Chapter 1: Someone in the Way?

Well, this poses a problem.

Why the serious face?

Hm? How rare of you to come speak to me.

Oh, come on. I just thought I'd ask, since you seem troubled.

You see, I promised Barragan I'd play a game of chess with him, but an urgent matter arose.

Since I can't make it, I was debating who I should send in my stead.

Say, do you think you can take my place, Gin?

I would think Barragan asked because he wanted to play against you. It'd be strange if I went.

It's not that I don't want to go, but I can't help it because this matter is quite important.

I guess I can go, if you insist. But you're gonna owe me one.

Sure, thanks.

Hmm. I was able to step out of there, but this doesn't seem right.

I've been wandering the same place over and over again.

And I probably know whose fault this is.

What are you doing here?

Well, it seems somebody is moving the hallways around in here.

Oh, that would be me.

I know.

I need to head out to take care of some business. Can you put everything back for a moment?

Oh, fine. I was still in the middle of my experiment, but I can pause.

What are you doing?

Oh, this? This is just a remote control for the mechanism I invented to move the hallways around.

No, I meant, why are you experimenting with a mechanism like that?

You shouldn't be modifying a palace like this in the first place, unless it's yours.

I'm not happy with you questioning my expertise in the technical sciences.

That wasn't quite the point here.

I mean, if you really doubt my skills, I can show you right now.

Actually, I really need to get goin-

And next up, I have...

Stop it! I've had enough of your science!

Really, no need to be shy.

I need to take care of things. Can you please let me through?

Then, I'll connect this path with this one, and that should give you a shortcut. Here, let me move them for you.

You don't need to. I can get there on my own.

The true power of science is realized in the pursuit of convenience and rationality.

I can only think it foolish of you to not make use of such advances in technology.

It's because of this technology that I haven't been able to move forward a single step.

I'll switch out this power source and...

I'm telling you, you don't have to.