Глава 8

...Dr. {@nickname}. Don't ever forget about me.

...Doctor...?

The fragments begin to gradually reassemble before a name finally emerges in your mind.

Priest...ess...?

...Dr. {@nickname}?

Kal'tsit, who's Priestess?

The enemy's putting up way too much of a fight! Hey, you! Keep your head down!

How the hell did they even manage to squeeze all these people in here?! We're almost there to the last floor!

The burning smell... I can smell it from here.

Everyone, I'll be fine by myself from here on out.

...Guess you don't think we're being much of a help, eh?

You've all been very helpful, but it's too risky to have you help me with this.

You can spare us the sympathy. We're all grown-ups here.

No, I'm not sympathizing. Operators, there is something that I have to make clear...

Without your help, I wouldn't have made it this far.

You go get 'em, Amiya.

I sure as hell would still like to sneak a few drinks in at one of those more laidback cities one of these days. Hell, maybe I'll share one with you.

Definitely.

Oh, this is... Madam Ch'en's scabbard. It's full of scratches...

...Did Talulah let Madam Ch'en through on purpose? Oh n—

—Actually, maybe not.

With how far she's come... Madam Ch'en isn't that easy to kill...

She's probably figured out what it is she's looking for already.

I'm sure other people would be at a complete loss when faced with this string of events, but Madam Ch'en's anger is about so much more than just this.

The object of her resentment... All of us resent it as well.

Amiya starts climbing the stairs.

She thinks back to the time when she last saw Ch'en.

It was in the officers' office in Lungmen, and Amiya can still vividly remember the view of Ch'en that met her eyes.

The moment her hand touches the scabbard, the scenery seemingly opens up before Amiya's eyes again.

And it's getting clearer and clearer.

Well, nothing good ever comes out of going on a mission with you.

Ngh... guh.

Nine...! You're okay...!

I'm managing. I didn't expect to see you... almost knocking on death's door, though.

That bomb blew up right in front of me, you know. You were like yards away.

It took a bite out of my abdomen. Sorry, but this really hurts... so bear with me. You've always been much better at putting up with pain than me...

...Nine. Turn around and let me take a look.

I didn't know you had it in you to make demands of your superior officer.

...No... No way. You...

I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you, Ch'en.

My crystals blocked most of it, but some shrapnel got through.

I'm guessing some of the shrapnel hit you... am I right? Let's take care of it now. You might still make it out of this.

Nine... You... don't tell me...

What about you?

I can figure out what's going on with my body much better and much faster than anyone, especially with my Arts. I'm not getting these shrapnel out.

—I'm a L.G.D. member. Let me go out with some pride. Just remember how I look from behind, and give everyone at the department my regards.

And Wei too. Send him my regards.

Where will you go?

I'm definitely going to be Infected with these wounds. Wherever the Infected usually go, that's where I am going.

...Nine, even if you're Infected, that doesn't mean you have to leave! You've done so much for Lungmen and the L.G.D.! All of us know it in our hearts!

They all know it in their hearts how terrifying the Infected are. Even this Originium bomb... Let me guess... Forget it, I have no idea who made it.

It's about time you stop dreaming, Ch'en. Let me get one thing in. The boundary between the Infected and normal folks isn't for you to decide. Not me, either. That is for them to decide.

I warned you about meddling with the affairs of the slums' Infected, and, well, look where that got us.

...But we are ready to make headways in the slums. There's also that housing plan for the Infected, ready to be launched. Wouldn't you say we're in a better shape than before?

We are more than ready to treat all the Infected fairly and equally. We will give everyone in Lungmen a fair treatment regardless of whether they are Infected or not, because they are all people of Lungmen!

Sure, we may be ready, but is Lungmen ready? Are the masses ready? Will the General Chamber of Commerce vote for it? What do you think will happen if I tell the L.G.D. that I'm Infected?

You can report your status after we accomplish all that—

You're asking me to use my authority to conceal my status. How's that not corruption? I would rather be exiled than to do that.

Wei Yenwu single-handedly built the L.G.D., and we've kept it running and maintained its integrity for so long... The department represents law and order, and I won't allow its name to be tainted!

Besides, Ch'en, do you really think that those who live a better life can better keep their Oripathy in check, and those who live in the slums and mines face certain death?

No, once you become Infected, there's only one way the world is going to deal with you.

All Infected die, and as long as they all die the same way and we burn their bodies the same, there isn't anything that sets one apart from another.

I won't ask for anyone's forgiveness; my Infected head count is well over a hundred. It's not karma that turned me into an Infected myself. It's just how the world works.

And the list of ways it handles people like us goes on and on. It's almost like it gets a bonus each time it comes up with a new way to mess with us.

Why? Nine... I thought you were confident about Lungmen's future.

Confident? Heh, so you guys take how rude I am for confidence.

I love this city. When I had nowhere else to go, it took me in, but, deep down in my heart, I know there isn't anywhere in the world that truly accepts the Infected.

I may love it here, but that doesn't mean I'm confident about it at all. I just know it a bit too well. I know what's worthwhile and what's a waste of time here.

I don't just chill in my office and act all high and mighty. I pound the beat with you guys. I do that not because I try to look friendly to the citizens or want to show off.

The only reason I am here is because Lungmen needs me.

Wei is willing to take the Infected in for one reason and one reason only. He thinks the problems that the Infected bring with them are nothing compared to the problems that Lungmen has faced or will face.

But whose heads do you think will roll first once those problems are all taken care of?

Even if Wei doesn't, what about the city? What about the merchants and the masses, the workmen and the cops?

Lungmen can take in the Infected! Lungmen isn't just theirs... It's ours as well! So what does it matter if they're Infected? Does that somehow mean they can't do their part for the city? Does that mean the city can't protect them?

It can't.

No, we're all the same. If we're all Infected, we'll be seen as equals. Remember. You said it yourself.

Well, let me fix that for you, then. Wei Yenwu treats you like a jewel, and your life here in Lungmen is on a whole other level compared to the regular folks.

You...!

I don't deny your efforts and sacrifice, Ch'en. You are one of the finest members I've ever seen in the department. But I have to warn you. You are not like them.

...No, I'm not working in Lungmen for the prestige. I am part of the L.G.D. I am part of Lungmen.

We poured our blood, sweat, and tears into this city, and its people are harsh, but it will come to accept everyone in the end.

It will. It's been improving.

Nine, even if we're Infected, we are still part of Lungmen!

Lungmen is a city for all people. That's how it should be. If it isn't right now, then we will make it so.

Have we not seen enough? There are lots of good, honest Infected here, don't you agree?

Then prove it to me.

You want to prove to me that we belong here. Then do it.

I will. I definitely will...

...Be quick about it. I may not have that much time left in me.

—I will.

If you run into situations like this, just let Wei know. He'll take care of it. Keep in touch. Feel free to call if something comes up.

Oh yeah, tell Hoshiguma I said to keep an eye on you... lest you do something stupid.

Feel free to forget what I just said, and I am sure you will, but make sure to tell her that before you do.

Stupid?

What's stupid?

Teach by example. What has that turned me into?

Sympathize with others. What has that ever helped me understand?

Never give up. What have I lost because of that?

Now that we finally get to meet again, what can I actually do anyway?

What I can do...