: Soul Infusion Lv1 (Copy)] of user Alaric Faulkner.⌡ ⌠Congratulations!⌡ ⌠You are the 14th user in the realm to have successfully emulated another user’s “Personal Skill”, something that shouldn’t be possible, there will be a special reward at the end of the scenario!⌡

It was too much information, and Sebastian didn't understand half of what he was reading. Personal Skill? Impact on the scenario? Another user called Alaric Faulkner? Nothing made sense to him; the only thing he thought about and was interested in was whether what he had done had been effective and if Falk's sacrifice had not been in vain.

The response came quickly. As soon as the windows dissipated, a new flame formed inside the energy compartment of the mechanical heart, brighter and more powerful than the one representing the soul of the little aviatrix.

“*Gasp*”

Thaddeus's eyes flew open as if he had awakened from a nightmare, and he let out a massive gasp, struggling to breathe. The surprise of everyone present was so great that they all, including Augustus and Sebastian, who had just arrived, crowded around him. The boy then felt the sting of pain from the cut in his chest and began to grit his teeth and twist his body, though he was still in shock at being alive.

In response to Thaddeus's persistent doubts, the old man beside him explained everything that had happened—how Falk had "spoken" to him and how they had managed to restart his mechanical heart as a result. Even Li found it hard to believe what he was hearing, despite having witnessed the final part firsthand. The undeniable proof lay in the brilliant blue flame now burning perpetually in the boy's chest.

"I understand..."

Thaddeus finally said, giving up on trying to bandage his wound and finishing off the second roll of burnt bandages. He noticed that the cut had somehow healed, though it left the faint blue glow of the flame partially exposed. If he understood correctly, he now had to accept that this flame was his own soul, which explained why the Lord of Envy was so susceptible to attacks in that area. However, instead of feeling upset or saddened, the first thing he did was kneel and bow deeply toward Sebastian, lowering his forehead to the ground.

"I will be eternally grateful to you and to the noble Falk, who gave his life for mine. I know it won’t repay the debt, but I am willing to give you anything you ask for when we return, and even then, my debt will never truly be paid."

Sebastian was taken aback, unable to understand why they were speaking to him with such reverence. It brought up some unpleasant memories, so he quickly assured them it wasn't necessary. He explained that both he and the little aviatrix had acted out of a genuine desire to help, not because they expected anything in return. Li, however, looked pleased, smiling with satisfaction as he patted Sebastian on the shoulder, praising him for a job well done. He knew this was the perfect opportunity to strengthen the team in ways they hadn’t anticipated.

"I’m afraid I can’t leave this debt unpaid, you gave me back my life, and it’s the second time someone has done the impossible to save me from death. The first was my father... and the second was you. From now on, if you’ll allow me, I’ll consider you part of my family. No matter what happens, I will always be there to help and protect you."

Thaddeus insisted, but before Sebastian could say anything more, another system window appeared before him.

⌠Notice: Scenario key character ‘Thaddeus Volta’ has accepted an eternal debt to you; from now on, you will have an unwavering ally in him. Please cherish him and make the most of this opportunity!⌡ ⌠Scenario key character ‘Thaddeus Volta’ will provide unconditional assistance to the user Sebastian Rüegg whenever requested.⌡

Seeing that the system in his head was taking things for granted, Sebastian ceased his attempts to dissuade the young scientist and simply accepted with a smile. However, that pleasant moment didn’t last long, as it was interrupted by Admiral Augustus, who appeared to have already bandaged his arms but wore an extremely worried expression.

"We need to act quickly! The boy will go into shock as soon as he regains consciousness. He could die at any moment due to his burns!"

Everyone got up and went to see him, an act that many observed with horror. The truth was that no one had enough medical knowledge to know if there was anything they could do. However, after quickly considering a few options, Thaddeus spoke up above the murmurs.

"You’re right, Admiral Redmon. He won’t survive if we take any longer, and he’s the hero who killed the powerful guardian threatening us all. We can't let him lose his life like this. Please, I ask you to take him to the exit and transport him immediately to my zeppelin, there is a specialized medical team there. The escorts should already be waiting at the entrance; they’ll assist you if the Admiral asks for my name. In the meantime, I will stay here to enter the vault."

Immediately, everyone agreed with this, except for Augustus, who frowned at the last part.

"My orders are to bring you back unharmed... I’ve failed once, but I won’t let the miracle they performed on you go to waste."

It was clear that the Admiral did not want to back down after his oversight had nearly cost Thaddeus his life.

"Well, now I order you to go with the others and take the wounded to emergency care."

“You can't give me orders, boy, I won’t leave you here unless…”

"Well, I won't move from this spot and will finish my own mission. You are free to try to stop me, but as you said, that young man is running out of time; any delay could be fatal."

That exchange of words was truly quite cold, but the truth was that Thaddeus was right. Under normal circumstances, Augustus would have simply knocked the boy out immediately and dragged him along with the others to the exit to take Drake to the zeppelin. However, this time he was not in a condition to do so, and while he was sure he would eventually succeed if he tried, it was true that every second wasted could make the difference between life and death for the blonde.

Clenching his teeth in frustration, the Admiral turned to the injured body and carefully lifted him before shouting one last order as he began to run.

"Everyone, we’re leaving! Help those who can’t keep up ... I’ll be back as soon as I can!"

After this, he took off running toward the exit, closely followed by everyone, including Sebastian, who managed to keep up thanks to the assistance of both Kazue and, curiously, Nikolai. Meanwhile, Adam and Li remained in their spots, watching Thaddeus as if they were waiting for something. The man in the hat exchanged a glance with the young scientist and let out a resigned sigh.

"I’m counting on you, kid."

Li said before running out of the place. The truth was that he couldn’t do much with his skills still temporarily sealed and the burn on his leg that was still bothering him. So only Thaddeus and Adam remained, who was gradually recovering from his earlier experience.

Both exchanged glances for a few seconds before the young Volta turned without saying anything and headed back into the vault, closely followed by Adam. Together, they passed the spot where the Admiral and the guards had fought, directing their attention to the last unpressed stone button.

"It's time"

Thaddeus murmured as he stepped on the last button, activating the internal mechanism of the enormous room. Loud mechanical sounds and the clashing of gears echoed, accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground, indicating that something heavy was moving nearby. This was none other than the massive back wall, which finally opened, revealing a small entrance to an adjacent room.

The two boys quickly moved forward and entered the dark space, only to be surprised by the sight that greeted them: the room was illuminated by seven different colors, each emanating from seven stones placed around the walls. It was clear that they were fragments of the 'Seven Lights.' However, what puzzled Adam the most was that, even standing close to them, he felt nothing, and his stats didn’t increase, as if they no longer had any effect on him.

Taking advantage of the improvised lighting and the small size of the space, both boys began to look around, realizing that the area resembled a study filled with stone shelves, large amounts of dust, and metal plates that likely belonged to books that had succumbed to the passage of time. Would they really find anything useful there? Adam continued to search, but he couldn’t find anything of value—only stones and the occasional spider that had made the place its home, which seemed odd considering there was hardly any prey to hunt.

Adam lost a few seconds watching the little creature, and when he stood up, ready to ask what to do now that they hadn’t found anything, he saw Thaddeus standing almost in the center of the room, holding an open book. The boy’s heart stopped for a moment, realizing what was happening just as a couple of system windows appeared in front of him unexpectedly, content he couldn't help but read.

[Skill: Automatic Infoserver Lv6] [No info available]

[Skill: Automatic Infosphere Lv6] [You have seen the skill twice, data is being collected] [Medium-level skill that allows the user to give commands and information to technology-based objects considered their property from a distance.] [Hint: As long as an object is considered the user's property, this skill has no range limit on its effect.]

“...?”

Adam stopped abruptly when he noticed that the information indicated two skills had been activated. What was curious was that the second skill was the one Thaddeus had previously explained to him, which really had no use at that moment. Nevertheless, he pressed on and forcefully placed a hand on the scientist's shoulder, jolting him out of his daze from reading the content.

"Oh, I’m sorry, I got carried away with excitement... Focus your eyes, this is what we came to find!"

Thaddeus exclaimed proudly, closing the book and showing it to Adam with a smile.