Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Farewell to the Past Year / Story
—Babylonia Outpost.
Watanabe departed a while ago due to his allegiance, while the people you are meeting have already arrived at the outpost, according to the message you received.
The headlights from your vehicle light up the entrance to the outpost, and you find two female Constructs standing there, waiting for you.
[player name]. Happy to see you again.
Better we see you less! After all, every time we run into you... some weird shit's gonna happen.
...But nothing unusual this time, luckily. You'll have to travel with us for the remaining journey.
I know it might be a bit unexpected, but Karen and I will be accompanying you and supporting you for the rest of your assignment.
Please don't take it the wrong way. We're here for the same reason you are. As to where we've been... just consider our meeting a coincidence.
Obviously. We are definitely not here because of how bothersome Gray Raven has been or because Lucia asked us to.
Also, Asimov has talked to us, and before he gathers all the test data, you're in charge of bringing our test mechanoid back to Babylonia as well.
It's simple—we're all heading back to Babylonia. Nothing weird for us to share a ride.
As Karenina speaks, Bianca has already opened a comms channel.
Although you cannot tell who she is talking to, judging by her phrases and expression, the person on the other end is surely someone important in Babylonia.
Bianca does not turn back immediately after the call has ended. A Construct stationed at the outpost steps forward and talks to her.
...It's one thing for Constructs to have no holidays at all. It's another to ask you to go on a mission at this time of the year.
What an odd fella, that Asimov. What's the obsession with data?
True. It's an emergency mission, after all. And I don't dislike this cute little critter.
Don't say shit like this all of a sudden! What am I, a child?
I'm quite familiar with the development of the CUBs. After all, I was responsible for developing the power system...
Karenina carefully goes through and examines the CUB after receiving it. The level of attention is not far from a professional's.
The completed version is even more detailed than I thought... I hope the Forsaken bunch didn't break the damn thing... or implanted some weird shit on it...
(Chuckles) Who knows? It's never smart to trust someone blindly... How the hell have you survived to this day?
Not yet... But! Those Forsaken...
Karenina is going to continue before Bianca returns and stops her.
The results of the CUB project will be inspected by Asimov... We don't have to get involved.
Our mission is also assigned with similar concerns, so we don't have to reveal too much. Also... I just talked to the other team members, and I've received some unexpected intel.
...Intel? Bianca, what kind of intel?
We'll discuss the details after we've entered the guard post in City 015 proper.
Let's find something to do before you're back on Babylonia.
The road to the conservation area outpost is calm and quiet. The track has been repaired, so the journey is far from tiring.
Apart from an argument on who gets to drive the vehicle, everything has been going smoothly.
Suffice to say, the saying "Don't let Karenina go near the cockpit!" probably originates here.
Once you have arrived in City 015, Karenina disappears the moment she leaves the vehicle.
If there's nothing else to attend to, maybe we'll speak in length later about what we mentioned in the outpost, Commandant.
By the way... Have you seen where Karenina has gone to? I might have missed her when we arrived.
Miss Bianca, are you talking about the girl in the hood?
She has left for the old commercial district in the city.
We showed her this when you were unpacking.
Bianca takes the sample the Construct passes her and examines it. The graffiti on the box looks familiar.
After identification, you are almost certain that it matches the graffiti previously found in City 015.
I'm sure you've heard about it before you arrived at our guard post?
(Nods) ...That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
The graffiti symbol and the unusual Corrupted activities that follow its trail signify a Corrupted whose function has advanced beyond the norm. The target might be self-aware.
Despite ruling out many possibilities, there is still something that... concerns me.
There was a similar Corrupted in the past—"Nozzle", the one that only [player name] here has come into contact with before.
For safety reasons, I was hoping to invite you to investigate with me to make sure we can keep everything under control. But Karen... she really is an impulsive one.
Commandant, I know this is not your duty, but can I ask for your assistance before the extraction team from Babylonia arrives?
As the only commandant who has made contact with one, I'm sure you still remember it.
It is an unverified "phenomenon," and there's no way for us to confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the intel...
Both of these concerns call for a more secure approach. We'll count on you for the operation ahead of us.
As Bianca tries to locate Karenina with her comms, Karenina calls her.
Karenina?! Where did you go? Have you gone investigating the graffiti symbols by yourself?!
The symbols are real, but you don't have the slightest clue what it actually is.
What it actually is? Are you saying that the graffiti points to something else entirely?
That's why I have to call you—
Bianca can see my coordinates, right? I'll be waiting for you there in 15 minutes! Now, move! I don't like waiting!
Hello? Hey? Karen?! Sigh... she hung up.
Apparently. She's even brought the CUB with her... What is she up to?
