Inside The Hollow.
Led by Ling, the group finally found the third pile driver machine.
"Type III Void Industrial Pile Driver! Friday!"
Koleda exclaimed as she looked at the huge pile driver not far away.
The machine nearby stopped its actions upon hearing Koleda's words.
"Not talking? Is he putting on an aloof act?"
Hoshimi Aya looked at the machinery in the distance with confusion.
Regarding these three machines, except for the girl who was the first one, she didn't remember the others very clearly.
Too much time had passed.
She remembered that there seemed to be a prototype machine later in this plotline.
The pile driver turned around and stared at the group.
"It doesn't matter! No matter what form he takes, we can persuade him!"
"After all, we already successfully persuaded two problem children!"
Anton stretched his muscles while looking at the pile driver in front of him.
Without another word, the pile driver rushed toward the group, leaped up, and ran past them.
The group:...
"It's... it's running away!"
Anton looked at the fleeing pile driver in disbelief.
"Don't just stand there! Chase it!"
Saying that, Koleda chased after it.
However, a red figure was faster than Koleda.
Hoshimi Aya utilized her superior speed to leap over the pile driver's wall-like structure and kicked the pile driver.
This directly repelled it back by seven or eight meters.
This move also gave the others time to surround the pile driver.
"Phew! Good thing Miss Ya was here, or this guy would have really gotten away."
Ben looked at the kicked-back pile driver.
"Stop the nonsense and subdue this guy first."
Koleda reminded him.
Ben and Anton nodded upon hearing this and began to move against the pile driver.
Hoshimi Aya was responsible for intercepting the pile driver's escape, as drawing her sword might easily chop it into pieces.
So, her job was just to block the path; if the pile driver tried to run, she was responsible for kicking it back.
Soon, the group subdued the pile driver, which lay weakly on the ground.
"Give up, Friday. You have nowhere left to run."
Koleda looked at the pile driver.
But the pile driver gave no response.
"This guy hasn't made a sound since earlier. Could its voice system be broken?"
Anton wondered.
"That's impossible. It clearly understood what we were saying."
Koleda denied Anton's guess.
"..."
Hoshimi Aya silently watched the group and the pile driver. She remembered that the next step was to find the prototype machine.
As for how they found it, her memory of the plot was a bit fuzzy.
"Alright, stop playing deaf and mute."
"The two machines that ran away with you: one was a self-actualized tough guy! The other was a girl deeply in love."
"And you? What is your identity?!"
Koleda questioned.
"Insolent! How dare you!"
The pile driver spoke, instantly stunning Koleda.
"A setting?! This is absurd!"
"You mere mortals, how dare you speak so disrespectfully and tarnish my great duty."
"I am the Punisher of the Dawn, under my Master's orders. I am here to stabilize the seal and guard this place. You all must retreat immediately!"
The pile driver looked at the group.
The group:...
"Uh... do you guys feel a bit awkward?"
Hoshimi Aya asked the people beside her. She certainly felt it was a bit awkward to speak like that, and it was awkward to listen to as well.
However, she recalled some of the plot: going to stabilize the seal probably meant going to the prototype machine's location.
"It is a bit awkward."
Koleda agreed. After the pile driver spoke like that, she couldn't look at it normally anymore.
She thought it had some kind of personality, but it turned out to be chuunibyou.
Afterward, Anton began to confront the pile driver.
Then, the pile driver prepared to use the same trick again, leaping over the group.
Hoshimi Aya saw this, and red Fox Fire emanated from her body. She then leaped up and kicked it back.
"Damn it!"
"Breakthrough failed!"
The pile driver looked at Hoshimi Aya.
It had already taken several kicks from that girl since earlier; every kick was incredibly powerful.
Just as the pile driver prepared to break through from another direction, Ben pinned it down, and seeing this, Anton pressed down on the pile driver from another direction.
Grace began to examine the pile driver.
While struggling, the pile driver revealed why it acted that way and also uttered a name.
Holst.
This name made everyone present, except Hoshimi Aya, freeze for a moment.
Koleda hadn't heard this name for a long time, and hearing it again brought back memories of the past.
...
Bai Zhi Heavy Industry Base.
The group brought the pile driver back.
Koleda was still recalling the matter. Why would the pile driver know her father's name? That name shouldn't have been implanted in its template.
Hoshimi Aya was playing on her phone nearby, asking Ling when she would come to pick her up.
Although she could go back by herself, Ling had sent a message when they were leaving, saying she would come over.
Soon, Ling arrived and began coordinating with Koleda.
Hoshimi Aya didn't pay attention. After all, she knew everything that needed to be said, so listening or not didn't matter.
So, Hoshimi Aya waited aside while holding Eous.
A short while later, Koleda and Grace started arguing over the matter of Holst.
"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm," Aya and the others started arguing.
"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm?" Should we go over and mediate?
Eous in Hoshimi Aya's arms pointed at the group arguing not far away.
"No need, it's none of our business."
"They will solve it themselves."
Hoshimi Aya shook her head. According to the timeline, although they started arguing over this matter, they should depart to find the prototype machine tomorrow without any unexpected issues.
It was best to let things proceed according to the original plot; there shouldn't be any need to interfere.
As for any regrets that needed mending, she hadn't thought of them yet.
The twin sisters in The Hollow had long since become dungeon bosses.
The Outer Ring plot hadn't even started yet, so there was no need to rush for now.
Therefore, letting things follow the original plot was the best course of action; interfering might cause other unforeseen problems.
After a while, Ling walked over to Hoshimi Aya.
"Let's go, Aya."
"You must be tired today, right?"
"I'll give you a good foot massage when we get back."
Saying that, Ling looped her arm through Hoshimi Aya's.
"...Do we have to?"
"I wasn't that tired today, I just kicked a few times."
"The Etherals didn't exert much effort either; it was resolved in one go."
"At most, I just worked up a little sweat."
Hoshimi Aya silently refused. Whenever Ling did these things for her, she always felt a bit strange.
Especially when giving her ears care, that tingling sensation felt addictive.
...
Evening
At the Video Store, in Ling's room.
"Ling, we don't need a massage, right?"
"I don't have anywhere that feels uncomfortable."
Hoshimi Aya refused as Ling approached her.
"Hey! Didn't we agree?"
"Aya, no refusing."
After speaking, Ling pounced directly onto Hoshimi Aya, pinning her down.
Hoshimi Aya dared not resist at all. It would be bad if she accidentally injured Ling.
In the end, Hoshimi Aya could only accept the massage from Ling.
Suddenly, Hoshimi Aya felt something was off.
"Ling, does a massage require taking off clothes?"
Hoshimi Aya asked, perhaps because she was too ignorant to know that massages required undressing.
"Aya, you don't understand."
"This is how this massage is done."
"Especially when massaging the legs, the pajama bottoms definitely need to be taken off."
Saying that, Ling directly pulled off Hoshimi Aya's pajama bottoms.
Hoshimi Aya didn't understand and could only nod blankly.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.