Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Farewell to the Past Year / Story
The city you are walking through is eerily silent. All you can hear is the snowfall and the wind howling.
We are close, Commandant.
It's already the middle of the night. I'm not sure if you are accustomed to the temperature. And the continuous battles... must be weighing on you.
With Bianca leading you, your journey to meet Karenina has been fairly calm.
On her own, Karenina seems to be less forceful and odd than usual.
Karen, what are you doing here?
Her hood is covered with a thin layer of snow. It appears that she has been waiting for quite a while.
Bianca's capabilities aside, the fact that you've arrived with [player name]in one piece tells me that someone's not being a giant pain in the butt.
Although her expression is as animated as ever, you can tell that Karenina is purposefully lowering her voice.
What's our situation here, Karen?
Karenina holds her finger to her lips, indicating you to be quiet.
Your eyes follow the direction she is pointing, and you find the CUB hovering, perfectly still, as if monitoring something.
I did discover some unusual tracks, which was why I ran off earlier. But things aren't what I expected.
I've discovered a trail that suggests a mechanoid on the move from where we are to where the CUB is. That's how I put all our clues together...
As she speaks, you hear a low-frequency warning broadcasted from where the CUB is hovering.
Karenina is the first to respond. She jumps to her feet and dashes toward the CUB.
I've set the CUB to hunt mode. You don't need to rush!
Bianca raises her voice toward Karenina to no avail. Frustrated, she also chases after her.
Stop wasting time—[player name]! Follow!
Karenina turns to look at you confidently.
Stamina shouldn't be a problem for you?
Keep up, then!
You can rest afterward! I'll see you at the finish line!
...
...
Susurrus... Kllkllk...
～Where are you from?～
～Do roses bloom in your garden?～
～And where are you going?～
～When you wake, do people sing?～
The young girl softly hums her made-up melody, her delightful voice sounding especially pleasant in the calm and silent ruins.
Behind the singing girl inside the shadow, however, lurks a chilling presence.
The girl is not concerned, or maybe she has not noticed the sound of mechanical parts slowly approaching.
...
...
It's her!
Commandant! Take cover!
As if she has noticed something, Karenina strikes proactively. Her CUB also activates at the same moment.
Karenina becomes extra nervous as she notices who her targets are surrounding.
It is indeed a familiar voice—perhaps that is why Karenina is so eager to chase her down in the first place.
Bianca, I'll count on your support!
Hey! We're coming to save you!
