Binah Episode Ⅴ

Binah Episode Ⅴ
Chapter	Patron Librarians' Stories
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The following is the transcript for Binah Episode Ⅴ, the fifth episode of the Patron Librarians' Stories for the Floor of Philosophy.

Unlock condition

This episode is unlocked after obtaining the  Book of Xiao and  Book of Hana Association, completing the Floor Realization of the Floor of Social Sciences, and raising the Floor of General Works to level 5.

Transcript

Location: The Library – Floor of Philosophy

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Roland. Do you know of the being Angela was modeled after?

Servant Roland

Nope. She never really told me about who she was based on, and I didn’t really wanna bother asking further.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Angela was created in the image of the person named Carmen. She was one who sought to change the City.

Servant Roland

Hang on, what? You mean the Carmen who recruited people for her quest to cure humanity?

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

She strove to create a world without conflict.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

To elaborate, her idea of utopia was one in which people did not harm each other, and could mutually understand.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

She dreamed of a world where people could dream…

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Alas, she could never reach that ideal herself, tragically.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The fruit of her research could only be borne after she sacrificed her life for it.

Servant Roland

And the Head didn’t miss that prime opportunity to strike?

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Of course, her cause was an important offense… even though that was not all.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Angela was meant to be a substitute of Carmen.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The one who created Angela and carried out the plan…

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

And the one I am keeping an eye on; he was the same type of individual as I.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

He merely shouldered the burden of completing the task the one he loved left behind. He never pursued any great cause in a true sense.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

He was frail, yet could not be understood by anyone.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

It may be that he desperately longed for understanding from another being for that reason.

Servant Roland

So you’re saying Angela was made to fill the Carmen-sized hole in his heart?

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The forbidden endeavor to create someone to look over his fragile self. A cocktail of irony and lingering attachment… self-loathing and insanity.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The irony of codependency where the two gravely needed each other but could never be next to one another.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The abiding affection for Carmen that compelled him to create a mechanical copy of her, even though there was no real need for such resemblance.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The result ended up resembling him more than Carmen, funnily enough.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

The self-contempt that stemmed from countless contradictions and regrets.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

And the insanity of neglecting Angela to suffer for nigh eternity when she was capable of having a mind that is no different from humans.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Beautiful, is it not?

Servant Roland

…Beautiful, my ass. He was an absolute top-of-the-range nutcase if what you said is true.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Yet he was a beacon of virtue for some.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

There is no such thing as “good” in this world, however. There is only what is perceived as such.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

It is not up to the individual to dare make universal judgement…

Servant Roland

Right. And I bet he was a spawn of evil to others…

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Humans are bound to view the world while carrying certain things on their backs.

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

You are no exception, of course.

Location: ???

 

Never having had a chance to see my parents, I grew up in the hands of an old woman in the Backstreets.

 

And I was left alone when she was gone not too long after.

 

Looking for a way to make a living for myself, I jumped into the world of Fixers at a young age.

 

I had my gran to thank for that, since she taught me how to survive as a Fixer before she left.

 

I spent all of my time dealing with requests and errands for others, rather than doing anything for myself.

 

In time, I gradually forgot.

 

Was there anything that I could do for myself?

 

I thought as I watched the naked and explicit facets of the City.

 

Should I settle for a life where I won’t lack for anything crucial…?

 

Will I be happy if I live in the Nest…?

Location: Somewhere in L Corp’s Nest

 

It was when the days of smoke-filled skies and the scents of humans were nearing their end.

??? Roland

Fuck off. This one is mine to kill.

??? Salvador

You’re one snappish kid, aren’t you. Wearing an odd mask, too.

??? Roland

I said fuck off.

??? Roland

…Huh?

??? Salvador

Try looking at what’s in front of you for once. You’ll miss the most important things if you’re always looking back, don’t you know?

??? Roland

…You’re not getting any thanks from me.

??? Salvador

I wasn’t expecting any.

??? Roland

And I’m still getting credit for this one’s head.

??? Salvador

What is a young green sprout like you doing here anyway, partaking in this war?

??? Roland

It’s none of your business.

??? Salvador

I bet you’re here for the migration permit to the Nest.

??? Roland

…Are you here for that too, old fart?

??? Salvador

I’m a Nest resident at birth, so I don’t quite need that.

??? Roland

…The hell are you here for, then.

??? Salvador

You sure are ignorant of the world, kid. Take a look.

??? Roland

A badge of I Corp’s Nest…

??? Salvador

An entire Association has been hired, you see.

??? Salvador

I frankly don’t know what we’re fighting for.

??? Salvador

This smoke admittedly made the City a nasty mess, I’ll give you that…

??? Salvador

But they won’t tell us anything beyond that. All we ought to do is go and kill whoever we’re ordered to kill.

??? Salvador

Such are the principles of the Fixers, and this City as a whole.

??? Salvador

…Say, kid. How many kills have you scored in this war until now?

??? Roland

Twenty three.

??? Salvador

Think your life is worth more than twenty-three people?

??? Roland

No… All I did was strike at them with my sword so I could live…

??? Roland

My life probably isn’t worth anything more than one…

??? Salvador

And yet some higher ups believe that a handful of this smoke is worth more than tens of thousands of lives.

??? Salvador

Watch, that’s the source of the smoke. Downright hideous, yet expected.

??? Roland

Hrrrk…

??? Salvador

You vomit with your mask on? Hrp…

??? Salvador

…Filthy tot. You made me queasy as well.

??? Roland

What… is that thing…

??? Salvador

You’d better get used to this kind of scenery.

??? Salvador

The Singularities that keep the City running all have a nasty truth or two hidden from the public eye.

??? Salvador

Well, we’ll be subjected to amnestic treatment now that we’ve seen this. Though this disgust won’t go away entirely.

??? Roland

What…?

??? Roland

This was what’s behind the splendor of the City?

??? Roland

The City could be in motion thanks to this crap…?

??? Salvador

You learned a valuable lesson today, kid.

 

I don’t exactly remember the source of the smoke I witnessed that day.

 

But I can’t forget the dreadful image of what makes this City a prosperous place.

 

This sickening world itself.

 

They don’t realize that their convenience is built on the sacrifice of numerous others.

 

They wouldn’t even want to know.

Location: ???

 

After the war, I blended back into the City and kept working as a Fixer.

 

Numerous people came and went in my life.

 

Countless crises and hardships later, all that remained by my side were the twelve Fixers in Charles’ Office.

Location: Charles’ Office

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Get that thing out of my face!!!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Gasp… Huhh… Huff…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Yeesh, that’s a nasty sleeping habit you have there, mister.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…I just nodded off for a moment, that’s all.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

What are you…? Oh, you must be the new one.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

You know how everyone else who took this request died awful deaths, right?

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

“Why should I begrudge it, since during the hours when my soul crushed the depths of my heart, it was seated there beside me?”

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Great, I get to work with a sicko.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…What the f—!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

It’s a passage from a poem I like.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

It helps me accept the agony rather than suffer trying to shake it off.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Just what kind of augmentation did you get to be so strong… You almost crushed the back of my skull!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…Ghhrgh.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

You aren’t any less of a sicko if I’m being honest, mister.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

I heard you keep that mask on at all times like a creepy psycho. That said, I also heard you’re quite skilled.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Say mister, why won’t you take your mask off, anyway?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Don’t pry. We’re both Grade 1, let’s not cross each other’s lines. You know the unspoken rules.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

No I don’t, mister.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Stop with that “mister” crap, it’s making me feel awkward. The documents say you’re older than me, too…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

And I swear I’m gonna pay you back for hitting me twice before the contract with Charles’ Office ends, so you’d better be prepared.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

You mean three times, my good mister sir?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Huh? But I could’ve sworn I only got hit twice—

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…You piece of—!

 

I first met Angelica while taking on a case concerning a Star of the City.

 

It’s pretty much unavoidable to talk with coworkers on a long-term mission.

 

Perhaps I should’ve kept my silence.

 

Was it because of all my colleagues…

 

No, all the people who died so early and suddenly before I could even call them colleagues—that I grew a yearning for something more?

 

Why did I bother opening up to her…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

I was from the Outskirts.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

To be precise, I was a test subject in a Wing, apparently.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

And when they were done experimenting with me, they dumped me in the Outskirts.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

I don’t really remember what kind of experiments I went through… but the horrible feeling still persists.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

How unfortunate.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

You’re cold, mister.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

It’s just too banal.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Yeah… I guess it really is a cliché story when you put it that way.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

What about you? Tell me something more about your mask.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…Focus on work.

 

I started wearing a mask following my gran’s advice.

 

Her reason was that as a Fixer, it’s important to not let your potential enemies remember your face—if I remember correctly.

 

But now I had to keep my mask on for another reason.

 

I couldn’t stand to take it off.

 

I couldn’t stand to be open with a clear conscience in this City.

 

The mask became my own enclosed world I couldn’t leave.

Location: ???

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Please don’t take him to that room! I’m sorry! I’m sorry for everything…!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

So please leave my brother be… Please let him go…!!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

…Ack!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Dozing off in the middle of a mission, are ya?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I don’t think you’re one to criticize anyone else’s sleeping habits, hm?

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Hey! Hold on! That hurt too much!!!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I still have two more hits to go. And wow, you’re just dropping your courtesy because you’re hurt.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Sigh… I got a little agitated, sorry mister.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

My childhood must have come back to me while I was asleep.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…You told me about it before. The part about you having a brother is new to me, though.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

What about you, Roland? It’s about time you told something about yourself.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…I participated in the Smoke War.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

An acrid smoke covered the whole City for a while thanks to that war.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Yep. And I saw the source of the smoke with my own two eyes.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I can’t remember what it was anymore… But I still have a feeling that I witnessed something I shouldn’t have to this day.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

And the feeling that I’m taking part in something no better than fueling that disgusting origin.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

It’s like something is boiling within me.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Copious amounts of agonies surround the City. Maybe the reason you’re always wearing that mask is…

Charles’ Fixer Olivier

Heads up. The target is approaching your location.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…Back to work. We’re almost done with this long mission.

 

The target Angelica and I were after was called ‘Blood-red Night’.

 

She employed sly trickery to kidnap people from the Backstreets and the Nest alike.

 

The victims were later found in the Backstreets as corpses.

 

Animated corpses.

 

The bodies are empty inside. I have no idea how they’re able to move.

 

But they kept walking anyway.

 

They endlessly craved for fresh things, as if to fill their emptied bodies.

 

She was only designated as a Star of the City so quickly because the Nest saw direct harm, I bet.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

We’ve arrived at her bedroom at long last.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

So many people died on the way here.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

You and I managed to survive it, though.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Should we consider that lucky, or unlucky, mister?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Check this out… How many people did it take to make everything here? I’m guessing at least three thousand folks.

Blood-red Night Elena

It’s the boudoir of four thousand one hundred seventy-two people, if you want the exact number.

Blood-red Night Elena

You must’ve made quite a bit of effort to catch me, seeing as you’ve come all the way here?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Sure as hell have. Took two damn years to track you down.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

The strings decorating this room are all human blood vessels.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

She’s been kidnapping people at random and extracting all the veins from their bodies.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

The things we dealt with on our way were the shells you took all the veins out of, as I expected.

Blood-red Night Elena

They were just crude contraptions of flesh lacking their own will, unfortunately.

Blood-red Night Elena

It wasn’t what I was looking for.

Blood-red Night Elena

I was hoping for ones whose veins were flowing with blood that’s a little more enticing…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Whatever your sentiment is, your little game ends now…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Tonight, a Star of the City shall fall.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

She’s a rather persistent opponent…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

We’re almost there!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Hey!!! Watch your back!!!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

…Aaargh!!!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…You didn’t have to—!

Blood-red Night Elena

Hahh… So sweet.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

You damn bitch!!!

Blood-red Night Elena

…This won’t be the last you see of me.

Blood-red Night Elena

The night shall fall once again someday.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Shut up! And die!!

 

People try not to care about the suffering of others.

 

They only give a few dry words of consolation; they never wish to truly understand each other’s pain.

 

But Angelica was different; she wanted to learn more about the pain I was bearing.

 

My agony is abstract and enormous.

 

Could you really understand me?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Hey! Angelica! Can you hear me?!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

…“You are like those who never left the sad fireside corner of my poor black heart…”

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

It’s finally over… Good work, mister…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Keep it together! Hey! You can’t just die like this…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I can’t have you die because of me…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Don’t close your eyes! Stay with me!!!

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Cut it out, you dope!! I’m not dead yet!!!

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…Wha?

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Sigh… I was just trying to lie flat and rest a bit…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

And then you almost beat me to death…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Thank goodness…

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

Are you actually relieved or what? It’s hard to tell what you’re thinking behind that mask, mister.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…I’m wearing this mask because I don’t want to show my face to anyone.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I was not proud to face the abominable deeds of the City I’m contributing to…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I don’t want my contorting face to be seen…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

I don’t have the confidence to show myself to anyone…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

…Sometimes, I think…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

If we can kill so many people nonchalantly just because Associations and Offices ordered us to, excusing it as part of our work…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Then we could be killed by someone with the same kind of excuses.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Even if we were to get murdered in the City one day… we wouldn’t be able to make any complaints about it. That’s what makes me scared.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

…Yep, that’s a problematic face alright.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

I guess you really were worried for me, though? It’s bearable to look at.

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Gah… My face, it hurts.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

I don’t get why you care so much about all the problems in the City like that’s your burden.

Charles’ Fixer Angelica

That’s that, and this is this. You know?

Charles’ Fixer Roland

That’s that, and this is this…

Charles’ Fixer Roland

Yeah. I guess that’s how this City is…

 

The person who broke into my world.

 

The person who then became the new foundation of my world.

 

She showed me the way to turn away from the City’s agonies even without my mask.

 

You may have been a good person, but I would not consider you a wise one.

 

You heard about the pain I was bearing, and taught me how to turn a blind eye to it.

 

You said you embraced the pain, but you only pretended to do so.

 

O my sorrow, you are better than a well-beloved.

Location: The Library – Floor of Philosophy

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Have you enjoyed your dream?

Servant Roland

I am but one of the many who play the tunes of the apocalypse in the abyss…

Patron Librarian - Philosophy Binah

Come, now.