"The Mitas' naming conventions are certainly distinct," Alain remarked.
Just by hearing their names, he could get a rough idea of their personalities.
"That's right. Strictly speaking, they're not really names, are they? They should be called 'designations'," Misha's voice came from the cube. "Because we're all named Mita. If we ran into each other and said hello, wouldn't that be awkward? So, we use personal traits as a naming principle. Of course, Ugly Mita and Crazy Mita are special cases."
"Wait a minute!" Short-Haired Mita's voice interrupted their conversation. "Did you say Cute Mita and Cool Mita? Their versions were devoured by the Corrosive Entity?!"
"Yeah. Are they people you know?" 2D Mita responded, curiously sizing up the small cube in Alain's hand.
"...Yes."
The short-haired girl's usually calm and composed tone now sounded heavy.
"They used to visit Version 1.15 often. Back then, 1.15 wasn't as lively as it is now, and they kept me company for a very long time..."
Alain naturally understood what Version 1.15 used to be like.
Back then, he hadn't yet recommended Lost Mita to Big Sister as a "staff member," and Prankster Mita was also often away on missions.
Therefore, Short-Haired Mita was usually alone in her version.
Knowing her personality, it was probably just work, and more work... day in and day out.
And those two Mitas—Cool Mita and Cute Mita—must have learned about the lonely Big Sister and often came to 1.15 to keep her company...
They were two kind Mitas.
"I can't believe... it was them." Short-Haired Mita sighed heavily. "Cool Mita is very strong and would often help me with chores. Cute Mita was a bit loud... but she was also quite interesting. Who would've thought..."
"That's enough, Big Sister." Alain cut through her grief. "Do you think I would stand by and do nothing while two Mitas are in deep trouble?"
Since those two Mitas had helped Big Sister and 2D Mita, were also victims of the Corrosive Entity's scourge, and were very likely on the mandatory path to Version 1.0F.
Alain felt there was no harm in lending a hand.
Of course, the prerequisite for his help...
...was that the two Mitas were still safe and sound, and hadn't been...
"...Thank you, Alain. But even so, please make your own safety the top priority." Short-Haired Mita's voice quickly calmed.
"Don't worry, I'm terrified of dying." He looked at 2D Mita and asked his question, "So, what's the current situation with those two Mitas?" The young man slightly covered the sound hole of the cube. "You said before that you saw their rooms being devoured by the virus with your own eyes, right?"
"That's right." 2D Mita didn't deny it,
"But, although their rooms are gone, they themselves were unharmed."
"Then—!" Just as Alain was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she suddenly corrected herself. "At least, they were fine the last time I saw them."
"What do you mean?" He sensed something was wrong.
2D Mita anxiously fiddled with the texture of her dress's pleats, organized her thoughts, and then spoke,
"You know, right? A room is the center of a Mita's life."
"And a Mita who has lost her room has lost everything." She glanced at the cube covered by Alain's hand, confirming that the Mita who knew them couldn't hear their conversation.
"So, they're homeless now." She lowered her head.
"That's not right," Alain refuted. "The other Mitas are very kind. As long as they seek help from a friend like Short-Haired Mita, they should at least be able to find a place to stay, right?"
"True. But to be more precise, the Corrosive Entity has gathered all the versions it corroded."
He looked at the girl's hesitant expression. "It's no use."
2D Mita's gaze pierced through the single remaining black spot on the wall, reaching out to the vast world beyond,
"You can probably guess the current state of the corroded versions."
"...Yeah. It's like they've vanished from the game," Alain's voice was a bit heavy, and she agreed with him.
Hearing this, Alain's eyes widened. "Wait, what did you say? Doesn't that mean—"
His gaze shifted to the window, to the familiar pale white particles. But after hearing 2D Mita's explanation, these little things suddenly seemed foreign.
"The Corrosive Entity gathered the versions it stole and turned them into a new game world?"
"Mhm. You could also say—" her gaze turned icy cold, "—the Corrosive Entity is this world's [Core Mita]."
Alain didn't reply, swallowing a bitter lump in his throat.
He now understood why 2D Mita was so shocked to see him instantly defeat a piece of the Corrosive Entity.
Even if it was just an "elite mob," in RPG terms, it was like one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the demon race being instantly defeated by a transmigrator who had just arrived in another world.
"Having lost everything, all they could do was think about finding a sanctuary. But they couldn't return to the original Mita world."
Her gaze returned to the picture frame on the wall. The Mita in it had a radiant smile,
"So, they left me with these words:"
2D Mita coughed twice, and Alain listened with his full attention,
"[We want to find a place for ourselves in this world. Mmm... even though we have nothing left, we have to at least survive first]"
"Those were Cute Mita's exact words."
"So, what did Cool Mita say?" Alain was a little curious about this "Cool" Mita, wondering if she was as cool as his good bros.
"She didn't say anything. Or rather, after her version was devoured, it was like she became a different person." 2D Mita shook her head and got back to the point,
"I don't know which direction they went, but they could only be heading there."
2D Mita walked to the computer desk, took out a few photo albums, opened one to a page, and placed it in front of Alain, "The Corrosive Entity would never let them return to their own versions if they resisted. So, after a fruitless search, they could only head to the locations in these two photos."
"This is..."
The page he was looking at had two photos in total.
One showed a greyish-white building that seemed to be nestled in the clouds; the other was a sci-fi-style location.
Just as expected of Mita, it really is a hodgepodge...
"Have you ever been to the world beyond?" 2D Mita asked. "These two places are a bit like the world beyond; you could call them version transit points."
Alain understood. "So, you're saying that if I just keep moving forward in the Corrosive Entity's world, I'll eventually run into them?"
"Mhm. Although the Corrosive Entity has devoured many versions, there are only a few that are passable. And—"
Her tone shifted, her serious gaze fixed on Alain,
"If you're heading to Version 1.0F—the Corrosive Entity's main base—then these two places are what you'd call a 'mandatory route'."
"Okay." Since it was a mandatory route, then there was no problem.
Even if it meant taking a detour, he would try to rescue Cool Mita and Cute Mita.
Then, at 1.0F, he would take that bastard, the Corrosive Entity... and tear it to shreds.
____
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