S1035B

... I do remember you. The ones who called me Pwie.

And he who never lied - Meursault.

.......

All who claim to be my followers ask things of me, yet none have offered answers.

You, on the other hand... You may be able to answer. My questions were unending, but you never failed to tell me what you knew, exactly as you knew it.

Meursault... Why... am I always so empty? I eat and eat in this restaurant and fill myself, yet still...

I wished for none of this. Wanted none of it.

So why must I endure... this crushing hunger?

Because you were born that way.

I see...

But there were times when you forgot that fact.

When you learned something new.

When you were with Wriggley.

When you played games.

Those brief moments allowed you to forget the pain.

.......

Yes, you're right.

Your words bring back another vivid memory. This one you didn't mention.

When I followed you, you would sometimes turn to look at me. And when our eyes met...

There was no pain at all.

It made me... very happy. I enjoyed our adventure so much that I'd even forgotten my hunger.

Buffet's relentless assault came to a brief lull, their gaze resting upon us.

Pwie. We have no wish to take up arms against you.

... But we will have no choice but to do so.

That's right, Meur.

<That voice again...>

Do you know why it's so cruel to be brought into this world without having any say in it?

It's because we're born to be afraid of death... even when we have chosen to die.

<I've felt it since the first floor. This voice... it's getting closer.>

Closer... with each floor we ascend?

.......

The guilt of having sacrificed a child.

The calling to heal mankind.

The responsibility of not wanting to let your colleagues down.

... None of it means anything in the face of death.

It will be the same for that child.

The memories shared with you, the expectations the Rouges placed upon them, and the instinctive, insatiable hunger...

Buffet is bearing all that anguish. They won't stop this time.

And they must know it, too - that for anything to exist... they themselves must first exist.

... I could follow you now, but it's too late. This hunger would not disappear.

Nor would the hopes and expectations of the Rouges fade away.

If this hunger is to be appeased... I must devour everything here. Even the place you seek above, I must devour.

Why don't you remain here with me once more, strangers?

<... We can't.>

<Which means... we'll have to make... another choice we'll regret.>

... We will proceed to the next floor, Buffet.

So you choose not to follow me in the end, strangers...