The tide whispers in the evening breeze, and the swimming fish swims between the waves. There is a piece of blue in everyone's heart. It that piece of blue the sea or a shy figure?
Read: Lee | Noan
My eyes are falling, the dusk is enveloped in the ocean, and the waves are surrounding the rocks.
The waves whisper and reflect the light in the distance. The world was so quite except for the chirping of gulls.
No text messages, no shouts, no deafening smoke. Sitting on the edge of the reef, swaying the fishing rod in my hand, I was lost in thought at the peaceful world.
At a certain moment, the fishing rod moved suddenly and subconsciously exerted force. A sea fish bit the hook and was lifted out of the sea amidst the splashing waves.
Skk: Huh? (Check the hooked fish)
The head is huge and flat, with a flesh-like protrusion on the top, like a lantern-like structure. There is also a row of sharp teeth on the edge of the mouth, with the tips pointing inwards...
Comparing the trophy on the hook with the encyclopedia information in my impression, there is no doubt that this is an anglerfish.
Skk: (Sigh) Lamia?
The tentative call failed to elicit any answer, only a burst of imperceptible small bubbles emerged from the seawater on the side of the reef.
Skk: Lamia......?
As the sea breeze blew by, the bubbles changed positions, but there was no sound other than that.
Skk: If you don't respond again, I will throw the fishhook over your head, alright?
Lamia: Ekk ! ! !
No... don't do it!
The mermaid lady jumped out of the sea, a hint of fear flashed in her uncertain eyes.
Lamia: Fishing nets and fish hook will get tangled in my hair, and it will hurt my body if you scrape them....
Skk: Ah, that was a lie. You actually are really here.
Lamia: Are you... lying to me? You didn't notice me?
Skk: Did you use disguise? No security alarm or anything went off.
Lamia: But.... but if that the case, why would you guess that I'm nearby?
Skk: Because there is no such fish in shallow sea. Theoretically, they live below 500 meters sea level.
Lamia: ? !
I saw this kind of fish in the water tank in the back of the kitchen restaurant, and thought it was all caught this way.
.... Then I'll go for the nearby shallow sea and see if I can bring you some fish.
Skk: Wait a minute, why would you do this?
Lamia: Because... because you have been sitting here for a day, and you seem to have gained nothing.
Lamia whispered, raising her head and glancing this way from time to time, as if she was afraid that if she said the wrong thing, she would be hooked by the fishing rod.
Skk: ...Mm. I am just cultivating my sentiments, the harvest itself is not the point.
Lamia: So that's it... That's right. If people like you just like fishes, you can definitely have it easy. If there is not a single fish, then there is something else.
The beautiful eyes were full of surprise, and Lamia's serious tone without a hint of teasing instantly broke through the fisherman's shameful show of force.
Skk: ......Please stop talking. Have you been watching here for a long time?
Lamia: Umm... I saw you sitting on a stone, and the people who always followed you didn't show up on the bridge, so I came over. Is... is it bothering you?
Skk: No, do you want to sit together?
I moved to the side and made some space for Lamia on the small rock.
Lamia: But... It is okay? If I'm discovered............ I mean........ I can.......
Won't... won't it bring you trouble? Being with the ascendant, then being suspected, then being interrogated, then giving up, then...
No, no, you are the chief, how could it be possible... but... no, I ... what am I talking about?
I listened in amusement to Lamia talking to herself more and more anxiously. I took off the straw hat on my head and covered her head, stopping Lamia's anxiety.
Skk: It doesn't matter, come on. The outer cordon has been bypassed. Even if there is a patrol drone looking down from above. Wearing a hat will only treat you as a normal construct.
Lamia: Then... I can come up?
Lamia pursed her lips and nodded gently, sitting on the edge. The legs are half-immersed in the sea water, shaking from time to time and causing beautiful splashes.
Skk: What's wrong?
Lamia: Um...
Lamia tilted her head without explaining. She looked at her legs, and suddenly she seemed to remember something, and her eyes widened.
Then, Lamia turned her legs back into fish tails, moved sideways, and carefully squeezed into the gap between the fishing rod and my hands.
Skk: ?
Lamia: When I entered the restaurant, I saw many photos on the wall. It seems like a habit? Everyone takes selfies when catching fish. You can... you can use my tail as... trophy. Take a shot... take a shot...
As is she just realized that her behavior was a bit weird, Lamia's voice became smaller and smaller, and her chin almost touched the middle of her collarbone.
Like the sunset or the sea lantern quietly lighting up behind her, the mermaid's cheeks were stained with a faint blush. The fish tail placed under the palm of my hand trembled faintly, as if the owner was desperately suppressing some impulse.
I laughed out loud, shook my head, put the fish tail back into the sea, and pinched Lamia's warm cheeks at the same time.
Skk: No need to take photos. And, I did catch a fish.
Lamia: Huh? When...
Lamia's confused doubts were cut into pieces by the chirping of seagulls, and floated far, far away in the dusk sea breeze.
The Gray Raven lounge returned to its former tranquility. I walked back to my room along the deserted corridor, and saw Lee waiting at the door.
Read: Noan | Lamia
Lee: Happy birthday, commandant.
It’s amazing. I can’t count how many times I said this blessing, but every time I celebrate your birthday, I still have a different feeling.
Unknowingly, I began to look forward to spending every birthday with you.
So, this year I prepared this gift.
He handed over a thick photo album, which seemed to contain at least dozens of photos.
Skk: Thank you. What is this?
Lee: Instead of me explaining this in words, it may be better for you to see it yourself.
Skk: (Open photo album)
Opening the photo album, the first page showed the photos of the Gray Raven, and everyone celebrating Christmas for the first time.
Nanami ran over from behind and hugged Liv, Lucia smiled beside her, and Lee stood behind and watched them quietly.
One the second page, it was New Year’s Eve, and everyone gathered together in the lounge of Gray Raven to make Spring Festival couplets.
As I scroll further down, there are more and more people, and the picture becomes more and more lively. But at every party, everyone will be photographed completely, and flipping through the photo album is like returning to those warm nights.
Skk: It turned out to be a photo collection. You took photos of every party.
Lee: Because I thought it might come in handy one day like it does now.
It is precisely because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow that we want to use various ways to preserve the memories we spend together.
Skk: I feel the same way as you. When you look through the photo album, memories from the past will gradually come back to you.
Lee: It seems like everything happened yesterday, right?
A faint smile that was difficult for outsiders to detect appeared on the blond construct's face.
Skk: Although I really like this photo and the memories in it... This photo album still has some insufficient for me.
Hearing this sentence, a rare hint of surprise appeared on Lee’s usually calm expression.
Lee: Insufficient? That’s...
Skk: There are no commemorative photo of me and you on this year’s birthday.
Lee: (Blush) Ah...
As if he had made a stupid mistake, Lee opened his mouth slightly and was so annoyed that he did not say the next sentence for a long time.
His expression was like a domino that had been carefully built for several days. When he was about to knock down the last card, he realized that he had forgotten to set the Easter egg at the end if the row.
However, his annoyance quickly dissipated, and he quickly took out an instant camera called a ‘Polaroid’ from the old days.
Lee: This is a camera I borrowed from the Art Association. I originally planned to wait the birthday party started before taking commemorative photos as usual.
But I discovered that there is no need to wait that long at all.
Skk: Indeed. Then let’s shoot now.
Lee: Um... the two of us....
Hmm... The two of us need to stand closer.
If you hold the camera like this, you should be able to get both of us in the viewfinder.
Lee walked up to the me, raised the camera slightly stiffly above his head, and focused the lens on the two of us.
Lee: Are you ready? Then...
Skk: Three?
Lee: Two, one--
Click.
The flash exploded instantly with bright electric sparks, freezing the moment forever.
The film outlet under the camera slowly split out a piece of film, and two figures slowly appeared on the pure white color layer.
After a while, the film was finally developed.
The smile of the two people was shrunk on the small piece of paper, looking warm and lively.
Lee: It seems like you are quite satisfied with this photo.
Skk: You took the photo very well.
Just as I was about to go and put the photo away, my arm was pulled by another force.
When I turned around, I saw that it was Lee holding me back.
Lee: Wait, since the commandant now has a photo, to be fair...
He shook the camera with a lot of film in his hand.
Lee: The commandant also needs to leave a photo for me.
The voices gradually died down, and the lights flickered like fireflies. There is always someone waiting for you in the depths of the night, just like the light that never fails to promise.
Read next: Lee | Lamia
In the evening, the crowd was still immersed in the celebration of the birthday party. Amidst the continuous greetings and blessings, I quietly retreated to the edge of the room.
The night of Babylonia is never quiet, but rarely are they so pleasantly noisy.
When I came back to my senses, I was far away from the warm lights and came to the door of the library alone.
The night was accompanied by the evening breeze, just like many previous nights. Following the instinctive invitation, I opened the door in front of me.
Noan: Welcome, commandant, or should I say ‘Happy Birthday’ first?
Skk: >[So you remember.] | [I haven’t seen you today.]
Noan: Of course I remember, and I went to look for you near the combat preparation room of the Gray Raven Team.
I just saw you surrounded by many people and I didn’t want to bother you. I originally planned to go there again later... to give you a birthday gift.
Noan’s eyes were lowered, and there was an impenetrable smile hidden in his answer.
Noan: However, since you came here, does that mean there is nothing for you to do next?
Skk: >[It depends on what you plan to do.] | [Yeah?]
Noan: So, please accept this first.
He handed over a small photo frame that was only as big as the palm of his hand. Various paper sculptures were stacked inside, and the soft light shadow depicted a group of fireflies flying in the grass.
Skk: Paper carving?
Noan: That’s right.
Skk: >[But... why did you choose Firefly?] | [These fireflies... are very similar to the feeling you give me.]
Noan: Have you ever heard of a saying... Fireflies are stars on the ground. They are not as bright as real stars, but they are within reach and call their companions with their own light.
If you pick [These fireflies... are very similar to the feeling you give me.]
Noan: Why do you say that?
Skk: Just like the starlight, it will always stays with you.
Noan: ...
So, I want to give it to you.
Even when I’m not with you, it can always be there for you.
Skk: >[It’s better if you are here.] | [Then I’ll accept it.] | [Then don’t send paper sculptures that are so easy to break.]
Noan: I really want to do this, but there are still many places Dark Aries Team can’t go.
That right...
Noan took out a notebook and pen and wrote down several locations and plans on them.
Noan: Is there a place you are interested in? Or take a rest here first before going?
Skk: Let’s take a short rest first.
Noan: Sure.
Noan sat over as usual and took out another fruit candy from his pocket.
Noan: Here.
Skk: Candy?
He nodded seriously with some indescribable nostalgia and expectation, as if he wanted to see me eating it.
The moon completely sank below the horizon, coating the distant horizon with an extremely dim silver color.
Noan twisted the clockwork firefly in his hand, put it in his hand, and let the soft light dispel the darkness before dawn.
He lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly in a voice as light as a whisper.
Noan: When I was a child, I lived in a very crowded place.
Noan: People's beds are closely adjacent to each other, and only those with good conditions have a rag curtain as a blanket, while many more people don't even have rags or beds.
Noan: When everyone is crowded in the same place, people want to show off their pride and hide it...
Noan: Or love and sex, hate and quarrels, theft, robbery, accidents, murder... Whether you want to see it or not, these things will happen before your eyes.
Noan: Mother will cry and give birth to their babies in the midst of everyone's noise, and patients will moan and die in the midst of everyone's indifference.
Noan sighed.
Noan: ...Have you ever heard of the Hedgehog's Dilemma?
Noan: Hedgehogs want to rely on each other to keep warm in winter, but they have thorns on their bodies. If they get too close, they will sting each other, and if they are far too away, they will feel cold.
Noan: The same goes for people, they need to keep a moderate distance from other people, not too far, not too close.
Noan: However, everyone living here is crowded together, with no privacy and no way to keep distance.
Noan: In this case, how can the "hedgehogs" avoid stabbing each other?
Noan: Therefore, my seniors always told me to seek common ground while reserving differences and to hide our own attitudes and goals.
Noan: In this environment, I learned not to mention things that others don't want to mention, and to ignore things that I don't want to see.
Noan: If a person is only willing to talk about a certain topic, then I will only talk about this topic with them.
Noan: If this person hid his wounds well, even if I noticed it, I should pretend I didn't see it.
He stared at me seriously as usual. By the light of fireflies, Noan's amber pupils seemed to reveal some dark emotions.
Noan: I have never been a saint who tolerates everything and has no desires. I also care about people and things that I don't want to give in to.
Noan: I just try not to show these emotions on my face-- after all, I suffered a lot because of this when I was a child.
Noan: Now, I can say these words because you also said a lot to me...
Noan: ......Exchanging and sharing can be regarding as the habits of traveling merchant.
>[(Nod)]
[Yeah]
Skk: When you first saw me during that day, you obviously wanted to say something, right?
Noan: Hm.
Skk: Can you tell me now?
Noan: It wasn't anything important, I just wanted to say...
Noan: Your hair... seems to be a little longer that the last time I saw you
>[...]
[Is that so?]
Noan: How are you doing lately? Is everything going well?
>[I'm okay]
[I also have a lot to say to you...]
Noan nodded and stared at me quietly, waiting for the next conversation--- as always.
So, just like in the past, I slowly talked about what happened recently.
Whether it is a trivial pleasure, a report document that I don't want to face, a heavy social engagement, or an investigation task that I have no clue about yet.
In addition to worries, there are also many small joyful things. I got a small gift that I had reserved for a long time, and the restaurant I frequented added new dishes that were unexpectedly delicious.
When all that can be said, the sky has turned slightly bright white.
He also listened to everything carefully and bowed his head when he feeling both happy or sad about my recent experience.
Noan: ......It's really hard to be able to take care of so many things.
Skk: ...
Although me and Noan were not very close, he happened to have witnessed my most exhausted state and accepted my negative side.
He kept these secrets silently, neither laughing at other people nor making fun of them.
When asked about him, he always said--
Noan: As long as you alive, you cannot be indifferent to everything. Of course there will be times when you feel sad and want to escape.
However, I occasionally think about it - what would he think when he hears others call me "hero"?
Skk: Noan, what do you think of me?
Noan: Huh? Why do you ask this suddenly?
Skk: (Explain roughly)
Noan: As others call you - the hero of mankind, the hope that shines like a gem, the invincible Gray Raven Commandant... something like that?
>[Then what?]
[I should not be just "someone else"]
Noan: Found me at the point of disagreement...... someone who was always willing to believe that I was on your side.
>[You've said this before.]
[You should know I'm not just asking this...]
Noan: So...... before answering this question, let me tell you a story.
Skk: Sure.
Noan: This is a comic adapted from the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty". Unlike traditional fairy tales, the princess in this story is not blessed by a fairy.
Noan: The fairies surrounding her were all disguised by humans, but others around the princess believed she was truly blessed.
Noan: They expected her to grow into a woman who could do anything. In the eyes of others, the princess was blessed with a lot of luck and was a lucky woman.
Noan: However, how can a princess who has not been blessed by a fairy meet these excessive expectations?
Noan: She could only work hard and study day and night, abandoning all the fun that life should have.
Noan: However, what people admired was her talent and luck, and those achievements were taken for granted... No one thought that she also worked hard.
Skk: ......
Noan: Maybe this is what I see of you - so, my answer is "more than that".
Noan: More that the hero, the hope, the invincible Commandant of mankind, and more than the person who is willing to believe in me and stand by my side.
Noan: In my eyes, you are closer to... a human being. Someone who will be hurt, tired, and sad.
Noan: A someone who, even if they are bruised over and over again, is struggling for the people and things they cares about.
Noan: I like someone like this very much... In my opinion, people with weaknesses are more real, which also means that I am trusted by you, right?
Noan: Whether it is a structure or a human being, there will be times when they are overwhelmed by pain, want to cry, and want to give up.
--IF YOU CHOSE...
>[But tears can't save anyone.]
[Yes, who can be so strong that they become numb?]
Noan: Well, my mother once said this to me, and I didn't know how to answer it at that time.
Noan: If I could go back, I would definitely say to her, "But tears can't save me".
Noan: The heroes in the story will also have their own regrets, not to mention we are just mortals, don't push yourself too hard, Commandant.
--IF YOU CHOSE...
[But tears can't save anyone.]
>[Yes, but who can be so strong that they become numb?]
Noan: Well, sunflowers will bend their heads in the sunless night. This is not weakness, but proof that the heart is not numb and dry.
Noan: When you are sad, you can come to me at any time.
Noan: Then we ran away together... to a place where we could rest and cry.
Noan: I'll stay with you until you get better.
[Huh......]
>[What is the ending of that Sleeping Beauty story?]
Noan: The "Prince" in the story finally awakens the princess in the castle, allowing time to flow again after sleeping for hundreds of years.
Noan: ...The princess' time quickly returned to the "present", and just like that, she died in the arms of the other party.
Skk: .... Is this the ending?
Noan: Their time is not equal, but people outside the story can still cherish the present.
Skk: But, I still think about it...
Skk: There are many people who find it difficult to survive.
Skk: My troubles are nothing to them.
Skk: I should at least try my best to do something with my troubled time.
Noan: If you are injured, do you need to take a qualification certificate based on the depth of the wound before you are allowed to feel anything?
Noan: Even those people in the story who live in daily life and peace have a lot of troubles.
Noan: People you can't like, interpersonal relationships that are difficult to take care of, parents who can't understand each other, tedious work and houseworks...
Noan: These things are slowly wearing down the spirit and causing fatigue... If nothing happy happens, just ordinary daily life can make a person collapse.
Noan: At this time, it would be too harsh to check whether you have the qualification to be sad.
>[.....Ah]
[......]
Noan: However, I also know... you still have a lot of things you care about, so you don't want to rest at ease.
Skk: Yes, I want to take care one more step forward.
>[There is no respite from this business.]
[How can I cheer up?]
Noan: Do you have something you like? Like food, or flowers, stories, or people you like?
>[(Nod)]
[Um.]
Noan: When people work hard for this and cannot rest assuredly, they also give the other party that right to treat themselves, so...
Noan: When you are tired and in pain, you seek help from the people and things you love.
Skk: ......
--IF YOU CHOOSE...
>[Well, don't worry, I'll go find those people.]
[Can I come to you?]
Noan: ....Yeah.
He showed a somewhat lonely smile in the dawn sunshine, and then nodded slightly.
There were still many things he wanted to talk about, but before he could even open his mouth, he took back these emotions carefully and took a step away from me.
Noan: ......it's daybreak, let's go back, Commandant.
--IF YOU CHOOSE...
[Well, don't worry, I'll go find those people.]
>[Can I come to you?]
Noan: ......Of course.
Noan stood up, took a step across the distance between the two of us and leaned down again.
After waiting for an excruciatingly long 3 seconds and confirming that the person is from him would not push him away, he hugged the person in front of him tightly.
At this moment, it was as if I could hear him breathing a sigh of relief in my ears.
Noan: I'm very happy... Really, very happy.
The dawn sun pierced the clouds and cast a soft golden edge on our bodies.
[Sunrise]
>[It's dawn]
Skk: Is it time to go back?
Noan: Stay a little longer? When you go back, you can find an excuse and think of a way to fool them.
[Ok]
>[That's too much]
Noan: After some of the troubles with the machine are resolved, do you want to go somewhere farther away together?
Skk: Where to go?
Noan: Many... place I've been to before as a refugee or as a transport captain.
Noan: Ruins covered by nature, seas of flowers, strongholds with burning bonfires, rivers that have not been polluted... There are many nostalgic scenery in this devastated worlds.
I feel asleep with the sunset and was awakened by the bright moon outside the window. I opened the door and saw the silver frost floating in the sky, depicting the coldness of the night.
The sea breeze blew away the remaining sleepiness, and I simply walked towards the sparkling waves of the sea in this pleasant wind.
Walking along the traces left by the sea foam, I walked a long way without realizing it. When I turned back, all the lonely lights were gone.
Under the frosty moon, a familiar figure stood.
Noan: Good evening Commandant.
The firefly in his hand emits a soft light like breathing, calling to his companions in the night.
Skk: You seemed to have guessed that I would come.
Noan: It's not the first time I've met you at night.
The two of us looked at each other, smiled, and looked at the clear stars in the sky.
Noan: Do you want to take a walk together? I want to talk with you.
Skk: Sure.
He came over and got closer than usual.
The clear moonlight dragged the long shadows of the two of us, reminding people of the night when they chased their shadow into the forest.
Skk: You have been coming to the Sky Garden for a long time.
Noan: Yes, it seems like it was not long ago when I came back to you.
Skk: At the beginning, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to fit in here.
He looked back with a smile, as if asking why I thought so.
Skk: (Mentioning the training room.)
When Noan first came to the Sky Garden, many people were afraid of the involvement between him and the Ascendant. They regarded him as a dangerous person and were not even willing to share the same training room with him.
Noan: Those things have been solved- part of them have been solved. It is difficult to change everyone's minds, but I can start with some small things.
Noan: A while ago, when the Dark Aries was transferred out of the Sky Garden, the instructor in the training room gave me a small bag of biscuits.
>[Ah... could it be that Simon ate that...]<
[I always felt that people from the Dark Aries would sometimes hurt Simon unintentionally.]
Noan: Sorry... but I really didn't know he was allergic to sesame. Fortunately, the symptoms were not serious.
Skk: He didn't know either. He said he had never eaten sesame seeds before.
Skk: When I went to visit him, he thought someone had poisoned him.
Noan: Yeah...
Skk: When you first came here, Simon thought you were being bullied.
Noan: Just because of the training room? Hmm... But thanks to these things, Commandant Simon helped me apply for the qualification of the librarian.
Noan: If I had to choose between the training room and the library, it would definitely be the latter.
Skk: You couldn't have done it on purpose.
He laughed out loud at my guess, without answering yes or no.
Skk: In fact, it's not just the training room, the experiments are also...
At first, I didn't know what experiment Noan wanted to cooperate with. It wasn't until one day when I went to the Science Council to get the test report when I saw...
The body that had been dismantled to pieces, and the young man sitting among its own limbs and parts.
Noan: Well, this is the exchange condition for me to come to the Sky Garden. I have to fulfill my agreement, not to mention, I am also very curious.
Noan: What did Lithos do to allow me to do something similar to an ascendant without being an ascendant or an infected?
Noan: Now that the stability of my M.I.N.D has been verified, the safety of these experiments can be guaranteed, and they also illustrate the necessity of doing these.
Skk: I just didn't expect... Someone actually took opportunity to copy your M.I.N.D...
Hearing these words, Noan did not answer, but took a small step closer.
>[......]<
[What's wrong?]
He reached out his hand and gently pinched the cheek of the person in front of him.
Skk: .....Why are you comforting me?
The young man spread his hand with a smile.
>[......]<
[......You....]
Looking back now, after Kurono got into trouble because of that incident, Simon asked me distressedly how he could make the team as relaxed and friendly as Gray Raven.
Like all Commandants, we learned a lot of things a Commandant should do in F.O.S class. We knew how to manage team members and how to customize combat plans.
Logically speaking, as long as the relationship between "Commandant" and "members" is maintained well, the normal operation of the team can be maintained.
But things went against his expectations. After experiencing several team reorganizations... he also began want to try things other than the Commandant's responsibilities.
In order to sort out specific plans, I would occasionally ask Simon and Noan questions that are familiar to them.
In this way, while helping the Dark Aries, I gradually got closer to Noan.
After the escape in the library, the two of us quietly reached some kind of agreement.
Whenever I asks Noan for help, I will take him to avoid some social interactions and troubles.
When there is no way around it, he will stay by my side to help with the tedious reporting and approval processes. He will even borrow some software to disguise himself and hold video conferences on my behalf.
Skk: A while ago, I was told that you seemed to be able to do the clone technique.
Noan: Because you went to give lectures again and held video conferences in the combat preparation room?
Skk: Yeah, it's a miracle it wasn't exposed.
Noan: Anyway, they didn't ask anything, and I just read the report we compiled through the voice changer.
Skk: Would you like to give me a lecture next time?
Noan: I really want to, but all I can do now is to pretend to prescribe the wrong medicine.
Skk: Wrong medicine... that's right.
Skk: How about the thing you said about going study at the Star of Life?
Noan: I got a lot of video reference materials. After watching these and practicing for a while, I will be ready to take the first aid qualification test.
As Noan said this, he slowly stopped.
Noan: We have been walking along the coast for a long time. Do you want to sit down and rest for a while?
>[Sure.]<
[(Nod)]
The two of us sat on the ground by the beach, gazing at the stars amid the low hum of the waves, until the moonlight gradually disappeared into the clouds.
Noan: It seems like I haven't seen you in such a leisurely state for a long time... it's not for the mission, and you are not in a hurry state to leave.
Noan: .....Last time, it was in the Sky Garden, right?
Skk: Yes.
One night before the Dark Aries was transferred to Constareye, I had some insomnia for some reason. I wanted to walk around the square, but unknowingly ended up near the library.
As he said, this was not the first time the two of us met at night.
Skk: I still remember talking to you a lot that night.
At first, we were just talking about what happened recently, Liv was gradually getting better, the cleanup unit made a plan for rectification, recent missions, etc...
Unknowingly, I even said those things that were blocked in my heart.
The endless stream of defectors, the changes in the disaster area, the missing people, Lucia's supervision, and the Gray Raven that have been unable to be reunited.
--He is a good person to talk to.
He never expresses superficial comfort, nor proposes plans that are difficult to achieve, nor does he question whether the current sadness comes from a small thing.
The conversation between us continued until the sky turned slightly white, and we finally fell asleep. However, there would be a combat meeting to be held in two hours, and we would have to rush to the ground base next.
>[......Already departure]<
[I should have gone back earlier]
Listening to these regretful words, Noan picked up a cup from the bar and gently touched my cheek.
>[So cold!]<
[Hey....]
Noan: When you just sat down, you said that you wouldn't be able to sleep even if you went back.
Skk: That's true...
Noan: If you hold on for a while longer, you will be able to sleep after boarding the transport cart.
After taking the coffee from him, the two of us said goodbye to each other, unaware of the storm that followed.
Noan: After hearing the news that you were missing, I have been trying to find you, but the Dark Aries still has restrictions on its activity area and cannot get out.
Noan: Those who are most likely to know the situation are wary of me... Although I don't know why, I am sure that this attitude has a very precise source.
Noan: Later, you finally came back... I also learned the real reason from you.
The young man sighed deeply and smiled bitterly.
Skk: When I told you those words, I thought you would do something.
Skk: That's why I paid special attention to your actions.
Skk: No matter what, kidnapping the Commandant is still too...
Noan: Yes, sorry.
Skk: Do you know that you will most likely be regarded as a defector?
He responded quietly and reached out to the place where the wound had remained on my neck, as if to confirm whether the wound had healed.
>[What should I do if even my testimony doesn't help?]<
[......]
In most people's impressions, Noan is a person with a good temper, so good that no matter what he does, he will not be angry. Many people think that monitoring him is an unnecessary behavior.
Because of this, that reckless action caught many people, including the Dark Aries, by surprise.
Noan: However, I know that he will definitely come again, and I can't let him run away this time.
Noan's voice was very calm, as if he was talking about an ordinary task.
Skk: Regarding this, you didn't tell Simon.
Noan: Having said what must be said, Commandant Simon will not talk to me about you or anything unnecessary.
Noan: I can only vaguely feel the boundaries of his concession. Once he thinks this matters is dangerous, it will only make my actions more troublesome.
>[So... you have to go no matter what.]<
[Considering this matter means that you have no intention of giving up at all.]
Noan: Well, some people shouldn't be alive in the first place. Since he will definitely come, it will be faster for me to do it myself, not to mention that it is related to the people I care about.
He withdrew his hand from checking the wound.
Skk: But I still hope you can discuss it with me...
Noan: Well, I promise you, I will definitely...
Skk: Might as well do it now.
Noan: Yeah.
The moonlight receded and the sky gradually turned dark dawn was coming.
At the other end of the coastal promenade of the Esplanade in Constareye, Ayla, Sophia and Teddy waved to me.
Skk: Is it really something to be excited about?
While I was still climbing the stairs, Ayla and the others had already reached the observation deck at the end of the corridor.
After parting with Lucia and Liv on the beach, I met Ayla and Sophia in the city of Constareye, as well as Teddy from the engineering force that Ayla had just called.
Probably because Constareye is now co-managed by the Art Association, Ayla's original vitality appears to be even more abundant in this city.
But this was only a brief glimpse into a passionate time.
Ayla: Of course! After all, this is a rare opportunity to see the sea--
After saying that, Ayla made a rather exaggerated gesture and pulled herself to the viewing platform at the end of the corridor.
Beyond the observation deck on this corridor is the beach that where I left Liv and Lucia.
Nowadays, this beach has been decorated with so many colorful decorations, and among the silhouettes of people, there is actually a bit of urban prosperity.
In the middle of the beach, directly in front of the water corridor leading to the stage in the sea, Liv and Lucia ware waving to them, and there were many structures standing beside them.
Skk: What on earth is this...
Ayla showed a sly smile.
Ayla: Commandant doesn't want to miss it either, right?
Skk: That's true.
Teddy: Really... you unbelievably passionate about this.
Sophia: Do you mean Miss Ayla?
Teddy: Yes... you don't feel tired at all? Then it seems that you are very suitable to come to the engineering force to suffer...
Ayla: Did you hear that?
Sophia: Miss Ayla's event planning skills are indeed outstanding, and she can also meet business needs at the same time.
Teddy: Hah alright, let's go...
Ayla: That's right, Liv and the others should have just finished decorating.
Skk: So Ayla planned all these things?
Ayla: Yes... and no.
Ayla: I'm just the person in charge! This sentiment is shared by everyone.
Sophia: Of course, this intention must also include wanting to design a frame...
Ayla: Okay, okay! Let's go, Commandant!
Ayla: Oh, right!
Ayla suddenly said to me slightly seriously.
Ayla: Don't forget that frame design draft.
Skk: You mean...
Teddy: Hah... Okay! Let's go...
Just like that, I was pushed by Ayla from behind, and led by Sophia and Teddy, I returned to the beach where I started.
Nowadays, the beach has been decorated with various colorful latte art, and there is also a "commercial street" with many small items and souvenirs.
Sure enough, in addition to Liv and Lucia, Strike Hawk, Dark Aries and other members of the team also came to Constareye.
Chrome: Evening, Commandant.
Kamui: Good Evening!
As he said this, Kamui suddenly appeared from the side of the beach stage like a surprise, holding a lot of victory fruits that were obviously obtained from the claw machine.
Skk: What's the result?
Kamui: I've been wanting for a long time, so I had to grab this one.
Kamui: Just now, some mechanical body told me that this result has broken the highest record in history, and this should be given to the Commandant!
Chrome: Ahem... We've only just arrived.
Chrome: I caught up with the last two space shuttles, and I remembered there was also the Egret team...
Skk: It is indeed a very rare rest period--
Pulao: Commandant!
Skk: Is Pulao here too?
Pulao: Of course! I have agreed to open a commercial street with Sophia and Changyu!
Skk: Right here?
Sophia: No, no! This is just a trial run! At best it can only be regarded as a branch of a commercial street!
Sophia: How can you make money on such a small scale?
Boom---
---A dull explosion suddenly sounded above the head---
???: Hey, 21, aren't you a little early?
???: There's something wrong with Noctis's gunpowder ratio...
???: Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
???: Has Noctis lost his brain? Shouldn't fireworks be set off at night?
It's a bit noisy, but that's okay.
At least on this season, you can still see smiles and satisfaction on everyone's face.
Liv: Commandant, you are back.
Lucia: Commandant...
Skk: Thank you for your hard work. Liv. Lucia.
Liv: We... just want to try our best to make this time as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.
Lucia: The bright seaside, the warm evening breeze... this is what the seaside should be like.
Lucia: It would be great if I could leave such a relaxing memory in the Commandant's memory.
Skk: I feel it already, Lucia.
Skk: What's next?
Liv: Of course, it is up to Commandant to decide.
Skk: Eh?
Liv: On days when there are no tasks or work, I hope that the Commandant can completely relax and enjoy this relaxation.
Liv: This is our wish.
Liv: And no matter where you are, Commandant, we will be here waiting for you.
The sun is still so warm, shining on this city like a treasure that seems to have been forgotten by disaster and time, on the beach, on Liv, Lucia, myself, and those familiar friends.
When the time comes that truly belongs to me, I don't know how to use it.
So where to go...
[Maybe I can go to that beach suitable for diving and look for it.]
[It's not a bad idea to just stay and relax like this.]
[The art park that Ayla led the way through just now?]
Just follow my own footsteps, there's still plenty of time to rest.
The warm waves washed over my feet, taking the tight sand under my feet every time they receded. The soft sea sand slipped away from the feet with the current, and a fine and tickling spread along the soles of the feet.
Occasionally, a rapid wave of water hit my calf, and the water foam splashed onto my clothes along with some sea sand, It quickly dried up under the warm sunshine, leaving only a shallow trace of sand.
Skk: Hah...
Although the sun was in the middle of the day, I still couldn't help but let out a long yawn as I was embraced by this rare comfort.
Lucia: Are you a little tired, Commandant?
Skk: Once you relax, you can't help but fall asleep.
Liv and Lucia also stood beside me, and the waves also reached their ankles, leaving dark traces on the beach.
Skk: Constareye is a great place to rest.
Lucia: This is also thanks to the invitation from the Art Association.
Liv: It's not just us, I remember that there's a another space shuttle before we came down, they also carried the engineering force and the Dark Aries Team, and they seemed to have accepted Miss Ayla's invitation.
Skk: Oh, speaking of it... Where's Lee?
Lucia: He seemed to have found a beach location suitable for diving, and had already informed me in advance that he would go there to make preparation.
Skk: That's...
When I was wandering around the city not long ago, I spotted Lee among a pile of stuffed animals, mechanical tools, and claw machines.
Skk: What are you doing?
Lee: Some mechanics said these claw machines were rigged and wanted my help to fix them.
Skk: Rigged?
Lee: During the first 20 times of grabbing, the clamping claws were all loose and nothing could be clamped at all. This did not meet the promotional standards. The robots did not understand why this happened.
>[...Thank you, Claw Machine Man.]
[Maybe this is the design...]
Lee: Now that the adjustment has been basically completed, I am testing it.
Skk: Isn't this just a change of place to work?
Lee: I am interested. Interest is enough.
Lee: ... and I'm still a little unaccustomed to being free all of a sudden.
Skk: In this case, why not relax together?
Looking out the window at the clear sky and sea in front of me, I remembered that Ayla had mentioned before that in addition to the location used for holding the celebrations, there's another beach in Constareye that is suitable for diving.
Skk: For example... go diving?
Lee: Diving... with you, Commandant?
Skk: Yes, the two of us.
Lee: ...
Skk: But we didn't bring any diving equipment... I don't know if I can find it here.
Lee: The robot who asked me to repair the claw machine mentioned that there is a shop selling swimming gear in Constareye.
Lee: Let me ask first.
[That's up to you]
>[Any chance of seeing you in a swimsuit?!]<
Lee: Don't get excited too early.
He expressionlessly picked up a huge stuffed toy and stuffed it over it.
I sent an invitation to Lee on a whim, and it turned out that he already making preparations...
Liv: I remember that before leaving, Mr. Lee was mumbling about "Five meters and three minutes" and "mask inspection"...
Lucia: Haha...
Liv: Ha... nevermind.
Skk: Um?
Lucia: Well... In short! Commandant, do you want to go walk in the city first? Or go to the art gallery on the beach?
Lucia: A rare vacation is always about taking a good rest!
Liv: I remember that Miss Ayla gave me a guide to Constareye that she wrote personally...
Liv: I found it here.
Liv: I have already send it to you, Commandant. It is said that there are many specially designed tourist attractions. Commandant, you can probably go and take a look!
Lucia: By the way, the Dark Aries Team is also here for vacation, but they haven't arrived yet. Do you want to go find them first?
In this way, Liv and Lucia clumsily concealed something in front of them, but they both had unstoppable smiles on their faces.
Skk: It's really rare... All right.
Liv: !?
Lucia: Commandant...
Skk: Then I'll just go for a walk.
Lucia: !
Lucia: We'll have everything ready when the commandant comes back.
Liv: We'll always be here, Commandant.
The sand on the soles of my feet changed from wet to dry. By the time I stood outside the beach, Lucia and Liv were already waving goodbye to me quite far away.
Don't think too much, they must be preparing some "surprise". They are not really good at lying and covering up, just like now.
But since they prepared it with their own hands, accepting it happily is probably the best choice.
After confirming the location on the terminal and walking over accordingly to the location, Simon was not there and the remaining three members of the Dark Aries were standing on the beach arguing.
Palma: What does this have to do with me? If you hadn't reconciled with Simon yet, would he have looked at me when he had nothing to say and talked about the chief?
Palma: Moreover, It was you who obviously won the guessing game and got the coating for the beach talent show, but you made him so angry that he fainted during practice. This matter only affected you.
Noan: It's not as exaggerated as you said. In addition, you see... you also noticed that he wanted to watch the training, but he had to hide behind the video and pretended to be an instructor.
Palma: It's not because of what happened last time. Enough already. If the number of targets captured by Simon's unity and friendship tactic is less than 2, I will be included in it.
Palma: I don't want to! Go to the damn beach talent show!
Noan: But you are the captain.
Palma: Let me go back to the Purifying Force, thank you.
Lillian: There's no going back, Captain Palma.
Palma: No need for you to remind me!
I don't know whether it was because of what just happened or because of the long-standing grudge, Palma looked particularly angry.
Palma: Noan! When you said you had a whim at that time, was it intentional?
Noan: Which time?
Lillian: Wait, is that...
Palma: The last time you said you would take the braised chicken wings I made to apologize to Simon!
Noan: I did apologize.
Lillian: I said...
Paloma: If I don't have a sudden idea to make the best use of the chicken wings before making them into food, Simon will not think that you have no intention at all--
Lillian: The Commandant of the Gray Raven has been standing at the back!
The air suddenly became quiet, Paloma turned her head away angrily, and Noan opened his mouth, wanting to say something before swallowing it.
Noan: Long time no see, Commandant.
Lillian: Hello, Commandant of Gray Raven......
>[Ah, hello.]
[Haven't see you for a long time.]
>[Have I disturbed you?]
[Sorry, I disturbed you.}
Lillian: No, no, thank you for interrupting them.
Skk: So, what's the matter?
Noan: Uh...... we just....
Palma: Just practicing surgery with a chicken wing and haven't cleaned up the material after stitching it wrong.
Skk: ........
It seemed that I heard Noan uttering "squirt" in a very low voice, but when he raised his head, he had his usual expression again.
>[Simon, it's really unfortunate......]
[Isn't it a bit too whimsy?]
Palma: You also think he did it on purpose, right?
Noan: Of course not, trust me- I really just wanted to try something new.
Lillian: You said the same thing when you went to the Art Association.
Palma: I've really had enough! Could you please turn into defectors and be hunted by me?
Skk: These are the second time you mentioned... Beside Simon, is there anyone else injured?
Lillian: No, the people from the Art Association I met that time were even quite happy.
Skk: Simon...
Simon took over as the Commandant when the Dark Aries was reorganized for the second time, which was the third generation.
--Some people say that the name of Dark Aries is like a curse.
Sheep means sacrifice, so there are always turmoil in the team, and I have heard some rumors about this team in the past.
However, through this period of contact, we can clearly feel they are different from the previous Dark Aries in the past.
Skk: (This team has nothing to do with sheep anymore)
Because of this, they are not fit to remain in the "sheepfold".
Skk: Maybe, after a while...
After this team was put into the battlefield, those who have cooperated with them in the battle will discover this fact.
At that time, Commander-in-Chief Nicola and Speaker Hassan will describe the re-formed Dark Aries like this ---
Commandant Simon, a dedicated shepherd, is not in good health.
In the past, he lost sheep many times by accident. He would remain fully vigilant rationally, but in his heart he still wanted to trust the 'sheep" around him.
Captain Palma, the world-weary Black Panther, is silent and cold-blooded.
It hates that it can only walk at night, and will hunt other creatures that walk at night indiscriminately. Its only weakness... is that its fur will catch fire in the sun.
Team member Lillian, a ferret covered in lamp fur and raised by poachers, looks exactly like an easily frightened lamb.
It used to remain alert in 24 hours a day. But it no longer remain silent, and become a real sheep and live in the sheepfold.
Team member Noan is a wolf that looks like a sheepdog.
Gentle and cunning, it looks as conscientious as a shepherd, but that's just in its restrained form.
The current Dark Aries is more like a "sheep-eating" team. No one except Simon should appear in the sheepfold.
Simon: Chief, long time no see. You look much better than before.
While thinking about these questions, Simon returned to the team.
Skk: Long time no see, everyone was talking about you just now.
Simon: What a laugh... don't worry.
Lillian: Do you want to continue the training just now?
Simon: Yes, because yesterday's target was not completed, we cannot even stop if we are on vacation.
Palma: That's enough! You--
Simon: Think about why you were transferred from the Purifying Force by Bianca.
Palma choked back her words.
Simon: ...This is about not repeating that same mistakes again.
She turned away and stood back in the queue.
Simon: Sorry, we will probably be late for another hour before we can meet you.
Simon gave me a wry smile, as if to say, "I was trying to be brave just now", or "I made you laugh".
Skk: It's okay, I'll take a walk first.
He nodded and walked towards the seaside with the three members of Dark Aries.
--Who said that shepherds can only tame sheep waiting for slaughter? Maybe there are still many bumps in their road to "getting along", but this time, the ending will no longer be separation...
Lillian: Ah, I suddenly have something urgent and I have to leave for five minutes!
Simon: Lillian? .....Huh?
Skk: Uh... next...
Opening the travel guide that Liv just sent to me on her terminal, the first sentence at the beginning is not the expected " Welcome you!" but--
Hi, LeeAh is here~ I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who read my translation work. I really appreciates it so I'm planning to make more in the future. Maybe also in the future I'll take requests to translate more games? Who know. Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you once again for reading my works! If there are any mistakes on my part please feel free to dm me.
Noctis: Huh? How come it's so fast! Don't we switch it every half an hour?
Vera: Yes, once every half hour.
Noctis: Hey, okay, for the sake of this money...
No.21: Noctis will definitely spend money recklessly.
Noctis: How is it possible? I am the best at managing money!
Vera: Okay, I'll leave this money to you. You'll double it in three months.
Noctis: Ah, then if I lend it out at 70% interest...
No.21: Don't worry, I'll throw out the pile of junk that Noctis left in the preparation room and give him a good jail sentence.
Noctis: Will this be court-martialed?
No.21: Will it? It seems that it will.
Vera: Financial crimes don't seem to apply to constructs... I don't remember either, but you'll know if you try it yourself.
Vera: All in all, you don't need to worry about this reward money, just keep it to wipe your ass mess you may cause in the future.
No.21: Well... Noctis became much lighter after getting out of the car.
Noctis: Do you understand muscles? They are all muscles!
Noctis: Unlike you, just two paws are heavier than your brain.
No.21: But the claws can tear apart muscles!
Noctis: Huh? You want to pick a fight?
Vera: Oh? If you kill one and lose a pair, that's fine.
No.21: ...Well, forget it then.
Noctis: Ah, say, Captain, how far is it from the return point?
Noctis: I really don't want to push it anymore.
Vera: Let me see, there are still thirty kilometers left, and we will be there after passing this no-man's land.
Noctis: We have obviously completed our mission, why are we still so tired...
The weather was very sunny, even too sunny, and the sun shone unbridled on hundreds of kilometers of deserted gravel, meadows, and asphalt roads.
Human physiological conditions dictate that such an environment is not suitable for them to survive here, but correspondingly, this is also a paradise for certain lives.
Such as lizard, blue sheep, hares, wolves and vultures in the sky.
--And Cerberus pushing a car on an endless road.
Noctis: Is this the end?
No.21: Completed.
Noctis: This old film still looks a bit mushy.
Noctis: But I'm still pretty handsome!
No.21: Mm.
Vera: So this film... was shot along the way?
Noctis: Probably.
Noctis: Damn it, does this count as an infringement of my image rights?
Vera: I had seen him occasionally holding up a filming machine before, and it turned out that he had filmed this whole scene.
Noctis: Of, speaking of it...
Noctis: What happened to that money? That bounty?
Vera: Although the villain who repaired the car was solved by accident, the money was still gray income compared to the Sky Garden.
No.21: ...Unexpectedly, the mission objective was solved at the beginning of this mission.
Noctis: The commandant who is always sick and generous is bored enough, so he sent us to deal with a ruffian on the earth?
Noctis: We did all the dirty work.
Vera suddenly stretched out her leg and kicked Noctis.
Vera: It would be nice if I didn't confine you.
Noctis: Okay, but at least there's a bounty.
Vera: The person who pays is a scavenger who is not under the jurisdiction of the Sky Garden. Of course, you can also spend it directly. Just like what No.21 said, I wish you a good prison sentence.
No.21: I want a new audio-visual terminal.
Vera: Okay, that's okay, but before that, you have to think of some way to make the money more reasonable.
Noctis: How about investing in hand grenades for the Art Associations?
Vera: Wouldn't anyone really want to do this kind of loss-making business?
Noctis: Or maybe make some movies? Didn't 21 say there was a movie about driving a red motorcycle last time?
Noctis: I quite want to see it.
No.21: "Light"? Huzi told me that the movie was walled that.
No.21: But it is a really old movie, I don't know if I can still find it.
No.21: So I want a new audio-visual terminal, and maybe with this movie.
While talking, No.21 took out the film from the movie machine and looked at the pattern on the reel.
Noctis: Be careful, this is a movie camera borrowed from the Art Association.
Noctis: People from the Art Association said that this kind of old film was discontinued decades ago, and this kind of machine is very expensive.
I don't know where you are now, but I guess you will eventually return to the Sky Garden.
So it would be better to send this movie to the Sky Garden.
Although I still have to stay in this community clinic for a while, the doctor said I will be able to get out of bed soon.
After all, I have business to do.
I also took advantage of this time to finish editing these films.
After meeting you, I started taking these pictures intermittently with my portable camera.
My editing skills are terrible and my technique is terrible.
Not to mention commenting on other people's movies, the stuff I made myself is terrible.
But I think the most important thing is "seeing".
Just recording what happened is already a great thing.
I think this is the best thank you I can give you.
By the way, one more thing.
The ending of the movie I talked about last time is still unfinished.
The knight climbed to the top of the tower, but did not find any secret treasure.
But God gave him the fire of hope and told him that one day these disasters would pass.
Golden wheat ears will once again cover the earth, and bright sunshine will light un the sky again. This is a cliched ending, but also a good ending.
Maybe it's because of Zach, because of this movie, that I want to live. All in all, thank you.
As for the movie in your hands, I privately named it as a souvenir. That's it for now, I'm going to keep walking and help the old guy find his daughter.
Maybe one day, we can meet again in the conservation area.
If you have enough wine, you can also have enough movies.
Wait, the doctor told me, why did you use the reward money to pay for my medical expenses!? Damn it, isn't this favor not over yet!?
Amidst the flames and thunder, the enemies in the sand sea emerged from the smoke one after another, as if they had just been dormant in the storm before that.
???: Enemy... enemy... enemy...
Among the monsters with shapes, a mechanical body that was covered in rust and decorated with many unexplained decorations stood out from the sea of sand.
???: The Oil Scrap Gang... the enemy... annihilate... the enemy...
No.21: The concentration of the Punishing is rising...
Noctis: This big guy in the middle seems to be the leader, right?
Noctis punched hard, smashing the heads of several infected bodies that rushed toward No.21.
Vera: Looks like some kind of infected machine?
Vera threw her flag gun, swept away the enemies approaching them, took out a tube of serum from the first aid box and injected it into the substitute plasma on Huzi.
Vera: It won't last long, the serum in only enough to last for an hour.
Noctis: Does it take an hour to beat this thing to pieces?
No.21: Scan showed that the mechanical body was very worn out.
Noctis: Isn't that just a punch?
Vera: Let's make a quick decision.
???: Enemy... enemy...
???: Ene... my....
Noctis grabbed the cracked armor on the chest of the machine with one hand, but before he could punch out with the other hand, the machine's fist landed on his face before him.
Noctis: Ha! You are really durable!
No.21: There are flaws.
While Noctis took a solid punch from the mechanical body, No.21 keenly discovered a flaw and tore off its left arm.
Noctis: You won't survive!
After being punched, Noctis immediately retaliated and smashed half of its head with one punch.
???: !!!
Noctis: This thing only has half of its head left! Why isn't it dead?
Vera: Then knock the whole head off!
The mechanical body pieced through the body and avoided Noctis's next punch, but failed to avoid Vera's flag gun.
???: ---
Vera's flag gun flew straight past Noctis's cheek, piercing the remaining half of the head.
No.21: The target... falls silent.
Noctis: [Beep beep] !
Noctis spat, and finally let go of the hand had been tightly holding the mechanical body, and it fell to the ground like a pile of scrap metal.
Noctis: This is the first time I have encountered such a durable iron thing.
No.21: It's and enemy I've never seen before...
Looking around, the enemies that had emerged from the sea of sand one after another were all scattered.
No.21: The Punishing concentration is now at normal levels.
Vera walked to the mechanical wreckage next to Noctis, stepped on the half-beaten mechanical head, and pulled out her flag gun.
Vera: The manufacturing process of this thing is different from the garbage I encountered before. It doesn't look like the stuff from here.
Noctis: But this unexplained decoration looks familiar.
Vera: Hmph, it must be that the unknown machine and the car repairman are the same.
Vera kicked the thorn-like decoration made of iron nails and galvanized iron sheets that decorated the mechanical body.
Vera: Let's go. No.21, Noctis.
Vera: The sandstorm has also stopped, but I don't know if we will encounter other enemies. Take advantages of this moment to set off quickly.
No.21: What about Huzi?
Vera: Of course we brought him with us, otherwise why would I save him? His life is not in danger now, he just fainted.
Vera: Leave him in the next colony, we still have mission.
Noctis: Let's go then?
Noctis stood next to Vera, carrying the unconscious Huzi on his back.
Even in coma, the middle-age man's arms tightly hugged the ancient movie machine and the pocket containing the film on his chest, and the dagger in his hand reflected the faint moonlight.
As time passed, the sandstorm also showed signs of weakening.
Noctis: Damn it, where did he go...
A few dozen meters away in front of Noctis, a dark shadow could be vaguely seen.
He was also moving forward with difficulty towards that destination. After all, in such weather, normal people would choose to find a place to escape the wind and sand.
Of course, if the person is still alive.
Noctis: You can't be stupid that you can't even find a shelter from the wind, right?
BANG--
Amidst the whistling yellow sand, there was an unusually clear gunshot, and the source of that sound was right in front.
???: Who?
Noctis: I also want to ask who you are!
???: ...Come on.
Noctis: Huzi?
Huzi: Yes, it's me.
Noctis trudged through the knee-deep wind and sand. He lifted his legs out only for a moment, and his footsteps were immediately buried in new sand.
When Noctis finally reached the source of the sound, Huzi was leaning against a hard rock with his back still holding the pistol he had just used as a warning in his right hand, smiling bitterly at Noctis.
Noctis: [Beep] Are you tired of running around chasing some thief in this weather?
Huzi: Ha... that's right...
Huzi struggled to support his body, and the wind and sand slipped from his body. Only then did Noctis see clearly that there were two people lying beside him, but they had no signs of life.
Noctis: How is this going?
Huzi: These two thieves were chased by me and killed...
Huzi: If you do something like this, you have to be prepared... to be retaliated against.
Noctis: Your body temperature is very low... Hey, this wound...
Noctis noticed the Huzi was almost in a state if shock, and his trouser legs and body were stained red with yellow sand and blood.
The storm gradually subsided, like blood flowing silently in the yellow sand.
Huzi: I... just now, I dreamed of him.
Huzi: We were in that park together... and... he... that's all that's left...
Noctis: Hey! Hey!
Blood loss and hypothermia were talking away his consciousness.
Although he is not interested in medical knowledge as all, Noctis also learned more or less some first aid knowledge from his long-term fight side by side with Vera.
Huzi: Ugh...
Huzi tried his best to smile and wanted to hand the film and movie camera to Noctis, but his stiffened limbs could not complete the instructions of his consciousness.
Noctis: I don't want these things from you, you can keep them yourself.
Noctis: You are a man, don't die in this miserable place like a weakling without saying a word.
Noctis tore off a piece of cloth from Huzi's trousers and temporarily tied it on the wound on his thigh.
Noctis: Hey! Look at me! Don't fall asleep!
Noctis: Now I will carry you back to find Vera to give you first aid, do you understand?
Noctis held Huzi's head and patted his face gently to keep him awake.
Noctis used to perform many shady missions and had to kill many people with his own hands.
The "last moment" flashing in many people's eyes, some are despair, some are fear, and some are anger.
For a moment, Noctis also saw the "last moment" in the eyes of Huzi.
But it's not despair and fear, nor anger, but a stubborn hope of life.
Huzi: [Beep beep] I am not... a softie...
Noctis: That'll do!
Noctis looked around and found that the storm had completely stopped.
He checked Huzi's state of consciousness one last time, and when he was about to carry him on his back, he saw a dagger stuck in the corpse at his feet.
Noctis pulled out the dagger without hesitation, and the place where the dagger was originally inserted was immediately buried by the yellow sand on the corpse.
Noctis: This is yours, right?
Huzi nodded.
Noctis put the dagger into Huzi's already stiff hand, squeezed his hand hard, and made his hold the dagger tightly as well as the film and movie machine in his arms.
Noctis: Who.
No.21: That's Noctis.
About the same direction as where Noctis came, under the night, the figures of No.21 and Vera became increasuigly clear.
Only then did Noctis notice that the raging sandstorm had subsided.
Noctis: Hey, Vera is here too.
Noctis patted Huzi's face again, but harder than before, because he knew that once he lost consciousness in this situation, he might sleep forever.
Huzi: ......
Huzi didn't speak any more and just nodded.
No.21: Noctis and Huzi are here!
No.21: Captain, it smells of blood...
Vera: You owe me two lives now.
Vera skillfully took out the first aid kit and began to give emergency treatment to Huzi.
Vera: This strap?
Noctis: Mine.
Vera: Well, yes, it's still far from passing, but it's enough.
Vera: The wound is full of sand... we still need to clean it first and find something for him to bite on.
But Huzi shook his head and rejected Vera's proposal.
Huzi: The pain... can wake me up a bit.
Vera: Hm.
Vera didn't hesitate any longer and immediately started debriding, anti-inflammation and bandaging.
Vera: You're really lucky that you didn't injure your femoral artery.
After the simple bandaging, Vera hung a bag of substitute plasma on Huzi and stared at the light liquid flowing into his body bit by bit.
Noctis: Is this enough?
Vera: This can only be done for now. Originally, there was no need to rescue and treat human patients in this mission.
Vera: It seems that it is necessary to carry a spare with you...
Noctis: So... how did you find this place?
No.21: After the storm weakened, No.21 sensed the smell of Huzi.
No.21 stood next to Huzi and looked at him with concern.
She gently picked out a needle-like object in the Huzi's top. It would be difficult to detect it unless you looked carefully.
Noctis: What's this?
Vera: For positioning, you also have it on you.
Noctis: Huh? I have it too? Where?
No.21: Because this mission would enter a signal blind spot, the captain arranged for me to bring a positioning device.
No.21: But the furthest positioning distance is only three kilometers.
Noctis: So that's why...
Vera: Why are his body temperature and blood pressure still not rising...
Vera: Noctis, go get some fire. His body temperature is too low. It will kill him before he loses blood. Don't let him freeze to death here.
Noctis: Tsk... During the fight on the road, we ran out of explosives...
Vera: I brought this to you.
Vera pointed to a bag of homemade explosives next to her flag gun.
Vera: Something left by the guy who repaired the car before.
Noctis: No, there's no way to take this thing apart and make a fire.
Noctis: They were all old black and yellow gunpowder... they only lit up for a moment, so they couldn't be used to make a fire.
Vera: Aren't you the best at this?
Noctis: Yeah, that's why I knew this thing couldn't be used to make a fire.
???: ------
Uncoordinated noises suddenly came from not far away.
Many infected bodies with different shaped emerged from the sand one after another, as if they had just escaped from the sandstorm and sneaked underground. Now that the storm subsided, they became active again.
Noctis: It's really hard to proceed.
No.21: Not just here, but around... there are many more.
Noctis: Then... should we retreat?
Vera: It's not easy to let go if the wounded.
Noctis: Then it seems there is only one choice.
Noctis instinctively touched the bomb on his waist, but unexpectedly touched a strange glass of bottle.
Noctis: Liquor?
No.21: Hm.
Noctis: Oh, by the way, this was given to me by the previous tavern keeper.
Vera: Isn't this Huzi's?
Noctis held the bottle of clear and transparent liquor, and as if recalling something, he turned around and squatted in front of Huzi.
Noctis: Hey, say, are you afraid of death?
Huzi: ......
Huzi: I owe... Zach a life.
Huzi: Now... I owe... you two lives again.
Noctis: Zach? Who's Zach?
Huzi shook his heard, but his eyes were filled with tears.
Huzi: I'm not afraid of death.
Huzi: But I want to live.
With a pop, Noctis lifted the cork of the wine bottle and handed the wine to Huzi.
Huzi's hand was still a little stiff from the cold and blood loss, but he still took the wine Noctis handed him, took a swig, and handed it back to Noctis.
Noctis said no more, just patted Huzi on the shoulder, turned around and picked up the explosives next to Vera.
All the hopes in his eyes have been conveyed to Noctis.
Noctis: Just like before, blow all these offal to pieces.
Noctis tied the wine and gunpowder in his hands together and threw them towards the infected body that was approaching not far away--
Wine and fire, iron and blood, can forge death and ignite new hope.
The wind and sand that block out the sky and sun have ruled the wilderness for a long time, and even night cannot break through its curtain.
Noctis: Tsk... so boring.
Noctis, who was leaning outside the cave and on duty at night, was bored, so he had no choice but to dust himself off and return to depths of the cave.
Vera: What's wrong? Is there anything going on?
Noctis: No, but it would be too boring to stand outside like a telegraph pole.
No.21: You can count the cacti.
Noctis: It's impossible to see anything clearly in such a big sandstorm.
Noctis scratched his head and looked at the place where Huzi should have rested.
Noctis: Huh? Wait, where's he?
Vera: Huh?
The corner in the grotto that was originally reserved for Huzi to rest is now gone. Only the motorcycle that he usually drives is left.
Huzi and his usual camera were gone.
No.21: There is a note here, weighted down with a stone.
No.21: It says... 'Someone stole the film from my movie camera in the middle of the night, I went after it.'
Noctis: Gone?
No.21: Gone.
Vera took the note from No.21's hand, and there was indeed only such a line scrawled on the old, yellowed paper.
No.21: Thief?
Noctis: Let's take a look to see if anything important is missing.
Vera: There's nothing else but weapons and equipment, so how can we go there?
Vera: But why would there be a thief in this weather? Did you sense of other people No.21?
No.21 turned around and shook her head.
No.21: There is too much smoke and dust in this weather, and the smell device is not very sensitive.
No.21: I didn't notice other people's breath, and I didn't even know where is Huzi went.
Noctis: If he goes out at this time, he will die.
Vera: Then just wait, I don't know where he will find his things.
Vera: Anyway, this is his own thing... And as I said, the Cerberus will not stop just because one person falls behind.
No.21: But...
Vera pressed the note with a stone to the place where Huzi just rested.
No.21: ...The ending of the movie is not finished yet.
Vera: Isn't it just a movie... After you return to Babylonia, you can ask someone from the Art Association to find out if there is an archive of this movie for you.
Vera: Even your own life is not precious, why should you inherit other people's things...
Vera turned her back and stopped talking.
No.21: But didn't Noctis also say that he would help him make a movie?
Noctis: You fart, when did I say such thing.
No.21: "Isn't it just a movie? I can make it! If you come to me next time you make a movie, it will definitely be much better than this B-level bad movie."
No.21 imitated Noctis's tone and repeated what Noctis said more than ten hours ago.
Noctis: Is there such a thing? I don't remember at all...
No.21: Because Noctis was drinking with Huzi at that time.
No.21: Alcohol makes Noctis's brain dull.
Noctis: Oh... I think I did say that.
Noctis touched his chin thoughtfully, as if he was really trying to remember what he said at that time.
Noctis: Since... if I agree like this, it can be regarded as a promise.
Noctis: It seems that we really can't just let it go, so I'll go find him.
Noctis nodded and immediately turned around to leave the grotto and go out to find someone.
Vera: Wait a moment.
Vera: Who allowed you to act without permission like this?
Noctis: What wrong? Aren't I just looking fir someone?
Noctis: And isn't it still early before the task deadline? Anyway, the sandstorm is so big, there is nothing to do.
No.21: The captain... hesitated.
Vera: What should a human being who has nothing to do with me have nothing to hesitate about?
Noctis: Oh, that's what I'll tell Murray.
Noctis: Someone stole something right under our noses, and we didn't care.
Vera: Dumbass, weren't you keeping vigil outside?
Noctis: But aren't you and 21 still in this cave?
Vera: ......
Vera: I hate people who carry other people's wishes on their shoulders but know nothing about the weight.
Noctis: Then why don't you just give him a punch and it's over?
Vera glared at Noctis and No.21, and sighed.
Vera: This idiot... must have gone northeast.
Noctis: You saw it?
Vera: He went out sneakily, and I happened to see him.
No.21: Let's go then.
No.21 grabbed Vera's sleeve.
No.21: The captain and I went to look for him, and so did Noctis.
Noctis: Hey, why should I leave the decision by yourself?
Vera: Didn't you suggest that you go find him?
Vera raised the flag gun standing aside, and the flag was still making a sound in the dust.
The sharp claws of No.21 are like a precise and crazy scalpels, cutting through the gale and the enemy at the same time.
In such an environment, Noctis's cluster bombs could not work well. Instead, the three of them each used their physical skills to break through the enemies outside the hideout.
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