Volume 1 Episode 1
Elevator for Returning to the Arc.
Seated on a chair inside the elevator, Moore, along with the two Nikkes who would accompany him – Lapi and Anis – watched the city lights of the Arc flooding from the transparent wall beside them, while the two Nikkes conversed with the operator.
The invasive code implanted in Marian, whom he himself had execute the order to be disposed of.
The most likely possibility was that it had been implanted before boarding the transport ship.
If so, the only place it could have been done was within the Arc, their destination upon return.
As he listened to the conversation, he once again shifted his gaze to the flood of light from the cityscape.
Why, he wondered.
──Coming back, there's no sense of comfort of going back to 'home'.
The facilities where the Commander and his team lived within the Arc resembled communal housing.
One of those rooms was Shaw Moore's quarters.
The room, with a layout not remotely spacious, had just recently been occupied when he graduated from the officer training school; therefore, it was devoid of furniture.
This could also be attributed to the fact that he was dispatched to the surface for his first mission not long after.
However, whether it was due to his taste, or a principle of possessing only the bare minimum, the few personal belongings in his quarters were limited to a pack of cigarettes and an oil lighter he bought a few days ago, as well as a tracksuit.
It seemed like he slept on the floor in his tracksuit since there were no signs of bedding.
Having emerged from the narrow shower room, he was wiping his short, black hair that he'd cut on both sides of his head, leaving only the recognition tag hanging from around his neck.
After draping the towel over his shoulder for a moment, he paused, taking a drag.
The brand of cigarette was "GODDESS." A soft pack with a printed image of a marble statue with a missing head and arms. He casually grabbed a cigarette from the pack, lit it with the oil lighter, and let purple smoke curl into the air.
"──Tsk..."
He clicked his tongue. Occasionally, he'd read the printed brand on the pack and a slight headache would follow.
He decided he'd take a painkiller later and, having finished smoking one cigarette in a hurry, crushed it in the ashtray.
He needed to get ready quickly. He had to report to the command center today.
----
──This uniform is still uncomfortable.
He'd gotten used to it a long time ago. Annoyed, he kept adjusting the tie around his collar as he stood in front of the command center building, where the people he was meeting were already waiting.
──Long time no see, Commander.
──How are you feeling?
Anis waved her hand broadly, and next to her, Rapi stood. For this order, both Moore and the two Nikkes had also received it.
What was puzzling was that the two of them were ordered to report armed.
They couldn't possibly intend to have a brawl inside the building, Moore thought, slightly furrowing his brow. Nonetheless, he would find out soon enough, possibly within a few hours.
Once he stepped into the command center building, he found people of all ages in uniforms similar to his, bustling around busily.
The differences lie mainly in the design of the insignia on the uniforms' collars and chest, as well as the various types of service ribbons indicating medals earned.
Hetells the order to report Vice Commander Anderson to the reception desk, then followed instructions to head to the office. Along with the two of them, he stepped into the elevator, the sound of his orderly footsteps reverberating.
"...Commander. Are you okay?"
"Your complexion doesn't look too good..."
"I'm fine. And... I'm no longer your 'Commander.' I'm sure you've figured out that I relinquished command upon our return."
Ever since their reunion a few days ago in front of the headquarters building, Moore's tense expression wouldn't escape the notice of Lapi and Anis. It wasn't exactly nervousness; if anything, even in their brief acquaintance, the two of them concluded that it could be some physical discomfort he was experiencing.
However, perhaps due to his naturally stubborn disposition, he refused to acknowledge it. He went even further, insisting that they should change how they address him to "Lieutenant".
In the operation a few days ago, it was only out of necessity that he took command of the squad. After safely returning to the Arc, he did indeed relinquish command of the squad, as he promised.
Upon hearing this, Anis pouted slightly, her mood soured. She turned her face away.
"Hmph. What's with that? We're just worried about you."
"...I appreciate the concern though..."
"...Lieutenant Moore, may I ask you one thing?"
"...What is it?"
A refined voice sounded from a position about a head lower, and he shifted his gaze slightly, fixing his deep brown eyes on the source. The bloodshot eyes that had been red to the point of seeming about to bleed seemed to have fully recovered, bringing a sense of relief to Rapi.
"...Are you resting properly after returning? Those are quite severe dark circles."
"...It's been tough to fall asleep. I finished a whole pack of cigarettes last night."
He shook his head, even though cigarettes were expensive, apparently feeling it was a waste of money finishing like that.
Dark circles had formed around his now-healed eyes. Their intensity concerned Rapi, but judging by his words, he hadn't been sleeping much since their return.
"...Is it about Marian?"
"That's part of it."
"Li-Lieutenant is quite kind... Wait... 'Also'?"
It seemed like he'd forgive this much, probably due to a sense of trust. Anis, who had crossed her arms, accentuating her ample chest unconsciously, tried to be sarcastic, but upon realizing the unnaturalness of his words, she tilted her head.
"...When I try to sleep... what should I say..."
"It's okay. Take your time and explain."
"...It's supposed to be unfamiliar scenery... yet, I feel like I've experienced it somewhere, or like I was there, witnessing scenes."
"Like what?"
Encouraged by Rapi and Anis, he unconsciously reached for the cigarettes and oil lighter in his uniform breast pocket, as if he were going to take them out. But then he remembered that this was a non-smoking area and quickly withdrew his hand.
"──A major street littered with hundreds of corpses... a multitude of Raptures advancing down that street... a devastated city... people's screams... and..."
──It was as if he was there, the scene so vivid that he could even sense the raw smell of gunpowder, blood, and fat in the air.
"...Did you watch some kind of messed-up 4D movie?"
"Anis."
"I don't mind. I'm actually considering counseling. Talking to you two made me feel a little better. Thank you."
After expressing his gratitude, the elevator arrived at their destination shortly thereafter.
With the announcement, the doors opened, and Moore adjusted the military cap he was wearing, leading them off the elevator.
Volume 1 Episode 1
Elevator for Returning to the Arc.
Seated on a chair inside the elevator, Moore, along with the two Nikkes who would accompany him – Lapi and Anis – watched the city lights of the Arc flooding from the transparent wall beside them, while the two Nikkes conversed with the operator.
The invasive code implanted in Marian, whom he himself had execute the order to be disposed of.
The most likely possibility was that it had been implanted before boarding the transport ship.
If so, the only place it could have been done was within the Arc, their destination upon return.
As he listened to the conversation, he once again shifted his gaze to the flood of light from the cityscape.
Why, he wondered.
──Coming back, there's no sense of comfort of going back to 'home'.
The facilities where the Commander and his team lived within the Arc resembled communal housing.
One of those rooms was Shaw Moore's quarters.
The room, with a layout not remotely spacious, had just recently been occupied when he graduated from the officer training school; therefore, it was devoid of furniture.
This could also be attributed to the fact that he was dispatched to the surface for his first mission not long after.
However, whether it was due to his taste, or a principle of possessing only the bare minimum, the few personal belongings in his quarters were limited to a pack of cigarettes and an oil lighter he bought a few days ago, as well as a tracksuit.
It seemed like he slept on the floor in his tracksuit since there were no signs of bedding.
Having emerged from the narrow shower room, he was wiping his short, black hair that he'd cut on both sides of his head, leaving only the recognition tag hanging from around his neck.
After draping the towel over his shoulder for a moment, he paused, taking a drag.
The brand of cigarette was "GODDESS." A soft pack with a printed image of a marble statue with a missing head and arms. He casually grabbed a cigarette from the pack, lit it with the oil lighter, and let purple smoke curl into the air.
"──Tsk..."
He clicked his tongue. Occasionally, he'd read the printed brand on the pack and a slight headache would follow.
He decided he'd take a painkiller later and, having finished smoking one cigarette in a hurry, crushed it in the ashtray.
He needed to get ready quickly. He had to report to the command center today.
----
──This uniform is still uncomfortable.
He'd gotten used to it a long time ago. Annoyed, he kept adjusting the tie around his collar as he stood in front of the command center building, where the people he was meeting were already waiting.
──Long time no see, Commander.
──How are you feeling?
Anis waved her hand broadly, and next to her, Rapi stood. For this order, both Moore and the two Nikkes had also received it.
What was puzzling was that the two of them were ordered to report armed.
They couldn't possibly intend to have a brawl inside the building, Moore thought, slightly furrowing his brow. Nonetheless, he would find out soon enough, possibly within a few hours.
Once he stepped into the command center building, he found people of all ages in uniforms similar to his, bustling around busily.
The differences lie mainly in the design of the insignia on the uniforms' collars and chest, as well as the various types of service ribbons indicating medals earned.
Hetells the order to report Vice Commander Anderson to the reception desk, then followed instructions to head to the office. Along with the two of them, he stepped into the elevator, the sound of his orderly footsteps reverberating.
"...Commander. Are you okay?"
"Your complexion doesn't look too good..."
"I'm fine. And... I'm no longer your 'Commander.' I'm sure you've figured out that I relinquished command upon our return."
Ever since their reunion a few days ago in front of the headquarters building, Moore's tense expression wouldn't escape the notice of Lapi and Anis. It wasn't exactly nervousness; if anything, even in their brief acquaintance, the two of them concluded that it could be some physical discomfort he was experiencing.
However, perhaps due to his naturally stubborn disposition, he refused to acknowledge it. He went even further, insisting that they should change how they address him to "Lieutenant".
In the operation a few days ago, it was only out of necessity that he took command of the squad. After safely returning to the Arc, he did indeed relinquish command of the squad, as he promised.
Upon hearing this, Anis pouted slightly, her mood soured. She turned her face away.
"Hmph. What's with that? We're just worried about you."
"...I appreciate the concern though..."
"...Lieutenant Moore, may I ask you one thing?"
"...What is it?"
A refined voice sounded from a position about a head lower, and he shifted his gaze slightly, fixing his deep brown eyes on the source. The bloodshot eyes that had been red to the point of seeming about to bleed seemed to have fully recovered, bringing a sense of relief to Rapi.
"...Are you resting properly after returning? Those are quite severe dark circles."
"...It's been tough to fall asleep. I finished a whole pack of cigarettes last night."
He shook his head, even though cigarettes were expensive, apparently feeling it was a waste of money finishing like that.
Dark circles had formed around his now-healed eyes. Their intensity concerned Rapi, but judging by his words, he hadn't been sleeping much since their return.
"...Is it about Marian?"
"That's part of it."
"Li-Lieutenant is quite kind... Wait... 'Also'?"
It seemed like he'd forgive this much, probably due to a sense of trust. Anis, who had crossed her arms, accentuating her ample chest unconsciously, tried to be sarcastic, but upon realizing the unnaturalness of his words, she tilted her head.
"...When I try to sleep... what should I say..."
"It's okay. Take your time and explain."
"...It's supposed to be unfamiliar scenery... yet, I feel like I've experienced it somewhere, or like I was there, witnessing scenes."
"Like what?"
Encouraged by Rapi and Anis, he unconsciously reached for the cigarettes and oil lighter in his uniform breast pocket, as if he were going to take them out. But then he remembered that this was a non-smoking area and quickly withdrew his hand.
"──A major street littered with hundreds of corpses... a multitude of Raptures advancing down that street... a devastated city... people's screams... and..."
──It was as if he was there, the scene so vivid that he could even sense the raw smell of gunpowder, blood, and fat in the air.
"...Did you watch some kind of messed-up 4D movie?"
"Anis."
"I don't mind. I'm actually considering counseling. Talking to you two made me feel a little better. Thank you."
After expressing his gratitude, the elevator arrived at their destination shortly thereafter.
With the announcement, the doors opened, and Moore adjusted the military cap he was wearing, leading them off the elevator.
