NABC Page 333
Page 333
Angela, no, perhaps she should be called Carmen now...
The double bass reappeared beside her in an incomprehensible way, just as it had with Chris.
Her voice was so sweet that it seemed to urge the people who were fast asleep to smile.
"You're actually risking your life because of personal feelings; you really have no eyes for humanity anymore."
"Despite having no interest in humans, he has begun to understand them..."
"I'm starting to get a little jealous of you while you're sleeping, conductor."
......
......
P.S.: In the following text, I recommend listening to "EP7 - The Unsaid Things," which can also be found on this podcast. This music will be used in a crucial part in the future, so it is extremely important. Please take the time to listen to it.
I don't expect anyone to understand.
Those who wave the banner of faith only need to watch from the sidelines.
Because the beautiful world they see will whisper to me.
......
Ultimately, someone within the cult must do this.
Those who wave the banner of faith only need to watch from the sidelines.
Leave the things that would defile the sacred and be hated by the world to me.
......
It was the great silence that saved me from my near-death experience on the street.
Now I will do as she wishes.
......
Once upon a time, Sena, conductor, Morse, the Alicia Orchestra...
"A conductor? A bishop is visiting, but no inquisitor is with him. What should we do?"
"No wonder the sound was so pleasant today, it turns out we have a distinguished guest visiting."
“It’s not proper to keep the bishop waiting outside. Please invite her in; I will personally receive her.”
......
“…Conductor, I’m here to answer you.”
"Please sit down. When there is no Mass, I stay in my room, so there's nothing to offer."
"No need. I'll leave after I say that. I don't want to stay here any longer."
“I have discussed your research with other cardinals.”
"So that's how it is. You've all decided to execute me?"
"The cardinals have unanimously decided not to hold you accountable for your research."
"..."
"Furthermore... the Order wants to discuss support with you."
"I can provide my research data to the religious community."
"The cardinals unanimously agreed that no research progress could be made without you."
“I am truly flattered that the Order values me so highly. After I take office as bishop, I will do my utmost to assist the Order.”
"besides......"
"This matter must not be revealed to that child in the slightest."
Is the bishop afraid of that heretic?
"She fought against Targirion because of her belief in finding her sister."
"If she finds out that her sister was killed because of the cult's experiments... how will she have the motivation to continue living?"
"...So that's how it is. I've been thinking lately about how I should atone for my sins before I die."
"Stop making insincere statements."
"The bishop knows what the church's internment camps are like, doesn't he?"
"..."
"Anyone who disobeys the cult will be sent to that place to die, and I'm just giving them a chance."
“I know the situation in the shelter best, after all, I turned my back on my parents and changed my faith.”
"You still insist...you are innocent?"
“I am guilty, but if there is another way to protect the territory of the Order, please tell me.”
"I'm sorry, but if there are no other alternatives, I cannot accept criticism that is full of moralistic rhetoric."
"...Yes, I knew you would say that."
"At the last meeting, I decided to accept the papacy."
“If I cannot change the cardinals’ decision, I will use the power of the Pope to stop this atrocity.”
......
"It's so pitiful. If it weren't for the plague, she wouldn't be in such a dilemma."
"Don't you think so, conductor?"
......
"Huff... Ah!!... Huff... Huff..."
Awakening to a startled sound, Rhea, who should have entered a long slumber, was awakened, and the situation once again exceeded her expectations.
The pain seemed to have disappeared...
"Why are all the gunshot wounds on my body now just scars?"
She looked down to check her physical condition, and it was indeed true. This was not a hallucination; she had even regained her mobility and was no longer affected by pain and blood loss.
"There's clearly blood and a hole in the clothes, how did this happen?"
The phone, which had fallen to the ground, rang again, and the spirit of the dead quickly picked it up.
"Yes, Minister, please speak..."
"I called you earlier but you didn't answer. I thought you had passed away... I didn't expect you to still be alive."
Having survived the ordeal, Rhea made an untimely joke: "I was also surprised. Maybe an angel gave me a hug while I was sleeping."
"...Okay, the turret has been recaptured, but it's in terrible condition."
......
The minister breathed a sigh of relief: "I see..."
But then his tone shifted, becoming serious again: "We have located the sniper, but the agents who went to the scene to confirm have all disappeared at the same time."
"Yes, if she's not alone, the others aren't exactly innocent either."
Rhea knew this very well: the sniper named Montani wasn't surrounded by anyone normal, not even the armored figure; they might even be in cahoots...
"So, where is she located?"
......
22. Unexpected
"Montani, we're all going to die here eventually anyway. The difference is whether we die quickly or painfully."
"That's right...that's exactly it."
"Last time, when we fought the conductor, we had too many things to protect, but this time it's different."
"Montani, the parade is coming to an end, and the orchestra will be performing next."
"Alright, get ready to detonate, everyone to your positions!"
......
......
"Sorry, but in terms of the outcome, it went quite smoothly, didn't it?"
Rhea eventually made it back to the capital. Although there were some setbacks along the way, the result was good, and she successfully resolved the problem.
On the other end of the phone, someone was also complaining: "Yeah, it's all your fault that we had to put the parts you broke back together."
Chris returned home safely and was with Rhea's mother, taking care of her while Rhea was away.
She kept her promise and didn't leave alone beforehand; she gave up those opportunities...
Rhea had already noticed it...
Her whole body was still a little sore, so she could only smile wryly and say, "Then I'll take you to see the world of black tea as compensation. I do know a few pretty good shops."
"Let's talk about these things after the whole thing is over. Right now, the capital is in complete chaos... None of those who said things like 'what will happen after the war' on the battlefield have come back alive."
"Are you worried about me?"
"Of course, I have elderly parents to support. If I add your mother to the list, can you imagine what it would be like?"
"Since we're going to raise them all anyway, why not take me along too?"
"Then you should just get lost..."
......
PS: The following text, "Disappointment," is by Yasuharu Takanashi.
Suddenly, Chris's mother stopped abruptly, which puzzled Rhea.
But another voice made her heart tremble...
"Hmm...? Can I use this to talk to my daughter?"
"Auntie, you can't touch that..."
Rhea's eyes widened, a complex mix of emotions overwhelming her.
How should she face her mother now?
......
"Rhea...daughter, can you hear me?"
The aged yet kind voice always brought peace to her broken heart, and whenever she pondered how to respond to her mother's longing, hearing that voice would dispel all those thoughts.
She's still her daughter... right?
"Yes, Mom, I heard you."
Her expression softened considerably as a result, and afterwards, her mother's voice was the most comforting to her.
"Is your business going smoothly?"
"...It's still going on, but Mom, don't worry, it will end smoothly."
"Okay, that's good..."
......
The two remained silent. The phone was such a simple way to connect with each other, yet for some reason, there was a sense of melancholy, a feeling of being neither close nor distant.
Finally, Rhea broke the silence: "Mom, can I ask you something?"
"sure......"
The voice seemed to be growing weaker and weaker...
She forced a smile and said, "Even if I'm not human... I'm still Mom's daughter, right?"
......
“Raya…”