The Monologue Must End · Chapter 2
Encounter
When the blinding light faded and I opened my eyes, I found myself in an ashen wasteland.
Everything had burned to white ash, drifting through the air like snow.
Asherah
So this is... a world where the [possibility of catastrophe] has come true...
Well, it certainly does look like a catastrophe...
Omega
Pffft! Bleh! Omega got dust in her mouth! It keeps blowing right into her mouth!
Asherah
The air is so hot it makes my throat ache.
It feels like I'm breathing in smoke.
How about you, Captain? Are you alright?
I'm dying here.
What kind of disaster would turn the world into... this?
A nationwide wildfire? A volcanic eruption? Or a world where a Void Star prevailed?
All kinds of possibilities crossed my mind, but one thing was certain.
There was no way we could let a [possibility] like this to affect Lavistar.
Asherah
Here, take this handkerchief. You two can use it.
Omega
Mm-hm, thank you!
Asherah
Ahaha, it's nothing.
Alright, then let's go deal with that [Corruption Core] or whatever it is.
Hold on.
Asherah
Huh? Something wrong, Captain?
We don't even know what a Corruption Core is.
Assessing the situation comes first.
Asherah
Ah... Now that you mention it, you're right.
Then what should we do?
Let's look for the people fighting against the catastrophe.
Just like Lady Alicia told us to.
Asherah
Ah-ha...!
Right, they might know who's behind all of this.
Okay! Then let's get moving!
No matter how far we go, this place just goes on forever...
Omega
Ugh, Omega can't see anything ahead...
Hey Mister, do you really think people can actually live in a place like this?
I hope so.
Either way, we can't just stand around doing nothing.
Omega
Ugh...
Look! There's a cloud of dust over there!
Asherah
Huh? You're right!
It could be people! I'll go check!
Asherah, wait!
Before I could even voice my concern, Asherah was already far ahead.
Omega
Whoa...! Asherah's really fast!
If Omega trains really hard, can she get as fast as her too?
Of course.
Only if you stop being picky with your food.
Omega
Eeh? Then Omega would rather stay slow!
Look, Mister! She's coming back!
Already done checking?
But that look on her face...
Omega
Voidborns!
Why would Voidborns be here?!
Omega
They're chasing her! And there's a ton of them!
We need to run too!
Race you to safety, Omega!
Omega
Oh! Then Omega's taking first place!
Asherah
*Huff* *Huff* *Huff...!*
I only meant to take a quick look, but they noticed me! Sorry, Captain!
We'll talk about it later!
Right now, we need to run!
Asherah
We can't keep running forever in this wasteland!
It'd be hard on my own, but we can beat them if the three of us get together!
At Asherah's words, I glanced back.
Nope, impossible! Absolutely impossible!
There's just too many of them!
Asherah
But...!
...W-what was that sound just now?
Omega
It went pew! But it wasn't a beam or anything like that!
It came from over there!
Ponytailed Girl
You three! Hurry, this way!
Asherah
Huh?!
That's some serious firepower... I've never seen a gun that big besides Smile's...!
Save the admiration for later!
Let's do what she says!
Asherah
Ngh...! Got it, Captain!
As we got closer to the girl, we saw what looked like a cave entrance leading underground beneath the ashes.
As soon as we rushed inside, she pulled a lever mounted on the wall, and...
A heavy steel barrier slammed down, cutting off the horde of Voidborns.
Ponytailed Girl
That should do it. They'll quiet down soon.
They can't break through the barrier...?
Ponytailed Girl
No. Unless they've got one of the larger ones with them.
Asherah
W-we made it...
Omega
Aw, we made it in together... Omega really thought she was gonna win this time...
Just you wait! Next time Omega will win for sure!
Asherah
I never want to be in a race like that again...
Oh. Thank you. You saved us.
Ponytailed Girl
No need to be that grateful.
I only helped because I wanted to ask you something.
Asherah
H-huh?
Ahaha, well, it's fine. You still helped us anyway.
I'm Asherah. What's your name?
Yoo Mina
...Yoo Mina.
Asherah
Oh, Mina. That's a pretty name.
Yoo Mina
Not really. That's the first time anyone ever told me that.
So, what did you want to ask us?
If it's something we know, we'll tell you.
Yoo Mina
Yeah? Then tell me how you got here.
Asherah
That's easy enough to explain.
We came through a portal Lady Alicia made for us.
Yoo Mina
Alicia?
...Who is she? A scientist? Someone from the Administration?
Asherah
You don't know Lady Alicia?
You're just like the Captain.
Lady Alicia is the Grand Witch who fought alongside the [Star Savior].
So... probably the most famous person in Lavistar?
Yoo Mina
Star Savior? Grand Witch...? And what's Lavistar supposed to be?
I gave Mina a brief explanation about Lavistar.
Yoo Mina
So... you came from another world?
Asherah
Yes. To defeat something called the [Corruption Core].
Anyway, Mina... Have you been living here all this time?
Yoo Mina
No. No one lives in the [Counterside].
Asherah
The Counterside...?
Yoo Mina
Yeah. A different world from the one we live in, full of monsters.
Then again, what's outside isn't even the [Counterside] anymore.
Asherah
The Counterside... I've never heard that name.
We were told this is a timeline where the [possibility of catastrophe] became reality.
What do you mean it isn't even the Counterside anymore?
Yoo Mina
Exactly what it I said. This place was already barren, but it wasn't all blowing ash like this.
In that sense... maybe it really is a place where that [possibility of catastrophe] you mentioned came true.
Anyway, if you came here, that means you know how to get back, right?
Asherah
Huh? Get back?
Yoo Mina
We were chasing some guys from the Normalside...
Something went wrong during the fight, and we lost our way back.
So if what you're saying is true, send us back to our world.
You must have a way to return to where you came from too.
Asherah
Now that you mention it...
Omega, do you happen to know a way back?
Omega
Um, Omega dug through the database, but...
The [Surviving in Another Dimension] book won't open. The letters are all broken, so Omega can't read it.
Asherah
...What about you, Captain?
Uh-oh...
Asherah
Th-this is bad! What do we do now?!
Yoo Mina
...I thought so. Something's off about all of you.
You came here without knowing how to get back? That makes no sense.
Stay right there. If you make even the slightest move, I will shoot.
Asherah
W-wait! You can't just point a gun at us out of nowhere!
Even if you saved us, I won't let it slide if you threaten us like that!
Omega
Only broken people bully their friends!
Yoo Mina
I'm not here to make friends.
...Come to think of it, there was something off about you from the beginning.
In the Counterside... There shouldn't be any living people besides us.
Tell me the truth. You're with the [Demon Lord], aren't you?
Asherah
D-Demon Lord...?
Omega
No! Omega, Mister, and Asherah don't know anyone like a [Demon Lord].
It's true.
Yoo Mina
Playing dumb, are you?
Fine. Do whatever you want. Then I'll do things my way too—
White-Haired Girl
That's enough, rookie.
There's no need to doubt them that much.
If they were her Apostles or underlings, I would know.
Yoo Mina
But Commander, they're just making ridiculous excuses.
Going on about how they came from another world and all that...
White-Haired Girl
Another world, you say?
Asherah
Wait, we explained everything as clearly as we could! We're not making excuses!
Omega
Asherah's right! You're being mean!
The girl addressed as Commander suddenly fixed her gaze on Omega.
Why are you staring at Omega like that?
White-Haired Girl
...I see. So you call her Omega.
Looks like that idiot laid the groundwork well in advance.
Yoo Mina
Commander, what's with you all of a sudden?
White-Haired Girl
Never mind. It's nothing.
And such cases do exist, rookie.
People crossing over from worlds different from our reality, that is.
Yoo Mina
What? Really?
White-Haired Girl
Yes. But these ones...
They seem a little different from the cases I know.
Yoo Mina
...Alright. If you say so, Commander.
I'll go check the area.
Those strange monsters might still be lurking around here.
Omega
She left...
Asherah
Yeah...
Still... do you think she was really going to shoot us...?
White-Haired Girl
My apologies. She must have startled you.
Hilde
I'm Hilde, Commander of Coffin Company's [Fenrir Squad].
Captain of the Voyager Savior Party.
Thank you for stopping the fight.
Hilde
...Don't mind Mina.
She just lacks the experience to keep herself steady in a situation like this.
More importantly, I heard your conversation earlier.
You came to stop the [possibility of catastrophe]?
Omega
Yup! Omega doesn't toally get it, but there's a broken friend here. Omega has to bonk it really hard to fix it!
So Omega and the gang are here to fix it at maximum output!
Hilde
An unusual incantation.
Even so...
Do you have someone in mind?
Like that [Demon Lord] Mina mentioned?
Hilde
...If anyone comes to mind, it would be that one, yes.
But if you plan on challenging her, forget it.
It's impossible with just the three of you.
Asherah
Impossible...?
Are the [Demon Lords] really that strong?
Hilde
Even among them, she's particularly troublesome.
You've seen what became of this place, haven't you?
It was nothing but ashes.
As if everything had burned to nothing.
Hilde
Yes. Burning an entire world is no difficult feat...
For her.
The one known as Asmodeus.
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