Chapter 62

As the conflict between the generations of those who had fled from the surface and those who had been born and raised on the ark gradually faded…

The girl awoke deep, deep underground.

“Ayu, what a pretty young lady. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Surrounded by warmth, she looked up at her mother’s face.

Though tired, her face was filled with immense happiness as she spoke to the girl.

“Nisia, from today onward, your name is Nisia.”

…

“Nisia, you mustn’t run around too much.”

“Yes! I understand!”

The girl responded with a bright smile to her father’s caution.

As time passed, the now grown girl was living each day happily.

Krarlek krak.

When everything in the world seemed beautiful and shimmered in vibrant colors.

“Nisia, where shall we go today?”

“The playground! No, the park! I’d go anywhere with mom!”

“Ho ho, is that so?”

“Yes!”

And they’d go out for a stroll together.

“Happy birthday, our daughter.”

“Thank you, Dad and Mom!”

“The candles are melting. You should blow them out.”

“Yes! Hoooo-”

They celebrated her birthday with a cake that her father had bought.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

“Ah, do I have to be ‘it’ again?”

“Well, you should have chosen better~ Hurry up and hide, Nisia!”

“Yes!”

She’d also play around with children her own age.

Though there was nothing particularly special about those days, it was precisely because of that which made them radiant.

Even without immense fortune or anything extraordinarily special happening, she enjoyed her time with her two parents who understood and cherished her, and with many other people.

Living a completely unremarkable life.

But that was exactly what the girl liked about it.

It seemed as if this happiness would last forever.

But in the year the little girl turned five.

The ordinariness she loved disappeared from her life.

“Save humanity.”

“Eh?”

A voice suddenly rang out in her head.

That was the beginning of the collapse of everything the girl cherished.

…

The voice rang out again.

“Save humanity.”

When she was spending time with her family at home.

“Save humanity.”

When she was playing and running around with her friends at the playground.

“Save humanity.”

When she was concentrating on her lessons at the educational facility.

“Save humanity.”

No matter where the girl was or what she was doing, the voice would echo in her mind.

“Ah…”

“Save humanity.”

The voice was firm and cold.

At first, the girl thought it was nothing serious, but she gradually became fearful as the voice continued to repeat endlessly.

“Save humanity.”

“Save humanity.”

“Save humanity.”

“Hiik…”

Terrified by the voice in her head, the girl summoned the courage to seek help from her parents.

“Mom, Dad, I keep hearing strange sounds…”

It was a desperate cry for help.

That she could hear strange sounds.

For them to help her.

But unfortunately, her parents didn’t believe her.

“Did you have a scary dream while taking a nap? Let me check your nose with Mom?”

“Young one, don’t play such jokes.”

Their reactions were as if it was something trivial.

But they couldn’t help it.

After all, it was beyond normal comprehension for clear words filled with intent to keep echoing in one’s mind, absent of any tinnitus or hallucinations.

What seemed like a normal response, hence made the desperate girl even more desperate.

“Yes, I really hear strange sounds…”

“It’s happening right now…”

“I’m scared… I’m scared…”

Relentless pleas.

Their initially skeptical parents seemed moved by the girl’s continued entreaties and took her to the hospital.

She endured her fear while undergoing the examination.

But all the doctor’s note contained was a short statement saying there was no problem whatsoever.

That was when everything began to change.

“There’s nothing wrong with her.”

“Let’s stop this, okay?”

The parents tired of their daughter’s conduct decided to no longer listen to or believe her from that point.

“Mom, Dad…”

The girl left behind alone.

“Save humanity.”

Though abandoned, the firm echoes continued in her mind.

…

An abrupt change.

As expected, the girl couldn’t adjust to the changes, and those subtle differences continued to push her into increasingly precarious situations.

“Hiik…”

“Hiik!”

The girl showing erratic reactions without any apparent cause.

No longer limited to just once or twice, the same actions, repeated every day drew gradually changing gazes.

“Why are you like that?”

“You frighten yourself alone? Why?”

“Strange kid.”

The children looked at her strangely.

“What a strange child.”

“Why is she like that?”

“Maybe there’s something wrong with her?”

The adults thought there was something wrong with her too.

This way, the girl was ostracized.

An abandoned small child without anyone to understand her.

“Save humanity.”

All that remained for her was the voice echoing hollowly inside her mind.

A girl who had lost everything due to just one failure.

The moment the girl realized that fact.

The Ark, built for the survival and tranquility of humanity, had become a great cage of iron bars, pressing down on her.

“Ah…”

Even if she tried to escape, she couldn’t.

There was no one who believed in her.

An exceedingly harsh trial for such a young girl.

This way, the girl left without understanding from anyone had to make an unwanted choice.

“Hello!”

“Mom! Dad!”

“I’m okay! Hehe.”

A forced smile.

Hiding hands that were trembling and never showing any reaction to the voice no matter what.

An act.

Thus, the young girl began pretending to be normal while longing for the warmth of others.

“Save humanity.”

Though that voice continued to reverberate in her head, she never showed it outwardly.

“Save humanity.”

“Yes, I had fun today!”

While spending time with her family at home.

“Save humanity.”

“Hehe, it’s my turn to be ‘it’ this time?”

While playing and running around with her friends at the playground.

“Save humanity.”

“Yes, Teacher!”

While concentrating on her lessons at the educational facility.

Even though that noise relentlessly tormented her, she maintained her façade of normalcy without exposing it.

No matter how much reverberation echoed in her head.

Even if her small heart felt like it was going to tear apart with fear.

The girl smiled while playing the role of “normal.”

In order not to fail again.

Because she didn’t want to go back to those terrible days.

The girl kept smiling.

“Hehe. I’m really happy!”

The hollow voice of the wounded girl.

However, people finally accepted her.

A joke.

Her parents mistakenly thought they understood her.

“Right, you shouldn’t play such jokes anymore?”

A joke.

“Are you better now?”

Fine.

Her friends thought she was getting better and made a mistake.

“Still, bright people suit you.”

Bright.

Adults who arbitrarily judged her and looked at her in the way they wanted.

It wasn’t a joke.

She wasn’t fine either.

And she certainly wasn’t bright.

“HiHi.”

She just smiled and behaved the way they wanted her to.

…

This way, the abnormal girl began pretending to be normal and gradually grew sick.

Not outwardly sick, but mentally.

Though everyone claims they understand her, all they see is the shell she created.

So their words were as empty as cries into the void.

The one silver lining at least was that the girl was becoming accustomed to her act.

“Nisia is so energetic.”

“How can she be so sociable?”

A bright, active girl.

People’s perceptions of her as a strange girl had changed.

As if they wanted that to happen.

“Hehe, thank you!”

That’s why she acted even more desperately.

To not reveal the wounded, twisted heart hiding within her.

“Save humanity.”

Even while this voice of unknown origin continued to echo in her head and torment her.

Even after hearing it countless times, it was never something she could get used to.

Would the day ever come when this voice would stop?

Every time she heard it, her heart pounded and her mind was filled with fear and dread.

Nevertheless, she gave no outward sign because there was nowhere within the Ark where she could express her pain.

Days passed with gritted teeth and endurance, wearing herself away.

But the girl accepted this life full of scars.

Resignation.

Yes.

The young girl had already resigned herself to life.

A world as colorless as a faded photograph.

But ironically, as the girl’s heart was worn down, changes began to occur.

The first change was an abnormal physical ability.

An inexhaustible energy that never tired no matter what she did.

Since she didn’t particularly like sports, this change was noticed rather quickly.

What exactly was this?

Strength that sprang forth for no reason.

Others might have rejoiced, thinking she had become an awoken individual, but to the girl, the change was little more than fear.

It must be hidden. It must never be revealed.

It’s okay, just continue as you have been.

Even as she hypnotized herself like this, mocking her state of mind, the changes came again.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, a violet hue appearing in her eyes.

Though it was only a faint ripple, the external change filled the girl with despair.

What should I do?

Other people will look at me strangely.

This isn’t normal; everyone will hate me.

It must be hidden.

But it can’t be hidden.

Then, I’ll run away.

Where? Where? Where?

The girl wracked with anguish.

Was it a coincidence?

At that moment, a promotional video about the academy, a higher educational institution in the Ark, was playing on TV.

Information followed about the academy—full board and lodging, dormitory life for all students, each with their own room.

However, what shook the girl more than these minor details was the opportunity that the academy environment would provide.

Yes, there, no one will recognize me.

I can hide.

At the academy, I can hide.

That way, the girl came to the academy as if fleeing.

The eagerly awaited new environment.

But all the girl felt in her heart was relief, not hope.

Because hope seemed like an extravagance in her now-barren heart.

…

And so the academy life began.

But there, meeting one girl caused her monochromatic world to change.

A classmate who was as tall as an elementary school student with doll-like beauty.

Edu, Edu Numbersday.

Appearing frail, riding what looked like a drone, and using hand-shaped tools instead of her real hands, looking perilously unstable.

Thus, a few times, the girl unintentionally paid attention.

That small girl seemed weaker than herself.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that this thinking was wrong.

The first turning point was the recreational session with Iryna-sensei.

While everyone was flustered, only she analyzed the situation and acted.

Even that was remarkable, but she kept showing new facets.

Relentless threats approaching.

Fights that were utterly disadvantageous.

Many unreasonable and malicious events blocked Edu’s way, but that small girl didn’t care, found ways, and resolved them all.

Defeating the invaders who intruded the academy.

Decimating the marauding groups racing across the barren wastelands.

Exterminating the monstrous creatures from the Cryptid colonies.

How?

Where does that small body of hers muster such courage?

The more time the girl spends with Edu, the more her doubts grow.

And then came the great threat.

The armored legions of invaders had come in pursuit. A peril so catastrophic where even failure seemed a luxury.

Yet this time as well, the girl acted decisively and solved the issue smoothly.

Even in the shadow of impending death, the girl’s courage did not lose its brilliance.

At that moment, Nisia was sure.

Ah, this child is different from me.

Compared to her, who lost everything after just one failure, Edu was someone who moved forward without fearing failure and could achieve anything.

That made her more curious.

What is the source of the courage in this girl’s heart?

However, the answer was extremely ordinary.

“I’m scared, of course.”

An unexpected answer.

Thus, she immediately asked back.

“Eh, really?”

“Of course, I’m no invincible superhuman; naturally, I would be scared?”

Edu’s face, at the very least, didn’t seem to be lying.

Confusing.

It’s hard to understand how that seemingly amazing small girl is not that different from herself.

At that moment, Edu’s voice rang out.

“I’m scared of scary things and don’t want to do hard stuff. Isn’t that true for anyone who’s human?”

“But, then why…?”

A question asked entranced.

To this question, Edu smirked and answered casually.

“Well, sitting around doing nothing won’t change anything, right? So I just thrash about.”

“…Thrash about…”

She contemplated her words.

“Right, just trying my best at each and every moment. I might not be the best, but I can at least say I did my best and don’t need to feel ashamed of myself, right?”

“…Trying the best in every moment…”

“Right.”

Best.

Now when did I actually try hard, apart from acting?

Supporting her chin, she gazed at the ceiling for a moment, and slowly her thoughts organized themselves.

The quiet one waiting for her words.

And in the heart of the wounded little girl, a tiny flicker of hope sprouted.

Looking at Edu who gave her an honest answer, Nisia, shedding her mask.

“…Edu, will you listen?”

“Sure.”

“I, actually… I hear some kind of sound…”

A long story began.

A story about the colorful life of the girl.

A story about how the light disappeared from that life and darkness enveloped it.

Edu listened without any response, nodding her head while the girl told her long tale.

Tears streaming down Nisia’s cheeks.

And when the entire story was over, Edu approached her by rising on her knees.

“It must have been hard.”

A tight embrace, a small warmth enveloping Nisia’s body.

“You’ve worked hard, Nisia.”

Pat-pat.

Edu’s small hand patted Nisia’s back. It felt light, like touching with cotton.

What might seem as something insignificant, like a mere act of consolation.

But it was this small understanding and comfort that

Is what the girl had longed for so much.

A great resonance spreading through her heart.

Only then did Nisia realize.

What she wished for from Edu was not the desire to know why Edu acted the way she did.

The girl only needed someone who understood her and shared her thoughts.

But the girl was left without understanding from anyone, trapped in the darkness.

Yet even then, the girl kept crying out from the depths.

For someone to notice her.

To acknowledge her presence.

When the darkness thickened as usual, and the small hand was about to be swallowed by it, a hand reached out and grabbed the girl’s.

“Uu… I, I…”

“It’s okay, Nisia.”

Nisia, starting to sob in Edu’s small embrace. Edu quietly patted her back and stayed with her.

Finally.

The always lonely girl meets her first true empathizer.