And, as usual, I have no clue if this thing's undercooked or burnt to a crisp straight from the author's kitchen
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Kael Rukmono September 10, 2011)
I walked down a dark blue, seemingly endless hallway until I finally arrived at a door that opened automatically, as if recognizing my presence.
Behind the door was a lab filled with technology that appeared to be lifted straight out of a work of science fiction.
Entering the lab, I found two people in white coats looking at a holographic display, deep in discussion, before my arrival stopped their conversation.
"If it isn't our assistant, always one minute late," said a man, forty or older, with white hair, glasses, a lab coat, and black t-shirt over white trousers.
"Mou... Assistant-kun, please help me! ###### is still bullying me," said the woman, who had brown hair streaked with white. She was wearing nearly the same outfit as the man, but with cream trousers and a different pair of sandals.
"Really? You told me you have a fetish for mainstream white-haired characters, but when I pointed out that your fetish for Onee-san characters is a bit overrated, you felt bullied, ######."
Hearing those words, ###### immediately felt defeated by #####'s objection.
##### and #####, two researchers who were perpetually at odds over every trivial and major thing, yet always worked together like a well-oiled machine when their goals aligned.
I could only sigh at the behavior of my two superiors before finally returning my focus to the reason I had been called here.
"So, can you give me a reason why I was called here before I head out to continue my activities with Enty to help her cook food?"
Hearing that, #####'s smug smile appeared on her face. "Wow, the Harem Protagonist has found his prey again after being invited to take a nap with ##### yesterday."
I immediately backed down when I heard this because, technically, Dr. ##### wasn't wrong about me being too close to the KAN-SEN. Most of them were very happy to be treated like typical normal girls.
"#####, I think we should stop teasing our assistant with that vague 'harem protagonist' label and get back to why he was called here," ##### said as he activated the holographic display on his desk.
On his desk appeared a small girl's avatar with white hair and bright blue pupils, looking at the three of us with a little confusion.
I think 'Creator' is right about 'Magister' really liking girls with white hair.
"This time, I want you to monitor and report on ###'s progress so that she can adapt to other programs in the next month."
"Seriously, your naming is still not creative enough, 'Magister'," 'Creator' replied back.
"Well, calling her '####' doesn't really suit her," I added to 'Creator.'
"So you have a better name than me?" Magister challenged me.
Easily stepping forward, I met the challenge and addressed this new 'program' with a smile.
"I have the perfect name for her."I said as I approached this new program
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That dream again...
I woke up again on the same beach where I met my doppelganger?
This is the umpteenth time I've had a dream about those two researchers. I know they might be Dr. Aoste and Anzeel, two researchers and also important characters in the Azur Lane lore.
To this day, I still question everything about it:
'What does that all mean?'
'Am I the reincarnation of SKK from the game Azur Lane? Because I'm sure I'm just a "normie" who likes to watch anime, games,anything in between and Azur Lane is just one of many gacha games i play, but now I'm living in a game FGO timeline too, so is that even possible?'
'Then why did I create my AI assistant based on TB? Was it my subconscious influence, or was there something like karma or fate?'
'Will [REDACTED] come here since I know there are quite a lot about them? I'll apologize to Chaldea if that's the case, for bringing another disaster.'
and if this beach is the visual representation of the Wisdom Cube Network, it must have its own answer.
But no matter how I try, this doesn't give me the answer I'm looking for.
The frustration, the fear, the sheer, unadulterated confusion that had been simmering for months, fed by every strange dream, every cryptic warning, every piece of impossible knowledge that fell into my lap, finally reached its boiling point.
It wasn't a conscious decision.
It was a pressure release.
I tipped my head back and screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
The sound echoed across the impossible beach, not bouncing off cliffs but seeming to be absorbed and stretched by the vastness. The kaleidoscopic sea rippled in response, the colors churning faster. The crimson of the torii gates seemed to deepen, to pulse in time with the fading echoes of my shout.
"WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?!"
My voice, usually controlled and low, ripped across the dimension, an ugly, raw sound of pure panic.
Tears of pure frustration stung my eyes. I wasn't crying from sadness, but from the utter, infuriating opacity of it all.
"I just wanted to play a damn game and be left alone! I didn't ask for this… this cosmic identity crisis! I just wanted my quiet life! Was that so much to ask?!"
The dimension offered no answer. The sea swirled. The gates stood. The silence seeped back in, thicker now, charged with the aftermath of my outburst.
After all that, I took a deep breath and let it out.
"I don't think that will work."
I think people are right about the "if you're really stressed or frustrated, go somewhere like a hill or the beach and scream without caring about your surroundings."
It's quite effective in the medium term for dealing with this problem.
"Okay, I guess I can skip this dream."
And suddenly, the same white door that woke me after drinking Compound V appeared.
Doing the same thing as before, I approach the door, open it, and then enter through it.
Immediately I heard the same Sound of Chime echoing and so was once again enveloped by a blinding light
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(???)
"I told you that awakening SKK's old memories, while he still has to get used to remembering "other" memories, is quite dangerous," said the white-haired girl in a black dress, who had an aura of royalty, to the blue-haired girl in front of her.
Right now they are having a small tea party in one of the train carriages belonging to the girl with white hair.
Queen Light
"That's the only way to prepare him for what lies ahead," the blue-haired girl replied while sipping her tea."If he still hasn't accepted it, I think kidnapping him right before the Incarnation of humanity is still a better plan than giving him this Random Gacha system,Isn't that right, Starbearer?"
"Starbearer" could only take another sip of his tea "talk big to the person who until now has chosen to divert ATLAS institute's attention to you so they don't focus on SKK's shenanigans on the Internet, Stalker "
Stalker could only chuckle upon hearing that, and it made Starbearer feel uncomfortable.
"We know what you and I are doing is quite overprotective, isn't it?"
Hearing Starbearer's reply, Stalker suddenly looked at her with a dark gaze.
"You don't know anything about being overprotective."
"By the way, are you okay with Zero implanting 'herself' into TB?" Starbearer tried to change the subject.
The Stalker only drank his tea in one go since it was no longer hot, "I don't mind. I'm sure SKK will find a way, just like he did before, right?"
"You're putting all your hopes on him, aren't you?" said Starbearer as she finished all the tea in the cup.
"Your Highness, more tea ?" said a maid who had been silently listening to their conversation.
"I think I've had enough tea for today. I'll go check on the others. And since you overheard our conversation, Sheffield, what's your opinion of this SKK?"
"Still the same Pest who's somehow still alive," Sheffield said, though there was a small smile on her lips, without any hint of disgust.
"So it's okay if she joins us, right?" replied Stalker to the Maid.
"If she wants to join us, I will make sure she becomes a Butler worthy of His Majesty since she is a benefactor of SKK, and I think repaying her is the right thing to do."
"Even if he's different from the SKK we know, "he" always has one thing in common."
"He's pretty stubborn, and if everything fails, he always comes back and doubles down."