Vanished

So this is... the Western lands?

Everyone, look over there! That wall is huge!

That's Raven Wall.

A massive barrier separating habitable land from the areas beyond.

The area beyond that wall is known to be swarming with Voidborns far more dangerous than those on this side.

One of the Western Liberators' primary duties is to defend Raven Wall for that reason.

Ooh... I see.

Wait, does that mean we'll have to cross that wall and fight alongside these Liberators too?

I believe that will probably be the case.

But why is it so quiet? The whole place feels kind of eerie too...

...Huh? Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, why are there so few people around?

According to prior intel, the Western Liberators are busy fighting the recent surge in Voidborns.

But that still doesn't explain this! Maybe they're too busy to come greet us, but shouldn't someone at least be here to show us around?

We can't even ask anyone for directions like this!

...It's strangely quiet, isn't it?

Even in the Western lands, it's usually not this deserted.

There's a village outside the Western Liberators' garrison where refugees from the west live, and merchants regularly come and go to supply the Liberators as well.

Right? So I'm not the only one who thinks this is weird.

Let's keep going a little farther for now. There should still be people in the village.

...What the? This whole village is completely empty too!

Even the shops with their doors left open were empty. This is... strange.

Aww... Where did everyone go?

Ah! Maybe they're secretly preparing a surprise welcome party for us! Omega's getting excited!

Unfortunately, I don't think that's the case.

Maybe the west got too dangerous, so everyone evacuated somewhere outside the region entirely...?

Objection to that hypothesis. If so, there should be signs that people left in a hurry. None were found.

Hey, you said your name was Aroma, right? What do you think?

It's Amora.

Well, I suppose it doesn't matter... Wait.

I think I can sense people up ahead.

Oh, you're right! I see people over there!

Hey! What in the world happened here?!

Where did everyone go?! Why is there no one here?!

...Confused by an unexpected response.

Huh? You're asking us what happened...? That's what we wanted to ask YOU!

Huh...? Wait, you're not Westerners.

Then who are you people?

...So you don't know what happened in the west either?

That's right. It's completely baffling.

Just a week ago, all the villagers were here and going about their day as usual, and now they're all missing...

It's not like they could just vanish into thin air... but there isn't a single footprint or wagon track left behind, so I have no idea where they went.

It's... the same for me.

I was badly injured during an operation and left for treatment. When I came back, the village was in this state.

Waaaah! All my friends disappeared too!

It's much the same for us.

We went to visit relatives living in another region for a short while, and when we returned, all our neighbors were gone.

Why don't we try checking the Liberators' garrison?

There may be some clues left there. Or, with any luck, some of the members might still be around.

...Looks like things aren't any different here.

All my comrades... are gone too...

Is it possible the Liberators went on an expedition beyond Raven Wall?

Even if they did, there has never been a case where not a single member remained at the garrison.

The Liberators include noncombat personnel as well.

It feels like we've walked into a ghost town.

It's even creepier seeing the place lived-in but completely deserted...

I think we can assume there are no people left in the Western lands.

Whew...

...Still, there should be records left behind by the Liberators.

Which way are their barracks and records room? We may find something useful if we look around there.

Hmm... Normally, outsiders aren't permitted to enter those areas without authorization.

But these are unusual circumstances, so I'll show you the way. Follow me.

Excuse us! Omega's coming in!

...Just as I thought. There's no one left here either.

All of the Western Liberators, along with the residents of the Western lands, have disappeared.

Something clearly happened in the Western lands within the past week.

Do you think Captain and Asherah disappearing might be related too?

It's way too similar. They also vanished without a trace!

I... think so. Worth investigating.

Look here. This is an activity log from the Western Liberators.

It seems one of my comrades accidentally left it behind in the barracks.

[Today, we conducted a rehearsal for the upcoming Void Core suppression operation.]

[To be honest, I'm afraid. But with the commander and my comrades beside me, I feel like we can do it.]

...That's what it says.

What? They were planning to take out the Void Core itself? Not just defend against it?

...The Void Core is practically the reason the Western lands became a barren wasteland of death.

It makes sense that the Western Liberators would target the Void Core itself.

But the strange part is that the final entry was made five days ago.

All previous entries, however, were recorded daily.

Most members write an activity log every day.

Then it is reasonable to assume the people in the Western lands disappeared five days ago.

Other than that... there don't appear to be any meaningful clues.

The Void Core... Why don't we start there?

That's what I think. What about you?

Sounds like a decent idea.

The Western Liberators were going after that Void Core anyway, right?

Maybe we'll learn something if we head there.

Then I'll show you the way.

I heard the lands beyond Raven Wall are dangerous. Will we be all right going on our own?

They are, but the route the Liberators use for reconnaissance is relatively safe. We should be fine as long as we follow that.

Even so, outside the wall, a Voidborn could appear at any moment.

Whew...

You should steel yourselves for what's to come.

Hold on...

You're talking so seriously, but you've been drinking this whole time!

Hmm? Ah... It's fine, it's fine.

I'm not drunk at all, so don't worry about me.

...That's exactly what Roberta says when Omega sees her at night.

Fufu, I appreciate your concern, but...

Machines need oil to keep running, and the mind needs a little lubricant for the soul.

Whew...

In other words, I'm at just the right level as I am now.

...Signs indicate severe addiction.

I give up...

Once we cross that hill, you'll be able to see the Void Core.

Wow, we're here! They said the Western lands were scary, but Omega wasn't scared at all!

Come to think of it, we didn't encounter a single Voidborn on the way here.

I did choose a relatively safe route, but I still expected to run into one or two smaller ones...

This feels like it might be connected to what's going on too, doesn't it...?

Multiple unusual phenomena in succession. Best not to rule out a connection.

The Voidborns may also have been caught up in the incident in the Western lands.

The area around the Void Core has an especially high concentration of Voidborns. If so, where did all of them go...?

So, what does this Void Core even look like?

The name alone doesn't really tell me much.

You'll know it as soon as you see it. There's no need for me to describe it.

There's an unnaturally massive crater at the site where the Void Core fell.

They say the Void Core is embedded deep underground at its center.

...Everyone should come up here and take a look.

Hmm? What's wrong?

According to you... the Void Core should be over there, right?

That doesn't really look like a [crater]... It just looks like a pile of rubble in the middle of some ruins.

Huh? W-what...?

Discrepancy between observed conditions and prior information.

...

Huh? W-wait for us!