The Outcast

Year: 984 - 01

Episode 1 - Episode 2 - Episode 3 - Episode 4 - Episode 5 - Episode 6 - Episode 7 - Episode 8 - Episode 9 - Episode 10 - Episode 11 - Episode 12 - Episode 13 - Episode 14 - Episode 15 - Episode 16 - Episode 17 - Episode 18 - Episode 19 - Episode 20 - Episode 21 - Episode 22 - Episode 23 - Episode 24 - Episode 25 - Episode 26 - Episode 27 - Episode 28 - Episode 29 - Episode 30

Episode: 1
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Charon	Verg.
Charon	Blockage ahead. Permission to vroom-vroom?
The chatter was what finally got me to open my eyes.
After all, nothing beats blocking out your sight when you want to keep boredom at bay.
Not that there was much else to do on a bus whose destination was unknown to me…
My lack of head and memories certainly don’t help, either.
Vergilius	……
Vergilius	Alright, let’s proceed.
Charon	Ok. Here come bumpity-bumps.
Charon	Expensive washer fluid. Verg said he paid a fortune.
The clumps stuck to the window gently dissolve, letting light through.
Many different sets of eyes on the bus are lethargically facing forward.
It felt like a pretty gruesome scene, but based on the others’ reactions, maybe this kind of violence is common in the City.
Dante	<Hey…>
It felt rather awkward to close my eyes again now that I was wide awake. That’s when the conspicuously bearded man grabbed my attention.
Dante	<Bu― I mean, Glasses. Know where we’re going right now?>
…A feature far more conspicuous than his beard made me slip.
Gregor	…You almost called me “bug guy”, didn’t you?
Gregor	Once again, my name is Gregor.
Gregor	The same way you’re called Dante and not clockface.
…I couldn’t find any excuses so I just gave back a light nod.
Gregor	Say, Bus Girlie. Where are we headed?
Charon	Once again, my name is Charon.
Charon	The same way you’re called Gregor and not bug guy.
Gregor	……
Dante	<She got you there, Gregor.>
Gregor	Haha, she really did.
Charon	…Verg said:
Charon	“The Sinners will go to District 4.”
Don Quixote	Whaaaat ho?! Did District 4 fall upon my ears?!
Don Quixote	That place is known to be the home of the Grass Maiden! ‘Tis the origin of the heroine’s journey. And ‘twas the…
Heathcliff	Bloody hell, you’re rattling on and on and on…
Heathcliff	Can’t you just shut up and let the trip go in peace?
Don Quixote	Why, I had remained silent unto mere moments ago!
Heathcliff	I said to shut up!
Ishmael	…Sorry, did you happen to realize you’re being louder here?
Heathcliff	…Even if you can’t die, you sure as hell can suffer, no? So say that again.
Ishmael	I say the right thing and your first response is violence? Shows how refined you are.
Heathcliff	…Ha.
I contemplated for a second.
Should I step in? Is this the part where I exercise my authority as the manager with dignity and grace? A faint memory urges me to do something.
Dante	<Now now, guys, it’s inadvisable to lose your c―>
Heathcliff	Grh…
Ishmael	Kuhㅡ
Ryoshu	TRANCHES.
Ryoshu	To right against noisy crying hogs entails scragging.
Ryoshu	……
Don Quixote	Senseless violence shan’t be forgiven! I will bring about justice!
Rodion	Aw~ I knew this would happen—it left a spot on my clothes. Look, do you guys really have to fight next to me?
Dante	<I must be mad…>
We haven’t even reached our destination and they've already killed three. Of our own, that is.
Vergilius	Can’t take a small break without anticipating trouble, can I.
Vergilius	You four. Cleaning duty for the next month.
Don Quixote	Such unfairness! I merely sought the hand of justice!
Rodion	Oh, also! Tell them to do my laundry, too. Blood doesn’t wash off as easily as wine stains. Sheesh, dry cleaning’s costly…
No one bats an eye at the lifeless janitors-to-be littering the floor.
Maybe they’re already taking their indefinite revivals for granted.
But, I don’t even know how exactly I’m supposed to bring them back…
Vergilius	Dante, I’d like you to turn the clock back.
Dante	<Turn… the clock?>
Vergilius	…Sigh.
Vergilius	That must mean there’s a puzzled look where your face should be. I’ll keep that in mind.
Vergilius	Ms. Faust.
Faust	……
Vergilius gives Faust a tired nod and gestures to me.
She let out a small sigh but still came to my seat, probably out of a sense of obligation.
Faust	It’s the same thing you did the day we first met, Dante. Though, I suppose that was more of an instinctual reaction.
Faust	Now, let’s try again. Close your eyes.
Though I have no eyes to close, blocking out my sight is something I’ve done.
I had no reason not to follow Faust’s instruction here.
Faust	In fact, the door is everywhere.
Faust	However, only you can see it. For the stars never set in your sky.
At that, I felt a thread of light creep into my sight.
As if to open my eyes, I embraced that light.
Then I saw a space.
I was alone there.
And a massive door stood before me.
It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Suffocating heat and agonized cries seep through the gap.
Hearing the endless laments and wailing for even a split second makes me feel faint.
However, I’m approaching the door, grasping at its handles as if it’s what I was born to do.
Despite being seemingly heavy, pulling it open was surprisingly easy.
I grope about in the door. Thousands upon thousands of last wails lay within.
And reaching inside, I grab a few unknown hands.
I can feel the histories of different sins bearing their brands crawl up my hand onto my arm.
Art thou prepared to share the pain?
Could that have been a question? Or rather, pressure to comply?
I pulled forth the Sinners grasping my hand with all my strength.
Dante	<…RAHHHHGH!>
A terrible pain spreads through my neck and head.
It’s so crushingly severe, it makes me wish I were dead.
The indescribable sensation of bone and muscle twisting, entangling with each other, goes on for what feels like an eternity.
My legs weren’t prepared to endure all this agony; I fell to kneel atop the pool of blood in helplessness.
Then I see it.
Trembles in the bloody pools, gradually growing into waves and bubbles rising from the floor.
Soon, that blood soaking the ground coalesced into three masses.
Then the agony that seemed to last forever vanished just like that.
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Heathcliff	Mmgh…
Ishmael	…Ugh.
As the lumps of blood rose into the air and flew away, my sight was cleared of dreadful redness, returning to the grumbling bus.
Ryoshu	Keh… How does it feel to have your head back after it was severed? Was it exciting?
Right as Heathcliff is restored to consciousness, he rubs his neck, mutters vulgar words, and approaches Ryōshū.
Dante	<Hold on, I just brought you back and you’re going straight into another fight?>
Heathcliff turns around to glare at me. His eyes are those of a man devoured by blind fury.
Heathcliff	Isn’t it your job to bring us back?
Heathcliff	If your job’s done, then step aside before I knock your dumb clock off.
Sinclair	P—Please, wait! Dante looks like they’re in a lot of pain, so we really should sh―
Before he could finish, Heathcliff’s steel bat caved in the side of Sinclair’s head.
Sinclair	Kurgh…grh…
The incoherent gurgles of a dying person violated my ears.
Heathcliff	Next time, Clockface, you’re crushed. Are we clear?
Ishmael	You really are as coarse as you look.
Heathcliff	…Was dying once not enough for you?
Heathcliff tightens his grip on the bat, and Ishmael is ready to swing her weapon as well.
…Have I seriously become the manager of people who can’t be stopped even by death?
While I was lost in thought, all tension in the bus suddenly dropped and froze over.
Vergilius	Ahem, it seems this team’s in serious need of discipline.
Heathcliff	…!
Ishmael	……
The Sinners on a collision course stopped dead in their tracks.
A cold pair of red eyes cast their glare between the two.
Vergilius	Rule number one.
Vergilius	Do not let me hear weapons clashing inside the bus.
Vergilius	If any of you break this rule as of now…
Vergilius	You’re going to be begging for me to let you die.
Vergilius	I’m sure you know I’m capable of that and more, right?
Sinclair’s writhing on the floor was the only sound breaking the silence.
Heathcliff glowered, but couldn’t bring himself to argue back.
Vergilius	Dante, I’m sorry about this. I need you to rewind one more time.
Dante	<I have to do that again…?>
I’d rather die than have to bear that harrowing pain once more. I waggled my head in dejection.
The faint hint of a smile on Vergilius’s face vanishes as his expression shifts.
Vergilius	…You’d better open up while I’m still feeling generous enough to ask and offer apologies, Manager Dante.
Vergilius	Oh, in case you’re refusing simply because you don’t want more pain, I can gladly help you with that.
Vergilius	This degree of pain will feel like nothing by the time I’m done. Surely you’ll be a tougher person afterward, right?
Outis	Did I hear correctly? I’m pretty sure our manager clearly declined your request.
Vergilius	You… This is not the time to step in.
Outis	I was informed when I joined the company that the Executive Manager would be my superior, not you.
Outis	I would say that the manager has made themself clear with a shake of the head.
Vergilius	I see, so their aide has decided to step in, is that it?
Vergilius	Then it’s my turn to make clear what I mean.
The red hue of his eyes grew deeper, much to my dread.
…I don’t really know what I’m meant to do as the manager, or if I even deserve to take this role.
But I felt that I should at least stop things here so we don’t get into an even bigger mess.
Reviving one should hurt less than reviving twelve at once…
Dante	<Outis… I’ll rewind the clock. It’s okay.>
Vergilius noticed me motioning her to stand down, and withdrew the red glow from his glare as if in mutual understanding.
Vergilius	Good thinking.
Outis	…As you wish, Manager.
Outis seemed to want to add her input, but she promptly backed down and straightened herself out.
The red door greeted me again, along with the twisting sensation.
I’ve given up trying to describe the throes I go through.
Words can’t express it in full, anyway.
Sinclair	…Th, thank you very much…
Sinclair stood up with a pained moan and bowed to me before waddling back to his seat.

Episode: 2
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Don Quixote	Pardon me! I have a question!
Don Quixote suddenly raised her hand.
Vergilius	Shoot.
Don Quixote	Verily, I understood the first rule well! What is the second rule, then?
Gregor	Hah, really… Why are you so eager to learn that?
Vergilius	……
Vergilius gave a cold stare to Ryōshū, who had just lit her cigarette. She looked back at him with a peculiar face.
Vergilius	Rule number two…
Vergilius	Don’t litter the bus floor with cigarettes. They leave burn marks.
Ryoshu	…Hah.
The bus falls silent again.
Vergilius	Now wait a second, the bus shouldn’t be this quiet. Where’s the engine’s roar?
Vergilius	Charon, why aren’t you speeding up?
Charon	No food. Mephi is hungry.
Vergilius	Good. We could use something to lift the mood.
Are we dropping by a gas station?
The idea of Vergilius casually plugging a fuel nozzle into the bus like an average driver felt alien.
Vergilius	A car needs fuel to run.
Vergilius	Charon, try flashing the headlights a bit. Like stage lights.
Charon	Mhm, it’s dance timey.
Ishmael	Wait, if we do that, we’re effectively asking to be attacked.
Meursault	That appears to be the intent.
Ishmael	…Sorry?
I could hear someone slam the bus outside.
Number-nuts Hooligan	Oi! Leave all ya stuff behind and get off! Y’got 30 seconds! Ten! Nine!
Sharp Hooligan	Ey, you skipped twenty of ‘em.
Number-nuts Hooligan	Er… Uhh… Well say your prayers for the other 20!
Ishmael	Sigh, why am I surrounded by dullards left and right.
Heathcliff	…What’d you just say?
Don Quixote	How cowardly of them to ambush us! They must be villains without a shadow of a doubt!
Vergilius	Alright, everyone off.
Vergilius	And one more thing: we want them near death, not dead. Got it?

Episode: 3
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
With a guttural noise, the side of the bus lurches and splits open.
A number of human shapes littered the ground before its maw. Some were still conscious, while others weren’t exactly in one piece.
Then, the bus began devouring those served to it in the most literal sense. Gluttonously, voraciously.
Ryoshu	……
Ryōshū watched it with a satisfied expression, seemingly determined to savor every moment…
While in the corner of my eye, Sinclair was clearly distressed.
Sinclair	They… all look like they’re out of their minds. Don’t you think so too?
His reaction got me curious to know their stories.
Dante	<Just to make sure… None of you were forced to join, right?>
Though what I was involved in before my head’s change is a mystery, I myself was practically forced to join the company judging from what I know at the moment.
And maybe they aren’t so different from me, or so I thought, when…
Sinclair	Ah…
Sinclair’s head drooped in response, like I struck a nerve.
Sinclair	That’s right. It was by my choice. I’ll get used to all this… Right?
He muttered as if he were talking to someone other than me.
Don Quixote	‘Tis what I would have done even if the company recruited me not! Look, yon horde of evil approaches!

Episode: 4
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
Rodion	Gee, when was the last time I had a feast? Even a big blocky machine eats better than we do…
Faust	Do mind that all meals are provided with appropriately determined quantities.
Rodion	It’s not nearly enough to get me going!
I thought I heard Heathcliff shout “You think I’m doing this on a full stomach?!” in the distance, but Rodya seemed to pretend she heard nothing.
Speaking of…
Dante	<Does this bus run on stuff like blood or protein?>
Faust	It’s Enkephalin, an energy source Lobotomy Corporation treated.
Ishmael	You mean the previous L Corp. I heard it produced energy using its Singularity, though all that remains of the company now is rubble.
Faust	That’s right, which is why it’s become a rarity these days.
Faust	However, Mephistopheles is capable of forcibly extracting Enkephalin from the body.
Dante	<The body…?>
I posed a question, watching Outis give orders to the other Sinners, then glancing to the maw of the bus in turn.
Faust	Correct, Enkephalin can only be extracted from the brain and the spinal nerves. It can be taken from live subjects for greater efficiency.
So that’s why Vergilius told the Sinners not to kill the assailants.
Dante	<Okay, and…>
Faust	If “Why the rest of their body?” is what you’re thinking, there is a point, as their blood and flesh can also be processed into fuel.
Faust	While Enkephalin is used to generate ignition and thrust, the remaining organic matter is spent on maintaining speed, thus reducing Enkephalin usage.
Yi Sang	A hybrid.
Faust went on to explain how most of the vehicle’s fuel is taken from the branch facilities, and that it won’t be a sufficient source on its own…
But most of it went in one ear and out the other.
Dante	<…Well, that’s complicated. I got that it’s tough work, at least.>
Faust	Don’t mention it. Faust knows no struggle.
Gregor	If anyone’s doing the heavy lifting, it’d be us… Hey! Manager Bud! More incoming!

Episode: 5
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
Vergilius	Hey! That’s enough of that. We’re expecting a guest any time now.
Vergilius said, poking his head out the window.
Dante	<A guest? Who?>
Faust	I’ve determined that we’ll need a guide as this is our first trip to a dungeon.
Yuri	Excuse me… Are you the people from Limbus Company?
Someone approaches us slowly.
Yuri	Looks like it…
The bus had just about finished its meal, crunching on the last remaining bone chips.
Yuri watched it indifferently before introducing herself.
Yuri	I’m Yuri, a former employee of the previous L Corp. I look forward to working with you.
Dante	<By L Corp, do you mean…>
Gregor	Has to be Lobotomy Corporation.
Faust	That’s right, we will explore the former branch facilities of Lobotomy Corporation—also called the old L Corp.
Ishmael	If I were you, I wouldn’t have taken part in this.
Ishmael	Being a fallen Wing and everything, I doubt your employment ended on pleasant terms.
Rodion	What’re you on about? Any point in your life can be pleasant as long as you’ve money to spend.
Gregor	Hrm, I heard those places are still teeming with monsters to this day…
Faust	Not “monsters”, Abnormalities. The rumors are true, either way. But there are more important matters.
Faust	In the deepest reaches of these branches are neoplastic plantlike growths holding the essence of L Corp’s technology.
Vergilius	Dante, if you remember, I believe I offered to let you finish engraving your Aspect a few days ago.
Vergilius	With the essence… those Golden Boughs in our hands, it’ll be as easy as pie.
The word ‘Aspect’ still makes my head ache.
What was ‘I’ trying to do?
Faust	There’s no need to rouse your brain trying to remember what you can’t. It’ll all come back in due time.
I returned a slow nod to Faust’s placid advice.
Alright, for now, I should focus on what I currently know and see.
Dante	<And if it’s Lobotomy Corp we’re scouring… we might find some Enkephalin, too.>
Sinclair	Oh, does that mean we won’t have to… feed people into our vehicle?
Ishmael	We could also grab some E.G.O if we’re lucky, so that’s three rats with one stone.
E.G.O? That’s another unknown term that makes my head tilt…
But in any case, it seemed rather rude to keep talking to each other when we had a guest on board.
…And someone else seemed to agree.
Gregor	So, Miss Yuri, what’ve you been up to since the layoff?
Gregor gave his best shot at making some conversation with a well-meaning smile to put the newest passenger at ease.
His brows seemed to twitch due to a lack of practice, but it’s no big deal.
Don Quixote	It appears to me that thou art an honorable Fixer! It is said that all Fixers exude the noble scent of heroes!
As Yuri was nodding lightly, I heard Ishmael let out a deep sigh.
Ishmael	I don’t know who gave you that idea, but Fixers are anything but noble or heroic. The only scent you’ll smell is the miserable stink of wage slaves.
Gregor	…It couldn’t have been easy to find another job so soon. Good that you’re holding up.
Yuri	For now… I’m just a contract worker.
Ishmael	Aha. That explains why you decided to crawl on back there.
Ishmael	Did they promise to promote you to team leader or something if you struck gold in your former workplace?
Yuri	…My contracts might get extended if I return with results.
Gregor	R—Right. A good result is something to risk your life for if you want to earn a permanent spot.
Ishmael	Ha, and what a futile life that is.
Gregor	(Hey, what’s with the sarcasm? Is something a problem?)
Ishmael	…I dunno, I have a problem with every single thing I’m hearing right now.
Seemingly unaffected by the abrasive attitude, Yuri quietly took an empty seat.
Looking back and forth between the two, Gregor returned to his seat as well, scratching his head.
Dante	<I… can’t seem to get used to being around these people.>
Vergilius	It will be beneficial for you to adapt to them sooner than later, Dante.
Vergilius	…Charon, time to go. Our guest has taken her seat.
Charon	Mephi’s tum revived. Charon’s raring to drive.

Episode: 6
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Yuri	Umm, sorry to ask…
Yuri	But if I have the map, how do you know what roads to take?
Answerless, the bus keeps speeding anyway.
Charon	We do have something to lead us…
Charon	Intuition. Charon’s intuition.
Yuri	Whaaat?!
Charon	Pinky-hair, explain why you keep rubbing that odd paper in Charon’s face.
Yuri	Because you keep going in weird directions! Take a look at this map. Our destination is to the southeast of here…
Charon reluctantly gives the map a cursory glance, as she couldn’t ignore the thing right in front of her eyes.
Charon	Follow the heart. That’s where the true path lies.
Don Quixote	Hear, hear! We all must follow as our hearts lead!
Yuri	…You’re just admitting that you can’t read a map.
Ishmael	You took the words right out of my mouth.
Yuri and Ishmael put a palm over their respective faces at the same time, almost like they were in sync.
Rodion	Ooh! Did our driver make a new friend?
Charon	Pinky keeps on blabbing. I know the way.
Yuri	No, I mean, you’re going the wrong direction…
Charon	Look ahead, more obstacles. Do I vroom-vroom?
Vergilius	No, Charon. Wait one second.
Famished Hooligan	Lookie! Nice bus you got there! Why don’tcha gimme a ride!
Vergilius	…I guess Mephistopheles could use a helping of dessert.
Vergilius	Get on down… It needs to be fed just a bit more.

Episode: 7
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Yuri	Now Charon, tell me, is this east or west?
Charon	Charon only knows two directions: Mephi’s front and back.
Yuri	How did you come so far with a driver who has zero sense of direction?
Sinclair	Charon… Like I said, the sun rises from…
At the driver’s seat, three heads gathered together over a map.
Well, one of them might have been at a slightly different elevation from the others.
Rodion	Pft… Chiquita~ Aren’t you gonna join them too?
Don Quixote	I beg your pardon! I am no child! And most certainly not little!
Watching Don Quixote shake her fist sky-high at Rodya, I noticed a bitter gaze falling upon them out of the corner of my view.
Dante	<…I’m starting to think that Yuri gal might’ve put up with a rough childhood.>
Gregor turned around to take a glance in my direction, then shook his head and went back to looking at the driver’s side with his chin resting on his hand.
Gregor	…Wouldn’t be on the youngest side, either. Some Nests used to conscript anyone old enough to hold a knife.
Nests… A Nest was basically the center of a District, if my memory is correct.
Sounds like Nests used to get into wars with one another in the past.
Dante	<Did that happen often?>
Gregor	Not frequently, but it sure as hell did happen.
Gregor	…Interested in learning about wars, Manager Bud?
Dante	<Oh, I’m not really curious about the details, just gathering info I should know as the manager…>
As I was about to go on, a glimpse of Gregor’s expression I caught from the side stopped me in my tracks.
His eyes seemed to be fixed somewhere far more distant than the driver’s seat.
Gregor	Don’t get me wrong, Manager Bud, I’m not trying to criticize you or anything. Heck, it’s actually a pretty standup attitude for a boss, I’d say.
He slowly continued, taking a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
Gregor	Still, ignorance is a gift you should savor while you have it, if you ask me.
Gregor	Once you’re burdened with knowledge, there’s no going back.
Without another word, he lit his cigarette.
Yuri	No, you should’ve turned right at that intersection!
Sinclair	I-It’s okay, Charon. We can turn around at the next junction.
Charon	Ahh… The woes of a driver.
Gregor	Well… Looks like we have more pressing matters at hand. Ain’t that right, Manager Bud?
Gregor cackled with cigarette smoke still in his mouth.
I was still curious to learn what he’d been through, but he’s right that I should focus on other things for now.
An urgent matter showed up right before our bus-shaped doorstep, too.
Vergilius	Enough squabbling now. More enemies inbound.
Head Hooligan	You shoved my pals into that bus, you sick bastards! Are you nuts?
Head Hooligan	You’ll pay for this! We were just gonna leave with the bus, but now I’ve gotta see you all bleed!
Charon	Verg, fuel is making a fuss. Charon will get dizzy if many mouths are being noisy.
Vergilius	Nothing to worry about, Charon. They’ll shut their mouths soon enough.
Vergilius	Off the bus.

Episode: 8
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Yuri	Okay, let’s look at the map again.
Charon	……
Sinclair	Charon, can you please focus?
Looking at the trio arguing over the map once again, a question arose in my mind.
Dante	<By the way, this bus was specifically made for Limbus Company, right?>
Faust	It was made exclusively for us, to be more precise.
Isn’t that basically what I said?
Faust	You appear to be failing to identify the nuance.
Dante	<…That’s weird, I don’t think I spoke that part out loud.>
Is the clock broken or something?
Faust	I can tell that much without hearing it verbalized.
Faust	There is nothing that Faust doesn’t know, after all.
Dante	<Anyway, it must’ve taken a long while to get it out of the oven. Especially with that… “mouth” on the side.>
Faust	It only took the expected amount of time.
Dante	<……>
Faust	……
She’s downright oppressive to talk to.
Faust	Faust is a well-renowned genius. She knows the ins and outs of the City.
Heathcliff	Oi, if you’re so smart, why don’t you help those twits at the driverside figure out the way. Can’t sleep a wink with their constant bickering.
Faust	Faust is no meddler. She answers to questions, but doesn’t chime in without being asked first.
Faust	Additionally, there is no greater joy for a human being than to ponder on problems in order to grasp an answer. Faust would rather not spoil that delight.
Ishmael	He wouldn’t get it. I doubt he’s pondered on anything ever.
I saw Heathcliff’s grip on the bat tighten, however…
With Vergilius casting a glare his way, he clicked his tongue as he crossed his arms and forced his eyes shut.
Dante	<I wonder why they’re so vitriolic…>
Gregor	Huh. You and me both, Manager Bud. You and me both.
With Gregor’s snickers, the bus started again.

Episode: 9
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Rodion	Bweh… Greg, you know those pals?
Gregor	Huh? Gimme a break… There’s no way I’d know someone in this corner of the Backstreets―
Gregor’s face goes dark the moment he looks out the window.
Dante	<…Bug heads?>
Unlike the other miscreants we’ve run into, they were part insectoid.
Rodion	Gosh… Dante, thank goodness your head’s shaped like a clock. I would’ve gagged if my manager was a huge bug.
Ishmael	Isn’t that… the same type of augmentation you have, Gregor?
Heathcliff	They stitch disgusting insect heads to their necks on purpose?
Gregor	You’d better stay away. Wouldn’t want to catch the pest, ‘ne?
Sinclair	Eek, is that true?!
Gregor	Just a joke… Does my sense of humor not fly with kids your age?
While Gregor was left scratching his head, the bus made a languishing sound and came to a slow, deflating halt.
Faust	In the past, G Corp. had procedures on most employees to give them biomimetic weapons like the one Gregor has.
Ishmael	You used to work for the old G Corp, Gregor? That company must’ve been…
Ishmael frowned as if she remembered something unpleasant, but didn’t speak further.
Gregor wore a smile on his mouth, but his hardened eyes were resting downcast, just as a moment ago.
Hong Lu	I wonder, where do people like them sleep at night?
Vergilius	For many, the sky is the roof over their head, and the stars are their firelight.
Hong Lu	Aha, so they’re the poetic sort!
Dante	<I don’t think that’s what he meant…>
Vergilius	And, unless my eyes deceive me, they’re intent on obstructing our journey.
Vergilius	Aren’t you going to get off, Gregor?
Gregor	Care to explain why you’re calling my name specifically?
Vergilius	Who knows. I don’t feel like rambling about someone else’s past with my own tongue.
Vergilius	Take the lead, Gregor. You know the reason.
Gregor	…You’re one nasty fellow.
A group of soldiers with the heads of insects gathered near the bus.
Gregor	Bah… I’m not too fond of being in the vanguard.
InsectMan2	What are you? Why does your arm look like ours?
InsectMan3	Hold on… I’ve seen that face before.
Gregor	…Mostly on flyers and magazine covers, I’d bet.
Dante	<Gregor? Do you know them from somewhere?>
Ishmael	…Not really important right now, Manager. Don’t think we have the time for reminiscing.
InsectMan2	That arm bothers me… But, whatever. Point is, I can’t let you through.
Dante	<Is that so. I suppose we can’t talk this out…>
Rodion	Why are they showing their buggy sides out in the open, anyway?
Rodion	They’d make kids cry. Really ought to take some concealing lessons from our Greg over here, right?
Gregor	I’m a special case. The procedure makes those “buggy” parts grow on the head most of the time.
Gregor	Although… I’m not sure if I’d consider myself lucky.
Yuri	It feels like they’re trying to stop us from getting to the branch facility for some reason.
Rodion	Are they after the Golden Bough too?
Vergilius	Maybe so.
Vergilius	There ought to be many that are after the essence.
Vergilius	…And I’m sure each has their own wishes. Isn’t that true?
Gregor	What’s that look for? I haven’t got a clue, either.

Episode: 10
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Charon	We’re here. Charon knew the way all along.
Yuri	No, no you didn’t! Sinclair and I had to steer you from both sides nonstop.
Sinclair	I’m glad that at least you learned to tell the difference between southeast and northeast, Charon.
Dante	<So this is… the old L Corp?>
Ishmael	This is my first time seeing it with my own eyes, too… It can’t have been long since ‘that’ happened.
Hong Lu	My goodness… How can a building be in such a derelict state?
Heathcliff	Hah, this is a surprising scene for our rich boy, is it.
Vergilius	Cut the chatter. Time to step off.
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Entrance
Dante	<Huh, there are people over there…>
Faust	They’re Fixers from the same Office as Miss Yuri.
Faust	They’re experienced explorers who have visited the branches of L Corp. a number of times.
Vergilius	Give your greetings. The person on the left is Hopkins, and the one on the right is Aya.
Aya	Greetings~
Hopkins	Th… The… The—
Hopkins	The Red Gaze! It’s—it’s such an honor to meet you…! I’ve heard so many stories of your deeds, and to see you in person…
Vergilius	Myeah.
Vergilius	See the shabby warehouse there? That’s where the stairs leading down to the branch facility are.
Vergilius	From there, Yuri here will be your guide.
Yuri	…Yeah.
Vergilius	These Fixers have been around a bit. Count on them to handle complications.
Vergilius	That should be enough, yeah? This is as far as I can accompany you. I’ll be waiting back at the bus.
Dante	<Huh? Wait, what?>
Vergilius	You’re sorely mistaken if you expect me to babysit you forever, Dante.
Heathcliff	So you’ll take a back seat and idle away all alone?
Vergilius	If I get myself involved, the expedition would be a little too free of challenge, wouldn’t it? It’d turn into more of a tour.
Gregor	…In other words, you want us to come back red, black, and blue.
Ishmael	That’s the kind of line people with ulterior motives say…
Vergilius	Think whatever you want.
Vergilius	I’ve gotten you guides and everything, so do your best down there.
Hopkins	Yes! I certainly won’t disappoint you, Mister Red Gaze!
Aya	I’ll try my best, I think~

Episode: 11
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Exterior
Vergilius	…Dante. A moment with me, please.
While the team was busy exchanging greetings, Vergilius called me to a secluded place.
Vergilius	Let me tell you in advance that they’re only Grade 8 Fixers.
Dante	<Grade 8?>
Vergilius	…It means they’re low-rank drudges, errands being their main tasks.
Vergilius	Use them for your benefit, but don’t rely on them.
Dante	<I can’t count on them to deal with everything for us, in other words.>
I nodded to let him know that I understood his point.
Vergilius	…You might be the only one on the bus I can actually converse with.
Vergilius	…Well, best of luck, Dante.
Vergilius pat my shoulder with a bitter smile before slowly making his way back to the bus.

Episode: 12
We entered the derelict building of Lobotomy Corporation.
As the light goes dim, the dreadful stench from underground grows stronger.
Sinclair	Urk… The smell… It’s awful…
Yi Sang	Mmm… I can feel the waste collecting in my lungs.
Yi Sang	The odor is so intense, it winds back to refreshing.
Faust	Let me warn you one last time: If you die here, Dante won’t be able to resuscitate you even when the battle has finished.
Hopkins	Resuscitate…?
Aya	Must be a popular joke or something~ Whew, I can’t even tell what kind of stories circulate the City these days~
They seem to have misunderstood us, but seeing as Faust made no comment on it, I decided not to add my input.
The sources of this rancid smell were a more pressing concern.
Dante	<Looks like they probably died a while ago.>
Outis	An astute observation, Manager. The corpses have reached the stage of active decay.
Rodion	Bleh, looks like the bugs are having a feast over there.
Gregor	…Let’s just hurry along.
Rodion	Huh… Something up, Gregor babe? Are you scared of bugs?
Gregor	…Now, I’m sure you’re more mature than shoving dead bugs in someone’s face…
Rodion	Boo!!!
Gregor	But just in case one of y― Gah! Put it away! What’s so funny about this?!
Rodion	Pffhaw… I mean, it’s hilarious~ Who would’ve thought that you of all people’d be scared of these little wrigglers…
Rodion	…Greg? Did you hate it that bad?
Gregor	…Forget it.
Outis	You there! Stop with your mischief this instant. Do not cause additional concerns for our manager!
Faust	Hold on… this body is still warm.
Yi Sang	Such is the sign of a recent attack.
The gloom that had cast over Yuri’s face cleared after observing the bodies for a minute.
Yuri	These aren’t our… I mean, Lobotomy Corporation’s employees.
Ishmael	I heard these buried facilities are considered pure goldmines now, attracting all sorts looking for riches.
Ishmael	Phrases like the “Lobotomy Dream” or the “Enkephalin Rush” are apparently starting to catch on among Fixers and Syndicates.
Ryoshu	LD, E-Rush… Got a nice ring to it…
Ishmael	Sigh, that’s what you have to say after keeping quiet for so long…?
Yi Sang	Is such a frivolous use of English not prone to blurring the original meaning?
Ishmael	That’s what I’m sayi―
Ishmael	Huh, you seem to be talking a lot more than usual, Yi Sang?
Yi Sang	Does that reflect strangely?
Faust	He was never really the quiet sort.
Faust	He only had a… shift recently.
Outis	It’s not a bad thing to have more lackeys with keen eyes.
Outis	I’d like you to keep that up. Let us march.
Yi Sang	You make yourself look like the captain here. I dare say that role belongs to the manager.
Outis	…Please forgive my insolence, Manager.
Frowning as though she were caught off-guard, Outis bows to me as she apologizes.
Dante	<N-No, it’s nothing. Let’s head down.>
Most of the corpses’ body parts were morphed in bizarre ways.
One had pairs of wings protruding through their intestines, and another had horribly twisted antennae hanging down.
Yuri	These look kinda similar to the thugs we ran into just before, don’t they?
Ishmael	You mean those bug-headed people?
Outis	Quiet, I’m seeing Uniform Tangos ahead.
As Outis noted, multiple figures could be seen down the corridor.
Rodion	(Uni…form? What’s all that?)
Gregor	(Unidentified targets… Possibly hostile.)
Outis	…Mhm.
I’m sure one idea crossed all of our minds:
The enigmatic ‘Abnormalities’ that might be roaming this facility, as Faust mentioned.
That might be what those shadowy figures are.
Outis	…We have no choice but to face them.
Crooked Veteran	Hey! Who goes there?!
Instead, what we faced was people.
It was too early to deem that as fortunate, though.
Crooked Veteran	Huh? I thought we were the only people ‘round here.
Vulgar Veteran	Did they slip past our team at the entrance? Those scavengers keep coming one after the other.
Heathcliff	Oi, bug buggers! You friends with the bodies back there?
Vulgar Veteran	Bodies?! You bastards didn’t…
Crooked Veteran	Wait.
Crooked Veteran	…I don’t know where you scum’re from, but hear me out a sec.
Crooked Veteran	You’re here for the Enkephalin, aren’t ya? If you go just one floor down, there’s a treasure trove just waiting to be nabbed.
Crooked Veteran	Whatever’s on that floor is yours. We’ll just take what we can here and be on our…
Crooked Veteran	…way. Ha—Haha.
Gregor	Tsk, so you recognized me, huh.
The moment the soldier’s eyes landed on Gregor’s face…
Their thin veil of kindness was torn down.
Crooked Veteran	Traitorous pissant…
Gregor	Ahh, you must’ve been dispatched to the front lines too. I look better in real life than on those flyers, right?
Crooked Veteran	Cut the cheeky crap! I’m disgusted that I once saluted to your face.
Gregor	Whoa, easy there, it’s not like you had to salute me in person.
Vulgar Veteran	While you posed as a normal member of society thanks to your dumbass privilege freeing you from the side effects…
Vulgar Veteran	We never even got a chance, you fraternizer. We were thrown away right after the war was lost.
Gregor	…I was tossed out all the same, you know. Isn’t that how it is for all the soldiers?
Gregor	So this is the lifestyle you chose? Rifling through the trash like actual bugs?
Outis	Halt! No good can come out of taunting your foe!
Gregor	You served the military too. Y’know where this is going.
Gregor	We’re not getting outta this without a fight.
Crooked Veteran	…We were planning to let you through, we really were.
Vulgar Veteran	But now, I’ll mince you and your traitor friend into mutt meat.
Heathcliff	Like hell you were. You were gonna wait for us to climb back up with the Enkephalin so you could backstab us and swipe it.
Sinclair	W—Wait, were they?
Heathcliff	They’ve fallen to rock bottom and below, an’ I swear down they don’t care a whit for honor, eh?
Heathcliff	Well-off or broke, people turn on each other as long as there’s something. You’re way too naive to think otherwise.

Episode: 13
Gregor lights his cigarette and takes a drag, followed by smoke streaming out from his mouth.
Ishmael	They’d have fared better than this if they got a job at a security company or something…
Outis	They spent their entire lives as soldiers. The changes required for them to start a new life must have been overwhelming.
Gregor	You have no idea how stubbornly the stigma of a fallen Wing’s remnants will haunt you. If anyone’s generous enough to take you in, licking their boots is the least you can do…
Yuri	……
Gregor	Oh… Sorry ‘bout that. Should’ve chosen my words carefully.
Yuri	No, it’s fine. I’m sure things were rough with G Corp’s fall, too.
Yuri	…The breaking of a Wing is a turbulent affair for many people.

Episode: 14
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Yuri	I’ve never seen those before…
Hopkins	You don’t know?
Hopkins’ face quickly turned into a cold frown.
It was in such stark contrast to the face he showed before Vergilius, I shuddered in fright.
Yuri	No, I… Well…
Hopkins	Don’t you know why we bothered to let a fallen Wing’s feather into our Office?
Yuri	T—To deal with requests taking place in L Corp. branches more safely…
Hopkins	Exactly. I didn’t even expect much from a low-rank agent.
Hopkins	Just two simple jobs: lead the way, and tell us how to deal with those Abnormaladies or whatever.
Hopkins	Now look… What do you expect us to do with just “Oh nooo, I’ve never seen those before!” Huh?
Aya	Gosh, Hopkins, feeling hangry? Take it easy~
Yuri	……
Faust	If they are in fact new to Ms. Yuri, then these might be another type of entity derived from Abnormalities… Perhaps a new species.
Yi Sang	That Corporation might not have had every specimen in their confines, either.
Yi Sang	Yuri, there is no reason to lambaste yourself for neglecting to remember what you were never taught.
Hopkins	Ahem…
Yuri	…Thank you, sir.
Heathcliff	What’s there to argue about? All that matters is we beat ‘em to death, right?
Meursault	Give the word, and we’ll do it.

Episode: 15
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Hopkins	Impressive… I expected no less of the Red Gaze’s minions.
Ryoshu	…What’d you say?
Aya	Oh boy, there goes Hopkins again, being clumsy with his tongue… I’ll apologize in his stead~ Heheh.
Aya	What’s taking you so long though, Hopkins? Hemorrhoids acting up again?
Hopkins	W-What—no I’m not! Dunno what you mean…
Hopkins got up after a bit of dawdling.
His pockets were laden with something, but I decided not to bother pointing it out.

Episode: 16
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Faust	Well, I suppose this place is as good as any.
As I opened the door, Faust suddenly stood before me.
Faust	Dante, close your eyes and look for the glimmer hiding in the dark.
Faust	Find the faint star of truth, twinkling gently.
Dante	<The star… This one won’t hurt, right?>
Faust	It shouldn’t cause you any pain since you’re simply locating it.
Something about the way Faust put that bothered me, but I decided to trust her and block my sight.
Faust	When you open your eyes, what seemed so far away…
Faust	Will shine right into your vision.
Dante	<That’s… beautiful.>
Dante	<That light… Is it only visible to me?>
Faust	Not quite. Through you, now all of us can see it.
Faust	Even though we’re inside a dungeon, we can now reap the benefits of your ability through the star.
Ishmael	Can you please hurry up with the clock, then? I think I dislocated my shoulder.
Yuri	The clock? It wasn’t just for show?
Gregor	That’s not all it does. They have a really neat power. You should come and take a look, Yuri.
Dante	<…Will no one recognize the pain I endure?>

Episode: 17
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Rodion	Ah~ That felt real good.
Dante	<I’m dying here…>
Aya	What an amazing clock you’ve got~ I haven’t seen that technology anywhere.
Hopkins	That has to be on the level of a S-Singularity… What Wing could be responsible…
Hopkins greedily stared at my head.
I really tried to ignore it, but looking at his stuffed pockets again…
Rodion	Dante? Why are you clutching your head like that?
Dante	<I—It’s nothing.>
Yi Sang	Miss Faust, can our manager not restore the lives of our guides using the clock’s power?
Faust	The clock will only work for us Sinners.
Aya	Aw, gee~ I s’pose that’s for the better.
Aya	Imagine you’re dragged right back to life with a gaping hole in your stomach. Wouldn’t that suck?
Aya	Nah, y’know what, you’re lucky if a hole is punched in your gut. You’d be a goner in seconds―
Dante	<Huh…? Wait―!>
Aya	Ah.
A hard tentacle erupts from the wall and penetrates Aya’s abdomen in an instant.
Outis	All units, prepare for battle.
Aya	…What’d I tell you?
Aya	I’ve always… been a… lucky girl…
Yuri	AYA!!
Yi Sang	Her life has departed.
Gregor	……
Gregor	Come, now... You’ll have to keep it together, especially in times like these, yeah?
Yuri	B-But…
Faust	The attack is under an unusual form. It’s likely that we are facing an Abnormality.
Outis	Manager. Your command, please.
I felt pity for Yuri; she looked at Aya’s corpse and then back to us with tears. Nevertheless…
Dante	<…Yuri, Hopkins, and Aya. Those three I can’t revive.>
Dante	<We have to fight now if we don’t want any more casualties.>
Outis	A wise decision, Manager.
Hopkins	You can make sense of that ticking…?
Outis gave Hopkins a fiery glare, but soon reminded herself of her priorities and breathed in to shout.
Outis	…It’s the manager’s order, lackeys!
Outis	You will surround the enemy in formation. The target is the Uniform ahead!
Yuri	…Okay.
Gregor	To be honest… I’m not sure if you can say that thing has a “form”.
Slowly encroaching vines, followed by the shadow of a figure that looks to be several times taller than a human.
It… was approaching, begetting fright unlike any foe we’ve faced up until now.

Episode: 18
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Heathcliff	So what? That was it?
Ishmael	I heard Abnormalities were supposed to be so powerful that even suppressing them is a dangerous task…
Faust	It’s the Qliphoth Deterrence in action.
Heathcliff	Huh? Coffee pots?
Faust	…A force that weakens Abnormalities. Its original purpose is to safely supervise them in containment.
Faust	As we continue our assignment in collecting more Golden Boughs, the deterrence will weaken as well. Although this was a simple battle…
Ishmael	…Later on, one of them might take our lives more than a hundredfold to handle it.
That’s a terrifying thought…
Dante	<…Where’d its corpse go, anyway? I’m pretty sure that attack did it in…>
Outis	It was felled without a doubt. All thanks to your exceptional command, Manager.
Dante	<It couldn’t have disappeared into the sky…>
Outis	Brilliant insight as always, Manager. Such possibilities cannot be ruled out.
Gregor	…Is the tough-looking ceiling above us not a thing to you two?
Yuri	…Over there.
Listless, Yuri pointed at something.
The shock of losing Aya must’ve shaken her badly, but seeing her hold her own and keep her head up…
I felt I should let her be and follow along with her for a while.
Dante	<…Is that an egg?>
Faust	It’s the core of the Abnormality. When suppressed via appropriate measures, it will be reduced to this condensed ovate form.
Yuri	…And it’ll hatch, once enough time has passed here.
Heathcliff	Hatch? You’ve got to be joking…
Ishmael	You mean, those things won’t die?
Faust	Abnormalities simply cannot die. It’s one of the factors that contributed to L Corp’s massive energy production.
Yuri	As an employee, my job was to put the core back in its containment unit… Now things have changed.
Ishmael	Umm… What can we do before this egg hatches?
Faust	Limbus Company has a department dedicated to dealing with Abnormalities like this. They’ll retrieve them for us.
Yuri	Right… Was it the After Team? I remember hearing about them during orientation.
Rodion	What’s stopping you from calling them now?
Faust	The transmission device… is on Mephistopheles.
Gregor	…Figures.
Faust	No need to worry. Once we have the Golden Bough, we’ll return whether we like it or not.

Episode: 19
We went down a floor.
Yuri	I didn’t think I’d come back here.
Faust	Most of Lobotomy Corporation’s facilities consist of multiple floors.
Faust	And each floor is expected to be occupied by an Abnormality marking its domain.
Rodion	Seriously?! There’s more of ‘em?
Gregor	So… Where’d you figure all that info about what we’ll face and stuff?
Faust	Faust knows it all.
Yuri	The guide said a Before Team does reconnaissance in advance.
Gregor	…So you only know that because you have ties to the staff.
Faust	I never claimed otherwise.
Outis	Anyway, this means we should expect a great threat on every floor.
Outis	It’d be idiotic to advance into the unknown without making sure that we’re clear of danger in at least one direction, leaving us with no choice but to take them down as we go…
Faust	You took the words right out of Faust’s mouth.
Yi Sang	Is it not a splendid thing to be able to convey your intentions before they have been verbalized?
Faust	…Dante, it’s time to see the star.
Dante	<I’m your manager, not a scapegoat, you know…>

Episode: 20
Another veteran appeared in the dark, carrying a depressed aura.
His sparkling old badge seemed to signify a high rank once held.
InsectMan	…Manager Gregor?
Gregor	I think I remember that face of yours. But why?
InsectMan	…I was the head manager of your team.
InsectMan	Not only did you desert us, you now have the audacity to take the lives of your old comrades—my subordinates.
Gregor	Look, the war ended a decade ago. But, I guess some folks still haven’t let go of their obsolete ranks, huh?
InsectMan	Ended? Nothing has ended.
InsectMan	Nothing… has ended… dammit…
InsectMan	The war may have been over for you when you deserted G Corp…
InsectMan	But we’re fighting for our lives on the battlefield to this day.
Gregor	As much as I didn’t want to relate to you this way…
Gregor	I’m not really that different here.
InsectMan	Then you ought to understand, Gregor.
InsectMan	There is only one verdict that awaits deserters.
Gregor	You say that like it means something… But it’s against company policy to carry out summary execution for personal revenge, my Head Manager.

Episode: 21
Perhaps the time this ex-soldier spent off the battlefield was long enough to rust his prowess.
The head manager who must have defeated countless enemies in his glory days was now nearing his own end.
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
InsectMan	You were once well-respected, Gregor…
Gregor	…I never really asked for respect.
InsectMan	Don’t proceed any further… Only hell awaits you.
Gregor	Sorry, but I don’t think I can follow your advice. I ought to be a go-getter if I don’t wanna be fired.
InsectMan	Have you abandoned your honor… for some pittance?
Gregor	I sold that away long ago, right with my medal. Landlord couldn’t wait for rent any longer.
A bitter smile appeared on the head manager’s face.
InsectMan	You’re… no different from us…
InsectMan	In the end, we’re…
InsectMan	Nothing… but disgusting pests…
He took a few more shallow breaths, then ceased to move.
Gregor	…Hey, mind if I borrow a cig?
Ryoshu	…Just this once.
Gregor put the borrowed cigarette next to the one he already held in his mouth, then lit it and tossed it on the chest of the deceased commander.
Gregor	Sorry, didn’t wanna share mine with that thing.
Ryoshu	…Hmph.
Ryōshū gave a snort. The smoke from Gregor’s cigarette lingered with the prevailing silence in the air for a short while.

Episode: 22
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Ishmael	There appear to be no more signs of the ex-soldiers from this point onward.
Sinclair	The commander did warn us not to go further…
As we proceeded, we discovered bodies that seemed to have been there for quite some time.
Yuri	These are our… no, L Corp’s employees…
Yi Sang	I see traces of blunt instruments. All the bodies share them, in fact.
Yuri	A management report… This document contains instructions for keeping Abnormalities in check.
Yuri	Normally, employees tasked with catering to Abnormalities memorize the instructions to the point of reciting them flawlessly… They don’t usually carry notes like these.
Yi Sang	I dare suspect that no remaining employees had the necessary information when an Abnormality breached…
Heathcliff	…Hmh.
Yuri	If the eggs weren’t moved into containment yet… that could be the case.
Dante	<There are way too many corpses here.>
Ishmael	What kind of Abnormality could have massacred all these employees―
Ishmael	Wait… What’s this smell?
Hopkins	…You see, our Office purchased an expensive device the other day.
Heathcliff	What’re you on about?
Hopkins	Sources suggested that toxin levels started to rise after a certain floor.
Rodion	Uh, I’ve been bleeding from my ears a bit~ Is this okay?
Don Quixote	No battle is without adversi― Pfehgh, gahf! Khoff!
Hopkins	I was told that continued exposure to it may cause bleeding, like that.
Rodion	Nhg… How are you so fine, though?
Yuri	This is… It’s the anti-Abnormality gas grenade supplied to employees.
Yuri	One must’ve… Cough… Gone off… Somewhere between the bodies here…
Hopkins	True, the toxicity levels do appear to be intense around this area.
Hopkins had put on a gas mask before we noticed.
Rodion	Hey now, what about us?
Faust	We weren’t granted any additional supplies.
Heathcliff	You slippery rat, you knew all this time? You’re not getting away with… Ngh…
Heathcliff stopped mid-sentence and fell to one knee.
Faust	Your blood flow will quicken if you’re agitated. In other words, the toxin will spread faster.
Faust	Try to remain calm, minimize movement, and breathe at regular intervals.
Yuri	Hopkins… Why… Cough. Why didn’t you tell me about this?
Hopkins	Oh, I’ve got a question for you too, Yuri.
Hopkins	Why would I make our Office waste our precious funds on expensive gadgets for dead weight like you to use?
Yuri	……
Hopkins	If we’re being real, it’s a miracle that you managed to join us in the first place.
Hopkins	Maybe Aya took pity and gave you special treatment… but she’s gone now, so who cares?
Heathcliff	Sneaky blighter… Is that how you want to live…
Hopkins	Don’t be silly, everything’s fair game for a Fixer.
Hopkins	Hearing that the Red Gaze had company tickled my curiosity, but as it turns out…
Hopkins	You were just a bunch of ragtag lunatics who thought it’d be a good idea to walk straight into these facilities with zero prep.
Heathcliff	What a sick joke… Can’t do anything but watch…
Feeling the ire towards him, Hopkins backed away and scurried to the exit.
Hopkins	Well, at least I managed to grab an armful of Enkephalin thanks to you.
Hopkins	I’ll write in my report that you all went missing, ‘cause “suffocated to death” is just too embarrassing.
Hopkins	Ta-ta.
Yuri	……
Yuri slumped to the floor, watching blood pour from her nose to her hands.
And she’s not the only one. Rodya, Heathcliff, and the other Sinners are suffering from blood loss too.
Dante	<Gregor?>
Gregor	Tsk, I took this with me so you could have something to remember her by…
He was holding the same type of gas mask as the one Hopkins wore.
Yuri	But why…
Gregor	Heard Aya—cough—gave you special treatment, didn’t she…? This is as good as yours then.
Gregor	As for our unprepared band of lunatics… we do have a way out. Don’t worry about us.
Coughing up blood, Yuri put on the mask.
Yuri	…I know he’s right.
Yuri	I know earning recognition from an Office of strangers is a hard thing to do, even if I take on all kinds of errands day and night.
Yuri	There were only 3 minutes left until the branch was locked down…
Announcement	[INITIATING SITE BURIAL.]
Yuri	The doors were about to close on me.
Announcement	[ENERGY TRANSFER IS 85% COMPLETE.]
Alex	Yuri, don’t leave me behind! Yuri!
Yuri	So what else am I supposed to do?
Yuri	Is it so wrong that I survived?
Yuri	Should I have been buried alive alongside my coworkers?
Yuri	When the whole building was going under, all so the Abnormalities won’t escape?
Gregor	Khoff… It is a sin. At least down here.
Ishmael	Kahoff, kahf. That stings a little, Gregor…
Standing astounded, I snapped back to reality and checked on the Sinners.
Half of them had already passed away on the floor, and Ishmael’s head drooped just after she said her last words.
Yuri	A sin…
Gregor	But, pah… So what, buddy…
Gregor	You’ve got to live on like it’s nobody’s business.
Gregor	Cough. Laying guilt on yourself over spilt milk… will wear your heart out…
Yuri	……
With Gregor drawing his last breath, Yuri and I became the only surviving members standing in the area.
Dante	<Uhm… D-Don’t worry too much about us. I can take them back there and revive them.>
I knew mechanical ticking was all Yuri could hear, but I did my best to communicate my message to her nonetheless.
Yuri	…I know.
Yuri ended the conversation with not a word after.
After a long period of awkward gloom, the toxic gas finally dispersed.
Yuri	…Looks like it’s okay now.
Dante	<Hmm? Oh, yeah.>
Yuri	I’ll give you a hand. Let’s go bring your people back to life.
Saying that, Yuri took the gas mask off and calmly carried the Sinners on her shoulders, one by one.
Unsure what to say for her, I remained quiet.

Episode: 23
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Dante	<Were those Abnormalities responsible for killing all the employees?>
Yuri	I doubt that. If my guess is right…
Outis	Keep your eyes ahead, Manager. There’s another one of them.
A humanoid being wearing the head of a statue was sitting against the wall.
LobotomyFriend	Hi…? Are you… here to… draw your lot…?
LobotomyFriend	Gather all your IDs… and give them… to me… Then we’ll find the winner.
Its hand was barely grasping onto the strap of an employee ID card. “Alex” was the name written on it.
Yuri	…Alex.
Heathcliff	Gone nuts, hasn’t she? And what’s that babble about winners?
Yuri	Some Abnormalities… demanded regular offerings as part of the managerial guidelines.
LobotomyFriend	You shouldn’t go that way… They will find you…
Yuri	…And the offering happened, didn’t it?
LobotomyFriend	It’s your turn… to draw…
Dante	<Offering…?>
Ishmael	What happens if no human sacrifice is made?
Yuri	We never found out… We followed every procedure without fail.
Ishmael	I guess it escaped and started killing people left and right.
Heathcliff	Ha! That “Abnormality” must’ve been one spineless bugger. Does it thwack victims in the back of the head?
Yuri	What… do you mean?
Heathcliff	Did you all get jabbed in the eyes or what? Those wounds were clearly left by humans. You can tell they were beating the shite out of each other.
Heathcliff	Those thickos killed each other in a fight.
Yuri	B—But for what reason?
Heathcliff	S’clear as day.
Heathcliff	Probably figured they could survive a while even after the branch was buried.
Heathcliff	Keep offering folks from time to time, and the rest might get rescued one day.
Heathcliff	Guess they kept the lots going for a few months. It was the safest way they had to keep the thing in check.
Heathcliff	Problem, though: Y’think the one picked as the fall guy would gladly accept his fate?
Heathcliff	If I was them, I’d rather strangle the bloke next to me.
Heathcliff	Better them than me, ain’t that right?
Heathcliff	…An’ the rest is history, I bet.
Ishmael	And the last survivor… put on the stone mask belonging to the statueheads…
Ishmael	Believing that it’ll save her from being sacrificed.
Yuri	That can’t be. Alex wouldn’t kill others just so she could live…
Heathcliff	How do you know that? You can’t even be sure if that’s actually Alex or not.
LobotomyFriend	Let me… give you a tip…
LobotomyFriend	You’ll be much better off… going on your own foot… before they come take you… Kehe… Kehe…
Outis	Let us be on our way. This person will perish before long.
While everyone else moved along, Yuri remained in place and continued to stare down the statue-clad individual.
Yuri	It wasn’t your fault… You know it’s not, right?
LobotomyFriend	Leave me behind, Yuri… Please leave me…
Yuri	……
Dante	<…Time to go.>

Episode: 24
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Rodion	This floor is crawling with maggots.
Dante	<These bugs aren’t so bad after the last floor’s Abnormality. Don’t want anything like that ever again.>
Rodion	Pft… Sure Greg would be glad to hear that. Aren’t you, buggy buddy?
But Gregor wasn’t paying attention to Rodya.
Gregor	…Don’t you all hear something?
Ishmael	We’ve been hearing a constant growl. Rodya, are you really that hungry at a time like this?
Rodion	H-Hey, you’re supposed to let that kinda stuff slide~ Please, girl?
Gregor	No, not that… It’s like…
For the first time on the expedition, Gregor walked ahead of the group and opened the door next to him as if by some compulsion.
Yuri	Wait, that’s a containment unit…!
Gregor	It’s like… that time…
No, the door was already open.
Gregor gazed into the shower of golden light pouring from the room.
Dante	<Grego—!>
Ishmael	Did we… travel back in time?
I see an overcast sky.
Cries and screams twist and ring out at a distance.
And in that sky, gunfire and artillery create a cacophony.
Outis	Isn’t it clear enough? This is…
Location: Midst of the Smoke War
Outis	A battlefield… The heart of it.
Gregor	…A-Am I… dreaming? Or a nightmare? Why—Why here again…
Heathcliff	So why the hell are we in a bloody battlefield?! Is this a trap or something?
Faust	No. We’re on the right track.
Faust	The essence of the technology we’re looking for is not far from here.
Ishmael	You mean the Golden Bough?
Faust	Correct. Do you recognize when this was?
Outis	Anyone with functioning eyes should know at a glance.
Dante	<Uhhh, I actually… don’t.>
I confessed.
Outis	It’s obvious that you wouldn’t recognize this, Manager. You don’t have eyes that fit conventional definitions.
Ishmael	Was that the best excuse you have…
Outis cleared her throat as if to mask her embarrassment, then turned her narrow gaze to the battlefield.
Outis	Judging from the colorful wave of garish flags showing off the factions in play…
Outis	This is at least 70 days into the Smoke War…
Outis	…This concludes briefing, Manager.
Suddenly, there was a strong tug at Heathcliff’s coat from behind.
Tomah	Are you out of your minds? You need shelter, now! You’ll age rapidly if exposed to that bomb’s blast!
Tomah	The outpost next to ours turned into a nursing home—they can’t even walk without sticks!
Heathcliff	Who the hell are you and why do you act like you know us—
Tomah	Oh! Manager Gregor! My respects, sir!
The bandaged man snapped to attention and saluted Gregor as soon as he saw him.
Gregor	…You.
Tomah	You wouldn’t recognize me, sir. I’m Tomah from Biomimetics Maintenance!
Tomah	I thought you were part of the front unit; I didn’t expect to find you here at the back.
Tomah	Are you on your way to the front? I could help you get there since the augmentation on my legs allows me to jump―
Rodion	Bweh, that sounds gross.
Tomah looked at Rodya with suspicion.
Tomah	You, what did you just…
Gregor	H-Hey, Tomah! So you’re an assistant manager—or regular staff?
Tomah	Sir, yes, sir! I’m an assistant private, sir!
Gregor	Err, you see, s-she’s a new hire who had her procedure not too long ago, so… Still getting over the confusion, y’know. I’ll give her a good talking to.
Tomah	Ah, I get it… Our corporation must be getting desperate, sending unprepared employees to battle.
Gregor	Yeah, we’re—sorry for the trouble. I’ve got to take her somewhere real quick…
Gregor practically yanked himself out of the conversation and hurriedly walked to Faust.
Gregor	Just what’s going on, Faust? These are…
Gregor	…my memories.
Faust	We’re in the fathoms of your ego, to be precise.
Faust	An open path in your psyche. In other words…
Faust	We’ve entered your heart and mind, Gregor.

Episode: 25
Location: Central Front in the Smoke War
Yuri	Guh… I think I’m gonna throw up. Everything is wobbling…
Faust	It would appear that psychogenic pressure is rising.
Faust	But you should be… fine…
Gregor	I think I once had an unsettling nightmare.
Gregor	Maybe I’m still in one, even now.
Gregor	In this dream, there are only two colors in the room where I stand.
Gregor	The blue covering every wall, and the dangling dot of red.
Gregor	I know how to get out of here, too.
Gregor	All I had to do was stretch out my arm and cut the hanging apple.
Gregor	The people in blue coats seemed to think I failed to understand that.
Gregor	They would come in several times a day and explain it to me over and over…
Gregor	Unfortunately for them, that wasn’t the part I struggled to understand.
Gregor	When I finally gave up thinking about it, and the sliced apple fell to the floor…
Gregor	The door was opened.
Gregor	I don’t remember what drove me to do it.
Gregor	Maybe I was exhausted mentally.
Gregor	Or maybe I thought to resign myself to it.
Gregor	In either case, what I do remember is my desire to break free from the nightmare.
???	You finally did it. I knew you could. The surgery was successful, after all.
???	You just have to keep it up. Chop up the apples in front of you. Simple, isn’t it?
???	Oh, right. Happy fifteenth birthday!
Gregor	…Okay.
Gregor	A nightmare I escaped through renunciation and resignation.
Gregor	One day, as I awoke from my unsettling dreams…
Gregor	I had found myself transformed into some hideous pest.
Gregor	I cut apples in half.
Gregor	Some were hard, some crumbly, some were soft, some sappy.
Gregor	The sugary smell made me sick sometimes.
Gregor	At some point, I realized something:
Gregor	I thought I woke up from the dream.
Gregor	But I was still right in the middle of that nightmare.

Episode: 26
Location: Central Front in the Smoke War
Gregor	Still in a battlefield…
Yuri	…It’s the same place as before. Though, something about it is different.
There was a strong tug at Heathcliff’s coat from behind.
Tomah	Are you out of your minds? Get to shelter, now! You’ll age rapidly if exposed to that bomb’s blast.
Tomah	The Nest next to ours turned into a nursing home—they can’t even walk without sticks!
Rodion	Hold on, isn’t he the same guy we just…
Tomah	It’s not a problem, because Manager Gregor is with us!
Tomah	He doesn’t suffer side effects like the rest of us, and he can regenerate his arm, too!
Tomah	He was operated on by none other than Hermann, our most skilled director.
Gregor	……
Tomah	A hero shouldn’t be on the rearguard. I’ll give you a ride!
Rodion	Wh-What the hell? Get away from me!
Four pairs of wings emerged from his back, clicking and twitching.
Tomah	Why are you running? You should raise G Corp’s banner and take the lead on the frontlines!
Gregor	I…
Gregor	I never wanted any of this… Not the procedure, nor the war…
Tomah	Take the lead… Take… T…
Tomah’s mouth opens unnaturally, and a pair of long antennae begin to grow from his face.
Rodion	Yeek… We gotta fight them again? My stomach is gonna turn…
Outis	What is that display of weakness? Do you wish to be punished for insubordination?
Dante	<…I think we should run here?>
Outis	An excellent plan, Manager. You know when to strike and when to withdraw.
Heathcliff	…The hell is her deal?
Faust	…Retreat is not an option.
Ishmael	I don’t get it. I heard every employee under the corporation had modifications, but it can’t have been this foul.
Faust	What we see here may differ from actual accounts.
Faust	The path was opened by Gregor’s feelings rather than his memories.
Yuri	…This is how he felt in his heart about his own allies.
Yuri	Did all the employees in your Wing… receive the augmentation procedure?
Gregor	…Most did.
Yuri	Was it done with their consent? That’s so…
Gregor	Did the people in L Corp. consent to offering themselves up to Abnormalities?
Yuri	That’s… I heard that was written on the contract.
Yuri	We were never properly informed, though… They said such routine procedures should be skipped for efficient management…
Yuri	That we should face the fear.
Yuri	In the end… anyone who joined the corporation agreed to it, knowingly or not.
Gregor	…Can guess how it went for us, then.

Episode: 27
Location: Central Front in the Smoke War
Gregor	What’s the delay, Yuri?
Yuri	G-Give me a second, please. The gas mask fell off my bag…
Outis	I don’t see it serving any practical purpose now. You’re only weighing yourself down.
Yuri	I mean, it’s… Aya’s memento.
Outis	You indulge in the most pointless activity in the world, and you aren’t even from N Corp.
Ishmael	……
Ishmael	Tie it the other way.
Yuri	Sorry?
Ishmael	The knot. It’ll come loose again if you tie it that way.
Ishmael	There’s a sailor’s knot I learned on the boat. I’ll teach you how to do it back on the bus.
Yuri	Oh… Thank you.
Heathcliff	What now. Since when were you so friendly?
Rodion	Yuri~ Y’know what? Why don’t you join our company while you’re at it?
Yuri	M-Me?
Faust	That’s…
Rodion	I know, I know. We need to get the okay from Vergilius or his superiors and all that. But a little suggestion doesn’t hurt.
Faust	Hm… I wonder.
Rodion	Plus, pink hair makes a perfect mascot to represent us. C’mon, won’t you give it some thought? Please?
Yuri	A—A mascot…? Huhu.
Yuri made a smile for the first time, albeit faintly.

Episode: 28
Gregor	The war was over.
Gregor	Yet my doppelgänger was still holding a silly pose with a confident look on his face.
Gregor	Hmm, that’s not the kind of face I’d make.
Gregor	Though… gotta give it to ‘em for making the hair on my arm look as grotesque as it is real. Whose job was this?
Gregor	I’ve grown fond of humor.
Gregor	Being consumed by the nightmare for so long must’ve made me crave liveliness.
Disgruntled Citizen	Those scum from G Corp. should all be sent to the gallows.
Gregor	Someone murmurs, spitting on the floor.
Gregor	I could tell what they were speaking towards without even looking.
Gregor	Knowing that…
Gregor	Hrk…
Gregor	I felt nauseous.
Kind Citizen	Sir, are you alright?
Location: Central Front in the Smoke War
Rodion	Hey, you okay, babe? You don’t look so well.
Gregor	I was… just in the subway?
Heathcliff	The hell are you blathering about?
Rodion	Greg, we’re still on the battlefield.
Gregor groped his pockets with stumbling hands looking for a cigarette out of habit, but soon stopped.
It dawned on him as it did me.
All the Sinners seemed to have realized it now.
Dante	<Tomah is going to grab us and give a warning any second now…>
Tomah	Are you—
Rodion	Look, Tomah, I’m starting to get sick of your pickup line, so I’ll say it once: We’re not out of our minds, and the aging bomb ain’t gonna hit us.
Tomah	…No.
Instead of elaborating, he points up.
Tomah	I need help.
Tomah	I don’t want to die—
Tomah was crushed to a pulp right before our eyes.
There’s only one thing to say in a situation like this.
Dante	<R—Run!>
Outis	All troops! Retreat!
We muster up everything we can to run, but the airborne hand is ever persistent and shows no signs of letting up.
Heathcliff	We’re all going to get turned into pancakes! Got any bright ideas, smart one?
Faust	…I’m listening. There are too many variables to consider in the fathoms of the ego, I can’t be hasty with my judgement…
Don Quixote	There is no cause for hesitation! A true hero succumbs to no hardships!
Rodion	Uhm… I don’t think I wanna recover a flattened body.
Rodion	Oh! Sorry, Dante~ Didn’t mean it that way!
It was tempting to say something back to her…
But I figured now was the time to keep my mouth shut so everyone could focus on running.
Heathcliff	Still thinking, are you? Eh?! Well, are you, Ms. “Knows It All”?!
Faust	If you’re asking for an immediate solution, then yes, I’ve yet to come up with one.
Faust	The only thing I can say for certain is that our objective is not nearby. Dante would have responded strongly otherwise.
Dante	<Me?>
Heathcliff	Are you joking? That’s all you’ve got?
Heathcliff furrowed his brows, ready to snap at the unhelpful savant…
But a sudden close shave with the massive palm made him focus his energy on his legs rather than his mouth.
Yuri	…Gregor?
Heathcliff	Whoa, hey, what? Why the hold up?
Gregor	…I think I see now.
Gregor	If this world is a product of my mind…
Gregor took a breather, then looked up at the sky.
Gregor	We shouldn’t run away from that hand.
Heathcliff	…Did you finally get the crackers or what?
Faust	Gregor, are you sure?
Gregor	My own free will never played much of a role in my life.
Gregor	It only makes sense that resisting is meaningless in this reflection of my mind.
Gregor	In that case… letting the inevitable happen might be the answer.
Heathcliff	…Are you all serious?
Ishmael	It’s not like there’s any other way. We’re all exhausted.
Gregor	Besides… Look at that… paint on its nails.
Gregor	You don’t see that kind of polish just anywhere.
Gregor	If that hand belongs to who I think it does, she will not stop chasing us.
Gregor	Faust… You said this is a path in my heart, right?
Gregor	Then I can tell you this for sure:
Gregor	It’s about to hit a dead end.
Gregor	Be it the nightmare or the road… I never once strayed from that woman’s control.
Who is Gregor talking about, and what does he mean by a nightmare?
As much as I wanted to ask him…
Heathcliff	Sigh, might as well.
Soon enough, the giant hand cast its shadow over us, descending.
Just before it reached us, it stopped to hold us in its grasp.
Everything went dark.
I felt a disorienting nausea of being lifted into the sky.
Sinclair	Mgrrh…
While everyone else was suffering from it, Faust and I were the only ones standing straight.
I noticed that the battlefield had changed into somewhere familiar.

Episode: 29
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Interior
Faust	Dante, something about this containment unit seems different from the others, does it not?
Dante	<Yeah, it really does… Wait, is this―?>
Faust	Yes, that is most likely where we can find the Abnormality in which the Golden Bough has taken root.
Gregor	Haah… We did manage to come this far, huh.
Yuri	Say, Gregor…
Yuri	…When we go back to the bus, can I teach Charon how to use a map?
Gregor	…Yeah, sounds good. I’m sure she’ll like it.
Sinclair	I doubt that…
Sinclair shook his head, then dry-retched afterward.
Yuri	Huhu, it’s nice to have a place to go back to.

Episode: 30
……
The Abnormality devoured Yuri in one bite.
She was gone without a trace…
Dante	<I can save the other Sinners… but there’s nothing I can do about Yuri.>
Gregor	……
Without a word, Gregor hacked and slashed away at the Abnormality.
As if he expected to find Yuri unscathed by slicing the apple open.
Yuri’s head stood motionless, facing Gregor. Her face was upright.
However, the Yuri we knew and accompanied was always hunched over.
She slouched at all times, as though it were her sole-surviving obligation to carry the wills of her late colleagues.
Given that, I can warn him with confidence.
Dante	<That isn’t Yuri, Gregor.>
Gregor	…Uh-huh. Yeah, I think you’re right.
Gregor accepts it calmly.
He then outstretches his arm, sending it flying toward “Yuri”.
Yet, it soon stops traveling.
Yuri	I didn’t want to die.
Gregor	……
Dante	<Cut her down, Gregor.>
I don’t know if this is the right thing to do as the manager.
Yuri	None of us wanted to die.
But I had to shout at Gregor now to stop him from being ruined.
Dante	<Cut it now!>
Gregor	Gah, aaaaargh!!!
Kind Citizen	I—I don’t wanna die!
Gregor	This… This is…
The verminous arm stopped right before reaching the civilian’s throat.
I pulled against it with all my might, but it wouldn’t budge.
Kind Citizen	P-Please spare me… I’ll give you all my money.
"Security Guard	Let the woman go! Otherwise, I will stop you by force!
Gregor	My arm… Cut off the arm! Now!
"Security Guard	This is your final warning. Release her now, or…
Gregor	Just do it!
As the dismembered arm falls to the ground, she slides down the wall, gasping.
However, peace doesn’t last long—the arm starts regenerating from its twitching stump.
"Security Guard	Are you alright, sir?
Gregor	No, stay away from me! Don’t come any closer!
The regrown arm rushes forward as if it remembered the pain it suffered mere moments ago.
Yuri	……
???	You have my utmost respect, Manager Gregor, sir!
Gregor	You really shouldn’t… I didn’t fight in the war because I wanted to…
Yuri	……
Yuri	What else am I supposed to do? Is it so wrong that I survived?
Gregor	Just live on, please… It’s not like we got ourselves into this mess voluntarily.
Yuri	……
???	Having come to this end, only to be stopped just before your labor bears fruit. How regrettable.
???	Well, we’ll take it. Opportunities left unclaimed will only become null and void.
Yuri’s head fell to the ground.
It wasn’t Gregor’s doing.
Yuri	Nhh… Aah…
Yuri’s mouth opens and lets something out.
It was a tree branch radiating a bright golden glow.
???	Seeking the Bough, were you?
Gregor	You…
???	A bit small, isn’t it?
Hermann	I’m Hermann. We’ll be seeing each other often. The reason being…
Hermann	We—need those Boughs; and you—are capable of finding them.
Hermann	You—won’t die; but we—will kill you.
Hermann nudges Yuri’s head with her foot.
Gregor	……
Hermann	It won’t be now, though.
Hermann	We’ll take good care of the Golden Bough you found.
Yi Sang	Gubo… My dear compatriot. Is this the path you chose?
Gubo	Indeed it is. Only few remain now.
Hong Lu	…It’s been a while, Brother.
Jia Huan	Do you know how filthy your clothing smells? If only your family were here to see your state.
Outis	Some reunion this has turned into.
Hermann	How are you treating your present, my son?
Hermann	I didn’t invest in you just to see you in such a mess.
Gregor	I never asked for this… Not once…
Hermann	You should at least finish unwrapping what I gave you.
Hermann	That little arm isn’t all there is to it.
Jia Huan	Alright now. That’s enough greetings.
The man who introduced himself as Jia Huan clapped twice.
Then, everything went dark.
Like waking from a long nightmare…
The early dawn greets you.
After some time passed…
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Vergilius	And I thought this would be an easy enough mission for you.
Vergilius	After allowing the Golden Bough to be taken before your very eyes, you had the gall to walk in with your faces up.
Vergilius	Have I overestimated you?
Dante	<……>
Vergilius	Why don’t you give me an excuse, Ms. Faust.
Faust	As it turns out, immortality wasn’t the solution to everything.
Vergilius	…Hm.
Vergilius	Anything to say for yourself, Dante?
Dante	<There was another group going after the Golden Bough.>
Dante	<You had to have known this, so why didn’t you warn me?>
Faust	They’re asking about the other faction that sought the Golden Bough.
Faust placidly relayed my words to Vergilius.
Vergilius	…Don’t tell me. Are you holding me responsible?
Vergilius	Tell me then, Dante. Why would we bother sending twelve whole combatants to a place with no threats?
Vergilius	After hiring Fixers to guide them, too.
Dante	<That’s…>
Gregor	Enough of that, Manager Bud.
Gregor	It’s my fault. If you want someone to blame, I’m right here…
Vergilius	How fascinating.
Vergilius	Built a sense of camaraderie between you already.
Vergilius	Well, I do suppose it’s not too bad to cover up for each other since you’re all in the same bus…
Vergilius	Just know that sticking up for one another doesn’t make up for your incompetence.
Faust	…We got a call. After Team’s Spec Ops Section 4 has just gone underground for their job.
Vergilius	That sounds about right. Someone has to salvage the E.G.O and Abnormalities left there.
Vergilius	…A real shame that the essence was lost, though.
Outis	This is getting excessive.
Outis	Failure is a common thing on the battlefield. If an objective wasn’t met, you devise another plan and redeploy.
Outis	Are you sure it wasn’t your expectations that were too high for our first mission? I will have you know that our manager’s performance was nothing short of outstanding.
Vergilius	……
Vergilius	I suppose we’ll leave it at that. You’re not entirely wrong.
Faust	Certainly.
There seemed to be an uncanny tension between Vergilius and Faust…
But right now, I had neither the energy nor the willpower left in me to get inquisitive.
The bus reeked of blood with all the stains and gore on our outfits, yet none of us tried to open the windows.
And no one had the urge to have a change of clothes.
All of us just sat in place, dwelling on silence.
Gregor had the most defeated look of them all, staring out the window…
Then, he suddenly went to hang something from his pocket near the windshield of the bus.
Charon	Bug Guy. What did you put on Mephi’s head?
Gregor	…A memento.
Gregor	Something that belonged to the two.
Gregor	I had a sister, just about Yuri’s age.
Gregor	That’s… all there is.
I considered giving him a pep talk, but that quickly dissipated.
Ishmael wore a grieving look, Sinclair was quietly weeping, and Rodya let out a distressed sigh; if they couldn’t offer him any encouragement, what good would I do?
Vergilius	Charon, won’t this get in your way?
Charon	No, Charon’ll be fine.
Vergilius	…Alright, let’s hit the road.
Charon	Vroom-vroom.
The bus slowly grumbled forward.
The gas mask hanging by the windshield waved like an ornament.
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