Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Only the Mouth Remains Stubborn
Chapter 58: Only the Mouth Remains Stubborn
......
Night, atop the Babel bridge.
A hand gripped the edge of the platform, straining with effort before finally pulling herself up.
Exhausted, she lay flat on the platform, chest heaving as she gasped for breath.
"This place is really hard to climb... Why pick a spot like this?"
She wasn't one of those superhuman operators; she was just a commander with no strength to speak of!
The Doctor's resentment ran deep. Her white hair was damp with sweat, clinging to her forehead. Her delicate eyes fixed firmly on the figure that had been waiting for her.
"Meeting them again would only add to their sorrow at parting."
The tone was as calm as ever. Sky-blue eyes met the Doctor's gaze.
"Hah, if they saw you again, they'd probably block your way asking for autographs."
"That does indeed sound like something Anto and W would do."
"Don't forget Closure. Oh, but I guess if she got one, it'd just be to resell it..."
The Doctor added, the night's chill making her tighten her hood around herself.
Hiss—
The Judgement of Shamash was thrust into the bridge deck. A faint red glow dispelled the cold, bringing a gentle warmth.
"What about the people who ambushed you?"
"Annihilated."
An indisputable conclusion. Although the Doctor hadn't witnessed the scene in real-time, just the towering flames gave her a rough idea. The commotion had been far too great.
If not for the existence of Catastrophes and Originium magnetic fields, and other countries' monitoring technology not being advanced enough for cross-border surveillance, an attack of that magnitude would probably have kept some people awake at night.
"So, should I say thank you?"
"You should know they came for me."
"Why is your mouth so stubborn? Those aren't mutually exclusive..."
She rolled her eyes, already too weary to comment on Kevin's behavior.
Since Kevin arrived at Babel, her personality had gradually shed the icy, merciless commander mode from the battlefield, faintly regaining the feeling of the "Doctor" from before.
After all, with a "trump card" on their side that could blow up a battlefield at any moment, she naturally no longer had to make those life-and-death trade-offs. Although this "trump card" acted too freely and didn't heed her orders.
But she could coordinate with him. Expanding gains wasn't easier than winning a war from start to finish?
"So, you used this back then?"
The Doctor squatted to one side, casually warming herself by the greatsword's fire, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Mhm."
"Hah, if they knew in the afterlife, they'd probably be so angry they'd crawl out of the ground."
"Generally speaking, ashes do not possess the physical capability to crawl out of soil."
"......"
"Well then, let's end the small talk here."
Kevin's trench coat billowed behind him in the night breeze. One hand grasped the hilt of Judgement of Shamash.
He pulled it out, leaving a black sword mark about 15 centimeters deep on the bridge deck.
"Leaving already?"
"Mhm."
Pozëmka was still waiting. Kevin didn't wish to linger here.
"Alright, alright, goodbye."
"The path is fraught with twists and turns, yet it ultimately leads to the heavens. Go do what you wish to do. Goodbye."
......
"Mmm... mmm..."
In the car, Fiammetta had her eyes closed. Occasionally, she would open them a slit, trying hard to stay awake, only to be overwhelmed by drowsiness again, her head nodding intermittently.
But even in this state, her pointed pink wolf ears remained alertly perked up.
Click—
The sound of a car door being activated. She woke instantly but closed her eyes again in relief the next moment.
Even through the darkness, Kevin's silhouette in her mind remained clear.
"You could have rested earlier."
"I am resting~"
Fiammetta defended herself with a dreamy tone, sounding adorably naive.
"Mhm, then we'll continue the journey tomorrow."
Not intending to expose her, Kevin went along with her words.
Under the moon, no words were spoken. A gentle breeze accompanied them as the two spent a peaceful night in the car.
......
"W, aren't you sleeping yet?"
"......"
W sat cross-legged by the porthole edge barefooted, polishing her modified Guardian gun.
"Can't sleep?"
A playful smile tugged at Anto's lips.
"......"
W's hand paused briefly. She didn't answer, only unconsciously polishing with a bit more force.
"What a coincidence, I can't sleep either. Want to chat?"
"Hah, 'can't sleep'? Looks to me like you just got off work. How does it feel to be suddenly ordered by Kal'tsit to work overtime after slacking off all day?"
A malicious grin spread across W's lips. Her retort made Anto's eye twitch.
So what if she just got off work? So what if she worked overtime until late at night?! She was actively contributing to Babel!
She was proud! Not like this despicable American cockroach who was so leisurely it was infuriating! Infuriatingly unambitious! Infuriatingly... enviable.
She also wanted that kind of life—wandering aimlessly on the bridge because she couldn't sleep!
"Kevin left. You could have followed him. Given his personality, he probably wouldn't have refused."
"But I didn't. Is that what you find strange?"
W directly voiced what Anto was about to say next.
"Anto, you still don't understand."
"?"
"Everyone has things they must do. Things they insist on—a bottom line. I'm no different."
W stood up and stretched her back, slinging the Guardian gun over her shoulder as she spoke these earnest words.
Having said that, she paid no mind to Anto's stunned expression.
Turning towards her room, she wouldn't tell Anto that this line was plagiarized from Kevin.
And she certainly wouldn't tell this poor overworked laborer Anto that her sleeplessness had nothing to do with any sadness over parting. Or rather, that feeling had long been washed away by something else—
Money! A huge sum of money!
Before leaving, Kevin had left her a small chest of Originium Ingots! Right under her bed!
When she discovered it a few hours ago, she almost collapsed on the spot. After tremblingly confirming the amount, she wriggled around on her bed like a worm.
It was only after tossing and turning unable to sleep that she came out for some air to calm down.
"Hmm hmm..."
Humming an unknown tune, thinking of that chest of Originium Ingots in her room made W's smile grow even more unrestrained.
Forget it. She wouldn't sleep tonight. Might as well count them until dawn!
——————
Event: 【Babel Secret Chronicles · Part One】
"Doctor, you don't look well."
"I'm cold."
"You deliberately went... to freeze on the rooftop?"
"Don't ask."
"Do you need me to get you some medicine? Honestly, your complexion looks terrible."
"Medicine won't cure it."
"Huh?"
"Stop asking. It's just a minor issue..."
The Doctor's heart was bleeding.
She didn't give the operator any further chance to ask questions and turned to leave.
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