[Requests Accepted] [Liar-soft] 紫影のソナーニル -What a beautiful memories- [VJ010529]

**Story** Early 20th century, the year 1907. In an era different from what we know, and a history that diverged from our own, countless steam engines filled the landscape. The exhaust produced by the abnormally developed steam civilization quickly filled the sky, robbing people of the blue sky. Among these, there was a place said to have the darkest sky. A ruin covered by eternal gray clouds and rain, the former heavy machinery city of New York. The once towering skyscrapers had turned into ruins due to a mysterious disaster known as the "Great Disappearance," which occurred five years ago. Completely sealed off by the United States government, the city now devoid of human presence, was entered by a woman named Alicia. With a singular purpose. She quietly began her journey toward the old Manhattan, considered the epicenter of the disaster. Meanwhile— There was a place said to be the "underground" of the old heavy machinery city of New York. No one above ground knew of its existence. A vast underground space illuminated by dim purple lights. Here existed the streets of skyscrapers that had vanished five years ago. However, they were distorted in a great way. In this underground world, "Underground New York," twisted and stained in black and purple shadows, people who were supposed to have disappeared were indeed present. They trembled at the footsteps of seven monsters known as "Angels." Enduring the terror, pain, and death brought by the seven "Angels." People remained, as if waiting for something in the distorted underground city. Then, a girl named Lily stepped in. Without any memory. For Lily, there was only one thing she knew. She didn't understand why. What was there, who was there. Why she felt this way. Still, there was just one thing. "Manhattan. The end of the purple sky." "I have to go there. No, I alone must go." —The girl aims. To the distant tower of purple shadows. —While continuing to touch the fleeting shadows of those left behind. Unknowingly shedding tears. --- **Characters** ● Alicia Wentworth (CV: Mahiru Nozuki) The protagonist and heroine. The only human on the surface in the story. A girl with golden eyes walking through the ruins of New York. Since December three years ago (1904), her left eye has transformed into a "golden eye" resembling that of a feline. Despite her seemingly gentle appearance, she possesses an unexpected courage and strong will. A strong-willed character. She visited the vast ruins of the old New York City completely alone, without anyone's help. Carrying a multi-legged walking bag she developed herself, she continues to walk through the reality of the ruins. Originally a student at Yale University, she is currently on leave. Back when she attended high school in Connecticut, she had a faint romantic connection with her first love. Though they deeply cared for each other, they never became lovers. As past memories are gradually revealed through flashbacks, it becomes clear that the person she is searching for in old New York is that individual— "Day 1. I stepped into the ruins. The rumors were true. There really is no one here." --- ● Lily (CV: Marino Kawashi) The protagonist and heroine. A girl wandering in the distorted "Underground World." Initially disguised as a boy. She often wears a blunt or somewhat displeased expression. Her personality is simple and honest. Despite her appearance, she has a childish inner self. At times, she shows unexpected strength of will that contrasts with her usual demeanor. She has no memory of her identity and does not understand why she is in this place—the distorted and fantastical "Underground World" known as Underground New York City. Her first memory is the fake purple sky she saw when she opened her eyes. She recognizes that the "Underground World" is distorted and abnormal but does not have the thought of returning to the surface. When asked about it, she only shows a puzzled expression as if she doesn't understand. Initially, she does not understand that the world she is in is filled with distortions and fantasies, nor does she grasp the "reality" that true New York is a ruin. She questions everything she sees and is curious about it. Having lost her memory of everything except for words and basic common sense, she only has the awareness that she must aim for the "Tower of Purple Shadows" towering in Manhattan. At first, she behaves as if she lacks humanity, but as she meets people and witnesses their "Refrain," she unknowingly sheds tears and begins to realize the "feelings" she has hidden within herself and their strength— "I have to go there. No, I alone must go." --- ● A (CV: Tohru Furukawa) A mysterious young man who reveals nothing about his identity and has no expression. A resident of the "Underground World" who guides Lily. Commonly referred to as "the faceless man" or "air head." He gives the golden-eyed girl who stepped into the distorted New York the name Lily and operates a "single underground train" that moves and stops as if it has a will, guiding her toward Manhattan. He has almost no emotions and therefore shows little expression. While stating facts calmly, he sometimes protects her from danger. "I will only guide you. I have no brain. What you do here is entirely up to you." --- ● Mao (CV: Tsubasa Takatsuki) A girl who smiles while gazing at Lily. A resident of the "Underground World." Human? She has cat "ears" on her head and a tail on her back, possessing a form that is somewhat different from a proper human. She often stands on high ground, looking down at Lily and laughing with a "hee hee hee." She has a hedonistic personality and is always smiling. Though she frequently mocks someone, when she does so, Mao feels no pleasure at all. In truth, she wants to stop laughing. Her original form was different from her current one, but like the Jaguar Man, she has taken on a beastly appearance due to the nature that fills her. However, there is one decisive difference from the Jaguar Man. "What are you doing, foolish Lily? You have eyes, but you can't see?" --- ● Lucky Luciano (CV: Kojiro) A man who was supposed to be loved by the goddess of luck. A resident of the "Underground World." He calls himself the hat man who manipulates fate and appears before Lily, subsequently appearing in her journey from time to time. He is the only one who can relatively converse with A and the Jaguar Man. Dressed in a stylish suit, he is a dapper man of the city. Until five years ago, he was an ambitious mafia executive. He created a crime syndicate and was on the verge of taking control of all of New York's underworld. He continues to love a woman on the other side of the "Great Wall" in Manhattan. "You don't know my name? You're not a New Yorker, are you?" --- ● Milia Stork (CV: Shizuku Takaito) A young woman who has accepted the current underground world. She works as an armed street prostitute in the bridge city of Verrazano. She shelters Lily, who is being pursued by dark gangs for no reason, without expecting anything in return. Her weapon is a pile bunker. Her words may be rough, but her heart is gentle. She doesn't remember how long she has been a street prostitute. She was whispered sweet words of love by "someone," believed in them, and waited, but then "something" happened, and New York became the Underground World. She might have wondered about it, but now she claims she doesn't care anymore. She is being stalked by a homeless person but doesn't seem to care much. Even when it reaches the point where Lily would have been killed if she hadn't helped, she shrugs it off as if it doesn't matter. After all, in the Underground World, one doesn't die. "...But, I don't care. It doesn't matter." --- ● Yuliana & Katrine (CV: Ren Haruna / Yuzu) A mother and daughter who continue to wait for their father to return. Mother Yuliana is young, and daughter Katrine is still a child. Residents of the Underground World of Dutch descent. They live in a room in the multi-racial city of Long Island, in the Queensbridge housing complex, waiting for the husband/father who has not returned from Manhattan. Katrine always carries a beautifully decorated British music box. Lucky Luciano is Katrine's godfather. "Mom, mom. When will dad come back?" "Tonight... No, tomorrow. He'll definitely be back tomorrow night." --- ● Ruth B (CV: Mari Sugihara) A boy filled with overflowing dreams. Around the same age as Lily. A resident of the Underground World, living in Manhattan. He is the only human who leads the cat people (Nekobito) who make Wall Street their base. Street children. He has decided to keep the massive wall known as "The Wall" that blocks the way to the central area of Manhattan closed, and he opposes the dark gangs that roam near The Wall. He always carries a wooden bat. Though he appears to be armed, he is not. His dream is to become a Major League player. He has been dreaming of it for five years. He is in love with Mao. "...I'm going to hit a home run. The best one." --- ● Lusha (CV: Mahiru Kaneda) A girl living in Wall Street. One of the cat girls. A French cat person (Nekobito). Like Mao, she has feelings for Ruth B, but unlike Mao, she has not given up yet. This place is no longer like the surface. Then this feeling must be something different from what a mere cat would have for a human. Ruth calls her "sweet potato" or "sweet potato girl," but she doesn't mind much. She becomes suspicious of Lily, who disguises herself to infiltrate the cat street, and will engage in various forms of harassment. "I'm not like you, Mao. I can't just accept it like that." --- ● Peter (CV: Kojiro) A man who once defied the king of graves. A resident of the bridge city of Verrazano. He crouches in a corner of the distorted city or continues to shout something in the streets. He is said to be a madman, and indeed he is, but some of his words capture the truth of the city. He stalks the street prostitute Milia and always hides a knife, waiting for the chance to kill her. He is the remnant of an investigator who once fought against the "Emperor" of Chicago City. The name he goes by, "Peter," is said to be his father's name. "I am mad. The Underground World is mad too." --- ● Jaguar Man (CV: Ranmaru) A man with a beastly head adorned with fangs. He stalks Lily. A resident of the "Underground World." He claims to be from South America, but he seems unfamiliar with Spanish. He is a subordinate of someone who rules the "Underground World" and should not exist in this distorted underground realm, nor should he have this appearance. He sets several traps to hinder Lily, who aims for the tower in Manhattan. "Buenas noches! You foolish little girl, you can't even greet me properly!" --- ● Sam Shorter (CV: Mune Katachin) A taciturn black youth who plays the piano. A resident of the Underground World. Living in Manhattan, Broadway. He is in love with Ginger but maintains a mask-like cold expression. His lower body has transformed into a metal shape resembling a piano stool. For some reason, he has been waiting for his friend Lucky Luciano to bring Lily and A to Broadway. "I might be able to rely on you. Lily the Stranger who broke the wall." --- ● Ginger Rogers (CV: Mahiru Kaneda) A talented musical actress. She is youthful. A resident of the Underground World. Living in Manhattan, Broadway. In the Underground World, she lives immersed in singing and dancing in the envied "beyond the wall," the city of song, Broadway. Overflowing with youthful vitality, she sings every day. Until five years ago, she was Luciano's lover, but she has forgotten that now. "Let's sing! Let's dance! Life exists for that!" --- ● Jilusha Abbott (CV: Yui Ogura) A red-haired woman who cherishes the past. Commonly known as Judy. A resident of the Underground World. Living in the central part of Manhattan. Her domain is Central Park, a stone forest devoid of human presence. She is whispered among many in the Underground World as a terrifying witch who leads the dark gangs. Commonly referred to as the Western Witch. In truth, she treats the "Angels," whom everyone fears, as if they were beloved and lives with them— "I am the Western Witch. Everyone calls me that." --- ● Lord Edison (CV: Mitsuki Koetsu) A genius inventor known as the one and only "King of Inventions." Five years ago, he was the owner of the second Empire State Building on Manhattan Island. He operated a world-class high-rise building as a cutting-edge research facility and conducted certain research and experiments along with many talents, including the young genius Alan Aikley. There are indeed those among the residents of the "Underground World" who claim to have witnessed his figure in this distorted underground realm— "Tick-tock, tick-tock." --- ● The Witch of Roses (CV: ??????) One of the rumors whispered in the Underground World is about a witch. It is said that one witch brings calamity to this underground world. The terrifying "Western Witch" is said to be that witch, but in a small part of the rumors, it is said that there exists an unknown witch called the "Witch of Roses," who is the one who brings calamity. ".........................." --- ● Phonograph (CV: Shizuku Takaito) A servant created by the Tick-Tock Man. He mocks humans as "creatures of loneliness." He has four arms (two of which are old-fashioned mechanical arms), and his face and shoulders have sound devices. Among the three servants, he is the most elaborately cared for, developing self-awareness and insisting that it should always be clear who is the sister and who is the younger sister, but the other sisters have little ego, so they react faintly. He is constantly afraid of how close he is to humans (the ones his master is interested in). If he is too close to humans, he might be hated. If he is too far from humans, he might lose interest and never be improved again = might never be touched. "Those with words are my servants. Dance, you impostors." --- ● Kinetoscope (CV: Mari Sugihara) A servant created by the Tick-Tock Man. He mocks humans as "slaves of oblivion." Her appearance is a glamorous yet somewhat eerie woman draped in film and rotating plates. She appears before various people in the Underground World and shows them her "memories," scattering fragments of the truth about the disappearance of NY. "Come, take a peek. ...What do you see? What do you want to see?" --- ● Valve Girl (CV: Yui Ogura) A servant created by the Tick-Tock Man. She mocks humans as "cowards." Her face is a glowing light bulb. There are also large light bulbs attached to various parts of her body. Her face's light bulb glows according to her emotions. When she thinks of something, the hat-like light bulb on her head glows. When she gets angry, it glows a fierce red. Basically, she serves the Tick-Tock Man, who sits "somewhere," but occasionally goes out to toy with Lily and the residents of the Underground World. "I'll light the way for you. Everything will be bright now."