Lies and Prejudice is an event in SINoALICE.
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| "Lies and Prejudice" |
Intro Scene[]
Parrah:
Celebrating the Act of Reality release.
Noya:
From here on out, you’ll have to learn to understand others’ feelings.
Parrah:
I want you to observe a certain nightmare in that place.
Noya:
I would like to ask for your recognition once more.
Parrah:
Oh, speaking of…
Noya:
This time, the story is quite long…
Parrah:
So turn auto-skip on if you’re farming!
Noya:
It’s doable on the options screen, so
Parrah:
please don’t forget!!
Verse 1[]
Graduated from the School of Philosophy
at Yule University.
Graduated from the School of Philosophy
at Hatford University Graduate School
with a doctoral thesis on "Mentale
Philosophie."
Served in a number of national studies
and special forces.
In recent years, received training with
a foreign legion.
Founding member of the Juzenso style of
martial arts for soldiers.
Recognition of skills led to work as a bodyguard
for prominent figures from several countries.
Registered as No. 009 with the
International Association of
Security Organization Teachers.
※
Served in secrecy as a defense advisor
after returning to Japan last year.
Possesses deep ties to the financial world
and is often called upon during visits to
European territories.
Regularly involved with the arts
and actively posts to video websites.
While not well known,
his talents have been praised
by celebrities from many fields.
※
Age 16
Enrolled at N High School.
Got into fights all the time.
Due to strength and normally mild-mannered
personality, became widely known as the shadow
leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents.
Also a very good student, has received a
recommendation from Dr. K,
Director of T University General
Psychiatric Hospital.
Age 18
Graduated at the top of his class in
the special armed forced.
Completed training and enlisted
as an active member.
Promptly promoted to commanding officer.
※
Ages 19-24
Fought many serious battles with
international terrorist organizations.
Fought against human trafficking
organizations in Country S,
renowned for single-handedly
rescuing 9 hostages from an
armed group of 900.
*Rumored to have killed 700
Ages 25 to present
The battles he fought to protect others
led him to be widely known as a legendary
warrior in the underground society.
Though he is not fond of it,
No. 009 is referred to by the codename
"Grim Reaper".
※
Real Hound (Fire):
Sir! We've sighted the old mercenary!
Should I bring him in for questioning?
Real Hound (Wind):
No. Leave him be.
Verse 2[]
All of the these events took place ten years ago.
The sun's unforgiving heat scorches my back.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see that not
even the strongest members of the platoon
can keep pace with me.
Not that it matters.
I'm used to doing things on my own.
Despite being part of an organization,
leaving people behind was a daily regimen for
an extraordinarily strong person like myself.
※
Even against 100 marines,
I was the only one left standing
after 10 minutes.
Naturally, someone as strong as me
does not need help from anyone.
Taking down a group of armed terrorists
or trekking through a desert without water
are all in a good day's work for me.
I imagine this mission will be just as easy.
—Or at least, it should've been.
※
When I arrived at the enemy's hideout,
I saw that the members of the platoon
had been tied up as hostages.
I knew right away it was a trap.
But I was born to protect others,
so I couldn't just abandon them.
I raided the base from the front
and announced my name as always.
The enemy fled at the sound of my name,
flailing their arms as if casting off
spider webs.
※
Taking out an enemy who has lost their
cool on the battlefield is like
taking candy from a baby.
I sent them all to meet their maker.
After a while,
only one person stood to challenge me.
I could sense he was powerful.
It gave me goose bumps.
"So, are you the leader of this group?"
I had a feeling he was, but I just had
to make sure.
I didn't wait for a reply...
And immediately prepared for battle.
※
In the end,
calling it a fight would be an exaggeration.
I destroyed the organization,
freed the hostages,
and continued on to the next mission.
※
Real Ghost (Fire):
Hey, do you know the old merc?
Real Ghost (Wind):
I don't know him. He seems decent enough, though.
Real Ghost (Fire):
You'll get your chance soon enough.
He's always skulking about here at night.
Verse 3[]
I awoke to find myself covered in sweat.
"That dream again..."
Was I feeling uncomfortable due to the
sweat, or was it the dream?
I slowly lit a cigarette to calm my nerves.
Light flickered in my eyes.
※
The blurry images in my head were of
the violent battlefield at Jafgan.
"It's useless.
I can't shake off that feeling
from the battlefield."
Even the plants that I sometimes spoke
to jokingly swayed silently in the wind
that blew from the window.
※
Several years have passed since I
returned to this country.
But even this seemingly peaceful place
is not beyond the reach of that
organization.
They manipulated their image through
the mass media and quietly ate away at
the emotions of the people.
Before long, the citizens had abandoned
thinking for themselves.
"The organization will make its move
soon. I have to stop them."
I don't want to see anyone else die.
That reason alone has kept me going.
Verse 4[]
I began patrolling the town and soon
my suspicions grew to certainty.
Although it looked like a normal town, the
dark veil that shrouded it was visible to me.
In this town that had grown complacent with
peace, none were skeptical of the organization.
For someone like me, who had just
returned from war, though...
It proved a difficult place to live.
Take these sunglasses, for example.
※
Even in the dark, I never take them off.
When a normal person sees the
glow of determination in my eyes,
they become frightened.
But that's not all.
If I try to shake hands with someone,
the power of my grip is strong enough
to break their bones with ease.
In an environment where even my
daily behaviors can wound others,
it's only natural that my interactions
with others would lessen.
※
And protecting the peace of the nation was
not the only problem that needed solving.
I needed to face my resentment,
born from a never-fading regret.
It was always there, despite my efforts
to drown it out.
The resentment takes the form of a woman.
Even now, I can see her smiling before me.
※
Before long,
my memory returns to the day I was supposed
to be tracking the organization, but instead
found the impetus for my return from Jafgan.
Verse 5[]
...It was a snowy Christmas day.
The armed group's insurrection was the cause.
While working for a certain country's defense force,
I received a request for emergency assistance and
immediately departed for the battlefield shown
in the coordinates.
※
I arrived,
white breath emerging from my mouth.
But I soon found myself gasping for air.
A burnt odor filled the air.
It was so rotten that even I, who had
experienced countless battles,
felt a wave of nausea.
※
In such an unforgiving environment, it's
only natural ordinary soldiers would
prove useless.
For the sake of those less experienced,
I suppressed my desire to go into an
immediate frenzy and offered to help
with the mountain of corpses.
I pulled the charred bodies from the rubble
and cast them into the back of a truck.
※
The indiscriminant fires of war consumed
everyone, whether they be a boy or girl.
The ground was littered with small bodies
and the cries of wounded children
echoed like a woeful choir.
After a while,
an old comrade in arms emerged from
the crowd and approached me.
※
Or perhaps it's more accurate to say
he snuck up on me.
He was desperately trying to hold his guts
inside his body as he came close to me.
He managed to pull a dry chuckle.
Perhaps he was pretending to be calm.
But I painfully understood him.
If I had been in his position,
I'm sure I would have done the same.
※
We shook hands in silence and made
trivial small talk about the weather.
I wanted that moment to continue
as long as possible.
Such weak thoughts
echoed through my mind.
Despite my futile prayers,
it was only seconds later that his
tired body slumped against me.
Of course, on the battlefield,
we should disregard those we recognize
or who are important to us.
...but I cannot accept this.
※
I cried so much after that.
I made sure he knew I was holding him
tightly until his body was cold.
I wrapped him in my uniform and made my way
to the graveyard at the edge of the town.
Was my weary pace being hampered by
the snow, or was it the burden in my soul?
I repeated answers that I already knew
and tried to stay calm.
I arrived at the graveyard,
a place awash with souls
who lamented their death.
※
As I dug his grave, someone nearby noticed
the corpse and made their way over.
I realized right away who that sad figure was.
It was his lover, the one he had told me about.
The woman grabbed my friend and burst into tears.
Only then did I realize that he was dead.
He was never coming back.
That's why all I could do was apologize.
※
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time!"
"Even though I had the power to help him!"
"I didn't make it!"
"He's dead because of me!"
"It's my fault!"
"I killed him!"
"I should have protected him!"
"He was just one person, yet I couldn't help him!"
※
The snow piled up on the muddy ground as
I rubbed my hands against my head.
I'm sure that she understood.
I had done my best to help him.
If I hadn't been there,
he would have suffered even more.
Even if I could save this small country,
if I failed to save every single person in it,
I would never be able to forgive myself.
※
The first defeat triggered something in me
and I became obsessed.
From that day forth,
a ghostly woman would appear before me.
※
Real Orc (Fire):
Argh! Would that stupid old man shut up already?!
I should have hit him harder!
Real Orc (Wind):
Settle down.
You're not gonna do any good beating up a dead guy!
Real Orc (Fire):
Shut up! I know!!
Verse 6[]
My consciousness returned to that city
filled with exhaust fumes.
You could tell I had been crying.
The events of that day torment me
in the form of a ghost, ever at my side.
She's there when I stop by the store,
take out the trash in the morning,
or patrol the city.
Wherever she may be,
she smiles back at me.
※
Within that specter,
whom I loathe to look at in her ugliness,
I could see my friend's penchant for mischief.
Back then we used to talk a lot about girls.
I remember how we used to joke about it.
※
—11 years earlier
"I will only be with women who are worthy of me!"
"Speaking of which, didn't you say you wanted a girlfriend?"
"What about that girl?"
"If you want her, I'll let you have her."
"Unlike you, I can get a girlfriend all by myself."
"Girls always end up getting us into trouble."
"It seems girls can't get enough of you, eh?"
※
Real Ghost (Fire):
Hey! It's the old merc's admirer!
Real Ghost (Wind):
Really? Where!?
Real Ghost (Fire):
You know what that means.
The old merc must be nearby!
※
I get it now.
I need to deal with this grudge or the
curse of my dead friend won't ever go away.
Even though I've managed to heal,
it seems like I just can't talk to women.
I'm not scared of talking to others now.
I must try to make peace with this terrible hatred.
※
Yet another person inside of me is screaming out.
"I will never forget!"
"I will not forget his voice or his attachments to this world!"
"I have not changed enough to forget that."
"I still cannot forgive the powerless me from that day."
※
I've told this to myself time and time again.
Surely he's laughing at what a coward I am.
But now it's ok.
As long as I destroy the evil in this place
I'll be able to move on.
I should also try to be more sociable.
Verse 7[]
But even these unchanging days
are coming to an end.
I kept trying to find
the organization's members.
They blend in so well with the rest
of society that they would be
undetectable to the untrained eye.
But I've killed so many of them
that they can't fool me.
"I'm sorry," I would say before taking
them down with all of my strength,
my hand like a bolt of lightning
aimed straight for the neck.
※
—But, even though they may look weak,
they're still members of the organization.
My surprise attack was easily avoided.
Noticing something strange,
the enemy called for reinforcements
in an unusual voice.
"This is really bad".
Despite my strength,
I've never killed without a weapon,
let alone fight many enemies.
※
While I still had the upper hand
I decided to reveal myself and
give them a chance to escape.
But, regardless of my compassion,
the organization's hoodlums
grabbed my lapels.
※
"Sh...ghh...
L-leave now and I'll...forgive..."
Hm? How strange.
Why is my voice...
I've faced death so many times before,
yet my legs still tremble.
※
The organization members point
and laugh at me.
Stop it!
Don't look at me like that.
Stop making fun of me...
I continue to tremble as their
provocative voices ring in my ears.
※
"You're that guy who's always prowling
around town acting like some sort of mercenary.
Am I right, old man?"
"I thought he was a bit off his rocker,
he was always laughing..."
"If I attacked you,
you'd have to fight back, right?
All right! Here I come!"
Verse 8[]
How long has he been hitting me?
I can't even squeeze out the words
to ask him to stop.
Actually, I get it.
I have never been of any use to anyone.
I'm unemployed.
I was under the delusion that I could
hide away my miserable past.
※
Recognizing all of this,
I saw the truth about myself.
Then the hoodlums said mockingly:
※
"All right, old man. Time to confess."
"Spit it out!
Admit you're just a stupid, ordinary old man."
"Tell us that everything was
the delusions of an old man."
"You were just acting tough,
lost in your own imagination."
"If you admit that,
we might just let you live."
※
"N...No! I...I'm..."
"I'm the strongest mercenary..."
Aah!
"Huh? What was that?!"
"Come on! Say it! Say what's next!"
"I'm just a hopeless liar,
I'm a waste of xx.
I'm a worthless insect. Now say it!"
※
Urgh! Arrgh!
They struck me heavily on the back
of my head with a bat.
My pride shattered.
I became an unsightly worm,
groveling to the great ones before me.
※
A metallic taste filled my mouth,
my body burning up,
unable to move a single finger.
I wanted this to end as soon as possible.
My pride no longer mattered.
※
"I'm a...
...a hopeless liar...
I'm a worthless...insect..."
"Come again?"
"I can't hear you!"
"I...I'm a..."
"...a hopeless..."
"...liar!"
"I'm...not...a mercenary..."
"It was all a delusion!"
※
Weeping and sobbing in humiliation,
my true self was absolutely pitiful.
Verse 9[]
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Let him go."
Is this an illusion?
That woman's ghost appeared...
She stood between me and the thugs,
as if to protect me.
※
"Ehh? What the...?!"
"Who's this ugly chick?"
"Way to spoil the mood, lady."
I knelt on the ground
in total submission,
but the ghost wouldn't leave my side.
※
The thugs spat on me,
but the ghost just smiled
and held my hand firmly.
After several seconds of glaring at each other,
they may have understood her resolve.
Or perhaps they were afraid
that she might call for help.
Whatever the reason,
the thugs finally left us alone.
We walked into a crowded avenue.
※
The ghost wiped my bloody forehead with a
handkerchief and cleaned it with water that
looked as though it had been purchased at
a vending machine.
She looked after me with total devotion,
yet instead of showering my savior with
gratitude, I remained skeptical.
"Why did you help me?"
Despite the doubt in my voice,
the woman replied gently.
※
"Let's talk about a certain girl."
Verse 10[]
That girl was a victim of bullying.
The reason was clear.
That girl was undoubtedly inferior
to those around her.
Her clothes spoke of her poverty,
and she was unsightly.
But, no girl chooses
to be like that.
※
Having been bullied
ever since she was born,
the girl understood.
Bullying drives a wedge between people,
but time is a great healer.
Experience has taught me
that changing to another environment,
such as another classroom,
can prevent such bullying
from taking place.
※
However, what this girl has gone through
was very different from the experience
of others who have led normal lives.
She was ugly.
So ugly that she stood out.
She was bullied and her
mind warped as a form of self defense.
Those who have been broken
do not make friends.
It was, in fact, the opposite.
※
Everyday was hell.
No, being in hell would actually
have been more pleasant.
Her parents were the only ones who
were kind to her.
But within that small microcosm called
school where she spent most of her time,
she had nothing but enemies.
Choosing to end it all
was not a hard decision.
※
Through the rain and the tears,
she finally reached the dark alley.
That's where she would die.
She took the rope and carefully read
over her last words.
She wanted those who bullied her to
know the darkness she had been
plunged into.
※
It was then that her savior appeared.
He was clearly agitated.
He stammered as he spoke,
making it very hard to understand what
he said.
But she did understand
that he was trying to stop her.
※
The fact that someone other than her
family would go out of her way to help
her felt totally alien.
She realized that she was
in love with this boy who
cared so much for her.
Someone who has lived a normal life
may not understand.
※
But the fact that he
was so desperate to help her
was too much for her to bear.
She decided to give up her
own life and devote
herself to his.
The reason was that she and
they boy were the same - both ugly.
She immediately realized that
he was also bullied.
And she felt that she had to
help him somehow.
※
And so she came to watch over him.
She would pretend to read books
that she didn't understand to
maintain her self respect.
A figure too afraid to buy adult books
at the local convenience store.
A figure that dogs barked at
when taking out the trash.
All this she did lovingly.
※
Days and years passed as if nothing.
She kept watching over the young man.
And then, one day - today -
the opportunity came.
※
Real Plant (Fire):
Listen to this!
I just saw the old merc talking to the stalker lady!
Real Plant (Wind):
You did?
That's so nice! They finally got to talk.
Good for them.
Verse 11[]
I was caught up by the words coming out
from the girl before me.
I felt I had to talk about the past
of this young boy she had come to love.
And then the whole
story started flooding out.
※
The boy didn't use to be alone.
The first lie the boy told
was a small one.
"I know a celebrity."
His friends said that was amazing,
even though they knew it to be a lie.
The boy had nothing
in his life to boast about
but for a moment, it
had made him feel special.
※
The boy couldn't forget how
that lie had made him feel.
He wanted to feel that way
again, so he lied once more.
Then he had to tell another lie
to clear up a contradiction.
※
The lies piled up on one another
and whenever he spoke more
lies came spilling out.
He no longer felt the guilt
he had felt with that first lie.
Lying had become easier
than he could have imagined.
※
As he got older,
his compulsive lying became more
problematic.
He was so shrouded in lies
that he hid the truth even from himself.
He was no longer able to tell
what was real and what wasn't.
※
Of course, everyone
thought he was strange.
The boys just treated him
like a toy.
They watched with mirth
how the boy got confused when
faced with the truth.
※
Of course, the boy
wasn't able to admit it.
If he did, he just knew
that it'd go to their heads.
And so he built new lies based
on old lies.
His catalog of lies had grown
so complex and numerous that
he could no longer control them.
※
His lies had gotten so far
they were completely out of control.
Instead of a tranquilizer,
he used lies...
Verse 12[]
But the boy was finally able
to face his true self.
And then that happened, he had a
chance encounter with something
important.
Today was the day.
※
"This may seem ridiculous, but
I feel like I finally
understood myself."
"I am such an idiot..."
"Could I still be worthy of love?"
※
"Everyday I have pursued you.
You are the only one I want."
"Ever since we met, our lives
have been intertwined."
"You are my everything."
"This time I want to rescue you."
"There is nothing fake about my feelings."
※
"We cannot survive alone.
We need a connection with someone."
"There are few like you
in this world."
"I wanted people to think I was someone
else so I lied."
"I had to lie more to
maintain that lie."
※
"And then when I realized
that I had isolated myself,
it was already too late."
"I read books to understand
your illness.
"They said that if you have
someone who supports you,
you can heal."
"So I have been waiting
for the chance for you to
hear me."
※
"I am here for you.
So you'll be okay."
"It's not too late, even now.
Why don't you admit everything
and start a new life together with me?"
"But there's nothing I can do..."
This life you saved...
I have dedicated it all
to supporting you."
※
"But I might...
I might lie."
"And the lie I tell
might hurt you."
"I know that."
"Saving you was
selfish. It was something I only
did for myself."
"Yes. I know that."
"But what was important to me
in that moment was definitely you."
"But..."
※
"You don't need to say anymore."
※
He found it difficult to utter the next words.
His lips refused to move.
※
It had been a long time since I had felt
the warmth of another
and it thawed my frozen heart.
※
Three months later...
※
Reality is harsh, but you have
to face your true self
nonetheless.
I had made a friend.
You can never rest
when your life is a lie.
To others it looks like a boring,
normal life.
Now I know how important that is.
I will live my normal days
and make them worthwhile.
※
"Hey! Listen to me!"
"My girlfriend is an actress!"
"Amazing!"
Ending Scene[]
Parrah:
Nice work!
Noya:
Sorry for the long story...
Parrah:
Even so, can his bad habit be healed?
Noya:
As long as she's with him, he should be fine!
Parrah:
It would be wonderful if that's really the case.
Noya:
Who knows?
Parrah:
Truth is in the eyes of the beholder!
Noya:
Well then, see you again!
Parrah:
Kee-hee-hee!
Noya:
Keee-hee-hee-hee-hee!