The Beach Episode! (before battle)
It's been about two weeks since we took care of the job at K Corp.
And the immense dullness of traveling through a Nest by car was just starting to sink in.
<…Pretty sure I saw a road that looked exactly like this one 30 minutes ago.>
The way roads are built in the Nests and Backstreets is rather dissimilar.
If we were navigating the Backstreets, we would have been able to find a shortcut through the alleyways and corners…
But navigating a Nest in an automobile means driving through this absolutely abominable traffic congestion.
I guess that's why people with cash to spare spend it on W Corp's WARP trains and such~
The WARP trains, they are...
The bus fell silent, as though everyone seemed to simultaneously recall the WARP train they saw in the Mirror Worlds.
I-I think I prefer riding the bus…
D'accord.
Why don't we all take a nice little nap like Heath? I'm bored to death just staring out the window.
So we spent days upon days of boredom on the bus, making very little progress…
Toward a tunnel that seemed to lead somewhere.
We're almost there. The road will free up once we exit this tunnel.
Just as Faust said, the traffic jam appeared to visibly improve - allowing us to make actual progress.
<That's good. I can't see much yet, but I'm glad we're almost there…>
<Speaking of which, our destination was…>
Yes, indeed. Once again, we were being blindly led along by our guide to who knows where.
<Don't you think… it's about time he started telling us where we're going?>
Dante is asking where our destination is.
…I was asking if he could start telling us where we're headed before we leave, but I thought better of it.
Our current destination is…
Ah. Our final destination is a Lobotomy Corp. branch located at U Corp.
...!
Mmmh… What was that, Ishy? You up? Ya spooked me.
Oh… Sorry.
I wasn't sure why Ishmael suddenly jolted, but… I decided to carry on with our conversation for now.
<Wait, so by our final destination, you mean…>
We are currently headed to a temporary stop.
Just as Vergilius finished his sentence, the bus emerged from the lengthy tunnel…
Woahhh!
That's…!
I looked to the window, which had suddenly turned bright...
And the cleanest sandy beach and the most turquoise blue ocean I had ever seen graced my eyes.
Do I behold the G-Great Lake yonder?!
With Don Quixote's enthusiastic exclamation, Sinners began waking up from their naps one by one.
…Whew, now that's a sight I've not seen in a long time!
Oh Greg, darling! You've been here before? I've only ever heard of this place, never been myself…
The Sinners each began excitedly chattering about the sea.
Wait, wait… It can't be my turn already...!
Except for one, that is.
I… No, we're still not ready for this...
<Ishmael… you good?>
N-no. Uh… give me a moment… I need some time to think…
While I was still worried about Ishmael's sudden gloominess, I had faith that she would be okay. She was always on top of things, after all.
Besides, my attention was drawn to the bubbling enthusiasm that seemed to have possessed the Sinners.
S-so, we are journeying toward the Great Lake?!
I've only heard of the Great Lake but never saw it myself… So this is what it looks like, huh…
Ooh… Perhaps our trying journey shall finally be rewarded with a seaside picnic!
Aha~ I suppose spending a nice vacation here could be a fun experience!
If we were permitted to rest, I wish to lie upon the summery sand and gaze up at the skies.
I could use some nice tanning on a long bench~
I wish to try the game of beach volleyball! With everyone, that is!
Hah, sounds like the craic.
The Sinners were all eagerly chatting about things they wanted to do.
It was nice to see them excited for once, but…
Hey, guide bud. Are we really stopping at the beach…?
…Everyone seemed to be conveniently forgetting the fact that Vergilius never mentioned if we were stopping at the beach.
What do you think?
Charon.
Gonna hitch wheels in a ditch. Screech.
The formerly-on-track bus suddenly swerved, and everyone was thrown around the bus as is often the case.
Owowow… What treachery is this? An ambush?!
No. This is our stop.
The Sinners got to their feet one by one, groaning with pain…
W-what the…
WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE WINGS?!!!!
Only the despairing cries of Sinners echoed in the dark and damp view outside the windows.