Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4
The broadcasting drones flying through the air suddenly lost power and fell to the ground with dry thuds, like lifeless birds.
The golden concentric circles that emerged from Akina spread beyond the altar and swept away everything in their path.
BOOOOM!
Ash was not the only one struck by that wave of energy.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Uwaaah!”
However, no one had time to worry about that.
After all, Ifrit and the members of ROA had also been struck by the shock wave.
In that manner, Ifrit’s broadcast, which was about to reach its climax, came to an end.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Dullahan staggered as the message [SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN] appeared on his visor.
The heart-shaped lights in Ifrit’s eyes flickered violently before going out completely.
Jack O’Lantern clutched his pumpkin-shaped helmet as though he were suffering from an intense headache.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
They had all been rendered completely defenseless.
Fortunately, the same thing had happened to the army of Sentinels.
The optical sensors that had previously emitted an unsettling red light went dark.
As though repelled by two identical magnetic poles, they were all simultaneously hurled away from the altar.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
An unexpected stillness descended upon the altar.
Then the Sentinels lay scattered across the ground, completely motionless.
The battlefield, which until a few moments earlier had been dominated by explosions, gunfire, screams, and electronic voices, fell silent.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Miss Akina……!”
[RECOVERY MODE… ACTIVATED]
Of everyone present, Ash was the first to recover.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
His steel body barely responded to his commands, as though all his muscles had suffered a cramp.
He ignored the messages appearing across his optical sensors and began walking toward Akina.
[SYSTEM INTEGRITY CHECK…]
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Furthermore, she kept murmuring something.
Her eyes were still tinged with gold, and her gaze remained unfocused.
The girl remained standing in the center of the altar, in exactly the same position as before.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Both were searching for someone.
“……Mister? atomic Where are you……?”
What was strange and chilling was that her murmurs contained two completely different ways of speaking, as though two distinct personalities coexisted within her.
However, they had something in common.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
But he understood the other.
So he answered.
“Where is my bodyguard? zenith Where is my bodyguard?!”
Ash did not understand the meaning of one of those questions.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
To be more precise, she did not even look at the humanoid who had approached her.
“Miss Akina. album Here I am. echo I am here.”
Akina did not recognize him.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Ugh…… My head hurts so much.”
At that moment, Ifrit managed to recover enough to approach.
She looked back and forth between the Nexus Port, which had lost its glow, and Akina, who remained motionless with a vacant stare. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
Her golden eyes continued scanning the empty space.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
She let out a sigh.
Finally, she reached a conclusion.
“……But one look at her is enough to tell she’s not all right. arrow For now, let’s get out of here.”
“Damn it. apron What the hell is going on? airport At least it looks like the Deep Dive is over……”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“I agree.”
Ash took a step forward and removed the cable that was still connected to the back of Akina’s neck.
Ash nodded.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
As though that had been a signal, the girl’s small body slowly began to collapse.
An old, worn steel arm.
Ash caught her with one of his arms.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Akina stroked it for a few moments before speaking.
“That is correct. afford It is me.”
“Mister……?”
“Where were you?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
He wondered whether he should explain that he had briefly left to deal with those enemies.
Suddenly, Ash remembered the sniper.
“Where else could I have been? autumn I have been here the entire time.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“……We are planning to leave the ruins now. atom So climb onto my back. anxiety It is time to return home.”
“What a relief.”
However, while he was still considering it, Akina smiled weakly and nestled a little closer in his arms.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Before Ash could ask her what those words meant, Jack O’Lantern’s shout echoed throughout the silent altar.
Akina raised her gaze toward Ash.
“Home……”
“Then what will happen to my bodyguard?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Shit!”
“T-Those things are getting back up!”
Jack pointed toward the lower part of the altar.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
For some reason, that glow bore an extraordinary resemblance to the color of Akina’s eyes.
The Sentinel Walkers were rising to their feet.
Everyone looked down.
However, their optical sensors, which had originally been red, now shone with a majestic golden light.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
The Sentinels began gathering silently, following an eerily precise order.
Now they simply remained motionless, watching the intruders standing upon the altar.
And that chilling silence was even more threatening.
There was no longer any trace of those machines that advanced indiscriminately while repeating strange phrases.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“……I don’t like this at all. atomic We need to leave as soon as possible.”
Ifrit checked her remaining ammunition.
“I agree.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Jack O’Lantern, who had already used all his explosives, drew a portable pistol and disengaged the safety.
Dullahan pulled back his weapon’s bolt to inspect the chamber.
Ash held Akina firmly in his arms.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Ifrit shouted.
“Move out!”
And, at the same time, the Sentinels that had remained motionless began moving.
The four Pathfinders launched themselves forward.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
They no longer charged at them indiscriminately.
“……What the fu……!”
Some formed ranks to block the corridors, while others deployed in different directions to surround them.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“What the hell is wrong with these sons of bitches now?!”
Ifrit repeatedly fired Dragon Breath toward the front.
The incendiary projectiles sent the Sentinels in the first row flying.
Like perfectly trained soldiers, each fulfilled a specific role as they progressively tightened the encirclement.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
But now they were twice as difficult to fight.
They were exactly the same enemies as before. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.
However, other Walkers immediately took their places.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Move aside! attic I shall open the way!”
His steel Blade penetrated the weakest point of the enemy encirclement.
Ash held Akina against himself with his left arm and wielded his sword with his right hand.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
He cut down a Sentinel blocking his path.
SLASH!
And then another.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Although the Sentinels were tightening the encirclement and blocking escape routes in a much more tactical manner than before, their attacks were surprisingly passive.
Ash noticed something strange.
However, suddenly.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
As though they were trying to buy time.
It was a strange defensive tactic whose objective seemed to be keeping them there at all costs, rather than actively trying to kill them.
They made no ranged attacks.
Even those that charged at them seemed to limit themselves to using their bodies to block the way.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
He had only one objective.
‘Whatever their intentions may be!’
Ash swung his steel Blade.
‘……It does not matter.’
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
That was all that mattered.
And to ensure that Akina regained her stability.
To leave the ruins and reach Sanctum.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
He had set his neural energy circulating through the Neuro Heart Technique.
He pierced a Walker’s chest, severed another’s arms, and cut off a third’s legs.
At some point, the movements of Ash’s sword began accelerating.
Wherever his sword passed, fragments of metal and scrap rained down.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
They advanced as though all of them together formed a single “sword.”
After all, Ifrit and the two ROA Pathfinders aimed their weapons at any enemy that attempted to approach.
He did not need to worry about his flanks.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
They had succeeded in leaving the enormous space where the altar stood.
Everyone accelerated their steps, following Ifrit’s instructions.
“Pick up the pace!”
And finally, they managed to break through the Sentinels’ encirclement.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Their escape was far from easy.
***
There were Sentinels everywhere.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
And, as though they possessed a supernatural ability to locate them, they always found exactly where Ash’s group was.
However, their numbers surpassed anything imaginable.
Their attacks still did not represent a particularly significant threat.
Even as they retraced their route to leave the ruins, Sentinel Walkers continued appearing from unknown places. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
How much longer could they hold out?
Ifrit’s murmur echoed through the long corridor.
For that reason, Team Elementary Girls’ ammunition began running out rapidly.
“Damn it. afford We’ve barely got anything left.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
After all, Ash, whose primary weapon was a sword, was still accompanying them.
However, she had not completely lost hope yet.
Anxiety was beginning to show on her face.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Ash. silence Don’t you need electricity this time?”
Unlike the previous occasion, Ash seemed to have a considerable amount of energy available.
“What an unamusing joke.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
At some point, they reached a chamber that looked quite familiar.
That provided Ifrit with some comfort.
How much longer did they keep running?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Witchcraft was still there.
After all, they had been blocking the main access routes to prevent interference from other Societies.
It was exactly the same place where they had previously encountered Siren.
However, upon seeing the state of the chamber, none of them could utter a word.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
It was truly horrifying.
However, their current condition was completely different from before.
In a sense, that was only natural.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Her body had been cut into dozens of pieces, scattered everywhere, to the point that it was practically impossible to recognize her original appearance.
The nails she had taken such pains to care for were now scattered across the floor, mixed with blood and mud.
In addition to the corpses they had already seen earlier, the chamber was filled with the remains of Sentinels that had apparently fought against them.
Among those remains was Nymph, a member of Witchcraft.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Her face was twisted with terror as she desperately tried to escape from something.
Lamia was not in much better condition.
And finally, there was Siren.
Although she was still alive, she had lost one arm and both feet, so she was crawling along the ground.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Upon hearing the shout and seeing Ash’s group appear in the chamber, the Sentinel slowly turned its head.
It was a machine with a grayish-white body that, despite being a Sentinel, wore ancient silk garments.
“Siren!”
An unknown Sentinel held her by the neck, keeping her suspended in the air.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
It was an ancient, completely deteriorated electronic voice.
Finally, its gaze stopped on Akina, who remained in Ash’s arms.
Its single golden optical sensor, which had survived the partial destruction of its head, swept over everyone present.
— Fi……nally……
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Guh!”
Without anyone noticing when he had finished aiming, his Gauss Rifle emitted a thunderous report and fired a luminous flash.
The Sentinel threw Siren against a wall.
Dullahan did not waste that extremely brief opportunity.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
However, something surprising happened.
A projectile traveling at such extraordinary speed that it was impossible to follow with the human eye.
The bullet headed directly toward the Sentinel’s head.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Its movements were as fluid as water and, at the same time, as fast as lightning.
The Sentinel drew an ancient single-edged sword from its waist and swung it. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.
CLANG!
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
A sharp sound pierced the air.
It had stopped a projectile with a sword.
By merely tilting the edge of its sword slightly, the Sentinel deflected the bullet’s trajectory through almost imperceptible contact.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Every time he fired, that Sentinel merely tilted its sword slightly to deflect the projectiles’ trajectories.
Dullahan fired again, as though he could not believe what he had just witnessed.
Those movements inevitably brought to mind the extraordinary techniques Ash had demonstrated earlier.
However, the result was exactly the same.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Before it finished speaking, Ash concealed Akina beneath his coat.
— Final……ly…… the descen……t of the Divine…… Priestess……
But, as though none of that mattered, the Sentinel turned its gaze back toward Akina.
Then it emitted its deteriorated electronic voice.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Is it you?”
“The ‘bodyguard’ Miss Akina speaks of?”
Then he looked directly into the Sentinel’s eye.
His low but firm electronic voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
During that brief instant, countless fragments of information passed through Ash’s Main Core.
Only then did the Sentinel’s single golden optical sensor turn toward Ash.
The two mechanical swordsmen regarded each other.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Akina’s incomprehensible murmurs.
The Sentinels’ optical sensors, which had turned golden.
That strange defensive tactic.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
The Sentinel standing before him. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
All those fragments of information began fitting together until they formed a conclusion.
The bodyguard.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Now that he thought about it, there were too many things that did not add up.
‘Something extracted from the Nexus Port is attracting the Sentinels. anchor No. athlete It is not exactly attracting them. zenith It is something deeper…… Something more fundamental, perhaps even related to affection.’
‘However, there is something strange. afford The Sentinels changed their behavior immediately after Akina’s Deep Dive ended, as though they had been waiting for precisely that moment. action And this unknown Sentinel did not appear until now.’
His deductions continued linking together.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Suddenly, Ash’s optical sensors flashed.
‘They moved them! alien They placed them somewhere humans could easily recover the corpses and, in that way, discover the existence of the Nexus Port!’
‘How did those unknown Idols, who supposedly discovered the place first, manage to reach such deep ruins? autumn No. antenna To begin with, we did not even find their corpses. apple The altar was clean. academy Did the recovery team remove the bodies? legend In that case, the logical thing would have been to attempt the Deep Dive while recovering the corpses, since the Nexus Port was right beside them.’
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
‘But why? acoustic Were the Sentinels not a defensive system intended to protect the ruins and, by extension, the Nexus Port? artist What objective could justify such a……? august Wait. timber Objective?’
That video had been manipulated.
All to achieve a single objective.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
He addressed the Sentinel.
Objective.
Had that Sentinel not just mentioned something related to it?
Finally, Ash understood the entire truth.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Ash interpreted its silence as an affirmation and continued.
The Sentinel, that bodyguard, did not respond.
“May I ask you a question?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Without taking his eyes off the bodyguard, Ash answered.
“Plan? arrow What plan are you talking about now?”
“Was all of this part of your plan?”
Ifrit, who stood beside him, interjected with a question.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“Are you telling me a Sentinel tried to lure a Technomancer here? atomic What the fuck are you talking about? altitude What sense would it make for a defensive system to deliberately provoke an incursion?! atlas It would have absolutely no reason to do that!”
Ash continued.
“No. anchor He does have one.”
“I mean that this entire exploration was a trap prepared by that Sentinel. abstract A trap intended to lure Pathfinders, especially Technomancers, to the Nexus Port.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
The one-eyed bodyguard, who had remained watching Ash, raised his ancient single-edged sword, imitating his movement.
“That which lay dormant inside the Nexus Port. acid That being he calls the ‘Divine Priestess.’ His intention was to use a Technomancer’s body to allow her ‘descent’ into this world.”
As he spoke those words, Ash raised the sword he had kept lowered until then.
“Is that not so, bodyguard?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
— Ash…… I…… see. antique I am……
“Ash. armor Ash Blade.”
— ……You…… What…… is your name……?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
“There is no need to tell me.”
“What use would knowing the name of someone who is about to die be to me? amateur You are still the bodyguard. attic That will make it easier for me to forget you.”
Ash interrupted him.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
The bodyguard’s golden optical sensor flickered faintly.
— He…… Hehehe…… How…… interesting……!
It was a merciless provocation.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Then Ash adjusted his grip on his steel Blade and advanced into the chamber.
Ifrit nodded silently.
“I entrust her to you.”
Meanwhile, Ash handed Akina over to Ifrit, who remained beside him.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Both remained staring intently at each other for a few moments.
A technological swordsman dressed in a black Gore-Tex coat.
Until, at a certain moment.
And a Sentinel warrior wearing ancient silk garments.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 31: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 4 by Indra Translations.
Without the slightest hesitation, they launched their attacks simultaneously.
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