Story Reader / Interlude / Albus Spectrum / Story
In the training ground below, the last Corrupted falls to the ground following Vera's final strike.
Standing next to her, No. 21 waves gently. The Co-Bot jumps down from a pile of Corrupted and scurries to her side.
...Marvelous. Absolutely marvelous.
How'd you do it...
I told you my plan was flawless.
No. 21 is now completely at her disposal—
...What are you afraid of? Having second thoughts as her creator?
No, I'm just amazed. I didn't expect Vera and No. 21 to be so compatible... Seems like No. 21 is acting more like a human after spending time with Vera.
Human... Bahaha! She'll never be human again! Constructs are just weapons.
Yarha resists the urge to argue with his superior. He might not be suitable for Kurono, but it's his best choice.
Anyway... I'm happy to see that No. 21's new frame is functioning normally. It was well worth the effort.
...You should be. Now's the time to celebrate.
The man in the black suit rubs his fingers in contemplation.
Not bad, Vera. I knew you were the only one in Kurono who could do it.
Vera scoffs, declining to comment.
Now that she's passed the test, it's time for you to take her on a mission.
Color me surprised. Go on. What's the mission?
I want you to go back to Daedalus' research division.
What...? I told you I wasn't going to pick your trash.
Who said it was trash?
We've put a stop to Daedalus' little tricks they been pulling behind our backs all these years. They've been collecting lost data from the Golden Age during the early days of the Punishing Outbreak in order to independently conduct Construct modification and expand their arsenal.
According to our research, a lot of rare and valuable data from the black market ended up in Daedalus.
With the collapse of Daedalus' headquarters... The Babylonians were able to take advantage of a lot of people.
The research institute was Daedalus' last haven. Since they were still conducting Construct modifications, the remaining data must be there.
You two are the most suitable for the job.
Yarha decrypted the topographic map of the institute and found a hidden area.
...Alright. Got it.
Get going. You'll receive the mission briefing on your encrypted channel later.
I hope everything goes well on your first mission with your new partner.
21—! Guess what happened today!!
Today, No. 20 is beaming with excitement to see No. 21 during the data collection experiment. She grabs No. 21 and pulls her to the side.
Sorry?
You won't believe it... It's about you. Take a guess!
...
No. 21 thinks as hard as she can, but nothing comes to mind. She shakes her head.
I can't think of anything.
You're no fun! Okay, I'll just tell you. I found your parents!
...
No. 21 doesn't react at first. She just blinks with a blank expression, not understanding what she meant by "parents."
You know... Your mom and dad? You don't know about that either?
Do I need to?
Your parents gave you life. They brought you into this world.
This world...? You mean the institute?
Anyway... They're super-duper important. You should love each other.
...I don't have any important people.
That's because you don't know they're your parents... If you knew each other...
Who gave me life?
Well, I accidentally saw them on your data report... I mean, I wanted to see who my parents were, but I didn't see anything... But I saw yours. Your parents are researchers in the institute.
...
Why aren't you happy? I thought you'd be excited. I've been dreaming of finding out who and where my parents are...
How about you try to meet them? Whaddaya think?
...
I don't need to.
WHAT?! Why...
...It's not my concern.
Don't you wanna at least try? They're your parents. Don't you have anything to say? Don't you wanna tell them that you know who you are?
Why... don't they come looking for me?
Er... Maybe they're having trouble? After all, who doesn't want to be with family in a world like this? Maybe they're watching you each day from behind the scenes. Even so... Aren't you at least a little curious? Don't you care about your only families in this world?
No. 21 puts a hand to her chest. She feels her heart begin to race, but she still remains emotionless. No. 20 talks of "family" and "love," but she doesn't understand the meaning behind these words. She doesn't want to do anything the researchers wouldn't allow.
The researchers who force her to wear this collar and conduct countless painful experiments... The people who gave her life are among them.
If so, then she was only given life so she could be born as a test subject. The thought of this leaves her with no amount of optimism.
I... have no family. I don't care.
You really are...
No. 20 bites her lip firmly, her cheeks trembling with anger. No. 21 cannot possibly imagine how she feels.
I'm so jealous of you! Your results are always top of the charts, even with how sick you are. The adults can't wait to mod you! AND you know where your parents are. I have NOTHING!
How can you be so indifferent...? You and the other test subjects are all the same! Just a bunch of heartless monsters!
She pushes No. 21 up against the wall.
No. 21 furrows her brows. Sensing No. 20's aggression, she arches her back and begins to growl menacingly.
...
No. 20 trembles. She looks at No. 21, but all she sees is a strange, terrifying thing standing in front of her. She feels a chill in her bones as her eyes brim with tears.
...I'm crazy for thinking you were somehow different from those other "things"...
Her body sways as if on the verge of collapsing.
No. 21 sees a look of "fear" in her eyes, among other things she does not understand. No. 20's eyes are filled with darkness—the same way as those "test subjects" during her experiments.
Fear. Hunt. Test. Kill.
Instinctively, No. 21 growls and falls back, moving her feet vigilantly to prevent being attacked, and snarls threateningly.
...I guess I'm the only one who doesn't fit in here at the institute.
...A killing machine like you... Even if you do get out of here, there's no way you can have a life of your own!
Sobbing, No. 20 turns and leaves No. 21 where she stands.
That was the day before No. 20's modification surgery—the last day No. 21 saw her.
21!
Vera's shouting brings No. 21 back to reality. No. 21 looks around blankly to find herself sitting on the transport craft. Was she daydreaming?
We're here.
Vera waves and jumps out of the exit hatch. No. 21 stands and looks out the window. Leaves and sand dance in the wind billowed up from the rumbling propellers. She sees the research institute where she had spent so many years—
Looking from the outside, she sees a dark hole that seems oddly small from where she stands.
Look familiar?
Vera folds her arms, then looks up.
It feels unfamiliar... yet so familiar at the same time. An unspeakable emotion grabs her heart, causing No. 21 to feel a shortness of breath. She does not have words for her contradictory emotions.
Say hello. Time to pay a visit.
No. 21 and Vera enter the cave and follow the dark corridor.
The corridor is strewn with broken limbs, and the ground is covered in a grimy liquid. They can't tell if it's blood or vital fluid.
Did you... do this?
Sure did. I butchered the entire institute. Got a problem with that?
Vera hisses a laugh in the darkness.
Look around. All of these are the remains of failed Constructs. Those Daedalus bastards couldn't even modify a single Construct.
...Not even one?
Each failed attempt was placed in embalming fluid and stored here in the laboratory like specimens.
A chill crawls up No. 21's spine.
Even... No. 20...?
These idiots are still looking for answers among complete failures... How pitiful.
Vera turns on her flashlight, and the cold, chilling light illuminates her face. Unlike her tone, there's no sign of jest on her face.
It should be kept buried underground forever. Let sleeping dogs lie...
It's just a mass grave.
At the end of the corridor, Vera turns left. Standing there, No. 21 turns around to look down the corridor.
How had she crawled all this way on instinct alone? This cold, rotten corridor is like a tongue sticking out of hell. It's sticky and moist, as if trying to devour all that enter.
A cold chill washes over No. 21. Standing in this place after living here for so many years... Only Vera's red frame offers any semblance of warmth.
No. 21 quickens her pace to catch up with Vera.
The door to the archive opens, and No. 21 steps in. Suddenly, Vera grabs her arm.
(Someone's here.)
Vera mouths the words and shines her flashlight on the ground, revealing a row of messy footprints stained by vital fluid extending into the depths of the room.
...
No. 21 nods and steps aside. Vera turns off her flashlight and leads the way.
A dim light shines in the dark recesses of the room. There's a rustling sound, like a mouse nibbling on a page.
As they approach, No. 21 hears a human mumbling.
Where is it... Where is it...
Where... the hell... is it...
Vera takes out her blade and clenches it tightly. She flicks her eyes, gesturing No. 21 to go around the right side.
In the faint blue light of a flashlight, they see a man wearing a lab coat hovering over a drawer of files, searching for something. Stacks of documents and numerous empty cans are scattered on the ground beside him.
...Not here either...
A moment later, a light flashes in the man's thick glasses and a blade appears at his throat.
Nghahhh!!
The frightened man suddenly collapses on the ground. Right then, the lights to the archive turn on, revealing a disheveled man with glasses and a scratchy beard. His lab coat is splotched with blood stains.
D-don't... k-k-kill me...!
A Daedalus straggler, eh? How'd you manage to survive here so long?
The man tries to block the light on his face with his hands. He breaths rapidly, and the corners of his mouth tremble as if under duress. They can't tell if he's panicking or excited. He doesn't appear to have his wits about him.
Are you... with Kurono...?
Answer the question!
I-I-I was...
Do you have the rest of the data?
D-data... Data! I couldn't find it. Did you? Where is it? Can you tell me? The data's crucial... I need it...
Hmph... Lunatic.
No. 21, who turned on the lights, walks back over to Vera and looks at the man's worrisome face.
Do you know him, No. 21?
No, I've never seen him.
Hearing the name "No. 21", the man suddenly looks up at her in disbelief. His lips tremble even more as he crawls toward her, muttering to himself incoherently.
No. 21... You're No. 21?
My dear, my sweet dear—
The man stretches out his dirty hands to hold No. 21's leg, but the Co-Bot and Vera's blade stand in his way.
No. 21 steps back. She gives him a fierce glare and lets out a quiet, threatening growl.
Don't you remember me? Don't you know who I am? I'm your father!
...Father?
Sorry?
Vera raises her eyebrows and looks at No. 21, speechless.
This lunatic is your pops?
I don't know... I...
No. 21's mood becomes chaotic again. Strange feelings collide in her chest. She feels a lack of oxygen again. She opens her mouth, and finally says—
...I don't know him.
No. 21, No. 21! Your mother and I came here when she was pregnant with you. You were born here in the institute. Y-you were in poor health since you were a child...
There were complications with the pregnancy... You weren't going to make it... That's why we brought you here...
Mother... Really? But I...
O-of course, it's true! We watched you grow up and become big and strong thanks to all the operations... We had to do it... But... Your mother's gone now... I'm all that's left. D-don't let your father die, too... Don't kill me—please!
Gone? Did she die?
No. 21 repeats indifferently. Hearing this news, she doesn't know how to react to the stranger in front of her.
Tch...
I was the one who performed your modification surgery! I wanted you to finally be healthy, my child. It was me who...
You performed... my modification surgery... to make me healthy...
Enough.
Vera can't take it any longer. She interrupts the man's incessant pleading.
If she's your kid, why doesn't she have a name?
Name? She... She does... When you were born... we called you... Aurora.
Vera's expression contorts in disbelief.
If you... If you don't believe me... I have proof. Proof that I'm your father. Are you with... Kurono now? Just let me go... I won't get in Kurono's way anymore... Here's my proof...
I don't need it.
No. 21 says blankly. She breathes hard, trying to stifle an inexplicable feeling clogged in her chest. This isn't what she wants. It's not what she had once imagined.
My name? My name is a designation. No. 21 is my designation.
...Hear that? My partner says she doesn't want it.
Vera points her blade at him again.
You have two choices: get out of here or let my blade see some bloodshed.
...I-I'll leave.
The man hurriedly staggers to his feet, knocks down a stack of documents on the table, and rushes out of the archive.
Hmph, stupid rat. What a waste of time.
Vera sheaths her blade, then casts a sideways glance at No. 21.
You're not gonna cry, are you?
...
No. 21 shakes her head.
I have no family. I'm not sad.
How can you be so indifferent...? You and the other test subjects are all the same! Just a bunch of heartless monsters!
...A killing machine like you... Even if you do get out of here, there's no way you can have a life of your own!
...I just want to complete my mission.
Vera glances at her with a conflicted expression, then looks over at an advertisement on the ground. In colorful text, it says: "Gen. 3 Aurora Frame - Product of Universal Toys".
She realizes that when he mentioned No. 21's name... his eyes wandered over in this direction.
How sickening...
Come on. Yarha's intel says that the remaining data should be under here.
We need to find another way in.
