AE VN Chapter 1

AE Chapter1

Note: This Chapter has been mostly written in the perspective of Welt Joyce, most of the earlier texts are his thoughts.
— “text” —  means the reference in the VN, there are a lot but not in this chapter
~~ “text”~~ are my notes, probably going to be adding more in the future but not this chapter either





The car has finally stopped.
It seems the door has been opened.
Cold and gushing air embedded with a pungent smell.

Me: Achoo
A low male voice: ……
A low male voice: get out of the car
Me: ……
Me: ah

Subconsciously reached for the door on my right, but realizing it’s still closed.

A low male voice: Tsk, on the left, it’s on the left.

That person impatiently spoke.
I followed his word and reached for the door on my left, bending my body like a shrimp.
Due to fear of hitting my head on door frame, I lifted my back only after taking a few steps from the car.
Can’t help it, my head is covered by a black bag.

A low male voice: walk.

The source of the voice grabbed my arm, giving me no chance to readjust before dragging me forward. Judging from the force, it’s probably a well built man.
Bang.
The sound of the car door slam shut and engine revving came from behind.

Me: ah.

I lost my focus for just a single moment, and fell on the ground like an idiot.

A low male voice: retard, look at the road!
Me: ……

I actually want to be able to look at it.
The ground seems wet, the coldness is slowly taking over the minimal heat left in my lower body.
Just like that, and not knowing how long I have walked.
The surrounding became more quieter and quieter, you can hear the screech of owls that’s around.
It feels like……
…… no way, they’re not going to “dispose” me are they?
I’m still a important “subject”, surely not……
Wait.
It sounds like someone’s writing something ahead of me, or crossing out something.

A monotone girl voice: …… you can go back now.

This is a monotone and emotionless voice, sounds young, probably something like a secretary.

A low male voice: Yes, madam.

The hand that grabbed my arm has finally loosen it’s grip.
The sound of coat rubbing against itself, and the sound of fading foot steps.

Teenage Girl: Greenwich time, 20th of October, 22:57, thank you, little lab rat.
Me: Ahh!

Having no self preparation, my “hood” has been stripped off.
The elastic band hit my nose, it kind of hurts.

Teenage Girl: Quite.

The girl with the messy hair calmly reminded me.

Teenage Girl: Follow me.

She didn’t give me many opportunities to look at her face.
She knows I have no where to run.
Here seems like the hallway of some university. The overly bright lamp shining on the ground, reflecting the ghostly shape of the bushes. The faint light in the small building ahead made you think nothing but horrific scientific experiments.
I can’t stop thinking about the scene where I’m running for my life.
Biting my hand.
Ripping my clothes.
Scream from the bottom of my heart.
Hysterically waving my hand.
and finally hit with a tranquillizer dart.
Or even worse.
“There, you can hear the desperate scream.”
“Seeing the Ancient ghost in their eternal ordeal,”
“They’re calling, wishing for a second chance to die.”
—These lines thought by welt are from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy—
~~My translation is just the rough meaning, I’m not going to go for the actual lines but if someone knows, feel free to message me to change these~~

Teenage Girl: Don’t be scared. Here is different from other Labs.

!
…… She seems able to read the worries in the depths of my heart.

Teenage Girl: Imperial Research, Lab 42.

She’s explaining to me.

Teenage Girl: Welcome home.

Home?

Teenage Girl: Sit.

The girl pointed at the sofa.

Teenager Girl: Tea or Coffee?
Me: …….
Teenage Girl: I recommend tea, the air in London is not the best.
Me: ……
Teenage Girl: …….
Me: …….
Teenage Girl: Ein-Stein

She suddenly seriously started to speak some German. Ein-Stein? “A piece of rock”?

Einstein: Doctor, Einstein—Lieserl Albert Einstein.

She pointed at herself, then pointed at me.

Einstein: Your name?
Me: …… Ω1, it’s on my info.
Einstein: Ω1 cannot be seen as a human’s name.
Me: …… Then I have no name.
Einstein: Not convenient.

She shook her head.

Me: ……

I know, but what can I do about it, I’m just —

Einstein: …… Welt, W.E.L.T.
Me: eh?
Einstein: I feel like that name suits you.
Me: …… Whatever.

Ω = W. Welt = World. For a child abandoned by this world, pretty interesting to be named as such.

Einstein: Let’s do a body check, Welt.
Me: …… Ok.

Going to be put on many electronic again, probably blood and bone marrow sample, used to it already.

Einstein: Don’t stand up, just sit there.
Einstein: Give me your foot.
Me: Oh……
Me: ……. Ha? My foot?
Einstein: Take off your shoes and socks, I need a look at your sole.
Me: …… What’s this for?!
Einstein: It’s already late, we should get some rest early.
Me: …… Ha?!
Einstein: Your sole allows me to check precisely and objectively about your health condition, and it takes no time to do so—
Einstein: — Just need a toothbrush to scratch it a bit.
Me: Wait……
Me: …… Are you saying we can go to rest after this?!
Einstein: Precisely. You’re good at understanding others.
Me: …… There are many things wrong with this!
Einstein: That’s true.
Me: ……. Ah?
Einstein: Seeing how unenergized Welt looks, Dr Einstein decided to make a joke to brighten him up.
Me: ……

What is it with this Doctor?

Einstein: You sleep here, in Room 105.

She pointed at the hallway next to you.

Einstein: I live upstairs.
Me: …… Oh.
Einstein: Good night, you can forget your identity as a lab rat from now on.

She left without taking another look.
Just leaving the previously “Little Lab Rat” by himself.

Me: ……

……
The man that was just named “Welt” still couldn’t understood what just happened. Ever since he became conscious, no one has ever given him so much freedom, even though becoming conscious wasn’t that long ago.
In the same season 3 years ago, He opened up his eyes from chaos. Bunch of strange people surrounded him, asking him questions that normally goes with a lost child.
“What’s your name?”
“Where did you live?”
“What nationality are you?”
“…”
It’s a weird feeling — It feels like you know all the answers, but you’re just incapable of piecing them together, as if all the membrane with your head were burnt away in a fire.
“I do not know.”
That was the only answer that the young man could have given.
I remember how to speak — Not sure if that should be celebrated. German, English, Russian, Latin…… Even Japanese and Mandarin. He doesn’t understand why he is able to understand all these languages.
“Who am I?”
He asked rhetorically.
“We do not know either.”
They answer him, then quickly started to talk within themselves.

Schicksal, a secret organisation with a long history behind it. The true ruler of the world and it’s saviour.
Honkai, a catastrophe that cannot be explained by Science. Even since known civilisation, it has plague humanity, changing peaceful creatures into horrifying demons. Those so called “Honkai Beasts” has skins thats like plastic, drastically different and terrifying.
As for I, I’m the sole survivor in a honkai eruption event in Berlin, in a building that I do not know.
My body, it contains many secrets — For the purpose of saving many others in the world, the only right choice was to agree with their human experimentation on me.
One month, another month, one more month.
One year, another year, one more year.
The young man codenamed with “Ω1” was brought into many labs, repeated doing the same thing.
Bearing the unbearable pain.
“Please cooperate with us.”
“Think for the humanity.”
“This is just unavoidable side effect.”
A bunch of mad scientist, saving humanity must be a lie.
Didn’t they say I’m a survivor? When must I live through another misfortune.
The “humans” they talk about, who are they really?
Sometimes I really want to die.
……
If not for a talkative person that still worries about me.

To Ω:
Welcome to October, unknowingly, this is the 22nd letter I have wrote you — I have finished talking about the “Saint”, before I find any new topics, lets just talk about what’s around us.
I have heard about the horrible accident that happened in September, on behalf of those people I humbly apologise to you. It just happens there’s a new Lab that wishes to work with you, I estimate you would change places in the near future. Maybe the situation this time would be better than all the precedences — Due to the fact I heard that the one taking charge is a stable female.
However, on the standpoint of Schicksal, I must tell you this: The experiment that you have under taken, are the pains and suffering in order for the survival of “intelligent humans”. The world is unfair to some, this is just the reality.
It has been 3 years since the Berlin incident, the city has started to rebuild, people will eventually forget about the terror of that certain night.
However we both know, the “evil force” is storing in the concept of time and space. It spared you before, but not the others. If we understood why, then the “intelligent humans” can use their mind and conquer nature — No one would like another day being scared and lie to themselves about the truth.
Yes, It’s unfair for you; especially the recent cases has been extremely unfair — However even me, still wishes you to understand and forgive everything. The fate of humanity, in some way, are entwined around you.
P.S.
About your life before you lost all your memories, according to what I know, the corresponding departments are still investigating — But even you know, the case has been going for almost 3 years, the likely chance of producing results only gets lower... I don’t believe in the saying, “the son of honkai”. You’re not even a herrscher, right?
Maybe with the new technologies, the whole situation will have some progression…… Who knows. But the new lab is really well, when you’re going over, you probably would cooperate with them, trust me on this.
From: Your old friend.
—Clown Alpha
1955.10.2 (**2nd of October**)

Me: eh…… that person spoke lightly about this whole thing……
Me: But, that person probably had their own difficulties.
Me: They’re probably a pen pal given to me by a higher up.
Me: Even though the story of “Saint Kallen” has moved me. I didn’t want to take care in propagandas like these—
Me: From when have I started to expect these monthly updated stories?
Me: Hu…… (**Breathing Sound**)

“105”. A wooden door with a mouldy smell opened.
According to that strange girl just then, this is probably the room I could stay for the night. The lifeless linen coloured curtains, walls that looked like the morgue. It’s still like this, the standard for a lab—
Eh? The sandwich and snacks on the table, are those for me?
……
Munch.

Me: ……
Me: Holy, what did they put in this sandwich?!
Me: How can it taste so good!
Me: The indescribable fragrant of mushroom!
Me: The just right smell of meat jerky!
Me: The taste that cannot be put into words!
Me: How can it taste so good!
Me: It’s so good to be alive!

Munch.
Munch Munch.
Munch Munch Munch.
……………………………………………
After being satisfied by the divine taste, Welt fell into a nice deep sleep.

The next day —
It rained during the night — Opening the window, the air feels extra fresh today, it makes people hard to believe this was the origin of the industrial revolution.
Not too far away, few small birds chirping and watching the last bit of dawn fades away.
With the bright morning light, a butterfly slowly flew onto the window eaves.

??? : Oi.

The butterfly softly flapped its wings, then disappeared into the bright blue sky.
The sunlight that pierce through the trees fell onto the young man, he felt like something deep and hard within his heart melting away.

??? : Oi.

An unbelievable night. An unbelievable morning.
It has been how long since I was able to enjoy such peace.
The storms, the chirping, even the small insects humming around —
As of now, even noises of hundreds of decibel wouldn’t matter……

??? : Oi !! I’m talking to you !!!

The young man felt the sharp pain coming from the back of his head.
It feels so dark……
eh? When did the bird flew onto my head, and is circling it?

Young Woman: Are you deaf? I have called you so many times! even after I knocked nicely!

The red hair bully with the twin ponytails, arrogantly spoke to the young man that has stars in his eyes, she wore a white coat as well.

Welt: …… You are?
Young Woman: Ha? No one introduced me—

Before she could move on, her eye sight landed on the empty plate.
It sits peacefully on the only desk in the room.
She closed her eyes, moved closer and sniffed the plate.

Young Woman: Oi ! You…… You didn’t eat anything made with truffle did you?
Welt: Truffle?
Welt: ehh…… There was some sandwich in the plate…… It had some kind of mushroom in it…… Is the “truffle” you talking about some kind of a mushroom?
Young Woman: ……

The red hair twin tails person rolled her eye, almost fainted due to anger.

Young Woman: A kind of mushroom? You’re telling me truffles are just “a kind of mushroom”? Holy, surely that idiot didn’t think the same way!
Young Woman: …… eh?

Nearly the plate, she found some “suspicious” objects.

Young Woman: tsk tsk tsk…… Confetti……. Candy…… Dark Chocolate……
Young Woman: How are these cheap confectionaries mixed with truffles.

While look at the candies, she pealed some and toss into her mouth, until she saw something that’s in the corner of the room.

Young Women: ohya? What’s this? A welcoming card?

Of course so, the card was not something to be eaten.

Welt: eh ahhhhhhhhhh!

The young man by the window suddenly started to scream hysterically.

Young Women: ……eh? what’s wrong with you?

The young man kept on shouting non sense, seemingly given up on some left over pride in his heart.
Soon, he curled into a ball and put his hand on his hand, similar to admitting defeat.

Young Woman: hehe……

The young women seems to grasp the situation.

Young Woman: Then, I Shall Open And Take A Look?

The red hair bully spoke strangely, as if reading an announcement.
For a moment, the imagery of whip and candles appeared before the young man’s eyes.

Young Woman: “Dear Ω1: Hello.”
Young Woman: “Due to not knowing your name, I will temporarily address you as such, sorry about this.”
Young Woman: Cough Cough, she never sounded this nice to me.

She talked about the words in the card, seemingly like those fathers that had their daughter taken away.

Young Woman: “From now on, you’re part of Imperial Research Lab 42. Of course, this lab has no affiliation with the Britain Government, it’s a individual place that operate under the direct order of Schicksal headquarters.”
Young Woman: “Unlike those labs filled with heavy machineries, we’re a research organisation based around Galois theory and Turing test, it won’t greatly affect your daily life.”
Young Woman: Humph…… Ω1, the things she wrote here, do you understand them?
Young Woman: “You probably don’t know this, but ever since the incident 3 years ago, I have been paying attention to you.”
Young Woman: “For the you that is a subject, for the you that is life, for the you that is human. In some way, your existence, is already an unerasable mark in my life.”
Young Woman: — eh ahhhhhhhhh!
The red haired bully suddenly lost all logical thoughts, random punching the air around her.

Young Woman: ……. damn, Damn, Damn! …… This was definitely on purpose! …… She definitely thought about the fact that I will read this.
Young Woman: You!

She pointed 2 fingers, looking down at the young man that curled into a ball.

Welt: Yes???
Young Woman: You knew in these words, here, here, here, it doesn’t have any other meaning other than “research life” right…… umm?!
Welt: Of, of course! I just met her yesterday!

The poor young man wasn’t being very convincing as his face slowly turned to red.

Young Woman: ……

The eyesight of the Twin Tail is starting to hurt, as if it would kill at any minute.

Welt: …… You just read it out loud like this, of course I’m going to be embarrassed.

The young man who can’t match the eye sight of the woman said as he curled even more into the form of a ball, as if it was his last ditch attempt to keep himself safe.

Young Woman: ……

She used the eyesight one would stare at garbage at him, then closed her eyes after.

Young Woman: Alright whatever, I will let you off on this. If you really have some other unwell intentions, I will be the first to castrate you.
Welt: ay!

“…… I know, we just met and it’s hard for you to believe me. But please, do believe me— in here, there will be a new life ahead of you.
Swearing on the delicious food,
Dr Lieserl Albert Einstein,
2019.10.20 “

Unhappily finished reading the last section of the card, the Twin Tail has finally remember the something —

Young Woman: I just remembered, you don’t know who I am do you?

The young man nodded his head out of fear.

Tesla: Self introduction here…… Nicola Tesla. You can call me Tesla from now on.
Tesla: Overall, the only thing you need to know is that I’m one of the person in charge of this lab.
Tesla: The “mushroom” you ate, are my personal properties, and are very important, understood?

She grabbed the young man’s shirt out of spite.

Tesla: Let’s go, she’s already in the living room.
Welt: …… She?
Tesla: That’s delicacy thief, who else?!

Einstein: Good Morning Dr Tesla — How’s breakfast this morning?
Tesla: Good Morning Ein — Tsk.

The Twin Tail that is dragging welt’s collar, tsk abruptly.

Tesla: …… You moron, pretending as if nothing happened?
Einstein: It seems like sausage omelet suited your taste, sounds great.

The Natural Curl that is almost being interrogated set peacefully on the sofa, chewing on something like a puff pastry.

Tesla: Humph. There’s enough fat, good amount of energy — Wait no, don’t derail the conversation.
Einstein: Hmmm. You’re very energetic today as well, Doctor Tesla.
Tesla: …… Thanks to you, traitor! Humph!
Einstein: Traitor?
Einstein: Dr Einstein does not understand what Dr Tesla is talking about.
Tesla: Don’t play dumb! You took that truffle from my room without permission didn’t you?
Einstein: …...

The Natural Curl seems to have expected this and is shaking her finger left and right.

Einstein: Friendly reminder from Dr Einstein —
Einstein: Doesn’t matter how much Dr Tesla like to have her vacation in Trieste, it does not make that bag of mushroom belong to Dr Tesla.
Tesla: You you you you, what are you talking about? I put so much effort into buying this, what’s wrong with you!
Tesla: And Truffles are not mushrooms! It’s an insult calling it a mushroom!
Einstein: Hmm…...

The Natural Curl helpless sighed.

Einstein: That was brought with the lab fund. It’s public property, is there a problem?
Tesla: …… That, that is called borrowing. I will pay it back once I have some money, don’t forget this.
Einstein: If Dr Tesla kept on this false ideal, Dr Einstein will be forced to report to Headquarter about the act of using lab funds.
Tesla: ……

Tesla’s mouth twitched, but ultimately decided to change subject.

Tesla: This person was dazing in his room, I thought he was going to commit suicide.
Welt: Eh…… Who would want to do that!
Tesla: Who would? Do you know how many times I knocked? Ha??
Tesla: And you also have a depression history?!
Welt: Sorry…… Was thinking of something……
Einstein: Please forgive him, Dr Tesla, you’re too tense.

Einstein licked the salt left over on her fingers.

Tesla: You’re guys are echoing each other…… Maybe a long lost couple?

The Twin Tails’s eyebrow twisted.

Einstein: Dr Einstein would not find such disappointing boyfriend.
Welt: Of course — Wait, How am I disappointing!
Einstein: Giving up.
Welt: ……
Einstein: Jobless people give up easily.

The Natural Curl stood up from the sofa.

Einstein: Therefore, I have decided to give you a job.
Welt: …… A job?
Einstein: Lab assistant.
Welt: …… Assistant? I’m —
Tesla: All in all, you’re no longer a lab rat. You’re now our companion, be happy about it.

The Twin Tail spoke in an overly peaceful tone, as if reading the bible.

Einstein: Dr Tesla, we should give him the details.
Tesla: Hmmm…… In short, it’s to keep us happy.
Welt: ……?
Tesla: Something like making tea, food for us, keep the place clean and stuff…...
Welt: ……
Einstein: cough cough.

The Natural Curl coughed on purpose.

Tesla: It’s a joke, someone for as handsome and clueless as you, even if you want to be our servant, we wouldn’t want you……
Welt: ……
Einstein: COUGH COUGH

The Natural Curl coughed louder this time.

Tesla: Ok, I will explain properly! You don’t talk or complain this much normally……

The Twin Tail unwillingly put on a red framed glasses that she pulled out of nowhere.

Tesla: Hmmm…… Listen here you playboy. Normally the lab assistant would participate and help during experiment, but you clearly lack such ability.

The young man nodded.

Tesla: However we believe you can increase our work efficiency, and it will work in your favour as well.

The young man tilted his head out of confusion.

Tesla: Your job is to schedule how holidays. Plan on leisure activities. Save us the time and effort of being on vacation but still deciding on what to do.
Tesla: Of course, you can participate as well, sounds like a good deal?
Welt: ……
Tesla: Is there something you don’t understand? In simpler terms, you job is to make us have fun.
Tesla: However don’t bother us during work time. Go to the library or walk about the neighborhoods, but don’t run so far that it would seem like you’re escaping. We really don’t want to deal with those people.
Welt: …...
Tesla: Oi ! You doing this or not? If not, we’re send you back where you came from?!
Welt: ……
Tesla: Oi ! You’re going dumb?

The Red Frame helplessly shook her hand infront of the young man.

Einstein: Dr Einstein believes that Welt is in disbelief.
Tesla: …… Lieserl, are you like the orcs from the Lord of the Rings, stop using this Doctor, that Doctor to address people, it’s annoying.
Tesla: …… Wait a minute.
Tesla: …… Who’s “Welt”?
Tesla: …… This playboy?
Tesla: …… Lieserl, this isn’t a name you gave is it?
Welt: Wait, who’s the playboy!