Spinel

Lunacy

Auditor was clearly in a bad mood. The look in his eyes as he stared at the monitor on the tabletop was grim, and the flickering black flames were wilder than usual. Engineers looked at each other to make sure that everyone here was on the same page. That man must have done something again, who has been confusing employer, for some time now.

He stood up silently and looked out the window. Under the blood-red sky, countless buildings filled the ground. And out of the corner of his eye, there was a tower that stood clearly taller than the whole surrounding area.

The home base of Nexus Core.

"I'm going out."

"What?"

The boss, who had been silent until then, suddenly said. His subordinates were amazed, and one of them asked in a fluster.

"Where are you going?"

"It's obvious."

He answered without looking away from the Nexus Tower. As expected. Engineers' faces clouded under their masks, and then they chuckled so their bosses wouldn't notice.

"But you're scheduled to meet with... Director Phobos tomorrow, right? Did he cause any trouble?"

'Circumstances have changed."

"Circumstances?"

The courageous man said. "What kind of circumstances?"

"It's none of your business."

For a moment, the black flames increased their firepower. Engineers saw this and instead of asking a new question, they replied, "Yes, sir." I see. They looked at each other again, this time with a smirk on their faces... unnoticed by Auditor in front of them, of course.

***

"Hello, Employer."

The moment Auditor appeared, a theatrical greeting flew from the back of the room. He clicked his tongue. As expected, the owner of the voice is staring at him without any sign of offense.

"How are you?"

"It sucks."

"I thought so."

Phobos, sitting in front of his desk, shrugged.

"However, it would be rude to barge in suddenly, huh? No matter how mad you are, I can't overlook it."

"Who do you think it is that has angered me so much, Director? What's with the e-mail? What are you thinking?"

He closed the distance between them at once and spoke in a low, growling voice. Phobos held up his hands gently to stop him.

"Well, calm down. What I'm trying to say is exactly what I wrote in that e-mail. We need A.A.H.W.'s help now."

"So you think I'm going to accept that ridiculous request? Don't make light of me. You don't seem to understand your position."

"I think I'm well aware of it."

"Shut up."

The fire burns fiercely.

"I've told you before. You're a hired hand. No matter how much power you gain here in Nevada, from my point of view, you are still an employee. Your master is me."

"Haha, that's a bold statement, Mr. Auditor. What if the tower guards outside this room misunderstand?"

"I'm just stating a fact."

"Oh dear." Phobos chuckled.

"Apparently, my master is quite fond of me."

At the same time as he muttered this, Auditor grabbed the man in front of him by the chest.

“Sir!"

Immediately after, the tower guards entered the room with such force that they seemed to blow the door open. Where were they watching from? Auditor looked back at him quizzically. The guards, clad in heavy armor, were pointing their weapons straight at him. There was no hesitation there at all. Is it the result of their daily training that they are unafraid even in the face of a superior being like him, or...

"How can a soldier in the service of the God Emperor not be brave?"

The line echoed in room, as if it had anticipated his question. This condescending man also seemed to feel no fear whatsoever. When Auditor returned his gaze to that man, God Emperor placed his own hand on top of the hand gripping his chest. It was just a little bit cold.

"They will never fear death. No matter where I am, no matter who I am dealing with, they will always come running to me."

"......You're still as vigilant as ever, Phobos. Have you been watching me from the beginning? You seem to be very afraid of being dragged down from your current position.”

"In every age, those in power live in mortal danger. It's impossible to eradicate the undesirables who want to take this position. You know this as well as I do.”

He chuckled.

“But unfortunately, unlike you, I am not yet ready to give up my human body. If you cut off my head, my heart will eventually stop beating and my time will stop as well. I will not let that happen. My ideals have yet to be fulfilled."

He squeezed Auditor's hand tightly, trying to pull it away from his chest. Despite his actions, his voice was filled with a soft calm. The lenses of his goggles, like blood-soaked suns, glowed eerily as they reflected the black flames.

“My ideals will eventually become reality. The time will come when the world ruled by me, God Emperor, will be the greatest paradise. It is an absolute realm that no one can defile. This city I have built, the beautiful Nevada sky, the earth, citizens, my soldiers, everything! I will not die until I have created a perfect world where everything is eternal.”

"You're talking about that again. How long are you going to keep making these delusional claims, Director? Man cannot become a god. Namely, you were born a man, you can't become a god.”

""Delusional"? How dare you! Don't lump me in with those lunatics. In the first place, I am not crazy. I'm as sane as anyone."

Madman's nails under the glove dug into the auditor's hand. He frowned in pain.

“All the fools who can't understand my noble thoughts call me a crazy man. Oh, how foolish they are! For it is those who cannot understand me who are the true lunatics!"

Phobos shouted and stood up vigorously. Pitch-black hand had already been pulled away from his chest, but he made no attempt to weaken his grip.

Auditor looked up into the man's face. A small moon illuminated the sea of black flames, the red light felt like it was pregnant with a strange heat. Flame flickered wildly.

“But, well......fools are human beings too, so it's no wonder they don't understand. The idea of God is not something that can be easily understood by an ordinary human being......Okay, it's all right, soldiers. Get back."

Following the God Emperor's order, the knights immediately left the room. The fine and sturdy door closed noisily. When Auditor watched the soldier's back disappear behind the door, the pain in his hand finally go away.

"By the way, we are still in the middle of the request. Now, where were we?"

The man sits down. He is still holding employer’s hand.

"Well, let me reiterate. We need A.A.H.W.'s help in order to make the project that you have entrusted us with a better success. That's why we need you to accept the request...at all costs."

"......In the end, you won't change, nothing. There is no sign of change.”

Auditor said in disgust.

“If so...then offer me a reasonable price. Employers will not obey mortals so easily. My price is not as low as you think."

"Not low?"

Director smiled arrogantly.

“That sounds appealing. Cheap junk doesn't suit me. What I need is something that has enduring value and unfading beauty......So...for example,"

Phobos said, looking into Auditor's eyes.

"It's people like you who deserve me."

"......Did you really think you could propitiate me over with that trashy words?"

“I'm just telling you what I think in all sincerity.”

“Don't get cocky. I told you, I am your master. You have no right to determine my value. I decide what I'm worth, and decide what you're worth.”

"Really? If you decide, then I can rest assured. To be honest, I have faith in your aesthetic sense.”

“Faith? Why?”

“Because you appointed me as the person to entrust this project to, Auditor.”

The man who had been told this made a disapproving face. The one-eyed God Emperor laughs out loud.

"Don't look at me like that, Audi. All right, I'll see what I can do to make it worth your while. You'll also be here tomorrow, won't you?”

“Hah. It sounds to me like you want to see me.”

“Oh my, you don't want to see me. I miss you."

“That's not what I'm saying.”

“Then you’ll come here tomorrow. I'll have your favorite drink ready for you. As long as you show up when you say you will.”

"......"

The momentum of the flames calms.

“...Anyway, we'll talk about this tomorrow. You have to come up with something that will make me agree to that ridiculous proposal by the time I come. Okay?”

"Of course. You can count on me, ...My employer."

The God Emperor reverently kissed the back of his black hand. And he never missed the fact that Auditor smiled happily when he saw it.

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Idc if it's Phobditor or Audiphob JUST SHOW ME FANFIC OF THESE TWO