Irina

Swoo belatedly recalled the name Anastasia Tish Morozova.

In the game, the description of her had been extremely sparse, and her presence was practically nonexistent.

Considering it wasn't even revealed that she was the mastermind behind the Abyss War—a major backdrop in the lore of Cyberpunk: Eden—it was safe to assume the developers had intentionally hidden information about her.

Perhaps she was meant to be released in a future DLC.

Now that Swoo had already crossed over into this world, there was no way to find out.

At any rate, Swoo had finally remembered Anastasia's existence, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with it, the various incidents tied to her name.

The most significant among them was, of course, the shard containing Anastasia's message.

This was the content of a shard left exactly one day before May 24th, the date of the game's ending.

The name written on the shard was Asha—T.M.

Asha was the pet name Lucian used for Anastasia, and T.M. stood for Tish Morozova.

Judging by that, it was undoubtedly a shard left by Anastasia Tish Morozova.

Therefore, it had to be assumed that Anastasia was alive until the very end of the game.

Of course, someone could have impersonated her, but Swoo thought that was unlikely.

If it were an impersonator, they would have made it much more obvious. And considering the goals of impersonation, they would have broadcasted Anastasia's name long before.

Yet, no one in the game ever mentioned Anastasia's name, and it was never heard anywhere.

She hid the name Anastasia and even abbreviated the surname Tish Morozova.

Applying a few more rounds of elimination left only one conclusion: it was a shard left by Anastasia herself.

And since there was no need to record a monologue on a shard, she must have wanted someone to read it. Considering where the shard was found, the target audience narrowed down.

Anastasia wanted to show her message to Lucian de Croix, or perhaps to a betraying former comrade who was watching from hiding.

Her purpose was to leave them with a sneer.

If so, where was Anastasia now, and what was she plotting?

A few theories came to mind, but none of them were certain.

So, Swoo didn't bother voicing them.

"...Is that true?"

"Yep. Probably."

"Why the sudden 'probably'?"

"Because I haven't seen it with my own eyes."

"Then why would you say such nonsense... No, I apologize. I lost my temper for a moment..."

Irina, who looked as if she might burn through half her cigarette in a single drag, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and spoke.

"...Honestly, it's hard to believe. But at the same time, it's a strangely plausible deduction."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because that's the very reason I'm helping my damn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠father with his orders right now."

While searching for the accomplice who had worked with her mother, Irina was also looking for her mother's corpse.

She knew her mother had been executed as the mastermind of the Abyss War. She also knew Lucian had carried out the execution himself.

But she didn't know where the body went.

Lucian refused to tell her. He had said that if she was so curious, he would give her one hint every time she completed a major contract for him.

And so, ever since she left home, Irina had been following Lucian's orders, wandering in search of her mother's burial site.

"Mmh... Then it's a bit closer to fact than just a guess."

Swoo nodded as she listened to Irina's explanation, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Where on earth did you pull that deduction from?"

"I told you. I'm from another world—"

"If you don't want to tell me, just say so."

"Aw."

"'Aw' my ass."

Clicking her tongue, Irina crushed her cigarette underfoot and stood up.

"Are we done now?"

"Huh?"

"I'm asking if you've said everything you wanted to say."

"Yep."

"Then get lost."

"Did I really do everything?"

"What?"

"Nothing. A familiar commercial jingle just popped into my head."

"Anyway, leave. I'm busy."

"You don't have to do those errands anymore."

"...I have to do them to avoid raising suspicion."

It had only been a short time, but she seemed to have already sorted out her thoughts.

Perhaps that, too, was a talent of sorts.

Despite hearing such shocking news, Irina appeared no different than usual.

Of course, her mind must be in absolute turmoil.

The mother she believed dead was alive, and the father who promised to show her the grave had been lying to her for over a decade.

If one thing was certain, it was that her hatred for her father had grown even deeper.

"What are you going to do?"

"Keep doing what I've been doing."

"And behind the scenes?"

Irina parted her lips to speak, hesitated, and glared at Swoo. Her expression was incredibly standoffish.

"...What do you want me to do?"

"You mean, how can you help me?"

"...Do you have to hear me say it?"

"What if we find her, but she's... not in one piece?"

"I'll worry about that when the time comes."

"Resilient."

"I thought I turned out like this because of the environment I grew up in, but it seems I take after my mother."

Seeing how her mother had deceived the world and survived after everything that happened, Irina figured her personality must be genetic.

Irina truly believed that.

"Just answer me. What do you need me to do?"

"Honestly, I don't really know either. I think we need to wait until Enoch gets back before we decide."

"...Didn't you say he went to the northern front?"

"Yeah. Enoch is bringing back something important."

"I suppose you have a rough idea of where she might be."

"A very rough idea, but yes."

"Even if it's just that..."

Irina started to ask her to share it, but stopped herself.

If even this reckless dragon wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠making a move yet, it meant there was nothing Irina could do either.

Knowing such information now would only be poison. Her mind was already in turmoil; if she got distracted by something else, the chances of Lucian noticing would skyrocket.

"Never mind. I'll hear it... when the time is right. Will you tell me then? Or will there be another price to pay?"

"I'll tell you when you say you're ready. No price needed. We're friends."

"Can a dysfunctional relationship like this even be called a friendship?"

"Yep."

"How do I end it, then?"

"Just cut off your right arm."

"How the fuck is that a friendship?"

"You can just get a cybernetic arm. I could cut it off for you. That way, it'll count as an accident and you can claim insurance."

"You asshole."

"Just kidding."

Chuckling, Swoo turned around.

Her business here was done.

If she lingered any longer, Irina would lose working hours and inevitably end up sleep-deprived.

As a good friend who didn't want her friend to be exhausted, Swoo decided to leave. But then, she remembered there was still one piece of information she hadn't gotten.

"What's the name of the person who started the rebellion with Anastasia?"

"...Do you have no respect for other people's families?"

"If it succeeded, it would've been a revolution. But it failed."

"Wow."

What on earth was she supposed to do with this brat?

Irina couldn't even bring herself to be angry. She was so utterly dumbfounded that she didn't have the energy to rage.

Sure, countless people had died in the Abyss War and Eden had almost been destroyed, but was it really okay to talk about the parent of someone you called a friend like that...?

Or should she just be glad Swoo wasn't treating her like a rebel too, just like her mother?

Is this girl actually planning a rebellion of her own...?

A strange suspicion crossed Irina's mind, but before she could pursue the thought, Swoo spoke.

"If you tell me the name, I'll really go home, just like you want."

"So you knew I wanted to get away from you?"

"Yep."

"Then why the hell do you act like this?"

"But if I don't, you won't pay any attention to me."

"I seriously want to strangle you..."

She was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so sick of this.

Granted, talking to Swoo helped clear her mind and organize her cluttered thoughts, but right now, she just wanted to be alone.

"Sigh..."

She opened her cigarette pack.

It was her last one. Placing it between her lips, she resolved not to waste a single drag this time. With a soft whoosh, the cigarette lit itself.

She was startled, but she didn't show it. If she reacted this time, it would feel like another loss to Swoo.

"...I trust you will keep this a... secret."

"Yep."

"The name is—"

"Swoo-yaaaa!!!"

"Big sis!!!"

"Oof."

"It's been so long!!! How have you been?!"

"I missed you, big sis!!! Do you think I grew taller?"

Even before Swoo could ring the doorbell at the Etherdams' house, Frey and Lucy came rushing out.

As if they had planned it beforehand, the two of them hugged Swoo tightly, rubbing their cheeks against hers.

Frey and Lucy had to have at least a fourfold age gap between them, yet they acted exactly the same.

If I raised a couple of puppies like them, the office would never be boring, Swoo thought as she gently pushed them away.

"I'm covered in dust."

"That's fine! You can just wash it off! Want to bathe together? We're both small, so the tub should be plenty spacious!"

"I haven't washed yet either! I want to bathe with you, big sis! I'll scrub your back!!"

Had Frey been visiting this place often while Swoo was busy? Not only their behavior but even their facial expressions had become similar. Of course, it was likely the young Lucy who was taking after Frey, but either way, they were definitely starting to resemble each other.

Well, if it kept Frey from being lonely and gave Lucy someone reliable to lean on, then all was well.

"I'm bathing alone."

Swoo, having managed to push the two of them off, looked up.

Standing behind them, the Etherdams waved belatedly.

Their faces looked much more haggard than before.

It was only natural. Considering everything happening in Eden lately, there was no way they wouldn't be busy.

On top of that, since Eva had taken it upon herself to handle all the media-related issues, she must be absolutely exhausted.

"Hey, Eva. Hey, Agner."

"Hello."

"Welcome, Swoo. Have you eaten yet?"

"Nope, not yet."

"Then would you like to wash up first? I'll get things ready. For the menu... how about hamburgers? Will hamburgers do?"

There were plenty of other options, but Eva knew Swoo loved hamburgers. Angela had secretly tipped her off.

"Yep, sounds good."

Swoo's face lit up with a bright smile.

Frey and Lucy gasped at the sight. Even covered in dust, Swoo's appearance was on a completely different level from ordinary people.

"I've already drawn the bath. I laid out some clothes too, so you just need to go in and wash."

"Thanks."

Swoo's steps grew lighter.

She walked with a slight bounce in her step, until—

She flinched and stopped.

Her eyes widened as she read the notification flashing across her retina.

It was an audio recording disguised as a text message.

She had been wondering when he would contact her, and it was finally here.

Was it late, or was it early?

Swoo immediately played the audio recording.

The recording cut off with a sharp, echoing slap.

Listening to it again, she could hear a tearful scream following the sound of a heavy blow. There was also the sound of something snapping.

"Mmh..."

Swoo's lowered gaze shifted to the sender.

Draco Legia.

It seemed his genre was angst after all.