Story Reader / Floating Record / ER08 The Long Goodbye / Story
In the "Cultivation Area" in the basement of the abandoned research institute, the sound of Hetero-Creatures gnawing and clawing behind the door sends chills down one's spine.
Having just "fled" into the Cultivation Area, the three have more pressing concerns than being bothered by these sounds.
They're still processing the horrifying implications about Shorthalt.
...
When they reached the basement, everyone still thought that "not all hope was lost". Now, reality delivers its first crushing blow.
I... I was prepared for this. It must be the Ascendants' doing.
I want to bring him back with us, or...
Wanshi falls silent, carefully tucks away his terminal, and continues forward.
Let's see what's inside this Cultivation Area that Shorthalt was so desperate to protect.
We should start with this door.
Rosetta gives the door a gentle tap, while the Hetero-Creatures behind it continue their frenzied movements.
This door is special—it can withstand Construct attacks to some extent.
If it's really just children here, then who are they trying to keep out?
Upon hearing this, you begin scanning the room.
Dim lights flicker overhead as rows of small beds silently watch the visitors. These are their first visitors in many years.
These really are children's beds...
Wanshi runs his hand along the iron bed frame, where a hastily discarded restraining strap still lies.
These are custom-made restraints... They were using these to hold down children?
...Maybe we should consider whether they were holding down "children"... or something else entirely.
Yeah, there's still some readable data here. Let me try to access it.
We need to hurry.
Rosetta cautiously points toward the entrance.
Even with its special reinforcement, this door won't hold against that many Hetero-Creatures for long. We need to find another way out.
