Limbus Company story · Main story
Canto I: The Outcast
I was given the role of Manager. My Guide instructed me to find a branch of gold, to which my head nodded. Unknowingly, I walked face-first into one of nightmares.
30 scenes, 1,196 lines
1. Vroom-vroom, before the battle
156 linesEpisode S0_1
Verg.
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 didn't help, either.
……
Alright, let's proceed.
Ok. Here come bumpity-bumps.
Expensive washer fluid. Verg said he paid a fortune.
The clumps stuck to the window gently dissolve, letting light through.
Most of the people seated on the bus - Sinners - fix their gaze ahead with varied expressions in their eyes.
It felt like a pretty gruesome scene, but based on the others' reactions, maybe this kind of violence is to be expected in the City.
<Hey...>
It felt rather awkward to try to get another shut-eye again now that I was wide awake. Just then, a man with conspicuously overgrown stubble drew my attention.
<Bu― I mean, Glasses. Know where we're going right now?>
... A feature far more conspicuous than his stubble made me slip.
... You almost called me "bug guy," didn't you?
Once again, my name is 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.
Say, Bus Girlie. Where are we headed?
Once again, my name is Charon.
The same way you're called Gregor and not "bug guy."
……
<She got you there, Gregor.>
Haha, she really did.
... Verg said:
"The Sinners will go to District 4."
Whaaaat ho?! Did the name "District 4" fall upon my ears?!
That place is known to be the home of the Grass Maiden! 'Tis the origin of the heroine's journey. And 'twas the...
Bloody hell, you're rattling on and on and on...
Can't you just shut up and let us have some peace and quiet?
Why, I had remained silent unto mere moments ago!
Don't you bloody argue with me!
... Hey, do you even realize you're the louder one here?
... Lass, pain is pain whether it kills you or not. Now flap that gob of yours again and see what happens.
I make a valid point and you jump straight to violence? Real classy of you.
... Ha.
For a moment, I found myself contemplating:
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.
<Now now, guys, it's inadvisable to lose your c―>
Ngh...
Hrrk...!
TRANCHES.
To Right Against Noisy Crying Hogs Entails Scragging.
……
Senseless violence shan't be forgiven! I will bring about justice!
Aw~ I knew this would happen - ya got blood on my clothes. Look, do you guys really have to fight next to me?
<This... is just crazy...>
We haven't even reached our destination and three people are dead already. And all because of infighting, too.
Can't even look away for a minute without things going sideways, can I.
You four. Cleaning duty for the next month.
Such unfairness! I merely sought the hand of justice!
Hang on! Tell them to do my laundry, too. Bloodstains don't wash off as easily as wine. It wasn't cheap, you know, this getup...
No one bats an eye at the lifeless janitors-to-be littering the floor.
Maybe they're already taking their unlimited revivals for granted.
Problem is, I don't even know how exactly I'm supposed to bring them back...
Dante, I'd like you to turn the clock back.
<Turn... the clock?>
*sigh*
So that's what you look like when you're puzzled. I'll keep that in mind.
Miss 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.
It's the same thing you did the day we first met, Dante. Though I suppose that was more of an instinctive reaction.
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.
In fact, the door is everywhere.
However, only you can see it. For the stars in your sky have not fallen.
At that, I felt a sliver of light easing into my sight.
I let it come to me the same way I'd open my eyes.
And then... an expanse of space laid itself out ahead.
There, I was alone...
... with a massive door that stood before me.
It wasn't a pleasant sight.
Waves of suffocating heat and cries of agony escape through the gap.
My mind almost blacks out at the sound of the incessant lamentations and wailing.
However, I find myself approaching the door still, grasping at its handles as if it's the most natural thing to do.
Despite appearing rather ponderous, the door opens without much resistance.
I run my hand along the inside of the door. Thousands upon thousands of cacophonous wailings lie within.
And reaching further inside, I grab a few outstretched hands.
I can feel the histories of different sins, each bearing a brand of its own, crawling along my hand and up my arm.
Art thou prepared to share the pain?
Could that have been a question? Or rather, pressure to comply?
With all my strength, I yank out the Sinners clinging to my hand from the door.
<... RAHHHHGH!>
A terrible pain spreads through my neck and head.
A torture so unbearable I'd have taken death over it - and it refused to let up.
The sensation of bones and muscles twisting and entangling with each other goes on for what feels like an eternity.
My untrained legs buckle under the unbearable pain, and I drop to my knees onto the pool of blood.
And then I see it:
The vibrating surface of the red, viscous liquid bubbling and spattering as the pain grows even worse.
Soon, the blood soaking the ground coagulated and fused into three separate masses.
Then the pain that seemed to go on forever disappeared just like that.
Mmgh...
... Hrrk.
As the lumps of blood rose into the air and flew off, the terrible red haze cleared from my vision, and I was once again returned to the rumbling bus.
Keh... What's it like, coming back from a decapitation? Did your heart race?
As soon as Heathcliff comes to, he rubs his neck, hisses out a few curses, and stomps toward Ryōshū.
<Hold on, I just brought you back and you're going straight into another fight?>
Heathcliff whips around to glare at me, eyes blinded with fury.
It's your job to bring us back anyway, innit?
If that's done, then piss off before I smash in that bloody clock you call a head.
P-please, wait! Dante looks like they're in a lot of pain. We really should sto -
Heathcliff does not wait for Sinclair to finish his speech, and slams his steel bat into the young man's skull.
Kurgh... Grk...
The bus filled with Sinclair's choking, unintelligible gurgles as he lay dying.
Next time, Clockface, it'll be your noggin getting bashed. That clear enough?
Guess you really are as much of a scumbag as you look.
... Dying once not enough for you?
Heathcliff tightens his grip on the bat while Ishmael readies to swing her mace.
... How did I end up managing a bunch of people who stay the same wrecks even after literally coming back from death?
As my mind wandered, a sinister chill swept in and froze the tension in the bus into total silence.
... Ah. It seems we are overdue for some proper discipline.
...!
……
The Sinners, who'd been seconds away from jumping at each other's throats, came to an immediate standstill...
... as a pair of red eyes raked over them with a freezing, merciless glare.
Rule number one:
Do not let me hear weapons clashing inside the bus.
Any of you break this rule from this moment on...
You will be begging me to kill you before I'm done.
I'm sure you're aware that I am capable of far more than just that, yes?
Sinclair's death throes were the only sound that broke the silence.
Heathcliff glowered at Vergilius, but didn't dare argue back.
Apologies, Dante. I need you to rewind the clock again.
<Again...?>
I quickly shook my head - there was no way I was putting myself through that again. It hurt so much that death seemed downright merciful.
The ghost of a smile on Vergilius's face evaporates as his expression hardens.
... Best open that door while I'm still feeling generous enough to ask you nicely, Manager Dante.
Oh, and if it is the pain that you fear... If that is why you are shaking your head, I will gladly help you with that.
The agony of rewinding won't even make you bat an eye once I'm finished. A surefire way to boost your pain tolerance, don't you think?
Did I hear you correctly? Our manager clearly declined your request.
You... This interruption is ill-timed.
I was informed when I joined the company that the Executive Manager would be my superior, not you.
I would say that the manager has made themself perfectly clear by shaking their head.
I see, so the aide has decided to step in now, is that it?
Then let me make myself perfectly clear to you as well.
Vergilius's eyes turned a deeper shade of red, sharpening that bone-cold stare.
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 from spiraling into an even bigger mess.
Bringing back one Sinner should hurt less than reviving all 12 at once...
<Outis... I'll rewind the clock. It's okay.>
Vergilius caught me frantically gesturing for Outis to stand down, and the red gleam in his eyes faded.
A wise decision.
... As you wish, Executive Manager.
Outis looked like she had more to say, but quickly backed off and snapped into attention.
The red door greeted me again, bringing with it the sickening sensation of my bones and muscles churning and contorting against one another.
I decided to stop describing the pain to myself going forward.
It's not the sort of torture I could ever put a name on, anyway.
... Th-thank you...
Sinclair stood up with a pained moan and bowed in appreciation before tottering back to his seat.
2. Dance Time, before the battle
32 linesPrithee! I have a matter to inquire!
Don Quixote suddenly raised her hand.
Inquire.
Verily, I understood the first rule well! What, then, is the second rule?
Good grief... did you really have to go out of your way to ask?
……
Vergilius shot a cold stare at Ryōshū, who had just lit a cigarette. She returned the look with an unreadable expression on her face.
Rule number two...
No littering cigarette butts on the bus. They leave burn marks.
... Hah.
The bus falls silent again.
Hold on. The bus shouldn't be this quiet. Where's the engine's roar?
Charon, why aren't you speeding up?
No food. Mephi is hungry.
Good. We could use something to lift the mood.
Could he be suggesting a fuel stop?
The idea of Vergilius casually plugging a fuel nozzle into the bus like some normal person at a pump felt strangely out of place.
A vehicle needs fuel to run.
Charon, try flashing the headlights a bit. Like stage lights.
Mhm, it's dance timey.
Wait a minute. That's like an open invitation for highwaymen to come rob us.
That appears to be the intent.
... Sorry?
I could hear someone pounding against the bus's steel plating outside.
Oi! Leave all ya stuff behind and get off! Y'got 30 seconds! 10! 9!
Ey, you skipped 20 seconds.
Er... Uh... Then 20 seconds fer ya to say yer prayers!
*sigh* Why am I surrounded by dullards left and right?
... What'd you just say?
How cowardly of them to ambush us thus! Verily, they must be villains without a shred of doubt!
Alright, everyone off.
And one more thing - we want them half-dead, not dead. Clear?
3. The Bus Deck, before the battle
16 linesA deep, guttural rumble erupts as the side of the bus heaves and splits open.
A number of human shapes littered the ground before the bus's gaping maw - some still conscious, others no longer in one piece.
The maw then stretched even wider and, for lack of a better word, started chewing through the bodies. Every bite came fast and voracious.
……
Ryōshū took in the spectacle with clear satisfaction, as though determined to savor every moment of it...
Off to the side, Sinclair looked visibly shaken.
Everyone here is so... We're surrounded by insane people. You think so too, don't you?
The way he reacted made me wonder what history the Sinners carried.
<Just to make sure... None of you were forced to join, right?>
Whatever happened before my head got replaced with a clock is a complete mystery, but as far as I can tell, I was basically forced into the company.
And maybe they're not so different from me - or so I thought, until...
Ah...
Sinclair bowed his head, as if I'd hit a raw nerve.
That's right. This was my choice. I'll get used to all this... won't I?
He was muttering under his breath like he wasn't talking to me at all.
'Tis the deed I would have done even if the company sought me not! Lo, yon host of evil draweth nigh!
4. Enkephalin, before the battle
23 linesSeriously, when was the last time I actually got to stuff myself? I swear, this lump of metal's eating better than we do...
Do mind that all meals are portioned in appropriate amounts.
It's nowhere near enough to get me going!
I thought I'd heard Heathcliff shouting "You think I'm doing this on a full stomach?!" in the distance, but Rodya seemed to pretend she heard nothing.
Speaking of...
<Does this bus run on stuff like blood or protein?>
It's Enkephalin, an energy source extracted by Lobotomy Corporation.
The previous L Corp., right? I heard it used its Singularity to produce energy... though, now that the Wing's fallen, all that's left is its rubble.
Correct, which is why it's become a rarity these days.
However, Mephistopheles is capable of forcibly extracting Enkephalin from the body.
<The body...?>
I could not help but fixate on that word as I looked back and forth between the chewing maw of the bus, and Outis, who was barking orders at the other Sinners.
Yes. Enkephalin can only be extracted from the brain and the spinal nerves. It can be harvested from live subjects at greater efficiency.
So that's why Vergilius told the Sinners not to kill the assailants.
<Okay, then - >
One might ask: "Then why feed the whole body?" - the answer is simply that their blood and muscle tissue can also be processed into fuel.
While Enkephalin is used to generate ignition and thrust, the leftover organic matter is used to sustain velocity, which in turn reduces the bus's Enkephalin demand.
A hybrid.
Faust went on to explain how most of the vehicle's fuel is taken from the branch facilities, and that harvesting Enkephalin from human bodies won't be sufficient in the long run...
Most of it went straight over my head, though.
<... Well, that's complicated. But I get that you're in for some tough work.>
Not at all. No work is tough for Faust.
If anyone's doing the heavy lifting, it'd be us... Hey! Manager Bud! More incoming!
5. Yuri, before the battle
53 linesHey! That's enough of that. Our guest will be here any moment.
Vergilius said, poking his head out the window.
<Guest? Who?>
I have determined that we will need a guide as this is our first trip to a dungeon.
Excuse me... Are you the people from Limbus Company?
Someone approaches us with apparent hesitation.
You sure look like it...
The bus had just about finished its meal and was crunching down on the last bits of bone.
Yuri watched it indifferently before introducing herself.
I'm Yuri, a former employee of the previous L Corp. I look forward to working with you.
<"Previous" L Corp.? You mean...>
Has to be Lobotomy Corporation.
Correct. We will move on to explore the former branch facilities of Lobotomy Corporation - that is, the fallen L Corp.
I wouldn't have taken this job if I were you, even if somebody specifically requested me.
I doubt the end of your employment here left any pleasant memories, it being a fallen Wing and all.
What're you on about? Fallen Wing or not, a huge payday'll turn any brutal work into a charming memory.
Hrm, I heard those facilities are still crawling with monsters even now...
Not "monsters" - Abnormalities. Regardless, what you said is true. But it is also a home to more important things than those entities.
In the deepest zones of these branch facilities are plantlike growths that have only recently begun to form: the essence of L Corp.'s technology.
Dante, if you remember what I said a few days back, I offered you the chance to eventually engrave your Aspect.
Once this "essence" - the Golden Boughs - is retrieved, it'll be easy as pie.
Hearing the word "Aspect" still makes my head ache.
What exactly was "I" trying to do?
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 my present self is able to process.
<And if it's Lobotomy Corp we're scouring... we might come across some Enkephalin, too.>
Oh, does that mean we won't have to... feed more people to our vehicle?
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 me tilt my head...
But in any case, it seemed rather rude to keep talking to each other when we had a guest on board.
... And apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so.
So, Miss Yuri, what've you been up to after L Corp.?
Gregor flashed what looked like his best attempt at a kind smile at our new passenger, hoping to strike up a conversation.
The corners of his eyes twitched from forcing a facial expression he obviously wasn't used to, but I pretended not to notice.
It appears to me that thou art an honorable Fixer! It is said that all Fixers exude the noble scent of heroes!
As Yuri gave a slight nod, I heard Ishmael release a deep sigh.
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.
... It couldn't have been easy to find another job so soon. Good that you're holding up.
For now... I'm just a contract worker.
Aha. That explains why you decided to come crawling back here.
Did they promise you a team leader position or something in exchange for a major find in what's left of your previous workplace?
... My contracts might get extended if I return with results.
R-right. Strong performance becomes a life-or-death matter if you're aiming for a permanent spot.
*sigh* And what a pointless life that is.
(Hey, what's with all the sarcasm? Something grinding your gears?)
... I dunno, every single thing I'm hearing right now is getting on my nerves.
Seemingly unaffected by the abrasive attitude, Yuri quietly took an empty seat.
Glancing between the two of them, Gregor returned to his seat as well, scratching his head.
<I... I don't think I'll ever get used to being around these people.>
You'll want to fit in fast if you want to make your job easier, Dante.
... Charon, time to go. Our guest has taken her seat.
Mephi's tum revived. Charon's raring to drive.
6. Map, before the battle
22 linesUmm, excuse me...
I don't remember showing you my map... how do you know where you're going?
No answers were returned, but the bus keeps speeding anyway.
By using...
Intuition. Charon's intuition.
Whaaat?!
Pinky-hair, explain why you're wagging that odd paper in Charon's face.
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 continue to ignore it when it was shoved right in her face.
Follow the heart. That's where the true path lies.
Hear, hear! We all must follow as our hearts lead!
... You're just admitting that you can't read a map.
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.
Ooh! Did our driver make a new friend?
Pinky keeps on blabbing. I know the way.
No, I mean, we're headed in the wrong direction...
Look ahead, more obstacles. Do I vroom-vroom?
No, Charon. Hold on a moment.
Lookie! Nice bus you got there! Why don'tcha gimme a ride!
... I guess Mephistopheles could use a helping of dessert.
Get on down... It needs to be fed just a bit more.
7. The Trio, before the battle
38 linesNow Charon, tell me, is this east or west?
Charon only knows two directions: Mephi's front and back.
How did you come so far with a driver who has zero sense of direction?
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.
Pft... Chiquita~ Aren't you gonna join them too?
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.
<... I'm starting to think that Yuri might've put up with a rough childhood.>
Gregor cast a quick glance toward me, shook his head, and went back to watching the driver's side with his chin propped on his hand.
... Wouldn't be on the youngest side, either. Some Nests used to conscript anyone old enough to hold a knife.
Nests... They explained that a Nest is 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.
<Did that happen often?>
Not frequently, but it sure as hell did happen.
... Interested in learning about wars, Manager Bud?
<Oh, I'm not really curious about the details, just gathering info I should know as the manager...>
Just as I went to speak again, a sideways glimpse of the look on Gregor's face made me pause.
He had this faraway look in his eyes, as though he was staring past the driver's seat.
Don't get me wrong, Manager Bud. I'm not calling you out or anything. Heck, it's actually a pretty stand-up attitude for a boss, I'd say.
He slowly continued, taking a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
Still, ignorance is bliss, if you ask me - I think you should savor it while you still can.
War's the kind of knowledge that sticks to you and never lets go.
Without another word, he lit his cigarette.
No, you should've turned right at that intersection!
I-it's okay, Charon. We can turn around at the next junction.
Ahh... The woes of a driver.
Well... Looks like we have more pressing matters at hand. Ain't that right, Manager Bud?
Gregor chuckled, each snort sending a puff out from his smoke-filled 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.
Because, as if on cue, an urgent matter presented itself right before our eyes - or rather, right at the doorstep of our bus.
Enough squabbling now. More enemies inbound.
You shoved my pals into that bus, you sick bastards! Are you nuts?
You'll pay for this! We were just gonna leave with the bus, but now I've gotta see you all bleed!
Verg, the fuel is acting up. Charon gets woozy when many mouths start being noisy.
Nothing to worry about, Charon. They'll shut their mouths soon enough.
Off the bus.
8. The Trio, after the battle
27 linesOkay, let's look at the map again.
……
Charon, can you please focus?
A question reared its head as I stared at the trio arguing over the map once again.
<This bus was made specifically for Limbus Company, right?>
It was made exclusively for us, to be more precise.
Isn't that basically what I said?
You don't appear to be catching the nuance.
<... That's weird, I don't think I spoke that part out loud.>
Is the clock broken or something?
I can tell as much without hearing it verbalized.
There is nothing that Faust doesn't know, after all.
<Anyway, it must've taken a long while to get it out of the oven. Especially with that... "mouth" on the side.>
It only took the expected amount of time.
<……>
……
She's downright oppressive to talk to.
Faust is a well-renowned genius. She knows the ins and outs of the City.
Oi, if you're so smart, why don't you help those twits at the driver's side figure out the way. Can't sleep a wink with their constant bickering.
Faust is no meddler. She answers questions, but doesn't intervene without being asked first.
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.
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.
<I wonder why they're always so prickly...>
Huh. You and me both, Manager Bud. You and me both.
With Gregor quietly snickering, the bus resumed its ride.
9. Pests, before the battle
45 linesBweh... Greg, you know those people?
Huh? Gimme a break... There's no way I'd know someone in this corner of the Backstreets―
Gregor's face stiffens the moment he looks out the window.
<... Bug heads?>
Unlike the other enemies we'd run into, they were part insectoid.
Gosh... Dante, thank goodness you got a clock for a head. I would've gagged every time I looked at you if you were a huge bug like them.
Isn't that... the same type of augmentation you have, Gregor?
They transplant those disgusting bug heads onto their necks on purpose?
You'd better stay away. Wouldn't want to get infected and turn into a bug, nah?
Eek, are you serious?
Just a joke... Do I just have a weird sense of humor or what?
Gregor scratched the back of his head awkwardly as the bus made a dragging rumble and came to a deflating halt.
Most former G Corp. employees were given biomimetic augmentation procedures like Gregor was.
You used to work for the old G Corp., Gregor? Heard back then, they were...
Ishmael frowned as if she'd remembered something unpleasant, but didn't elaborate further.
Gregor managed a smile, but his hardened features didn't relax in the slightest.
I wonder, where do people like them sleep at night?
For many, the sky is the roof over their head, and the stars are their firelight.
Aha, so they're the poetic sort!
<I don't think that's what he meant...>
And I see they're bent on standing in our way.
Aren't you going to get off, Gregor?
Mind telling me why you're singling me out?
Well, I'd rather not be the one to ramble about someone else's history.
Take the lead, Gregor. You know the reason full well.
... You're one nasty fellow.
A cluster of insect-headed soldiers were gathered close to the bus.
Bah... I'm not too fond of taking the lead.
What are you? Why does your arm look like ours?
Hold on... I've seen that face before.
... Mostly on flyers and magazine covers, I'd bet.
<Gregor? Do you know them from somewhere?>
... Not really important right now, Manager. Now's really not the time to be digging into the past.
That arm bothers me... But, whatever. Point is, I can't let you through.
<Is that so. I suppose we can't talk this out...>
Anyways, shouldn't they at least cover those insect parts before coming out where people can see them?
They'd make kids cry. Couldn't they have made their parts less conspicuous like yours, Greg?
I'm a special case. The procedure makes those "buggy" parts grow on the head most of the time.
Although... I'm not sure if I should consider myself lucky.
It feels like they're trying to stop us from getting to the branch facility for some reason.
Are they after the Golden Bough too?
Maybe.
They are many who seek the essence, after all.
... And I'm sure they all have their own wishes. Isn't that so?
Why are you looking at me? I'm just as lost as the others are.
10. Guides, before the battle
32 linesEpisode S0_8
We're here. Charon knew the way all along.
No, no you didn't! Sinclair and I were next to you the whole time pointing you in the right direction.
I'm just glad you've finally learned how to tell southeast from northeast now, Charon.
<So this is... the old L Corp.?>
This is my first time seeing it for myself, too... It can't have been long since "that" happened.
My goodness... How does a building get this run-down?
Hah! So the posh lad can't even handle seeing a grotty place, huh?
Cut the chatter. Off the bus, now.
<Huh, there are people over there...>
They're Fixers from the same Office as Miss Yuri.
They are experienced explorers who have delved through the branch facilities of L Corp. a number of times.
An introduction, then. The person on the left is Hopkins, and the one on the right is Aya.
Hello~
Th... The... The -
The Red Gaze! It's - it's such an honor to meet you...! I've heard so many stories of your deeds. To see you in person, it's...
Ah.
See the shabby warehouse there? That's where the stairs leading down to the branch facility are.
From there on, Yuri will be your guide.
... Yeah.
These Fixers aren't rookies, either... Count on them to deal with any complications.
That should be enough, yeah? This is as far as I can accompany you. I'll be waiting back at the bus.
<Huh? Wait, what?>
You're sorely mistaken if you expect me to babysit you forever, Dante.
You sayin' you're gonna take a back seat while we do all the work?
If I get myself involved, the expedition would be a little too free of challenge, wouldn't it? It'd turn into a happy little tour.
... In other words, you want us to come back red, black, and blue.
That's the sort of thing people say when they're hiding something...
Think as you like.
I got you guides and all - now go make it count.
Yes! I certainly won't disappoint you, Mister Red Gaze!
I'll try my best, I suppose~
11. Grade 8 Fixers, before the battle
11 lines... Dante. A word.
While the others were busy exchanging greetings, Vergilius called me over to a secluded corner.
Let me warn you in advance that the guides are only Grade 8 Fixers.
<Grade 8?>
... It means they're low-rank drudges, errands being their main tasks.
Put them to use, but don't rely on them.
<In other words, they're not dependable enough.>
I nodded to let him know that I understood his point.
... You might be the only one on the bus I can talk to in any meaningful way.
... Well, best of luck, Dante.
Vergilius gave my shoulder a pat with a crooked smile, then slowly made his way back to the bus.
12. Branch D-02, before the battle
87 linesWe entered the worn-down building of L Corp.'s branch facility.
The deeper we advanced into the dark ahead, the awful stench rising from the underground floor only grew stronger.
Urgh... The smell... It's awful...
Mm... I can feel the waste collecting in my lungs.
The odor is so intense, it circles back around to refreshing.
Let me warn you one last time: If you die here, Dante won't be able to revive you even when the battle has finished.
Revive...?
Must be a popular joke or something~ Whew, I can't even follow the kind of stories that are going around in 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...
... because we could now almost make out the sources of the rancid smell before our eyes.
<Looks like they've been dead for a while.>
An astute observation, Executive Manager. The corpses have reached the stage of active decay.
Bleh. The bugs are having a feast over there.
... Let's just hurry along.
Huh... Something up, Gregor babe? Are you scared of bugs?
... Now, while I believe you're not so immature as to shove dead bugs in people's faces...
Boo!!!
But just in case one of y― Gah! Put it away! You think that's funny?!
Pfft... I mean, it is hilarious~ Who would've thought that you of all people'd be scared of these creepy-crawlies...
... Greg? Did it bother you that much?
... Forget it.
You there! Stop with your mischief this instant. Do not cause additional concerns for our manager!
Hold on... this body here, it's still warm.
Such is the sign of a recent attack.
The gloom that had cast over Yuri's face cleared after observing the bodies.
These aren't our... I mean, Lobotomy Corporation's employees.
I heard these buried facilities are considered pure goldmines now, attracting all sorts looking for a jackpot.
Phrases like the "Lobotomy Dream" or the "Enkephalin Rush" are apparently starting to catch on among Fixers and Syndicates.
LD, E-Rush... Got a nice ring to it...
*sigh* Really appreciate the input. Totally worth the long silence.
Is such a frivolous use of English not prone to blurring the original meaning?
That's what I'm sayi―
Huh, you seem to be talking a lot more than usual, Yi Sang.
Does that reflect strangely?
He was never really the quiet sort.
He only had a... shift recently.
It's not a bad thing to have more lackeys with keen eyes.
I'd like you to keep that up. Let us march.
You make yourself look like the captain here. I dare say that role belongs to the manager.
... Please forgive my insolence, Executive Manager.
Frowning as though she were caught off-guard, Outis bows to me as she apologizes.
<N-no, it's nothing. Let's head down.>
Most of the corpses' body parts were morphed in bizarre ways.
One had insect wings protruding through their intestines, and another had horribly twisted antennae hanging down.
These look kinda similar to the thugs we ran into just before, don't they?
You mean those bug-headed people?
Quiet, I'm seeing Uniform Tangos ahead.
As Outis noted, multiple figures could be seen down the corridor.
(Uniform... what? What's that?)
(Unidentified targets... Possibly hostile.)
... Mhm.
I'm sure we all had the same idea as to what Outis was referring to:
The enigmatic "Abnormalities" that might be roaming this facility, as Faust mentioned.
That might be what those shadowy figures are.
... We have no choice but to face them.
Hey! Who goes there?!
What we confronted weren't the creatures we'd anticipated, but people.
It was too early to be relieved, though.
Huh? I thought we were the only people 'round here.
Did they slip past our team at the entrance? These scavengers keep coming one after the other.
Oi, bug buggers! You friends with the bodies back there?
Bodies?! You bastards didn't...
Wait.
... I don't know what hole you scum crawled out of, but hear me out.
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.
Whatever's on that floor is yours. We'll just take what we can here and be on our...
... way. Ha, Haha.
Tsk, so you recognized me, huh.
The moment the soldier's eyes landed on Gregor's face...
Their thin veil of affability crumbled.
You fucking traitor...
Ahh, you must've been dispatched to the front lines too. Don't I look better in real life than I do on those flyers?
Cut the crap! I can't believe I used to salute to your face.
Whoa, easy there, it's not like you had to salute me in person.
You didn't suffer from a single side effect, did you? You got to live a normal life, all thanks to that damned privilege of yours.
We never even got a chance, you two-faced piece of shit. They discarded us like trash the moment we lost the war.
... I was tossed out all the same, you know. Isn't that a soldier's life? To be discarded?
And I see where you decided to take your life from there, rifling through trash and gunk like actual vermin.
Halt! No good can come out of taunting your foe!
You served in the military too. Y'know where this is going.
We're not getting outta this without a fight.
... We were planning to let you through, we really were.
But now, I'm gonna make mincemeat out of you and your traitor friend.
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.
W-wait, were they?
They've smashed right past rock bottom a long time ago. Don't expect 'em to care a whit for honor, eh?
Well-off or broke, people turn on each other as long as there's something. You're way too naive to think otherwise.
13. Branch D-02, after the battle
8 linesGregor lights his cigarette and takes a drag before sighing a long plume of smoke.
They'd have fared better than this if they got a job at a security company or something...
Being a soldier is all they've ever known. The changes required for them to start a new life must have been overwhelming.
You have no idea how stubbornly the stigma of being a fallen Wing's remnants will cling to you. If anyone's generous enough to take you in, licking their boots is the least you can do...
......
Oh... Sorry 'bout that. Should've chosen my words more carefully.
No, it's fine. I'm sure things were rough with G Corp.'s fall, too.
... The breaking of a Wing is a turbulent affair for many people.
14. Branch D-02, after the battle
19 linesI've never seen those before. I don't -
You don't know?
Hopkins's face quickly turned into a cold frown.
The expression on his face was such a far cry from his sycophancy before Vergilius that it sent shivers down my spine.
N-no, that's not what I... uh...
Don't you know why we bothered to let a fallen Wing's feather into our Office?
T-to deal with requests taking place in L Corp. branches more safely...
Exactly. I didn't expect much from a low-rank agent.
You had two simple jobs: lead the way, and tell us how to deal with those Abnormaladies or whatever they're called.
And now... you're saying you don't know what these monsters are. What are we supposed to do here then, huh?
Gosh, Hopkins, feeling hangry? Go easy on her~
......
If they are in fact new to Miss Yuri, then these might be another type of entity derived from Abnormalities... Perhaps a new species.
That Corporation might not have had every specimen in their confines, either.
Miss Yuri, there is no reason to lambaste yourself for neglecting to remember what you were never taught.
Ahem...
... Thank you, sir.
What's there to argue about? We only need to beat 'em to death, don't we?
Give the word, and we'll do it.
15. Branch D-02, after the battle
7 linesImpressive... I expected no less of the Red Gaze's underlings.
... Underlings?
Oh boy, there goes Hopkins and his big mouth... Lemme apologize in his stead~ Heheh.
What's taking you so long though, Hopkins? Hemorrhoids acting up again?
W-what are you talking about?! I've never had -
Hopkins slowly got to his feet after fidgeting for a moment.
I noticed that his pockets were stuffed full, but I didn't bother to point it out.
16. Branch D-02, after the battle
17 linesWell, I suppose this place is as good as any.
As soon as I opened the door, Faust suddenly strode up to me and blocked my path.
Dante, close your eyes and look for the star hiding in the dark.
Though not radiant, it still winks to reveal itself - the star of truth.
<The star... This one won't hurt, right?>
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 blocked my sight.
When you open your eyes, the star that seemed so distant...
... will be returning your gaze.
<That's... beautiful.>
<That light... Is it only visible to me?>
Not quite. Through you, now all of us can see it.
Even though we're inside a dungeon, we can now reap the benefits of your ability through the star.
Can you please hurry up with the clock, then? I think I dislocated my shoulder.
The clock? It wasn't just for show?
That's not all it does. They have a really neat power. You should come and take a look, Yuri.
<... Will no one recognize the pain I endure?>
17. Branch D-02, after the battle
38 linesAh~ That felt real good.
<I'm dying over here...>
What an amazing clock you've got~ I haven't seen that kind of technology anywhere.
That has to be on the level of a S-Singularity... Which Wing could be behind it...
Hopkins stared at my head with palpable greed.
I tried to ignore it, but looking at his stuffed pockets again...
Dante? Why are you clutching your head like that?
<I-it's nothing.>
Miss Faust, is it within our manager's capacity to use the clock's power to restore the lives of the guides, should they perish?
The clock only works for us Sinners.
Aw, gee~ I s'pose that's for the better.
Imagine you're dragged right back to life with a gaping hole in your stomach. Wouldn't that suck?
Nah, y'know what, dying from getting a hole punched in your gut's a pretty lucky way to go. You'd be a goner in seconds―
<Huh...? Wait―!>
Ah.
A tendril erupts from the wall and penetrates Aya's abdomen in an instant.
All units, prepare for battle.
... What'd I tell you?
I've always... been a... lucky girl...
AYA!!
Her life is already cut short.
......
Come, now... You've got to keep it together, especially in times like these, yeah?
B-but...
That was a rather unusual form of attack. It is likely that we are facing an Abnormality.
Executive Manager. Orders, please.
I felt pity for Yuri; she looked at Aya's corpse and then back to us, tears welling in her eyes. Nevertheless...
<... Yuri, Hopkins, and Aya. Those three I can't revive.>
<We have to fight now if we don't want any more casualties.>
A wise decision, Executive Manager.
You can make sense of that ticking...?
Outis leveled a fiery glare at Hopkins, but soon reminded herself of her priorities and took a sharp breath before bellowing out:
... The Executive Manager has given their command, lackeys!
Surround the enemy in formation. The target is the Uniform ahead!
... Okay.
To be honest... I'm not sure if you can say that thing has a "form."
The shadowed entity, its silhouette greater than a human's by several orders of magnitude, filled the room as its tendrils extended insidiously toward us.
It... was approaching, invoking in us a sense of terror unlike any foe we've faced thus far.
18. Branch D-02, after the battle
31 linesHuh? That's it?
I heard Abnormalities were supposed to be so powerful that even suppressing them is a dangerous task...
It's the Qliphoth Deterrence in action.
Wha...? Coffee pots?
... A force that weakens Abnormalities. Its original purpose is to safely supervise them in containment.
As we continue our assignment in collecting more Golden Boughs, the deterrence will weaken as well. The battle didn't get too complicated this time, but...
So we might be going up against Abnormalities we can't kill no matter how many times we throw our lives against it later down the line.
That's a terrifying thought...
<... Where'd its corpse go, anyway? I'm pretty sure that attack did it in...>
It was felled without a doubt. All thanks to your exceptional command, Executive Manager.
<It couldn't have just shot up into the sky, could it...?>
Brilliant insight as always, Executive Manager. Such a possibility cannot be ruled out.
... Don't you see how thick the ceiling between us and the surface is?
... Over there.
Yuri gestured toward something listlessly.
The shock of losing Aya must've shaken her up pretty badly, but seeing her endure and keep her chin up...
I figured it was best to just let her be instead of trying to comfort her with a few words.
<... Is that an egg?>
It's the core of the Abnormality. When suppressed via appropriate measures, it will be reduced to this condensed ovate form.
... And it'll hatch once enough time has passed here.
Hatch? You've got to be joking...
You mean those things can't be killed permanently?
Abnormalities simply cannot die. It's one of the factors that contributed to L Corp.'s massive energy production.
When I used to work here, my job was to put the cores back in their containment units... Now things have changed.
Umm... Is there anything we can do before this egg hatches?
Limbus Company has a department dedicated to dealing with Abnormalities like this. They'll handle the retrieval of the egg.
Right... the "After Team," was it? I remember hearing about them during orientation.
What's stopping you from calling them now?
The transmission device... is on Mephistopheles.
... Figures.
No need to worry. Once we have the Golden Bough, we'll have to return whether we like it or not.
19. Branch D-02, after the battle
16 linesWe went down another floor.
Never thought I'd come back here.
Most of Lobotomy Corporation's facilities consist of multiple floors.
Each floor should be occupied by an Abnormality marking its domain.
Seriously?! There's more of 'em?
So... Where'd you figure all that info about what we'll face and stuff?
Faust knows it all.
The guide said the Before Team does reconnaissance in advance.
... So you only know that because you have ties to the staff.
That information does not contradict my statement.
In any case, this means we should expect at least one major threat on every floor.
It'd be idiotic to advance into the unknown with hostiles on our six. Looks like we have no choice but to take them down as we go...
You took the words right out of Faust's mouth.
Is it not an ideal thing to be able to convey your intentions before they have been verbalized?
... Dante, it's time to see the star.
<I'm starting to feel like I'm being taken for granted...>
20. Branch D-02, after the battle
16 linesAnother veteran appeared from the dark, his gait grim and heavy.
He must've been a high-ranking soldier once - despite its age, his badge still gleamed.
... Manager Gregor?
I think I know your face. But from where?
... I was the head manager of your team.
It's incredible how a deserter like you has the audacity to kill my men - they were once your own comrades, you know.
Look, the war ended a decade ago. Haven't any of you learned to move on from playing soldiers?
Ended? Nothing has ended.
Nothing... has ended... dammit...
The war might've ended for you when you deserted G Corp....
... but for the rest of us - we never left the battlefield, even to this day.
As much as I'd rather not relate to you this way...
I'm not really that different here.
Then you ought to understand, Manager Gregor.
Only one verdict awaits deserters.
You say that like it means something... But it's against company policy to carry out summary execution for personal revenge, bossman.
21. Branch D-02, after the battle
19 linesPerhaps the time spent off the battlefield has rusted the old soldier's prowess.
The head manager, who must have defeated countless enemies in his prime, was now facing his own end.
People used to respect you, Gregor...
... I never asked them to.
Don't proceed any further... Only hell awaits you.
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.
Have you abandoned your honor... for some pittance?
Sold it in a bundle along with my medal. The landlord was getting real impatient about my rent, you see.
The head manager smiled bitterly as he expired.
You're... no different from us...
In the end, we're...
... nothing... but disgusting pests...
He took a few more shallow breaths, then ceased to move.
... Hey, mind if I borrow a cig?
... Just this once.
Gregor put the borrowed cigarette next to the one he already held in his mouth, lit it, then tossed it on the chest of the deceased commander.
Sorry, didn't wanna share mine with that thing.
... Hmph.
Ryōshū gave a snort. For a short while, the smoke from Gregor's cigarette lingered in the air with prevailing silence.
22. Branch D-02, after the battle
86 linesI don't see any signs of those ex-soldiers around here or up ahead.
The commander did warn us not to go further...
As we proceeded, we discovered bodies that seemed to have been here for quite some time.
They're our - I mean, L Corp.'s employees...
I see traces of blunt instruments. All the bodies share them, in fact.
A management report... This document contains instructions for keeping Abnormalities in check.
But employees tasked with managing an Abnormality usually memorize the instructions perfectly, down to each minute detail... They wouldn't have needed these. So why...?
I daresay none of them had the necessary information when the Abnormality escaped...
... Hmh.
If the eggs weren't moved into containment yet... that could be the case.
<There are way too many corpses here.>
What kind of Abnormality could have massacred all these people...?
Hang on... What's that smell?
... You see, our Office purchased a rather expensive gear the other day.
What's this bloke on about?
Sources suggested that toxin levels will begin to rise after a certain floor.
Uh, I've been bleeding from my ears for a while now~ should I be worried?
No battle is fought without adversi― Pfehgh, blegh! *hack*
I was also told that continued exposure may cause bleeding.
Ngh... How come you're okay, though?
This is... It's the anti-Abnormality gas grenade supplied to employees.
One must've... *cough* gone off... somewhere among the bodies here...
Yes. It seems the toxicity level is pretty high around this area.
Hopkins had put on a gas mask before we noticed.
Hey now, what about us?
We weren't granted any additional supplies.
You slippery rat, you knew about this? Bloody scum, that's what you ar - Ngh...
Heathcliff broke off mid-sentence and dropped to one knee.
Elevated emotional states accelerate blood flow. In other words, the toxin will spread faster.
Try to remain calm, minimize movement, and breathe at regular intervals.
Hopkins... Why... *cough* Why didn't you warn me?
Oh, I've got a question for you too, Yuri.
Why would I make our Office squander its precious funds on expensive gadgets for a dead weight like you to waste?
......
Let's be real. It's a miracle that you managed to join us in the first place.
Aya may have taken a liking to you, enough to give you special treatment... But now that she's dead, who gives a damn?
Sneaky blighter... How do you live with yourself...?
Don't be silly, everything's fair game for a Fixer.
Hearing that the Red Gaze had company tickled my curiosity, but as it turns out...
You were just a ragtag band of lunatics who thought it'd be a good idea to waltz right into these death traps without even a bit of research.
Can't believe... we've gotta let that tosser carry on...
Picking up on the hostility, Hopkins backed off and made a quick dash for the exit.
Well, at least I managed to grab an armful of Enkephalin thanks to you.
I'll write in my report that you all went missing, 'cause "death by asphyxiation" is just too embarrassing.
Ta-ta.
......
Yuri slumped to the floor, watching blood pour from her nose to her hands.
And she wasn't the only one. Rodya, Heathcliff, and the other Sinners were writhing in pain as blood gushed out of them.
<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.
But why...
So Miss Aya, she - *cough* - looked after you, huh...? This is as good as yours, then.
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.
... I know he's right.
I know it's hard for someone without connections like myself to be appreciated by an Office, no matter how many errands I run for them all day, all night.
There were only 3 minutes left until the branch was locked down...
[INITIATING SITE BURIAL.]
The doors were about to close on me.
[ENERGY TRANSFER IS 85% COMPLETE.]
Yuri, don't leave me behind! Yuri!
So what was I supposed to do?
Is it so wrong that I survived?
Should I have been buried alive alongside my coworkers?
The whole building was being locked down just to keep the Abnormalities from getting out!
*wheeze* It is a sin. Down here, it is.
*cough* *hack* That does sting a bit, Gregor...
I stood there blankly for a moment, then snapped back and looked over at the Sinners.
Half of them were already dead on the ground, and Ishmael's head drooped just after she said her last words.
A sin...
But... *wheeze* so what, buddy...
You've got to live on like it's nobody's business.
*cough* Laying guilt on yourself over spilled milk... will wear your heart out...
......
Once Gregor drew his last breath, Yuri and I remained the only survivors.
<Uhm... D-don't worry too much about us. I can take them back there and revive them.>
I knew all Yuri could hear was the mechanical ticking, but I did my best to communicate my words to her nonetheless.
... I know.
And she did not speak again for a while.
After a long stretch of heavy, awkward gloom, the toxic gas finally cleared.
... Looks like it's okay now.
<Hmm? Oh, yeah.>
I'll give you a hand. Let's go bring your people back to life.
With that, Yuri took off her gas mask and calmly carried the Sinners on her shoulders, one by one.
Unsure how to respond to the look on her face, I decided to keep quiet.
23. Branch D-02, after the battle
42 lines<Were those Abnormalities responsible for killing all the employees?>
I doubt that. If my guess is right...
Please keep your eyes forward, Executive Manager. There's another one of them.
A humanoid being wearing the head of a statue was slumped against the wall.
Hi...? Are you... here to... draw your lot...?
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.
... Alex.
Gone nuts, has she? And what's that babble about winners?
Some Abnormalities... had to be placated with regular offerings as part of the managerial guidelines.
You shouldn't go that way... They will find you...
... You had to sacrifice people to it, didn't you?
It's your turn... to draw...
<People...?>
What happens if no human sacrifice is made?
We never found out... We'd never deviated from the procedures.
I guess it escaped and started killing people left and right.
Ha! That "Abnormality" must've been one spineless bugger. Does it thwack victims in the back of the head?
What... do you mean?
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.
Those thickos killed each other in a fight.
B - but why would they do that?
S'clear as day.
Probably figured they could last a bit even after the branch got buried.
Keep up the stream of human sacrifices nice and steady, and rescue might eventually arrive.
Guess they kept the lots going for a few months, buyin' themselves time with each sacrifice.
Problem, though: y'think the one who drew the short straw would always go quietly?
If I were them, I'd rather bash the nearest bloke's head in than let 'em kill me.
Better them than me, ain't that right?
... And the rest is history, I bet.
And the last survivor... put on the stone mask belonging to the statueheads...
Believing that it'll save her from being sacrificed.
That can't be. Alex isn't the kind of person who'd kill just so she could save her own skin -
How do you know that? You can't even be sure if that's actually Alex or not.
Let me... give you a tip...
You'll be much better off... going on your own foot... before they come for you... Kehehe... Kehe...
Let us be on our way. This person will perish before long.
While everyone else moved along, Yuri remained in place and kept on staring at the statue-clad individual.
It wasn't your fault... You know it's not, right?
Leave me behind, Yuri... Please leave me...
......
<... Time to go.>
24. Branch D-02, after the battle
59 linesThis floor is crawling with maggots.
<These bugs aren't so bad after the last floor's Abnormality. Don't want to see anything like that ever again.>
Pft... Sure Greg would be glad to hear that. Aren't you, buggy buddy?
But Gregor wasn't paying attention to Rodya.
... Don't you all hear something?
We've been hearing a constant growl. Rodya, are you really that hungry at a time like this?
H-hey, don'tcha know you're supposed to let that kinda stuff slide? C'mon, girl.
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.
Wait, that's a containment unit...!
It's like... that time...
No, the door was already open.
Gregor gazed blankly into the room, lost in the shower of the outpouring golden light.
<Grego - !>
Did we... travel back in time?
I see an overcast sky.
From a distance, screams and roars twine into a warped cacophony.
The ear-shattering boom of artillery and war cries suffuse the air with its acrid sting.
Isn't it obvious? This is...
... a battlefield... The heart of it.
... A-am I... dreaming? Is this a nightmare? Wh-why am I back here...?
So why the hell are we in a bloody battlefield?! Did we trigger a trap or something?
No. We're on the right track.
The essence of the technology we're looking for is not far from here.
You mean the Golden Bough?
Correct. Do you recognize when this was?
Anyone with functioning eyes should know at a glance.
<Uhhh, I actually... don't.>
I confessed straight-up.
I cannot possibly blame you for not recognizing this, Executive Manager, as you have no eyes in the conventional sense.
Sure, whatever you say...
Outis cleared her throat as if to mask her embarrassment, then narrowed her gaze at the battlefield.
Judging from the colorful wave of garish flags showing off the factions in play...
This is at least 70 days into the Smoke War...
... This concludes briefing, Manager.
That's when someone came up from behind and suddenly tugged at Heathcliff's shirt.
Are you out of your minds? Take shelter, now! You'll age rapidly if exposed to that bomb's blast!
The outpost next to ours turned into a nursing home - they can't even walk without sticks!
Who the hell are you and why do you act like you know us -
Oh! Manager Gregor! My respects, sir!
As soon as he noticed Gregor, the bandaged man snapped to attention and saluted him.
... You.
You wouldn't recognize me, sir. I'm Tomah from Biomimetics Maintenance!
I thought you were a part of the advance party; I didn't expect to find you here at the rear, sir.
Are you on your way to the front? I could help you get there since the augmentation on my legs allows me to jump―
Bweh, that sounds gross.
Tomah cast a curious glance toward Rodya.
You, what did you just...
H-hey, Tomah! So you're an Assistant Manager - or regular staff?
Sir, yes, sir! I'm an Assistant Private, sir!
Err, you see, s-she's a new hire who had her procedure done not too long ago, so... She's still dealing with the delirium side effect, y'know how it is. I'll give her a good talking-to.
Ah, I see... We must be getting desperate, sending new hires into battle.
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 hurried to Faust.
Just what's going on, Faust? These are...
... my memories.
We're in the fathoms of your ego, to be precise.
An open path in your psyche. In other words...
We've entered your heart and mind, Gregor.
25. Branch D-02, after the battle
31 linesUrgh... I think I'm gonna throw up. Everything is wobbling...
It would appear that psychogenic pressure is rising.
But you should be... fine...
I think I once had an unsettling nightmare.
Maybe I'm still in one, even now.
In this dream, there are only two colors in the room where I stand.
The blue covering every wall, and the dangling dot of red.
I know how to get out of here, too.
All I had to do was stretch out my arm and cut the hanging apple.
The people in blue coats seemed to think I failed to understand that.
They would come in several times a day and explain it to me over and over...
Unfortunately for them, that wasn't the part I struggled to understand.
When I finally gave up thinking about it, and the sliced apple fell to the floor...
The door opened.
I don't remember what drove me to do it.
Maybe it was the mental exhaustion.
Or maybe I just decided to give up.
Either way, 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. Keep chopping up the apples in front of you. Simple, isn't it?
Oh, right. Happy 15th birthday!
... Okay.
My escape came in the form of resignation and submission.
One day, as I awoke from my unsettling dreams...
I had found myself transformed into some hideous pest.
I cut apples in half.
Some were hard, some crumbly, some were soft, some sappy.
The sugary smell made me sick sometimes.
At some point, I realized something:
I thought I'd woken up from the dream,
but I was still right in the middle of that nightmare.
26. Branch D-02, after the battle
37 linesStill in a battlefield...
... It's the same place as before. Something's changed, though.
Someone came up from behind and suddenly tugged at Heathcliff's shirt.
Are you out of your minds? Get to shelter, now! You'll age rapidly if exposed to that bomb's blast.
The Nest next to ours turned into a nursing home - they can't even walk without sticks!
Hold on, isn't he the same guy we just...
But don't you worry, because Manager Gregor is with us!
He doesn't suffer side effects like the rest of us do, and he can regenerate, too!
He was operated on by none other than Hermann, our most skilled director.
......
A hero like you shouldn't be on the rearguard. I'll give you a ride!
Wh-what the hell? Get away from me!
Four pairs of wings emerged from his back, clicking and twitching.
Why are you running? You should be taking the lead on the front lines with our G Corp. banner held high!
I...
I never wanted any of this... Not the procedure, nor the war...
Take the lead... Take... T...
Tomah's mouth tears open, and a pair of long antennae begin to break through his skin.
Yikes... We gotta fight them again? My stomach is gonna turn...
What is that display of weakness? Do you wish to be punished for insubordination?
<... I think we should run here?>
An excellent plan, Executive Manager. Knowing when to strike and when to withdraw is an excellent quality of a commander.
... The hell is her deal?
... Retreat is not an option.
I don't get it. I heard every employee under the corporation had modifications, but it couldn't have been this foul.
What we see here may differ from actual accounts.
This path was not paved by Gregor's "memories," but his "heart."
... This is how he felt in his heart about his own allies.
Did all the employees in your Wing... receive the augmentation procedure?
... Most did.
Was it done with their consent? That's so...
Did the people in L Corp. consent to offering themselves up to Abnormalities?
That's... I heard that was written in the contract.
We were never properly informed, though... They said such red tapes should be skipped for efficient management...
That we should face the fear.
Meaning... everyone who joined the corporation agreed to it, knowingly or not.
... Can guess how it went for us, then.
27. Branch D-02, after the battle
20 linesWhat's the delay, Yuri?
G-give me a second, please. The gas mask fell off my bag...
I don't see it serving any practical purpose now. You're only weighing yourself down.
I mean, it's... Aya's memento.
You indulge in the most pointless activity in the world, and you aren't even from N Corp.
......
Tie it the other way.
Sorry?
The knot. It'll come loose again if you tie it that way.
There's a sailor's knot I learned on the boat. I'll teach you how to do it back on the bus.
Oh... Thank you.
What's this? Since when were you two so chummy?
Yuri~ Y'know what? Why don't you join our company while you're at it?
M-me?
That's...
I know, I know. We need to get the okay from Vergilius or his superiors and all that. But a little suggestion shouldn't hurt.
Hm... I wonder.
Plus, pink hair makes a perfect mascot to represent us. C'mon, won't you give it some thought? Please?
A-a mascot...? Hehe.
Yuri smiled for the first time, albeit faintly.
28. Branch D-02, after the battle
76 linesThe war was over.
Yet my doppelgänger still held that silly pose, that confident expression.
Hmm, that's not the kind of face I'd make.
Though... gotta give it to 'em for making the hair on my arm look as grotesque as it really is. Who drew this?
I've grown fond of humor.
Long years of drifting in the nightmare must've made me yearn for any hint of liveliness.
G Corp. scum should sent to the gallows. The whole lot of 'em.
Someone murmurs, spitting on the floor.
I didn't have to look at them to know who or what they were talking about.
Knowing that...
Hrk...
I felt nauseous.
Sir, are you alright?
Hey, something wrong? You look pale.
I was... just on the subway?
The hell are you blathering about?
Greg, we're still on the battlefield.
Gregor rummaged around in his pockets for a cigarette out of habit, then froze in place.
It must've dawned on him as it did on me.
The rest of the Sinners seemed to have understood what was happening.
<Tomah is going to grab us and give a warning any second now...>
Are you -
Look, Tomah, I'm starting to get a little sick of your line reading, so I'll say it once: We're not out of our minds, and the aging bomb ain't gonna hit us.
... No.
Instead of elaborating, he points up.
I need help.
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.
<R-run!>
All troops! Retreat!
We muster up everything we can to run, but the airborne hand is ever persistent and shows no sign of letting up.
We're all going to get turned into pancakes! Got any bright ideas, smartarse?
... I'm listening. There are too many variables to consider in the fathoms of the ego, I can't be hasty with my judgement...
There is no cause for hesitation! A true hero succumbs not to tribulation!
Uhm... I don't think I wanna recover a flattened body.
Oh! Sorry, Dante~ Didn't mean it that way!
I was tempted to snap back at her...
But keeping my mouth shut so the group could focus on making a run for it seemed like the sensible thing to do.
Still thinking, are you? Eh?! Well, are you, Miss "Knows-it-all"?!
If it is an immediate solution you seek, then I have not obtained it yet.
The only thing that can be said for certain is that our objective is not nearby. Dante would have responded strongly otherwise.
<Me?>
Are you joking? That's all you've got?
Heathcliff furrowed his brows, ready to snap at the unhelpful savant...
But after a sudden close shave with the massive palm, he began speeding up without a word.
... Gregor?
Whoa, hey, what? Why the hold up?
... I think I see now.
If this world is a product of my mind...
Gregor took a breather, then looked up at the sky.
We shouldn't run away from that hand.
... Did you finally get the crackers or what?
Gregor, are you sure?
My life has never been mine to live.
It only makes sense that resisting is meaningless in this reflection of my mind.
In that case... letting the inevitable happen might be the answer.
... Are you all serious?
It's not like there's any other way. We're all exhausted.
Besides... Look at the... patterns on its nails.
You don't see that kind of polish just anywhere.
If that hand belongs to who I think it does, she will not stop chasing us.
Faust... You said this is a path in my heart, right?
Then I can tell you this for sure:
It's about to hit a dead end.
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...
*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.
Mgrrh...
Only Faust and I managed to find our footing while everyone else stumbled around from the vertigo.
We found ourselves in another battlefield, albeit one that was more familiar to us.
29. Branch D-02, after the battle
10 linesDante, something about this containment unit seems different from the others, does it not?
<Yeah, it really does... Wait, is this―?>
Yes, that is most likely where we can find the Abnormality in which the Golden Bough has taken root.
Haah... We did manage to come this far, huh.
Say, Gregor...
... When we go back to the bus, can I teach Charon how to use a map?
... Yeah, sounds good. I'm sure she'll like it.
I doubt that...
Sinclair shook his head, then dry-retched afterward.
*chuckle* It's nice to have a place to go back to.
30. Branch D-02, after the battle
122 linesYuri's head stood motionless, facing Gregor. Her face was upright.
However, the Yuri we knew, the Yuri who accompanied us, was always hunched over.
Slouched and laden as though it were the obligation of the sole survivor to carry the weight of her dead colleagues.
So, I had no reason to hesitate to warn him.
<That's not Yuri, Gregor.>
... No. I don't think it is, either.
Gregor accepts it calmly.
He then outstretches his arm, sending it flying toward "Yuri."
Yet, it soon pauses mid-air.
I didn't want to die.
......
<Cut her down, Gregor.>
I don't know if this is the right thing to do as the manager,
None of us wanted to die.
but I had to shout at Gregor now to stop him from breaking.
<Cut it now!>
Gah, aaaaargh!!!
I-I don't wanna die!
This... This is...
The verminous arm stopped inches away from piercing the civilian's throat.
I pulled against it with all my might, but it wouldn't budge.
P-please, please don't kill me... Just take my money, whatever you want - !
Let the woman go! Otherwise, I will stop you by force!
My arm... Cut off the arm! Now!
This is your final warning. Release her now, or...
Cut it off!
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.
Are you alright, sir?
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.
......
You have my utmost respect, Manager Gregor, sir!
Don't... don't do that... I never even wanted to be a part of this war...
......
What was I supposed to do? Is it so wrong that I survived?
Please, live... just live on... None of us asked for this to happen, none of us asked to be in this mess...
......
To be so close, here, on the very periphery of the end... only to be stopped moments before your labor bears fruit. How regrettable.
Well, we'll take it. Opportunities left unclaimed will only become null and void.
Yuri's head tumbled to the ground.
It wasn't Gregor's doing.
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?
You...
A bit small, isn't it?
I'm Hermann. We'll be seeing each other often. The reason being...
We... need those Boughs, and you... can find them.
You... won't die, but we... will kill you.
Hermann nudges Yuri's head with her foot.
......
All in due time, of course.
We'll take good care of the Golden Bough you found.
Gubo... My dear compatriot. Is this the path you have chosen?
Indeed it is. Only few remain now.
... It's been a while, Brother.
Do you know how filthy your clothing smells? If only your family were here to see the sorry state you're in.
Some reunion this has turned into.
How are you treating that gift of mine, son?
I didn't invest in you just to see you in such a mess.
I never asked for this... Not once...
You should at least finish unwrapping the present.
That little arm isn't all there is to it.
Alright now. That's enough greetings.
The man called Jia Huan clapped twice.
Then, everything went dark.
Like...
Waking from a long nightmare to the break of dawn.
After some time passed...
And I thought this would be an easy enough mission for you.
It really is something, your gall to come crawling back here after losing the Golden Bough right before your eyes.
Have I overestimated you?
<......>
Why don't you give me an excuse, Miss Faust.
As it turns out, immortality wasn't the solution to everything.
... Hm.
Anything to say for yourself, Dante?
<There was another group going after the Golden Bough.>
<You had to have known this, so why didn't you warn me?>
They're asking about the other faction that sought the Golden Bough.
Faust placidly relayed my words to Vergilius.
... Don't tell me you're blaming me for this?
Tell me then, Dante. Why would we bother sending 12 whole combatants to a place with no threats?
After hiring Fixers to guide them, too.
<That's...>
Enough of that, Manager Bud.
It's my fault. If you want someone to blame, I'm right here...
How fascinating.
Built a sense of camaraderie between you already.
Well, I do suppose it's not too bad to cover up for each other since you're all in the same bus...
Just know that sticking up for one another doesn't make up for your incompetence.
... We got a call. After Team's Spec Ops Section 4 has just gone underground for their job.
That sounds about right. Someone has to salvage the E.G.O and Abnormalities left there.
... A real shame that the essence was lost, though.
This is getting excessive.
Failure is a common thing on the battlefield. If an objective isn't met, you devise another plan and redeploy.
Are you sure it wasn't your expectations that were too high for our first mission? I will have you know that the Executive Manager's performance was nothing short of outstanding.
......
I suppose we'll leave it at that. You're not entirely wrong.
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 with the metallic stench of blood and gore that clung to our outfits, but no one thought 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, who had the most defeated look of them all, stared despondently out the window...
Then, he suddenly went to hang something from his pocket near the windshield of the bus.
Bug Guy. What did you put on Mephi's head?
... A memento.
A memento for two.
I had a sister, just about Yuri's age.
That's... all there is.
I considered giving him a pep talk, but the idea 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?
Charon, won't this get in your way?
No, Charon'll be fine.
... Alright, let's hit the road.
Vroom-vroom.
The bus slowly grumbled forward.
The gas mask hanging by the windshield gently swayed like an ornament.