Drunkard on the Tracks

...Luna!

...Are you all right?

...Luna!

U-ugh... Smile...

No major external injuries. The soft cushion likely absorbed the impact.

Oww... I thought I was a goner.

Eek?! What happened?! The train's completely wrecked!

The impact likely caused the carriage to exceed its structural limits and tear apart.

What in the world happened?

...Huh? Wait! Where are Captain and Asherah?

...Neither of them is here.

Wait, what? Isn't that bad?! They could be seriously hurt!

If they suffered serious injuries during the accident, there should be traces. But no blood or other signs were found.

They are... probably safe.

Well... that's a silver lining, I guess! But we should still look for them. Just where did they go?

Omega saw it! Something went crackle-crack! Then zap! And then kabooom!

Then there was a super, super bright flash!

And then Mister and Asherah disappeared. Where did they go?

Crackle-crack, zap, kaboom...? Yeah, yeah, kiddo. Anyway.

But what was that? Did we hit something?

Is everyone all right?

Fortunately, aside from some bruising, no one seems to be seriously injured.

But I have a question.

Why did the train suddenly stop?

Well... We're still trying to determine the cause ourselves.

According to the train engineer, it felt like we hit something with considerable force.

We'll have to investigate whether it was a Voidborn, an animal, or a problem with the tracks.

Oh, and he also said he thought he saw a glowing rift at one point.

A rift? We saw something like that too!

Smile, you saw it too, right? And you too, kiddo!

Yeah! Omega definitely saw the crackle-crack too!

Right... I thought the train was going to be torn apart.

But the train's still here, and only Captain and Asherah are missing. What the heck is going on?

...

An [unidentified spacetime discontinuity] has been detected ahead along the current route.

Recommendation. Avoid the area until this system completes a full analysis of the phenomenon.

It's theoretically possible, but could it really be...?

Smile? Do you have some idea what's going on?

Considering the possibility that came to mind. Can't be certain yet.

Further consideration required.

Huh? Consideration?

Considering whether a spacetime discontinuity can actually manifest and accommodate highly intelligent organic matter.

Aaand there she goes again, talking about stuff no one else understands.

If you've got time to squat there looking miserable, let's go outside and look for those two instead.

If we really did see some kind of rift tearing open, maybe they got thrown outside.

...Agreeing with Luna.

Better to focus on what we can do now than obsess over something we can't currently prove.

Captain! Asherah! If you're out there, answer us!

Mister! Omega doesn't want to play hide-and-seek anymore! Please come out!

Hmm... I think we've come pretty far, but there's still no sign of them...

I was thinking that maybe the impact threw them out of the train, but...

This is strange.

We searched the entire area around the tracks, but couldn't find Captain or Asherah.

Omega looked really, really hard too! But there wasn't any sign of Mister or Asherah...

*Sigh...* Couldn't they have been thrown a little farther away?

Given the train's kinetic energy, it's highly unlikely they were thrown beyond the search radius.

But that doesn't make any sense!

How can two people who were right in front of us just disappear without a trace?!

It seems... the two of them were [transported somewhere].

Ehh? Smile, are you saying they teleported or something?

Cause unknown. But what Cube Palace said is bothering me.

So you're saying that this [spacetime-whatever] rift... sent Captain and Asherah somewhere?

Aside from this hypothesis, there's no way they could've vanished without a trace.

*Sigh...* What are we supposed to do now?

Should we keep looking for Mister and Asherah? Or should we go back to NOA?

...Discussion required.

Luna always says she's the greatest oracle in all of Lavistar!

So if Luna predicts the future, we'll be able to find Mister and Asherah!

*Sigh...* I'd love to show off right about now, but...

Even I can't always see the future when Captain's involved.

...I've been trying for a while now, but I can't see anything...

...Then Luna isn't the greatest oracle.

Your [power of foresight] fails to be useful when actually needed.

Grrr, shut up!

We don't have a choice! Let's head for the Western lands on our own for now!

But Luna! What if Mister and Asherah come looking for us later?

Fufu! You're missing the bigger picture.

We were headed to the Western lands anyway, weren't we?

So wherever those two ended up, won't they eventually head for the same place?

Unless they really did get sent flying off to some weird world...

They might even get there before us and end up waiting for us to join them... right?

...Reasonable. At the very least, it's the best option available under the current circumstances.

Right? See?

But... Omega is still worried...

Hey! Don't worry! Wherever they got sucked away to, I'm sure we'll see them again soon.

...Captain and Asherah are stronger than they look, after all.

Yeah...! Agreeing with Luna.

We should retrieve our belongings from the train before departing.

...Huh?

What's wrong?

Who's... that over there? Is it one of the crew?

Was there someone like that among the crew?

They're not dressed like a typical crew member.

Then could it be another passenger?

No! Lisa said earlier! Nobody else was riding the choo-choo except us!

Oh, right! Then who is that?

Oh dear, did I miss my coordinates a little?

She's drinking something.

Judging by the container holding the liquid, the contents are probably...

...Is that alcohol?

When you're drinking somewhere unfamiliar, cheap liquor really is the way to go.

It's easier to get than the needlessly expensive stuff too—Hmm?

Hmm...?

...Oh my. It's empty already.

Ugh! She's seriously about to settle in and start drinking right here!

And look at what she's sitting on! That's our luggage!

Luna, I think you should go talk to her.

Huh? Why me? We should settle this with rock-paper-scissors!

Judging by her appearance, she is likely a wandering vagrant.

Rational assumption that people who share similar life trajectories may communicate more effectively.

H-hey! Who are you calling similar to that drunken bum?!

Tch, whatever. You two just stay here. I'll go give her a piece of my mind.

Hey, you! Stop! Hold it right there!

Hmm?

Yeah, you! That's our luggage you're sitting on! I don't recall giving you permission to use it as a cushion!!

Oh my, this belongs to you kids?

Fufu... Oh my, how rude of me. Sorry. I thought it'd been abandoned.

Here you are. Your bag.

Hmph. Hand it over!

At least you're not a thief... I guess!

A thief? Oh my... I'm certainly no thief.

Oh dear, I nearly gave you quite the wrong impression.

Ugh! You reek of alcohol!

Just how much have you been drinking?!

Oh, the smell of alcohol?

Hmm... I suppose I might smell like it.

It's only natural for someone who's been drinking to smell like alcohol, isn't it? Fufu...

Ugh... She's even muttering pointless nonsense... You're completely wasted, aren't you?

Agreed. Questioning whether coherent conversation is possible.

You smell like Roberta when Omega sees her at night...

Hmm... Don't worry. I've been drinking, but I'm not that drunk.

Classic drunkard excuse number one.

Anyway, what happened here?

From the looks of things... yes, this whole place is quite a mess.

Must have been quite the accident. How did this happen?

Hmm... The crew didn't seem to know either.

Hmph. Shouldn't you introduce yourself before you start bombarding us with questions?

Just so you know, you're super suspicious.

Oh? Have I done something to make myself look suspicious...?

You show up out of nowhere at an accident scene, sipping away without a care in the world! How is that not suspicious?!

Oh, where are my manners? Just call me Amora.

There's no need to be so wary. I'm simply...

...Yes. I was just traveling through the area. I noticed there'd been a major accident, so I came to take a look.

Traveling... through the area? This area? Right on the doorstep of the Western lands?

Hmm? Did I say something strange?

...Ah, of course. Voidborns appear frequently in the Western lands, don't they?

Mm... But don't worry. I'm a little... stronger than most people.

So, won't you answer my question now? How did the train end up like this?

We don't know either. An unidentified rift appeared and tore the body of the train apart.

A rift?

Uh-huh! Something all colorful and sparkly went crackle-crack!

But then... Mister and Asherah went poof and disappeared too, so we were looking for them...

Disappeared...?

We searched the area but found no clues to their whereabouts. Hence the term "disappeared."

Whew...

...I see. Then that really was...

And here I thought I'd hurried as much as I could...

Ah...?!

Void energy detected. Approaching...!

Location... directly below us!

Hmm... Everyone, step back for a moment.

The Western lands certainly live up to their reputation. The Void density is high.

My, my... It seems I was underestimated. To think it saw me as prey.

Whoa... That scared me.

Judging by the direction of the train, you were headed to the Western lands too, weren't you?

Yeah. We got separated from our group, but they should be heading to our original destination too.

How convenient. That's where I'm headed too.

If you don't mind, may I travel with you for a while?

You... want to come with us? Hmm...

Girls, it's time for a strategy meeting!

...So, what's the plan?

Personally, she seems suspicious. No matter how you look at it, there's something up with her.

Based on what?

Based on my intuition, obviously! I just... get a bad feeling whenever I look at her!

Another unscientific deduction. Now you're even resorting to superstitions like face reading...

Hmph. Don't underestimate a genius oracle's intuition!

Besides, how can we trust someone who gets drunk, rambles on and on, and mutters to herself?!

Whew...

Alcohol really is the best.

I suppose you could call it the only taste of sweetness we're allowed in this bitter life.

...See?!

...Point conceded. But personally, I don't think her proposal is a bad one.

The Western lands aren't far from here.

And even within Raven Wall, the Western lands are known to be more dangerous than most other areas.

There is an obvious advantage to having another capable person with us for safety.

Umm... Omega doesn't really know, but more friends means more fun, so Omega says yes!

Well... If you two agree, then I don't have any objections either.

Finished with your secret meeting? Then does that mean I can come along?

Fine. But only until we reach the Western lands!

Fufu... All right. It's a pleasure.

...Ah.

While we're at it, I have a question...

Do any of you know a [woman wearing a black blindfold]? Or perhaps you've seen her?

Huh? A [woman wearing a black blindfold]? Where'd that come from?

No, never mind. Fufu! On second thought, it wasn't an important question.

I suppose asking wouldn't change anything anyway...

It's nothing. Don't worry about it.

What was that about? A [woman wearing a black blindfold]...?

Luna, come on! Let's go!

Ah, yeah. I'm coming.