story_mostma_1_1

个人剧情 莫斯提马

Aha, how many are you? Five, no, six, huh? I'm in a hurry, so just take me all at once!

In the alleys of Lungmen, Exusiai is making deliveries in her own special way, as usual.

What she doesn't know is that on a rooftop not far away, someone is watching her.

Tsk tsk, El is playful as ever, and her marksmanship continues to improve.

You think so too, right? Watching her makes me miss my gun.

Get Rhodes Island to make a gun-staff? Perish the thought... If Lemuen saw, she'd make fun of me.

Besides, wouldn't that look like I'm pining for the past?

Hm? I'm not that sentimental.

But it's not like I've forgotten either.

Times change, and so do people. I thought you'd know that better than anyone.

...That's true. You perceive things different from we do, huh.

I do think about it sometimes. What does change feel like when you count time by the century?

Can you find meaning in a subtle feeling at all?

I mean, you know it doesn't matter to me anyway.

Oh, so it was you, Mostima.

Yith?

G'day.

Does Emperor need me for something?

Not really. There hasn't been anything major lately. I was just passing by when I felt a familiar aura.

And that's... Exusiai over there? I see, I see, just another day of work.

That's right. Also took the chance to take this little fella out for some fresh air and a little chat.

Ah, sounds like a good time. I'm jealous.

What about you?

Same as always. No rest for the wicked.

You work too hard.

Oh, please. It's what I was made for.

By the way, since you're here, I'd like to ask you a favor.

Let's hear it.

I've got a nasty complainer here lately. Might be something wrong with the lock. I was hoping you'd take a look for me.

Ah, I thought the lock was looking a bit worn down when you gave it to me for safekeeping last Sauin. Wouldn't surprise me if there were some minor problems.

Pass it over then, I'll take care of it.

Your other one's fine?

Sure, it's in the lock. The other one's just the key. Won't give me any issues.

Mostima pats the gray staff at her waist, then draws the brown staff out and hands it to Yith.

Old friend, we meet again.

...Huh, looks like it's in a bad mood indeed, and doesn't want to talk to me.

It happens.

Speaking of which, Mostima, I've never asked you this before, but I'm curious - where did you get this lock and key?

It was somewhere around Kazdel before it came into my hands.

Near Kazdel, huh... That explains a lot.

Can't say I expected that.

If you want more details, I mean, I could tell you the whole story. But I don't really feel like it.

The whole story... Are you talking about the Liberi girl?

Yeah, you've met?

Just once, last Sauin.

Pain in the ass, isn't she?

Yea...

'Bang!' Suddenly, a crossbow bolt penetrates into the space between Mostima and Yith.

See?

Seems like she's no fan of mine.

No, she's just getting pissy at me. Any other questions?

Really dig deep there. I joined Penguin Logistics because of you and Emperor, but we haven't had any serious talks since then.

So hit me with any questions you got.

Have you considered looking for the other pieces?

This is the only one left.

And even if it wasn't, it's not into the idea, and neither am I. Might as well leave things as they are.

You know though, if it really wasn't interested, it wouldn't have ended up like this in the first place.

I see. That does make sense.

Much of the way we are now can be attributed to similar decisions.

Actually, I've asked it before, whether it wanted to come out.

Let me think... That's right, it was during the Rhodes Island operator test.

Why?

Umm... I guess because it seemed like an interesting place, so I wanted to show them what I could do?

Might've also been because I wanted to scare the Doctor.

This one wouldn't cooperate, though. It felt something, I guess.

And hey, I gotta hand it to 'em, Rhodes Island is definitely interesting. You should check it out yourself, if you have the time.

Yes, if I have the time.

And when might that be?

Who knows? Keep an eye on Emperor's mood. If it sours, I might have some time on my hands.

But meetings between people are wonderful things indeed.

After its hibernation, it actually met a wielder so well suited to it.

Maybe.

But if I'm being real, it's brought me way more headaches than power.

But you don't mind, do you?

Guess I don't.

In any case, that's enough chatting for the day.

I'll let you know how the staff turns out.

Alright. Bye bye.

What's with the pissy face?

You.

I'm honored.

Who the hell was that? I know Emperor's got something crazy going on underneath, but I never knew Penguin Logistics had anyone like that.

You actually gave him your staff, and he seemed pretty comfortable with it.

Let's say it's his area of expertise and he's trustworthy.

Let's say your trust and that crossbow bolt have a conversation.

Do you need an explanation? I'm an open book.

No thanks... 'they' obviously know what's going on, and just decided not to tell me.

And that means I shouldn't be hearing it from you.

And that doesn't bother you at all?

My job is to keep my eyes on your horns. Beyond that, it's none of my business.

You don't care at all?

Hey, hear me out. You volunteered to watch me, way back when, but there's a ton of stuff you have no way of knowing. And you're running yourself ragged to keep up with me. That's some serious masochism.

As if I need you to spell it all out.

I'll say it again: what happened in Kazdel wasn't your fault.

Whether you were there or not, I would've pulled the trigger.

And you don't care that you've turned into this, I take it?

Bingo! See, you're getting to know me better and better.

And my choices are none of your business.

Sure, sure— Oh yeah, some folks from the Notarial Hall swung by yesterday, right? Another new job?

Not for the time being, just a routine report. But...

Oh? Did they change your codename again?

Yeah... *Sigh*.

That bad, huh? Lay it on me, I could use some cheering up.

...One-Armed Chainsaw Guy.

Huh... Did they just watch that shitty Lungmen flick?

I brought it back. Ugh, I should've known better. Why didn't I bring them something artsy?

Hah, hah, hah. Maybe you'll be Guns n' Roses next time.

Better than One-Armed Chainsaw Guy.

Alright, let's go.

I thought you were going to follow her around all day.

Do I look that bored to you?

If you ask me, I'd say that there aren't many people in this world more bored than you.

Do you really think so highly of me?

That wasn't a compliment.

What matters is that I take it as a compliment.

Anyway, that really wasn't my plan. Just had to swing by to take a look, call it force of habit. Wouldn't be my first time doing this either, and you should know that.

I do. That you're not proactively trying to make contact with her is a good thing in my opinion, but...

Ever since I had that little chat with her last Sauin, you've been totally fixated on it.

Are you worried that I'll tell her something?

If that was your plan, I might not be able to stop you. So I need to know how you feel about it.

Hmm... Fine then.

I know that look in your eyes. You're not gonna leave until I give you an answer.

I'm glad you understand.

Force speaks louder than reason with you.

Tell me this... what's the best way to make someone stop caring about you?

To disappear from their life.

No, not good enough. Once you've appeared, there's no way to completely disappear.

You have to wait for that person to find a new life, a new environment.

To tell the truth, I never thought she'd come running here from Laterano.

When Emperor told me she joined Penguin Logistics, I was quite shocked.

But you know, that whole time until Sauin, I never once spoke to her.

As for what happened then... Just consider it part of the festivities.

She's not going to give up looking for you.

But she's not actually looking for me.

It's not like she had anything to do with it, at least not directly, but we all have to keep our mouths shut.

Is that something I can clue her in on? Tell me, One-Armed Chainsaw Guy.

Please don't unironically call me that name.

Unfortunately, it's absolutely top secret, so you cannot.

See, I can't tell her the thing she wants to know the most, so what's the point of me showing up in her life?

Give her little hints here and there, pique her interest, and drag her into this whole mess?

So, you want her to stop caring about you?

Isn't that what you want too?

As I said, from an official standpoint, I'd like her to distance herself from any matters concerning you. Personally speaking though, I don't really care.

Honestly, if you were to ask me if that's really what I want, I don't think I'd say yes.

But when I let go of Laterano, cut all my ties, it was just as easy as when I raised my gun that one time. No hesitation.

All I can say is, if something happens, just let it be.

That is indeed the kind of person you are, and I don't like it. You don't care about loss.

Lots of people dislike that about me.

But color me interested. What good comes from caring about loss?

You end up crying your eyes out over whatever you've lost and whatever you see yourself losing, and then what?

I'm not here to talk philosophy with you. All I'll say is, if you really think that, then why did you come to watch her?

Take a guess?

No clue. I don't suppose you're lame enough to be doing this in hopes that she'll realize you're here.

You haven't been reading sappy romance novels, have you? Go easy on that stuff.

Grrr!

Oh, did Lemuen ever tell you why El is named after her? Why is her name Lemuel when the two of them are obviously not blood-related?

She keeps her work and her home life separate.

True.

The reason's simple. When she joined that family, El hadn't been born yet, and the parents decided it would be nice to integrate her into the family.

Though, that couple is just as joyous as El. If you told me they were just too lazy to come up with another name, I'd probably buy that.

In any case, Lemuen might not straight up say it, but she's really grateful to those parents, deep down.

And she cared even more about her little sister Lemuel.

So what does that have to do with anything you're doing here?

I'll spell it out for you, One-Armed Chainsaw Guy.

I'm thinking that Lemuen would let Lemuel leave Laterano, not just because she wanted to.

She's a discerning one. If El really got obsessed with you-know-what, I don't think she would've let her go.

It is precisely because that matter had nothing to do with El, and because finding me is not some obsession she can't give up—

—that she could come to Lungmen and join Penguin Logistics.

What Lemuen really wants is for El to see the world and find her own life.

And she kind of indirectly handed the responsibility to look after El over to me.

Even though you left without saying goodbye?

Precisely because I left without saying goodbye.

Watching her from a distance probably doesn't count as 'looking after.'

It's not like I left Penguin Logistics because of her either. It's something I should've done from the beginning, right?

So you're doing all this because you believe it's what Lemuen wants you to do?

Who knows.

Might've just been an excuse I came up with to explain why I'm doing this.

Well that's a surprise. I never expected you to come up with such a sentimental excuse.

I'm not a robot. There just happens to be a whole lot of stuff I don't care about.

Guilt, nostalgia, sorrow, etcetera etcetera. My heart's packed full of 'em all, but I've got them smoothed out pretty good now.

But if you or Lemuen decided to cut ties with me or something, I'd feel pretty sad.

For how long?

Dunno, I could probably manage a week, yeah?

That's a damn long time.

From ten-thousand feet, you could say I also grew up with those sisters. Since El came here, it's only natural I'd keep an eye out for her.

So, you plan to keep going along like this?

More or less? She seems to be getting on just fine with her current partners.

I do think we'll meet once in a pair of blue moons, here or there, but only out of happenstance. That's good enough for you, isn't it?

That's fair...

...is what I'd like to say, though from a personal perspective, I don't think it'd be fair to her, even if I'm not qualified to say it.

I guess. But ever since I became the owner of the lock and key, fairness has kind of left my vocabulary.

If I've got a reason to talk to her, I'm not gonna dodge it. If there is something I have to tell her, I'll deliver the message in person.

But the truth is... I don't have a reason, or anything like that.

I have my mission, and this girl already found a new life in this city.

Don't you think that's actually fair, in a sense?

As long as you're fine with the status quo.

Alright, shoo already. If someday, by some stroke of ill fortune, she ends up getting tangled in our side's mess, we can pick up this discussion again.

I won't let that happen.

Here's hoping.