BOOM! THE GHOST

Gaaaahhhh!

She's coming.

Is everyone ready?

Ye-yes.

Of course!

Zzzzz...

*Sigh*... Are you actually serious about this?

You bet I am!

I'm really not in the mood for this.

How can you not be excited to witness a historic event like this up close?

There's no scenario in which this goes well. That's all I'm saying.

Well, we'll find out soon enough.

Gaaaahhhh!

Wh-where did everyone go?!

She'll be here soon, so everyone keep your eyes peeled.

Three.

Two.

One.

Farewellllll!

BOOOOOOM!

Farewellllll!

He-hehe...

Hehehehehe!

I-it's working! It's really working!

Wait, that thing actually works?

Farewellllll!

Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere!

Oh!

Did it work?

No way...

Zzzzz...

Hey! Wake up!

...

We caught it.

We caught it!

Haha! We caught it!

Wow, it actually worked.

There's nothing to be afraid of anymore!

Ms. Tove! The coast is clear. You can come out now.

It's time for us to strike back!

...?

Ms. Tove?

Gaaaahhhh!

H-help me!

Hyah!

Ghosts go BOOM!

Yep!

You mean you don't know about this, Mr. Commander?

Really?

That's okay! Let me give you a quick synopsis.

First off, take a look at this photo.

It's a luxury cruise ship that was recently seized by a resource retrieval squad.

Do you notice anything strange?

Really?

Isn't it obvious?

The lights are on.

Any abandoned cruise ship that was used by humans

would be at least 100 years old by now.

How could the lights still be on?

There's no way a ship's power would last that long without someone maintaining it.

That means that the power source must be coming from somewhere abnormal!

Or there could simply be people on board.

Oh yeah, that too.

Anyway, we're gonna head up to the surface and find out what's going on.

I already filed a request to the higher-ups,

and received approval.

When I told them you'd be coming along, they authorized the mission straight away.

Also, check this out.

Look carefully at this photo. Over here.

It's shaped like a human.

That's certainly what it looks like to me.

A luxury cruise ship abandoned for decades, yet still lit up,

and a shadowy figure at the window?

How could we not go and investigate?

Well, ever since that last incident, the Central Government seems more amenable to thinking outside the box.

Yep!

Although to be honest, I'm not entirely sure who else will be coming.

Nah, she said she'd rather die than go on this mission.

Oh, don't worry.

It's already been taken care of.

Ms. Syuen said she was willing to finance this entire expedition.

So, we wait here for the others, and then leave once everyone's gathered?

That's right.

It will probably take some time for Elysion to come up with anything conclusive.

It's their first time attempting to manufacture such a thing, after all.

It's imperative that they take their time and be extra cautious.

I highly doubt they're going to be finished all that quickly.

...

Commander. There is someone I would like to bring along.

You're right, but I wasn't referring to them anyway.

Besides, they've spent too much time on the surface, and thus are undergoing rigorous inspections.

They might have been affected by the Crystals or Dark Matter, so it will be a while yet until they're free.

...

I want to bring Dorothy.

So, you want to head up to the surface

and investigate a suspicious cruise ship?

...

First of all.

I don't know why you're coming to me of all people with this proposition.

Second, why are you two wearing swimsuits?

Well, the cruise ship is on the ocean, after all.

... Did you both change in this building? You didn't come all the way here dressed like that, did you?

We did.

...

Do you find the tea agreeable?

Very much so. I don't know much about tea, but I enjoyed it.

I'm glad. Now, if you don't mind, you can leave.

Look at this.

I'm telling you, I'm not interested.

The ship here

is a luxury cruise ship.

Don't you want to ride it?

No, I don't.

I thought a luxury cruise would be right up your alley.

Seems it wasn't just your hair color that changed, but your brain got affected as well.

I was only kidding. Here, take a look.

What? I don't see anything.

Don't you think the water current here resembles a heart?

Are you sure you don't have a screw loose?

Just kidding again. Okay, for real now, look over here.

You're starting to irritate me. Please leave.

Look at the window.

*Sigh*...

...

I don't think that's a trick of the light.

It might be a Nikke.

Or potentially even a human.

...

... Dorothy.

Are you shaking because you're scared?

Please, stop talking. I'm begging you.

Let's go together.

All you'll do otherwise is stay inside all day watching TV and drinking tea.

You should get some fresh air once in a while.

You'd be surprised how productive I am.

Okay, what is it exactly that you do?

It's a secret.

Come on, be serious now.

About what?

You're coming, right?

...

*Sigh*...

Were you always this stubborn?

Oh yeah. I think I was just holding it in until now.

...

Do you remember Red Hood?

!!

If you come with me,

I'll tell you more about my relationship with Red Hood,

and my current incarnation.

...

Where do I need to go?

Come to the Commander's room when you're ready.

We'll leave as soon as you arrive.

And if I don't come?

You will.

We'll wait for you. I'll leave the tablet here. Be sure to bring it with you.

Wait.

Yes?

Are you going to head outside dressed like that? In swimsuits?

At least let me give you a towel so you can cover yourselves up a little.

Speaking of swimsuits,

don't forget to bring your own.

...

I'm planning on publishing an e-book.

I was gonna title it How to Survive on the Surface,

but it turns out there are already a bunch of books out there with similar titles.

I was feeling discouraged, but then I saw the recruitment notice for this mission, and it hit me!

I can write a book called How to Survive on a Cruise Ship!

I've heard your survival skills are second to none and that you're adept at crafting tools. I'm sure you'll be a valuable asset to the team.

I have a high opinion of Nikkes from the Unlimited Squad in general.

I'm here because Elegg came to me and said there could be a passenger onboard who may need medical attention.

Hehe.

Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!

Having a member of Seraphim with us is reassuring. We won't have to worry about getting a bit rough and tumble.

Excuse me?

I'm just glad Mary isn't the one who came along.

She's a force to be reckoned with, what with her massive, heaving, pendulous... er... personality.

*Sigh*... I hate to admit it, but I don't stand a chance against her in that department.

... Are you okay, Rapi?

I'm not here for any particularly dramatic reason.

Apparently there's a shopping area inside this cruise ship,

so I'm considering this a business trip to check out potential new products.

This ship may be old, but fashion trends are always cyclical.

Also, the whole point of a cruise is for them to have everything you could possibly want on board.

It'll be helpful to see which products they push the hardest.

If you come along...

Uh...

Hey, what's the big idea? How come I don't get any compliments like the others?

The only real benefit to you coming is that you'll potentially find good items for cheap. And I have my doubts as to whether a 100-year-old cruise ship is going to have much to offer.

There's only so much a merchant can offer, sadly.

Rookie. Do something about her.

Make her stop talking.

I don't know, Commander. I think it may be too early for a kiss.

Hey.

Cruise. Sleep.

My dream.

Good. Next.

Good night. Next.

If it's an old cruise ship, it's bound to need some repairs here and there.

That's where Mighty Tools come in!

If we've got Mighty Tools in tow, we'll have nothing to fear.

The only problem is...

Centi is kind of an upgraded Tove. If we bring her, it may render Tove redundant...

Hey! You don't have to say that out loud! You know I'm sensitive about that!

Actually, Tove is far better than me at improvising. We'll complement each other nicely.

Oh Centi, you're such a good person!

Hehe, you're too kind. You're the real angel. You save lives.

Oh, Centi!

Oh, Tove!

Did you see that, Commander? That was some stellar conflict resolution on my part.

Well, now that everyone's here,

let's set out and have a BOOMtastic start!

Actually, we're still waiting for one person.

Who?

She'll be here soon.

...?

There she is.

Huh. Usually when someone says that in movies, people show up.

Guess I'll have to go get h—

... Hm.

Glad to see

I wasn't too late.

Isn't that Dorothy? The Pilgrim who came to the Ark?

Yeah. It's my first time seeing her in person too.

What's she doing here?

Not sure. She did help the Ark before, so maybe she felt compelled to lend a hand again with this mission?

I don't think that's it.

If you're so curious, why don't you just ask her?

Absolutely not. You can't go around asking things like that.

You're not scared, are you?

Of course I am! You're telling me you're not?

Not in the slightest. During that incident back in the Ark, she fought against the Heretics, didn't she?

Thanks to her, a lot of people were saved.

You're not wrong, but that's exactly why this is so suspicious.

No one in this world does a favor without expecting something in return.

You're only saying that because you're a merchant.

Yeah, you shouldn't be so cynical.

There are plenty of people who do good without expecting to be repaid.

Sorry, but I'm not convinced. She's definitely up to something.

Zzzzz...

Your friends don't seem to understand the concept of whispering.

You can hear them?

Every word. Loud and clear.

All of you, be quiet! Dorothy can hear everything you're saying.

...

An apology from someone else doesn't mean all that much.

Ms. Dorothy.

What?

Do you like starfish?

I don't know. I've never seen one before.

Are you sure?

There's one stuck on your shoulder.

!!

What the...?! How do I get it off?!

Don't worry. I'll get it.

...

On second thought, I don't think I can do it.

What are you two doing?!

...

It's just an ordinary starfish.

It probably got tossed out of the water by a dolphin that was playing.

Did you know that starfish are edible?

They are?

In extreme survival situations, they can be a good source of protein.

I don't think our situation qualifies as extreme just yet.

It may not taste great, but if you close your eyes before taking a bite...

Wait, what are you...

*Bleeeech*!

!!

D-don't be alarmed! I'm just feeding the fish—*bleeeeeech*!

Are you seasick?

Lie down and relax!

You're seasick?

Here, take this medicine. It'll do the job.

For the low price of 20,000 credits, it's all yours.

Too much talking.

Elegg. Are these parts waterproof?

Yes. Of course.

Okay, then we don't need to worry about cleaning everything straight away.

...

Let's turn the boat around.

No way, not when we've come this far.

You see? There's the cruise ship, straight ahead! We'll arrive soon!

Something seems weird about this place.

Yeah. It's oddly clean.

Almost as if there's someone tending to the ship still.

Tove, you've still got a bit of vomit on the side of your mouth.

Blech!

As expected, the lights are still on.

That means power is still being supplied to the ship.

...

I did some research beforehand.

This ship is called Utopia.

It was a renowned vessel, so getting the blueprints was easy enough.

I've sent the schematics to all your phones.

You really came prepared.

Of course. The more prepared you are, the better off you'll be.

Ms. Dorothy. Give me your phone number.

I don't need the blueprints.

...

I thought the deck would be structurally unsound from aging, but it feels remarkably sturdy.

I don't think we're in any danger.

I'm not sure if it was even necessary to swap our bodies out for swim-ready models.

It's almost like there are no hazards at all.

That's precisely the problem!

That means there's no point in having a survival expert.

Without danger, I'm just a lesser version of Centi.

If you ask me, a lack of danger is the best-case scenario.

That means I won't be needed, which I think is a good thing.

Phew, thanks for the reassurance, Pepper.

We incompetents need to stick together.

...

Anyway,

why don't we all change into our swimsuits?

What?

The ocean. A cruise ship. Swimsuits.

That's like the holy trinity, don't you think?

What kind of bizarre logic is that?

At any rate, let's all get changed and meet back here.

...

...

Aren't you getting changed?

No.

Why not?

There's no reason to.

Did you not bring a swimsuit?

...

You did, didn't you?

Here, follow me.

Huh?

Hey! You shouldn't touch people without their permission.

What the... why are you so strong?!

Let go of me! I won't say it again.

What are you doing?!

So white. So soft.

Be quiet, will you?

To not show off assets like this would be a crime.

You're the one committing a crime right now.

If I must resort to evil in order to ensure that the right thing is done, so be it!

Were you dropped on your head at some point...?

... Oh.

...

Ah ha! So this is how I get you to be quiet.

I ought to let the Commander know about this.

A word of this to anyone, and you're dead.

Now now, stay still.

Oh yes, this swimsuit you brought suits you perfectly.

Excuse me?

It's so beautiful and elegant.

I could never pull off something like this.

...

Well, don't just stand there. Unless you want me to dress you?

Don't come near me. I'll put it on.

This is my first time wearing a swimsuit. It's really light and comfy!

Super easy to move around in.

It's awfully revealing, don't you think?

You think so? When Liter gave it to me, she told me this is what all the young people are wearing nowadays.

I don't know where she heard that, but it looks good on you.

Thanks!

I made a customized survival swimsuit.

What makes it a survival swimsuit?

It's got a breathing tube here.

If you think that's enough to call it a survival swimsuit, I'd accuse you of fraud.

Of course there's more to it! There are even emergency rations stored inside.

...

Actually, that might be a hit amongst certain niche groups...

Really? Do you wanna sign a contract with me?

I wasn't talking about the swimsuit.

??

Tah-dah! Check it out, everybody!

Do you like my swimsuit, Mr. Commander?

Wow, what a cute swimsuit, Elegg!

Hehe, I thought so too!

I designed it myself.

You wanna see something cool?

If you press this button on the watch I'm wearing...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The transparent part of my swimsuit doubles as a display.

You can even control it by pressing the buttons here!

Wanna give it a try?

How in the world did you do that?

Sorry, trade secret. Hehe.

What? Just tell me.

Sorry, no can do!

Er, Elegg...

The "BOOM" letters on your thigh are misspelled.

Oh, sure enough...

It's a sticker. I must have stuck it on wrong. Hmph.

Everyone be quiet and pay attention.

Lady Dorothy is making her entrance.

If you call me "Lady" one more time...

Right, sorry. Come on, Princess, let's go.

*Sigh*...

Wow!

Whoa!

You look gorgeous, Dorothy.

What do you say you and I sign a contract?

If I hire you for a cover shoot, swimsuit sales will skyrocket.

I'll pass.

Wowee, it's a real feast for the eyes!

Okay then, since it looks like everyone is ready,

let's go look into the power source.

I'm going to poke my head into the retail outlets and get an idea of their inventory and store displays.

I'm going to check if the infirmary's intact. Even if the ship's safe, that doesn't mean we shouldn't ensure we have medical facilities.

I'll go with Pepper. We need to confirm if everything's safe.

I'll check the ship to see if there's any damage anywhere.

...

Th-then, Ms. Dorothy and I will...

Actually, I have my eye on somewhere specific. Sorry, but I'll go on my own.

...

Why don't I join you?

Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer going solo.

How about Ms. Rapi and Mr. Commander...?

I'm concerned about the sleeping quarters,

and was considering bringing the Commander along to check it out.

You're the light of my life, Commander, so checking you out is my top priority.

Of course. I was planning on it. I was just pulling your leg.

*Sniff*... Thank you both...

Where's Ms. Frima, by the way? I haven't seen her for a while.

She found a spot that she liked and went to sleep.

... I see.

Even down here, all the lights are on.

Looks like power is being supplied to the entire ship.

Hehe, this is so exciting!

I wonder where the electricity is coming from? Maybe something like a degeneracy reactor?

Sounds a bit outlandish to me.

That's rich, coming from the person whose weapon fires drill projectiles.

... Fair point.

Anyway, what are the chances that there are humans or Nikkes on board?

Pretty unlikely, I'd say.

No one's shown up yet, despite all the noise we made boarding the ship.

Then what about that shadow we saw in the photos?

Could have been a trick of the light. Or a ghost.

...

You okay, Ms. Rapi? Why'd you freeze up?

I-it's nothing. I just got startled.

...

Mr. Commander.

Is Ms. Rapi afraid of ghosts?

In other words, yes.

...

Hehe, there's no such thing as ghosts, Ms. Rapi.

It's just your mind playing tricks on you.

Don't worry. Ghosts don't exist, I promise you.

Farewell.

...

...

N-now then, why don't we head into the engine room?

Hold on. Didn't you hear that?

Hear what? Nope! I didn't hear anything!

Y-you don't think it's g-g-g-g-ghosts, do you?

Stop kidding around.

Both of you, stop teasing me.

No way, it's definitely g-g-g-g-g-ghosts!

... Elegg.

Hehe. Okay, I'll stop.

Let's go! Full speed! BOOM style!

...

Huh?

The power is off.

... I mean literally what I said.

All the generators and engines supplying electricity to the ship are turned off.

It doesn't make any sense.

How is the power in this engine room... and the entire ship, for that matter... still on?

The lights, sewage system, the thermostat. They're all working fine.

There's no way.

This ship has a central control system.

If you look at the switches here, they are all marked OFF.

Hmm...

Hold on. Let me check something.

How peculiar.

There's a current flowing, but where is it coming from?

It's almost as if...

a ghost is behind this!

...

Commander. I have a suggestion.

I say we destroy the ship.

If we blow it up, it'll take all the ghosts and paranormal power sources along with it. We've gotta be sure. If we take out the ship, everything will return to normal, and—

... You're right. I'm sorry. I lost my composure for a moment.

Hehe, all right. I'm sorry.

I say we flip this OFF switch to ON.

That way, we can see if it's just a display error, or if the power source itself is really inactive.

...

Of course it is. All I'm doing is flipping a switch, for goodness sake.

Hrrrngh!

!!

Uh oh... a power outage?

I didn't bring any flashlights...

Let's get out of this engine room, first of all.

Yes, good idea.

Hehe, sure thing, Mr. Commander. I guess your vision isn't so hot.

Take my hand, Commander.

How exciting! This is my first time holding hands with both of you.

What do you mean?

I'm standing in between you and Ms. Rapi, holding both your hands.

...

The lights are back on!

...

...

Hmm.

Can't sleep.

You can't sleep?

No.

Can't sleep.

...

Huh?

... Creepy.

...

...!

Hmm... for a fancy cruise ship, there's nothing too special here.

At any rate, that's enough browsing. Time to set up a stall.

Let's see: sunscreen, breathing tube, towels...

Oh, welcome! I'm not even open yet, but it's always nice to see such eager customers.

What do you need? I've got most everything ready...

...

... Maybe it's acting up since it's so old.

...

Okay, this is getting a little freaky.

Wh-what the...?!

Uh, Tove, what are we doing at the pool?

To test out the effectiveness of this breathing tube... NOT!

Pools are accident-prone places, so I thought I'd check if this place posed any danger to us.

... You sure you didn't just want to check out the pool for fun?

Of course not! As a survival specialist, I'm merely making sure to eliminate any potential risk factors.

... If you say so. Let's check it quickly and then head over to the infirmary.

Huh?

What is it?

L-look! Something's wrong with the swimming pool! Otherwise, why would the water be swirling around?

Wait a moment... something does seem strange.

!!

*Gasp*!

If I drill a hole here and hang the mirror...

There. All done.

This place is in better shape than I thought, so there's not much to fix.

Who's there?!

... S-stop kidding around, you guys.

!!

Let's get out of here quickly.

What's the rush? The lights are flicking on and off, that's all.

You and I were holding hands with someone, or something, and it wasn't the Commander.

Unless he's got more than two hands.

You see? That means we must have been holding hands with...

...

Hehe, all right. If you insist.

I'll come back to the engine room later by myself to investigate.

Let's regroup with the others and share our findings...

Huh?

Elegg, no more kidding around.

I'm not messing with you! The door's locked.

This door is sealed tight. We'd have to use an explosive charge to get it open, and that could damage important equipment in here.

Hey, is that Ms. Dorothy?

...!

That explains it!

Commander. Dorothy locked us in here, and it was her who turned off the lights. I'm certain of it.

Sure, I'll admit I was a bit indecent when she was changing into her swimsuit, but this is so uncalled for!

Then who turned off the lights and locked the door?

Are you implying that there's some unscientific explanation? That some supernatural entity did this? Like... a ghost?!

Haha. Y-you're so silly, Commander. There is no such thing. At least, there shouldn't be. I hope there's not...

Far from it. I'm the calmest, most rational one amongst us right now. You're the one who's lost all sense of reason...

Farewell.

You've gotta be kidding me...

Farewell.

Seven Dwarves Zero, fully active! Pierce through!

A ghost!

Gah! A ghost!

A-a ghost!

*Gasp*! It's a ghost!

Ghost!

G-g...!

Ghooooost!

*Gasp*... E-everyone...!

Did you all...?!

Did you guys also...?

You guys saw it too? Really?

This can't be real...

You mean we all saw something? This is insane.

No, I definitely saw something!

It was a ghost in the mirror!

Blanket ghost.

Telekinesis ghost!

Water ghost!

A ghost that passes through walls!

...

Commander.

Once again, I propose that we destroy the cruise ship.

I'll use Seven Dwarves Zero.

I'll destroy this ship... I'll bring it all down!

No, I don't think anyone's hurt.

I haven't seen Dorothy for a while, though.

Hey, now that you mention it...

I need you all to listen carefully.

Don't be shocked, but... Dorothy is the one behind all this.

We can confirm it once we find Dorothy.

We've got to carry out a search for her immediately.

...

What's wrong, Ms. Rapi? You went quiet all of a sudden...

...

Wh-what are those things? Why are there so many of them?

Are they coming this way?

I don't think so...

Maybe they have to stay within a designated area or something?

Y'know, like in the movies?

Oh yeah, I've heard of that!

Me too.

Uh... ghosts aren't supposed to physically harm you, right?

They're just standing there. They don't seem like they're out to harm us.

Good point!

Now that you mention it, they haven't actually attacked us yet.

They just spooked us.

... You're right.

Maybe they're nice ghosts?

No, this is our chance to eliminate them.

We've got to exterminate each and every one of them.

Someone once told me that the only good ghost, is a dead ghost.

And the way to accomplish that... is through firepower.

Seven Dwarves Zero, ready.

Whew...

Neon... The god of firepower. Lend me your strength.

Encount...

Yikes! Guess these guys are dangerous after all!

I didn't expect them to actually attack us!

Gah! How are ghosts so strong?

Hnngh!

Be gone, evil!

!!

Physical attacks don't work on ghosts... no surprise there.

Damn! Commander!

Do something!

Retreat to where? The ocean?

For a while, sure, but not across the whole ocean!

Mr. Commander, get a hold of yourself! We can't have you losing your cool as well!

They're coming again!

Everyone, scatter!

If we stick together like this, we'll all get crushed!

...mmander!

... Oss!

... Valist!

Mr. Commander!

Boss!

Survivalist!

This isn't good! I've got to perform CPR! It's a special method I devised for falls from 2 meters or more.

Wouldn't it be better if we bonk him on the head with a wrench?

What are you talking about! Electric shocks would be far more effective!

Oh?

Whew... you're awake. Thank goodness.

We were getting worried.

Uh, actually...

You weren't paying attention to where you were going and accidentally slammed into a fence.

It was pretty funny to see, actually.

The fence got all bent up, too. Your body is something else!

I seem to recall someone suggesting that we dive into the ocean, or try to fly away.

Hehe. Right.

After all, someone like you surely wouldn't be so scared of ghosts

that you'd be terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.

We all got separated, so I'm not sure.

This is bad. Whenever people get split up in horror movies, they get picked off one by one.

We've got to regroup and figure out what to do next.

Although I don't think, even with all our heads put together, we'll be able to come up with a genius plan.

That's precisely why we need your help,

Mr. Commander.

I've got a hunch,

and I need your help to put it to the test.

All you've got to do,

is go hug a ghost.

Give one of those ghosts a big ol' bear hug!

In fact, I see one right over there.

After some close observation, I've noticed these ghosts always head straight toward us.

Maybe they're just after some affection?

Dunno. Maybe we could use the Heimlich maneuver to force it out of you?

Once again, I propose a wrench to the head.

It won't come to that, promise.

...

Ms. Centi, Ms. Tove. I don't think Mr. Commander is up to it.

He's too scared, so we'll have to nix the plan.

It might be for the best. We wouldn't want him wetting his pants and embarrassing himself, after all.

All right, Mr. Commander.

You see that fire hydrant cabinet over there?

I'm sure that's a nice, safe place for you to hide.

Or maybe I could build you a baby cradle? One that rocks you to sleep?

Your preoccupation with safety shows just how seriously you take survival! You have my respect!

Look out ghost, here I come!

Now, Mr. Commander! Go!

Of course!

...

Tablecloth too long.

Can't see outside.

Also, from outside,

can't see inside.

Cozy here.

Safe.

Good for sleeping.

...

Genius.

...

Footsteps.

Coming close.

Must be quiet.

...

Wait.

Ghosts don't have feet.

Can't hear footsteps!

Genius!

Hey.

Hey.

Tttah ttah.

!!

Tttah ttah.

!!

Ugh...

Farewell!

Elegg!

Let's go!

Got it! Leave it to me!

BOOOOOOM!

Farewellllll!

Urgh! The output... it's too much!

It's shaking like crazy!

The joints are gonna blow!

Guess we rushed it a bit...

Huh? Look over there!

All right!

Huh?

It's already broken? But it was only used once!

Farewell... Farewell...

At least we were able to drive it away.

Yeah, it wasn't totally ineffective.

I'd say that was a successful test run of our anti-ghost superweapon:

the BOOMbastic Fantasm Gun!

*Huff*... *huff*... I don't think it's following us anymore... is it?

*Gasp*... *gasp*... No, we shook it.

I don't see it either. I think we're safe.

Whew...

Well, Mr. Commander hugging that ghost did teach us one thing,

and that's that we can eliminate these ghosts.

Huh? How?

Mr. Commander. How did it feel when you hugged the ghost?

I meant physical sensation, not how you felt emotionally.

Yes. When I held hands with one before, I felt a tingle too.

When you embraced it, your hair and the fibers of your clothing stood on end.

This tells me that the ghosts are composed of electricity.

So! We are going to build a machine which absorbs electricity and sucks those ghosts right up.

... You're going to suck up the ghosts?

That's right. Electricity does happen to be my specialty, after all.

And with you two handy folks on deck, I'm sure we can come up with something in a jiffy.

That is, if you two are willing to help out?

BOOMbastic Fantasm Gun. Brilliant.

Considering how effective this thing was on such a rushed schedule, if we take our time and put some effort into it, it'll be remarkable!

The name is a bit long though. I say we call it BFG for short.

BFG? Intense name.

You bet it is! It's the most badass name there is!

But how are you planning on upgrading it?

After using it just now, I got an idea for how to tweak it.

Oh, nice!

Ms. Tove, Ms. Centi, can you two help me again?

This time, we'll do it proper!

Sure!

All right!

Hehe!

Now, what do you say we go do some ghost hunting?

Hey, don't push!

You're taking up all the space!

I'm not even moving! I'm staying perfectly still!

Then you need to lose a few pounds!

Hey! There's no need to be mean...

All that weight of yours is gonna launch me out of this cabinet!

M-my weight has been normal for years now...

...

I was wondering why it felt like my chest was being crushed.

Does all the fat when you eat go to your boobs or what?

H-hey! What are you doing?!

Do you have a permit for those things? They're practically deadly weapons!

W-wait a moment, what are you—?!

...

...

...

...

Is it gone?

I think s...

!!

!!

...

...

Found you!

Gaaahhhhh!

Eeeeeeek!

Ee...

Ah...

Hehe.

I'm warning you... you better sleep with one eye open from here on out.

Y-you scared the heck outta me...

Have no fear, everyone! We no longer have to run or hide!

Now, it's time we fight back!

Huh?

I don't get it.

Gaaaahhhh!

She's coming.

Is everyone ready?

Y-yes.

Of course!

Zzzzz...

*Sigh*... Are you actually serious about this?

You bet I am!

I'm really not in the mood for this.

How can you not be excited to witness a historic event like this up close?

There's no scenario in which this goes well. That's all I'm saying.

Well, we'll find out soon enough.

Gaaaahhhh!

Wh-where did everyone go?!

She'll be here soon, so everyone keep your eyes peeled.

Three.

Two.

One.

Farewell!

BOOOOOOM!

Farewell!

He-hehe...

Hehehehehe!

I-it's working! It's really working!

Wait, that thing actually works?

Farewell!

Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere!

Oh!

Did it work?

No way...

...

We caught it.

We caught it!

Haha! We caught it!

Wow, it actually worked.

There's nothing to be afraid of anymore!

Ms. Tove! The coast is clear. You can come out now.

It's time for us to strike back!

...?

Ms. Tove?

Gaaaahhhh!

H-help me!

Hyah!

Ghosts go BOOM!

!!

Actually, something's been bothering me.

Where's Rapi and Dorothy?

Hmm?

I heard a loud noise over there.

Dorothy. Can you take a look?

Go yourself.

You have better mobility, so it makes sense for you to go... Was that convincing?

If you just admit that you won't go because you're scared of ghosts, then I'll go.

Dorothy. Let me tell you something.

There are no such things as ghosts... or at least, there shouldn't be.

... I don't even know what to say to that.

Now hurry up and go.

No.

Then let's go together.

I said, no.

Okay, fine. Then answer this one question.

Did you turn off the lights in the engine room?

No.

Is all this ghost business your doing?

How did you possibly jump to that conclusion?

Because something about you seems off.

What the... I don't know what happened to make you change like this, but I preferred the old you.

The one who only spoke when necessary and stayed quiet otherwise.

I don't think I'm a fan of the current you.

Why not?

Do I have to spell it out for you? It's because...

...

Because I remind you of Red Hood?

...

You like Red Hood. Why don't you like me?

Because it feels like I'm looking at someone pretending to be Red Hood. An impostor.

I am me, Dorothy. Not Red Hood.

Then stop this pathetic mimicry.

What are you talking about?

Trying to cozy up to me. Assuming that if you like something, others must too.

I don't believe those are traits unique to Red Hood.

Perhaps your social circle is too small, and Red Hood is your only point of reference.

*Sigh*... Fine, I give up. Just leave.

I have things to do.

What is it? Let's do it together.

No. It's something very personal.

Huh? This is your first time on this ship. How do you do personal business here?

I just do.

The moment you saw that figure in the window, you changed your tune and wanted to come here.

What are you looking for?

...

There's another thing. Something more important.

You promised you would tell me about your relationship with Red Hood, and what you really are now.

You change the subject like a bull crashing through a china shop.

If you're going to follow me around like a pathetic puppy, you can at least expound on that.

Who knows, maybe all your blabbering will alert your comrades.

That way, I'll finally be rid of you.

It's a sad story. It will be difficult to listen to without tears.

I'll try my best to hold it together.

...

...

After that, I...

Wait a moment.

What's wrong? It's not boring, is it? I can try to spice it up and make it more interesting.

...

...

Dorothy.

Don't cry.

I'm not.

Well, from here on out, it's not as sad as before, so don't worry.

...

And now I'm standing here, telling you my story.

Powerful enemy... Do you mean the Heretic? And those comrades you met on the surface, who are they?

...

I won't go into detail about them.

Telling you about them would be far too risky.

...?

If you join the Counters, I'll tell you everything.

No, thanks.

Dorothy.

I'm going to go my own way.

I hope you'll do the same.

Haha.

In return for telling me your past, I'll overlook your presumptuous meddling.

I'll handle my own affairs,

and you do the same.

I see you like to keep me at arm's length.

...

I really did prefer the old you.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't my imagination.

Let's go.

...

Dorothy?

... That was fast.

...

Why couldn't she come with me?

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOOOOOOM!!

Hehehe!

Wow, they don't stand a chance.

I'm glad it's all going well, but this is so trippy.

It sure is a strange world that we live in.

...

Are you okay, Frima? You haven't said anything for a while.

Does she ever say much?

Fair point, but she's been awfully quiet, even for her.

Observing.

Observing what?

Ghost.

??

Commander!

Of course. I ain't afraid of no ghosts!

I did. She said there's something she has to handle on her own,

so she left me all alone somewhere dark and spooky.

What's going on here, anyway?

Elegg, Tove, and I made a ghost-hunting machine,

and it's working like gangbusters. Those ghosts can't do a thing.

It was my idea to model it after a vacuum cleaner!

Yeah, but I basically made it all by myself.

...

Incredible.

BOOM!

...

Phew...

I'm getting exhausted.

113.

Sorry?

Ghosts caught.

223 at the start.

...

132 left.

Frima. 223 minus 113 is 110. May I interest you in a little device we call a calculator?

BOOM!

Phew...

It's strange.

It doesn't feel like they're decreasing.

If anything, they're...

Increasing.

...?

Ghosts increasing.

434... 455... 461.

... I think we may need to switch strategies.

We need to retreat!

Um, I hate to be the party pooper, but there's nowhere for us to escape.

Things are getting desperate...

...

I'll try talking to them.

You'll what?

Part of being a survival expert is studying ways to communicate with animal species.

I've also gotten a lot of advice from the folks at Happy Zoo, so I'm feeling confident.

Do ghosts count as animals?

Either way, the basics of communication are the same. You need to understand their intent, and convey your own.

Based on my survival expert instincts, I believe these ghosts are trying to tell us something.

... I believe they're saying they want us dead.

...

We have no choice! We have to destroy the ship!

Everyone! Over there!

There's a ladder!

!!

It's an emergency ladder connected to the bridge! Let's climb up it!

But what if it leads us to more ghosts?

There can't be anymore there than there are here!

That's right! In extreme situations, sometimes the key to survival is simply avoiding the worst-case scenario!

Looks like the power is on here as well.

Thankfully, there don't seem to be any ghosts around.

Yes. Judging from their previous behavior, it seems the ghosts can't leave certain areas.

Maybe they're some kind of spirit bound to this place.

Hehe, still believing that those things are ghosts, are you?

No. I told you, I don't believe in ghosts.

Those things aren't ghosts.

While I couldn't give you the dictionary definition of a ghost,

the fact that they're made out of electricity and that we can suck them up with a vacuum cleaner

is proof positive they're not ghosts.

Furthermore,

I may be amazing, but not even I could manufacture a machine capable of capturing honest-to-goodness ghosts.

...

I came to the same deduction. Those things aren't ghosts.

If I were to guess, I would say those things down there

and on this bridge are probably...

Seven Dwarves Zero, fully acti...!

No! Wait!

...

Hello, dear passengers.

I am Alfred, the central AI responsible for overseeing the luxury cruise ship Utopia.

Wait, does this mean...

Yes.

All those things that we thought were ghosts,

were actually holograms.

How may I assist you, dear passengers?

What's with the "dear passengers" stuff? Seems a bit stuffy...

Haha.

Hahahaha.

This is a fantasy come true.

It really does.

Being able to relax like this with you on the ocean.

Do you realize how long I've dreamt of this moment?

Let us never part again, and stay together forever, happy like we are now.

There are no Raptures in this place. No hunger. No despair.

And even if one day there is, don't worry.

I'll be here to protect you.

Understand?

Pinne.