Story Reader / Event Story / Summer Anecdotes / Story
Babylonia
Before departing for Constellia
You make your way through the maze of intersecting corridors, slowing down at the next junction. Glancing around, you confirm no one is on your tail before taking a left into a little-used side passage.
The hallway is lined with tightly closed doors, each numbered and otherwise indistinguishable.
Continuing onward, you finally come to a stop at the last door at the end, the one with the highest number.
Knock, knock—
The moment you knock, the air seems to tighten.
For a while, there's only silence. Then, at last, a cautious reply comes from inside.
Who is it?
Even through the door, you can still catch what sounds like a relieved sigh on the other side.
One second, the door is shut tight; the next, it swings open. You don't even have time to see what's happening before you're pulled inside.
Inside the warehouse-like room, a pink-haired Construct crouches by the slightly open door, carefully watching the space outside.
It's the holiday season, so people aren't stuck at their desks like usual—plus, you're pretty famous...
You figure out which of the two teacups on the coffee table is yours, grab some tea leaves from the side compartment, and brew a fresh cup.
You take a sip—the temperature and taste are perfect.
The most dangerous place is the safest.
Karenina would never imagine I've been hiding in the Engineering Force's warehouse, right under her nose.
I put a lot of effort into finding this. Besides me, you're the only one who knows, so do not let anything slip. I really don't want to move again.
Teddy checks outside to make sure no one's around, then shuts the door tight.
Why are you here so early? We've still got a whole hour and a half before our meeting time.
You could've given me some advance notice. That sudden knock nearly scared me half to death.
She heads for the sofa, casually scooping up your cup of black tea on the way.
Think of this as compensation for that.
Don't worry, I'm not picky about your technique.
Teddy settles back into the sofa, and with a snap of the fingers, a giant screen materializes in mid-air from the terminal's projection.
The screen is divided into three parts. The left and center are crammed with dense text, and the right one shows a sprawling bird's-eye view of Constellia.
No chance. I'd never work on my day off—no way, no how.
She pats the empty seat beside her, inviting you over.
Come on, take a look at the ultimate plan I've put together for our trip to Constellia.
You sit down next to Teddy, watching her move her finger as she matches each entry from the list on the left to the coordinates on the map on the right.
The communal apartment that Babylonia set us up with last time? The rooms were unbearably tiny, and the internet was so sluggish it took ages just to load a forum.
But check out this spot I've found: an ocean-view place with a private beach, literally just a stairway away from the water. Best of all, there's a dedicated fiber connection, so the speeds are totally solid.
And that's not all—there's Sunset Rock, an undersea boardwalk, and a fishing village nearby...
I've selected each location after careful research and run the sequence through a program to avoid backtracking—this route will let us experience them all in a single day.
Now comes the most important part—
She slides her finger across the screens, merging all three into one and revealing a grand stage right before you.
Bonfire Concert!
You heard from Teddy that Bonfire Concert is huge, with plenty of top-tier bands in the lineup.
Here's the first surprise—check this out!
Teddy pulls two gleaming golden tickets from her pocket.
You take a closer look and see they're concert tickets—prime seats right up front!
Leonardo may not be reliable for the big stuff, but he sure comes through for these random little favors.
So, Commandant, getting excited about our upcoming adventure?
The words cling to your throat, sharp and unspoken. But Teddy's already moved on, bulldozing through the silence like it's yesterday's news.
She gives the sleeve of your Gray Raven uniform a quick tug.
Remember to change out of that uniform. Why are you still dressed for duty on vacation...?
Wait, don't tell me you don't have anything for the beach.
There's a clothing store in Constellia run by mechanoids—they're pretty fast at making new outfits. Also, I still have a few designs made for you before... want to pick one?
By the way, here's a little tip: there's a hidden surprise in this clothing store, and you'll discover it once you arrive.
Teddy is in high spirits—it's not often she gets this excited. You can see she's really looking forward to your holiday getaway.
That's exactly why breaking the news—"I have a last-minute work assignment, so I can't go with you anymore"—is so hard to say...
And...
Of these outfit designs, I recommend this one. The color seems pretty...
Commandant, what's with that look?
It's like Teddy suddenly catches on. She stops mid-action, turns fully toward you, and stares intently for a good while.
...Are you hiding something from me?
You think you can fool me? Don't forget, I still have that picture of you napping during the meeting.
So be honest—what's going on?
...She has caught you. There's no way you can hide it anymore.
Hmm?
...
Teddy's eyebrows slowly droop.
That can't be right...
She scrolls through her terminal, checking for something.
I've checked your schedule and there's nothing planned...
The girl widens her eyes, her finger stopping halfway through a swipe on the screen.
On duty? Since when was that on there?
You meet Teddy's confused gaze, trying to figure out the best way to explain.
Why am I just hearing about this now?
So among all the people, you're the one who gets picked?
And this entire travel plan is ruined now?
...
Teddy goes quiet, a sharp turn from how excited she was a moment ago.
That sudden silence really has you on edge...
Even though there's a slip-up, you know it's ultimately your fault, and all her high hopes—along with the plan she carefully devised—are now ruined...
Sigh... So that's what's going on...
As you listen to that heavy sigh, you feel that sense of guilt weighing on you even more.
Turns out it's your fault my program is throwing errors!
I'm talking about that program I showed you last week. I've been wondering why it keeps crashing.
Now I see the issue is on your side. I shouldn't have let you press "start"—your bad luck was rubbing off on it!
What's with that skeptical look? Team-wide draw, only ten spots, and you still get picked. Are you seriously telling me your luck isn't terrible enough?
Anyway, hahaha... It's a team-wide lottery with just ten winners, and you still manage to land one. Hahaha...
Ahem. Esteemed [player name], what's your take on getting roped into work like this during your time off? How are you feeling about it right now?
Teddy pretends to hold a microphone and starts the interview with a barely contained laugh.
There isn't any bitterness over ruined expectations or the heartbreak of a carefully plotted plan gone to waste. All that remains on that unstoppable grin is pure, unfiltered schadenfreude.
This twist is nothing like you imagined, and for a moment, you don't even know how to respond.
I mean, seeing how grim you looked just a moment ago, I really thought someone blew up Constellia. I never imagined it would just be something like this...
Even though the odds are slim, you still walk right into this. Talk about rotten luck... Ha...
Why the long face? Are you expecting me to pat your head and say, "There, there, everything's fine"?
Oh, come on. Even Victoria is more mature than you.
The twist is nothing you imagined, but there's no sign of that gloomy mood you were dreading. Overall, it feels much lighter now.
So what do you plan to do? Gonna suck it up and clock in, or...?
You're stationed at an abandoned apartment building. Every night, weird noises come from inside, like something's wandering around. Babylonia has checked it out a few times, but they never find anything.
Being on duty is meant to prevent any unexpected trouble inside the apartment and to keep curious people from wandering in and getting hurt.
But if you investigate the truth behind this abandoned apartment now, you can free up your schedule and follow your original plan to go have fun with Teddy.
Not a bad idea. So, how far along are you in your investigation?
You received the notice only not long ago, and you rushed here the moment I heard the news.
For strange incidents like this, clues are usually scattered and incomplete. Simply gathering them takes a lot of time, especially when they might contradict each other or blur the line between fact and fiction.
Even if you manage to dig up a key piece of evidence right away, all it reveals is likely just the "past." Unraveling the present truth from those old fragments is anything but easy.
There's been no progress so far. Are you really going to gamble on luck to hit the jackpot? Especially with YOUR luck?
If you're by yourself, you definitely won't make it in time.
But if you get someone who's a whiz at all things digital—able to collect data fast, sort through clues, and keep a sharp mind—there's still hope.
It's not easy to find someone like that, but I happen to know a perfect candidate who checks all the boxes—and the fee is a real bargain: just one glass of cherry-flavored electrolyte.
Commandant, do you want to hire this candidate?
But if we tap into our vacation...
At least give it a try. Who knows what might happen...
You shake your head, cutting Teddy off. You know that your bad luck is yours alone, and you won't let it spoil the vacation she worked so hard to plan.
You're really not hiring? Right now, all it costs is one glass of cherry-flavored electrolyte. Any later, and the price goes up—then you'll be the one begging.
Or is it that... you just don't think I'm worth it?
Teddy lifts her chin, puts her hands on her hips, and glares with surprising ferocity.
Hmph, now...
Wait a second!
She stands up and sets the glass down on the coffee table with a decisive thud.
You point at the half-empty electrolyte glass. Teddy looks ready to protest, but no words come. Her mouth opens and closes, frustration written on her face.
Teddy doesn't say a word. She plops down on the sofa, sulking, and pointedly turns her face away.
Yeah, hurry up...
She waves her hand outward in annoyance.
The human leaves, and the room falls silent. Teddy stays curled on the sofa, completely still.
After a moment, she straightens her tilted head, her pink eyes shifting to the open doorway, where nothing remains.
Open... and nothing remains...
Open...?
Hey!
She leaps off the sofa, crosses the room in a few quick strides, grabs the doorknob, and slams the door with a loud thud.
Close the door on your way out!
She mumbles under her breath, resting her head against the door for a moment. Then, as if utterly drained, she staggers back to the sofa and collapses onto it.
Her gaze drifts from the two concert tickets on the table to the glowing travel guide on the terminal, before finally settling on the mechanoid-run clothing store highlighted on Constellia's bird's-eye map.
A single tap, and a notification pops up.
Dear Customer, your order KH7004215303642 is now complete. For questions about custom coatings, please contact customer service...
I was hoping you'd be the first to check it out...
Teddy lounges sideways on the sofa, idly tapping the terminal screen.
By the time she comes to her senses, she finds herself unconsciously looking up everything she can about "Constellia" and the "abandoned apartment."
After a moment's pause, Teddy switches off the screen and tosses the terminal aside.
She flips over on the sofa and buries her face in the cushion.
Hmph. You're the one who said you didn't need my help...
The scene holds for several seconds before the pink-haired Construct suddenly pushes herself up, reaching out to grab the terminal she threw aside.
She turns it on, and the screen displays the data she just looked up—details about the abandoned apartment in Constellia.
Urban legends... strange noises...
She seems lost in thought.
Constellia at night
Entrance to the abandoned apartment
Even though you try your best, you just can't uncover the truth ahead of schedule.
You send this bad news to Teddy through your terminal, and you get a cheeky "Told you so" Brownie sticker in return.
You roam your patrol zone as requested, but seriously...
It has stayed empty as far as you can see.
Makes sense, though. With all the vibrant nightscapes in Constellia, who would come wandering into this desolate ruin for fun?
Standing guard pretty much means you are just pacing around or flicking a blade of grass to shoo away the mosquitoes.
To imagine how much longer this routine will drag on...
You look toward the southwest and barely catch the bright lights from the Bonfire Concert.
It's nothing like where you are—Teddy must be having the time of her life right now.
She's probably so caught up she forgot to send any updates. She hasn't sent another message since that Brownie sticker—not even the video you mentioned before heading out.
Ha—
A sudden chill hits your cheek, and you shudder without thinking.
Caught you slacking on your shift. Are you trying to get your pay docked?
You glance over. The pink-haired Construct wears a faint smile, and the icy can in her hand glistens with condensation.
Then...
As soon as you come to your senses, a cherry-red can is right in front of you, and you scramble clumsily to catch it.
The chilled drink settles into your palm, its icy coolness jolting you awake from your shock.
A dozen questions flood your mind, but one demands immediate attention.
This new coating? I designed it myself. What do you think?
She twirls around, showing off her new look.
So, do you like it?
The second question feels similar to the first one, but there's something distinctly different about it.
Noticing your short pause, Teddy gives a smug little grin, clearly pleased.
I'm trying to find out if this coating works for me. Not just its design, but how it looks on me overall.
You sound not exactly thrilled, but well, I'll take that...
She's muttering something under her breath.
You open the can and take a sip. The icy drink slides down your throat, and in this scorching heat, you feel refreshed from the inside out.
You take this moment to clear your head.
No. Honestly, this place feels more fun than the Bonfire Concert.
Don't worry about the tickets. I gave them all out.
You look around at the tangle of wild grass and creeping vines.
Commandant, have you found out anything about this abandoned apartment building?
Based on some scattered clues, you have indeed made some headway—just as Teddy predicted—piecing together a story from the "past."
It's said that a group of children used to come here at night to play hide-and-seek. One girl, always found first, was determined to stay hidden till the end, slipping into a toppled wardrobe.
Before long, everyone else was found except her. The other kids figured she became bored of being found first and must have gone home, so they stopped searching and left.
She remained hiding for a long time, feeling happy about not being found. But when she finally tried to leave the wardrobe, rusted metal shifted and jammed the doors, trapping her inside.
She screamed for help, but no one heard her.
This child had always been overlooked in her family, and by the time everyone realized she was missing and started searching for her, it was already too late.
It's a heartbreaking story.
Since then, every night in this abandoned apartment, strange noises echo through the halls—like something's still stuck inside, unable to find its way out.
Don't you think it feels like a classic urban legend?
Commandant, have you actually heard those weird sounds yourself?
Teddy nods, a mischievous smile on her face.
Imagine if someone sneaks in and something goes wrong. They'd be stuck—like that girl trapped in the wardrobe—waiting for someone to rescue them.
So... there's really no way?
Fine.
Without any more persuasion or protest, Teddy hangs her head in disappointment.
Her overly docile look sets off alarm bells in your mind.
Sure enough, in the very next moment, she reaches out her hand.
Hand over that drink. Once I get it back, I'm gone.
You eye the empty can in your hand, then glance at Teddy.
I'm only asking you to "catch it" for me, not "drink it."
Teddy wears that sly grin again, like everything's going precisely according to plan.
You've already sipped it, so you definitely owe me a little something in return.
It's a scene that rings a bell, though last time, the one left on the spot was Teddy instead...
Okay, that's enough talk.
Teddy grips your arm and dashes toward the main entrance of the abandoned apartment.
Let's toss the rules aside for now. If anyone has a problem with this later, I'll help you figure something out.
Now, follow me!
