Story Reader / Affection / Qu: Shukra / Story
After the relatively short flight, you arrive at Babylonia with Qu.
Qu's declaration forms are soaked with tea from the turbulence earlier.
Unable to read Qu's soaked forms, the automatic entry system can't grant you and Qu entry.
This is a real hassle. Don't think you people are just going to let me through without the forms, are you?
You turn around and start calling Celica with your terminal.
Ahh-hhhaaa... It's after hours now. What is it, Chief?
A solid? Work-related or personal?
You quickly bring Celica up to speed.
So you basically are asking me to grant the two of you entry permissions when you've had that little date of yours on the transport craft? Does Babylonia look like a love hotel to you?
Chief, you really are putting me on the spot here...
Hey, just this once?
Better keep your word.
With Celica's help, you and Qu make it into Babylonia.
Seems like you handled that just fine. Guess I made the right choice by asking you to be my guide.
Let me guess, you pulled some strings there, didn't you?
Being the Chief is not unlike having a gold pass, huh?
But I have one more request, [player name]. Do you think you can pay Hengzhu a visit with me?
I know how awkward this is going to sound, but I'll need you to go as my partner...
Well... let me know if you feel uncomfortable with that.
Hengzhu always wanted me to find myself that special someone in my life, except I never really had the time to do that with Kowloong in ruins back then.
I've been through a lot ever since, and I think I've come to see why he'd wanted me to do that.
There are challenges in this world that we just can't overcome on our own, and if I do end up losing everything I've worked for one day...
It'd be reassuring to have someone like you by my side at the very least...
Well, that was me thinking out loud just now. What say you?
Great. That makes you my partner from now on, then.
What's there to think about?
That being said, though, I have no idea where he is now.
A sanatorium, huh...
What a place for him to be. I wonder what would have become of him had he stayed in Kowloong...
Guess we'd have all been dead, given how fierce the battle was.
Anyhow, I'm grateful that Babylonia keeps its door open to Kowloong's scholars.
Chop chop. Let's get going.
You and Qu arrive at the sanatorium.
The sanatorium is elegant and unique, with soft lighting creating a serene atmosphere.
These aren't ordinary "lights," but rather the faint glow from the holographic projections coming from around the sanatorium.
The lush greenery and all the trees and flowers. Well, they're all projections, aren't they?
It's a real shame that all of this looks obviously fake precisely because it looks so perfect.
Qu stands and observes for a moment before heading straight into the courtyard.
In the guest hallway, besides the self-service machines in the corridor, there is only one nurse at the front desk.
Hello, I'm looking for Hengzhu. Could you tell me his room number?
Hengzhu? Let's see... Found him. He was in room 406 before.
Wait, so I guess you don't know what happened...?
I beg your pardon?
He passed away last week. I'm very sorry.
We understand you probably didn't come expecting to hear this. Please accept our condolences.
...
Qu's eyebrows furrow somewhat, her deep and somber eyes hiding certain emotions.
A gentle breeze blows through Qu's soft hair, seemingly revealing her unspoken sorrow.
But in just an instant, Qu puts on her usual shrewd and calm demeanor.
That's fine. I did come here considering his passing as a possibility.
He probably saw this coming himself given his age.
It's hard not to feel regret, though.
Many of my subordinates who'd been by my side supporting me never made it back.
Recalling past memories, Qu closes her eyes before letting out a deep sigh.
They either died in battles against the Punishing or went missing during attacks. On the rare occasions that we do hear about them, it's usually about their passing.
Farewell letters always come too late, and I, too, got here too late.
I've had to deal with a lot of things alone as the Monarch of Kowloong, and I'm pretty used to seeing people come and go. Well, I've grown numb to it, at least, but I still find things like this hard to let go when they happen.
Don't worry about me, and sorry for making you come all the way here for nothing.
Ma'am, if I may, Hengzhu did ask us to keep this item for him and ask us to give it to anyone from Kowloong.
What is it? Can I see it?
He mentioned you several times, so I figured he wanted you to have it.
The nurse hands Qu a brass-colored metal instrument.
Is this a... sextant?
Qu pauses for a moment when she takes the sextant, lost in old memories.
Kowloong was doing just fine before the Punishing hit. Passionate about stargazing, Qu would always visit the observatory.
Hengzhu, who was the observatory's administrator at the time, would always explain the changes in celestial phenomena to Qu.
Sir, what is that you're holding?
Lady Qu, this is a sextant, and people used to measure the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon with it.
A sextant? Why do you still have that around?
Why do you still need that when the observatory has such advanced observation technology?
Honestly, I can't see any advantage of this thing other than its portability.
Lady Qu, you're absolutely right, but as an early tool for measuring the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon, the sextant is not only the ancestor of modern advanced technology but also symbolizes humanity's endless desire to explore the unknown.
The fruits we enjoy today owe everything to past efforts and the hard work of our predecessors. The desire to explore passed down through generations always inspires me to explore maps showing further stars and the unknown, and I'm happily dedicating my whole self to it.
And given how fast astronomy is developing, I'm sure mankind will one day set foot on the stars...
Unfortunately, the Punishing Virus broke out worldwide shortly after that.
Humanity faced a catastrophe before we could even reach the stars.
We had to deal with the incoming Corrupted and put Project Tabula Akasha to use...
Ever since, mankind's future has been the only thing that always comes to my mind every time I look up at the starry sky.
Hengzhu probably hoped that I could carry on his work in exploring hope for mankind's future when he gave me this sextant.
He had two last wishes: one was for this sextant to be handed to you, Miss Qu...
The other was for you to find yourself a suitable partner. It seems like both his wishes came true.
Indeed.
I didn't expect your partner to be the Chief. That's wonderful.
I feel the same.
By the way, one of his students paid him a visit here not too long ago, too.
Apparently, something went wrong with the new observatory he designed, and that's why she came.
A new observatory in Babylonia? I never thought he'd carry on with his stargazing research here.
Do you know where she is now?
She should be at the Astronomical Research Institute working on her project, and I'm afraid that's all I know...
That's fine. I'll pay her a visit later.
I want to pay the child a visit and check out Babylonia's observatory, too.
Let's go.
