Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8

She simply remained with her head lowered, drawing meaningless scribbles on the ground.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Akina had kept her lips tightly closed for quite some time.

“Is it difficult for you to answer? arctic Then I shall have to change the question.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“……”

“Why did you hide it from me?”

However, the meaning of that new question was exactly the same.

A long time passed.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“To what?”

“……Because I was afraid you’d object, Mister.”

Finally, Akina hesitantly moved her lips.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“And now I know about the existence of the Echo Effect. legend So, how do you think I shall act from now on?”

“That is correct. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com legend I probably would have objected.”

“To exploring the ruins.”

Ash remained silent for a few moments before continuing.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Her blue eyes darted uneasily from side to side.

“……Are you going to object?”

Akina flinched and raised her head.

Ash did not look away.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Ash let out an incredulous sigh.

“Slept?”

“……Huh? adjust I slept for that long……?”

“Do you know how long it has been since you were last fully conscious? acquire Two days.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

For the first time, his electronic voice was filled with intense emotion.

“Can you even imagine how Elder Santa and I felt every time we had to calm you down?”

“……”

“No. wizard You woke up several times. amateur And each time, you screamed and uttered incomprehensible words while your eyes glowed gold!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“That is enough. silence There will be no more expeditions into the ruins. afford That is my decision.”

Akina immediately understood what those words meant and abruptly raised her head.

“Of course. advance It must be difficult for you to answer. wizard Then I shall ask you something else. advance If you were in my position, do you think you could bring yourself to ask me to accompany you into that hell again?”

“Mister……!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“I don’t want that!”

Faced with those words, spoken as a definitive declaration, Akina shouted.

“This is not about what you want or do not want! arena You nearly lost your own identity!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Ash’s shout echoed across the entire rooftop in the middle of the night.

“But I did not know!”

“I already knew that level of danger existed!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

As far as she could remember, it was the first time Ash had expressed his emotions with such intensity.

Faced with that outburst, Akina was unable to utter a single word.

“I am telling you that I did not know! altitude I did not know that connecting to Cyberspace, that performing a Deep Dive, involved such mortal danger!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

A heavy silence settled over the rooftop once again.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

That unfamiliar reaction gave her a strange feeling of fear.

Only the cold night wind continued blowing between them.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Ash raised his steel arm and ran his hand over his head.

A long time passed.

The gesture was remarkably similar to that of a human rubbing his face in exhaustion.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

This time, his electronic voice no longer contained that emotional intensity.

Instead, it conveyed an indescribable weariness.

Finally, he spoke again.

“……According to what that heroine told me, there is a profession in Sanctum known as ‘Fixer’.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

He extended a hand and rested it on Akina’s shoulder.

Akina did not respond.

“They are people who accept commissions to find missing persons or resolve disputes. sphere Although the pay is lower, at least they work within Sanctum, so it should be safer than being a Pathfinder. action We would not have to face threats such as the Echo Effect, either.”

So Ash continued.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Akina raised her head.

“Let us stop being Pathfinders and work as Fixers instead. album Apparently, that heroine knows a rather capable Fixer, so we could ask her to introduce us, and……”

She was smiling.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Fixers? acid And what exactly are we supposed to accomplish by earning a few miserable coins?”

The problem was that her smile looked much more like a sneer of contempt.

“And what about my revenge?”

“It would not be a miserable amount. apron It would be perfectly sufficient to pay for the air you breathe and cover your living expenses.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Mister. atom You said you’d help me.”

The smile that had appeared on her lips twisted disturbingly.

In its place, Akina’s face became dominated by absolute hatred.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Her attitude was unyielding.

“……And I shall. adapt I shall do everything within my power to help you. arctic That is precisely why I am proposing this. sphere Becoming Fixers does not necessarily mean we must abandon your revenge, does it?”

Ash’s optical sensors emitted a cold glow as he watched her.

“It’s the same thing to me. abstract To me, it is.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Yes. palette It’s the only path there is.”

“……Do you insist on continuing as a Pathfinder at any cost?”

“Miss Akina!”

“I!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

She bit her lips, her face completely flushed and her expression suggesting that she was on the verge of bursting into tears.

Then she held Ash’s gaze as he stared intently at her.

Akina shouted.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

After all, she had never told him.

Ash did not know.

“……Do you know who the enemy I have to face is, Mister?” Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Her words were steeped in a hatred so profound that it was difficult to believe they belonged to such a young girl.

Akina continued speaking.

“……”

“Omni-Cell Biotech.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

It was exactly as she had said.

“You know it too, don’t you? sphere I made sure to include that information in the Data Card I gave you.”

Ash knew that company.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

At the same time, it was a company shrouded in mystery, whose technological origins no one knew.

Omni-Cell Biotech.

One of Sanctum’s Megacorps and a company at the pinnacle of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

A benevolent savior that enjoyed the absolute support of the citizens thanks to its treatments for all kinds of diseases and its life-extension technologies.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

There was something far more important that had to be mentioned when speaking of Omni-Cell.

That was Omni-Cell Biotech.

However, that was merely its general description.

An open secret that the information in the Data Card could not fully explain.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Something every inhabitant of Sanctum knew, but no one dared mention openly.

Among the countless companies operating in the city, three stood out in particular.

Omni-Cell Biotech was one of the true rulers of Sanctum.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Stroud Group.

Those were the three companies.

Foundation Systems.

And Omni-Cell Biotech.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

At some point, the citizens of Sanctum had begun calling them Trinity.

The three pillars supporting humanity.

And Akina had just mentioned one of them.

The company everyone recognized as the most powerful in Sanctum was the target of her revenge.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

‘Omni-Cell……’

At the same time, he attempted to comprehend the true weight of the name Akina had just spoken.

Ash’s optical sensors emitted a faint glow.

His first thought was.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

That enemy was far too great for such a small girl to confront.

Even Ash, who was only beginning to understand how that world worked, considered it practically impossible. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

‘……Is it even possible?’

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

He could not find a more appropriate comparison.

‘It is literally like trying to break a rock with an egg.’

Striking a rock with an egg.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

So he asked.

What connection existed between taking revenge on Omni-Cell and working as a Pathfinder?

At that point, setting aside his emotions, Ash began to feel a certain curiosity.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

As though he were asking what a girl like her could possibly do against such a powerful enemy.

However, Akina was not intimidated.

From a certain perspective, that question could sound rather cynical.

“……Do you have a plan?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

The problem was that her plan was completely outrageous.

“I’m going to found a company.”

On the contrary, she answered immediately, as though she had been waiting for that question.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“……Found a company? crystal Do you mean you intend to create your own commercial organization?”

Found a company.

Exactly that.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“It is revenge.”

“Yes. academy And I’m going to make it grow. autumn Until it’s big enough to stand against Omni-Cell.”

“……I do not understand. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. accent How can running a company be considered revenge?”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Mergers and acquisitions.

Akina’s blue eyes shone with an unfamiliar intensity.

“Because companies can carry out mergers and acquisitions with one another.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

In Sanctum, “mergers and acquisitions” had a much more violent meaning.

However, that only applied in times of peace.

The process by which two or more companies combined to form a single entity, or one company acquired the shares or assets of another to gain control of its management.

That was its dictionary definition.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

It was as though all the pieces of a puzzle had finally fallen into place.

Only then did Ash finally understand everything.

“That’s why I have to go to the ruins! antique To found my company! amber To extract ancient knowledge that no one has ever discovered!”

Something that more closely resembled a “war.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Why was she so desperate to become a Pathfinder?

All those questions were connected.

Why had she rummaged through mountains of garbage until she found him and awakened him?

Why had Akina undergone such a dangerous brain cyberization procedure despite her young age?

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

For her revenge.

To found a company based on ancient knowledge.

To build the foundations that would allow her to carry it out.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

It was a completely absurd plan.

Ash felt the urge to suggest that she abandon her revenge.

However.

It also seemed that there truly was no other alternative.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

‘……After all, I was not so different myself.’

But he was unable to utter those words through his voice module.

Back then, he had listened to no one’s advice.

He, too, had endured countless hardships, constantly walking between life and death, driven solely by relentless hatred and his desire for revenge.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

That would be hypocrisy and arrogance.

Hypocrisy, because it would mean betraying the person he had been in the past.

And now he intended to tell Akina to give up her revenge?

And arrogance, because it would mean believing that a few insignificant words would be enough to change someone’s determination.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

When he knew better than anyone that hatred which consumed the heart like a raging fire?

“……”

How could he force that little girl to walk the path of renunciation when he himself had been incapable of doing so?

A long time passed.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

However, they were surely thinking about the same thing.

Even Akina, who normally never stopped chattering, remained silent.

Thus, the two gazed at the nighttime scenery of Sanctum without exchanging a single word.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

About that devastating fire called revenge.

At a certain moment.

Ash stood up.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“……Because I originally lived in such a place. album White snow covered everything as far as the eye could see, and from time to time, the clouds descended until they were level with my head. legend I liked that. arch It made me feel as though I had become an immortal.”

He took a step toward the nighttime scenery and began speaking as though recalling something distant.

“I like high places.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Then he continued.

“All of it burned until nothing remained. galaxy By the will of a single person, at the hands of an organization, the place where I belonged was reduced to ashes. acid However, the heights remained. arena So did the clouds that occasionally descended upon them. canvas But from that day onward, I never returned.”

Ash remained silent for a few moments.

Akina stood up as well. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“They began speaking to me. antenna The pavilions that had been consumed by flames spoke to me. arctic The snow did too. palette Even those clouds that descended from time to time. auction They all told me to seek revenge. admire To fulfill my duty as a survivor. shadow To never forget it, not even for a single instant.”

Then she approached Ash and listened attentively.

Although his words were nothing more than electronic sounds, they were imbued with a profound emotion that was difficult to describe.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Ash turned his head.

“However, when it was all over, I discovered that absolutely nothing remained. legend Only an unbearable emptiness and an endless silence.”

Then he looked at Akina, who was standing beside him.

“And that is precisely what I did. abstract I sacrificed everything and, in the end, achieved my revenge.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

Akina also turned her head to look at him.

“I am telling you to move forward knowing what awaits you. amateur Because there will be nothing left in the end.”

“……Are you telling me to give up? crystal Because there’ll be nothing left in the end?”

The girl shook her head.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Because I have you, Mister.”

“You’re wrong.”

Then she hugged Ash’s arm.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

The girl and the humanoid turned their heads at the same time.

Then they gazed at the city, which shimmered with lights of countless colors.

“……Indeed, it seems that we are different in that regard.”

“Do not let them destroy you.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Nor should you allow yourself to become completely empty inside.”

“……And above all, do not lose your identity.”

“All right.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Because I shall be by your side to help you.”

And so, the girl and the humanoid remained together for a long time, gazing at the nighttime scenery of Sanctum.

Ash gently withdrew the arm Akina was hugging and placed it around her shoulders.

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

At a certain moment, Akina spoke again.

“But, hey……”

“Do you come up to the rooftop every day because you like high places? silence Hehe. voyage You’re like a cat.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

“Ah, I see.”

“At moments like this, it is appropriate to remain silent.”

“Miss Akina.”

“Yes?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 35: EP.1 The Butterfly Dream 8 by Indra Translations.

The lights of Sanctum continued bathing them both in countless colors.

The girl adopted a serious expression once again and gazed at the city.