GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE story · Event stories
LORD, FOR JUSTICE
15 scenes, 1,254 lines
1. Mission Failed
85 linesUndisclosed location in the Ark. Perilous Siege safe house.
...
K stares down with sunken eyes at the sentenced targets brought in earlier.
Two men and one woman have their arms and legs tightly bound and tape sealed over their mouths.
Scattered around them are various samples of a drug prevalent in the Ark referred to as Mist.
K peels the tape off one of the man's mouth.
*Strip*
*Gasp*! Please, don't kill me!
There must be some kind of misunderstanding!
*Bang*
*Clink* *Thud*
As the man's body hits the floor,
it is accompanied by the clink of a shell casing landing.
...
K removes the tape from the other man's mouth.
*Strip*
So this is how it ends? Getting used and then tossed to the wolves?
You don't have a clue, do you?
The Judges and Perilous Siege are way worse than us.
This statement causes K, who is aiming her weapon at the man's head, to pause.
At least we're honest about being dishonest.
But oh no, not you.
You prattle on about justice, as if there's anything righteous about this dirty work!
*Bang*
The bullet grazes the man's cheek, interrupting his seething tirade.
Shut up.
Get it over with, will you?
Just kill me already!
*Bang*
*Click*
Another casing drops.
*Thud*
The man collapses, his face frozen in contorted rage.
...
K looks down at the growing pool of blood with dead eyes.
N-no...!
The remaining woman who is still tied up watches with terror in her eyes.
...
After glancing her way, K pulls out a phone and dials a number.
Before there is even a ring, the line connects with a click.
Report.
... Request for stay of execution.
Stand by.
...
Denied.
Execute immediately.
...
Murmured voices can be heard on the other end.
A voice different from the previously monotonous tone is now coming from the phone; it is the voice of an elderly person.
K, are you listening?
That's right.
I believe this is the first time you've heard my voice,
and yet you still recognize me?
That's because you're the only one of the Upper Strata who still seems human.
I'll take that as a compliment.
However, I believe we have a misunderstanding to clear up.
...
The man's voice immediately drops all pretense of warmth and shifts to a cold and emotionless tone.
K can feel the hairs on her body stand on end.
The Judges are a committee. Everyone has an equal say and therefore all decisions are impartial.
However, the letters in our code names also stand for something.
To borrow the terminology you just used, one could say we're divided into the Upper and Lower Strata, yes.
So tell me, what do you think that means?
...
Remember what your name stands for.
Accept the consequences of the choice you made.
...
I'm waiting for a response.
... For the sake of a righteous judgment.
*Beep beep beep*
The call disconnects. K grips the phone tightly and clenches her jaw.
...
Having overheard the call, a look of resignation washes over the woman sitting in front of K.
...
Undisclosed location in the Ark. Perilous Siege safe house.
*Bang*
There's the sound of a single gunshot.
*Clink*
Then the echo of a shell casing rolling on the floor.
*Bang bang bang*
Then several more shots.
2. Residual Trace: A
58 lines*Zing*
It's that peculiar time of day
when the weariness of a full and busy day is intermingled
with the satisfaction of having spent your time well.
*Beep*
Here is today's breaking news.
Traces of illegal drug trafficking were found in an office in the Ark's western district.
The building in question was completely destroyed, leading the A.C.P.U. to suspect inter-organizational conflict...
Things out there are getting grim...
I absentmindedly watch the TV for a while, then get up to take a shower.
However...
...
I sense that someone is already in the bathroom.
In the past, this would have caused me to panic.
But that was then, and this is now!
I smile and open the door.
Oh, hi.
?!
K's voice seems dispirited, and I can see bloodstains on her face.
Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?
I rush over to check on her.
Urgh... take it easy. That hurts.
...
I'm not sensing K's usual abrasive energy.
First thing first, let's tend to these injuries.
And how do you intend on doing that?
I was going to call Mary or Pepper...
And notify the entire world about Perilous Siege and what we do?
...
Don't worry about me. I'm not badly hurt.
I just need to stay here for a moment...
and then... I'll be... fine...
K!
*Splash*
K's eyes close as she slumps over, and I rush over to catch her before she falls.
Let me get you into the other room.
I try to lift her...
Hnnrrgh!
but she's unexpectedly heavy.
*Splash*
Careful. I'm on a mission of... great consequence.
They outfit us with... special bodies for such missions.
They're completely different from those you pick up without a care
when you're out gallivanting with your Nikke girlfriends.
...
K curls up inside the tub.
Leave me be. I'll feel better soon, and then I'll be gone.
I'm sorry for making a mess of your bathroom...
*Thud*
I'm going to stay here until you feel better.
K stares blankly as I sit next to the tub.
After responding bluntly, she slowly closes her eyes.
3. Residual Trace: B
96 linesA while later, K has managed to clean herself up.
I then summon up every last ounce of strength I have and attempt to help move her.
Phew...
I-I'm fine... Just gotta catch my breath...
... Fine.
*Rustle*
After giving a perfunctory response, K turns her back to me.
... Commander.
Yes?
What do you mean?
...
On top of that, I have no recollection whatsoever of the past week.
The last thing I remember is formulating a plan to collect intel for a top-level mission.
The next thing I knew, I woke up inside the safe house, and everything in-between is a blank.
Do you remember how you got your injuries?
Like K said, the injuries do appear only to be surface-level cuts and scrapes.
It's hard to explain. It's like my body is refusing to move.
At any rate, that's the situation.
I also can't get in touch with any of the Upper Strata or D.
Do you think it could be...
I doubt it.
If they wanted me dead, I wouldn't be here right now.
The Judges aren't nearly that sloppy.
So what does it mean?
...
You don't seem so certain.
Do you really believe that?
...
I've got to proceed like usual.
Wrap things up, leave no loose ends, and deal with any aftermath if and when it comes.
Is that how you usually operate?
*Rustle*
Perhaps feeling a bit more energized from our conversation, K sits up on the bed.
Speaking of which...
Heading back to work?
Yeah, but I'm not so sure I want to get used to what's going on here...
*Knock knock*
Who is it?
Take a guess!
Just a moment.
Tell her to come in. She already knows everything.
All right.
Come in.
*Zing*
Hel... gah!
Arcana walks in with a beaming smile, then promptly spins around upon seeing K.
Er... Y-you two go ahead and have fun.
It's fine. Come on in.
Sorry, but...
I kinda hoped it'd be just the two of us being intimate, whispering sweet nothings to each other and all that stuff.
... It's not what you think.
After a while, Arcana finally calms down and explains why she came.
There was a break-in at the library?
The Forbidden Library, to be precise.
My room isn't the only entrance into that place, you see.
Normally, they're tightly sealed, but...
Arcana shows us a picture of a metal door that's been split open like a sheet of paper.
One of them ended up like this.
You call that a break-in?
I know. The word barely does it justice.
The other thing is that the alarm never went off.
I only discovered it when I didn't have anything else to d... I mean, when I was making my rounds.
...
...
K and I exchange a silent glance.
Let's go.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Yeah.
A break-in at the Forbidden Library, and the memories of a Perilous Siege member mysteriously vanishing?
There's no way it's all a coincidence.
Did you say you lost your memory?
I've got a great method that works for me whenever my memory gets wiped.
If you want, I could...
Keep it to yourself.
Oh... okay...
... Let's head to the library.
4. Intruder: A
87 linesArcana takes us to the scene of the crime.
...
A bulky iron door thicker than my body has been torn apart like a piece of cloth.
Is this passage normally unused?
I personally don't use it, no.
But others do?
During emergencies, yes.
Arcana glances over at K, who is examining the door.
You mean...
Yes. This passage is occasionally used by members of Perilous Siege. It's connected to the path that I usually take.
Neither I nor anyone else uses it often,
so we employ additional security measures to keep an eye on it.
Did you report it?
Yes, as soon as I saw it.
But for some reason, I haven't received any response yet.
I started wondering what I should do, and then I figured that since you're connected with this place as well...
That was smart of you. I'll ask the higher-ups myself... wait.
I suddenly remember K mentioning how she was unable to reach D.
*Ring*
... No answer.
Really? She always answers my calls.
... I don't think that's it.
Anyway, let's go inside.
Inside?
That's true, but...
Is there anything missing from the archive?
I checked the highly classified materials first,
and luckily, nothing is missing from those.
I didn't have time to look at the other materials.
Then we can look together.
Good idea. If we figure out what's gone missing or what's been damaged, that might clue us in as to who the intruder was.
*Krrrrk*
K pushes the iron door further open for us to go in.
Let's go.
*Step step*
The passage eventually intersects with the corridor leading to Arcana's room.
Upon arriving at the Forbidden Library's reading room, we commence our search.
Not long after that...
Well, that was less hassle than I thought it'd be.
This room holds the documents that are one level below the most highly classified materials. I've already checked them.
I see a wooden door which resembles the one I saw before leading to the room where the Goddess Squad records were housed.
On it, there is a sign that reads S-1452, along with a crude lock.
... It's open.
You're right...
The faint musty scent of old books wafts through the crack of the open door.
What kind of records are kept here?
What?!
...
Let's go inside.
Inside, the room is in complete disarray.
Arcana hastily begins picking up the books scattered on the floor.
Wh-what?!
Just as K said, some sections of the shelves are noticeably empty.
Do you have any idea what those missing books were about, Arcana?
They are?
...
Oh...
But I still remember some of the titles. Let me see...
Arcana examines the gaps in the shelves.
Looks like... They're mission records for two members of Perilous Siege.
...
So the Forbidden Library was broken into, and records related to Perilous Siege have gone missing.
Meanwhile, K has been injured and lost her memory, and D is completely M.I.A.
*Thud thud thud*!
What was that?
Is there some kind of construction going on? I heard they were expanding the Forbidden Library.
Yeah, but that's not set to start for a while.
Let's check it out.
We hurry out of the room to follow the continuous thudding sound.
5. Intruder: B
152 lines*Thud thud thud*!
As we run, the noise continues.
When we arrive at the main reading room of the Ark Library,
we find what seems to be the source of the noise.
Oh jeez, sorry about that!
Moran is desperately trying to straighten the bookshelves, which have fallen over like dominos.
Aw man, how am I gonna clean all this up...
Moran?
What are you doing here?
What's going on with your outfit?
Oh, well...
Moran looks around the wrecked reading room.
Moran looks down at her clothes.
What about it?
I've never seen you wear that before.
Oh, what I usually wear is the Peony Association traditional garb, but this is just casual wear.
... I don't deserve to wear the Peony Association uniform now.
...
...
A-anyway!
For this research that I'm doing,
it's important that people don't know that I'm from the Peony Association.
What kind of research would necessitate... oh.
...
Have you made any progress?
...
*Rustle*
Moran pulls out an envelope from her pocket.
What's this?
Mist.
...!
This is the room I use to slack... Er, I mean,
this is the room I use for brief breaks. Make yourselves comfortable.
*Click*
Arcana leads us to a small room connected to the librarian's desk, whereupon Moran, K, and I all sit down.
That's none of your business.
Moran stands up.
Sit down.
Don't tell me what to do.
You little...
Both of you, calm down.
Didn't Rosanna mention something before about Underworld Queen and Perilous Siege not getting along?
...
They say they punish evildoers, but everyone in the underworld knows the truth.
The only people who get a bullet to the head are those who get in the way.
Enough, both of you.
...
...
Moran. Can you tell us what you found?
We're in a bit of a tough situation now, and any information you have could be helpful.
Moran sits back down and pulls out a small notebook.
According to a recent lead,
I found out that Mist is being distributed again in the Ark.
I did everything I could to track down the suppliers,
but it was like they vanished into thin air.
...?
I'm telling the truth!
I hid myself out of sight and waited for them all to head into their hideout. Once they were inside, I raided the place immediately.
But when I did, no one was there.
Could there have been a secret passage of some kind?
I checked for that too.
I ran over that place with a fine-tooth comb and smashed everything, but didn't turn up anything.
Could it be...
Here is today's breaking news.
Traces of illegal drug trafficking were found in an office in the Ark's western district.
The building in question was completely destroyed, leading the A.C.P.U. to suspect inter-organizational conflict...
So that was you...
Huh? What was that?
Nothing.
So you came to the library to investigate further?
What?
But I don't know what happened.
I was chasing after three people; two men and a woman.
The two men disappeared, although I have no idea where, and only the woman was left.
Wait.
K, who had been listening silently until that point, interrupts Moran.
Two men and one woman, you said?
Urgh...
K clutches her head.
K?
Don't worry about it. Just tell me more about the three people you were tracking.
You said there's only one woman left?
... Yeah.
But something bad must have happened to her. She was totally out of it.
She kept rambling and saying someone killed her friends.
I was barely able to get a coherent sentence out of her, but finally managed to get a rough description of who killed them.
I wrote it down, and came to the library to try to find more information.
Why the library?
I'm sure the library has that kind of information.
... I'm not so sure about that.
What? I thought you could find anything you needed at a library.
...
Anyway, now that I met up with you guys, it doesn't matter.
Should I just tell you the description?
Please.
Ahem.
Moran clears her throat and flips through her notebook.
Female with long black hair. It wasn't possible to ascertain whether she was human or a Nikke.
Not much to go on.
Of course not.
Next, she had a gun with spikes.
A kind of pistol, or maybe a submachine gun. A gun, in any case.
...
Don't look at me like that. There are lots of other guns with spikes out there.
Is there any more? Keep going.
That's all I got from her.
Figures.
Oh, wait! There was one more thing. I just forgot to write it down.
Apparently the woman was talking to someone on the phone,
and said something about refusing to carry out an execution, and then accepting a choice.
A whole bunch of ominous stuff like that.
Then something about a righteous judgment, and... uh...
Some other stu... gah?!
What did you say?
K grabs Moran's shoulders and glares at her.
What did you just say?!
Wh-what's gotten into you?!
...
Moran, can we talk with that woman now?
Sure. I told her to go lie down for a while. I can go wake her up.
Let's go, quickly. Lead the way.
... Okay.
*Step step*
6. Justice: A
87 linesMoran takes us to the point near where the Outer Rim and Ark are partitioned.
This is it.
*Ding dong*
I ring the doorbell and wait for a moment, but there is no sign of anyone inside.
*Ding dong*
I ring the bell a second time, but nothing happens.
Could she have left and gone somewhere?
... Step aside for a moment.
Why?
Huh. I thought your brain was a useless lump, but you're pretty sharp.
Guess Underworld Queen isn't so bad for a bunch of lousy chumps.
Wow. I had no idea you were capable of complimenting someone.
Maybe you're a better person than I thought.
...
*Bang*
Moran easily breaks down the flimsy door and steps inside.
Soon after...
... Damn.
... All right.
!!
Lingering inside the room is a scent I've smelled a few times before; the pungent, metallic scent of blood.
Not only that...
...
She's dead.
The body of a woman lies on the floor.
I was holding myself back earlier, because it's you,
but this changes things.
Now I've gotten involved in this.
What in the world is going on?
I'm sorry. I didn't know when was the right time to fill you in.
I begin to explain everything to Moran;
from K losing her memory, to the Forbidden Library being infiltrated.
All the while, K silently examines the dead woman's body with sunken eyes.
I had no idea it was this serious.
I'm sorry for getting you mixed up in this. Now...
??
Moran closes her eyes for a few moments, then reopens them.
Fine. I'll help.
Are you sure?
What about Sixo?
It's okay. I'd hit a wall with that anyway.
Once I finish helping you and K,
you two can return the favor and lend me a hand.
Okay. Thanks, Moran.
No need to thank me. What are friends for?
Are you two done?
I hate to break up the lovefest, but perhaps you could spare a moment to look at this?
Sorry. I'm finished.
What is it?
... Look at this.
K points to a wound where the blood is slowly congealing.
Does this wound bring anything to mind?
While I haven't seen many corpses in my lifetime, this injury does seem familiar.
It's a gash, one which seems to have been caused by a knife or some type of heavy blade.
Like an axe, for example.
No way...
*Step*
Just then, footsteps echo behind us.
...
D...
Did you do this?
*Step step*
D doesn't answer and continues walking towards me.
Sensing the tension, Moran steps in front of me, but...
... Take this.
D hands me a phone and steps back.
A phone? Why would you...
*Riiiiing*
!!
...
As soon as I press the button, a cold and inorganic voice emerges from the speaker.
Commander.
Who is this?
VII.
...!
7. Justice: B
47 linesVII.
...!
The Judges...
D. Return to your mission.
...
D bites her lip and briefly glances over at K as she heads out of the room.
At the doorway, she stops short and stands beside me.
...
I have a mission for you, Commander.
It's something you're already quite familiar with, so no explanation will be necessary.
Wait. Before that...
I'm not taking questions.
Justice has no place for it.
What?
We Judges pass judgment.
We embody justice.
We are...
justice itself.
...
You must follow and respect this.
You are the Ark's salvation,
and humanity's as well.
You must become an infallible, unwavering symbol of righteousness.
All of your past verdicts were the foundation.
Those made in the future will be the harvest.
And this judgment
will be the turning point.
A watershed moment, an inflection point, a divergence.
The moment in which you realize the true meaning of justice.
...
So make your judgment, Commander.
Deny all falsehoods.
Eradicate evil.
Uphold justice.
That is your role and your duty.
It is your destiny.
The voice brims with more than mere conviction. It seethes with madness.
I only now realize that I haven't moved this entire time, and it's only with considerable effort that I can open my mouth to speak.
... Who is the target this time?
Who do you want me to pass judgment on?
...
In response to my question, VII lets out a sigh that seems both regretful, yet also self-satisfied.
The target this time...
VII indicates the target.
Is me.
8. The Key to Memory
49 lines*Tadadak*
Are you sure this is the right way?
...
K does not respond to Moran's question.
Hey! I said is this the right way?!
... Most likely, yes.
I have a rough idea of where the safe house is, so I'll take the lead.
... All right.
...
...
Watching K silently bite her lip reminds me of what just happened.
The target this time...
Is me.
What?
Judges are the embodiment of justice,
and so we must always be just.
But I have lost my way.
The righteous path which I tread has become one of evil.
My position can only be inhabited by one with an infallible sense of justice.
And so, I must be judged, and face judgment.
What in the hell is this?
You're telling me a Judge, one of the Upper Strata, is the target?
And they're the one putting a hit out on themselves?
What kind of insane...
You already know the answer to the question you're about to ask, K.
What?
You may know the answer, but you no longer have the privilege.
A puppet is not entitled to uphold justice.
Is that because K is a Nikke?
It's nothing so banal as that.
K has failed us.
She has forgotten her mission.
She has forsaken the name which was given to her.
She has failed time and time again,
and become little more than a hollow puppet.
*Clatter*
What's this?
A key?
K vacantly pulls out an old key from her coat.
That will tell you about the path you've walked.
It will reveal the truth and the facts.
It will reveal my beliefs, my will...
and my sense of justice.
K...
*Clatter*
...
K clenches tightly to the old key in her hand,
to which there is a tag attached which reads,
Top Secret Archive S-1452.
9. False Justice: A
88 lines*Click*
We arrive at the Perilous Siege safe house located within the Ark and open the door.
...
A panoply of books, which have clearly been taken from the Forbidden Library,
lie scattered around the safe house.
...
K doesn't so much as flinch at the sight.
It's as if she was expecting it... or already knew.
I think so.
I pick up one of the books.
*Flip*
Mission Code: K-53 / Declassified
Target: REDACTED
Assignment of Judgment regarding REDACTED.
REDACTED emerged as a major political figure amidst the chaos that spread during the evacuation to the Ark.
He initially appeared upright and honest,
but he is now believed to have become intoxicated by power, and is plotting to overthrow the Central Government.
Refer to attached evidence and conduct further investigation before delivering judgment.
For humankind. May justice prevail.
This must have been K's mission.
*Flip*
Mission Code: D-77 / Declassified
Target: Bright Squad
Assignment: Gather intel on Bright Squad.
Frequent injuries and mission delays have been reported within the squad.
Intel suggests the squad leader could be deliberately sabotaging missions.
Infiltrate their ranks, go undercover on a mission to the surface, and gather intel.
If the squad leader is determined to have been corrupted or otherwise overtaken, preauthorization for immediate disposal is granted.
If not, focus on intelligence gathering.
For humankind. May justice prevail.
D...
*Flip*
More and more similar entries appear in the books.
I open the book Moran handed over to me.
*Flip*
Mission Code: VII-1 / Declassified
Proposal for upholding justice within the Ark and across humanity as a whole.
Within the insular society of the Ark, the activities of Perilous Siege proved remarkably effective.
All traces of evil within the Ark were soon eradicated.
However,
evil is the darker side of the coin which must exist for justice to persist.
Therefore, a proposal to maintain justice and oversee Perilous Siege has been drafted,
which can be seen below:
...!
1. Formation of Slums.
Originally intended for formation of minor criminal organizations and other forms of social instability,
but determined to be unnecessary due to the current structure and atmosphere of the Ark.
Priority downgraded. Only periodic monitoring required.
The Outer Rim...
*Flip*
2. Formation of Pro-Rapture Radical Group.
Public awareness of Raptures continues to decline.
The attached survey suggests this is due to the fact ordinary citizens rarely encounter Raptures personally.
Therefore, pro-Rapture radical groups are to receive clandestine support
to increase awareness, and foment hostility, towards Raptures from the general populace.
...
Let's see what's next.
*Flip*
3. Conduct Surveillance on REDACTED.
REDACTED is a powerful tool, but may fail to understand the Judges' concept of justice.
As such, it is necessary to, through the use of up-to-date research and indirect means discovered by REDACTED,
find a way to prevent REDACTED from being an impediment in any way.
On July 22nd, X recommended a candidate for this plan.
She is a skilled hacker operating under the codename #000000.
...!
Proposal passed with 6 votes in favor and 3 against, excluding the proposer.
Covert contact underway.
I certainly didn't expect that name to show up here.
*Thud*
K?
...
K drops the book that she was reading and starts to tremble.
Are you okay?
...
As I move towards K, I catch sight of what was in the book that fell to the floor.
VII-1 Mid-Report.
Mission success rate for general agents and Nikkes is under 50%.
The plan itself is sound, but the method is flawed.
Therefore, one Nikke from Perilous Siege will be deployed on mission VII-1 as a parallel agent.
...
Codename K gladly accepted the mission.
10. False Justice: B
54 linesHave you reviewed everything?
Yes.
We have high expectations for you.
That means you have a great responsibility.
It's to carry out justice, isn't it?
I've been doing that all along. I know the weight of this burden.
Confidence is good, but it won't be enough.
Then what more is needed?
Conviction.
...
An unwavering belief that the path you are walking is righteous.
There must not be a shred of doubt.
Without such conviction, I cannot entrust this mission to you.
I thought you were going to say something else.
You think I don't have conviction?
Do you think I could have done what I've done without it?
At any rate, I've seen that they're expanding the library,
storing even the most minute of details.
That's because records are important.
Our mission is to establish a universal form of justice,
one which all of humanity can share, recognize,
and follow.
Spare me the linguistic gymnastics and just let me do my thing.
I'll show you what justice really is.
And I'll do it by any means necessary.
...
Understood.
I... I remember.
So that's what happened...
I was just a puppet,
completely hollow inside.
I didn't have a clue.
All I was doing was dancing to someone else's tune.
There's nothing righteous about that.
K, it's not your fault.
The Judges erased your memories so they could use you.
What difference does that make?
...
What does it change?
It doesn't wash my hands of the blood I spilled for no good reason.
It doesn't change the fact that everything which I believed was justice,
instead was evil!
*Thud*
Moran slams the book she was reading to the floor.
Would you can it already?!
What?
Get over here.
Moran grabs K's arm and drags her out.
What the... how come you're so heavy?
Where are you going?
I have something to show you.
What is it?
11. Puppet: A
85 linesMoran ends up taking us to Fog Hollow.
Huh? Moran?
Didn't I tell you to take it easy? What are you doing here?
I'm just stopping by.
After a brief chat with Moran, Jin leaves and Moran turns to us.
Here, look.
Look at what?
That.
Moran points at the villagers working in tandem with members of the Peony Association to rebuild the town.
I still don't get what your point is.
Get a good look? All right, on to the next place.
Moran once again grasps K.
This time, she drags her to a small hill overlooking Fog Hollow.
Look here too.
...
Moran points to
what appear to be dozens of graves.
Tell me when you've gotten a good eyeful, then I can start talking again.
Moran doesn't answer, and instead, picks up a bottle of alcohol placed in front of a grave.
*Trickle*
She slowly weaves her way through the cemetery, pouring a bit of the liquor over each grave.
What?
You should know... Oh right, maybe you don't because your memory was erased.
Anyway. This is what I consider righteous.
What are you talking about? They're not dead.
What?
K stares at the graves, bemused.
They're alive in here.
Moran points to her own chest.
...
Everything comes at a cost.
When something is rotten, it has to be pulled out by the root.
These things are true, but even so,
that doesn't mean you can cut people out of your life and act as if they never existed. That's not how it works.
*Sigh*... I was wondering when you'd finally get to the point.
You call that righteousness? I call it hypocrisy.
I wouldn't know anything about that.
?!
It hurts my head to think about it...
But...
I don't regret it. Not one bit.
Destroying this village was something I had to do, and now I carry those people in my heart.
It was something that I had to do... as a human being.
...
We must fix what is wrong.
Or rather, we can fix it.
If you step down the wrong path, you can always turn back around.
If something is unjust, then you make it right.
If we keep doing that, then I believe that we'll make this world a better place to live in.
To me, that is what justice means.
...
...
I...
I'm not sure if I know what being okay feels like.
My life's been hard, and always will be.
It's heavy.
But I'm holding up.
I believe that
I'm doing the right thing.
I believe that I'm making this world a better place.
It's what makes me able to endure it.
It's okay.
...
Well, I've said my piece. I'll go and help the others with the repairs.
Thanks, Moran. We're very grateful.
Not as grateful as I am to you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do next.
Anyway, let me know once things are settled.
I'll continue my investigation.
...
What do you think of what Moran said?
I...
*Step step*
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turn, thinking that Moran had come back.
Did you leave something beh... huh?
It's time.
Pass your judgment, Commander.
...!
Yes, it is me, VII.
The evil which you must judge.
12. Puppet: B
55 lines...
VII frowns at K.
You're breaking down faster this time.
...
Are you the one who erased K's memory and used her?
Yes, I am the one who erased her memories.
I gave the order,
and granted her plea.
What do you mean?
...
I'm afraid you've been mistaken all this time.
It wasn't me, or anyone else, who chose to erase K's memories. It was her own decision.
...!
Becoming an agent of justice.
Becoming a puppet under our control.
Erasing her memories. It was all K's own choice.
...
And this time, she even tried to eliminate herself.
Of course, an agent of justice cannot be undone by a weapon crafted to uphold justice,
even if that agent is a pathetically faulty instrument.
So that wound before...
Neither a pawn nor an agent of justice
is permitted to take their own life.
That's right, K.
Your life is no longer your own.
You have relinquished control over even that.
...
K grits her teeth and lowers her head.
The puppet show ends here.
I must say it made for an excellent prelude to the final judgment.
Now then, are you ready, Commander?
...
You have already seen the truth.
How the once glorious institution of justice fell,
and sank into the mire, only to be tainted and become evil.
All of the pieces are arranged on the chessboard. All that remains is for you to decide.
So, for the cause, and to choose the new king,
pass your judgment.
...
*Riiiiing*
...!
My phone abruptly starts ringing, startling me.
VII, however, looks at me unaffected, as if he had been expecting it.
...
As I pick up, I hear a man's voice on the other end.
Hurry up and decide.
The stage is set, and the conditions are already met.
We may have skipped a few steps along the way, but the end result is the same as it always has been.
Now, make your choice.
Who are you?
Oh goodness me. I'm getting ahead of myself.
Forgive me. It happens once you reach a certain age.
...
It's a pleasure to meet you. Let's see... If I were in your position...
I'd have you call me X.
13. Righteous Lie: A
121 linesI'd have you call me X.
...
Now, getting back to what we were discussing.
I'm sure you're used to situations like this by now.
Choose, Commander.
In the name of justice,
deliver your judgment
to the one before you
whom you deem unrighteous.
...
I refuse.
Oh? And why is that?
This time will be different.
I won't get involved in this ridiculous political game.
A political game, huh? I suppose that's not entirely incorrect.
Very well then, allow me to help you come to a decision.
As soon as X is finished speaking...
*Click*
...
VII pulls out a handgun from his coat and aims it at K.
...!
Small word of caution; don't think for a second that I'm bluffing.
It's a master's duty to be willing to put down a mad dog which could go wild at any moment.
You son of a...
...
K stares emotionlessly at the gun pointed at her.
Now, it's time to make a decision.
So, what's it going to be?
Which one of the unjust will you judge?
...
Kill VII.
Rescue K.
For the sake of a righteous judgment...
VII lowers his weapon, and without a moment's hesitation,
turns it on himself and pulls the trigger.
*Bang*
*Thud*
...!
This is insane...!
A splendid choice, Commander.
Or perhaps
I should call you VII.
What?
A job opening just came up.
In light of the judgments you've made up until now,
we have decided to offer you VII's position.
...?
There's something strange in X's voice which makes me feel uneasy, although I can't quite figure out why.
You're standing at another fork in the road.
Accept, or decline. A binary decision.
But... Is it really?
...
People often delude themselves into thinking that they've made a choice.
In most situations, however, everything is already predetermined, including the options available to them.
People simply trick themselves into believing there's an alternative.
...
All decisions by the Judges are made by vote...
Don't get the wrong idea. It's true that we did manipulate you.
But that doesn't necessarily mean it's a loss for you.
Some food for thought, don't you think?
...
I've... recently come to know one of the Judges better...
I understand how confusing, even frustrating, this must be.
Nevertheless, set aside your youthful bluster for the moment.
Suppress your emotions, and think rationally about which path benefits you the most.
That is the only way you can achieve your goal, I promise you.
... Can I ask something?
By all means.
The decision to have me join the Judges.
Was it unanimous?
...
I'm fairly certain I know at least one member who would be opposed to it.
Aren't all decisions made by the Judges supposed to be unanimous?
X remains silent for so long, that I begin to think he has hung up, but then he lets out a deep sigh.
I knew it. I was too impatient.
I figured that slight nudging and persuasion would be insufficient.
At some point, X's voice has changed, and now resembles that of the friendly elderly man next door.
Allow me to make a correction, first and foremost.
Unanimity isn't always mandatory for us to make decisions.
Sometimes majority votes are sufficient. A single person can even push a resolution through, albeit at a great political risk.
And to that end, I must admit...
This was a decision that I made on my own.
But as you can see, it failed miserably, so I will have to lay low for a while.
...
I know what you're thinking.
"Why is he confessing all of this to me?"
The moment doubt rears its ugly head, it's already over, and it's simply a matter of time until the truth is uncovered.
... Like with K.
What do you possibly have to gain
by roping me in with the Judges?
A formidable successor whom I can entrust the future to.
What?
Have you not been listening to me?
I don't have much time left, but the Ark is still in dire need of justice.
I must impart my knowledge to a successor while I still can.
However, in attempting to do so, I have been dealt a fatal blow. What a disaster.
You say that, but you seem quite happy.
Of course I am.
My successor has grown up splendidly, without me having to teach him anything.
...
While we're on the subject, you should consider having a child at some point.
After retirement, doting on grandchildren is all we old folks have left.
...
There I go again, saying too much.
These kinds of things happen when you get old. I hope you understand.
We admire young folks and feel proud of them,
but we also envy them.
...
So don't test my patience too much, Commander.
I can't keep this position empty forever.
Oh, and one more thing.
I have a gift for you. Think of it as a tribute to the victor.
What is it?
I leave K's fate in your hands.
Kill her, erase her memory, make her a slave, ignore her.
The choice is entirely up to you.
*Beep beep beep*
...
The call ends.
...
I gaze at K, who is looking at me with sunken eyes.
14. Righteous Lie: B
99 linesWhat?
Or kill me.
Most of that stuff X said was complete nonsense.
... But there was an element of truth to some of it.
...
Asking me to erase your memory is the same as asking me to kill you.
I can't make that kind of decision.
That's not who I am.
I refuse to choose.
I refuse to choose.
...
K. You are not a puppet.
You saw those records.
I'm a bad person by anyone's measurement.
All of those deranged orders from VII...
I obsessed over how to carry them out more efficiently.
I claimed to be making my own judgments, completely unaware that the outcome was already decided.
And...
You carried them out flawlessly.
...
Despite all of that,
you never gave up on life.
What?
Erasing your memory may be close to dying,
but it's not exactly the same.
Why is it that you chose to have your memories erased instead of being killed?
I-I...
You want to know my theory? I think you wanted to fix things somehow.
...
You were in too much pain and couldn't bear it, so you erased your memories.
But even then, you couldn't run. You still wanted to restore justice with your own hands.
... In life, we're faced with many imbalances.
We pile on additional weight and remove others, attempting to balance the scales,
but there is no such thing as perfect equilibrium.
Rather than trying too hard to make everything balanced,
in times like that, I tilt my head, and then everything looks in order.
It's a way to get by and keep living.
I'm going. I'll see you later.
Tilt your head and compromise.
*Craaack*
The thorns on K's gun spark ominously.
The methods used must be clean.
There you go again. You're going to be up all night.
Even if the means were immoral.
Even if you did not act righteously, you still wanted to restore justice.
There's more to it than that.
I'm a villain. A bloodthirsty, vicious villain!
What right do I have to talk about justice?
You're on the right path as we speak.
What?
Moran is a just person.
Is she a perfect person? No. She's not without her flaws.
But if you were to place her on the scales, they would certainly tip towards the side that's just.
...
Even if others call her a criminal, and despite what occurred in Fog Hollow,
She is still a righteous person.
That's because she keeps striving to uphold what she feels is right.
...
Up until now, you've left all the decision-making up to me.
Now it's time for you to decide, K.
So what's it going to be?
What's your decision?
My... my decision is...
K grits her teeth and slowly lifts her head.
... I really can't stand this.
Twisting and smashing words together in to try and force meanings, even when it makes no sense.
Talking like you know everything when you don't have a clue.
I tried to kill myself, for goodness sake. I'm too far gone.
...
You don't like humans?
I see.
Right.
Doesn't seem like much has changed.
...
You're right. Nothing has changed, and that's a bad thing.
So...
It's time we change that. Starting now.
I'll help.
You? How?
Er...
I'll have to think about it.
*Sigh*...
K, looking more at ease, picks the gun up from the floor.
Okay. Show me then. Let me see for myself.
Show me what righteousness is to you.
And the road, for justice, I'm meant to follow.
ROAD, FOR JUSTICE: BEGIN
15. FOR JUSTICE
91 lines*Step step*
...
So you couldn't bear the weight of the crown.
I knew from the beginning that it would be too much for you.
*Step step*
If you'd known that from the start, you should have told me.
Besides, I haven't removed it. I've only let someone borrow it for a while.
Someone willing to carry it in my stead.
Please. Like you're so perfect.
... So what happened to your mission? Weren't you investigating that cult?
I... I'm something of a free agent now,
so I decided to come and help out.
A free agent?
Yeah. I'm giving this whole vigilante thing a try.
He said that he'd bear all responsibility and that I could do whatever I wanted.
He said he trusts me.
...
Hehe, Commander sure is a funny guy.
...
D does not answer and taps at her phone.
*Ring*
In K's pocket, her phone vibrates with a notification.
Investigation data. Commit it to memory.
Hm... I guess it hasn't properly started yet.
We need to be especially cautious with this mission.
Right. They did say they would leave my fate to Commander,
but I'm still not convinced that they'll let me walk away from this.
You can still opt out of this if you want.
...
What are you looking at?
Arcana was telling me all this stuff about self-suggestion,
and it's supposed to be effective, so I'm giving it a try.
... You've changed.
Yeah? Commander said nothing changed.
...
Well, I guess I did.
Humans change. The same must go for Nikkes who used to be human.
I used to hate that.
But I've decided not to let it get to me. Not anymore.
...
*Step step*
D turns around and walks away with a word.
*Step step*
K follows.
So, where do we start?
We need to find someone.
What's the name?
Deipara.
An old man reclines in a luxurious armchair, sipping from a glass.
*Riiiiing*
*Click*
Speak.
A male voice flows from the antique headset the old man holds.
Already finished?
Then what's the agenda for next Monday?
...
Take it easy. Everyone stumbles in the beginning.
So you understand everything that's happened thus far?
Are you referring to what VII was handling?
...
You're mistaken.
That's been out of our hands for some time.
It's already out of our control.
I admire your passion, that you want to succeed again.
But remember.
They are simply tools. It does not matter whether they succeed or fail.
They simply need to exist.
That's all.
If you understand that, then you can get to work.
There have been some complications, so you'll need to work that much harder.
*Beep beep beep*
*Click*
It's been a long time since I heard someone recite slogans by rote. Certainly not since VII or automated voice systems.
Such a rare trait to find in a young person these days.
X pauses as he reaches again for his glass.
Hmm... the more I think about it, the more I like it.
For the sake of a righteous judgment...
LORD, FOR JUSTICE: END