Reminisced League of Nine, part 21 (after battle)

After some time has passed...

With Dongrang's death, our contract with him was rendered null and void.

Meaning, the only way for us to be handed the Golden Bough was...

Well, consequently... it wasn't all bad. But it's not good, either.

Since the leader of the terrorists - Dongbaek, was it? - has died, their organization should collapse in no time. As for the remaining problems...

I have a suggestion on how to handle them.

Everything that happened in K Corp. today was single-handedly caused by a mentally unstable, rebellious employee named Dongrang...

In his scheme to unfairly claim personal gains and power within the firm. Do you agree?

...Are you sure you're okay with that cover-up story? He may have opposed us... but he was your employee, wasn't he?

Well... I did say my goodbyes with a phone call earlier. Some cheeky man he was.

And you're a manager at Limbus Company... Dante, right? You seemed somewhat unassertive for a manager.

If you want to be a leader, you'd best remember to nip any rising problem in its bud.

The faster, the better.

<Screw yourself.>

<You also hired Shi Association's assassins to silence Shrenne, didn't you?>

...They are telling you that they got the message.

...Hmph, I thought you were something of a half-wit, but I suppose you weren't put in charge for nothing.

Ah, and one more thing.

I don't know how things got complicated enough for you to get involved with our Wing's Singularity, but...

The tearful thing...

Was K Corp's Singularity itself and a confidential detail we could in no way allow to be known.

Limbus Company does not give away confidential information gained during investigation. If you'd like, we could arrange a contract to...

Ha. Ha. Are you seriously offering that just after seeing a contract you signed turn into worthless paper stacks?

I couldn't let a piece of paper bind me down.

I'll get your memories erased.

SYNC. Tamper with my memories, and I'll cut you down to bits.

...We'll follow your method, ma'am.

You piece of...

Well, since you're about to forget it all, let me correct one thing...

What you saw wasn't the actual tearful thing; it's a child entity.

We couldn't leave such a precious asset in the hands of some researcher with no real credentials, now could we?

It would sadden me if you believed that fiddling thing was the pride of our Wing.

...Ah, not that you'd have a chance to think that.

In spite of Ryōshū's menacing intimidation...

Following the unfriendly instructions of people who appeared to be K Corp's high-rank staff and Fixers, we were put through a memory wipe procedure, erasing every recollection of the tearful thing from the Sinners' heads.

As we left, Alfonso told us to look forward to how the tears will be used in the future...

The Sinners had memories of seeing something in the laboratory, but none of them could recall what it was, how the tears were collected, or how HP bullets were made.

<By the way, Yi Sang...>

<Where did you want to fly?>

I would have been content with the feelings it would give.

<What about now?>

...Hm. I will leave no comments on that.

What they didn't notice, however...

Is that the memory wipe didn't work on me for some mysterious reason.

Could I recover the Sinners' wiped memories somehow, like how I rewind their injuries using the clock?

The thought occurred to me, but alas...

I don't know how I would do that, and I'm not sure if it'd be possible at all.

I was sure about one thing.

The fact that I am retaining the memories they tried to erase must be valuable... So I decided to stay quiet about it.

However, manager, I will say this much.

From now on... I plan to face what I have left.

Those being the mistakes the League of Nine has left, and the tasks left for me.

Thus, I would like to resist as much as I can if needed.

No longer will I bend as the wind blows... I won't let it sway me or strike me down.

Rather than be slantwise and seep...

I intend to walk where I plan to go.

Will you aid me in my endeavors, Dante?

<……>

<Of course.>

That's right. Even if their memories are taken, it won't gnaw away at the determination that has firmly taken root in their hearts.

Then, what is the determination that I have left?

How much must I remember and witness?

Thinking such thoughts, I looked at Vergilius who was on the other side.

...Because it would be one of the manager's duties to remember and witness all this.

<You heard what I said?>

Dante asks if you heard what they said.

...I couldn't hear the usual ticks, so I have no way to know if you even said something.

Of course, I can't hear your words, Manager Dante. It was just idle talk. The look on your face seemed to warrant it.

Did I have facial expressions...?

May the meaning of those ceaseless tears be effervescence.

Your wish, as well as ours...

Are being realized to the best of our abilities as always.

Have you been well?

Whenever I look at a mirror, I find myself greeting it.

It is said that a greeting is only natural when it is mutually exchanged...

But I do not mind the one-sidedness, as I believe it will be conveyed someday.

I have decided that from now on, I will no longer be stopped in place.

Even if all will ultimately remain unchanging...

I, too, shan't change, either.

You have no need to be overly concerned for me. I now have new companions by my side.

Though I cannot be sure what they will think of this... I intend to consider them as such.

To close off...

Allow me one final remark.

May you all keep company with peace throughout your lives.

Yours sincerely, Yi Sang.

<They sure are serious about eating.>

<It amazes me how they can look so happy while eating out.>

I stepped out of the restaurant to briefly catch some fresh air.

……

<You're... I didn't even notice you arrive... How long have you been there?>

I told you that I would come to see you again.

Why can't people settle for just looking?

It should be enough to simply admire it, smell the scent, and enjoy the moment; but they nurture greed and obsession as they contain it in their sight, eating themselves away.

The mirror, too - it was first created for simple enjoyment.

You could compare it to a bag of chips with hundreds of flavors, for example.

But then someone came up with an idea.

'What if there was a way to reach into that possibly infinite bag of chips and take what I don't have...? What if all of us could have all the flavors that way...?'

It wouldn't be considered theft. According to the rules made by adults, anyway.

That, in fact, is stealing from me.

<……>

Countless stars are in the sky. But they aren't all the same. If someone else saw them, they might have been nothing more than dim lumps of light.

But someone who found the twinkle staggeringly charming took one of the stars...

And hung it on a high enough place for everyone to see, expelling the dark.

All the people would rejoice.

Now, here's a question.

What will become of me who has been robbed by me, and the star that's now forced to illuminate the dark forevermore?

<I…>

The mirror your friends use isn't any different. That is such a cruel piece of technology.

Take your time with the answer. Just draw me a sheep later.

You may not remember it right now... but you promised to.

Just as I tried to say something, he vanished, leaving only a hint of loneliness.

He was nowhere to be seen, as if he returned to where he belonged. I couldn't even remember what I was trying to answer.