Talent and Genius (before battle)

As you saw through the bus… we are in the middle of a Nest. A place that should be the furthest from unexpected trouble.

Hmm… Would that mean this is a precious commotion?

Everyone except drowsy Hong Lu was tensed up, carefully observing what was going on…

<Hm? Is that…>

Someone was running our way in a hurry from the other side.

The civilian was too hurried to look ahead; they bumped into the Sinners and fell to the ground.

Huff, huff… D-Don't go that way!

Come now, you may rest easy! We have galloped hither to save innocent lives such as yours for we are -

We are no such things as heroes, so please don't say anything unnecessary.

Oi, we need to cross here. If you're here to stop us for nothing, then I'll give you a taste of this bat.

Looking at Heathcliff's intimidating face and Ishmael's frowned expression in turn, the civilian seemed to take a moment to consider which would be more of a threat.

There's… something ahead… something that shouldn't be real…

I dunno what it was, I've never seen anything like it… Everyone was screaming and running, and then… people rolling on the floor… set on fire…

Did the entity you witnessed have a form that does not resemble a human?

…Yeah, you're right. That's right…!

Then, if it isn't a person…

Keeping the suspected possibilities in our minds, we headed for the center of the disturbance…

W - What's going on here?

It could, er… be a Distortion or whatever, no? Like that chicken place?

<No… That's different… That one is an Abnormality, not a Distortion. I'm sure of this… somehow.>

As Dante suggested, that entity is likely to be an Abnormality. Our manager is able to "sense" it.

<But then, why…>

<Why is an Abnormality in the middle of a Nest?>

It's a phenomenon of which Faust has never been notified. Most Lobotomy Corp. facilities were shut down as soon as the Wing was dissolved.

I was reminded of the site burial Yuri told us about, but I quickly shook off those gloomy memories.

Even if an Abnormality did break out in the meantime, there should have been a report informing us of such a fact before this mission.

It's hard to imagine that the LCC would have been unable to notice if such an event actually occurred.

…Could they be the security staff that gets sent by K Corp?

Rather than suppressing the Abnormality… they're just getting completely wrecked.

Mmh… It sorta takes me back to the time when we got beat bad in D Corp's District…

Aw, c'mon~ First, that chicken restaurant guy goes cuckoo, and now this? I'm really over this kinda Nest K welcome…

Right as they complained…

Gah! Bloody…

Debris created by the rampaging Abnormality narrowly grazed past us.

Hah, the hell are you doing? Just watching from here won't do any of us any good!

…It'll crush us all to a pulp.

……

You're gravely mistaken. Have that insane brat's daily ramblings finally managed to brainwash you?

Ho, hark? I prithee, who dost thou mean by this "insane brat"?

The guide only instructed us to return once the commotion has been dealt with. He never ordered us to deal with it ourselves.

For goodness' sake, what's there to be so damn obtuse about?

Didn't you see what just happened? It almost blew my head off! Who knows what else will happen if it keeps up!

This'll be over if we just beat that damn thing down… What else do we got? Parking a seat to keep watching, gobbling some chicken? Huh?!

There's no need to waste our lives on fights unrelated to our missions.

I'm sure you filth didn't even realize, but here's the thing…

The more you die, the less efficient you become in battle.

Experiencing a certain pain will make you learn to fear and avoid it.

……

…People are dying over there as we speak, though?

Although it will cost much time and many lives… they will eventually suppress it. Just as we do.

And I must say… I didn't expect a whining amateur who'd cry out for his parents whenever he died to willingly suggest self-sacrifice.

Death has become a triviality to you, has it?

……

If we must make the best decision between the Sinners, it's right to listen to her.

<I…>

We're not Fixers, and we certainly cannot be heroes.

Turning the clock obviously hurts whenever I do it, and the pain is something I can never get used to.

And yet…

<We should suppress it. I can't logically explain why, but… I feel like we should.>

……

I'd have crushed that clock and run out there if you gabbled the same rubbish, clockface.

If that is your decision, I will abide by it.

Yeah, aight… I'm sure you made the right call.

Hey, um… Thank you for making that decision.

You worry too much over little things, clock. You won't be an artist.

…This judgement was made for none other than you, Executive Manager.

The Sinners walk ahead after leaving me comments.

While all the others moved forward, Faust remained and gave me a peculiar stare.

<What is it? You think my judgement was inefficient?>

No, I just thought it would be interesting to see how you react once you've reclaimed your memory.

Faust's strange statement held me in place for a moment, but I decided I want to deal with the questions that are immediately ahead of me first.

<Faust, I've been wondering for a while… Are you really okay with being treated like this, considering your talent and everything?>

Someone of her caliber should have no problem enjoying a luxurious life in the City.

Faust doesn't mind. Additionally, "talent" feels like the incorrect word to describe Faust.

Many can possess talent, but Faust does not want to be included in the many.

Among the Sinners, if we were looking for a talented individual of the most commonly agreed definition, that would be… Yi Sang. For your information, I am a genius.

Yi Sang stops walking behind the other Sinners and turns around to face me.

Looking again, his eyes actually stare into the emptiness behind me.

…I am no such individual.

I have long stopped fluttering my wings.

Thus, it would be of no use to discuss my talent, Manager.

<……>

Curiously enough, I find that some Sinners feel more distant as we spend more time together.

What's that flying machine? It's been irking me. Got the urge to S.I.D. for the three-thousandth time.

That… is a device called a drone.

Oh, they might be combat drones K Corp. sent to help us. The Wing seems to be above average in terms of technology.

No, viewing its design, it doesn't appear to be equipped with combat functionalities. It also has a camera at the center.

Well… I guess it makes sense to get a close look at the mess happening in a well-off Nest.

Abashed, Ishmael mumbled.

Ohh! Will we be featured on the thing called the "news"?

Wait, something's off… Why're…

Why are they only filming corpses and dying people?

Well, it's the provocative stuff that draws more attention, doesn't it?

"Look at this terrible incident! See how morbid it is!" or something like that.

But…

Hold up, kiddo! In front of you!

Kngh… This is… definitely weird…

<Sinclair!>

Look at this thing. Why does it have its camera glued to me…?

…I don't appreciate a soulless audience.

There is a considerable number of them. And these drones…

They appear to be deliberately preventing us from entering the area where the Abnormality is.

Can't be. We're here to help, so they'd have no reason to get in…

Our way… right…?

Now the drones have started lining up, and formed a wall as if to stop us from proceeding any farther.

Greetings, citizens. Please keep ten meters of distance for your own safety.

K Corp's staff has been dispatched. Your safety is assured. Please keep ten meters of distance.

No, look, your staff is being slaughtered over there, can't you see?

Greetings, citizens, your safety is assured. Please keep ten meters of distance.

Hah, the instructions make no sense. What difference is ten meters going to make in this mess?

Tsk, not gonna do us any favors, huh…

Dunno if they're malfunctioning or just badly designed, but we'll have to get rid of all these before we can get to the Abnormality.