Story Reader / Floating Record / ER08 The Long Goodbye / Story
At night, in the Youth Center's hall, a tall Construct wanders aimlessly.
The Construct, here to "do someone a favor", lets out a sigh while gazing at the artificial sky above.
Sigh.
You're going to the Youth Center again next month? You've been on quite a few missions lately—maybe you should take some proper rest?
I'll still have to go for a few days.
After all these years... that child must be all grown up by now.
I can't help but worry. I heard he wants to get into medical school, but he keeps failing the entrance exam. This semester is probably his last chance. If he fails again, and he has no other plans for his future... Sigh.
If I had kept watch just a little longer back then, his family wouldn't have been sacrificed... I failed to warn them in time.
...
Shorthalt pats Sien on the shoulder.
Ever since the Youth Center started accepting Construct commissions, this warm-hearted friend has become their rare "Construct regular".
Shorthalt is used to it by now—he had gotten accustomed to these requests ever since years ago when Sien suddenly asked him to collect some bird feathers during a mission.
This time, Sien had taken another commission from the Youth Center but ended up seriously injured during a ground mission.
Shorthalt visits the Construct Maintenance Department, and the result is inevitable—now he's the one who has to worry about Sien.
He gazes at the artificial skyline beyond the Youth Center.
Tch, it's already dark outside.
Does no one ever take the requests from here? There are so many odd jobs piled up.
After a busy day, Shorthalt finally finds a moment to breathe and attend to some "business". He plans to ask around about that boy called Pelo.
As Shorthalt approaches, the young staff member, who has been urging the children to bed, awkwardly pulls the curious little ones behind them.
...Don't tell me the Education District's understanding of Constructs is still limited to textbooks and F.O.S. College?
Deciding against questioning the visibly anxious woman, he turns down a corridor where two staff members, walking back together, point him toward the Youth Center's office area.
But the person in charge has already left. To find them, he'll probably have to wait until tomorrow.
Shorthalt stands at the corridor entrance, staring at the darkened rooms within, ready to heave his third sigh of the day.
Click.
Without warning, light flickers on in an office deep down the corridor. A boy's head peeks out from the doorway.
?
...
Shorthalt and the boy lock eyes for a brief moment before the latter draws a sharp breath and darts back into the office.
...?
In the supervisor's office, a scrawny youth keeps watch at the door while two other troublemakers fumble with the supervisor's server.
Pelo hands Wanshi a black access terminal dotted with glowing lights.
Once we plug this in, we'll have access to the system.
...Are you sure it's okay? Changing assignments... that sounds impossible. Why would anyone be kind enough to help us like that?
Obviously, it's people who can't stand this garbage system. You're overthinking it. Some commuting students told me before that they never had to worry about getting into their desired schools—their families would take care of everything.
Tweaking regular grades, forging a professor's recommendation letter, polishing personal information... None of it's hard if you want to do it. Since no one's helping us, we'll have to do it ourselves.
Besides, the medical school quota is fixed. Swapping between us two won't affect anyone else. If you're scared, just give me back the infiltration terminal.
C-can you two hurry up? I almost got spotted by those teachers just now.
...
Wanshi connects the terminal to the server.
The server suddenly lights up with a blinding glow, briefly illuminating the corridor outside the window. The two criminals frantically scramble to adjust the brightness.
She keeps the brightness this high? Is she trying to go blind or something?
Shh... Keep it down, Frank. That flash just now—do you think anyone outside noticed?
Frank carefully peeks his head out to check.
...
In the next instant, Frank jerks back as if shocked by electricity.
O-o-outside!!
What!
There's a C-Construct out there! It saw me!
Huh?! Wanshi, quick, hide!
I haven't gotten into the system yet...
Wanshi looks up, meeting a pair of piercing eyes through the crack in the door.
!!
What are you all doing?
In the dim glow of the servers, Shorthalt spots Pelo.
Huh? You're...
Crap! Run!
Seizing the moment when Shorthalt's attention wavers, Pelo grabs Wanshi and Frank, bursts through the door, and makes a run for it.
...You've got some nerve!
But how could a few teenagers possibly outrun a military Construct? They barely make it a few meters before Shorthalt grabs them by their collars and drags them back.
Shorthalt holds one kid in each hand while Frank stands rooted to the spot before him, no longer daring to run.
He studies the blue-purple-haired youth for several seconds.
So you're Pelo, huh?
Who're you?
...Alright, forget about the family stuff for now. What were you all doing in there? You're all acting mighty suspicious.
Wanshi's palms grow sweaty as he tightly clutches the terminal he manages to snatch during the chaos.
Shorthalt snatches the special terminal from Wanshi's hand, his expression darkening immediately after.
Where did you come from? Confess now and I'll go easy on you—resist and it'll be the hard way.
...I don't know.
Don't give me such a textbook answer. Isn't these few days the time to confirm your career path?
He fixes a stern gaze upon the youths, clearly aware of what they were up to.
Do you realize this could get your admission revoked?
I met the requirements, I definitely passed the threshold! Gestalt made this decision on its own! I won't become a Construct on the surface—
Answer me first: who gave you the terminal?
Someone who didn't want us to suffer this injustice!
...
Shorthalt "confiscates" the intrusion terminal and tucks it into his pouch, then methodically shuts down the office equipment and locks the door before leading the three to a quiet location.
Wanshi quietly observes the Construct who is now covering up their "crimes". He remembers this Construct—many years ago when he accidentally wandered into the emergency center, it was this same Construct who had covered his eyes.
Alright now, tell me everything. What's really going on here?
In another corner of Babylonia, a small meeting is in session.
Currently, Babylonia's education system is almost entirely public.
After entering the Center of Basic Public Education, students continue their studies there before moving on to vocational training systems, connecting with either the medical system, research system... or the F.O.S. Military College, among others.
It's difficult enough to recruit the limited talent produced by this system, and we need more than just specialists trained in these restricted fields.
Whether it's getting Babylonia to permit the construction of private academies or advocating for changes in educational resource distribution, it would benefit all non-public organizations.
But the current situation is this: Parliament considers the Gestalt-assisted education system to be fair, and any related proposals that were submitted have had their review dates indefinitely postponed.
Getting construction rights for a private academy is practically impossible. The best we can do is look for loopholes in the existing regulations.
Flaws are easy to find.
Venture into corners hidden from ordinary eyes, "expose" victims of the current education system, thrust them into the spotlight, and leverage public opinion to fight for their rights.
...Where are the "vulnerabilities" we can find... or create?
There's a simple solution—word is that someone's been tampering with several students' class assignment results. We should hear about it soon.
Feed them any fabricated truth, let them feel the deep sting of injustice, and give them a chance to make some noise—they're at just the right age to act on impulse.
...What if it doesn't work?
It doesn't work? So what?
The man appears somewhat taken aback.
They're just a few orphans. If it doesn't work, we'll dispose of them. There are countless other methods to try.
There are so many young refugees on the surface who can't even get enough food or warmth. The orphans taken in by the center are living well enough already.
After the failure of the "Fate Exchange" plan, Wanshi and the others face stern questioning from the Construct. Upon learning the general course of events, Shorthalt contemplates for a moment before dismissing Frank, who isn't involved in this matter.
His anger seems to have subsided as he studies the remaining two—Wanshi and Pelo. An uncomfortable silence fills the air.
Finally, he takes the initiative and pulls out two pieces of candy from his bag.
Want some candy? They're liquor-filled mints. Can you even eat these?
Won't eat it. Can't.
I'll pass, but thank you, sir.
...What a pain in the neck.
Shorthalt tosses both candies into his mouth and crunches them between his teeth.
He notices the holes in the children's story and realizes this is likely all a ruse.
He pulls out the black terminal he had confiscated from Wanshi earlier.
Is the person who gave you this thing the same one who told you about the truth?
No, and the ones helping me are all commuting students from school.
...Alright then. I'll look into this terminal, and you two should double-check your grades with the teachers handling these matters at the Youth Center.
Why are you helping us? You said you were my mother's comrade-in-arms?
Sort of. I knew of your parents, but we weren't in the same squad. Actually, someone else has been keeping an eye on you all this time. I'm just here on their behalf to check on you today. Who knew you'd end up causing such a mess?
Who is he?
Pelo's eyes widen.
Some things... I think it's better to let him explain them to you himself.
Wanshi, who has been silent all this time, suddenly speaks up.
"Sien"?
That Construct from the emergency center lobby, the one who tried to take me away.
...Oh, I remember now. You're that kid with the sharp tongue from back then? Geez, how old were you, four or five? How can you remember it so clearly?
...
That's all I have to say. Please leave. Thanks.
As Pelo grows agitated, Shorthalt knows better than to push the matter further and gestures for the two young men to head back and wait for news.
Wait.
?
If you're really willing to help us this much...
Then could you... help me find one more document?
Wanshi stares intently at Shorthalt's face, tense from making this additional request.
To Wanshi's surprise, this "extra request" isn't difficult for Shorthalt at all—or rather, it isn't difficult for anyone except Wanshi himself.
The next morning, Shorthalt hands the documents to Wanshi.
Take a look yourself. It's not even hard to get these—even your teachers have access to them. Why were you the only one who couldn't reach them?
The documents labeled "Wanshi" contain his basic family information and a detailed record of his life over the years.
One parent's a doctor, the other's a researcher—no wonder you're so smart.
Birth year, date... all correct. The Punishing outburst happened, and my mother brought me to Babylonia... Due to severe illness and complications, I stayed in Star of Life's pediatric ward... rehabilitation...
My father used to work at Kowloong Second People's Hospital...
Wanshi scrutinizes every word in the documents, searching for any inconsistencies with reality. Finally, following Shorthalt's finger, his eyes fall upon a name.
Xu.
Wanxu, a researcher. Former member of the Science Council. After going to the surface, she was declared "missing". There are no other records after that.
Wanxu...
He silently mouths the name to himself, certain that this is the first time he's heard it—yet an inexplicable sense of familiarity lingers in his mind.
Where have I heard this before...?
A physical headache suddenly strikes him.
Something's wrong?
...No.
Really? Don't tell me you're just here to look up your mother's name and take a trip down memory lane.
After a long deliberation, Wanshi makes his choice—he keeps his doubts to himself.
Yeah, I just wanted to confirm these things.
Do you need to hide it from me? Your face says there's more to this.
Maybe I do...?
Fine, I won't ask about it. Let's get to business.
Used to the youth's hesitation by now, Shorthalt takes out the black terminal once again.
If a commuting student gave this thing to Pelo, you should be wary of your classmates for now. Someone might be pulling their strings from behind the scenes.
What did you find out?
This "terminal Immersion" won't help you breach the system—it'll just trigger alarms. When that happens, the supervisors will follow the alert right back to you two troublemakers at the Youth Center.
Someone's trying to use you for their own agenda at the Youth Center. But we won't find out much more in just a couple of days.
So Pelo really could have gone to medical school, right?
...
No. The truth in this case has been defined by others.
Unless you can find problems through a review, this might as well be your "real" grades. If this isn't just a prank, whoever did this wouldn't leave any evidence for you to find.
...What do you mean?
So now you're headed to medical school, right? It's actually a good path—much better than going to the surface like you originally wanted.
...Are you telling us to give up??
I just want you all to be mentally prepared. Sien and I will continue to—
I won't give up.
We can figure out a way ourselves.
Haha...
With a helpless sigh, Shorthalt ruffles Wanshi's curly hair.
Sure, go and talk to your teachers and do what you can. Just don't let anyone fool you again.
...Hey, you must think we're unbelievably stupid.
Whoa, where did that come from? I never thought that way.
By the way... where's Pelo? Wasn't he supposed to come with you?
He doesn't want to see you.
Is he still holding a grudge against Sien and his mother's other teammates?
Yeah, looks like he's run out of people to hate.
...Yeah, you're right. What about you?
Me?
Do you feel angry, too? Hatred toward your mother for abandoning you?
...I don't... ugh.
Shorthalt gives Wanshi's shoulder a heavy pat—hard enough to make him wince and look up.
It's like spotting some rare creature from ancient Kowloong.
I was worried you wouldn't be able to sleep until I found the files you wanted... Good thing I worked without rest. Tsk, you care about it way more than you let on.
You kids just have to be difficult.
If you just want to find someone on the surface, I suggest you think this through again. This isn't about whether you give up on your "truth" or not.
Life on the surface might be very different from what you imagine. I've seen many kids from your youth center go down there... and quite a few of them ended up regretting it.
...
Alright, go tell Pelo that the youth center is aware of the situation and investigating it. I'll explain things to the relevant departments. From now on, don't believe anything anyone tells you—and don't cause any more trouble. You won't always have someone around to clean up your mess.
Shorthalt somehow produces another piece of candy from somewhere and places it in Wanshi's hand.
I can't eat those.
Here, take it. Don't worry, it's not liquor-filled this time.
After bidding farewell to Shorthalt, Wanshi fiddles with the candy in his hand, pondering how to explain the situation to Pelo, when the supervisor suddenly calls out to him.
...What? Aunt Melvie is here?
Melvie hasn't changed a bit since he last saw her—her temper is still as fierce as ever as she slams her lunchbox onto the dining table with unbridled fury.
I heard you almost turned down your chance to go to medical school?
Why don't you want to go? Didn't you pass the qualification exam? And every time I visited, didn't I tell you over and over to apply to medical school?
With just two sentences, Melvie crushes whatever excitement remained in Wanshi's heart.
...I don't want to go to medical school. I already rejected the offer. And the exam—you were the one who made me take it...
Do you really not understand why I want you to do as I say?
...
Wanshi probably understands why Melvie is angry.
When Melvie had asked him to read more medical books and try taking the medical school entrance exam, he had done everything as told.
His outright refusal to both the volunteer counselor and Chiron marks the first time he has ever truly defied Melvie since childhood. No wonder she is shocked and angry.
Wanshi is no longer the child who would cry, "Please don't abandon me." Instead of apologizing immediately like he used to, he chooses to talk back.
...Of course, I don't understand. You've never told me why.
Wanshi avoids Melvie's gaze. His mind drifts to the information he just got from Shorthalt—it was the first time he had ever learned his mother's name.
He knows Melvie probably cares about him more than anyone else in this world, yet he still can't understand her years of secrecy and deliberate distance.
They wouldn't tell me anything, claiming it was to protect me, making me lie, making me forget...
...You told me to forget about my mother, and I did for many years.
But I have never lied. No child could sleep for so many years and wake up knowing everything. Mother really did teach me in my dreams, my memories aren't deceiving me... right?
Why bring this up all of a sudden?
"Sudden"? I've wanted to know about this for so long...!
I keep wondering why... why you and everyone else have been keeping secrets from me.
Like that counselor the other day—he had files on both my parents and told me my father was an excellent doctor, but when it came to my mother, he wouldn't say a single word more. He dodged the topic right in my face.
And that professor from the medical school, too—you're all hiding things from me... So I decided to find out for myself.
...Wanshi?
Yeah, I just found it a moment ago.
Wanshi hands over a paper document with his name written at the top.
So this is the truth—
Wanshi places the documents in front of Melvie.
Her name was Wanxu. She was a researcher who disappeared after leaving Babylonia, leaving me behind in your care.
All these things about myself that I can't make sense of—I think she left them behind for me. The confused memories, and those... dreams.
...
Aunt Melvie, I've done everything you asked of me. I am going to study at medical school, and live a "normal" life in Babylonia. Everything will go as planned.
So now, can you tell me where my mother went? Did she screw up during her research?
A wave of sadness suddenly washes over Wanshi.
And who am I?
Am I... just her test subject?
