Story Reader / Interlude / Untainted Prayer / Story
By the time Pfaff had finished his business with the Fishing Guild and selected a carving knife in the market, it was already noon.
Hurry, and pack up shop. Business is over today.
The hell! I just sold me first shivvy!
"They" are coming. Go home where it's safe.
Hearing this, Pfaff realizes that the bionic tide is coming today.
Where is the tide coming from?
Huh? Like always, from the surrounding forest... Same deal this time...
Quickly paying the knife seller, Pfaff turns and hurries into the forest.
Oi, gramps! Your change!
Rosetta! Are you here?!
Pfaff shoves open the small door to the cabin. There are no signs of invasion by the tide, but Rosetta is nowhere to be found.
Pfaff has previously ordered Rosetta to leave a note whenever she would leave home.
If only I hadn't gone out at this time... Rosetta... Where in God's name are you?
His intuition tells him that Rosetta's disappearance must be related to the bionic tide.
And as if confirming Pfaff's thoughts, the characteristic roars of the bionics resound from outside the door.
GAAWR...!
Damn it!
Pfaff rushes out the door with an alacrity that betrays his old age. He begins firing his shotgun at the bionics.
Bzz..
The pellets punch a massive cavity in the chest of a bionic, and it collapses onto the snow.
The tide, however, is more than just a singular bionic. More begin to surround Pfaff.
(Whistles)
A short whistle travels through the air, and over a dozen spears plummet from the sky, impaling the bionics that surrounded Pfaff.
Crisp clip-clops of hooves approach. A centaur-shaped Construct leaps over the bushes and stands beside Pfaff.
My name is Temia, a member of the Forest Guard. Are you injured, sir?
Seeing this strange Construct introduce herself as a Forest Guard, Pfaff furrows his brows and shifts, quietly avoiding eye contact.
Taking Pfaff's silence for shock, Temia strides over to comfort him. Before reaching Pfaff, however, a bionic—not completely destroyed—suddenly hurls itself at her.
ROAAR—arghhh!!!
A blast from Pfaff's shotgun punches a hole straight through the bionic's chest. Smoke dissipates from the barrel.
If you don't destroy their power connectors, they might get back up again.
Thank you...
Several other Forest Guard members arrive, reporting to Temia.
Captain! We found some fresh tracks leading to the foot of the mountain. Looks like they belong to a girl.
To the mountains where the kids in town snuck off to...? But why?
There are quite a few bionic footprints nearby. I'm worried that...
Hearing the Forest Guard, Pfaff immediately slings his shotgun around his shoulder and hastily proceeds toward the mountain.
Hey, where are you going?! Hey!
Forest Guards, stay on guard and follow the hunter. Move out!
Rosetta cautiously hides behind a fallen tree and sniffed the air.
Vital fluid... They're still moving up the mountain!
I should've warned the girls not to go into the forest when I saw them off in the distance!
But she couldn't break the promise she made to her grandfather to not speak or meet with outsiders.
But now there are only two choices: charge ahead of the bionics to find the girls, or...
Rosetta firmly grips her trusty spear.
Or destroy all of the bionics!
Rosetta firmly grips her trusty spear.
...Or destroy all of the bionics!
