3 3 301 DialogEnable Nightfall descends upon Earth once more. Liv steps out of the room where the two commandants are resting and looks out at the landscape outside the basement.
4 4 201 1 1031001 19
5 5 301 1 Liv What can I do... to make 【kuroname】 regain consciousness...? 1
6 6 202 1 1
7 7 301 Dim moonlight covers the scarred earth in a veil of peace, obscuring the mountains of death for those still wandering out in the wilderness.
8 8 301 If time wasn't a measure of how long the explorers had left, it wouldn't be important for those hiding in the enclosed basement of the conservation area.
9 9 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Here, the reference for measuring minutes and seconds is no longer a clock, but a sense of hunger.
11 11 301 AniZhuanchangEnd When most would people go to sleep according to their biological clock, the constructs protecting the conservation area of City 043 still haven't begun to rest.
12 12 301 They are either guarding the conservation area outside or still on rescue missions, and Liv is no exception.
13 13 301 Today, the new rescue team brought several injured refugees. Although they should have been happy to find new survivors, the increasingly scarce supplies make it impossible for them to celebrate.
14 14 301 She wants to do something, but there is nothing she can do. She wants to speak with others, but her listeners have gone their separate ways.
15 15 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Before her regret can condense into a needle stabbing into her chest, she carefully weaves it into her diary.
21 22 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Liv Miss Lindsey was rescued at noon, but she was seriously wounded.
22 23 301 Liv ...It seemed unreasonable to try to save a seriously injured patient with such a lack of materials, because it would only prolong her pain and would not change the outcome.
23 24 301 Liv But I saw Miss Lindsey's desire and struggle in her eyes. Whenever she slightly regained consciousness, she would be looking for her partner.
24 25 301 Liv Whenever she found her, she would open her trembling mouth as if to say something...
25 26 301 Liv She must have something she wants to say, that's why she worked so hard to do so...
26 27 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Liv So I did my best to give her first aid. Her chances were slim, but I still hoped that a miracle could happen.
28 29 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After recording Lindsey's treatment, she quietly stares at her diary for a long time as she tries to find any potential opportunity from the limited content to make a better effort to save her life or reduce her pain.
29 30 301 However, all possible opportunities for recovery are like stones sinking into a deep pool, leaving ripples of regret at the surface as she is unable to shake the difficulty of such a feat.
30 31 301 AniZhuanchangBegin But this doesn't cause Liv to give up hope. She continues to search, contemplating her experiences over the past few days and searching between the lines to find something that she can do.
37 39 301 AniZhuanchangEnd When we evacuated CPF 040, we believed that there was still time to rescue others. So many teams were with us...
38 40 301 There was a chance for the situation to get better. There was hope.
39 41 301 But as time went on, more and more lives were lost—like remnant memories of the past.
40 42 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The seeds of hunger and sickness began to sprout within the survivors. A prolonged future no longer brought joy. Instead, it has rather turned into a hotbed for incubating suffering and torture...
80 95 301 On the night prior to the blast from the Longinus Arsenal, the staff and residents of City 043's conservation area planned to evacuate south to City 044.
81 96 301 During the evacuation, their team was attacked by Hetero-Creatures and had to return to stay with Gray Raven which had arrived later.
82 97 301 Everyone who stays in City 043's conservation area owes their thanks to the residents. Without them, there would be no secure shelter, and Liv wouldn't have been able to remove the commandant's hematoma.
83 98 301 AniZhuanchangBegin But she still wouldn't have been able to save Orphee's life. Even if you hold the precious water of life in your palm, without a container, you can only watch as it drips from your grasp until it dries up.
85 100 301 AniZhuanchangEnd "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
86 101 301 "Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed."
87 102 301 "Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced."
88 103 301 She has seen those who look down on life and death, as well as their calm expressions of indifference.
89 104 301 But Liv cannot do it. She chose the more cumbersome path.
90 105 301 During countless helpless nights, she has let silent tears burn her wounds and pain, giving her motivation to work harder to build a better tomorrow.
91 106 301 If it really happens so that "together they come," it would be her motivation to tip the scales and achieve happiness.
92 107 301 Constructs have a stronger ability to fight and survive than humans. However, they cannot survive this forsaken catastrophe alone.
93 108 301 The Punishing Virus... Casualties of war... Insufficient maintenance chambers and power... Unrepairable frames...
94 109 301 Aside from these obvious dilemmas, the hearts of Constructs will never waver just from a change of frames...
95 110 301 Despite not having wounds, Lucia tightly clenches her blade among the crowd.
96 111 301 Even Lee, a Construct of few words, has become even more reticent. Aside from discussing rescues and missions, he remains silent for most of the day.
97 112 301 ...
98 113 301 With the birth of the twins and the impact of the Hetero-Hive Mother, Gray Raven has been unable to move about freely.
99 114 301 Without the commandant, the three people here would be among the list of names engraved on the monument.
100 115 301 But when Vanessa learned about the commandant's actions, she only sneered at it.
101 116 301 "Regardless of how much you contribute while you're alive, you're worthless when you're dead."
102 117 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Saying this, her eyes revealed some indescribable haze, like that of anger or... sadness.
109 124 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Looking at the list of critically wounded on the last page, Liv becomes lost in thought.
110 125 301 There are only 11 critically wounded because most of the others could not make it to the moment when rescue came.
111 126 301 The 13-year-old boy, Pulana, passed away the night before yesterday. However, his name is still on the record because Liv has been too busy to update it.
126 141 301 AniZhuanchangEnd It's meaningless to ask questions about the deceased. Liv shakes her head and shifts her attention back to the list of supplies.
128 143 301 The lives and well-being of the refugees hinges on this list. But no matter how many times she checks it, the supply shortage won't miraculously get any better.
130 145 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Even now, the commandant's life hangs in the balance. Even though she only administers the minimal electrolyte compound required, there are only enough supplies for two more days.
133 148 301 AniZhuanchangBegin A call from within the basement interrupts Liv's thoughts. She puts down the records and hurries in the direction of the sound.
145 160 301 Throwing herself in Liv's arms, Akane lets out a muffled cry in the comfort of Liv.
146 161 202 1 2 1
147 162 301 Quiet as it is, Akane's cry makes its way through the basement, stirring up empathy from the other refugees.
148 163 301 Faced with the mounting disaster, everyone is nothing but rubble amidst the rising flood of despair, leaving no hope for retreat.
149 164 301 If Babylonia's next rescue attempt is futile, what will happen to the commandant and the people stranded here?
150 165 301 Liv held the crying Akane and puts her hand on her aching chest.
151 166 301 Liv If there's anything I can do...
152 167 301 She desperately awaits good news, hoping that she can have the power to end everyone's suffering. But time and again, she is helpless in changing reality.
153 168 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Liv pats her on the back and sings an old song to alleviate the despair hanging in the air.
158 173 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Liv ...I'll become the wind's gaze... 1
159 174 301 Liv ...Countless nights and days... Chasing your wake... Around the lake... Just stay a little longer... 1
160 175 201 1 500260
161 176 301 1 Akane ...What song are you singing, Miss Liv? 1
162 177 201 1 1031001 1
163 178 301 1 Liv Oh... It's a song from a long time ago. Everyone would sing it in the field hospital. 1
164 179 201 1 500420
165 180 301 1 Chuck That song! I've heard it before! 1
166 181 301 The man with the guitar squeezes through the door. He shivers at the sight of Nagayuki deep asleep but quickly recovers his expression and sits down beside Akane and Liv.
167 182 301 Chuck I remember a composer during the Post-Pandemic Age wrote it to commemorate their friends, but the song became a hit because so many people had lost their families and friends. 1
168 183 201 1 1031001 3
169 184 301 1 Liv Is that so? 1
170 185 201 1 500420
171 186 301 1 Chuck The older generation sings it for comfort. 1
172 187 301 Chuck How about I teach it to you, Akane? What do you say? 1
173 188 201 1 500260
174 189 301 1 Akane ...Um, I want Miss Liv to teach it to me. 1
175 190 201 1 500420
176 191 301 1 Chuck Alright, then I'll teach it to her first. 1
177 192 301 He strums a few chords on his guitar and begins to sing the first verse.
178 193 201 1 1031001 1
179 194 301 1 Liv Oh, I remember... 1
180 195 201 1 500420
181 196 301 1 Chuck That's it. 1
182 197 202 1 1
183 198 301 Musician 1 Hey, what brings you in here playing your guitar?
184 199 301 Musician 2 Hey.
185 200 301 The sound of Chuck's guitar attracts several musicians from the room next door. They crowd in one by one and look at the people in the isolation ward with curiosity and fear.
186 201 201 1 500420
187 202 301 1 Chuck Just playing a song with the doctor. Wanna join in? 1
188 203 301 Musician 2 Alright. Can you sing?
189 204 301 Chuck Of course, the doctor can sing. 1
190 205 201 1 1031001 3
191 206 301 1 Liv I... Um... 1
192 207 201 1 500260
193 208 301 1 Akane Sing, Miss Liv! 1
194 209 201 1 500420
195 210 301 1 Chuck ～Don't be afraid, lalala. Open your heart, and let the music flow out～ 1
196 211 201 1 1031001
197 212 301 Liv ...A-alright... 1
198 213 201 1 500420
199 214 301 1 Chuck Playing music might not fix anything, but getting your feelings off your chest is better than holding them in. 1
200 215 301 Chuck ～We'll sing instead of crying! Lalala!～ 1
201 216 201 1 1031001
202 217 301 1 Liv Okay... 1
203 218 401 1 36
204 219 301 Although she is a bit unsure of herself, she takes a deep breath and begins to sing. 1
205 220 401 3000 1 72
206 221 204 1 10
207 222 402 1000 212
208 223 301 Liv ...Oh, this lake... Boundless and silent... 1
209 224 301 As Liv sing, the other musicians drum the rhythm with their hands, followed by Chuck's guitar.
210 225 301 Hearing the singing, Nagayuki opens her eyes and listens to the singing as she checks that her wounds are covered.
211 226 301 Like the wind's gaze, oh fallen friends... 1
212 227 301 This song of mourning sings the wounds in everyone's heart. 1
213 228 301 Akane listens to the song and wipes her tears as she sits beside Nagayuki's bed.
214 229 301 Entranced in the music, the musicians don't notice the crowd of curious eyes gathering behind them.
215 230 301 Longing for the past, they enjoy the music in silence.
216 231 301 —We are the scattered souls beside the round lake of life.
217 232 301 —If our paths could cross again, we could reunite once more.
218 233 301 Liv ...Even though we have changed... 1
219 234 301 Even as the sun or evening wind, your familiar yet mysterious shadow must also...
220 235 301 Liv ...Believe that we will meet again... 1
221 236 301 Liv ...Believe... This is only a momentary parting... 1
222 237 401 1 36
223 238 401 1000 2 212
224 239 301 As her voice fades, Liv finally notices the crowd standing around her as everyone erupts in applause.
225 240 202 1 1
226 241 301 Refugee 3 That sure brings back memories. I didn't think anyone could sing!
227 242 201 1 500420
228 243 301 1 Chuck Well, we don't want to waste such a rare opportunity! Let's teach everyone to sing! 1
229 244 301 Refugee 4 Don't the wounded need to rest?
230 245 201 1 500405
231 246 301 1 Nagayuki I'm okay. I wanna listen to everyone sing, too. 1
232 247 201 1 500260
233 248 301 1 Akane Me, too! 1
234 249 201 1 500420
235 250 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Chuck ～We'll sing instead of crying! Lalala!～ 1
241 256 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Lucia Inspection of City 045 and 044 complete. I didn't recover any supplies, but I found a field of mature wheat in the ruins. 1
242 257 301 At noon the next day, Lucia takes a heavy bag and squeezes through the sealed door with the other Constructs.
243 258 301 Lucia You've worked hard, everyone. Get some rest in the chambers. 1
244 259 201 1 500019
245 260 301 1 Construct Soldier You should get some rest as well, Lucia. 1
246 261 202 1 1
247 262 301 They wave and walk to a room on the left side of the basement, leaving the three Gray Ravens at the door.
248 263 201 1 500166
249 264 301 1 Lucia I also asked about the medicine you requested, but they didn't have any in stock. 1
250 265 201 1 1031001 400
251 266 201 2 500026 -400
252 267 301 1 Liv What about the other areas? 1
253 268 301 Lee I checked, but the other conservation areas are worse off than us. 2
254 269 204 1 19
255 270 301 Liv ...We just had another critically wounded refugee join us... If this keeps up any longer... 1
256 271 301 Lee In the current situation, taking supplies from anyone else would make no difference to the status quo. 2
257 272 301 Liv ... 1
258 273 201 2 500166 -400
259 274 301 1 Lucia ...Sorry. 2
260 275 301 Liv Lucia... 1
261 276 301 She grabs Lucia's hand and shakes her head.
262 277 204 1 19
263 278 301 Liv It's okay... In this situation, we can't save everyone. 1
264 279 301 Liv comforts Lucia slowly and painfully, like treading across water laden with thorns.
265 280 301 Liv We can only do our best. 1
266 281 301 Lucia (Nods) 2
267 282 301 Lucia Here. I found some of the cloth and cotton you requested earlier. 2
268 283 204 1
269 284 301 Liv ...Thanks. 1
270 285 204 2 5
271 286 301 Lucia Aside from this, there's also some not-so-good news... 2
272 287 301 Lucia The conservation area at City 044 was ambushed by a horde of Hetero-Creatures. 2
273 288 301 Liv ...I heard that from the refugees that just arrived. What happened? 1
274 289 301 Lucia Some Hetero-Creatures learned to attack as a group and began attacking where people gathered. 2
275 290 301 Lucia We stayed there for a whole day before we could get rid of all the Hetero-Creatures. 2
276 291 301 Lucia Parts of the conservation area were damaged, leaving only one Construct to repair the CPF and evacuate the refugees gathering there. 2
277 292 301 Liv ...Looks like there are fewer and fewer temporary refuges. 1
278 293 201 2 500026 -400
279 294 301 Lee The twins are still at City 041, which puts us in danger. 2
280 295 301 Lee If these rescue missions from Babylonia keep failing, we'd better prepare an evacuation plan just in case. 2
281 296 301 Lee Now there are more people gathered in this conservation area than in any other place, which poses an issue for evacuation. 2
282 297 301 Lee There are few targets left that can be destroyed traveling north along the west coast. 2
283 298 301 Lee We'll be defenseless if we're attacked by either the twins or a horde of Hetero-Creatures. 2
284 299 204 1 19
285 300 301 Liv If these rescue missions from Babylonia keep failing... 1
286 301 202 1 2 1
287 302 301 The three stand silently at the door to this hypothetical question. No one dares to open it and reveal what awaits.
288 303 301 At first, the team stayed on the surface to help those in the same situation while also giving the commandant some time to heal.
289 304 301 They believed that there was still a ray of life in the dark depths. They believed the enemy could be defeated, that people would survive, and that the commandant would return to the team.
290 305 301 But these expectations, struggles, and prayers have had no impact on the growing sense of despair.
291 306 201 1 1031001 400
292 307 201 2 500166 5 -400
293 308 301 1 Lucia It's too early to give up. We need to believe in Babyl... 2
294 309 204 1
295 310 204 2
296 311 301 Right as she says "believe," she suddenly lowers her head with a somber expression as if remembering some painful memory, then trails off.
297 312 204 1 3
298 313 301 Liv ...Lucia? 1
299 314 204 2 5
300 315 301 Lucia It's nothing... Just that, if they continue to use the same tactics for conducting rescue missions, it'll only lead to more deaths. 2
301 316 301 Lucia Perhaps, they just need some time to adjust their tactics. 2
302 317 301 Lucia solemnly looks at the nearby room—the room where the Gray Raven Commandant remains resting in a coma.
303 318 301 Lucia ...But we should still be prepared. Once rescue... 2
304 319 401 1 36
305 320 401 2 212
306 321 401 1 204
307 322 202 1 2 1
308 323 201 1 500425
309 324 301 1 Young Refugee Wow! What's in the heavy sack? 1
310 325 401 2 212
311 326 301 A refugee with keen eyes spots the rice brought back by Lucia and cries out in surprise.
312 327 201 1 500166
313 328 301 1 Lucia I found this rice in some ruins. We're going to make porridge tonight. 1
314 329 201 1 500425
315 330 301 1 Young Refugee Wohoo! Quina! Get your pot! This sack of rice is enough to feed all hundred of us! 1
316 331 301 His shouting gets the attention of those around him, who all stand up in surprise.
317 332 201 1 500411
318 333 301 1 Stanley That's great... 1
319 334 201 1 500270 -400
320 335 201 2 500382 400
321 336 301 1 Conservation Resident B Looks like we're getting porridge tonight. 1
322 337 301 Conservation Resident C Finally! Some good news! 2
323 338 301 Conservation Resident B Want me to help make it? There should be an extra stove in the storage up top. Ours is out of gas. We just gotta bring it down here. 1
324 339 202 1 2 1
325 340 201 1 500166 2
326 341 301 1 Lucia Okay, I'll go get it. 1
327 342 301 Lucia I'll also collect some purified rainwater. It's been raining nonstop the past few days, so there should be more than enough water. 1
328 343 201 1 500093
329 344 301 1 Refugee Leader Then the rest of us will sit here and rub the rice ears with our hands to remove the husks. 1
330 345 201 1 500270
331 346 301 1 Quina Huh? This ain't no rice. 1
332 347 201 1 500093
333 348 301 1 Refugee Leader You can tell just by the sack. Besides, the Constructs had to fight to bring it. Are you too lazy to help them prepare it? 1
334 349 201 1 500270
335 350 301 1 Quina You're the boss. We'll do as you say. 1
336 351 202 1 2 1
337 352 301 Refugee 18 Boot-licking Quina... You only ever listen to the leader.
338 353 201 1 500270
339 354 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Quina Shut up! All you do is gossip! 1
342 357 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Everyone begins to engage in joyous conversation as everyone lines up to take strands of rice and begins husking them in every corner of the base.
343 358 301 Shortly after, the water, purifier, and cooking implements are ready. Everyone puts the husked rice into the water for it to be filtered and then set to boil over the fire.
344 359 301 Only an old man is left holding rice. He stands up weakly and attempts to address the crowd, but his feeble voice fails to garner anyone's attention.
345 360 301 Liv Mr. Cali... What's wrong?
346 361 301 Since being diagnosed with cancer, he has refused to eat.
347 362 301 Cali Can I... hold onto... this?
348 363 301 Liv Of course. It's meant for everyone to eat.
349 364 301 Cali Not... eat. Just... save.
350 365 301 He shouts with all his strength, but only intermittent syllables come out of his lips. He was already malnourished before refusing to eat. Now, he's more like a candle in the wind, as if he would go out any moment.
351 366 301 Liv ...Of course.
352 367 301 These days, the old man gave his own food or the food he could get to others. This was his only request. Liv has no reason to refuse.
353 368 301 She doesn't understand why, but seeing him struggling to speak, she refrains from asking any more questions. She just helps him sit beside the bed next to his wife.
354 369 301 Old Lady Thank you, young lady. My legs aren't what they used to be. I told him not to stand, but he's as stubborn as a mule.
355 370 301 The elderly couple sits together holding their rice and looking happily at the crowd gathered around the large pot.
356 371 301 The embers in their eyes, which were extinguished by despair and rain, ignited once more. People danced among the steam, dispelling their depression over the past few days.
357 372 301 The sobbing that echoed throughout the basement had stopped. The bedridden people slowly open their eyes to catch rays of light in their dim vision.
358 373 301 In this dark world, everyone gathers together to watch the small portable stove and the large cooking pot as they waft the delicious smell of rice porridge.
359 374 301 If hope were to manifest itself, this would surely be the embodiment of it.
366 381 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Liv notices that the woman, who had been guarding her husband, stands up from beside her, joins the crowd, and looks forlornly into the flame of the gas stove.
367 382 201 1 1031001
368 383 301 1 Liv Miss Jin. 1
369 384 203 1 0.25 -400
370 385 201 2 500392 400
371 386 301 1 Jin Hi. 2
372 387 301 She tries to squeeze out a polite smile but fails.
373 388 301 Jin Lindsey just woke up. 2
374 389 301 Jin She wanted to try some porridge and told me to join the others... But right after that... she... 2
375 390 301 She bites her lower lip as tears begin to trickle onto the floor,
376 391 204 2 16
377 392 301 Jin ...Just like you said. She won't make it through the night. 2
378 393 301 Her sobbing becomes louder and louder. The people around her gradually quiet down as they're brought back to cold reality.
379 394 201 1 500251 -400
380 395 301 1 Old Lady (Sighs) Some people can't endure this moment, others can't endure the next. 1
381 396 202 1 2 1
382 397 301 Some people say that the hospital walls have heard more repentance and prayer than churches.
383 398 301 But no matter how hard one prays in front of a life that is lost, the outcome won't change.
384 399 201 1 500392 16
385 400 301 1 Jin ...Why did she want to sacrifice herself to protect me? I... I might as well join her... 1
386 401 203 1 0.25 300
387 402 201 2 1031001 19 -500
388 403 203 2 0.25 -300
389 404 301 1 Liv approaches Jin and holds her trembling hands.
390 405 301 But she knows that even if she manages to comfort Jin, the situation won't change for the crowd.
391 406 301 Faced with parting life, words of comfort are far too shallow.
392 407 301 When survivors laugh around the campfire, they can't forget the shadows behind them.
393 408 301 Light and shadow go hand in hand. If someone dies, it means someone will be saved.
394 409 301 If a person, especially a doctor, cannot calmly face the parting between life and death, it means that they will drown in their own regret one day.
395 410 301 But Liv knows that she cannot learn how to face this situation with reason alone.
401 416 301 1 Once upon a time, an otherwise outgoing professor said this with a rare sigh—
402 417 301 ??? "Optimism, calmness, indifference to life and death... These all help persuade ourselves, but we can't force others to maintain a positive outlook." 1
403 418 301 ??? "Don't deprive others of the right to be sad, nor discourage them to grieve, because persuasion is always more useful than force." 1
404 419 301 ??? "Especially you, Liv. I know you can't learn how to remain emotionless when treating lives that cannot be saved, so that's why I am telling you this." 1
405 420 301 ??? "I hope you can allow yourself to be sad and use this accumulated regret as motivation to save those you can." 1
406 421 301 ??? "This is also a kind of 'comfort for those who cannot be comforted.'" 1
412 426 301 "Persuasion is always more useful than force."
413 427 301 Liv But... How can I...
414 428 301 When she looks up, Liv sees Chuck and his guitar suggesting something to Liv.
415 429 301 Liv ...Should we "sing instead of crying"?
416 432 301 He nods, then closes his eyes and begins to strum his guitar.
417 433 301 Shortly after, the other musicians follow his lead and join in.
418 434 301 In the crowd, those who have learned this song before begin to sing along with the music.
419 435 301 Crowd ～Life is like a round lake... along the path we take.～
420 436 301 Crowd ～Running with the birds, playing in the dirt～
421 437 301 Crowd ～I walk on and on, but where have you gone?～
422 438 301 Hearing everyone sing, Liv faintly smiles and joins them.
423 439 301 Crowd & Liv ～I'll become the wind's gaze, countless nights and days.～
424 440 301 Crowd & Liv ～Chasing your wake... around the lake...～
425 441 301 Crowd & Liv ～Just stay a little longer... Don't walk away so somber...～
426 442 301 Lucia That song...
427 443 301 Lucia It's a nice song. If only the commandant was awake to hear it...
428 444 301 Lee We'll just have Liv sing it again when the commandant wakes up.
429 445 301 Lucia Okay. When that time comes... We can all sing together.
430 446 301 Lee ...I'll pass.
431 447 301 Lucia Hmm... I think the commandant wants to hear you sing.
432 448 301 Lee ...
433 449 301 The music and hot porridge warm the hearts of the despondent crowd as they join in the chorus and clap along.
434 450 301 They find solace in the melancholic lyrics rather than rely on false hope.
435 451 301 They use the song to unload their grievances and shed tears, leaving only faint echoes of their cries.
436 452 301 Chuck See? What'd I say?!
437 453 301 Chuck Playing music might not fix anything, but getting your feelings off your chest is better than holding them in.
438 454 301 Cali That song...
439 455 301 Listening to the song, the old man's lips begin to tremble and his eyes brim with tears.
440 456 301 Liv What's wrong?
441 457 301 Old Lady He's fine. An old man like him... He's probably just thinking about the past.
442 458 301 Old Lady As people get older, some things become more clear, regardless of the song or a sack of rice...
443 459 301 She shivers and lights a precious rolled cigarette as her eyes sink into memories.
444 460 301 Old Lady During the Golden Age, livestock and farmland were run by machines. After the meltdown of the zero-point reactor, food sources were cut off.
445 461 301 Old Lady After such a long time, it was difficult for people to take up farming and raising livestock, but some people managed to do it.
446 462 301 Old Lady Not many people were able to while also fighting the Corrupted. People talked about taking seeds back to find safe places to plant crops.
447 463 301 Old Lady But once there weren't any Corrupted, people desperate for food came to seize all of our hard work.
448 464 301 She raises her hardened gaze and looks around at the refugees sitting in the basement.
449 465 301 Old Lady Just like the great winter famine in the historical records, there was no stable yield of food for a long time. People could only take what they could get their hands on.
450 466 301 Old Lady Without livestock or produce, we resorted to eating birds and mice.
451 467 301 Old Lady People even scavenged in areas with hordes of Corrupted, but few returned.
452 468 301 Old Lady So people began to breed something that they could raise quickly and that others hated.
453 469 301 She takes out the half-remaining rolled cigarette and draws something about four centimeters in length with her hands. She doesn't say what it was, but everyone understands what she meant.
454 470 301 Old Lady But there wasn't much left to feed those pesky insects, so they couldn't raise enough to be made into protein blocks like the movies in the Golden Age.
455 471 301 Old Lady And, normally, people wouldn't have touched them. But worst came to worst, even those were taken.
456 472 301 Old Lady If this went unchecked, we would've filled our stomachs with everything and there wouldn't be anything left. So rules were made and spread through word of mouth...
457 473 301 Old Lady Seeds must be left behind. Offspring and fish eggs are not to be eaten. Plant roots must remain in the soil. Pregnant animals and their food are not to be disturbed unless there is an emergency.
458 474 301 Old Lady Once people began to abide by these rules, we noticed some improvement. Animals could be seen in the mountains and forests, and seedlings sprout in areas that were harvested.
459 475 301 Old Lady It helped us get through our darkest time. The old folks who lived through that era still remember it.
460 476 301 Old Lady But the disaster didn't spare us. It only got worse every day... Sometimes people break the rules when they can longer take the hunger.
461 477 301 Old Lady And once the rules are broken, those that suffer have no choice but to do the same.
462 478 301 Old Lady That's when we met "Cheese", heh... We didn't know his real name, but that's what he was eating when we saw him. Cheese was so rare at the time, that's what we decided to call him.
463 479 301 She takes a deep drag of her cigarette. Ash rolls down her fingers, but she doesn't seem to mind. She just sighs in the thick cloud of smoke.
464 480 301 Old Lady ...Nothing I'm proud of.
465 481 301 Old Lady We thought he was well off seeing him eat cheese next to a field he lived by.
466 482 301 Old Lady That old geezer snuck into his field to steal food for us to eat, but didn't leave him any seeds. Cheese and his wife barely made it through the winter, but the baby in her belly didn't make it.
467 483 301 Old Lady The first time we heard this song was when he was kneeling in his empty field... holding his wife who had fainted from crying as he sang to her.
468 484 301 Old Lady We didn't have the heart to go up and confess what we had done. We sent him some supplies, but they moved away shortly after.
469 485 301 Old Lady Since then, we've had the habit of leaving seeds for everything we eat. Even if no one cares about this rule, we can't break it ourselves.
470 486 301 Old Lady Even though the conservation areas have already been built, there's still room to raise crops and livestock there.
471 487 301 Old Lady But as you all have seen, this stuff won't last very many days if anything bad happens.
472 488 301 She shakes her head, then snuffs out her cigarette.
473 489 301 Old Lady Well, enough of me rambling out these trifles of the past. The porridge should be ready now. Let's dig in.
474 490 301 Refugee Child Yeah!
475 491 301 The refugees who already become too preoccupied with thoughts of the long-awaited porridge to listen to her story suddenly spring to life.
476 492 301 Surprised by excitement, the Constructs resting in the nearby room walk out.
479 495 301 Construct Soldier Everyone, form a line. No need to push and shove.
480 496 301 Refugee Child Got it!
481 497 301 Everyone grabs a spoon and lines up, holding their own tableware containers enthusiastically, paying extra attention that they receive their fair share.
482 498 301 Jin holds the porridge carefully, salutes the Construct Soldiers and Liv, then returns to Lindsey's bed.
483 499 301 Old Cali, having not eaten for three days, takes a bite out of his wife's porridge under her persuasion.
484 500 301 Stanley, Shrek, Fantine... Everyone except for the wounded who are still unconscious gets a bowl of warm porridge.
485 501 301 The heat from the bowl in their hands warms their spirit as people sit down and enjoy this rare delicacy.
486 502 301 Lucia Liv...
487 503 301 While the crowd is distracted by their meal, Lucia calls Liv aside in a low voice.
