Story Reader / Floating Record / ER04 The Floating Reverie / Story
The ocean mist leaves streaks of moisture on Trailblazer's streamlined body. Falling off Trailblazer's rear wings, tiny droplets evaporate as they hit the heated air, turning them once again back into the endless mist.
The only specks of lights visible on this vast ocean are the bright amber light on Trailblazer's chest and the flickering navigation lights on the transport container.
We are arriving at our target coordinates. Can you see it?
The dark coastline before them is just barely visible beyond the fog.
I can see the coastline.
Traveling by sea did save us 34% of fuel and was 41% faster, just like I thought.
The Church's headquarters is just way too far from here for us to go by land.
I didn't detect any other entities in this airspace. There is a man-made structure in the two o'clock direction and that's where we will make our landing.
Prepare yourselves. We don't know who's going to join us down below.
With the heated air streams gradually dissipating behind Trailblazer's engines, they have landed on unfamiliar soil.
Even for Hanying, this land of blue-glazed tiles and gray bricks only exists in her dreams.
This is it. This is Kowloong.
Are we inside the city? Why does it look so desolate?
Based on past Metropolis planning, this is just an auxiliary town that they used for military purposes and not the actual Kowloong.
Much of Kowloong was destroyed after that battle, so this part of the city must have been abandoned long ago, too.
According to the information I got from Arcana, there was a large-scale war in Kowloong against the Punishing a very long time ago.
Wait, Arcana gave you the information?
It was a while ago, but yes.
"Mother" believed that this information would come in handy sooner or later, so she sent it to me a few days before we left.
According to the map "Mother" sent me, this area has been abandoned for a long time after that infamous battle, just like Hanying said.
And here is the data I've promised to give you... since my radar shows no signs of danger in the vicinity.
Trailblazer hands over the storage device taken from his memory slot to Spooner and fires up his engines.
I should head back, Sage needs me on her Expedition Team.
Thank you for making the trip, Mr. Blaze.
I'm just helping one of my own.
By the way, Mr. Blaze, could you give my thanks to Sage?
I'll personally thank her again if I ever get to see her again.
Certainly. Consider it done.
Thank you.
You are undoubtedly a woman of class, just as Cervantes described.
Farewell.
With an ear-shattering blast, Trailblazer disappears into the dense fog at the far end of the sky.
Arcana knew from the start that I would insist on coming back, so she gave Trailblazer the navigation map beforehand. How thoughtful of her...
Never for a second does Arcana forget about our well-being. She may not make her plans known, but she never fails to make the best arrangements for all of us at the Church.
It would seem like Arcana has already accepted you into this big family.
And I wonder what title Arcana will assign you.
Like how she's assigned "Chariot" to Trailblazer?
Yes, sometimes we refer to each other at the Church by our titles, because every title could eventually be... replaced.
...Replaced?
See, Blaze was not the first "Chariot", and I am not the first "Death".
Which means the "Chariot" and "Death" before the two of you...
Are dead, which happens on a regular basis.
While tinkering with the radar sensor, Spooner explains matter-of-factly.
See, machines are not completely immune to death.
If my memory serves me right, your title is "Death", right?
Right.
"Death" is such a dark and frightening term, but you don't give off that aura at all.
Hmm... is that so?
If you ask me, I think you are quite the opposite—you're gentle and amiable.
Unlike you and the other humanoid machines, we will never be associated with the word "human."
Spooner shakes his head and says no more.
"Temperance"? "Empress"? I've heard about an "Empress", except she isn't at the Church. I know nothing else about her, though, but I'm sure Arcana...
Beep, beep, beep—
The sudden warning alarm cuts Spooner off mid-sentence and sends him into high alert.
We got company.
Are they from Kowloong?
I can't tell for now. They're coming in from the three o'clock direction—and there's a lot of them.
Is there a fight going on?
Not sure... But the signals are strange and there are signs of humans in their vicinity.
Let's go.
Where to?
Whatever they are, I'm sure they know something about the current state of Kowloong.
But let's get ourselves properly warmed up before we get the show on the road...
