Immortal Children

“It’s not easy.” Misuzu remarked, firmly staring me in the eyes. “It has not been simple for you two to accomplish what you have done for me. To be honest, I was so indebted to you that I had no idea how to repay you both. Because our own life is unquestionably the most essential and heaviest thing in the world. It was you and Kaguya-san, and no one else, who rescued that precious thing from hell, so please don’t pretend that…… was an easy decision.”

My thoughts were jumbled, and my attention was drawn to her eyes. In response to her emotions, the eyes would have gleaned unnaturally. But I still couldn’t keep my emotions in check. This was the first time I had ever felt genuine gratitude in a world where people would spit on me if I helped them.

To calm myself down, I feigned to wash my oil-stained palms with a towel, then extended my hand to Misuzu.

“If that’s what you want,” I said. “From now on, we’ll be comrades living in the same future.”

Misuzu grasps my hand.

“Comrade. That’s kind of a cool word.”

『Good!』 Kaguya’s enthusiastic voice resonated around the room.

『I can’t do this, Ray, put that out.』

“What’s that?” I said,

『It’s a handheld device.』

“What are you going to do?”

The housekeeper droid pulls out a small black cube-shaped device that fits in the palm of her hand from a shelf and hands it to me.

『Hold together with two hands.』

I followed Kaguya’s instructions and felt a faint electric pain coursing through my palm.

『This is perfect.』

“Explain it to me.” I said.

“I entered Misuzu’s biometric data into the mobile machine.”

Misuzu examined the cube in her palm with a confused expression.

『Try to hold it.』

When Misuzu grasped the device, the cube-shaped device quickly transformed into a spherical device that fit in her hand. Misuzu exclaimed with astonishment.

“Hologram?”

A hologram of the identical interface that was being projected onto my vision appeared from the corner of Misuzu’s eye. Misuzu will now be able to receive information from Kaguya transmitted from military satellites as long as she has the terminal.

The portable information terminal could communicate with me as well as display location information and images transmitted by the reconnaissance drone. There is a wide range of information available. If Misuzu wanted to know, she could even see her own vital signs.

『The device is charged by light and heat and is semi-permanent, so keep it close to you.』 Kaguya explained.

“Is this a relic from the old civilization……?” Misuzu asked.

『That’s right.』

The housekeeper droid drew a set of unused ear cuff earphones and a pair of bulletproof tactical goggles off the shelf at Kaguya’s command.

“Hold that with your hand.”

“You know, you’ve got to do that every time you—”

I brush my fingers across my palm in anguish.

『I’ve connected it to a portable information terminal. The tactical goggles may now display a variety of information. Wear goggles and earphones the next time you go out on the ground. And, by the way, the earphones do not block your ears, so you can simply insert them into your ears.』

“Thank you.”

Misuzu smiled as she glanced at the goggles that had been handed to her.

『In fact, covering the eyeball with a nano-layer membrane would be easier. I don’t have anything so pricey, and even if I had, it would be pointless since the medical equipment would be inoperable. However, bulletproof goggles aren’t all that awful, are they? Abandoned buildings are extremely dangerous.』

“Then…… we need this too.” I said.

I took a silver card box from the shelf, picked a random card from it, and presented it to Misuzu.

“It is an ID card that is used to enter and exit the old civilization’s facilities in various parts of Japan. There are towns called Birdcages all throughout the country where people reside, and you need a permit to access these places. This card is intended to have information on it that verifies your identification.”

“Is that my information?”

Misuzu was unaware of the ID card.

Perhaps Misuzu’s personal information isn’t available anywhere.

Wasn’t a card required in the Tokyo facility where Misuzu lived? Perhaps the captain killed by the raiders had some type of authority and did not need everyone to carry individual cards.

“Lick your fingertips, then place your fingers against the card.” I said.

Misuzu followed the instructions, and the card momentarily flashed a white light.

“Your biometric data has now been registered,” I said.

“Are we required to hold hands?” Misuzu cocked her chin.

“I don’t have to if I only want to register my biometric information. I required Kaguya’s assistance since my portable information device is special. However, when registering an individual’s non-biometric data on an ID card, a terminal controlled by the council is necessary in each birdcage, and it is not legal to register without authorization, as we are going to do.”

“Is that wrong?”

“It’s all about trust, you know.” I stated. “Individuals who are permitted to register their own information, for example, criminals and raiders can alter the information, register fake information on the card, and enter and exit the birdcage at will like ordinary citizens. As a result, the birdcage would be unsafe and humans would be unable to dwell in it.”

“Will it automatically appear on my card if I do something bad?” Misuzu was puzzled.

“It’s not that convenient. Biometric data that can be registered with a single touch, as previously stated, may only be used for identification. That is why, at the Council, information such as an individual’s occupation or criminal background is put on an ID card using a specific terminal.”

“I was taken aback when I heard that. I had a feeling it could be done if it was from an old civilization.”

“Do you have a device that can write information?” Misuzu said.

“I’ll delegate it to Kaguya via the contact connection. Give me your card.” I said.

Misuzu carefully wiped the ID card with her own saliva on it earlier, then handed the card to me.

『What are we going to call it, a pseudonym? Or should I refer to you as Misuzu?』 Kaguya asked Misuzu.

“Misuzu, please.”

『Do you have any kanji?』

“It’s a bell in the sea.”

『Misuzu. That’s a nice name.』

“Thank you……”

『How old are you?』

“I’m eighteen.”

『Civilian, no criminal record, Scavenger union member, and the birdcage she comes from is registered in the appropriate district…… That should be all OK.』 Kaguya stated. 『Ray, please give the card to Misuzu.』

With a numb hand, I handed the card to Misuzu.

『This will allow you to easily enter and exit most bird cages. You are, by the way, brother and sister.』 Kaguya said.

“Siblings?” Misuzu was surprised.

『Is it not good?』

“No, because Leila and I don’t look much alike.”

『I don’t know. I think you look alike. He’s tall, too.』

“He’s tall, sure, but ……”

『Now we are a family.』 Kaguya said.

“A family….? That’s good, a family.”

The housekeeper droid also looked good at it.

I thought about Misuzu’s real family, but I didn’t force myself to ask, thinking that she must have a reason for not talking about it.

Then we worked quietly. Misuzu’s battlesuit was great, with a power assist feature, but her bulletproof vest had been damaged by the powerful claws of an anthropomorphs when she was escaping, and the stab-proof fabric had been ruptured, rendering it useless.

I tossed them in the armory’s recycle bin and handed Misuzu the bulletproof vest I had in reserve, as well as the backpack and other equipment I hadn’t used for her.