Sinking on Purpose (before battle)

Next up is Gulae - Gluttony.

Roots of plants dig through the dirt in search of nutrients.

What distinguishes them is, however, that they are not satisfied with satiation alone; the roots continue to grow, seeking increasingly greater supply of nutrients.

Hang on a minute, what's this?

Heathcliff, after flipping through a few more pages ahead, looked up at Hohenheim and shouted.

Are we really going to do this song and dance for each and every one of these Peccatulum? Why don't we lump 'em together like how you've paired up us Sinners?

Hah! Running low on patience already? Only simpletons would make such a basic suggestion.

It's standard protocol, in case you weren't aware. I am also unhappy about this process, but sometimes we must swallow our complaints and do as we're told for the sake of proper test results.

Hm. You make a valid proposition.

... What?

Very well. I also fail to see the necessity in fighting these Peccatula one by one, especially given the busy schedule ahead of us. Your suggestion is accepted, assistant.

Huh? What? Really?

<Aren't you the one who suggested it...?>

If we didn't have to fight them one by one anyway, then why didn't we do this from the start?

Because testing them one by one yields a more accurate result.

Studies suggest that the margin of error may grow by 0.06% when testing multiple entities at once.

I see. But I say the benefits of a smaller margin of error outweighs the convenience of lumping them all together. Why don't we proceed as planned?

Bloody hell, just let it go, yeah?

Yeah, Outis. C'mon~

Tsk, this very carelessness is why -

<I think we can risk a 0.06% greater margin of error, right?>

… Indeed, it is sometimes necessary to prioritize efficiency over the pursuit of perfection. I will abide by the Executive Manager's judgment.

…….

…….

Very well. Then allow me to explain Peccatula Morositatis - Gloom as well.

Have you ever immersed yourselves in deep waters? Quite easy to sink to the depths, no?

However... the deeper one sinks, the harder does it become to rise again. The pressure suffocates you from all directions - no matter how much you thrash around, desperately looking for something to grab onto, all you find is futility. Such is gloom.

I suppose one of the few benefits of working for this company is that its constant motion gives no time for such emotions to drag us down. Especially now that I have some level of confidence that they might actually keep their end of the contract.

Ooh, sounds like a disagreement's brewing~ Even after I've joined the bus team, I still feel like I'm floundering deep in some ditch, ya know? Though I'm only here 'cuz I wanna be here, but still.

... Are you sure you're in that 'ditch' by choice? Maybe you just don't know how to rise to the surface again.

Ha ha... I don't appreciate hearing that from someone who doesn't even know what I'm talking about.

... Ahem. W-well, it's all ready now. In you go.

You too, assistant. You aren't exempt from the tests.

Huh? Me too?

Perfect timing... I've been gettin' a bit tired of all this mental exercise. Right, then... let's wrap this up quick!