act4d0

第一关（前）

08:30 A.M. \ Snowstorm

Northlands - Infy Ice Field - Rhine Lab Temporary Research Outpost #420

System unlocked.

Year: Unknown

Time and date error. Switching to manual control.

Authenticate identity to proceed.

Hm, let's see here... Right. Rhine Lab Field Specialist, Magallan.

Authenticating——

Authentication complete. Voice print confirmed.

Beep——

Fingerprint confirmed.

(lively feminine voice) Hi! How are you, Maggie? Welcome back!

Well that's weird.

I guess I shouldn't have let Mayer play with the sign-in system. What a weird function...

Welp, anyway, let's get to work!

This is our last survey of the year. Let's make sure there's nothing new.

By now, all regions marked for survey are done. Once they finish their other tasks, they'll start on the trip back.

Phew. Done.

I am really no good at writing reports. Let's hear the audio.

(lively feminine voice) Hi , Maggie! Today is the one hundred, eighty, seventh day of your survey.

Wow, I've been out here a while. The time really flies.

(lively feminine voice) You have been out so long, shouldn't you head back? Everyone misses you.

Huh?! Was that in there before... Don't tell me Mayer snuck in some new parameters.

Well, it's a cute little surprise either way. How nice.

But, as for going back, I think...

This snowstorm looks like it'll last at least a week. Good thing I've got plenty of supplies.

Let's take another look at the to do list. I think I remember a few things still need doing.

Let's see here. Right. Sample collection is done. Searching for clues in the ruins, I think we can call that done.

Nothing much new, compared to last year. If only we had a discovery like the year before.

It's pretty normal, but I bet the section chief still chews me out for getting greedy.

Nothing here either... Oh? Here's a blank. Low temperature test of new materials... oh.

I totally forgot!! Where did I put that new material?!

Oh crap! They're gonna kill me if I lose it!

Phew. That was close. I just left it in my outer pocket.

The outer pocket is 43 degrees below zero. I kept it there six hours. It retains elasticity.

Now to test hardness.

Hey!

Well, no problem. Into the experiment chamber you go.

Thank goodness I put it in my jacket...

With the blizzard and all, I guess I can just put it outside the door and see how it holds up in a low temperature environment.

I think the current temperature out there should be right.

Okay, Magallan. Here we go. Take a deep breath, open the door a split second, toss the thing out, then shut it.

Gotta be quick, precise, decisive. Or else the snowstorm gets in here and we're all done.

Excuse me...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Magallan, did you just see a ghost?

Yes, Magallan, and she was very pretty. Still a ghost though.

But how could there be another person up here in the Northlands?

C- could it be some kind of snow ghost?

No way. I just have to open the door and take another look. I have to answer this question with science!!

There's no such thing as ghosts! And I'm not so cold that I'm hallucinating!

What if it's some kind of uncontacted tribe? That would be huge! Go for it, Magallan!

Excuse me, can I come in?

Er... Um... You... I...

Don't be afraid. I am not a ghost. Here, touch my face.

Huh? What?

Oh, okay...

Wow. You're warm! But how? How are you here in the Northlands?

...are you a Sami?

Ah...

I don't know why that seems disappointing to you, but I am indeed a Sami. Nice to meet you, little girl.

H- hi. I still don't know how you got here, but please come in. A normal person would freeze to death out there.

I mean, wouldn't a blizzard like this be a problem even for a Sami?

Thank you.

Here, have some tea.

Thank you.

What's your name?

You may call me——

Let's say Simone. Simone. And your name, little girl?

My codename is Magallan! Rhine Lab Field Specialist, assigned to Research Outpost #420...

It's only me here, at the moment.

I see.

Simone, why are you here? Did you get caught in the storm...?

I was entrusted with the search for a certain individual.

Search? In the Northlands? There's no one here. For all the months I've been, I've seen maybe a couple living organisms.

The client informed me that she would be active in this area.

Why are you looking for her?

This storm will last for some time, which should delay her movements. I came here to retrieve her.

Oh, really? Do you mean me?

I am not certain.

R- right. So you're not here for me. But the weather as it is, it really doesn't bother you?

The Sami... rather, I am familiar with snow.

But if the weather continues to deteriorate, many things will change in unpredictable ways.

Yeah. I knew this storm would last a while, but I didn't think it would be this intense.

I wanted to wait for the wind to die down a bit... We would have to speed things up like this.

According to the calendar and my observations, tomorrow would be the best time!

And we have enough supplies. I really did well.

All these supplies are for you alone?

Oh, no. These are for all the people living at this research station to hold out until next year's survey season.

...oh?

If you need to live here for a while, you can use these supplies too.

But you can't touch my equipment!

Oh. Okay.

Good, well, now that that's decided, let's get packing!

Sorry, Simone, there's a few things I have to prepare.

Sure. No problem. I won't get in the way.

Suitcase, suitcase, where did I put my suitcase? Oh, I remember. I brought it down from the loft and put it in the kitchen!

The survey apparatus, and the drone... Meh, it's fine.

Just need to charge a bit.