cast3

I would like to know.;I've wanted to ask for a while.

I've had these scars for three years.

They were all left by different people. The very first one came from a young sniper operator.

Goddamned bandits... Why are there so many of them?

Hah... Another one!

Trying to take these from me? Over my dead body! *Cough*... Dammit, that slash probably got my lungs...

Castle-3...

Ready.

Come... come over here... Give me a hand...

I recommend you lie down and rest. I may be a combat platform, but even I can tell. With the state you are in, you are no longer fit for combat.

Lie down... huh? No, it's not time for me to lie down yet.

Castle-3, you wouldn't mind if I carved something into you, right?

Such minor cosmetic damage is not enough to affect my performance.

Though I cannot begin to understand the meaning behind your action.

Don't worry about it... *Cough*... Castle-3, you know that I'm about to die, right?

If you don't receive immediate treatment, your body functions will terminate within three to five hours.

Terminate, huh...? Yeah... That's right. For us humans, that's death.

You want me to lie down... and wait to meet my fate... I can't do that.

It's my last couple of hours, and I'm gonna hang on and make them count.

—Look at these hostiles. Not only are they stealing all of Rhodes Island's stuff, they're disrupting the lives of the people in the Infected villages.

That's why I'm taking them down before I die.

That's the third one.

One mark for one kill.

—And I'm trading my life for them.

They'll be a memento proving that my life and death, right up to my final moments... have been meaningful...

Huntingbow!

I took the operator onto my body and sped away. Regrettably, by the time I made it back to Rhodes Island, his physical functions had already ceased.

In more accurate terms, he reached 'death.'

Master Closure noticed the scars on my body. She was going to remove them, but I asked to keep them.

As a way to memorialize the operator?;As a way to memorialize the incident?

Sorry, Doctor. I do not understand the word 'memorialize.'

As a robot, as long as my core remains intact, the incident will remain in my memory bank. At the same time, all my data on Huntingbow will remain intact.

If you would like to know why I decided to keep these scars, I'm afraid it'll be difficult for me to give you an accurate answer.

However, Master Closure did propose one possibility—

She said this was a kind of 'imitation.'

You're imitating the operator?;You're imitating him leaving the marks?

Master Closure designed this particular module for us platforms in the hopes that we could behave as much like humans as possible.

Although I cannot fully comprehend the meaning behind Huntingbow leaving these marks, my program made me decide to preserve his action.

Ever since that incident, I've kept a record of the number of hostiles I personally defeat on field missions.

And afterwards, I ask my accompanying operators to carve the corresponding number on my outer shell.

You're learning.

Doctor, unlike THRM-EX, I cannot produce heat. My program does not support 'learning' either.

Today, I've arrived at a conclusion, albeit an imprecise one: the marks that Huntingbow left behind might be of a kind with Shaver's voice recorder.

Likewise, I will one day cease to function, and my scar-covered outer shell will remain for a period of time, whether in a landfill or in Master Closure's storage.

I hope it'll be placed in a special storage.;I will remember every battle we fought together.

Thank you, Doctor.

When my core ceases to function, the data in my memory bank will also be wiped.

But your words for me today mean a lot.

Castle-3! Where are you?

The wrecking crew is gonna be here soon. And when they are, things aren't gonna be quite as easy!

Also, I just got a message from Closure. She asked if I'm with you...

Castle-3, if we don't run for it now, we're not gonna make it!

Chiave, I don't understand. What won't we make?

And I can hear a wrench. Does this mean you didn't actually need me to bring you tools?

That was just an excuse... Don't worry about it!

I heard from Closure that your core's just about busted. She's going to write you off soon, isn't she? Just like the cars with the busted engines that got written off at our factory!

If what you are asking is whether Master Closure will stop my functions today, that is possible.

What?

Doctor, I should've explained this to you sooner, but I determined that the mission on hand had priority.

That's why you asked me to come with you?;......;So that's why you were acting so strange today.

Until the very last moment, I, Castle-3, shall be your most steadfast ally.

Did I just hear the Doctor's voice...? Why is the Doctor there?

Castle-3, I told you to come alone!

If you brought the Doctor, how are we supposed to get away?!

Chiave, I already told you yesterday. It is nearly impossible for me to execute your suggestion that we go on this long term field mission together.

As a machine, my orders from Master Closure and the Doctor take first and foremost priority.

Furthermore, my core will not last much longer. You said we would go on a journey to multiple countries together, but I'm afraid that won't happen.

Even if we won't make it very far, we can still make a run for it!

The less time you have left, the more we should make the most of the present! It's much better to run away and die free than go back and get turned into a heap of garage scrap!

And if it comes down to it, I'll let Aosta give me an earful and Closure beat me up... but that all comes later!

Hey, Doctor, you say something too!

I think Chiave's on to something.;......;Castle-3, what do you think?

Transmission over.

Hey, Castle-3—

Castle-3, what's with that all of a...

Doctor, my sensors have detected hostiles.

—Sand beasts. Four in total.

Castle-3, awaiting orders.

Castle-3, to the left!

Understood!

Closest target down!

Doctor, there are still five sand beasts on the other side of the boulder behind us. They are charging toward us!

Castle-3, attack the rock face 30 degrees to the left ahead of us!

Understood!

The rock face is crumbling. Watch out, Doctor!

Disasters leave us more than just trouble sometimes.

Castle-3, through this opening!

Okay, Doctor. Climb onto me!

Doctor, hold still.

Castle-3, maximum velocity! Charge!

Doctor, we've escaped the sand beasts.

Well done, Castle-3.;......;Castle-3, you aren't slowing down.

Doctor, please don't get down yet. As long as I maintain our current speed, we should reach the landship in ten minutes.

Not with Chiave?;Freedom's the other way.

Doctor, I understand what Chiave meant.

He wants me to run free in my final moments.

Aren't we running right now, Doctor?

Indeed we are.;......;Those are some strong winds.

Doctor, I am very glad that I got the chance to run with you.

Immortal...;This seems like the right time for a song.;I shall become an immortal gale.