Section 3: Seven Dwarves(?), No Snow White

What a cool forest. It's so fancy, and practically straight out of a fairy tale!

I LOVE IT!

A fairy tale, you say? Really? It seems rather...unsettling to me...

You think so? I absolutely love the dark, edgy fantasy aesthetic.

But, different strokes for different folks, I guess. What do you think of this forest, Puppy?

Oh, Puppy. You still have so much to learn, don't you?

I'll have to show you what a REAL horror movie should look like sometime! Murasaki Shikibu recommended me some great ones!

Besides, it's like they saaay♪ Everything is a learning experieeence♪

I-I see... Well, if you say so. I find modern tastes entirely incomprehensible...

？！

Have you ever been to these woods before, Zenobia?

No, I haven't. It took me a long time to find my way around the desert.

But I have heard rumors. They say these woods are the Witching Woods. It's said that the moment you enter...

...you are apparently guaranteed to make it through them safe and alive, despite the danger they pose.

Huh?

Yes, I had a similar reaction.

I can see why they are called the Witching Woods, but why are we apparently guaranteed to make it through them alive?

I simply cannot say.

Well hey, it's Halloween, and that's always happy and fun, right? Being both scared and safe is what it's all abooout♪

So for nooow♪ I say we head on iiin♪

Come on, let's gooo♪

(Sigh...) Well, I suppose we have to make our way through these woods at some point. All right, I will have to be ready for anything. Let us be off!

Sorryyy♪ I got a little carried awaaay♪

Okay, Puppy, hold me in your arms and start runniiing♪

Wouldn't that slow him down tremendously!?

M-my apologies. I'm afraid I got carried away.

If a warrior queen truly endeavors to be strong, she must never leave the weak behind!

Come, let us go together. I will ensure that no harm comes to you.

Hey! That's my jooob♪

？！

What an incredibly sweet smell; it reminds me of confectionaries...

Oh, it's these flowers. Look, they're so big and colorful. Talk about being straight out of a fairy taaale♪

？！

You were riiight♪ It swallowed me whooole♪ Save meee♪

Why are you still singing!? Ugh. Come on, Fujimaru! We must rescue her!

I-I thought I was going to...diiie♪

My heart nearly stopped, too. Why did you rush over to them? How did you get swallowed up?

I don't know. I just saw what looked like pretty fairy-tale flowers, and didn't think twice...

How could you possibly have mistaken those things for flowers?

Good question... Looking at them from a distance, it does seem obvious that they're starfish, not plants...

(Is seeing them from a distance really what you needed to determine that?)

Hm. I'm hearing a lot more noise all around us now...

That altercation must have attracted the local wildlife's attention. We must be quiet and cautious from here on.

Good poooint♪

What did I JUST say!?

Ooops.

...Huh?

What is it?

I could've sworn we already came this way.

Are you sure you aren't just imagining it? Everything here does look quite similar.

I don't think so. I'm not a hundred-percent sure, but I'm pretty sure I remember seeing these exact branches before.

？！

Good idea. Here, I'll tear some cloth from my clothes and we can use it to mark the branches.

Okay, I'll tie it on. There we go.

All right, let's keep going a little further.

Well, it has been thirty minutes since we tied that cloth to that tree... Hmm.

？！

I knew iiit♪ I knew it wasn't a coincideeence♪

And what's more, it's about a meter higher than where we tied it.

That can only mean the trees have somehow grown in the short time since we were last here.

...This is not good.

There could be magecraft or a Bounded Field here preventing us from orienting ourselves...

And if the trees grow so quickly, things will only be more difficult for us.

What are we going to do, Puppyyy?♪ Do you have any bright ideeeas?♪

？！

The only thought I have is that we might try climbing high enough to look over the forest and get our bearings...

Heh hehehehe.

If you're this lost already, you'll never escape the Woods of Illusion.

Who are you!? Whooo aaare yooou♪

Pya! Could you be any more off-key!?

Ahem... Well, putting that bit of dissonance aside...

Heh hehehe. How incredibly naive of you to simply barrel ahead without a plan.

I was going to simply leave you all to your fates, but I've changed my mind. What I think you need now is a healthy dose of reality.

As for who I am... Hmm. Why don't you call me "Jane"?

？！

Oh, you have a Jane already? I see...

Okay, since that would just be confusing, you can call me, um..."Jack"!

Right. Figures you'd have a Jack too!

Zut! That figures!

？！

Oh, fine, I'll just tell you my name! It's Jacques de Molay! That's "Jacques," not "Jack"!

I created this Singularity!

Seriouslyyy?♪ (Never heard of her)

So, you are the one behind all this. (Not too familiar with Western Heroic Spirits)

But why reveal yourself now?

Heh hehehehe. Because I want you to despair, while also giving you just a glimmer of hope.

Whaaat do you meeean♪

...That Elly sings too? Why? You know what, forget that right now.

Anyway, I've cast a spell across the entire Woods of Illusion.

Now that've you set in foot in them, you'll never be able to leave!

？！

Heh hehe. You're now doomed to wander for the rest of your lives...

You will writhe and squirm... You will wail and suffer... And in the end, your wails of torment will

Um... Monsieur?

I'm trying to have a serious, adult conversation. Is it so difficult to look at me while I'm speaking with you?

？！

...Oh, very well. I will just come out and say it.

Jacques de Molay. There is an Elisabeth right behind you!

Huh? Behind me?

Pyaaa! You're riiight!

Non de non! You're not supposed to be here! I'm trying to have a serious conversation!

Save me, Puppyyy♪ I've been captureeed♪

Never mind that noooooow!

？！

A-at any rate!

You're never getting out of these woods alive!

You're going to be stuck in here forever, you fools! You patates! Bananes! Andouilles!

Make sure you come save meee♪

I know you were quite clear about this earlier, but I still can't believe there really are two of you...

I didn't think it was possible for people to split apart like that!

Well, it is, at least for me. Sometimes me and my other selves fuse together, too.

At one point, someone even made a couple of mechas based on me.

It sounds like utter nonsense, and yet...it seems you are being truthful.

Maybe I got chopped in half at the waist or something this time...

Oh! And then each half of me grew another half, like how lizards grow their tails back!

I bet I could totally pull that off!

I see... At this point, I'm inclined to believe you, Elisaplanarian Báthory...

Thank you for the complimeeent♪

This is just a guess, but given that I'm at about half strength right now...

I bet uniting me with that other Elisabeth will complete my Cinderella power!

That assertion is based on absolutely nothing, by the way!

And you're proud of that!?

Oh well. Whether you're right or not, it won't matter unless we can escape these woods...

But if what that Molay person said is true...then how are we going to do that?

...Huh? Hey, do you guys hear that?

？！

It sounds like someone is fighting.

And if swords are involved, then it can't be a battle between Demonic Beasts.

Whoever it is may be just as lost as we are, but I'd rather go help them than stand here doing nothing.

Let's go!

How brave! How daring! Onward to baaattle♪

？！

(Oh no, he's caught Elisabeth's singing bug!)

Haaaaaa!

Hraaah! Kill theeem!

Done!

They don't seem to need our help.

Very impressive. That one's sword flows like a stream, while the other's surges like the sea.

I doubt heroes of such obvious renown would require our aid, but...

？！

Agreed.

You there! We wish to join you in battle!

Do you accept!?

Huh? Reinforcements? Oh, they're OUR reinforcements!

Hell yeah! Dive on in!

Hmm. Well, there are more creatures heading at us from the rear.

Would you mind handling them?

Not at all. All right, now that we have an agreement, let us begin!

Even for a princeeess♪ When it's time to fight, it's time to fiiight♪

The hell? Why's she singing!?

She does not seem to be appropriately dressed for battle, either. There truly are all kinds out there...

You got iiit♪ Whether the moment calls for rock or pop, I always sing the right booop♪

Yooou're done for nooow♪

Nice! We're all done here, too.

That was a great help. You have my thanks.

Not at all. With skills such as yours, I have no doubt you would have triumphed without our help.

...Would you be interested in joining my army? We have excellent benefits.

There is no telling for sure what may happen in battle, even in the easiest of skirmishes.

While I appreciate your kind offer, I cannot accept it. I have already pledged my sword to another. Forgive me.

I see. A pity. Very well then. If you wish to thank us, perhaps you can help us with another matter.

Oh?

You seee♪ We've actuallyyy♪ lost our waaay♪

Whaaat should we dooo♪

I see. You should come with us, then.

We and our five colleagues call these Woods of Illusion home.

We're all a bunch of good-for-nothing jackasses, but at least you'll be safer with us than you would be wandering 'round the forest!

Indeed. It will be night soon, and the forest gets especially dangerous at night.

I see. So you live together out here? All seven of you?

？！

Yes. They're all good eggs.

Seriously? Punks like us, chivalrous thieves, always acting like gangsters, are "good eggs"?

Well, at least I'd like to think so...

Ah, whatever. You guys hungry? We don't have much, but at least we never gotta worry 'bout food!

Delectable fruit from the forest? Don't mind if we dooo♪

Help yourselves!

We have all kinds of delicacies, as much rice as you can eat, and of course, sake!

Kelp and tofu, hmm. Conventional, but still delicious.

Hey, what gives? Why're you only eating rice and veggies?

Here, have some more meat! Can't put meat on your own bones without it!

？！

Sake, huh... Sake's not bad, but... I think this calls for cognac!

I don't know what you guys see in that stuff. All alcohol ever does for me is mess up my swordplay.

That's straaange♪ This isn't what I imagineeed♪ It's more like an actual banqueeet♪

So you guys just charged right into these obviously shady woods? Did it never cross your minds to try and be more careful?

You're right. I have no excuse...

Hey, don't worry about it! Bad luck has a way of turning around when you least expect it.

Personally, I'm feeling very lucky to have met such a beautiful mademoiselle as yourself!

I will advise you, this one time, to cease with the pitiable attempts at pickup lines. You will not enjoy where they get you.

Ooh, shot dooown♪ What about me? Got any pickup lines for meee♪

Ahh, what a lovely princess you are.

Is that honeyed voice all for me? So you can whisper sweet nothings in my ear?

Wh-whoa, you're actually hitting on me!? Y-you take it from here, Puppy!

Hahaha, no need to be bashful.

Would you care for some herbal tea?

？！

So, you wish to leave these woods, huh?

It's difficult, but not impossible.

That said, it's too late to think of doing so today.

There are few things more reckless than walking through the woods in the dead of night.

So I encourage you all to spend the night here.

Hmm. I appreciate your offer, but

Hahaha, if you're worried about one of us guys attacking you while you're asleep, don't be. None of us would do anything like that.

But if you're concerned, we don't mind sleeping outside.

That will not be necessary. I may not look it, but I am still a queen.

I am confident in myself as a judge of character, and even if I should be mistaken, I'm not concerned.

Oh? Why's that?

Because I would simply tear you all apart if I had to.

Hahaha! Well I definitely want to avoid that!

Freakin' idiot. The smart thing's just not sleeping at all.

Oh? Do you not like to sleep?

Leaves you totally defenseless. I hate that.

That never seemed to worry Sir Tristan. He always caught up on his sleep, no matter the time or place.

Maybe, but is HE really the role model you want?

...No. No, he is not.

You have my word that no harm will come to you while you sleep.

Feel free to rest and relax.

Thank yooou♪

(Why does she constantly sing?)

... ...

I don't have much in the way of hobbies...

But I do enjoy nursery rhymes. (Making a request)

Huh? (Just singing 'cause she felt like it)

Hm? (Wondering why she isn't singing what he requested.)

(They're like two cats who can't understand why the other one behaves the way it does...)

Anyway, this cottage is lovelyyy♪ It's like something out of a fairy taaale♪

It is, isn't it?

I'm curious, though. You are all Servants of great renown, yes?

Isn't this house a bit...cramped for all seven of you?

Dunno what to tell ya. This has been our stronghold ever since we were summoned.

And like they say, homeor in this case, a strongholdis where you make it.

Well, I like it. I've never seen such a cute fairy-tale cottage before!

？！

Yeah, I guess some of us look more, uh, thiefy than others.

But there's forty of us, including the boss.

？！

What's wrong, Puppyyy? You look as thooough♪

...you're worried...or somethiiing♪

You need to work on your vocabulary!

I've tried, but I'm just not great at ad-libbing, you knooow♪ I'm no Scheherazaaade♪

？！

If you want a password, I have it right heeere♪ It's ooopen seeesameee♪

？！

Huh?

So, what you're saying is

This whole damn Singularity is based on a buncha kids' stories?

I'm Cinderella, of cooourse♪ And when we ran into those thiiieves♪

There were forty of them...just like in "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"!

And the seven of us are the dwarveswell, fairies, really, since that's what they are in the story...from "Snow White," huh?

Man, I don't wanna be a damn fairy. People say they're the worst.

And for that matter, where's the princess?

I'm right heeere♪

Riiight... Let's...uh, not worry about her for now.

If you are correct, we may encounter other scenarios based on children's stories as well.

I never thought I would see a world shaped by the laws of fairy tales. These Singularities are truly frightening phenomena.

Ah, whatever.

I say you just stay here for tonight and get a good night's sleep!

Oh, where do you keep your king-size bed?

Since I'm Cinderella now, I should really sleep on a bed worthy of my status.

You're gonna sleep on the floor like the rest of us, and you're damn well gonna like it.

Ahh, woe is meee♪ A princess reduced to sleeping on the flooor♪

Laaa♪

？！

Oh, hi, Puppy. What are you doing here?

？！

When I've gotta sing, I've gotta sing. The time and place just don't matter.

This is a little different than when I'm an idol. Now, I just sing what I want, when I want.

At least, that's how I am as Cinderella. Is that a bad thing?

？！

Hehe. Okay then, ooone mooore sooong♪

Lalalaaa♪

I am Cinderella, a poor girl down on her luuuck♪

For some reason, I've traveled from desert to foreeest♪ And the suspicious bespectacled Jacques de Molay has it out for meee♪

And now, I'm being protected by seven dwarI mean, mercenariiies♪

It's a little creepy, singing this in the daaark♪ But my singing keeps my fear at baaay♪

So I'm not scared anymooore♪

？！

Yes, you're riiight♪ I am actually pretty scaaared♪

？！

I don't want to loook♪ I just want to ignore realityyy♪

Hey, I get it, but reality's the one thing you kinda gotta face, like it or not!

Thaaank yooou greeen ooone♪

The hell? Why're the Demonic Beasts goin' apeshit all of a sudden? Something got 'em scared?

Whatever it is, something ain't right here. Ah, screw it. No reason we gotta sleep till morning.

Yo, Bedivere! Wake up!

I'm already awake. Are you going to stand guard all night?

That's the plan!

That chick's singing has the Demonic Beasts all riled up!

So I had a feeling we'd see some action tonight!

Hahahaha! Looks like we have an impromptu Demonic Beasts' night out on our hands!

Fine by me! I never needed much sleep, anyway!

I can do this all night!

I see little to be gained from this battle, but I suppose we have no choice.

Indeed!

As residents of the Woods of Illusion, it's up to us to deal with its less savory elements!

I'll watch the house. The rest of you, give them hell!

I'd rather trade places with you, but I guess we wouldn't be here if I hadn't set up those traps... (Sigh) Fine, I'll do it.

All right! Let's do this, seven mercs!

Got no idea what you're trying to say, but while you're here, help us out!

Great. We'll be counting on your orders then, Maître of Chaldea!

Good luck, everyooone♪ I know you'll all fight bravelyyy♪

Don't let those beasties tear open your arteries, rip off your limbs, or lop off your heads♪

And definitely don't let them literally spill your guts, or cut your brain stem, or bite through your Achilles tendon, or

WHY ARE YOU STILL LISTING HORRIBLE FATES!?

Yeah? Then sit back and enjoy the show!

I'm gonna cut every last one of these freakin' things to bits!

Have a seat next to me, Puppyyy♪ Say, did you bring any popcooorn♪

If you're gonna sit out, the least you could do is take this seriously, dammit!

？！

Try this on for size! Adios, amigos!

Or, as they say in my country...

Adieu, mes amis!

Ooh la la! Looks like we're done here.

Man, what a joke. The sun came up while we were fighting those things.

Hey, d'Eon! It's breakfast time!

I know. Don't worry, everything is all ready.

I'm famiiished♪ I'm going to need a lot more than toooast♪

Would you care for some Demonic Beast meat, then?

...I'd rather not have meat for breakfast. It gives me indigestiooon♪

How about some fruit then?

That's iiit♪ That's the kind of fairy-tale food I want to live ooon♪

The hell're you singing and dancing every second of the damn day for?

It's my destinyyy (read: class)♪

Gotcha... Well, I guess there's not much you can do in that case...

(Yaaawn...) Good morning. What was all that commotion?

？！

S-slept through what!? Huh? An enemy attack? Here at the cottage!?

I can't believe I didn't notice... How could I have been so careless!?

Why didn't you wake me up? Then I could have fought as well.

Hahaha, impressive! You really must be a queen, with nerves of steel like that!

Don't most people usually sleep soundly at night?

Structure and discipline are of great importance! By which I mean early to bed, early to rise!

Nighttime is for recovering your strength, not for sneaking into a woman's bedroom!

Of course, had I known there would be a battle last night, I would have made sure to wake up for it...

I can't believe I failed to notice...

It's true, you were sleeping so soundlyyy♪ Our Sleepyhead Queeen♪

Stop that! I will not have my failure immortalized in song!

Anyway, the way to make it out of this forest...is to defeat its lords.

？！

Precisely.

This Jacques de Molay person you told us about probably put them there.

One of them is a Servant: Hektor.

And the other is Grendel, Beowulf's archnemesis.

These two form a deadly team...

...that prevents anyone from leaving the forest.

Hm? That's strange.

Why would a hero like Hektor team up with a monster like Grendel?

We got no clue either.

Those two ain't got a damn thing in common.

You have an idea?

That's great! Lay it on us!

Oh! I think I might knooow♪

Oh? Please, tell us.

We have crossed swords with them a number of times, and are still no closer to understanding.

This is just a guess, buuut♪

Could it be a play on "Hansel and Greteeel"♪

Hektor and Hanseeel♪ Grendel and Greteeel♪ You can see it, can't youuu♪

You're kidding me!

？！

？！

... ...

Could that...really be it? I mean, even if this Singularity is built on fairy tales...

A pun? A stupid goddamn pun!? I can KIND OF see it, but all Hektor and Hansel have in common is a damn "H"!

"Hansel and Gretel" is about two young siblings who defeat a witch, right?

...I can't think of any connection those two could possibly share with those siblings...

Ahem.

All right, let's just put aside the question of what's going on with those two for now.

What do you all think?

Does anyone else here want to go with Maître and these two fair mademoiselles to help them escape these woods and save the world?

I have no issue, of course, but I don't think we can all go with them.

I agree.

If we all left, the Demonic Beasts of this forest would have free passage to and from the desert.

At most, only threeno, two of us can go with them. The rest need to stay here and keep the local wildlife in check.

That sounds reasonable... Very well then, who will go with them?

How 'bout we decide it with...rock-paper-scissors?

Hey, I'd be fine with not going at all, personally. (I just know I'm gonna get caught up in some weird crap if I do.)

Oh quit whinging and get over here!

Rock, paper, scissors...

Shoot!

So, there you have it. Now you've got me

And me coming along!

？！

I always thought my daring kniiight♪ Would come riding along on a white hooorse♪

A white horse? No way. That'd draw too much damn attention.

Haha, I used to ride a white horse!

？！

But unfortunately, I'm an Archer now, so I couldn't summon it along with me.

Hope you don't mind an emperor instead of a knight, my fair Cinderella.

You know, Puppy, even I can tell this guy will hit on anything with a puuulse♪

Hahaha. I wouldn't say that.

Just ignore the sweet-talking emperor. Come on, we've gotta get outta these woods!

Oh, right, I meant to ask. Exactly how do we go about doing that?

Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Hey, Master of Chaldea?

？！

People usually wanna try to protect the environment, right?

It's important, trust me. 'Cause what I'm about to do...

...is wreck the absolute shit out of this particular environment.

Gotcha.

From the look on your face, I'm betting you already figured out what I have in mind, didn't you?

？！

...Wait. You can't be serious...

You bet your ass I am!

The Woods of Illusion don't just make it near impossible to get your bearings. They also completely regrow themselves every day!

Which means we can burn the whole forest down and it won't be a problem!

How savage! How barbariiic♪ But that also sounds like it'd feel reeeally goood♪

Do iiit!

All right! If the princess there don't got a problem, I see no reason to hold back!

Releasing Noble Phantasm! Here goes!

Clarent Blood Arthur!

Wh-what were you thinking!?

Even if our sense of direction gets thrown off a little now, we'll be fine as long as we can see where we're going!

Now c'mon! We gotta move before the trees grow back!

Move it!

Hurry up, or the trees'll grow back before you know it!

Ahh, so frantiiic♪ Why must I hurry everywheeere♪

？！

...Hm?

Something wrong, Boney?

I thought I heard something...

Yeah?

There, I just heard it too. Get your weapons ready!

All right. But...where is this foe?

What do you mean?

III caaan't seee aaa thiiing♪

...Can't see a thing, huh.

Boney?

...I just remembered something about Grendel's legend.

One reason it was one of the toughest monsters Beowulf ever fought...

...was that he was able to both change shape and turn invisible.

？！

Crap! It's going after you, Boney!

Woah!

Gotcha!

There you are!

Did we get it!?

I know my shot connected, but...!

Dammit! Watch yourselves! Damn thing's still invisible!

Tch... It's fast, too!

Why you...!

... ...(Sigh...)

You know, this old man's been around the Servant block a good few times now...

...but being summoned because my name is maybe passingly similar to Hansel? That's a new one.

Oh, you're from Chaldea, huh? Yeah, I'm serious, all right.

I've been summoned to my share of Holy Grail Wars before.

Some of my Masters were awful, and some of them, I truly wanted to fight beside.

And, well, as far as awful ones go, this one makes the top three, no sweat.

Thanks...

I still can't quite believe the first thing this amorphous blob of a thing said to me when we met was:

"Hi, Big Brother! Nice to meet you! I'm Grendel! My favorite thing to do is eat! Especially people!"

If nothing else, that was a first for me.

Man, I'm sorry, Paris. I never knew how good I had it with you as a little brother until now...

Uh, Hektor?

I mean, everybody knows I'm your biggest fan, but...

...if you ever compare me to an amorphous blob like that again, even I'll get pretty ticked, got it!? Hmph!

You're right. I'm sorry, Paris...

(Is he...conversing with an invisible brother!?)

？！

Anyway, that's why this old man's not really invested in this fight...

The creature behind you, getting ready to attack is another matter, though.

Whoa!

Anyway, there you have it. I really don't want to do this, but my extremely not-adorable "sister" really does.

So get ready to face Hektor and Grendel! ...Man, this is such a pain...

Good luck, Old Maaan♪ Don't let your old person smell get the better of yooou♪

Ouch! Low blow, princess!

But for the record, I'm technically royalty, so I know how to manage my personal hygiene!

If the smell of smoke bothers you, though... Well, sorry!

And so, the monster was split in twooo♪ Its limbs scattered to the four wiiinds♪

Afraid it ain't dead yet. Just collapsed 'cause it can't take any more hits.

It's in pretty rough shape, but we're talking about Grendel here; it'll bounce back just fine after a while.

Gurk.

It seems this battle is ours.

Phew. Thanks for kicking our asses so thoroughly. Now I've got a good excuse to retire.

I see you didn't kill Grendel, either.

Not that it's the real Grendel. It's just some blobby thing that got stuck playing the part.

You could kill it if you want, or you could let it go. Either way, it won't cause you any more trouble.

？！

I'd say any monster so damn foul-tempered is worth killing...

But, eh, whatever. It ain't my job to decide those sorts of things.

Hey, Zenobia. What do you think?

I have only allied myself with Fujimaru...

...until we can erase this Singularity from existence.

I do, however, think it is foolish for a queen to encourage unnecessary killing.

Tell us how you really feeel♪

I don't see a problem.

If it acts up again, Hektor will take responsibility.

Isn't that right, Hektor?

Yeah, sure.

As "Gretel's" big brother, it's only fair.

All right, now that we have reached an agreement, there's something I wish to ask you.

What do you know about Jacques de Molay, and this Singularity?

Yeah! Tell us everything, or diiie♪

Yeah, fair enough. Now that I've lost, I don't see a problem.

So, no need to threaten this old man anymore, all right, Cinderella?

...You've probably figured this out by now, but this whole Singularity is based on children's stories.

？！

I thought sooo♪

A world of children's stories... So in the desert, we had "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves."

And in this forest...

It was "Snow Whiiite and the Seven Dwarves"♪ Nay, hottieees♪

Hotties, huh. ...You think those guys're hot?

Hahahaha, I certainly thought so!

So, Princess.

Princess heeereee♪

(What's with the constant singing?)

...You're Cinderella, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood all rolled into one.

In this Singularity, you were supposed to be a prototypical fairy-tale princess.

...Well, I guess Red Riding Hood isn't technically a princess, but you get the idea.

As to why you split into two? This old man's got no clue, either.

Theeen♪ that other me in that castleee♪ must be the princess waiting to be rescuuued♪

That's all I've got for you. I was really only summoned to slow you down.

？！

No problem.

All right, Master of Chaldea.

Path outta the forest's open now, so what do we do?

？！

Yeaaah!

(Yawn...)

Well done, Hansel. Merci beaucoup.

What're you even showing up for now? You do know we lost, right?

Oh, that's fine! You did your job perfectly.

Did I now? Well that's good to know.

Whoa there, not so fast.

You haven't forgotten I'm still your Master here, have you?

Nope, I haven't. Not much this old man can do about it, anyway.

Welp.

We're outta the woods and found a town, but there ain't a single other person anywhere that I can see.

It's Halloween but there's no trick-or-treatiiing♪

What in the world could Molay be thinking?

I'll have to torture her niiice and bloody for thiiis♪

Damn, that's quite the song!

(Zzz...)

Phew. I was wondering what would happen when she started acting up, but it looks like things are okay...

Let's just hope Prince Charming comes dashing in to save her soon.

Otherwise, I'll be in quite the pickle.