Curse of the Mask

Well, I re-examined the document on the stone mask, but...

And? Did you find out how to break the curse?

Unfortunately, there were no records on how to break the curse directly.

No, that can't be...

Actually... Don't despair just yet.

Direct removal may be impossible... But perhaps we could break it indirectly.

Really?!

Umm... Oh, right. Here, think about it...

The curse is the source of the monster's power, so if the mask was never cursed at all... Problem solved!

That's true! What a bold idea... You're a genius!

Well, I wouldn't go that far...

But how do we make that happen?!

Hmm... I would say...

Well, your only option is to go back to the past with a time machine or something...

......

......

My apologies. Nothing good came to mind, so I thought...

Wait, tell us more! I'll find a way, trust me!

Excuse me?!

These tomes tell us where and when things happened, right? Do you know where and when the stone mask was cursed?!

300 AD, in Izana... That's what it says here.

Izana! All right. You can count on us.

I have absolutely no idea what your plan is...

But so be it. I shall await your return.

Great! We'll be off then!

I couldn't tell him about time travel, of course...

Anyway, let's go to Izana and try locating the mask.

All right then...

We're in Izana, but how do we get information about the stone mask?

Hey, have you heard? They're going to use the mask again at the next festival!

Really? That creepy thing?!

Hm...?

Hey, did you two say something about a creepy mask?

Ah... You're interested in the mask too?

You could say that. I'd like to hear more about it, if you don't mind.

People from the West may not be familiar with it... But here in Izana, there's a traditional dance where performers wear masks.

They're gorgeous, these masks... Dancers like us long for the chance to wear one...or we used to.

One year, out of the blue... Everyone was ordered to perform with the stone mask instead.

That mask is so rigid and expressionless, there's no beauty in it at all.

I-I see... That's a shame...

But why did the masks get changed?

That's what I'd like to know!

*sigh* Lord Genshin's whims are a real pain.

Lord Genshin?! Are you saying that the mask belongs to Lord Genshin?!

He's the only one who cares about that weird mask.

I hear he stumbled upon it while collecting random stuff like tea sets and swords...

So that mask must be kept in Lord Genshin's residence, I guess.

Yes. It seems Lord Genshin has taken an extreme liking to the mask...

Anyone who takes a liking to that thing must be really strange.

Thank you. That was helpful information.

This is not good... Of all people, the owner of the mask had to be Lord Genshin...

Looks like we have no choice but to head to Kurosagi Castle and ask Lord Genshin about the mask.

Let's hope it hasn't been cursed yet...

Bwahahaaa! Good, good, it's releasing a truly noxious miasma now!

Lord Genshin, that mask!

Hmm?! Who goes there?

Let me guess... This ravishing mask has taken your breath away too?

Not exactly... Do you actually intend to use that ominous mask at the festival?!

I do, precisely because it is so ominous.

Behold! Rudely carved by some unknown hand, ravaged by ruthless time... Shadowy, sullied, sinister! What a trinity of vile qualities! Does it not make your heart sing?

Actually... The townspeople want the old masks back...

But upsetting the people is what I do! I can already see their anguished faces!

What a tyrant!

Letting this precious artifact gather dust in some cellar would be such a waste!

It pleases the mask, you see. Every time I present it in public, it becomes even darker!

Even darker?

C-Could it be... Was the mask cursed by the anger and hate of those who saw it?!

Lord Genshin... Please listen to me!

Oh? You're making an entreaty, to me? I'll make an exception... Speak.

You absolutely must not use that mask at the festival!

Hmm...

The intensity in your eyes... Something serious is afoot, yes.

Very well. In that case...

Lord Genshin!

I'll double the number of dances performed with the mask! Bwahahahahaa!

Wh-What?!

It's your fault for asking this old contrarian so directly!

I-I'll do anything! That mask will bring great calamity in the future!

Hmm... Persistent, aren't you? If you insist, perhaps I should reconsider.

Really?!

"You'll do anything," you said? Then I have something to ask of you.

A certain miscreant has been making trouble in Izana recently.

With a huge monster at his command, he terrorizes the people, and he's even stolen something important of mine. I want him gone from Izana, permanently...

So, you want me to teach him a lesson?

That's right. And don't forget to retrieve what he took from me, yes?

That villain must be hiding somewhere in Inanari Plateau, I'm sure of it.

Understood. I'll head there at once!

Do your best, boy! Bwahahaaa!

Where could he be? He should have a monster with him, according to Lord Genshin...

Hmm? Who's that over there...

Heh heh... It's time to return to Izana and surprise the townsfolk again, yes...

I won't let you do that!

Huh?!

I won't let you and your monster menace the town anymore!

Fools... Do you really think you can stop me?! I'll show you!

C'mon, get them!!

So it's come to this, huh? Then I guess I won't hold back either!

H-Hey, are you okay?!

You! What did you do to my pet?!

Your monster goes rampaging through town while you steal stuff, right?!

Perhaps after this punishment, you won't commit any more crimes...

Huh? "Steal"?

Morons! What nonsense are you spouting?!

Huh?

Here! Look at this!

A...performance permit? Why would you have something like that?

Isn't it obvious?! I'm a showman, and this "monster" is my partner on stage! That's all!

Y-You're a showman?!

So, when you said you were returning to Izana to surprise people...

We're performing at the festival! Get the audience excited, you know...

It's what we entertainers do, of course.

Although I hear the crowds have thinned because the mask dance, which used to be the main event, is now a complete flop.

Darn it! Lord Genshin tricked us!

I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted so rashly.

*shrug* It's no big deal.

It's hard to get the better of that Lord Genshin, after all... And I did set my monster on you, so let's say we're even.

Anyway, I'll be going now. The good people of Izana are waiting to be entertained!

...... Lord Genshin, you'd better have a good explanation for all this.

Let's go back to Kurosagi Castle!

Oh, you've returned. Did you take care of my problem?

There was no problem! Why did you invent that story about miscreants?! That man was just a performer!

Hmph... And I thought you could be trusted.

Not only did he make some coin by willfully busking in MY town, he also stole the people's hearts from me!

If that's not a miscreant, I don't know what is! He asked for it! Bwahaha!

What do you mean, "willfully"? He got an official permit, didn't he?!

That's no concern of mine! When I say "no," it means no! In the Land of Mi, I am the law!

And the official who issued the permit... I'll banish him to an island! Bwahaha!

What a madman...

A-Anyway... I've done what you asked. And as we agreed, you'll stop using the stone mask at the festival...

Never!

Wh-What?! But we agreed!

Insolent wretch! How dare you, when it is you who hasn't fulfilled my request!

Y-Your request?! But...

I made it quite clear, didn't I? Retrieve what he stole from me!

What he stole from you... You mean, the hearts of the people?!

There's no way you can just take back something like that! I mean, think about how you treat them daily!

Bwahaha!! There's no need to reflect on how scum are treated!

You never had any intention of honoring our agreement, did you?!

Well, I never said that I would do as you wished. I said I'd consider it, that's all!

...... What will it take for you not to put that mask on stage...

Huh?

Lord Genshin, where is the mask?

Ah, that mask...

I put it up along Izana's main street for everyone to admire!

What?!

There's more! I also left a note saying that anyone who liked the mask was free to take it!

I can't even... What did you do that for?!

Well... To be honest, I was getting bored of it.

And since I was letting it go, I wanted to do so in the most vexing way possible.

Ah, when I left that mask on the main street, it gleamed blacker than ever before. Bwahaha!

......

That's it... There's no stopping the mask in this era! What do we have to do to prevent the stone mask from getting cursed?!

This mask! So much power... Can I really just...

Grab it, for free?!

This is great! We goblins like to leave goodies for the next generation! Usually it's a loincloth...

But this is not bad at all! They'll be talking about this for years!