Mutant
Void Core... Shutting down.
92% of core functionality... Lost...
Mission... Continuation... No longer... Possible...
Huh...? We won...?
How did we win...?
My reading said we'd suffer a total defeat if we fought...
I told you! You've just gotta trust Captain's calls!
Even if Captain doesn't look it... turns out Captain's a total master at... you know, mobile... strategy games?
Anyway, I heard Captain's a total master at it!
...What's that supposed to mean?
I don't know either!
...
Mission... Failed... Report complete...
Incoming message from [No. 1] to [failed creation].
...!!
[...Hello, Smile. My little sister.]
H-huh? Sis?!
[I got an alert about a failed creation showing up... and it was really you.]
[Heh. Looks like you've gotten stronger. No. 68 was a model I put a lot of work into.]
Where... where are you, sis? Need... your location.
I've been practicing smiling... a lot.
I'm not perfect yet... but maybe soon... I can show you.
[...]
[You're still hung up on that? My poor little sister.]
...!!
[You don't need to practice smiling anymore.]
[I gave up on that wish to be human a long time ago.]
[So, you should stop wasting your time on pointless things like that... and just live however you want.]
Th-that's...
That's not... That's not...
I never even thought of it that way...
[Oh, and just this once, I'll let it slide. But next time you interfere with my work...]
[You'll get a proper scolding. A harsh one.]
[Still... it was nice talking to you again after so long.]
[And let's never speak again.]
[My little sister... no—my failed creation.]
...
...
...
So I really was just... a failed creation?
Maybe all that practice... learning to smile... was pointless after all...
Smile.
Captain...?
I understand how your sister thinks.
But... what about your wish?
...My wish.
My wish is... to show her my real smile. A genuine one.
And to help her become human—truly human.
That's... my wish.
Are you going to give up on that?
...No.
I won't.
I do not know my sister's current state... or what she is thinking.
But the sister in my memory... sincerely wished to become human.
Then at the very least... show her your smile.
Let her make her choice after that.
Got it!
Smile expressing gratitude to Captain!
Thanks to you, all logic errors have been cleared.
As Captain said, I will not give up on smile practice.
One day, I will find my sister, and show her a real smile. That's a promise.
And with that, our first mission came to a successful end.
...Or so I thought.
At least, until Smile stepped in front of us right as we left Candle Square after turning in the report.
...
...
Smile?
What's up? We just finished the paperwork.
Did you forget something?
Negative. But I have an important matter to discuss.
An important matter?
Until now, I've asked for many quests in search of my sister.
But this is the first time one has produced meaningful results.
After processing the results, I've concluded the most efficient solution is to assign Captain to a long-term quest.
Whoa, long-term? That means Smile believes in us!
The Voyager Savior Party is always open for quests! Right, Captain?
...However, minor issue encountered.
An issue?
Funds embezzled by Luna unrecoverable.
Embezzled?! You're gonna make it sound real if you say it like that!
Eek! Where did you pop up from?!
I already let it slide when you got accused of being a quest scammer, and now this?! What's your angle this time?
Scammer?!
Excuse me—my prophecies were spot on, thank you very much!
We found a trace of Smile's sister, and I did say something bad would happen if we pushed too far.
Those were flawless prophecies!
Honestly, I should be charging you extra for how accurate they were.
Ugh... How is it even possible to be that shameless...?
Anyway... budget constraints confirmed.
If that's an issue... I will accept rejection...
It's okay.
...Huh? Really?
Then instead of a fee... you can just join our Savior Party.
Truth is, we took on the quest in the first place to make the Voyager Savior Party more well-known and attract new members.
Her speech is a little unusual, but Smile is a great addition to the team.
Of course, that's only if she wants to.
A scientifically sound and rational decision.
Emotions are not data I normally reference, but...
I have a feeling that good things may happen if I stay with Captain.
New recruit Smile—reporting for duty. Please take care of me, Captain.
Whoa! So that means Smile's officially one of us now!
Great call! If it's Captain, I know you'll definitely make your wish come true.
And I'll do everything I can to help too!
Let's work together from now on!
Alright, we can't let a new member join without celebrating!
Lunchtime means party time! So—where are we going, Captain?!
...
...
...
Actually, I've thought about it, and nothing says team bonding like... cheesecake!
There's a place I know just over there—amazing cakes!
Uhh, I'm sorry?
Why are you deciding where our party happens?
Oh please. Miss Busty—no, I mean, Asherah. No need to act all shy.
Because I've decided to join the [Voyager Savior Party] too!
Which means... I'm part of your party now, too!
Why do you get to just decide that on your own?!
Hey! When an oracle as great as me offers to join your team, you're supposed to throw a party and roll out the red carpet!
What's your problem, anyway?
What's my problem?! There's so many I could bind them into a book!
Well... the more, the merrier...
...Huh? Really?!
See? I told you! Captain knows how to pick people!
Captain! Please rethink this! Seriously—this isn't the right move!
A melee fighter and a ranged DPS. The next thing we need... is a mage.
Even kids on Earth know that's the standard composition. Obviously.
...
Luna, listen closely.
Prophecy is the act of peering into fate.
Once fate is observed, its outcome can never be changed.
That's the rule of this world.
So whenever you gaze into the future... do it carefully.
Make sure your prophecy... doesn't end up destroying your hope.
According to the prophecy... Smile should've been seriously hurt in the fight, or fallen into despair after speaking with her sister.
But none of that happened.
If Master's teachings weren't wrong... then that must mean...