A few days later, we came to another city, one much larger than the first one I had come across. I expected that we would pass under it again, but Hizen led me right through the front gates. It was the first time I had ever seen so many people in one place.
“It’s so...loud…!”
“Indeed.”
“A-a-are you sure we should be here??”
“This is the fastest route through the city.”
“N-no, I mean...I thought discarded Servants weren’t allowed in…”
“Only if they are unescorted. Conversely, Worm Feeders are encouraged to pass through the streets with their wards, and serve as a warning to other Servants. In this way, they will learn what happens to those who disobey Our Lord.”
“Oh yeah; people are staring at us, aren’t they…? Wow...”
“...It would help if you could show some remorse. For you to walk about with such a carefree look on your face...it is undignified, and irreverent.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll try to look sadder...ohhhh, woe is me! I’m going to the Worm; ohhhh wooooe!!”
“...Your insincerity is obvious.”
“I’m a failed Servant, ohhhh!! Don’t end up like me, children of Our Lord! Ohhh nooooo!!!”
“Meissen…”
“...Well, I tried my best. I just can’t pretend to be afraid of you when I’m not. Not anymore...”
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“You are not supposed to fear me; you are supposed to reflect on your sins.”
“Well, I can’t reflect on them when I don’t know what they are! I’m an ‘amnesiac’, remember??”
“…”
“…”
“...That is a problem.”
“It...is a problem, isn’t it??”
“You cannot truly atone for transgressions you do not remember…”
“Yeah, yeah! I can’t! In fact, if I went to the Worm thinking I never did anything wrong, that would kind of be like...hearsay, wouldn’t it??”
“Heresy.”
“Whatever! The point is, it wouldn’t really be right, would it...?”
“…”
“Oh, Hizen! Do you know what this means?? We found a loophole!”
“‘A loophole’…”
“I mean, even the Protocol can’t justify you trying to kill me without my memories! Which means we have to stay alive until I get them back!”
“I...am uncertain…”
“Look, you stopped walking! We did it, we did it!!”
“...Now you are not only unremorseful, you are celebrating in the streets. This is unseemly...”
“Okay, okay...I guess we probably shouldn’t attract too much attention.”
“Yes...we cannot allow such a shameful oversight to be known to the public…”
“...Actually I was just thinking that, whoever discarded me after taking out my brain was probably hoping I’d get fed to the Worm anyway. And if they somehow find out that you’re not going to do it, they might...not be happy about that.”
“...Very astute, Meissen.”
“That was smart, wasn’t it? Yay~!”
“For now, we must try to find a detailed record of your misdeeds. As long as it can be verified, you may not need to regain your own memories. Knowledge of your past is enough.”
“Okay...well, how can we find that information?”
“I fear it may not be publicly available through the Nebula...I will continue to process the request. However, I do know of a place where access to sensitive information can be expressly granted.”
“Is it nearby?”
“There is one in every city. They are called Repositories of Truth.”