Episode 5: The Eternal Machine
In a certain place, there were those who sought eternity. At first, it was a naive and foolish wish. Everyone laughed, saying it was impossible.
However, as time passed, more people shared the same desire, and those with similar interests came together, forming a large organization seeking eternity. Immortality, in other words. Their goal was outside the bounds of the laws of life.
Everyone is afraid of death. But achieving immortality was not something easily done. It couldn’t be accomplished through conventional means.
Experiments were necessary. New forms of mysticism were needed. How would they establish this? Simple. They would pave the way with the lives of the living.
Sacrifices were inevitable. They didn’t mind how many sacrifices they had to make.
In one place, there were three sisters living with their kind mother. Their dream was to someday open a flower shop together. Their father was a researcher.
He was passionately researching the mysteries of life, but nothing seemed amiss. However, their lives changed drastically.
The three sisters became tools in the quest for eternity. Pain dominated their lives. They began to lose their emotions. There were other children like them, and many researchers as well.
Their mother worked as an assistant and said nothing, obeying their father. Every day was filled with pain, so much so that they couldn’t remember how much they had endured.
Their mother, paralyzed by fear, couldn’t save them. But there came a turning point. She helped them escape.
What happened to their mother after that is unclear. But the sisters knew.
The eldest sister harbored resentment. Her two younger sisters had suffered horrendous treatment, and she knew her kind yet fearful mother had likely been killed by their father.
The two younger sisters, however, were just grateful for their freedom.
Indeed, thought the eldest sister. It might be enough that her beloved sisters were still alive. But the anger she felt wouldn’t be satisfied with just that…
── And so, even after becoming a holy knight, the eldest sister’s hatred didn’t fade.
── Near a newly discovered dungeon, Fei and his companions were staying in a village. The reason was simple: a holy knight had been severely injured and was in critical condition, requiring immediate care.
“Hey, doc. Is this guy gonna be okay?”
“He should be fine. Fortunately, his life isn’t in danger.”
“……Good.”
Fei lay quietly with his eyes closed on a simple bed. He looked almost lifeless but was very much alive. Alpha, Marumaru, Beta, Gamma, and Kamase watched over him.
They recalled his fierce fighting spirit. They were astonished to have such a knight among them, their emotions a mixture of surprise and respect.
“Well, he should be fine, right? I knew it. He’s not the kind of guy who’d die here.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna grab some lunch.”
“I’ll come too. No point sticking around here with long faces.”
Ese and Kamase left the room.
They seemed certain Fei wouldn’t die here.
“Well, I guess I’ll head out too. We should thank the villagers for helping us. We’ll stay here until Fei wakes up, so make sure to grab some lunch or something.”
Marumaru left the room as well, leaving behind three girls. Beta stared intently at the still unconscious Fei.
“What’s wrong?”
“……!”
Beta pointed to herself, trying to convey something. After a few seconds, Alpha tilted her head, and Delta hummed in thought. Beta then pointed to Gamma, then to Alpha, and finally back to Fei.
TN: who is delta? dunno it’s in the raw
Alpha realized what Beta was trying to say.
“……You’re saying he’s the same as us?”
“……”
Beta nodded once. Gamma finally understood and covered her mouth in disbelief.
“Impossible…”
“No, Beta might be right. He could be a subject of the Eternal Machine, or at least related to it… I remember our father saying that a perfect soul is one of the keys to eternity.”
“But…”
“But he wasn’t normal, right? He’s a good swordsman, but he’s not the only one who can do it. ….., but his mental fortitude is extraordinary, almost unnaturally so. Overcoming the fear of death, mingling with madness, transcending limits… such a person wouldn’t naturally occur.”
“He… wasn’t there. In that place, he… this person…”
“It’s possible there are other research facilities. Maybe we just didn’t notice… Or he might be a natural anomaly… I’ll keep an eye on him for a while. If he’s connected, I’ll deal with it.”
Alpha narrowed her eyes. Who exactly was Fei? And…
(The madness I sensed… the willingness to die to kill the enemy. That might be what I’m missing… I’ll observe him for a while and see.)
Alpha was fixated on Fei. To avenge her family, to increase the odds of her revenge, she paid close attention to everything.
(When someone completely falls into the path of revenge… they might become like him, seeking power without regard for themselves.)
She felt a sense of awe and a glimpse of her own future in Fei’s figure. Sacrificing everything, throwing away her life, becoming isolated, understood by no one.
Her intuition wasn’t wrong. If she completely fell into the path of revenge, no one would understand her. She would become unstoppable.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
(Thinking back, I thought he was the most decent guy among the others… I never imagined he was the most dangerous one.)
Alpha sighed at her lack of perception.
Later, Fei woke up.
Despite his severe injuries, his recovery was astonishing. Fei and his companions had to leave the village. Walking, Fei ate a ham sandwich bought from the village.
Ese and Kamase walked beside him.
“Hey, Fei. Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your wounds. I know you’re fine, but I’m just making sure.”
“That kind of thing is necessary sometimes.”
“For what?”
“…It’s a cry of my soul that only I can understand.”
“Hmm.”
Fei gazed into the distance as he answered, continuing to eat his sandwich. Ese’s story seemed to have piqued his interest.
“By the way, Fei, have you heard of the Free City?”
“I know about it!”
“Not you.”
“…Not really.”
“It’s a place with one of the largest dungeons in the world. There are factions called Legions, and it’s a fun city with casinos and swordsmanship tournaments.”
“…I see.”
“I heard from Glen and Fubuki, who are our peers, that the place is full of hot-blooded people. There are adventurers who maintain law and order, but it’s still a chaotic place.”
“A dungeon… I might head there someday.”
“That’s great. Just so you know, some holy knights look down on adventurers, saying they don’t train or struggle as much. Be careful.”
“…Anyone can become one, huh?”
“We were all told we passed, even though we had a probation period. But adventurers don’t have that. Some people feel the need to say we’re stronger because we went through tough training.”
“…How petty.”
“It’s a matter of perspective. I think you’d also like the Elven Kingdom. It has one of the largest dungeons in the world, with legendary weapons rumored to be at its depths.”
“…I see.”
Fei didn’t talk much. He only responded to things that interested him, which meant Ese’s story had something that caught his attention.
“As for me, I’d like to hit it big in a dungeon!”
“Idiot. Do you think someone like you can make it? Being an adventurer isn’t an easy job.”
“No, I really think I can succeed. In the casino.”
“The casino… You could end up in debt.”
“Even if I get into debt, I can just gamble my way out of it.”
“You’re the perfect gambler.”
Fei’s interest completely vanished. It seemed he didn’t care about their conversation anymore. Finishing his ham sandwich, Fei walked ahead with a cold expression. The surroundings were bathed in the red glow of the setting sun.
Despite walking ahead, there was an undeniable charm to his back.
Upon arriving at the capital city, everyone would disperse. Fei wouldn’t head to the orphanage but instead to a particular place. Following him were three shadows.
“Hey, you guys stay here.”
“…!!”
“But, Gamma doesn’t want to leave Alpha alone.”
“Sigh… fine. Just make sure not to be noticed.”
Beta drew an X in front of her with her arms. With Gamma tagging along, Alpha sighed and allowed them to come. Fei, walking alone through the sunset-drenched capital, seemed to be heading somewhere. The three of them wondered where he was going.
Meanwhile, at the same time and place, a giant panda was watching.
“Hey, it’s Fei.”
“Huh? Where?”
“There, look.”
Bowlan, walking with Arthur, pointed towards Fei. The two had just returned from a mission.
Arthur pointed ahead, and there was Fei.
“Yeah, that’s definitely him. What’s he doing out at this hour?”
“Let’s call out to him.”
“Want to grab dinner together?”
“Sure… wait, what?”
“What’s wrong? Let’s invite him to dinner.”
“There’s someone with him.”
“Huh?”
“Look, over there.”
“…Who are they?”
Trailing behind Fei were three girls with beautiful purple hair.
“Oh no, Fei’s being stalked. We have to protect him.”
“But it could be a coincidence.”
“No way. They’re definitely up to something bad. We have to follow and protect him.”
“Isn’t that stalking?”
“No, it’s called protection when you do it to keep someone safe.”
“Uh, really? I don’t know much about that.”
“Bowlan, you’re fifteen. I’m seventeen, so I’m wiser. You should listen to me. Always listen to your elders. We have to help Fei because he’s in danger.”
“Well, that makes sense… I guess.”
“We have to help him.”
“Yeah, you’re right! We need to protect him!”
Manipulating the naive Bowlan, the brainwashing Arthur decided they would secretly and unofficially guard Fei.
Arthur and Bowlan began to stealthily follow Alpha and the others. Meanwhile, they were being followed by Sargento, who was keeping an eye on Arthur.
As a Holy Knight, Sargento had no idea what was going on, watching them with a perplexed look.
(What are those guys up to?)
That was his only thought.
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A stalker stalking a stalker stalkiing a stalker stalking a protagonist.
Ugh My head