Chesed Episode Ⅴ
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The following is the transcript for Chesed Episode Ⅴ, the fifth episode of the Patron Librarians' Stories for the 
Floor of Social Sciences.
Unlock condition
This episode is unlocked after completing the Floor Realization of the Floor of Language.
Transcript
Location: The Library - Floor of Social Sciences
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Say, Angela, is it really necessary to indiscriminately kill all the guests coming to the Library just to collect more books?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Looking at the power the Library has gathered so far, we could easily…
Library Director Angela
To get refined books in our hands, we need the emotions of our guests to be heightened above a certain level.
Library Director Angela
To draw out their emotional tension, the guests are pitted against librarians in a battle of life and death with something precious on the line.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Refined books, huh…
Library Director Angela
What do you think is considered precious by all people?
Servant Roland
Their own lives, I guess.
Library Director Angela
Exactly. Being alive is the prerequisite to achieving anything.
Library Director Angela
We’re picking out people for their books at the cost of one’s life.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
We still disagree with each other, I see.
Library Director Angela
Are you still dwelling on what you did in Lobotomy Corp?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
How could I ever forget~?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
I drove employees to death for the sake of energy refinement even though we were more than capable of saving them.
Library Director Angela
Sigh… Chesed, that was all part of the script.
Library Director Angela
It was devised to provoke your so caring and delicate heart.
Library Director Angela
And I simply followed it as per obligation.
Library Director Angela
You know now who to blame for all that, don’t you?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
It’s true. It was all part of the script. Then what’s our excuse now?
Library Director Angela
This is not the same as back then.
Library Director Angela
Individual choice meant nothing in that corporation. But here, the guests that enter the Library and meet their demise were all notified of possible risks and agreed to take all responsibility for whatever happens in this place.
Library Director Angela
…Nothing disgusts me more than talking about the past with you lot.
Library Director Angela
Sigh… I’ve had enough of this for now.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Whoops, there she ran off~
Servant Roland
That was tense, huh? You sure are good at rubbing things in others’ faces.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
…And brewing coffee.
Servant Roland
Mhm. Thanks to you, I realized how all the coffee I’ve drunk in my life was hot garbage…
Servant Roland
I don’t think I’ll ever bear to drink ordinary coffee again.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
That’s good to hear~~
Servant Roland
I never imagined there could be such subtle differences in sourness and sweetness, or how that could bring out a deep taste.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
See? You can savor the taste when you know more about it~
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Maybe the same goes for this world we live in?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Perhaps we’re just led to believe that the path ahead of us is all there is to it, because there’s so little that we can see or learn.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Just like the Index obsessing over Prescripts, and the Fixers hanging on requests.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Speaking of, does the Index really not know where their Prescripts come from? Like, completely oblivious?
Servant Roland
Mm, yeah, I don’t think they have any idea.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Following orders without even knowing who gave them or for what reason, that’s just… bitter.
Servant Roland
Can’t be helped. The Index does seem extreme with their methods, but the whole City is operating based on some grand instructions coming out of nowhere when you think about it.
Servant Roland
One can’t even be sure if the values they’re pursuing are their own anymore.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Are you okay with the City staying this way forever?
Servant Roland
It’s not a matter of being okay with it.
Servant Roland
It’s a matter of survival. This is just how the world is, and we’ve got to live in it somehow.
Servant Roland
There’s nothing we can do about giant streams created from people tangling with each other.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Sometimes, I’m stricken with sorrow looking at the stories taking place in this City.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Things that happened to my past self and his colleagues, and the things we’ve done afterwards…
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
I joined the effort to change the City because I didn’t want to witness any more of that.
Servant Roland
And how did that go?
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
As you know, the City did not change as we’d hoped.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
…One can say that we caused even more trouble with the Distortion.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Think we got what we deserved?
Servant Roland
Nah. That’s just an obvious outcome, that’s all.
Servant Roland
There’s no way the City can change.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Really? Even if we learned why all the pain is perpetuated in the City?
Servant Roland
If anyone actually wanted to know why the City ended up this way, no one would be dying to Syndicates just because they didn’t cough up some small pocket change in time.
Servant Roland
No Fixers would be driven to death solely to fill out contractual obligations; no feathers would be spent like expendables by the Wings.
Servant Roland
As if knowing why could actually prompt changes.
Servant Roland
Point is, knowing does jack to change things. I told you, the stream is just too big for individuals to do anything about it.
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
I’m not saying we’re looking for immediate change. I know that we can’t change things instantly.
Servant Roland
What do you know about it, then? What makes you think you can talk like it’s so easy?
Servant Roland
Everyone just bears with it! They can’t afford to do otherwise!
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
When will you stop running away?
Servant Roland
I’m not running from anything…
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Aren’t you and Angela just lying to yourselves about it, though? That it can’t be helped, that there’s nothing you could do.
Servant Roland
That’s the truth, what else am I supposed to do?
Servant Roland
This is the City… There is NO other option!
Location: ???
The word “promise” is perhaps one of the most empty in this City.
It’s a privilege that only those with power can make.
??? A Fixer
Please… Can’t you just pretend that we never met?
??? Roland
…
??? A Fixer
What the hell was that contract about, then!
??? A Fixer
You know breaking contracts and dropping your reputation means a death sentence for a Fixer like you, right?
??? Roland
Read it again, carefully.
??? A Fixer
…
??? A Fixer
Sneaky bastards, pulling filthy tricks with words…
??? Roland
So why did you try to smuggle Enkephalin in the first place? We wouldn’t have gotten into this if you hadn’t done that.
??? A Fixer
I swear, I had no idea…
??? A Fixer
I didn’t know it was Enkephalin, and I didn’t know it was meant to be delivered to O Corp!
??? Roland
You know how we roll in this business… Next time, make sure to go through a contract Office.
??? A Fixer
Let’s see how long you can act so high and mighty!
??? A Fixer
Just you wait… The City’s gonna screw you over in the exact same way!!!
??? Roland
That’s then, and this is now.
Things changed at the drop of a hat.
Nest Migration Officer An Official
Didn’t you know? Wing War participants cannot move to the Nest.
??? Roland
What? But you said veterans of the war will be given first priority over moving to the Nest! That’s what I was told before joining the war!
Nest Migration Officer An Official
Didn’t you receive the notice? The terms have long since changed.
??? Roland
You’ve got to be joking… We aren’t talking about some cheap giveaway, it was a promise made by a Wing!
Nest Migration Officer An Official
You know all there is to know. Yelling won’t get you anywhere, I’m afraid.
??? Roland
…Please. It was all to earn that migration permit…
??? Roland
Is there really no way…?
Nest Migration Officer An Official
No means no, even for you. Tremendous amounts of money were involved in the agreement.
??? Roland
What about all the others who fought to death for the permit, then! What did they die for?!!
??? Roland
…I won’t forget this. K Corp. and I Corp…
??? Roland
No, if any of the Wings dare reach out to me asking for help, why I’ll make you regret it.
Nest Migration Officer An Official
You still received payment, didn’t you?
Nest Migration Officer An Official
And next time, please avoid signing on deals without the mediation of a contract Office.
Nest Migration Officer An Official
Well… I’m sure you’re already well aware of these precautions, right?
??? Roland
Go fuck yourself.
Nest Migration Officer An Official
No thank you. Have a nice day.
??? Roland
…I’m sorry. They won’t accept Smoke War veterans in the Nest… They changed their words out of nowhere.
??? ???
This is no Nest, but it’s quite safe here, you know?
??? ???
It’s rather… romantic to be living in the so-called streets of music, too.
??? Roland
Still, the Nest could…
??? ???
And I honestly never really wanted to move to a Nest.
??? ???
We’ve both seen and done the dirty deeds going on in the Nest per request of the Wings.
??? Roland
At least we wouldn’t have to worry about our lives walking around in the Nest!
??? Roland
Life is more valuable there than in the Backstreets!
??? Roland
And it’s not just us, what about our baby—
??? Roland
…Ghh.
??? ???
I’m telling you, it’s fine here.
??? ???
Who would ever want to touch our child when we’re the parents?
??? Roland
Good point…
??? ???
C’mon… Again with that gloomy face of the past.
??? ???
You finally started socializing, too.
??? Roland
But…
??? ???
Roland. It’s a miracle that we even have a decent house and a family.
??? ???
You know how the life of a Fixer usually goes.
??? ???
And I’m saying this just in case… No matter what happens, don’t blame yourself for all of it. You know it won’t be your fault.
??? Roland
Don’t say stuff like that.
??? ???
You’re so obviously gonna drive yourself to the extreme if I don’t say it here. Now, promise!
??? Roland
You know I don’t make promises.
??? ???
Hss…
??? Roland
Alright, fine! I promise!
??? Roland
…Yo. You sure about that?
??? Roland
…Alright. I’m counting on you.
??? ???
Who was that just now?
??? Roland
Remember my old friend, Olivier?
??? ???
Course I do. He used to work at the same Office as you.
??? Roland
He’s asking me to lend a hand for a bit.
??? ???
…Don’t tell me, is it Fixer work?
??? Roland
…Erm, yeah. Looks like he urgently needs a hand.
??? Roland
Don’t worry, nothing dangerous. I just have to be there and fill the number.
??? ???
And the location?
??? Roland
District 25.
??? ???
Whew… You’re going to a cold place.
??? ???
Remember the delicious pajeon we ate there? Buy some for me when you come back.
??? Roland
But of course, your majesty. I’ll be back as soon as possible.
??? Roland
…And thanks for letting me do this.
??? ???
Can’t have you lose one of your last few remaining friends.
I turned away from the desperation of others.
My family and I came first.
I cursed those who turned away from my desperation.
Everyone turns away from each other’s suffering and goes about their lives.
Who could I dare blame in these circumstances?
Each person spurs the suffering of the City trying to live, knowingly or not.
Location: The Library - Floor of Social Sciences
Patron Librarian - Soc. Sciences Chesed
Roland. You can’t run all the time.
Servant Roland
I know! I know that I have to stand this ground and try to make a living like the rest… even if I loathe this cursed world and this City!!!
Servant Roland
I can’t do anything about it… I can’t change this damned City alone.
Servant Roland
It’s just how things work. Knowing the truth or making up my mind won’t allow me to go against the flow.
Servant Roland
No matter how furious I am about the injustice I face, I have to abandon all of my pride and just accept it so I can make ends meet!
Servant Roland
The City won’t change.
Servant Roland
As long as humans exist, the City will never change…
Servant Roland
It’s become a part of everyone’s life to hurt others for themselves to live…
Servant Roland
We can only survive in this world with our sense of shame covered in scabs and calluses!!!
Trivia
- The unnamed Fixer is Pluto, as confirmed by the filenames of his voice lines.
