ENTER HEAVEN

*Cough, cough*

*Hack, hack*

Blech... Viper, my throat hurts...

Seriously, doesn't anyone ever clean around here?

Why's there so much dust?

Should I eat it all? Would that make my throat stop hurting?

Don't. It'll only make it worse.

Oh, okay! Thanks, Boss, hehe.

Now then...

The tip we got said there've been sightings of dangerous people coming and going around here.

Hmm...

I see a whole bunch of dust, but no signs that anyone's actually been living here.

Yeah...

There aren't even any light fixtures.

Plotting something shady in the dark, huh? I wonder what it was...

Hmm? Viper! Boss!

Over here! There's stuff written all over the wall!

There's literal writing on the wall?

!!

What the... What is this?

"Traitors... Hypocrites... You abandoned us...?"

And what's that in the center?

"Light is our right. Heavenly Ascension."

...

...

Do you think Heavenly Ascension is behind this?

Hard to say.

I thought you'd already taken care of all that.

I did.

But now it looks like a little investigation is warranted.

I'll handle it.

By yourself?

Yeah...

I'm pretty sure this is a message meant for me.

Come in.

Thanks for making time. I know how busy you are.

It's about a terrorist group from the Outer Rim.

Heavenly Ascension. Do you remember them?

Then do you know who founded Heavenly Ascension?

Good. That'll make this quick.

As you know, E.H. is the one who founded Heavenly Ascension.

I figured you might not.

It would be good for you to know, though.

It was E.H. who founded Heavenly Ascension.

After the attack on the Ark, E.H. expressed a desire to atone for her sins.

She asked to become a Nikke so she could take responsibility for what she'd done.

As part of the deal, she was forbidden from leaving the Outer Rim.

A bomb was placed around her neck, and she became the leader of Exotic, agreeing to dismantle Heavenly Ascension herself.

Those who left the group under E.H.'s orders were spared their lives,

while those who didn't were punished for the terrorist attack,

and Heavenly Ascension was thereby declared disbanded.

However, there's an issue...

Since then, the remnants of Heavenly Ascension were quiet, or at least we hadn't seen any signs of activity from them.

Recently, though, we received intel that they've started moving again.

It was. But then... reports started coming in.

"Light is our right. Heavenly Ascension."

That's their most famous slogan, and it's being written all over the Outer Rim.

Of course. That's entirely possible.

But we also can't rule out the possibility that there are remnants of the group still around.

If so, E.H.'s report of dismantling Heavenly Ascension may have been false,

a ruse meant to protect what remains of their group. At least, that's one theory.

It's not unreasonable for the Central Government to come to that conclusion.

After all, the only thing they see when they look at E.H. is the former head of a terrorist organization.

That's why they're asking me to look into what's really going on with her.

... I don't know. I can't say.

I don't want to give my opinion first and influence your judgment.

Besides...

Let's just say I'm not fit to judge.

For now, I want you to see E.H. in person and determine whether she's involved in this or not.

You were one of the victims of the attack,

but you also have a long history of treating Nikkes without prejudice.

If there's anyone who can remain impartial here, it's you.

You're really going through with it?

Were you able to get in touch with her?

That's not good.

Whatever's really going on, this whole situation is suspicious.

I'd advise keeping your guard up, Commander.

Regardless of whatever E.H. intended, something is already in motion.

You can't do as you've always done and blindly trust someone because they're a Nikke.

How can I not? Let me come with you.

It's dangerous to go alone.

Even so, it's better than being defenseless...

True, but...

Still, I don't think going at it alone is strategically a good idea.

Someone else...?

Wait, you don't mean...!

Honey! ♡

It's been a while.

It's unlike you to be the one to call first...

Oh, I don't mind the reason.

I'm just happy you reached out first.

Heheh! Commander!

I'm so happy to see you!

Don't mention it.

So you're looking for our boss too, huh?

Hmm... Yeah, we've been tracking them ever since we found signs of their activity.

Who do you think first found the wall with that slogan written on it?

It was us.

But... a few days ago, after we found a certain wall,

She said she'd look into it on her own. We haven't been able to reach her since.

You bet! I ran around everywhere trying to catch her scent,

but I couldn't smell her anywhere, so we didn't find her!

Of course.

It's deep inside the Outer Rim, though. Are you sure you're up for it?

It hasn't been upkept for a long time,

to the point that there aren't even any lights. It's dark and dangerous.

Oh my.

Here you were so guarded earlier, Honey,

and yet now you're putting your trust in me?

I suppose that's true...

... Of course not.

I won't do anything like that again.

Not now, or ever.

I'm not going to betray you, Honey.

I swear.

... Thank you.

Viper said thank you? Hehe! Then I'll say it too! Thank you, Commander!

Hehe... Now, as a sign of our trust and commitment,

how about a handshake?

Mm-hmm. A handshake.

You said you'd trust me, and yet you're already hesitating?

I would never do anything to hurt you, Honey. I swore, remember?

Hehe, your hands are so warm...

Good. I'm all charged up now ♡

Follow me ♡

It's dark, huh?

Heavenly Ascension never developed this area.

That's why there aren't any lights.

Mm-hmm. The entire Outer Rim used to be like this.

It was already dark enough without the Dome of Eternity,

but with the partition blocking the way, barely any light from the Ark could get in.

E.H. changed that.

She said people shouldn't live in a place this dark,

and so she dug through piles of scrap to find light bulbs,

ran electrical lines through the buildings that were still standing, and installed streetlights all over the place.

After that, people started following her, even though she was an outsider.

Hm? You didn't know?

... What do you think E.H. stands for? Do you know not her real name?

Huh, so you don't even know that...

So you know her name, but not that she was an outsider?

Since it's Elysion that sent you, I figured they would've told you everything.

Sounds like that's not the case.

Hmm... It's probably better if you hear everything from E.H. directly.

It's all really personal stuff, so I don't think it'd be right for me to talk about it.

She's our boss, you know, and I wanna respect that.

For now, just know that E.H. was originally an outsider who came into the Outer Rim on her own.

Who, with E.H.?

I mean, it's not like we were strangers before.

We already knew she treated her people well, even back when she led Heavenly Ascension.

Once she actually became our boss, though, that's when we really understood why people liked her.

Yeah, yeah! Boss treats me well.

She does say I can't bite whatever I want, though.

There's a lot of things she tells me not to do.

I don't like that.

I wanna chomp stuff, but she says no.

That's because you keep eating weird things and getting stomachaches.

Oh, really? Hehehe.

Then I like Boss! She's nice to me!

Heh, you'd think so, right?

I did too, so when E.H. first became our boss, I just flat out asked her.

And then...

What a surprise... You're *the* E.H., and now you're here to lead Exotic.

...

Did you volunteer for it?

Yeah.

Really?

But we stabbed you in the back...

Are you really okay working with us?

Yeah.

Wow... Very impressive.

Oh, unless you're here to try and reform us former criminals...

Is that it?

Of course not.

My hands aren't clean, either.

Still, you're different from us. You had clear convictions.

Ideals and intentions don't make a mistake any less wrong.

I've no intention of lecturing you two, as though I'm somehow innocent.

I joined Exotic because this squad is the only one operating in the Outer Rim,

and I figured I can protect this place.

I have no resentment toward you, and no desire for revenge.

We can't change what happened, and now we're all paying our own price.

That's all there is to it.

...

Haha! I had no idea you're the type who makes life harder than it needs to be.

Not that I mind, hehe. Honey's a straight arrow too. You remind me of him in that way.

Okay then.

I look forward to working with you... Boss.

Hehehe! Me too, Boss!

Likewise.

And that was that.

Do you get it now? Haha. She's got a good heart.

Despite everything we did to her...

...

That's why I don't think she's trying to rebuild Heavenly Ascension.

I realize you might not believe all that because it's coming from me,

but I do hope you'll hear her out, at least once.

That's the kind Honey I know.

Let's get going, hehe. We're almost there.

Ugh... *Cough* I'll never get used to this dust.

*Cough, cough* I hate this place... It makes my nose and throat hurt.

Then do you want to wait near the entrance? It shouldn't be as bad there.

Okay!

Yeah, that's right.

See that wall?

Yeah. She said it was a message meant for her.

It's probably from someone who resents her for breaking up Heavenly Ascension.

Yeah.

Given that she was strong enough to hunt down Nikkes even when she was human,

I have a hard time imagining something happening to her,

but when people harbor a grudge, you never know what'll happen.

All right.

Jackal, it's time to stop playing out there. We need to see if we can find any signs that the boss was here.

Aw, man, inside there? My nose is clogged from all that dust, and my throat hurts.

Then just use your eyes.

Oh, right!

Okay, hehe! I'll help find Boss!

*Cough, cough* Ugh... There's nothing here.

Maybe she didn't come back?

Agh... Viper, my nose really hurts. I can't take it anymore...

Yeah, we can stop.

For now, let's step outside, Honey.

Staying in here can't be good for you.

Hurry! Hurry, let's go! Viper! Commander! Hurry!

Okay, okay. We're coming.

Hm? What's wrong? Something catch your attention?

What the?! Honey!

Huh...? You're not Viper or Jackal?

Hngh!

So much... blood...!

Come on, wake up!

Do you recognize me?

Try not to move.

It looks like you hurt your head.

You did? By who?

I see...

You shouldn't push yourself.

You lost a lot of blood.

The wound looks pretty bad.

...

Mind if I take a look at the wound?

Yeah.

All right.

!!

It's... completely healed.

Judging from all the blood, I'm sure it was a serious injury, and yet...

... Nothing.

...

Thankfully, it doesn't look like you sustained any other injuries.

Still, just because the outside's healed doesn't mean you don't have any internal injuries.

Head injuries shouldn't be taken lightly. Let's rest here for a while before we get moving.

What are you doing here anyway?

Me?

Oh... That...

Whether I'm "connected"?

... You came to check whether I'm behind all this.

... I see.

It makes sense for them to distrust me.

To them, I'm sure I'm just a criminal who switched sides to survive.

And now they want Ingrid to look into it.

Then she asked you to investigate,

and to determine for yourself whether I'm behind this.

Not fit, huh...? Yeah, I could see her saying that.

I'm sorry.

You got dragged into this because of me.

The fact is... I am connected to this.

The one writing all these things everywhere, as if Heavenly Ascension is rising again, is sending me a message.

He resents me for what I did, and considers me a traitor.

The fact is, I did put an end to Heavenly Ascension, so it's not like I don't understand where he's coming from.

Yeah, I did.

We agreed to meet, but when I arrived, I was knocked out with sleeping gas.

He's most likely the one who knocked you out as well.

I doubt he expected you to be looking for me,

so he must've panicked when he saw you.

I figured...

After hitting you, he must've realized you're connected to the Central Government.

He probably put you in here with me, figuring that if we die together, suspicion would naturally fall on me.

Whatever the reason, I'm really sorry for you got caught up in all this.

Still, my telling you all this doesn't prove whether I really put an end to Heavenly Ascension or not.

... Ask me anything. I'll answer.

!!

Why... would you want to know that?

...

Judge what? Me?

...

All right.

You've been dragged into this mess. The least you deserve is to hear the full story.

... It goes back pretty far, though.

Do you know what my name used to be?

Huh?

Hmm... I guess that shouldn't be a surprise.

When I decided to abandon my real name, I chose E.H. as shorthand for "enter heaven," the meaning behind Heavenly Ascension.

But before that, my name was Elysion Harper.

That's right.

Elysion Harper... That was my name until I chose to cast it aside.

Yes. That Elysion.

It was a name that came with a lot of weight.

Having that name meant I was the next CEO. In other words, I was the heir to Elysion.

Half-sisters. We share the same mother.

I'm the younger one.

Our mother was the former CEO of Elysion.

... Yeah, I guess.

Honestly, I didn't realize she still thought that way...

What kind of company do you think Elysion is?

Tactics... Yeah, Ingrid does like that word.

Anyway, you're right. It's an arms manufacturer that focuses on tactical excellence.

But that wasn't always the company's top priority.

I... can't say I've ever heard it described like that.

Now that I think about it, though, you might be right. A lot of Elysion Nikkes work in public service.

At any rate, that wasn't ever the company's top priority.

In the past, Elysion pursued only one thing: power.

Yeah. More precisely, the power of humanity.

When the Raptures attacked, humans abandoned the surface and fled to the Ark.

My mother believed that, in order to avoid extinction,

only the strong must survive, so that humanity could grow stronger and evolve.

That's what she used to say, at least.

That's right. Ingrid believes humanity must use technology to defeat the Raptures,

but she's not so fixated on the sole pursuit of strength.

Mother was different. She pursued strength to the point of obsession.

That's why she wanted the strongest of her children to be her successor.

Ingrid and I were constantly tested and compared.

I came out on top, which is how I became the heir,

and the reason I was given the name of Elysion.

If it weren't for a certain incident, I would've inherited Elysion as planned.

Did you know that Elysion built the Outer Rim barrier?

Of course, it was the Central Government's proposal that initiated the process, but Elysion spearheaded the construction.

Mother had long believed that the weak were meant to be culled,

and felt that garbage should be kept separate from human habitats,

so she naturally welcomed the proposal.

She knew people were living there in secret.

She used to say they lacked gratitude for being allowed to live in the Ark,

instead squandering their lives on gambling and pleasure. She called them garbage.

At the time, I really thought the people in the Outer Rim were all like that.

But then, during the final inspection of the wall,

I was sent to the Outer Rim in my mother's place, since I was the heir and all.

That's when I learned for myself.

The Outer Rim wasn't a mere trash dump.

Just like the Ark, there were people living there... Real people, not "garbage."

Hey...!

What're you doing?!

Huh?

Wh-what's wrong...?

It sparkles... and is pretty...

You were going to light a dynamite fuse because it's pretty?

We wanted to make light. Everyone says there's no light here.

Y-yeah! We played around with fire on that mountain.

The light was really pretty...

We just wanted to see it one more time.

Is that not allowed...?

It's...

What're kids like you doing here in the first place? Where are your parents? How did you even...

What do you mean? This is our home.

This is your... home?

Mom's here too. She's inside over there...

I think...

...

Um... Are we really not allowed to light a fire here?

I'd really like to see more pretty lights...

... No, it's not allowed.

You could get hurt if you're not careful.

We could?

Use this instead.

Huh?

!!

Woooow!

These are the only things you should be lighting, okay?

Hehe, okay!

That's when the thought hit me.

People live here. I can't just ignore that.

"Proposal for Improving the Living Conditions of Outer Rim Residents..."

...

I sent you on such an important assignment so you could learn about what being my successor entails.

But now it looks like you came back more foolish than when you left.

Who are the "residents" of the Outer Rim? There aren't any humans there, last I checked.

Mother...

That entire place is filled with garbage, and nothing else.

After being granted the privilege of escaping the surface and seeking refuge underground,

they chose to hole themselves up in that dump. That makes them garbage.

If you really view those things as people, then that tells me all I need to know about how poor your judgment is.

There are children who were born there who aren't like that.

It may be true that the adults who went there were weak,

and made foolish decisions, as you say,

but those children never had a choice...!

That doesn't matter.

Being born in a dump still makes them garbage.

What kind of logic is that?!

If their lives are meant to be anything more than that,

then they'll find a way to survive, to get stronger, and to make it out of there.

If they can't, it simply means they were born weak, and they will die weak.

That is the law of nature.

I've said it many times before.

Humanity as a whole must become strong.

Only by casting aside the weak and strengthening ourselves...

... can we survive in this world where inhuman monsters run rampant.

Have you really not learned that yet?

Still, they're just children...!

If you really can't understand,

you aren't qualified to be the heir of Elysion.

...

Don't become weak, Harper.

The heir of the great Elysion must not be swayed by pity for the weak.

Be clear in what you keep and what you cast away.

For the sake of a stronger human race, the weak must be discarded.

Otherwise, humanity will never grow stronger.

It is only through strength that humans can avoid falling behind in this inverted ecosystem,

and accomplish the great feat of reclaiming the surface.

... Okay.

It was then that a thought came to my mind.

If we only pursue strength in an attempt to avoid extinction,

and in the process we discard our humanity,

can we really still be regarded as human?

When that thought hit me, I couldn't take it any longer.

For days on end, I kept asking myself, "What is true strength?"

And then finally, I came to a conclusion.

If being Elysion's heir meant I wasn't allowed to think like that,

then I would give up my position.

Harper!

... Ingrid.

Are you really leaving?

Things just turned out this way. Sorry.

Looks like we won't be getting tested together anymore.

And Mother's okay with it?

... No.

She was angry.

She called me pathetic, and wouldn't let me take anything with me, saying maybe I'd get the sense knocked into me and come back.

I've got nothing, aside from these weapons.

... Do you really want to save that place that badly?

Yeah.

I'm going to turn the Outer Rim into a place where people can live like human beings,

and then I'm going to show the entire world.

I'll prove that there are real people living there, in the place everyone else calls a dump,

and that they can no longer ignore them.

And to Mother,

I'll prove that the strength that humanity actually needs to pursue...

... doesn't come from some extreme version of survival of the fittest,

but that the strong need to help the weak, and give them the chance to get stronger so that everyone can grow together,

and that it's only by retaining our humanity that we can truly become strong.

That's the strength of humanity that I'm after,

and what I want to prove to everyone.

... Things may not go the way you want.

I'm not trying to say that everything Mother said was right,

but there are definitely those who've given up and only take from others rather than making an effort themselves.

If you start preaching your ideals to such people, they might take advantage of you.

There will be those who learn you came from the Ark and that you were Elysion's heir,

and, out of jealousy, they'll threaten you and try to use violence.

You won't be able to rest for even a second.

And yet, in spite of all that, you still want to hold onto your ideals...?

Well...

When it comes to violence, unless they're Nikkes armed like soldiers in the Surface Reclamation Wars,

they'll surely be weaker than you, so I think I'll be fine.

You idiot. You can't let your guard down!

No matter how strong you are, you're bound to fall if you get careless.

I know.

That's a valuable lesson Mother hammered into us as children.

Look, I know what you're trying to say.

The Outer Rim will be dangerous.

I realize not everyone there will be good like the children I saw.

But even so, I refuse to give up.

Harper...

Unfortunately, that means I won't be able to help you...

I know you wanted us to work together on your plan to make humans and Nikkes stronger through technology and tactics.

Still, I'll be looking forward to watching you from afar as you create Elysion's finest forces...

The Absolute Squad, who will bring unmatched tactics to any fight,

and the Extrinsic Squad, who will protect others from berserk Nikkes.

...

... All right.

I'm really hoping you prove to Mother that you're right.

Let's both succeed at what we're trying to do, wherever we may be.

Take care of yourself.

You too.

Yeah.

If I wanted to change the Outer Rim,

I figured I had to live here myself.

And I'll tell you, I was surprised at what troubled me the most while living here.

It wasn't the thugs picking fights because I was an outsider,

or living in a house without a ceiling, which I'd never experienced before,

nor was it the thieves that tried to enter in whenever I closed my eyes.

It was the fact that there was no light, just like those children had said.

Aside from the faint glow of the Dome of Eternity seeping in from beyond the massive barrier,

there was no light in the Outer Rim.

So I decided to change that first.

When I began,

I noticed there were a bunch of wires everywhere that didn't seem to be used for anything.

They were capable of drawing power, though, so getting electricity wasn't difficult.

The challenge was finding someone in the Outer Rim who'd done electrical work before.

I managed to finally find someone after a long search,

and we began building streetlights together.

We gathered bulbs from the landfill that could still be used,

and installed them one by one.

Wow! It's so bright!

What is this? It's so pretty!

What's the big deal?

Why are you making such a fuss over a few light bulbs? They're too bright, I say.

Why're you even trying to lighten up this landfill, anyway?

Your eyes will get used to the brightness.

This may be the Outer Rim,

but we're still human beings, and we deserve to live in the light.

Don't we?

Well... I suppose that's true.

I think we need to start trying to live more like people.

After all, we're humans, even if we may not live in the Ark.

...

After that,

I installed lights along what was considered the main street.

Gradually, people began gathering under the light.

And then eventually...

Boss!

Boss!

Boss!

Boss!

Boss!

Boss!

... at some point,

people began calling me "Boss." And that wasn't all.

"I want to live somewhere with more light."

"I want to see a brighter world."

"I want to feel the world beyond the partition."

They started saying these kinds of things to me.

I figured that since I was the one who brought these people together, I had to respond to them.

So I shouted.

Let us head toward heaven!

Let us prove to the world that we are alive,

and show them that we are people!

One day, we shall cross that partition into a world overflowing with light.

Let us ascend back into heaven!

From that moment on, we took the name Heavenly Ascension.

...

... You're right.

That wasn't how we operated in the beginning.

At first, we were almost like a neighborhood watch group, just trying to make the Outer Rim a better place to live.

We made people in the Outer Rim get jobs. It could be any kind of work, even the darker kind.

No matter what it was, we made a rule that if you worked, you received compensation.

Some gangs liked us and others hated us,

but we approached all the established crime bosses the same,

trying to settle matters by whatever means possible and then form tacit alliances with them.

That's how we came to know Underworld Queen.

We made an agreement with them to protect one another, and that became our greatest source of strength at the time.

Once word spread that they were backing us,

smaller gangs fell in line a bit more,

and they started protecting homes for Outer Rim residents in exchange for payment.

Slowly but surely, the Outer Rim gradually stabilized...

And that's when people started raising their voices.

They said the time had finally come for us to speak with the Ark.

We may have still been living in a landfill, but at least we were living like humans,

and they said it was time we showed the Ark that.

So... we tried.

We secretly crossed the partition, put up posters,

and shouted slogans.

The Outer Rim isn't a landfill.

There are many people who live there.

Right now, there are many who are living amidst garbage without ever seeing a single ray of light.

Your attention can bring light to the people of the Outer Rim.

It can bring a new future to the children growing up there.

Bring light to the Outer Rim!

Bring light to the Outlaws!

We focused on raising our voices.

Not back then.

It wasn't as difficult as it is now for Outlaws to enter the Ark.

Security wasn't as tight.

Also, Outlaws weren't considered a threat back then.

But...

that also means there was no one was willing to listen.

Right now, there are many who are living amidst garbage without ever seeing a single ray of light!

Your attention can bring light to the people of the Outer Rim!

Boss! Are you okay?!

Agh...

I don't know what you're goin' on about, but shut it!

I can't stand the noise.

Verbal and physical abuse felt almost preferable to nothing.

It at least meant they were listening.

The real problem was how the majority of people were so indifferent.

Everyone pretended not to hear, just staring at their phones as they walked past.

What is she doing in the middle of the street...?

Excuse me...

Oh no... I made eye contact...

...

It felt like I was shouting into the void.

And it wasn't just me. I'm sure everyone who was there with me felt the same.

We decided to change our strategy and sent petitions directly to the Central Government.

After we sent dozens, even hundreds of them...

they finally agreed to arrange a meeting.

We were hopeful that we were finally getting one step closer to what we wanted.

But...

How come no one's here? It's been six hours.

D-did we get the date wrong?

... No.

This is the right date.

...

After that happened several times,

we got the message.

No matter how much we petitioned them, the Central Government would not meet us.

No matter how much we shouted, the Ark would not listen.

We grew more and more exhausted, until...

a certain someone proposed something.

If they refuse to listen to us,

why don't we make it so that they have no choice but to hear us out?

We'll put on a grand fireworks show,

one they can't possibly ignore.

Yeah.

It was Crow.

Yeah.

I don't know how she joined or who vouched for her.

All I remember is hearing she was born in the Outer Rim.

At first, she was quiet, diligent, and devoted.

She patrolled the Outer Rim with us,

and went to the Ark with us to demand better rights.

She went without hesitation to places other members avoided,

and withstood all the physical and verbal abuse, and even the indifference.

The reason I thought of her as a comrade, despite our philosophical differences,

was because I saw how devoted she was then.

But, at some point...

she stopped being quiet and started speaking up, raising her voice,

and expanding her influence.

While I was away from the Outer Rim to meet with the Central Government,

she built up a small faction inside Heavenly Ascension. That's how much influence she'd gotten.

You want to resort to... terrorism?

Are you out of your mind?!

Whoa, whoa. Calm down.

Why're you getting so worked up?

Terrorism's a scary word. Don't call it that.

Since the Ark is so bright that the people there can't seem to see those of us who're living in darkness,

I'm just saying we should light off some fireworks to help them see better.

Oh, don't try to make it sound harmless by calling it "fireworks."

Your plan is practically the definition of terrorism.

You want to sneak bombs into key Central Government facilities and detonate them!

A ton of people in the Ark would die. It would be a castrophe.

Why should we care?

Let the bigwigs in the Ark deal with all that.

Do you think anyone in the Ark cares about us? About how many die of sickness,

or how many children are going blind because there's no light,

or how many are killed by explosives that got mixed in with the trash?

We screamed our lungs out, but they didn't care one bit. It's the same thing.

Our people dying from sickness or accidents isn't the same as outright murder!

And unlike us, the Ark has a super high-performance AI managing everything.

C'mon, Boss. You've lived there before.

You don't have to pretend like you haven't.

We all know you came from the Ark.

You...

How dare you accuse Boss of being from the Ark!

Do you have any idea what she's done for the Outer Rim?

Oh, of course I do.

I'm well aware of how hard our dear boss has worked for the Outer Rim,

and how much has changed since she came here.

How could I not?

You're a good person, Boss.

Even I know that.

I doubt there's a single person in the Outer Rim who hasn't benefited from your efforts.

...

We know how hard you've tried.

That's why we've all followed you this whole time, including me.

That'd never happen with anyone else.

You threw everything away and came to the Outer Rim with nothing,

then lived alongside us for years,

and brought light to this dump that had been covered in darkness.

But... what resulted from that?

No one listens to us.

No one remembers us.

Why?

Because it isn't sensational enough.

...

That's the thing about people in the Ark.

Their lives are so peaceful, and they've had so much handed to them since birth,

that you can ask them as sweetly and kindly as you want, even raise your voice,

and they won't so much as spare you a glance.

If it isn't sensational, they dismiss it as boring and couldn't care less.

So...

So what? What are you trying to say?

And how does this all lead to us becoming terrorists?

Terrorists? Didn't I say not to use scary words like that?

We can still do what you want, Boss, and go into the Ark to tell them what we think.

All I'm saying is we add a little spice to our words,

that we do it the Outlaw way.

We make it a game to get them more involved.

If they find the bombs before they go off, the Ark wins.

If they don't and the bombs go off first, we win.

But...

seeing how they already have so much,

and we have so little,

it's only fair that we apply just a tiny handicap to them:

we'll know the entire plan, but they won't.

Once they get engrossed in this little game of ours,

they'll finally start listening to what we have to say.

I guarantee it.

So...

... just this once, I'd like us to do things my way.

What do you say?

Boss.

...

The looks in her eyes told me that she'd go through with it, even if it meant having to go through me.

She spoke in a way to rile others up,

highlighting how "we" were together in this,

and sugar-coating her words to downplay the crime and make it feel justified.

...

...

Crow was an agitator, and a charismatic one at that.

The others were starting to agree with more and more of what she said.

... And that's when I realized something.

Boss.

What we need isn't to throw a tantrum like timid children.

We need a revolution.

One with fire and blood, because the truth is, those things can't be avoided if we're gonna get what we want.

But that'll never happen if we do things your way, will it?

That's why...

I'm gonna do it instead.

... I realized I had to put a stop to it.

No.

I can't allow that.

What you said it right.

My way is peaceful and uneventful. It's never going to stir up the people of the Ark.

I understand wanting to give them a shock.

People might actually remember our name if we do.

But,

killing people is a completely different story.

All we'd be doing is giving them the go-ahead to shoot every one of us... And not just us, but everyone in the Outer Rim.

Like you said, we have nothing compared to them.

That goes for firepower too.

... True.

If they get serious and come here for blood,

we'd be lucky to escape, never mind defend ourselves.

It wouldn't even be a fight.

Of course, we've all snuck into the Ark before, so we might be able to flee there,

but what about everyone else in the Outer Rim?

The children.

The sick.

The elderly.

Who's going to protect them?

...

And it's not just the Central Government.

The reason we were able to make a pact with Underworld Queen...

wasn't because we were so determined that we'd shed blood for our cause,

but rather because we were protesting peacefully for our rights.

If we do things your way, that pact would collapse.

All the order that we've spent years establishing would collapse.

Order, huh...?

That's why I'll never approve of your plan.

It's not just for our sake, but for everyone's.

Huh...

For everyone's sake...

You say you're afraid the Central Government will set their sights on all Outlaws,

but that's easy enough to solve.

We just change what we've been shouting this whole time.

What do you mean?

We stop saying, "Bring light to the Outer Rim, bring light to the Outlaws..."

Instead, we make sure they know it's us.

"Light is our right. Heavenly Ascension."

We change our slogan.

!!

Then the government won't target everyone in the Outer Rim,

but only Heavenly Ascension, right?

That's...

No...? Well, you're the boss!

I get what you're worried about.

Pretend I didn't say anything.

... Thanks for understanding.

Like I said... you're the boss.

But,

there is one thing you should know.

Not everyone's like you. They don't all worry about the other people in the Outer Rim.

And they're not all that patient, either.

*Sigh...*

She seems dangerous... Shouldn't we keep an eye on her?

...

... Yes. Please do.

I had a gut feeling, though,

that her plan couldn't be stopped.

From that day on, Heavenly Ascension split into two factions:

the moderates who wanted to raise their voices without straying too far from the old way,

and the hard-liners who said the old way would never work, and that extreme measures were required.

Naturally, Crow led the hard-liners.

At the time, both sides thankfully understood one other, even if they disagreed on which method to use.

We at least knew why everyone chose the way they did,

and the hard-liners didn't cross the line.

But... as I feared, the hard-liners started kept getting more and more extreme.

It didn't matter matter how much I tried to restrain them or persuade them otherwise.

And before long, that ominous feeling I had was made a reality.

The terrorist attack she had brought me that day was carried out in secret.

... They only changed the location.

We've just received news of a terrible tragedy.

A large-scale terrorist bombing has occurred on an AFX train operated by Elysion.

The incident took place as the train was entering the station platform.

The explosion, which came from within the passenger cars, not only destroyed the train, but also caused the station structure to collapse, resulting in a terrible tragedy.

The Central Government has deployed numerous Nikkes to the site to conduct rescue operations,

but due to the extent of the collapse, the number of casualties continues to rise.

Meanwhile, according to the testimony of one a survivor,

a passenger on the train stood up, pulled out a detonator, and shouted the following just before activating it.

Yeah...

The worst terrorist attack in the Ark's history was set in motion by Crow...

"Light is our right! Heavenly Ascension!"

... using her slogan.

Just as Crow predicted, after the AFX Incident,

the name Heavenly Ascension spread across the entire Ark.

The things we'd shouted, which no one ever listened to, finally spread everywhere.

Ark citizens begin to recognize that people live in the Outer Rim.

As soon as public opinion started to deem the Central Government's initial response as inadequate,

the government got in touch with us, saying they wanted to enter into negotiations.

They said they would listen to everything we had to say.

Of course, given how much death and destruction the attack had caused, we were on high alert,

but the government assured us they were aware that only a small number of us were behind it,

and that we could bring as many armed guards as we wanted if we were uneasy.

Even still, I hesitated. The one who ultimately convinced me was...

my mother.

"I'll hear you out. Come if you want to clean up this mess."

That was the message I got from her.

So we decided to arm ourselves and head over.

We figured that the attack had already happened, and sitting around wasn't going to change anything.

How do you think it went?

Why do you think that?

... Bingo.

It didn't end well.

Just as we suspected, the meeting was a trap.

A trap laid by my mother...

When we made it to the conference room,

it wasn't people in there who were waiting there for us...

It was mass-produced Nikkes, armed with Elysion's latest weapons.

The moment the meeting room door opened,

they started firing, before we even had a chance to react.

In that storm of bullets,

I watched as my comrades threw themselves in front of me.

Stop! Let me go! I should be in there... I should be dying with them...!

Get it together, Boss!

You have to live. That's the only way their deaths will mean anything!

One of them hoisted me onto his back and jumped out the window. That's how I survived.

Everyone who went to that meeting that day died,

everyone except me, and the man who jumped out the window with me.

After that, nothing could stem the tide.

Not only did the majority of moderates defect to the hard-liners,

but remaining a moderate became grounds for being labeled a traitor.

The resentment of being treated like garbage for so long,

the betrayal from being deceived into approaching the negotiation table,

the desire for revenge on behalf of all the comrades we'd lost...

You take all those negative emotions,

and combine them with the precedent that Crow had set,

and people began committing terrorist attacks all across the Ark.

After that... there was nothing I could do.

I know it all started with me,

that I'm the one who pulled the trigger when I said we'd lead the Outer Rim toward the light,

but once that bullet was fired, it flew out of my control.

Regardless of what I'd wanted, I was suddenly the leader of a terrorist organization.

A leader who survived by hiding behind the bodies of her comrades...

... No.

She assumed full responsibility for failing to kill me, the head of Heavenly Ascension,

and stepped down as Elysion's CEO.

That's why Ingrid had the CEO mantle thrust upon her so abruptly.

As for me... I cast off the name of Elysion Harper, and from that day forward, lived only as E.H.

Having become a powerless leader, incapable of doing anything,

I wasn't even able to make decisions after that.

All I could do...

was try to persuade them to carry out attacks that didn't kill anyone.

That's pretty much how things were...

... until the attack on the Ark that blew a hole in the Dome of Eternity.

That's everything I can tell you.

Does that answer your question?

No need to thank me.

... This is the first time I've been able to talk so freely to someone.

...

I really appreciate you listening.

Whatever decision you make, I'll accept it.

We've been in here a while. I'll try and find us a way out.

You wait here for a sec...

Yeah?

Regret what?

!!

...

I...

!!

It came from over there, right?

... Stay here.

I'll go check.

Honey... can... hear...?

Viper?

Hey! ... smell... Boss... Comman...!

Viper! Jackal! Over here!

Huh?! Sounds... them!

Bossss! Commaaander!

Get back...!

!!

Get down!

There you are ♡

Is everyone okay?

*Cough...* You're later than I expected.

When I saw the tracker,

I figured you'd come right away.

Sorry about that. This place is used for cold storage, so the temperature weakened the signal.

Plus, we had to make a short pit stop somewhere.

Where?

Yep!

I guess they figured this was the best place to jam any possible tracking signals.

Check the inside of your sleeve.

When you gave me that little boost earlier, remember?

Hehe... Now, as a sign of our trust and commitment,

how about a handshake?

Hehe, remember now?

We were escorting you through the Outer Rim. We had to take certain precautions.

And what do you know, it helped us find you!

I know I technically failed to protect you as I'd promised,

but... I did come and save you, so... we're good, right?

Good? I don't really get what you mean, but Commander is good!

Hehe, don't mention it!

Oh, and by the way, we caught the guy who did this.

You did?

Yeah, that pit stop I mentioned earlier.

We went and caught him.

He'd actually been upstairs, eavesdropping on us.

We subdued him, though. Wanna see?

Yeah...

Are you sure? It might be dangerous. Maybe you should wait outside with Jackal.

... Sure.

Then let's go together.

Viper, can you remove the gag?

Hm... Yeah, okay.

Hmph... What're you even doing that for? You should just kill me.

It's been a while...

Mellen.

You've got a good memory for a traitor.

I didn't know you were still alive.

Last time I looked for you, I couldn't find you anywhere, so I thought you were dead.

Why would I show my face to a Central Government lapdog?

You'd only try and get me to quit Heavenly Ascension anyway.

Why did you do this?

Because I resent you.

I couldn't believe you'd become a government lapdog! You were our boss!

...

Why didn't you die back then?

During the attack on the Ark, you should've just let yourself get blown up along with that surface elevator!

...

Yeah, there's nothing to hear that you haven't already heard.

... It's fine.

If you'd just died...!

If you'd died without becoming a Nikke...!

Then I wouldn't feel so betrayed!

... Someone had to take responsibility.

You lived through it too.

You saw for yourself the horror we inflicted in the name of terrorism.

B-but...!

No matter how it starts,

no matter who incites it,

no matter what the justification,

as soon as the wrong methods are used, the message loses all meaning.

A name can be branded into history, but our cause lost all its legitimacy.

We dressed them up under the name of a human rights movement, but all those terrorist attacks...

were nothing more than violent crimes.

Crimes that brought death and destruction on a whole lot of innocent people.

...

We can realize that we were wrong and regret it all we want, but there's no changing the wrongs we committed.

It doesn't ease the pain that the victims suffered.

There needs to be someone who has to atone,

because pain and sin don't ever go away.

All those crimes we committed were in the name of Heavenly Ascension,

so I thought it was only right that I take responsibility for them.

Atone, huh...?

All by yourself?

Yeah... I'm the one who started it all.

!!

I'm the one who founded Heavenly Ascension, who failed to stop Crow and the hard-liners,

and who ultimately decided to go to that meeting where so many of our people died.

It was all me.

...

I realized that since I'm the one who started all this, I should be the one to end it.

But by the time I made that decision, my body was already dying.

That's the reason I became a Nikke.

I wanted to have more time to atone for what we did.

...

I think you should move on, too...

In that case... let me ask you one last question.

In your entire life,

has there ever been a time, even just once, when you regretted coming to the Outer Rim,

instead of taking over Elysion?

!!

Did you... hear us talking?

Just answer the question. Do you regret it?

I...

I have more regrets than I can count,

but...

coming to the Outer Rim has never been one of them. I swear it.

!!

...

You should leave Heavenly Ascension.

Admit that what we did was wrong,

and cast off your past life.

That's the price you have to pay.

...

No.

Mellen...

You're a traitor and a hypocrite...!

I'll carry my share of sin with me.

What?

Another bomb?!

Where was he hiding the detonator?!

We'll never be making it to heaven anyway,

so I'll see you in hell along with the others, Boss.

Mellen!

Light is our right! Heavenly Ascension!

...

Sorry to keep you all waiting.

Let's get going. I'll take you outside.

...

...

Viper? Boss? Commander?

What's wrong? Why's everyone so quiet?

Are you hungry or something?

Hehe! I'm hungry too! Commander, wanna eat before we go?

For goodness' sake, Jackal!

I'll buy you some food later, so just wait for now, okay?

Huh? Yeah, su...

Hm?

What is it? Is there something there?

It smells like gunpowder!

Boss! Is this dangerous?

That's...

A sparkler.

A sparkly? Do you blow it up?

It's a sparkler.

You light it like this...

... and it shines like this.

Wow! That's so pretty!

Commander! Viper! Look! It's so pretty!

Haha, yeah, you're right. It's very pretty!

I never thought I'd see one of these in the Outer Rim.

...

Yeah... It really is pretty.

These are the only fireworks you should be lighting...

Hehehe!

I wanna hold one too! I wanna light it!

Wait! Jackal! Lighting that many is dangerous!

... Commander.

If I ever get... blinded again while chasing after the light,

and end up setting fire to something that isn't meant to burn...

will you stop me, no matter what it takes?

I'm sorry. That's a lot to ask...

...!!

... That's more than enough.

I heard you ran into some trouble in the Outer Rim.

How's your injury?

... I see.

Can you tell me what happened?

Thanks for the report.

E.H. told you about her past,

and there really was someone still in Heavenly Ascension, but he took his own life...

... I see.

I suppose now you understand why I said I wasn't fit to judge.

Well, I think it's safe to say you've heard just about everything at this point,

so...

now that you have all the information,

what do you think of E.H.?

I see.

So you consider her a victim as well?

... Is that so?

I see.

So you believe what she's done cannot be excused in any way?

... Is that so?

Understood.

I'll be sure to include your thoughts in the report that I send to headquarters.

... All right. Great work.

Commander.

I'm going to do something...

... that can only be done here, and only now. It will be the first time, and also the last.

Once you leave this room, you are to forget it.

Do you understand?

Thank you for listening to my sister's story.

That is all.

Now, leave and forget what just happened.

... For what?