Escape 2 - Cooperator in Chains

...Hmph. Digging a tunnel through the ground, eh. Sounds like a real pain.

Here I thought you were a bunch of annoying flies, but it turns out you're actually a bunch of grubs. I'm impressed you've made it this far without getting stepped on.

You've got a lot of nerve for someone who would have gotten her ass handed to her without our help...

She's probably just too embarrassed to show her appreciation. She looks like a Servant whose Spirit Origin is made up of pure "tsun" to me.

I gotta say, throwing a bit of "dere" in the mix would do her some good.

While I can appreciate your pride, I would try to keep that attitude of yours in check if I were you, Scorpion.

Remember, we now possess the source of your greatest vexation. The only thing more powerful than a maid is a maid with reptile sanitization spray.

...Hmph. Is that what you think? Take another look at the bottom of that canister.

Hm? ...It looks like the bottom melted off...and now it's empty. When did that happen?

My acid can melt any living thing.

Ordinarily, I only use it to digest prey I have eaten...but it's easy enough to use on small objects.

Oho, acid, you say? How very fortuitous.

We still have a lot of digging left to do, after all.

We have been fortunate up to this point, but there is one thing I have been concerned about.

What if we come up against a great boulder or other obstacle we couldn't clear away with our bare hands!?

...I don't like where this is going.

Are you telling me to cough up my acid just to help you lot dig your way out of the prison?

Well of course. Isn't that why you were just going on about how wonderful it is?

Y'know, Monkey used to do the same thing all the time. "I'll build a castle in three days, boss!" "There's no way Shibata or anyone else could pull that off, boss!"

So now it's time to cough up or shut up!

We made a...deal. You said you'd...help. ...Were you...lying?

...I did say that, didn't I. Stop looking at me like that! I wouldn't do anything so boorish as to break my word to a human, or even a mechanical doll.

Indeed, my daughter is frightfully adorable when she looks up at you with those baby blues while she tilts her head like that. I totally get it.

As I have told you countless times before, Fran is Victor's girl, not yours.

Well, the problem now is that there's only one of you, and six teams of us.

And we have our own reasons for why we can't all escape together.

Depending on how things could go, we could all end up fighting over who gets to use your acid.

...So, you are racing as well as escaping. Hmm... I'm starting to see what's going on here.

(Gulp)

Well, no matter. It's none of my concern. All you want is my acid, correct?

You should be able to carry that around in any container coated with my magical energy.

Let's give it a try. These cups should do the trick... Now then...

(...? Why did she just turn around like that?)

...Yes, this should work. Here, you can carry it in these. Quite generous of me to throw in containers for free, if I do say so myself. (Said while wiping her mouth)

Hold it...! If that's what I think it is... It better not be!

It's not! It is pure acid!

At any rate...I can't move from this cell. As you can see, I'm bound by divine steel chains.

But you are free to take my acid with you in those containers.

However, let me be clear about one thing. I cannot just make more on a whim.

Why is that, you ask? This may be hard for you to understand, but...producing it makes me extremely hungry.

No, I get it. I totally get it. If anything, I'd be more surprised if that DIDN'T happen.

...Is that...true?

Yes it is, my mechanical doll. No matter how badly you may want this acid, I can only produce so much.

So if you want it that badly, you'll need to bring me tribute every time you ask for more. Something that would fill my stomach would be best, of course.

In fact, I wouldn't mind if you offered up yourselves! Hahahahaha!

Provisions, eh. As prisoners ourselves, those aren't exactly easy to come by...

Good thing I know a human or two who can help. I think we can make this work!

？！

Right you are, Master.

It seems the amount of help...erm...acid Gorgon can provide will have a significant bearing on how quickly everyone can progress.

Let's be sure to bring Gorgon things she'll like to speed along everyone's escape!

All right, you all know what you need to do next. The race to escape is back on track!