Branch J-03, part 6 (after battle)

I see the exit over there!

Gah, bloody persistent, innit?

<We'll have to distract them somehow before we can get away…>

Why don't you throw one of us at 'em? You can bring them back later anyway.

Why are you looking at me?

<… Hold on, look over there…>

Leave this to me.

Sonya?! What are you playing at?

<Rodya! What are you talking about? Just let him do his thing, we need all the help we can get!>

No one ever helps for free, y'know? There's gotta be something!

……

It's just like how you simply couldn't hold yourself back from using your axe that day.

I'm discovering that I might have a similarly… inexplicable drive.

Dante, I take it that your organization is working to make a better world in its own right, yes?

<I… Uh-huh?>

What does a better world entail?

For the first time, I was reminded that I had never questioned the motivations of Limbus Company.

Thankfully, none of my contemplative fudging reached Sonya, and he took my lack of a response as a sign of agreement.

Silence sometimes speaks volumes. I'll take that as a positive.

And one more thing… That child will soon visit you, too.

<Child?>

Huh?

Ah… Sorry. My eyes must have fooled me. I thought I saw something on his forehead for a second…

Yes, I mean that boy who left quite the impression on you. It'll be a touching reunion, I imagine.

Sonya nudges his chin at something behind him.

A faint light was shining between the fallen blocks of ice, giving a distinctive glow…

<The Golden Bough…>

Don't expect me to act on the same impulse of kindness next we meet, though.

If a clear path towards prosperity of the many shows itself before my eyes, I'll take it without hesitation.

After Sonya left us with a mysterious message, the Yurodiviye began to show up one after the other.

Well… This may have been as good a time as any for touching farewells like "I won't forget you!"

… Then I saw that Rodya was the first to sprint for the exit.

Rodion. Are you not concerned?

About what?

Irrespective of consequential differences, he was nevertheless a fellow of yours.

Ah, that~ Eh, he's a clever dude, so I'm sure he'll figure out a way to live and all that jazz.

… Truly, an ideal form of friendship.

Sometime later…

Though I was just about ready to pass out, I had to give Vergilius a brief report on what we went through today on account of his fierce gaze.

… I see, so that's your story. There's just one thing that bothers me, though.

This man… Sonya, was it? His actions during those final moments don't quite seem to align with the way he pursues his ideology.

We need to get a clearer idea of his true intentions before moving on from this -

Hey, time out, tiiime out!!!

First Yi Sang, and now you too? Why does everyone care more about Sonya than me? I'm the one who got the Golden Bough, aren't I?

As a plus… Check this out, everyone~

From her pockets, Rodya pulled out a colorful bunch of gaming chips in her hands.

We can exchange these cuties for cash at any casino, so we should drop by one.

I nabbed 'em while our one and only manager hit the jackpot and dazzled the floor.

<I'm impressed that you thought to pocket all that amidst the chaos.>

Well, Verg? What do you say to a juicy serving of prime sirloin steak to celebrate our abounding success today?

… Any thoughts, Charon?

… Mmm.

Seems Mephi wants it too. Fresh, succulent, juicy meat.

Gah, of all the things you could mention…

Alright, then. I'll entrust Rodion with the task of locating the venue for our team dinner.

Okay. Vroom-vroom.

Now we're talking, Verg.

After all's said and done…

Profound anxiety trembles beneath her grin, but she soon slips it under the mask of levity without a trace.

I'm pretty rad, aren't I?

Impressive, Yurodivy.

Not only did you manage to clear out the legion of foes…

You also burned all that cash.

You should know, Hermann, that I've never been a friend of capital.

I will admit, you're not like most idealists; you actually walk the talk.

You'd have earned yourself a further compliment if only you had capped it all off by securing the Golden Bough.

… I showed Rodya that world.

The same ideal reality that I fell for.

Alas…

I suppose it didn't win her over.

It seems the method you suggested was wrong after all, Hermann.

She wasn't the kind of person to let a few words change her mind.

So, do you find this… regrettable?

Well…

Part of me might've wished that she'd follow me like in the past.

Actually, never mind. I think I'm actually relieved to find that things haven't changed at all.

Rodya never wished for a perfect, flawless utopia.

Rather, she might have felt…

... that it would be boring to live in such a world, since there'd be no way to affirm that she's special.

That's the impression I got.

I thought her to be a woman of virtue and unshakable principles…

Turns out she's but a dreamer, just like yourself.

She still has a long way to go, that's all.

… Though I doubt she'll admit that.

I got your point. I'll keep it in mind for future considerations on our course of action.

You won't scold me for this? I did ultimately fail to complete the task you gave me.

Would reprimanding you make the Bough suddenly appear at our feet? No.

It's fine. Wherever the Boughs may be right now…

What matters more is who claims the bundle at the end.