The Price of Curiosity (after battle)
I will not place the blame of this incident on anyone, Dante.
<…….>
I understand that no one could have expected this outcome,
given the dearth of intelligence regarding the binding tool the First Kindred had gifted to the third Sinner.
… Well, then.
I hadn't had that much firsthand experience with watching Vergilius fight, but... this was certainly the most exhausted I've seen him after a fight.
... I decided to say nothing, and turned the clock.
After some time passed…
…….
<Don Quixote, what happened? Did you lose consciousness? Or did something affect your memory…?>
Manager Esquire, I…
My memories were fine.
But there were… I heard something as soon as I removed my shoes.
<… Voices, right?>
Once again, you have witnessed me.
Yes, the voices. So many voices.
Vo... voices…?
The voices… of my Family.
But… the Bloodfiends of La Manchaland are all…
Sinclair trailed off.
Every single Bloodfiend left inside La Manchaland was killed when the amusement park collapsed.
In other words, most of Don Quixote's lower Kindreds were dead.
That is… indeed, that is correct. But I cannot well explain how - the only way I might explain this is… that it was as though my very blood remembered them still.
I recognized some of them. And some were voices of those I once deeply cared for.
It seems that I was, against my own desire, made to ascend to my Father's seat. Perhaps I always was, ever since then.
… And I was struck not only by my own thirst, but the combined thirst of every single one of the Children.
Thirst…
Indeed, I am also bound by that thirst.
It is only natural. Because I am a Bloodfiend.
Thus the pressure of it all broke my hold of sanity, and…
… I… hurt you all. As Don Quixote the Bloodfiend, a higher Kindred… not as Don Quixote, a Sinner and your friend.
Don Quixote, this isn't your fault, it's…
No, such words are now meaningless…
She looked down at her pair of shoes, their strings again neatly tied.
The higher office will now be regularly supplying you with artificial blood packs.
Hohenheim approached us, after spending a while vigorously scribbling something in his notes.
The blood substitute will be very similar to real blood in terms of composition... and we won't have any issues with supply.
…….
I don't suppose you actually believed that mere willpower would be enough to withstand this urge?
... I have done quite well suppressing it thus far.
Indeed. And that was precisely the wick attached to the ticking time bomb within the LCB.
Must I remind you that the soundness of this 'limiter' of yours is quite tenuous, as today's events have demonstrated?
Is it your implication that the purpose of conducting this reckless experiment was to determine the full extent of the latent danger?
I dunno, it seemed like he was in it only to sate his curiosity.
Call it merely the auspice of opportune convenience. This risk factor had to be measured sooner or later - had I known the full extent of the danger she posed, I would have immediately requested a forceful summoning of your department.
Of course, as large as this void of unknowns was, we were able to fill it with much new information.
…….
Certain analyses can be drawn by comparing the reports regarding Bloodfiends and this very experiment.
Let us discuss the thirst you experienced first, for example - the combined desire of every lower Kindred.
Indeed, it is true. The Manchegan Kindreds have been completely eradicated due to the events at La Manchaland. But you still heard the voices of your 'Children', yes?
... What are you trying to say?
I aim to discuss the powerful binding force contained within 'blood'.
LCD's cooperative report explains that 'blood' is not merely a carrier of nutrients, but something more. That it contains certain abstract values as well.
We sent in a complaint, that the report was far too vague in its wording, and we received a reply their On-site Investigative Reasoning Team Leader spat out, the contents of which were equally fascinating.
This desire of their kind... this 'thirst', is something that may as well be imbued and imprinted on the Familial bloodline. Normally, the weight of that thirst is far too heavy for any individual to bear - which is why they propagate. To bear the unbearable burden together.
... But considering that all of that desire is now focused unto an individual, on account of the extinction of her entire Family line, it is easy to see why her hold to sanity was so easily broken, no matter the strength of her will.
She alone was made to bear the responsibility, the pressure, the duty... of having to raise the Family once again.
And because none of those needs are currently met, there comes the endlessly exacerbating thirst, thirst, and more thirst…
It is quite fascinating to see how your kind preserves these very abstract values in the physical form of blood.
The mere words 'thirst' does quite the insufficient job of describing the intensity with which you have lost control. This was my oversight, I must admit.
…….
I do respect your efforts to be liberated from your nature, I truly do. But I also maintain that it is highly advisable for you to regularly consume the provided blood packs.
... Understood.
But… one day, I wish to dismount from Rocinante…
… and walk bare of feet, and feel the earth under my own skin.
I was able to establish one positive fact from this exercise, however.
What might that be…?
That there are those who would, quite literally, throw their lives on the line to stop you even if you were to take off your shoes.
In other words, I don't believe it to be necessary for other departments to exercise any separate control over you.
…….
Well, now that I've had a first-hand account of your conditions, I will write the following in the report.
Still quite unstable… yet, with the effort from the subject herself, and efforts from various other environmental factors… this subject has been deemed sufficiently controllable.
Once again, I do respect your efforts. Or any kind of effort, really.
Because I've never had much use for it myself.
…….
Don Quixote took a deep breath, then turned to face the Sinners. By then, her eyes had regained their usual, softer look.
But… sorrow was seeping through the tone of her voice. Despite her theatrical manner of speech returning, her tone reminded me of our time at La Manchaland.
My deepest apologies, dearest friends. Forsooth, I shall ever-persevere to see that Rocinante... my shoes... are never to be removed again.
Lass, you're lookin' at it all wrong.
You're going to remove those shoes one day, yeah? And that's what you're going to persevere towards.
…….
Verily.
I think she let out a brief, quiet laughter.
Ah, Manager Esquire.
Perchance, is there aught that thou concealest from my knowledge?
<Whu-what do you mean?>
…….
<I... don't think so?>
It's no coincidence that, at this very moment, I noticed Faust looking in my direction.
I don't know if I made the right choice here, but…
Faust nodded lightly, as though to say that I did. I stopped hesitating, and the tick-tocking noise came to a stop.
Mm... very well, then.
<…….>
However, I cannot help but admit that I felt some degree of anxiety as I watched Don Quixote walk away as though nothing had happened.