4 4 301 DialogEnable Many years ago, at the film set of "The Mandhasti Real Park"—
5 5 301 In the studio, a fictional father was teaching his fictional son how to use a rifle.
6 6 301 This is the bolt. This is the safety. Here is the magazine, and the trigger is here.
7 7 301 Push the bolt to load a shiny, slim bullet, unlock the safety, then pull the trigger.
8 8 301 This is how humans fire a brass bullet. It has 2800 joules of kinetic energy, travels at 868 meters per second, and can take down most animals on the continent.
9 9 301 The father told his son.
10 10 301 "Life is great, but .300 Magnum is greater, because it can take away any life with ease."
11 11 301 "It makes no difference whether that life is theirs, or ours. We are just one of the many life forms."
12 12 301 For some reason, Roland still remembers this scene that he once witnessed.
13 13 301 But he only knew how to act back then. He didn't have any question.
14 14 301 The script was there. He only had to follow it to earn money, as well as a chance to live.
15 15 301 He had always been living in lies, and believed in the rules that were born in them.
16 16 301 But lies could be easily proven wrong with some proper thinking.
17 17 301 Does the power to take lives really make something great? It's nothing but an arrogant boast.
18 18 301 To Roland, struggling for survival amidst a world that ignores the importance of life should be called great instead. That is the real world.
19 19 301 He enjoys watching infected Constructs beg for the mercy of the Ascension-Network. Fragile flowers that shatter after breaking free from the greenhouse, but still struggling to maintain the last bit of consciousness.
20 20 301 And the innocent white that was born from the scarlet virus.
21 21 301 Those eyes had witnessed infinite despair. Still, she continued to venture toward her target.
22 22 301 That white figure pulled him out of hell. The closer he approached her, the more he believed that she was the only truth he would ever seek.
23 23 504 0.7
24 24 301 But he lost her.
25 25 301 What if he never finds Luna again?
26 26 504 0
27 27 301 What if everything gets loose and lost? Where can he go then?
28 28 301 His values and purpose will all go down with the lighthouse.
29 29 301 How will he be different from many years ago, when he stood in the "Real Park" with despair?
30 30 401 1 36
31 31 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Shaken inside, Roland hears a well-timed chuckle from the darkness.
38 38 301 The young man in Roland's mind wears a clean and simple outfit. He is smiling—the smile of a normal young person.
39 39 301 The smile looks taunting in contrast to Roland's gloomy face.
40 40 301 Roland? You seem upset when I show up, but— 1
41 41 301 Roland? Still, you picked me, not— 1
42 42 301 Roland? Oops, is he not here? 1
43 43 301 Roland? Which means... I see. 1
44 44 202 1 2 1
45 45 301 The illusion disappears, and shows up again in a look that Roland is more familiar with.
46 46 201 1 500008 -450
47 47 201 2 500334 450
48 48 301 1 Roland ...What did you learn? 2
49 49 301 Roland? You have an idea. A target. You have a mission—but you don't know how to complete it. 1
50 50 301 Roland? Because nobody can give you a reply without being questioned by you. That's why I'm here. 1
51 51 301 Roland ... 2
52 52 301 Roland? Eureka. 1
53 53 301 Roland Guess all you want—but what do you have to say? 2
54 54 301 Roland? I know you don't want to see me. But rest assured, hermano. In this world, anyone can leave you... 1
55 55 301 Roland? But I won't, and I can't. This is my fate, and yours too. Don't you think? 1
56 56 301 Roland Well, hermano, do you have any clue? 2
57 57 301 Roland Get it done. My body is yours for now. 2
58 58 301 Roland? Your body? What sort of impression do you have of me, hermano? 1
59 59 301 Roland? Some electronic ghost may be able to hack into the M.I.N.D. of Constructs through special frequencies, and replace the host's memory with theirs... 1
60 60 301 Roland? But all I can do is to stay with you and face "you" till the last moment. 1
61 61 301 Roland? I don't come from outside, and I'm not another you either. I am just that more honest side of yours. 1
62 62 301 Roland? I cannot interfere with your future. I can only bring up those things that you didn't want to confront. 1
63 63 301 Roland? Whether you like it or not, whatever you are going to do with them, they are there. 1
64 64 301 Roland So what's this thing that I don't want to face? 2
65 65 301 Roland? Relax, hermano. I can see you are arguing back now. 1
66 66 301 Roland? For now, just do what you feel like doing. You want to take action, and that isn't a bad thing. 1
75 75 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Roland? I don't think you need to keep such a watchful eye on her. 1
76 76 301 Roland? As far as I can recall, you used to get along a lot better. 1
77 77 301 Roland That doesn't mean I can let my guard down, especially in this situation— 2
78 78 301 Roland Just look at me... Hermano. 2
79 79 301 Roland raises his right hand. It still obeys his M.I.N.D., but looks nothing like what he remembers.
80 80 301 Roland? So what? You were never a coward. 1
81 81 301 Roland? Has this new body changed you that much? 1
82 82 301 Roland What's wrong with that? I won't have another chance next time. 2
83 83 301 Roland I'm lucky to still be alive, so I must carefully think about how to properly spend this second life. 2
84 84 301 Roland? You would throw away even your own life, yet here you are, suddenly getting nervous over something given by others. 1
85 85 301 Roland ...Maybe you are right. 2
86 86 301 Roland? No. 1
87 87 301 Roland? If you want to be a coward, you should have been that way from the beginning. You know very well to be cautious about things you don't understand, so why would you rely on this new body that you aren't familiar with? 1
88 88 301 Roland ...? 2
89 89 301 Roland? This life may be given by The Merciful One, but it's still yours. 1
90 90 301 Roland? It's your choice. Your consequence. Your soul. Everything about it belongs to you. 1
91 91 301 Roland? If you want to fight, to die, or to do stupid things, you do it yourself. 1
92 92 301 Roland? Look at you, so detached and paranoid. You made yourself this way. 1
93 93 301 Roland Looks like you are right. 2
94 94 204 2 2
95 95 301 Roland's expression relaxes slightly and gives a chuckle.
96 96 301 With his nerves loosened, he gazes around the place. It is—or, used to be—a low-ceiling hut.
97 97 301 Bombshells destroyed one of the walls, as well as half of the south-eastern pillar, making its roof slightly tilted.
98 98 301 Still, the remaining structures are intact, making the room at least more comfortable than some random cave.
99 99 301 Lamia would probably agree. She curls up like a cat, occupying a corner of the room.
100 100 301 —Roland feels relieved.
101 101 301 Roland Can you stay a little longer? 2
102 102 301 Roland? My presence is not determined by your words. But you will know when I show up or leave. 1
103 103 301 Roland? Hermano. 1
104 104 301 The illusion emphasizes the word "hermano."
105 105 301 Roland ...Hah, you're right. 2
106 106 301 ...
107 107 204 2
108 108 301 Roland Anyway, I sometimes have this feeling... 2
109 109 301 Roland? ? 1
110 110 301 Roland Look at Lamia's body. She's a great fit for reins, don't you think? 2
111 111 301 Roland? ...? 1
112 112 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland Let's move when the sun comes back. 2
