Editing City Series:Volume8b Chapter10 (section)

===Algo’s Board Mode: In DT Castle===

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

You are in 1F Audience Chamber, a Top Page of the castle.

The current time is 1:12 PM.

The rooms floor has closed. The queen’s throne sits at the end of the red carpet.

One PC Body accompanies you: Archon Suedomsa Txt.

One old-style NPC Body accompanies you: Alternative Kobayashi Asb. The old-style NPC Body containing her Mind Lives is in its miniature form.

Algo: “Now, then. We have 3 hours until we get started. The Yard should be encircling the castle since that’s the standard counterterrorism tactic. They will plan to attack when the barrier is brought down for our enchanter to link Babel and the castle.”

Suedomsa: “And it is Excel and Myst’s job to attack them when that happens?”

Algo: “Yes, that is the plan. Oh, excuse me.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

You are coughing.

Alternative: <Algo, are you okay?>

Algo: “Ha ha. I am perfectly fine. This is nothing for you to worry about, Alternative.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Alternative is biting her lower lip. She appears worried.

Alternative: <Please do not push yourself too hard. It is the part of me residing in you that is causing you to break down.>

Algo: “I don’t mind. I am happy to have you with me, even if you are afflicted with Words Warn. I am not attracted to an overabundance of energy like we find in Yuo and Aoe.”

Algo: “While those two were always heading out to eat ramen and get into fights, we preferred a quiet life in Master Ungyou’s dojo. …Is something wrong?”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Alternative is looking at you with her lips pouted. She appears exasperated.

Alternative: <You’re bringing up old times to avoid giving a straight answer again, aren’t you?>

Alternative: <But you’re right. Now, can I ask a fairly cruel question?>

Algo: “What might that be?”

Alternative: <If my sister hadn’t come to Japan, do you think Shouzou would have taken me out into the city to hang out instead of her?>

Algo: “Hmm, that certainly is a cruel question.”

Algo: “But knowing Aoe…”

Algo: “Yes, he probably would have done that. And I would have given my tacit consent.”

Alternative: <You would have? Why?>

Algo: “Because taking you out into the city would have been a good way to get a beating from Master Ungyou. It would have been good for you to get to see the city, but the risk of being reduced to a bloody pulp afterwards was too high. So I could let Aoe handle that particularly task while I took care of everything else.”

Alternative: <That’s an adorable opinion, Algo. But…isn’t it strange? We are both Minus people, as were my parents. But Shouzou and my sister are different.>

Alternative: <Have you ever wondered how those two managed to get along when one is Plus and the other Minus? Do you know, dad?>

Suedomsa: “That is a difficult question for me since I once shot Yuo.”

Alternative: <Oh, come on. Don’t be like that. Besides, you shot her back then because she was starting to become a great god and lose her humanity, right?>

Alternative: <You wouldn’t have shot her if she was still herself, would you?>

Suedomsa: “Well…”

Alternative: <You wouldn’t have, would you, dad?>

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Alternative is narrowing her eyes. It is a slight smile.

Alternative: <And now Shouzou is seeking her out just like you did back then. …It really is strange. He’s about as Plus as they come, which makes him the opposite of my sister. So how do they get along?>

'''<A new guest has entered the Page>

One old-style NPC Body has arrived: Myst Gabriel.

Myst: “Excuse me, but we have located Master Yuo. I had always wanted to redecorate this place. We hung cloths out of all the windows to search the rooms using an analog grid search.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst tilts her head when she sees Alternative crossing her arms in thought.

Myst: “Did I intrude on something?”

Algo: “No, not really. Where is Excel?”

Myst: “He has apparently begun restarting the Questron in the underground ceremonial ground. Once he is done, he will return and work with me to repel the Yard. I ask that you capture Master Yuo.”

Suedomsa: “And you will copy the Questron Body afterwards?”

Myst: “Yes. For Master Algo and Master Alternative. Excel should be programming the movement concepts necessary for that while he prepares to activate the Questron.”

Myst: “If we are lucky, Master Algo’s second phase will be unnecessary.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst bows and prepares to leave the audience chamber.

Suedomsa: “Myst, wait a moment.”

Myst: “Yes? Do you need something?”

Suedomsa: “Come here and hold out your hand.”

Myst: “…”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst walks over and holds out her hand. Suedomsa takes her hand and removes the glove.

His gaze intensifies.

Myst: “Master Suedomsa, did you switch to Sight Mode for me?”

Suedomsa: “You are my family, Myst Gabriel. I apologize for working you so hard.”

Algo: “What do you mean?”

Suedomsa: “They are well past their service life.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst’s fingers are cracked and the texture is peeling away from the frame.

Her cheeks are flushed and her expression changes. Her eyes narrow. Meaning of expression is unknown.

Myst: “Please do not worry yourself over this. We were created to serve. That purpose was given to us from the moment of our birth. We were given the noble job of serving the Minus people.”

Myst: “Although I am currently working to ensure Master Yuo gives up.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Alternative tilts her head at Myst’s statement.

Alternative: <Um…Myst?>

Myst: “What do you need?”

Alternative: <Um, I’ve been wondering. The Quartet seems really fixated on fighting Shouzou and on my sister’s resignation. Why is that?>

Myst: “Well…”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst lowers her head with her eyebrows drooping a bit. It is an expression of self-deprecation.

Myst: “That is probably our jealousy over not being chosen.”

Alternative: <Eh?>

Myst: “Long ago, Master Suedomsa left Master Yuo with us and we spent 2000 years with her.”

Myst: “We are NPC Bodies crated to serve, but at the time, we were feared due to our strength. But Master Yuo did not fear us. She played with us, learned with us, and looked at us as actual people.”

Myst: “That is why we decided to assist her in addition to our primary job.”

Myst: “Excel was her teacher and he taught her his Celestial Program Activator.”

Myst: “I would always chat with her and I would give her whatever pictures she wanted me to draw.”

Myst: “Daikatana often invited her to plays and he would fight for her.”

Myst: “Mekton would play with her and he was always protecting her.”

Myst: “But in the end, she chose resignation over any of us.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst has lowered her head.

Myst: “That Aoe person is ignorant of all this, yet he acts like Master Yuo has chosen him. In truth, she has simply forgotten her resignation after losing her memories.”

Algo: “I see. So that is why you are so obsessed with Yuo’s resignation and with fighting Aoe.”

Algo: “Myst, you believe Yuo will not choose this newcomer since she chose resignation over any of you?”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst nods.

Algo: “I see. Then may I ask one question to determine your true purpose here?”

Myst: “Ask away.”

Algo: “If, way back then, she hadn’t given up and had chosen to stay with you, what do you think you would be doing now? You would have chosen a different, much better path, wouldn’t you?”

Myst: “That…is indeed a cruel question when my destruction is so close at hand, Master Algo.”

Myst: “But if that did happen…we would have wanted to ensure she felt no fear or worry even if we were destroyed. We would have given her and taught her many things to thank her and to prove that she could get by without us.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst’s eyebrows are lowered and her teeth are showing. She is smiling bitterly.

Myst: “But that never could have happened. Because the only way to know she can truly get by without us would be for us to test her and see if she has surpassed us.”

Myst: “I believe Daikatana made a promise to her once. It was when she said his deadly sword techniques were beautiful. He promised to one day let her see those techniques which are too fast to actually see. But if he were to test her…”

Alternative: <She would have to defeat his invisible sword techniques?>

Myst: “Correct. But she cannot do that, so we can never go all out and truly test her.”

Myst: “I know she would give up on me if I told her she had to draw a picture capable of convincing me she can get by without me.”

Myst: “In the end, we are no match for the allure of resignation.”

'''<Algo’s Over Reload>

Myst turns around.

Myst: “Also, we are Master Suedomsa’s NPC Bodies. Returning Master Yuo to her past version is our current top priority. We will not betray him like we once did.”

Algo: “I see. Your reasons are as complicated as ours. But do remember one thing.”

Myst: “Eh?”

Algo: “Even if you cannot go all out against Yuo who stands on the same Minus side as you, you can go all out without hesitation against Aoe, who stands opposite you on the Plus side.”

Myst: “What is your point?”

Algo: “Just remember that. I have a feeling it will be important later.”

Algo: “We can find peace of mind in the things we do even though we know they aren’t right because we know there are people working at it from the opposite side.”

Algo: “Alternative, this is the answer to your earlier question.”

Algo: “This is why Aoe and Yuo can get along.”

Algo: <Now, that’s enough talking. We should get going too. First, we need to pay Yuo a visit.>

'''<Algo’s Board Mode has updated>

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| Back to [[City_Series:Volume8b_Preface|Preface]]
| Return to [[City_Series|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[City_Series:Volume8b_Chapter11|Chapter 11]]
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