[Voice]

[undyingcrow]

[In the middle of a restless night, Akechi addresses the radio.]

One thing has become abundantly clear since my arrival: the vast majority of us hail from different times, if not different worlds.

[He pauses, letting that sink in.]

For instance, I'm from Japan in the year 2017. However, it is specifically the same version of Japan shared by Akihiko Sanada and Naoto Shirogane... in the future. That places the three of us in a shared reality, but not the same point in time.

However, our version of Japan has endured a number of odd, even supernatural occurrences, such as a "Dark Hour" and, more recently, the vigilante work of a group of "Phantom Thieves" who quite literally changed the hearts of wicked adults through the use of a parallel, cognitive world.

[His voice remains calm, if tinged with a subtle weariness.]

But that is far from universal. In my time here, I have encountered a talking turtle from a world where yokai and mutants are real. I've spoken with someone who had been sent into a digital world, like an isekai protagonist. I even had to explain the concept of religion to Serph-san, as well what a horse is.

[...]

All this to say, it may be worthwhile to cross reference the worlds and time periods we hail from. If nothing else, it may help us discern patterns that could in turn heighten our understanding of our present circumstances.

Comments

[undyingcrow]

[That's... certainly an alarming bit of news.]

I wonder how that will affect the tides. Surely its gravitational pull changed as a result...

[airskate]

[ Finally, someone else asking the real questions. ]

I wasn't there long enough to see. But I thought that was why no one here recognized any of the stars as first. If something like that changed Earth's axis, the constellations might all look strange.

[undyingcrow]

That's a fair point. Not to mention, the moon is of great significance within this world...

[Albeit in a very different context.]

There are many mysteries waiting to be solved. The stars, the moon, the old recordings and abandoned vehicles...

[To say nothing of the Husks, really.]

[airskate]

And the person on the radio.

[ The one that spoke to them that first night, and that sent them the message telling them to go north. ]

I don't like that we haven't seen anyone else thus far, either.

[undyingcrow]

Yes, the old recordings are troubling to say the least.

[A heavy sigh escapes him.]

I've a feeling that this is hardly the Convoy's first voyage toward "Nirvana."

[airskate]

[ That's not something Shadow had considered, but... ]

... You're right. Even though the roads are in bad shape, we haven't had to double back. It's like it already knows the best route to take.

[undyingcrow]

Precisely.

[It's a harrowing thought, naturally. Certainly not for the faint of heart.]

It makes it difficult to fully trust the Convoy. It's our only way forward, yet there's little assurance that this voyage is truly for our benefit.

Yet we rely on it for shelter, structure, and sustenance.

[airskate]

[ Yeah, Shadow is less and less pleased by all this with each passing word. ]

Do you think we could find some way to test the food...?

[undyingcrow]

[...Huh. Now there's a thought.]

Do you mean test its components, or test whether or not it's still edible?

[airskate]

Its components. To see if they're adding something like vitamin supplements or sedatives to the food.

[undyingcrow]

It's certainly possible. That, or the moon itself has something to do with it...

[It certainly fits with all the other oddities within this world, at any rate.]