Part 208: 1/15/10

1/15/10

We got really unfortunate news this morning.



Good morning. This is Elizabeth.
I am calling to inform you that another human has strayed into Tartarus.
2 this time, I believe. Please don’t delay in carrying out your rescue.
Goodbye, now.
> The call ended.

We’ll have to find some time to go in soon.



This marked the end… * sniff * The end of the age… of the samurai…!
…We’re going to skip the next chapter and go back to the Sengoku era. There’s much more to cover…
…Huh? Modern history?
You guys are still juniors! You’ll have plenty of time to learn modern history when you’re seniors.
People talk about the end of the world, but don’t worry, there’ll still be another school year.
Come on! Haven’t you paid attention? Look how long this country has survived so far!
Anyways, let’s start with the Kamakura era.
So how did the Kamakura shogunate come about? Well, I’ll tell you…

I headed home with Aigis, we had a bit of a scare.



> As you arrive with Aigis, you feel a threatening presence…
Oh…
Stray Dogs: Grrrrrr… Bark! Bark!
> You’ve been suddenly surrounded by stray dogs… They seem angry.
You’re the ones that I often see at the shrine…
What is the matter?
> Aigis began talking with the dogs…
Huh… Koromaru-san?
We did that!?
Wait! We aren’t mistreating Koromaru-san!
It’s true that he’s helping us in our battle… However--!
> The dogs drew closer to Aigis!
No…
…Oh, right. Um, these dogs are Koromaru-san’s old friends.
They doubt our intentions regarding Koromaru-san, since he has been more frequently injured lately.
How can we make them understand…?
We can talk it out!

Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to want to listen to Aigis.



Brown Dog: Grrrrr…
> They don’t seem to want to listen…
Please, don’t be angry… Calm down.
> Aigis stretched out her hand to one of the dogs…
Oh…
> Aigis seems to have been bitten by a dog.
Brown Dog: * yelp *
Oh…
I’m so sorry. My hand is hard…
Brown Dog: * whine *
> The dogs ran away…
I see…
No wonder they doubt me. They are confused, since my body is not natural…
I hope that dog isn’t hurt…
……

She was bothered, but it wasn’t really the dogs.



Although my heart may become more human, my body will forever be mechanical…
Of course, that’s how I was designed.
But… I’m not strong enough to be a weapon, and I’m too rigid to pass as a human…
…I’m neither fish now fowl… Not completely machine nor human…
……
That’s not true.
But…!
……
Oh… I’m sorry, Aelita-san…
…Thank you very much.
You’re right… Even if I can’t quite explain it, I have to be true to myself…
……
> Aigis has a painful smile on her face…
…I’m sorry for saying such things…
If I hadn’t been created, I would never have met everyone… and that includes you.
If I can stay by your side, then nothing should faze me…
> You sense faint affection from Aigis…

She’s tried to protect me so much, so I sort of feel like it’s my job to protect her from how hard life can be.



I should make sure that the dogs understand our situation.
It would be bad if you were placed in danger again.
I’ll see you later… Excuse me.
> You parted with Aigis and went back to the dorm.

The news confirmed what Elizabeth told me earlier.



Newscaster: To ward off Apathy Syndrome, wear your shirt inside-out! You never know… It might work…
…On to today’s news.
First, we have another case of missing people.
Mitsutoshi Okimoto, a freshman at Gekkoukan High School, and Fumika Teramoto (21), an office worker…
…were both reported missing in Minato-ku earlier today.
Police are asking that the public come forward with any information that may help them locate these people.

We’ll deal with that soon enough.