The Reborn Witch had a nice 'Tea Time' with the Dragon Queen today
Chapter 103: The Android Who Forgot How to Smile (For Her Sisters’ Last Prayers)

Chapter 103: The Android Who Forgot How to Smile (For Her Sisters’ Last Prayers)

The Witch’s finger twitched more than the time she had first touched a forbidden tome, her lips gaping and closing, finding no words to describe her depthless dread.

Adrei, as usual, hugged her trembling frame. Feeling a warmth clasping around her waist, Demond turned another page.

’Day 9: It is confirmed. Undine’s Divine Mana could be extracted from the <Shelled Heart>, as well as other automatons. More materials to replace the <Motherbrain>’s role to remove junk data from our <Core>.’

The Witch glanced at the dead Android lying on the desk, her expression at peace as if she had fulfilled everything she could.

In reality, without <Motherbrain>, an Android physically cannot preserve memories. So <Drowned> to them is like cancer to humans, the junk data are tumours that cannot be removed.

It’s a natural process, or an inevitable deterioration of robotic organs.

The Android thus called it ’Undine’s Curse’, for their separation from the <Motherbrain> brought about this unavoidable predicament.

Then, as if guessing what would happen, the Witch skimmed through the notes.

<Day 21: Undine’s Mana...we have failed to process it within the automatons. Chance of success: 0%. Alternatives have been found.>

"And if I’m not mistaken..." The Witch flipped the pages, each piece heavier than the last, before she found her answer.

<Day 57: It is a mild success...our Sister 991 who was almost <Drowned> has volunteered herself, and we have confirmed a <Memory Wipe> using Undine’s mana wipe out even the junk datas.>

"Haha...so."

The Witch raised her gaze to the <Shelled Heart>. "It was you who lured us in here, and your mana inside the Android at the temple’s entrance, huh?"

The <Shelled Heart> pulsed violently, as if in agreement, and more in desperation.

"I should have guessed so..." Unshed tears bubbled up, yet the stubborn Witch held them back. "Even this...’ you’...are alive, the Android’s attempt in using ’you’ as an alternative carrier to the Junk Datas must have been torture, huh?"

Silence. No more drumming of heartbeats. Only unspoken solaces.

"How do you wish to end, Mr <Shelled Heart>?"

"..."

The pipes glowed with a weak golden glow, its master <Undine>’s divinity, seeping back into its body--

Before leaking out from the heart itself. The machine coiled at first, then stilled as if prepared.

"I see..." The Witch patted Adrei’s hand. "Adrei. Make this painless."

The Dragon carrassed back as she nodded. Tightening on the Witch’s waist, her other arm stretched.

Flames tipped at her fingertips as she pointed.

<Heed. Rest. Return.>

A little ember shot out. The Heart welcomed it, allowing its flame to enshroud its body, just like when it sank into the depths of its Master’s sanctuary.

The <Shelled Heart> was thus burned clean, without traces, its remnant scattered as gold-hued dusts spraying in the air.

A pitiful end. All of it.

"It never ends, doesn’t it?" The Witch tapped the Android’s limp shoulder. "Zero would have liked you to live a proper, well-meaning life. But who am I to judge?"

The Android’s peace in its end Demond’s talk with Zero about how they do not call Android’s deaths as ’deaths’, but rather ’asleep’ or ’rest’, as if they finally completed their journeys.

If not for the Dragonsong War, would Zero also be like this as well? A lonely ’rest’ in the darkened grounds, filled with nothing but the smell of oils and the silence of a muffled desperation.

"I would like you to be in a better place now...Zero." The Witch forced a smile. "I hope so."

Where Zero went after her death was unknown to the Witch.

Back to the <Motherbrain>’s database?

Or carried to the <Divine Realm> where all valiant souls resided?

Maybe even to the <Spirit Realm>, sung by a chorus of joys that Zero would have scoffed at.

Regardless, anywhere must have seemed like heaven compared to her adventurer’s days.

Unfortunately for her, every second here meant another regret for putting her sisters to their deserved rests.

"Old friend..." She muttered to the Android, the visage of her first relieved laughter as she was clawed apart resurfacing in her memory. "I will remember all of these for you as well, just like how you carried the memories of the <Drowned> you allowed rest for."

There was no need for an answer. No more need for sympathy told by words.

Andrei allowed the Witch alone, not to wallow, but to mellow in a somber declaration that she will follow for her fallen comrade.

And in a shadowy room, there remained grievances that could no longer be answered.

-----------------

"Adrei."

"...a smoke?"

"No, I need a small paper, please."

After confirming there is no more to uncovered, the Witch returned the entrance with her husband.

"Here." The Dragon conjured a paper from ashes.

"Thanks."

After receiving it, Demond ’weaved’ a icy pen before writing.

Final step. Weaved another bird to live. Folded the paper on the bird’s leg and...

"Done." The Witch sent the icy bird flying. "This should tell the Queen and Adil of this temple’s location, so that they can...care for the aftermath."

"Mm." The Dragon patted her back. "Elsara has dedicated a territory for the Androids to live peacefully. You can safely let go now."

"Let go...pft." The Witch chortled. "I am sentimental, sometimes. But comfort me properly. Don’t make it so obvious."

"Heh...then." The Dragon pecked at her cheek. A yelp.

"How’s it?" Adrei’s sincere gaze burrowed at the blushing Witch.

"...pretty alright." Demond brushed her cheek whining, before glancing at a certain fainted Android on the ground.

"Say..." She contemplated. "This girl, still not <Drowned>, is probably 991. Shall we awake her first?"

"I would not risk her attacking us again though."

"Don’t be a worrywart. It is most likely the Heart’s influence that caused the girl’s brain to malfunction."

More precisely, the Android probably operated the entire temple using the Heart as the energy source, and with the <Heart>’s mana inside, the Android 991 was treated as part of Defense Mechanisms, and thus she interpretted herself as the ’Defender’ like the Automatons, and them the ’intruders’.

So naturally, 991 must have been dispatched by the other androids as a gatekeeper or sort, for preventing their works disrupted.

"And so," the Witch tapped the staff on 991’s forehead. "It should be fine."

991’s eyes fluttered, before opening to reveal the familiar silvery eyes.

"How do you feel?" The Witch smiled, her shadow clouding the Android’s view. "Still here with us?"

"..."

No replies. Merely an indifferent observation. The Witch squinted, figuring 991 would be at such a condition.

"Now, I know you must be confused, but listen carefully..."

"They are all ’rested’, aren’t they?"

"Ha?"

The Witch raised her brows, before her surprise was washed over by a heavy heart.

"Yeah." She whispered.

"..."

Again, no responses. But this time...there was no more observations.

The Android merely stared into the air, furrowing. She clutched her palms together, stretched her shoulders, and tapped even the gun at the gound.

"Tell me...outsiders..."

The Witch and the Dragon, feeling something is definitely wrong, carefully approached the Android.

"Do ask." Demond kept voice stable, her staff quivering.

"Is it possible for me to feel nothing yet everything at the same time?"

"Huh?"

Not good. The Android’s finger was circling the trigger.

"I cannot claim for that to be possible, but it is for certain...that feeling lost is natural."

The Witch’s fingertip brewed ice magic. Adrei stayed silent. Both of them would not risk it. And both of them knew what to do.

"Feeling lost...natural?" 991 twitched her head. "The moment I was awake in a pod, I was told I lost my memories. I was told I had sisters I could find accompany with. I was told to be the dumbest and the most cheerful out of them all."

991 shifted her gaze, steady as if it was natural, the silvery indifference reminding the Witch of Adil’s.

"But no longer did I speak a high-pitched voice as cheery as a child, and no longer did I find the passion in talking with my sisters. The memories are long gone, but this body remembers...that I am not ’her’, not someone the code ’991’ represented."

Shit. The Witch held back a curse for her underrestimation of the situation. "Then you have time now to begin anew. Have the choice to find yourself again."

"Myself...yes...myself..."

The Android grasped the gun’s handle, a sickening familarity swarming her mind.

Recollecting the final order before the last of her sisters almost became <Drowned>, she muttered. "Defend the temple. Don’t let adventurers in. Cast them out. Make sure none of our bretherns could hurt anyone."

She hung her head low. She wised to cry. Yet also didn’t. The sisters were strangers, yet they were families as well, their only ones.

"One final question." She pleaded. "Did they...succeed? Was experimenting on me worth it? Did they finally...finally find the cure they have been looking for?

The Witch gulped. Not yet. "They didn’t."

"...I see."

And without a word, 991 hitched the gun for her neck.