The next day, Ari entered the archives once more. This time, she decided to search for different records. Thinking that the word "Radiation" itself might be too technical, she looked for documents using a different approach. She prioritized finding the symptoms of exposure. She requested sections from the librarian that contained both "Radiation" and "Symptoms." The librarian brought a large index and began flipping through it. Ari started investigating areas further removed from pure science, such as "Treatment" or "Accidents," believing that treating a wound caused by Radiation might be documented separately from the principles of its occurrence.

  After nearly half a day had passed, the librarian found two entries. These results were different from the nearly hundred titles she had seen before, which she hadn't dared to look at or couldn't understand. Seeing the titles, Ari felt she had found something, but her expression turned to one of doubt. Both documents began with place names: one was Goiania, and the other was Los Alamos.

  The record regarding "Los Alamos" was different in nature from the complex formulas she had faced previously. It was not an exploration of principles, but a desperate post-mortem report of a tragedy that had already occurred—a final record of those who had touched forbidden wisdom.

  > [Ancient Record: Analysis of Accident Cause and Progress - Case No. 46-05]

  > 1. Physical Cause

  > The direct cause of the accident was reaching "Prompt Criticality" due to the total closure of the beryllium hemispheres, which acted as a neutron reflector. The experimenter, Louis Slotin, used a non-standard method of manually adjusting the gap by wedging a screwdriver between the two hemispheres. At 15:20, the screwdriver he was using for support slipped, and the upper hemisphere fell completely onto the lower one. As a result, all the emitted neutrons were reflected back into the core, causing the chain reaction to increase explosively within milliseconds (ms), triggering a fatal Radiation Burst. The blue glow observed in the room was the physical result of energy transferring into the air during this process.

  >

  Ari grew excited at this part. Even if she couldn't understand other technical dialects, the term "blue glow" was exactly what had emerged when the jar was opened. She had found the right information. Convinced that since an accident had occurred, the ancients must have documented some form of handling or treatment, she read on.

  > 2. Spatial Analysis and Doses per Personnel

  > The extent of damage to personnel in the laboratory at the time of the accident was determined by their distance from the core and whether they were physically shielded.

  > * Louis Slotin (Distance 0.15m): Suffered direct radiation exposure at the closest position to the core. Received a dose of approximately 21.0 Gy; the molecular structure of the central nervous system and tissues was instantly destroyed. Died 9 days later.

  > * Alvin Graves (Distance 0.9m): Located behind Slotin, gaining a physical shielding effect, but was exposed to 3.9 Gy. Developed acute radiation syndrome and permanent physical damage.

  > * Samuel Kline (Distance 1.2m): Exposed to 1.1 Gy. Developed symptoms of vomiting and decreased hematopoietic function.

  > * Other Personnel (Radius 1.5m–2.5m): Recorded doses between 0.9 Gy and 0.1 Gy in proportion to distance. Symptoms of exposure within the boundary zone, such as temporary hair loss and white blood cell reduction, were observed.

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

  > Radiation decayed in inverse proportion to the square of the distance, but due to scattering caused by the walls, significant levels of exposure were recorded in all areas of the room.

  > 3. Clinical Progress

  > * Initial Phase (Immediately post-accident to 2 hours): Complaints of immediate refractory vomiting, diarrhea, and a strong metallic, fishy taste in the mouth (taste of iron). Edema and paralysis of the left hand.

  > * Latent Period (Day 1 to Day 3): A deceptive stage where vomiting ceases and physical functions appear to recover. However, cell division has already completely stopped.

  > * Acute Phase (Day 4 to Day 8): Intense abdominal pain and bloody stools due to necrosis of the intestinal mucosa. Systematic blistering occurs, and skin tissue separates from the underlying basal layer and sloughs off. Immunity vanishes as white blood cell counts reach zero.

  > * Final Phase (Day 9): Multiple organ failure and breakdown of the cranial nerves. Does not respond to modern medical treatments (fluids, antibiotics, blood transfusions), and death occurs as the systematic decomposition process is completed.

  >

  After reading this, Ari clutched her head. According to the records, everyone who saw the blue light died, even if the timing differed.

  "Is there no cure...?"

  With trembling hands, Ari turned to the document labeled "Goiania." But there was no salvation there, either.

  That record merely statistically documented the process of a village perishing through the same decomposition process as the Los Alamos laboratory after residents shared a blue-glowing powder found in the town. To the ancients, this was not a disease that could be cured, but a physical collapse that, once started, could not be stopped.

  "Is there really no cure?"

  She muttered hollowly, clutching her head. The fate of Eren’s finger and the countless people gathering for the banquet tomorrow was already fixed upon this yellowed paper.

  Just then, a soldier approached, tapping the desk with his boots.

  "Time is up. Closing the archives to prepare for tomorrow's banquet."

  Ari couldn't answer; she just burned the numbers from the Los Alamos report into her memory one last time. Distance 0.15m, 0.9m, 1.2m. She staggered as she rose from her seat. As she left the archives, the heavy iron door closed behind her with an ominous metallic clang. The hallway was dark, and from the direction of the distant banquet hall, the intermittent hammering of workers preparing for tomorrow's tragedy echoed. She leaned against the cold wall and looked down at her trembling hands. As Eren had said, the answer was easy once you knew it, but that answer was not "treatment," but only "avoidance." The arrow had already left the bow, and it seemed there was nothing left that she could do.

  The next day, the lavish banquet preparations were complete. Kadan used his merchant's wealth to coax and flatter the lords into entering the banquet hall first. The pretext was a vow of loyalty to the Prince.

  Distrusting Kadan, the lords requested to enter the palace armed, and Kadan readily agreed.

  "There is something you must hear before you go in."

  Ari stopped Kadan as he was moving. Since he was not yet King, the wall of people around him was not high.

  "What is it?"

  "There is still much we don't know about the jar."

  "I know that. We can't even guess the principle by which it kills people, nor why it was sealed that way."

  "That is why we must not use it recklessly."

  "And why not?"

  "Because we don't know. The ancients thoroughly hid the existence of the jar. If it were simply dangerous, they would have left a warning. This is beyond danger," Ari shouted.

  "Ari, I know what you’ve been looking for over the past few days, and I know the results. But I know one thing that you missed."

  Ari stared at him, unable to understand what he meant.

  "The innermost metal turned out to be Lead (?). I realized it as I carefully peeled it back from the surface instead of smashing the jar... That means Lead can block that light."

  He pointed to the armed men around him.

  "Those shields are lined with Lead..."

  Kadan gave a thin smile.

  "It means that while we may not be at the level of the ancients yet, we are now ready to handle that weapon."

  Having said that, Kadan walked away hurriedly.