act13d0

What's your name?

Nice to meet you. I'm a new Caster Operator, codename Mint.

Ah, I remember you. You're the new girl that got separated during the last mission, right?

Haha. I swear, Miss Skyfire was THIS close to exploding.

*whimper* I'm so sorry about that, and for all the trouble I caused...

She must be angry with me. She was lecturing me non-stop afterwards.

Hm? No, no, no, not with you.

She was upset with herself because she wasn't watching her own back properly... at least, that's what she said.

Huh? So she wasn't...

I know. There's times Miss Skyfire can be pretty strict with other people, right?

But she's much stricter with herself, really. Take last time as proof. She'll reflect on herself first before she starts grumbling at anyone else.

And you can't blame her, really.

Once you've seen her pitting herself against her own standards, upset at herself for falling so visibly and palpably short, getting chewed out by her from time to time doesn't feel so rough...

You're right! That's how she really is. I admire her a lot for that.

Haha, I can tell. Anyway, thanks for offering to help.

We've definitely taken on a lot of fresh blood in a short time. Whether it's us, Medical or Logistics, we're all a little swamped.

Oh, er, right, Operator Phantom's file.

Circling back to that, we've got a decent amount of operators' files in incomplete states. In general, standard protocol for small questions is we'd find the person themselves and ask directly.

But Operator Phantom's kind of tricky in this regard... I'm gonna put it straight. We can barely figure out where he is.

Is he not on the ship right now?

No. Our mission records say he's not out in the field for anything.

Operator Phantom seems to be deliberately avoiding people. Add in his Arts, and we've had our work cut out finding him.

We could lie in wait in places, or ask Miss Closure for help... but we just can't spare a single person and waiting's not an option, and as for the latter, well, mm...

I heard he caused some trouble when he joined us and now Miss Closure's... pissed off with him.

So we'd probably be telling her 'this is your chance to give him a public execution,' right? It's hard to even guess what would happen afterwards.

This definitely sounds tricky...

Are Mr. Phantom's Originium Arts similar to Mr. Ethan's? Or... um, waitletmelookatthemanual. Right! Like Miss Manticore's?

She has the ability to hide where she is too, doesn't she?

Yep. I remember when she signed on. It was just as much of an effort back then to get her records filled out.

All you had to do was blink and she'd slip away unnoticed. That was a whole thing to deal with.

Manticore's got plenty of anxieties of her own.;......;She might be in this room with us RIGHT NOW.

No, I agree.

At the time, the only way we could actually converse was with pen on paper. It took a lot of effort on our part and hers.

But at least in terms of her own feelings, Miss Manticore is ultimately very willing to work with us.

Judging by your reaction... you recall too, don't you, Doctor?

That one time you only remembered Manticore was in the room after you'd already locked up.

What?! Miss Manticore's in here?!

Really, Doctor?!

You're kidding, right? Really, Doctor, you can't just joke like that...

Miss Manticore's case was more helplessness. I get the feeling that Operator Phantom's just using his Originium Arts to dodge us. On purpose.

Is that so...

Dr. Kal'tsit and Amiya said we could ask you to help us out with this. Do you have any good ideas, Doctor?

It's not like there isn't a way.

You mean it? Great! What should we do to find him, then?

At times like this, we seek the Madam's opinion.

The Madam?

Doctor, do you mean...

It's that dream...

The stage that night, and those people.

(...No, no.)

(That night, nothing of the sort happened. Everything was perfect.)

(They couldn't ever appear again. They shouldn't ever appear again.)

(...Spirits, I've long since laid you to rest.)

The endless river runs, and to my ear its babble is as song. It washes forth, so leaves me, flows away to endless far...

Or perhaps they never really left.

(Hm? The sound of footfall. The sound of...)

//开门声

Meow.

So it was you, Miss.Christine.

Meow~

What is it?

You seem in a good mood.

Meow. Meooow.

No, I'm fine.

You oughtn't worry. I'm used to it.

Those apparitions are forever in the corners of my sight...

Mew.

Hm?

Of course. I'm well aware we have other guests.

—Doctor.

Good morning.;......;You know me by footsteps alone?

Rainy day.

I fear it's not too good a morning.

Every step someone may make, be it hard or light, labored or leisurely, divulges plenty a message.

You may find it easier than you'd think.

There are others besides you as well.

Two stranger footfalls. One a little airier, the other heavy.

//脚步声

//脚步声

Oh, I've been made.

That's incredible! I was making so sure to tip-toe all carefully!

Scarily acute sense of hearing... wait, heavy means me? I guess I have put on a little weight recently.

Er, I feel he didn't specifically mean your actual weight.

Go on, then. What might you need me for?

Miss.Christine rarely brings guests. It seems you've gained her favor.

I'm honored.;Where were you hiding?

Meow. Meowww~

Mm. Miss.Christine expresses her approval.

I was not hiding. Your eyes were simply cheating you.

Eyes, ears, throat, nose. All senses capable of tricking someone.

...All, even memory.

Anyhows, the important thing is we're finally face to face. Nice to meet you, Operator Phantom.

And you are...?

I'm from the HR department. There's a file of yours with an incomplete section. We only have a few questions, just so we can check our knowledge from the top.

File?

...I understand. What would Rhodes Island like to know?

Thank you for your cooperation. Don't worry, all you'll need to answer is a few simple questions.

Ah, before that... allow me to just quickly confirm your Originium Arts control capacity.

Have you noticed any issues with your specialized monitoring equipment, Mr. Phantom?

Particularly in day-to-day moments... for example, like our current conversation. Any tendencies for your Arts to take effect in a manner that exceeds your control?