===[Sky Screen]===
Vergilius: "You're looking much more useful than before, Dante."
Dante: "
Faust: "They're worried over the foes we lost."
Vergilius: "No need for concern… That's the direction we were heading anyway. Charon?"
Charon: "Pedal to the metal. Up for an exciting ride."
===[Line Break]===
Three Kingdoms
""Do not pursue a cornered foe." Some principles truly withstand the passage of time." Guan Yu said, reading the Spring and Autumn Annals.
Eastern Wu (One of the Three Kingdoms in the Three Kingdoms Period)¹
"The more I look at Charon, the more endearing she seems," Sun Quan said happily.
How wonderful it would be to have such a cute little sister at home! (Sun Shangxiang: Am I a substitute?)
===[Sky Screen]===
Ishmael: "Give me a second."
Faust: "What is it?"
Ishmael: "I joined this company because I was told that I'll be able to move forward without being held back. But right now… we're stuck in meaningless violence, like we're Rats or something."
Don Quixote: "'Tis not without meaning! We are vanquishing evildoers who attacked us!"
===[Line Break]===
Spring and Autumn Period
"This Ms. Ishmael is too hasty," Lao Tzu said calmly.
Just like promoting an idea, it needs to be done step by step; you can't be too hasty.
Tang Dynasty
"Don Quixote is too naive." Wei Zheng shook his head.
Having watched Sky Screen for so long, he has analyzed the situation regarding The City.
From the emperor to the common people, there are probably some problems with their thinking. The Tang Dynasty cannot be like that.
===[Sky Screen]===
Ishmael: "Please, just—be quiet for a moment... Anyway, if all we'll be doing is beating people up like some hired thugs, I might have to reconsider my employment here in the near future."
Faust: "Haven't you read your contract...? Resignation is not permitted."
Ishmael: " ... Do you really think our contract has any sway at this point, given that it's based on lies?"
Faust: "Of course it does. Because there were no lies to begin with."
Ishmael: "... Huh?"
Faust: "You didn't think Mephistopheles was built to be a mere means of transportation, did you?"
===[Line Break]===
Among the Common People²
Zhang San: "Oh no, did they sign a contract of servitude?"
Li Si: "Is that even a question? If they won't let them leave, then it's obviously a contract of servitude."
Wang Wu: "So people do have some cunning."
Song Dynasty
"As expected, everyone there had gathered with some kind of purpose," Su Shi said calmly.
However, Ishmael doesn't seem like someone who is easily deceived or cares about fame and fortune.
What conditions did they offer that made her choose to join?
===[Sky Screen]===
Charon: "Mephi is always hungry. It keeps crying."
Dante: "
Faust: "When the engine "ingests" fuel, it yields a byproduct… Using that, you can grow more powerful. I'm sure Yi Sang knows this well. When all possibilities are drawn from the mirror…"
Yi Sang: "There is no limit to one's growth. Is the self in the mirror my reflection, or another being entirely?"
===[Line Break]===
Germany (20th century)
"I'm getting more and more confused. First they said it was a manufactured metal vehicle, and now they're saying it's hungry." Goethe scratched his head in bewilderment.
So it is not merely a machine, but something akin to a living metallic organism.
Three Kingdoms
Mirror… does it refer to a bronze mirror? Cao Cao glanced at the bronze mirror in his room.
But shouldn't it be reflecting oneself? If it's someone else, wouldn't it be a ghost story?
Spring and Autumn Period
"Possibilities? What a magical mirror!" Lao Tzu exclaimed.
He recalled his previous conversation with that Confucian master.
If he hadn't sought to restore the Zhou rites, what would he be doing now?
Now, only that mirror can reflect that kind of future.
===[Sky Screen]===
Dante: "
[The scene shifts back to the battle, but there aren't as many people left this time.]
[The following identities appear:
Yi Sang (Initial Identities)
Faust (Initial Identities)
Ishmael (Initial Identities)
Rodya (Initial Identities)
Gregor (Initial Identities)]
[Time passed aboard Mephistopheles.]
[Location: Aboard Mephistopheles]
Ishmael: "I see… So this is what that was about."
Faust: "There's no need to get impatient, Ishmael. As the bus makes its journey, you'll naturally…"
Vergilius: "You'll naturally start taking on more important tasks than beating the life out of random crooks. I know you're eager to achieve your goals… but at least try to have some patience."
Ishmael: "...tch."
===[Line Break]===
United States (19th century)
"Was it because of that whale? Or something else?" Herman Melville pondered.
Judging from her condition, she must have survived the sea voyage. I really don't know why she embarked on this journey.
(I forgot to include him when I wrote my self-introduction, so I'll try to add him here. I'll also add the Heathcliff part later.)
=====
T/N:
¹: I think I should've checked each mentioned place because some are actually in a certain period even though it wasn't stated
²: Forgot to mention in earlier chapters, don't try to remember the common people's names, they are just random ass name like Second Dog, John doe, Jane doe, etc.
Any mistake or details missing??? LMK!!!