Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18
The survivors began silently gathering around Ash.
Orochi had stopped functioning completely, its four enormous legs stretched out and motionless.
Now it was nothing more than a gigantic mountain of scrap metal.
When the cloud of dust raised by its fall finally dispersed, a chilling silence settled over the battlefield.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Everyone was staring at the same place.
However, their gazes were not directed toward Orochi.
That empty space where only the traces of a gigantic explosion and black scorch marks remained.
The spot where Blaky had unleashed his final blaze before disappearing.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“……Ah.”
Ifrit was the first to break the silence.
There was not even a body to recover.
She crouched down and picked up a fragment of metal lying on the ground.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“……All that bragging about being the Explosion Maniac and everything…… Who the hell would’ve imagined he’d end up blowing himself up?” All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
No one answered her words.
It was one of the outer armor plates Blaky had worn on his arm.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
No one answered him either.
Everyone was too busy remembering his final shout and that scene in which he had died in an explosion, demanding that they watch his performance until the very end.
“WESTSIDE, my ass. amateur At this point, instead of those from the West, WEST-DEAD, the dead of the West, would suit us better.”
Assault-3 murmured those words quietly.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Young Hero Chad.”
It was Ash.
Then a faint electronic voice rang out.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“We must continue advancing.”
“Ah. amateur Ash. august Good work. advance Thanks to you, we’ve managed to save our lives once again……”
After sheathing his sword, he had approached Chad.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Ash turned his head.
His gaze settled on the place where Blaky had died in that explosion.
“……”
“He has bought us time. altitude We cannot allow his sacrifice to have been in vain.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
At those words, Chad adjusted his bloodstained cowboy hat.
It was true.
“……Yeah. avalanche You’re right. adopt After all, what’s so special about someone dying in the Outer?”
Wasn’t a Pathfinder’s life like that of a moth drawn to the flames?
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The final image of that third-rate mercenary, who was always shouting and who could have betrayed them at any moment, kept appearing before his eyes again and again.
However, for some reason, this time he found it difficult to take the first step.
“Shit.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Then he was the first to set off.
Chad pulled his hat down again until it covered part of his face and shouted, forcing the words out.
“Let’s go!”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Only then did the Pathfinders surrounding the blackened ground begin moving slowly.
Ash remained there for a few moments.
As everyone walked away.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Toward the place where Blaky had stood and where only traces of soot now remained.
Shortly afterward, his turquoise optical sensors turned toward the ground.
Ash slowly bowed his head.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Finally, Ash also turned around.
“I shall not forget.”
“I shall not forget the sight of you, reborn in the West.”
His electronic voice rang out softly.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
***
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
And silently followed the path his companions had taken.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
[LOADING DATA…]
[NAME: Legends of Sanctum – Velma Eight, the “Guide”]
[COMPLETE]
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
//*
Let us speak frankly.
[ANALYZING… NOW<<<]
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
No.
Blaky, the “Explosion Maniac.”
Was he a hero?
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Because, had it not been for those crazed flames he unleashed, Ash Blade would have needed much more time to confront Orochi.
If he had not opened that “path of fire,” WESTSIDE might have suffered far greater losses.
However, history is sometimes built thanks to people like him.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
At this point, discovering the answer is practically impossible.
Even so, there is something that remains difficult to understand.
What was it that drove him to act?
How could a man who had spent his entire life as a third-rate nobody, someone who had always fled from danger, make such a decision?
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
He blew up absolutely everything, including his own existence, and in doing so, he ultimately gave true meaning to the title of “Explosion Maniac.”
That is why we remember him.
However, there is one thing we can be certain of.
His flames passed their burning passion on to everyone present.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Now let us move on to another story.
As we mentioned earlier, Blaky was the “first flame.”
Not as a hero, but as WESTSIDE’s first flame, one that burned more intensely than any other.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Exactly.
And does that not mean there was also a second?
Velma Eight, the “Guide.”
The story we are about to tell concerns the second flame of the western battlefield.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The truth is that her death is surrounded by numerous mysteries.
Velma Eight.
Chief Technomancer of Omni-Cell Biotech.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
There was not much I could do about that.
For that reason, even among those who belonged to WESTSIDE, the cause of her death is still considered something of a mystery.
After all, she died just as her Deep Dive ended.
Are you thinking that our investigation is complete garbage?
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
There are also those who maintain that she died due to system shock.
Others say she suffered from some preexisting illness.
Some claim she died from a simple overload.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The truth is still out there.
Are you feeling disappointed? Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.
Conspiracy theories even circulate claiming that someone murdered her.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Thanks to an exclusive interview with the only person who had one final conversation with Velma Eight at that moment Ash Blade, who has now become a living legend!
Because I have finally managed to get close to a fragment of that truth.
It is still too early for that.
How?
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Very well, let us begin.
To the elevator platform.
However, his brief testimony was enough to transport us back to the western battlefield of that day.
He was reserved in his words.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
*//
This is the story of the second flame of the western battlefield.
The story of Velma Eight, the “Guide.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The path they followed after leaving Orochi’s remains behind ended at an enormous drop.
***
However, simply calling it an elevator platform did not do it justice.
They had finally reached the elevator platform.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
And resting upon them was a gigantic steel platform, so large and heavy that it resembled a small plaza transported to that location.
It was a freight elevator built long ago to transport the gigantic weapons of war and components manufactured in the Hall of the Anvil to the upper levels.
Dozens of enormous rails ran diagonally across the entire factory.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
At the same time, he began illuminating the surroundings with the torch in his hand.
While everyone gazed at that imposing mechanical structure with astonished expressions, Chad took the lead and climbed onto the platform.
“Well, it looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”
“……So we’ve arrived.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Despite more than forty people climbing aboard at the same time, the platform supported their weight without producing the slightest creak.
The survivors silently climbed onto the enormous steel platform while adjusting their weapons.
No one contradicted his words.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Good idea.”
In fact, there was still an enormous amount of space left.
At that suggestion, the Pathfinders began moving hurriedly.
“Just in case, we should place some torches around the edges.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
They also used flares to inspect the rails extending in the direction they needed to travel.
Some placed torches around the platform, while others collected scrap metal fragments to construct improvised barricades.
Meanwhile, they lit a small campfire in the center of the platform.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The flickering light of the flames cast warm shadows across the exhausted faces of the survivors, who had gathered around the fire.
Rather, it seemed they needed something that would provide them with a certain sense of reassurance.
They did not do it because of Polymorph.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Mr. timber Ash, you know something?”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Blaky. alpha In his final moments…… he must have been terribly afraid, right?”
Ash, who was sitting beside Team Bladez near the campfire, turned his head slightly when he heard Akina.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Do you think he didn’t want to die after turning into a Grotesque?”
For some reason, the girl’s voice was filled with sadness.
“……Perhaps. audit Or perhaps not.”
At that ambiguous answer, Akina tilted her head.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
It was then that Zero slowly intervened.
“Miss Akina, I have also been reflecting on that matter. acoustic May I share my opinion?”
“Perhaps not? Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. auction Then why did he do it?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Anna, who was gazing at the flames, responded.
“I believe that, in his final moments, he decided to sacrifice himself for all of us. voyage In other words, he acted out of a chivalrous spirit rather than fear.”
“Yes, of course.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“A little. voyage After all, he was already doomed to die, wasn’t he? matrix Perhaps he simply decided to choose the option that would be most useful to everyone else. alpha Rather than a matter of chivalry, it would be a matter of efficiency.”
“……Do you see it differently?”
“A chivalrous spirit? alpha Don’t you think that’s exaggerating a little?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Fear.
Efficiency.
“Hmm. avalanche That analysis also makes sense.”
Chivalrous spirit.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“You’re completely wrong. meadow All three of you.”
It was then that Bark, who had remained silent while cleaning his weapon in a corner, let out a small chuckle.
Each of them was trying to interpret Blaky’s final moments in their own way.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
He was staring at the campfire, whose flames were as red as his own hair.
Every gaze turned toward Bark.
And, for once, he wore a truly serious expression.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
After watching the fire for a few moments, he slowly turned his head and looked each member of Team Bladez in the eye.
“Do you know something we don’t?”
“Ha! timber You?”
“Yeah. apron I think I understand.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Zero mocked him.
However, this time he did not.
On the contrary, his eyes shone even more intensely.
Under normal circumstances, Bark would have immediately reacted to those words.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Bark looked away and continued cleaning his weapon.
“……”
“There are things only someone like me can understand. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. alert Things you people would never understand.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“……These things happen. arena Don’t ask any more questions.”
Zero clicked his tongue, completely bewildered, but Bark did not answer.
“What? arch Why are you going quiet in the middle of the conversation?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Meanwhile, Akina addressed Ash.
After glaring at him for a few moments, Zero finally turned his head away.
He simply remained focused on maintaining his weapon.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“……Hmm.”
“Ah, come on! meadow So you do know! arctic Tell me too!”
“You know, don’t you, Mr. agent Ash?”
Ash remained silent for a few moments, gazing at the flames of the campfire.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Because Blaky’s sacrifice had also been born from a man’s twisted desires, desires that some might even consider unpleasant.
After remaining like that for quite some time, Ash finally spoke in his electronic voice.
He knew perfectly well why Bark was being so reserved.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Bark voiced his agreement.
“The source of the feelings that drove him was his inferiority complex. portal That is all I can say.”
“Haha. avalanche Just as expected, our leader really does understand these things.”
However, Zero, Anna, and Akina could only look at one another, bewildered by those enigmatic words.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Huh? album An inferiority complex? harbor Just like that?”
Seeing their expressions, Bark let out another small chuckle.
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
“An inferiority complex and a sacrifice……? alpha What connection could there be between the two?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Anna spoke hurriedly, but Ash stood up instead of answering.
“I apologize for interrupting the conversation, but we shall have to continue it another time. alert I have a matter to attend to.”
“No, we need an explanation to understand it. antique How are we supposed to understand something if all you tell us is that it was because of an inferiority complex? amateur So, oppa, could you explain a little more……?”
“See? airport I told you that you wouldn’t understand.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
At Akina’s question, Ash gestured with his chin toward one end of the platform.
Velma and Chad were there, examining the control system console. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
“Huh? adapt A matter? ability Where are you going, Mr. anchor Ash?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Young Hero Chad.”
An electronic voice rang out softly.
After those words, Ash left the campfire and headed toward the control system console.
“Then, please rest for a while.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Ah, Ash. atomic What’s wrong?”
Upon hearing it, Chad reacted immediately and turned his head.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
“It is not that anything in particular has happened……”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“There is something I find strange.”
“What is it?”
His optical sensors blinked several times.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Does it not seem to you that this elevator platform is too quiet?”
“Now that you mention it……”
At those words, Chad remained motionless for a few moments.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Ash nodded.
Her eyes narrowed behind her damaged glasses.
“You’re saying this could be a trap.”
Velma also raised her head to look at Ash.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Chad shrugged.
“Hmm. abstract Now that you mention it, it does seem pretty suspicious……”
“What do you think?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Velma nodded as well.
“If we want to survive……”
“I think the same. beacon Either way, we have to reach the upper levels. atom If we want to survive.”
“But we don’t have another choice, do we? acquire The main energy core is on the upper levels, and this elevator platform is the only way to get there.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Ash’s turquoise optical sensors blinked several times, as though he were lost in thought.
“You are right. agent Even if this is a trap, we have no choice but to press onward.”
Finally, he nodded.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
At that joking remark, Ash also let out a small chuckle.
“Those from the West. audit Hehe. arch It shall be a pleasure to accompany you.”
“Well, if it turns out to be a trap, we’ll all have to work together to overcome it. adjust After all, we’re WESTSIDE, aren’t we?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Velma immediately nodded, connected a cable to the back of her neck, and closed her eyes.
“That’s reassuring. amateur All right, Velma. meadow Shall we begin?”
Shortly afterward.
Her body began trembling slightly and rose very slowly into the air, as though defying gravity.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
Crackle……
Levitation.
It was the sign that she had begun a full-fledged Deep Dive.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
A few moments later.
— It seems the audio system still works. arena We’ll be able to communicate through it.
A sound accompanied by static began emerging from the old speakers installed throughout the platform.
Velma’s electronically modified voice echoed across the silent platform.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
“Oh?”
It was something truly astonishing.
Ash shifted his gaze between Velma, who was floating in the air, and the speakers.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
— We’re about to depart. artist Everyone, prepare for vibrations.
The woman was not moving a single muscle, and yet her voice was coming through the speakers.
While Ash looked around, marveling at that phenomenon, Velma’s voice rang out again.
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
The gigantic steel platform shook violently once.
Then it began moving slowly along the enormous rails.
Clunk!
Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 128: EP5. The Finishing Touch 18 by Indra Translations.
I have slightly adjusted the composition of the scenes to maintain continuity with the previous chapter.
Thank you.
Author’s Note:
td-reading-probeWhat did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
Readdddddd
MortalThis story telling style for this chapter is quite nice.