Dialogue/(Old) Rose that Blooms atop of Lotus 2-2

Translated by Khosen

Ev 2-1 - Before the Lotus Bloomed

Flashback

Miho:

Thought by calling her “mom” it would make things different.

Wonder how we should get to know her better?

Bulgasari:

Let's take things slow. I’m sure mom will understand how we feel sooner or later and open up.

For now let’s focus on the mission. She should be back any minute.

Miho:

Urghh, I wanna take a shower...I feel disgusting…

Pinto:

…

Miho:

What’s wrong, Pinto?

Pinto:

Uh, it’s nothing. Just my gear kinda feels funny.

Bulgasari:

Why don’t you get it checked real quick? I’ll tell mom about it.

Pinto:

No no, it’s okay.

When it’s acting like this I’ll just hit it a few times...heh, see? It works fine now.

Bulgasari:

Yeah, I’m sure it’ll totally work fine.

Go get it checked up properly.

Pinto:

Urgh, fine…

HongRyeon:

Well let’s start the briefing for the mission.

Our target location is right here. We’ll approach the location with our search formation. Since we’re detecting multiple signals of

Iron Parasites, keep your head up and be ready to engage.

If we do make contact with the Iron Parasites, we’ll stall until backup arrives, and then when it does, we’ll join forces to

eliminate the threat.

Any questions?

Mongus Team:

Nope~

HongRyeon:

Then as soon as the Commander gives us the green light we’ll begin.

...I’m sorry for dragging you all out after a short break.

Everyone else is also working very hard so, let’s just hang in there a little bit more.

Bulgasari:

Pinto, did you get your gear checked?

Pinto:

Fortune wasn’t there. So I just made sure it was working fine. I’m sure it won’t cause me any issues.

Bulgasari:

That still makes me worried…

Pinto:

Well our main mission is to keep a check on our enemy. Worst case scenario I’ll just escape.

HongRyeon:

Commander’s orders. Let’s begin.

Pinto:

Yes~

Well then I’ll report back when I arrive at my scout point.

Steel Draco:

Hey, Bulgasari.

Bulgasari:

Yeah?

Steel Draco:

When do you think we can get closer to mom -

...With our Team Leader?

Bulgasari:

I mentioned earlier but, all we can do is wait.

Steel Draco:

Yeah…

...But when did we get this close with one another?

We were all pretty awkward with each other.

Bulgasari:

Well at first yeah. We really didn’t care about others as well…

But then if I think about it I kinda get it. We still have an intuitive memory of the old Mongus Team in us.

Steel Draco:

Intuitive?

Bulgasari:

I guess our “attitude towards the mission” is a more precise term. The Mongus Team was a counter-terrorist team and… that meant any

one of us could have easily gotten killed in action.

...It’s sad to watch someone very close disappear.

Steel Draco:

...Yeah.

Bulgasari:

See, I talked to the Commander about the same thing before because I wanted to get to know you guys better.

Steel Draco:

Really? What did he tell you?

Bulgasari:

Nothing much.

Steel Draco:

…?

Bulgasari:

He kinda just smiled at me, and gave me some snacks and drinks so that I could share them with you all.

Steel Draco:

Oh, I remember this!

This was when uh...you mentioned how weird he is as we were snacking.

Bulgasari:

Well to be exact…

“What a smug person”

That was the description I used.

Steel Draco:

… But you like him now.

Bulgasari:

Well I understood what he meant a little later. See, after we met up with him, no one got killed in action.

That’s when I realized he meant “stop worrying about losing your friends, and open up.”

HongRyeon:

Everyone, Pinto notified there’s a swarm of Iron Parasites approaching towards us. Prepare for combat.

Miho, any visual confirmation?

Bulgasari:

Ugh, knew it was too peaceful to be true.

Draco, in your position - w, why are you smiling?

Steel Draco:

Hehe…

Nothing. I'm just thankful that I got closer to you all.

Bulgasari:

…

Yeah, me too.

After the battle .

Miho:

2 o’Clock, distance 500, 8 more incoming!

Steel Draco:

They’re everywhere!

Miho:

Thought they were small in their numbers, where are they all coming from?

HongRyeon:

They must have set up an ambush nearby.

Mongus Team, remain in current formation and slowly pull back. It seems difficult to stall them until backup arrives.

Pinto:

I’ll distract them!

Steel Draco:

Pinto, watch out!

Pinto:

It’s alright. I do this all the time anyways.

Oi, here now look!

Heh, you can’t hit me with those attacks!

HongRyeon:

...We’ll use this opportunity to pull back.

Miho, you should also meet us at the rendezvous point.

Miho’s almost here. Your job is done Pinto, come in.

Pinto:

Okay, heading there no-

Whoaaa?!

HongRyeon:

Pinto?! What happened? Come in!

Pinto:

Ugk...one of my propellers malfunctioned and I’m on the ground.

I’ll meet you up at the point by foot - tsk, Iron Parasites…!

HongRyeon:

Bulgasari, Draco! to Pinto’s location now and rescue her!

Miho!

Miho:

Already on it!

30 seconds before I can provide cover!

Bulgasari:

Pinto! you alright?

Pinto:

Urgh...not...a problem...

Bulgasari:

You injured your leg!

Draco! I’ll take her in, stop those Iron Parasites!

Steel Draco:

Alright!

Miho:

Hang in there just a little longer! The cavalry's almost here!

HongRyeon:

Bulgasari, place Pinto behind the green container on your 7 o’Clock. We’ll set up a temporary defense line there.

Miho you take care of the ones coming from the North, I’ll take the East.

After the battle from the past

HongRyeon:

Is everyone okay?

Bulgasari:

Yes.

Uhm...since you didn’t mention anything specific so I sent Draco to bring back Miho...

HongRyeon:

…

Bulgasari:

T, Team Leader?

Pinto:

...I, I’m sorry.

I thought they were fine for the mission...I’m sorry for almost compromising the mission - huh…?

HongRyeon:

Thank god...I’m really glad you are okay…

Pinto:

T, Team Leader…?

HongRyeon:

If anything happened to you… I …

Pinto:

Team Leader...you’re hugging...c,can’t breathe…

HongRyeon:

… Oh

I, I’m sorry. I stepped over the boundaries and made you feel uncomfortable haven’t I…?

Pinto:

No, you didn’t…

…

Flashback Ends

Miho:

And after that she really opened up. We had those occasional tteokbokki nights too~

Bulgasari:

Yeah right? She’s like our mom-

HongRyeon:

Mom...is it?

Bulgasari:

...What do you think of us? Team Leader?

We all think of you as if you were our mom.

HongRyeon:

Well you guys are a part of the team, a colleague…

And my precious children.

Commander:

You’ve definitely changed (Choice)

HongRyeon:

*Shrug* Well I’ll give them all the credit.

But I am still uncertain if I could persuade JangHwa…

Hope as much as I managed to grow to become the person I am today, JangHwa could be too right?

Commander:

It’s never too late. Let’s work together to bring her in. (Choice)

HongRyeon:

Thank you. Commander.

Bulgasari:

Okay, but how should we find her?

Miho:

Mm...yeah I’m not sure where she’ll be.

Commander:

Well I did send some troops to secure the city, they should help us locate JangHwa.

We still haven’t been able to search where it’s saturated with Iron Parasites (Choice).

Miho:

Well, guess that’s where we’re headed then.

Commander:

Need back up? (Choice)

HongRyeon:

...With all due respect, would you let us handle it?

Commander:

She looked at me with her firm, dedicated eyes.

...Alright. But if you need help, please reach out.

HongRyeon:

Yes, Commander.

We’ll go get ready.