Chapter 59: You Can't Run Gonjuro! The Deadly Mirror

Oh! It's you lot! Thank goodness you're here. There's something strange going on with Gonjuro... He kept screaming things like "This mirror is mine!" and "I won't give it up to anyone!" He wasn't acting like himself at all. He ran straight through the village, and then dashed away again somewhere... What in the world is the matter with him?

Ah. It looks like we're gonna have some trouble after all... Well, which way did he go?

He ran out of the village down this road, as fast as his legs could carry him. There's nothing down that way except the Ship Graveyard beyond Kuruchi Cove... Perhaps he's planning to hide there?

Gotcha. We'll do something about Gonjuro. Wait here, and don't worry.

I see... Thank you kindly! He's usually such a laid-back, decent guy. Take good care of him, won't you? And be careful out there!

There he is! Gonjuro, wait! You must hand over the mirror you got in the Dragon God's Swamp, or something dreadful will happen!

S-Stay away from me! Didn't I tell you?! I won't give this mirror up to anyone! Nghh!

Gonjuro? Hey! What is it?! Are you all right?

The mirror... I won't...give it up... Not to anyone... Urgh! *cough cough* Grrrraaahhhhh!

Gonjuro?! No! Damn it all! The strong spiritual power of Lady Himika that dwells in the mirror is too much for a body of flesh and blood to endure!

Whoa! What's happening?!

Aaahhh!

Wh-What? What is it?!

I hypothesize that Gonjuro has fused with the lifeforms which inhabit the Ship Graveyard.

Ugh. How much trouble is this guy gonna cause us?

Well then, we must do something about this creature.

All right! Here we go, everybody! Be careful!

Urghh! Ow, that really hurts! H-Huh? What happened to me?

Oh, good. Looks like he went back to normal somehow.

Are you all right, Gonjuro?

Y-Yeah. Wait, you're the ones who...!

Don't you go blaming us for this, you utter fool! You should have handed over that mirror as soon as you noticed what was happening to your body. The power of the mirror consumed you, body and soul, until you were on the verge of becoming a true monster.

Whaaaat? Hey, cut me a little slack! I never meant for this to happen! I've been feeling foggy in the head ever since I picked up that mirror. But I'm all right now, thanks to you. You saved me! Thank you so much!

Hmm... Think nothing of it. So, this is the mirror that Varn offered up to Lady Himika, all those long years ago. They say she treasured it forever, and carried it next to her heart... But for it to have fallen into the Dragon God's Swamp. Lady Himika must have been on Iwato Island when the Four Great Elementals disappeared.

So, does that mean the Daughter of Time who was in the Chapel of the Time Goddess...was really...?

Hmm?! The mirror!

Whoa! Wh-What's happening?!

This is bad! It's a tear in spacetime! Did it open in response to the mirror?! Watch out, everybody!

Ahh!

Whoa!

Guildna?! Everyone?!

Ack! A tear in spacetime?! No matter what's waiting on the other side... I'm going with you!

H-Hey!

Wh-Where did they all go?! What just happened?! Where's the mirror? Who were those folks, anyway?

Ugh... Where am I...

Checking atmosphere... Pollutants...corrosion. Surveying topography and environment...

We are in the Future, on the surface. I am certain of it.

In the Future? On the surface?! But the Prisma pollution makes it impossible for people to survive here... Isn't the surface totally abandoned?

Pollution? Corrosion? What's going to happen to us, Aldo?

Ngh! I feel suddenly dizzy... To die in a place like this... It fills me...with regret...

It's all right. Don't worry. There should be no nasty physical effects for you. This entire area seems to have been kept free of pollution somehow.

Phew! Thank goodness.

What is the meaning of this?

If there is still a habitable zone remaining on the surface, then... What a surprise...peach pies...gadflies!

But why were we thrown through time to the surface in the Future?

Whatever the reason, we can't do anything until we gather more information.

It would be most helpful if we were to encounter someone...

You're right... Well, then how about we start by looking around? We have to think of a way to get out of here somehow.