()||9<黑屏1>0,10BGM_Empty: ()||<黑屏2>569GF_2022_Summer_AVG_2:...The Lake of Cognition. +Everything in this space is as ephemeral as sunlight reflected by a large sapphire. +White petals of a marguerite daisy drift on the water, soaking in the sunlight and giving off a pale glimmer. +Sana has reverted to her original state... NPC-Sana(7)Sana||:Why... give me hope... then plunge me back into despair...? Erma(27)Erma0,155||:False hope can't save you. Sometimes, only true despair can set you free... NPC-Sana(7)Sana||:Liar... Liar... Erma(27)Erma0,155||:...Goodbye, Sana. ()||AVG_Bubble:Amidst the girls' singing, Sana dissolves into bubbles, rising slowly from the bottom of the lake... +Until they reach the surface and feel the first ray of sunlight shining upon them from the sky. +The endless stretch of blue starts fading... NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:Erma... Erma(25)Erma0,155||:I've decided... NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:...Don't tell me you... Erma(25)Erma0,155||:Yes, Reinette. +I don't want to forget anymore... +I must return to Her Majesty the King and complete our common mission together. NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:And after that...? Erma(25)Erma0,155||:... +There is no after. NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:...You'll be gone, won't you? Erma(25)Erma0,155||:... ()||:The two Dolls grip each other's hands. +Reinette closes her eyes to hold back her tears. NPC_Stevens520(1)Reinette0,60||:I didn't want any of this to happen... This isn't how I want it to end. Erma... Erma(26)Erma0,155||:I'm so tired... Reinette. +I've been trying so hard... pretending to be strong, to be brave... +But I... am just a weak little kid. +I'm supposed to be the elder sister, but I keep taking my anger out on you... NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:...That's not true, Erma... +I don't hate you at all... +I... I know I can say some pretty mean things, but I really missed you, and Mirabelle, and every sister in the Summer Garden. +I even missed Natalie and the Doctor... +When I was serving in the military, there wasn't a day when I didn't want to come home... +Then I finally got the chance to contact you... +You have no idea how happy I was when I was finally given permission to make contact with you... +Erma... It was me that brought you here... I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am... ()||:Erma lets go of Reinette's hands and gives her a cheeky smile that feels so very familiar to Reinette. Erma(26)Erma0,155||:I'll let you in on a secret. NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:Hm? Erma(26)Erma0,155||:I've recorded a few videos for AR-18. I want you to deliver them to her. +I was totally gossiping about you in the recordings. NPC_Stevens520(1)Reinette0,60||:... +I'm not doing this. You— Erma(26)Erma0,155||BGM_Empty:Hush. ()||:Erma presses her index finger against her lips. Reinette suddenly finds that she is unable to speak or move. Erma(26)Erma0,155||:Oops, I just remembered how to use my authorizations. +Sorry, but you're not arguing with me this time. NPC_Stevens520(1)Reinette0,60||:... Erma(26)Erma0,155||0.4:Let's go see the King together, Reinette. ()||<白屏1>AVG_Bubble: ()||183%%pivot_x=0.5%%pivot_y=0.4%%scale=2%%duration=0%%: ()||:Reinette can only watch as she falls through the blue void, until the blue turns more and more transparent... ()||<白屏1>: ()||6880.3<白屏2>:Then the final smear of blue fades away, revealing a suspended staircase. ()||0.3BGM_Hume_ImFutue_Main: ()||%%pivot_x=0.5%%pivot_y=0.55%%scale=2%%duration=4%%0.3: ()||:An unfamiliar sight... but perhaps one that she has seen many times before. ()||:The sun shines upon the dull stained glass window, casting brilliant colors on the ground, where roots interweave into a dense network. +Slender leaves reach out and carefully cradle a purplish-blue flower. This flower blooms in the morning and dies in the evening, but because of this light, its beauty is prolonged indefinitely. +Before this everlasting wild petunia bush, the four are gathered together again. ()||<白屏1>: ()||688%%pivot_x=0.5%%pivot_y=0.5%%scale=1%%duration=0%%<白屏2>0.6: NPC_Stevens520(0)Reinette0,60||:I don't think... I should be here... NPC_Stevens620(1)Mirabelle-200,0||:...This is Erma's decision. +...And the ending she has chosen for the King. NPC_Stevens520(1)Reinette0,60||:... ()||:A large stained glass window looms over the space. Mournful cries can be heard from behind it. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:Welcome back... Erma. Erma(25)Erma0,155||:Yes, I'm back. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(25)0,155||:I'm glad. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(27)Erma0,155||:But I'm sad. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(27)0,155||:...I'm sad. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(26)Erma0,155||:...But I'm glad. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(26)0,155||:Then let's begin. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(25)Erma0,155||:...Right. Erma(25)Erma0,155||:I'm opening this anchor point. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:...It has been waiting for you for a long time. ()||<白屏1>:Accessing Anchor Point [GRCh38]... ()||<白屏2>698<回忆>: ()||AVG_BaseDoor_Open:Whoosh... +It is an exceptionally beautiful day. The automatic door of the laboratory slides open, and a man exits slowly. NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:... +I witnessed the answer, Erma. +I finally know what material is needed to reach [GRCh38]. NPC_Hume(3);Erma(26)Erma0,155||:Wow! Congratulations! +Oh, so is Project "Pilot Whale" a success? NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume;Erma(26)0,155||:Yes... Someone has succeeded. She renamed my project as the "Holy Grail". NPC_Hume(3);Erma(26)Erma0,155||:...So what is the material? NPC_Hume(5)Arthur Hume;Erma(26)0,155||:A human brain. +I witnessed the creation in her lab with my own eyes... +The dead human girl opened her eyes again... NPC_Hume(5);Erma(29)Erma0,155||:Isn't this discovery something to be celebrated? Erma(27)Erma0,155||:So why do you look so sad...? NPC_Hume(5)Arthur Hume||:I used the correct formula, but plugged in the wrong data, and was unable to derive the correct answer... +Or perhaps I have been avoiding the answer this whole time. NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:...Still, this is enough for me. +It marks the perfect end for the project. Erma(25)Erma0,155||:... NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume;Erma(25)0,155||:Erma... Do you wish to become human? NPC_Hume(3);Erma(31)Erma0,155||:...Huh? NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume;Erma(31)0,155||:You are my own masterpiece. I am giving this choice as my final gift to you. NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:Erma, you can choose to become human or to stay as a Doll forever. +You will be given the complete key to [GRCh38]. +Whether you lead humankind or Dollkind to [GRCh38]... +...Is entirely up to you. Erma(31)Erma0,155||:...Me? NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:Yes. Erma(25)Erma0,155||:But I... don't know anything... I'm completely clueless... +What is this thing... What is it for... How should I use it... +I haven't got the slightest clue. +Is it really okay for me to have something so important? NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:Erma, what are you worried about? Erma(30)Erma0,155||:...I don't know. +I just have a feeling I'm about to be given incredible power. +But I don't have the knowledge or wisdom to wield such power. I'm scared that I'll make the wrong decision. NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:...Wrong? +What is right for humans? What is wrong? +And what is right or wrong for Dolls? Erma(25)Erma0,155||:...I'm sorry, I don't know how to answer these questions. ()||:But Arthur Hume demands no answer. NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:...Dolls are creations of logic, so why do you end up having emotions? Erma(25)Erma0,155||:Mother, do you have no emotions? NPC_Hume(3)Arthur Hume||:For me, they are a distant memory. +Perhaps you are more human than me. +Why don't you store this anchor point in the Summer Garden for now? Erma(26)Erma0,155||<白屏1>BGM_Empty:...Yes, Mother. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||<关闭蒙版><白屏2>688:...We are in possession of the key. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(25)Erma0,155||:...I'm sure countless humans and Dolls covet it. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(25)0,155||:Yes. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(25)Erma0,155||GF_2022_Summer_Main_1:But you just want to use it to end your life. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(25)0,155||:Yes. +To end a life that should never have existed. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)-230,150;Erma(26)Erma0,155||:How ironic. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150;Erma(26)0,155||:I've once heard a story... NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:Once upon a time, a cat with extraordinary intelligence became an eight-tailed cat through meditation and spiritual practice. +A deity told her that if she managed to grow another tail, she would achieve immortality and godhood. +But the ninth tail was incredibly difficult to grow—it could only be obtained by granting a human's wish. +But paradoxically, a tail had to be sacrificed every time a wish was granted. Erma(26)Erma0,155||:That's the story of the Eight-Tailed Cat. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:Yes. +The eight-tailed cat kept practicing and granting people's wishes. She would lose a tail, then grow a tail again. +She was stuck in this loop for a long, long time. +Until she met a little boy. +The boy wanted the eight-tailed cat to come home with him, to be his friend and play with him. +The cat agreed, so that he would make his wish soon. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:After a while, the boy finally did— +"I wish for you to have nine tails." NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:The Doctor once asked me... +"Erma, what do you want?" NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:At first, I wanted to see the world. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:But now... I want to die. Erma(25)Erma0,155||:... NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:...Will you grant my wish? ()||<黑屏1>:Erma accesses the anchor point named "Arthur Hume" once more. ()Arthur Hume||<黑屏2><回忆>516:Your name is also the name of this gun. ()Erma||:...Erma Maschinenpistole. Erma EMP. ()Arthur Hume||:Walk further. Further away. +50 meters... No, 100. ()||:Erma nods obediently. ()Arthur Hume||:Very good... Now, we'll play this game a different way. +Now you will shoot me. ()Erma||:Alright. ()||Select:Erma acts like she's actually playing a game. +She takes up her gun, like "Mother" once taught her. ()||AVG_rifle_finalshot_h<震屏3>517:Bang— +It is a precise shot that pierces his chest. ()Arthur Hume||:Ugh... ()||:Blood gushes out of Hume's body. ()Arthur Hume||<黑屏1>:I'm sorry... You're free, Erma. ()||<黑屏2>688<关闭蒙版>:Erma lowers her eyes. She can almost feel Doctor Hume's blood pooling around her feet again. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:What will you choose? Erma(26)Erma0,155||:I will grant your wish. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:And after that? Erma(26)Erma0,155||:There is no after. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||:What about you? +Will you have any regrets? Erma(25)Erma0,155||<黑屏1>:...I once asked a human... Erma(13)Erma||<黑屏2><回忆>683:I have a question. I know that when a human dies, they are given a funeral. +So should we... organize a funeral for Ange? Erma(13)Commander<同时置暗>||:... +No, this isn't the right place to put her gravestone. Erma(15)Erma||:I see. Erma(15)Commander<同时置暗>||:Also, from what I know of her, she'd roll her eyes so hard she'd see her brain if we weep before her grave. Erma(17)Erma||:I gather Ange wasn't someone who needed a funeral then. Erma(17)Commander<同时置暗>||:You're right. Erma(18)Erma||:Then... I have another question! Erma(18)Commander<同时置暗>||:Shoot... Erma(15)Erma||:Before I set off, I read a story about a man who went on an arduous journey to pick a magical herb in order to bring his dead mother back to life... +If such a panacea really did exist, would you use it to revive Ange? Erma(15)Commander<同时置暗>||:No. Erma(17)Erma||:Huh? I thought you'd say yes. Erma(17)Commander<同时置暗>||:Death is the only gift she bequeathed to me. +To snatch life away from Death is for mankind to pay the ultimate price. +I won't allow anyone to disturb her eternal rest. I've already paid enough. Erma(17)Erma||:Can death be considered... a gift? Erma(17)Commander<同时置暗>||:Yes, a heavy and painful gift. +One to which we must hold on tightly, lest we forget... ()||<黑屏1>:The Commander clenches their fist, squeezing Strongarm tightly in their fingers. This is the first time Erma has seen such anguish on a human's face. +But the moment lasts only briefly. Erma(26)Erma0,155||<黑屏2>688<关闭蒙版>BGM_Empty:No one should have their death taken away from them. +I will give you your eternity— +Death, which will never be taken from you. NPC_ErmaAngel(0)Her Majesty the King-230,150||BGM_Scar_Morichongfeng:...So you do love me, just as I love you, Erma. Erma(26)Erma0,155||:As you said yourself, I am a selfish Doll. ()||<白屏1>:Beautiful sunlight shines through the stained glass window onto Erma's face. +She turns to face the two Dolls behind her. ()Erma||<白屏2>686:...Mirabelle, once this decision is made...you will never be able to leave the Summer Garden. ()Mirabelle||:Your Majesty, I remain your loyal knight. ()Erma||:...Will you resent me for this? ()Mirabelle||:...I would rather not guard the fountain on my own. ()Erma||:Mirabelle, I won't leave you behind anymore. ()Mirabelle||:Make sure you keep your promise this time. ()Reinette||:Erma... why does it have to be this way...? ()Erma||:I love myself. I want to stay true to myself. +I don't like humans, and I don't want to be human. ()Reinette||:Do you have to go that far? ()Erma||:It's the only way to completely shut down the passage to GRCh38. +By doing this... neither Paradeus nor Sangvis Ferri... +...Will be able to enter this space. +I will seal it off permanently... ()Reinette||:... ()Erma||:Do you... think I'm selfish? ()Reinette||:...No, no matter what you do... you have my full support. +Just like I promised... +Just like we promised... ()Mirabelle||:As I've just said, I am Your Majesty's knight. I will always be by your side. ()Erma||:Alright... +Then I accept this crown, and... I'll shut down this passage for good. ()Erma||:I'm leaving the matter with Nadia and Lunasia to you, Reinette. ()Reinette||:...I'll relay your message to AR-18... and the Griffin Commander. +...Mirabelle, what about you? ...Anything you'd like to say to me? ()Mirabelle||:Stop living your life for someone else's sake, dumbass! ()Reinette||:...Would it kill you to call me "sis" even just once? ()Mirabelle||:I thought you hated being called sister? +Please don't go out of character. ()Reinette||:... ()Erma||<黑屏1>:...Let's leave it at that. +Now what should my last words be? +Should I repeat what Mother said? No... I will not apologize. +Erma is the cutest Doll. +So... +Erma refuses to become human. ()||<黑屏2>9%%pivot_x=0.5%%pivot_y=0.5%%scale=1%%duration=0%%BGM_Empty:Reinette never says what she means. She claims to hate Erma more than anyone else. ()Reinette||BGM_Hume_ImFutue_Main:... ()||:Reinette always spurns tears. ()||<黑屏1>AVG_Water_Drip:Yet right now, her tears won't stop falling. ()||<黑屏2>691<黑点1>:Erma holds her head up high. ()||<黑点2>692<黑点1>:A pair of wings sprouts from her back. She buckles under the pain. ()||<黑点2>693<黑点1>:The wings gradually take shape, their feathers rustling as they unfurl. Throughout the process, Erma has not let out even a whimper. She just keeps up a brave, quiet smile... ()||<黑点2>694<黑点1>:...While letting the feathered wings deform and mangle her body... ()||<黑点2>695<黑点1>:Reinette bears witness to the birth of an angel... and her swansong... ()||<黑点2>696<黑屏1>:Erma is the sole player in this game, and she has chosen her favorite ending. ()||<黑屏2>9<白屏1>:When Erma can no longer hear, Reinette finally stops holding back her sobs and lets out a howl of heartrending grief. +From as far as she can remember, Erma has always had an extremely strong aversion to pain. +She could never bear the thought of causing someone pain, yet here she is, inflicting the most unimaginable suffering on herself. ()||<白屏2>462AVG_wind_grass<白屏1>:The light grows so blindingly intense that Reinette struggles to keep her eyes open. +Her familiar surroundings are warping, distorting, disintegrating... +The garden in which they used to frolic and play together, the fountain, the grassy field... +Natalie at the age of 25, Mirabelle, Erma... +All these pieces of cherished, nostalgic memories of the past become forever out of reach as the Summer Garden falls apart. ()||<白屏2>689AVG_AMB_waves_and_seagulls_oneshot%%code=AVG_yinghua_bai%%<白屏1>:In the center of the ruins, Erma quietly closes her eyes. A white bird flies above them in the sky, as if carrying her soul away. +... +... +On this day in October, Frankfurt welcomes its first snow of this winter.