【Story】Underground (Delta) Chapter 1

Ch. 1　Trust in Fellows

Part 1

“Just Stay Safe”

Delta: I can’t imagine so many things have happened. I feel sorry for Glauox…
Enoch, Xilocient and Delta took the path on the left. Along the way, Enoch told Delta what had happened since they were lost, including Glauox’s death.
Enoch: But I can’t bury myself in sorrow. I have to move on and live up to Glauox’s trust.
Delta: You’re strong, Enoch…Hmm…Did I do something wrong? Your fellow has been staring at me…
Xilocient had been keeping Delta at a distance for the whole time. All she did was staring at her with her beady eyes. A hint of excitement flickered in her gaze.
Enoch: Hmm…she means no harm. I guess she’s just curious about you as this is her first time to meet a machina.
Delta: Oh really? You’re Xilocient right? You can ask me if you want to know anything about us.
Xilocient: Can I?! Then…may I hug you?
Delta: Huh?…Sure…Oh!
Xilocient sprang forward and threw her arms around Delta with passion. As the two were much different in size, the little elf looked like a child hugging her mother.
Xilocient: Hmmm…It feels cold…That will be perfect in summer.
Delta: …Haha, you’re very interesting.
Enoch: Hey you finally smile, Delta.
Delta: Oh?
Enoch: You have been putting on a long face. Something’s weighing on your mind, right? Is it about Sonata? Why were you in a quarrel?
Delta: I… I just told him to leave me alone and run away if we were in danger…He’s not good at combat after all. He has nothing to do with this mission, but he still risks his life to come with me…So do you Enoch. You were on the verge of death several times…It’s all my fault…I’m dragging everyone into this mess…
Enoch: This is not true! Accidents will happen, anyway. You shouldn’t blame yourself!
Delta: Enough!…I don’t want to see my fellows die anymore…If someone has to get hurt, it’d be me!
Xilocient: No! Don’t think that way. It’s not the case. I——AHH!
Suddenly, the ground started shaking. Something gigantic underground was bashing non-stop to break through. And at last it did. Legs with razor-sharp claws stretched out, smashing a large piece of land.
Sensing the danger, Delta carried her two companions and made a big leap away from the creature.
Enoch: Arthropod…and more than one!
Delta: They’re giant centipedes.
Xilocient: They live in the mineral soil in groups. When you see one, more will come. I’m afraid we’ll soon be under siege!
Enoch: Wh-what! One alone is horrible enough. And there are more!? I, I’m doomed…
Delta: No, I won’t let you die.
Delta lifted up Enoch and threw him away with all her strength. Enoch travelled in a parabola and landed on the soft soil at a higher level. As he tried to get up, a petite figure crashed upon him——
Enoch: WHOAA!
Xilocient: Ah!
Delta: Run as fast as you can!
To buy time for Enoch and Xilocient to escape, Delta decided to fight against the giant centipedes alone.
Enoch: No! You can’t deal with them on your own! I’ll help——
Xilocient: Enoch, don’t. Let’s run.
Enoch: Huh?
Xilocient: Trust me.
Enoch could see the genuineness in her eyes, so he did not insist but ran away with Xilocient. Delta, who was struggling with the centipedes, smiled with determination as she saw them leaving.
Delta: “Right, just run away…I don’t want to be protected anymore.”

Part 2

“Even If It’s Dangerous”

Boom! The attacks of the giant centipedes echoed over the vast area. Dust and dirt rose and swirled to shroud everything in smog.Despite the adverse conditions, a purplish-red silhouette was still moving with surprising agility.
Spinning in mid-air, Delta managed to dodge a spate of intense attacks but eventually missed one. The strong legs of a centipede struck her against the metal wall, where cracks appeared.
The centipedes squirmed toward her, raising their sharp, pincer-like legs over her. Delta’s death was imminent.
Delta: “It seems I’ve come to an end…They should’ve escaped to a safe place by now. Great then…Hmm?”
The lethal blow did not come as expected; Delta opened her eyes.
Delta: Enoch! Xilocient!
Enoch and Xilocient, who were supposed to have fled, returned and parried the centipedes’ attacks for Delta. Both of them were covered in stinky mucus.
Delta: Why, why did you come back! We all are gonna die this way—
Xilocient: No! We ain’t coming back for death!
Delta: What? …Birds chirp…
Enoch: Here they come!
A dozen giant magpies came chirping. The feathers on their slender tails were flying in a beautiful gradient of colors. The birds hovered in the air before they took the perfect moment to swoop on the centipedes effortlessly.
The law of the jungle explained everything that happened next. Eventually, the magpies took all their prey home, leaving only Enoch, Xilocient, and Delta behind.
Delta: Those were blue magpies…They feed on giant centipedes. Did you bring them here on purpose?
Xilocient: Yes, I saw their faeces along the way. Their den is probably somewhere nearby, so we coated ourselves with centipede mucus to lure them here.
Enoch: Right. The mucus is so disgusting, by the way.
Delta: Thank you for saving me…
Enoch: Don’t mention it. All thanks to Xilo—
Delta: But please don’t do this again!
Enoch: …Why did you say that? We risked our lives to protect you.
Delta: That’s why! …This time the magpies could make it, but we may not be so lucky every time. One day, you’re gonna get yourself killed. Why don’t you understand?
Xilocient: …Even if I face danger or death, I still want to be with you!
Delta: Huh?
Xilocient: A friend of mine said so…Owing to her weak body, she had to stay in bed since childhood. Every time I brought her a badge with local characteristics, she would feel very happy. For this reason, I always try my best to find as many badges as possible when I go travelling.
Xilocient: But eventually, badges couldn’t satisfy her curiosity. One day, she asked me to take her out. Of course, I refused. Then we had our first fight. Back then, I was as puzzled as you. Why would she insist on going out with me even if it was so dangerous for her?
Delta: …So what happened later? Did you two make up?
Xilocient shook her head, and her voice sank in sorrow.
Xilocient: I set off for work the next day. During that trip, I collected many badges in hopes of making up with her when I came back…But it was too late. She died of a disease before I returned…leaving me only regret and sadness. If I had known it’d be our last conversation, I wouldn’t have let it end in a quarrel…Delta, I don’t want you to repeat my mistake.
Tears ran down Xilocient’s face. Delta was deeply touched by her grief. The machina hesitated for a moment…and reached out to hug Xilocient.
Delta: Sorry…I didn’t mean to bring up your bitter memories…I’ll try to understand you two…and Sonata.
Xilocient: Great! I’ll help you too!
Enoch: Alright then. Time is running out. Let’s get going!
The group of three continued their journey. They soon arrived at the end of the path. There was a door, and Xilocient opened it without any hesitation—
Delta: Hold on, Xilocient! Behind the door is—
Xilocient: WHOOOA!
Behind the door was a steep slide. The hasty Xilocient lost her footing, followed by Enoch. Delta rushed forward to pull Xilocient into her arms to protect the little elf. They slid a long way before they finally came to an exit.
Bang! Delta crashed into a shadow right at the moment she landed and fell. Clutching her head dizzily, she squinted her eyes to see—
Delta: Sonata!
——Sonata, who hit the ground like her, and Ingrid landing safely down another slide…

Delta: Why, why did you come back! We all are gonna die this way—
Xilocient: No! We ain’t coming back for death!
Delta: What? …Birds chirp…
Enoch: Here they come!
A dozen giant magpies came chirping. The feathers on their slender tails were flying in a beautiful gradient of colors. The birds hovered in the air before they took the perfect moment to swoop on the centipedes effortlessly.
The law of the jungle explained everything that happened next. Eventually, the magpies took all their prey home, leaving only Enoch, Xilocient, and Delta behind.
Delta: Those were blue magpies…They feed on giant centipedes. Did you bring them here on purpose?
Xilocient: Yes, I saw their faeces along the way. Their den is probably somewhere nearby, so we coated ourselves with centipede mucus to lure them here.
Enoch: Right. The mucus is so disgusting, by the way.
Delta: Thank you for saving me…
Enoch: Don’t mention it. All thanks to Xilo—
Delta: But please don’t do this again!
Enoch: …Why did you say that? We risked our lives to protect you.
Delta: That’s why! …This time the magpies could make it, but we may not be so lucky every time. One day, you’re gonna get yourself killed. Why don’t you understand?
Xilocient: …Even if I face danger or death, I still want to be with you!
Delta: Huh?
Xilocient: A friend of mine said so…Owing to her weak body, she had to stay in bed since childhood. Every time I brought her a badge with local characteristics, she would feel very happy. For this reason, I always try my best to find as many badges as possible when I go travelling.
Xilocient: But eventually, badges couldn’t satisfy her curiosity. One day, she asked me to take her out. Of course, I refused. Then we had our first fight. Back then, I was as puzzled as you. Why would she insist on going out with me even if it was so dangerous for her?
Delta: …So what happened later? Did you two make up?
Xilocient shook her head, and her voice sank in sorrow.
Xilocient: I set off for work the next day. During that trip, I collected many badges in hopes of making up with her when I came back…But it was too late. She died of a disease before I returned…leaving me only regret and sadness. If I had known it’d be our last conversation, I wouldn’t have let it end in a quarrel…Delta, I don’t want you to repeat my mistake.
Tears ran down Xilocient’s face. Delta was deeply touched by her grief. The machina hesitated for a moment…and reached out to hug Xilocient.
Delta: Sorry…I didn’t mean to bring up your bitter memories…I’ll try to understand you two…and Sonata.
Xilocient: Great! I’ll help you too!
Enoch: Alright then. Time is running out. Let’s get going!
The group of three continued their journey. They soon arrived at the end of the path. There was a door, and Xilocient opened it without any hesitation—
Delta: Hold on, Xilocient! Behind the door is—
Xilocient: WHOOOA!
Behind the door was a steep slide. The hasty Xilocient lost her footing, followed by Enoch. Delta rushed forward to pull Xilocient into her arms to protect the little elf. They slid a long way before they finally came to an exit.
Bang! Delta crashed into a shadow right at the moment she landed and fell. Clutching her head dizzily, she squinted her eyes to see—
Delta: Sonata!
——Sonata, who hit the ground like her, and Ingrid landing safely down another slide…