Artificial Lifeform
...This is it.
The reading said your [sister]'s trace lies beyond that door.
That's a pretty huge door.
What's inside?
Data available in the NOA regional encyclopedia issued by [Polaris].
The area beyond the door is confirmed to be the deepest part of the Starshard Fortress.
Core relic of this fortress presumed to be the [Heart of the Star].
Then there's no reason to hesitate.
Let's get in there—
W-wait!
...
...
What's wrong?
L-look... So...
I know you're not gonna believe me if I say this now...
But that reading—about something bad happening in there? That one's real!
You might... seriously regret this.
You really want to do this?
But if I want to find my sister—
Why do you even want to find her? She walked out on her own, didn't she?
She probably had her reasons.
She'll come back when she's ready.
...What if she doesn't?
Then... just think like ‘it is what it is.' What else can you do?
Ugh, you really know how to run your mouth, don't you?
Hey, I'm not even wrong!
Fate can't be changed... And when you try to fight it, you always pay the price.
That's rule number one in this gloomy little world.
Voidborns show up, monsters attack, families get torn apart—everyone in Lavistar's got a story.
People learn to live with it.
That's all I'm saying, little client... Smile, right?
I'm saying this for you—just turn back while you still can.
...
Smile, you don't have to listen to this! Right, Captain?
...That's not for me to decide.
Smile. What do you want to do?
...
When I was young, I felt nothing.
The sun rising in the east, the stars shining at night, none of it meant anything to me.
My sister taught me how to make sense of this world.
How to cook food that tastes good. How to stop and admire a sunset. How to build something big out of tiny little pieces.
She's my sister... but she was also like a mother. To me, she was the world.
...
...
And she told me one day.
That we are [artificial lifeforms].
And that we will always yearn to become [human].
But she said she failed.
And then... she left. Without saying a word.
I'm sorry, but... you seem like a perfectly normal person to me.
Not some kind of artificial lifeform.
Negative. I trust what my sister told me.
Because she never lied to me.
And even if it wasn't true... I know one thing for certain.
She truly wanted to become human.
Even so... how would that even work?
You already seem [human] enough to me.
She once told me.
That once you become human... you can smile with your [heart].
...
So I practice three hours everyday.
Practicing how to smile.
Like human, with my heart.
So that one day, when I see her again... I can smile for real.
And I'll teach her how to smile too.
So she can finally become the [human] she wished to be.
Smile...
If there's even a trace of her beyond that door...
I want to know. No matter the cost.
So... I'm asking for your help.
Big-boobed blonde girl, prophecy scammer, and—
Who're you calling a scammer!
Captain.
...Then it's settled.
*Sigh...*
Ugh, fine! Don't say I didn't warn you!
Alright, let's go! Like they always say—we only live once!
Thanks.
Prophecy scammer.
Hey!