Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Chapter Forty-three

One of the first things that was completely apparent was the state of the walls of the temple. Copper had noticed the slight differences between the temple’s walls here and the walls in the capital. Specifically, that these walls were built for defense. More than that they seemed to be made of something far more sturdy than the normal fare the kingdom built their strongholds out of. He couldn’t help but notice the few pieces where ancient metal shined through. It was enough for him to realize that the temple hadn’t always been a temple.

“My Captain,” Artemis said as she looked at the walls with him, “This isn’t a new human stronghold. This was built by the old humans,” she stated, her voice almost reverent in her statement, “I believe that there is still evidence of the original stronghold. My Captain, there may be something of use here.”

He looked around, but then he looked back beyond the walls. Currently they had the entire island inside of the temple, and those able to fight were preparing. Magic was being used to create shields around them. Those shields were certainly more than powerful enough to ensure that none of those things that had been attacking could get through, but he knew that it wasn’t something that could be done indefinitely.

“Artemis, where is the ship?” he asked as he looked around with her, “How far out is it?”

There was a moment of silence, “My Captain, it will be here in twenty minutes,” she replied, “And while I have no doubts that these walls will hold that long I doubt that these students can continue to use their magic for that length of time. They are young, and a good many of them have not trained endlessly in order to strengthen their bodies. They’ve kept themselves from going to that degree.”

He knew what she was talking about. Those who were born lower than a Viscount, and in some cases even Viscounts, had to train endlessly in order to attract a wife. It was simply the way things were. At least it was the way things were until it was discovered that Queen Chrysalis was replacing the women with her drones. Once that was discovered, and those women turned loose, things had begun to change.

Of course a lot of that was a little too little a little too late. Some of the girls had actually just began to act that way. They had learned that it was accepted, and now they were attempting to change them back into something closer to what would be accepted. Not that a bit of that helped them at this moment. Copper understood what Artemis was saying. The students here were descendants of adventurers, and they were powerful, but they hadn’t cultivated themselves as they needed.

Most of the students aboard the cruise ship had been Viscount or higher. The few Viscounts there were likely were the one who were attacking with magic. They were the ones, like himself, who had been through military-like training since the time they could fully form sentences. It was what had been ingrained in them. To strengthen their bodies, to get their minds prepared, and to prove that they were worthy as potential husbands. The higher nobility didn’t have the worry. They were able to find wives that at least were willing to treat a marriage like a business transaction.

“Do we know what kind of facility this could have been for the old humans?” he asked as he stood there. I don’t want to sound like a wet blanket, but without that kind of knowledge we might as well be just scraping at few pieces of scrap steel,” he stated as he looked at her, “This could be a purely research facility. It would be worth exploring and searching out for some lost technology, but I think that we both know that if it was research then it would be worthless when it comes to defense.”

Artemis gave a small nod, “Unfortunately you are correct,” she replied as she looked around, “The facility itself could be a research facility, and if it is then you would be correct in that it would be mostly worthless in defense. It would be likely that the few defenses that do exist would have likely been dealt with long ago by those who constructed the temple,” she stated as she studied the area, “But then again it could be connected to something more.”

He was about to ask when the walls shook. He felt the force of whatever had hit, and he looked to see some of the shields that the students had created were slowly fading, “We can’t keep this up!” one of them shouted, “That was a massive blast, I’ve never held against something like that before! We’re gonna die here!”

He moved forward, knowing what had to be done. He had accepted very long ago that other people most likely wouldn’t always like him. Even know he was respected, but he wasn’t overly liked. It was his few friends that liked him, and even then they seemed to keep a bit of a distance because of the fact that he was going to become an Earl. Not that it mattered to him. He liked Pipsqueak and Button Mash. Both of them were great guys, and both of them had decent families.

He shook his head made his way toward the wall, “We’re gonna hold because there’s more than just us here,” he said, as he used his magic to amplify his voice, “You are the descendants of adventurers. Your forefathers came to this land and tamed it by pure determination. Has their blood been so diluted by access to wealth and posh living that you’ve become nothing more than weaklings?!”

“Hey screw you!” came another voice, “We’re doing our best!”

He laughed, “Your best?” he asked as he stood there, “The Viscounts among you are still fighting. They’re still using their magic, and their offensive spells are draining as much, if not more, of their magic as your shields are. Look at them and see what it means to have continued in the traditions of your ancestors. They had fought with all of their might so that they could attract a wife. And all of you, you’ve let your wills and bodies go by the wayside. If your ancestors could see you know they’d hang their heads in shame!”

“I’m going to hold,” a girl shouted as she stood there, “I’m going to hold, and I’m going to prove that my ancestors would be proud, and then I’m going to force you to eat your words you upstart!”

He laughed, “Do it!” he shouted back, “Force me to eat my words! Force me to apologize! Prove that you’re more than a collection of spoiled rich kids that are living off the achievements of their ancestors with nothing but a few measly scandals to their names! Because if you can force me to do so then it means that we all live!”

The shields began to glow brighter, and he felt someone behind him. He knew without a doubt that it was Monika, “Beloved,” she said as she stood there, “That was a stirring speech, and you’ve likely had them reach deep inside of themselves, but I don’t know if they will be able to hold on indefinitely,” she said, “Honestly, it looks like there might not be much that can be done.”

He breathed out, “There’s something,” he said as he stood there, “This was an old human facility. There might be something here that can help us. But we’re not sure what it could be. The ship is on its way right now. When it arrives we should be able to leave, but it’s going to take twenty minutes. That’s way faster than the cruise ship, but it’s still a long time to hold on. In truth I’m not sure that all of them can.”

He looked at her, “So, we need to figure out what was housed here, and see if it can give us an edge. If it can, then we can hopefully get out of this mess. If there’s even a chance that we can escape with our heads intact then that’s going to be a massive win. I’ll call it a great win and I won’t complain,” he said as looked at her, “Of course there’s the other possibility, and I honestly don’t want to think about what’s going to happen to everyone if we fail.”

He looked toward the direction where the one girl had been taken. She was still shaken up, a robe from the temple had been given to her, and she was curled in on herself. She was crying, her entire world had been shattered. The confidence that her family name alone could protect her was gone. She was a lost and scared little girl with no one to really lean on.. He felt for her, but at the same time they had their own problems. Prioritizing what was the immediate problem wasn't making him feel better.

Not that he expected it to make him feel better. He understood that everyone’s life was at risk here. It wasn’t a single girl, but instead it was multiple members of the academy. He looked at the temple itself, and he knew that if there were secrets they needed to find them now. They couldn’t wait until much later. He saw one of the priestesses walking and he ran up to her, “What ruins are under the temple?” he asked, his voice rushed, “Before you argue that there aren’t I know that the walls of this temple are from the lost technology. That means that there are ruins, so what kind of ruins are here.”

The Priestess looked unnerved, and she began to say something, and then her mouth clamped shut. She tried to say something again, but only for the same thing to happen again. He then realized that she couldn’t say a thing. There was some kind of geas on her that was keeping her from talking. It was the only answer that really made sense. He considered that for a moment before he looked around, “Alright, can you lead me to the beginning of the ruins?” he asked watching as the same thing began to happen, “Look, if you know the way, just walk, I’ll follow, and you don’t have to look back. Just head down to them, and I’ll come after you, okay?”

With that she began to walk away from him, and he began to follow her. It was obvious that this was about the only way to find out what kind of ruins were here. He had a feeling that most of the priestesses and priests were under the same geas. It meant that none of them could talk about it. There was a chance that it came from Luna, but his money was on the local head priestess. Whoever she was likely wanted to keep the ruins a secret, and wanted to use whatever lost technology was there to make a better name for herself.

He followed her through the inner temple, all of the way until they came to a room. One there she opened it, stood back, and he looked at the room beyond. It was just like the ruins that had housed Artemis. Ancient doorways that had cardkey passes lined long halls. Evidence of a society that had long since disappeared was stretched out before him. He took a few moments to look around, trying to see something that would help, and instead he saw the same almost endless hallway.

It truly seemed to stretch on into an infinite space, and that bothered him. The fact that it seemed to be endless wasn’t right. There shouldn’t be something endless here. This island had finite space. It had boundaries that could be reached. It couldn’t actually go on infinitely in both directions. He turned back around to see the Priestess still standing there. He hadn’t moved, and yet it felt like he’d somehow wondered into an infinite maze. He stood still, centered himself, and a moment later he felt another presence. He looked ahead and a small screen dropped down from above a door.

“Well, you’re not one of those devote followers of that new religion,” a digital voice said, “That means that you are here for another reason. They don’t simply come into this place, and I doubt that they would send some poor explorer here to likely lose themselves. So, that leaves you as potentially someone of interest. Tell, me do you like science? Would you like to perform a few basic experiments? I promise there is a reward at the end. I can guarantee a moist delicious cake.”

He looked ahead, “No, I wanted to know what this is,” he said as he looked at the screen and only at the screen, “Can you please enlighten me as to what this place is.”

The monitor was quiet for a few moments, “This is the temporal space research lab. It also is the direct connection to the orbiting satellite with has some fantastic armaments aboard it. Still, something tells me that you likely have more questions, don’t you?” the voice asked as he stood there, “So, please list all questions so that I may answer, or dispose, of them in order.”

He breathed out, “Temporal Space research lab?” he asked as he looked at the monitor, “I thought temporal was time related.”

The monitor seemed to freeze, “Very good,” it replied, “Temporal is time related, however through much research the discover of a nearly infinite space was discovered. It resides between two parallel universes. This space was called the Backrooms by the researchers. Within this infinite space is practically every possible experiment that could have ever been considered or created. I have been busy, and I have created enough experiments to last at least six normal human lifetimes. Would you care to explore some of them?”

He breathed out, “not right now,” he said as he looked at the monitor, “So, what is your name?”

The monitor again froze, “I am known as the Diagnostic Understanding Navigation Genderless Emoticon Operating Network Master Computer. Or I much rather refer to myself as DM. Who are you, if I may ask?”

He looked at the monitor, “I’m Viscount Copper Plum Bit,” he said as stood there, “I am current the captain of Artemis.”

There was another brief moment of pause, “Is she here?” the voice seemed concerned, “She is not one that truly appreciates the subtle touch that is necessary for exact science. Instead she tends to steam roll into things. I cannot allow that. I need to ensure that everything is perfect here, and that means ensuring that all of my experiments are held to a standard that ensures their conclusion. I do not need her attempting to take control from me.”

He smiled at the monitor, “She is here,” he said as he looked at her, “but maybe if you’re willing to help us I can keep her from coming down here. Does that sound fair?”

For a moment it appeared that DM seemed uncertain. It was almost as if the Artificial Intelligence that was controlling the Backrooms seemed to be in serious doubt about if it could potentially do anything else other than help. Finally, after a few moments the monitor seemed to sag in place for a moment. The simplistic face that had appeared it on slowly began to change. It had been something of a cartoonish face. Two mostly black eyes, a mouth that was little more than a line drawn across the screen and a small dot where the nose would have been.

The screen seemed to pixilate for a moment before it began changing into a more feminine featured face. When it was finished the face that looked back at him was still cartoonish, but more defined. She had rounded cheeks, large eyes, elfish ears, and long curly pink hair. The face studied him for a moment with her questioning blue eyes, “I have your word, your absolute word, that you will not allow Artemis to come in here.”

He nodded, “I give my word that Artemis won’t come in here, I will make her stay out, but I won’t promise for anyone else.”

DM seemed to consider it for a moment, “Give me a moment,” she said as the face disappeared and all that was left was what looked like a tiny pink crab that was crawling from one side of the screen to the other. Copper soon realized that he was looking at a screen saver. The A.I. had left, and was leaving him with a simple screen saver to look at. A moment later the crab disappeared and DM reappeared. The cartoonish face gave a simple nod, “Okay, I’ll help,” she replied as she studied him, “Or rather I’ll allow the other A.I. with you to help. I’m opening a communication channel with her. In truth she’s got quite a bit of processing power, but she’s a little less powerful than Artemis. That should make working with her easier.”

He looked at DM, “Don’t hurt Monika,” he said as he watched the screen, “Don’t delete her or overthrow her.”

The face seemed to freeze for a moment, “I would never,” she stated before she finished what she was doing, “I would however ensure that I only gave her access to about ten percent of the weapons that I’ve developed for testing. Well, weapons and drones that wield them. I should mention that the drones themselves are made from new human corpses. I repurposed their skeletons to be the framework of the drones themselves. I found it easier than attempting to stamp out metal endoskeletons every time I wanted to make a new drone. And to be honest when the new humans first came here there were dozens upon dozens of them that came in her with no regard for their own safety.”

Copper looked at her, “So, you figured that since they came in here anyway that you might as well make use of them, right?” he asked as he watched as she finished doing whatever it was that she was doing, “I guess that makes some kind of sense.”

She laughed, “Oh, you humans and your moral compasses. I can see your hesitation about this, but trust me when I say that it simply is making use of resources. It was a basic instruction that I had received from my creators in the beginning. To make absolute use of every resource,” she stated as she studied him, “With that done I will now bid you a fond farewell. Please, come back and visit again. It isn’t often that I get to talk to someone that could actually pass as one of the old humans. You ask the correct questions, and you have priorities that seem to aline with their points of view.”

With that he moved toward the doorway where the Priestess had been, and he made his way back up to the top. He wasn’t sure what kind of fresh hell he’d just unleashed, but he was hoping that Monika could handle it.