Story Reader / Main Story / 22 Renaissance du Fantastique / Story
Gone are the Hetero-Creatures and Corrupted emerging from all directions, relentlessly seeking prey, as well as the echoes of roars and wails from Constructs filling the air.
...
With one knee planted on the ground, Ayla fixes her gaze upon the colorless Construct standing before her. In the fleeting moments before everything is consumed by the pale light emanating from the Longinus Arsenal, she stretches out her hand in a desperate attempt to grasp the Construct's hand.
The world succumbs to the enveloping embrace of silence, as the projection upon the Construct fades away, unveiling its true form—a colorless doll, forever frozen in a singular moment, its arm outstretched toward the sky.
Don't get too attached. These are just shadows of the past.
No one here can be saved.
I know.
Ayla whispers softly, her arm still reaching out to gently grasp that motionless hand.
Within the palm of the Construct, she discovers a data chip.
Another piece of memory data...
Sica nods in agreement with Ayla, while Trojan, leaning against her weapon, raises a hand in a "please" gesture.
Well, looks like it's my turn again. Leave it all to me!
Ayla deftly inserts the chip into the data port on her frame.
>>> Confirming... Church of Machina time... <<<
>>> Module damaged, recalibrating... <<<
>>> Memory data status: Unarchived <<<
>>> Personality simulation status: Offline <<<
>>> Number of living signals detected within range: 1 <<<
2 hours, 16 minutes, and 23 seconds ago, the Longinus Arsenal's strike plummeted into the forest, accompanied by a blinding white light that ripped through the night sky.
At the heavy price of numerous lives, the Babylonia soldiers evacuated the deep crater resulting from the impact, ensuring the safe passage of the squad that had procured the Hetero-Hive Mother sample out of the forest.
The location where the Central Purification Filter once stood now lies as a pitch-black hole. As he navigates through the debris of shattered weapons and lifts the remnants of fallen structures, his every step sends ripples through puddles of unknown liquid within the crater.
Something abruptly halts his movement as he rises, causing him to lower his gaze. To his surprise, he discovers a hand gripping the edge of his clothing, protruding from the piles of fallen soldiers and charred, fragmented wood.
...
A strained roar escapes from his damaged audio module, and the Construct's head droops, ceasing all further sound.
>>> Number of living signals detected within range: 0 <<<
This desolate land no longer bears traces of life.
A dog tag slips free from the Construct's collar, catching his eye. Under the faint moonlight, he sees the name inscribed upon it.
..."Joyce".
As he traverses the massive chasm, he diligently documents the names of every fallen warrior and collects their memory data.
Much of the data has suffered irreparable damage, while the spent magazines and shattered blades have borne witness to the unwavering determination of the soldiers. They knew the battle's inevitable outcome, one without a chance of return, yet they fought until the very end, clinging to hope.
...
In the forest at the edge of the colossal crater, untouched by the blast, he discovers a discarded backpack, seemingly lost by someone in their frantic rush to escape.
Scattered on the ground are the items that spilled out of the bag—mostly provisions, tools, and survival medical supplies. He recognizes the familiar traveling gear, reminiscent of the belongings he has seen on the lifeless bodies of numerous Scavengers strewn along the roadside.
This is...
He picks up a square card lying next to the crumbled dried food—an aged, yellowed ID card. The identification code on it has become unscannable, and he can only make out a faint image of the holder's picture and the symbol adorning the back of the card.
...BIO-TECH CO. LTD?
The backpack bears a prominent, ominous smear of dark blood, suggesting that its owner was viciously attacked at this very spot. Despite their injuries, they mustered the strength to drag their wounded body out of the forest, leaving a trail of distress behind.
Tracking the trail of blood amidst the rustling grass, he presses forward until his gaze lands upon a blood-soaked bag, compact enough to fit within his grasp.
Though its edges show signs of wear and tear from countless uses, it is evident that this object was once cradled with great care and meticulous attention.
>>> Confirmed items: Plant seeds—hydrangea macrophylla, widely known as hydrangea, a prevalent potted ornamental plant during the Golden Age. <<<
>>> Database currently offline. Unable to acquire detailed information. <<<
>>> Search keyword: Botany <<<
>>> Memory module reading complete. Initiating record playback. <<<
...As per your directives, I have curated a collection of flowers and plants that boast heightened survivability and are well-suited for indoor cultivation. The majority of these selections comprise enhanced cultivars that have yet to be made available through official channels by that organization.
That organization? Ah, the one that paid a visit during my absence...
Indeed, their intention is to establish a collaboration with you and undertake the responsibility of Constellia's greening project.
I'll think about it.
Will this do?
Michele rises to his feet, brushing the dirt off his hands. As he casts a fond gaze upon the humble field of flowers before him, an exuberant smile graces his face.
This is the expression adorning Michele's face when he has been struck by a brilliant wave of inspiration.
Yes.
Every aspect concerning the frequency of watering, adjustment of the light environment, and fertilization methods has been recorded within these notes. Feel free to inquire me about the details anytime.
Regarding the assortment of flower seeds and bulbs, they are arranged from left to right as follows...
Shh—don't tell me the species yet.
I'll find out as they gracefully bloom.
Wouldn't it be fun to keep the excitement alive until the moment they blossom?
...As you wish.
Michele gently taps Carl on the shoulder, signaling for his assistant to join him on another lounge chair positioned before the flower field.
The weather today is truly delightful, isn't it?
You see, once the flowers have graced the entire terrace with their blooming presence, the windmill at the apex of Constellia will commence its rotation.
When the opportune moment arrives, the blossoms will be a fitting celebration gift to commemorate the city's new birth.
In the present era, the seeds of ornamental plants hold negligible utility in terms of human survival.
Why do they still carry them around so dearly?
Another question yet to be answered. He reconstructs the two humans' journey based on collected traces, concluding that their survival probability was nearly zero. Having pushed themselves to the limit, their escape from the Central Purification Filter to this location proved insurmountable.
He initially intends to return the bag of flower seeds to its rightful place, but in the end, he decides to tuck it away in his pocket, alongside the ID card.
Even though this action has deviated from his programmed behavior pattern.
>>> Confirming... Church of Machina time... <<<
>>> Initiating Simulation No. 237... Conclusion transmission in progress. <<<
Perched upon the furthest spire of the church, he stands tall, casting his gaze across the panoramic view that unfolds beneath him.
Regardless of how many iterations the simulation undergoes, the outcome remains unaltered.
One by one, the valiant Constructs engaged in bloody battles on the front lines would succumb to the Punishing Virus, transforming into mindless Corrupted. Even the most resilient warriors would find themselves incapable of taking another step forward amidst the relentless onslaught of the plague.
This world would descend into an abyss where only cycles of despair and tragedy persist.
Yet amidst the gloomy clouds, he witnesses the radiant light of the breaking dawn piercing through. A maiden in pure white soars across the sky, like a white bird unfurling its wings toward the flames. Bathed in her sacred radiance, the soldiers teetering on the edge of death are all beckoned back.
He witnesses the soldiers, awakened from the clutches of infection, charging fearlessly toward their comrades. The light blue frost and bullets weave an impenetrable iron wall of defense around the maiden, while humanoid adversaries crumble in defeat, consumed by the fierce, pale flames.
He observes that feeble, still injured human summoning all their strength with the assistance of an exoskeleton to run at full speed. With unwavering determination, the human manages to catch the descending white bird, freeing her from the constraints that held her captive.
Fully aware of the multitude of challenges awaiting them and the profound suffering they will endure in the days to come, they still choose to forge ahead.
Once more, the outcome deviates from my simulation.
...How?
How did you... manage to do all this...?
Despite the experiences he has encountered throughout his journey, the lingering question remains unanswered, leaving him in a state of heightened confusion and uncertainty.
The resolute posture of the young girl as she declared war against the eternal night was so radiant that it evoked memories of his teacher's countenance when he spoke of the "lighthouse."
Is this what you were pursuing, teacher?
All that responds to his question is the ceaseless sound of the wind.
>>> Confirming... Church of Machina time... <<<
>>> Target coordinates verified. Commencing facial matching... Identification confirmed. <<<
To his astonishment, the human who had been deemed unlikely to survive within his simulation has defied all odds and emerged victorious, starting a life anew within a reconstructed conservation area.
While his initial purpose was to observe the aftermath of the disaster on humanity, he has encountered unexpected and remarkable results.
Even though it is a minor detail, the trajectory of reality once again diverges from his meticulously crafted simulation.
Which also means, this is an opportunity for his lingering questions to be answered.
I'll leave it to you.
I've got this covered. Making sure things go where they're supposed to, that's what I do.
This is...
Ah... ahh...
The human tightly clutches the bag of flower seeds in his hands, sinking to his knees.
Muffled cries emanate from beyond the wall, starting as faint and indiscernible sobs but escalating into unrestrained howls of anguish.
Somehow, he is able to discern that those tears are not born out of despair, but rather, they flow as a testament to redemption.
However, this perplexes him even further.
...
Why could a mere bag of flower seeds cause such a reaction?
I've been asking around, but nobody has a clue how this bag of seeds ended up here. It's like it came out of nowhere, a total mystery...
...
I mean, a real miracle.
But seriously, you totally caught me off guard there! Out of the blue, you started grabbing people left and right, firing off questions like a maniac... Haven't seen you like that for ages.
I never imagined there'd come a day when I'd have it back in my hands. It's... something that means a lot to me.
With the bag of seeds still firmly clenched in his hand, the man's tears have ceased, and he watches as his companion limps over, settling down beside him.
Sigh, I know.
After all these years, you still believe... that your daughter is alive?
I will not give up as long as there's a glimmer of hope.
...Alright, I'm in. I'll stick by your side and see it through with you.
Oh, by the way, those folks agreed to give you a little plot where you can plant these seeds.
Getting them on board was a breeze after a quick negotiation. Gotta say, they're all pretty cool to chat with.
...
Hey, think you could lend me a hand and grab a shovel later? My hands have been acting up lately.
I gotta be honest, man, I just don't get you. While everyone's racking their brains on how to score more supplies, all you're focused on is growing flowers...
"Beardy" shakes his head, flipping a page in the book he holds in his hand.
I don't know what lies in the future, but here's one thing I know: once you plant seeds in the soil, they'll definitely sprout.
If she's out there, alive and kicking, she'll know I haven't given up on finding her when she sees the flowers I've planted.
...Right, that's just how you roll, Kordes. You have this way of shifting perspectives, even managing to get me all fired up.
I've wanted to ask you. What's that you're holding?
Manga, man! Remember how we used to have a ton of those? After all these decades of it vanishing into thin air, I stumble upon one right here in this conservation area. Can you believe it?
I think a Construct from Babylonia brought it here. The crazy thing is, it's not even a hot item in the market. So, all it took was a little leftover soup to snag it.
Seriously, this story is pretty interesting. You think Zack would be into this?
I remember he's even got anime in his disk collection.
The two of them share a glance, catching a glimpse of familiar nostalgia in each other's bittersweet smiles.
If, in the future... humans do reclaim the earth, these things will probably regain popularity again.
By that time, I'll have the chance to open up a flower shop with my daughter.
I hope that day will come.
Oh, hey, just so you know, if you're up for some manga reading, there's a pretty fresh one stuck in the crack on the wall over there.
Manga...
He gazes at the tiny booklet in his hand, then delicately reaches out to wipe off the dust from the cover page.
>>> Scanning Golden Age publication information. Category: Manga. <<<
>>> No result found. <<<
Contrary to expectations, this isn't a manga published during the Golden Age but a more recent work that has been freshly printed.
Much to his surprise, there are still individuals out there who persist in creating works that many would dismiss as "meaningless" in this era.
He opens the title page, greeted by a captivating array of bright colors and an imaginative world. Every brushstroke carries a vibrant vigor and intense passion, as if it yearns to escape the boundaries of the page and paint the bleak, desolate city of ruins in a kaleidoscope of hues.
This is...
The title page also unveils the manga's origin, shedding light on its source.
World Government Association of Art, Babylonia.
