She is not an investigator.

"Here, take it, this is for you."

Vicatina took out a still-hot rapier and placed it in Simia's arms.

Touching the scalding hot scabbard in her arms, Simia paused for a moment, seemingly not realizing what she had done.

"what is this?"

"Isn't it obvious? This is equipment I made for you using readily available weapon blanks from the workshop."

Vicatina wiped the sweat from her forehead, put her hands on her hips, and said with a proud expression.

It seems she is indeed quite confident in her craftsmanship.

The Gods' Fools - Beyond the World: Chapter Sixty-Two, Mysterious Communication

"A ready-made blank... why is it a sword? This type of weapon seems more like an ornament than a weapon for combat, doesn't it?"

Somewhat puzzled, Simia drew her rapier. Its overly slender blade made it difficult to deal with blunt force attacks in battle, and it was very easy to break.

Besides, in this era where everyone owns a gun, where would so many fools be so stupid as to take a cold weapon and engage in close combat with others?

Of course, monsters like Igris don't count.

"Uh...the problem you mentioned does exist..."

Vicatina scratched her head a little embarrassedly, but quickly replied in a serious tone.

"That's why you need to pay attention to how to use it. I've noticed that... while your weapon is incredibly powerful, it's difficult to use effectively in close combat, not to mention reloading it is a hassle. So, this sword can help you launch a quick counterattack when you're being entangled."

"Then why don't I just grab something sturdier? Like... a crowbar?"

Although the weapon was ultimately magnificent, its fragility made it a burden, especially since close-quarters combat with melee weapons inevitably involves collisions.

"That's because I don't have that kind of blank in my workshop... Anyway, this weapon is a bit harder than a normal steel weapon. Although it won't be too stiff, it won't break easily if you use it carefully... Moreover, although the weapon itself is of relatively poor quality, I have also engraved some runes on it that I think are more suitable."

"Ah, talismans, I almost forgot you deal with this..."

Simia tried swinging her sword, then looked at Vicatina with some curiosity.

"Then, what are the effects of the talisman? How do I use it?"

"Hmm... Actually, I thought of it when I saw Igris fighting before. She has a habit of covering her weapon with the flames on her body to cause greater damage, so I made something similar... burning and piercing."

As Vicatina's voice faded, the weapon in Simia's hand suddenly changed at that moment.

A faint red light suddenly appeared on the sword's edge, accompanied by an unprecedented high temperature, and then disappeared two seconds later.

"Just like I did, this sword is engraved with burning and piercing runes... Piercing is passively activated, so it's more suitable for stabbing, while burning requires a certain amount of stored energy, just like my ball, which needs to be charged over time... But if you use it continuously, it can last for about half an hour. Remember to turn it on whenever you need it!"

"Oh……"

Simia examined the weapon in her hand. Following Simia's example, she recited the incantation it represented, and the blade once again emitted a faint red light and intense heat that could be felt even from a distance.

As the light faded, Simia sheathed the exquisite work of art.

"Thank you... I will keep this weapon safe."

"Ahem... If you're so serious, I'll feel embarrassed too."

Vicatina scratched her cheek somewhat awkwardly, but felt an unprecedented joy at the recognition of her weapon.

This is probably what she has always wanted to see, and it is one of the only reasons why she has been working so hard.

So it's no wonder she was so heartbroken after Igris mercilessly belittled the hard work she had put into it.

Although she knew Igris didn't mean it, it's hard to avoid feeling sad.

"Oh, right..."

Simia handed the key she had just found to Vicatina.

“I found this outside, just like the ones they were talking about… I want you to see what this thing is and what its structure is.”

"Hmm... no problem. Although it looks like an ordinary silver key, wait a moment, I'll go try to see if I can melt it."

Vicatina quickly scurried back into the workshop, and Simia, seeing this, sat back down on the shelf, examining the weapons in her hands.

Although she wanted to appear reserved just now, she simply thanked Vicatina without making any further reaction.

But indeed, receiving a gift is quite a happy feeling.

"Um--"

She inexplicably thought of the straight sword in Igris's hand. In terms of length, Igris's weapon was shorter than the one she was holding, and its design was not as ornate.

However, if we consider this... if the two of them were fighting with cold weapons... wouldn't they inexplicably look like a married couple?

"...What am I thinking?"

Simia covered her face, but quickly sighed.

After all, no matter how much you fantasize, the fact is that Igris has disappeared, and there isn't even a trace of her.

I don't know when I'll be able to find her.

"Shishishimiya—! Come save me!"

"Ok?"

A gasp suddenly came from the workshop. Simia reacted quickly and rushed in. She then saw Vicatina sitting on the ground, and in front of her, a semi-transparent figure floating in mid-air.

"…Who are you?"

When Vicatina saw Simia enter, she quickly climbed up behind her, hugged her leg, and looked at the figure in mid-air with a wary expression.

However, judging from its appearance, it was difficult to make out the specific features of the figure floating in the air, but from the outline, it should be a person with long hair.

The gender cannot be determined, after all, men also have the right to grow their hair long.

"No, don't try again, destroy the key—!"

The figure in the video shouted, each word distinct and seemingly filled with anger.

The sound was strange, as if it had been strongly interfered with and was somewhat distorted.

"So...who are you?"

"..."

The figure fell silent, and just as Simia was wondering if it had disconnected, it finally spoke again.

"Uh... Anyway, stop trying to destroy this key. It's better for you to have it than to try to take it apart... Can you tell me your location, and... what time it is?"

"Don't answer questions with questions. You haven't answered me yet: what exactly are you?"

Simia frowned deeply. Although her intuition told her that the other party probably didn't mean any harm, she still didn't want to reveal any of her information so easily.

"I'm just a normal person like you. I don't know what I look like where you see me, but I probably don't really know... By the way, can you tell me where you found this key?"

"Inside the body of a corpse."

"A corpse...? Okay, I see. It's probably dangerous where you are, right? Uh... we can help you. Keep this key safe. By the way, you have to tell me your exact location and year, otherwise—no—any—good—fuck—let—you—can't—read—the—books—"

Clang.

As the key fell to the ground, the figure that had been suspended in mid-air shattered completely and vanished without a trace.

The Gods' Fool's Play - Beyond the World: Chapter Sixty-Three, Something I Can't Refuse

"...I can't understand it."

Simia silently picked up the key that had fallen to the ground. The key was still warm, probably from the residual heat from when Vicatina was about to melt it.

Vicatina breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the figure disappear, and then looked at the key with curiosity again.

"To be honest... it looks like a communication device, and it seems that person contacted us through this thing."

"Um…"

Simia nodded, but she was more curious about the questions that person had asked her.

The address is self-explanatory; it's indispensable for anyone wanting to find them.

So, time?

Why ask for the time? Because that person wasn't wearing a watch? Obviously not. The only possibility is that their time is different from their current time.

Therefore, it is worth pondering what that person's identity really is.

"Moreover, most importantly, even with a very poor signal, it still managed to break through the blockade and connect with the outside world."

Perhaps this is their chance.

"...Should we bake it again and try?"

"Never mind, that guy said we should keep this key safe... and it seems there are other keys in this city too."

Simia stroked her chin, thinking of the special survivor in the sewer laboratory.

She seems to have been saved by the key, and in that certain-death situation, she transformed into an extremely dangerous... monster?

So what is the real purpose of this key?

"Perhaps the answer can only be found by going back to that laboratory."

Simia came up with a bad idea.

At least in this situation, this idea is absolutely terrible.

But she still wanted to give it a try.

"Vicatina, I need your help with something."

"what's up?"

"I'm planning to go back to that lab and take a look, just me."

"Are you crazy?!"

Vicatina could not agree to this. The danger of that place had already been determined when they approached it last time. Even with everyone gathered together, there was still considerable danger there, let alone her going alone.

Aside from wanting to deliberately go to her death, Vicatina couldn't think of any other possibility.

“…I know, I know it’s dangerous there. That’s why, no matter how many of us go, there will definitely be casualties if we encounter danger there. Rather than causing more people to get hurt, I’d rather explore it alone. That way, the target will be smaller and more secretive, and even if something happens, the losses will be small enough.”

When she said the loss was small, she probably meant that in this situation, she would be the only one to die.

But they couldn't just sit here and wait to die. They needed a chance to break through, and that chance was hidden inside that dangerous laboratory.