Truth Under the Mask

Oh no! I couldn't stop the mask from becoming cursed! Angal will be destroyed because of this! What do I do now?!

Oh, you're...?

Hey! You're the ones who told me about the mask.

What on earth did you say to Lord Genshin? Making him let go of that mask like that.

It had been put up on that street earlier... But I heard a rumor that a monster took it away.

I see. But you don't know where it could be...

Right. And the stone mask won't make it for the festival dance. That's quite an achievement of yours! That mask has a long history, handed down from the ancient mountains. At least, that's what I heard. It's quite eerie though.

Huh? The mountains?

But to think we won't see it anymore, it makes me feel a little sad?

Not at all...you're imagining things. But that festival mask sure is a thing of beauty. Anyway, it must be about time by now? We'd better be off.

The ancient mountains, you say?

That's got to be Gadaro.

Right! I'll go to Gadaro and try and do something before the mask falls into Lord Genshin's hands!

Hey, do you have a minute? I wanted to ask about the stone mask...

Th-The stone mask?! I know nothing about that! Nothing!

Hey, wait! What's wrong? Where are you going?

It's no use... I'll have to ask someone else.

Hey, can I ask you something? Are you familiar with the stone mask? I'd like to know where it is.

The stone mask?

Shh! Don't say anything rash.

...... Do you know something?

You're a traveler, aren't you? Why would you want to know about that? I won't say a thing. It's for your own good. Strangers shouldn't poke their noses into other people's business.

Let's go!

Okay...

What's with everyone? I get that they don't want to talk, but still...

This isn't looking good. I might not even get a whiff of a clue at this rate.

Hey, kid!

Huh?

I hear you've been asking around about the stone mask.

Yeah, I have... Do you know something?

Yes, you could say that... I made that mask.

You did?!

Then could you do me a favor? Could you tell me where the stone mask is?! I know this sounds crazy but in the distant future, it's going to become cursed!

A cursed mask, you say? I'm not quite sure what you're on about, but it's no surprise that the mask will turn into something bad...

What will you do when you find the mask?

Well... I've got to destroy it. My hands are tied. I have to cut off the root of this evil...

You can't do that. I can't let you destroy the mask. It's required in a ritual.

A ritual... What on earth for?

You won't hear it from me. If you want to know about it, go find the girl who'll be wearing it in the next ritual. At the house at the edge of the village... She'll be preparing for the ritual around about now.

H-Hey!

Listen to what she has to say... And you'll lose all desire to destroy the mask.

What's that supposed to mean? Anyway, she's at the house at the edge of the village. I'll go and find out about this ritual.

The house at the edge of the village must be around here somewhere. I'll start with the closest for now.

Hey, you... I heard you have the stone mask that'll be used in the ritual...

I do... I do have it, yes. But... Who exactly are you?

Ah, well... There's no point in hiding it.

Truth is... I came to destroy that mask.

Destroy the mask?! You mustn't! How could you do such a thing?! You'll feel the wrath of the Mountain God just for saying that!

The wrath of the Mountain God?

Yes... The mask is to be worn by a girl who'll be offered to the Mountain God. In other words...it's a symbol of sacrifice.

What?!

So many girls before me have put on the stone mask and betook themselves to the Mountain God...

And now it is my turn... I mustn't let this ritual fail. For the village...

But a sacrifice?! Why?!

There's no other way. We fear the Mountain God... He told us we must present a girl as a sacrifice if we desire peace in Gadaro.

Are you really okay with this?! You're going to be sacrificed!

I-I... To be honest... I am terrified. I am so scared... But with Lady Himika away, there's no other way for us to appease the god...

So when that old man said I wouldn't want to destroy the mask, this is what he meant?

But why is the stone mask a symbol of sacrifice?

No one becomes a sacrifice willingly. Some will be crying, some will be angry... If the villagers see the girls like that, they may hesitate to sacrifice them. We need the mask to hide their faces and prevent the villagers from changing their minds...

I see...

Wearing the expressionless mask, the sacrifice's heart, too, becomes empty and they lose the will to resist. No fear, no regret... Everything is absorbed into that stone mask.

I understand your situation. But if I defeat this Mountain God, you wouldn't need to make any more sacrifices, would you?

D-Defeated?! But he is a god!!

Mountain God or not, I can't turn a blind eye to him forcing villagers to sacrifice themselves! But it's okay, I have an idea. Will you hear me out?

Okay... You have an idea?

*whisper whisper*

Wh-What...?! Would it really work?

I won't know if I don't try. But if it does, then you wouldn't be in danger anymore.

Yes... B-But...

It'll be fine. It's sure to go well. So... Where exactly is the place of sacrifice for the Mountain God?

Talgana Mountain Trail... Countless girls have been offered to the Mountain God there.

Got it. I'll get ready and head to Talgana Mountain Trail right away.

The Mountain God is sure to appear around here.

Yes. I heard he appears after everyone else goes and the sacrifice is left on her own.

All right... I'll make this work.

What's wrong? Are you scared? Or are you bitter?

Hehe... But it will pass soon enough. That tear-stained face beneath your mask will transform into the mask itself. Your heart will turn to stone and you will feel nothing.

Urgh...!

Do not be scared! Accept it! Give all of yourself to me, your god...!

So you're the Mountain God?!

What the...?!

You're no girl! You dare to deceive me, the Mountain God?!

When I was told about defeating the Mountain God, I thought it was a joke... But now I see the Mountain God is just a filthy monster.

The responsibility for making the stone mask for this monster falls with me. I must take the full burden of that.

You're far from a god. You're just a monster tormenting the people of Gadaro!

Hmph...! How dare you mock me?! You'll pay for this! I'll make sure you pay! You humans!

It's you who's going to pay!

Gaaaagh!

How careless! You let your guard down!

So you plotted this, humans?!

To call yourself the Mountain God, you must be pretty confident.

But it was us that exposed your weakness! Come on! Take me as a sacrifice if you think you can.

Urgh!

This mask is soaked with the anger, resentment, and tears of those forced to become sacrifices... And in tens of thousands of years, it will become the source of a terrible curse!

And I... I am going to stop that!

Oh, what nonsense you're talking! I'm going to eat you all up just like I did those other girls!

And how will you do that? I'm going to destroy you right here!

You fool... I am the Mountain God... The fearsome god who rules over these mountains! You are mere humans...!

This ends here!

Phew... It really is over.

The people of Gadaro won't be sacrificed any longer.

And this mask won't need to be used...

You did it?!

I can't believe it... You really destroyed the Mountain God!

But that means... I made that stone mask for that monster...

It's not your fault. The blame lies with that monster. But since there's no more need for sacrifices, you won't mind if I destroy the stone mask, will you?

No... Go ahead. So long as this thing continues to exist, those poor girls who were sacrificed will never rest in peace.

You're right... If you hadn't helped me out, I'd surely... Please destroy that mask, as a favor to me, too.

Of course, I will.

Well, everything's taken care of now!

Thank you for everything. I am deeply indebted to you.

Don't mention it. I got what I wanted, too. But don't go sacrificing anyone else for your village, okay?

We won't. We'll never do such thing again... I'll dedicate the rest of my life to mourning those girls, so their spirits can rest in peace.

Yes, you should do that.

Phew... Well that case is closed. I never expected to go to Gadaro of Antiquity to save future Angal.

At any rate, I've destroyed the stone mask, the cause of everything. Now there's no way the mask monster can use its power, right...?

I've got to return to the future and destroy the monster. I need to get to Wasteland now!

Well, well, well... It's high time we laid waste to Angal. And once that's done, we'll take care of those humans up in the sky! Time to dream big!

Ha! So you've finally come, have you? Anyway, let's eradicate these humans...

I can't allow you to do that!

Huh?! Who said that?!

Hehehe! You're that human I brushed aside before! Don't you know you can't defeat us?

This isn't going to go like last time! Come on then, bring it on!

Pff, the cheek of it! Well if that's what you want, we'll beat you at your own game! Stone mask! The time is now! Give us your true power!

......

The mask... It isn't here?!

Oh, I'm sorry. That mask disappeared a long, long time ago!

Y-You fool! Huh?! But, what was the mask?! So strange! My memory's fading!

You still want go again?

Eeeeep! Helllllp!

Phew... Now it really is over. Angal's no longer in any danger. I'll go report these beasts.

What were those monsters?!

It's all taken care of.

N-No way! How can I ever thank you?

But... How did you defeat all those monsters? Did you steal the stone mask?

Yeah, something like that.

Let me work it out. I don't know... The stone mask? So what happened, I wonder...

Haha! Don't worry about the details.

At the very least, Angal won't be attacked anymore. You can go back to your lives, worry free.

We will. Thank you, once again. Thank you so much. If you hadn't come... I was going to bring down those monsters, even if it killed me.

I know your feelings all too well. I'd feel the same if this happened to my hometown.

But it would feel awful if that peace was only made possible by the sacrifice of others.

You're right... I'm so glad it ended without any sacrifices.

Yeah...

Huh? I feel like I'm forgetting something really important...

You history buff!

What happened?! Is Angal safe?!

Yes, thankfully. It took some time though.

You did it! I knew you would! I believed in you!

Thanks. Who knows what would've happened if you didn't tell me what you did...

Don't mention it! Besides, I'm still going to get my reward!

Huh? Reward?

Aaaaaagh!

However! I will give you this information on one condition!

C-Conditions...?

Why don't you give me those well-made clothes of yours?!

What's wrong? It's nothing to do with my research!

Urgh! You're really not interested in anything other than research!

Fine... I'll take off my clothes. It's a small price to pay to save Angal.

Darn! Why didn't I think before I said that?!

Hehehe... Time to pay that debt of yours. Hand over your clothes!

Hahaha! Gotcha! Now yield!

Aaaagh! Help me, somebody!

Correction... One sacrifice. And what a valuable sacrifice he was...!