Recollections of Emil

Transcriber: Dr_Mint

I move through the dim factory, keeping my footsteps as quiet as possible.

Well, they aren’t footsteps. Right now I am nothing but a head. The other day I was trying to get home when I fell off a ledge and destroyed my body.

My head is harder than a rock but my body breaks really easily. It would be nice if I could make a body that was as strong as my head, but that’s probably impossible.

Besides, a body has to be not only strong but practical. I’ve made a “self-defense force armored vehicle” before, but for its size it didn’t carry much luggage.

I’ve tried using a “pickup truck” that specialized in mobility, but it broke down in a day. If it broke from falling off a cliff, it wouldn’t hold up when I do business in the city ruins.

Oh, I run a shop. A portable shop. I started it because … um … I’m pretty sure there was a good reason. I forgot, it was a long time ago.

Anyway, I really need to remake my body, so I infiltrated this factory. I can get a lot of materials here.

I’m thinking of using a three-wheeled body instead of a four-wheeled one this time. I fortunately found some remains of a three-wheeled truck. The body was rusted and the tires were flat, but with some magic it’ll be no problem!

According to some ancient documents this truck was a best seller in areas with muddy or bumpy roads. There’s some video data, so I’ll be able to perfectly re-create it!

Now, on to the materials. First, natural rubber. I need to do something about those tires.

But this area is full of dangerous Machines. It used to be called “Robot Mountain,” so maybe they feel comfortable here. I need to make sure I don’t run into them.

Hm? I can smell some natural rubber! Is it this way? Yep, it is. This is the smell of high-quality material!

Excited, I move toward the direction of the smell.

“Wowowow!”

I suddenly have steam billowing over me, and I can’t see anything.

“Hm? I’m moving?”

I feel my head being carried away. Is this what they call a conveyor belt?

“Woah! What’s this?!”

There’s a line of robot parts. They’re being carried away somewhere in one straight line.

“I need to run … wait, what?!”

An arm extends from above and grabs my head. Two half-spheres approach me from the sides.

“Stop!”

Clop it goes as I am enveloped in darkness.

“No! Let me out!”

No matter how much I yell or struggle, I am trapped in darkness. And exhausted from screaming so much, I fall unconscious …

“Huh? Where’s this?”

It is suddenly bright, and standing in front of me are a woman and boy I’ve never seen. “What is this …” they say, as they tilt their heads. But my head is tilted too!

“Ummm. Who are you?”

I know they are androids, but …

“It looks suspicious. Let’s destroy it, 2B.”

What?!

“Wow no! Wait!”

I’m not suspicious! If anything you two are the suspicious ones! You’re wearing all black! And wearing black blindfolds!

“I’m going to destroy it.”

“Ahh! Stop!”

I escape at my top speed. I think I bumped into something, or broke something, but I didn’t have time to check.

… Did I lose them?

I slow down and look back. Then feel something weird.

“Boing?” Was that the word for it?

It seems I bumped into something and was bounced back.

“Hm? Feels furry?”

I felt warm wind from above …

“Uh, um …”

Looking up, I see two tusks. What I thought was wind was the breath … of a boar. Which meant I bumped into the side of a boar. I slowed down right before, so it wasn’t a life-threatening impact, but it must’ve hurt him to be hit by my rock-hard head.

Which means that … you must be really mad right?

“I’m so sorry!”

Oh no! It’s running after me! I hate boars! I’m always being chased by them! When they hit me it hurts!

“Don’t come near meeee!”

It’s hard to run away right now! There’s tons of leaves in my face! I hear branches snapping right beneath me! But the boar is still coming after me!

Ah!! I’m going to hit it I’m going to hit it! I’m going to crash into that big tree!

I just managed to swerve out of the way. I must’ve lost the boar … wait, it’s still coming after me! It seems like this boar has drifting capabilities. There’s always a few of them. The high-functioning boars.

Why am I thinking of something like this—hm? Where’s the ground?

“Aaaah!”

It seems I rolled off a hill. It hurts. It feels like I’m dying. It feels like I’m getting beaten with sticks. Well, I’m actually just bouncing off boulders here and there.

I wonder how long I rolled about. Before I knew it I was at the bottom of a dim valley, feeling dizzy.

Sigh. That was terrible. Well, at least I lost the boar.

“Hm? I smell some iron here?”

Iron ore is an essential material to make a body as strong as my head!

After being chased by a boar, I thought I was unlucky to roll all the way down into a valley. But I think I’ll be able to turn misfortune into fortune. Let’s go pick some iron ore!

Yes, yes it’s here! There’s some high-quality iron ore! I can take as much as I want! This is fun!

“Heave-ho! Pick this up pick this up and pick this up! Pick that up and pick this up! Phew!”

As I am singing playfully like so, I suddenly hear the sound of grinding metal behind me. As if some Machine is walking around …

“It wasn’t my imagination!”

There’s Machines! And lots of them! I thought I’d turned misfortune into fortune, but I was unlucky after all …

I use magic to absorb iron ore as I roll around, and manage to narrowly escape the valley. I go home and visit the factory ruins again to get natural rubber. I finally have all the materials.

Time to go to work. First I use the natural rubber to re-create the tires. Three spanking-new tires. Reliable tires that can travel over rubble without a problem!

Next I have to clean the rusty truck. I line up all the iron ore I collected and …

“Emil Beaaaaaaaaam!”

The iron ore is turning into a puddle. According to the data, the ideal temperature for manufacturing iron is 2,000 degrees Celsius. This way, you can separate the impurities and pig iron. Of course, I won’t throw away the impurities. They can be divided and cooled for later use. I’ll need them for something … probably.

Okay! Now this part is a race against time. Strike while the iron is hot! That’s what some ancient texts said.

“Yeahhhh!”

It’s done! I coated the truck in iron, and now it looks brand-new!

Now we just have to attach the tires, and we’re done.

Then I screw my head on the body so it won’t roll off. There’s better ventilation when I use screws instead of gluing myself on.

I make sure to display my products on the truck bed instead of just throwing them on. This advice was in the texts too. “Pay attention to the layout of your booth to increase sales!” it said. Another tip was to “Make sure customers can see it from far away!”

So I decorate the truck bed, and put up a shop flag, and add a loudspeaker. I hope I get a lot of customers …

Oh right, this time I did a full model change, so I have to record my thoughts on its durability and usability.

So starting tomorrow, Emil’s shop will be open!

[Day One]

My new body is working really well. It rides smoothly on rocky hills and grassy plains! I understand why it was a top seller in areas with bumpy roads.

But I noticed the texts were right when they explained that a three-wheeled car topples easily navigating sharp turns. There’s a certain nuance to balancing this body. I have to be careful.

The amplifier cracks a little bit, so maybe it needs some adjustment. I hope the volume doesn’t bother anyone.

I hope customers come. I’ll work hard tomorrow too.

[Day Two]

The new body is great, but my sales aren’t. I need customers. I’ll work even harder tomorrow!

[Day Three]

Today the weather is really nice. I’m in a good mood, so I’m hopping around from one building to another.

“Recommendation: Force interruption with long-range attack from Pod.”

I hear somebody’s voice, I think. I hear a gunshot, and start to spin around as my gears shudder … my engine stalls. So that’s what they meant by a forced interruption …

“Ow ow ow.”

I slowly get up as I hear footsteps heading toward me. I look up, and am surprised.

“Oh, it’s you, from the other day!”

The Androids in black. The other day they had decided to destroy me right away, so I guess they’re more violent than other Androids. I remember it now. This is just like … just like … wait? Who does that remind me of?

Oh well. Business, business. They’re my customers too.

“My name is Emil. As you can see, I run a shop. Would you like to purchase anything today?”

Since my reopening, they’re my first customers. I hope they buy a lot of stuff!

“Would you like a rusty clump? And I would recommend a rusty clump? Also just so you know, the rusty clump is a good deal!”

Apparently the woman in black is named Ms. 2B and the boy in black is named Mr. 9S. The two buy the titanium alloy. Even though I recommended the rusty clump …

“Thank you very much! I’m looking forward to your next visit!”

I hope they start coming regularly. Oh, I have business to do!

“What? Where do I live?”

“We didn’t ask.”

This is business. Answering a question they didn’t ask, that’s what a good salesman does!

“Um, I live deep underground … deeper than the deepest part. Come play with me anytime.”

After watching Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S walk off, I decide to call it a day. I need to tidy up my home if they are going to come visit.

[Day Four]

Today I’ve been doing repairs since morning. Yesterday the “long-range Pod attack” knocked me off my wheels and gave my body a small dent.

Well, it’s not too bad. I’ll be able to finish repairs before breakfast. Well, I already ate breakfast, but …

Anyway, first I have to inspect the damaged part. Hmmm … it looks like the sides need to be more durable. After all, in the city ruins where there’s tons of rubble, tumbling around is a normal occurrence. I should probably use some spare material to reinforce the sides.

Time to work. I lined up the iron ore and …

“Emil Beaaaaaaaaam!”

Take out the impurities, and … ah! I’ll try adding some titanium alloy. And some memory alloy too.

“Emil Cyclone!”

The iron ore, titanium alloy, and memory alloy start mixing together. Now I have to coat this with magic.

“Yeah!”

Okay. All right. It looks good. Repairs and reinforcement are complete. Now, maybe I’ll eat.

“Hm? Huh? Did I already … eat breakfast? It seems I did, but maybe I didn’t. Which one was it again?”

I can’t remember. Every time I repair my body I lose some memories.

“Oh well.”

I’ll eat breakfast.

[Day Five]

Today I’m restocking my shop. Yesterday I cleaned up a weapon I found, and it turned out better than expected! It’s a masterpiece!

I need to go sell it right away. Someone will be happy to have it!

I quickly leave my home. I blow by familiar-looking areas in the city ruins. I’m gunning it, at high speed, because I want somebody to buy it as soon as possible.

Am I going too fast? I hear a gunshot, and start to spin around as my gears shudder—yes, it’s Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S.

Ms. 2B is relatively quiet, but it seems like Mr. 9S talks a lot. He seems really curious too, and always has a look of fascination as he talks.

“Hm? Why do I run my business in this form? Well I could talk about that for days …”

I think we should talk about that when you come over for some tea. It really is a long story. Because a long long time ago … a long … hm? What was it again?

No, now’s not the time to think about that. It’s all about business.

“Anyway, won’t you buy something today? I have some incredible weapons in stock today. Like Angel’s Folly and Type-3 Fists. Angel’s Folly and Type-3 Fists.”

I repeat myself because they were my top recommendations. As a result, Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S bought both of them. They looked happy. I’m glad, I’m glad.

After I come home it’s time to inspect my body. Since I reinforced the sides, I don’t see any dents today. Although there are a few scratches.

On the other hand, my brakes are starting to wear out. Speeding doesn’t seem like the best idea.

[Day Six]

I went off my usual route and tried business around the steel tower. Doing the same thing every day just leads to fatigue. It’s important to try new things.

There’s a lot of weeds growing near the steel tower, so it’s a bit hard to ride around. But only an amateur salesman would be discouraged by that! A true professional goes to the customer, wherever they are! It’s my duty to transport goods!

That’s right, because I’m … um. Hm? What was it again? I was about to remember something …

“Oh! That’s!”

Somebody’s crossing the bridge over the valley. Those black clothes definitely belong to Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S. They cross the bridge and head toward the shopping center. That’s where I’d met Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S for the first time. What a glorious moment. Even though it was a little scary.

Hmm, maybe I’ll ask them how they like the weapons they bought last time. I wonder if they’re useful. I wonder if Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S would be happy to hear I’ll do maintenance for them.

And so I decide to cross the bridge and follow the two of them … but the bridge is creaking a lot. Is it going to fall under my weight?

Oh, I just have to use some magic! This is the perfect time for magic! I don’t know if I can fly very well in this form, but …

“Whoo!”

I’m able to float. I only get off a couple feet off the ground because my body is so heavy. But this is good enough for crossing the bridge.

I quickly head to the other side. The entrance to the shopping center is littered with boulders and rubble, so I just float over them.

“What a strange flower.”

I can hear Mr. 9S. The floating box next to him—I think it’s called a Pod, right?—say, “Answer: It’s a type of plant known as a lunar tear”

I widen my eyes when I hear what the Pod said. Lunar tear? I feel like I’ve heard the name “lunar tear.” Looking closely I can see a white flower near Mr. 9S and Ms. 2B’s feet. It looks familiar.

“Lunar tear …”

“Ah! Since when have you been here?!”

Mr. 9S looked back in surprise.

“This flower is called a lunar tear, right?”

Where? Where have I seen this flower before? I really want to remember, but I can’t …

“Looking at this flower brings back a lot of memories. I don’t know why, but I remember being chased by a huge boar a bunch of times …”

That’s probably why I’m so afraid of boars. But I feel like there was always someone next to me when I was being chased by boars. I try my hardest to remember who that person was. Was it just my imagination?

“My body was always broken, and I had to try different replacement parts …”

“That sounds pretty intense.”

My body wasn’t nearly as strong as my head. Even now, I’m testing a new body after my model change.

But I feel like back then I was making a different type of body. That’s weird … what I need is a body that specializes in transporting goods.

“And … when I look at this flower I’m filled with this weird feeling. My chest feels tight.”

What is this feeling? It’s sad and lonely. But then again it’s warm and painful. As if someone mixed all the metals into one alloy but it somehow ended up becoming an entirely new metal.

“Um. I want to ask you a favor, is that okay?”

It might be rude to ask a customer for a favor. But I can’t help myself. I need to find out.

“Please let me know if you ever find lunar tears growing in other places. I want to find out why I’m feeling this way.”

Where is this feeling coming from? What is this feeling for?

“So please. If you find any lunar tears, please send a transmission to this frequency.”

“Okay.”

Ms. 2B’s answer was short, but kind, and so similar to someone …

[Day Twelve]

Mr. 9S’s transmission comes in as I am riding around a building that had started leaning.

“Yes, what is it?” I answer a bit nervously. It is definitely about the lunar tears.

“I found a lunar tear. The location is …”

The location data is pointing toward the desert. I’m at the entrance of the desert right now. How lucky!

“I’m coming right away! Please stay right there!”

I need to go as quickly as possible! The faster the better! Faster, faster!

… Yeah!

“Sorry to make you wait!”

“Wow?!” Mr. 9S yelled. There is no reason to be that surprised. Anyway, about the lunar tear. I look down near Ms. 2B’s and Mr. 9S’s feet.

There is a white flower growing from the sand, waving in the wind. These colors—sand and white petals. I’ve seen this. These colors.

“That’s right, this place …”

“Did you remember something?”

“A long time ago, I remember taking care of this flower.”

It took a lot of care to grow this flower. It needed to be in the right temperature, humidity, and had to be watered at specific times …

“But the sand slowly ate away the plant, and the flower started to die …”

I didn’t want it to die. I wasn’t allowed to let it die. But the sand and dry air had no mercy.

“That’s right, I stopped seeing humans around that time.”

“Humans?”

Wolves filled the desert and humans disappeared from the surrounding cities … I was all alone. Hm? That’s weird. I feel like I wasn’t alone yet? But why? My memories are getting all mixed up.

“Thank you for finding it. If you find any more, please tell me.”

I might remember more if I see other lunar tears in other places. My memories are probably all over the place because there’s some missing parts.

“I’m … going to stay here for a bit …”

I’ll keep watching this flower a little longer.

[Day Sixteen]

The next time Mr. 9S contacts me, my tires are stuck in some rubble and I am stranded.

“Yes, what is it?”

But I kind of know what Mr. 9S is going to say. Probably something along the lines of, “I found a lunar tear …”

“I found a lunar tear. The location is …”

Just as I thought. I was right.

“I’ll go right away! Please stay there!”

I can’t stay stranded. The path from here, the crater zone, to the amusement park is pretty complicated.

I need to hurry. I need to get there quickly. The faster the better! Faster, faster!

… Yeah!

“Sorry to make you wait!”

“You always get here so fast!”

Mr. 9S is really shocked. There’s really no reason to be that surprised.

Anyway, the lunar tear. I look down near Ms. 2B’s and Mr. 9S’s feet.

Right below an emergency exit sign, almost hidden by rubble, is a white flower.

The sound of fireworks, interrupting the music played by the robots. Low, but erratic and sharp sounds.

“That’s right. This place is …”

The sound of gunfire. Heat and the smell of something burning.

“A long time ago, aliens invaded Earth. I fought desperately to protect Earth, right in this very spot.”

I need to vanquish the aliens. I need to drive them away from Earth.

That is the new fragment of a memory I recalled. A memory of a battle so stressful it made me anxious just thinking about it.

“You did, Emil?”

“Yes. I probably had something I needed to protect. But I don’t remember what that something was …”

There’s no memory of that something in my vague recollection. I know it was important and something I didn’t want to forget, but I don’t remember.

“Thank you for finding it. If you find any more, please tell me. I’m going to stay here for a bit.”

I want to keep watching this flower … but the more I watch it, the more pain I feel. That’s what I feel.

[Day Nineteen]

I am searching for materials in the Abandoned Factory when Mr. 9S sends me the third transmission.

“Yes, what is it?”

This is probably about a lunar tear as well. I need to check Mr. 9S’s location data.

“I found a lunar tear …”

“I’ll come right away!”

It is quite a way to the Flooded City, where Mr. 9S was. I panic.

I need to hurry. I need to get there quickly. Faster, faster, the faster the better!

… Yeah!

“Sorry to make you wait!”

“As always … you’re fast.”

Mr. 9S seems more amazed than surprised. Anyway, the lunar tear! I look behind Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S.

There is a white flower growing from a crack in a boulder. It looks like it is holding on for dear life in the sea breeze. The sound of waves is harsh.

“Ah, that’s right.”

This beach. The flooded city, and the sound of seagulls.

“What happened here?”

“The battle against the aliens,” I replied. It happened here. I was responsible for this area around the beach.

“The battle conditions only got worse with each passing day. I cloned myself so I could win in battle.”

Since the enemy fought with numbers, we needed to fight with numbers too.

“But the number of enemies kept growing. And I lost many of my friends.”

I had no time to mourn the death of my friends. I kept cloning myself, and increasing the number of casualties. It was just a repetition of that cycle.

“This happened a long time ago.”

“I see,” replies 9S. He suddenly looks up.

“Emil, how long have you been alive?”

“I don’t really know.”

I feel like I’ve been alive so long I forgot, but I also feel like I’ve only been alive for a short time. I don’t know anything for sure.

“I didn’t need to know to fight.”

We only had to worry about how to get rid of the aliens. That was all.

“Thank you for finding it. If you find any more, please tell me. I’m going to stay here a bit.”

I want to keep watching this flower forever. But I also want to stop remembering. I’m scared to remember more.

[Day Twenty-Three]

I am already checking Mr. 9S’s location data when he contacts me. I already know I have to be there.

… Yeah!

“Sorry to make you wait!”

“I haven’t even contacted you yet …”

The moment Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S appear right in front of me, I realize I have been using teleportation this whole time. That’s how important the lunar tears are. Flowers so important I would do anything to see them.

So I have been using magic this whole time. Powerful magic, but I hadn’t noticed one bit.

That’s right. This powerful magic originally belonged to … and this flower was …

“Emil? Are you okay?”

Mr. 9S’s worried voice snaps me back to reality.

“I remembered right now. I’m …”

“Huh?”

“No, thank you very much. Because of you I was able to remember something very important to me.”

“Something important?”

“Yes. A place that was very important to him.”

He had treasured these white flowers and his memories associated with them. I had forgotten all about him.

“To show my gratitude, I’ll take you to that place.”

I take out an old key. I forgot about this too, but I didn’t lose it. I kept it with me even though I didn’t know what it opened.

“This is a key to an elevator in the shopping center.”

Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that I met Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S there, or that they had found a lunar tear there.

“I’m sorry, please go on without me. I want to stay here a bit longer.”

I am still in shock. I remembered so many things at once that I am confused. I need time to calm down and organize my thoughts.

It doesn’t take too long for me to organize my thoughts. Maybe I had already prepared myself for when I remembered, so I’d be able to do what I have to do.

The shopping center elevator runs just like it used to. The sound the compressor makes when the doors close and open, the erratic shaking, everything is the same.

Right as the doors open on the bottom floor, I hear Mr. 9S’s voice. Apparently the two of them had just arrived as well.

“Wow! There’s so many lunar tears!”

“What is this place?”

The two look around in shock. They probably hadn’t imagined a sea of white flowers blooming deep underneath the shopping mall.

“Thank you for coming here.”

Ms. 2B looks puzzled and says, “Emil, what is this place?”

“This was the place I wanted to protect. Well, to be more precise, the place the person I used to be wanted to protect.”

Mr. 9S tilted his head. “I don’t understand.”

They want to know more, so I start to talk. A story I thought I would never tell, the story of “us.”

“A long time ago, I was originally constructed as a weapon.”

“A weapon …”

Long before the aliens invaded Earth. Back when there were lots of humans. I, the person I was, was just a normal human child. Until I was modified into an experimental weapon.

“When the war against the aliens began, I cloned myself to increase our numbers.”

“Cloned yourself?”

“Yes, I’m one of the many Emils that were created at the time.”

That’s why the one that cloned himself was not me, but the person I used to be—the original Emil. He wanted to protect the Earth, no matter the sacrifice. He felt that way because it was where his friends, who were more important to him than his own self, lived.

“After cloning, I, or rather we, cooperated with one another to maintain our defense on the front lines. But as we multiplied into hundreds and even thousands, our memories grew faint.”

I hardly remember the time when the original Emil was human. I’ve just heard from the other Emils that he had existed in a different body. But the other Emil that told me that didn’t know about this place.

The original memories were scattered amongst us.

“The original Emil liked this place.”

This was where everything that was important to him existed. He re-created his friend’s cottage, planted flowers that were dear to his beloved, and relived his memories of the past …

“There were tough times and sad times, but memories of that journey were really treasured by the original.”

I didn’t experience it myself, but his memories—though faint and almost nonexistent now—live inside me now.

“And that original, where is he now?”

“I don’t know. There were too many of us to keep track.”

“I see …”

There were thousands and even tens of thousands of us, but most of us died in battle in order to protect the world that the original Emil had cherished and lived in with his friends.

“Thank you very much. Because of you I was able to remember something very important to me.”

I was scared to remember before, but now I’m glad I remember.

“If I have this memory, I’ll be able endure alone.”

Even if I’m alone, I’ll keep fighting my own battles. As long as I have this memory. That’s what I think.

[Day Thirty-Three]

I spend the day after meeting Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S, and the day after that, just holed up in my home. I have some things I need to think through, alone.

After that, I spend some time running around the City Ruins and waiting for customers to arrive. But unfortunately, no one comes. Not even Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S.

I go to the shopping center too, but the two aren’t there.

A few days ago, I heard there was a big battle in the Flooded City. I hope nothing happened to them—no, I’m probably worrying too much. I haven’t known them long, but even during that short time I could see that they were growing ever stronger.

Maybe they moved far away. I want them to come visit me one time.

I want to say goodbye …

[Day Fifty-Four]

Today, for the first time in a while, I run into Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S. I want to call out to them, but they are in battle, so I stop myself.

There are a few small types, and two four-legged types. There are a lot of enemies, but the two of them are fighting without a problem. If I helped I would probably be deadweight. That’s how magnificently they are fighting.

I leave that area and cross the bridge. I want to see the lunar tear one last time.

A flower that’s said to grant you any wish. Would it grant me mine?

To be honest, that myth sounds a bit suspicious. Because the original Emil grew as many lunar tears as he could, but he couldn’t cure his little sister’s disease.

And as I expected, that other person, who received the hair ornament made of lunar tears, her wish was—no, that’s just what I, or the person I used to be, thought.

There was no way my wish was going to be granted. I knew that. On the other hand, I didn’t expect anything. I knew it wasn’t going to work, but I wanted to make a wish too.

“Emil!”

Ms. 2B calls to me, and I turn around. Apparently the two of them had finished off the horde of enemies. There isn’t even a single scratch on either of them.

“You’ve gotten strong.”

I have no intention of boasting that it was because of my weapons. Even without my weapons, these two would still be strong.

“You don’t need my help anymore, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I’m glad I’ve run into them here. This way I can properly say my goodbyes.

“All the best.”

I quickly leave the area. I need to hurry. I need to stop them before it’s too late.

My responsibility in that battle was support from the rear. I carried supplies and replenished the Emils that were fighting on the front lines. I was running back and forth the whole time.

My body was this size so I would be able to nimbly run across the battlefield, and I had this form because I specialized in transporting supplies.

We were assigned sizes and bodies based on our responsibilities. The Emils on the front lines had high attack power, while the Emils that held up the solid defense were equipped with hard exoskeletons.

The original Emil apparently believed that diversity was the key to beat an enemy that fought with numbers. Just like how humans diversified their lifestyles and cultures to survive for so long.

Every day, I ran alone. From the Flooded City to that beach, day after day, I carried supplies. I brought recovery materials for my injured friends, and replenishment materials for my friends that used up all their magic.

They became less and less talkative as the days passed. We had always encouraged each other and fought together. But I noticed that conversation had started to disappear right around the time our numbers decreased drastically.

At the same time, my memories started to fade. Apparently exchanging old parts for new parts diluted memories. Which meant the fewer parts of original Emil I had, the fewer memories of the past I had.

I didn’t have a hard exoskeleton like the attack-specialized Emils. I was pretty small and light. If an enemy missile landed near me, the shock wave was enough to send me flying. Since I was always running around the battlefield delivering supplies, I was always covered in scratches. And as a result, I had to exchange parts every day, and every time my memories of the original faded bit by bit.

But there was a silver lining. His memories had restricted me in a way. Those memories were of the original Emil, and not my own. Even if I had them, they were fake.

One by one, as the memories faded, somewhere in my mind I felt relief. Eventually I learned how to contain my emotions. I ran from my memories of struggle and sadness.

At that point all our defenses had crumbled. No matter how often we cloned ourselves, the number of enemies increased at a faster rate. The aliens mass-produced Machines, and bolstered their forces. Just like us, they were made to be adapt to any situation.

But the aliens didn’t end up victorious. Tons of androids came down to Earth and took the edge in the battle against the aliens. Of course it wasn’t easy. They seemed to have struggled as well …

Once my friends and I were scattered, we lost the majority of the original Emil’s memories. We lived in the City Ruins, running shops for the androids. It was strange—our bodies still remembered that we had to deliver goods.

I would probably still be running around the City Ruins, unaware of who I am, if I hadn’t met Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S, who helped me get my memories back … without realizing that my old friends were in danger.

I’ve been hearing their cries for help for a while now, but I had no idea what they meant. All I knew is that I heard strange noises in the desert, and that I was scared of them.

I need to go quickly. To where everyone is.

I use the teleportation magic that I remembered recently. The cluster of collapsing buildings disappear, and I am suddenly in the desert. And looking up I can see giant spheres in the air. They are attack-specialized Emils.

It brings back memories of days when I used to deliver them supplies. Everyone was so nice. They were always worn-out, but still had the patience to give me words of gratitude like “Thank you” and “Good work.”

We all fought together during desperate times. The Emils on the battlefield really cared for each other. They were like family. I was a teeny bit envious of that. Supporting models like me, who worked from behind the front lines, rarely saw each other, and usually operated alone.

But on the other hand, caring for each other must’ve made it hard to lose friends one after the other. The fact that they were like family must’ve made it harder to watch the dying breaths of their friends.

“Everyone …”

It seems they don’t remember me. Their groaning sounds like a wild animal’s. They are Emils that lost their minds.

“1t hurts, 1t hurts,” they say. I can hear cries for help too.“Etern1ty, 1t hurts … hurts …”

It’s been thousands of years since the alien ambush. The whole time these Emils have been fighting on the front lines. A mind-bogglingly long time.

“Why … us …”

An infinite amount of self-cloning. Which meant that they lost an infinite number of friends.

“I’m … I’m g01ng t0 destr0y everyth1ng!”

“No you can’t!”

“Th1s world … 1t’s useless!”

“Stop! Don’t do it!”

But my voice doesn’t reach them. I don’t have words to persuade them. No matter what I say, their suffering won’t end … I know that.

“Everyone stop!”

I am instantly repulsed by their attack. I stand no chance, when they have power that could compete with aliens. But I have to stop them.

I face them many times. But every time I am batted away. My body is bent, and loses its tires … I end up sideways on the sand, unable to move.

“Emil!”

I hear Ms. 2B’s voice.

“Are you okay?”

I see a worried Mr. 9S staring into my face. They probably noticed I was acting strangely and followed me here.

“Emil, what is that?”

“Those are … the products of my cloning. After several iterations of cloning and years of battle, they’ve lost their minds …”

My friends have great power but no sanity. There is no way I am going to let them be.

“I need to … put an end to this.”

“It’s okay! You should rest, Emil!”

The two of them leave me there and go to face the giant Emils. I don’t have the strength to stop them anymore. Eventually my hearing fades and I am on the verge of losing consciousness. I wonder if this is what dying feels like, I think aimlessly.

I can hear voices. The voices of my friends.

“We did our best. On rainy days, windy days, and stormy days.”

La la la, la la la, I hear singing.

“We kept fighting, even when our friends died.”

I gradually start to remember what the later, quieter Emils were like. They kept their mouths shut, because as soon as they started talking nothing but pent-up resentment would come out, and only worsened their situation …

“But this eternal war, this eternal pain, this eternal struggle, it screams at us! That there’s nothing in this world worth protecting! That this world has no meaning! That’s what we hear!”

A piercing laugh echoes around us. “Warning: Large amounts of incoming magic,” I hear Pod say.

“You … do you! Know! This pain! This sadness! This despair! Can you feel it?”

It is clear what they are going to do—release a giant amount of magic in one immense explosion and self-destruct, taking this cruel world along for the ride.

World? What about the world? What about this cruel world?

I suddenly remember someone’s voice. It was a cold and blunt voice, but kind—that person’s voice was very similar to Ms. 2B’s. I hear a calculated voice of a wise man too. A kind and mellow voice as well.

The original Emil’s memories are starting to resurface. His treasured memories. Memories of that journey.

“Still, this is wrong!” I scream. Even if my friends had lost their sanity, the very same memories must be buried deep inside them.

“No matter how much pain or agony that person had, he never gave up. She fought believing that one day she would overcome all of that! You have to keep going, even if it’s in vain! Isn’t that right, Kainé?”

I can’t attack or defend for my life, but I have to do this. I can’t give up.

“This is the world that person tried to protect!”

I feel my friends come to. Our memories are scattered, and faded, but there’s still some traces of … that person.

I gather all the magic within me to stop my friends from self-destructing. So I can make an effort until the very end.

It’s quiet. I only hear the sound of wind. It seems I’m still alive.

“I’m no … good. I remembered something that important at the … very last second.”

They are fake memories, but the pain of losing someone dear to me is real. I was running away from that this whole time. I tried to shut away my memories and forget them. But that made me forget things I wasn’t supposed to forget.

I can’t hear my friends anymore. It seems I was able to stop the explosion. Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S probably lent a hand as well.

“Ms. 2B and Mr. 9S … yu helped me until the very end …”

I see Ms. 2B shake her head in silence. Mr. 9S tells me, “You’ll get better if we fix you up.” They’re very kind people.

They lived through harsh and cruel battles almost every day. But you couldn’t tell. Why were people that lived through terrible battles so kind? That’s right, that person was kind too …

I can feel my consciousness slowly fading. My memories—or rather, memories that weren’t mine—gradually disappear.

It’s okay. This is fine. I am about to let everything go.

“Emil,” I hear a voice call out. It isn’t Ms. 2B or Mr. 9S, but a nostalgic voice. I look up in surprise. This was, this was …

Though my vision is hazy, I see a smiling person waving their hand. A floating book as well.

I see him … I actually see him again. The lunar tears have actually granted me my wish.

“Welcome back, Emil. Good work.”

I stand up, and head toward the person I yearned to see the most. All the while repeating the name I loved to say. ​

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