Don Quixote opened his closed eyes. The sun that had risen early in the morning was now setting beyond the scrap metal heap.
In the world covered with deep sunset, Don Quixote did not understand why he was lying down. After contemplating for a while, he finally recalled what happened right before he fainted.
That's right. Clearly, at the moment when he was about to push against his opponent by increasing the output of his armor and his steed Rocinante.
'Golden flames filled my vision.'
And then he lost consciousness. The last thing he saw before his consciousness was immersed in pitch-black darkness was the figure of a knight wearing dazzling golden armor.
Remembering that, Don Quixote sat up abruptly.
His steed Rocinante was standing still like a statue next to its master. It had automatically shut down after he fainted.
Then what were the two people who had knocked him out doing?
Don Quixote's gaze turned toward Osian and David. The two were working on a vehicle they had seized from the Oil Finger Gang.
"Do you know how to drive?""I worked as a driver for a while when I was trying to make money. However, I've never driven a high-performance car like this."
"How powerful is it?"
"It's been tuned so much that it would be dangerous to drive it like a normal car. I'll need to get used to it after a few tries."
"Taming such a wild beast is also a virtue of a knight. Give it a try."
Don Quixote got up and slowly approached the two. Osian and David, who had been conversing with each other, sensed his presence and turned to look at him.
"You're awake."
"What happened to me?"
"You fainted. Don't worry. We didn't try to remove your helmet or anything."
In response to Osian's reassurance, Don Quixote replied.
"I'm not worried about that. My armor has mechanisms to prevent others from removing it as they please."
"I see. I knew it wasn't ordinary armor, but I didn't know it had such features. So, who exactly are you? That level of steam suit seems too advanced for individual use."
"I am Don Quixote, a knight who dreams of ideals!"
Osian couldn't help but chuckle at his unhesitating answer. It was as if he had anticipated such a question and practiced his response hundreds of times.
"I won't pry further. We all have our reasons for being here."
"So what exactly do you intend to do?"
"You should know why I'm here if you've come here. I've come to find the artificial intelligence Automaton."
"And what do you plan to do once you find it?"
Don Quixote's voice was quite solemn. It meant that he considered this matter very important.
"As a fixer, I was commissioned to find it, so I'll find it. What happens to it afterward is up to my client to decide."
"Even if the purpose is not good?"
"You speak as if you know something."
Don Quixote was momentarily speechless at Osian's point. But he soon burst into hearty laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Of course! Because I, a knight, have excellent intuition! And that knightly intuition is shouting! That evil people are coveting it!"
"Then what about me?"
Osian asked. With that knightly intuition, what kind of person was he?
"If you were truly evil, I would have fought not simply to subdue you. I think that's answer enough."
In the first place, the reason they had fought was because they had wounded each other's pride, making it more of a duel rather than a fight to the death. If it had been such a fight, they wouldn't be having such a comfortable conversation now.
"Besides, it's gotten too late. We'll have to stay here for the night."
The sun that had been setting in the west had completely disappeared. The heat that had been warming their skin vanished instantly, and a chill was already beginning to set in.
The scrap metal graveyard, gradually being engulfed in darkness, felt more desolate than it did during the day.
"Let me make it clear, we only have our own food and supplies."
In response to Osian's warning not to rely on them, Don Quixote cheerfully replied.
"How would a wandering knight like me worry about such things! I'm already accustomed to using sand as my bed and the sky as my blanket!"
His words sounded convincing, but who knows how true they were. Osian stared intently at Don Quixote, who didn't seem to be carrying any luggage with him.
"Rocinante!"
Then Don Quixote called out the name of his steed.
'I expected as much from his own name, but he really did name his horse like that.'
The lights returned to the eyes of the automaton horse that had been shut down.
Rocinante approached with a clattering sound and stood in front of Don Quixote.
As they watched, wondering what he was about to do, Don Quixote approached Rocinante's rear thigh and pressed something with his hand. Then the thigh smoothly opened, and various tools popped out from inside. It had a storage function as well.
Don Quixote quickly deployed the items he had taken out. A high-quality carpet was laid on the ground, and a tent set itself up automatically.
"Rocinante, please light a fire."
When Don Quixote placed compressed firewood on the ground and spoke, Rocinante opened its mouth wide. Red flames shot out from its opened mouth, igniting the firewood.
Don Quixote immediately took out the prepared food and tableware. The food was qualitatively different from the tasteless protein bars that Osian and David were eating. It smelled sweet from the start. It clearly contained high-quality meat.
"What is this...?"
Osian and David, who had been watching the scene, couldn't hide their astonishment. He had talked about embracing nature, but what was this? Didn't it look like he had come for some luxurious camping?
"Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Don Quixote asked as if he didn't understand what was happening.
"Ha ha ha! Well, well, to think I'd meet noble people here!"
The three gathered around the campfire that Don Quixote had built. One way or another, Don Quixote too had felt quite lonely spending time alone.
"Forming new bonds like this is one of the joys of being a wandering knight! By the way, are you really a knight? I'm genuinely curious."
"Yes. Distinctly different from one who merely pretends like you."
"Oh my, pretending! I too pride myself as a knight! I have armor! I have a lance and a sword! And don't I have a horse as well!"
"They're all machines, aren't they?"
It was a sharp criticism asking if a high-tech knight was a real knight.
"I have not a single doubt that I am a knight! Even if the means are different, it is the unwavering pursuit of the goal that is true chivalry. If one holds that heart, anyone can become a knight."
Don Quixote answered with an unwavering voice. Faced with that answer, which conveyed a certain belief, Osian was momentarily speechless.
"I see. I have to acknowledge that."
"Oh? You acknowledge it quite readily? I thought you would call it madness."
"If that's your ideal."
Osian looked at Don Quixote.
"Then I shouldn't mock it."
Don Quixote stared at Osian. It was to check if he was simply saying empty words.
"You are sincere."
Others would have pointed fingers, asking what kind of delusion that was. In fact, he had to face such reactions from the world.
There were people who laughed at him the moment they met him.
Later, their views would change, but that was because of his abilities, not purely out of respect for him as a knight. But Osian was different.
He had provoked him when they first met, but he never mocked or looked down on him. Rather, even after seeing him crush the gang, he boldly confronted him with his own emotions.
-Crackle. Pop!
The campfire blazed up.
Looking at the flying sparks, Don Quixote opened the helm on his face. As had been somewhat guessed from his manner of speech and voice, Don Quixote was an old man with a long, snow-white beard.
"Is it okay to show us your face? I thought you were deliberately hiding it."
"How can I fill my stomach with a helmet on? And it doesn't matter if it's seen."
Don Quixote slowly sipped the soup in his cup, blowing on it gently. Seeing him, Osian removed the mask from his face.
"You're much younger than I thought. It's amazing how you gained such strength at that age."
"We both have many things we're curious about."
-Wooooooo.
Just then, an eerie sound was heard from afar. It wasn't the sound of the wind passing through the gaps in the scrap metal.
The sound clearly belonged to a living creature. And it was getting closer in real-time. David said with a stiffened face.
"It's a mutant."
Despite the harsh environment of District 49, beasts survive. Just as people adapt and survive, some of the creatures here have also adjusted to it.
Naturally, they evolved with metal parts stuck all over their bodies to match District 49. Most eat oil or intact metal, but that doesn't mean they don't eat humans. Rather, they prefer humans, considering them a delicacy.
During the day might be different, but night is their time. Osian and David grabbed the swords they had put down.
"Leave them be."
Don Quixote, as if unbothered, blew on his soup and took a sip.
"What do you mean?"
"They won't approach anyway."
By now, Osian could see yellow glowing eyes emerging from the darkness. They were mutants resembling wild dogs. They were drooling at the sight of them but couldn't approach easily. It was just as Don Quixote had said.
"Because there's a fire here."
Don Quixote's gaze was directed at the intensely burning campfire.
"They fear fire. Not just them, but all the living creatures in District 49 fear fire. It's because of a fear that was imprinted in their genes long ago."
It was true. The mutants' gaze had been fixed on the campfire for a while now. They were hungry and wanted to eat people, but they were too afraid of the fire to do anything about it.
The creatures soon retreated, licking their lips.
Don Quixote threw another log onto the campfire. The strengthened embers flew high into the sky.
"The stars are bright. Such a beautiful sky. Completely opposite to this ruined earth."
As Don Quixote said, the sky was filled with starlight. It was a starry sky that could never be seen in Tirna. This also meant that there was no pollution in District 49.
It's ironic. To be able to see the most beautiful sky from the most devastated land.
The rising embers soared high into the sky. Most disappeared as if melting into the air, but some seemed as if they would rise to the sky and become stars.
"Since we've come to this point, may I ask a favor?"
"A favor all of a sudden. I'll hear you out."
"When you find him, could you please pretend you didn't see him?"
To pretend not to see the Automaton they were looking for because of their commission. No matter what, that was a request that crossed the line but instead of getting angry or refusing, Osian asked for the reason.
"Why are you looking for the Automaton?"
Don Quixote was an unusual old man. He wasn't from District 49. The suit and Automaton Don Quixote wore were things that could never be obtained from here.
Even in other districts of Tirna, it would be the same. That couldn't be bought with money. It's not sold in the market, but a custom-made item for an individual.
Then he must be a very wealthy person. Wealthy enough to come to District 49 as he pleased, wearing such an impossibly powerful suit.
Seeing how familiar he is with this place, he must have come here more than once or twice.
"My purpose is actually closer to preventing others from finding it."
"And yet you've joined us."
"Because you aren't evil people. A person who introduces himself as a knight wouldn't be."
"For just such a reason?"
"Not simply for that reason. I can tell by looking at the most important thing – the eyes."
"Even so, we can't just give up."
"Yes. We each have our own positions. I was just saying. I knew it would be like this. So for now, how about we join hands until we find it?"
That seemed fine. Don Quixote, despite his personality, was very capable.
"That's not bad. Three is better than two."
"If Osian says so, I have no complaints."
David still didn't fully trust Don Quixote, but since Osian agreed, he decided not to argue. His voice was deeply imbued with trust toward Osian.
"By the way, old sir."
"Call me Don Quixote. Aren't you a knight as well? When one knight addresses another, there's no need for excessive formality."
"Then, Sir Don Quixote."
Hearing the title denoting a knight, Don Quixote's beard twitched, as if he was quite pleased.
"Yes. What is it, Sir David?"
Hearing Don Quixote address him as a knight as well, David felt a strange warmth rising in his chest. After all, he too was currently of knightly status.
David touched the corners of his mouth that were about to loosen and gathered his emotions.
"Ahem. If I'm not mistaken, you seem to know District 49 very well."
This was particularly evident from the fact that he didn't seem surprised at the sight of the mutants earlier.
"Because of the mutants?"
"That's part of it, but wandering alone in a place like this isn't easy either."
David's question was sharp and Don Quixote nodded.
"Indeed. I also know the history of this place well."
"If you know..."
"The Return of Fire."
At that term uttered by Don Quixote, Osian and David's ears perked up.
"Aren't you curious about what that is?"