Mayling Shen

Mayling Shen

Information
Full name	Mayling Shen
Affiliation	Elmo Bounty Hunters
Voice actor	JP: Asahina Madoka CN: Liu Wen KR: Kim Haru
Artist	Unknown
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"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

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Logistics officer in Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium.

Character Info

A fan of Tetris and alcohol to blow off some steam after another day of being overworked (she's of drinking age under Neo-Soviet Union law). She inherited many Chinese cultural habits from her parents.

Mayling's personal files can be unlocked in the Character Archive menu. They are all unlocked by reaching Commander Level 40.

Story Involvement

Born in the Neo-Soviet Union in 2053, Mayling Shen's parents were demolition workers who died from ELID shortly after her birth due to their unsafe working conditions during reconstruction efforts. After passing from foster home to foster home, at age eight, she ended in a small contamination zone workshop settlement called Hephaestus, where she learned to work with machines. Four years later, Hephaestus was destroyed in a Varjagers attack, and Mayling was the only survivor. The Commander and Groza investigated the remains of the attack, and found and sheltered her. Mayling held a seventh-day vigil for the people of Hephaestus in a valley along the Elmo's path, and worked to the point of getting sick trying to fix the troublesome vector engine of the Elmo to repay the Commander and Groza's kindness. Groza also procured "rice wine" (non-alcoholic) for her, since one of the only faint memories of her parents was her father drinking rice wine. An old Dummy was configured to assist Mayling in her tasks and she named it Jiuzhang, after the Jiuzhang Suanshu mathematical treaty, though by the time she had fully repaired the vector engine, she was familiar enough with her tasks that Jiuzhang was no longer useful. Being able to fully repair the vector engine proved to Mayling that keeping the Elmo running was her own way to fight to protect her new family.

Character Archive

One long night while Mayling is monitoring the Elmo's engine, Colphne comes by to help her stay awake by talking about “Ludo and Her Magic Wine”, a book she recently bought. The story looks suspiciously like Mayling's own life, down to long working hours as a mechanic and a fondness for wine. Before she has a chance to drink a coffee to stay awake, Colphne mistakenly give Mayling a cup filled from a bottle supposed to contain pumpkin punch, but actually containing a secret stash of rice wine. The drunk Mayling then starts mistaking the members of the Elmo for the protagonists of the book, and Colphne decides that the situation is too funny not to take advantage of it.

With Mayling convinced she's Ludo, powered up after drinking divine wine and Colphne acting as Blue Morpho, Ludo's fairy guide, they evade the sobering tea prepared by Miss Enforcer (Groza), consults the Great Sage (Nemesis) and confront the treacherous rabbit (Krolik). After Mayling scolds Nemesis, Krolik and Colphne for the overwork they cause for her, Colphne finally takes her to the final enemy, the factory lord (the Commander), but Mayling finally passes out in the middle of asking for vacations.

Recounting the events later, Mayling explains that she hadn't voiced any of her complaints before getting drunk that night because she feared that complaining would be betraying the trust the Commander's placed in her by recruiting her. But her worries were quieted since the Commander ended up covering her shift that night and granting her some vacation without hesitation.

• 

Journal Entries

Journal Entry 1

Date: November 23rd
Weather: Clear, Collapse storm present
Today's goal: Familiarize myself with work on the MBV

Oh, it's already 4:30 a.m.!
How did I doze off... I ought to be checking the vector engine right now!
I've already checked the ignition coil, distributor, and spark plugs in the ignition system. Just to be safe, I need to check them again. Ugh... I'm so sleepy... Maybe I should get some sleep... No! No, no, no, I can't sleep now, I shouldn't sleep either!
If I don't sleep... I won't think about what happened before this, and I can report back to the Commander and everyone faster.
Before this...

It's so cold, my cheeks are freezing. Turns out crying within my dreams can affect reality. The temperature in the contamination zones will probably plunge tonight. The live update says... It's -15℃ outside with strong winds. I should cover myself with something.
A blanket... I didn't remember taking any blankets from the storage unit earlier today. The Commander or Groza must have covered me while I was asleep.

I felt much warmer after wrapping myself in a blanket. I'll rest for five minutes and then get back to work.
Today, I managed to eliminate some of the potential causes for the engine failure. We can rule out the electrodes falling off due to extended high-speed operations and spark plug damage, so there must be other reasons. I'll have to check through it again... I've repaired car engines before, but this is my first time working on the vector engines of an MBV.
I hope we can fix the engines soon so that I'll have more time to handle the other tasks assigned by the Commander and Leader. Ugh... I'm really not good at supply procurement and financial management. After fixing the engines, I'll go read through some books about them. I hope it helps!
After all this is over, I'll... I'll have to go back there.

Go back...
What should I do when I get back? If I asked the Commander to lend me a protective suit, would they agree? With the suit, I should be able to walk back to Hephaestus and reunite with everyone.
I hope this time, the Varjagers won't launch a surprise attack while I'm on my way.

My father's friend once told me that in my father's homeland, there’s a tradition of 'keeping vigil on the seventh day' for deceased members of your family.
On the seventh day after a family member's death, a meal is prepared for them, so they can have a better life on the other side.
I'm not sure if Hephaestus' kitchen will still be functional when I return, but perhaps I could prepare a little something... Speaking of food, Vivian mentioned that she would teach me how to make pumpkin pie on Christmas Day. It's a special Christmas dish that's incredibly sweet and makes all your problems disappear after you eat it. I haven't tasted such a magical dish before... such a description defies belief, but Vivian wouldn't deceive me. Vivian also said that if you're happy on Christmas Day, that happiness will last for the whole of the next year.
An entire year...
Today’s date is November 23rd, and Vivian had said that on November 20th... I remember that day.
I will never forget that day.

November 20th was supposed to be a really special day.
I remember that the temperature that night was even lower than it was now, but it was so warm inside Hephaestus! Everyone was supposed to be working, but it was so cold outside that I couldn't help but rub my hands together to warm them up. Then, Ivan stopped working and called for two of his friends to bring the winter stove and coal to the center of Hephaestus, taking out a lighter to ignite it.
The sparks touched the black coal and soon, it lit up with an orange flame.
The fire flickered under the incandescent lights. Before Ivan could say anything, everyone started gathering around the stove. More and more people gathered around, and everyone was soon standing shoulder to shoulder. Vivian put the big red scarf she was holding around my neck, and even tried to tie it onto me herself. She tried several times but wasn't satisfied, and each time she would frown and untie the scarf, until she finally tied an ugly bow on my chest and only let go when I was about to suffocate.
"Hmm, this should be good—no, better yet, it's a work of art!"
As she looked on in pride, I subconsciously reached up and tugged at her "work of art", alleviating the pressure it imposed on my neck. After taking a deep breath, I held Vivian's hand.
"It's a piece of art, alright. Super pretty!"
Vivian laughed and gave my shoulder a hearty slap with her right hand.
"You better mean it, 'cuz I spent over ten days knitting this scarf!"
Over ten days—while it may have taken that long, it was honestly the ugliest scarf I'd ever seen. There was a crooked symbol on it that I couldn't even recognize. Vivian said it was the word "Fortune", written in the language from my hometown. She had looked up a lot of pre-war information and found out that in the country where my parents lived, putting the word "Fortune" upside down had a special meaning—it signified that good fortune was coming, so she knitted it upside down on purpose.
However, that honestly made it look even uglier.
But Vivian wouldn't let me say her knitting was ugly. Even if I muttered about it in a teasing tone, she would hug me and then pinch my face very hard. But what she didn't know was that every time she pinched my face, it didn't hurt at all; it actually made me really happy.
It's just, I didn't get to say those words to her that night. And after that... I never got the chance to tell her again.

I remember the warm glow of the fire lit up everyone's faces that night.
Ivan was laughing; Abigail had a quiet smile on her face; Vivian was going into detail about the preparations we would be making for Christmas. After we exchanged our well-wishes, everyone closed their eyes and prayed for a friend who used to work here.
"Colin, we will always remember you."
I closed my eyes, put my hands together, and uttered this sentence with everyone.
The fireside was still warm, but why couldn't Colin, who had done nothing wrong, enjoy this warmth with us? Why did he become someone we all had to remember?
After the prayer session, Vivian stretched out her hands over the flames to warm up; I hugged my legs and stared blankly at the burning fire. She suddenly patted my shoulder, and I turned to look at her face.
"Mayling, you absolutely can't go out without a protective suit. Colin went crazy because he got infected by Collapse radiation and had to leave us."
"U-Understood!"
She reminded me just like last year, and I quickly responded. She looked like she had more to say, but in the end, she just adjusted the scarf around my neck again, turned her gaze to the fire, and fell silent.
I hugged my legs with my arms and rested my chin on the thick red scarf. The flames in front of me kept shifting, and my thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to a year ago...

That day, I put on my protective suit and got ready to buy supplies. The door was opened, and Colin staggered into the factory. His makeshift protective suit was full of holes. He didn't even have time to talk to me before he collapsed on the ground.
Vivian said Colin got infected with E.L.I.D. because his protective suit was compromised.
We didn't have enough money to send Colin to the clinic, so we had to put him in a storage unit and take turns looking after him. We bought medicine from the underground brokers every week, but the medicine didn't help Colin get better.
Soon, Colin got worse. He started yelling at everyone, and even hurt some of us at one point. His physical condition deteriorated along with his mental state. He threw up blood and his bones became brittle. No matter how much medicine from the underground broker he took, none of it worked. On November 20th last year, Colin finally lost his mind and attacked everyone.
At that time, Vivian quickly dragged me away as I was about to bring lunch to Colin and sounded the alarm. Ivan and Abigail immediately put on protective suits and came to stop Colin. We managed to tie Colin up in the end. Colin desperately tried to break free from the ropes, while Ivan yelled at him to calm down while pointing a gun at his head.
I will never forget that brief moment when Colin regained his remaining sanity and shouted at Ivan.
"Do it!"
The first time, Ivan trembled and couldn't pull the trigger.
"DO IT!!"
The second time, Colin broke free from the ropes, rushed at Ivan, grabbed Ivan's hand, and pulled the trigger himself, ending his own life.
"Bang!" When the gunshot rang out, Vivian's hands gripped my shoulders and turned my body away from Ivan so I couldn't see what was happening. That was the first time I had encountered something like this—someone choosing to end their life in front of me because of E.L.I.D., and in such a tragic way... Because of Vivian, I didn't see the horrific scene when Colin died, but every time I heard a gunshot, I couldn't help but subconsciously imagine how desperate Colin must have been when he died...

Collapse radiation was terrifying, and people who got sick from it were also dangerous. That's the first thing Colin's death taught me.
They say a man is not truly dead as long as he remains in the hearts of others. That's the second thing Ivan and everyone taught me during the memorial ceremony.
I asked Vivian if everyone would remember me like this if I died. Vivian scolded me and said I shouldn't think such things. She would never let that happen, at least while she was around. Vivian then told me that no matter what happened, people should do their best to live. It was shameful to throw your life away unless you had no choice like Colin.
"Mayling, remember this—if you give up your life, you've failed everyone who tried to keep you alive."
Vivian's expression was very serious, and there was a hint of deep sadness in it.
After the memorial ceremony, everyone continued planning the upcoming festival together. Ivan and Vivian's usual bickering lightened the mood and made me, who was immersed in sadness, a bit happier.

Happiness...
However, this world was not one that kept people happy forever. Everything felt like a top being spun. When the world was in a good mood, it spun in the right direction, but when it wasn’t...
I knew... I knew that everyone had bad luck sometimes. I knew that for everyone living in the contamination zone, each day might end up being their last, but I didn't understand why this had to happen to all of us. We were all gathered here, living and surviving in this small workshop called Hephaestus. We'd never hurt anyone and had done everything we could to avoid harm, so why did a disaster like that have to happen to us!
If... If someone had to die so that the others could live, it should have been me!

The Varjagers arrived outside just as I was teaching Vivian to make metal flowers, and then everyone started running. Ivan told everyone to hide quickly, while Vivian covered my eyes and mouth.
Unable to utter a word or see anything, I could only hear the cacophony and Vivian's stern commands.
"Mayling, close your eyes and don't say anything. We're going to a safe place."
"Is, is it the Varjagers? W-We need to hide quick!"
My words didn't come out clearly, and Vivian patted my head before she led me towards the warehouse with her warm hands that smelled slightly of machine oil.

"Everyone, hide quickly!"
"Damn, they're almost inside!"
The sound of someone slamming into the door grew louder and everyone's footsteps blended together in a chaotic mess. I couldn't understand what was happening at the time; I only knew something terrible was about to happen. It wasn't until we entered the warehouse that Vivian allowed me to open my eyes. I was taken behind a large machine with a thick black curtain in front.
Even now, I can still remember every word Vivian said.

"Don't make a sound, got it?"
She put her index finger to her lips and went "shh".
I nodded nervously.
"Don't worry, everyone will do their best to hide."
Just as I was about to ask, Vivian gave another order.
"No talking. If you really need to say something, bite the red scarf around your neck."
Her expression was very serious, and so I nodded.
Vivian sighed in relief, but suddenly her head perked up, like she had made up her mind. She grabbed some rope from the storage unit, tied me up tightly, secured the rope to an iron pillar, and stuffed the red scarf into my mouth.
At this point, it didn't matter whether I wanted to ask questions or say anything else. All I could make were faint "mmph" sounds.
Vivian gave me one last worried look, got up, and lifted the black curtain.
"I'm going to hide somewhere else."

Back then, I didn't know if the world was headed in the right direction, but the Varjagers definitely dragged it all into the abyss. I couldn't see what was happening at the time. That dark, heavy curtain was like a blade, slicing the whole world in half. I was in the half that was alive, and I could only faintly hear the half that was dying scream aloud as it slid deep into a bottomless hell.
"Get out of here, get out—!"
It was Vivian's almost-hysterical voice, followed by continuous gunfire and the shouts of the Varjagers.
Everyone was fighting those Varjager bandits, and finally, a voice reached my ears along with a huge explosion.
"As if I'll let you—! Go to hell!"
A bright light that even the black curtain couldn't block suddenly rose in Hephaestus and disappeared in an instant.
It was followed by the sound of the building collapsing, and after who knows how long, everything was silent.

A minute went by, and Vivian still hadn't come. Half an hour passed, and Vivian still wasn't here.
Vivian, she... she must have taken the injured to get bandaged first! As long as I kept waiting, she'd definitely come with everyone to find me!

I couldn't tell the time anymore. Everyone, everyone must, they must be...
I wanted to cry out loud, but I didn't have the strength to make a single sound. The tears just kept falling down my face, soaking into the red scarf Vivian gave me. The upside-down "Fortune" character took my tiny gasps and my despair and shoved it all back into my heart and lungs. The ropes that bound me cut off any chance of movement. At that moment, I realized. It was already too late.
"Yes, it's already too late."
Who was that? Who was talking? Was it Vivian? Did she bring everyone back here now that they were safe? But if it was Vivian, why hadn't anyone pulled back the curtain that lay in front of me?
There was nobody in sight.
...Just who was talking to me...

I didn't know how long it had been, but the heavy black curtain that blocked everything was pulled open again by a pale hand.
The person who opened the curtain had golden hair, golden eyes, and... a voice as warm as the golden sun.
"A survivor?"
She looked at me with a surprised expression, then called her companion over.
"Oh, so she was hiding here."
She was a T-Doll named "Groza", and she was gentle and elegant. The person she called over was her Commander. The Commander told me, who was still trembling, that the Varjagers who attacked Hephaestus had been eliminated and asked me to come with them. The area around us had been destroyed by the Varjagers, and it would be hard to survive if I stayed here. I could only survive if I went with them.
Survive...

The appearance of these two people had given me a new chance for survival.
I would... I had to make it up to them!
Oh no, it's already been half an hour. I shouldn't be wasting time writing in my diary!

Journal Entry 2

Date: November 27th
Weather: Sunny
Today's Goal: Complete basic repairs on the vector engine

Why, oh why can't I fix it?! Even though the Commander taught me today, even though I've checked the idle stop valve and the plug three times. None of them were loose, plus I've tightened all of them again!
If I can't even handle such a simple task, what's the point of me staying here? Am I just causing trouble for everyone who took care of me like before? No, absolutely not! I don't want to be a burden on everyone!
The Commander and everyone saved me. How could I stay aboard the MBV like this—doing nothing but eating away at the already scarce food supply without being able to serve any purpose? If that's the case, I'd rather just up and leave now!

"Leave now? Before having done anything for these people?"
Who? Who was that? It’s that voice again... But I'm the only one in the engine room. The Commander and the others shouldn't be coming here at this time...
I remembered, that’s the voice... the very same voice I heard after Hephaestus exploded. But why am I hearing it again...?
But it's right, I couldn't just leave without doing anything... The Commander and everyone else would probably worry because of my rash decision. They're all good people, and they might even feel guilty and think to themselves that "Mayling left suddenly because we didn't take good care of her"...
I don't want to make such good people sad, no matter the reason. I should... I should keep figuring out a solution and make sure to fix the engine. Once I fix it, then I'll tell everyone my reason for leaving!

The Commander told me today what might be causing the vector engine to malfunction. We've ruled out the possibility of a loose plug or idle cutoff valve. Other potential roots could be the distributor, ignition module, or high-voltage wires getting wet, causing the MBV to fail to start properly... I'll check those parts again later. If they’re damp, we'll need to order new parts... I haven't fully studied the manual on how to purchase parts correctly yet, so I hope I don't mess it up.
Today is my fifth day onboard the MBV, I have two days left before the "funeral vigil" for my companions from Hephaestus... I really need to make the most of my time.
But why is everyone in the MBV being so nice to me?

Just this morning, after the morning meeting, Leader Groza found me all alone.
"Mayling, is there anything you like?"
At first, I wasn't sure what Leader meant, so I said I didn't particularly like anything.
But Leader seemed to have caught on to what I was thinking and told me that she buys things for everyone every month, so I didn't need to be so reserved.
Don't be so reserved—everyone will buy me what I want. Even at Hephaestus, people rarely did that. Why is Leader so kind to someone she just met?
While I may be on the MBV now, I’m different from everyone else... After finishing my work here, I will leave.
But what I didn't expect was that Leader didn't give up. She asked again, with that same gentle expression and voice.
"I-I like rice wine."
Finally, I whispered out my answer. A request like this would probably be turned down, right? When I asked Vivian for rice wine at Hephaestus before, she refused, saying, "You're too young to drink, and the factory's money should be spent on more important things." The result should be the same this time.
"Well... but you're not old enough to drink."
Sure enough, just as I thought, I got rejected!
"I've never tried it before, so I just wanted to know what it tastes like. Of course, it's totally fine if you don't have any!'
I explained nervously, but to my surprise, Leader laughed.
"If you really want it... well, I think Poludnitsa might have some more fitting 'rice wine' for you."
"Fitting...?" I asked, wondering to myself: Why? Why are you being so nice to me? Why are you trying to fulfill my most unreasonable request?

The nicer everyone is to me, the less I know how to truly repay their kindness. Is just fixing the vector engine, buying supplies for everyone, and keeping the MBV running smoothly really sufficient?
...I don't know the answer, but I at least need to finish the mission the Commander had given me.

It's been half a day already!
Why? Why is it still not working?! I've checked it three times already and still haven't found the problem! The distributor, ignition module, and high-voltage wires are all dry and intact, so the engine shouldn't be failing to start. I... I can't give up!
When the Commander was teaching me today, the wound on their arm split open again, and blood started seeping through the fresh white bandage. That wound... it must've been from when the Commander saved me. If I give up now, everything the Commander has done will have been for nothing.

I want everyone to have a better life with my presence, not a worse one!
I should get back to work now and only write entries once it's fixed.

Journal Entry 3

Date: November 29th
Weather: Sunny
Today's Goal: Borrow a protective suit and return to Hephaestus

With the Commander's help, after several checks, we finally found the real cause of the engine failure—a lot of carbon build-up in the throttle's air intake. Cleaning won't fix it anymore, so we need to get a new throttle.
I've added this to the end-of-month procurement list... I'll stay up tonight and read some books on procurement.
Time flies by so fast. It feels like I've been on the MBV for a long time. Today’s already the seventh day... the seventh day?!

Today is... the day I planned to leave.
If I ask the Commander whether I could borrow a protective suit to leave the MBV now, would they agree? Or will they get really mad... How would Leader and everyone else react?
Before I could figure it out, the MBV suddenly sped up.
Gunshots came from outside, along with the sound of explosions and shouting of the Varjagers.
These bandits again!
These guys attacked everyone in Hephaestus back then, and now they're attacking everyone in the MBV?! This shouldn't be happening... this shouldn't be happening!
I have to stop them!

Just as I was about to rush out of the engine room, I tripped over some parts laying on the ground and fell hard in front of the door. My legs felt like jelly, and I couldn't muster the strength to stand up.
"You can't leave now, just stay put. You don't know how to fight, and even if you go out, you won't be able to help anyone."
That familiar voice again. Is it Vivian? I just want to help everyone. I didn't do anything last time, but this time I have to—
"If you rush out, you'll only drag everyone down. Instead of just worrying about fighting, everyone will have to worry about your safety too."
Drag everyone down? That's what Vivian said... The person who's been talking to me, is it Vivian?
...No, I don't want to drag everyone down! I can help, I really can! I pushed myself up off the ground and grabbed the engine room door handle—once I get out, I'll face the Varjagers, I'll seize every chance, and I won't let anyone on the MBV get hurt...
I can do this! The Varjagers aren’t scary! I closed my eyes and tried to push down the engine room door handle, but I only managed to push it halfway. The courage I had finally mustered was gone.
How could I—

The door of the engine room was abruptly yanked open, and I instinctively withdrew my hand.
"C-Commander..."
The Commander gave me a quick glance and then exhaled in relief.
"Good, you've stayed put... The battle will be over soon. Don't leave the engine room until then, understood?"
"U-Understood! But I can help everyone, I won't be a burden! Please, take me with you!"
"Hmm? Don't worry, it's not that grave. In a few minutes, those nuisances will be taken care of."
"A few minutes... Taken care of? Really? I can lend a hand. If there's anything I can do, please make sure to tell me!"
"Ah... Well, eliminating the Varjagers doesn't require much effort. Mayling, you—"
Suddenly, there was another blast outside, and the Commander scratched their head.
"It seems I'm needed over there. Mayling, stay put. I'll have Groza come retrieve you after the fight."
"Commander..."
The Commander gave me a soothing smile, stooped down and patted my head, then they turned, and shut the engine room door.

Gunshots were everywhere. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth. The Commander said to stay here... stay here...
"Mayling... you're too weak!"
A familiar voice... It's... it's Vivian...
...I stood still, slumped at the door, with legs too weak to stand... My hand resting on the doorknob, unable to push it down... And when the Commander beat me to opening the door, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief... Yes, I’m a coward. I can't help anyone at all.

I don't know how much time had passed, but the sounds of fighting outside the door gradually stopped. I got up to open the door, and at the same moment, a familiar, pale hand opened it.
"I'm so glad to see you're safe, Mayling. Come with me."
It was Leader Groza standing outside the door. She took my hand and led me towards the ops room, just like Vivian used to.
But this time, everyone was still alive and well...

The Commander and everyone... all got hurt. Everyone reported the injuries they sustained in the battle, and Leader summarized the damage on the MBV. It's great that everyone is finally safe... but if I could have gone over to help, or... figured out the cause of the MBV's engine failure earlier, maybe everyone wouldn't have been hurt so badly?

"Mayling, are you okay?"
The Commander's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"I'm fine! Really! Once we get the new parts, I'll fix the MBV right away!"
"Thanks for all your hard work, Mayling. Without your help these past few days, we wouldn't have been able to drive off the Varjagers so quickly."
The Commander's reassurance took me completely by surprise. I felt even more ashamed of my moment of hesitation and cowardice.
The warmth that I've been feeling on the MBV is a different kind compared to what we had at Hephaestus. Back at Hephaestus, we were partners, colleagues, comrades. But on the MBV... I-I feel like I’ve returned to my childhood... It almost feels like... a family...?
But... just thinking this feels like a betrayal to everyone at Hephaestus... I really like this warm and fuzzy feeling, so I want to stay... Stay? No, no, no—I mustn't betray everyone at Hephaestus!

I clenched my fists at my sides and looked at the Commander. I hesitated for a long time before I made the request—
"Commander, could you lend me a protective suit? I want to go back to Hephaestus and hold a seventh-day vigil for my friends."
The Commander didn't answer me immediately, so I hurriedly added,
"After the vigil is over, I'll come back right away to finish my other tasks!"
Leader looked a bit concerned. The Commander reached out and patted my head again.
"This seems really important to you, Mayling. I can send you back with a drone or a jeep. But there's a lot of work these days, and we'll have to rearrange our schedule..."
"I... I can walk back to Hephaestus myself!"
The Commander immediately shook their head.
"No way, we have to ensure your safety no matter what. It's too dangerous for you, a little girl, to walk back alone! Groza, please double-check our itinerary."
"Our current location is a bit far from Hephaestus. It will take at least two days to go there and back. TASK-2076 won't be completed on time."
"That's farther than I expected... but I... I can do it by myself!"
"But I assume a seventh-day vigil has to be done on the seventh day following a death? Have you thought about how long it will also take you to walk all the way back?"
"...Ugh..."
Oh no, I really didn't think about that at all!

The Commander stroked their chin and thought for a moment.
"Mayling, does the seventh-day vigil have any special requirements for the location?"
"...Special requirements?"
I paused and pondered this. My father's friend never specified that the seventh-day vigil had to be held at the place where the family member passed away...
"Well... if there are no specific requirements, there's a valley about three kilometers from here. The view is pretty nice at night. I can take you there now. Do we have any small-sized protective suits, Groza?"
"Yes. I'll prepare one right away."
Leader Groza replied.

I can't believe there was actually such an option.
I remembered that time when we all commemorated Colin under Ivan's direction—if... if we always keep them in our hearts, they won't disappear. When we get to the valley, I bet they would enjoy taking in the beautiful scenery.
Vivian would also prefer such a beautiful place...
Finally, I nodded.

Journal Entry 4

Date: December 1st
Weather: Strong Winds
Today's Goal: Find a way to complete my new tasks

It's been a few days since I last wrote in my diary. A lot has happened during this time.
I really messed up... I should have done better, but in the end, I just caused a lot of trouble for everyone.
After donning my protective suit, Leader Groza checked my gear again to make sure everything was in order. Then, the Commander drove me to the valley in a jeep.
When I finally started the seventh-day vigil to pray for our fallen comrades, no one from the MBV joined me.
When Leader heard I needed to use the kitchen, she asked me why. After learning it was for the vigil, she helped me make a lot of delicious food... I placed each dish made by Leader on the ground. I'm sorry, I didn't make these myself... But Leader's cooking is far better than mine, and the food is more delicious. I'm sure you'd like it more...

The sky that night was a beautiful deep blue, with no clouds in sight. When the moonlight fell, the entire valley was bathed in a layer of silver light. I silently recited everyone's names one by one, and at the end, I added my father and mother's names. This time, that familiar voice—Vivian—neither spoke to me nor scolded me.
Vivian... did she also think this place was so beautiful that she held her breath and just took in the scenery without saying a word?
I hope she did...
After reciting the last name in my heart, I sat still on the ground of the valley. The vigil is almost over... After that, once I finished the work on the MBV, I would head back to Hephaestus.
I'll stay here a bit longer...
Suddenly, I received a transmission from the Commander.
"Mayling, the temperature's going to drop in half an hour, and it's gonna get really cold out there. When are you coming back to the MBV? If you want to stay a bit longer, I'll have Groza bring you a thick coat."
"C-Commander...? No need, I-"
Suddenly, I heard an engine error alert through the communicator.
"Ah... Groza, the engine seems to be acting up again, go check it out... What's wrong, Mayling?"
"No, it's nothing, I'll be back right away, no problems here!"
Before the Commander could respond, I quickly cut the transmission.
...At the very least, I couldn't leave until I finished working on the MBV.
Today, I paid my respects to the relatives and friends who have passed away here... I just hope that the list of people I need to remember next time doesn't get any longer.

The MBV's damage got worse after it was attacked by the Varjagers again. In addition to the engine, there were problems in other places too. All the effort we put into fixing it before was completely wasted, and we had to start over from scratch.
The purchase order for the underground broker didn't work out the way I wanted it to either. I tried to get the right materials at the lowest price by comparing several suppliers and choosing the cheapest one. But soon enough, another supplier had a sale, and I ended up wasting a ton of money... I wanted to prove that I could help everyone in other ways, so I practically moved into the engine room. I can't even remember how long I worked non-stop, but back then, all I could think about was work, until I could no longer differentiate between dream and reality.
Leader said I slept for an entire day, crying and mumbling as I did. She was worried I might end up sleepwalking and even tried to find ways to help improve my situation. But I knew it wasn't sleepwalking, just nightmares... nightmares that felt so real they might come true if I tried to touch them.

I dreamt that I was surrounded by darkness, and that there was a heavy black curtain in front of my eyes. But I could see through it and see what was happening. My friends from Hephaestus were with everyone in the MBV. Everyone was gathered around the warm stove, wishing each other well, and then...
Then, the Varjagers rushed in like a storm, followed by explosions and loud, rapid gunshots. I used all my strength to break free from my bindings and rushed out to lift the black curtain, but I heard an error sound emanate from the engine room.
The Varjagers stabbed everybody in front of me, one by one, and the red liquid flowed down from their bodies, gathering into a stream that trickled to my feet...
Then, there was the sound of gunshots. Colin died. Abigail died. Ivan died. Vivian died. Finally... the Commander and Groza died with them. Then, the Varjagers' rifles pointed right at me.
"Mayling..."
There was not even the slightest tinge of reproach in the voice of the Commander who lay dead in front of me.
"Bang!"
There was another gunshot, and my world plunged into darkness. My heart lurched, and then my eyes snapped open.

The first thing I saw was the kind, yet worried look on Leader Groza's face.
It was a mere nightmare.
But everything in it felt so real. I reached out to touch my forehead and found my hands were drenched in cold sweat.
"Mayling, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine, really! Don't worry about me, I just had a bad dream. Leader, don't worry, I'll get back to work right away!"
Without waiting for Leader's response, I struggled to get up and rushed back into the engine room.
My hands kept working on the repairs, but my body couldn't stop shaking. At that moment, I was really afraid that everyone would come in to check on me, because I honestly had no idea how to face them.
If I didn't fix the MBV quickly, the events in my dreams might end up coming true.

...
What time is it now...?
So tired... Just give me five minutes... another five minutes...

It's been a whole 50 minutes! I slept ten times longer than I originally planned! And my head is killing me!
I heard the engine humming quietly, which made the night feel especially quiet. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating a patch that slowly moved across the floor.
I touched my forehead with my hand; it was wet again. I tried to get up and continue working, but I noticed two bottles of milky white liquid with a slight yellow tinge to them. There was a note under one of the bottles-
"Mayling, the batch of items we recently purchased just arrived at the MBV. Here's the rice wine you wanted."
It was signed, "Groza".
Leader Groza...
She must have seen I was asleep and decided not to wake me.

...
At that moment, words couldn't express how I felt. I hugged one of the bottles of rice wine tightly and covered my mouth with one hand before the tears burst out.
I had to be quiet. If I cried too loudly, it might disturb everyone and make them worry.
...That’s the last thing I’d want to happen.
The vector engine was still humming steadily. I opened the first bottle of rice wine—I'd heard that people would get inspired and do incredible things after getting drunk. In that case... I'd give it a try.
A murky image appeared in my mind: A tall, thin man bent down and gently patted my head. Then, he moved away and drank something that looked like wine.
Just like the man in that blurry image, I drank the bottle of rice wine that Leader had given me. The taste... it was just like regular fruit juice, but with a hint of rice.
Is this what rice wine was supposed to taste like?

Then, I gripped my repair tools tightly and looked at the engine again. The humming sound in my head became clearer, and the mechanical structure of what lay before me seemed easier to understand.
Great, maybe I could fix any new issues that came up ASAP.

After that, I can't remember exactly what happened.
In a daze, I heard two indistinct voices talking.
"Looks like she's asleep... She can't be drunk, right? Groza, are you sure that rice drink you gave Mayling was one specially made by Poludnitsa?"
"Yes, it was non-alcoholic. Mayling probably fell asleep from exhaustion."
"Exhaustion... Did I give Mayling too much work lately?"
"The workload is indeed heavy, but the timeframe for it was quite generous. Mayling probably wanted to finish all the tasks in one go, which was why this happened."
"...While not working hard is bad, working too hard isn't good either... Is there any way to rectify this..."
"There's a spare Doll dummy in the storage compartment that hasn't been activated for a long time. After some modifications, it should be able to help Mayling with some simple tasks."
"Hmm... That sounds doable."
"Commander, let's allow Mayling to get some good sleep for now."

I don't know how long I slept.
When I woke up, I saw Leader Groza sitting beside the bed with a worried look on her face. She reached out and touched my forehead.
"Your temperature is 38.5°C. Mayling, you have a fever."
"My head... it really hurts..."
"It's normal to have a headache with a fever like this. I'll get you some hot water."
Leader got up and left. I tried to sit up, but my whole body felt like it was falling apart. The moment I tried to exert any strength, I found myself falling back onto the bed.
"Leader... I'm sorry."
I covered my eyes with my hands to prevent myself from looking at Leader's worried face.
"Put the engine repairs on hold for now. Mayling, your health is the most important thing right now."
Leader came back with hot water and ruffled my hair. That kind gesture reminded me of Vivian. If Vivian were here, she would probably do the same... Her voice... I haven't heard it in so long...
"But my work..."
"Rest. Now. That's an order from the Commander."
"Thank you, Leader..."

After that, I drank the hot water the Leader brought me. I couldn't move, so Leader covered me with a blanket. A toasty heat spread from my head to my limbs. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier until I finally closed my eyes.
Leader said I slept for a whole day and night.
...In the end, not only did I not manage to fix the engine on time, but I also caused more trouble for everyone.

"Why are you still running away? The truth is, you don't really want to leave."
It, it's—Vivian! I'm sorry, it's me... I'm too weak... You're right... I was running away...
"Mayling, you seem to like the way they care for you. You want to live with them, don't you?"
I... want to live with them...? I-I don't know...

Just what... should I do?

Journal Entry 5

Date: December 6th
Weather: Sunny
Today's Goal: Study Jiuzhang and complete work with Jiuzhang

Today is the third day I've been working with Jiuzhang. With Jiuzhang on board, I should be able to handle the tasks the Commander assigned to me, such as MBV repair, maintenance, logistics support, and material procurement.
Once again, I need to thank the Commander and everyone.

The day when I broke out with a fever, the Commander came to talk to me about work.
"Sorry, Mayling. That day... after you fell asleep, I only realized that I'd been giving you an unreasonable workload after Groza discussed the matter with me."
"No, no, no! It's my fault for being inefficient!"
I quickly denied it.
The Commander patted my head like before.
"You're setting the bar too high for yourself. A lot has happened lately, and I've been neglecting my duties as the Commander. But I have an idea that might help solve the problem. Want to hear it?"
"Solve what problem? It won't trouble you, will it?!"
"Uh, it wouldn’t, really. There's a spare Dummy on board that can take on some of your monotonous work after some modifications. So... what do you think?"
"But... wouldn’t modifying the Dummy be of great trouble to you..."
"It’ll be a simple affair; won't be much trouble at all."
"Then... if it’ll help the Commander, I'd love to have such a support unit!"
The Commander patted me on the shoulder with a smile.
"Alright, relax. We'll work on the Dummy tonight."
Then, the Commander reached out and gently touched my forehead.
"Hmm... you're getting better. Groza measured your temperature, and while it's almost back to normal, you should rest a bit more."
"I'm completely fine now, I can work right away!"
"Right away? Look at your face. Lie down and get some rest."
The Commander's face grew a little stern.
"Commander..."
"Rest."
The Commander’s orders must be followed. Even though their tone was gentle, I felt compelled to get back under the blanket.
"That's better."
Thus spake the Commander.
"A sick person needs rest. What if you get sick again? Don't even think about working right now."
After making sure I got the message, the Commander left the room.

Even though the Commander told me not to, I couldn't help but think about work while laying in bed. The Commander’s far too kind to me, they even willingly try to help by giving me a Dummy assistant. This time, I can’t fail like I did before!
I-If I can just get familiar with the work on the MBV, then even if I can't fight like the Dolls do, I can still help them as their backup force and protect them from the backline.
...I can protect my friends on the MBV so that they won't get hurt like my companions back at Hephaestus. This way, we can... help more people just like me, even those who are sick like Colin, and many, many more good and kind people.

That's something I can do.

Night came quickly, and the Commander and I started the modifications on the Dummy.
Leader gave me a long manual. Before the Dummy could be activated, many preparatory tasks needed to be completed.
Back at Hephaestus, I had talked to Ivan about using droids to assist with work, but Ivan rejected the proposal due to a lack of funds.
I understood Ivan's reasons. Everyone worked all day at Hephaestus and still barely earned enough to feed themselves.
But here...
With such an opportunity, we should do our best with the resources we have to achieve the best results.

"Hmm, that should do it. Mayling, try running it and see what happens."
The Commander's voice pulled me back to the present. They gave the Dummy a light tap with a thoughtful look.
"When setting the parameters, I used you as a model when setting up the emotional simulation program. If your work partner is similar to you, you should feel more comfortable working together. What do you think, Mayling?"
"S-Sounds great!"
"Alright, let's give it a try."
Once the Dummy was fully charged, I pressed the button to start it up.
The Dummy stood up slowly and bowed to me.
"Hello, I am Dummy Number 0348. What can I do for you? I will do my best!"
"This worried look about not doing well is just like you, Mayling."

Worried about not doing well? Am I really such an open book? I've been trying to hide my insecurity all this while...
"This is Mayling, 0348. From now on, your mission is to assist Mayling with her work."
Upon receiving the command, 0348 bowed deeply to me again.
"From now on, I will do my best to assist you!"
"Th-Thank you! Do you have another name?"
0348 didn't reply immediately; the indicator light on its chest kept flashing.
"That means it's in the process of computing a suitable answer... It's merely the most basic model of a civilian Doll," the Commander explained a little apologetically, but I found 0348 quite charming.
To me, Groza and the others are just like my former companions. They may be mechanical creations, but they’re perfectly self-aware. How are they any different from humans?
But 0348 was not like them. It's a basic Dummy with only the most rudimentary learning and computational capabilities.

Before the Commander even finished, 0348 had already computed an answer.
"Hello, Mayling. My default designation is 0348. If you have a better name for me, please let me know."
I instinctively looked at the Commander.
"0348 is yours now."
As if knowing what I was thinking, the Commander responded.

Having my own Doll...
What does this mean?
...At least for now, it will share some of my responsibilities and help out.

"0348, I-I came up with a new name for you. I'm not sure if you'll like it..."
"I await your command."
"Jiuzhang, from 'Jiuzhang Suanshu', or 'The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art'. It's one of the earliest books on mathematics and mechanics in the history of the country where my parents lived. By giving you this name, I hope you... I hope you will excel in both math and mechanics."
It would also be a tribute to both my father and mother...
"Jiuzhang... Searching, name confirmed. Altering designation... Alteration completed."
The indicator light on Jiuzhang's chest flashed again, and when it stopped, she bowed deeply to me.
"Hello, Mayling, I am Jiuzhang. I hope I can assist you!"
The Commander watched the exchange and smiled.
"Looks like you two are getting along well, and Jiuzhang is almost fully adjusted. I'll leave you two to it then."
The Commander was about to turn and leave when I reached out and grabbed their sleeve.
"Mayling?"
Looking at the Commander, I bowed deeply like Jiuzhang.
"C-Commander, thank you, thank you so much!"
With my head down, I couldn't see the Commander's expression. Then, I felt a gentle touch on my head.
"Work hard and rest well, that’s all the thanks I need."
"C-Commander, thank you, thank you so much!"
Another voice said the same thing to the Commander.
It was Jiuzhang. She bowed deeply to the Commander just like I did.
"Ah... haha, there's no mistake that this droid is modelled after you—she even behaves like you."
"T-Thank you!"
Not knowing what to say, I could only repeat myself.
"Thank you, thank you!"
Jiuzhang echoed my words.
"Alright, I really should get going. I have some things to take care of. If you need help, just come find me."

After the Commander left, Jiuzhang and I straightened up at the same time.
"Mayling, what do you need me to do?"
"Right, please work with me and get the MBV fixed as soon as possible!"
"Understood, Mayling."

I-I also have the ability to protect everyone!
I'll prove it!

Journal Entry 6

Date: December 11th
Weather: Windy
Today's goal: Fully familiarize myself with the work on the MBV

My head hurt so much I passed out again...
Leader Groza brought me back again this time. She left some "rice wine" and another note—
"Congratulations, Mayling—for fixing the engine and successfully upgrading the MBV's security systems."
Signed yet again by "Groza".

Suddenly, a wave of nausea from within hit me...
...
If only drinking had no side effects. Thankfully this time I only felt like vomiting after getting up. Had I thrown up on someone else while I was drunk...
Sure hope that never happens.
Causing trouble for other people is the opposite of what I want...
...I haven't done that yet, right?
Should I have made sure with Commander or everyone else? If it did happen, though, they probably wouldn't have kept it bottled up.
Hmm...
I've been wondering ever since last time, though... was the "rice wine" Leader gave me really wine? Tastes almost like juice with a hint of rice, and I couldn't help but just fall asleep right after drinking it. How strange...

But I'm still very happy. After pulling a few all-nighters with Jiuzhang, the work on our hands was finally at an end.
I proved my capabilities to myself. I could help others, and wouldn't be a burden to anyone!
But I won't be responsible for Jiuzhang anymore... At first, Jiuzhang was indeed a big help, but eventually, with assistance of Commander and the others, Jiuzhang now only needs to handle the most repetitive of tasks.
Plus, it's already broken down so many times, and the Commander had to spend a lot of time helping me with it each time that happened.
Jiuzhang would express gratitude, but I can now easily deal with the portion of the work it used to handle. I also really don't want to burden the Commander anymore...

I had some of the "rice wine" again, and it still tasted like juice mixed with rice. But something about it was different. I wasn't alone anymore; I was celebrating with everyone.
Leader Groza suggested that everyone should "celebrate with rice wine". How does she always come up with such great ideas?
I've never had such experiences in Hephaestus... Vivian would always give me juice as a substitute after turning down my requests for rice wine. When it came to celebrations, she preferred buying frivolous stuff like ribbons and spray cans that are only ever good for anything in festive seasons.
If only Vivian could be here, celebrating with us... She would definitely make a mess with all of those silly trinkets and write all kinds of well-wishing things on the walls with colored spray paint. Ivan would then bellow at her, telling her to clean it all up after the celebrations were done. She would come to me all cutesy-like, and drag me along in helping her pick up all the scattered colored paper into the night...

"You managed get drunk on rice punch alone...?"
A gentle voice visits my ears. Is... is it Vivian? Is it really Vivian?! I-I can protect everyone now, right? I... I’m not drunk at all. I wanted to save everyone back then. Now with the Commander and everyone else, I can protect all of them.
A hand lands upon on my head, gently ruffling my hair.
"Sleep well, Mayling."
W-was that Ivan's voice? Sleep? B-But I don't want to sleep! I don't get to talk to everyone on just any day. I-I can't fall asleep, absolutely not...
"I-I don't want to sleep! Ivan, Vivian, please, listen to me!"
I reach out, trying to latch onto Ivan and Vivian's arms. I can't see their expressions clearly, but if I could touch them—if I could touch them with my own hands just one more time!
"Mayling..."
I hear Ivan calling my name.
"Ivan, I'm not clumsy ;ole I used to be! I can fix a lot of things now. We can take on those difficult jobs that we couldn't handle before!"
"C-Colin? Where's Colin? We have to tell him the good news! We can make more money, buy him better medicine, and get professional doctors to treat him! H-He can celebrate with us!"
"And Vivian, I won't be afraid anymore, even of scary things! Agh... maybe a little still, but I won't let you waste time looking out for me when we need to escape! I'll be smart and stay far away from danger! You... you told me that surviving is the only way to not let everyone down..."
"I loved everything that we were. I loved that lingering smell of engine oil in the air around Hephaestus. I loved fixing all sorts of broken machines together. I loved gathering every Christmas to make wishes for the new year. I loved how we always do our best to help each other out when someone is hurt..."
"I-I... but in the end, I'm the only one who survived! Vivian, did I r-really not let everyone down?"
I poured out everything in my heart in one breath, still reaching out in vain, trying to grasp the ghostly figures of Ivan and Vivian.
"Please—please give me an answer!"
I cried out with all my strength.

Someone gently took my outstretched hand.
"No, you've never let us down."
Ivan...
"Mayling, all I want is for you to live a good life."
Vivian's.

D-Did I r-really do the right thing?
Ivan and Vivian seemed so real in front of me, their blonde hair, gentle expressions... I rushed over and hugged them, tears pouring uncontrollably from my eyes.
"Thank you, thank you everyone, thank you, thank you, thank you..."
I kept repeating these words until the tears blur out everything in sight.

Vivian never blamed me.
The voice that I heard was mine all along.
All that time, it was me... doubting myself.

I was a coward.
But from now on, I'm going to be brave. Brave enough to do what I can, and help what people I can
"I want to help everyone! I won’t run away anymore!"
I screamed at "myself" until I woke up from that dream.

Seriously... I shouldn't be having such dreams on such a joyous day of celebration.
But, there was another "me" in the dream who said—
I believe in you.

Journal Entry 7

Date: December 25th
Weather: Sunny
Today's Goal: Prepare for Christmas, Spend Christmas with everyone next year

Haven't made a new diary entry in ages. I've just been so busy lately.
Ever since our celebration commemorating the engine's restoration, I haven't had time to write anything. Leader asked me to help prepare for Christmas. We bought a lot of food and holiday-esque stuff together, including tons of... colored ribbons and spray cans.
Leader asked me to make a star that lights up as a Christmas tree topper. It took me a few days since I could only work on it after finishing up my daily tasks, and the bulk of my free time has gone into it.
It wasn't difficult to make it light up, but I wanted to make something with a bit more meaning to it...
I linked together all the festive stars, adjusted the frequency of their flashing, and transcribed everything I wanted to say into Morse code in tune with their flashing.
I thought to myself: Everyone would be able to figure it out.
At the very least... the Commander and Leader Groza would figure it out.

Today, Leader taught me how to make pumpkin pie.
I didn't expect it to taste like it did, sweet as it was. So sweet in fact that it made me happy after taking just one bite. No wonder... no wonder Vivian liked sweet things.
The new year’s coming, and I've decided to stay with everyone.
I still felt guilty and remorseful, but I knew I could trust everyone here. I taught everyone how to make red lanterns. We hung them up in the central hub and the ops room, making the whole MBV a bit more festive. I also showed everyone how to make dumplings, and the Commander made them in some really weird shapes. Leader commented that it was an "impressive demonstration of culinary creativity," while the Commander argued they simply wanted to explore the possibilities. I secretly put a coin in one of the dumplings. They say if you find one with a coin, you'll have good luck for the whole year... Uh, well, as long as the Commander doesn't swallow the dumpling whole, it should be safe enough.
Finally, Leader brought out the most important Christmas dish—a turkey. The Commander was thoroughly thrilled at first, but right after taking a bite, their expression changed drastically.
It was a vegetarian turkey. Leader explained that since the budget's still a little tight, they had to use potatoes as ersatz turkey. But it looked and smelled like an actual turkey, so everyone could treat it as if it were real.
...This is the first time I've heard of such a concept. Fascinating! I hope I can get a chance to learn how to make this potato turkey dish from Leader. Hmm... If I work hard and cut down on spending, could the MBV have enough spare funds to buy a real turkey?
While I ponder that notion, the Commander tells me everyone had prepared a New Year's gift for me.

"Uh... Mayling, New Year... Spring Festival... Right, Happy New Year, this is the New Year's gift we prepared for you."
"C-Commander? Why are you suddenly saying Happy New Year to me?"
"Christmas seems rather close to the New Year festival from your homeland... We hoped that you could find it in yourself to celebrate your homeland's festival here."
"I-I’ve never thought about it like that..."
"Ah, well, even if that's the case... do you want to see the gift we prepared?"
"Y-Yes!"
The Commander produced a big, red paper box, presenting it to me.
"Want to open it and take a look?"
The Commander smiled.

I took the box into my hands, carefully opening it. Inside were two greeting cards with blessings written in wobbly handwriting on two red pieces of cardboard, employing the thickest possible black marker.
"May you have peace and good luck... Happiness every day..."
"Yeah, these are everyone's blessings for you. Oh, and there's also the 'horizontal scroll', they say without it, the Chunlian isn't complete."
"T-This is... a Chunlian?!"
"Uh... does it not resemble one? We don't really know how real Chunlian are made, so there’s bound to be a lot of things we didn't get right..."
I quickly waved my hands in denial.
"No no, I really like it. In fact, I love it!"
I picked up the horizontal scroll from the paper box.
"'To Mayling'...?"
"Yeah... Happy New Year, Mayling."
I looked at the 'Chunlian' in my hands—although they were more like poorly formatted greeting cards with how they were written in an incorrect format, I couldn't help but smile.
"Happy New Year, Commander!"
I enveloped the "Chunlian" in my arms, sending my best wishes to the Commander.
"And... Merry Christmas!"

I didn't know when it started, but my eyes began to water. I put down the card, endlessly wiping at the corners of my eyes with my fingers.
I have neither powerful weapons nor outstanding combat skills; I'm even far too scared to leave the MBV.
But I still want to protect you all in my own way, to shield you from any possible harm.
Because to me, you are as important as everyone in Hephaestus.
You are what I consider... a family.

Wishing everyone on the MBV peace and joy every day, every month, every year, forever, and always.

Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas.

Gallery

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  In the Public Area menu.
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  Story portraits.
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  Story CGs.
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  Chibi Mayling announcing updates.
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Trivia

• Mayling appears in the gacha pull animation. If she's making a V-sign, an Elite drop will appear.
• Despite drinking often, Mayling is a lightweight and usually gets smashed in one drink.
• The Commander has the habit of extorting overtime and alcohol from Mayling, despite her best efforts to keep her bottle stashes secret. Groza defends Mayling by keeping track of the Commander's promises of days off and reimbursement so they actually make good on it.