[The following audio transcript is available for access with the permission of Sir Grillbz Grillenn of the Dreemurr Nation of Ebott. It’s dated to the the first day after harvesting the Seventh Fallen Child.]
GASTER
Are you here to inspect the fruit of your efforts, friend?
GRILLBZ
…I can’t sleep…
…How do you keep yourself sane?…
GASTER
Well. Sanity is relative, I’m afraid. Nobody thought I was sane when I started constructing The Core. But that sense of curious allure was what motivated the citizens to cooperate with me.
…In your case, I suggest distancing yourself from the subject. Young they may be, a human is still a human. They’re the enemy.
GRILLBZ
…Did the previous Captain of the Royal Guard do this… direct harvesting?…
GASTER
No. The Green Child was already dead upon discovery. Heat stroke complications, perhaps.
GRILLBZ
…What about the others?…
GASTER
Hmph. I remember the terror of the Blue Child. I ended its onslaught with my very own hands. Since that day, the Royal Guard no longer doubted the order to capture every human that fell down.
GRILLBZ
…Was she afraid?…
GASTER
No. Heartless, I tell you. Crushing the tinier citizens of Waterfall underfoot simply because of their size. Giggling with glee too!
GRILLBZ
…The one I encountered… the Yellow Child… couldn’t even hold his weapon straight…
…Maybe they’re not as uniform as we thought…
GASTER
Sir Grillenn. Please, I implore you not to get attached.
[Two months later]
GRILLBZ
…Hello, Yellow…
…I brought extra fries… I thought maybe… you’d like something a little more fulfilling…
[Bubbling and zaps could be heard in the background. The Psychia consumed its meal.]
GRILLBZ
…It works?… I’m glad… It’s my first time making them from homegrown potatoes…
…How can we communicate?… Us monsters are made of magic… You’re the only one who responded… The rest… not quite…
…They’re sleeping?… That explains it…
…I’ll come back tomorrow…
[The next day. More bubbles could be heard in the background]
GRILLBZ
…Who’s the scary goopy scientist?… That’s Doctor W.D. Gaster… He’s always a little strange…
…You’re a strange one too… You shouldn’t be happy about my visits… After all…
…I’m the one who killed you…
[The next week]
GRILLBZ
…Uh… Doctor Gaster discovered our secret… But… instead of banning me from the lab… he wants to experiment…
…He gave me this daily menu… A good diet might affect a SOUL’s potency… or so he speculates…
…Salad… soup… rice pilaf?… I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this… I’m not a chef… I can make fries and burgers… That’s about it…
…You don’t mind?… I see… I’ll try my best…
[Week 1 Day 5]
[Location: Doctor Gaster’s kitchen.]
GASTER
See? You’re not as hopeless as you claim. You had all the practice from making my protégé’s snacks anyway. As long you follow my guidance, everything will be alright.
GRILLBZ
…Where did you acquire these skills?…
GASTER
Do you know who’s the hottest hot dog vendor in all of Hotland?
GRILLBZ
…No…?
GASTER
Ah… I suppose you’re too young remember him.
GRILLBZ
…Who is he?…
GASTER
He is a dearly departed friend. But don’t fret; the culinary mastery of Roman and his wife Helvetica live on inside of me! Such joy and blessing!
GRILLBZ
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
…I see…
GASTER
Now go and feed that human SOUL. Please remember, Sir Grillenn… do NOT get attached.
[Week 2, Day 6]
[Location: SOUL holding chamber]
GRILLBZ
…Say, Yellow… Do you have family?…
…No?…Who took care of you then?…
…I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you…
…It’s just… you remind me of one of my students… Gaster’s protégé… You two are equally gluttonous… Haha… Glad you could laugh…
…He doesn’t have any other family either… Only his younger brother… Whom he’s raising alone… He doesn’t trust anyone to help…
…Me?… No siblings… Four cousins… I still visit my parents from time to time…
…See you tomorrow…
[Week 3, Day 1]
[Location: Training grounds]
GASTER
I have some bad news, Sir Grillenn.
GRILLBZ
…What is it about?…
GASTER
Allow me to demonstrate.
[A series of gunshots rang in the air]
GRILLBZ
…W-what’s that?!…
GASTER
Research suggests that this is called a ‘gun’. A pistol, to be exact. Long gone are the days of bows and arrows. This is humanity’s new staple projectile weapon.
There were two of those ‘bullets’ inside. Sans and I studied their technology to recreate this specific ammunition. Something so small with so much firepower… the simplicity of its application means that even the most unskilled idiot could do extraordinary damage.
Friend, had you hesitated on that day… you would have been shot dead.
GRILLBZ
…I don't understand…
GASTER
Hm?
GRILLBZ
…Why would a young child own such a weapon?…
[Week 4, Day 1]
[Location: SOUL holding chamber]
GRILLBZ
…I found something that might belong to you… A toy gun… Quite fancy…
…You traded it for the real gun didn’t you?… Found it used as an an elaborate paperweight?… With bullets left inside?…
…That’s dangerous… Doctor Gaster noticed that it’s somewhat defective… Knock it a bit too hard… and it’ll misfire…
…The Snowdin resident?…They didn’t trigger it… Luckily so…
…I have a question to ask… you have to be honest…
…Did you think of killing anyone?…
…Self-defense?…
…You thought that we were out to hurt you?…
…………
…You may be right… I’m sorry…
[Week 5, Day 3]
[Location: SOUL holding chamber]
GRILLBZ
…My niece was born this afternoon… I’ll visit after work…
…The baby's doing fine… Thank you… She doesn’t have a name yet…
…Oh?… You have something to tell me?…
…You’re a tourist?… Where did you come from?…
…‘The Land of the Free?’… Never heard of that… It’s nickname?… Fancy…
…To us monsters… The Surface is ‘the Land of the Free’…
…What about your parents?…
…‘Socialites’?… …I see… It must be hard… No… mine weren’t like that…
…The scary doctor?…
…His parents were advisors for the Royal Family… Doctor Gaster’s mother passed from illness… His father committed suicide… Went insane from grief…
…Out of all of us… Gaster has the deepest grudge against humanity… I apologize if he acts cold to you…
…You’re used to it?…
………
…Please don’t say that…
[Week 5, Day 6]
[Location: SOUL holding chamber]
GRILLBZ
…Am I happy?… …Am I lonely?…
……………
…You have a tendency to ask striking questions… Must be that Justice speaking…
…But… it’s not because I don’t have a partner… It’s just……
…Have you ever felt like no one listens to your words?…
…Yes?… Is that why you climbed the mountain?… No?…
…You wanted to be a treasure hunter?!… Are you serious???…
…No… I’m not laughing at you… …I just wonder why…
…To live a carefree and exciting life?… Are you sure that’s not fiction?… Real jobs have their boring parts… like paperwork… I should know…
…Hmm?… Why did I become Captain of the Royal Guard?… Well… Family tradition… No… I didn’t choose it… I was born and raised as a knight of the prestigious Grillenn family… …But…
…In the end… It’s just a name… If not for what happened back then… I might have had a very different life…
…Would you like to hear more of our stories?…
[Week 6, Day 1]
GRILLBZ
…And that’s how our Prince died… Tragic isn’t it?…
…Thank you for listening… Heh… It does sound like a ‘treasure hunter’ thing to do… Uncovering the stories of the past…
…Do I want to go to the Surface?… I don’t mind either way…
…What is it like up there anyway?…
…Lots of fighting and injustice?… Really?… That sounds scary…
…I’m not afraid for myself… It’s my cousins and their children… I don’t want my niece and nephews to live in fear of what the future holds…
…What would I do if I could choose my own life?…
…I… I don’t know… I like cooking… and mixing drinks…
…There’s an actual job like that on the Surface? …A ‘bartender’?…
…Heh, the atmosphere does sound nice…
…What if I open one after I retire?… A bar…
…Huh, what's that?…
…Haha… No… I’m not that old… Consider it early retirement…
…I already have a successor in mind… Once she’s ready… I’ll pass the torch…
[Week 6, Day 6]
[Location: Gaster’s residence]
GASTER
Sir Grillenn, thank you for coming by.
GRILLBZ
…No problem…
[Grillbz can be heard pulling a chair to sit down]
GASTER
The information you gathered from the Yellow SOUL is immensely helpful. At the very least, we now have a clue about the social dynamics of modern humanity.
[There was an abrupt scratch of wood against the floor. Grillbz had pushed the chair out of the way.]
GASTER
W-wait! Where are you going?!
GRILLBZ
…If you’re going to treat me as your spy… I will have none of it…
GASTER
No! Egads. You have grown really attached to that human SOUL.
Friend… I know your kind heart. From the very beginning I realised that my advice would fall on deaf ears.
I'm just… thankful for your efforts. And I’d like for you to know it hasn’t been for nothing.
There’s something I must discuss with you, Sir Grillenn. It’s vital. Please, hear me out.
GRILLBZ
…Fine…
[More chair sounds.]
GASTER
I have a question to ask first: do you think a human SOUL can last forever outside of their bodies?
GRILLBZ
…No…
GASTER
That’s correct. Not even a human SOUL can last forever. Our history states that they can last for a while, and only a ‘while’.
That’s because it’s alive. Any form of life requires energy to maintain its existence. A disembodied human SOUL is no different.
Upon disembodiment, its inner reserves will start to deplete. Once it has exhausted all its power… the human SOUL will vanish just like a monster’s.
GRILLBZ
…Huh?…But they are all still here today…
GASTER
I had foreseen this issue and thus created an entire system designed for preservation. By permeating the human SOULS with magical energy, I ensure that they don’t expire in the near future.
At the same time, the SOULS must spend as little energy as possible. The bare minimum. That’s why I had all the other SOULS put into deep, inactive sleep. Suspended animation.
This… is why I called you here. The report.
GRILLBZ
…I don’t understand…
GASTER
The external feedings have failed to raise any potency. As a matter of fact, we lost five percent of its estimated lifespan.
GRILLBZ
…Can’t we increase the number of meals?… Or the calories?…
GASTER
Dear friend, a lifeform can only process so much a day.
Furthermore, we do not know when we’ll get the final SOUL. It could be tomorrow. It could be the next year. It could also be well beyond our lifetimes.
Sir Grillenn…one more week is all I can give. We’re at the end of the menu program anyway. After that, the Yellow SOUL shall join its brethren.
I will inform the human about the reality of our situation. In the meantime, please spend your last moments with it fruitfully.
GRILLBZ
…He’s a boy… Ten years old…
GASTER
I see.
GRILLBZ
…Please give us one more day after the program ends… For his last meal…
GASTER
I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I hesitate to risk further losses. But, we can replace the last menu with whatever the human wishes.
The experiment was a failure anyway; all that’s left is for you to utter a proper goodbye.
[Week 7, Day 6. The final day.]
[Location: SOUL holding chamber]
GRILLBZ
…Large fries… double cheeseburger… and a bottle of apple juice… All orders covered?… Good…
…You want to talk with me?… I suppose…
……………
…Should we escape?… It takes only one human and one monster to cross the Barrier… We can flee together…
…Haha… You’re right… That would make me the worst traitor… Is that your Justice trait speaking?…
…What is ‘justice’ anyway?… I thought it means being a good citizen… but I still feel…
…Guilty…
…You don’t know either?…
…Well… I guess neither of us have enough years of experience…
……………
…That’s correct… We only need one more for everyone to be free… Why do you ask?
…?!…
…We’re planning for a war… The extermination of your kind… Why would you want to help us achieve our goal?…
…Do you hate the Surface?…
…Otherwise your death will be in vain?… Hah… That’s quite selfish of you…
…I hope the next child will change our minds too…
…There’s something I must ask… You’ve not answered it yet… Why are you willing to talk to me, your killer?…
…Really?… That’s… I wish your parents didn’t take you for granted… Our meeting was short lived… But I’m glad to befriend you…
…If only we weren’t racial enemies…
[A door opens]
GASTER
Sir Grillenn, it’s time.
GRILLBZ
…This is goodbye…
…Sleep tight… and… I am truly sorry…
[END TRANSCRIPT]