School (before battle)
... The heck, they swiped everything that wasn't nailed down, huh?
Fret not! I espy thither half of thy worldly possessions! Articulated Fixer figurines, videogame cartridges -
I'm not talking about my toy box, 'kay? I had hella many of 'em anyway.
... My TV's gone. The couch, too.
As Kira said, only a conspicuous empty space was left where the television and family couch set used to be.
Oh, those? LCE Researchers hauled them away. From the sound of it, they're going to set them up in their staff lounge.
As for the leather and the ornaments - they said they'll be selling them off.
... Yeah?
Outis seemed to notice something the moment she caught Kira's wistful look. The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile as she spoke with feigned nonchalance.
Who knows? With sufficient cooperation, perhaps they'd become more receptive to the idea of returning those items.
... Assuming much? I never said I wanted 'em back.
Anyway, I'll tell ya all about what I know, so come this way if ya want in.
These two doors here made from paper and wood - they connect to S Corp.
And that one reinforced with steel, that one leads to V Corp. Backstreets, where...
Having lived here and made frequent use of the doors herself, Kira was clearly the right person for the job of identifying where each door Wayfarer Company had asked us to explore led.
Directed by Kira and accompanied by Alan, we checked the doors one by one...
Hm... Good work. All data seems to match - thank you for your cooperation.
... until there was just one Backdoor left to open.
I know this isn't anything new, but I've gotta say, these Backdoors are just too bloody convenient. Them portals, too.
It ain't doin' anything shady like the WARP trains either, is it? Yours is as simple as turning the knob and enterin'. Seems to me you'll outpace your business rival in no time.
I'm a bit hard-pressed to agree with the "too convenient" sentiment when it comes to using Backdoors and portals, but...
... since your intent was to claim Wayfarer's superiority over the current W Corp., I'll take that as a compliment.
... Did I say somethin' wrong?
Every technology comes with a cost, Heathcliff.
Aptly said. While this has been a workday relatively free of casualties thanks to the quality information you have provided,
do understand that Wayfarer Company's primary services include pathfinding, path security, and path maintenance.
Each of those services is fraught with life-threatening dangers for our employees. Some never return after embarking on a pathfinding journey, some are killed while battling monstrous entities - whose exact natures haven't even been confirmed yet - that appear in the liminal space between paths...
It also costs a pretty penny to keep the secured path, well, secure.
I'd say our operating cost is on the rather steep side, especially considering that we are also trying to prevent our rivals from taking this corner of the market.
Thinking back, I don't think I've ever seen Alan enter a door to a new location with his helmet off. It must be one of his precautions... just in case.
Maybe his dry smile and unsettling lack of reaction to anything are hints that he's simply seen too much to be fazed by most horrors.
Still, our work's gotten considerably easier for this job thanks to the help from everyone here. Honestly, this partnership is working much better than I'd expected.
Very well then, let's take a look at the last door.
Ah, it's the door Papa used to walk through all the time.
I followed Kira into the door, and the second I crossed over the threshold, a breeze carrying an oddly familiar, salty smell tickled the tip of my nos - uh, one of my clock hands.
This one connects to somewhere in the general Great Lake area, it seems.
Welcome to U Corp.'s Giant Stingray Portship.
<Stingray, huh... Why does that ring a bell...?>
Hang on a minute, it's that... It's that place, innit? That Portship that has Salon du Moelleux... the private hair salon.
Heathcliff chimed in with a shudder, as though the sheer weight behind his words terrified him.
Ooooh! Doth it signify then, that we shall finally be made audience to Young Heathcliff and his hairdo most luscious?!
Ugh... Quit it with that luscious nonsense, lass. Why encourage me now when you were so cavalier about blastin' my "villainous" arse back at the Lake?
Hmm, indeed... Alas, 'tis true that punishment wrought upon our merry band hath severely outweighed the crime; wouldst thou not agree, Young Heathcliff, that to put the coupons to use would remedy thy pain a smidge...?
Ah, bugger it.
... I ain't even got anyone to spruce up for anymore.
Sweet, then can I use 'em?
We were regulars at that Moelleux place, papa and me.
Papa would ask the Middle fam for a favor, and he'd bring loads of coupons back home. They give away a hair coupon every 10 visits, y'see, so I -
... Ugh. What am I even yapping about all excited?
Kira, who'd seemed ready to launch into a cheerful rant, came to an abrupt pause like a bike tripping over a ledge. Her face fell as she lowered her gaze and scuffed a pebble away.
Looking back, I guess papa did... did hella care for me, so why...
... But it's also true these guys went out of their way to get me outta there even though they didn't know me so well...
Ugh, why's it gotta be so complicated?
Matthias gave you that unaesthetic B.C.?
The heck's a B.C.?
"Bowl Cut."
Bro, listen... Like I said, that's not how you shorten these things.
*puff*
For some reason, Ryōshū seemed almost gleeful to hear Kira correcting her acronym.
It was reminiscent of that self-satisfied look she'd get after confusing us with these acronyms, especially during the early days of our bus journey.
Thinking back, ever since Sinclair's translations became reliable enough...
... the Sinners had less reason to voice their frustrations with Ryōshū's acronyms, which in turn gave her fewer causes to snicker about.
<I'm not sure why, but...>
<... something tells me that she might be making her acronyms ridiculously incomprehensible on purpose.>
If your conjecture is correct, Executive Manager, she has one tasteless sense of humor.
From what I recall, the toys and games he was into were pretty retro.
Must've been annoying to play along.
... At first. But the more I played along, the more I got into it.
Still corny and juvenile as shit, though.
I know aught of that conflict within thee.
Trifling and apocryphal they may be, yet we are all compelled to peer hindwards at the interests of the family.
... Yeah. I wanted to know what papa was into, to really "get" what he was talkin' about. Besides, I needed to know these things if I wanted to chat him up and talk about a mutual subject, so...
*puff*
He'd tell me about you all the time, Yoshihide. Proud shit.
Not a day went by without him sayin' stuff like "Yoshihide learned this in 2 days" or "Yo, this was Yoshihide's fave," y'know?
Too bad I wasn't here to tell you that his words weren't worth shit.
I once thought of him the same as you do now - a good man, at least among the Nursefathers... Caring enough to bring me gifts.
But one day, I realized that he'd never understand the things I really cared about, even if his life had depended on it.
One day, thou sayest? Pray tell, was there aught that had changed thy perception of that man?
That... I don't remember when or why. Just that it happened.
Wait, I might know this. Wasn't it something that happened at school?
Papa told me that things started getting awkward between you and him ever since you quit school.
... Bullshit. I've never been to school.
I'd never even thought of wanting to go to school.
Matthias must've been talking out of his ass again -
Huh? No way, bro. I even saw a clip of it.
What...?
Papa showed me that video when he was teaching me how to use these doors. I even saw baby you goin' "I'm off to school, Dad!" in that video, so I'm pretty dang sure!
But I don't -
As Kira went on, Ryōshū's confidence from her initial retort seemed to slip away. I couldn't blame her - so much of her memory had been mutilated.
Ryōshū didn't sound like she was denying it out of hand, though. She seemed to mean it when she said she'd never been to school and had never even wanted to.
And I want to glimpse the fragment of memory that made her say that.
The moment I willed it, a scene from her past suddenly flashed across my eyes.
Very well, Yoshihide. I will register you in an institution that is... not entirely dissimilar from school.
There is an ■■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■, a subsidiary of the Ring.
<... Academy.>
<You sure it was a school? Not like an art academy or something like it?>
Perchance it be an academy, not a school?
Wait, that kinda makes more sense, yeah! Musta been an academy, not a school.
.......
Academy of art.
Hah.
Ryōshū muttered a few words as though they were pieces of a puzzle she was assembling.
Then, after a brief moment, she turned toward me with an astounded scoff and a look of mild irritation...
Clock.
You deserve a smack.
<...? Aaugh!?>
... then lightly smacked me upside the head with her scabbard.
<Wh-what was that for?!>
This memory sucks, Clock. I would've been just fine without it.
But at least I got to remember the incident that changed my perspective on Matthias.
Dad, how do I go to... a school?
... School, Yoshihide? Well, I don't see why you would wish, let alone need, to go to such an institution when we Nursefathers are here to provide you with all the education you require.
You would later find our unique style of homeschooling to have been much more enlightening than trudging through any of the Nests' formulaic educational systems.
But, but, Dad... I saw 'em in a picture book.
And... I dun have any friends here...
Oh, Rien and his pointless -
Hm. But it is true that there are qualities that can be learned only through group erudition that engenders competition.
Very well, Yoshihide. I will register you in an institution that is... not entirely dissimilar from school.
Really...?
I intend to send Yoshihide to an academy as part of my educational curriculum.
There is an academy of art, a subsidiary of the Ring. Companionship with other talented children of approximately her age will nourish the spirit of inspiration that will guide Yoshihide's growth.
.......
The Prescript approves.
But Callisto, I'll tell you now that you might be making a mistake.
Hm. And how are you so certain of that?
Do elaborate if you can, hand-puppet of the Prescripts by whom every aspect of existence is articulated... What do you even know of choice? Of what is right or wrong?
And off they went.
Perhaps a little more situational awareness would've... prevented what is to come.
Callisto had found me a rather decent academy.
The "artworks" that used to scare me when I was alone weren't so bad when I was with other kids.
No, that's not quite it... It'd be more accurate to say that I started to understand people's perspective on "beauty."
Of course I would, when all we ever did was nod along to the lecturers and spout purple prose, all the while making pincushions out of people's bodies like it was nothing.
Our lesson today will focus on Corporist techniques.
Now, take a good look at the diagram here, then the manikins before you. Weave the blood vessels in the same pattern as the diagram, and...
I dunno why we're even learning about Corporist stuff in this day and age.
Right? I don't get what the point of this slog is, tying and shaping blood vessels to make a color that a drop of ink can do better. I read that in a book.
.......
*sigh* I'm more excited to learn about Cubist technique than this crap...
Honestly, why's this washed-up movement even a part of the curriculum? It's just boring, shallow gore stuff -
No. It's... Ya, it's gory, but... It's boring and shallow only because you guys are bad at it.
What? Aw, you mad 'cuz your daddy's a lame Corporist?
Oh, is he? No wonder her stuff is just as - o-ow!
... I was taught that people who say bad things about my family deserve to get their butt kicked.
... Them badmouthing Callisto wasn't actually what set me off.
I didn't have any special reverence or attachment to "family" like Matthias did, either.
It's just what I was taught to dislike, that's all.
Just one of those tantrums kids of that age have. Kids'll be kids, and all that.
I'm home, Dad.
Hey, Buddy! You're home early! Oh man, must've been playing rough today, huh? You've got dust all over -
Got into a fight.
A fight?
Yeah. They kept saying dumb things about class stuff, so I smacked 'em.
... What about you? They didn't hit you anywhere, did they, Buddy?
On my cheek, but it's ok. 'cuz I punched them thiiiis many more times. Did I do good?
... That's my girl.
Dad?
Where are you going?
Oh, ya know. Just got some business to take care of.
Why don'tcha sit tight and work on a coloring book? Daddy'll be home 'fore you know it.
Mhm... Mmkay. Is it Bro business?
No, it's...
... Family business.
I ain't seein' what's so bad about taking care of your own. Them snotty sods don't learn respect 'less you beat it into 'em.
... Hah.
If only he'd been a simple-minded fool like you... then the story would've ended right there with a pat on my head.
What?
... Papa - I mean, the Middle doesn't stop there. It never does.
You hurt a member of the family... That automatically gets you written up in the Book.
Yeah. And he did what he did in the end.
Huh...?
Ha ha, there you are, Yoshihide! Is class startin' already? My diligent little girl - wonder who she takes after.
D-dad...?
I know, I know. I said I'll be back before ya know it, but I got a bit lost tryna find my way through the Ring bastards' tricky mazes. Y'know how they are.
Oh yeah, and there are so, so many snivellin' brats here.
Well, as for their crimes... they slapped my buddy's face hard enough to leave a mark. That's an arm for ya.
As for the instructors... well, anyone'd agree that they did one sorry job of keeping these tykes under control.
In that case, pursuant to Title 2, Section 52 of the Book... "execution by beheading." They clearly don't got much use for what sits on their shoulders, eh?
Ah... ahh...
How do ya like it, buddy? Papa's the best, ain't he?
How dare he...! Such senseless, barbaric violence...!
Uncultured, uncivilized animal...!
*sob*
Do not be discouraged, dearest Yoshihide. I have eyed out yet another academy worthy of your talents - it is a much more significant and prestigious institution this time.
I assure you, even an intemperate berserker like Matthias won't dare force his way into such a place as he did the previous academy.
... dun wanna.
Yoshihide...?
I don't wanna go to an academy. I don't wanna go...
I don't... need friends anyway...
For all his posturing, nothing that was ever important to me held any significance to Matthias.
He took a lot away from me just to feel good about himself.
*puff*
So I hoped he, more than anyone, would never find out about the things I held dear, because I was afraid he would take them away from me like he did the others.
But... he'd always catch on faster than he had any right to.
... Every contract that took me away from the House of Spiders made me tremble in anxiety.
Because I was worried about - I don't remember what. But I do know that I could never stop thinking about my room.
So... whatever occupied the room in my absence must've been the most precious thing to me in the world.
The scabbard, which had been stirring lightly as Ryōshū recounted her past, soon began to rattle audibly.
... It's doing that thing again.
Ryōshū patted the scabbard with a gentle, reassuring hand.
The scabbard that was once Araya. A memory without attachment.
It appeared to me almost as though she was pacifying a crying child.
.......
Seeing that gesture, Heathcliff briefly cast a sullen yet faintly expectant gaze between Ryōshū's scabbard and my device.
He must be thinking back to his last conversation with Catherine.
But Catherine's existence, unlike Araya's, was erased by the Golden Bough itself.
... I doubt this device could do anything for Heathcliff at this point.
From everything we know, the Ring Nursefather seems to have been the... least awful parental figure in your childhood.
Huh, yeah. Didn't know that robo-unc was such a radical guy. He sent you to an academy like you wanted and even got angry on your behalf?
Oh.
Hazy memories. Almost forgot to mention.
A few days after that... Callisto left a "snowman" by my pillow as a gift. It was made of heads.
... Heads?
Yes. Decapitated heads from the incident at the academy, threaded together into a sculpture.
Tsk. Thinking back, it was one sorry excuse for an art. He's sorely mistaken if he thought some low-effort bullshit like that could make me feel better.
Um...
... Ugh. Could've spared us the details, lass.
<Well, with that covered, do you guys wanna head back?>
... Hang on.
Whassup? Gonna get that luscious treatment before heading back?
Shut it, you! That ain't it! Look there, those blokes walkin' out of the salon -
.......
Fauvists, ain't they? They've found us.
It would not be odd to find a field branch of the Ring's art movement in different Districts of the City, especially that of the Fauvists' scale. However...
... various evidence, such as their masks and the fact that our group has immediately drawn their attention, suggests that they are in the same pack as the one making regular incursions into the House of Spiders.
This is LCB, speaking to Team Leader Alan. Requesting immediate commencement of lockdown sequence.
Copy that.
<Then why don't we - >
Holy shit, guys! Stop!
Bloody hell! What?!
Don't you know where you are? You're... smack-dab in the Middle-protected turf.
Cause a scene, and Bros and Sisters of the Middle'll be here any second.
<Oh yeah... That's gonna be a problem.>
We've already drawn the Ring's unwanted attention - we certainly don't want the Middle coming after us to the House of Spiders, too.
Sounds like you've got a G.I.
Talk.
Ever played whack-a-mole?
Like, why give ourselves a countdown? Just head back through the door now and beat up whoever thinks it's a great idea to walk in through the door.
She puts forth a sound strategy, Executive Manager. As long as there's no high-ranking Officer among them, it would be to our benefit.
<Well, then... Let's do as Kira says.>
...? That was quick.
Alan blinked, shooting us a puzzled look as our entire squad came pouring through the door long before he finished the lockdown sequence.
... Due to newly emergent complications past the door, we have concluded that this location is the optimal point to intercept and engage the infiltrators from the Ring.
This location, you say?
Ah, wait. That door leads to a zone under a Syndicate or a Wing's protection, doesn't it? Better idea to fight here, then.
... Happy to work with someone quick on the uptake.
It wasn't long before the Fauvists began rushing in through the open door...
<I didn't want to summon them while they're relaxing, but... Welp, it can't be helped.>
... and I summoned the Sinners back to work.