Story Reader / Interlude / Albus Spectrum / Story
When you leave the institute... 21, what do you want to do?
Want to do? I don't understand.
Ugh... Don't you like doing anything?
Like I wanna read tons of books... I wanna wear tons of clothes! I wanna go to the beach! I wanna lay in a field of flowers. I wanna...
The girl before her begins counting the number of things she wants to do on her fingertips.
No. 21 has never read a book. She has never worn any other clothes. She does not know what a "beach" is. She has never seen a field of flowers.
When I leave... what do I want to do...?
No. 21 struggles to think of something. All she knows is what is written on her daily schedule. If there is anything that she could hope for, it might be new colors or smells other than what was in the institute.
No. 21 sees her reflection in No. 20's glimmering eyes, and she finds herself muted and dull.
Experiments...
Huh? What'd you say?
...Complete experiments.
Huh?
Complete all the experiments. That's what I want to do.
That's so boring! You're just like all the other test subjects! All you guys think about is completing experiments.
No. 21 looks down. She does not quite understand what No. 20 is talking about, nor does she understand where the twinkle in her eyes comes from, or even why No. 20 behaves so differently from her.
She looks at the back of her hand. A bruise had formed after such a long period attached to an IV, and it's covered with medical tape. She never thought about what she should do if she left the institute, because she had no answer. Someone else would tell her what to do. She just needs to do it.
Anyway... Even if you don't know, you'll leave the institute soon enough.
It's almost time for my modification surgery... You might be a bit of an airhead, but I still don't wanna leave you.
While I'm gone, you better think of what you wanna do!
I see...
Why are you here so early?
Vera interrupts No. 21's recollection. She looks up to see Vera standing at the entrance to the training room. Her eyebrows are raised as she asks.
...The hand is at the six, so I woke up and started the mission.
Huh? You mean 6 o'clock?
Vera looks at the clock hanging on the wall in the training room. The clock reads 10 o'clock, meaning No. 21 had been sitting here for several hours.
Next time you get here so early, start training by yourself.
Oh. Understood.
Also, when I say something, you better listen up. Don't make me tell you a second time.
Oh... Okay.
Well, let's begin. Put this on and warm up.
Vera throws her a small M.I.N.D. simulator. She follows Vera's instructions and attaches it to her temples.
Load battle simulation HEX-022.
Understood. Loading scenario.
The scenery around them begins to change. Weeds and rocks grow on the ground, the sun appears in the sky, and hot wind blows through the air.
Where am I?
It's just a simulated environment. Don't worry just yet...
No. 21 smells the air. She smells a hot, arid scent along with other peculiar smells. Her whole body is tense and excited by all the novelties around her.
Let's make a few things clear. One, listen to all of my commands when we're in battle. Two...
No. 21 hears a faint sound from behind a rock. Turning around quickly, a mechanoid springs out from behind and rushes toward her.
Rawrgh—!
The laser cannon blows the mechanoid to pieces right before it reaches No. 21.
Vera unsheathes her blade. After a fierce clash, another mechanoid falls to the ground.
Don't get in my way.
Vera pulls out her blade from the back of the mechanoid's head, and smiles arrogantly. Her red eyes twinkle with a light more radiant than the distant sun. Her red frame glows like a goddess emerging out of flames.
The intense red dazzles No. 21's eyes. Her heart begins to race again. A voice in the depths of her M.I.N.D. screams for more.
...Understood.
Vera finally realizes that No. 21 does indeed have unparalleled talent on the battlefield. She fights with the frenzy of a beast in an arena.
This is a sharp contrast from the clueless new recruit she had seen earlier.
No. 21's synergy with the Co-Bot is far greater than any team Vera had witnessed in Kurono. The silly little robot functions as an extension of herself.
...At the same time, as their training progressed, she begins to uncover No. 21's issues in battle.
No. 21 has no understanding of the concept of "defense," nor does she know how to fight together with others.
As soon as she engages in combat, she becomes a rabid dog without a leash. She ignores orders and is unable to restrain herself. She fights without discretion until all Corrupted are destroyed.
Her combat module seems to only have one command: kill everything.
Enough... No. 21, stop!
Hiss—
Right as No. 21's pupils narrow, she pounces on the nearest Corrupted. The Co-Bot traps the Corrupted in a force field, then the laser cannon floating beside her fires a beam of light, blowing up the Corrupted.
...Just great.
Vera has no intention of stopping the combat simulation. Her first priority is to put the rabid dog on a leash.
Vera slashes an attacking Corrupted with her blade as she tries to close in on No. 21.
Sensing someone approach, No. 21 roars menacingly and launches an attack on Vera, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
Vera blocks the blast from No. 21's laser cannon, then leans back to avoid the following blow from the Co-Bot. Right as the Co-Bot passes by, she throws her blade with all her might. The flying blade pierces through the Co-Bot's mechanical arm and nails it firmly to the ground.
Among the carnage, Vera rolls as the laser cannon tracks her with a continuous barrage of attacks, and manages to arrive next to No. 21.
No. 21 doesn't excel at close-ranged combat, unlike Vera, who is in her element.
Vera clenches No. 21's throat from behind, restrains her arm behind her back, and knees the back of her leg.
No. 21 falls to her knees and frantically tries to escape Vera's hold as she growls relentlessly.
Vera secures her tightly, holding her head close to No. 21's ear.
No. 21! Snap out of it!
I'm the devil... here to take you back to hell.
The familiar sound... The familiar scent... The familiar touch...
A flash of memory awakens No. 21. She gradually pulls herself out of attack mode and slowly stops struggling.
Stop combat simulation.
Combat simulation terminated.
The surrounding environment changes rapidly, turning back into the empty training room. The only sound is of the two Constructs struggling to catch their breath.
Vera relaxes her hold on No. 21, who sits motionlessly on the floor.
Came to your senses, huh?
Vera pulls out her weapon sticking out of the Co-Bot. It twitches as it exudes a wisp of black smoke.
...
...Yes.
What'd I say? When we're in combat, you have to listen to my every command.
...
...I can't control myself.
Then you better start learning.
I can't...
Don't say you "can't."
Vera slashes her sword, causing the sharp blade to slice through the air with a loud "shink!" She looks down at No. 21 with an expression similar to when they first met.
On your feet. Keep going.
The tone in her voice... it sounds like there is nothing she cannot do. For some reason, No. 21 cannot help but believe what the Construct before her is saying. Is it because of her threatening color? Or the light in her eyes?
...Understood.
No. 21 stands up. To Vera's surprise, she becomes reinvigorated with energy and a spring in her step.
Is this the "desire" that the Construct spoke of?
If so—then this is what No. 21 wants to do.
Watch closely. This is how to defend yourself.
Vera takes a step back and blocks a Corrupted's attack from the side with her blade.
Why defend?
Why not just kill everything?
...
The Corrupted hisses, signaling another Corrupted to rush over and attack.
Vera slashes downward. The Corrupted loses its balance and falls toward her. With a flick of her wrist, she adeptly pierces it's torso... and the head of the Corrupted behind it.
Sometimes you have to defend in order to kill more Corrupted effectively—duh.
Corrupted don't have minds of their own, but we do. Don't stoop to their level and fight like a rabid dog.
Combat requires you to think.
Understood.
When I order you to defend—!
I step back!
No. 21 rolls back toward Vera. The two Constructs stand back-to-back, surrounded by the approaching Corrupted like they're in the eye of the storm. However, they aren't afraid... On the contrary, they're filled with excitement and anticipation.
—Let the killing begin.
As No. 21 roars, the Co-Bot leaps into battle, unleashing a force field that imprisons the Corrupted closest to them while Vera's blade severs their memory shells.
The center of the storm begins to erupt with explosions, rippling outward in a dazzling display of fireworks.
More enemies approaching from the rear!
Find an opening! You take the left, I got the right! Let's see who gets there first!
Understood.
At 6 o'clock, No. 21 opens her eyes to see herself lying on a pure white bed.
No. 21 finds herself in a new room next to Vera's. The bedding in this room is pure white.
At 7 o'clock, No. 21 completes her routine frame inspection and maintenance. She opens the terminal Vera gave her. Even though she's still unfamiliar with how to use it, she's learned to record some simple notes on it.
"Inspect and repair frame" complete. Next is, "attack training."
No. 21 faces the wall and begins to practice.
Despite exercising caution... she accidentally shatters a glass wall.
At 8 o'clock, No. 21 sits at a desk in the break room. She takes a few small sips from a cup of piping hot black tea.
...
?
Why are you drinking that?
Because you do.
Sitting beside No. 21, Vera resists the urge to smack her. Instead, she channels her anger into setting her own cup of tea forcefully on the table.
Just do what I do in combat. Not everything else!
...Oh.
No. 21 replies, then takes another sip.
At 9 o'clock, No. 21 stands at the entrance to the training room, then turns to look at the red Construct approaching nearby.
I wasted an hour of my sleep because of you. Look at me like that again, and I'll cut you.
Time to start combat training.
Are you really trying to hurry me along?
...
For today's training, you need to learn to stop fighting at a moment's notice. If you can't, you'll just get thrown out with the trash.
Understood.
At 6 o'clock, they finish their training. Vera walks through the hall, only to be stopped by two Constructs.
Looks like you've got yourself a little pet. Not bad, Vera.
Out of my way.
Who knows, you might actually cry when you lose her.
Vera pulls out her blade. No. 21 arches her back and snarls, threateningly. The Co-Bot somehow manages to sneak up behind them and jumps on one of their heads, clasping his head with its mechanical arm.
Huh? AHHHHHHH—! Wh-what is this thing?! I can't see!
Wh-what the hell is that thing!!
Hey, you! Constructs, what do you think you're doing?!
(Scoffs)
Vera sheaths her blade.
The Co-Bot scurries off the Construct's head and returns to No. 21's side.
No. 21 glares at the Constructs. Her cold eyes make the Constructs tremble.
Y-you guys are m-monsters... Let's get outta here!
Vera casts a sideways glance at the fleeing Constructs with disdain. Her glare burns like scorching fire.
...
While I'm gone, you better think of what you wanna do!
No. 21 looks down at the Co-Bot that is lightly rubbing her foot.
An unprecedented feeling overwhelms her.
...Is this what I really want to do?
No. 21 shakes her head. She still doesn't know. All she knows is that her life is filled with even more colors.
Daydreaming again, aren't you? Don't come crying to me if you miss the final inspection.
Vera calls her up ahead.
Coming.
No. 21 answers her and walks over.
