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Battler: How should I convince Ange to keep living? I know, I'll tell her what a great time all these dead people are having.
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Nov 12, 2017 03:05
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| # ? May 17, 2024 01:45 |
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EagerSleeper makes a point, though. That's a part of what Battler's trying to do, and it's not helping anyone. Also, wow, looking at it from this perspective really brings back bad memories.
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Nov 12, 2017 08:17
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EagerSleeper posted:Ftfy. Erika Therapist: Also you started the feud with your aunt who tried to be nice to you for years until she broke under own grief. Combined with the fact you never even tried to make your life better, in any situations you were put into. From what I can tell everything is your fault. Just from your misery alone this level of reasoning is possible for Erika Furudo. What do you think everyone? MonsterEnvy fucked around with this message at 08:45 on Nov 12, 2017 |
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Nov 12, 2017 08:41
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 BGM: S/he End Until I undo this seal, I can't even stick the key in the keyhole.  "...You can remove this, right?" "Of course." To sum it up in a phrase, it was like a trench in the ocean floor. No, that's not quite right. It was... a library. However, the number of books and the height of the shelves vastly surpassed all of those that existed in the world of humans. If height is the measure of greatness, then the gods must surely be giants taller than mountains. This place appeared to be a library big enough and grand enough for such gods. Each individual book was no larger than those from the human world. However, the shelves holding them stood like the walls of a valley... or like a deep-sea ocean trench. So, Ange and the others looked like little more than a few small butterflies who had wandered into this vast library. Like miniscule deep-sea fish swimming about all alone in an ocean pit.   "Isn't there some way to just smash it open?" "...Do you like to thaw your frozen fish by smashing it with a hammer?" "Sorry, I was always terrible in cooking class." "...Kitties, thaw this seal." Bernkastel threw the Book of the Single Truth down to them, and only after several seconds passed, the school of fish seemed to gather around it and carry it away. Those few seconds made it clear just how deep this bookshelf trench went. Ange was once again dumbfounded by this unimaginably vast and godly library...  "We can just let them handle the rest." "...And you really will let me see what's inside?" "If that is your wish, I'll grant it. And, of course, I won't be able to read it myself without that key of yours."Ange silently gripped the golden key in her pocket... This journey has been so long, and so strange. In search of the truth from 12 years ago, I left my home, met President Okonogi, met Amakusa... And, at some point, that adventure became wrapped in the Illusion of the Witch. However, here I am. Ushiromiya Eva's diary is here. The truth written inside it is sitting right before me. "Rest for a while. Even I don't have enough free time to spend it all with you." "...Well, I'm not really tired though." "Erika. Serve Ange some tea or something." "Yes, my master!" "...Bernkastel. If, by any chance, you're planning to use me and steal both the key and the book, you won't get off easy." "H, how dare you say such a thing to my master?!" "Sorry. After my long experience with witches, I've decided not to trust normal words." "...Very well. I'll promise it with the red truth. When the seal on the Book of the Single Truth is dissolved, you, Ange, will be the first to read it. ...Is that good enough for you?"For some time, Ange considered the witch's words, searching for some sort of trap hidden within them... There was no greater guarantee than a red truth given by a witch. Ange understood this well enough. If one did start to doubt even this red truth, there would be nothing left to trust in this entire world. If one began to suspect even this, then even the truth would no longer be truth.  "...Are you still unsatisfied about something?" "Nn... No, I'm fine."She would need Bernkastel's help if she wanted to read the Book of the Single Truth. Ange finally realized that she had nothing to gain by complaining more and annoying this witch further... "...Once you've dissolved the barrier, call me right away." "Of course. I also want to read it as soon as possible. I'll call for you at once."Bern spun away from them, then vanished into the dark bookshelf trench. Ange saw a school of emerald green fish appear and follow behind Bernkastel. Could those be her familiars? As she stared at the emerald lights that resembled some sort of deep-sea fish, Ange was poked from behind.  BGM: One "...You're creeping me out, so please just call me Ange." "Then you can call me Erika-sama." "...Let's get going, comrade Erika."The pair began to swim in the direction Erika indicated. 'Swim' seemed a better way to describe what they were doing than 'fly' would have.   "It's not like you'll be able to remember its name, so why not just call it the library?" "I'll decide what I can or can't remember. Tell me." "It's 'the Great Witch of Theatergoing, Drama, and Spectating's Noble City of Carefully Selected Books'." "...Yeah, 'the library' works fine." "Knew you'd say that." Yeah, the name fits. The bookshelves on either side of this canyon are skyscrapers. If I think of those emerald green lights flowing beneath us as headlights on a highway, then this really does seem like a city of books. "These things aren't just books, are they?" "That's right. Each volume is packed with an ensemble play. They look like books from here, but if you open one up, you'll find a whole world inside." "...So, even our long tale is only one of these." "Great witches who live on a far, far higher plane than we do are hardly any different from a Creator or God. From their perspective, our little tale is worth little more than a single book, if that."From the theatergoer's perspective, our individual lives are hardly worth anything at all. If they're writing down an entire world in a single volume, then my life probably isn't even worth a single line. "But we're the main characters. I am, and so are you." "That's right. Even if the tale of the gods doesn't mention us, the main character in the story we write for ourselves is always us. Becoming aware of that fact is the first thing that separates witches from humans." BGM: L&D Circulation It didn't go in very deep, making it look like a room that had been cut in half. It was filled with the tools of everyday life, as though this was Erika's hidden house. "My master has ordered me to serve you some tea, so if you don't feel like drinking, I'll have to pour it into you with a funnel." "...If you try, I'll have to serve you some matcha." "Matcha?" "...Nothing. Just talking to myself."Ignoring Erika as she made tea, Ange looked down upon the bizarre, otherworldly scene below. Until Erika finished getting the tea ready, the scene held Ange's gaze like it was sucking out her soul...  "This might sound strange, coming from me." "...What?" "So, you really did make a deal, to throw away your life to learn the truth." "...I had nothing to gain from life. It was easy for me to trade away the time I had left." "My master really does take to idle whims. To think she would make a contract for the meaningless life of a powerless girl." "...Heh."Ange chuckled, not bothering to argue. That was exactly right. How incredible that Bernkastel would lend her power to a worthless life that was trying to throw itself away.  "Good point. Even if Bernkastel hadn't appeared, I would've still taken that step off the edge that day." "...You really are a cheap woman, aren't you?" "Well then, just how much are you worth?" "Me?! Hahaha, ahahahahahahahahahaha..."The way Erika cackled was disturbing. Still, Ange realized that this was her way of answering the question. People don't become witches of their own choosing. If they're capable of living, all people want to live their lives as humans. ...When something comes along to trip up that life, that's when the road to living as a witch opens. Even Furudo Erika, who calls herself the Witch of Truth, must be like this. The two Witches of Truth, sitting here drinking tea without even looking at each other, are exactly the same.  "I know that." "I like exposing secrets, then watching those people turn pale as they wonder how I figured it out. That's when I know I've reached the truth, and it's a moment of ecstasy." "There's something seriously wrong with you." "Well then, what does the truth mean to you?" "..."Ange was about to give an immediate answer, but she bit down her words. Then, she gulped, not knowing how to respond. After all, to Ange, the truth itself was the goal. At first, it was out of hatred. Could Ushiromiya Eva, the sole survivor of Rokkenjima, be the culprit behind everything? She hated Eva, but she had no proof that her aunt was the culprit, and of course, Eva never talked about what happened on that island. So, at first, 'the truth' meant proof that Eva was the culprit, in Ange's eyes. However, that feeling withered away with Eva's death. Now that Eva was dead, even if Ange did find some kind of proof, it wouldn't mean anything. So, eventually, the truth Ange wanted to find... became nothing more than the simple desire to know what happened on that island that day. However, one thing was obvious. Even if she did find out the truth, that wouldn't bring any of her family back to her.  "You're going to expose the truth your beloved Onii-chan is hiding, even though it's meaningless? You're the one that's not making sense."Erika laughed mockingly. Ange laughed too, as though she agreed. "And so, my own truth became my goal. Maybe you could even call it my reason for living." "So, once you do reach the truth, there won't be any point or purpose to you living anymore, right?" "That's right. So, I'll die. Hasn't it been long enough? I've already lived 12 years too long. Don't I at least deserve to have a witch appear and grant my wish in my final moments?" "...Or, to put it simply, you're just tired with life. Does that sum it up?" "Yeah. So, my reason for living, my very existence, and everything else is meaningless. That's why this goal of finding the Book of the Single Truth has put a little sparkle back into my life, now that it's nearly over. At least on that score, I'm grateful to Bernkastel." "I see. Battler wants you to live, so he hid the goal that would let you die. I think I pity Battler-san for the first time. After all, you can't choose your little sister." "..."Sorry, Onii-chan. I'm... tired of life. 12 whole years. I've been living off nothing but the illusion that someone might come home someday. Just let me find peace already. Finding the truth of that day... I decided I'd use that to mark the end of my life. For 12 years, I've believed in a miracle, but there was no miracle... I won't... believe in miracles anymore...  "...The Book of the Single Truth. Of course, I'm also dying to find out what's in it, but from what I hear, it doesn't sound like the truth inside is something spectacular enough to mark the end of your life with." "Yeah. At first, I hoped there would be something earth-shattering written in it. But now... I guess I've cooled on it." "Any truth searched for by a worthless person is bound to be worthless. It'll probably make for a fitting end to your worthless life." "...Yeah. I'm... sure it will." Regardless of why Eva decided not to talk about what happened... The real events of that day... probably weren't anything earth-shattering. Some sort of malfunction made the bomb in that secret underground base explode. Yes. It was just... an accident. But... the public believed that some sort of conspiracy surrounded the events of that day, so that's what they expected. If Eva, who was a suspect herself, claimed that nothing strange happened, it's doubtful that anyone would have believed her. Of course, this included Ange. In that case, shutting up like a clam would just make things easier. It was hardly surprising... that Eva chose to say nothing. "...Right now, I don't feel any sense of accomplishment. I just feel... sort of worn out and listless." "Being able to bear the truth is what makes a witch a Witch of Truth. Comrade Ange. It looks like you don't possess that strength after all. If you did, you wouldn't be thinking about dying." "...You're right. I've dreamed that someone might come back for 12 years. I've just used Beatrice's cat box to shut away the truth, denying it for 12 years." "...When you read the Book of the Single Truth, I wonder what will happen to you." "Who knows. Won't Bernkastel carry out the contract by slicing my head off with a scythe or something? Or will I be turned into chunks of meat again? Maybe I'll get some salt and pepper this time." "...I see, so that's where the chunks of meat thing came from." "Did you say something?" "Nope, nothing at all. Anyway, would you like some more tea?" <No thank you.>Ange listlessly gazed down from the balcony with no handrail, down into the darkness of the abyss at the bottom of the bookshelf ravine... no, the gap between the bookshelf skyscrapers. From the beginning until the end of my journey, I haven't taken a single step away from this spot. This journey of mine, not even a single step long, will end soon...   BGM: 7 weights "Oh, those? Probably a group of guests coming to the great Lady Aurora's party." "Guests...?" "Great Witches from the Senate, Voyager witches who are trying to escape boredom in their endless travels, powerful witches who have woken from century-long sleeps, as well as witches who control the future world and noble witch hunters. It seems she's planning to hold a grand party tonight." "...Is it a birthday party or something?" "From what I've heard, while the great Lady Beatrice, the Endless Witch, is an outsider among witches, she's also the genius who created 'Beatrice's cat box' out of her formidable magical compendium, the endless factory capable of producing endless tales. From my point of view, she's just stupid and a weak finisher, but in the world of great witches, she's apparently pretty famous." "So this is Beatrice's birthday party?" "My master says she'll be holding a dinner party with Beatrice's guts. After all, it's only natural, right? The cat box was only able to generate infinite tales because there was no Single Truth. However, tonight... the Single Truth will be revealed, thanks to your key. And that means the cat box will be opened. Really, it's no different from slicing open her chest as she still lives and tearing out what's inside." "...Everyone in that huge crowd which looks like a packed freeway is going to one dinner party? I'm not sure what's stronger, my shock at how famous Beatrice is, or my revulsion at those sleaze-bags." "For you, the Book of the Single Truth is nothing more than an end. However, for all of those enjoying the mystery of Rokkenjima, this is an event that can't be missed." "I see. So, that's a crowd of those goats who're chewing Onii-chan's game board apart."Ange's analogy was an accurate one. The crowd far, far below them... was made up of nobles wearing beautiful outfits and goat masks. They were all so intent on tearing the guts out of Beatrice's cat box that they couldn't even hide the drool trickling from their mouths. Those gluttonous goat nobles, who derived pleasure from violently exposing the truth, were in a line of cars heading towards the meeting place.  "...Beato and the others have holed up in the Golden Land, the last leftovers from the game board. Battler and Beato have strengthened their defenses and destroyed the first wave, but they won't be able to stop the second. My master has given me an armada capable of destroying the very concept of defensive measures. The Golden Land's ramparts are as good as gone." "...Those goats who appeared all over the island... They're the personification of random opinions in the future, and all of them want the island's tale to be a tragedy." "That's right. Those goats keep getting born from the sea of the internet. That first wave was just the riffraff. The second wave will be entirely different. It's made up of the best of the best, elite goats selected from the crowd that are capable of denying all the cowering pieces one by one. In total, they number in the hundreds of thousands. A hundred thousand people to deny the existence of a few dozen hiding on an island." "...Looks like... this is it for Onii-chan too." "Are you sure you're ready? You understand that Ushiromiya Battler died in 1986, and that this man is an illusion created by the cat box?" "...Yeah. I understand."Regardless of whether he's my real brother or an illusion... Regardless of whether he's who I'd like him to be or not... The Battler who created this game board for my sake... will die. No, it just means that I'll accept the fact of his death, so it's not like he's going to die now... Ange thought to herself. Shouldn't performing the last rites for her brother... be her responsibility? This was her final trial, which she had assigned to herself. All of those people down on the game board... were the personification of Ange's naivety. By denying the existence of all of them, wouldn't she finally be able to accept the truth?  Even if it's all an illusion, it wouldn't make that bizarre Halloween party any less heartwarming. Onii-chan said it himself. That Halloween party may have been an illusion. However, he was trying to use that party to tell me something... "About that second wave..." "My master has appointed me to be their commander. Leave it to me, Ange-san. My master isn't so malicious that she'd make you dirty your own hands." "..."Yes, that might be kind of her. These are... my lingering attachments we're talking about. I should be grateful to Bernkastel. If she really were cruel, she would probably have ordered me to take charge of the second wave and execute my own family. "Comrade Ange. You are a Witch of Truth, aren't you?" "...That's right. Probably." "Then let's accept the truth, okay? Finally, after 12 years, the Single Truth lies before you." "...I'll just sit around here until Bernkastel breaks the seal." "You'll probably be summoned as a guest for the party. We've got a mirror, so maybe you should wipe the sleep from your eyes." "And maybe you should shave before heading out to battle." BGM: Melody (instrumental) At its base, there was nothing except some floor tiling about as thick as a rug, so it was fairly hard to imagine that this was Kinzo's study. By now, all of the game board except the Golden Land has been eaten away, leaving only this door floating in a sea of nothingness... There were two shapes in front of that door. It was Battler... and Beato. They may not have been literally covered with wounds, but they definitely seemed to be dead tired. Battler, leaning against the door, seemed to have finally caught his breath. Beato was also sitting against the door, letting her legs dangle gracelessly. Could the battle against that force really be called a battle? It was more like a mere pushing fight on the increasingly small bit of ground that remained. They had wanted to protect at least Kinzo's study no matter what. And, the only fruit of their desperate struggle was the thin bit of flooring that they were sitting on now. Those goats fell into the abyss whenever they had nowhere to stand. So now, with so much of the floor gone, there was no way for them to attack anymore. If Battler thought this, his naive hopes were quickly crushed.   "So, their plan was to gather their forces and crush us in a single stroke..." As they could clearly see, the decks of those ships were packed with goats, with some of the more foolish and overeager ones spilling over the edges into the emptiness below.  "Dang... I've gone through a lot of crazy stuff in your games, but being surrounded by pirate ships is definitely a first for me." "...They probably do possess the strength to break through the Golden Land's perimeter. Those cannons are no bluff. Doubtless, they will be able to use those to smash through this door and pour in."Along the sides of each ship were several open gun ports, each with a cannon pointing at the door. If this many ships all around them fired all of those at once... There was no point trying to imagine what would happen next. Battler and Beato grimaced and hung their heads.  "...How long will the Golden Land perimeter hold out against those cannons?" "I do not know. However, since they are still awaiting reinforcements after amassing that many, I doubt the barrier will break that easily." "True. I can't think of any other reason to delay your attack without even sending terms for surrender..." "I hope we can take advantage of this time they give us." "...Time is always the ally of the weaker side. After all, we can always hope for a miracle." "Though it might also give us more time to wither in despair."At that moment, something small and hard hit Battler in the forehead.  "...Ow! The heck is this? Konpeitou...?!" The candy was Lambdadelta's transformed body. She was the only one of their allies capable of crossing the sea of Fragments.  "Oh! That's the great Lady Lambdadelta for you!" "They'll be able to see us here. Let's talk inside. It's getting crazy out there." "Got it. Is anyone there?!"When Battler knocked on the door, it opened, and Shannon and Kanon came into view.   "My apologies, but we need you two to keep a lookout." "Leave it to us." "...When they begin their attack, don't worry about fighting them. Escape to the Golden Land as soon as they start. Don't worry about closing the door." "But that means..." "They're planning to ignore the door and smash the Golden Land directly. Making a last stand here won't do anyone any good." "...I understand." "We'll take care of things here, so go inside and work on a counterattack." "Indeed. We're counting on you." BGM: None A gentle rain poured down over the Golden Land rose garden. The Golden Land's weather reflected the hearts of those inside it. The quietly falling raindrops spoke for the pain felt by those who could do nothing but hide here, waiting for the enemy's final assault... When they returned to the arbor, the konpeitou flew out of Battler's pocket, jumped onto the table, and returned to its original form.  BGM: Revelations (instrumental)  "Let's get down to business...! Just where are Ange and Bernkastel...?!" "The City of Books." "...I have heard of it. They say it's a place where great witches, travelers of the sea, store countless Fragments in the form of books." "Indeed, the Great Witch of Theatergoing, Drama, and Spectating's Noble City of Carefully Selected Books." "So, the Great Lady Aurora is the ruler of the City of Books. Truly a suitable place for her." "Nice going, Lady Lambdadelta. Hard to believe you could pick out that spot so quickly from all the other possible hiding places." "Actually, it was pretty easy. I didn't even have to search, since they're advertising it as loud as they can. They're planning a huge party to celebrate the announcement of a great secret. The secret to the cat box of the Great Lady Beatrice, the Endless Witch." "...Hmph. I see, so they haven't been delaying their attack because they await reinforcements, but because the party hasn't begun yet." "So, in this party, they plan to use Ange's key and announce the contents of the Book of the Single Truth?" "You've got it. Aurora hasn't held an event like this for ages, and she's gathering VIP guests from all over the place. The Book of the Single Truth will probably be the party's final showpiece."  "Time-wise, that may be true. However, there's a really simple and obvious problem." "What?" "The City of Books is a sacred realm under the supervision of the Senate. It's protected by a holy barrier. Only a witch of the Senate can enter it." "...Aren't there any invitees who aren't members of the Senate?" "Yeah, there are. It looks like they're being given special 'invitations', which allow them to enter the sacred realm for a limited time. "...Invitations." "My, my, now this might be interesting." "That's what I thought...! However, there's a strict policy on punctuality, so these invitations automatically become useless unless you present them before the party begins! And, I'm afraid to say the party started a short while ago." "In other words, it's too late to try stealing an invitation from a guest who's running late." "That's right. So, what do we do now?! Could someone get me popcorn? I'd like a nice candy flavor this time!"  "...We're already done for, aren't we..." "Can't we do anything except sit here until they attack?! There must be something we can do...!" "That's right. There is just one thing we can do." "...What's that?" "We can keep on strugglin' for each second of survival... and hope for a miracle." "A miracle...?!" "So, we're stuck defending the Alamo." "We cannot surrender. Our only option is to hold out as long as we can, waiting for a miracle." "...Uryu-. What kind of miracle?" "There is a chance, maybe one in a million, that Ange will change her mind for some reason and come back." "...Hmph. With a probability such as that, it truly would be a miracle."  "Yes. Ange-san has nowhere to call home except where we are right now. So, we must defend this place to the last minute, waiting for her to come back." "Awaiting the master's return is the duty of a servant...! N, n, n, now that it has come to this, I, Gohda, am prepared for what may come...!" "...Battler-sama. All of us are prepared." "We of the Chiester Sisters Imperial Guard will fulfill our oath and remain by the Great Lady Beatrice's side until the bitter end!" "45 here, no problems! I shall fight until the end." "...Finally, a fitting place to die, nyeh. No problems from 410 nyeh." "The Seven Sisters of Purgatory will stay with Beatrice-sama and Battler-sama until the finish!!"The six younger sisters also showed their resolve with their eyes.   "The former SSVD's got your back too." "...And please, lend us your power as well." "Me?! No way. Didn't I just give you some excellent intel? I think I've done more than my fair share, don't you?" "How do you know that Ange-chan is in the City of Books?" "I saw her with my own eyes, of course. I never trust anything unless I see it for myself." "Which means you're qualified to enter this sacred realm called the City of Books, right?" "...Indeed. The Great Lady Lambdadelta is a witch of the Senate, after all." "Lambdadelta..." "...What's with you guys? You aren't gonna tell me to do more work, are you...?" "My, what an unexpected development...!" "Lady Lambdadelta is the only one who can enter the City of Books!" "And could that possibly mean...!"  "Enough kidding around! Are you people crazy? You're telling me to go, all by myself, and sneak into there one more time, and then bring Ange back out here?!"The several dozen people surrounding Lambdadelta all nodded in unison.  "How stupid can you be?! If I were to save Ange, that'd mean crashing the great Aurora's party, get it?! I'd have the whole world as my enemy! And what's in it for me?! Nothing, obviously! There's nothing you all could possibly offer me, that'd be worth getting on the bad side of Aurora and her monster friends...!" "You'll get to see a happy ending, where Aurora and Bernkastel's schemes are crushed, Ange comes back, and everyone makes peace with one another." "...What do you say, Lady Lambdadelta? There could be no greater thrill. If you pulled off such a marvelous feat, you would be able to forget your illness for a thousand years, would you not?" "We're begging you, Lambdadelta...!! Lend us your power!!"Please, please, we're begging you! Help us save Ange...! Everyone surrounded Lambdadelta, asking for her help.  "Please, Lady Lambdadelta...!! Only you can do this...!!" "Give us your strength!! I'll show you the greatest of tales!! You'll get to see it from the front row!! So please, lend us your strength!!" BGM: None Lambdadelta leapt to her feet and crushed the cup of popcorn in her hands. Sweet, candy-flavored popcorn flew all over the place, hitting everyone in the face. It may have been a hilarious sight. However, no one laughed. Lambdadelta's face was filled with a rage that none of them had seen before. "Could you please stop getting the wrong idea?! I'm a spectator... a spectator!! I'm just a guest who was invited by Beato to come and watch this game! So, why I am supposed to risk my life for you people?! You think you'll get a happy ending if Ange comes back?! Are you really that stupid?! Bern and her forces will come sweeping through here, mad with rage, and wipe us all out!" "There's only one reason I'm here, and that's because Lion over there said I'd get to watch an interesting show!!" "Yeah, and now I'm sure I'll get to see a sublimely interesting tale very soon...! A sad, sad tragedy as you fight desperately against Bern's forces and get wiped out one by one! Oh, I'm sure you'll each get one last time to shine as you're torn apart!" "If I just wait a little, I'll get to see all that, won't I? Pretty soon, all of you'll be dead!! But not me! I'm a spectator, a guest!! There's absolutely no reason why I should agree to die with you!!!"...No one was able to say a word. In the still silence, with no sound except that of the rain, even Lambdadelta finally hung her head in dismay.  "...But still, unlike the rest of you, I'm not 'a character who appears in the story'. I can't die. It's like it's midnight, and you're telling me that we're almost at the best part. But tomorrow's Monday, and I've got early cleaning duty at school...! We live in completely different worlds...!! And so, and so... Haaaah..."Lambdadelta staggered as though dizzy, then plopped down into a chair. Then, she became expressionless like a doll, just staring at a single point in space, silently...  Battler softly apologized. However, Lambdadelta remained expressionless.  "...It's not fair for us to force you to risk something on your own, not when we haven't yet tried everything we can do." "..." "We'll fight here and defend this spot until the last moment. We'll believe in the miracle of Ange choosing us over the Single Truth. If we aren't prepared to do that, we're in no position to ask you to give up your life alongside us."Battler rose from his seat and span around. "...Battler..." "I'll switch places with the pair outside. When they come, I want to be in the front lines. That's the fastest and most direct way I can show Lambdadelta my determination." "..." "I shall go as well. Teacher, please find Lady Lambdadelta some more popcorn." "...Beato..." "I know Ange will return. If we don't believe, even a possible miracle will not bear fruit. You can't win a lottery unless you buy a ticket."Beato also stood up and followed Battler.   "I agree. Nothing stupider than just sitting around here...!" "Good point. If we're reaching the end, let's put on a good show." "...We've got to make sure there's a place Ange-chan can call home." "And we should hold a strategic CONFERENCE." "Yeah. We have furniture, weapons, demons, and inquisitors. Must be some way for these mismatched forces to cooperate." "Let's go, little sisters. Break time is over." "Chiester Troops, rise."The humans and the fantasy creatures all rose to their feet and left the arbor. 
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Nov 12, 2017 15:33
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Erika seems almost kind at points in there.
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Nov 12, 2017 21:05
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Oh, Lambda. I always thought I liked you more than Berne, and now I think I understand why. You both have a story in front of you and you both seek to control it (or rather, Berne does), but she seems to have the remove from the story necessary to affect it- she doesn't, perhaps can't, take her mind out of her head, can't forget her own circumstances for a bit... or maybe just wont allow herself to. But you're different, aren't you, Lambdadelta? I think you're like me. You get involved. The story haunts and possesses you, so you can't put it down; you take the book with you on the train, into the restaurant, into school, into work- you cant leave it by the bedside and just bang off a chapter at night, because one chapter becomes two, then three, then five, just one more before bed until you notice it's 3AM... You walk with the story, and with the characters- they surround you as you are surrounded by the Golden Land right now. We say that we read to escape things, that we read for happiness and dreams, but why is it that those things dissipate so easily while a well written tragedy, a well told and characterized problem, stays with us forever? Berne might be able to dismiss Battler's pain, or Yasu's struggles, as just an unconnected incident, but Lambda has spent so much time with both Battler and Yasu that she can't call it nothing, not anymore. The problem, the struggle, the tragedy is real to her, as real as it is to me, and problems require solutions... need closure. And even if they don't get it... isn't the portrayal something you want to remember? Aren't you drawn to a story well told, no matter how it ends? So of course, Battler's romantic quest to save his sister from her own suicidal tendencies moves something in you, because while his methods are lacking in several ways, his feelings for his sister and the desire for her happiness are not, and they have never wavered, even when said sister has seemingly rejected all you've done and said. And you've always seemed drawn to idealism, so Lion, Yasu's ideal always dreamed of, took your fancy when they decided to maintain faith, even despite your declaration in red, because they're right- what does happiness mean in the end? Isn't that a juicy question to explore, more interesting than a litany of woe set in stone? And wasn't it you that gave Yasu your blessing in the first place to become Beatrice, because you were moved by their resolve even if you knew that their failure was a given... And come to think of it, what about the last time "They" cried, deep in that mountain village, when you lent your blessing again to someone who wanted an impossible thing and didn't care what they had to do to get it? You have claimed the role of Certainty all this time, through out the story, but... for a Witch of Certainty, you are drawn to some very uncertain things. While our Berne seems to have a sureness that dwarfs anything you seem to have displayed. Hey... which side of Kierkegaard's dilemma of Fear and Trembling do you two really fall on? Which of you is really the patron of the Knight of Faith?
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Nov 12, 2017 23:52
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 BGM: Haruka "...Oh, would you like some too, comrade EVA? We have no more cups, so you'll have to use a funnel."A gold butterfly drifted onto the balcony and turned into EVA.   "That's what I came to talk about. She says the seal has been broken." "..." "Congratulations. So, the time has finally come. The period to mark the end of your life." "Take the key and go to Lady Bernkastel. One of her cat familiars will guide you."Two emerald sparkles flew in. They were the green, glinting eyes of a black cat. The cat flicked its tail elegantly, with the dignity of a high-class attendant.  "...Got it. Then, I'll be back in a bit."Ange rose from her seat. She did it casually, as though she really was just heading out for a short trip. However, her lips would never touch her half-finished cup of tea again...  "Same here. Next time we meet, you'll have to teach me the trick to making tea this terrible." "...Are you happy? Now, you'll finally get to learn that secret I've been hiding from you these past 12 years." "I am happy. Yeah, now I can understand how Erika feels. It feels like I've taken a shot back at you, exposing the secret that you kept until your death." "And is that a good feeling?" "...Well, it's better than nothing."Ange nodded towards the black cat to let it know that she was ready. The cat nodded back in a refined manner, indicated that it wanted Ange to follow, and leapt from the balcony. Without turning back, Ange followed it, jumping out into the air as though swimming... EVA watched her go. An expression of ridicule and scorn... failed to cross her face...  "Good luck, Ange. This is the path you've chosen. You aren't six years old anymore. You're 18. Choose how to live your own life." "...What an overprotective aunt you are." "I'm going to watch the ceremony. What about you?" "It's almost time to begin the attack, so I'm heading for the ships. I've got to go pick up Beato's corpse. The guts will go to the party. I get to keep her skin, so let's stuff and mount it." "So, this is the end to the mysterious tale of Rokkenjima." "...Which means that it's also the end for you. I mean, you are a piece from there, right?" "A piece is all I am. The role of a piece is to remain faithful to its role until the game ends. It's not a piece's place to worry about what happens after the game is over." "True. And it's the same for me. Let's both enjoy this time while we have it. Well then, allow me to take my leave." "Later. Good luck with your work."After exchanging elegant bows, the two witches vanished at the same time. Nothing remained except some half-finished tea cups and the aroma of the tea itself...  BGM: Revelations (instrumental) "Hey, Professor Ootsuki...!" "Oh, what a surprise! I haven't seen you since the last convention!"All of the guests gathered here were very rich and cultured. A single hobby tied all of them together. They were the Witch Hunters. Like-minded people who enjoyed exploring various interpretations of the Rokkenjima mystery. "Still, I wonder if it's really true. To think that this diary of Ushiromiya Eva's actually exists...!"  "Just like that fable of the king with the donkey's ears. Humans truly are tragic creatures, incapable of keeping quiet about a secret even if no one else could possibly learn of it." "Wahahahahahahahaha. From what I've heard, a collector from Dubai offered to buy it for ten million dollars...!" "Incredible...! More evidence of the fascination that the Rokkenjima mystery is capable of stirring!"Conversations like this were breaking out passionately all over the place. Furthermore, it wasn't just guests who were allowed to enter. The press was also there in force. The Rokkenjima mystery created such a large movement that, at one time, it became a social phenomenon. Though it had died down slightly in recent years, it was still a topic fiercely debated across the internet. It was hardly any surprise that the discovery and eminent release of Ushiromiya Eva's diary, which contained the truth of that mystery, had caused an uproar. And on top of all that, the mysterious Forger Itouikukuro was to appear publicly for the first time. In fact, it seemed that Itouikukuro and Hachijo Toya, the up-and-coming mystery novelist, were the same person. Of course, this meant that Hachijo Toya would also be appearing in public for the first time. Though she was thought to be a male author, the fact that she was actually a mysterious woman author alone was enough to cause a stir. Before the diary unveiling party, a press conference was held in one of the rooms of the hotel.  "We now know that in your previous book signings, you refused to show yourself to the point of using a body double, so what has caused you to change your mind and appear before us this time...?!" "The legend of the Rokkenjima witch has given birth to endless tales. Considering the weight of such a legend's demise, and being the mere writer that I am, I felt obligated to show myself as a sign of respect." "As a Forger, you announced on the web that you had reached the truth! Does that mean you have already read the contents of that diary?!" "...And, very soon, those contents will be revealed to everyone." "Pardon me for asking, but is there solid proof that the contents of this diary are the truth? It seems that some are claiming it to be no more than a personal account of a single deceased person." Oooooohhh. A stir passed through the crowd, and the room was suddenly filled with camera flashes. "This ends Hachijo's interview...! Allow us to express our deep gratitude towards all members of the press for coming on this day! And now we would like to move on and allow you to take photos of Madam Ushiromiya Eva's diary."A hotel worker pushed forward a cart covered by a veil. Then, after looking to Hachijo for approval, he removed the veil. There lay... Ushiromiya Eva's diary. The Book of the Single Truth sat there, waiting for its seal to be released. Hachijo held it to her chest and laughed enigmatically. Camera flashes came from everywhere, making the Book of the Single Truth glint... "And that is all for now! If you would all please move to the assembly hall...!"Still holding the diary, Hachijo left the press conference room, escorted by men from the hotel. Until she went through a door that said 'Authorized People Only', the journalists continued to surround her and ask questions, hoping to gather just one more comment. When the door slammed shut, the world twisted. The hotel employees became black cats wearing capes. Hachijo had turned into Featherine...   "...How tiring. Though it didn't feel bad. And yet, this diary truly is heavy."Featherine tossed the diary, and Bernkastel caught it. "I will rest in one of the waiting rooms." "You're up again pretty soon. There's no time to rest." "...In that case, call it a short break so that I can properly enjoy this long-awaited excitement." "I need to borrow that book. I promised Ange that I'd show her first." "I see. In that case, do as you please."Featherine left, followed by her cat attendants. After watching her until she was out of sight, Bernkastel disappeared as well. Like Erika's room, Bernkastel's was a balcony without a handrail, dug out of a bookshelf cliff. Ange had been kept waiting for some time, but she had waited patiently, looking down at the world below her...  BGM: None After Bernkastel appeared, the black cats gave a bow and vanished. "Here you go. I've brought it with me. The Book of the Single Truth." "...Can I touch it...?" "Do as you like."Bernkastel set it on the table and beckoned Ange forward. Slowly, Ange approached it.  BGM: Bring the Fate "That's right. Inside it, you'll find the Single Truth that you wanted. You do have the key, right?" "Yes. Right here."Ange took the key out, looked at it there on her palm, then gripped it tightly. Even that heavy lock that held the diary so securely... was fated to be swept aside easily as soon as Ange readied herself... "I won't rush you. You don't have to open it until you're ready." "...In here, there's the truth of what happened at midnight after October 5, 1986, right?" "...Yes. Everything that you wanted to know so much, you offered up your life."In that instant, two Anges appeared inside of her, taking control of her body at the same time. On the one hand, she knew that she had already paid a great price to learn the truth. This part of her gripped the key, wanting to prevent the moment of hesitation that might lead her to refuse to learn the truth now, at the final moment, with the Book of the Single Truth right before her. On the other hand, a feeling that she was betraying the brother and family that watched over her warmly made her bite her lower lip. However, though she shook, she could do nothing but watch as her right hand slowly brought the key towards the lock. "..." "..."What am I hesitating for...? Inside this diary, there's the final destination of my sad, painful, 12-year-long journey. Was 12 years not enough of that? Do I want to keep living that way...? That brother is an illusion created by my heart. My naive hope that a miracle might still occur. If I put my two options on a scale, then the path I should choose is clear.  The lock opened with a click, and at the same time, it felt as though a crack ran through the key in my hands. Maybe a part of that intricate design had fallen off. I couldn't tell where it was broken just by glancing at it. However, for some reason, its golden glint seemed dulled somehow. "...It's because you've made your choice with that key. A bit of magic has disappeared." "What kind of magic?" "Didn't Battler tell you? He said you couldn't hand that over to anyone else. That magic, which 'left the decision to you', has just fulfilled its role and disappeared. That key is just a key now. It can't do anything but lock and unlock that diary." "...I see. Then, I guess I have no more use for Onii-chan's key." "Can I have it? Once you've read the diary, I'll lock it up again. Opening that lock will be a big part of tonight's ceremony, it seems." "...I see. Do whatever you want."I don't give a drat what happens after I find the truth. Bernkastel slid the key from where it lay on the table and put it into her pocket. "Go ahead, then. Before the courage that led you here fades." "..."I lifted up Aunt Eva's now unlocked diary. The lock was open. Even the hinge had been released by now. Nothing stands in the way of me opening to the pages within... I thought of taking a deep breath. However, I decided against it. I prepared myself for this long ago. So stupid to fuel my reluctance further.   Video: The Single TruthBGM: ALIVE I knew... that this was the right way to open to the pages that held the truth. As soon as the cover was opened, a brilliant light poured out, and my mind went hazy. The truth was sent to my mind directly, without letters or words... Tell me... what happened that day... on Rokkenjima...             My consciousness returned gradually. Nothing was written in the open book before me. Of course. This was... my own blank and empty notebook. I was at school, just sitting idly with my notebook open. The world had stopped. The hands on the clock had stopped too. In that case, the auditorium should have been filled with silence. However, I could hear a small commotion. In this world of suspended time, I could see dark shapes sneaking about in the shadows of the unmoving students.  They were sneaking glances at me from behind the frozen students, whispering something to each other. I know. I can hear them. Everybody... everybody knows. One after another, students with goat heads grew out of shadows all over the room. They slipped around all the students stopped in time... and gathered around me. Then, they all jeered out something in unison, and, possibly aware that I could hear, showered me with giggles and gossip and sneers. However, nothing that came from the goats' mouths reached my ears as words. This was a world without letters or words, so no words reached me. However, their emotions and meanings did reach me. So, I knew what it was they were saying. And then, when I was able to visualize it, this happened... One after another, the goats opened their massive jaws, showing their fangs that dripped with saliva, and came forward to bite me. Time was stopped for me. I was aware, but I could not move. Literally, that wasn't true. However, I was pretending that I couldn't hear, so I couldn't move. The goats bit me all over my body, leaving their fang marks, licking me. Maybe they didn't like the taste of my clothes. Taking advantage of the fact that I couldn't move, they chewed through my clothes one by one. Over and over again, the goats stuck their tongues, their jaws, their fangs into my naked body. I was covered with drool and bitten all over. Bright red teeth marks were left behind as sharp fangs pierced my skin, leaving trails of blood. They licked up that blood like real goats, hurting and humiliating me. As I hung my head, one of the goats pulled on my hair, forcing me to look up, and spoke. It wasn't with a direct concept, but with words I could hear. However, they weren't words of the human world. They were a witch's words. The red truth, which signifies absolute truth.  "...I won't accept it." "It doesn't matter if you accept it or not!! This is the truth!! After all, *********, ********* *********!! ************************** *******!!!" "...I won't accept it, I won't! I won't accept a truth like that... like that..." "Whether you accept it or not, that doesn't change the truth!! After all, this is the Single Truth, proven in reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddd!!"*giggle*giggle, heheheheheheheheh, hahhahahahahahahaha...!! Who cares about the truth, so stupid, so pointless...! I'm the one who gets to decide if that's the truth or not, right? Even if it's red truth, I won't acknowledge it, won't forgive it, I definitely won't accept it...!!  "...Ange, calm down. You're the one who wanted to know, right?" "Hahahaha, ahhahahahahahahaha!! My truth is that Aunt Eva's the culprit!! Aunt Eva killed everyone!! Everything's her fault!! Dad and Mom and Onii-chan and all the others are just victims...!! It's no one's fault, no one's fault...!! Of course it is, of course it is!!" "Hahahaha, ahhahhahahahahahahahahahaha!! Yeah, I get it now, I know what you meant! Heheheheheh, ahhahahahahahahahahahahah!! That's right, Aunt Eva, you're the culprit, you're the culprit!! It's the world that's messed up and broken for not realizing that...!! I'm the right one, I'll deny the red truth, deny the whole world...!!!" "...That's right. In that case, try writing the red truth that only you can write. But how is it possible for a human to write with red truth?" "It is possible!! There's a red ink that only humans can write with!!"Ange-san, please calm down. "I'm the right one!! The world's wrong!! I'll write it!! I'll write the truth with the real red truth!! Hahahahahahahah, ahahahahahahahaha!!"20, requesting urgent support on the roof!! Ange-san!! Hold on!! Please think this over, look ooooooooout!!! "<Goodbye, Ange. Have a nice day.>" "I'll write it out! This is my blood-red truth!! I'll never accept the truth of your woooooooooooooooorld!!!" The air, which she had once been able to swim through, was now completely merciless for some reason. Ange's body... plunged straight into the darkness below. "..."Bernkastel just watched the scene play out in silence... Behind her, men in black suits rushed up to the fence, clutching it and screaming... "T, twenty...! A, Ange-san... j, jumped off...!" "drat, I can't see her from here..." "Q, quickly, investigate the ground area...!! It's no use, there's no way...!!" "M, maybe she was caught by that safety net...! L, let's make sure...!"What fools. If you jumped straight down from this height, do you really think such a flimsy safety net could possibly save you...?  Ange's body... fell from the skyscraper-like bookshelf and slammed against the floor of the City of Books. Looking down from Bernkastel's balcony, which was as high as a skyscraper's roof, could it have looked like a lovely, red pressed flower? It couldn't have looked like anything. Just like how the death of a single lonely girl who rejected the world... didn't matter to anyone in the world. She probably died instantly. It was only natural. She had fallen straight down from this height, after all. Is it even conceivable that she wouldn't die instantly after something like that? The index finger on the right hand of her corpse stuck out, as though it was tracing something. Could it be that, by some impossible miracle, she really had escaped an instant death? And could the red blood that had drained from her on the moment of her death... have been the ink that drew her own personal red truth? However, no one would ever be able to tell what she had written. After all, the red blood pouring from her corpse had run over it all.  EVA was looking down at the beautiful flower of blood radiating from Ange's corpse.  "...I tried to give you a chance to live. However, you didn't truly make an effort to live in the future that began after the age of six. And so, after 12 years, you've finally returned to where you started."The eyes on Ange's corpse... were closed. However, there was no way of knowing if this was a peaceful thing. Eventually, the corpse began to melt away. At the end, it had become a messy lump of flesh, with only a few parts recognizable as human. It was hardly surprising. How else would she look after falling from that height... and slamming against the asphalt? "You managed to die. However, this doesn't mean that everyone will be waiting for you in heaven. After all, you reached this place by rejecting all of those in heaven. <See you in hell>. No, that's probably where we are right now. So long, Ange." "Ah, EVA. Perfect timing." "Did you call for me, my master?" "Clean up this scrap meat for me, if you wouldn't mind. I'm going to put this back."In Bernkastel's hands was the key, which had lost its magic when Ange had made her decision, and the Book of the Single Truth, which had been locked up again. "As you wish, my master."After looking down one more time, Bernkastel vanished. Once she had gone, EVA summoned some cat familiars and ordered them to clean up. The black cats gathered Ange's flesh and scattered limbs and threw them into a tin bucket.  Perhaps 'living' is a poor description. She... was unable to die. From now on, forever. She would drift along in the deepest depths of oblivion, covered by the dust of oblivion, until she finally... disappeared. She continued to question herself. What did the truth mean to her? What was right, and where was the place she could call home...? As her flesh began to cool, even the energy to ask these questions... began to fade... Eventually, she would forget her everyday memories, and even the reason why she was suffering. However, there was one thing she would never forget. That was... the anguish. From this point forth, she would suffer endlessly without even knowing why.  
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Nov 13, 2017 14:19
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Nov 13, 2017 14:39
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Yes this is relatable both the update and the comic. I was able to get help and no longer am in that dark place. But not everyone is so lucky. I still take medication to manage my bipolar issue.
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Nov 13, 2017 15:18
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ProfessorProf posted:
I think this portrait ought to be Ange. Also, come on, after all that, we don't even get to hear the Single Truth? I guess I should have expected that, but now, in the absence of the Truth, I feel like I'm stuck doubling down on my highly implausible "it was Ange's fault" hypothesis, since even her earlier reaction to a Fragment in which her family were the culprits didn't seem strong enough to drive her to suicide (though I suppose the additional weight of the entire world knowing might do it).
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Nov 13, 2017 15:23
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God I kinda forgot about this part. Guess it has been awhile since I read the VN and I was flying through it as fast as I could but drat...
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Nov 13, 2017 16:27
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Gosh, the voice acting here is so chilling.
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Nov 13, 2017 17:22
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 AngeYou know, Bern keeps using her position as the Witch of Miracles to deny the possibility of a miracle, but isn't the whole point of a miracle that there's always a chance?
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Nov 13, 2017 17:25
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Also please note Hachijo dropped the Red irl, take that Anti-Fantasy!
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Nov 13, 2017 18:16
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A bunch of so called magic has happened in the supposed mundane part of the story. Given the unreliable perspectives at play, I am unmoved. Witches aren't real and neither am I.
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Nov 13, 2017 18:19
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POOL IS CLOSED posted:A bunch of so called magic has happened in the supposed mundane part of the story. Given the unreliable perspectives at play, I am unmoved. Witches aren't real and neither am I. But what about mackerel. That has to be real, right?
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Nov 13, 2017 18:51
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ZiegeDame posted:
Yeah, if all a Witch of Miracles can do is tell people that a miracle ain't gonna happen and giggle then put me in a fancy dress and get ready to spell my name in all-caps because even I can manage to do that much. Though I suppose that isn't 100% true, as I want to believe that there is still a chance for Ange. Her soul in the witch-meta is still alive and we have no confirmation of her death in the "real world", so there is still a sliver of hope.
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Nov 13, 2017 19:41
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havenwaters posted:But what about mackerel. That has to be real, right? Mackerel exists without being contingent upon any causes and is therefore Real. My existence is contingent upon mackerel and therefore I am only "real" in that we both politely ignore my impossibility within this consensual small r reality.
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Nov 13, 2017 19:45
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Witches may or may not have been involved in the Rokkenjima case but that doesn't mean Featherine isn't a supernatural being. 
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Nov 13, 2017 19:47
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Confused Llama posted:I think this portrait ought to be Ange. I'm sort of wondering if it actually was a complete accident now. One of her lines is really interesting: "Hahahaha, ahhahahahahahahaha!! My truth is that Aunt Eva's the culprit!! Aunt Eva killed everyone!! Everything's her fault!! Dad and Mom and Onii-chan and all the others are just victims...!! It's no one's fault, no one's fault...!! Of course it is, of course it is!!" That line near the end implies that "it's no one's fault, but I'm still saying it's Eva's". Definitely have to echo the comment on the voice acting being chilling.
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Nov 13, 2017 20:28
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POOL IS CLOSED posted:A bunch of so called magic has happened in the supposed mundane part of the story. Given the unreliable perspectives at play, I am unmoved. Witches aren't real and neither am I. The conference isn't in the catbox
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Nov 13, 2017 22:22
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Rodyle posted:The conference isn't in the catbox That doesn't have much to do with the other strange elements in the real world part of the narrative.
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Nov 13, 2017 22:24
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I don't know if I should be angry or not. I don't feel anything. In the end, she couldn't take the truth, and she killed herself. So much bluster, but all it amounted to was just another excuse to try and kill herself. Okay, I take it back, it hurts. A little bit.
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Nov 13, 2017 22:37
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The game isn't over yet. Don't forget the time she was murdered by her aunt.
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Nov 13, 2017 22:38
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And for all her cries about demanding the truth, it's clear even if Battler told her right out - she would reject it, anything that didn't support that her hated Aunt Eva did it (and/or her brother and parents are innocent), she rejects it. Ange didn't want the truth - she wanted justification for her grudge and to die, and it's so strong she didn't care who she ends up hurting in the process. She's so used to everything going bad that she would rather trust the people who made it perfectly clear they have no good intentions about her wellbeing over her own brother.
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Nov 13, 2017 23:25
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Turns out obsessing over a massacre was a bad thing, huh?
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Nov 14, 2017 04:24
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tiistai posted:Witches may or may not have been involved in the Rokkenjima case but that doesn't mean Featherine isn't a supernatural being.
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Nov 14, 2017 22:43
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 Ange returns to their true self.
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Nov 15, 2017 06:03
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 Yes, it must be... the sound of rain... In that case, what are those two bright lights coming towards me? I don't know. However, they came at me with a screeching sound... and stopped right in front of me. A blaring noise came at me over and over. Whatever's shining those bright lights... is threatening me. It's probably telling me to get out of the way. However, I was incapable of moving even a finger... There was sound... and a car door opened. Car. Door. Apparently, I was lying on asphalt under the pouring rain. I saw a shadow, which was apparently the driver, open an umbrella and come towards me...  The shadow questioned me. Of course, I couldn't answer it... "...If it is, then I must apologize. Yes, on a day with such fine weather, anyone would want to take a nap in such a lovely garden as this. And yet, unless my memory fails me..."The shadow crouched down and looked into my face. It was a woman.  I... clenched my chest. I felt I needed to answer somehow and communicate my intentions. So, finally, I managed to let a short groan escape my lips.  "...I see. So you aren't roadkill yet."And that... was how I met Ikuko.  BGM: Le 4 Octobre "It's lucky that damage is all we have to deal with. Spend much longer in a spot like that, and things would likely have been much worse." "...True. In any event, I recommend getting this checked at a large hospital." "Thank you, doctor. Please keep this off the record. It may not be much, but here's some money for your troubles." "I see no reason to speak of this needlessly, but... no, no, I couldn't possibly accept that much..."In the end, the doctor took the money and swore to keep quiet about the matter. Eventually, Hachijo returned.  I nodded weakly, letting her know that it wasn't so bad for now. But... where is this place? A room I have absolutely no memory of, in a house I don't remember at all. And, first and foremost, here's a woman that I've never seen... "To start off, let me introduce myself. I'm Hachijo Ikuko. I don't mind if you casually call me Ikuko, or act more formal and call me Hachijo-san."...Hachijo... Ikuko. "The Hachijo family is a large landowner that's fairly well known in these parts. Unlike my accomplished brothers, I'm what you might call a little eccentric. After I got into a bit too much mischief than was good for me, my parents finally ran out of patience and kicked me out. I'm now confined to this house. As a hobby, I like to read detective novels... and also to write them. My age... is a single woman's secret." "My heart is that of a girl, but I'm approaching the point where calling myself one would be increasingly absurd. Heheheheh."With the haze my mind was in, it was extremely hard to make out what she was talking about. However, I was able to pick up on the fact... that she was trying to talk to me cheerfully. "...So, what's your name?"...My... name... Logically, I know that, being a human, I must have a name. And, I do have the feeling that I did indeed have a name. However, no matter how hard I tried to remember what it was, it just made my head hurt... "Is there anything you can remember besides your name...?" "..." My head... no, even my heart was a mess of torn flesh, and I couldn't remember a thing, not even who or what I was... But I must remember. I had some kind of purpose... or maybe a mission. In order to remember that, I first have to remember who I am. Who am I...? What is my name...? Where was I born... and what was my birthday...? I need to remember something, anything... "...Age..." "Age? *giggle*. That's my little secret." "...18..." "I look like I'm 18...?!" "...I'm... 18..." "O, oh, so that was your age...! Well now, I thought you were being a bit too flattering. Hahahaha."When I asked myself how old I was, the number 18 had floated into my mind. To be honest, the number 18 felt a bit out of place. My mind felt much younger than that, and my pathetic body felt much older. "I see. So you're 18. And, that's all you can remember."I nodded weakly. I never knew that knowing nothing about yourself could make you feel this powerless.  Hachijo... Ikuko gave a satisfied laugh. From then on, I took the name Hachijo Toya. My inability to move my body was apparently due to a traffic accident. On that day, I had been hit by a car, and Ikuko had picked me up from where I lay on the street. If she hadn't hit the brakes... She probably would've driven straight onwards, thinking she'd run over a dead dog or something. Later on, I, perhaps rudely, suspected that the one who hit me might have been Ikuko herself, but when I saw her completely undamaged front bumper, I gave up on that theory.  BGM: en-counse She also owned the hill behind her and was more than capable of enjoying the four seasons in privacy. As time passed slowly, my rehabilitation continued, and my ability to move improved little by little. However, it seemed I really did suffer some form of brain damage. Finding out who I was... looked like it would be a very difficult task. In the beginning, when I couldn't bear not knowing my identity, my head often hurt so much it felt as though it would explode. However, as I slowly accepted the fact that I was a new person, with the new name of Hachijo Toya, the headaches became less frequent. The whole time... no memories returned to me except the fact that I had been 18. However, I was unable to remember any more, unable even to be sure that 18 was my true age, and eventually, I stopped trying to remember my former self.  "...I had some trouble falling asleep. So, I decided to read your manuscript." "My, my. How far did you manage to get?" "I finished it." "...Now there's a surprise. You managed to read through all that in a single night?" "I was surprised too. Once I got into it, I'd finished before I knew it. It was like I was just skimming it, or maybe like I was reading each page in a glance..." "It sounds like you have some talent at speed reading. So, how was it? What did you think of it?" "I liked it a lot. Still, if you don't explain that part about the ocean currents a bit more clearly, it might be a little unfair for the reader... Oh, but I thought it was great that you had the foreshadowing with the ring right there at the beginning. After I finished, I had to go back to the beginning and slap myself for being so easily tricked. I think that feeling's the best part of a detective novel." "..." "...Um, did I say something to offend you? If I did, you have my apologies." "Of course not! Why are you apologizing...?! I'm just shocked, that's all. Your detailed opinions are worth the same as praise, I believe... I guess you have some talent as a critic or a detective novel writer too."...A detective novel... writer. A critic. From across the fog of oblivion. I seem to remember myself... fighting and arguing about mysteries, or something like that. That way of fighting, which I must have learned in the past... sent a surge of excitement through me. Mystery. Fighting... My head... hurt... I accepted a painkiller and swallowed it with fresh water brought up from the well. Who am I... really...? But no matter how much I thought, I couldn't remember. From what I've been told, the frequency of the headaches might be lessened by brain surgery, but there was no guarantee that it would do my memory any good. Ikuko said that she would let me have surgery if I wanted it. However, I refused. Even if I can't remember it, the real me is still there, sleeping inside my head. I was scared... that the surgery might harm that 'me' somehow. By now, I've gotten used to dealing with headaches. As long as I don't force myself to remember the past, the headaches don't torment me every day. So, bit by bit, I became free of the headaches... and got used to my new life as Hachijo Toya...  BGM: Far (piano) Hachijo Ikuko. A very strange woman. First off, she was apparently the daughter of a very well-off family, just as she had said. However, she was considerably eccentric, and the 'various mischievous incidents' she spoke of had apparently gotten her within an inch of being disowned. As a result, she had been given this house, and had been ordered to live here quietly and alone. She had never been a particularly social person, so she happily accepted this new state of affairs, living however she pleased with servants to take care of her. She had no friends. No one ever came to visit. When I wasn't around, she only ever talked to an old black cat she kept as a pet, named Bern. I don't know her real age. She doesn't seem to be too old to marry yet, but with an isolated life like this, she isn't likely to meet people. She sometimes says that she just hasn't met anyone worth the trouble, but I think she's already given up on marriage. Her everyday life was very simple. She would either read through the many detective novels that were brought to her, or else write detective novels herself. At first, I thought she was some novelist at a private retreat, plugging away at a new book. However, the manuscripts she finished just ended up clipped together in a pile. With me as the sole exception, it didn't look like she ever let anyone read them. A novelist is someone who writes novels for people to read. So, I figured you could hardly call her a novelist when she kept writing novels no one would ever read.  "I show them to you. Only the better ones, of course." "Haven't you ever thought of sending one to some publishing company? It's a shame for things to be this way, when your works are so interesting." "My works can't stand up against the pros. I sent one in once, but it was absolutely no good. I understand my position. This is just an amateur's pastime." "I don't think amateur is a fitting word for someone who's so well-versed in detective novels from all times and all across the world." "Being a big eater doesn't mean you'll make a good cook. Reading every detective novel you can get your hands on is no guarantee that you're a good detective novelist. That's how it is. That's why this is nothing more than a pastime." "...Is it really fun to write novels that you won't show to anyone?" "It used to be. Once." "What about now?" "I like getting to hear your opinions. At any rate, I've finished writing the chapter. I'll go make some tea, so would you mind reading it again and sharing your thoughts with me?"Saying this with a smile, Ikuko thrust a pile of manuscript paper at me. When it comes to detective novels, reading and writing are the same. It's boring if you just do it by yourself. You only get something really precious when you share the world with someone else. ...Headache. "Toya? Are you okay? I'll go get some headache medicine." "I'm fine. I'm more interested in this manuscript. I can't wait for the new chapter."The seasons passed. Together with Ikuko, in this town whose name I didn't even know, we spent our days debating detective novels and talking about ideas for new plots. At a glance, they may have appeared to be stale and unproductive days. However, Hachijo Toya found satisfaction with this new life.  BGM: Ballade Continuer With a dramatic flourish of her pen, Ikuko signified that her manuscript was now complete. "What do you think...?! I tried using your plot to make Tsujiko's tragic love scene at the end a bit more moving." "I think it's very good... I think the last farewell is sad enough to make it moving as a story, not just a reasoning puzzle." "...That's thanks to your plot. Compared to this work, everything I've written before now is worth little more than scrap paper. Even as I was writing it, I was excited to be the first person in the world who got to read it. I've never felt that before." "I just mentioned some ideas. You're the one who turned them into such a fascinating story, Ikuko-san."At some point, she roped me in as well, and I also started my journey in the world of writing detective novels. Apparently, the old me had some talent for mysteries and detective novels and the like. And, my talent seemed to be of a fairly unorthodox kind. I tried turning famous mysteries from across the world on their head, twisting those ideas into something new. However, a few ideas aren't enough to make a book. No meal is complete if all you can do is chop up vegetables. Thanks to Ikuko's writing, a skill she had built up over many years, my ideas were transformed into a work of fiction. In this work, 'the Strange Tale of Beatnik Island', the two of us merged the best of our respective personalities, and, though I hate to brag, it had turned into a masterpiece that we could show to anyone without shame. "Hello? Please bring us some champagne. Bring a glass for yourself as well. This is the best job we've done so far, so let's celebrate."Ikuko called for some champagne over the internal phone line. Joined by the servant who happened to be working that day and the cat Bern, we raised our glasses high and toasted our accomplishment.  "Let's hear it. I love hearing your ideas, as long as I'm not in the shower or on the can...!" "Why don't we try submitting our book? I've never read something this interesting before. I'm sure lots of other people will want to read it." "...You think so? I tried once in the past, thinking the same thing, but the result was..." "I believe in your talent, Ikuko-san. What about you?" "Of course, I believe in your talent." "Then it's decided. To Ikuko-san's big debut." "To Toya's big debut!"We clinked our glasses once more. The evening wore on...  BGM: None Before I knew it, I must have passed out on the sofa. There was a blanket covering me. Ikuko-san must've put it there. The lights were out in the study, but it wasn't dark. The computer's monitor was glowing. Outside, it had started to rain. ...It reminded me of the day Ikuko-san found me and took me in. Because of that, whenever it rains, I find myself wondering who I was, and I usually get headaches. So, I wasn't sure whether the pain was because of the rain or because I drank too much.  "Oh, did I wake you up?" "No, I slept well. Thanks to that, I feel refreshed."I turned on the light and looked out through a gap in the curtains. As I'd thought, it was the sort of pouring rain that always reminded me of that day. "It's raining pretty hard out there. The wind looks pretty strong too. I hope the rain gutters don't get clogged with leaves again." "...I just cleaned them the other day, so they should be fine for a while."Her answer sounded a little abstracted. Apparently, her attention was absorbed by the computer. "You've been pretty hooked by that computer lately, Ikuko-san. Did you find an interesting article or something?" BGM: Revelations (instrumental) "...Rokkenjima...?" "I told you about the Rokkenjima mystery a few days ago, remember? It's been really huge on the net lately. The discussions, theories, and even the Forgeries have been quite entertaining. Forgeries are stories, all based on the premise that yet another message bottle signed by Ushiromiya Maria existed and drifted to one of the nearby islands..."Ikuko kept showing off her knowledge of the subject. However, a huge bell was clanging inside my head. The noise was so great that I thought my head would split open. Unable to tell what was the floor and what was the ceiling, I crumpled and clutched at my head... "Toya... are you okay...?!" The Rokkenjima Explosion Accident. The many disquieting rumors surrounding it. The scheming of the relatives after Ushiromiya Kinzo's vast wealth and the hidden gold... And the truth? Ushiromiya Eva, the sole survivor, said nothing. Eventually, the granddaughter... Ushiromiya Ange... who escaped harm because she was absent on that day, would inherit everything... Ange, Ange... Ushiromiya... Ange... I am... Ushiromiya... gyahh... No good... my head's... getting split open... An incomprehensible scene pierced my eyelids from the inside like a blade of light. Just what... am I looking at...? Who... are these people... calling to me... but not by the name Toya...? Who... am I...? Who are these people...? What is... this memory...? Help me, Ikuko... Someone else's memory... is hurting me... 
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Nov 15, 2017 14:32
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Nov 15, 2017 15:08
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Rune Full Moon posted:Her pen name is Toya Hachijo (八城 十八), her real name is Ikuko Hachijo (八城 幾子). Holy poo poo, I actually had to come back to this post to double check. Now I wonder if those conversations we saw between Hachijo and Ange had actually been the parts of her before and after the brain injury communicating with each other as she will have a lot of memories to deal with now. That said, this is the sliver of hope I was waiting for. She had a chance to live a life away from the Ushiromiya name and away from the Rokkenjima incident, even if for a little while. Before she only knew the 12 years of pain and obsession so hopefully this will give her the perspective, as she regains her memory, that it is possible to live an enjoyable life.
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Nov 15, 2017 16:20
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Huh. I don't think this is actually Ange. It's a bit of a misdirect. How would Ange get from jumping off a building and being actively pursued by dozens of people to lying injured alone in a road in some nameless town? And Ikuko is a famous mystery author by Ange's present time (remember, she was going to see her about the forgery business), which is clearly not the case here; she's just submitting a novel at the end that is likely to be published. Note that she says the survivor, Ange, WOULD inherit everything, not has already inherited everything, and that the Rokkenjima forgery fad appears to be a new thing. This is a flashback; an explanation as to how Ikuko is able to write Rokkenjima forgeries that make so much sense. The narrator is the survivor of Rokkenjima, the one I've been contending was most likely to be Beatrice. They're writing them together, but Toya stays out of the limelight. The survivor having amnesia isn't something I'd considered; that means it could be basically anyone, since they wouldn't have come to rescue Ange or reclaim the family fortune if they didn't know what was going on. Having such a strong reaction to Ange's name means that it's most likely a member of her immediate family; probably Battler, since that would explain his central role in the forgery episodes. The interest in detective novels also suggests this, as well as the fact that in the most likely scenario we've seen for the real Rokkenjima events, Battler's fate was never addressed.
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Nov 15, 2017 16:53
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But how did the survivor end up out on the road for Hachijo to find? That seems tenuous for the same reason as Ange being there is tenuous.
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Nov 15, 2017 17:09
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I have a feeling it's Battler. Beatrice/Sayo never referred herself as an Ushiromiya, Maria is dead, and there's zero chance it's the adults or the other cousins.
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Nov 15, 2017 17:16
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Fair point, it may be someone different, we don't really have a confirmation on who they are, only that they call themselves Ushiromiya and the name Ange is important to them. Of course if it is someone like Battler the question is how they got there, but for all we know the explosion just send him off flying Team Rocket style and he landed on the road there 
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Nov 15, 2017 17:23
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POOL IS CLOSED posted:But how did the survivor end up out on the road for Hachijo to find? That seems tenuous for the same reason as Ange being there is tenuous. The survivor would have had to leave the island independently before the explosion - maybe they tried to swim for it and ended up washing up somewhere? I don't remember, how far is Rokkenjima from the nearest populated island?
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Nov 15, 2017 17:44
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Seems dubious. I honestly think it's more likely that this is Ange after being dumped out by Amakusa or her aunt's lackeys... yet my hunch tells me you guys are right and that isn't how the story will go, and instead we will get something more convoluted.
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Nov 15, 2017 17:46
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lol if I was right all along about Battler surviving.
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Nov 15, 2017 19:35
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This seems much more likely to be Battler than Ange or anyone else. The only other people who'd like detective novels on the island are Yasu or at a stretch, George, and neither of them fit the age. Maria is both unlikely and also would have to be surviving somehow for 12 years (also missing a jaw). As peas noted, the time frame is certainly not that of Ange's inheritance. We don't really have an idea of exactly where Ikuko's house is, but it's implied it's on the coastline. So if Toya drifted on the water for a while and then ended up crawling onto the highway, that might fit.
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Nov 15, 2017 20:18
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It's also notable the narration, and the dialogue with the Doctor and Ikuko didn't use any gendered pronouns, leaving some ambiguity of who Toya is.
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Nov 15, 2017 23:25
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