MAke Drama: MAD story · Event story, Nightmare Carnival
Nightmare Carnival
This is the Nightmare Carnival event story.
11 scenes, 1,021 lines
1. The Dead and the Aberrant Spirits
78 linesIt suddenly got dark? What did she do?
...I sense a strong Corrupting Power. I don't know the exact principle behind it, but... this place has been forcibly 'overwritten' by her power.
Overwritten?
Yes. She overwrote 'this' world with 'that' one.
Setting aside whether a copy-paste like that is even possible... what happens to us now?
I don't know for sure either. However... at this rate, everyone will be 'overwritten' in the exact same way.
Gradually, little by little, we will grow to resemble them... until we become the 'same'.
You mean we'll turn into Aberrant Spirits? Or that the Aberrant Spirits will become like us?
I don't know... Somewhere in between, perhaps? I have a feeling that's what will happen.
That is right. Everyone together... will enjoy a happy Halloween festival...
Forgive me, but this is not a festival meant for the likes of you.
...? Is that so?
Halloween is the night of the dead... A festival where the boundary blurs and the forgotten return...
If so, are we Aberrant Spirits not the true hosts of this day...?
...She's got a point, doesn't she?
Hold on, my friend. What are you doing taking their side right now?
I'm not taking their side, her logic just makes sense. Right?
What utter nonsense are you spouting...
Stop right there! Muscle-brains can step back.
You know this isn't something we can solve that way, right? Just stay put for a second.
Alright... I get what you're claiming for now.
Do you...? I knew you would...
Don't get excited just yet. I said I 'got' your point, not that I 'agreed' with it.
Pardon...?
Alright, let's check one thing.
Are the 'Aberrant Spirits' and the 'dead' you're talking about the same word?
...?!
You've been switching between the two words this whole time. Like they're similar, yet not quite...
If you mix them up like that, nobody's gonna be able to understand, right? So let's get the definitions straight.
Times like this call for a lifeline to an expert. Isn't that right, Kouchou?
At the very least, as far as I know... they are different.
The dead are those who once possessed life and departed to the realm of death. In other words, those who have experienced both life and death.
However, Aberrant Spirits...
They have experienced neither life nor death. They merely exist.
Therefore, they are not the dead.
Heh, expected no less of the Shrine Maiden of the Boundary. To define them so precisely.
...You heard her.
...How surprising. Indeed, one could define it that way...
That is right... Aberrant Spirits are beings who know neither life nor death, [emptiness] itself... And that is why we yearn and crave...
Then, can you not understand...? The pain of wishing for what cannot be obtained, of desiring what can never be held in your hands.
We... wanted to let the children have a taste of it. This day, this festival, this life and light...
Yes... To give the children a taste of that 'revelry' you speak of...
...!!
Dan Xi.
I-I know... I do not know how she figured me out to say such a thing, but she speaks quite amusingly.
It is as if she split my head open and peered inside. To bring up 'revelry'... to me, of all people.
Anyway, so you agree that you Aberrant Spirits aren't the dead, right?
Which completely debunks your claim that Halloween is your festival.
...Heh, that is true. It seems I truly cannot beat you with logic...
Of course. Letting children win is part of an adult's role, after all...
Hey. You keep calling us children every chance you get... I'm not a kid, you know.
If you're gonna back down, just hurry up and leave already. Stop stalling for time.
That is true... Just as you say, this festival is not ours...
We are the uninvited, the unwelcome...
And so we deceived the [world]... by wearing the masks of the dead...
...So those outfits weren't just cosplay, huh?
...You catch on quickly, don't you?
This is the power to create a tiny [Rift] between boundaries... Merely a trifling trick absorbed from a nameless lingering thought in the distant past...
A way to create a peaceful world without splitting or tearing the boundary... where no one takes or is taken from...
Did you think I would just stand by and watch that happen?
My role is the Shrine Maiden of the Boundary. The one who watches the boundary and drives away Aberrant Spirits...
Speaking of peace while trying to erode our world... Claiming not to take while seizing our festival. I cannot tolerate... any of it.
What a pity... I thought the likes of you would understand us...
Very well, in that case... let us have a 'match'...
A match?
Yes... Please compete with our children... to see who the true host of this festival is...
If you can convince our children out on the festival streets... I shall return this festival to you...
After all, that will be far more enjoyable than fighting meaninglessly...
...A match usually has a time limit, though.
She left out all the actually important details, damn it.
...It means the transformation of the people into Aberrant Spirits is already underway. She's probably trying to stall for time until it's complete.
Of course, it's not as if there's no way out. I can feel the Corrupting Power gathering at the pavilion... which means the boundary has collapsed around that spot.
If we can purify the Corrupting Power gathered at the pavilion... we should be able to restore the boundary and bring the festival back to normal.
Except... The problem is all the Aberrant Spirits blocking our way...
Heh, what is there to worry about? I shall clear the path. Simply follow my lead!
...There she goes getting all hyped up by herself again.
2. To the Ghost Pavilion
84 linesHow fascinating. Aberrant Spirits enjoying a festival... Perhaps I should revise my assessment of them a little!
...They're merely mimicking the people enjoying the festival.
It's likely an effect of being overwritten. No one notices that anything is wrong.
Wait, does that mean... we're the only ones who can tell something's off?
Yeah. This probably all looks perfectly normal to everyone else.
In fact, they might even see us as enemies for trying to stop the festival...
That's bad news. Doesn't that mean people like Chise could end up standing in our way?
You only count on me at times like this!
You won't do it...?
Damn it... Do you really think looking at me with those eyes will get you anywhere? Well, I guess it will get you somewhere...
A-Anyway, I'm a Fixer, so bring me an official request. And stop giving me those eyes every time you need something.
By the way, ever since you put on that outfit... you've been way more expressive, haven't you?
...Perhaps it's the influence of my newfound power.
Well, being honest isn't a bad thing.
Anyway, where did Dan Xi run off to? She talked like she was gonna wipe out all the Aberrant Spirits, when they're just strolling around enjoying the festival.
Haha! Besides, attacking Aberrant Spirits who are just enjoying the festival wouldn't be like Dan Xi at all!
If any thing...
Mmm...♡ Hic! Were you looking for me, my friend?
Whoa, you barely just ran off and you're already wasted? Wait, didn't you say you were going to clear a path?
I'm an idiot for thinking I could count on you, even for a second, when you charged out of here.
Wait, more importantly, where and who the heck have you been chugging booze with?
...Well, this is unexpected.
Well, they do say a valiant general can befriend even their enemies!
Come now, don't be shy! Drink, drink up!
Hmm? Passing out already? What a lightweight you are!
Now then, how well can you hold your liquor?!
Good grief. Is there no one here who can go drink for drink with me? ...Hic!
Well, I doubt there are many people who can keep up with Dan Xi. Wait, do Aberrant Spirits even get drunk when they drink?
...The effect of being overwritten...?
So you don't really know either.
Now, who is the next person—no, ghost—no, Aberrant Spirit to enjoy the festivities with me?!
...Well, I guess the path is clearing up, at least?
My, oh my! Everyone here is truly dedicated to enjoying the festival!
They're not enjoying it, they're clinging to you. What are they, remoras?
Come to think of it, my back does feel a bit heavy... Perhaps I had a bit too much to drink...
My friend, I shall rest my eyes for a moment... Wake me when fresh drinks arrive...
...
Still, that's Dan Xi for you. Most people would struggle to stay sane with even one of those things clinging to them!
Hold on, Kouchou. You're going into the pavilion just like that?
Yes. I'm going to defeat Shade and seal the Aberrant Spirits away.
Of course! But you can't do it on your own, Kouchou...
...It's fine. I have <:player> with me.
Huh? Me?
I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
That's a blatant jinx right there.
Not a chance. We're taking Dan Xi with us.
...Just the two of us would be fine, though.
Yomi, does the Blissful Trading Guild have anything good for a hangover? Like a hangover cure or something.
Yes, yes! Of course we do!
Though hangover cures are more 'Yura's' specialty than mine...
If you need one, I might get scolded a bit later, but... I can sell it on her behalf, you know? As long as you pay a fair price!
Great. Then give me a hangover cure first, and... Is there anything we can do about those Aberrant Spirits?
We could handle one or two, but if they swarm us like that, even Dan Xi ends up like this.
Hehe... Yes, I'll go fetch the hangover cure right away, so please wait just a moment!
And as for the Aberrant Spirits... Hmm, well, there is a way...
What's the problem?
Well, it's the only one in stock, so it's a bit pricey...
...Can't you give me a discount?
Ahaha! I really, really can't do that! It's my masterpiece, and the only one of its kind in the whole world!
Every time you open your mouth, it's another lie. I bet you can just make another one anyway! 20% off!
Aw, come on! Slashing the price that much is a real insult to my work! 5%!
I'm buying the hangover cure with it, aren't I? 15%!
Well, since you bought Kouchou's outfit earlier, I'll be extra generous... How about 7.5%?
Still too expensive! 12%!
Hehe, take it or leave it! Believe it or not, we're quite wealthy!
Letting this one gather dust in the warehouse wouldn't bother me in the slightest!
...Huh? Gather dust in the warehouse?
Didn't you say it was your masterpiece? One of a kind?? Aha... I see, so that's how it is!
...Huh? W-Why are you making that face...
I knew it... You didn't make that to sell it, did you?
You just made it because you felt like it, and now you're stuck with something you can't even get rid of, right??
Ah, ahahaha...
5...
10%! I'll give you a 10% discount! This is really my final...
There's always another final offer after the final offer!! 50%!!!
Wha... What?! All of a sudden?!!!
3. Into the Trap
62 linesSelling an item at this price... I'm going to be the laughingstock of the guild... Boohoohoo!
Besides, this piece... wasn't meant to be sold off like this...
Cut the nonsense. It was a blatant rip-off from the start, wasn't it?
Th-That's an outrageous misunderstanding?! It was no rip-off! I only started at such a low price because it's you, Fixer!
Besides, I wove that outfit by hand, stitch by stitch! You have no idea how much effort I put into making Sealing Implements!
Talking about whether a customer is "qualified" and calling your merchandise a "piece"... I can see right through your routine.
Isn't it obvious you're just trying to pass it off as a luxury item to jack up the price?
Slandering me so heartlessly again... Boohoo...
Knock off the terrible fake crying already.
More importantly, Dan Xi! When are you coming out?!
Ugh! I have never tasted anything so bitter in my life. Though it did sober me up right away...
Hehe, my companions in the guild may all be eccentrics, but their skills are the real deal!
Of course, with Yura's level of skill, she could even make a medicine that keeps you from touching alcohol for a good while!
You remember how wild Dan Xi got at the last festival... Well, the Chrysanthemum Clan came to us with quite a few requests back then...
Tch, those Chrysanthemum Clan folks... I only got carried away by the festivities and made a few little mistakes...
I heard the compensation for the shops she wrecked back then cost as much as an entire house!
...Just what on earth did you do??
Ahem! Ahem! L-Let us move past such trivial matters.
More importantly, this outfit...
Hmm... My friend, is this the sort of thing you fancy?
Had you told me, I would have looked for something like this much sooner...
It's not like that?! Well, if you're asking whether I like it or not, I definitely do, but it's not like I custom-ordered it??
Don't ask me why it looks like that—ask Yomi.
Oh my, it covers everything it needs to cover, doesn't it? It more than fulfills its purpose as clothing!
After all, it was intended to function primarily as a Sealing Implement!
Those talismans have the effect of warding off Corrupting Power trying to invade from the outside!
So even if Lady Dan Xi has a few too many again, at least the Aberrant Spirits won't be able to mess with her head!
Oh, and the weapon was custom-made separately. It'll be very effective for exorcising Aberrant Spirits!
Oho! By the way... I haven't seen Sirius for a while now. Does that have something to do with the talismans as well?
Sirius is a spiritual beast, after all! I've made sure it can only manifest inside Lady Dan Xi's body, where the talismans won't affect it!
I already got its consent, so you can just think of it as taking a little vacation!
How could this be... Then who is going to draft the budget for the Fairwinds Association?
You were making Sirius do that?!
Well... As you know, revelry and paperwork are worlds apart, are they not? Sirius is a spirit creature, clever, and has the eyes of a hawk...
Because it IS a hawk! At this rate, you're gonna have it doing your taxes next, aren't you?
Anyway, I paid good money for that Sealing Implement, so make sure you get my money's worth.
Ah! I-I see. In this outfit, it is much easier for you to touch me, too...
Well, there was definitely more than one reason I made up my mind to buy it the second I saw it.
...Someone's coming.
You arrived quite quickly...
The children... are not yet satisfied, however...
There's no need for that. Because you... will all be sealed away right here.
Hehe, what a naughty child. Refusing to listen to your elders...
Scolding and disciplining such a child... is also an adult's duty...
Dan Xi, Yomi. Help me. If the three of us join forces...
...Did I not tell you before? That I have no intention of fighting...
If that's true, stop the corruption and return to where you belong.
I cannot do that...
Then I have no choice but to seal you.
If you refuse to listen to reason... then it cannot be helped...
If that is your wish... then we have no choice but to take another approach...
Another approach...?
...!? Kouchou & Dan Xi
What is this?!
Whoa?! We're falling...?!
Kouchou, catch <:player>!
Got it, I attached a butterfly to him.
Let me tell you once again... It is not yet time for all of you to come this far...
Please satisfy my children first, and then come back to see me...
Hey! What the hell does that mean... Hey!
4. Hooray for Traps!
65 linesMmm... Haa...
U-Ugh... What is this...?
<:player>, are you alright...? What about Dan Xi...?
I-I am fine. However... I cannot... move...?
Ngh...! It's burrowing into me... Haa...
Oh my, me too... Mmm!♡ It keeps pressing... against my sensitive spots.
Now what... Anyway, hold on a sec, I'll turn on some light.
Whoa?! What the heck is going on with you two...?!
Mmm, something... is pressing against me from behind...!
Ahh...♡ My friend, I cannot move a muscle here... And what is more...
Something... is being drained from me. Is this like an Aberrant Spirit...?
An immense power... All the Impure Energy gathered from the Halloween festival streets... is filling this place.
Thanks to my power and Dan Xi's talismans, we won't be corrupted right away, but...
At this rate, it is only a matter of time... Heh, I suppose this is what they call being caught between a rock and a hard place!
Blocked by a transparent wall in front... and left in this state from behind!
...Yeah, it's definitely a rare sight. Wait, this isn't dangerous, is it...?
It's a little... troublesome...
At this rate, our strength will be drained... and in the end, we might be swallowed up by this Impure Energy too...
Oh, Yomi's calling?
Fixer! Can you hear me??
Yomi! Where are you?
It's quite difficult to make me fall with curses or spells, after all! Hehe...
Wait, does that mean you're up there all alone with the Aberrant Spirits...?!
Oh, I have my ways of dealing with that too! Anyway, I'm going to excuse myself for now!
I can't stay here forever... and I need to go find my next qualified customer!
Sigh... You're really something else.
Then help us out with one last thing before you go! Kouchou and Dan Xi are pinned against some weird wall and about to be toyed with by Aberrant Spirits! Is there any way out of this?
Hmm, from what I can sense, all the energy gathered from the festival streets seems to be concentrated right down there!
However, it seems there's still one barrier left holding the Aberrant Spirits back! That must be what that wall is!
A barrier? So, like some kind of magical shamanistic wall...
Yes! Anyone without Impure Energy in them should be able to pass through freely, buuut...
But you know the state Lady Kouchou and Lady Dan Xi are in right now, don't you?
Ah... I get it now.
So we just need to purify as much of the Impure Energy inside their bodies as possible... right?
Yep! Pretty much!
Well then... Whoops, the Aberrant Spirits are starting to swarm in. I'll be off now!
...She really just bailed on us.
Anyway, purification. If we're talking purification...
Haa... Haa...
Haa... Haha, how laughable. To think that we, who hunt Aberrant Spirits, are being toyed with by mere Impure Energy like this...
Haa?! I-It suddenly got stronger!
A taste...?!
Hehe, are you curious... what we taste like?
Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but... let's put that aside for now.
Purification... How to purify them...
...Wait. Come to think of it, didn't she say a normal person can pass through that wall freely?
H-Huh?
Hup.
Oh... It actually works?
Though I don't think just doing this will purify anything... Hmm...
Hup!
Nngh?!
Whoops, my bad. I didn't mean to grab your chest, it just drew my attention way too hard.
Alright, one more time!
!? M-My friend, what are you...
Hah—!
Haa?!!
Nngh...!?
Well, if I get all those impurities out of you, that counts as purification too, doesn't it?!
Alright, I'm cranking this massage up to max intensity until every last bit of it is out of you!!
S-So recklessly??
5. The Encroached Street
100 linesHaa... haa... M-My legs gave out...
Ugh... It seems we made it through the wall... in more ways than one...
Hey, are you two alive? You didn't turn into ghosts, did you?
Judging by how your Sealing Implements are restored, it looks like you're fine now...
How... mortifying...
Join... us... and become... one...
...What's with the terrible acting?
Pfft...
Ahahaha!
Sigh... Alright. As long as you two are having fun.
Thanks to your quick wit, my friend, we were able to escape that place. I knew I could count on you.
Yes, how did you even come up with a method like that?
Well, I mean... She said we had to draw out the Impure Energy, right?
And you said that weird mass was draining your strength, didn't you?
That's... true, right?
Which means it's basically like a leech sucking out your energy.
Whether it was Impure Energy or not... I figured if I gave you a strong enough stimulus to make you release all your energy at once, it'd greedily lap it right up.
Besides, Kouchou specializes in purifying that kind of power... so I figured if I could get your strength up even for a moment, things would work out somehow.
Oho...
To think you thought that far ahead...
Thank you, my friend. The two of us never would have come up with such an idea on our own.
Right. I'll repay this favor somehow later...
If you're grateful, you can pay me back with your bodies. Thanks to what happened, I got worked up like crazy without getting any release myself.
Anyway, we managed to escape somehow, but... what do we do now?
...The Corrupting Power gathered in the pavilion is far too strong. We cannot win by simply fighting head-on.
Unless we do something about the amassed Corrupting Power first...
If even you're saying that, a frontal assault is pointless.
Then do we need reinforcements? What about the other clans... or the Church of Harmonix girls? They must have some experience dealing with Aberrant Spirits, right?
...It's too late.
Too late?
Yes. Like I said earlier, everyone's perception has been altered. Even though this is the only area that's been corrupted...
Other people won't be able to recognize that anything is 'wrong' anymore. Because their perception has been overwritten that way.
So... that means we can't even call for backup.
Even if we told them, they wouldn't understand.
Then are we supposed to just stand by and watch? Does anyone have a good idea?
...
I... wanted to let the children have a taste. Of this day, this festival, this life and light...
Yes... To give the children a taste of that 'revelry' you speak of...
...Must we truly resort to fighting?
What?
Aberrant Spirits corrupt and taint this world.
Whether they want to or not, whether they intend to or not...
There is no place for them here. And keeping the two separated...
is my duty as the Shrine Maiden of the Boundary.
Of course, I do not doubt that.
However... I cannot help but wonder if there might be another way.
Don't tell me you're gonna ask me to figure something out again?
Hehe. Did you see right through me?
You guys just keep dumping bigger and bigger headaches on me. Are you sure you didn't get possessed by a sly fox spirit or something?
Ah!♡ But my friend, you are the only one I can ask for such a favor.
My friend, and Kouchou.
Striking down an enemy... is simpler than one might think.
However... For the sake of true grace and revelry, I would much prefer we take the more difficult path.
That just sounds like you're telling me to do all the hard work.
Hehe, is that how it sounded to you?
You are quite right. I have high hopes, you see. That you, my friend... will resolve this matter for us.
After all, you are the best Fixer there is.
Tch... When you put it like that, it's kinda hard to say no.
Ahh... Fixer... I finally found you...♡
Oh, Chise, Kage! Great timing. If you two lend us a hand...
I am afraid that will not be possible. Because we are here... to arrest you.
Arrest me?!
Yes. On charges including destruction of festival property, dining and dashing, assaulting pedestrians, and disturbing the peace.
Whoa, I didn't do any of that. Dan Xi did.
My friend?! Are you abandoning me right now?!
I'm the kind of guy who can toss aside a companion like yesterday's trash if I have to. Don't worry, I'll make sure to send plenty of prison food and booze your way.
Why, you little—! I take back what I just said about you being the Best Fixer!
Anyway, I really didn't do any of that stuff, right? So that makes me innocent, doesn't it?
No.
Why?!
For the crime of being a bystander.
Just as I thought... Both of them are under the influence of the Aberrant Spirits.
To the two of them, we probably look like people trying to ruin the festival.
Hehe... Enjoying the festival with you, Fixer... Just the two of us... Let us spend a passionate festival night together...♡
I don't think that's what's going on with one of them right now.
Hey, Kage. Putting the charges aside, I told you to protect the festival before I left, so why are you acting like this? What happened to all those plans you're always making?
...Of course, I drew up a thorough plan just as you asked.
And I discovered the single biggest factor disrupting that perfect plan.
It's you, <:player>! You're the culprit!
What? How did you come to that conclusion?
Heh, in a way, she speaks the truth. Since I brought you here, my friend, their festival is about to be disrupted.
Look, are they not positively furious?
Their common sense has been altered by the Aberrant Spirits. At this rate, we might have to fight not just the Aberrant Spirits, but the people of Quartet as well...
I'll purify the Aberrant Spirits first.
The purification... isn't working?
Just when I thought we'd barely escaped one crisis, here comes another. What's the problem?
My power sends them back beyond the boundary.
But because this place has become their territory... dividing the boundary has lost all meaning.
If it were just an aura like earlier, maybe... but now that they have physical forms, I can't drive them out with my power.
...Then do we have no choice but to fight?
Hmm... Setting aside the sheer number of Aberrant Spirits, facing Chise head-on would not be a wise choice.
A warrior of the Moonshadow Wardens... If we were to fight her in earnest, there would surely be grave collateral damage.
Hmm...
Hey. Do you remember what Shade said at the pavilion?
What words do you mean?
She told us to go enjoy the festival to the fullest and come back. Don't you think that's a little strange?
If she just wanted to get rid of us, she could've finished us off right there, or blasted us outside altogether.
Are you quite finished talking? I regret to inform you that your every move is already within my calculations.
Now, come quietly and let me bind you!
WAIT A SECOND!!!
6. Find the Hidden Kunoichi
115 lines... Party
W-What is it, <:player>? If you have anything left to say in your defense, I'll hear you out.
No, it's just...
If we're going to fight anyway, how about we do it a little differently?
A different...
Way?
What exactly... are you proposing we do here?
What else? A 'match'.
A match? I am here to arrest you, not to have a match...
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Haven't you heard that before?
I promise. If you beat me in a match, I won't resist, and I'll let you take me in without a word.
You will quietly... come along with us...?
Yeah. I won't even run away.
Ah... That sounds lovely...♡
Wait, Lady Chise. You can't seriously be falling for that...
Or we can just fight. Though I doubt turning the festival streets into a chaotic battlefield is part of your plan, is it?
Heh. Either way suits me just fine.
Ugh...
(If I coax her a little more, I think she'll fall for it again...)
Gah?! I almost fell for it again!?
Hmph, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I will not fall for that trick anymore!
You intend to sweet-talk me like that and challenge me to something that gives you the advantage, don't you?
Someone tipped you off!? Hey, that's cheating!
Fixer... Surely you are not saying this just to run away, are you...?
I told you, I'm not. I really mean it when I say I'll let you take me in without a word if you win.
If you're suspicious, you guys can pick the game. Pick something you're confident in.
Do you mean that? Is it truly alright for us to choose something we are confident in?
Of course. Who do you think I am?
Heh... You made a promise, Fixer.
Very well. In that case...
I shall make a special exception and accept your proposal this time. However, the event will be...
A subject from the Intermediate Kunoichi Exam... 'Find the Hidden Kunoichi'!!
Find the...
Hidden Kunoichi?
Yes, it involves tracking down a kunoichi—an expert in the art of stealth—who has concealed herself...
It is an infamous test with a failure rate approaching 90% among all exams!
That sounds pretty tough. Give me the easy mode, please.
Wait, what kind of request is...!
Phew, phew... I almost got swept up in your pace again.
In any case, you don't have the right to refuse, do you?
Fair enough. ...You two are fine with this too, right?
No problem.
Heh, I look forward to it. A game like this is truly fitting for a festival.
Now then, let us begin... the 'Intermediate Kunoichi Exam'!!
Wait, since when did this turn into the Intermediate Kunoichi Exam again?
First, please close your eyes and count to ten.
Alright.
...
Liar...
No, it's just that my eyelids start twitching if I keep my eyes closed for too long. Maybe I'm low on vitamins lately...
If you open your eyes in the middle of counting one more time, I am going to blindfold you.
I mean, I'm not opposed to that kind of play...
Ah, in that case... Allow me to cover them for you myself...♡
Fixer... You cannot see like this, can you...?
Man, this feels amazing and all, but... I can't sneak a peek like I planned if you do this.
Heh... It is quite alright. Even in a situation like this... even with these feelings welling up inside me...
I still... hold faith that... you will find a way through this, Fixer.
Wait, are you aware of what's going on right now?
Even if I cannot be certain... even if I cannot fully comprehend it...
I believe in you, Fixer...
Perhaps that is why... even in a situation like this, I feel at ease... and my heart feels as joyful as a festival...
So please, Fixer... save us.
Save me, and save Kage... from this irresistible, distorted current...
Ah...
What am I gonna do with you guys? Every single one of you...
Just relax and enjoy the festival. Both sides of you.
Understood... I shall be waiting...
Now, everything is ready. Come and find me!
...Hey, I can't see a thing here.
Heh... Did you really think you would be able to find a kunoichi in hiding?
Do not waste your time in vain—just surrender.
Surrender? Now that hurts my feelings.
Hmph... Then what do you intend to do?
Use Danhee.
Use the panties.
In that case, Danhee... I choose you!
Hm? Me?
Yeah. It's nothing major, just...
Jump!
W-What?
Aha, so that is your scheme.
Now then...
Let us cool down our bodies, flushed from the festival, just a little!
Wha... Whoa!?
Ugh, I didn't think you'd find me this way... I should've known better than to underestimate you, <:player>.
Now then, right here I have a pair of panties.
...!?
Starting now, I'm going to use these panties to track down Kage.
First, let's take a little whiff of the 'scent'...
W-W-W-W-Wait a minute!? What do you think you are doing?!
...Found you.
Gah!? You tricked me?!
Truth is, these are 'just regular kunoichi panties' I bought a while back!
Phew... I see. Just regular kunoichi panties... Wait no, something like that shouldn't be sold out in the open in the first place!?
Where on earth did you even get something like that...!!
Well, rest easy. They're 'unused'. 'For now.'
Could you please stop saying such terrifying things!?
Anyway, that means we win the match, right?
G-Guh...!
There is no helping it... A kunoichi cannot go back on her word once spoken.
This is... our defeat.
The Aberrant Spirits... disappeared?
I cannot... sense their presence anymore. Have they truly gone back?
They have... accepted defeat alongside us...
And they must be satisfied. Having enjoyed this festival...
By spending time with <:player> and the rest of us.
That is...
Perhaps... they got a taste of that "revelry"... Dan Xi spoke of...?
Oho...
Alright, I see it now.
? See what, my friend?
I see the way forward.
Hey, gather 'round, everyone.
7. An Aberrant Spirit Exorcism Game?
84 linesYou two got the plan down, right?
Indeed! I understand it completely.
Got it.
Alright then... Let's do this!
Step right up! Special Halloween Event! Free admission!
Aberrant Spirits or humans, it doesn't matter—just come on in and enjoy yourselves.
VIP service! Just come take a look! We'll show you the time of your lives!
Nice, the customers are starting to gather.
Alright, you two. I'm counting on you here!
Leave it to me, my friend!
I'll make sure to bring in the crowd.
Guh... Even if I lost the match, to think that I... a kunoichi, would be waiting tables in a place like this...!
Heh. Kage. The defeated have no say in the matter...
Lady Chise...! Ugh... Well, if you say so, I suppose I have no choice.
You've got more customers!
Again!? Harmony Pavilion is already packed full! Any more than this is...
Whoa there, why does the loser have so much to say? What, you wanna work the kitchen instead of serving?
Guh...! N-No, I am fine with this. More importantly, what on earth do you plan to do after gathering all these Aberrant Spirits?
Well, just wait and see.
Alright, everyone, attention please!
To all the Aberrant Spirits who have visited us today, I extend my warmest welcome!
Are you all enjoying the festival?
WRONG!!
Tsk, tsk... You're doing it all wrong. Totally amateur.
You guys...
You have no idea how to properly enjoy a festival.
<:player>, what do you think you're doing, provoking the Aberrant Spirits...?!
Ah... Fixer, I shall protect you...!
No, no need for that.
Kage, Chise. Is that thing I asked for earlier all ready to go?
Ah, y-yes! We finished setting it up. Wait, don't tell me you're going to use that...?
Bingo. Hit it!
How long are you gonna settle for a boring festival? Since we're already here, let's party for real.
Just trust me on this—I'll show you how to have a real good time!
Now then...
Let the real festival begin!!
Ready? Alright, tagger, start!
Oh, not bad! Alright, again!
You, right there! You moved!
Anyone caught passes on!!
Alright, good hustle out there!
Now then, keep it going!
Y-Yes, sir! Alright, then...
Okay, did everyone get the candy and toothpicks ordered from the shop?
Then... START!!
Did yours break?
You're eliminated!
Do you really have time to look away? You're running out of time, you know!
Okay! Is everyone ready!?
Alright then! Get ready...
Hide real good now! Or I'll spot your hair!
Hide real good now! Is everyone hidden??
Alright! Here I come!
Go forth, my hounds!
Grrrrr!!
Woof, woof woof.
Looks like we managed to send off quite a few Aberrant Spirits with this... How's it actually looking?
The aura flowing into the pavilion has definitely decreased.
If we keep this up just a little longer, we might be able to cut it off completely...
Great, then let's do one more round...
Hold it right there!
Huh? Oh, perfect timing. You guys should...
Indecent!! Conduct!!
W-What?
I'm disappointed in you, <:player>! How could you leave me... I mean, us out of all this fun... Wait, no! How could you do something like this?!
What are you talking about??
Hmph, don't even think about playing innocent!
We received a report that someone was corrupting public morals at the festival.
To think you would lure students into debauchery and distract them from their studies...
I have no choice but to discipline you with strict rules.
Students? You mean them?
What do you mean, 'them'? They are respectable students of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
In any case, I will not allow you to corrupt the students' morals any further!
That's right! Don't just have fun by yourselves and leave me out!
...
A-Ahaha! I-I won't let you get away with this, <:player>!
Those two have had their common sense twisted by the Aberrant Spirits, too.
In their case... it seems they perceive the spirits as students of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
In that case... let's play along with their tune this time.
8. Trial of the Hundred Schools of Thought
108 linesWh-What... do you plan to do here? D-Don't tell me you intend to engage in indecent behavior inside a lecture hall...
What's going through that head of yours, you dirty-minded disciplinary officer?
D-Dirty-minded...
You said you hate indecent conduct, right? Then we just have to enjoy the festival in a wholesome way, don't we?
Alright, line up, everyone, line up! Get behind the person you like!
Guh... W-Why is everyone only lining up behind Hari...
Ahaha! Maybe because you're so strict, Jia?
Come on now, we can't have a proper match like this. Some of you go line up on the other side, too.
Ugh... It feels like I'm being pitied, which makes it even worse...
Don't let it get to you. Students always like the teacher who plays with them more, right?
Besides, there's at least one who likes you.
A-Ahem! In any case, what do you plan to do after lining us up like this? You haven't told us that yet.
We are going to have...
A super wholesome, squeaky-clean... QUIZ SHOW!!
...Excuse me?
What, you said it was indecent conduct, right? So I'm saying we'll play something nice and wholesome.
By the way, the two of you will be competing as representatives. Since these guys probably don't know anything.
Huh, us?
Think of it like being in the same boat.
Of course, it wouldn't be any fun without stakes, so... The loser gets a month of classroom duty and bathroom cleaning, and the winner... gets any wish granted. How's that sound?
Ooh, that sounds fun! Does that mean I can wish for a 'skip work free' pass, too?
...*Glare*!
A-Ahaha...
Hmph, that is *if* you win. For the record, if I win, Hari will be doing a month of classroom duty, cleaning the bathrooms, and submitting ten research papers.
Ten!? Give me a break! Writing even one a month is asking way too much!
(Well, for an ordinary person, even one paper a month would be a remarkable achievement.)
Anyway, are you in or out? I completely respect the students' freedom of choice, after all.
...Acting like a teacher all of a sudden?
Well, a game like this is reasonably wholesome, I suppose. And since it is the Halloween festival...
I'm in! Hehe, it looks fun, doesn't it?
Alright, Hari's in. What about you?
*Sigh*, I suppose I have no choice. Just this once, alright?
What an easy teacher...
What did you just say!?
Nope, nothing at all.
Alright then, first question...
It's soft and squishy...
It's nice and warm...
And it's bouncy when you touch it!!
That is indecent!!
BZZT!!
I wasn't giving an answer, you know?! H-How could you ask such an indecent question...
Oh, I know the answer!!
!?
The answer is Humanitas's specialty, the Tofu Troupe's Special Tofu Set!! It tastes even better when you eat it warm!
CORRECT!!
Guh!?
Oh my, what could you have been thinking of? Indecent? I have no idea what you mean!
Y-You knew exactly what you were doing...!
Alright, anyway, the loser gets a penalty!
P-Penalty?! You never said anything about...
I didn't mention it because it goes without saying. Alright, staff members, please come on in!
Let's send one off first!
Guh! A-At this rate, I'll be at a disadvantage...
Do you have time to worry about that? Moving right along to the next question!
!!
At first, it's stiff and hard...
The longer you touch it, the softer it gets...
And as it gets wet, it slowly spreads open. What is it?
Th-Th-That...! W-What kind of words are you trying to make me say...!!
If you don't know, just say you don't know!
G-Guh...! But if I get it wrong again...
I-I have no choice...
The answer is a p—!
Oh, I know! The answer is a 'brush'!!
Hari is correct!!
...
Wait, what were you about to say? I'm pretty sure it started with a P...
Waaaaah!?
Whoa?! Are you assaulting the host right now!?
It's all your fault?! How dare you ask only such shameless questions... You did it on purpose, didn't you?! You did that on purpose!?
Making me shatter public morals with my own mouth...! You demon! You brute! You utterly ruthless scoundrel!
I'll kill you! I'm going to kill you and then kill myself!
Hey, calm down! You're completely breaking character right now?!
Like I care!? I should have known from the moment you said you'd be the one asking the questions!
Help me out, staff! Hongjeop, Danhee!
Phew, I thought I was a goner...
Hmph...
O-Okay, I get it. I'll only ask normal questions from now on. Will that do?
...*Sigh*, f-fine. You'd better do it properly for real, okay?
Yeah, yeah. First off... a loss is a loss, so you're still taking the penalty, okay?
Guh... I suppose there is no helping it...
Alright then... on to the next questions!
That was fun. Right?
...I am deeply ashamed. To think I was bewitched by Aberrant Spirits.
Ugh... It felt like I wasn't myself anymore...
Even so... Even if it was only for a moment, they truly felt like students of our Hundred Schools of Thought.
I know, right? Plus... honestly, they didn't seem like bad kids either.
Then doesn't that make them real students?
Excuse me...?
It's not like there's any special requirement to become a student, right? Whether they're Aberrant Spirits or regular students.
If they learned something from you two, that just makes them your students. Though I don't know if they actually learned anything.
You have a point. If they learned something, they are students... It seems you know how to say something nice every once in a while.
Ahaha! Even if the time from enrollment to graduation was way too fast!
If you miss them that much, you can always call them back.
Oh, no thanks. They're a little scary, actually.
After all, they didn't go through the official admission process. And besides...
Hari will have to write her research papers for a while, so she won't have any spare time anyway.
Whaaat!? Wait, we're actually doing that for real!?
Of course. A promise is a promise, and a match is a match. It was close, but since I won... you have to grant my wish, don't you?
You're so mean!
Well... anyway, thanks to you two keeping the match neck and neck, we managed to help almost all of them pass on.
So that was your intention all along...
...The power flowing into the Ghost Pavilion has almost completely died down.
Just as expected of my friend. You handled that brilliantly. Heh...
Hey, we're just getting started.
Now then, since the whole crew is finally here...
Let's go get ready for the final 'festival.'
9. We Lost Before Even Fighting?
107 linesWe're back.
Oh my... That took you a little while, didn't it...?
Did you... enjoy the festival to the fullest?
You bet. And while we were at it, we sent those Aberrant Spirits back home, too.
Were those children... satisfied?
They liked it more than I expected. They left with smiles on their faces.
Hehe... After all, everything must have been brand new to those children...
Of course, it may all be nothing more than a passing dream... Even so, such dreams are precious...
In that sense, I am truly grateful to you...
What do you say...? To looking after those children with us... Ah...
If you were with us... the children would surely be happy, too...
You can't have <:player>. <:player> is...
Ours!
What are you talking about? I belong to myself, you know?
Besides, I have no intention of getting scouted by anyone else. I like my job as a Fixer.
I see... Then I suppose it cannot be helped.
Then, instead... would you mind playing with the remaining children?
To think there are still Aberrant Spirits left...
Hehe, shall we have a little fun?
No, please leave this place to us. ???
Even if the boundary weakens on Halloween, to think we failed to notice the Quartet being encroached upon by Aberrant Spirits...
For the sake of the Umbral Watch's tarnished honor, I shall take care of this place.
I, too... Hehe, I let myself get carried away by the heat in my heart, however...
You put <:player> in danger, even if only for a moment... I will make you pay for that...
S-Same goes for us! Not that I really want to lecture my students, though...
Anyway, if you took a lesson, you've gotta pay the tuition, right?
...What is unlawful is unlawful, and the wicked path is the wicked path.
We must hold them accountable for the crime of disrupting the festival and corrupting public morals.
Hehe, with so many guests here... the festival is bound to be a delight...
...Now you're the only one left.
Hehe... I see. Have you finally learned to wield that power in full?
...Thanks to someone.
Indeed... Child of the Boundary... You have grown wonderfully in the meantime...
Hehe... It seems I won't have to worry about the boundary wavering for quite some time.
As long as you don't try to cross the boundary, that is.
...
Come to think of it, now that we have come this far... something has piqued my curiosity.
The Aberrant Spirits we saw on the festival streets... They may have been imitating people, yet they truly looked as if they were enjoying the festivities.
Is that true...? Were those Aberrant Spirits not merely imitating, but genuinely wishing to enjoy the festival...?
Aberrant Spirits are nothing more than corrupting power given form.
They have no ego, no thoughts, and no Will. All they have is resentment toward this world.
And that is why they...
Indeed... That is how they are... defined.
However... were the children you saw truly beings with nothing at all inside them...?
...!!
They do have it... Even if it was never permitted... Even if it is ever so faint...
Those children, too, have a 'sense of self'...
Wait, so when you said earlier that you wanted to let the kids have a taste of it...
You actually meant the festival?
Yes. ...That is what I have been saying from the very beginning...
Hey, how were we supposed to believe you when you phrased it like some shady mastermind?
A mastermind... you say...? Oh my, what a terrible thing to call me...
W-We have never hidden anything from any of you...
You did lie, though. You tricked us about the 'Aberrant Spirits' and the 'departed,' didn't you?
...Well... I suppose it would be hard to say you are entirely wrong...
Of course... it all depends on how one interprets it, you see...
Interpretation, my foot. That's what caused this whole misunderstanding in the first place.
Then the reason the Aberrant Spirits possessed or overwrote the others...
Perhaps... it was because they were envious? Of how close you all seemed, and how much fun you were having at the festival...
So that's why they looked satisfied even when we helped them pass on?
Yes... Those children... must have been delighted that you played with them.
No... "They were delighted," is how I should answer.
Well, if that's the case...
...No.
Kouchou?
Even so, no.
Why? Isn't it great if we clear up the misunderstanding? They weren't doing it out of malice either...
It doesn't matter.
...What?
Even if they have a Will of their own, and even if there's no malice... It still can't be allowed.
Aberrant Spirits corrode this world and strip away everything around them simply by existing.
That is why we divide the boundary and protect this place with a seal.
...Is that true, Dan Xi?
Yes, it is. That is the very reason the Quartet exists—to stop the corrosion and drive back the Aberrant Spirits...
In truth, there used to be many more places where people lived in this land.
Until Rifts appeared... Aberrant Spirits poured out... and the entire surrounding area was corroded into an uninhabitable wasteland.
That is why, no matter the reason, we must defeat the Aberrant Spirits. And send them back where they belong...
Hehe... It is quite all right.
That is the role of the Shrine Maiden of the Boundary, and the role of all of you.
The children have enjoyed the festival plenty... Staying any longer would be bad manners.
Right here is where our energy converges... If you strike this spot, we shall return to where we belong...
Waiting with the children for a gap to open once more...
Ghk...!
Why do you hesitate...?
Kouchou...
Hey, time out!
Time out for a second. That's way too much information all of a sudden...
Can't we think this over before we decide?
It seems it is still too soon for that child...
...?
I, too... need to cool my head for a moment.
The Fairwinds Association protects the festival and welcomes all who come to enjoy it.
Yet if, by doing so, the Aberrant Spirits unintentionally put the festival and the people in danger...
What a contradiction... What a contradiction indeed...
Where are you going?
...I would like a moment to gather my thoughts.
Man, we lost before the fight even started.
Is that so...? Hehe, we never fought you in the first place, though...
...You said from the start you had no intention of fighting, right?
Yes... We merely came out on an outing with the children, after all.
...You sure that's not just your "interpretation" again?
Anyway, I'll be back once I find those two, so just wash your neck and wait.
That aside...
...How am I supposed to explain this to everyone else?
10. Momentum Is Everything
108 lines...
Brooding like this isn't like you.
My friend.
Mind if I sit next to you?
Of course. My side is always open to you, my friend.
Catch anything?
Ask what?
Why I said such a thing out of nowhere. And why I am wavering so.
Hmm...
Why did you?
Blades of grass, flower petals, fallen leaves, and snowflakes fall,
carried by the flowing river out into the sea.
When they all reach the same sea in the end, how could one call them any different?
What does that mean?
My friend, do you truly believe they have a sense of self?
You mean the Aberrant Spirits? Well... it didn't seem like they were completely mindless.
Of course, it didn't feel like they were acting like intelligent humans, either.
Hehe, I felt the same. Though they lacked humanity...
To my eyes... it seemed that, at the very least, they were genuinely enjoying the festival.
Now then...
Yet if that puts people in danger, and ultimately ruins the festival...
Then as a guardian of the festival, I have no choice but to strike them down.
That's a contradiction.
A contradiction indeed.
I have wronged Kouchou. I was the one who taught that child about festivals and introduced her to the Fairwinds Association.
And yet, for me to abandon my own duty to the Fairwinds Association...
...How pathetic of me. I am deeply ashamed. How could I possibly face Kouchou like this...
Oh, you got a bite.
Save the Aberrant Spirit
Dan Xi!
Understood, my friend!
...Wait, these things can drown too?
Now that they have materialized, they must be affected by it as well.
By the way, why did we just save this guy?
Leave the Aberrant Spirit alone.
I don't know why an Aberrant Spirit is drowning in water, but...
Shouldn't we just leave it alone? It's not like anything bad will happen to it anyway...
What are you saying, my friend?!
If we're going to exorcise the Aberrant Spirits anyway, wouldn't it be better to just leave it like that?
...Even so, my friend.
When you see a child drowning, is it not only natural to pull them out?
Even if that child happens to be an Aberrant Spirit.
Yeah, so that's how it is.
What do you mean?
If pulling a drowning kid out of the water is only natural, then playing with kids who want to play is also an adult's job, isn't it?
Whether they're human, an Aberrant Spirit, or a space monster.
Hey, was it really that funny?
Mm, no. Ah... I see now. Forgive me, my friend.
In short, you mean—
No matter their state, there can be nothing wrong with playing with a child. Is that what you are saying?
If that's wrong, then the world itself must be wrong.
Hey, are you asleep?
What? You mean Shade?
I am the Shrine Maiden of the Boundary. Dividing the boundary and driving back Aberrant Spirits... that is my role.
But I couldn't do it.
Why?
...Why, I wonder?
Don't ask me.
Hmm...
I still think buying that was the right call. It was pricey, sure, but those Blissful Trading Guild folks really deliver on quality...
...It's embarrassing when you stare at me like that.
Come on, I paid for it with my own money. I've earned the right to look this much.
Besides, you needed that gear... no, that outfit, right? You even powered up thanks to it.
Even so, I couldn't do anything.
Neither protecting the festival, nor defeating the Aberrant Spirits.
I just ran away.
Maybe this kind of power... never suited me in the first place.
Some Shrine Maiden of the Boundary I am. Some power of the Red Butterfly this is.
In the end, I'm... nothing more than a coward. Always just running away...
A coward? You were plenty bold last night. Didn't shy away once, either.
Th-That was... because I got caught up in the mood... and one thing led to another...
Then you just need to get caught up in it again. Want me to set the mood?
Th-That's...
Listen up. People usually call that 'momentum'.
Mo...mentum?
Yeah, momentum! Just like what you did to me last night.
Why are you overthinking everything? Your problem is that you're way too nice for your own good.
Way too... nice...?
Yeah. You're no coward. At least not from what I've seen— ever since you first came to meet me.
Put simply, you're just too nice for your own good.
Great power? What's not to love about great power! Strong power!
You can send anyone in your way flying, carry tons of stuff at once, and talk some sense into stubborn idiots.
If I had power like yours, I would've torn the boundary, the Aberrant Spirits, and everything else to shreds and wrapped this whole thing up already!
T-The boundary...?
It's a pain in the neck, isn't it? Who cares about some boundary? And what's the big deal about corrosion? Just blow it away in one breath. Or erase it completely.
Having great power is a good thing. Because it lets you actually do something. Better than having none at all, right?
Erase the boundary... and the corrosion...
<:player>. Do you... really think I'm not a coward?
Details!
I'm telling you, it doesn't matter. Maybe you're just too kind for your own good. But whether it's kindness or fear holding you back, what you need is momentum.
The momentum to shout, "So what, you bastards!"
That's right, momentum!
Hey now, what did I just say?
...Help me, <:player>!
Yeah, that's the momentum I'm talking about.
11. A New Path, A New Festival
110 lines...You have returned.
Did you wait long?
It is quite all right. Hehe... I am... used to waiting.
Now then... have you made your decision?
Yeah.
Ah... I see. So you are finally ready to face your duty...
How strange... Why is it... that I feel such joy in my heart...?
I feel the same... When I look at you... for some reason, I feel a sense of nostalgia.
Hehe...
Then, show me. Your choice, your duty, and your Will...
I won't cut you down.
Pardon...?
I'm going to reconstruct the pavilion's boundary.
The boundary, you say...?
With my power, I will make 'this side' and 'the other side' exist within the same space.
A space right on the borderline, where both exist in one place without encroaching on each other.
A space of simultaneous existence and mutual non-interference...
That is... impossible. It defies the laws of both sides...
Mo...mentum?
Ahaha! I wondered what on earth that meant when I first heard it, too.
Yet for Kouchou as she is now, holding the power of both sides, it seems well within reach.
A brand-new path that could only be found because she is Kouchou.
Do you all wish to enjoy the festival?
Very well, in that case—
We are the Fairwinds Association—those who guard the festival and welcome all who come to enjoy it.
Be they human or Aberrant Spirit—if you wish to enjoy the festivities, we welcome you in the name of the Fairwinds Association!
...I felt the same way.
I wanted to join the festival. To walk the streets with friends, eat cotton candy, and play games.
If Dan Xi hadn't invited me, I would probably still be wandering around outside all alone.
So what we're saying is, we're gonna give you a taste of it. The absolute best festival we can put together.
That way, you won't need to steal the festival or corrode this world... You can just have your fill of fun and pass on happy, right??
Hehe, we'll pitch in too, so go all out!
...I am not sure if this is truly the right choice, but... I suppose history will judge the results.
Hehe... If that is your wish, <:player>... then I will do what I can to help.
I have no objections either. If it is your plan, I know I can trust it.
The Umbral Watch will see this matter through from beginning to end.
Is that... the answer you have... come up with...?
...Hehe... You truly have grown. What was it that made you this way...?
Because I have a friend who taught me the joy of the festival.
Because I have a friend who taught me it's okay to be honest with my feelings.
So I'm going to forge a new path of my own...!
Ahh, you just can't have a moment like this without booze.
Let's see... Where did I stash that legendary liquor—the Ghost-Weeping Wine that makes even ghosts weep...
Oho, here it is! All right...
Let's see... Shall I have a little taste first?
Ahh! Truly a masterpiece of a brew!
Come, drink up, all of you!
Hm? Out cold already? What a lightweight bunch you are!
Now, who is next to come play with me!
Ugh, I'm wiped out already... Why don't these guys ever get tired?
Since they are Aberrant Spirits, wouldn't it be because they cannot feel physical fatigue?
Well, aside from that, I think your rock-bottom stamina is also to blame, Hari.
Ugh, you're so mean! I've been running around all day today! Be a little nicer to me after I worked so hard!
Submit your overdue papers first before you talk. Do you even remember how many deadlines I have extended for you?
...Do you remember how many loaves of bread you have eaten in your life...
You shouldn't be putting off your thesis reviews like eating daily bread in the first place!
Aagh! Help me, <:player>! Jia's picking on me again!
Hehe... Do you find the snow fascinating...?
I will show you as much as you like... Just be careful... that your soul does not freeze...
From what I have observed so far, they show no intention of causing harm or doing anything malicious.
However, I will not let my guard down. As a Kunoichi of the Umbral Watch, I shall watch over them until the very end...
Hm? You want to make a plan for how to enjoy the festival?
You have come to the exact right person for the job. I shall plan out everything for you to enjoy at this festival, from 1 to 10, down to the last detail.
...
What are you doing?
Nothing.
...Hehe...
For some reason, it feels familiar. Almost... nostalgic, somehow...
Yet I can't remember a thing—nothing at all.
Do you... know me?
It is the same for us. When I look at you... ah, my heart swells before I even realize it... and it feels as though something is about to spill out...
However, unfortunately... we have no clear memories of you...
Do you have amnesia?
Who knows... Hehe, however, we and all of you are bound to become... enemies once more...
Growing any closer than this... would surely be meaningless...
I don't care.
What did you say...?
Even if we're enemies, I don't care.
Dan Xi taught me that even enemies can get along. And <:player> taught me it's okay to do what I want.
I... want to know about you. And about myself, too.
...Ah... Is it thanks to you...? O [Star] who fell from the heavens...
!?
...I can feel it... A new light... A new wind...
Truly... won't you come with us after all...? If you were to join us...
You could have your way... with everything...♡
Oh...
Well, believe it or not, I'm a pretty busy guy. Sorry, but I'm not taking any scouting offers.
Then... I shall wait. For the end of everything you will bring about...
...Hehe, however, it seems the time has not yet come...
For today, let us simply... enjoy this festival...
A pure festival with no distinction between human and Aberrant Spirit... just like a fleeting dream of a single night...
Wait...!
Hehe... Do not worry. We shall... meet again very soon anyway...
On the day you awaken from the dream... and the sweet nightmare comes to an end...
...She's gone.
...Yeah.
Are you okay with that?
Yeah. It's okay. Because I felt it too.
We'll meet again. Whether that will be in a good way or a bad way, I don't know, but...
When that time comes, I'm sure I'll find out. About Shade, and about myself...
All right, then...
Now let's kick back and enjoy this festival for real!!