As Many Lights in the Sky

Oh hey, Kikyo! You've been a huge help!

So, here's your reward this time! Buy whatever you like with it!

Oh? You're paying in cash?

Crud! Is that bad? The payment method wasn't specified! I guess I misunderstood!

Umm, no. It's no problem. It's just that it's a little bit rare these days.

Phew! Thank goodness!

Well, thank you then! Until next time!

Phew... He's anything but boring, but he sure wears me out.

Haha... I can imagine.

So, the job's finished, then? What are you going to do now?

Hmm... Well...

I have nothing planned, and it's an early finish today... How about a bite to eat?

That's a great idea. Eeza has a nearly inexhaustible number of options available.

I've definitely got the money for it. On account of just being paid and all...

Huh? There's something other than the bills in the envelope?

Hmm?

This... This is a small video player.

Kikyo?! What's up with this?!

I-I don't know! It's playing on it's own...

*static*

This is a message of prayer from the bottom of my heart to my beloved daughter, Kikyo.

This voice... Did it say, "daughter"? Could this be my father?!

If you're watching this video, it means I've probably already breathed my last breath. I arranged long ago for this to be delivered to you in the event of my death.

My father...for me...

Kikyo... There is something I've left behind for you. You could call it my "light." My single most important possession.

His light?

Listen carefully, Kikyo. This is the only thing I could never give to anyone else. So make absolutely sure you're the one who gets it! Head to the Wasteland ASAP. There's a "key" hidden there. Kikyo... I'm counting on you. Be strong.

Father...

Are you okay, Kikyo? You seem surprised.

Yeah... I'm fine. But my father's "light." What could it be?

Hmm... I can't imagine what it could be. But maybe we should do as Rindo says and head to the Wasteland?

Yeah. That's what Father wanted.

I have no idea what awaits, but we have to find out.

I'll go with you. I owe Rindo for helping me in Gulfagin.

I could really use your help. Thanks, Aldo.

Let's set off now to the place he mentioned... The Wasteland!

Urgh... It was right of me to have her investigated.

We're finally onto you, Hyperspeed Demon. The curtain will close on your treachery once and for all.

Just you wait! Hehehe... Muahahahah!

What is it, Kikyo? Did you find something?

Nothing over here. Looks like nothing there, either.

It's really tough not knowing what my father meant to leave to me in the first place.

Yeah... Like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Huh?

What is it? Why are you staring?

No, it's nothing. I thought I saw a light.

This! Is something responding to the playback device?!

What is this box?

......

Is there something inside?

Yeah... A note. "The next key is the demon's birthplace." That's all that's written.

The demon's birthplace? That would be...

Huh?! Kikyo!

What?

Wha, ?! A Synth Ninja?!

Is it here for the note?! We can't let that happen!

Hehehe! This is like taking candy from a baby. So this is the note I'm after.

What? When?

We... We were taken by surprise!

Hmm... "The next key is the demon's birthplace." Deciphering this is child's play.

Notice from identifier number C-81. The target location is Rindo's birthplace. I repeat, target location is Rindo's...

Wait! What are you going to do with my father's treasure?!

Hehe... What I was told... I'll dispose of it just to be safe. It'd be problematic if it were to fall into your hands.

Dispose?! No way! Do you know something about my father's treasure?!

Naturally... Because I intercepted the info on that playback device. It's amusing to me that you still don't appear to understand it.

What are you saying?!

What that demon calls his "light," could only be the Hyperspeed Arrow of Light!

The Hyperspeed Arrow of Light...!

Is that what forced all of the KMS Synth Humans out of commission?

Anyway, I must leave you now. You can sit back and watch as I take care of everything.

Ngh! Wait!

Kikyo! We have to chase him! Where in the world is the place where Rindo was born?!

......

Kikyo?

"The demon's birthplace." I wonder if we can really take it at face value?

What do you mean?

An organization like KMS would have no trouble figuring out my father's birthplace.

My father must have anticipated that. Which means that code is...

Perhaps it's something only you'd be able to decipher?

Yeah... There's something he often told me.

The time when his life started anew... When he was born again.

The time when his body became half-cyborg... When he became a "demon"!

Born again... I see! So "the demon's birthplace" refers to the place where Rindo became a cyborg?!

Yeah... The person who did that for him was his close friend... Professor Chronos.

In other words, our real destination is Professor Chronos' Research Laboratory!

I see... So that's what it meant!

But it's only a matter of time before KMS figures that out.

We have to hurry! Let's head to Professor Chronos' Research Laboratory in Xeno-Domain!

I can't believe we were able to get in here so easily. Aldo, what does that mean?

Umm... It just so happens that I'm the Professor Chronos' son.

The details are somewhat complicated, so let's just leave that be for now...

What, seriously?!

Then in that case... We might have met at some point when we were younger.

You're quite right. Rindo and Professor Chronos were close friends after all.

Well, we could reminisce forever... So let's save it for later.

I suppose. So is there anything here that shows the location of Rindo's treasure?

I've checked all the rooms and can't seem to find anything.

Let's check and see if there's any data left on the terminal.

I should have known. Most of the data is locked down.

Huh?! What's going on, Kikyo?!

I-I don't know! It's like it's got a mind of its own...

Scanning program activated.

Confirmation...complete. Playing video file.

Well done getting this far, Kikyo.

Wha... Professor Chronos?!

Professor Chronos! You were my father's close friend.

Rindo asked if he could use this room as a relay point. Using biometric information, it is almost perfectly able to identify whether you are actually Kikyo or not.

But let's get to the point. The light you seek is hidden on Last Island.

Last Island... He really must have not wanted anybody else to get it if he'd go so far as to hide it in such a remote place.

Kikyo... You must do everything in your power to obtain Rindo's Light.

That was his wish. And it's my wish as well. Godspeed, Kikyo.

Oh, right. One last thing...

If by some cruel twist of fate you happen to run into my son or daughter...

I want you to tell them this. Tell them I miss them so much...

Much like Rindo, I was unable to live a life that left much time for parenting...

I prioritized my work as a researcher over that as a parent... You could have even called me a mad scientist.

But that being said, I didn't completely abandon my duties as a parent. I may have been a scientist through and through, but part of me was still a parent.

Outsiders might have seen it as odd. But... But I still did my best to love them in my own way.

......

Professor Chronos. Who could have imagined a miracle like this happening?

Yeah, really.

Thanks, Kikyo. I would have never heard these words if I'd never met you.

Huh? What are you saying? It's just coincidence is all...

All right... I'm ready to do this! Rindo's Light is waiting for us on Last Island!

Yeah, you're right. Let's get going!

Hmm. So it was a dummy. Rindo is taking us for a ride. No word on the Xeno-Domain log?

S-Sorry for keeping you waiting so long! When we checked the log, we were able to confirm that Kikyo and her friend had entered!

And what of their destination?

Based on the Synth Hydra's course, it looks like it might be Last Island.

Oh, I see... Last Island. It looks like Rindo was really desperate to hide it from us.

This time, it's my turn. Delamair is going put an end to all of this personally!

Ahahahah! Muahahaha!

......

Kikyo... What's wrong?

When I was a child... I always nagged my father about how I wanted to see the beautiful ocean.

But... In this era, pollution has made the ocean anything but beautiful, right?

Yeah... You're right. But perhaps this hiding place was chosen so that you'd be able to finally see the ocean for yourself.

I wonder... That happened so long ago.

Let's go. We have no idea when KMS is going to catch on to what's going on.

You're right. Let's begin our search along the coastline for now.

That won't be necessary.

Huh?!

Ack! Delamair?!

It appears you're too late. My private army is already fully deployed throughout this area.

Delamair! That you yourself would appear... You really want my father's treasure that badly?

Delamair! That you yourself would appear... You really think I'm going to let you take my father's dying gift to me?!

Of course... The Hyperspeed Arrow of Light is the biggest existential threat to KMS.

You don't think we'd just sit back and do nothing, do you?

We won't let you have it! My father's treasure can't be allowed to fall into anyone else's hands!

Bold of you to say. But as I said... You're too late!

Ngh! It's them again!

Play nice, okay? You just have to use time, but if you kill them...just as good.

Wait, Delamair!

Kikyo! We need to do something about these guys first!

Master's orders. No need to keep on living.

Hmm... How long is this going to last?

Let's get started, Aldo! Are you ready?

Of course, Kikyo! Let's beat them and put a stop to Delamair!

Youuu!

Good...luck... Delamair...and KMS...

Let's hurry, Aldo! We have to go after Delamair...

No way! How many of them are there?!

There's no way we'll catch up to him at this rate!

We'll lose father's treasure if we don't! What to do...

Hey, Kikyo! Time's like this call for a smile!

......?! That voice...

I heard the news from Rindo's boss!

You... The man who hired Kikyo?!

That's right! Rindo left me a message asking me to seal the video player in the envelope!

Which means that device was entrusted to me as well!

But... Why did you risk such a long and dangerous journey just to help me?! Did my father ask you to do that as well?!

Hehehe... No he did not!

Rindo didn't say a thing about helping you.

I just decided I wanted to help you myself!

That's it!

......

What's with you? Get in the way and you'll be sorry!

Leave this to me and go on ahead.

Rindo wasn't lying when he said you needed to get his Light, now, was he?

Ahh... Thank you! Get out of this alive and hire me again when we get back!

Delamair appears to be headed east! Let's hurry!

Delamair!

Hmph... Faster than expected. You took out my soldiers already?

But... As you can see, Rindo's Light is already mine.

Not yet it isn't! Not if we stop you here!

Muahahah... And why would I let you do that?

Darn it... How many of them are there?!

Well... You can leave whenever you like, but... What a wasted opportunity it would be.

Right in front of his daughter's eyes... I'm going to smash the Hyperspeed Arrow of Light to bits!

You what?!

Stop it! Stop... Delamair!

Take a good, long look...as I extinguish the very last of your father's Light!

Nooo!

Muahahah... Hahahaha! Blame your own weakness!

Now, it's time to take care of business...

Huh? What the...?!

......

Hmph. What a let down.

Huh?

All personnel, prepare to withdrawal. No need to worry about them.

Huh?!

Delamair... What are you doing?

Hmph. I don't feel like explaining. Go ahead and see for yourself.

What a waste of time. Rindo was a scumbag to the very end.

Huh? What did he do?

This... This!

The Hyperspeed Arrow of Light! This isn't it...

This poorly drawn portrait...

And this frayed, hand-knitted scarf... All of it... All of it... These are all of the presents I gave him before we were separated.

I see... So that's what Rindo's Light was really referring to, huh.

Huh?

So his memories of you were more important to him than the Hyperspeed Arrow of Light... That's it, isn't it?

...... I... I could almost hate myself over this...

I never even imagined that it'd be our memories together that he'd leave to me. It had to be something...that would finally allow me to get the revenge I so desired.

I'm sure Rindo knew it deep down.

No matter how many times you were told you didn't have to be a demon, you found the words hard to accept. That's why... That why I think he chose to open your eyes like this.

Oh... Ohhh... Father... I'm so sorry! Ahhh... Father!

Are you okay now?

Yeah... I'm sorry. I really wish you didn't have to see that.

What you just went through... I would have cried, too, in your shoes.

I know that my father didn't want me to seek revenge.

I knew that already when we saw him on Gulfagin.

But I just couldn't help myself. My wish to get revenge on KMS is what kept me going...

Kikyo...

I don't expect to find the answers soon.

But... I think taking some time to think is a good start. What is my path in life? Where does that path begin?

I'll help, too. I'm sure you'll find your own way sooner than later.

Thank you, Aldo.

Then it's decided! I'll leave the past behind and continue my work as a jack-of-all-trades!

Yeah, that's the spirit! That job lets you interact with lots of people and really seems to perk you up!

But of course, I don't intend to end my journey with you.

Somehow or other... I think traveling with you might allow me to find my own path.

That's welcome news. I could certainly use your help!

Well then, yet again... I'm counting on you, Kikyo!

Yeah! Same to you, too!

All right! Let's go make sure our helpful friend is okay!

Yeah, he's a regular customer, after all!

Heehee! Not that I was thinking about the money or anything.

Hey, Father... Watch over me with Mother.

I, too, will someday find a light like the one you gave me.