Story Reader / Main Story / 22 Renaissance du Fantastique / Story
In a pitch-black hall.
A meticulously decorated knight armor is placed in the center of the room.
Under the thick visor of the lifeless armor, light flashes irregularly as if it has a consciousness of its own.
...
...
□□...□□□...
It continues to emit this incomprehensible white noise, as if it is a snoozing beast waiting for someone to open its cage.
The taciturn Construct stands alone on the edge of the tower.
He looks down to the surrounding buildings, yet his eyes are not looking at anywhere specific.
Even though he gave his all to reconstruct this city, he does not care for it at all.
In human civilization, there is an emotion called "homesick."
People develop special feelings for the place they were raised in, and when they are away from that place, those emotions get amplified.
As a mechanoid assembled and activated in this city, I think it makes sense for me to stay here.
But he is different.
I do not understand the "art" he is obsessed with, but since we are now back at this place after all this time, it means the duty we must fulfill is coming to an end.
Why does he still look "lost"?
—Looking at his figure, this question sometimes comes up in my memory shell.
It should not be something I should worry about.
Cervantes.
Is something the matter, Dulcinea?
Cervantes, you requested for everyone to refrain from going onto the streets for the time being, but some mechanoids are not satisfied by this.
As far as I know, a few mechanoids have already snuck out of your designated safe areas to "create."
...I'm not their actual administrator, they have the right to do as they please.
Don't worry, I have a backup plan, now is just not the time for it yet.
Once this is over, I will lead all the mechanoids who are willing away.
I don't understand, Cervantes.
The church has technology that can make this city undetectable to all humans. Not only for the church, Constellia is a natural habitat for mechanoids.
When you left the Church of Machina and came here all those years ago, you spent a few years' time to create an environment suitable for us.
Yet, now you invite "Babylonia" here. Why?
The city is just a "shell," it doesn't represent anything.
Mechanoids, however, have infinite time, we can always recreate another city that is exactly the same down to the last pebble.
And, due to the emergence of the Hetero Tower, it's only a matter of time before humans find this city.
On top of that, the Sagemachina is back, there is no reason for us to stay here any longer.
Cervantes, you didn't answer my question.
Why willingly expose ourselves to the humans of Babylonia?
Why retrieve that tragic creation of humans?
That thing is a product of human will, it showed me some things I didn't notice before... which is why I kept it.
And, mostly... How should I put it?
All of this is for finding an "answer."
An answer?
I've been to lots of places over the years and have witnessed the actions of humans after the outbreak of the Punishing Virus.
The International Space Station, Akdilek, Kowloong, the underground cavern of City 075, Pulia Forest Park, "Empyrea", lunar base, the Red Tide...
Even though they never united, even though there are conflicts every time, and even though they all have different ideals and goals...
For a lot of mechanoids of the church, humans are weak and hopeless, contradicting and incomprehensible.
But they can always turn a crisis around at crucial moments, creating unexpected miracles.
That includes things that cannot be calculated, it includes something... that I cannot explain with words.
I'm trying to find it, the "reason" that leads to these results.
But, all my efforts have ended in failure.
Until the Hetero Tower was reversed, I finally confirmed this, and... accepted it.
Since I cannot find the answer as a mechanoid, why not ask the humans who already have the "answers"? Us mechanoids, we excel in recreation not discovery.
But, what makes you think the humans will do as you wish?
No, they will, at least "that person" from the "WGAA" will.
She will prove to me the results of their hard work of many years.
Scanning finished, data model reading complete, planning the most suitable route—Spooner, this way.
On the empty streets, a white female Construct walks together with a therianthropic Construct.
...
Spooner?
Haicma stops when her comrade does not reply.
Nothing, this place is just very impressive.
Well, it is a city from the Golden Age, so even just a part of it will be... It's recreated quite accurately.
Are you in awe and jealous of your senior's achievement as a successor?
...You really like to hit where it hurts recently, is this Zero's bad influence?
Compared to before, I think my "empathetic" abilities have increased so I'm currently testing it.
So, was I right?
...I think you should look up what "empathetic" actually means.
But I have to admit, that mechanoid Cervantes really is something else.
I only started painting halfway through my life, so I'm nowhere as skilled as him.
"Tower" was responsible for all construction work within the church, but that was before you joined.
He was one of the earliest mechanoids to join the church, with "Magician" and "Hierophant" as his peers. The Church of Machina only started to truly form after Arcana found them.
In human speech, he is an OG member of the church.
So, the Sage wants us to bring Cervantes back to the church?
Na... Sage said, she needs to gather our scattered comrades for the path she believes in.
Other than "Tower", there are still "Moon", "Stars", "Justice", and a lot more people for us to find.
Together with the new ally Nanami is about to awaken, our "expedition" is just starting.
You mean that Kowloong mechanoid that has been kept in the church for years? I don't know if she has regained consciousness yet or not.
She will, and under the Sage's guidance, we will be united.
She raises her head, looking over to the windmill tower not far away.
Let's go, to finish the mission she gave us—
And... to welcome our "wandering friend" home.
Hidden in the shadows in a corner.
You mean, those two just now aren't the members of "Babylonia" you mentioned?
A girl with her figure mostly hidden by a cloak stands next to a mechanoid. After listening to his whispers, the wanderer-looking girl lowers her head in contemplation and mumbles to herself.
"Babylonia"... Now where have I heard that before...
And "Ayla"...
Did they come for "it"? Or...
But since the music has sounded and curtains have been pulled...
It would be rude for the "audience" to leave half way... right?
