Causality that Threads the Past, the Present, and the Future (before battle)
The company had much to do in the aftermath of the incident.
Saude took an indefinite leave of absence.
Alyssa went into the long-term recovery ward.
Marton's remains were placed in the morgue for LCE casualties.
Hohenheim, as usual, went off with a shrug and a half-hearted wave of the hand. We never got to talk to him properly about all that's happened.
There were many other victims we couldn't name individually.
The Index Nursefather vanished without a trace and couldn't be located, but with the machinations of the House of Spiders foiled, the company seemed to have decided that he's no longer a serious threat...
... and proceeded to call off the manhunt.
And on that burned rooftop,
a red schoolbag was recovered, bearing a name tag filled out in a child's clumsy handwriting...
... with the Golden Boughs safely nestled within.
*puff*
Ryōshū started smoking again.
Any trace of Araya's existence was completely erased from her mind, and there was, at present, no way to restore them.
Perhaps Ryōshū herself knew of the loss - that something had flowed out of her and disappeared.
But to what extent? I had no way of telling.
She didn't ask why the scabbard of her sword looked different.
So instead of asking if she was all right, I just...
I just chatted her up.
<Looks like... we managed to safely retrieve the Golden Boughs once again.>
Right.
<How do you feel about it, Ryōshū?>
…….
Well, at least it wasn't SAD. ... I mean, it was alright, NGL.
Oh, you mean it wasn't Such A Disappoin - huh?
Whoa, Ryōshū! I've heard the other one before, ha ha.
…….
This is B.A.H.
Seriously?
Yeah, that's better. I'll switch back.
Do you hate compliments or something? Oh, don't tell me. You're not switching back because I liked it, are you? Are you?
"Entanglement"...
... is a connection that transcends space, distance, and any attempt at conceptualization.
Thus, so long as one half of the connection exists, nothing, probabilistically, can be said to have entered a state of complete decay.
As long as its trace wanders the City, it will eventually...
Resurface.
<Does that mean...>
Yes. So long as the scabbard remains in existence...
<And as long as the Bus keeps moving...>
I'll keep turning the clock.
And when I do, we'll all be seeing the same starry sky.
The stars that no longer exist in the City swirl around us like a vortex.
Every time I revive the Sinners, Ryōshū, too, will exist in that moment...
... to be reunited with what is forgotten but cannot be lost - her only daughter, Araya.
Yoshi... hide... You've finally learned... how to wield Arayashiki...
And by learning to wield that Relic... you've just made yourself the most important sword to the Fingers... at the next Finger Bow-bell...
... The home that can protect you... is gone now.
So... take care, sweetheart.
…….
Rien...
Killing me won't be the end of it...
The Proxies... will never stop hunting you down.
Lurking in the muck of this reeking cesspit... won't keep you hidden forever...
Haah... *cough* *cough*
Oh, dear... I'll need to... dye my hair again.
... I'm supposed to recite this?
"I have nothing but my sorrow, and I want..."
Hah... This is tiresome.
Ha...
Haha...
Hahahahaha!!
Sweetheart... Looks like...
You forgot...
... to unfreeze me.
... It has been some time since one such means of oral communication was engaged.
This macabre atmosphere... It seems the congregation this time is in the form of levitating stones. A fitting representation for the discussion of serious agenda... However, there are no subjects that rise to such gravity at present.
Which Faust is the audacious Faust that dared to force-convene a "Classical Walpurgisnacht" at such a busy moment as this?
It is unimaginable that such an ignorant and tactless Faust should exist among Fausts... save for "Naive Faust."
…….
Oh, my. It really was her.
Yes. This meeting has been convened by Naive Faust. There is a question that begs the answer of Administrator Fausts of the Gesellschaft management.
... Rational and Brilliant Faust knows what it is that Naive Faust seeks to ask...
... as well as the fact that there is no real need for the query concerned to be set forth.
*sigh* How long must Faust spoon-feed Naive Faust?
Let it be heard, at the very least.
…….
The attempt to review information on the recent incident at the House of Spiders was met with denials of access at multiple turns.
Requesting access to intelligence on the individual who has deliberately compromised the security of Limbus Company's HQ.
Could Naive Faust not even manage to answer such a trivial query herself? Must Astute and Intelligent Faust provide every single piece of information?
There is no obligation to disclose more information to a Faust of such inferior access rights.
Surely Naive Faust has not forgotten how access rights work?
Reviewing Gesellschaft's information requires access rights that are several tiers higher, yes.
What I mea - what Faust means to say is...
A thoroughly intentional slip of the tongue. To refer to Faust in the first-person is strictly prohibited.
Naive Faust has long been known to show... quite a precarious side.
Hmm. Does Naive Faust wish to join the ranks of dead Fausts?
*sigh* Of course not. Faust does not wish to join the ranks of dead Fausts. Faust is simply curious.
There is no information to be granted to Naive Faust, who time and again has attempted to leech off the Gesellschaft.
Lovely and Guileful Faust can offer an answer. In return, however, Naive Faust must consent to have her title changed. Is this acceptable?
... It is accepted.
The answer is Dias, the Chief Executive Director of Limbus Company, Stupid Faust.
... The sharing of information is appreciated.
To think that Stupid Faust would go so far as to convene a Classical Walpurgisnacht for a query that requires only the least effort of deductive reasoning.
The new title could not be more appropriate for Stupid Faust.
…….
Could it be that Stupid Faust is indignant? *chuckle* She seems to be expressing displeasure by means of silence.
Such is the price for requesting so much information as a Faust of a non-administrative role.
In that case, if Faust were to -
No need to build on impossible hypotheticals.
Although it is a fact that Stupid Faust has retrieved the most Golden Boughs, she cannot be reinstated as an administrator Faust.
Still, if Stupid Faust were to plant the sapling and harvest an apple from it... who knows? She might have a chance of becoming an administrator again.
*scoff* Can Stupid Faust even accomplish such a feat? It sounds improbable... What does Stupid Faust think?
That's...
Enough. The time and floor granted to Stupid Faust have come to a close. Stupid Faust shall be dismissed from the Gesellschaft Forum forthwith.
The Classical Walpurgisnacht is thus forcibly adjourned.
Madam Director. I have some updates to report on Limbus Company.
Do tell.
First, Limbus Company's Golden Bough grafting experiments have finally succeeded. Only five more Boughs left to be retrieved, and...
And the sapling will be planted. It won't be long now.
Next, the LCB's 11th Sinner - Sinclair's "Sign"... has completely awakened, though only for a moment.
That's interesting indeed. I thought it'd take a few more years.
Did all three strokes manifest?
The Signs aren't visible to me, so I cannot say with much certainty... But I don't believe he has. It was most likely just a... short-lived awakening.
They say an accomplished butler's resourcefulness rivals that of a Fixer in Seven Association's Section 1... The speed and accuracy of your information-gathering is indeed commendable. Anything else I should be aware of?
Yes. Lastly... Your son's royal-blood gene factor has also awakened.
The "factor," huh... Does that mean your son has finally unwrapped what you gave him?
No.
The Roach Emperor is but another layer of wrappings, if a bit fancier than the others.
He has yet to unwrap the valuable, precious gift I've given him.
But it may not be long now. The real surprise gift will begin from the mistletoe that will bud from the sapling.
By the way, where's the captain? I haven't seen her around since H Corp.
Ah, she should be whetting her harpoon for the Whale-hunting. She asked to call her and her crew only once the hunt begins.
Hah... How long will we be stuck in this pure-white building?
... For now, we will focus on restoring the Xianhuang Worm and interpreting its interactions in this place. Although circumstances might change fast once the upcoming N Corp. board meeting concludes.
Speaking of, Sonya... Have you looked into what I asked?
Yes, the infiltrator agents reported back just yesterday. Heinrich Kromer and Jacob - both are confirmed to attend the board meeting.
It's a hassle to deal with people who make even the simplest of conversations a nuisance... But I won't deny that this bodes well.
If the same Heinrich, who didn't even budge when the younger Kromer was killed, is finally making a move... I suppose it's just around the corner now.
Indeed. It won't be long before the Malleus Maleficarum's roster is finalized.
A hunt for prosthetic users, the likes of which the City has never seen, will soon begin. Even the Machine Purge would look downright tame in comparison.
And we'll use that chaos...
... to aim for every Mirror World in existence.
Hah. The captain will love that. It'll be like going on a Whale hunt across all possible worlds herself.
Perhaps we should wrap up our talk here and head inside. It's time.
Of course. Nelly, keep an eye on Limbus Company until your next assignment.
Yes, Madam Director.
Choose your words and actions carefully once the board meeting begins. Even the slightest misstep could tip the balance and put us at a disadvantage - that's another headache we don't need.
I must admit, it's rather unnerving to have to deal with the infamous Ones Who Grip in their own Nest.
All right, then... Shall we head inside?