Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Farewell to the Past Year / Story
Sir, the fight here's over...
But is it really a good idea to take advantage of their tests to get Babylonia's new device to help clear out the Corrupted nearby?
Who gives a damn? They wanted authentic, accurate data—nothing beats data from a real fight.
A fallen Corrupted suddenly rises and sprints toward Watanabe at inhuman speed.
But its head is immediately crushed a few steps out—the CUB goes in and stomps for two more strikes, completely shattering the Corrupted into pieces before swiftly returning to Watanabe's side.
Hmm, good job...
He pats the head of the CUB, revealing an unusual smile.
Hey, is it just me, or is Mr. Watanabe being much gentler to the metal critter than he is to us?
Damn... Stop it. You're gonna make me cry.
All of a sudden, the CUB raises its head and takes a quick scan of the surrounding before running off in a direction.
Is that a joke? Don't tell me it's broken already, running off like that...
But Watanabe does not seem to be in a joking mood.
Everyone, get up! Follow it!
W-what's wrong?
Get in your vehicles! It detected hidden Corrupted outside of our patrol area, and it's heading there at full speed! The destination is—
Hearing the location Watanabe says, all the Forsaken soldiers jump to their feet and hop on their vehicles, speeding behind the CUB without delay.
After Watanabe departs the campsite, the children turn their attention to you, a stranger from Babylonia.
Before the boys can act, the previously timid-looking girl walks up to you.
[player name], is it? Nice to meet you, we are the members of the Forsaken Reserves K-107 Squad One—
K-107, that's right! Once we grow up, we will graduate into the proper 107 Squad!
Anyway, before Uncle—I mean, before Chief Watanabe returns, we will be accompanying you at our campsite.
No need to worry. We'll keep you safe.
Oh, you're welcome.
Wonderful! Let's act together, then!
In that case... let's continue our previous operation. But now that we have [player name] with us...
We're asking [player name] to join us now? But we're almost done...
But we'll kill two birds with one stone while also getting to keep an eye on the supplier!
Isn't keeping an eye on the supplier the other bird?
...Maybe? Not that we can do it any other way!
The three youthful faces turn serious again. They put their heads together, discussing secretly.
By the time they talk to you again, they seem to have come to a consensus among themselves, and they look at you with anticipation and barely hidden excitement.
Here—take this.
The boy reaches his hand out proudly, and in his palm is a poorly made lantern.
Its rough edges are even more noticeable being in a child's hand.
We've been preparing this.
Exactly... For Uncle Watanabe and his troop!
Hmph! It's my idea, after all!
For decoration, obviously!
Think about it—Uncle Watanabe just left with his men, right?
We hang this at the entrance of the campsite, and when the squad returns, they'll open the gate and find—
Hey, don't say it out loud! You know we aren't allowed near the entrance outside the camp!
What are you so afraid of? We know they're not here.
...And you just have to spoil it! What good does it do if our mission objective knows we can't go near it?!
You two bozos!
It's fine! We're just decorating! Nothing will go wrong with an extra pair of hands!
We can even manage our time better while keeping [player name] in our line of sight!
Accomplice? No!
You're the reason Uncle Watanabe and his squad are out at this time of the year—
And we got an extra mission because of you!
You aren't an accomplice—you're guilty! Helping us is the least you can do!
The two boys mean business, and they leave you no room for refusal.
And the girl behind them has already laid out all the things she packed earlier, tallying everything carefully.
...It's too late to split up now. We have to take the supplier with us.
Just... to do what, exactly? Decorations... lanterns?
Our next step is to clear out the trash near the entrance, then put our preparations to good use.
As she finishes, she divides the decorations in front of her into three parts and hands one to each of you.
...So, "supplier," do you also make New Year decorations, like, at the place you're from?
I knew it!
That's surprising...
It'll be too sad to not even have something like this...
She lowers her head and thinks for a while.
Um... We've made so many already, so what's one more? It'll be our payment to you once we're done decorating!
