Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is the third and final part of .
==Steps==
# Head to Siraj's hideout
# Talk to Ilyas
# Enter the research base
#* Enter the Quest Domain: Secret Cavern
# Continue to explore the research base
# Talk to Alhaitham
# Head into the heart of the research base
# Listen to Ilyas's thoughts
# Head into the heart of the research base
#* Wave 1:
#* Wave 2:
# Listen to Ilyas's thoughts
# Head into the heart of the research base
# Listen to Ilyas's thoughts
# Head into the deepest part of the research base
# Defeat opponents
#* Wave 1:
#* Wave 2:
#* Wave 3:
#* Wave 4:
#* Wave 5:
#* Wave 6:
#**
# Witness the internal conflict within the Hive
# Talk to Alhaitham
# Talk to the test subjects
# Leave the Domain
# Talk to Alhaitham
# Follow Alhaitham
# Listen to Alhaitham's thoughts
==Trial Character==
==Dialogue==
;(Approach the marked location in Apam Woods)
: Ilyas: This is the place.
: Paimon: It's so well-hidden, but there's nothing spooky about it. Hm, let's go inside and take a look!
----
;(Approach the open area in the Domain)
: Paimon: Weird, it's bigger on the inside than Paimon imagined. Are you sure it's still a work in progress?
: Paimon: Ilyas, do you remember this place? ...Huh? Uh... Ilyas? Where'd he go?
: Alhaitham: I don't sense him nearby.
: Paimon: Did he get separated from us? Should we wait here or turn around and look for him?
: Alhaitham: There's no need for that. Let's keep moving.
: Paimon: Uhh, alright. We'll continue in and see if he catches up to us.
;(Approach the next hut)
:
: Raju: It's okay, Ilyas. You've done more than enough for me already...
: Ilyas: I don't understand. Everyone knows that Jani is stealing your research. Why is no one willing to go public with the truth?
: Ilyas: He shamelessly used your thesis to send in a project application, and whenever the project hits a wall, he asks you for help. Everyone knows what's going on...
: Raju: Do you know how many people are working on that project? If Jani was kicked out because of academic fraud, that'd be the end of the project. Too many people would be affected!
: Ilyas: But he's obviously taking advantage of you!
: Ilyas: He throws you the hardest work. After you're done pulling all-nighters, he struts around with your research data and takes credit for it.
: Ilyas: That's not right! Why are you putting up with this?
: Raju: A lot of people warned me to not say anything, and I think they have a point. This is just how things are. All I want is to graduate without any problems...
: Ilyas: ...
: Raju: It's okay. He's at least paying me.
: Ilyas: Half a year of your time and effort, countless all-nighters, and casual threats and insults — all for a measly 20,000 Mora?
: Ilyas: He's treating people like cattle...
: Raju: Enough. It's fine. I just need to suck it up and get it done.
:
: Paimon: What's the matter?
: I think I saw a glimpse of Ilyas's past.
: Paimon: Eh? You could read minds this whole time and you never told Paimon!?
: Alhaitham: Of course not.
: Alhaitham: I was also able to see those memories just now. They were probably the ones that leaked out while Ilyas was connecting to the collective consciousness.
: Paimon: Connecting? Collective consciousness?
: Alhaitham: It's clear that this place isn't a work in progress. The Hive has long been finished.
: Alhaitham: The collective consciousness project is already complete, and Ilyas is now returning to the collective.
: So he tricked us?
: Alhaitham: Not entirely... Keep walking and you'll see why.
;(Approach the open area)
: Paimon: It's completely different from what Ilyas said. This place looks like it's been done for a while...
;(Ride the platform to the first stop)
: Member of the Collective Consciousness: Contributing to the collective by only thinking to your strengths... How easy!
;(Ride the platform to the second stop)
: Member of the Collective Consciousness: Alhaitham... Just thinking of that name fills me with hatred. We must get rid of him.
;(Ride the platform to the third stop and get off)
:
: Janaki: An entire year's worth of work down the drain, and for what? Your reputation? Do you have any idea how many people you've brought down?
: Jaap: You could've played hero any time, so why couldn't you have waited until the project was complete?
: Ilyas: I don't understand what you guys are saying. Are you saying you don't care that Raju jumped to his death!?
: Jaap: It's a shame, what happened to him. I thought he was stronger than that.
: Jaap: Everyone has been working hard to complete the project. He could have endured for a bit longer, but he chose now of all times to...
: Janaki: In any case, we're done with you. Because of your recklessness, the matra are putting Jani on trial. This project is done for.
: Janaki: None of this affects you at all, but do you know how many people, myself included, needed this project to complete their studies...?
: Janaki: Now, our futures are up in the air. If worst comes to pass, we might not be able to graduate. Do you understand now?
: Ilyas: I'm sorry.
: Janaki: There's no need for an apology. It's not like I'll accept it, anyway. You'll pay for this.
:
: Paimon: Hey, you're blanking out again... What did you see this time?
: Ilyas...
: Alhaitham: Don't jump to conclusions just yet. Save your words for when we see him.
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on the person in the nearby hut, optional)
: Member of the Collective Consciousness: (No need to choose, no responsibilities. Life has become so easy, just like that...)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on the person sleeping on a bed in the hut on the highest platform, optional)
: Member of the Collective Consciousness: (I just have to stay here... Just follow the collective...)
;(When bringing only one key to the next gate)
: Paimon: Just in case, why don't we take both keys with us?
;(Approach the next open area)
:
: Pitar: Ilyas, this is all very strange. Is there really no research group that will take you?
: Pitar: To pass this course, you must complete a paper with other researchers. I know you're a hero for fighting academic fraud, but we can't make exceptions for heroes, now can we?
: Pitar: Maybe you should try to improve your relationship with the other researchers. Getting a reputation for being too unconventional will not stand you in good stead in the long run.
: Ilyas: ...I understand.
: Ilyas: ...
: ???: You seem troubled.
: Ilyas: Who are you?
: Siraj: Ah, where are my manners? My name is Siraj.
: Ilyas: Siraj... I've heard of you before. Do you need something from me?
: Siraj: The world hates people who don't fit in. I imagine you've had your fair share of trouble.
: Siraj: After you reported Jani for academic fraud, you were ostracized and shunned. Even your family can't understand your actions.
: Siraj: However, I'm working on some research that will help you "merge into a collective." That way, your life won't be so dolorous.
: Siraj: How about it? Want to have a go?
:
: Alhaitham: What did you see?
: Siraj persuaded Ilyas to join the Hive.
: Ilyas wasn't forced.
: Paimon: Paimon can't believe it! He really did trick us, that giga jerk!
: Paimon: No, Siraj is the real giga jerk here! Ilyas is just a regular jerk!
: Paimon: Ooh, Paimon's so mad! We're gonna find him, and we're gonna make him explain himself!
----
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Ilyas, optional)
: Ilyas: (I must... return... to the Hive.)
;(Approach Ilyas)
: Paimon: Ilyas!
: Ilyas: You've come.
: Ilyas: I intentionally slowed my integration into the collective consciousness because I wanted to see you one last time as Ilyas.
: Ilyas: And I wanted to apologize to you as him. It was only at Gandharva Ville that the second thing I must do occurred to me: Bring you all here.
: Ilyas: To throw off the matra and bring Alhaitham to the Hive — that was my task as Siraj Number 36.
: Paimon: Y—You were already Siraj Number 36? But you passed the matra's lie detector test...
: Ilyas: Yes, I truly did forget many things during that time, even my identity and assigned responsibilities.
: Ilyas: However, it's not that I got scared and forgot. I... chose to delete those memories.
: Ilyas: It's difficult to fool Alhaitham, so I had to create the perfect guise for myself.
: Alhaitham: And the best guise is when you believe your own lies.
: Ilyas: Correct, I only told you that the Hive was incomplete because I had deleted my memories of its completion.
: Ilyas: It was finished a long time ago. Before I left, I was already living as Number 36. Now, I choose to return to that identity.
: Ilyas: Only here can I truly be free.
: Ilyas: That's all I wanted to say. After I enter this room, my consciousness will merge back into the collective. And so, this is goodbye.
: Alhaitham: Is this your decision?
: Ilyas: ...
: Paimon: Yeah, the person we know is Ilyas, not Siraj Number 36!
: Paimon: The outside world is painful sometimes, but Paimon doesn't think that's a reason to run away!
: Siraj: Do you need more time to consider, Ilyas?
: Paimon: Hey, who are—
: Alhaitham: That is Siraj.
: Paimon: So you're that giga jerk!
: Siraj: "Giga jerk"... How bold of you. Have I done something to offend you?
: Paimon: You—
: Siraj: I modified Akasha Terminals to allow users to share memories and emotions. Then, I recruited researchers from the Akademiya to build a collective consciousness.
: Siraj: I assigned numbers to everyone and divided the experiment's tasks amongst themselves.
: Siraj: Here, people can live easily and happily without needing to exercise complex mental thought. This is what they have chosen. All I've done is fulfill their wishes.
: Paimon: Y—You're just trying to justify yourself!
: Siraj: Then I ask you: What's the difference between here and the outside?
: Siraj: There are researchers at the Akademiya who engage in dangerous research in extreme environments, while others become idle and listless.
: Siraj: People are so obsessed with "collective will" that even those on the fringes will attempt to fit in after suffering setbacks.
: Siraj: Isn't that right, Ilyas?
: Ilyas: ...
: Siraj: There's no need to deny this, as it is fact. It is natural for social creatures to conform.
: Siraj: And the terminus of "conformity" is a collective consciousness, through which even an ordinary bee colony can become a powerful swarm. Replace the bees with humans, and this model becomes even more potent.
: Siraj: Welcome to the Hive, Alhaitham. You once arrogantly denied the merits of this project before the Grand Sage.
: Siraj: A few simple words from you, and my research was consigned to nothingness. Of course, I'm well aware that you don't care about any of this. You don't care about the pain of others.
: Siraj: But I didn't give up. I made my thesis into reality!
: Alhaitham: When we arrived, I noticed many empty rooms in the Hive.
: Siraj: Oh, you noticed that. Then can you guess where their inhabitants are?
: Siraj: The answer is the Akademiya. They're executing another phase of the plan... the plan to install me as a sage.
: Siraj: The collective consciousness links all of us into a single mind, showcasing our individual strengths as we work together. We are able to execute complex undertakings while instantaneously modifying our strategies in response to unexpected situations.
: Siraj: Everything has been proceeding smoothly — you are our biggest obstacle. With you out of the way, I'll use my growing influence to turn the collective consciousness into a legitimate study.
: Siraj: The project will snowball until ultimately, everyone will be part of my Hive. I— no, the Hive will be in control, and it will lead the Akademiya towards a new future.
: Paimon: We won't let you do this!
: Siraj: What can you achieve with mere words? You weren't even able to change Ilyas's mind.
: Siraj: Return to the Hive, Number 36.
: Ilyas: ...Yes.
: Paimon: Wait, don't go back! Uh... Look, there are lots of people out there worried about you!
: Paimon: And you aren't an outcast. Aren't we your friends?
: Siraj: That's easy for you to say, given that you're travelers. Will you two continue to stay at the Akademiya? When you leave, tragedy will repeat itself.
: Siraj: Return, Number 36. You know as well as I do that comforting words don't make life any easier.
: Paimon: Ilyas... Why...?
: Siraj: You two are just as arrogant as Alhaitham.
: Siraj: You think that everyone should be like you and live according to their own truths, but you don't realize that most people simply want easy lives.
: Siraj: I allowed Number 36 to leave the Hive without his memories only because I knew he would eventually return. This proves that I know more about human nature than you do.
: Siraj: Alhaitham, do say a word or two. I will consider them as your last.
: Alhaitham: I made those words quite clear a year ago. The model you presented was extremely unstable. No amount of garish packaging will change its fragile nature.
: Alhaitham: *sigh* It can't be helped. If you were clever enough to realize those problems, then you would've been aware that the Hive changed when Ilyas returned to this collective consciousness of yours.
:
: Siraj: What...?
: Paimon: What's happening...?
: Alhaitham: The collective needs motivation to execute its plans, just as machinery requires energy to operate.
: Alhaitham: That's why you, as the Overmind, synchronized your hatred of me into the collective, prompting them to create and execute a plan to eliminate me.
: Alhaitham: However, when Ilyas returned to the collective, his memories and emotions were shared with the rest of its members. This includes his perception of me.
: Thoughts From Memory: Thanks for that. You know, you don't seem like such a bad person.
: Thoughts From Memory: Strange, isn't it? Why did I have those thoughts at that time?
: Alhaitham: This contradicts the hatred you had provided them, and these two differing emotions will give rise to new conflict.
: Paimon: So that's it! Wait, so you knew that Ilyas would return to the Hive?
: Paimon: And then you pretended to keep him around, just to fool Siraj...
: Paimon: Wouldn't expect any less from you, Alhaitham! Once the collective consciousness bugs out, we'll take that opportunity to—
: Paimon: Eh? Wait, it's back to normal already!?
: Siraj: Alhaitham, I told you: You're too arrogant! Did you really think that your little scheme would be enough to destabilize the Hive?
: Siraj: Ilyas's return had indeed introduced abnormal emotions into the Hive, but such a meager drop cannot give rise to waves.
: Siraj: Your struggle has been in vain, and it's time to end it. Allow me to show you what makes the collective consciousness so formidable...
: Paimon: So many monsters! Where did they come from?
: Paimon: And, something feels off about them...
: Siraj: I also integrated monsters into the collective, though I ranked them last. Even so, they are part of it.
: Siraj: Despite their lack of intelligence, perfect cooperation can be achieved, much like soldiers who have undergone strict training.
: Siraj: Now then, drown in endless waves of monsters. You... you will all pay for your ceaseless arrogance.
: Paimon: Hey, Alhaitham? Uhh... Your plan didn't work, so what do we do now?
: Alhaitham: I've already sent my "gift" to the collective. It will take some time for the recipient to receive it.
: Alhaitham: You two just need to brace yourselves for the nuisance in front of us.
: Paimon: Well, all right. Paimon doesn't know how you get so confident, but we'll hold them off for as long as we can!
----
;(After defeating the first wave)
: White Noise From the "Collective": Alhaitham... isn't that bad of a person...
: White Noise From the "Collective": But it has to be done. He must be eliminated so that we can evolve.
;(After defeating the second wave)
: Siraj: You see? That is the will of the collective.
: Siraj: Even with the hatred gone, they continue their work. An external anomaly cannot shake the collective's stability.
;(After defeating the third wave)
: White Noise From the "Collective": He won't hold out for much longer.
: White Noise From the "Collective": He's a lot tougher than we imagined...
: White Noise From the "Collective": Something's gone wrong at the Akademiya... The matra...
;(After defeating the fourth wave)
: Siraj: What's going on...? What's with this sudden influx of information?
: Siraj: Silence! As the Overmind, I command you—
;(After the Jadeplume Terrorshroom appears)
: White Noise From the "Collective": How is that possible? Why hasn't it been resolved yet?
: White Noise From the "Collective": Was there an error in our judgment...?
: White Noise From the "Collective": The will of the collective cannot be wrong. The Overmind must have made an error in his judgment.
: White Noise From the "Collective": But Siraj is the most intelligent amongst us. He is Number 1. His judgment is the optimal one!
: White Noise From the "Collective": Is that true? No, not necessarily...
;(After defeating the Jadeplume Terrorshroom)
;(A cinematic plays)
::Siraj: What have you done!?
::Alhaitham: Calm down
::Alhaitham: Don't you have an easy way to figure this out?
:;(Siraj examines Ilyas's memories)
::Alhaitham: You were only designated as Number 36?
::Alhaitham: What a shame
::Alhaitham: From what I can see, your talents merit a smaller number
::Alhaitham: Putting aside the validity of the data
::Alhaitham: It is meaningless to judge individuals based solely on their Jnana Energy
::Siraj: What you said to Ilyas
::Siraj: Has now become a memory shared by all members of the Hive...
::Siraj: I see it now
::Siraj: You've channeled and amplified their selfish desires!
::Siraj: You're trying to destroy my Hive from the inside out!
::Alhaitham: Human minds are not infinitely pliable
::Alhaitham: And your Hive has stretched many of them to their limit
::Alhaitham: Once your authority as Overmind starts to wane
::Alhaitham: It won't be long before your subjects snap back
::Alhaitham: "Is it worth living here like a machine, being a tool for the rest of my life?"
::Alhaitham: As soon as one person begins to have these thoughts
::Alhaitham: Selfishness, doubt, and fear will propagate thanks to the web of consciousness that you built
::Alhaitham: At this stage, your so-called Hive has already fallen
:;(Siraj's visor device turns red)
::Siraj: It's not over yet!
::Siraj: I am the Overmind!
::Siraj: There has to be a way...
:;(In a frenzy, Siraj accidentally steps off the stage)
::Alhaitham: It's too late
:;(Siraj is seen falling through tunnels of the Hive network)
::Alhaitham: Once the desires of the Hive accumulate...
::Alhaitham: Beyond a certain threshold, they will kill their king
:;(Alhaitham summons a sword and throws it towards the terminal on the stage)
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: I wouldn't have suffered such a disgraceful defeat
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: If I was the Overmind...
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: My number shouldn't be so far down in the list!
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: Siraj is a liar!
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: This isn't what we agreed to...
::Member of the Collective Consciousness: I should be the one in your position!
:;(Siraj wakes up to see Alhaitham's sword in the terminal, causing it to shut down)
:;(Cinematic ends)
: Paimon: The Hive... shut down?
: It's over.
: Paimon: What happened just now?
: Alhaitham: Members of a collective consciousness are more likely to reach a consensus because of their shared memories and emotions.
: Alhaitham: For example, Ilyas did have differing perceptions, but he ultimately followed the collective consciousness's judgment.
: Alhaitham: However, this system is far from perfect. Based on this logic, the collective consciousness will generate an intractable diffusion effect upon encountering negative emotions.
: Selfish desires...
: Alhaitham: The disturbance that Ilyas caused wasn't for naught. It made the collective question the Overmind.
: Alhaitham: Setbacks in the plan further amplify doubt, which diminishes the Overmind's influence. This inevitably causes the collective to generate negative emotions.
: Alhaitham: Apprehension, disappointment, panic, avarice... These negative emotions can be very well hidden, as humans generally do not share completely transparent channels of communication.
: Alhaitham: But in the Hive, where there are no secrets, negativity can spread like a tidal wave. Of course, what I said to Ilyas was the trigger for all of this.
: Alhaitham: A few words were enough. Believe in the power of words, Siraj.
: Siraj: You were already thinking of a way to destroy the collective consciousness, even back then...
: Siraj: You knew that Ilyas was the bait all along? But how did you know? Since when?
: Alhaitham: I knew it from the moment I saw him.
: Alhaitham: Moreover, I've never looked down on you. My opinion of you has always been objective.
: Alhaitham: You have a naive view towards the concepts of collective consciousness and human evolution, but you are intelligent and disciplined.
: Alhaitham: You would never let a test subject escape. Mistakes like that are beneath you, and you also won't leave any mistake without a resolution.
: Siraj: Hahaha... I never thought I'd hear those words come from you, but if you're saying that out of sympathy, spare me.
: Siraj: I know very well that you've never viewed me as an equal. When you were with us, you always had a distant look in your eyes.
: Siraj: You don't need to hide it. I know it better than anyone else — the arrogance that comes with being a genius. Nobody likes being treated like that!
: Alhaitham: Your perspective is entirely born from your habitual way of looking at things.
: Alhaitham: From your perspective, you probably think I'm like you: Someone who doesn't "fit in." However, I've never placed myself on a pedestal.
: Alhaitham: I just want to distance myself from meaningless noise and look at everything objectively.
: Alhaitham: On the other hand, you have failed to come to terms with who you truly are. You care too much about winning and how others perceive you.
: Siraj: You mean to say that... I'm the arrogant one here?
: Alhaitham: Is that not so? Arrogant, and emotionally fragile.
: Alhaitham: You view people as a simple, mediocre collective, while you regard me as "one of your kind."
: Siraj: ...
: Siraj: Regardless, I have lost. You can take me back to the Akademiya to stand trial.
: Alhaitham: You will stand trial, yes, but arresting people isn't in my job description.
: Alhaitham: I'm just an ordinary staff member. I believe it is the General Mahamatra's duty to escort you away.
: Paimon: Cyno! What are you doing here?
: Cyno: I followed the symbols. Looks like things have already been settled.
:;(Siraj walks off with Aarav)
: Paimon: Symbols?
: Alhaitham: I left a simple picture in my letter to him, and I made several similar symbols on the way here.
: Paimon: Wait, what do you mean you left a letter...?
: Paimon: Ohhh, Paimon remembers! When Paimon first saw you, Aarav said that you had left a letter for Cyno!
: Paimon: So you really did know that something was up with Ilyas from the start! Argh, you lied to us, too!
: Alhaitham: It'd be best if you didn't spout nonsense. I never employed any mode of trickery on you.
: Alhaitham: By the way, I came across some information at the Akademiya a few days ago. If you practice the method discussed therein, your vision may improve. Do you need it?
: Paimon: Seriously? This guy...
: Paimon: Oh, by the way Cyno, Paimon heard that Siraj sent more people to the Akademiya. We can't let those jerks get away!
: Cyno: Don't worry. The matra have started screening suspicious persons, and we've already arrested many of Siraj's associates.
: Cyno: This was likely one factor that caused the Hive's consciousness to waver. Everything went as you predicted, Alhaitham.
: Alhaitham: Good. Hm, seems like the interesting part is already over. I'll leave the arrests to you all.
: Alhaitham: See you.
: Paimon: And off he goes... *sigh* There still are a lot of test subjects here, so let's stick around for a while.
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Cyno, optional)
: Cyno: (Sheep without a shepherd.)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Ilyas, optional)
: Ilyas: (Was I wrong?)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Aarav, optional)
: Aarav: (As expected of Mahamatra Cyno...)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Karwan, optional)
: Karwan: (What have I done?)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Goli, optional)
: Goli: (He's sure to get revenge on us!)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Pouyan, optional)
: Pouyan: (Pride and prejudice are frightening...)
;(Approach the recovered test subjects)
: Karwan: Oh no, oh no... I was involved in all these plans to get rid of the Acting Grand Sage?
: Karwan: What came over me? How could I do something like this...?
: Goli: We were accomplices without knowing it, but I'm afraid that Alhaitham might pressure the matra into giving us heavier sentences.
: Goli: Whether he's the scribe or the Acting Grand Sage, we can't afford to offend him. It seems our future at the Akademiya will be full of uncertainties...
: Pouyan: We can discuss the future later. Leaving the collective left me with a strange sense of guilt.
: Pouyan: I didn't feel anything towards Alhaitham at first since he wasn't well-known. All the opinions I heard about him were negative, though.
: Pouyan: Siraj made us hate Alhaitham, and we blindly accepted that hatred and thought of him as a bad person.
: Pouyan: From how things look, we've done a lot of irrational things.
: Karwan: I guess we're getting what we deserve. *sigh* ...Could you help us apologize to Alhaitham?
: Paimon: Sure, Paimon will help you tell Alhaitham, but whether he chooses to forgive you is up to him.
: Karwan: It's okay. No matter what he chooses, apologizing will make us feel slightly better. If he chooses to remember this, we're prepared for our punishment.
: Aarav: It's time to go.
: Goli: *sigh* Let's go.
:;(Karwan, Goli, and Pouyan leave with Aarav)
: Paimon: So... were they all duped?
: Paimon: We can ask Alhaitham about that later.
: Ilyas: ...Looks like I can't exist as Siraj Number 36, yet my life as Ilyas goes on.
: Ilyas: When I was at Gandharva Ville, I thought about whether I should just come forward with the truth.
: Ilyas: But... I didn't have the courage then.
: Ilyas: So in the end, I lost my sense of justice, but I also wasn't able to conform.
: Paimon: Ilyas...
: Ilyas: Don't be sad. I'm the one who deceived you.
: Ilyas: However, I didn't come out of this completely empty-handed. The moment the Hive collapsed, an idea popped into my head.
: Ilyas: I realized that the "collective" I was always trying to fit into wasn't as powerful as I had imagined.
: Ilyas: Understanding that gave me courage somehow... Perhaps one day, I can be just like Alhaitham and not care about what anyone else thinks.
: Paimon: You can do it! Paimon believes in you.
: Ilyas: Thanks. Well, I should get going. I'm one of the primary suspects in the case, so I'll have to receive my due punishment.
: Ilyas: Can you keep this a secret from my parents and my sister? I just don't want them to worry.
: Ilyas: Also, please apologize to Alhaitham for me. Goodbye, you two.
: Cyno: All the test subjects have been taken away.
: Cyno: I'll have my subordinates seal the place, retrieve all documentation, and destroy the system.
: Cyno: Are you two hurt? I brought bandages and hemostatics.
: Paimon: Paimon's fine! Whew, just a little tired.
: Cyno: Get some rest. Alhaitham is probably waiting for you at the entrance. Go see him when you're done here.
: Cyno: Watch out for any of Siraj's associates who might still be in hiding. If you encounter anything you can't take care of, come find me at the Akademiya.
: Paimon: Okay! You stay safe too, Cyno!
: Paimon: Let's go meet up with Alhaitham!
;(Exit the Domain)
: Alhaitham: The matter's settled. We can return now.
: Alhaitham: I actually thought it would've been settled sooner. This took much longer than I expected.
: Alhaitham: Judging by your faces, it seems like you two still have some questions.
: That's right.
: I'm quite curious.
: Alhaitham: I respect your curiosity, but I'm off the clock now, so I'm not going to field any questions.
: Paimon: Hey! We're not your colleagues!
: Alhaitham: ...You couldn't tell that was an excuse just now?
: Paimon: What? Are you kidding me?
: Paimon: You're not leaving today until you explain what happened back at Siraj's secret base!
: Alhaitham: See ya.
: Paimon: Ahhh! Hold it right there!
: Alhaitham: Are you done? Your behavior is reminding me of some other people.
: Paimon: Stop changing the subject!
: Alhaitham: ...
: Alhaitham: It's too much of a hassle to explain everything from the top... You know what? Come with me.
: Paimon: Eh? Where to?
: Alhaitham: You'll know when we get there.
----
;(Enter Alhaitham's Home)
: Paimon: Is this... your home?
: Alhaitham: Yes.
: Paimon: Pfft... What's with you all of a sudden, being all polite and inviting us over?
: ???: Ah, you're back. Quick, come help me see if this painting's all straightened... Huh? Who are they!?
: Alhaitham: Stop making a fuss. They're obviously guests.
: Kaveh: You're... not from the Akademiya, are you?
: No, we're not.
: Paimon: Paimon's sure she's seen you before... Huh!? You're the person from that time, in that one place!
: Kaveh: Wait, what? How do you know me!? Oh no, oh no, do people know that I live here...?
: Alhaitham: What? You're embarrassed only now of all times?
: Paimon: Oh, you guys are roommates!
: Kaveh: Yes, yes, we are, but keep that to yourselves! Please don't tell anyone else!
: Alhaitham: I keep a few books on collectives and the subconscious here at home. I'll get them. You all chat in the meantime.
: Paimon: Uh, hey!
: Kaveh: Hey! You're leaving, just like that? What's the deal, Alhaitham!?
: Paimon: ...
: ...
: Kaveh: ...
: Kaveh: Sorry, I know we've only just met but I have to ask... Are you, um... You wouldn't happen to be actors that Alhaitham hired to pretend to be his friends, would you?
: Paimon: Uh... what?
: Kaveh: Guess not. I've never seen him invite friends home before, so please excuse my surprise. You guys get it, right? You know, with his temperament and stuff...
: Paimon: But... aren't you friends with him?
: Kaveh: ...Uh... I wouldn't say "friends," exactly...
: Kaveh: Okay, well, we used to be. But we're not anymore.
: Paimon: (Huh?)
: Kaveh: Don't worry about it. My name is Kaveh. I'm sorry to have met you under these circumstances. Anyway, please don't say anything about me living here.
: Paimon: You seem like you got a lot going on... So maybe some Mora will make Paimon shut up.
: Kaveh: Are you serious!? How could you... Ugh, of course — you're Alhaitham's friends!
: Paimon: What!? That was a normal response! You exposed your own weakness!
: Kaveh: Still... Why do you have to treat me like he does?
: Alhaitham: Judging by the deafening din coming from the living room, you all must be getting along quite well.
: Kaveh: Hmph, entertain your own friends, why don't you?
: Alhaitham: I'll leave the books here.
:
: Paimon: Uh, Paimon's dizzy from reading... This is way too complicated... Why don't we just ask questions instead?
: Paimon: Paimon wants to know... Uh... Oh, how did you know about the collective consciousness's weakness?
: Alhaitham: A year ago, Siraj presented his thesis to the Grand Sage, who offhandedly asked for my opinion. I actually responded with two lines of reasoning.
: Alhaitham: The first, as I've already said, was that his research was on human evolution, a subject prohibited by the Akademiya.
: Alhaitham: The second was that I thought the direction of his research was too extreme, but his approach too conservative.
: Paimon: Wait, that's too conservative? He built such a large lab, gathered all those people, and even tried to get rid of you!
: Alhaitham: One way to stabilize a collective consciousness is to remove the test subjects' humanity altogether.
: Alhaitham: The optimal solution to achieve collective consciousness is to focus solely on the Overmind and treat the other test subjects as tools.
: Paimon: That's way too dangerous! Y—You're not seriously considering that, are you? 'Cause uh...
: Alhaitham: I'm merely stating the facts. If Siraj had done that, I would've felt his work to be just as senseless.
: Alhaitham: It's impossible for any species to evolve overnight, and humans without their humanity cannot be called humans.
: Alhaitham: That's why the Akademiya prohibited research into human evolution — most research of this kind tends to run contrary to evolution.
: Paimon: Huh, Paimon gets it now.
: Kaveh: Hah, that's rich coming from you. If humans aren't humans without their humanity, then you'll probably evolve into some other species in another decade, I wager?
: Alhaitham: What about you? Are you going to devolve into a fungus?
: Kaveh: At least I'd be a fungus with empathy.
: Kaveh: Sorry for eavesdropping, but what happened to you guys? Are you in trouble?
: Paimon: Sort of. We encountered a strange researcher that had it out for us...
: Kaveh: ...Are you all okay?
: To be more precise, they had it out for Alhaitham.
: We just happened to be there.
: Kaveh: Huh, so that's how things went...
: Kaveh: *sigh* Such is life. If only he'd known, Alhaitham could have stayed indoors today, and the whole thing could have been avoided. Right?
: Kaveh: Plus, he could have helped me with the housework for once. See those books? They've been sitting there waiting for someone to sort through them for an age. If you're not gonna read them, tidy them away! They don't belong there!
: Paimon: Ah... Uh...
: Alhaitham: ...
: Alhaitham: Can you feel the awkwardness in the air? I hope you're aware of your lack of conversational skills.
: Kaveh: Oh, so the pot's calling the kettle black, is he? Hmph, well, having said all that, are you okay?
: Alhaitham: I'm doing quite well — much better than that painting you're trying to hang on the wall.
: Kaveh: You...! You don't understand anything! Stop criticizing my taste in decoration!
:: (Kaveh seems to be upset again...)
: Paimon: Paimon can't tell which of them is more problematic... Let's just get this over with and leave...
: I blame your curiosity, Paimon...
: Alhaitham: You whisper very loudly.
: Paimon: Oh, um... Yeah, Paimon's been told that...
: Alhaitham: Do you have any more questions?
: Paimon: Let Paimon think... Oh, uh, by the way, the other researchers apologized to you. They hope that you can forgive them.
: Alhaitham: I bear them no ill will. More accurately, I don't really care about what they think of me.
: Alhaitham: To some extent, they were also fooled by Siraj. The matra will take this into account at their trials.
: Paimon: Ilyas also said that he wanted to tell us the truth at Gandharva Ville, but he didn't have the courage.
: Paimon: He apologized to you, too.
: Alhaitham: It doesn't matter. I never considered asking him to come forward with the truth.
: Alhaitham: Judging from his experiences, he's more courageous than the average person. There's no need to lay even more criticism on him. Criticizing the brave only shows how weak you yourself are.
: Alhaitham: I'm going for dinner in ten minutes, so I'll field one last question.
: Paimon: Paimon doesn't have any more questions. How about you?
: What were you actually interested in, Alhaitham?
: Paimon: Ooh yeah, that's a good question.
: Paimon: You only started investigating with the matra at the Akademiya because you were interested in something, right?
: Paimon: But after meeting Siraj, it didn't seem like you were interested in him or his experiment...
: Alhaitham: I had no interest in him personally, but I was curious as to why so many people were willing to form a collective consciousness with him.
: Alhaitham: I now understand the reason.
: Something to do with the current atmosphere at the Akademiya, I suppose?
: Alhaitham: Correct. The fall of the sages and the shutdown of the Akasha Terminals deeply affected the Akademiya.
: Alhaitham: The fact that Siraj's project attracted so much interest despite not being approved speaks to the lack of research projects as of late.
: Alhaitham: As the Acting Grand Sage, I'll have to figure something out.
: Alhaitham: In addition, what happened to Ilyas is worth our attention. Reporting academic fraud was the right thing to do. He didn't deserve the outcome that he had received.
: Paimon: Paimon understands now! You're pretty serious when it comes to work, huh?
: Alhaitham: I think "minimum viable seriousness" is a more apt description. I'll do my best to take care of this mess until my resignation is approved.
: Paimon: Wait, your resignation?
: Alhaitham: Yes. I've already submitted my resignation to the Akademiya. Soon, I'll resign as the Acting Grand Sage and go back to being its scribe.
: Alhaitham: I don't think Siraj knew about that. If he had waited just a few more days before acting, I would have already resigned.
: Alhaitham: What he'd do then wouldn't have been any concern of mine. However, even without my input, his unstable model would have collapsed for some other reason, so it makes no difference.
: Paimon: But... why do you wanna resign?
: Alhaitham: I'm not suited to be a sage, nor do I want to be one. The official process to select the new sages is already underway, but this process is long and takes far too much time.
: Alhaitham: If I serve as Acting Grand Sage for too long, the position might become permanent. That would be troublesome. This job isn't something I want to spend the rest of my life doing.
: You have a pretty clear direction for yourself.
: Alhaitham: It's important to keep your priorities straight. Well, it's about time. You two should grab some dinner, as well.
: Paimon: Oh, now that you say that, Paimon's kinda hungry! See ya! We're gonna grab some yummies!
: Goodbye!
: Alhaitham: See ya.
:;(Quest ends)
----
;(Enter the office, optional)
: Kaveh: The name Siraj doesn't ring a bell. Was he in your class?
: Alhaitham: He isn't someone who would leave an impression, so it's expected that you don't remember him.
: Kaveh: I've always had a hard time appreciating the way that the Akademiya pressures people by labeling them as geniuses.
: Kaveh: But even so, the Akademiya can't be left to you.
: Kaveh: Or perhaps I should say that I'm delighted to see that you have a base amount of self-awareness. If the people in the Akademiya haven't gone mad, they'd know that I'm much more suited to be a sage than you.
: Alhaitham: And I suppose they'd let everyone know that your career as a sage will be as shaky as that painting?
: Kaveh: Again, that's mighty rich coming from someone about to resign. In a few days, you'll be managing files again. You'll be back at rock bottom.
: Alhaitham: But my salary will likely stay the same.
: Kaveh: Wait, what? How come!? Why do you get special treatment!?
: Alhaitham: At least I don't have to be an architectural designer who works himself to death just to get a smile from his client.
: Kaveh: Y—You...
: Kaveh: I took time out of my day to clean the living room for you, and this is the thanks I get for it!? I'd have been better off catching up on my work — I still have designs to finish.
: Alhaitham: Make sure to pay back the rent you owe me. I'm going to buy some furniture with that Mora.
: Kaveh: Wha... Are you trying to annoy me to death!? The decorations you buy keep getting uglier and uglier. What's the point of having a boring wood carving in your house?
: Alhaitham: You'll have to blame that on my financial freedom.
: Kaveh: Fine, go ahead and hide behind your financial success if you want. But if we forget Mora for a second, do you have anything of true value to boast about?
: Alhaitham: I think I'd have too many choices, to be honest. You, on the other hand... can you think of any redeeming features at all?
: Kaveh: Artistry, for sure! You don't know the first thing about interior design. Don't go off buying random furniture unless you take me with you!
: Alhaitham: So I'll have to bring you along and then buy you drinks?
: Kaveh: Of course!
: Alhaitham: But why would I do that? It would just be another form of a loan, and you'd have to pay me back eventually.
: Kaveh: Can't you just be nice and not ask for the Mora back?
: Alhaitham: Pretending that you're not in debt is as ridiculous as pretending you're not living in someone else's home. Word will get out sooner or later.
: Kaveh: Speaking of which, your friends won't say anything, right? Tell them to keep all this a secret.
: Alhaitham: There's no need to hide it so carefully — I think the truth's already out. You're such a lightweight that a few drinks at the tavern had you spilling all your beans.
: Kaveh: What? ...No, it can't be...
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Alhaitham, optional)
: Alhaitham: (There's dust on the bookshelves. I should tidy them up sometime and bring any unused books to the House of Daena.)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Kaveh, optional)
: Kaveh: (Alhaitham isn't thinking about revealing my secret, is he? Geez, why does he always have these horrible thoughts!? Does he really want to mess with me that much?)
: Kaveh: (And what he said just now... D—Does he know about my drunken scribbling?)
: Kaveh: (No... Wait, did someone tell him? Was it the people at the tavern or the liquor shop...? Why, that owner! He promised to keep this a secret!)
: Kaveh: (Also, is it really true that I can't hold my liquor? I thought that impulsive speaking and writing were normal after a few drinks. Oh well, everyone loves to write random stuff on the message boards anyway, so...)
==Soundtracks==
==Trivia==
* The name of the quest may be a reference to the 1813 novel of manners by English novelist Jane Austen.
* Re-entering the office will replay the final cutscene between Alhaitham and Kaveh.
* Alhaitham's Home cannot be entered again after leaving it.
==Other Languages==
==Change History==
es:Orgullo y prejuicio
pt-br:Orgulho e Preconceito
vi:Thành Kiến Ngạo Mạn