Ch.26: The Remainder of the Zwei Targets


Today, after what felt like an eternity, I had a terrible nightmare.

I honestly don't remember when, where or how I came to realize that thought but when I did. I soon found myself all alone in a world I did not understand.

There was no demon chasing me, no unknown kidnapper holding me hostage, no... Abnormalities or voices torturing me.

Instead, I stood in a small garden decorated with many, colorful flowers all around me. I blinked once to confirm that I was not losing it but the sight remained. It seemed like I was not trapped in a delusion in a dark corner of Lobotomy Corporation, mumbling to myself until I took my own life.

I lowered my eyes and soon found a white and cheap-looking chair under me. Next to me, a table of the same color and made of the same quality was present. On it, only a singular pocket watch was there

...

...A pocket watch. Where have I seen-

My mind drew a blank. I couldn't even remember how I got here in the first place. Nothing made sense and only served to give me a headache that I couldn't shrug off.

Then, finally, in a fit of exasperation, I stood up. As I did, a chill ran down my spine, as if what I had done had caused something to be unleashed.

Something...

A drop of sweat formed on my face. The shivers I had grew worse with each passing second and this peaceful garden surrounding me only amplified my paranoia.

Without even noticing it, I had begun to run. A voice in the back of my head was telling me to escape, to find a place to hide. Yet, as far as I could see, the only thing I could find were flowers and hedges.

I needed to hide somewhere, quick.

The world around me grew blurry as I picked up speed. The stress of finding out what I had done was overwhelming me. Everything looked as if it was trying to get me, pointing in my direction in an accusatory manner and guiding whatever was following me.

The blue sky above me felt like a mocking visage looking down at me, taunting me. My heart grew faster, faster and even faster, ignoring the pained cries of my muscles.

I had long since lost the direction I took to get this far and it was honestly better that way. My instinct was screaming at me to not even think about it. Do not even dare mention the details that you saw!

Many long minutes passed as I flew past the many hedges in my way, fearing that I would meet my demise as soon as I even considered slowing down.

...I suppose this is what it feels like to experience my own sanity slipping through my fingers. I simply lost any sort of reasoning and only opted for survival, no matter how ridiculous my actions were.

Even now, as I came to that realization, I still found myself going left and right, praying that the dread I was feeling would go away.

I prayed for a higher being, a benevolent will watching me to guide me to safety..

...

...And soon enough, the god I was looking up for answered my plea.

"Ah, please come back!"

A voice suddenly echoed in the silence that was only disturbed by my hurried footsteps. My blood froze for a moment as my eyes saw the shape of a person going in front of me, from right to left.

It sounded feminine but not one I had heard before. As I turned to where this unknown person went, I briefly saw a skirt flutter as they turned another corner.

I had no idea who they were but the terror I was experiencing only grew stronger, forcing me to go after them. It was hard to do so, each I time I would turn a corner, I would only be able to briefly see a part of them to give me the next direction to take.

I was exhausted, my legs were almost turned into puddles from the amount of running they had to do but I still pushed onward. I had to, I had no other choice, it was this or death.

This chase continued for an eternity and a half until, and to my shock, my eyes caught the glimpse of something new, something that I thought would not exist in this endless world.

A singular tree. It's branches were extending towards the sky and at its base, I saw a girl attempting to grab a small rabbit, who slipped under the roots of the large "decoration".

Now was my chance!

I sprinted to her, fearing that she would vanish if I took too long. Then, I grabbed one of her shoulders to catch her attention.

"You have to help me please, I beg you! Something's coming after me, I don't know what's going on!"

I immediately began to let out my panic as I explained my situation. For a moment, the unknown person was frozen in place, shocked at my sudden voice but she slowly turned in my direction.

Sadly, this moment of anticipated revelation was cut short by a sound that made my heart drop. A loud rumble could be heard throughout the place and soon enough, I could feel the origin of that disturbance coming from below us.

The last thing my mind could do was widen my eyes before the ground shattered like broken glass, sending us down into an abyss with seemingly no end.

Still trapped in my own bewilderment, I unconsciously reached for the girl who was also falling by my side and held her. She replied with the same action, deciding to cling to me as we both sank further down.

We fell... sank into the depth of insanity until finally... an end arrived...


...

...

Everything felt like a blur to the man who snapped out of his own dream world. His figure stood silently next to the machine he despised for many, MANY reasons. His eyes were locked onto what was ahead, sending a wave of guilt in the back of his head.

Right there, returning the gaze he sent, was the last man standing that belonged to the Streelight Office.

San: ...

Y/N: ...

As usual, the words that belonged to the Director of the Library echoed around them but was nothing in comparison to the silent exchange both men had. The lone Fixer stared back at the one who tried to make them go back, who tried to warn them.

However, unlike Lulu, the hotheaded girl of the trio, the final member of the fallen Office showed no hatred towards him. In fact, despite the clear sadness behind them, he still gave him a few silent words of comfort in his own way.

"We all knew the risks, please don't react like that."

The hands of the assistant tightened into fists for a moment but soon lost the will the remain like that. Without even realizing it, the first group had walked through the door, leaving behind the duo composed of San & Julia, a white haired girl who wished to help her friend in his time of need and a single Zwei Fixer.

Angela: Is something wrong dear guests?

San: No, nothing.

In addition to his reply, the Fixer told his allies who stayed behind him to follow, hoping that they would catch up to the team that went ahead. Their footsteps grew closer and once they went past the assistant, a brief sentence was whispered.

"Thanks."

Y/N: ...

The ex-agent did not turn around, he simply lack the energy to do so. Seconds passed and soon, silence returned to the entrance, an atmosphere that did not last long before something broke it.

Angela: Do you understand what I told you, finally? They are destined to come, you cannot change that.

Y/N: ...

No reply.

Angela: ...I suppose it doesn't matter what you think, just remember what I told you.

Y/N: ...Can you leave? The guests are already gone.

Although an invisible noose was tightened around his own self, his voice still retained a fragment of the coldness he originally showed her when he first woke up in this prison. It did not hold the same sharpness it once had, unfortunately, and that was enough to leave the AI content.

It seemed like her order finally sunk into his skull, even if she had to push further in order to obtain what she desired.

Finally heeding his, words, she snapped her fingers and vanished, teleported somewhere else within the Library.

Now all on his own, the exhausted prisoner let out a sigh as he let her words finally process. From an objective standpoint, she was right, none as of now have escaped their fate and were destined to die. Struggling in an attempt to deny reality at that point would amount to nothing.

...On an emotional side, however, his thoughts still believed and clung to a sliver of hope somehow. It was a wish so persistent that it was rotting him from the inside, destroying him. His mindset was too separate and disconnected from the harsh world of the City and its people for his own good.

Such a trail of thought only made his feeble optimism turn into a fragile mirror that could at any moment shatter under the weight of reality, allowing a perfect destruction of what he once thought and what made him... him, leaving a ruined self to replace it.

The City was not a place to allow hope in any shape or form and those who saw its distant figure broke under the pressure. The cycle already happened once and will do the same a second, a third and even a fourth time... until all residents finally accept the City as it is.

History repeats, despite going from an outward goal to an inward one.


...

Which is why, even after witnessing the books that were brought back at the end of the reception, the director's assistant still tried to show a form of warmth to the next group who came for the sake of collecting the books they desired for.

Y/N: I welcome you all to the Library, the director will be arriving soon.

Isadora: ...

The girl with black twintails frowned slightly but quickly hid her emotions. Just like him, she was holding onto a visage that did not betray her feelings for the sake of her work.

Her superior, on the other hand, simply showed no hard feelings, no desire for vengeance. He politely greeted him in return just before the one in charge of this place appeared. As expected, her speech was nothing too important, just the same words repeated with each visitors they got.

It was so mundane, in fact, that the first part of the group who arrived decided to simply ignore her and walk inside, probably wishing to escape a conversation they did not wish to partake in.

Unlike them, the man he briefly understood to be called Walter observed the machine speaking to him before uttering a line that froze the air around them..

Walter: Staying quiet won't hide it, girl. A machine must behave as a machine.

A drop of sweat formed on both "assistants"'s faces in this scenario as they watched the AI send a glare at the one who dared to say those words. The ex-employee was used to it to a certain extend but Isadora was not, which prompted her to react.

Isadora: Sir, I don't think we should provoke her any further...

Everyone knew that he would not take back his statement, not like it would have changed anything. The visible anger on the director's face could barely be hidden by her catchphrase.

Angela: May you find your book in this place.

A single snap followed afterwards, leaving both the remaining Zwei Fixers and her assistant together in the entrance. A moment of silence passed until someone spoke up.

Y/N: Uh... I know I'm not really the best person you want to hear this from but... please be careful.

Zwei Fixer: ...Are you ordered to say the same line to everyone who entered before?

A glance of distrust was clearly visible on the face belonging to the one who replied with a question. The fatigued worker's face showed a gloomy expression as he responded.

Y/N: ...No, consider it an act of kidness I suppose.

Walter: You should keep these thoughts to yourself. Letting your emotions overtake your duty will only lead to your death, remember that. Stick to your duty and we'll remain with ours.

The more experienced man quickly put a stop to the conversation they were having with a cold advice. The assistant librarian fell silent once more at those sharp words.

He knew where he was coming from and to a certain extend, in a sadistic irony, he also had to use this method during his work at Lobotomy Corporation to keep himself somewhat sane, or at least tried.

Something about that saying just could not stick with him, no matter how many times he looked at it. Getting too emotional would lead to rash decisions but completely removing them entirely felt wrong to him.

Isadora: We should hurry, sir.

As he pondered on the words of wisdom he received, the remaining guests finally stepped further inside the Library before the metaphorically bound man could say anything else. His eyes watched their figures disappear.

Finally, once he was 100% sure to be alone, his head lowered to stare at the floor. Right about now, the librarians should be fighting with the guests that arrived, it was time for him to go back to the top to meet up with Angela.

Yet, he kept his feet firmly planted in place. He was stuck ruminating on the words given to him a moment ago. A part of him genuinely wanted to refute it and proclaim that something good could occur by relying on one's feelings but another part of him scoffed at the idea, thinking it was an optimistic delusion at best.

L Corp. showed him that hoping for things to go right was not a solution for everything.

...

In the end, his endless debate with himself came to a close once a sudden breeze grazed his hands, causing him to look up. To his surprise, he was back in the room that him, Angela & Roland used to look at the upcoming guests.

Sat perfectly in her seat, the one not participating in receptions remained fixated on him. One of her hands was raised with her fingers still left in the position they would have after making a "snap" with them.

Angela: You took too long, so I brought you here.

Y/N: ...Thanks.

He mumbled under his breath and averted his eyes. Funnily enough, his gratitude was genuine for once. This simple thing allowed him to snap out of his downward spiral that would have led to nothing.

Of course, he wasn't gonna tell her that directly, his disdain towards her would have ripped his tongue out before he could even say a single word.

With nothing else to do, the man took a seat next to her and calmly began to read one of the books placed nearby to keep his mind busy. He didn't mind what it was, as long as it kept him occupied, anything was good.

Page after page, the librarian read, not counting the minutes passing by as he did so. This small reading, however, made him realize that the many books scattered in the Library were not... "story oriented" and instead described things that one would find in an encyclopedia.

There was no grand fantasy tales about defeating dragons and saving damsels in distress, no stories about mysterious events occuring for a protagonist to solve. Everything here was simply packed with information and nothing else.

"Maybe I should go take a look at the Literature Floor once I get the time, I should find something there."

He nodded to himself just in time before a groan reached his ears, snapping him out of his thought. He lowered the book he was holding and turned to look at the door. In the doorway, the familiar figure of the Grade 9 Fixer was present, giving the duo inside an awkward smile as he held a large pile of books.

The assistant quickly jumped onto his feet and rushed to help him, seeing both Morgan and Rin behind him in the same state as he got closer.

Roland: Thanks, those things are heavier than they look.

A nod was exchanged between the both of them. Soon enough, the group assigned to the Floor of General Work entered and placed the books they collected on top of the table Angela and her puppet used.

Morgan: Ah... ah... N-Never again. My arms hurt...

Rin: I-I have to agree.

The poor assistant that was extracted from the world of Heart of Aspiration already looked deathly sick when they were rescued and now, their already pale face was worse. Their legs were even shaking slightly.

Next to them, Morgan was slowly stretching her limbs, only to let out pained groans.

Angela: That is all, you can all leave.

Rin weakly nodded with a feeble smile and went for the exit, followed by the other assistant. Roland, on the other hand, looked back at the one who assisted him and raised an eyebrow.

Roland: Are you alright?

Y/N: ...I suppose I'm not terrible.

The only answer he got in return was the one above alongside a slight shrug. It was obvious to anyone that he was not in peak form but in the eyes of the uninvited guest, the librarian had never once looked truly & fully at his peak.

His expression changed to a smile as he accepted his words without much complaint. If he could slip away from the heavy stuff, he was gladly going to take the chance. He didn't want to dig too deep for his own good, something he was taught at a young age for his own survival.

Roland: I'll be taking my leave now, I need a moment to breathe.

Y/N: Have a nice rest.

An awkward smile was given back from the one assigned to no floors. The both of them send a few handwaves until the one in a suit was gone. Now, he was on his own with a certain woman that has not stopped looking at the back of his head for the past 5 minutes.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and turned to face her, the bags under his eyes growing more prominent the moment his gaze landed on hers.

Y/N: I think I'll be doing the same...

Angela: ...

Nothing came out of the AI still in her seat, at least nothing spoken. Instead, she pointed towards the seat he was in a minute ago with her eyes before looking back at him. He blinked once as he tried to understand if what she did was a suggestion or an order.

Soon enough and fearing that something might happen to him if he did not heed her movement, the director's unwilling helper returned in his place and hesitantly placed his arms on the table before placing his head on top.

...He could still feel her gaze locked on him, sending shivers throughout his entire body.

Y/N: ...

He unconsciously gritted his teeth as he firmly held his eyes closed, hoping to soon be out of this scenario. Many long seconds passed until his mind finally managed to relax enough to doze off, despite the long stare coming from the machine next to him.

Once fully gone, the woman slowly and quietly stepped closer, observing once more his sleepy face. These moments of peace were rare when dealing with her assistant and now that another one presented itself to her, she was not going to waste her chance.

So... with careful movement and while making sure no one was looking... she extended her hand and slowly placed it on top of his resting head. She could feel his warmth pressing against her hand, which brought a small smile on her face.

After what occured with the Zwei Fixers, she would have been in a bad mood for quite a while but with just a simple touch and a few pats, the anger that was nesting in her mind melted away. Her eyes were locked onto him as she calmly continued.

Recognizing the calming effect it had on her, she took a mental note for the future in case something like this happened again.

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