Section 6: Welcome to Oniya!

All right, we've gotta figure out who's gonna stay behind on the ship next.

But, with Asclepius and Douman both gone, we're kind of all raring to go, huh?

How 'bout we draw straws to make it fair?

Fine with me! Let's do it!

That's the spirit! Okay then, let me just cut some strips of paper from this notebook.

Wow. I've never seen anyone cut through paper so cleanly with just their fingertips.

Y-you didn't even use a knife or anything. That's amazing.

This? Just a party trick. Anyone can do it with a bit of practice.

Okay, all set! Everyone besides Master and the director, get over here!

...Ah.

？！

？！

？！

There's nothing wrong with that. Still...something about it makes me want to go hide in the corner!

？！

Okay, let's figure out who's gonna stay behind today. Servants, draw your straws.

'Kaaay.

So who, uh, won?

Looks like I'll be the one staying behind. Don't worry, I'll make sure the ship's safe and sound.

Though to be totally honest, I'm not completely sure how I'm supposed to do that...

Well, if Douman shows up, you can punch him in the Oh, wait. Guess that wouldn't be a good idea.

Hmm... All right, if anyone shows up here, whether it's Douman or not, you let Master know right away.

Whether you recognize them or not isn't important.

Yes, that should work nicely. Oh, and, don't forget to protect me too, okay?

Okay. I can do that.

Great. All right, everyone else, good luck on the mission!

We have two seals left to go, and I want one of them broken by the end of the day!

？！

We're here!

Bow!

This is the fifth area, including the castle. I wonder what this one will be like.

Whatever it is, we'll carry out our mission faithfully all the same.

Yup! We're all set for combat, exploration...whatever it takes!

Nice! I like that attitude!

Though, you know, taking a look around...I'm getting a kind of nostalgic feeling from a lot of this.

So I'm guessing this manager must be

Keh heh heh heh!

How good of you to come!

Prepare to enjoy yourselves, for you have arrived at my peerless, perfect playground!

？！

Wait. Something's different...

Are you...bigger than usual, Wu Zetian!?

Kehehe, so you noticed. Though of course, that is hardly a surprise.

For how could anyone not notice the overwhelming beauty this naturally perfect figure exudes?

Behold my swimsuit Spirit Origin!

As you can see, I've aged just a bit as well, presumably to better match the new outfit!

Until now, I was a perfectly beautiful young girl. Now, I am a perfectly beautiful full-grown woman.

Yes, I have a bit more meat on my bones now, but I remain the same vivacious empress I always was! I may be showing too much, actually.

Whoa! I'm not sure what you're talking about, but your confidence is inspiring!

Honestly, I prefer you this way.

I mean, in your usual form, it's hard to believe you're the empress that once ruled all of China.

So it's harder to tell you what I really think when you're in that form.

？！

Hahaha. I guess so.

Watch your tongue and your gaze, Skillful Star.

That my new appearance may inspire sin does not signify my approval of such things.

I am, however, lenient, and so will let this first offense slide.

But know that should you fail to act with sufficient deference to my royal person again, merciless torture awaits you.

Other violations include, but are not limited to, spitting or littering on these premises.

Should you see anyone engaging in such distasteful behavior, I encourage you to report them.

This is my new nation! A nation of right and proper FUN!

？！

I'm so glad you asked. Come to me!

Ah. Not your typical Torturers, are they?

Good. As it should be with my Master.

These are jiāngshī...or rather, the concept of them which I had my Torturers embody.

...Making them Torturer jiāngshī!

You mean you don't know? I thought you better educated than that, Master.

Ah, but this does provide me an entertaining opportunity to educate you.

These animated corpses are known as jiāngshī. Taoists control them with talismans and bells.

Well, more specifically, they are conceptually jiāngshī, which I had my Torturers embody...which makes them Torturer jiāngshī!

？！

Torturer jiāngshī!

Hmm, jiāngshī, huh. I've heard of those.

As I recall, they're a kind of undead from the Far East, and are broadly separated into two types.

The first type is...well, "naturally occurring" feels inaccurate, but they are created when a body is not given a proper burial.

The second are half-reanimated by Taoist arts as a means of returning a deceased migrant worker to their hometown.

I think some of them are at least partially vampiric too, if I'm not mistaken.

Yep, that sounds about right.

Fou fou.

(I'm pretty sure getting into the characteristics of vampire jiāngshī would take us too deep in the weeds, so I'll just leave it at that.)

Exactly. Jiāngshī are the embodiment of my vision of justice. And just like my Torturers, they are appropriately terrifying.

Yes, terror! That is the cornerstone for my entire domain!

Now, welcome...to my grand-scale haunted house!

？！

D-don't be ridiculous! I fear nothing!

Ahem. Anyway... I, um, may have simply forgotten until now...

...but I have long been proficient in Taoist arts such as these.

And with that power at my command, ghosts are nothing to fear! Which of course means I never had reason to fear them anyway!

I am glad the impact of changing into a swimsuit helped jog my memory, but I don't understand how I forgot that up until now...

(Huh? That's strange...)

A haunted house, huh?

Not really sure how scared I'm gonna be since you've already warned us what to expect.

Well, I was originally planning to welcome you in without saying anything, then scare the living daylights out of you when you were somewhere from which there was no escape.

However...circumstances forced me to come here in person first. Forgive me.

You see, I knew that I wanted to showthat is, I knew Master would want to see this new perfect body of mine as soon as possible...

...and as an empress, it is my duty to provide for my retainers.

All right. This seems like a good spot to wrap things up. What do you think?

Hmm, I guess I was a little off. Oh well, you cannot account for everything ahead of time.

Very well, there is nothing more to be done then.

Huh?

Well, I was planning to throw a great parade for the one-hundredth party to visit this area.

I thought you would be that party, but unfortunately, you are only the ninety-ninth.

Aw, damn. So close!

...However, I am nothing if not a generous empress!

So in recognition of your almost-achievement, I am prepared to bestow upon you, the ninety-ninth party, a special honor as well.

Let's see... I know! I will personally preside over your experience of the terror of jiāngshī!

Kehehe, enjoy!

I like how they weren't afraid of anything, like true warriors!

But they only know how to follow orders, right? So they definitely lack autonomy.

Jiāngshī were originally made to be tools for Taoists, so autonomy was not likely high on their list of priorities.

I kind of enjoyed that. They made for some surprisingly good punching bags.

You don't usually get a lot of chances to practice hitting bodies as tough as corpses in rigor mortis.

Between their unique movements, and the fear that they might suck your blood if you let your guard down...

...I thought it was a great way to beat the heat! Although

I know. There's one thing I'm still curious about, too.

Great jiāngshī for sure. They had that special kind of presence you can only get from the genuine article.

So I really don't understand this...

How come there aren't any other visitors here?

I thought a hundred parties was a little on the low side. Is this area not getting much in the way of foot traffic?

...Fou?

？！

Hmm? Now that you mention it, it IS much quieter than I expected. I thought there would be much more hustle and bustle here.

You there! Bring me the visitor data!

What? The numbers trail off quickly...and the reviews are nowhere near as good as I anticipated!

What is the meaning of this? By this point, I was expecting there to be long lines of customers waiting to get inside!

By my estimation, we should have had our hundredth party arrive some time ago.

That must be why yours is the ninety-ninth.

Hmm... Is there a problem with my natioI mean, area?

？！

Very well. In my role as empress, I usually stay behind my bamboo blinds, looking down my nose at the commoners...

...but under the circumstances, it seems I have no choice but to go and survey my natioarea myself.

This sorry state of affairs had better not be a result of my Torturer employees being negligent in their duties.

If it is, then in the mother of all irony, I will be forced to subject them to the most extreme of torture treatments.

Come along then. I will personally show you all around while I carry out this surprise imperial inspection!

Let us go!

Gyaaaaaah!

C-c'mon, th-that's just cruel! I might be a monster, but this is too much!

I don't wanna shindiiiiiie!!!

Eeeeeek!!! Heeeeeelp!

？！

It seems pretty mild to me. But, I am as wise as I am glorious, and so I know I should not use my own tolerance as the measure of what is frightening.

Hmmm... Had I always meant to make it quite so scary?

I thought I ordered the attractions to be tailored to an appropriate fear level.

Let us see what my deputy manager has to say about this. Deputy. Deputyyy.

You rang?

Yes, I did. What is the meaning of this?

？！

What does it look like, Sweetie? Working, obviously.

I put this costume on just for fun, see? Then the princess and I got to talking, and we reeeally hit it off.

Maybe it's because of this talisman? Fufu.

Aaanyway, I've always had a little knack for scaring people. So, here I am, putting my...skills to good use.

It's suuuch a pity I can't eat anyone, but it's been fun anyway. You've got to enjoy your summer, since it's always gone before you know it.

Isn't that right, Master?

？！

I know what you mean. Different outfits can make a big difference in your mood, too!

Exactly. Care to try one of these on for yourself?

It IS a beautiful outfit... B-but no, I can't. I'm on a mission right now!

Aww, no fun.

Are you certain you have been doing exactly what I told you to, Deputy?

Why, of course I have. Just look at this biiig old talisman on my face.

I couldn't pooossibly disobey you, my Taoist princess. Why, I can't do aaanything on my own.

？！

Anyway, just you leave eeeverything to little old me.

People come to places like this looking to be scared, right?

What better way could there be to do that than scaring them right until they're juuust on the. Brink. Of. Death?

Too far? Hardly.

I'm talking about tiptoeing riiight up to that line, but never, eeever stepping over it. That's the perfect sweet spot.

Hmm, I don't know about that.

Those sounded less like fun screams and more like lifelong trauma screams.

Exactly! You understand.

So they must have reeeally enjoyed themselves. Ahh, music to my ears.

I'm sure word of this place is spreading all across Summer World, then.

Pretty soon, people will be practically breaking down our door! Fufu, fufufufufu.

I don't know... I never heard about this place when I was back in my area.

I...actually don't think we've heard anything about it in any of the other areas, either.

No, I'm pretty sure we haven't.

Oh. Really?

Huh.

Then, does that mean you're NOT here because you heard such wonderful things about this place that you just haaad to see it for yourself, Master?

？！

Awww.

Here's me, finally going around and scaring people like a proper oni for the first time in aaages...

...and nobody's bothering to show up and try to kill me. Well, apart from the cow, but she hardly counts.

Don't you think it's just terribly irresponsible of everyone, letting an oni run around, doing whatever she pleases?

Hmph. And after I changed into my Jiāngshī-Douji outfit and everything. (Muttering)

？！

Quit mumbling. If you have something to say, speak up.

At any rate, you are doing the best you can, yes? Then you have nothing to be ashamed of.

I don't, no. (Not a hint of guilt)

Hmm. My discerning empress eyes can usually tell truth from falsehoods, and I do not need to torture you to see that you are indeed telling the truth.

So if an oni of your caliber says the attraction is not too scary, there should be no problem.

So then, why are we getting so few customers? Hmm...

I've got it! It must not be scary ENOUGH!

So if we make it even scarier, it stands to reason that we'll draw in more customers!

Makes sense to me.

Okay, just hold on here! If you scare people any more than this, they might actually drop dead!

Hmm, good point. Then again, anyone who can manage in the face of abject terror could make for a great hero!

Rindr, please get yourself under control. I think you might have slipped into hero-search mode.

Empress, I really think you ought to reconsider this plan. Trust me, it's for your own

Huh!?

？！

Ooh! That's the signal that this area has just received its hundredth party!

Now I finally get to press this button! I have been saving it for just this occasion! (Press)

Huh. Seems like quite a big spell just got set in motion.

Wh-what did you do?

Why, that was the button to begin the hundredth party parade I mentioned earlier, of course.

Now the whole area will be flooded with dancing ghosts and spirits, just as you'd expect from a good haunted house! Oh, and don't forget the jiāngshī hopping like mad to the beat!

Oh yeah, you've definitely got to go all out for these kinds of things. I have to say, that monk does good work.

？！

That's right.

Mmmmmm, you drive a hard bargain, Your Imperial Highness! But, very well then. I agree to also serve as your part-time pyrotechnician.

Per your request, I shall put my heart and soul into creating the parade of a lifetime!

Its premise shall be an outpouring of ghouls and ghosts from the very underworld itself!

And while I'm at it, I'll throw in a number of genuine ghosts and ghouls as well!

It will be the most elaborately designed haunted parade anyone has ever seen!

Douman! I don't know if that was the real one or a clone, but damn, he's made our lives harder yet again!

Hmm. This really is one hell of a spectacle, isn't it?

Everyone, be on your guard! I'm sensing a fair number of evil spirits in that procession.

So we've got our work cut out for us, don't we?

？！

Oho. This is even more spectacular than I imagined.

Well, you did give me a very enjoyable task. So naturally, I'm going to give it my all.

Consequently, I think I managed to make it better all around.

Of course, many of the changes I made were purely to satisfy my ego, so I will add no additional charge if you wish to revert them.

All you need do is sit back and await the parade of a lifetime!

Thinking back on it, his eyes were clear as day. He wasn't lying, that's for sure.

Maybe he thinks if people are coming here to be scared for fun, there's nothing wrong with scaring them for real, too.

I'm guessing those are meant to be welcoming pyrotechnics, but it seems to me there are a few too many spirits mixed in with the gunpowder.

Plus, it looks like this proverbial welcome wagon is set up to directly target the hundredth party!

Th-that could be dangerous!

Let's go find this hundredth party! They could be under attack as we speak!

？！

It is only proper that these landmark guests should be greeted by the auspicious manager-empress! So of course, I will go, too.

In fact, while we are at it, you should come with us too, Deputy! Having all of us there will make this occasion that much more memorable!

Fine with me. Something smells off about this, but...eh, I'm sure it'll be fine.

？！

Look, over there! Oh man, so many evil spirits! And they're all... Huh?

Bow!

They're swarming around that lady like crazy, but...

...it looks like they're not harming her. Huh?

If anything, it looks like the spirits are the ones who're afraid...

That lady in the middle seems to be the hundredth party, but...

Huh. Isn't that

Fo...?

Ah!

Hi there, Master! How's it going?

You must be the hundredth party.

Keh heh heh, welcome! Welcome to my nation, where everyone can enjoy themselves more than

Hm? Wait. Aren't you

Sorry I'm late! The wine at the hot springs was just so good, I wound up drinking too much and falling asleep.

But I'm here now, and I'm ready to help.

Huh?

Hm? You mean nobody told you? You and I are supposed to manage this area together, right?

No, yes, you're right. I did hear that I would be sharing managerial duties of this area with someone named...Something-Douji.

But since I am empress, it goes without saying that I am ultimately the one in charge...

...so my understanding was that this Douji person would handle the day-to-day humdrum as my deputy manager.

Then, someone named Douji showed up at the appointed time...or at least close enough, and that was that. Or, so I figured.

？！

？！

...Ugh. Is someone else there?

All I know is, I showed up to work because I had some ideas of my own I wanted to try out, not to work with anyone else.

And now you're saying you confused me for someone else?

Well that just pisses me off.

Huh? There's that weird haze again...

I wish it'd just go away.

？！

Oh, I remember now.

I can't hear you very well, but you're saying something, aren't you? Ugh, you're the worst. Just go away already.

Hey guys, isn't this haze making it feel humid? We shouldn't have to deal with icky humidity up at the North Pole, right?

Oh no! We...we have to do something before things get really out of hand!

Wait, wait. I am an impeccable judge of character, and I trust my instincts for that implicitly.

Surely every one of you has heard how gifted I am when it comes to choosing the right person for any job.

Suffice to say, I am not about to fire someone I went to the trouble of hiring when they have not done anything wrong.

And she's been doing a terrific job.

So I am going to keep my existing deputy on. You are free to enjoy my area as just another guest.

Oh. Okay.

Yeah? I don't typically care what other people think of me...

...but I'll admit that you choosing me over this haze does feel nice.

Okay, Your Imperial Highness, what do we do about all these spirits?

In our earlier discussion, we agreed to double down on the way we've been doing things.

These spirits are surprisingly energetic, but now that I have remembered my Taoist arts, they seem more like cute doggies than anything else.

So I think we can make use of them as well.

Can you add them to the attractions? Use them as jump scares?

I'm not great with those kinds of spells...but sure, I can give it a shot.

If I remember right, that monk set up a way to tweak these things over in the back room.

Good. Then let us go do that right now. A good nation needs to be maintained with regular updates, after all.

？！

I'm done showing you around personally! Now that I've welcomed the hundredth party, I have plenty of other things on my plate!

You are welcome to observe if you wish, but my nation needs no outside aid to flourish.

All you need do is enjoy the many terrors we have to offer! Kehehe! Farewell!

So, she just said she was going to put these spirits to work, right? That's not going to help us contain the situation.

N-now what do we do?

Forget driving sales. The way things are going, there won't be a single person left to buy anything!

Hmm. Maybe we'll be lucky and get a bunch of heroes coming here to test their might against spirits?

Please, Rindr, snap out of it! For the last time, we're not here to recruit heroes!

Well, it's possible, but even if they did, it wouldn't exactly help us earn money to break the seal.

？！

The empress and the jiāngshī girl said they were going to incorporate the spirits into the haunted house's program.

So if we ARE going to do something about them, it has to be now.

... ...

Hmm. Okay, I know what I'm gonna do now!

If that's how those two wanna play this, I'll just have to side with you, Master.

I promise I'll give it my all! So, what do you think?

？！

Hehe, great! Then let's get started!

First, I'll change back into my support outfit!

Yaaay!

There we go! I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that this is how you dress when you're cheering people on in summer!

So this is what I'll go with!

Is... Is that true?

？！

Wooo! Wooo! Gooo Masteeer! And everyone else, too!

Come on, guys! You can do it!

...You know, maybe this actually WILL help.

Fooou!

Ooh! Aww, fufu, what's this? You like my support style that much?

Fou fou!

？！

Yeah! Maybe this is some kind of traditional Far East divine blessing!

I've got a good feeling about this now! Come on, let's go clean up these evil spirits!

The empress and the jiāngshī girl went off to the back room. We can head there too and pick off any spirits we run into along the way.

How does that sound, Master of Chaldea!?

？！

Mission accepted! Rune rounds locked and loaded! Initiating combat!

Yay! Time to switch to combat mode!

Gooo team!

Ortlinde! Behind you!

...!

Thank you! I'm sorry. I should have changed into Thrúd's Spirit Origin...

It's all right. Please stand back and let me handle this.

Hm...?

(Is that evil spirit looking at my sword?)

... ...

Wait. This feeling. No way...

Sir Ironside?

That...can't be right. You were...

What's wrong, Gareth? You're breathing pretty heavily.

You know this guy or something?

？！

!

...Thank you, Yan Qing. Thank you, Master.

Bow!

Of course. How could I forget you, Aned?

And...thank you, Douman, wherever you are!

This must be my lucky day!

I've heard of chain summons, but I never thought I'd actually encounter one.

...Still.

Now that you're here, I'll face you myself!

...Ironside, the Red Knight!

...!

I remember you. You were my rival from the Red Lands. You were a truly strong knight.

This mystic sword I wield belonged to you! I claimed it when I defeated you, and now, it's my Noble Phantasm!

Now that you've made your way here, I'll give you a taste of its power!

I will put you to rest with Ironside, my mystic blade!

Have at you!

Farewell, Sir Ironside!

...!

WOOO! That. Was. AWESOOOME!

Way to go! Okay, I'm gonna switch out of combat mode.

Woohoo!

Fooou!

Whoa, Fou's crazy worked up. Does he like eating magical energy from the Age of Gods or something?

Or maybe this is just his thing?

Phew! I won!

Aww, I'm back to normal.

The battle is over. It looks like we managed to eliminate every spirit in sight.

Then let's head over to the back room!

Right on. Let's go!

Gooo team!

？！

...Oh. That's too bad.

Those spirits I summoned have been disappearing left and right.

Then you need only summon more. A nation's prosperity is usually tied to its population, you know.

Fufu. I do looove a good rustic mountain as much as the next oni, but there's nothing quite like a biiig city with plenty of people, treasure, and wine.

I can help with the spells to control the spirits if necessary.

For I am now both a perfectly beautiful woman AND an expert Taoist empress!

Okay then, don't mind if IHm?

？！

Haunted houses might as well be poison when they're TOO scary! We can't let yours keep going like that!

I do have to admit that I appreciate all the training opportunities I've had here, though!

Honestly, I still don't completely understand what this haunted house business is supposed to be about...

...but I guess I kind of understand that taking things too far isn't generally a great idea.

Only kind of? Eh, as long as you're on our side, that's what matters, I guess.

Let's just keep a level head here, 'kay, Your Imperial Highness? 'Cause right now, you've got much bigger problems to worry about than growing your income.

Fufufufufu. I'm glad I sided with Master. This is kind of fun!

Wooo! Wooo! Gooo team!

Huh?

I don't know what this is about, but I have a feeling the haze is over there bouncing around about something dumb.

Yaaay!

？！

Stay out of this, Master.

The key thing to remember about nations is that they must be kept running, even when things are looking bad.

It's not so different from living things. If you let one sleep just because it's feeling bad, it may not wake up again.

So the real sign of a strong leader is in how they use what they have to gloss over the bad...

...while working hard to bring their ideals to life!

She's not going to make this easy. I recommend preparing for combat.

Agreed. Beginning combat synchronization.

Come on, Aned!

I'll change my Spirit Origin to Thrúd now so I can fight at full capacity.

...Let's go!

Awww!

Wooo! We won!

... ...

...Hm, how odd. I can't seem to work up the energy to be angry anymore.

Ghh. Curse you...

All the spirits I was planning to use for labor have vanished! Now what am I supposed to do!?

？！

Hmph. Why do you think I was doing this in the first place? I couldn't see any other way!

If you say I should abandon it, then provide me with a plausible alternative!

If you cannot do so after leaving my current plan in shambles, then I may be forced to execute you!

The big question is, how do we help this haunted house attract customers and make money, right?

You know, when you step back and think about this, I'm not sure a haunted house is really the best idea anyway.

I mean, these places only get two kinds of customers, right? Servants and animals.

Like polar bears!

And seabirds, and seals, and walruses.

So your customer base is mostly Servants, and then animals that are under the effects of runes.

The things they find scary or surprising are probably very different from what works for regular people.

That's a good point. We agree with that assessment.

For example, if a battle-hardened hero, a writer, and a doctor were to come visit

Yes. Each would have very different fears, tolerance for blood and guts, and so on.

I connected to Chaldea's database when Ortlinde and I synced up...

...and it said haunted houses are meant to create a carefully curated level of fear so as to be enjoyable.

When done properly, they can manipulate their visitors' emotions into an ultimately entertaining experience.

It sounded like a good haunted house came down to that balance, really.

Right. So if your visitors are all Servants and animals...

...I think it may be difficult, if not outright impossible, to make a haunted house that scares them all equally.

... ...

That's it! I've been struck by a flash of imperial inspiration! We will go in the opposite direction!

Instead of scaring ALL our visitors the same way, we will tailor the fright to each individual guest.

It will be the first ever bespoke haunted house!

？！

...Hm?

...Hmm.

Excuse me, can I say something?

I couldn't help but notice those exceptional familiar-like women cleaning up so briskly over there.

And that's not even getting into their amazing jiāngshī performances.

Of course they are exceptional. Those are my Torturers, my pride and joy. When it comes to running a nation, they are the most crucial cabinet members I have!

Their perfect understanding of my favorite book, "Manual of Accusation" in particular makes them impeccable interrogators.

We're good at reading manuals and performing their instructions perfectly.

Because we get in big trouble if we don't.

Hey! Who told you you could speak!? If you have time to talk, you have time to clean!

See what I mean!? Forgive us, Your Imperial Highness!

So, they're good at reading manuals and executing their instructions, huh. I see.

In that case...

...why don't we try making a new manual for them?

They're clearly capable of responding appropriately to all kinds of patterns. I think it's worth a shot.

A new manual? What do you mean?

I'm talking about a manual that would teach the Torturers to adapt to any given visitor's tolerance for fear...

...and help them hit that perfect level of fright to make the experience a pleasant one.

Let's see... We'll first need to set up a device at the entrance that can detect each visitor's tolerance for fear.

Every time a new visitor arrives, the information on their fear tolerance can be sent to the haunted house's cast...

...and they can perform a scenario customized to fit that visitor.

Easily frightened visitors can enjoy more mild performances, while those who enjoy a good scare get something more intense.

Interesting. That approach does sound like it could help with customer satisfaction.

？！

Sure. Just give me a little time, and I'm certain I can make a Mystic Code that can read minds for this purpose.

You ARE talking to the Mage of Flowers and the Caster of Paradise, Merlin...'s little sister!

Hey, you there. You were listening, yes? Do you think you could do this?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. We're used to your impossible demands by now.

(Deadpan) It would be our pleasure.

All right, I can see a way forward now.

One of my greatest imperial virtues is my ability to listen to wise counsel, no matter the source.

Wait here while I write an operations manual for this new approach right now.

The completion of that task will mark the dawn of a new age for this land! It will be an age of flourishing financial recovery!

Hm? You guys already made up? Then I'll keep cheering you on!

Wooo! Wooo! Gooo financial recoveryyy!

... ...

？！

Keh heh heh heh! Just as I thought! Ahh, there truly is nothing better than leading a nation to prosperity!

？！

That being said.

Hm?

You know how devoted I am to self-improvement. It is how I rose to the rank of empress in the first place.

I cannot afford to rest on my laurels just because things are going well now. There is no telling when matters in my nation might take a turn for the worse.

I have therefore decided to accompany you, so that I may improve upon my already perfect personage.

You are headed for that tower? Fine with me. There should still be chances to converse with other area managers on the way.

That alone will make this excursion more than worthwhile. And the more voraciously I learn, the more my managerial skills will improve!

Well, it is part of a Singularity, so who cares? It's just gonna disappear eventually.

But we know that's really not how you think about this stuff, Master.

No, he doesn't! That's part of what makes Senpai who he is!

So heartwarming. I love a good, kindhearted soul.

？！

Oh, this place will be fine without me.

My trusty deputy manager will still be here. Deputy, I am promoting you to act as full-fledged manager in my stead.

Eh, I don't know. I'm not really feeling this anymore.

Especially not after what that irritating haze put me through.

I'm not really sure what I'm even doing here anymore.

(Wow. You don't really see her sulking like this often...)

(Master, Master!)

(I think you should say something to her!)

？！

？！

...You think so?

Hmm... Weeell...maybe I can hang around a little longer.

Not because I care who shows up or doesn't. I just feel like staying here a bit longer.

Okay, Empress, leave it to me. I'll take over for you for a while.

Great. That will be a big help.

Though I can't promise I'll earn that much money while you're gone.

No matter. Just follow the manual. That is what it and the Torturers are for.

Fine, fine.

...So, now that that's settled, think you can get that damn haze out of here?

I'm getting reeeally tired of looking at it.

I don't know what that thing over there is saying, but now seems like a good time for me to go visit another area.

Hey, maybe I'll even go with you, Master!

That way, I can keep cheering you on, just like I did here!

？！

Fou, fou, fooou!

So now we have two more Servants on our side: Wu Zetian and Ibuki-Douji. This is great!

All right, how 'bout we head back to the ship?

I'll join you there as soon as I've double-checked the system here. I built it, so I feel like I ought to check it.

Oh, okay. See you later, then!

Hmm...

Gyaaah!

Oh man, that bikkuried the hell out of me. Hehe, it almost makes me want to laugh.

You really don't mind people hearing you shrieking like that, Hime?

I-it's daijokay! Nowadays, the best thing you can be to win fans is relatable!

That aside, I'm glad I gave this place another shot. They really did tone down the scariness to the perfect level.

Eeeeeek!

Oh man, that was scary!

It was better than last time though, right? Last time was absolutely nuts.

I guess we didn't need to bring Miyu along as a shield this time after all.

Sorry for dragging you along, Miyu. I don't even know if you like this sort of thing or not. Were you bored?

Not at all. This was a lot of fun.

Oh good! I'm glad to hear that!

That's kind of a surprise to hear, since you never screamed...or even blinked. But hey! As long as you had fun!

(Of course I did. There's nowhere else in the world...)

(...where Illya screams and clings to me without any hesitation whatsoever... Hehe...)

Hmm. Looks like it's going well.

It's strange. I understand the theory, but I really don't quite get the appeal of places like this.

But, since it looks like my system and Wu Zetian's manual are working as intended, maybe that's just fi-

!!!

Huh?

That's strange. I thought I sensed a familiar presence...

... ...

I guess I was mistaken.

Oh man, that scared the hell out of me!

I guess I was so focused I didn't notice him until it was almost too late... I really thought I was as good as dead.

I mean, I'm just Merlin's little sister so I obviously have nothing to do with him, but still.

...Hehe.

I can't help but laugh at how I held my chest to calm myself down.

(Sigh)

I definitely prefer to avoid trouble in all forms as much as I possibly can.

But, I admit...dodging danger like that at the last possible second is kind of, well...

...pleasantly thrilling.

Oh, hey. Now I get it!

Maybe this is how haunted houses make people feel.