Story Reader / Affection / Noctis: Indomitus / Story
Sykes? You mean that troublemaker?
Word on the street is that he's part of the reason why they've been enforcing the curfew regulations.
But I'm not even close to being associated with that group, let alone having any of their Wanderer's Biscuits.
After bidding farewell to that resident, you pull down your scarf slightly and take a deep breath.
That makes the seventeenth person. Dude's got quite a name in these parts.
Can't we directly request to view his profile?
Man, I totally forgot that we are on vacation.
I wish Nikola would work here as well, standing together with Wells at the counter during his vacation.
Then, I'll introduce Sykes to them. I'm sure they'll get along.
Noctis opens his mouth, and with a swift bite of his sharp teeth, he slices the tanghulu into flat halves.
A snack from Kowloong? Maybe we can add it to our menu.
As well as people like Sykes from all over the world...
(Chomps) Okay.
Commandant (munches), then what do we (munches) do now? Should we (munches) keep looking?
Right at the moment, a passing-by old man catches your attention.
If Sykes has indeed been openly opposing Babylonia as those people said...
Is it possible that his companions, those people who ate the legitimate Wanderer's Biscuits, may exhibit similar behavioral traits?
Just like the old man who has been avoiding Constructs and management staff.
...
The... Gray Raven Commandant?
As the fire crackles, the firewood is added piece by piece, fueling the flames and gradually heating the pot of water placed above it.
The old man puts a bunch of ingredients into the pot, but each step he has taken so far only serves to deepen Noctis' confusion.
Mister, to make Wanderer's Biscuits, I suggest...
The old man interrupts him with a hush gesture, silencing any forthcoming words.
After the Great Evacuation, things on the surface turned into a total mess, and food supplies ran out fast.
So we wanderers would eat anything we could find.
To make the Wanderer's Biscuits, we just took whatever we had on hand and cooked them together.
But I use all kinds of ingredients as well. There shouldn't be any mistake about that.
Where did you get those ingredients?
Huh? The owner ordered them from facilities in the Clean Zone, either fresh stuff or canned food.
That's what I'm talking about. You see, back when Sykes and we were wanderers, those food cans from Babylonia were like gold. And fresh, undamaged ingredients? They were the epitome of luxury.
Whatever we used to whip up those biscuits, it's not even worth mentioning in the Clean Zone now.
As the old man begins to work with the prepared ingredients, he takes the dough and starts to rub and shape it with his bare hands.
Noctis can't help but stare at the inexplicable color of the dough with a concerned look.
You don't need to worry. These are all safe to eat.
For a wanderer group, any food hygiene issue could be a real hassle. It would not only slow down the marching speed but also require extra manpower to take care of the resulting illness.
Sometimes, it would even... Forget about it. You don't need to know that...
The old man brushes off the extra flour from his hands and proceeds to bake the biscuit dough.
Noctis, despite witnessing the old man's apparent expertise, can no longer contain his growing concern as the edges of the biscuits begin to show signs of being burnt.
Mister, if you keep doing it this way, they'll turn coal-black in no time. Need me to take over for you?
Kid, you really think I'm too old to know what I'm doing? This ain't the right tool for baking biscuits, plain and simple. Even someone like you would end up burning 'em, one way or another...
But they'll be burnt very soon...
Take it easy. It's okay.
The Gray Raven Commandant asked me to make the Wanderer's Biscuits Sykes wants. If that's what you want, this is a necessary step.
The old man takes out the unfortunate batch of biscuits, placing them in a stacked pile on a plate.
With no plating and no condiments, the old man presents the plate with the stacked biscuits directly before you.
The old man responds with a silent gesture, indicating that you should taste the biscuits yourself.
As you reach for one that seems relatively more acceptable, Noctis snatches it away from your grasp and hastily shoves it into his own mouth before you can take a bite.
Don't worry. I said, there's not gonna be a problem.
...
Commandant...
I don't think you'd want to try this.
A bizarre combination of flavors floods your mouth, not to the point of being outright horrible but still much worse than your expectations. The taste and texture prove challenging to adjust to, making swallowing a struggle for you.
Amidst your coughing, you feel a big palm gently patting your back. After a short while, Noctis begins to pose questions to the old man.
Mister, you didn't get 'em wrong, did you?
Or maybe Sykes is just craving that special flavor from his good ol' wanderer days?
What do you think about the taste?
Even worse than the times when I completely messed up following a recipe.
Haha, it's okay. That's more like an average comment for it.
If someone tries to tell me that this stuff is delicious, I'd think they are just messing with me.
What do you mean?
A special flavor from the good old days? The old days were anything but good, and nobody in their right mind would want to think about that stuff again.
The actual Wanderer's Biscuits were never meant to taste good or look appealing in the first place. It's nothing like that.
Everyone wants their food to taste better, and we understand that, but there's one thing that must come first: the food has to be easy to store and can last long.
This food was originally created out of necessity to help people survive, and it has somehow made its way onto Vegetable Stew's menu while being marketed as "the real Wanderer's Biscuits". But let's be real here: no matter how you slice it, it's just a means to attract more customers.
So this is what Sykes' not happy with.
There are many things he's not happy with.
Maybe it's because you're the Gray Raven Commandant, like those guys from Babylonia said.
I don't have many days left, and neither do they. Whether it's about the surface or Babylonia, Sykes is probably thinking about the same thing as me. All we want is to leave something behind and pass it down...
Hey, you're back. Got any leads?
Yeah, we pretty much have it figured out.
Really? That's great to hear!
I've talked to all my regulars, and they know the tavern's gonna be shut tonight. This is the night, and you're gonna go all out to confront Sykes.
Have it all sorted out, eh? That's how the proud owner of Vegetable Stew rolls, I reckon.
Wait a minute... So all that big talk this morning about handling everything by yourself was just a bunch of bull, and you actually took the whole day off to avoid work?
Hahaha, I didn't say that... Ahem...
You know what, I gotta run. Remember to turn off the lights before you leave.
Having said that, the owner suddenly dashes toward the door with an astonishing speed.
Leaving the key behind, his figure swiftly vanishes into the enveloping darkness of the night.
Surely a fast runner he is...
Huh? These glasses... they're still dirty. Did that lazy bum just leave them all for us to clean? This is unacceptable! I'm gonna drag that damn slacker back here. I'll be right back, Commandant...
Commandant?
I see. Don't worry. I got this.
Just a few dirty glasses. I'll get it done in no time.
With a single fluid motion of his arm, Noctis deftly gathers all the glasses before him, creating a cacophony of clanks and clatters.
Efficiency first, safety later. The owner can always buy new glasses if I happen to break any.
Noctis turns on the water and begins to vigorously wash the glasses.
Yes?
I don't even need to bother. It's just a mishmash of random ingredients baked in whatever utensil until it's burnt.
Like their past...
Upon hearing your words, Noctis' hands come to a halt. The previously created atmosphere of cheerfulness gradually fades away.
Commandant, you're still concerned about that, aren't you? The Great Evacuation and the Clean Zone right now...
But that has nothing to do with you, doesn't it?
During the Great Evacuation, you weren't even admitted to F.O.S. yet.
But you're aware that there's no such easy escape where you can just enjoy a peaceful life in Babylonia built upon resources and labor from the surface while denying any involvement in it.
Then what should we do? The best solution might still be having Commander Nikola pay this place a visit and work at the counter during his vacation, right?
...
You're a very kind person, Commandant...
You know, if it were someone else, they probably would've just left this mess behind and pretended it didn't exist. After all, who needs the trouble that comes with it?
That's what makes you a kind person, Commandant. You've put in your fair share of hard work helping folks on the surface, but you just can't let go of this.
If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't even bother thinking that much about it.
Of course, I mean it. Folks ain't blind here, you know, and even a guy like Sykes...
...What gives you the idea that I care?
I wouldn't do anything to them just because of their lousy attitude. It's not like they're causing me real trouble or anything...
Also, isn't it normal to follow a commandant's orders? Commander Nikola said this to me many times...
...
Ugh, are we washing the glasses or not?
I can't be the only one having fun here. You gotta join the party, Commandant.
Roger that.
...Commandant, if you keep moving like that, you're gonna push me into the wall. Damn, this sink area is so cramped.
You pick a glass from the pile, using water to cleanse away the residue at the bottom.
Yep.
I'm not gonna do things at his pace, so get ready for a surprise, Commandant.
The atmosphere in Vegetable Stew today is notably tranquil, likely due to the day off or the only two employees left who diligently wash glasses by the sink and occasionally exchange whispers.
You have pretty much figured out what Sykes is looking for.
But that doesn't mean you will just follow his pace and give him what he wants.
The weather was nice, and no unusual events occurred. Today was another peaceful day.
