Branch D-02, part 12 (after battle)
This floor is crawling with maggots.
<These bugs aren't so bad after the last floor's Abnormality. Don't want to see anything like that ever again.>
Pft... Sure Greg would be glad to hear that. Aren't you, buggy buddy?
But Gregor wasn't paying attention to Rodya.
... Don't you all hear something?
We've been hearing a constant growl. Rodya, are you really that hungry at a time like this?
H-hey, don'tcha know you're supposed to let that kinda stuff slide? C'mon, girl.
No, not that... It's like...
For the first time on the expedition, Gregor walked ahead of the group and opened the door next to him as if by some compulsion.
Wait, that's a containment unit...!
It's like... that time...
No, the door was already open.
Gregor gazed blankly into the room, lost in the shower of the outpouring golden light.
<Grego - !>
Did we... travel back in time?
I see an overcast sky.
From a distance, screams and roars twine into a warped cacophony.
The ear-shattering boom of artillery and war cries suffuse the air with its acrid sting.
Isn't it obvious? This is...
... a battlefield... The heart of it.
... A-am I... dreaming? Is this a nightmare? Wh-why am I back here...?
So why the hell are we in a bloody battlefield?! Did we trigger a trap or something?
No. We're on the right track.
The essence of the technology we're looking for is not far from here.
You mean the Golden Bough?
Correct. Do you recognize when this was?
Anyone with functioning eyes should know at a glance.
<Uhhh, I actually... don't.>
I confessed straight-up.
I cannot possibly blame you for not recognizing this, Executive Manager, as you have no eyes in the conventional sense.
Sure, whatever you say...
Outis cleared her throat as if to mask her embarrassment, then narrowed her gaze at the battlefield.
Judging from the colorful wave of garish flags showing off the factions in play...
This is at least 70 days into the Smoke War...
... This concludes briefing, Manager.
That's when someone came up from behind and suddenly tugged at Heathcliff's shirt.
Are you out of your minds? Take shelter, now! You'll age rapidly if exposed to that bomb's blast!
The outpost next to ours turned into a nursing home - they can't even walk without sticks!
Who the hell are you and why do you act like you know us -
Oh! Manager Gregor! My respects, sir!
As soon as he noticed Gregor, the bandaged man snapped to attention and saluted him.
... You.
You wouldn't recognize me, sir. I'm Tomah from Biomimetics Maintenance!
I thought you were a part of the advance party; I didn't expect to find you here at the rear, sir.
Are you on your way to the front? I could help you get there since the augmentation on my legs allows me to jump―
Bweh, that sounds gross.
Tomah cast a curious glance toward Rodya.
You, what did you just...
H-hey, Tomah! So you're an Assistant Manager - or regular staff?
Sir, yes, sir! I'm an Assistant Private, sir!
Err, you see, s-she's a new hire who had her procedure done not too long ago, so... She's still dealing with the delirium side effect, y'know how it is. I'll give her a good talking-to.
Ah, I see... We must be getting desperate, sending new hires into battle.
Yeah, we're - sorry for the trouble. I've got to take her somewhere real quick...
Gregor practically yanked himself out of the conversation and hurried to Faust.
Just what's going on, Faust? These are...
... my memories.
We're in the fathoms of your ego, to be precise.
An open path in your psyche. In other words...
We've entered your heart and mind, Gregor.