Chapter 64
Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: How Could I Forget That Day
Even though 13 years had passed, how could she forget that day?
Marigold propped her chin on her hand and stared intently at Esira sitting across from her.
"Uung, Esira. You okay? You haven't said a word since we set off."
"We're on a mission."
Esira replied without even turning her gaze.
She had slung her massive greatsword across her back.
It was an extremely careful motion, like soothing a newborn baby strapped to her back, lest it bump into anything.
Because she knew what that greatsword, which Esira cherished so dearly, truly meant.
Because she knew who its original owner had been.
Marigold's eyes softened with affection for a moment.
She slowly shook her head, brushing away her complicated emotions.
Marigold deliberately pouted her lips.
"Tch. Who doesn't know it's a mission? It's been so long since the four of us got together—can't you act a little friendlier?"
"This isn't a vacation."
"Euu, so cooold..."
Marigold deliberately hunched her shoulders and shivered dramatically.
She whipped her head toward the Commander sitting beside her.
"Commander, look at her. I went out of my way to recommend 'I have to go with Esira!' and everything, but she hasn't even said thanks once. Too much, really!"
The Commander coughed awkwardly, looking troubled.
"Ahem. You know Esira's personality. She's just tense right now."
"Tense, my foot."
Marigold scoffed through her nose.
"She's probably wondering what enemy'll pop up this time~ And where to slice first so it cuts all pretty~?"
"I've never thought about cutting anything pretty."
"Ha, she spoke."
"......"
Esira's brow twitched ever so slightly.
Just that much.
Her expression, trying so hard not to show it, only made it more obvious.
Reina, who had been listening quietly from the side, chimed in.
"......The destination being what it is, it's not unreasonable for Esira to be on edge."
Marigold's playful expression sobered for a moment.
"Well, yeah. There's an Arachnoid Type α there."
Marigold tapped her temple with her finger, grumbling.
"That one's a total tin can. Reading its insides is suuuper tough."
The Commander gave an awkward smile.
"There are robots these days that make expressions pretty well."
"Exactly! Arachnoid Type α needs a tune-up too."
She clicked her tongue sharply.
"Way too outdated. Needs a patch! A patch!"
"Isn't that kinda insubordinate?"
"Psh, whatever."
Marigold waved it off like it was no big deal.
"Senior or not, I can't cater to a tin robot's whims. That stuff's totally not my vibe."
Her pouting, grumbling voice carried a hint of mischief.
"Sure, I know it outranks me and has way more Exim tenure. But stiff is stiff. Why show courtesy to a hunk of scrap that only moves on code?"
The Commander shot back with a laugh in his voice.
"Still, it's Exim Number 2. The robot might feel slighted hearing that."
"Hmph. Let it. It's a robot anyway."
Marigold snorted.
"Its emotion circuits are probably fried. Bet it wouldn't even blink if a kid died right in front of it. What would it have to feel slighted about?"
Then, just like that, she leaned toward the Commander with a bright grin, as if nothing had happened. Her eyes curved into pretty half-moons.
"Besides, Commander, don't worry."
"Hm?"
"I wouldn't pull insubordination on you too, right?"
Hehe.
Marigold pressed her index finger to her lips and giggled.
"I pick my targets carefully. You're... well, the one holding my rice bowl, so I'll go easy. Hehe."
The Commander met her eyes, then shook his head helplessly, like he couldn't do anything with her. He started to reply but ultimately said nothing. Sometimes, silence was the best response.
When they arrived at their destination, Marigold hopped out the moment the door opened.
"Kuuuung!"
She stretched.
"Uwaaa, so stiff! Thought my butt was gonna fall off."
She bounced in place, loosening up her stiff body.
Esira, meanwhile, got out quietly and gazed at the building.
Pale steam hissed from the pipes snaking everywhere.
"Hiiing, this place always gives me the creeps."
Marigold pinched her nose and whined.
"Iron smell, oil smell. Ugh, total tin-can robot taste. Can't they plant some flowers or something?"
"It's a research facility."
The Commander replied flatly as he took the lead.
"Security comes first. Flower beds are a hassle to maintain."
"Tch, no romance at all. You siding with the robots too, Commander?"
Reina tilted her head.
"The word 'romance' doesn't suit robots."
"......Yeah, fair."
The four of them passed through the massive front gate and entered a long, empty corridor. Only their footsteps echoed: thud, thud.
Marigold chattered nonstop the whole way—the floor was too hard, the lights too dim, Esira ignoring her was boring, and so on.
"Esira, just say one word. Pleeease? Pleeease?"
"On a mission."
"I wanna hear you talk."
Reina glanced at Esira before speaking in a low tone.
"Sparing words isn't a bad idea. Especially...... when the destination's what it is."
Marigold tilted her head.
"Still, me and Esira are Exim. We're not outsiders—can't we chat freely?"
Reina didn't respond.
How long had they walked?
"......Huh?"
Marigold, walking ahead, stopped dead in her tracks.
At the end of the corridor, the reinforced glass door blocking off the research area lay shattered in pieces.
Glass shards littered the floor like snow, reflecting the light, while acrid smoke leaked through the gaps.
Chik, chi-chi-jik.
Sparks popped from the ends of severed wires.
Reina reacted instantly, stepping half a pace forward to cover the Commander as she gripped her sword hilt.
Her gaze stayed locked on the gap in the door, unwavering, ready to draw her blade at any moment.
"Looks like something happened......"
The Commander said, but Marigold didn't seem too fazed.
"Whoa, what's that? Esira, whaddya think happened?"
"Dunno."
"Eying, don't just say dunno."
Marigold peeked through with sparkling eyes.
"Something go wrong?"
"Wrong? Yeah. Experiment blew up or something? Tin can strikes again."
Marigold carefully stepped through the broken gap. The glass crunched underfoot.
"Hey! What'd you do to make it like th—"
Her words cut off abruptly.
Marigold froze like a statue, like she'd seen something terribly wrong.
"......Marigold?"
The moment Esira called her name and reached for her greatsword's hilt, Reina spoke up.
"There's a body."
Esira and the Commander rushed in together. Amid a pile of toppled equipment lay a researcher in a white coat, collapsed.
The corpse was little more than a blood-soaked rag. The floor pooled with a dark red liquid—so thick it couldn't just be blood.
A bizarre hue, like red blood mixed with inky black tar.
"......Not a mistake."
All the playfulness vanished from Marigold's voice.
Reina stepped inside silently and examined the edge of the liquid.
The instant her sword tip lightly touched the surface, sticky mucus stretched out like a thread, clinging to the blade.
She sheathed her sword immediately.
"It's not blood."
"What?"
"Viscosity's too high."
The Commander crouched beside her with a grim expression.
"Let me see."
He pulled a flashlight from his pocket and shone it on the liquid. Even under the beam, the surface didn't glint. Instead, it rippled darkly, as if swallowing the light.
Too strange for a chemical reagent. Too alien even for a monster's fluids.
"Urk."
Esira clamped a hand over her mouth and staggered. Nausea surged from the depths of her stomach. Her body reacted before her mind could process.
13 years.
Her fingertips trembled. Her heart pounded irregularly, as if about to burst.
Marigold turned to her in surprise.
"Esira? What's wrong? You okay?"
"......No."
Esira shook her head with effort.
Mesmerized, she took one step toward the liquid, then another.
Just looking at it felt like her sanity was fraying, bit by bit.
She could never forget.
"Abyss......"
Silence fell.
The Commander whipped his head around to stare at Esira. His usually calm eyes shook violently.
"......Esira, what did you just say?"
Esira bit her pale lips before forcing the words out.
"It's Abyss."
Her breath hitched. Her throat burned. But she had to say it.
"I'm sure."
Even though 13 years had passed, how could she forget that day?