Limbus Company story · Intervallo
Intervallo IV: Murder on the WARP Express
14 scenes, 1,282 lines
1. First Class, before the battle
99 linesAll right, how did this happen?
First, we boarded the WARP train to get to our next destination, P Corp...
Got into our fancy first class flash-freeze hibernation capsules, and...
... we were supposed to arrive at P Corp. after a quick blink of an eye, but...
Dante, please respond. There's -
The first thing I saw when my vision returned was the perplexed look on Faust, who had entered hibernation at the same time as I did...
... then I realized that we woke up mid-transit on the WARP train...
... which could only mean that we're now stranded in some lost, unknown dimension...?
Dante, I understand your considerable degree of disorientation, but -
What...
<... What the hell happened?>
First things first...
... let's rewind and return to the very start of this highly unfavorable situation we find ourselves in.
A few days ago...
Our next destination... is to a WARP train, Dante.
<... What?>
Yep. That's where it all started.
There I was, still perplexed by the incidents at T Corp., with my awful idea of clearing the air by asking Vergilius for our next destination. Not knowing the storm that my innocent question would bring.
V-v-v-v-v-verily, I must have misheard!?
I'm quite certain you didn't, Don Quixote.
We are now en route to the T Corp. WARP train station.
That whuh-WARP train station must have some conundrum that must be resolved there, indeed? A-a quest that must be swiftly addressed at the station, yes?
Did a Distortion pop up at one of the WARP platforms or something?
I see that you are now significantly less disinclined to take on some side jobs. But no.
We are boarding the WARP train to get to P Corp., end of story. There's nothing between the lines, so don't try reading into it.
…….
It was only natural that the Sinners immediately fell into a state of collective dumbfounded shock.
None of the Sinners have any history of working at W Corp., but...
<We're... actually taking that train?>
... through what vague information we could gather from the Identities, we all had some fragmentary knowledge about the terrible secrets of the WARP trains' operations.
I initially considered hiding this information from the rest of the Sinners, but since sharing things with everyone and letting them get their two cents in usually ended up being pretty helpful, I've been sharing more of these as of late.
Though I have very dim, if present at all, recollections from the time during which I wear the Identities...
Mm. It can be determined from the conversational records between the Manager and the Identities that the mechanisms behind WARP trains' operations can be deemed as somewhat bizarre and inefficient.
Ohh~ Yeah! It's that 10-second trip that actually takes a long, long time~ Right? And when the train reaches the destination, they just wipe the passengers' memories?
I-I also heard that the passengers get so weary of boredom that they start literally ripping and tearing into one another...
Sounds like I might finally have a chance to see a masterpiece with my own eyes.
<…….>
Even when the Sinners wear the Identities through my Identity Cards, the Identities' memories or beliefs don't bleed into them once it's over and done with.
I remember when Faust explained that, due to the risks associated with embracing such influences, there was a filtering process to intentionally block them from reaching the Sinners.
That's why the Sinners could use the Identities of some of our worst enemies without getting infected by their philosophies and whatnot...
... but it also meant that they couldn't retain any new information that each Identity had to offer. That's why I keep a record of some things that sound particularly important and sometimes share it with the rest of the Sinners.
<My "voice" doesn't really carry well past the window, so most of our communications are one-sided. But...>
... I had an abundance of W Corp. Identities, so it wasn't difficult to piece together the truth behind the trains.
But... Um...
…….
Maybe ignorance really is bliss...
Your collective agitation and possible incompliance have already been anticipated.
Lady Faust?! Then thou hast known this all along?! Wherefore hast thou not deigned to tell me of this?!
Faust has indeed known this all along, as no knowledge is out of Faust's reach. Naturally, a solution to your dilemma has already been prepared.
I seriously doubt your solution involves not getting on the train, so what is it?
The bus... oh, what about this bus? There's no way this thing fits inside a train car!
Charon vetoes, too. No one to feed Mephi when Charon's gone.
... Miss Faust.
The rearmost tail cars of WARP trains are all freight cars. That is where Mephistopheles will be safely fastened and transported.
And the LCB will...
... have the benefit of boarding as first class passengers.
The bus begins to swell with noise again, though in a slightly different air to the alarmed response from earlier.
First class passengers...? What, the seats for those pompous toffs?
Even on normal trains, you've got those sods whose proudest accomplishment in life is planting their arses in first class seats, while others are cramming themselves into freight cars because they haven't the cash for even an economy ticket...
W-why are you glaring at me like that...? I've never been in one of those first class seats before either...
Isn't the ticket for a single first class seat like, as expensive as three or four months' salary of a first-year Wing employee? Can our budget really handle getting a ticket for us each?
The company's budget is not a subject that warrants your concern.
I heard first class passengers get some cool bonus stuff like... personalized private capsules or something, don't they?
That is the promotional language, yes. They are flash-freeze hibernation capsules, to be precise.
They have been designed to easily withstand the "true" amount of time it takes for the WARP train to travel from point A to point B. Passengers will feel as though the trip is over in the blink of an eye.
The company's regard for our well-being is unfamiliar yet welcome. To be provided such extravagance merely for our comfort... such occurrence is quite seldom.
Right? I honestly thought they were going to slip just the guide and Charon into the first class seats and ship the rest of us in the economy cars.
Hmph, this seems like an unnecessary luxury. They should have saved their budget and given only the Executive Manager and their loyal advisor access to those seats.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're taking the train to get to our next mission, alright? We have to think about the unique nature of WARP trains and prepare ourselves accordingly.
Right...?! I know it's first class and all, but WARP trains are just plain creepy. I knew you'd also be worried about -
For example, economy passengers are going to have a hard time getting into a first class car. If they can even attempt to open it, I mean. I'm pretty sure the door separating the cars is ironclad.
Ishmael, who'd been holding that first class promotional pamphlet in her hands for a while, was chattering on with fire in her eyes.
We won't even have to lift a finger. We just have to board the train, get into our capsules, shut our eyes, and snooze through the entire ride until all that mess in the other cars blows over. I heard they used to give out commemorative merch back when their finances weren't in the gutter, and -
Oh...
A true adventure is not without its hardships... Yet... even the most exalted of heroes cannot venture without respite...! And, in very rare occasions, the hero may even deign to select a first class seat to rest in, in place of a quaint inn... Indeed, indeed...
Seems like everyone was at least somewhat interested in the fabled first class seats of WARP trains.
I could sense that there was a growing consensus among the Sinners that even a WARP train trip might be acceptable if it meant that they could ride in the first class seats.
I will board the train if I must.
Is first class seating mandatory? I prefer the scenic route. Don't want to miss out on all the fun.
Vergilius pretended to not hear Ryōshū's question.
Very well. Then I assume that we are all in agreement. Let's go.
Uh...
I've a matter of great import to discuss with thee...
What is it? Out with it, lass. Beatin' around the bush ain't like you.
Don Quixote carefully began, almost whispering in a low voice.
That is... in the first class seats...
I have heard tell that we must board with our feet freed from our boots. Doth that claim hold water?
... Oh, come on, now. Where did this nonsense gossip come from this time...?
'Tis no gossip! Forsooth, I have overheard aught from those we have walked past ere today, and...
... When one of them inquired, "You know that you gotta go barefoot in first class, right?" the other responded with: "Of course, man. What am I, stupid?"...
Doth the traveler speak true, Ishmael?
D-don't ask me, I've never been on one of these either.
I don't remember seeing... anything... like that on the pamphlet. Gimme a sec...
I mustn't be separated from Rocinante, not even for a twinkle...! I shan't toss Rocinante to the side next to such vulgarities like the ugly shoes of Sir Heathcliff...!
Oi, you little...!
I implore thee, O Illustrious Red Gaze...! Prithee, grant me thy permission and allow me to board with Rocinanteeeehhhhhh...?
…….
I expected Vergilius to answer with his usual exasperated rebuff. Contrary to my expectations, however, he responded in a somewhat serious tone, if tainted by that familiar annoyance.
Fine. Keep your... shoes on.
2. The Northern Fixer, before the battle
116 lines<This place is huge...>
That was my first impression of the WARP train station.
Ooho! So this is...!!!
Don Quixote shouted vibrantly, immediately recovered from her previous apprehension of the sheer possibility that she might be separated from Rocinante.
<So each Nest has one of these... massive structures in them?>
I've got nothin'. Oi, know anything about what they're asking?
Heathcliff asked, gesturing toward Meursault with his chin.
…….
Every WARP train station has been built with a general design philosophy that draws from its respective Nest's architectural idiosyncrasies. It can also be said that many critics in relevant fields praise the WARP train stations as one of the many cultural cornerstones of the City.
... I have no idea when it happened, but Heathcliff's started treating Meursault like a walking encyclopedia from time to time.
Meursault, young Meursault...!
Lo! Is that passenger over yonder one from the west?
Mm...
Incorrect. Leather-based clothing and metal armor are predominant fashion trends often visible in the outfits of the western population. While that individual's cloth-based style is something ubiquitously observed throughout the population of north and south, they are largely considered to be an eastern fashion trend, rarely seen among western -
Prithee, slow thyself! For I must make a record of thy lecture...!
What wisdom dost thou have to impart regarding the fashion of the northern region? I have once espied in a magazine that they are garbed in puffy, loose-fitting outfits. Understandably so, given the colder climate of the region!
An opportunity for a firsthand observation stands before you.
Hm?
UOOOOOOH!!!!!
AAAAAAAH!!!!!
Three seconds of screaming duet; one of utter fascination, the other of unmitigated frustration.
What the shit?! You nearly blew out my eardrums!
You're the one to talk...
Dude, I've got an audible frequency range expansion implant in my eardrums!!! Holy shit, man...
Now, get the hell outta my way! You're blocking the walkway like a ragtag band of hicks who's never even seen a WARP train before.
Dammit, I take the train all the way here for an expedition, only to lose my target, and now these assholes are trying to blow out my eardrums. Great, just great. I love this.
G-guys, is it that obvious that we've never been on a WARP train before?
And the round trip ticket fee came straight out of my damn pocket!
Woah... Watch out, big fella... Someone might get seriously hurt if you keep swinging those four arms around. Each holding a weapon, to boot...
P-prithee, wilt thou stand still for but a moment to satisfy a few inquiries of mine regarding thy outfit? Ooh, yes, yes!! Stand in absolute stillness for five minutes, and I -
Seriously?!!!
The Fixer, with a particularly impressive set of prosthetic arms, spent a few minutes venting several of his numerous grievances at us before storming off to a different platform.
Ah, indeed... 'tis grand, this City of sundry odd personalities...
I'm pretty sure he was thinking the same thing...
I guess there really are a lot of people in the City with full body prosthetics...
That's when Vergilius slowly walked up to our group.
Well, then. We'll rendezvous at the destination.
Huh?! Wilt the illustrious Red Gaze not ride alongside us?
W Corp. policy demands that Fixers bestowed with a Color title must board a train specially prepared for them instead.
Ooh, are you like, riding the "First Class Plus" or something?
That's a Color Fixer for you, I guess. Special treatment from the Wings no matter where he goes.
Charon wants to go back to Mephi. Mephi'll be lonely.
I've told you before, Charon - three separate times, actually, each time I bought you one of those candies - that people aren't allowed aboard the freight cars.
Well then, Miss Faust.
... Yes.
Vergilius, after exchanging a knowing look and a nod with Faust, escorted the particularly peeved Charon away.
Dante, let us proceed this way.
We followed Faust's guidance to the entrance of our train car.
Damn...
Woah... hey, our colors are starting to come back!
Ooh... oooooh...
Hey~ These must be the fabled complimentary food & drink of the first class seats...! Heck yeah, of course! Quality stuff like these gotta be included with that insane pricing...
The general response to this room was a surprise at the rows upon rows of expensive-looking, sizable capsules.
Flash-freeze hibernation, huh... I guess it literally freezes our bodies in a flash?
<Faust, are these flash-freeze hibernation devices... safe?>
Please elaborate on your exact definition of "safe."
<These things are supposed to freeze us solid, right...? Can we really come back from something like that?>
A flash-freeze hibernation device will put you in a temporary state of death caused by a rapid cellular cryopreservation process. However, the rapidity of the process prevents damage to your cells during the phase change. Therefore, in most normal cases, this will not cause any issues.
Faust is aware that this model has fully resolved cell membrane-breaching issues caused by cryogenic density change or by the formation of sharp ice crystals from frozen water molecules.
<... I missed about half of what you said, but your point is that it's safe, right?>
Yes, as far as Faust is aware. Even if an issue were to arise during the journey, everyone will be reverted to their original state at the start of the train trip upon arrival. The outcome will be no different from there having been no issue in the first place.
You've got some real talent in dragging out something so simple as "yeah, it's safe" to so many words. Seriously.
Indeed, as Faust's talents are not limited to a singular field.
<…….>
Okay, but... that still leaves a lot to be worried about... Just as I was wondering, however, I realized that there was something odd about the way she phrased that answer.
<As far as Faust is aware...? Are you saying that it could be wrong?>
As a general rule, Faust does not err. However, Faust is also not a divine being.
There still exists in the world information to which Faust is yet to have access. Therefore, while Faust may speak the facts, what is said may not always align with the truth.
<Okay...>
They don't call first class "first class" for nothing, I guess... P Corp.'s way up there in the northernmost corner of the City, but this thing'll take us there in the blink of an eye, huh? That's one helluva timesaver.
Hoo-hah! Hoo-hah! Hoo-hah! Prepare thyself, Rocinante!! Thus begins the long jaunt...
Oh, I've been meaning to ask, Don Quixote...
... Do ya ever... y'know... wash those shoes?
<Where'd that come from, Rodya?>
No, I mean, like, think back to when we were inside that Whale.
When that Whale blew up, we got all kinds of its gross, slimy bits on us. They were on our clothes, our shoes, everything!
... Yeah.
And do you remember how much we had to scrub to get that bloody, fishy, fleshy, gunk out of our clothes...?
This really isn't something I want to revisit, but... yeah.
Right? And do you also remember how Don Quixote never took her shoes off once during that whole ordeal?!
... Okay, I guess they do look a bit filthy...
I ask thee, dear compatriots. Hast thou ever witnessed an errant knight who leaves the side of their beloved steed?
Can't say I've ever witnessed a "knight" before, though...?
Then thou shalt know... starting now! Behold it, hearken to it, and remember it well!
Hmph, they don't spare us even a moment of quiet, do they?
Wowzer~ Have you been on one of these before, Outis~?
I have been treated to premium, VIP seats of similar grandiosity back when. This is nothing to fuss over.
Outis, who was sitting there and shaking her legs, suddenly asked Faust a question.
... Hey. You're confident that no accident's ever occurred on one of these first class cars, yes?
In order to prevent cases of unnecessary anxiety and misgivings among the Sinners, the history of accidents that has occurred aboard WARP trains will not be shared.
... Wait, what do you mea -
BEEP -
Oh, looks like the train's about to depart.
This is for WARP train PW-612 bound for P Corp. Boarding period is ending soon.
The Sinners, who were either leisurely enjoying their complimentary snacks or taking a look around the first class car, suddenly became a lot busier.
Then, let us hurry and enter our capsules before it is too late.
<O-oh no, why isn't this - >
The other Sinners made it into their capsules no problem, but...
... I felt like I was the only one who was fumbling.
Are you nervous, Dante?
<I think so...>
Initiating warp in ten minutes.
Allow me to assist you. Stand as though you are leaning back, and...
Faust expertly guided me into the capsule as though she'd done something like this before, then pressed the button inside the capsule that closed the hatch.
Do not worry too much.
... We will meet again in but a moment, Dante.
I thought I heard a brief sigh, but the hatch shut tightly before I could ask her anything...
Initiating warp. Please confirm that your seatbelts are firmly fastened.
The last thing I saw before my capsule began to fill with gas was Faust climbing into her own capsule opposite of mine.
... Little did I know back then...
... what she really meant by "We will meet again in but a moment."
<…?>
Dante, you must wake up. Dante -
But one thing I knew for sure was...
... An unexpected situation has occurred.
... that something had seriously, seriously gone wrong.
3. Disappearing Passengers, before the battle
113 lines<We're here already...?>
<Wow, I guess that wasn't an exaggeration at all... It all really happened in the blink of an eye.>
As always, Faust was giving me her usual look, which was a complete lack of any emotive expression.
Which, I suppose, is why it didn't immediately register that something had gone awry.
No, we have not yet arrived at our destination.
<Huh?>
But once I finally came to and had some time to digest that odd reply, I looked up at her face once again...
... and realized that her expression was more antsy than usual by a microscopically minuscule degree.
<So... this train is still "running"?>
Yes.
<Then... where are we?>
... I believe we are currently stranded in an unidentified dimension. Coordinates: unknown.
I took a reflexive, deep breath from the sheer horror of the numerous implications stuffed into that dryly delivered sentence.
When that passed, the first thing that struck my mind was that we were about to suffer the very thing that we were so worried about.
<... I see.>
But I soon found myself calming down.
Yeah, this had to be a part of Faust's plan. She probably saw this coming from a mile away.
I'm sure she's about to proudly tell me every little detail of her plan that will help us out of this situation.
<But this is all just a part of the plan, right? Faust?>
………….
... That was an unusually long silence from Faust.
You are half correct, yet half incorrect.
With that, Faust left me to flounder in the chaotic stream of vaguely terrifying information as she began stopping by each capsule to wake the Sinners.
Ooh, we're here already? Man, it really happened in the blink of an -
No.
Ooh, what's this? We're here already, for real? It really happened in the blink of an -
No.
Whoa, w-we're here already? I guess I really was worrying over nothi -
No.
O -
No.
I have not uttered a single word yet...
There was a brief cheer, a little hurrah about regaining our colors, followed by a flat-toned explanation of our current predicament, which was then followed by a long, loaded silence... ... which was a sequence of events I had the pleasure of watching play out on about ten consecutive occasions...
Dante. I understand your confusion, however... perhaps an elaboration of our present circumstance is necessary.
... And that brings us to the present.
Let me get this right...
This train's still running...
And we're drifting through some unknown dimension...?
Ooo... aught about that striketh me as quite dramatic.
Most importantly... Are you saying that you already knew that this would happen, Faust?
... Yes.
Haaaaah...
What... what the hell is wrong with you? Huh?
The Sinners each begin to voice their anger.
Of course, this wasn't the first time Faust and Vergilius intentionally and knowingly omitted certain details about what's to come.
Are you actually serious? It's not like we can just retreat or jump out that door when stuff hits the fan!
Opening the door will result in near-immediate destruction of the physical body.
Hey, Fau... at least tell us you know what to do like you always do. You've got a plan, right?
…….
... Right?
Faust, whom I had rarely ever seen at a loss for words... was unusually slow to respond.
Uh. What's up with her? Lass looks totally out of it today.
She gives me a sideways glance.
... There must be something she can't discuss in front of the Sinners.
<... Guys, let's pause for a bit.>
She said that something unexpected's happened...
The other Sinners' anger was completely understandable. It also makes sense that this continued lack of communication was harming our trust in Faust.
<Alright. We're going to go over the situation from the start, okay?>
But just letting things play out might really turn everyone against Faust, and for good.
Besides...
…….
... I doubt Faust woke us up in the middle of the trip just to spite us.
First things first, I gotta get the Sinners to calm down. Then I'll ask Faust to tell us what happened. If there's a problem, we'll figure it out and deal with it as we move along.
<Tell us what's going on, Faust. All of it. And in a way that we can all understand.>
<Let's hear her out first. Is that okay with you guys?>
... If you say so. I'll go along with it.
... Fine. I suppose losin' my rag rarely ever did anything.
Thank you. Then...
After some time...
The gist of Faust's explanation was as follows.
The cause of this issue, as always, involved a certain contract and a unilateral decision from the higher-ups of Limbus Company.
W Corp., having caught wind of Limbus Company's recent Distortion contract management promotions...
... decided to contract us to deal with a mysterious, repeated series of incidents suspected to have been caused by a Distortion. After multiple failed attempts to resolve it on their own, of course.
The Distortions themselves likely did not pose a problem for W Corp. Based on the available information, it can be determined that they would have all been neutralized as soon as the train arrived, and any transformed passengers would have been reverted to their human forms.
But...
The real issue was that the passengers were disappearing.
Passengers... spirited away?! Alas, such is an impossibility aboard these trains, is it not?
That is the problem whose precise cause and effect we must determine.
<Did W Corp. share anything to get us started?>
... That appears to be the most prominent cause of this misunderstanding.
She explained that W Corp. refused to share anything about the trains because they were concerned about disclosing the secrets of their Singularity.
That's probably why they sought out an upstart business like Limbus Company to deal with this, now that I think about it...
We wouldn't even know where to start if we didn't have access to the information that the Identity Cards had to offer.
Faust produced what appeared to be a keycard with the W Corp. logo on it before continuing with her explanations.
However, we were given this master keycard that can open and close the hibernation capsules at any time.
We may return to our respective capsules as soon as the contract is fulfilled and safely complete the rest of the journey as we had planned from the beginning.
These bloody Wings... every single one of 'em's been absolutely barmy.
Hmm~ I think it's a bit unkind of them to ask us to finish the puzzle without all the important pieces...
At least at T Corp., their Chief Executive Director tagged along as our assistant, not to mention kindly explaining so many new things to us.
I-it sounds like Miss Faust was stuck between a rock and a hard place herself...
Some Sinners grew more receptive after her explanations, albeit with a sigh.
... Haah. I would've appreciated it if you at least gave us a hint.
Yeah. I understand where you're coming from, but it's not like there's someone out there monitoring everything you say and do, right?
That is...
Haaah...
... But not everyone was willing to let this go without saying their piece.
... Next time, I will take your inputs into account.
<…….>
... And that's just about all I can do for her. It's an undeniable fact that her actions have disappointed the Sinners.
This is Faust we're talking about, though. I'm sure she has backup plans of backup plans to get us out of this situation.
Hm. So what's next on our agenda?
Yeah~ What's done is done, right? Besides, it's not like we gotta rot away for thousands of years inside this metal box.
... That, is something I must first discuss with Dante.
Discuss?
But "discussing" things with other people is very unlike Faust.
<... What are we discussing, Faust?>
We must converse in a lower volume, Dante.
<Wh... why are we whispering...?>
Her secretive attitude only exacerbated my already-battered sense of safety...
... My connection to Gesellschaft... I mean, Faust, has been severed.
<... I'm sorry, what?>
I... cannot access Faust's knowledge at the moment.
And just like that, the ominous feeling I had turned out to be right.
4. Inaccessible, before the battle
63 lines<What do you mean you... can't...?>
I mean it in the most literal sense. My access to Faust's input and information, which has always been readily available... is completely severed.
<... Oh! What if everything about this situation is something you don't have access to yet, like you said last time...?>
One cannot completely dismiss that possibility, but even that is... uncertain...
Faust's answers have always been perfectly accurate and methodical when sharing information.
I don't think she's ever said a sentence that was this full of speculation and doubt.
<Then "Faust", right now you're...>
Yes. At this moment, I am... limited to utilizing only the knowledge that is in my possession.
<…!>
I cannot discern the cause of this disconnection... More than enough precautions have likely been taken in case of interdimensional travel, but perhaps Faust did not take into account an occasion in which we may have to access an unidentified dimension such as this. Or, even if it was taken into account, this particular dimension may not have been subject to cross-observation yet.
If that is not the case, then I-no, never mind.
There was nothing that suggested that my connection to Faust would be lost, not even as we boarded the train. To be honest...
... I find myself in a somewhat perplexed state.
<... Alright, I get it for now.>
Now that changes everything.
I recalled the last thing I saw before the hatch on the capsule closed. When Faust told me not to worry too much.
<Okay. This is just a minor setback. Nothing we can't beat, right? We got this.>
I began to mutter like I was trying to convince myself.
As the manager, my job is to calm everyone down and set their sights on the future. Just as Faust did for me immediately before the hatch closed.
<If you're right about why you were disconnected, then that problem will solve itself once we're off the train...>
<And if we do ever run out of options, I'll just turn the clock and see what happens.>
<Don't stress yourself too much. We still have a lot to work with. Your knowledge, my, um... clock, the Sinners... and...>
I could feel my confidence taking a hit with every word that came out of my metaphorical mouth, but that seemed to be enough for Faust. She nodded.
... Understood.
And... to the Sinners...
... the fact that we are currently confined to a WARP train in operation must be a source of enough stress. It would be best not to share Faust's current state with them and add an unnecessary source of tension.
<Hm...>
What, so wrecking this door ain't gonna do anything? We're all going to bite it once it opens?
Ugh, how many times do I have to tell you that you're not even strong enough to break this door down!
A-a billion years in this box... ha... ha ha...
<... Yeah. That might be best.>
So? What now? Do we take a searching sweep through each car... or something?
In the grand scheme of things, yes.
Faust cleared the air with a cough before continuing.
By A Corp.'s standard time scale, approximately three days have passed since our departure.
As per the contract between Limbus Company and W Corp., I acquired the master keycard placed inside my capsule and adjusted the hatch settings to open automatically in three days.
Three days, huh...
I feel like I just blinked, and... I guess that's hibernation for you.
As you were all informed prior to boarding, there is no way for the economy class passengers to enter the first class car; that is why this place has remained untouched.
However, cross-referencing my own deductions and W Corp.'s rather fragmentary explanations, I can assume that "the situation" is currently under progress in the economy class cars.
The uh... the part where they thrash the shite out of one another, tearin' their limbs off, all that mess?
No, I doubt that... I don't think it gets that bad in just three days. Besides, that's supposed to be business as usual for W Corp., right? There must be something else that's out of the ordinary that they want us to deal with.
Precisely. In my opinion, it is -
O-ooh, hold that thought for but a moment!
Just as Faust was about to continue, Don Quixote raised her index finger to her lips and signaled her to be quiet.
Dost... dost thou hear aught as I do?
Scratching... nay, rapping! Forsooth, past this gate must be... hm...
As Don Quixote kept listening with her ear to the door, an odd expression of half-curiosity and half-horror appeared on her face.
It is possible that there must be... hm? Lady Faust?
…….
After that very distressful noise, everyone simultaneously turned their heads to look at Faust...
... who closed her eyes, briefly in thought.
Please step aside for a moment, Don Quixote. It would be best if I observed it with my own eyes.
With that, she produced the master keycard from her pocket and approached the panel installed next to the door.
Whoa, hang on a minute. You're going to open the door?
I intend to follow your usual flavor of suggestion, Heathcliff.
That there are times in which a physical altercation is preferable to detached ruminations.
H-huh? My suggestion...? Um, well, I ain't going to disagree with you there, but... what's gotten into you, lass?
After all... how could I deduce anything without seeing it myself?
Bleep -
After a brief, mechanical beep...
KAAAGGHHHH!!!
Hideous creatures suddenly crashed through the open door and charged wildly in our direction.
5. Inaccessible, after the battle
86 linesLady Faust, however similar in appearance they may have been to the passengers...
... Verily, 'tis as though they were in complete want of sense...
Like people pallidified by the Whale...
Don Quixote, who hesitated until the last second to raise her weapon against them, hung her head mournfully.
Normally...
Faust would have told her more information about those monsters before the fight began.
And she would not have been burdened by the sheer thought of bringing harm to the innocent.
…….
Faust began searching the area, closely observing various bodies and the general area for information.
You appear particularly inquisitive today, Miss Faust.
Huh, yeah. Aren't you usually the one who has all the answers while we're wracking our brains trying to come up with something?
The Sinners were starting to realize that there was something off about Faust's behavior...
They might even soon realize that there's something wrong with Faust.
... Don Quixote.
They are not dead.
... Huhh?
Observe closer. The parts are all tethered to one another by something, are they not?
Hm...
Ooho!
It appears that the flow of time has ceased in this space. Therefore, it follows that the... connections, that tether bodies to life and away from death, remain intact.
To my relief...
... Faust managed to correctly figure out what's going on like her usual self, even if it took her slightly longer than it usually does.
<Hey, what'd I say? We got this...!>
Huh? What was that about?
<O-oh, nothing...>
But... I'd forgotten that not all Sinners were content with nodding along to whatever information Faust told us.
Hm...
The flow of time is ceased aboard a WARP train, is it...?
…….
Yi Sang grew pensive. Seeing that, Faust's lips parted for a moment before closing shut.
I was starting to get a good read of her expressions. That was an unmistakable look of regret, however short-lived.
Howbeit, would it not be more accurate to muse that the flow of time has decelerated to the point where, to an extradimensional observer, it has slowed to a stop? What is your perspective regarding this suggestion?
Yes. That is a most rational suggestion, Yi Sang.
Uh... Did Miss Faust just get something wrong?
<W-wow, Yi Sang sure is the expert when it comes to time-related phenomena. Can you summarize it in easier language now that we're broaching the subject?>
Ah. Gladly, if you would allow me.
Yi Sang began to elaborate with gentle enthusiasm.
... That was close.
To speak in brevity, it can be said that death is not an element aboard this train.
And...? Can ya maybe speak in a little less brevity?
Ah, to elaborate...
... Ah, verily! This one's heart beats still!
Don Quixote lowered her head and listened closely to what appeared to be a dismembered torso... and shouts with relief.
Their state is akin to an unassembled jigsaw puzzle; merely immobilized and separated.
Though their corpus has been sundered, the concept of death is at a state of, for all intents and purposes, eternal delay aboard this train, existence in continuance of moratorium...
Forced, they are, to be tethered upon the thinnest yet tenacious thread of life.
Mm... I ill understand what hath been said here, yet they are not dead all the same, hm?
If their severed parts are all connected... then it can be said that no matter how entangled their bodies become, it is not impossible to eventually gather their parts together to form a single passenger.
Thus, naturally, we can determine how and why the profession "W Corp. Cleanup Agent" has come to be.
I see. Because someone will have to categorize and reconstruct these puzzles once the journey is over.
<It's really baffling to me that a job like that even exists...>
Ever seen a Wing that wasn't baffling in every sense of the word?
<Still... I guess that means that, as long as the train arrives at the station, the passengers will all be put back together like nothing happened.>
From what I learned through the W Corp. Identities, their main job was to gather chunks of flesh together to bring them back to their original shapes before they boarded the trains.
It's a lot more visceral when I have to look at it in person...
Phew... that is quite the auspicious news among ill tidings indeed.
It soon clicked in me what Faust was, though with some awkward effort, trying to do as I watched Don Quixote sigh with relief.
Maybe Faust was trying to cheer Don Quixote up in her own way.
Who she was a while ago would not find it even necessary to do something like that...
Dante.
<Huh? What's up?>
…….
<Oh. Time to whisper, right?>
... Indeed. I intend to collect further intelligence.
<Well, if there's anything I can tell you...>
Faust cast a dark gaze toward the chunks of flesh. Her gaze remained fixed upon them as she whispered.
Are they Distortions, or... Abnormalities?
<Oh... yeah. I actually wanted to ask you about that.>
They weren't humans, that was for sure. From them, I felt the same sensation I felt from monsters.
Something inexplicable. An unclear sensation or an aura.
I've felt this somewhere before, I'm sure of it. But... I couldn't quite pinpoint the source of this sensation.
One thing I do know for sure is that this sensation was not the same feeling I got from Abnormalities, Distortions, or even the Peccatula.
<If I had to lean one way or the other, I'd say they're... closer to Distortions.>
<I'm sorry, I don't think they're either of those.>
Is it difficult to be certain at the moment?
<Again, I'm not sure how I can explain this, but they're very, very similar to Distortions. But also... different.>
<If you had to ask, then... I'm gonna guess Faust doesn't know?>
Faust may know... but I, at this moment, have no way of knowing.
<... I feel like I should apologize for that.>
There is no need, Dante.
Though the information you have provided me is rather ambiguous, it has helped me deduce something of worth.
And...
Collecting intelligence myself and creating deductions based on sparse information is quite...
She paused, holding a bloody, slimy chunk of flesh in her hands.
... Did she just smile to herself with gore in her hands?
Hooh. Finally, the awakening has begun.
6. MultiCrack Office, before the battle
111 linesAfter a round of intelligence gathering from Faust...
We opened the door to the next cabin, only to be greeted by a loud commotion.
It sounds like there are other survivors?
Ah, passengers in danger! Fret not, for I have arrived to - Euagh!
Whoa, whoa! Don't come any closer! Who the hell are you guys?
A four-armed woman suddenly jumped in our path.
... She appeared without warning.
Faust stumbled a little, inadvertently slapped by the figure's swinging arms as she pushed us away.
Right, like you gave me any warning before you practically kicked that door open.
Uh, would you mind moving that huge sword out of our faces? It's a bit threatening.
Threatening? I'm just trying to protect the civilians in this car.
Also, is that a bio-prosthetic? Must be an old timer, huh? I thought those things went out of style forever ago.
... Oh, you wanna see what this old timer's got left in him?
Aha... thou art from the north, verily?! Thy garb is that of northerners, no?
This really ain't the time, lass!
Anyways, it looks like we're in the same mess here. Make way for us, yeah?
…….
She seemed to be sizing us up for a moment.
Nah. How do I trust you? Got any proof that you ain't bitten? I'm not gonna let all my effort protecting this place go to waste...
Bitten? The bloody hell are you on about?
Weird, ya look completely lost. If you were in one of the economy cars, I'm sure you've seen -
... Hold on.
Are y'all from the first class car?
Yeah. We just woke up from our capsules.
Hmm, but none of you look very... I mean, aren't first class seats supposed to be... Well, why didn't you say so from the get-go?
Name's Sasha. MultiCrack Office Rep.
With that, she lowered her weapons and allowed us to pass.
Have you not left this car for the duration of the ride, Sasha?
Hm? Uh, no, I haven't...
We warped over to T Corp. after picking up one of their contracts, but... jeez, can ya believe that this train broke down? Shit, is it even "broken"?
I'm not feeling hungry or sleepy at all. It stinks of some shady bullshit, if ya ask me.
You can feel all that even in a prosthetic body...?
Man, how could I live without my favorite hobby, drifting into a sweet nap after a pleasant meal? So, I made sure to get high-quality parts for 'em so I can still feel 'em all.
Hasn't something else of note also occurred?
You bet your ass did something else of note go down!
How distracting... Is it hard for you to speak without being so hyper?
Or at least stop swinging your arms around like that...
Can't do that, friend... I broke all my prosthetic arms in a fight, so I'm calibrating a new set. Gotta keep swinging 'em if I want 'em to sync up with the other parts ASAP.
Anyhoo, I dunno what the hell's going on, but people started turnin' into some weird monsters all of a sudden.
Haven't a goddamn clue as to who they are... don't seem like they can understand us, either.
Good thing my train car didn't have a lot of those monsters. I just chopped what monsters there were to pieces and hauled the civilians to this... vacant car.
Sob...
3,201 red colors... 3,202 red colors...
... You have decided to protect them, despite the potential risk that they may transform as well.
But of course! 'Tis an expected duty of any valorous Fixer to stand guard in the front lines against evil to protect the weak!
I've been keepin' a close eye on 'em for the last three days, and so far... zero transformations.
Go past this car, and you'll see what hell on earth really means. Those monsters are constantly trying to claw their way to the front of the train... so if ya ask me, I'd wager that some shit went down there at one of the train cars in the back, and it spread like wildfire 'till it reached here.
... I see.
And that's all I can tell ya about the situation. So... what's your story? Why'd you rich, first class folks suddenly decide to grace us peasants with your presence?
Nothing that's happening here could've made it to your swanky first class cars, so what's your business down here?
W Corp. has hired us to solve this case. We are...
Um...
FIXERS!
Indeed... Fixers.
Faust nodded reluctantly as she affirmed Don Quixote's boisterous declaration.
Huh. They got every single one of you a first class ticket? Your Office must be rollin' in the dough.
... Wait a goddamn second. So W Corp. already knew that this would happen?
But... hm. Are you really contracted to a Wing? Not sure if I trust ya...
As you must be well aware yourself, contracts and contract fulfillment are of paramount importance for Fixers.
With that in mind, please recall that W Corp. is one of the most secretive Wings of the City.
Ah, a non-disclosure agreement, huh? Makes sense. I wouldn't wanna deal with those Öufi boys either... Anyways, I'm still gonna have to ask for proof that you're actually contracted by W Corp.
This is the master keycard given to us by W Corp. I believe that it can open most doors aboard this train.
Faust produced a master keycard from her pocket. I guess there isn't any other way for us to prove that we're actually contracted by W Corp....
A keycard? So you used this to open the path between the first class and the economy class car... Let's see... W Corp. logo... Woah, nice materials. Looks like you're telling the truth.
Alright, I won't pry. Not like there's any cash in it for me either.
So... I guess you gotta go all the way down there for your job, huh?
Yes.
The Fixer finally got out of our way. Then, with one of her free hands, pointed toward the opposite door.
Well~ It's your funeral, ladies and gents. Or your victory lap, if you guys are really that good. Lotsa luck to y'all.
I thank thee for thy words of courage, Fixer Sasha!
I shall trust thee with protection of this fortress; prithee, protect the innocents in my stead!
…….
Um... big sis, are you a Fixer? Are you going to save us from the monsters in the cars behind us?
Hoh?
Just as we were about to reach the other end of the car, a little passenger pulled on Don Quixote's coattails.
Mhm! Aye, forsooth!
Whoa...! Are you a famous Fixer?
Forsooth once again! Thou mayest know me as a profoundly illustrious Fixer!
Whoaaaa... I-I wanna be a Fixer, too! Just like y -
Don't pester the lady! I'm sorry, she's my daughter, and -
Muahaha, worry thyself not, 'tis no bother! No bother at all~! Thou must dream of becoming a Fixer thyself, little squire~?
It is fortunate that someone like yourself is aboard the train. Your presence ensured that child's survival.
Whatcha talkin' about all of a sudden? C'mon, no need to keep up appearances between people in the same line of work.
I'm just here to collect some sweet, sweet emergency contract fees from each and every one of 'em. Are you two on something or what?
... I see.
<... I don't think Don Quixote needs to hear what she just said.>
... Didn't know you could be like that, Faust.
Be like... what?
You knew there was no way the Fixer was actually there to protect them out of pure goodwill, but you decided to go along with Don Quixote's delusions anyway. Am I right?
…….
Good move. I was getting worried about what might happen if she started acting out again.
You saw the twinkle in her eyes too, right...? Don Quixote's always been energetic, but she's been especially bouncy today.
Eyes...
Faust strode toward Sasha with a question.
I have one last thing to inquire.
It'll be 30k Ahn per inquiry.
... That is quite an unsound decision to make for someone who claims to be "in the same line of work" as us.
Have you considered the possibility that, once our contract is successfully completed, we could include references to a particularly cooperative Associate Office in our report to W Corp?
W-woah... You serious?
Well then, let me hear it.
Were the eyes of the monsters you faced red, by any chance?
Sasha paused her swinging arms for a moment upon hearing that question, appearing to either be in thought or trying to recall something... then answered.
... Umm, I dunno? Those monsters were red all over, but... is there something special about their eye color?
Well, for one, my prosthetic eye is red. That passenger over there's got red eyes, and... Oh, you there. That lady with a big sword's also got red eyes.
What, is someone out there paying cash for info on red eyes or something?
No, well.
It was a question of no significance.
Faust nodded lightly in her direction, then opened the door to the next car.
Guuuuhhhh...
*Whistle*
It was just as we had feared. The scene that appeared before us looked like it came straight out of a painting of hell.
7. Painting of Hell 2, before the battle
39 linesWhew... Battling in a narrow hallway really takes a lot out of you.
It can't be helped~ Fighting in narrow hallways like these is pretty exhausting for people who use long weapons like we do.
These enemies weren't much harder than the ones we'd fought earlier, but it was inevitable that their sheer number would eventually wear the Sinners down.
Who... what... are these things, Faust...?
…….
Yeah, I've been wondering that too! Why are ya so tight-lipped all of a sudden?
Those entities are...
Those entities are...?
... What do you think those entities are?
Huh?
D-didn't I just ask you the same question?
Oh no... Are you...
... giving us a chance to come up with our own answers first?!
Of course, Faust did not confirm nor deny his question, but Sinclair was perfectly capable of making up his own interpretation of her silence.
Mm... There were some things I learned after fighting them. I think.
These monsters aren't... mad at us, nor do they want to attack us because we're an obstacle. That's not why they're attacking us.
Quite, quite! 'Tis apparent that they hunger for aught, charging at anyone and anything in a desperate quest of it!
Right... That's strange, though. I thought hunger or thirst wasn't a thing aboard these trains.
It could be determined from the entities' behavior that their attack patterns have no basis in rational thought. The source of this behavior can only be traced back to primal aggressiveness.
Hm...
Yes, and? Was there anything else?
Anything else...? Uhm... Uh... Oh yeah, I think they all had red eyes...
Their bodies wreathed in blankets of red.
I smelled blood, so that's likely what they're made of.
Then it must be that the "red" was congealed... nay, crystallized blood.
Thank you, all. Your insights has all been very helpful.
It was my turn to start whispering.
<Wh... what did you learn from that?>
We are in luck, Dante.
I have read upon this subject as a tangent while perusing information regarding our next destination, moments before we boarded the train. And while that will be a useful element in resolving this situation...
... the Sinners have also been a very good source of intelligence when it came to categorizing and identifying important evidence from the available sea of information. Your advice was correct, Dante.
<You mean... you know what to do to blow this case wide open?!>
Nothing can be said with absolute certainty at the moment. However, this will be a good place for us to start.
With that, Faust turned around and faced the rest of the Sinners.
... I will now present before you a solution to this predicament.
Huh? Is there something else we gotta do other than beating the crap outta whatever's in our way?
That will not change, no. However, what I am about to share will give you a better understanding of the purpose behind W Corp.'s contract, and provide us with the possible means of finding the method by which we may complete it.
It is very likely that the entity behind the incidents on this train, and by extension, every incident of the same nature that has occurred in previous WARP train trips...
... is a Bloodfiend.
8. Bloodfiends, before the battle
64 lines<Wait, a Bloodfiend...?>
What's... a Bloodfiend...?
A Bloodfiend...? What in the name of Wings is that?
Huh... You, of all people haven't heard of Bloodfiends? Thought you were our team expert on obscure lore.
Verily, I have neither read nor heard mention of these "Bloodfiends"! Perchance I have let a magazine article slip from my memory?
Don Quixote furrowed her brows, genuinely lost. It was as though the very word sounded alien to her.
I thought they were just monsters in stories to scare children at night... They're supposed to be afraid of garlic and sunlight, right...?
Ooh~ That sounds a bit different from what I've heard. I heard their fear of garlic and sunlight is just a rumor, and what they're really afraid of is water!
…….
I have been briefed on the existence of Bloodfiends in the past, when I served as a commanding officer.
And I have seen the... "dregs" that they command.
... Though my memory isn't very clear, I am quite certain that these monsters here do not resemble what I've seen.
There was a "Bloodfiend" among the ranks of the Fingers, too. But the things that "Bloodfiend" commanded weren't rubber-glove looking like these.
There's something off about this one. That one didn't spawn these dregs with abandon like this.
But don't you know this already?
... Yes. I see that some Sinners have encountered Bloodfiends in the past. A long-winded explanation seems unnecessary.
As many of you have stated thus far, the entities we faced in this train do not appear to be "Bloodfiends".
In a sense, they are dreg-like beings that have failed to become Kindreds... they are referred to as "Bloodbags" among relevant parties, according to information I am aware of.
Hmph, not a terrible name.
<Why would anyone name someone "Bloodbag"...?>
As it has been said prior, it is impossible for passengers to disappear aboard WARP trains under normal circumstances.
Though our reserve of intelligence regarding WARP trains or W Corp. is vast, if incomplete, we could not find any exception to the above rule.
Within that reserve of intelligence, however, I have discovered that inserting a previously unseen variable into the equation allows for the formulation of a new hypothesis.
Wait, you're saying that these Bloodfiends can completely erase people, or passengers, from existence?
A more accurate descriptor would be to say that they are either dissolved or vaporized.
Dissolved...
No matter the degree of violence the passengers may indulge in, no matter how severe their wounds may be, WARP trains can revert them to their initial states at the beginning of the journey.
While the word "violence" is a rather large umbrella term, it likely involves activities such as cannibalization.
Eugh...
However, as the passengers' collective time itself is in moratorium for the duration of the train's operation, digestion is not a biological process that should be active. In other words, even cannibalized passengers can be reconstructed.
Hm. If they are merely stuffed into the digestive tract, then I suppose they could gut the passengers to retrieve the chewed-up chunks and piece them back together via the vein-like things connecting each individual.
However, such is not true for "Bloodbags". Bloodbags are, by their nature, obsessed with blood; their existence hinges on supplying themselves with the blood of their victims.
And it is said that they must consume a minuscule amount of blood to maintain their forms.
Wait, what? Didn't you just say that digestion's not a thing here?
If I were to continue my deductions... perhaps "consumption of blood," for Bloodfiends and Bloodbags, is a process fundamentally different from our "consumption of nutrients" for energy.
To them, blood is a culmination, an entailment of something that forms the self, including but not limited to: emotions, ambitions, wealth, purposes of existence... Then, it must follow that they can spend their blood at will, which is a process isolated from other biological processes such as digestion.
Whu... uh. I ain't following even half of that.
... You exist in moratoria of time at the present moment, Heathcliff; yet your emotions still persist, do they not? Anger, sorrow, and joy... they continue to spark within you.
Huh? Well, I suppose they are.
Though we cannot tell whether they are in a state of alteration, or whether they remain ensnared in the wheel of creation and destruction, it can be said that emotions, once passed, exist not in continuation.
The passengers' will to live, the worth of this very existence in which they thrive - does it not all gently atrophy into nonexistence even amidst the "ceased" time? Miss Faust seeks to illustrate the similarity between how emotions are to ourselves and how blood is to Bloodfiends.
Gotcha... so that's why she said their blood is "vaporized," huh?
If that's the case, then the very blood that's supposed to bind these chunks of flesh together will also evaporate, which means that they can't be pieced back together.
There is no incongruence in that logic.
... Everyone fell silent for a moment.
That was way too much information to process at once. We didn't even know what to make of them, either.
I would like to ask a few questions, if you would permit me.
Yi Sang was the first to break the silence.
Could it be said that Bloodbags are direct creations of Bloodfiends? If such is the case, then by which method do they -
... That information is inaccessible at the moment.
Faust replies, avoiding Yi Sang's gaze.
... There isn't anything I can do about this. The Sinners will only get more stressed if they find out what's going on with Faust, and that's something we both want to avoid.
Inaccessible... Ah, indeed. Now I recall what you have said in the past.
This is only a speculation, however... I assume that a form of direct physical contact is needed to turn an individual into a Bloodbag. If such were not the case, then we, who are likely the greatest obstacles to this entity's goal at the moment, would have been the first ones to be turned.
Mm, indeed.
In that case! That villain of a Bloodfiend must be hiding out somewhere aboard this train!
Indeed. If we are to believe the words of the Fixer from earlier, then there is a high likelihood that the horde is advancing in this direction from the back of the train...
In other words, continuing down the train cars will lead us straight to the Bloodfiend.
Very well! I shan't forsake this opportunity to bring peace to the souls of the innocent passengers who have perished at the villain's hands!
... Dante.
It seemed that Don Quixote was now invigorated, while the other Sinners also appeared rather satisfied now that we had a clearer sight of our goal. Faust, who stood amidst them, nodded in my direction.
<... Well, then. Let's go.>
We're making the best of what's available to us at the moment.
Let's move forward... for now.
9. The Cleanup Agent, after the battle
47 linesM-Manager Esquire, halt! Behold this poor fellow, he lives still!
Don Quixote, her round eyes wide open, began sprinting somewhere.
N-no, stay away from me, you monsters...!
H-hey, man. We're not those... monsters. You alright?
... Huh?!
That arm... Y-you're starting to mutate too, aren't you...? You must be turning into some bug-like monste - Agh.
What? No, this is...
Gregor stumbled for words, scoffed, then cast his gaze toward the floor in disbelief.
Yeah, well... no surprise there, I guess. I suppose there's no way to tell right away whether this arm's a monster, a prosthetic, or whatnot.
It is possible that you are mistaken due to his bio-prosthetic being of an older, outdated make that is now rarely seen in the City.
Ah, a prosthetic...
That's a relief. I thought those crazy bastards were trying to break in again. As you can see, my legs are messed up... I had no choice but to hide in here...
So what are the W Corp. employees doing aboard this train?
<Huh, you're right... From what we found out about the WARP trains through the Identities, I can't imagine why any of them would ever willingly board this train...>
You're the contract Fixers, right...? We were ordered to assist you with your contract.
... I said "we," but... I'm the only one left. Every single one of my colleagues suddenly began losing their minds in that car over there, and...
This cannot be... Faust! Is there truly no way to cure the Bloodbags?
My apologies. The access to that information is prohibited at this moment as well.
Though her voice and expression were both as serene as always, there was something gloomy about the way she said it.
... I may have been too reliant on Faust. In too many places.
Faust muttered in a barely audible volume.
... I don't know what I can do to help the Sinners in a situation like this, either.
I'd also grown too used to Faust's omniscience because I could always trust it to be there for me. I was starting to realize that I don't have the means to dig myself out of a hole like this...
... No, maybe I was too reliant on the Sinners as a whole.
If... when the time comes for them to depend on me, when they can no longer stand on their own, can I really manage them? Lead them to the right choices?
Doubt, colored with fear, begins to rise like an ominous plume of smoke.
Well... What can I do, right? Agh...
The agent struggled to some corner of the room with his wounded leg, and pulled on a lever...
They made good use of this space.
... and the wall behind what had initially appeared to be a folding chair for employees spun open.
Ooh, what in the name of Wings is this?! Perchance, hast thou hidden here a weapon most powerful, a weapon most afeared by the Bloodfiends...?!
That holds some resemblance to a capsule we saw on the first class car, but why would that thing be here...?
The Cleanup Agent slumped into the pod that appeared in the wall.
Phew... finally.
Hm? What is it that thou seekest to do?
W Corp. prepared a small hibernation pod for employees in case of these emergencies.
Verily! Then... huh?
Good luck... with the rest of the mission...
With that, he settled into the capsule, and shut the hatch behind him.
When the door covering the pod closed, only the folding chair and a wall covered with viscera remained.
<He's gone...>
There he goes...
He has departed the scene.
We blankly stared at the wall the Agent disappeared into.
Well, then. I guess we gotta...
<... Let's move on to the next car.>
... keep on keeping on.
10. Prosthetic Fixers, after the battle
69 linesSomething caught my attention from the corner of my eye after another round of brutal combat.
Huhh...? What's this now?
We were on the final car adjacent to the freight car when we discovered that odd box with the T Corp. logo on it.
Ah, 'tis the emblem of T Corp.!
It appears that the wall covering it was broken in the fierceness of our battle.
Didn't that Chief Executive guy... Herbert, right? Didn't he offhandedly mention something about partnering with other Wings?
I guess they were in cahoots with W Corp. too...
Such collaborations are not limited to T Corp.; it is oft the case that a Wing may work with another.
It is only on rare occasions that they urgently request the assistance of less significant, lesser-known corporations such as our own Limbus Company... Their choice appears to be quite irregular.
Sounds like W Corp.'s heydays are long behind them.
Just like this wall that's falling apart, revealing what's behind...
... Oh! Speaking of falling apart, this room sure got messed up, huh?
It was difficult for me to ignore how Rodya hurriedly swerved to a different subject as though she'd made a mistake. Even the tone of her voice shifted like she was catching herself.
The various destroyed prosthetic parts covered in human remains indicate that this train car was boarded by several prosthetic-equipped Fixers.
... I can't think about that right now. Let's first deal with the task at hand.
Maybe these people are from the same Office as that guy we met at the platform. Remember? He said he'd warped over to T Corp. on an expedition.
Look, it's almost like they're all wearing standardized sets of prosthetics. Same make, same model, everything.
Mm... I believe I have read articles stating that certain Offices do exclusively hire Fixers with prosthetics.
Hm...? Wait, he's...
We were walking through the bloodied train car when we suddenly heard Sinclair's voice crack as though he saw something awful.
Fie...! He is the one we encountered at the platform...!
This is the Fixer who suddenly started venting at us.
Yeah, and he said something about going to T Corp. on an expedition and failing... They brought a whole train car full of Fixers for this contract? I guess he wasn't exaggerating when he called it an expedition.
There are over a dozen broken arms strewn about... they must have fought valiantly by replacing their broken arms with backup arms, perchance?
<Makes sense... That would explain all those broken prosthetic arms and legs in this car.>
Executive Manager, This is likely an aftermath of a battle between Fixers and Bloodbags.
There were many similar cases during the war. Those using prosthetics would simply let their bodies be destroyed in battle because they considered them to be disposable as long as their wallets would permit.
Of course, the blatant lack of self-preservation often sent them to early graves.
<Hm, maybe so...>
I see. There are multiple possible interpretations depending on one's perspective, despite the fact that there is but a single scene. I will remember both of your inputs.
Mm, that's a good attitude. Employees with attitude like yours would often make it to the end of the war.
Yes, well. Good for them.
Faust answered Outis in an uncharacteristically snappy manner. Signs of fatigue were creeping into her pensive expression.
<You alright, Faust...?>
It was rare to see any actual expression from her... I was starting to get worried.
I am physically unharmed, but... Hm. Yes, I am alright.
However, I do not enjoy this circumstance which we find ourselves in. It is as though I am casting nets to nowhere, lost and isolated in a blind sea.
... Normally, deductions such as these would have been completed within moments after establishing a few basic cross-references with the information I accessed.
Her voice was such a whisper for the second part of her sentence that even I could barely hear what she was saying.
Ah, I know what you mean.
Feeling like you're completely lost, obsessively casting net after net over the black, rippleless Lake in desperate hopes that one of them might pull in something we could eat.
No way to tell where we are, no way to tell if there's even anything to eat under that glassy water surface... Grasping at the straws, you know?
This sense I find myself mired in is not unlike your own; it is like lying my back over an unseen grave, for the reflection of radiance upon my eyes and the sanguine scent hanging from the tip of my olfactory sensors tells me naught of the forging path.
It seemed that Ishmael and Yi Sang picked up on the first part of her sentence, however, as they walked up to her and shared a few words of consolation.
By the way... I don't ever recall you talking like that, Faust.
I don't know what it is, but I feel like there's... something different about you today?
That is...
Oh, I mean, I don't hate it. I'm actually glad to learn that you had a softer side.
This unseen side of yours... it is unfamiliar, yet quite fresh.
... Is that so.
Faust's reply was curt. She closed her eyes.
As per the information provided by the pamphlet at the platform, it is likely that this train is composed of twelve passenger cars and one freight car.
Because we are on the eleventh car at the moment, that leaves a single car between us and the freight car in which Mephistopheles is secured.
<Which means...>
Which means that there is a high likelihood that we will soon encounter the Bloodfiend responsible for the creation of the Bloodbags aboard this train.
Just beyond that door...
Well, how impressive could the leader of this sort of cannon fodder be?
A different, more accurate interpretation would be to say that a being capable of commanding a force as large as the Bloodbags we have defeated should be considered a high-risk entity.
Although this is not common knowledge, there is a subcategory of Fixers called Bloodfiend Hunters who specialize in... yes, hunting Bloodfiends.
Assuming that information is true, it can be inferred that Bloodfiends are difficult foes that require a certain expertise to defeat.
Now that I'm thinking about it... if Bloodbags are like mindless thralls to Bloodfiends, then they're kind of like an army, right?
A being of power who can create a force of their own without concern for lowered morale or desertion... Wartime or not, they will always make for formidable foes.
The Sinners each exchange various opinions with one another. Possible strategies, estimations of the Bloodfiend's strength...
And all of a sudden...
Fie on this indecisive idleness!! Our quest is to defeat the villain who hath brought such pain and misery upon this train, is it not?! It may be vaporizing the lifeblood of the innocent as we speak!
Mighty or feeble, I care not! I swear upon mine honor that I shall smite this foe and let my hand of justice be the judge of their fate! Let us hasten, now!
Don Quixote's sudden outburst immediately put a stop to the chatter.
<... She's not wrong. Besides, dealing with the Bloodfiend is the key to completing our contract.>
With that, I opened the door leading to the last car of this train.
11. The One Who Lords, before the battle
92 lines<This room...>
What... is with that look on thy faces?
Thou standest in the audience of the Prince. Where are thy smiles?
He... must be the Bloodfiend who caused this outbreak. He is our target.
Fall to thy knees and grovel before royalty!
... Who the hell are you to make those demands?
I shall impart this upon thee only once, so listen well.
Thou mayest address me as Prince Cassetti, Sixth Kindred in refuge from his Family, and the rightful prince who shall reign over thee!
Art thou the villain... who hath brought such destruction and massacre upon this vessel?
Thou art a chatty one, so rudely before your Prince. Yet, this welcome satiation has put me in quite the generous mood.
As thou must have seen on thy journey here... this place is a hall of banquet for a feast most majestic.
No matter how many Bloodbags I create, no matter how many of them I devour... humans just won't stop coming! I am only enjoying what cast themselves into my maw!
... He dons a mask for the purpose of merrymaking.
If we're really going to exchange pleasantries, why don't you take that mask off? Or are you unfamiliar with the basic etiquette?
Oh, this... this mask!
Won't come off. Can't take it off. Shouldn't take it off! There's no Prince without the mask!
We're so, so ugly behind the mask; so we all decided to hide how repulsive we've become. But once I've drunk your blood full, then it'll all go back to how it used to be. Only then can I unmask myself...
Who stitched that mask to your face? Not a half-bad job.
Of course it's excellent! Ha ha! Because this mask was crafted by none other than the great and the eminent Barber, whose name I dare not even speak! But... but it hurts so much...!
No, no! I'm smiling! Look, look how hard I'm smiling and laughing! HAHAHA! HA! HAAA... YES, I AM THE PRINCE, THAT'S WHAT I AM!
He's a bloody loon, innit?
All right, done with the giggles, then? Get ready for the beating of your life.
I... I enjoy things like you and your friends.
Don't cry, bawling and bowing and sniveling on the ground for your lives...
Lunge at me instead, hm?! The aggression, the boiling blood, oh, how I love the heat!
What are you, daft? Look around. There are thirteen of us and only one of you.
Do not let your guard down, Heathcliff. This entity has managed to turn countless passengers of this train into his Bloodbags.
I ain't letting my guard down. But... we blasted through so many Bloodbags we couldn't even keep count, didn't we?
Couldn't even keep count...? Oh no, no... but the count is so important! I have to keep count of our visitors! Oh yes, of course! I do remember to keep count of our dearest visitors! Yessir, I do!
You have no idea how powerful I am. And I shall not relinquish the throne of this budding kingdom to thee!
All I have to do is sit here and do nothing, and the Bloodbags present themselves before me! There's no paradise like this out there... you have no idea what I did to create this place!
Ohh, how elated my forebears would be, were they here to witness my creation! This cornucopia of abundance... this pleasure... oh, this freedom...!
But this kingdom is mine! I made it! I'm not giving it away, nope!
This is rather curious.
It appears that this Bloodfiend leaves this car only on rare occasions...
... Yet we have seen signs of his insidious influence throughout every car we have visited so far.
Then what he meant by how "the Bloodbags present themselves" before him has to be...
HOLD ON A MINUTE!
GYAH!!!
Someone suddenly and frantically charged into this car.
It was Sasha, the Fixer we ran into in one of the earlier cars.
Cassetti shrinks into his throne at this sudden intrusion, terror apparent in his face.
Ah, it is thee! By the - Hast thou truly journeyed here to assist us in our quest?!
Lo! That villain is the Bloodfiend responsible for the tragedies that have transpired aboard this train!
Help us slay that cur and eventually lead the passengers thou hast protected thus far out of this train!
Bloodfiends...
... What if there was more than a single Bloodfiend on board, one still capable of rational thought...?
Damn, you actually made it all the way back here? I guess the Wings don't give out contracts to just anyone.
I... I used to fight to my damnedest, too. 'Till I was the last one standing...
What's she talking about?
But where did that leave me? Alone, three of my four arms ripped from my body.
Kinda funny how the perspective on life can just completely flip when you're really, really in the shit. I think my last thoughts were...
"Man... I... don't wanna die..."
<…….>
So I fell on my knees and pleaded. I told him that...
Don Quixote, watch out!
... I'd do anything to live!
Blood rapidly crystallized around Sasha like a suit of armor as she swung her greatsword at the Sinners, striking them even before Faust's hurried shout had fully died away.
... Agh!
Wha...
... What did I say?! I commanded you to give me a warning before jumping in like that!
Don't you know how loud your stupid arms are? I thought the Family had come for me!
I'm sorry, Lord Cassetti.
Ah... allow me to introduce my Kindred to thee, first of mine since the escape, for the kingdom I intend to build.
My Kindred, my loyal squire... who shall be at my side as I build a dynasty of my own, my Family...
Lord Cassetti, I had intended to select the more powerful of the bunch to send to this car as you have commanded me, but... the humans in my car were all weaklings. So I present before you this group from the first class car.
Kindred...
Are you even aware of the exact nature of a "Kindred?"
Nah, but I can tell ya this.
When I accepted my lord's blood into my veins... I felt as though I was reborn.
I see. A Bloodfiend's Kindred is like a sub-entity of the Bloodfiend, similar in concept to sub-entities created by Distortions or Abnormalities.
It must have been desperation that pushed you to accept that proposition despite the lack of information.
Maybe. That's... probably what was going through my head before I became a Kindred.
Thou hast been in cohorts with this villain... all this time? As his lackey?
Even ere then, when we first laid our eyes upon thee...?
Lady, you have no idea how much I freaked out when one of you asked me something about "red eyes." Not that it would've mattered if you did suspect me though, since mine are just prosthetic.
T-then... the passengers who were under thy protection...
Haven't I told you... that the count matters?
The longer the procession... the better.
Ksshhh...
Dozens of Bloodbags began shambling into the room from behind Sasha. ... A smaller one among them stood out to me.
... My mind immediately snapped to the child who grabbed Don Quixote's coattails.
<…….>
I knew that the passengers were dead the moment we realized Sasha was a Bloodfiend. But... I hoped that we'd be spared this sight.
…….
There was... a child...
Yep. Little runt wanted to be a Fixer if she got to grow up.
Good thing she won't, though. I can tell you on good authority that "living" as a Bloodbag is way better than the drudgery that is the life of a Fixer. Believe me, I know.
... Hold thy vile tongue.
Dreaming of becoming a famous, respected Fixer? An enactor of justice? It's all just a stupid pipe dream that always ends in crushing disappointment. Or a really, really early grave.
Silence... SILENCE!
Don Quixote did not give Sasha time to finish her sentence; she was already charging full-speed at her with her lance drawn.
12. The One Who Lords, after the battle
91 linesIt hurts... it hurts... it hurts...!
Yes, I love it when humans let their blood boil... But this... this is too painful...!
This guy keeps regenerating... no matter how many times we tear him to pieces... Ngh...
Haah... this... I don't know if we can...
The mental fatigue finally got to Gregor and Sinclair, and they collapsed to the ground. The strange environment of WARP trains was proving to be a significant boost to the Bloodfiend's regenerative ability.
The battle trudged on without an end in sight. At this point, we've already been fighting for much longer than we had at the K Corp. border checkpoint or at the basement of Wuthering Heights. The Sinners had all grown much stronger since then, but even they were reaching a breaking point.
…….
Don Quixote continues to wildly pummel the Bloodfiend with her lance, breaking, stabbing, and crushing him every time a body part regenerated.
I am... I am so very hungry...
Ridiculous! Thy hunger is no justification for this massacre thou hast wrought!
Shut up! Y-you, you, you don't understand.
You don't know how awful it is to - I survived for two hundred years on that disgusting... horrible - N-no, NO! I don't even want to think about it!
Shut up! Be quiet! No, I'm... I'm sorry, I'll be good... Please, please, please let me have just a sip... just the smallest sip... Please...
Nngh... it won't matter... how many times you stab me...
I shan't stop until all of thy flesh and bone and organs are crushed into a viscous, shapeless mush, never to become whole again!!!
But... the Bloodfiend's regeneration is so powerful that he's recovering as fast as Don Quixote is destroying him.
<He's regenerating at an insane rate... We can't...>
Agh... My Kindred... my Child!!!
I have given thee new life, invited thee to this banquet...!
So do something! Your responsibilities! The blessings of your Father must be repaid, no?!
Wh-what can I do...?
Find their weakness, break their anchor...! Make them kneel and grovel before me in desperation, just as you had...!
…….
W-wait, I think I've got an idea...
Sasha began looking around wildly, surprised by Cassetti's sudden command...
It's that the way they fight... reminds me a lot of the way we prosthetic-using Fixers fight.
…?
... Just as Prosthetic Fixers slowly lose their sense of self-preservation, their limbs becoming no more than tools to be replaced...
... these idiots act with such abandon, as if they have multiple lives to burn through.
<…!>
With nothing to protect, they throw themselves wildly into battle like moths to a flame...
And... heh heh... forget to look after what's really important. Like this little thing.
With one of her remaining arms, Sasha picked up from the ground...
... the master keycard Faust showed her in one of the previous cars.
…!
Don Quixote! Stop her, now!
O my Father... I offer this gift to you...!
Gah...!
Don Quixote immediately leaped at the Fixer, but one of her arms struck her away with great force.
Ishmael and Meursault, who had been holding Cassetti down, were no match for his strength without Don Quixote's fury. The Bloodfiend threw them both to the side and grabbed the keycard.
This is the key to the first class cars, my Lord... With this, grow your army of Bloodbags... For the kingdom's prosperity...
<No...>
Cassetti examines the master keycard with clear interest.
Without that keycard... we'll be trapped inside this train for thousands of years until it reaches its destination.
Dante...
I believe that I have tried my utmost to overcome this adversity...
... without access to Faust's knowledge and intelligence.
However...
With our loss of the master keycard... the uncertainty of this circumstance has been greatly exacerbated.
At the origin of this plight...
Faust took a deep breath, as if she was about to take a deep dive into the source of all this trouble...
... must be my overreliance on Faust.
<…….>
From what I can tell, Faust has always been operating based on information she received from "Faust." So a situation like this, where she has to make decisions on her own, must be unfamiliar to her.
... But Faust is an exceptional Sinner with or without"'Faust."
<I've been thinking the same thing about myself, actually. That I might've been relying too much on that... perfect Faust.>
<But even without "Faust," you've still guided us masterfully after analyzing the information we brought you.>
…….
<Maybe... uncertainty itself doesn't always have to be a problem for us.>
<Remember? "Thus the lack of plan itself becomes the plan". You said it yourself.>
... I see.
Indeed, among many, I am a Faust that believes in uncertainty.
Our loss of the master keycard is but one of innumerable uncertain variables in the equation.
The constant is, however...
... that the Bloodfiend is just as desperate as we are.
Thus the only option that remains at present is to... compromise.
You there... Looks like thou art the one who's been regenerating your friends...
Stop... stop doing that, alright? Don't heal a single one them.
Or I'll smash your precious key to pieces!
M-Manager Esquire...
Compromise...? To compromise with a villain as vile as that cur...!
I didn't have the time to regenerate Don Quixote's severe injuries just yet. And the rest of the Sinners were already unconscious...
The only Sinner who could still move and talk... was Faust, whom I just rewound the clock for.
<... Yeah... Let's do that.>
Very well. Then... Cassetti, why don't we move this conversation to a different location?
I alone will accompany Dante to this negotiation. Let me make my intentions clear now: Dante and I will not attack you there.
There is no doubt in my mind that Cassetti must also be exhausted by the unending barrage of attacks from Don Quixote and the Sinners.
So, Faust's suggestion that we move this conversation to a different place without the Sinners must've sounded pretty sweet to him.
J-just you two, huh?
Yes. As you are aware, the freight car is immediately adjacent to this one; that is where we will further discuss what we each have to offer to one another.
That... that clock must be thy monarch then, hm? And thou art one of the retainers.
Correct.
Very well... this will be a royal debate, then! It is only right that a member of royalty talks to no one else but the one who is his equal!
Manager... Esquire...
<We'll be back in a minute... Don Quixote.>
Thus we left the incapacitated Sinners and Don Quixote, who watched on with hollow, despondent eyes as we walked away. We carefully made our way into the freight car.
<So Faust, why are we doing this in the freight car again...?>
Dante... this will be my first attempt...
... at a "gamble."
<What!?>
With that, the door closed shut behind us.
13. The Negotiation, before the battle
139 lines<So this passageway leads straight into Mephistopheles...?>
This is where it all started... This... this stupid bus awoke me from my slumber!
If only this bus hadn't completely filled up the freight car... I wasn't planning on commencing the Parade so soon... or creating a Kindred at all...
... Dante.
<Hm?>
The connection has been restored.
Connection...?
The suddenness of her statement briefly knocked me off my train of thought. I looked at her and cocked my head in confusion, and she replied with an even quieter whisper without looking away from the Bloodfiend.
Boarding Mephistopheles has... reestablished my connection to Faust.
<…!>
<Did you know that this would work?>
No. And as I have stated before, this was a pure, incalculable gamble based on my own uncertain hypothesis.
This success helps me somewhat comprehend Miss Rodya's fascination with gambling.
A faint smile momentarily appears on Faust's lips as she jests, then fades away.
Now that the connection has been reestablished, I would like to make a complaint against the Fausts in the Gesellschaft management regarding the fact that they neglected to list the information pertaining to the loss of connection within the interiors of the WARP trains, however...
... finding a solution to this situation takes precedence. I have much reason to believe that their omission was done on purpose, but... I hope such is not the case.
Faust gently advanced toward the Bloodfiend.
... Let us discuss the details of our compromise. What are you willing to accept in return for the master keycard?
If thou wert just anyone, I would have wished to turn thee all into Bloodbags and drink every last drop of thy blood... but thou art unlike a common person...
My wish is to maintain the secrecy of this kingdom of mine for as long as possible. And thine wish is to leave this place, is it not?
Once I relinquish to thee this keycard... and once thou returnest to your first class seats... we'll live here happily ever after like nothing happened!
And when the train gets there, you get off the train. Everything goes back to the way they're supposed to be. How's that for a deal?
Like nothing happened...
<... Faust, what about the job we were contracted to do in the first place...?>
Upon arrival, our memories and any signs of battle will be entirely erased. We will have no way to relay the news, whether it be one of success or failure.
If we had the means to defeat him, then at least W Corp. would inform us that our contract was successful after the fact. However...
... this current scenario will leave us with nothing to show for, not even the smallest hint, and the contract will end in failure.
However, what takes precedence over the contract is you and the Sinners' psychological stability.
<…….>
It's not like we've always been successful, so that was something I could live with. But...
<But... what about the other passengers of this train? And its future passengers?>
I remember the look on Don Quixote's face whenever we would come across these inevitable forms of injustice.
…….
Faust does not reply.
Yet, the lack of reply was a reply all on its own.
<... Are we going to have to let them... die?>
Innocent lives will be lost. But we cannot prioritize their lives over our safety.
That must be Faust's... and the company's policy.
And yet…
I... I shan't allow this...
<D-Don Quixote...>
I thought her wounds were too severe for her to even crawl, let alone walk, but... with sheer will, she pushed herself through the pain to reach the freight car.
I... will not tolerate this... We cannot... let this vile wretch live... and turn a blind eye to... everything he's done...
I-it's her...! Again...!
W-what, you want to stay here for what is essentially an eternity within this train? I... I know what this is all about! Everything hinges on this key, doesn't it? As soon as I snap this in half, you'll have to spend eons inside this -
I... care not... I would welcome it... even should it mean exacting eons of penance upon thee... 'Tis much preferable to letting thy villainy go unanswered... Let this place be the site of thine eternal judgment...
Faust and I grabbed Don Quixote. She'd normally be strong enough to wriggle free of our grips, but she'd already pushed herself beyond her limits merely by walking here.
Faust... unhand me...! Thou mustn't let him live, Manager Esquire...!
<Don Quixote... Letting him destroy that key means that you'll be condemning the Sinners to thousands of years of torment.>
Then I shall... fill the millennia with the tales most exciting... that I had once read in the magazines. No amount of time, however ineffable... shall be too great to overcome should we endeavor as one...
Certainly, you are aware that your suggestion is no solution at all, Don Quixote.
Th-then there has to be another way...? No...?
Thou art both possessors of great wisdom... Faust, Manager Esquire... Is there truly no path in which we may bring justice to the villain, and the Sinners remain unharmed...?
…….
Her struggle begins to wane. But this was no acceptance. This was dejection.
<W-wait! Don Quixote, NO!>
In the commotion, we failed to notice that the Bloodfiend had been quietly advancing at us; we let Don Quixote go at the last second...
... a second too late.
Oh, Father... forgive my transgressions, for I am about to create another without thy sanction...
Thou shalt become my next Kindred...!
Cassetti screams incoherently as he leaps onto Don Quixote, piercing her neck with his fangs before we even had the chance to do anything.
<…!>
... Oh, I did not expect this to be the solution...
<Faust...? What do you mean... "the solution"...?>
... According to this information I had viewed in the past, and once again just now, it's...
Mm. ... Dante. Take cover behind me and remain absolutely still.
And please, do note that the other Sinners must never hear a word of what is about to happ -
Oh.
Don Quixote levitates slightly into the air, the strings on her shoes unraveling as they slip off her feet on their own.
She looks on with bewilderment as her running shoes fall to the floor.
And...
AAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!
GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! ROCINANTE!!!!!!!!!!
I've always had this question swirling at the unfocused backstage of my mind.
<Why are you always so... protective of those running shoes, Don Quixote?>
Hm? Running shoes? Ah...
Dost thou speak of our dear Rocinante?
<Uh... yeah, those.>
I! Have battled through thick and thin, feast and famine, with dear Rocinante. In sorrow, and in joy, no matter the brutality of trials that hath struck me, it hath been a loyal steed by my side for however long it hath been in existence.
She... doesn't know when she got them?
Ah, Manager Esquire! Wherefore hast thou not saluted Rocinante as well? This may be a rather auspicious occasion to do so!
<Nope, I think I'm good...>
Aha, be not so bashful! Go on ahead!
Looks stinky. Small girl is torturing tick-tock with stinky.
Stinky they are not! Scuffed as they might appear, Rocinante is in pristine condition...! Also, thou shalt not address me as a "small gir -
Evacuate. Evacuate.
<Don Quixote, don't tell me you go to sleep wearing those running sh - I mean, Rocinante.>
Oho, I have always been quite certain that someone so esteemed as thee, Manager Esquire, would care to ask me how Rocinante fareth!
I didn't mention that this question was inspired by numerous eyewitness reports from other Sinners who saw her wandering the halls in her pajamas... and wearing Rocinante.
Verily, Rocinante and I remain bound together, even in slumber! There shall be no separating the two of us!
We are bound not by need nor want, we are simply bound together through plight and delight.
Now that I think about it, every single Identity of Don Quixote also wears that pair of running shoes, "Rocinante."
<Have you ever taken them... off?>
Take them off? Fie, whatever dost thou mean? As in... detach Rocinante from my body? 'Tis a very odd insinuation thou makest!
She looks at me with puzzled eyes, as though taking those pair of running shoes off was somehow an inconceivable idea.
They were something much more than just her favorite pair of running shoes. Her attitude about it was totally detached from common sense, too, but she didn't notice anything strange about herself...
What does Rocinante mean to Don Quixote?
What even is that thing?
<Gnnngh…!>
An overwhelmingly powerful pressure suddenly explodes, radiating in all directions...
... as the metallic stench of blood suffocates the bus, filling every corner of it with its sickening horror.
... Then, darkness.
N-no... that's... impossible...
In all-absorbing darkness, voice is our only light.
You... you are... the Second Kindred... How did you... I should've felt your presence...!
I do think I saw a faint... shimmering.
It was red... and she wore a long fur adornment of sorts.
And through the shimmering, I saw... I think I saw... red eyes.
You have committed the sin of filial impiety. Transgressor.
I know that voice. But I also don't. I've never heard it in such a low, imposing tone before.
It speaks toward the lesser being.
The Bloodfiend, shriveled and kneeling, trembling... pathetic.
Mercy, o venerated ancestor. I beg for the mercy of the Second Kindred, I beg for the mercy of the Second Kindred, I beg -
Insolent worm.
Kahhh...
Crimson droplets of blood slowly rise around the Bloodfiend's mouth... before congealing and sealing his mouth shut.
No language worming its way out of your maw shall be worth my ears.
No...
To commit the sin of filial impiety by attempting to travel against the bloodstream, to commit such abomination against your ancestor... I cannot well sanction your impudence of continued existence.
Mmh! Mmppfh! Mmmphhh!!!
Coagulate... then melt away.
Cassetti's body begins liquefying into a slick stream of blood, his form curdling and crumbling, then dripping to the ground.
He melts rapidly yet ponderously like that ice cream Don Quixote loved so much - puddling on the floor heated under the searing sun.
<…….>
... Ah.
You.
Don Quixote turned to look at me, who was still on the ground after being thrown by the shockwave.
And with a cryptic look of pity, she uttered something.
Indeed... you must be the promised timepiece...
Something I couldn't quite understand.
Rocinante, to me...
Rocinante...
... I beseech you.
<…….>
I carefully reached out, grabbed her shoes...
And slipped them onto her bare feet, one by one.
Ah... one day...
She gasped, stumbled, and...
... slumped to the ground.
14. Uncertainty, before the battle
153 linesSome time later...
... Can somebody explain what just happened? In a way that makes sense?
I knew that the Sinners would all be shocked and confused.
After all, when they, including Faust and Don Quixote, all came back to life after I rewound the clock...
... all that remained was the destroyed door to the freight car and the disgusting, obliterated remains of what was once Cassetti.
Most had lost their consciousness from the mental stress of the prolonged battle against the Bloodfiend.
Therefore, whatever measure it was that the Manager has taken, it was appropriate.
Tsk, I guess so...
<Well... Good work, everyone...>
However.
The definition of "most" excludes three individuals. Thus, it would be most appropriate to direct any questions to them.
<Wait...>
Hm?!
Who are those three?
Faust.
…….
The Manager.
<Uh...>
And Don Quixote, who is still unconscious.
Huh, really? Them?
<Wow, you were spot on... ha ha... When did you even have the time to notice that? Oh boy...>
I have identified the three conscious individuals by analyzing their walking cadence and voices, moments before my loss of consciousness.
Right, so what's goin' on with the lass? Why's she still out cold?
She appears to be in a state of deep slumber. As she is not in any risk of death, she will be waking up soon.
... I remember everything, of course. Don Quixote's sudden... transformation. How she practically erased the Bloodfiend and his Kindred from the world without even moving a finger.
But I also remember Faust's last words.
And please, do note that the other Sinners must never hear a word of what is about to happ -
…….
Don Quixote was unconscious, and Faust was answering every question with silence; it was only natural that everyone would turn to me for some answers.
<That's... uh... Y'know...>
Wait, that reminds me...
Where's the... keycard?
<Last I remember, it was in Cassetti's hands...>
... Who's in a far more presentable state than he was in before.
Wait, so what about the keycard he was holding, though...?
<…….>
It has been half liquefied. The remains have melded with his finger bones; it appears to have become one with the middle phalanges.
Uh... wait... oh...
Oh no. Everyone, calm down. Calm down! I SAID CALM DOWN!!!
Haah... I... really should've packed more cigarettes, huh...
Uh... How 'bout we force one of these doors open?
The master keycard is not an absolutely necessary element to resolving this situation.
Wha-h-how?
It will require approximately 5 hours to formulate an explanation that will allow the Sinners to fully comprehend the exact "how" of this methodology. Therefore, it will be delivered to you in a digestible, summarized format.
... Well, that was short-lived. She's actin' all smug again.
We can utilize the Backdoor of Mephistopheles.
The steely confidence in her declaration was more than enough to win us all over.
So we headed to the corridor past the Backdoor, Don Quixote slung over one of our shoulders...
... and arrived at our destination.
…….
I can't... not ask what happened after seeing the state you are all in.
Sandy pitter sandy patter.
Grains of sand and seashell-like things fell with every step the Sinners took.
Ask... someone after me...
To explicate, it can - kugghhh... grains of sand roll about in my throat with every word... spoken...
Some time ago...
Faust explained the gist of this plan as we made our way to the Backdoor.
To put it simply, we will spend the time at a space disconnected from the train.
The train should be arriving at its destination in approximately 10 seconds, going by the A Corp. time scale. All we must do is to remain somewhere in our original dimension for that duration.
And with that, Faust came to a sudden stop in the middle of one of the corridors.
Wait, wait... Are you seriously gonna just open that door? With this many doors in here... are ya sure that it's the right one?
Yes. This is the correct door. Its safety is guaranteed.
Uh... lass, at least tell us what's past that door.
I... did not bother verifying that particular information myself.
It is necessary for future endeavors that I gain the experience... of encountering something completely unexpected.
What? Oi, wait -
Faust did not wait for Heathcliff to finish his sentence before jerking the door wide open.
Now, please enter through this door.
With Faust's stern command, we quickly walked into a building that looked like a derelict, abandoned hospital of sorts...
I think we walked into the middle of a sandstorm...
H-huh? Aren't we indoors? How the heck is this even happening?
Aah! I-I can't open my eyes!
Ptooey, I got sand in my mou... Wait, no way. Is this a sandstorm? But aren't we inside a building?!
5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
The Sinners blurted out a series of colorful complaints, trying to cover themselves in the blasting sandstorm...
But Faust continued to count in that same, indifferent rhythm before dragging us out of there just as urgently as she had ushered us in.
So...
... We managed to return safe and sound to the interiors of the WARP train as it arrived at the P Corp. Platforms.
As the train was still getting cleaned up, that is...
... and with our bodies completely covered in sand.
Sob... I thought we'd never make it...
W-woah, are you guys okay? How did these passengers...?
We were so happy to be done with this whole ordeal, that even the W Corp. Cleanup Agents in the middle of a cleanup mission looked downright hospitable.
We are employees of Limbus Company who boarded the WARP train at the behest of your employer.
Ohh... So you guys are the people that our Captain told us about. They really let you guys keep your memories, huh...?
Oh, that reminds me! One of the employees must be sleeping inside that hibernation pod over there~
Oh, that... Huh, I've never seen it in action before. Thanks, lemme go check.
We walked over to the hidden compartment behind the chair that the Cleanup Agent crawled into.
Inside it was...
Huh...? There isn't anyone in here.
Hm? Maybe we're looking at the wrong pod?
This is the correct spot. Then the disappearance of the individual who has entered this pod would indicate...
I guess these folks aren't all there in the head either... Uh, maybe you guys are just mistaken?
<I doubt that...>
Yes, we must have suffered from a momentary, collective hallucination caused by fatigue. Very well, then. We will see ourselves out.
Faust cut the conversation short before the other Sinners began asking too many questions.
Now that I became intimately familiar with the meaning of that gesture, I followed her outside without another word.
Mm...? Arriv... have we arrived?
Rise and shine, lass. Had a nice kip, did you?
... I see. I will hear the details of the incident on the bus once we're traveling again.
Understood. Any and all relevant reports will be sent to W Corp. via LCCA, and...
Vergilius was already there when we arrived, discussing the events aboard the train with Faust. He looked oddly apprehensive.
... I will now leave with Charon to go watch as they unfasten Mephistopheles from the train.
The minute hand on the Manager's head seems to be desperately signaling me that they have a lot of burning questions to ask you. Allow me to give you two some space.
…….
I was finally able to ask Faust once Vergilius left.
<Why... did you do that?>
... Faust's body was, quite literally, blasted to pieces from the sheer explosive pressure that filled the room the moment Don Quixote's shoes came off.
It was as though she knew that it was going to happen.
Because it was the preferable course of action to letting the same explosive demise occur to your body instead.
<Haah...>
I do find it regrettable that you were made to turn the clock despite my knowledge of the high likelihood of my death upon that occurrence.
<No, I'm not... blaming you for that.>
<I just want to know how long you've known. That...>
<Don Quixote is...>
... That is something I have been aware of since the LCB was first established. The same could be said of Vergilius.
<... Of course.>
However, it was by the will of the LCA's superiors that this knowledge remained withheld from the Manager until the appropriate moment.
<And that appropriate moment was... back there?>
... According to my private judgment, yes.
Well, as my connection to all communications, including one to Faust, had been severed. I was not in a position to receive the headquarters' authorization for that action.
<Right...>
…….
Though the full truth may remain obscured still...
... we are once again, returned.
Returned... That was a layered word.
We've "returned" to one of the WARP platforms in our own dimension. We've "returned" to our daily lives of speculating about what's next in our path. And...
The usual Faust, reconnected to "Faust," has returned.
... Yes.
Faust's quietly affirms Yi Sang's rather nebulous question.
Please, do not take this query with any greater import than a mere jest. However...
... Do you suppose I shall see her again?
…….
She shot a puzzled look at Yi Sang.
In a way, it was quite the...
... pleasant encounter, was it not?
Yi Sang mused ambiguously before leaving us.
<Phew...>
The incident at the WARP train was such a chaotic mess that it felt shorter than it really was, but it was also an opportunity to learn so much.
But...
It was too soon to start wracking our brains about what kind of nonsense trial we were about to face in P Corp., so I decided to enjoy this momentary peace.
How... cough... do we find ourselves at P Corp.? Cough... wherefore is my throat so parched?
Haah... I'm too tired... to explain...
Chiquita... ya missed out big time on one craaazy adventure.
HUHHHH?!
Ah, that vibrated the last few grains of the sand out of my ears.
The Sinners look at Don Quixote's bewildered awakening, grinning.
There's no way to know what we'll be facing here at District 16, where P Corp. was located, but...
We got this, right?
The same faith I saw in the Faust who believes in uncertainty rises within me, too.
I looked up to Faust, only to see that Faust was looking at me as well.
She nodded at me with her usual, barely noticeable smile, and I gave her a light nod back in return.
... Time to go find ourselves another Golden Bough.