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"Fragmental Neoteny" (フラグメンタル・ネオテニー Furagumentaru Neotenī?) is the tenth volume of the 86 -Eighty Six- light novel series. The volume is a compilation of previously and newly written prequel stories detailing the rise of Shinei Nouzen.
Tagline[]
"These are the fragmental stories that turned the boy into a Reaper."
"These fragments turned the boy into the Grim Reaper."
"血赤の瞳の奥に輝く、わずかに残った断片を追う。[1]" ― Follow the remaining fragments that shine behind those bloodred eyes.
Epigraph[]
Synopsis[]
ANSWERS
What makes a Reaper? What hardships must an innocent child endure to become the vaunted champion of the Eighty-Six? A peek into the past will shed light on his truth. The path he walks is paved with bonds forged in love and broken by tragedy—the shattered fragments of stories untold, committed to memory through the iron will of the one who would shoulder their legacy.[2]
Contents[]
- Fragmental Neoteny: Pledge
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Pledge〉
- Fragmental Neoteny: Misericorde
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Misericorde〉
- Fragmental Neoteny: Varlet
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Varlet〉
- Fragmental Neoteny: Brand
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Brand〉
- Fragmental Neoteny: Undertaker
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Undertaker〉
- Fragmental Neoteny: Culpa
フラグメンタル・ネオテニー〈Culpa〉
- The Simple Days of Triage Black Tag
トリアージタッグ・ブラックのありふれた日常
- The Banks of Lethe
レテの畔
- Fido
ファイド
- A Kind World
優しかった世界
Summary[]
1. Fragmental Neoteny: Pledge[]
2. Fragmental Neoteny: Misericorde[]
3. Fragmental Neoteny: Varlet[]
4. Fragmental Neoteny: Brand[]
5. Fragmental Neoteny: Undertaker[]
6. Fragmental Neoteny: Culpa[]
7. The Simple Days of Triage Black Tag[]
8. The Banks of Lethe[]
9. Fido[]
10. A Kind World[]
Located in the the capital of the Republic of St Magnolia, Liberté et Égalité, 9 years into the war of the legion. The scene describes the capital as we've previously seen it before the fall of the 86 sector, with cafe's open, people laughing and smiling and children and teens going to school. However, one major difference seen is that is it not just Alba roaming the streets, but people of all ethnic groups, mingling together without discrimination. In fact, the Republic opened its doors to those of other races and accepted refugees from all around. However, to make up for the increased population, synthetic food is still being used and the lights at not utilized at night.
A news broadcast is revealing that the battle with the Legion is still going, however, their numbers seem to be decreasing, as is expected since they are reaching the end of the predetermined lifespans. The news broadcaster continues to explain how the Republic's unmanned, AI drone, the Canines are the ones fighting a war of zero casualties. These Canines are based off an AI program that was adapted for warfare, with its initial programming concerning empathy and emotions having been removed, so citizens do not need to mourn the loss of these Canines. However a second news caster points out that, when these AI were initially introduced, a child, the son of the scientist who developed the AI, begged for them not to be sent to war.
As the news broadcast is playing, Lena is waiting for Henrietta, who is late and is in her school uniform. Her best friend eventually arrives and it seems she was late as she was buying a gift for a childhood friend's birthday. A friend Henrietta refuses to let Lena meet, teasing that Lena is too pretty. Lena teases back that she would not steal her best friend's boyfriend. The latter retorts that he isn't her boyfriends, quickly adding, yet.
Elsewhere, in his home, Shin is preparing to meet with Henrietta while the same news broadcast is playing in the background. He complains to himself how he wishes they'd stop mentioning the words he'd said as a child when the AI were first introduced to fight the war against the Legion. His brother, Rei, telepathically begins to tease him about meeting up with Henrietta and that he shouldn't make her cry. Shin counters how this is not a date and shuts off the connection with his brother. As he leaves, his parents are in the living room. On the way too meeting Henrietta, he passes numerous teenagers and adults who are described similarly to characters previously seen, all living peaceful, mundane lives despite the war (Anju, Daiya, Kaie etc.) At some point he helps a woman by stopping her fall and in return she hands him a blue rose, which he eventually hands over to Henrietta when they meet.
As the pair begin to celebrate Shin's birthday at a cafe, the scenery around them begins to fade and Henrietta asks Shin if life would have been better is it had turned out like this?
Eventually Henrietta and Shin wake up back in the Fedarecy's barracks in their respective rooms. Shin contemplates how, although that life would have been good, the people he met and encounters he experienced since beginning this fight had changed him. Now he could not longer carelessly turn his back on the world, no matter how cruel or unforgiving it may be.
Appearances[]
- Main Characters
- Supporting Characters
Illustrations[]
Trivia[]
- Neoteny in humans is the slowness or delay of body development, resulting in features such as a large head, a flat face, and relatively short arms. In essence, it is the retention of juvenile features well into adulthood. Thus, the title can be understood as scattered fragments of stories showing Shin's mental development from a boy into an adult, contrasting his still young physical body.
- Misericorde (derived from the Latin misericordia, "act of mercy") was a long, narrow knife, used to deliver the mercy stroke to a seriously wounded knight. [3]