Listeners (LISTENERS)

That day...

What was that thing I heard echoing inside my head?

"Live Forever'"

Trash.

A sea of trash as far as the eye can see.

This is where I belong.

There was a time when this place was the center of the world...

Or so the old-timers once told me.

But there's no sign of that anywhere now.

These days, it's a den of day laborers.

Outside, they call us things like "the trash dump of the world."

My friends, this is the last of the afternoon shipments!

Don't overlook anything of value!

Those of you who missed your quotas last month,

if you can't make up for it today, you're in for a heavy penalty!

Now, listen up and make sure to take these words to heart!

To live means...

...to work.

Never look up. Look down.

Do not look to dreams. Keep your eyes on the present.

That is the pride of Liverchester.

Our pride, which we swore to the Monument of Admonishment.

Good morning, Mr. Bruno.

Oh, today is excellent.

After all, we got garbage from the Lucia region.

And Lucia is the Linchpin of the North.

The country that had Bilin, the Player known as the Crimson Belle.

It's like a dream to be receiving parts from there.

Here, look! The Crimson Belle, Bilin!

And this Equipment! Gives me goosebumps!

What? Oh, please. I've never even thought of leaving this place.

I like touching these junk parts here.

Looking at these little guys,

it makes me think of all the places they must've seen on their way here.

It's, like, kind of awe-inspiring.

So, if I can make a so-so living picking these guys up,

that's enough for me.

Yup. This is what my days are like.

Good work.

-Next!

--What? Isn't that a bit stingy? --Next!

Quit your grumbling.

Come on, next!

Fine.

Echo Rec, huh?

I can make money doing it. I might even consider it a calling.

So, I'll be picking up trash again tomorrow.

And next week. And beyond that.

That's my life.

Well, even in a life like that, I've got a little something...

Something that gives meaning to my life that I can't tell anyone about.

My lucky day!

Oof.

Almost got it... Almost...

What?

A... A girl?!

This is definitely a girl.

So? Where did you kidnap her from?

You've got it all wrong, Sis.

She probably got transported here along with the trash today.

She certainly doesn't seem like she's from around here.

She looks kind of sophisticated or something.

What are you suddenly yelling for?

L-Look at this.

A Player?

It is! This hole is just like I saw in the books!

Man, she's got a hole in her body here!

Oh, you're awake.

How do you feel?

How do you think?! The worst!

Where am I?

This is a humble bar on the outskirts of Liverchester.

And you're on a chair in it.

What am I doing here?

He said he found you asleep in the scrap field and brought you here.

Who did?

That guy.

Mind if I ask one more thing?

Hm?

Who... am I?

A Player?

Shh! Keep your voice down!

What's the big deal?

That output jack on your hip...

No doubt about it!

You're a Player.

Huh?

So, you really don't remember anything.

That's what I keep telling you! And I can't even remember my name.

For all that, it doesn't seem to bother you much.

Can't help what I've forgotten.

Looks like I'm not much of a worrywart type.

Besides, I'm me.

You're one tough cookie.

Oh, but there are a couple things I've figured out.

I don't mind noisy settings too much.

Also...

I like your cooking quite a bit!

Glad to hear it.

Ugh! Why couldn't he have landed a blow right then?

What are you saying?

That sidestep just now was a well-executed move.

You two don't know when to shut up.

What's that?

What? A-Are you interested?

C-Calm down!

Oh, sorry.

Let's see. That big thing is an Equipment.

It's the one way that we can fight against the Earless.

Players pilot those things to fight the Earless.

The Earless?

Pardon the intrusion.

Gack! The mayor!

Who?

To put it simply, he's a real pain.

You should know better, and yet, what do we have here?

Hey!

-You didn't have to break it!

--It's the one bit of fun we get... --You didn't have to break it!

Gathering a bunch of malcontents to hold a Gig viewing party?

Can't say I approve, Swell.

It's an old monitor, so it seems to pick up these signals on its own.

It's a problem.

Well, whatever.

What?

What business do you have in this town, you damn accursed Player?

--Huh? --H-Hold on...

We saw you bring her in here.

She had a jack on her hip. No question about it.

A Player? A real one?

There's no way in hell!

There's no reason a Player would come to a town like this now.

Players bring calamity.

If you have no business, I'll ask you to leave immediately.

N-Now, now.

She may be a Player, but it seems like she doesn't remember anything.

--So, telling her to leave without warning is a bit mean...

--You numbskull! --So, telling her to leave without warning is a bit mean...

Have you forgotten the meaning of the Monument of Admonishment?!

That horrific incident those Players caused ten years ago

must never be allowed to happen again!

Don't let your emotions get the better of you, Echo.

What could you possibly have to gain by taking sides with a Player?

Now, if you get that, let that Player--

E-Even so, I don't think it makes sense to run her out of town!

-Why you little...

--Come on, Mr. Mayor. --Why you little...

You came all this way, so please have a glass.

This is a place for relaxation, after all.

--I'm not done here... --Here. On the house.

What? For real?

Thanks.

Sorry. It's getting busy, so would you two mind heading upstairs?

--Huh? --Yeah, let's do that!

--W-Wait... --Now, what should we do for fun?

What's his problem? He's such a jerk.

The mayor absolutely loathes Players.

Whew! That was nerve-wracking!

Why did you defend me back there?

Huh? Oh, but of course I did.

After all, right now, I'm...

...totally fascinated by you!

Oh, you are?

--I've been holding back this whole time, ever since we met.

--What? --I've been holding back this whole time, ever since we met.

Now, we're finally alone.

H-Hold on.

There's a lot I don't remember

and I don't really know, but I kind of feel like...

...there's a certain order to these things.

--What? --H-Here!

--No! --Look!

Look at this!

Look! Isn't it incredible?!

Look.

Huh?

Man, I'm a huge fan when it comes to Equipment and Players.

I never thought I'd get to meet a real one.

Huh? Something wrong?

No, not really.

See, in this world,

there are monsters called Earless that attack humans.

Many countries have been destroyed by them.

That sounds awful.

Generation after generation, it's the Players who've quelled them.

Without exception, their stories have been passed down as legendary heroes.

In other worlds, that means you're someone amazing!

It does?

Sure, it does!

The mayor was all critical, but you're what I aspire to.

So... I don't know how to put it, but...

I don't think you need to worry.

Thank you.

That reminds me!

This is my Equipment that I'm almost done building.

Equipment?

You mean, that huge thing we saw downstairs earlier?!

You can make something like that?!

I'm just copycatting things I've seen, though.

I pilfered parts from the scrap field a little at a time