swllow

But the same can't be said for us. So, we don't have to adopt the same belief as them and force ourselves to live in a place where we're made to feel fear and hate.

Some not-so-distant memories are coming back to me.

Before I can weave those memories into words, a commotion suddenly comes from outside the window.

What's going on outside?

Seems like... a conflict has arisen during the evacuation process?

I'll go take a look.

Out of your responsibility as a Rhodes Island operator?

No, because it's the right thing to do.

(*shrugs*) I'll tag along.

What's going on here?

Over there... In the forest...

Is there a Catastrophe cloud?

Sir, is the Catastrophe about to strike?

Don't panic. It's still pretty far away. I have a portable reader with me; just give me a moment...

It's coming sooner than expected, which is in six to twelve hours. It's still a storm.

Th-Then, what should we...

Evacuate immediately. Bring only essential items with you, as your safety is your top priority. Have you contacted the caravan? Can you reach them now?

No response from the caravan, but everyone here has a burdenbeast cart.

Forget the caravan and use your carts to evacuate the area first.

Yes! Thank you so much, sir!

GreyThroat, can you contact Rhodes Island?

...No problem. I've already sent over a text.

Uwaah... Mom... Dad...

Hold on, what's that child doing crying in the middle of town with not even an adult around?

What's wrong, kiddo? Why are you crying?

Waaaah... uwaaah...

Calm down, alright? Where are your parents?

Uwh... Mom and Dad... They're... they're....

I'm too scared to go back... Waaaah...

Excuse me, do you know what's going on with this child?

...Isn't that one of those Infected kids from the woods? What're they doing here?

Alas, the Catastrophe cloud is coming soon, yet their parents don't even take care of them.

As soon as we hear the kid is an Infected, Ian and I step backward at the same time.

The child starts crying even louder.

The woods? What's that supposed to mean?

The Infected here are driven out to the nearby woods. That's a relatively merciful way to handle them.

The people inside those woods are...

I already sent someone over to notify them.

People will naturally take action during times like these. They can see the Catastrophe clouds too, so they're not going to stick around, even without a warning.

But they have no idea it could strike so soon. If they're delayed by a few hours...

I step forward and approach the terrified child again.

Hey, buddy... What are your parents doing right now?

Mom's bedridden... and Dad's outside finding herbs for her... Waaah...

Do they have communicators with them?

Communi... caters?

Something like this. It rings, and you can use it to talk to people nearby.

(Shakes head)

Sir!

What is it? I'm busy!

About this child's parents...

None of my business!

We still have six to twelve hours before the Catastrophe strikes! This child's mother is bedridden and the father is out searching for herbs. Would you mind helping me notify them?

You first said we had three to five days, but now it's become less than half a day. How can I be sure the Catastrophe won't come the moment I head to the woods?

...Ian, we need to notify the Infected left in the woods.

The nearby Originium is already in the middle of activation. The closer you get to the eye of the Catastrophe, the more likely you'll be exposed to Active Originium dust.

Letting a healthy person walk toward a Catastrophe without any inhibitors and proper protective gear is tantamount to murder.

Besides... they're just some Infected, right?

Ian, you...

We're exactly the same.

...No.

Hello? Blaze, you busy?

That's right. I'm in the northern town. There's a group of Infected in the woods here who has no idea when the Catastrophe is going to strike. I need inhibitors and protective equipment, ASAP.

...What? Do you need to get the engine guy drunk?

Up to you, as long as it doesn't cause any delays. Over.

You don't think Blaze is going to show up?

You've been dealing with the Rhodes Island folks way longer than I have.

Indeed, some of the Infected do have a virtuous character, but only because they've always been that way.

However, the Infected are generally a group of dying people.

What lies at the core of their souls is despair. In order to survive, they'll become more violent, depraved, and unpredictable.

That's why... you chose to step away and stop dealing with them.

That's right. I chose to step away.

I can accomplish a lot without dealing with them.

I can still save a lot of lives from Catastrophes and prevent healthy people from becoming Infected. That's the choice I've made.

'It's all about saving more lives'?

So, you're no stranger to our motto. Heard it in Wolumonde?

Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to be a Contingency Contract Messenger yet.

Thank goodness for that.

I don't agree with everything they do, but...

They're just trying to save more lives.

What about the lives of the Infected?

They, too, count as lives, but... their lives have been corrupted, so they are shorter and more dangerous. We must prioritize healthy people before them.

You'd better not let Blaze hear you say that... No, don't you say that in front of me ever again.

You mentioned 'blind obedience' just now.

Not too long ago, someone told me the same thing.

If you only follow orders, if you rely on everyone else to tell you what to do, that can only end poorly.

How so?

Most of the sheep who blindly take orders aren't actually dependent on anyone. They just haven't started thinking for themselves...

And those who have no direction in life, they're just empty machines looking for a sense of accomplishment, and meaning.

You activate, and perform your function, you input a goal, you achieve your goal, until you consume everything around you, and you consume those you serve.

I'm not like that.

You're inexperienced.

He was also an Infected, Ian. He wasn't even part of Rhodes Island, but an enemy.

I'm not sure if I was blindly following orders back then, but now... I know exactly what I'm doing.

I've spent years on Rhodes Island, groping around in the dark. No matter what, that's where my friends and the people important to me are. And among them are both ordinary people and Infected people.

Ian, aren't you also running away from the Infected?

When we found out that child was infected, and when Blaze first walked into the room... you looked even more scared than I was.

Maybe we were the same at some point, but not anymore.

At the very least, I no longer feel fear and hatred toward other people.

I'm here!

The inhibitors and protective gear.