novelraw Chapter 134
Chapter 134
Chapter 134
When Akane woke up, the Experience Bird was giving her a lap pillow.
The alarm had completely stopped, and silence had returned.
It seemed the escaped anomaly had been successfully suppressed.
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Are you okay, chi? You're not hurt, chi?)"
"Birdie, you protected me, didn't you?"
"Chi (Translation: Chi has already sworn enmity against humanity, chi. I'd prefer you not interpret it so conveniently, chi.)"
Akane fluffed the Experience Bird's plumage.
She felt her heart growing calm.
Day 5.
It seemed there had been casualties during yesterday's escape.
This was such a dangerous facility. Akane had thought that it wouldn't be strange if someone died, but even so, hearing such rumors shook her resolve a little.
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Pathetic, chi. If Chi were there, the anomalies could've been suppressed with ease, chi.)"
"It's true, Birdie, you're incredibly strong."
Akane suddenly wondered if the Experience Bird could be used as a suppression force during anomaly escapes.
"Chi-chi (Translation: No way, chi. I don't want to work for humans, chi.)"
The response was indifferent.
Akane brought the idea up with her senior.
"It's true that using anomalies cooperative with humanity to deal with other anomalies is a common practice."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Without the power of anomalies, humans can't control them."
In terms of precedent, there was no issue.
The remaining problems were the facility's trust and the Experience Bird's will.
Day 6.
"Birdie's fluff seems to have a calming effect on the mind. Why not use that fluff to soothe everyone?"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: I don't want to do that, chi. It sounds like a hassle, chi.)"
The Experience Bird was still as jaded as ever.
"The Experience Bird just lies around all day... and won't even play with a ball..."
To Akane, it was starting to seem that getting the Experience Bird to cooperate would be quite difficult.
Day 7.
As usual, Akane began recording.
Today as well, the Experience Bird was just lying around.
Lunchtime ended, and it was time for Akane to clean the cage.
She unlocked the seven locks made of analog and digital components, equipped herself with a mop, broom, and cloth, and stepped into the cage.
She cleaned diligently so the Experience Bird could live comfortably.
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Why is Akane working in a place like this, chi?)"
"Hmm, why do you think? Take a guess, Birdie."
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Could it be that the pay is really good, chi?)"
"Ooh, that's a good guess!"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Akane loves money, chi?)"
"I don't dislike it. If I have money, I can eat yummy food, buy lots of clothes, and I have more freedom."
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Freedom is fleeting, chi. Chi has already had freedom taken away, chi.)"
"Birdie, you used to be free, right? Living happily with Hideo."
Akane had heard the Experience Bird's life story many times.
Apparently, it had been arrested for being too greedy about experience.
In other words, this anomaly called the Experience Bird had once been friendly to humans and active for their sake.
"I think it's a waste, you know. If you could get your freedom back, wouldn't that be worth it? If you changed your attitude, you might be able to leave this place, Birdie."
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: But Chi was already abandoned, chi...)"
"You're sulking, huh? But are you really okay with staying in a place like this?"
"Chi? (Translation: What do you mean, chi?)"
"When you talk about Hideo, Birdie, I can feel how much you care about him. Don't you want to go back to him?"
The Experience Bird showed a moment of thought.
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Chi once had a distant aspiration, chi. It felt like a mission that Chi had to accomplish with Chi's entire being, chi.)"
"That's amazing. What was that mission?"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: I don't remember, chi.)"
"Oh dear. You forgot?"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: But that mission definitely wasn't to end my life in a place like this, chi. It's not like I want to see Hideo, chi. It's not like I want to help humans, chi. I just get bored being alone, so I'm just killing time, chi.)"
With those words, the Experience Bird slowly stood up.
Day 8.
The Experience Bird began offering body pillow service in the medical room.
Work hours were from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Healing the minds of Dohaikurappia personnel mentally worn out from anomaly containment and suppression was now the Experience Bird's job.
"Thank you, I feel so much better."
"You're a very talented bird."
"Can I come again?"
The staff's feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Day 14.
Thanks to its rational demeanor and serious work ethic, the Experience Bird was evaluated as combat-capable and began making appearances in the suppression unit during escapes.
In Dohaikurappia, anomaly escapes occur somewhere in the facility at least once a day.
On the scene, the Experience Bird performed outstandingly.
"Tremendous power."
"I see. Figures that it was captured by the Outer Sea Six Paths."
The members of the suppression unit held the Experience Bird in high regard.
Since the Experience Bird began fighting, injuries had decreased, and no one suffered mental breakdowns anymore.
Day 18.
The Experience Bird was permitted to take walks within the facility accompanied by Akane.
"Ah, an anomaly!"
During the walk, Akane screamed upon spotting a strange being wandering the corridor.
The alarm wasn't sounding, but it was undoubtedly an anomaly escape.
It looked like a black flamingo, with bandages wrapped tightly around its long neck.
Akane checked the anomaly containment list she had studied so hard and identified it.
'Demon Realm Bird' Grade 5
Though mild-tempered, it frequently escapes.
It offers black apples. Eating them causes infection by pathogens from another world, leading to death.
"Kweeeh, kweeeh."
"Eek...!"
The Demon Realm Bird held out an apple to Akane.
"N-no, uh, I'm fine... I'm not good with apples..."
"Kweeeh, kweeeh."
The Demon Realm Bird wouldn't back down.
Who knew what it might do if she didn't accept it.
Akane, eyes brimming with tears, begged for mercy.
Just then—
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: I don't need such a dangerous item, chi.)"
"Kweeeh, kweeeh (Translation: What an aura. What are you, kweeeh?)"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: I'm a Shimaenaga, chi. A fairly intelligent bird, chi. I wouldn't mind making you my companion, chi.)"
The Demon Realm Bird stared at the Experience Bird for a while, then respectfully offered the apple with a "Kweeeh."
It seemed to have sworn loyalty to the Experience Bird.
Akane was relieved, but also thought, "Maybe Birdie is actually a big deal in the bird world?" and found herself reevaluating the charismatic Experience Bird.
Day 19.
When Akane arrived at the Experience Bird's containment room as usual, something strange was happening.
Through the one-way mirror, you could observe the cage where the Experience Bird was contained—but something strange had slipped in.
Including the Experience Bird, there were four entities inside.
One was the cage's main occupant, the Experience Bird.
Another was the Demon Realm Bird from yesterday.
The remaining two, Akane had never seen before.
However, they were in the materials.
That's right—it was those.
Akane remembered.
"Purgatory Bird," Grade 5.
A black penguin with a pair of blazing scales on its head.
Easily provoked into rage. Tends to escape alongside the Demon Realm Bird if it flees.
The Purgatory Bird's scales can measure the intrinsic value of any substance.
"Underworld Bird," Grade 5.
Has a calm temperament. Also tends to escape if the Purgatory Bird does.
Hides a massive eye inside its large beak.
Its eye inflicts severe madness-type mental damage, so you must never look into it.
"Three Grade 5 anomalous substances at once..."
Akane felt like her legs might give out.
She spoke into the mic: "Birdie, w-what are you doing...?"
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Good morning, chi. These guys are my underlings from today, chi. Nice to meet you, chi. They promised not to cause trouble anymore, so they definitely won't harm humanity, chi.)"
"Huh? Wha...?"
Day 25.
Since that day, the Experience Bird had been chatting with the anomalous substances inside the cage.
Each time, Akane would call in staff and the suppression team to return the anomalous substances to their original cages.
Strangely, the anomalous substances that had spoken with the Experience Bird no longer attacked the staff afterward. They still escaped, but only to stroll around—they no longer set fires, bit people, or drove them insane upon spotting staff like before.
The Experience Bird was gradually establishing order within the special containment facility.
Thanks to its great bean pastry body, which even the anomalous substances regarded with fear and reverence.
Whenever the Experience Bird passed by, the anomalous substances in the bean pastry faction would make way.
"Incredible. It's like he's a mafia boss expanding his influence inside a prison."
"Chi-chi-chi (Translation: Please don't say that, chi. Chi just wants to be a force for justice, chi.)"
One morning, a woman visited Akane.
A dignified yet cute woman with a fiery red ponytail waving behind her.
She looked like a college student a bit older than Akane.
"Hello, I'm Shurado."
"Shurado...san, was it?"
"I came after hearing the rumors about the Experience Bird."
Shurado asked Akane many things.
Akane told Shurado many things.
That when the Experience Bird first arrived, it was sulking.
But at some point, it began healing others, defeating bad anomalous substances, and even working to improve security like a morale officer.
"I see. Perhaps it's about time for the Experience Bird to return to the outside world."
"Huh... Birdie's going to be gone?"
Akane's heart grew restless.
Truthfully, she wanted it to stay.
They had finally become friends...
But Akane shook her head vigorously.
"Understood. I'll let the Experience Bird know."
Shurado said she would return another day, then left.
She also told Akane to decide by then.
Akane opened the heavy analog and digital doors with practiced hands and began cleaning the cage.
"Chi (Translation: That receptionist lady came, chi.)"
While Akane was cleaning, the Experience Bird suddenly spoke.
"Yes, she came. That's good, isn't it, Birdie?"
"Chi... (Translation: It's too late now, chi. Chi is going to build a kingdom here and live a rich life, chi. That's happier, chi.)"
At the last moment, the Experience Bird had gotten stubborn.
It rolled over, knocked over the dustpan, and scattered all the garbage Akane had just collected.
Akane pressed her lips together, suppressing the part of herself that wanted to indulge.
If she acknowledged the Experience Bird's feelings now, it would be easy to keep her confined in this small cage.
It would be easy to tie down a friend she'd grown so close to in this dangerous, terrifying, insane place where life wasn't guaranteed.
But she would dare to let her go.
If they were friends.
"My little brother is hospitalized with a dungeon-related disease."
"Chi...?"
"There's no cure. He's barely holding on thanks to the Foundation's advanced treatment. But systems for illnesses from another world—if you can even call them illnesses—are still lacking, and it costs a lot of money."
"......"
"Birdie, you have a mission, don't you? A distant mission. Maybe a promise you've forgotten."
Akane lifted the Experience Bird.
Somehow, she just knew.
This bird had someone important. Its mission was to protect him.
"Kind Birdie. Are you really okay staying here? You've worked so hard every day. But your mission isn't here."
"...Chi."
"I'll keep doing my best to protect the ones I love... so you should too, Birdie."
"Chi... (Translation: To protect the one I love, chi... Yes, that's why I started all this, chi... I remember now, chi.)"
The Experience Bird recalled its distant mission.
Her mission was to protect Hideo Akagi.
For that, she couldn't stay here forever.
"Now, let's clean up. If you made a mess, you need to help clean it."
"Chi-chi (Translation: Chi is a kind bird, chi. Chi will help clean, chi.)"
Akane Torijou and the Experience Bird cleaned every corner of the cage together.
A few days later.
After saying goodbye to the Experience Bird, Akane visited a Dungeon Foundation medical center—one of the top facilities in the country for advanced treatment.
Her steps toward her brother's hospital room were heavy.
That was because his condition had worsened recently.
She couldn't even remember the last time he'd regained consciousness.
The black bruises surfacing on his skin had spread day by day, clearly showing the disease was consuming his body.
No matter how much they struggled, it was just life support in the end.
The doctor had even said it was an illness that modern humanity couldn't cure.
Those words lingered in Akane's mind as a declaration of defeat for Dungeon Foundation medicine.
"Tomohiro, I'm here—"
She spoke the words without expecting a reply.
"Sis..."
Tomohiro Torijou raised himself up with a puzzled expression.
Akane gave thanks for the miracle of him waking again and held her only remaining family tightly, trying to hold back her overflowing tears.
"This is embarrassing, cut it out, Sis..."
Tomohiro grumbled, but didn't try to push her off.
"I feel great somehow. Look, the bruises on my face and arms are gone too."
"Ah, you're right..."
Akane hungrily pulled up her brother's clothes to check.
Tomohiro turned his face away, blushing with a hard-to-describe embarrassment.
"Just what happened..."
"I don't really get it either, but I heard something like a bird call. When I woke up, I felt amazing."
"A bird call?"
Akane happened to glance toward the window.
The window was open, and the warm afternoon breeze was flowing in.
In the dappled sunlight, a soft white plumage had fallen by the window.
"......Thank you, kind Birdie."
Akane pinched the plumage between her fingers and held it close with care.