Chapter 51. Tree (5)
When we hesitated to answer, Eric vacated his seat, telling us to think it over thoroughly before responding, since there was still time before departure.
He headed toward the colony's outer wall, where construction work was being done to take the place of a shielding barrier. It seemed he went to check on the progress.
As Nadia looked that way for a moment, she asked,
"Hyun-woo, what are you going to do?"
"Well..."
If I only considered my safety and prioritized survival, it would have made sense not to go. Like Kyle had said, as long as the Store was operating normally, we could secure all necessities for survival.
Even if it was only a level 1 Store, as long as the goal was simply to hold out, we could survive for as long as necessary. But if we wanted to go to the cargo sector and rent a shuttle, it was only right to help with that.
'I could probably substitute a few favors with the credit of bringing the Store recognition data board...'
Who knew what would happen from here? This world wouldn't grant you everything just because you stubbornly insisted, and in this kind of world, you had to give something to get something. Rights don't just appear unless you move to claim them.
And there was no denying that the most important key to escaping the ice satellite was still Celestia.
Although Broker Licorice's shuttle was supposedly orbiting in a stationary position, ever since the satellite was locked down, all contact was lost, so we no longer even knew for sure if that shuttle was safe.
I still thought it would be better to have Celestia owing us a debt. If we were going to help, it was better to be thorough with it.
I also still believed that if I made a good impression now, she'd look our way again someday in the future.
'... If only those pureblood supremacists weren't around.'
If it weren't for them, I wouldn't even need to have this kind of dilemma. Those crazy cultists really were a headache. What had they reduced the situation to?
Snow, mingled with a wind that blew from somewhere, stung my face. The edges of the already-ashen sky darkened further. A knife-edged ice storm was coming.
No way to know how long it would last, but in weather like this, it was best to refrain from going outside. Who knew when hail might suddenly fall? If you got unlucky and were struck by a chunk of ice, you could break a bone or worse.
If you had to go somewhere, an orbital vehicle or shuttle was essential. The weather on Titan, the ice satellite, was unpredictable itself. This would happen over and over from now on.
'We need a shuttle.'
Helping Eric wasn't difficult, as long as my mind was made up.
Even if we didn't help this time, Eric said he'd support us regardless, as was Celestia. It was too soon to decide if they were trustworthy or truly good, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the former.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked at Nadia, who was waiting for my answer.
"Nadia."
"Wait. Let me speak first. No saying 'It'll be dangerous if you go,' no telling me 'Stay here,' no saying 'I hope you don't get hurt.' All forbidden."
"... Then there's nothing for me to say."
"Then don't say it. I'll go with you."
Great. Nadia had said exactly what I was about to say, silencing me completely.
Every time I tried, she cut me off, growling a little as she blocked the words at their source. Her tail flicked the air in clear displeasure.
"The rules I just made up aren't just for you, but for me to say to you too. You tend to overprotect me, Hyun-woo."
Overprotective, huh. She was right. Since our first meeting—when I found her bloodied and collapsed in the residential area's alleys—I tended to unconsciously think of her as weak. I knew it, but you can't always control your feelings.
"It's not that I dislike it, but I feel so sorry. I don't want to be a burden; I want to be a partner standing by your side. Have I ever failed to be helpful following you around this whole time?"
"You heaven't."
If anything, I was usually the one who failed to help. The world we live in now can't be solved by strength alone.
We'd both started as low-rank, but while I was still low-rank, Nadia had advanced to intermediate-rank. That said it all.
"So, we're going, right?"
"For now."
"Just as he said, we still have time. Let's not answer right away in case we change our minds. I'll follow whatever you decide, Hyun-woo."
Nadia slung an arm around my waist, boasting that there couldn't possibly be a better partner than her. Her assertive tail stood tall in such a dignified way that I couldn't help but laugh.
"Carry, you agree, right?"
【( ≧ᗜ≦ )】
Carry beamed brightly in agreement, and Nadia giggled shyly, twisting her tail. The two of them started making a fuss, each praising the other, and I couldn't help being dumbfounded by their antics.
What was so funny about snow, that they were making snowballs and giggling at each other, after seeing it so often?
Nadia began rolling up the freshly fallen snow to make a tiny snowman, then suddenly seemed to recall something, her head snapping up—and with the move, the mini snowman tumbled over.
"Hyun-woo, I think we should be careful about that woman."
"That woman? Who do you mean?"
"The woman from Myosotis."
"Oh, Celestia. Why do you bring her up?"
Nadia glanced around, then leaned in on her toes and whispered in a meaningful tone.
"When she said she was looking for her family here, her voice was scary. I felt a really strong emotion."
"Hmm..."
"And, when you were sleeping, I overheard her saying the same sort of thing to Eric. Her expression wasn't normal. Especially her eyes."
Maybe it was a beastkin trait, but Nadia was good at sensing others' emotions, regardless of whether they were being consciously or unconsciously hidden.
That was partly why she found it hard to deal with strangers. She would pick up on things that others completely missed, and sometimes she'd tremble about it.
"I see... But when I was asleep? When did she come in my room?"
"... Ah."
I shot Nadia a questioning look as if to say, 'How would you know that?' She panicked and covered her mouth, but quickly pressed on as if that detail was unimportant.
"Forget I said that, Hyun-woo. What matters is Celestia. That woman is dangerous."
"Why is she so dangerous?"
I almost said, 'You're sounding a bit dangerous too,' but held back. It was unsettling, but I let it go for now and pressed on.
"It's the emotion she holds. It's not just earnestness—there's an obsessiveness there, dark and sticky... I guess that's how I'd put it."
Celestia's reason for being separated from her brother traced back ten years, to Myosotis's sudden collapse. Having survived that fall, she must have become desperate to find her family.
She had even bowed her head and pleaded with us. Maybe rebuilding the collapsed corporation was, in part, a way to get news of her survival out to help reunite her scattered family.
Nadia insisted that wasn't all there was to it.
"And another thing—seriously, what kind of little sister remembers her brother's shoulder mole, or that he has a scratch scar on his back? Isn't that weird?"
"Is it?"
"It is weird! Usually siblings are mortal enemies. Weren't you like that when you were young, Hyun-woo?"
I could only remember the last three years. I didn't even know my own real age, let alone anything from my childhood—if I remembered that, maybe I wouldn't have come to Titan to see another sky.
"Sorry. I have no childhood memories at all, and I don't even know if I have any family..."
"Ah... Hyun-woo, I—sorry..."
Nadia's face suddenly lost color as she belatedly recalled our conversation from the residential area. She'd been a bit worked up, her face flushed, but now she paled completely.
"It's okay, don't worry. But Nadia, did you have a brother, too?"
"... I did. Not anymore, though."
"Oh. I... Sorry."
I hadn't meant anything by it, but the topic uncovered two landmines at once—my lost memory, her lost family. We'd each triggered one, but it hurt me twice as much, since I had neither.
I strongly felt the urge to change the subject—anything to deflect the conversation somewhere else.
"Still, at least Carry—"
【༼ ᕤ◕◡◕ ༽o:【】:::::::〉】
I was going to say, 'Even if I don't have those, I have friends,' but before I could get the words out, back came a sword. Whatever the reason, Carry wasn't about to let me finish my sentence. Smiling while brandishing a sword—chilling.
"..."
We all clammed up, half expecting another landmine to explode. Conversation only resumed after Carry set aside the sword and finished making one more mini snowman.
"I know you're sensitive to emotions, but still, you shouldn't say such things lightly."
So what if Celestia was a bit obsessed with her brother? It was none of my business. If anything, I felt bad for her. What was she supposed to do but change under those circumstances?
Even after thinking it over, I didn't find it strange. If a person lost everyone and was left alone, wouldn't they become attached to whoever was left?
As I frowned sternly, Nadia's ears drooped, as did her tail, which had been wagging so happily just moments ago.
"I only wanted you to be cautious... I've known someone who gave off a similar feeling, and while it's not exactly the same..."
"..."
"People who get consumed by emotion never meet a good end. That's why..."
Nadia all but dug herself into the ground in shame, her head lowered for a long while. She warned us that such people cause trouble not only for themselves but also those around them.
"Okay, I'll be careful."
If she insisted that much, I had no reason to refuse.
"You too, Hyun-woo. Don't get trapped in your own emotions. You're not supposed to bottle them up—they have to flow. That's the only way to endure."
Though her words were addressed to me, it didn't feel like she was talking about me; she was looking off into some distant place. Whatever had happened, she was alluding to an unspoken past.
"I'm an expert at that."
I got the gist—and since I wanted to avoid more landmines, I quickly nodded and promised to be wary.
Hearing that, Nadia quietly turned her head and smiled, "Hih."
"There's nothing urgent anyway, want to help with the construction before it snows harder?"
"Sure. Time to show off my crane operating skills."
"Someone's already in it."
"Hyun-woo, kick them out for me."
"You say it so boldly. Carry, come too—let's test your repaired thruster."
【⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝】
We headed for the outer wall construction site, where work was in full swing. Snow had already accumulated enough that our footprints left clear tracks.
Our footprints walked side by side.
***
Time passed steadily, and the work was nearing completion.
The wall construction, halted by the blizzard, resumed thanks to the security robots, and soon entered its first finishing phase. Thanks to everyone's effort, the first-generation colony town became just a bit more livable.
Mats made from sponge-like material were distributed to each room, making nights softer, and a system was established to trap and store outgoing heat, so even the water running from the taps became a little warmer.
Still woeful compared to the residential area, but even that was a blessing. As long as the Store system didn't break, the town would continue to improve.
While repairs were progressing smoothly, we also heard from Kyle that the equipment upgrades had been successfully completed. Excited to see for ourselves, we rushed over to the workshop.
When we saw him for the first time in two days, he looked haggard—probably from pulling all-nighters—while we, in contrast, looked freshly rested, which made me feel a little guilty.
"Here you go. I boosted the output while maintaining maximum possible circuit stability. You'll find the max power is about three times higher than before."
"Can I turn it on?"
Without a word, Kyle nodded. I examined the plasma cutter. Externally, it was unchanged.
I gripped it and began slowly increasing the power. The plasma flickered small as a candle flame at first, then grew steadily with my adjustments, finally reaching close to a third the length of the shaft.
I could feel the increase in power—blue energy blazing—and admired it silently, until Kyle yawned widely and said,
"A few precautions. Don't keep it at max output for long—the output's higher, but the tool's material and nozzle are the same, so it might melt. Also, don't swing too fast—the limits have been forcibly readjusted, so the shape won't stay steady."
"Yeah, the end is shaky. Still, it's great—thank you so much."
"No problem. As long as it's put to good use, I'm satisfied too."
He was just about to say he could finally rest and collapse, when Eric appeared. We immediately realized why he'd come.
"You're here. Have you made your decision?"
"Yes. Let's go—to the shuttle crash site."
The equipment upgrade was complete. We'd thought it through and committed to going—so we clenched our fists and nodded.
"Excellent. Let's leave right away. I've prepared everything. And... perfect timing. Kyle, you're coming too."
"... Me?"
"Yes, we need someone to repair the shuttle."
"If it's the shuttle, just use that Roxy guy..."
"Oh, you mean this one?"
Eric set down a wriggling, bound object. Gloxxinia—the dopamine addict and brother of Kyle Radia.
Whatever had happened, the sight of his brother in such a sorry state made Kyle swallow hard.
"Got him cheap. Said he was your brother. Perfect. From now on, he's with us, so you look after him."
"... I'll just bring my repair tools."
"I've already packed them. All you have to do is show up."
"... Okay."
Eric held up the repair kit—when he'd packed it, I had no idea—and Kyle, seemingly resigned, relaxed his shoulders in defeat.
Our next destination was set: the recycling and waste disposal area where the mining base Heaven's trash was gathered.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Carry's back!
【٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و】