6 6 301 Mandhasti Roland, what's wrong? What's with the daydreaming? 1
7 7 204 2
8 8 301 Roland ...Huh? Oh. 2
9 9 204 1
10 10 301 Mandhasti Are you all right? We have to investigate the address on the document. It's too dangerous to be daydreaming at a time like this. 1
11 11 301 Roland Sorry, zoned out there for a second. I'm fine. Don't worry about me. 2
12 12 301 Mandhasti ...Alright. 1
13 13 301 Mandhasti leans against the street wall and scratches his cheek. Roland faces the road, as if observing the traffic, but his eyes are on the simulated sunlight, forcing himself not to fall asleep.
14 14 301 Suddenly, Mandhasti pats him on the shoulder.
15 15 301 Mandhasti Hey... When this mission is over, how about I give you some time off? 1
16 16 204 2 4
17 17 301 Roland Why? 2
18 18 301 Mandhasti Every time I've seen you recently, you've seemed distraught. You haven't been acting yourself recently. But not like you're under pressure from the mission. 1
19 19 301 Mandhasti I'm not sure if it's something I did, but I understand if you don't want to tell me. 1
20 20 301 Mandhasti Maybe it's just a king being overly worried about his knight. Maybe you'll feel better after some time to yourself. What do you say? 1
21 21 202 1 1
22 22 203 2 0.25
23 23 204 2 1
24 24 301 Roland R-really? Thank you so much— 2
25 25 301 Not out of the script, but out of sincere concern. It's even more confusing.
26 26 301 Right as he raises his hand to thank Mandhasti as usual, his sights first fall on a short baton.
27 27 204 2 7
28 28 301 It's the same EMP baton he used to knock Mandhasti unconscious yesterday. His hand becomes all sweaty from gripping it.
29 29 301 He feels like, as soon as he lets go, Mandhasti will find out something's wrong and begin questioning him again.
30 30 204 2 2
31 31 301 Roland ...Uh, I just remembered that I left something at the station. I'll see you around. 2
32 32 202 2 2
33 33 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland takes a few steps back and starts running before Mandhasti can respond.
35 35 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Just around the corner, a crew member he knows is on standby.
36 36 201 1 500382
37 37 301 1 Neferti Going off script now? But you rarely do that. What's wrong? 1
38 38 203 1 0.25 400
39 39 201 2 500365 4 -400
40 40 301 1 Roland I forgot some of the new script from last night. I need to go over my lines. Just give me 8 minutes. 2
41 41 301 Roland The script also left some leeway in it. The next scene is the investigation set on M1L. Use the extras to buy some time until I come back. Don't worry, I'll finish the scene. 2
42 42 301 Neferti Understand. I'll get right on it. 1
43 43 202 1 2 1
44 44 301 Watching Neferti run off, Roland looks for a patch of shade. After confirming that Mandhasti is nowhere to be seen, he huddles up on the ground.
45 45 201 1 500365 17
46 46 301 1 Roland If... he starts going crazy again... Then I'll... get him with the EMP from behind... 1
47 47 301 Roland No, no, no. Now's not the time to be thinking about that. We've already taken enough precautions. The higher-ups screened all the extras and rewrote the script yesterday. 1
48 48 301 Roland I've got plenty of backup if that happens again. 1
49 49 204 1 1
50 50 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland There won't be any problems... There won't. Believe in yourself, Roland. Everyone believes in you. You're a professional. This isn't your first rodeo. Get ahold of yourself, just this once... 1
51 51 204 1 17
52 52 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin ...
53 53 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Drowsiness and anxiety pound on his overly caffeinated brain.
54 54 301 Falling asleep in the middle of his performance would be a disaster, one which he needs to avoid at all costs.
55 55 301 He pinches a nerve and forces himself to hang in there. Right as his head drops, he catches himself. He struggles as he drifts in and out of sleep as if deliberately torturing himself.
56 56 204 1 1
57 57 301 Roland Heck, I don't even dare sleep because every time I do, something happens. I downed a bunch of espresso before the performance, but it doesn't seem to be working. 1
58 58 301 Roland ...Guess I'll relax and check some data. 1
59 59 401 2 1515
60 60 301 Finally tired of dealing with his internal struggle, he grabs the terminal next to him. Looking at the time, there is still enough time for him to catch up on new data for today.
61 61 301 Roland Let's see... How's everyone doing today? Wow, daily activity is at 10997108%. Hahaha, that's awesome... 1
62 62 301 Roland As if we'd ever get numbers that high. What, even aliens tuned in to watch our show? 1
63 63 301 Roland This machine is always on the fritz... Oh well... 1
64 64 202 1 1
65 65 301 Roland shakes his head and stands in a beam of sunlight. He closes his eyes and tries to hear the subtle sound of the autofocusers around him. He does not feel like he is in the sun, but rather standing beneath an array of countless cameras.
66 66 301 He has not looked carefully at the park's setting in quite some time. Even though the prop team deliberately aged the city, if you look more closely, you can see that everything is made of state-of-the-art material. Combined with the high-end cameras camouflaged in the back drop, the set forms a modern city.
67 67 301 He has spent half of his life in this fake city.
68 68 301 He has no regrets because he has a clear goal. He will pursue that goal to the end.
69 69 301 Even if he stumbles all the way, he has made it this far. As long as he can endure for a few more years, he will be able to live the life he dreams of spending with his family.
71 71 301 Just as Roland's thoughts are about to wander out of the city and to his distant family, the familiar voice pulls him back to reality.
72 72 201 1 500365 4
73 73 301 1 Roland ...Here. 1
74 74 204 1 4
75 75 301 Roland Oh... The script. Gotta go over the script... 1
76 76 301 Yesterday's episode was interrupted by Mandhasti's intense round of questioning. After the recap, he returned to the detention center. This morning, he released Mandhasti from the detention center and began investigating problems with the gang.
77 77 301 After that, he needs to guide Mandhasti into continuing to doubt the authenticity of the world around him. Then he needs to snatch a police knife from Mandhasti's hand and slash his own wrist.
78 78 301 Of course, the knife is not dangerous. It is only plastic. However, whenever the special coating comes into contact with skin, it melts into the color of blood.
79 79 301 He'll use his "blood" to bring Mandhasti to his senses. According to the writer, the idea comes from a legend about a knight who sacrificed himself to pull the king out of danger.
82 82 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Roland pats his cheeks and takes his position.
83 83 301 Roland After this segment, "Roland" will be temporarily hospitalized for mental trauma and self-harm. 1
84 84 301 Roland That'll give me some time to have a break and rest up. 1
85 85 204 1 2
86 86 301 Roland I can have another good talk with Rolmo and the folks. 1
87 87 204 1 1
88 88 301 Roland Hurry up and put an end to this. Please... 1
89 89 301 After quietly encouraging himself, Roland looks up and faces the place where Mandhasti should appear.
90 90 301 Several figures come running from that direction. Screws and wires poke out of their ragged clothes. Judging from the costumes, they appear to be extras from the park.
91 91 204 1 7
92 92 301 Roland ...Huh? 1
93 93 301 One or two of them, which seem to be mechanoids, run toward Roland. Looking from a distance, Roland can see a glimmer of red light in their eyes.
94 94 201 1 500013 400
95 95 201 2 500013 -400
96 96 401 2 1508
97 97 301 1 Mechanoid Raaargh—Rrrgghh! 1 2
98 98 202 1 2 1
99 99 201 1 500365 7
100 100 301 1 Roland ...Hey! What are you doing! We're shooting a scene here! You guys are up next... 1
101 101 401 2 608
102 102 401 1 202
103 103 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 Roland's cry is cut off mid-sentence as he suddenly sees a dark object flying right at him. He sidesteps the object, which flies by in a flash of silver and clangs onto the ground.
104 104 301 Roland What was that?! A wrench?! Who threw that?! 1
105 105 301 It's a wrench commonly used for repairing mechanoids. Given the speed, a direct hit would've killed anyone right then and there.
106 106 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 Roland What the hell are you doing?! You're gonna get someone killed! 1
107 107 301 Roland Rgh! Hey! [Beep] you, knock it off! 1
108 108 204 1 4
109 109 301 Roland Director! Director! Say something already! 1
110 110 401 2 613
111 111 301 He kneels down and takes shelter. Turning on his earpiece to call for support, all he hears is radio silence. The earpiece, which normally relays instructions, is nothing but static.
112 112 402 613
113 113 204 1 4
114 114 301 Roland Director? Director... Hmph, what's wrong? How can it break at a time like this?! 1
115 115 202 1 1
116 116 301 Looking out from the side of the shelter, he sees one of the lead mechanoids rush toward him...
117 117 201 1 500013
118 118 301 1 Mechanoid Urgh—! 1
119 119 201 1 500365 7
120 120 301 1 Roland Wait, is that... the old punch-in bot? 1
121 121 301 Ragged clothes and makeup that spells old age. Roland quickly recognizes that the security mechanoid dressed as an old man guarding the door to Roland's room is the one attacking him.
122 122 301 That mechanoid should be guarding the door to prevent Mandhasti from wandering into important areas, or at least assisting the crew in the lounge... In any case, it shouldn't be here with those glaring red eyes.
123 123 204 1 4
124 124 301 Roland Looking at the others running rampart, they also appear to be mechanoids based on their robotic movement. 1
125 125 301 Roland What's wrong with those mechanoids? Did they all of sudden rewrite the show into a zombie apocalypse? What about the other mechanoids? 1
126 126 301 He ducks behind a nearby wall. A heavy object flies toward Roland and hits the corner of the wall, knocking out several steel parts. A gap appears in the set's camouflage.
127 127 301 Roland Hmph. If the director's not gonna tell me what to do, guess I gotta play it by ear... I gotta get out of here before I'm really in danger. 1
128 128 301 Roland Think all after all those chase scenes, I can't outrun you? 1
129 129 301 Roland The nearest work area is in Sector H7M... Alright, that's where I'll go! 1
130 130 301 He quickly thinks over the route, then takes off running. As expected, the mechanoids behind him aren't that fast. A hail of sharp objects misses his heels, and they ended the pursuit shortly after.
131 131 301 Roland Of course... Gotta get Mandy out of here. 1
132 132 301 Roland Forget about the crazy mechanoids for now. If Mandy sees this... I really don't want to beat him with that baton again. 1
133 133 204 1 1
134 134 301 Roland Haha, even in crisis and I don't know what's going on, I can't forget the king. I guess I really am like a knight... 1
135 135 301 Roland "I can't protect you out there, but at least I can in here. I want to keep you safe."—At least, if I were "Roland", I'd probably say something like that. Ha! 1
136 136 301 Roland mulls over some lines, shakes his head and smiles. As he follows his established route, he turns the street corner and sees a familiar figure in front of him.
137 137 204 1 4
138 138 301 Roland Mandy! Over here! We gotta go! 1
139 139 301 Roland No time to explain! We need to run! Our lives are in danger! 1
140 140 201 1 500378
141 141 301 1 Roland rushed forward and grabs Mandhasti by the wrist, his smile firm yet sincere.
142 142 201 1 500365 4
143 143 301 1 Roland Don't worry, I'll protect you. After all, I'm your knight. 1
144 144 301 That's right. Run first, then find a secluded area to calm Mandy down. Once the crew resolves the issue with the extras, they'll come to get the king.
145 145 301 Just like usual, he'll rely on his skills as an actor. Then...
151 151 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 Roland takes a few steps back. Bright red liquid drips from the corner of his clothes. There isn't a wound, only bright red dye on his soaked jacket.
154 154 301 Why? The script should've had him take Mandhasti to a safe place and guard him until the problem was solved. That's when he'd take his knife and he'd be the one to use it.
155 155 301 But then why is his chest covered in red dye? Was something wrong with his acting? Did he give something away?
156 156 301 Roland looks up at the Mandhasti's intense red eyes. His gaze is devoid of any realistic quality capable of deceiving the audience. It is... ruthless.
157 157 204 1 17
158 158 301 Roland ...Sector M1L. All cameras offline! 1
159 159 301 Calm down. Just calm down. All the cameras are pointed right this way. We need to cut the broadcast and get the situation under control.
160 160 204 1 4
161 161 301 Roland Neferti! Screenwriter?! The director isn't responding! Help me take care of this! 1
162 162 301 No response. No one is in the building, which should've been filled with the crew.
163 163 301 Roland looks around in a daze as Mandhasti approaches him step by step. As his figure draws near, the hidden cameras begin to glow red one by one.
164 164 301 Red, red, red. He is surrounded by bright red light.
165 165 301 In front of him, Mandhasti raises the dagger and slashes at him again—
