plosis

Seems like something those powdered wigs in Engineering would say.

But you've gotta face up to a very real problem.

If one day, Device #9 starts to malfunction, or just stops working altogether, what are you gonna do?

I haven't seen the whole report, but Silence said something about Device #9 being necessary to keep you alive.

Regular physical examination is necessary.

This isn't something that physical exams are gonna solve. It's a matter of life or death for you!

Acknowledged.

Maybe I shouldn't be the one saying this but... you should really...

You really aren't going to ask Rhodes Island for help?

Why don't you go see Closure? She's the most extraordinary engineer I've met in all my years.

Thank you for your concern, Mayer.

This question will be revisited pending future considerations.

Sigh...

Another deep dream.

In the dream, Joyce stands in a patch of dense fog, with a soft whispering in her ear.

She cannot understand what is being whispered. It is in a language she has never heard before.

It is almost inaudible, seemingly coming from a very distant place.

She wanders through the fog and continues to dream.

Light seems to filter in from a distance, piercing the fog and illuminating the surroundings.

She sees a large Originium crystal that gives off a peculiar glow.

Hm...

So far, all your key physiological indicators are normal.

But the quality of your sleep is still poor. Are you still having those dreams through the whole night?

Yes.

That's not a good sign. You've been in this state for too long.

The physiological indicators are not abnormal.

Current physiological indicators can never be used to rule out problems, and you should be well aware of that. If you are unable to rest, it will become life-threatening, in the long run.

Maybe we should consult Dr. Kal'tsit.

I'm sure she knows some way of relieving your mental burden.

Rejected. Device #9 is a confidential Rhine Lab experimental project.

They might not even care about that project anymore.

Miss Dellareed's team has long been disbanded.

You might be... No, you are the only legacy of the Device #9 project.

Dr. Silence, do you believe in that saying?

To which saying are you referring?

'Originium stores the story of this world, spanning hundreds or thousands of years, maybe even more.'

*Sigh*...

When I was with Rhine Lab, I didn't actually understand Miss Dellareed's project...

I can't answer that question. It's outside the scope of my expertise.

But the feedback data I've gotten from the monitor suggests your dreams are a side effect of Device #9.

It might be reconstructing fragments of information you received when awake, and then playing them back repeatedly during your sleep.

This 'playback' is one of the side effects of Device #9, in the same vein as the strong logical thinking it has brought you.

Device #9 forces your brain to stay in a continuously stimulated state, which is also the source of your poor sleep quality as well as your 'narcolepsy.'

As you know, Miss Dellareed's project was also full of holes. Most of the fundamental stipulations were built upon conjectures, and lacked evidentiary support.

The basic principles of the experiment lacked solid ground, but they still had Miss Dellareed carry out that experiment. That's why you became what you are now.

Internally at Rhine Lab, the experiment was considered a failure, and that led you to...

Objection. Erroneous account of events.

Della is not responsible for the lack of critical information in passing down that judgment.

I wasn't accusing Dellareed of...

Della? Is that what you called her?

Yes.

I know that Miss Dellareed was your friend.

Her death... had nothing to do with you. I don't have any right to blame her, but that tragedy was brought about by her obsession with her research.

I've seen... far too many tragedies like that in Rhine Lab.

Well, if it really is because of Miss Dellareed, I'm willing to have a chat with you. I'm sure Mayer would too.

But I wouldn't fixate too much on that saying.

And don't always bottle things up either.

Staying in a prolonged state of mental agitation won't do any favors for your health.

Right now, you are my assistant, as well as my friend. And as a friend...

I hope that you can live a better life.

I understand.

Sorry for worrying you, Dr. Silence.

Re-registering relationship status with Dr. Silence––

––Friend.

If you're in a good enough mood to be cracking jokes, I probably don't have anything to worry about.

Having that said, I'll be heading out to do some field work with Dr. Kal'tsit next week. I'm not comfortable leaving you alone in your current state.

In other words, if you encounter any abnormalities of any kind on the way back, you must be sure to let me know.

Thank you, Dr. Silence.

Oh right, if it's not too much trouble, I'm going to ask you to take this medicine back to Ifrit.

I might run a bit late tonight.

No problem, Dr. Silence.

I'm bored! When is Silence getting here?

She's real busy today, so I came in her place.

Boo... I thought I wouldn't have to do my homework if Silence wasn't coming around.

You lazy bum. You'd better watch yourself or Silence will make you sit down with the Doctor 'til you finish all your homework.

Naw, you ain't fooling me with that. The Doctor's even busier than Silence. Swung by the office a couple times, and nobody was there.

That is true...

Oh, it's Silence!

Negative.

It's Joyce!

Is Silence working overtime again?

Yes.

This is Ifrit's medicine.

Yuck... It's the bitter kind again...

Go set it over there. I'll put it away later.

This is a snack for Ifrit.

Woohoo! You're the best, Joyce!

Hold up! No snacks 'til you're done with your homework!

Fine, fine, I'm doing it!

I got 70 points on my test today too!

Hard work begets success. Please keep it up.

You only got a 70, and I didn't even bust out any hard questions. Better step up your game, Ifrit.

Whatever...

Oh, by the way...

Why are you in such a good mood today, Joyce?

Some positive developments occurred. But not to the extent of necessitating a display of mood swings.

Wait a sec, Ifrit, how'd you know that Joyce was in a good mood?

Huh? Isn't it obvious? When she's happy, her eyebrows go up a little bit, her forehead is more relaxed, and the corners of her mouth change too.

How'd you figure that out?

It's just something you get used to!