﻿\setgamedatatitle("Verlnya_05")

\text("Verlnya")
............
\endtext

\text
Verlnya was feeling pain.
\endtext

\text
Being trapped in this vessel of flesh, spending her days
just spacing out and doing nothing, was agony for her.
\endtext

\text
To put it simply, she was bored.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...Sigh.
\endtext

\text
There was a small bookshelf in the room, filled with a
variety of books.
\endtext

\text
At first, she flipped through them idly, but since she
already possessed all the knowledge they contained, none of
them piqued her interest.
\endtext

\text
In the end, all Verlnya could do was sit on the bed all day
and stare into space like this.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Still, I suppose it's better than being locked up in a
prison.
\endtext

\text
Especially now, when she's trapped in this pitiful vessel of
flesh.
\endtext

\text
Verlnya added that in her mind.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Yes? Who is it?
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Excuse me.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Minerva...
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
It's been a while, Verlnya-sama. Forgive my long absence.

\endtext

\text
Minerva said this at the entrance, bowing her head.
\endtext

\text
Verlnya silently nodded back at her as she raised her face,
inviting her into the room.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...What is this thing called a body, really?

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
H-huh?
\endtext

\text
The words Verlnya suddenly threw at her.
\endtext

\text
Minerva could only give a bewildered response to those
words.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
To be crammed into such a cramped vessel, and on top of
that, to have one's means of perception limited to just a
few organs...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Moreover, regardless of my will, physiological urges arise
and I am forced to deal with them...

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
The creatures of this world are truly remarkable for being
able to survive in such a wretched environment.
\endtext

\text
At first glance, Verlnya seemed to be calmly analyzing the
humans of this world.
\endtext

\text
But to Minerva, who knew the old Verlnya, the words she
sighed out sounded far more emotional than before.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
To the people of this world, the way we used to exist is
what seems impossible.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Each person, just like us now, lives with their own
independent mind and body...

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
For them, this is simply the norm.

\endtext

\text
Minerva answered Verlnya's question that way.
\endtext

\text
A natural smile appeared on her face.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...You've adapted to this world quite well, haven't you,
Minerva?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
You seem so much more expressive now.
\endtext

\text
Prompted by Verlnya's words, Minerva placed a hand on her
chest and reflected.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
I won't deny it. But I find myself growing fond of who I am
now.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
If it were the old me, I would have dismissed such an
existence as insignificant.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
But now, as a Structor―

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
And as someone living among the people of this world, I feel
that there's no real difference in value between the two.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
............
\endtext

\text
Verlnya listened silently to Minerva's words.

\endtext

\text
No particular emotion could be read from her expression.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
When I first gained a body, and with it, emotions... I was
confused and found them troublesome.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
But now, it's hard to even imagine myself without feelings.


\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
............
\endtext

\text
Seeing Verlnya show no emotion, Minerva continued to speak
her mind.
\endtext

\text
After hearing her out, Verlnya finally let out a sigh and
muttered.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
You've spent so much time incarnated that you've become a
true part of this world. What a shame.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...Is that so?
\endtext

\text
As Verlnya lowered her gaze, Minerva gently spoke to her.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
But you too are starting to be colored by this world,
Verlnya-sama.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Eh?
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Excuse me, Verlnya-sama.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
............
\endtext

\text
With those quiet words, Minerva left the room.

\endtext

\text
By the time Verlnya looked up, Minerva had already turned to
leave, so she couldn't see her expression.

\endtext

\text
Even so, Verlnya was certain that there had been a gentle
smile on her face.
\endtext