What kind of place is the Babel Tower?
This is a very important question for Vera, who is about to come into contact with him.
[Vane: The Babel Tower... well, if I had to put it that way... the Babel Tower is now basically a refugee camp that Theresa gathered together.]
[Vera: Refugee camp? Isn't Babel Tower one of Kazdel's two major governments?]
[Vane: It's all in name only. They can't even afford an office building; what kind of government is that?]
[Vera:... Is this kind of organization really reliable?]
[Vane: The Babel Tower is no good, but the people of the Babel Tower are.]
[Vane: Don't overthink it. There might still be spies within Babel Tower, but aside from the Doctor... you can trust the existing Elite Operator.]
[Vera: Elite Operator? Like Scout?]
[Vane: That's right, you don't need to trust the Babel Tower, but you can completely trust Babel Tower Elite Operator.]
[Vera: What do you mean?]
[Vane: Judging from their personalities alone, these guys are a bunch of complete oddballs; calling them crazy wouldn't be an exaggeration.]
[Vane: But at the same time, these eccentrics are also absolute idealists, reckless madmen who dare to forge ahead even after understanding what they will have to pay for their "ideals."]
[Vera: That's truly... an amazing evaluation.]
[Vane: Well~ that's all for now. I've got a troublesome guy on my end, so I'll have to go. Remember to collect the CGs for me.]
What a madman...
Vera rolled over and landed, pinning down the somewhat exuberant Ifrit, and scrutinized the strange people with their varied styles before her.
"Everyone, did you miss me?"
After being away for several days, Scout was about to greet his colleagues, but was tacitly ignored.
Left with no other option, Scout looked at Whitesmih, the only one who was waving at him.
"Yo, I'm back."
"Welcome back, Scout..."
After greeting everyone, Scout walked towards his good friend ACE, unaware of Whitesmih's hesitant expression.
The Elite Operator who were secretly observing all facepalmed, while Outcast, looking pained, handed a jar of candy to the person next to him.
"Hello, visitors from afar."
The Queen of the Banshee spoke first, her magnetic voice initiating the exchange between the two.
"Thank you all for taking care of us colleagues, and welcome to the Babel Tower."
"I am Elite Operator here; just call me Logos."
"Hello! This great one... cough! I am Ifrit!"
Ifrit almost blurted out a verbal tic influenced by Jeston, but a chill ran down her spine and she immediately changed her mind.
Vera secretly decided to talk to Ifrit that evening, and Vera responded.
"... Vera, the child's guardian."
With a good start, the introductions from both sides were quickly completed.
Just as Vera was marveling at how polite the conversation had been in so long, the sudden appearance of a halo made her squint.
"Oh, miss."
A handsome, angelic old lady offered a piece of candy.
"Would you like to try some of my candy? It's from the most popular shop in Laterano!"
"... Thanks."
Vera instinctively accepted the candy because of its friendly appearance, but then, realizing what was happening, she generously put it in her mouth, before her body stiffened.
Before the mercenaries could even tense up, Vera's muffled voice rang out:
"It is too sweet..."
Outcast's eyes lit up, and he was about to say something when ACE interrupted him.
"Hahaha, that's how the Sankta are."
The cheerful, sunglasses-wearing man flashed a set of white teeth and seemed about to pat Vera on the shoulder, but retreated under the mercenaries' terrifying gazes.
Vera didn't offer much comment, casually taking a Butcher from one of the mercenaries and handing it to Outcast.
Seeing the surprised look in the other person's eyes, Vera calmly said:
"It's alright, go ahead and check it. It's not the same kind of weapon as the ones in Laterano."
"Ah... thank you."
Outcast awkwardly accepted the weapon, while the Mechanist craned his neck to observe, only to be pushed aside by ACE.
"That's enough! That's someone else's weapon; it's probably classified..."
ACE warned in a low voice that the usually humorous and witty ace was working very hard to maintain the image of the Babel Tower.
Fortunately, apart from Mechanist, who was very interested in mechanical structures, the other operators performed relatively normally.
No, that's not quite normal either...
"Wow, this baby is developing so well, but its fur is a bit split... Would you mind if I groom it?"
The squinty-eyed woman, Liberi, strode forward and, under the scornful gaze of the Berserk Boar, pulled out a wondrous tool.
When Hedley turned around, his partner was already showing his belly with a look of pure bliss.
As if confirming that Vera and the others were trustworthy, the previously reserved operators immediately revealed their true nature.
The operator (Sharp) who was holding a sword and shield suddenly slumped, exuding a strong sense of dread.
The operator (Stormeye), armed with a bow and arrow, is filled with fighting spirit, staring directly at Shining in the team.
After checking the weapons, Outcast returned them, thanked them repeatedly, and then went to the children in the crowd to distribute candy.
Despite having just met, the Elite Operator seamlessly integrated into the group.
The mercenaries were a little reserved at first, but they quickly relaxed with Vera's tacit approval.
"Incredible..."
"What's so incredible?"
Scout approached the sighing Logos, whose polite smile became even more genuine.
"The fact that the Elite Operator accepted it so quickly is almost as if they were all under a spell."
"That's truly terrifying, a spell that even the Banshee Queen couldn't defend against."
"... It was just a metaphor; everyone's actions came from their hearts, and I can assure you of that."
As he spoke, Logos began to ponder the reasons behind this phenomenon.
Is it similar to His Highness's gentleness?
Logos shook his head and looked at the person responsible for this phenomenon.
Vera was quietly collecting CGs, sensed something. The two looked at each other, and Vera nodded. Logos responded with a smile once again.
So that's it, it's trust.
Is complete trust based on just one meeting not naivety, but pure goodwill...?
But goodwill aside, business still needs to be done.
Just before ACE and the others were about to completely blend into the crowd, Logos interrupted:
"We already knew the purpose of your visit."
"The Babel Tower welcomes every friend, even those who are not on the same path."
"The Human Resources Department's data is ready. The Medical Department's resources are a bit tight, but they can be completed by tomorrow."
"The journey is long, the logistics department has prepared meals, and the campsite has been set up. What's the decision?"
Vera's expression was strange, and the mercenaries exchanged bewildered glances.
Is there a problem with the other party's attitude?
Of course! That's too good to be true, especially since they didn't even mention any compensation!
"No payment required?" a mercenary asked.
"Of course, you all killed Blood Butcher and his men. They had ravaged several Babel Tower squads on the battlefield and were our irreconcilable enemies."
Logos' expression became much more serious, and the Elite Operator also became solemn.
"So whether you Babel Tower or not, you are already our friends."
ACE patted Rice on the shoulder; during their conversation, he found the kid to be quite to his liking.
"Then please take us to the camp first."
Vera made a decision. They had already arrived at the Babel Tower, and the Doctor was there, so there was no need to rush.
Moreover... they do need some time to prepare.
The Elite Operator who had completed their reception duties dispersed, leaving only ACE and Scout, who knew everyone well, to lead the way.
After a brief makeover, ACE extended another invitation.
"How about trying the Babel Tower's dining hall? I can't guarantee the taste, but it'll definitely fill you up!"
Thanks to the arrival of Vera and others, the logistics department, which is usually very frugal, approved a larger quantity of food.
Although potatoes and other staple foods make up the majority of the meal, it's enough to allow chefs who have been out of the spotlight for a long time to showcase their skills.
As ACE predicted, the mercenaries were really looking forward to the meal.
"Really? Do you have any vegetables?"
"Some!"
ACE sighed.
What a kind and simple group of people! They were so considerate of the logistical needs of the Babel Tower, even down to ordering food...
"Great! Then we'll provide meat. To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of it lately."
"[Sarkaz profanity!] If you're tired of this, go eat mud! I don't want to make it for you!"
"I didn't say your cooking was bad, why are you taking it personally?"
"You son of a bitch..."
Watching the two mercenaries wrestle, ACE did not intervene, but instead pondered what the other had said.
What does it mean to be tired of eating meat?
As if to answer ACE's question, the mercenaries took out piles of meat from the supply boxes hanging on their mounts and headed towards the canteen that ACE had pointed out.
ACE: "..."
"Scout."
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Scout, who was suddenly called, instinctively moved closer, only to have his neck firmly gripped by ACE's broad arms.
"You bastard! You said you were going on a mission... but you were actually out there eating and drinking the good stuff behind our backs!"
"Cough cough! Let go! Do you know I almost lost my head on this mission!?"
"I don't care, all the treasures in your cabinet are mine!"
"Don't even think about it! Wait... how did you know the wine was in the cabinet?"
ACE: "..."
Scout: "..."
Did you drink it secretly?
ACE loosened his grip and righteously betrayed his teammate.
"The Mechanist pried it open, and Sharp and the others drank from it too."
"[Sarkaz profanity!]"
The mercenaries walked past the two wrestling men and headed to the canteen.
The chefs at the Babel Tower looked at the ingredients in front of them and were almost in tears.
It's impossible for such a large organization to not have someone to cook, but even the best cooking skills are no substitute for cooking without ingredients.
Faced with such abundant ingredients, these people's culinary spirit is burning brightly.
"It's so hot! The flames are even hotter now. The head chef's Originium Arts have improved again!"
Vera: "..."
Was that not a special effect after all?
Vera watched with curiosity. Even though she knew that Originium Arts were incredibly diverse, this was the first time she had ever seen an elemental form of expression.
Can I learn this on my own?
Vera was somewhat tempted.
She can indeed summon meteors, but it's practically unusable in normal situations.
Infinite time stop sounds impressive, but it's difficult to demonstrate.
As for why I'm interested, I can only say that the soul within this body of the opposite sex has remained unchanged from beginning to end.
Even the fastest boy can't match the coolness of the guy next door who can conjure a fireball.
Just as Vera was considering whether to ask Vane, a strong gaze interrupted her thoughts.
Vera was somewhat exasperated, roughly guessing that W was planning to secretly take photos again.
I initially intended to stop them, but then I realized that my own method of shooting CG was similar, so I let it go.
Just as Vera was thinking about what to do next, she caught a glimpse of the tentacles to her side.
W, bearing the Ancestral Bug, approached with his meal.
The four tentacles, one large and one small, swayed rhythmically, clearly indicating that both were in good spirits.
But...
W is standing nearby, so who is the person looking from behind?
"... Um, why are we hiding and peeking?"
In the corner, four little heads were lined up against the wall.
Seeing her friends spying ahead, Amiya tried to dissuade them:
"We can go say hello together, peeping... isn't that wrong?"
"This isn't spying; it's the training to become an excellent scout!"
The head at the top turned around; the Sarkaz boy who spoke was a huge Scout fan and the initiator of this operation.
"Yeah, Amiya, aren't you curious about what their leader looks like?"
The head at the bottom of the line also turned around, its expression somewhat resentful.
"Those guys actually said she might be prettier than His Highness, even though she always wears a helmet and seems too ashamed to show her face."
"But everyone's saying Captain Scout's been bewitched, and I heard Captain Ace was also bewitched just now, and the two of them are still fighting."
The third head voiced its concerns, while the bottom head blushed deeply.
"I can't hold on any longer."
"Oh, okay, shift change is coming..."
What are you doing here?
Another voice, not belonging to the group of five, appears: the curious Ifrit makes her grand entrance.
Startled, the four people who were squeezed together lost their balance and fell towards the ground.
"Well..."
[Time Stop Sound Effect]
"Huh?"
The expected dull pain did not come, and the children, who had been standing there strangely, were surprised to find the figure in front of them.
"You guys... be careful, the wounded should take extra care of themselves."
Noticing the bandages on the children, the harsh words that should have been uttered softened.
"I'm... sorry..."
Amiya bent over in alarm, her long ears shaking uneasily.
Looking at the petite little girl in front of him, he recalled how the children had previously addressed him.
"Your name is Amiya?"
"Yes!"
The little rabbit's ears instantly perked up, which was quite cute, but Vera couldn't laugh at all.
[The main characters of the game? Besides the Doctor, it's probably Amiya.]
The thought that the child before her was the Demon King that Vane had spoken of, destined to bear the future of this Daichi, weighed heavily on Vera's heart, who had already gained a preliminary understanding of the darkness of this Daichi.
Amiya trembled more and more after the long silence and the lack of response. Just as she was about to apologize again, a hand landed on her head.
Amiya couldn't feel the temperature through the armor.
But from that gentle touch, one could sense the owner's carefulness.
"That..."
Amiya carefully raised her head and saw a pair of warm eyes.
Even when hidden inside the helmet, the darkness could not conceal him.
Subconsciously, Amiya thought of the campfire.
Warm, but not scorching...
Before Amiya could even utter her apology, a warm, sweet sensation spread through her mouth.
"Hmm!"
Vera put away the fruit candy wrappers and gave each child a different flavor.
"Damn it, you can't bribe me... Ugh!"
Vera silenced someone with candy again, then looked at Amiya and suddenly asked:
Do you want to be king?
"Huh?"
Amiya froze on the spot, then shook her head frantically.
"No, no, that won't do, Wang or something..."
"What kind of person does Amiya want to become in the future?"
"Future..."
"It doesn't have to be specific to any one person; it can be anything you want to do."
Encouragingly, Amiya calmed down and began to think along the lines of Vera's words.
"Amiya... wants to become a doctor! Just like Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor!"
"Doctor..."
Vera suddenly felt a little dazed.
She had said similar things before, but her parents, who were doctors, did not support her.
The parents' reasons are reasonable and well-founded; should I echo their advice?
In silence, the children had finished savoring the sweetness of the candy.
Vera crouched down, bringing her line of sight to Amiya's.
Why do you want to become a doctor?
"Because..." Amiya said shyly, clutching the hem of her clothes.
"I want to save more people, just like Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor did, just like they saved Amiya."
"Then become a doctor."
Hearing the expected answer, Vera breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Listen up, Amiya."
"If one day someone tries to impose responsibilities on you that are not yours, be sure to tell me."
"Not Amiya's responsibility?"
Seeing Amiya's confusion, Vera explained:
"It's something Amiya doesn't want to do."
"But... what if Amiya has to do all these things?"
Unexpectedly, Amiya, as if guided by fate, gave Vera the answer she least wanted to hear.
Was he born kind, or destined to be king?
Vera had no idea, she just rubbed Amiya's head vigorously.
"There's nothing a child is obligated to do if someone tells you that..."
"I'll go and blow his head off."