3 3 301 DialogEnable —3.9 km away from the conservation area reconstruction site 03.
4 4 401 1 208
5 5 301 Inside the library amidst an ocean of small bookshelves, a white hat breaches the "surface."
6 6 301 Holding onto the shelves, Haicma lifts her head, trying very hard to scan the books at the top.
7 7 201 1 500486 400
8 8 201 2 500490 -400
9 9 301 1 Spooner How much longer are you going to look? 2
10 10 301 Haicma I'm not sure. At worst, until I finish browsing every book in this area. 1
11 11 301 Spooner Why are you going this far? 2
12 12 301 Haicma Our database has yet to record all human knowledge, Spooner. 1
13 13 301 Haicma I believe fixing a hole after discovering it is the responsible thing to do. 1
14 14 301 Spooner Then how about letting me help upload all these books? 2
15 15 301 Haicma ... 1
16 16 301 Haicma Spooner, do you know how humans define a "miracle"? 1
17 17 301 Spooner It's probably... an after-the-fact conclusion of an event that happened but is almost statistically impossible? 2
18 18 301 Haicma What if that event keeps happening repeatedly, then? 1
19 19 301 Spooner Then perhaps you should find a way to isolate it? 2
20 20 301 As if hearing the most boring answer, Haicma turns her attention back to the shelves.
21 21 204 2 10
22 22 301 Spooner ... 2
23 23 301 Haicma Spooner? 1
24 24 301 Spooner A bit strange, but I can't say why. 2
25 25 301 Haicma You mean this area? 1
26 26 301 Spooner I mean you, Haicma. I'm surprised by your changes, this shift that's unraveling the fundamental layer of your mindset. 2
27 27 301 Spooner This will make you look... different to the church. I don't think those folks will ignore it. 2
28 28 301 Haicma ...Observing. Understanding. Perfecting myself. Those are parts of my mindset too. 1
29 29 204 2
30 30 301 Spooner That's not the point. The point is that Project Ark... 2
31 31 204 2 4
32 32 301 Spooner ... 2
33 33 301 Haicma What? 1
34 34 301 Spooner I'm afraid you might have to handle it here on your own for now. 2
35 35 301 Haicma Sure, but where are you going? 1
36 36 301 Spooner An old friend's here. 2
37 37 202 1 2 1
38 38 301 1 Despite the vagueness, Spooner is not acting like it will be an armed encounter, so Haicma does not pry any further.
39 39 301 She is still in need of reference books she can use to decipher some human literature.
40 40 301 Just like how one would need to first understand programs before reading about artificial intelligence, there must be an entry point into understanding "miracles."
41 41 201 1 500486
42 42 301 1 Haicma "The 100th Weekend We've Met"... What about the first weekend? Where is that book? 1
43 43 301 Wandering between the shelves, Haicma slowly amasses a large number of books she has to find. To understand them more comprehensively, Haicma has piled all the questions she has together.
44 44 301 But sometimes, not all questions have a definite answer.
45 45 401 1 36
46 46 301 Haicma This... has an issue number. Where is the first one? 1
47 47 301 ??? Here.
48 48 301 She sees a hand passing her a book silently.
63 63 301 The book stops in the air. Haicma's aggression melts away as you two lock eyes.
64 64 204 1
65 65 301 Haicma If not for my analysis of your voice, you would be dead by now. 1
66 66 302 I can tell. 67
67 67 301 Haicma Still, you have shown up at the most opportune moment. 1
68 68 301 With that, Haicma hands you the book in her arms.
69 69 301 Haicma I require the interpretation of a human regarding the information in this book. 1
70 70 302 What don't you understand? 71
71 71 301 Haicma Based on my estimation—everything. 1
72 72 302 Then where should I start? The Big Bang? 73 It will take a while to go through the whole book. 73
73 73 301 Haicma If possible. Please also summarize everything in the following books from the series. 1
74 74 302 ... 75
75 75 301 So, you return to the bookshelves under Haicma's watchful eyes.
76 76 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You bite the bullet and head toward where she has been, hoping to find the other books in the series.
77 77 401 1 208
78 78 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Sitting down next to the shelf, Haicma turns to the first page of the book, and there it reads "Miracles" at the forefront.
79 79 301 Haicma Does it mean I have to accept that "miracles" exist before I can continue reading this? 1
80 80 301 Her fingers gently touching the notes on the title page, Haicma looks through the gap in the bookshelf at the human whose figure just happens to overlap with the words.
83 83 301 Suddenly, Haicma realizes her neural circuit is somehow firing on all cylinders.
84 84 301 Not only does her pile of questions remain unresolved, something else with a higher priority pushes it into a corner.
85 85 301 Haicma It's similar... to what happened on the balcony? 1
86 86 204 1
87 87 401 1 2
88 88 301 Rubbing her chest, Haicma does not have the chance to contemplate for too long as she discovers the strange presence behind her.
89 89 301 Haicma Why are you here? 1
90 90 201 2 500468 400
91 91 203 1 0.25 -400
92 92 301 1 Zero You finally noticed! I thought you were ignoring me all this time. 2
93 93 301 Sitting on the two sides of the same bookshelf with their backs toward each other, Zero and Haicma talk at a volume only the two of them can hear.
94 94 301 Zero You've gone rusty too, Haicma. Is it because of the humans? 2
95 95 301 Haicma The church didn't tell me you're part of this operation. 1
96 96 301 Zero I was in the neighborhood, and this place always seemed interesting to me. I thought it'd be a shame if I missed it. 2
97 97 301 Zero being interested in books? Even infected machines could not mutter something this nonsensical.
98 98 301 Recalling the "old friend" Spooner mentioned, Haicma fears that Zero is not the only one here.
99 99 301 As long as Haicma can keep an eye on the human's whereabouts...
100 100 301 Zero Haicma, your mind has been running much slower lately. Has something contaminated your judgment? 2
101 101 204 2 5
102 102 301 Zero If it's going to put Project Ark at risk, now's not too late to correct it. 2
103 103 301 Haicma This library is under the control of the human conservation area. 1
104 104 204 2 2
105 105 301 Zero It's not too hard to fry a human's brain. As long as we mush it thoroughly, there's no chance the other humans will be alerted in time. 2
106 106 301 Zero By the way, those Constructs are busy recycling their broken toys. And accidents are prone to happen to those who travel alone. 2
115 115 301 RImgBg1Shake Her scythe extends swiftly to the crunching sound of gears turning. Pages scatter into the air from the books swept off by its blade.
116 116 301 Haicma turns to face the now empty shelf, her gaze piercing through the falling pages.
117 117 301 Haicma Disengage, Zero. Now. 1
118 118 301 Zero's familiar face flashes before vanishing between the white pages.
119 119 301 Without her usual banters and jokes, Zero's final expression is one of surprise and confusion.
120 120 401 2 1513
121 121 202 2
122 122 301 AniZhuanchangBegin And as Haicma hears footsteps approaching her from behind, Zero has disappeared amidst the scattered paper.
140 140 302 You can ask me if you have any questions. 141
141 141 301 Haicma I don't. Not yet. 1
142 142 301 Sitting across Haicma at the table, you notice her peeking at you ever so often, to the point that she has barely flipped any pages in her book.
143 143 302 There are guards from the conservation area watching around here. 144
144 144 302 I don't think we have to worry about Corrupted showing up. 145
145 145 301 Haicma The chances of Corrupted appearing here are less than 1%. Not that they would worry me. It's just... 1
146 146 302 Just what? 147
147 147 301 Haicma ... 1
148 148 301 Haicma The possibility of us meeting is much lower than that. What do you think about it? 1
149 149 301 What an abrupt segue...
150 150 302 (Try to press) 151 (Nothing you can do if she does not want to say) 153
151 151 301 Haicma does not answer you. She just takes a look outside the window before immediately turning back toward you as if she is hurriedly performing a ritual.
152 152 301 ... (Thanks for nothing.)
153 153 302 Perhaps some answers don't need to be a percentage? 154
154 154 204 1 7
155 155 301 Haicma No? 1
156 156 302 We'll always find each other, like it's written in the stars. 157
157 157 301 You open the book in your hand. Despite how groundless its fantasies are, those stories are always a part of how humans endure and survive.
158 158 204 1
159 159 301 Haicma I don't think your premise supports it based on what is written here. 1
160 160 302 I'm here now. 161
161 161 302 I'm glad I've run into you for the fourth time. 162
162 162 301 Haicma ... 1
163 163 301 Haicma My theory is that you're only here because this is the only building in this area with a unique purpose. 1
164 164 301 Haicma Hypothetically speaking, if this library did not exist, there is no way that a 0.08% chance could have... 1
165 165 301 She stops. Even though her expression has not changed, you can feel how much she loathes the conclusion she is about to make.
166 166 302 It would be a shame if we missed each other. 167
167 167 302 We'd have to wait until we meet in the ruins for the fifth time. 168
168 168 301 The wind blows past the window, catching the corners of the pages and turning them to the other side.
169 169 301 The sun shines through the clouds, getting gradually brighter, and the words on the ivory pages seem to shimmer in the light.
170 170 301 What was it that people said? "Language is power, and laughter is magic."
171 171 301 Inept as you may look, you hope that the things you have done can cast away the shadows within Haicma and everyone from the conservation area.
172 172 204 1 10
173 173 301 Haicma ... 1
174 174 301 Holding down the fluttering pages, Haicma strokes the words on them once again.
175 175 204 1
176 176 301 But immediately afterward, she smells something unusual in the calming breeze.
177 177 301 She stands up, ignoring the chair she knocks down, looking at you as if gesturing you to stay close.
178 178 302 (Follow) 179
179 179 301 In a wide passageway, the two of you move quickly in tandem. You seem to recall that this is the fire escape.
180 180 302 Is something wrong? 181
181 181 301 Haicma Don't worry. 1
182 182 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Haicma I just wanted fresh air. 1
200 200 301 The deafening blast engulfs everything. Shattered windows, sweeping smoke, and the heat surge toward you from behind like an insatiable inferno.
201 201 301 Haicma takes advantage of her mechanical body, closing the distance between you two and the fire door in haste.
202 202 301 Chariot "See? Haicma can easily escape the kill box. Only the puny human will perish here."
203 203 301 Chariot "Save your energy, Spooner. Instead of confronting me, you should think about how to correct Haicma later."
204 204 401 2 974
205 205 201 1 500486 5
206 206 301 1 Easily slamming open the heavy door, Haicma turns and reaches out for the distressed human, ignoring the warning about the extreme heat.
207 207 301 (Estimating—the human is too slow. There is a 98.3% chance of failure.)
208 208 301 A success rate of 1.7% is enough. She is willing to gamble on the tiniest possibility.
209 209 301 Haicma !! 1
210 210 204 1 7
211 211 301 Suddenly, she feels a pair of hands on her body, pushing her away.
212 212 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Miracles have not answered her prayers. Having devoured everything, fire and smoke gush out of the passage.
219 219 301 AniZhuanchangEnd As she arrives at her base at night, the night sky has already wiped away all noises.
220 220 301 Haicma returns to the room with all her paintings. Although the proposed repairs include restoring her mind, she has rejected all of them.
221 221 301 Her pen moves and turns, acutely illustrating the old shelves, the books of varying heights, and the uneven gaps in between.
222 222 301 But her pen pauses mid-air as it is about to touch the part in the center.
223 223 201 1 500486 3
224 224 301 1 Haicma A mistake... 1
225 225 301 Haicma goes over the decisions made in the meeting again: Zero is temporarily removed from all operations since her actions have alerted the Constructs from the conservation area, risking the Church of Machina's exposure.
226 226 301 Chariot is not reprimanded, given that he was acting under Zero's proposition.
227 227 301 Haicma Even Spooner is... 1
228 228 301 Spooner, having defended her during the meeting, also came to talk to her privately on the same topic afterward.
229 229 301 Without exception, every key member of the Church of Machina agrees after hearing the reports—
230 230 301 Haicma's actions have deviated from the behaviors of machine logic.
231 231 301 If she had not guarded this place as quickly as possible, her paintings might have also been taken away for assessment.
232 232 301 Haicma A mistake... The way I treated that human is a mistake? 1
233 233 301 She could have made excuses: an impersonation, an observation, even an infiltration.
234 234 301 But there is a voice within her that speaks without hesitation—
235 235 301 "Yes."
236 236 301 It is an answer from deep within her mind, a rational analysis that she is choosing to ignore.
240 240 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Dawn is coming, and the face in the center of her painting has seen no progress.
241 241 301 AniZhuanchangBegin As the land is showered in the morning light at daybreak, all that remains in the vacant room are the brushes left behind and a picture of an empty face.
247 247 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Struggling to tear a rift in the darkness, you manage to confirm that you are still alive.
248 248 301 You try to recall the moment before you lost consciousness: realizing that you could not escape, you instinctively chose to do what you could to save Haicma.
249 249 301 Then, how did you survive?
250 250 201 1 500486
251 251 301 1 Haicma Are you awake? 1
252 252 301 You cannot identify the blurry silhouette, but your eyes manage to focus on the black-and-white figure.
253 253 301 Haicma Please don't make any sounds. There are... Corrupted nearby. 1
254 254 301 It seems that you are placed behind a low wall. Poking her head out, Haicma is carefully keeping watch.
255 255 301 You feel her hair in your hand, but it no longer feels smooth. You look down to find the ends charred.
256 256 301 Haicma Please don't worry. Your companions are expected to be on their way. 1
261 261 301 You want to ask about her damages only to realize you cannot speak. Meanwhile, darkness threatens to overtake your numbing consciousness once more.
262 262 204 1 3
263 263 301 Haicma I'm so sorry for causing you harm... 1
264 264 301 Your hearing starts to fade.
265 265 301 Haicma I will review all my experiences since encountering you. I hope I can find an answer... 1
266 266 301 Your vision darkens...
267 267 301 Haicma So, allow me to say an indefinite goodbye... 1
268 268 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin You try to clutch the ends of her hair with your last bit of strength, but all you can grasp are the crumbled pieces.
