Where are you, Old Friend?

Wait! Wait right there! I heard you're a traveler. Is that so? You happen to come across a friend of mine by chance? You see...

Whoa, whoa! Hold your horses, buddy! You don't just run up on people out of the blue with a thousand questions!

Ah! Right, sorry about that... Soon as I heard about you, I rushed over. Guess I got a little ahead of myself!

All right, all right... So, you wanted to talk to me about your friend?

That's right. See, we've been good friends since back in the day. But I haven't heard back from her lately.

And it's been years since I've seen them. I'm getting a little worried, you know?

I see... That's why you're running down strangers to ask if anyone's seen her. Well? Do you have any idea why she might've disappeared on you?

All I know is that... she left to join the specter army.

They did what?!

Yep. She used to be a bit of a neighborhood bully. But she decided to take it further... So she went off to the Specter Citadel. Figured she could use her talents on a grand scale.

So does that mean this friend of yours is a bad guy?

It's no matter. To me, she's a true friend. I can't help but worry about her.

All right then. Sounds like there could be clues to her whereabouts at the Specter Citadel. You got any more helpful info about her? Anything else to go on?

Hmm... I remember that she was always writing in her journal.

A journal, huh? But that sounds like any sort of specter.

It was a picture journal. And its detail was so good, I'm sure you'd know it when you see it.

A specter with a picture journal... Okay. I think I can help you find your friend. I'll head to the Specter Citadel and gather info.

Much obliged! I really owe you one!

A specter in the specter army... I'll have to be extra careful with this.

The man said that his friend was in the specter army and kept a picture journal on hand.

Oh! Here's a book that looks the part. The numbers on the spine could be dates. Let's see...

......

Wh-What's all this? The pages are nothing but people's faces...

But it's as detailed as the man said, and every page is marked with a time and a place. You could surely call it a picture journal, but why would anyone make such a thing?

Hey! This is my face!

But why? What's going on? What's with all of these faces? Hold on a minute...

Aldo? Hey, Aldo, wake up. I don't feel so good.

*yawn* What's up, Amy? What's the big idea? I was sleeping so peacefully...

Wh-Wh-What the, ?! Aldo! Y-Your...! Your f-f-face!

Huh? Do I have something in my teeth?

A-Aldo!

Aldo! Your face is...missing?!

What do you mean? My face is missing? That's ridiculous, you guys. Cut it out already. Faces don't just suddenly disa--

Huh?! Wh-What the heck is this?! My face! What happened to it? What kinda sick joke is this?!

The book of the specter we were after was no ordinary journal...

All of these faces were recorded inside it. I think I know who that man's friend really is. Time to head back to Itoise.

Oh, you're back! Did you learn anything about my friend?

Sure did. Your friend's journal records faces, right? The faces of those about to be her prey...

......

Your good friend is an evil specter that likes to attack people and steal their faces. A mask monster, if I'm not mistaken?

Hehe... Good job. To think you'd even figure out that they were her targets...

That's because I was one!

Huh?! But you still have a face!

...... Look, there's no good way to tell you this...

But I defeated your mask monster friend.

Huh? You defeated her? Does that mean... she's...dead?

......

Ah... It's all right. I understand. And I don't blame you. It serves her right for choosing a dark path.

But I suppose this means... I'll never see her again.

I know it's a punch in the gut, but that's all I can tell you.

......

Well, thank you. I'm at least a little relieved to know what happened to them. Would you mind if I ask you one last favor?

Not at all. What is it?

Let's talk somewhere else. Meet me in the Kunlun Mountains, would you?

Gotcha. I'll see you there.

......

You know, my friend was pretty strong compared to the rest of us. In the specter army, she went on a frenzy collecting faces at a furious pace. She brought 10 faces as a gift when she first joined their ranks. She had a taste for savagery.

Oh yeah? And how many innocent people were among her victims?

Ah... I wondered the same. I think she lost her way. In the past, she was a bit too rough at times, but she wasn't all bad.

If that's the case... Perhaps this was the doing of the phantoms as well? Maybe she wouldn't have turned out so bad had they not interfered...

I don't think so. The specter army was indeed active, but there were many specters that stayed out of it.

Even if the phantoms had an influence, the decision she made was entirely her own.

I see...

That's why I'm grateful that you were able to stop her. I mean it.

But...

But she was a good friend! And the memories of our time together will remain with me forever!

......

When I was a kid, the villagers said I was weak and a crybaby. I felt scared every day... And I used to cry myself to sleep. But she took care of all of those bullies for me! And she had a good time doing it!

So your friend was like a hero to you?

You said it! She might've been the wildest kid in town, but she always came to my aid when I needed it. Yep! "Your enemy is my enemy." That's what she would say! That's why I swore the same... Her enemies are my enemies.

Oh... I see where this is going.

Look, I know I'm not in the right to do this...

I mean, I owe you for what you did for me. But you are my friend's enemy...

I'm real sorry, okay? But this is the only thing left I can do for her. Allow me this.

Yeah, I get it... I get that you're someone who's loyal to his friends.

But the truth is there would've been more victims if we hadn't stopped her.

There was no mistake. And I have no regrets.

......

But at the very least, I understand how you feel, coming to grips with your feelings of right and wrong.

And if fighting me helps, then bring it on!

You shall let me do this last thing for her! So I'm going all out!

Hehe... Guess you're pretty strong. And...above all...

Are you okay?!

No worries. My wounds are negligible... Thank you. But how did I do? Was I about as powerful as she was?

Yeah, you sure were. Incredibly powerful too.

In fact... You were even powerful enough to stop her yourself, no?

Yeah, I think I was. But you beat me to the punch. Regardless, I'm very glad that it was you who defeated her. Your sword is unwavering before justice... The same as your heart.

I'm nothing special. I just live my life being true to myself.

Hehe... I see. I guess you're right...

Well... You should tend to those wounds. How about we head back to Itoise?

No, not yet. There's still something left that I can do as a friend.

She might have been bad... But the least I could do is leave her flowers, right?

Yeah, that sounds nice. Old friends should be honored properly. Do you mind if I lend you a hand with that?

Not at all. Look for me in the sea caverns.

Here we are. How are you going to honor her memory?

I know I said flowers earlier, but I think coral would make for a better offering.

It should be fresh and vibrant. So beautiful that my friend will forget her loneliness...

All right. Let's take a look around.

I think this one will do the trick.

Great! The color and shape are perfect. Much obliged.

This will do for an offering. All that's left is the matter of making a grave.

Gotta admit I'm still shocked though. I never thought your friend would be a mask monster of all things.

Hahaha... You know, it's quite possible that I'm the only one who thought of her as a friend.

Huh? What do you mean?

I told you how she used to help me all the time, right?

Yeah. You mean how she used to keep the bullies off of you?

She really just wanted an excuse to fight... That's all it might have been to her. The truth is that she used to say she didn't like picking on people weaker than she was.

And yet... I'm still grateful for what she did.

Well, at least your friend still stopped you from being bullied in the end.

Not matter how brutal she might have been, it doesn't change the fact that she helped me every time. Ultimately, I hope that my friend's soul is purified and that she returns to Itoise as snow.

Yeah. I'm sure your wish will come true. Just as long as you continue to keep her memory alive.

Thanks. I'll never forget her... Never.

Good bye... Old friend...