1st Door: The Dark Haired Demon

Have you ever envied someone?

Have you ever faced someone with the talent, opportunity, and riches that you lacked, and knelt down before them in defeat?

This world is rife with inequality, and so we shed our tears as we ruminate on the sanctity of fairness. Have you experienced that?

Do not answer. There is no need for you to.

Peer inside your heart. Do not turn your eyes from what you see. For that is what every heart holds. None can escape it.

It is what leads us to covet and begrudge one another, then shed tears of regret.

The sin of envy.

...Senpai?

Um, is something the matter?

Oh, it's just... You suddenly stopped walking and broke off in mid-speech.

You just kept standing there in silence, so I thought maybe something was worrying you...

Good morning. I mean

Senpai, were you doing your special move, the REM REM Trance? As in, sleeping while standing?

I was wondering if that was the case since you suddenly stopped walking and broke off mid-speech...

？！

Your expression sort of looked vacant too. Are you not feeling well?

Oh, okay... Just in case, let's go get you a medical check-up.

It's possible. Let's get you checked out in case it was caused by magecraft.

？！

First, let's get you to your room, Senpai. I'll call the Doctor over

Welcome to the Prison Tower on the Isle of Despair, Senpai!

Sinner by the name of Fujimaru! This is a place beyond love and hate, thus any soul may be imprisoned here!

You are no exception.

Chaldea? No. You are certainly not. Ha, ha, ha, your beloved little friend is not here.

And neither is that meddlesome Doctor, nor that pervert who is so pleased with his own body's modification. You are the only one here.

...Though, of course, I am here too.

A Heroic Spirit who does not belong in this world. To borrow a phrase from your adorable friend.

A name comes to mind, does it not? Or have you already forgotten?

That is fine. Forget it all. Only a vengeful soul would seek to carve all things indelible upon itself.

？！

Oh, that's right Did you find that First Tower fun? No, it's all right. Don't speak. I don't actually wish to hear your opinions.

It was but an automatic reflex of hospitality. Like an involuntary reply to someone calling out your name.

The Second Tower welcomes you. Do enjoy it to its fullest extent.

Uu...uuuuuuuuu... Uuuuuu...

See, they are all coming out to greet you. It seems they don't find the warm pulse of your soul likable.

It may not be like the First Tower, but a large number of dead souls have congregated here as well.

They seem severely agitated, don't they? They're resentful. And envious.

Of you! You, who stands in this room and yet still lives!

？！

Haha, calm yourself, Master. There are so many things you still need to know.

For instance, where, exactly, are you right now? And who am I?

That said, most of the information that awaits you will be quite trivial, but...you can at least learn one thing of importance.

For instance... Yes, the ugliness of you humans

？！

This is Hell. Namely, the Château d'If, the prison tower that lies beyond love and hate.

And I...

...am a Heroic Spirit. A part of a tale that you should know quite well. I am one piece of the curse that has laid its shadow upon this world.

I, born of sadness and given form through my unending resentment, rage, and hatred as an Extra Class...

Yes You can refer to me as Avenger.

For so long as I live

Survive this, and you shall learn a great deal of things, though they may be twisted. This is a place for that.

However, I am under no obligation to spend time teaching you how to obtain them.

I have no intention of becoming your very own Abbé Faria. I shall have your soul battered and tossed about until I am sated.

Hmmph.

Haha! I told you it was an Extra Class, didn't I? Of course you've never heard of it.

？！

However, I shall teach you the absolute minimum of things you need to know, briefly that is.

First, your soul has been imprisoned. To escape, you must pass the seven Halls of Judgment.

Your voice shall not reach Chaldea, nor shall its voice reach you.

If you're defeated and killed in the Halls of Judgment, you die. If you do nothing and seven days have passed, you also die.

That is all.

？！

Ha, ha! Who can say?

This Château d'If is very different than the one that existed in history.

It bears some similarity to the Singularities you have seen, but again, it's something else.

This is a hunting ground. A type created by the King of Mages.

？！

Who can say?

Now then, the first Hall of Judgment awaits. The first stage to mount in order to survive the Seven Nights.

Seven Lords are waiting for you. Every single one of them is itching to kill you.

Behold this! Savor this! First up is the Phantom of the Opera!

Seeking a beautiful voice and detesting all things ugly, he is a monster of Envy who has come to kill you!

Christine... Christine, Christine, Christine!

I shall sing to you in your sleep...with all the love in my heart.

Ahh, but tonight, a new star stands upon the stage! Ahh, who are you? You are not Christine!

Here, my soul and my voice are bound up as one! Which is to say...

Of course he is! I already told you he was a monster that would kill you!

No, not at all! Hahaha! Try listening for a change! He has dominion over this room, and is here to kill you!

？！

Look not upon my face! Look not! Look not! You are not Christine, so I cannot bear it!

Whoever you may be, I... I...cannot let you live.

Oh, Christine! My love! Oh, Christine! My masterpiece!

Let me dig my nails into a voice the equal of yours! Let me rip apart a throat the equal of yours and see it gush red!

How I want... And want... And want... I am inconsolable tonight.

...Oh, how I envy all people, near and far!

Take a good look, Master. This is man. This is a caricature of the human beings your world is overrun with!

Fight. Kill. You don't have time to hesitate. Because

It makes no difference whether you believe me or not. There'll be no reasoning with him. He will kill you!

Hahaha! Look! Just look! He can barely contain how badly he wants to add your throat to his collection!

Sing! Sing, my angel! Tonight, there's no song better than your dying scream!

What will you do? Only defend yourself? Or will you fight?

？！

Then take my hand! We will show this black-haired masked demon a true dance of death!

How fragile! How fragile! You poor thing, all you can become is naught but an ugly monster!

Château d'If is not the place for your soul! You are far too pitiful to be a murderer!

From the end of time... I see a light... Does it open...an emotionless hole in my heart?

Oh, my heart... Where are you? Oh, my love... Where are you?

Christine... I offer my heart to you... Christine... I offer my love...to you...

？！

Are you certain? Listen carefully. That is the other song that black-haired murderer sings.

My vengeful strike has shattered his Spirit Core and he has little time left, but his song will last till the very end.

Christine... My love... I love you, but... Christine... I simply cannot endure...

Noble Christine... The people who live with you... Beloved Christine... Everything in your world...

The people who spend time with you... The world where the morning sun rises... I... I...

Sometimes... I envy them... And it drives me mad

Hahaha! Hahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!

Phantom of the Opera, I have witnessed your envy. I have killed you, and I shall carry your ugliness in my heart and move onward!

Be proud in hell. For you are a true human.

...Please, be careful. Fujimaru, my Christine.

There is only one who will protect you in this twisted Château d'If.

And that one may not necessarily be good.

I'm sorry, Christine, my love. I can say no more.

I was indeed slain in the Hall of Judgment. But what died was my ultimate ugliness.

However, we never...

？！

Hahahahahah! So this is what it's like to fight with a Master!

I commend you on the brilliant moves you made. It may be a temporary contract, but you are a true Master!

You mastered the use of a Heroic Spirit you'd only just met! Me! An Extra Class, an Avenger, no less!

Now, on to the second Hall of Judgment! Six more Lords await!

Roar like a tiger. For you are allowed to do everything.

...Hmm?

Oh? Are you scared to go with me? Are you uncertain you're walking the right path?

...Heh.

？！

Very well. I have but one thing to say in answer to your doubts.

"Attendre et espérer." Wait and hope.