“Human Resources” Shouldn’t Be This Literal: A PMMM/ProjectMoon Quest

Chapter 134 - Off To See The Wizard

It doesn't take the children long to convert the entirety of the Miki residence's living room into something suitable for a sleepover. Sleeping bags and blankets are rolled out, furniture is moved, and movies are retrieved from cabinets that don't appear to have been opened in months. Leonie is placed on a coffee table since everyone agrees that's where she can best see the rest of the room. The house is rather small for so many people, but the atmosphere is more cozy than cramped. Everyone is moving just a bit too quick to seem peaceful, but it's getting there. The kids will be alright together.

It occurs to you that you have absolutely no information regarding what's supposed to happen at a sleepover. You obviously never had time for it or anywhere else to go, and Ayin never intentionally socialized with people who weren't Carmen. Some unknown feeling squirms within you, looking at your children peacefully prepare for the night. This is an experience you'll never have. You didn't get a childhood, you never got to grow up. Since the moment of your conception, you had work to do. There was never time for frivolous things like this. There never will be, either. You just don't have enough time left to waste it like this.

That line of thought is dismissed violently. There's no point in thinking such things now. All it does is weigh on you, and you have enough to carry already. You've made your peace with your lot in life. There are more pressing matters to attend to right now.

Like that thing you noticed. While Sayaka's busy rifling through her kitchen for snacks and Hitomi's calling her parents to presumably drop off toiletries, you wave over Kyoko and Homura. The twin Distortions make their way through the mess of beddings and furniture and to the door where you linger.

"What do you need?"

"I'm going to be counting on the two of you to hold down the fort for a while." you explain. "I just sensed a thing show up not too far off from here and need to investigate, but I think everyone here needs some time to just cool down for the moment. So you two are in charge of making sure nothing goes wrong while I'm dealing with it."

"With the thing." Kyoko repeats in a deadpan tone. "Any idea what this thing is?"

"It's a thing, but even that's not totally certain. If I knew more, I'd tell you." you assure, though admittedly the lack of information is irritating to you as well. At least the not knowing will soon be followed by learning, which will then in turn lead to not not knowing. A preferable state of affairs for sure.

"We will handle the situation here while you are away." Homura says, already moving to leave and return to her previous position. You're not all that worried about what might happen while you're away, even if there is a risk of things going wrong. Children they may be, your kids can handle themselves. And besides, it's not as if you're going to be gone for all that long.

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Not long after saying your goodbyes and setting off towards the anomaly, you detect the musical hum of Argalia's approaching presence. Curiously, he's coming from the direction of your apartments. There's the possibility he was spying on you, but it's a slim one. Argalia isn't an honest person, but such a brazen act would be out of character. You might not have the same way of seeing the world, but you're still allies as of now. It seems more likely he was just using the room you picked for him.

"Good evening." you say without so much as tilting your head to the man's direction as the blue-clad madman lands beside you with stunning speed. "It seems you just happen to show up whenever I want to see you. Funny, isn't it?"

Argalia laughs. It's a musical, almost metallic sound, elegant and beautiful but also unnaturally sharp. "Were it a mere coincidence, it would be. But there is more at work than chance. So," Argalia asks, casual and friendly as an old friend, "How has my dear companion been doing? I do hope you haven't called me to say that there's been any issues."

"Not at all. Leonie's having a sleepover with the other kids. She's been doing well, though real improvement will take time. That's to be expected, though, for matters like this." you report. Argalia hums, the noise sending ripples of white fog over the azure surface of his lone eye.

"It takes time for a person to change. And the world as it is gives so little time already." Argalia muses, more to himself than you. "But that is all beside the point. You have requested me for more than just a chat, haven't you?"

"You don't need to sound so surprised." you deadpan. "I'm not all work all the time, it's just like you said. We don't have a lot of time to spare nowadays. To the point, I'm investigating something odd and want to make sure I have backup in case it's more of a problem than anticipated." Not that Argalia was your first choice. A common enemy isn't as much of a basis for cooperation as one might think, and you and Argalia do have a few key philosophical differences that will cause problems down the line.

But until then, he's useful. And you don't turn down advantages when you're already in a rough spot. It's a shame you can't leverage the former Color Fixer's speciality of diplomacy, but the man's combat abilities are nothing to be scoffed at either.

"I am rather adept at solving problems." Argalia says through faint laughter. You continue in silence. It would be a poor idea to announce yourself to whatever you're seeking.

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It doesn't take long to spot the source of the disturbance you sensed. The initial flash of emotions has faded by now, but enough remains for you to track. Even if you couldn't, a lone person standing atop a particularly unusual building isn't exactly inconspicuous. The building in question looks to be a greenhouse of some sort, but the architect decided that using straight lines at any point in the construction would be boring. At least the roof is a flat surface, which come to think of it is actually different from what few greenhouses you have memories of.

The suspicious individual comes into view long before you and Argalia arrive at their current perch. The woman in question is shorter than you, though that's not saying much. She is clearly a woman and not a girl, though, despite her outfit. A simple black dress cut off around the upper torso, divided into two halves by a white line that traces down and splits the bustle into two sections. The divide reveals the lower part of a pale yellow undergown the same color as the woman's hair. Between the outfit, the black gloves, the black and white cat mask covering the top half of her face, and the yellow diamond pinned a bit below her larynx, this woman is clearly a Magical Girl. In her late twenties at the oldest, but still a feat of note. And since Kyubey has been warning off any neutral Magical Girls from the area to keep the number of variables low, that means this must be one of the Adult Who Tells Lies' recruits. She doesn't match any of Leonie's descriptions of the others, so she must have joined after the other girl left.

A particularly cynical part of you wants to just kill her and be done with it. You know that the Adult has had time to ensure the Magical Girls she's gathered won't listen to you, and even if they would there are likely precautions in place in case of any betrayals. This woman is probably a lost cause, and leaving her around will only hurt you in the future. It wouldn't be particularly difficult, either. Her Soul Gem is in full view, more than half the weapons in your arsenal could shatter it from this distance before she could even hope to react.

Maybe if this woman were a truly villainous person, you would go through with it. But their bearing makes it clear that isn't the case. The woman holds herself highly, eyes full of scorn as she scans the surroundings. There's a slight flourish in her ever shift and fidget, making a point to show how much more refined and dignified she is than everything around her. But she is fidgeting. Looking around a bit too fast, lingering on corners and shadows too long. Even if you couldn't sense the feeling screaming from beneath layers of repression, it's still obvious.

This woman is afraid.

"She's on the edge." Argalia muses, calling your attention away from your train of thought. You raise an eyebrow, prompting the man to elaborate. "Her time of liberation draws near. Your luminance has touched the poor soul's heart, it seems, but she's holding back."

That is particularly unfortunate. Because if Argalia is right, and it seems very unlikely that he would be wrong about this, then you cannot let him interact with this woman. That way leads too easily to a fourth Distortion on your hands. You've been lucky with Homura, Kyoko, and Leonie being manageable and not prone to extreme violence, but that streak could end at any moment.

"Take point here." you order. "You'll know if anything goes wrong, and I trust you to act accordingly. I'm more experienced in dealing with Magical Girls and Abnormalities, so I'll go on ahead."

Argalia nods, accepting your logic, and steps back with a half-bow. "As you say." he intones before vanishing to find a better observation point. You nod in the absent man's direction and press on. It's time to get this over with.

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"Ahem."

You cough obviously from behind the woman, who wheels on you in surprise. It's not as though your approach was particularly quiet; stealth isn't a speciality of yours. But you really don't want to surprise the woman when she's so clearly on edge.

She's out here alone, judging by the lack of other abnormal emotional output in the area. This is unlikely to be a trap, since the woman only arrived here recently and you haven't detected any unusual activity in this part of the city until this point. So it begs the question: what is this woman waiting for?

She's a victim too, whether she knows it or not. If you play your cards right, you might even be able to help her.

It's not as though you haven't taken precautions. From where you're standing, it would only be a few short steps to enter melee range. Far too fast for a Magical Girl to summon their weapon, and by the way she holds herself you don't believe this woman to be proficient in unarmed combat. If it comes to a fight, you can win even without Argalia's assistance.

But that is neither here nor there in the moment.

To the woman's credit, her posture is impeccable. She is smiling politely when she turns to greet you, not one hint of the emotions she's really feeling making their way to the surface. Not even Mami or Homura are as good at concealing their emotions. Unfortunately for her, you don't actually need to read people to know how they're feeling.

"Good evening. My name is Minou. I'm here representing the interests of a mutual acquaintance of ours in place of my benefactor." the woman says, performing a small curtsy in your direction. In the span of the sentence, you notice a few very curious details.

First, the now-named Minou's emotions. They're elevated, an expected symptom of near-Distortion. Fear is expected, given what the Adult has probably told her recruits about you. Less expected is that fear not being directed primarily at you. She isn't shying away from you or keeping her distance. She's afraid of you, yes, but it's primarily something more abstract. Something causing mild anxiety symptoms.

Second is the mention of two separate individuals. "Benefactor" is an excellent appellation for the Adult Who Tells Lies' usual role. She gives gifts and support only to swoop in and take advantage of the chaos after that support backfires. But that would leave the second role, that of the "mutual acquaintance", unoccupied. Who could that be? Kyubey? Unlikely, every Abnormality you've met shares your distaste for the little rat and the Adult in particular is supposedly campaigning against him to some degree. So then who? Of course, there's one easy way to learn more.

"And who exactly is this benefactor of yours?" you ask, skeptical but not cold. Even if this Magical Girl is technically an enemy, you don't want to seem unapproachable. You really would welcome any one of the Adult's chosen soldiers if they were willing to switch sides.

"I represent Her Majesty Isabeau de Bavière of France, of course. She is a peer to yourself and to our mutual friend, the Wizard of Oz." Minou explains. A tinge of pride sneaks through her composed, polite act at the mention of Isabeau. The unfamiliar name sparks a flicker of curiosity in you. It's a very human name, and calling oneself a peer to two Aleph-class Abnormalities is no small boast.

"Well then, why hasn't our 'mutual friend' the Wizard sent one of their own representatives?" you ask pointedly. Minou, to her credit, doesn't react to the press.

"It's merely a small matter. My powers are best equipped for arranging such an event as this." she explains, face locked in an expression of mild amusement.

"As you say." you accept, not bothering to hide your interest. Again, you're not trying to be unapproachable here. "So, what sort of 'event' is occurring here?"

Minou's smile widens a fraction. "I am merely here to arrange a meeting between you and the Wizard. That is all."

That gets your attention, and not in a good way. Still, you measure any more drastic responses to a potential meeting with the cruelest Aleph you have records for. Instead of any of those, you reply calmly.

"And why should I agree to such a meeting? She might call herself a 'Wizard' now, but 'The Adult Who Tells Lies' isn't exactly the most trust-inspiring title."

In lieu of a response, the air sparks. Mimicry and Pinks are in your hands, unnatural power flowing into them and twisting their shape into something more personal, before the first glimmer has begun to fade, but you don't attack just yet. There's no hostile intent in Minou's mind, and she doesn't budge an inch at the sight of the weapons in your grip even as panic shoots through her. The glow ripples and spreads, forming a rough ring that expands and stabilizes until a circle nearly ten meters in diameter hangs in the air behind the two of you, overlooking the greenhouse roof. You can hear Argalia shifting in the distance, the musical thrum of his weapon carving through the air carrying in the wind all the way to you. Subtly, almost imperceptibly, you shake your head. A fight right now isn't what you want, even with his support. Not against who you're expecting.

Through the ring of sparks, you see the inside of a building. The room is massive, stretching easily beyond the portal's boundaries to the point where you can't see the floor or ceiling from where you are. The one wall you can see, maybe another ten or eleven meters from where the portal opens, is separated into layers much like a stadium ring. Each row is a dark green emerald, swimming with only darkness where light should be reflected. Massive gemstones sprout from the edges of each row in neat, clean walls to form railings. Beneath them, across the walls and floors, symbols in a thousand scripts are carved in artful hand. Each one extolling the greatness of a great, unnamed Wizard. Where there would be seats, instead statues of people stand or kneel, weeping or screaming. No two are alike, men and woman, short and tall, athletic or frail.

Young or old.

Each one is turned towards a great, looming throne in the center of the display, easily dwarfing the people by an order of magnitude. The great seat is built of emeralds each larger than a man, impossibly smooth in each surface but deadly sharp at each edge. A mess of crystalline spikes jut up from behind the throne, forming a sort of radius around the ruler's seat. A seat that is not unoccupied.

"Is it really that much of an ask? One ruler to another, we've been due for a chat for a while now."

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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED

I know, I know, another split chapter. But the other half will be released tomorrow, so no need to worry too much. Honestly, this chapter would just be overstuffed if I didn't split it up.

Chapter 135 - Captive Audience

"Is it really that much of an ask? One ruler to another, we've been due for a chat for a while now."

The voice is playful, teasing even, but undeniably sharp. You stare through the portal at the towering figure reclining on her throne. You're no stranger to encountering new Abnormalities, but it has been a while. The facility only ever had one shipment of new subjects, and you became fully accustomed to them millennia ago. Even with the circumstances as they are, a part of you flares with the excitement of having a new Abnormality to study.

The Adult Who Tells Lies is, like many Abnormalities, much larger than an ordinary person. Maybe twice as tall, in fact, but maybe a head shorter than your own true form. She is humanoid, yes, but size aside nobody could ever mistake her for a human. The Abnormality's skin is too pale, a sort of sickly grey-white that brings to mind more stone than flesh. Green-black crystals veil her body, forming a sort of mix between a dress and a suit of armor that reaches from her toes up to her upper waist and cuts off in a way that gives the impression of a low-cut dress. Similar crystals encrust her forearms up to her hands, forming vicious-looking claws. Further emerald growths protrude from her back, taking the shape of stiff, unmoving wings. But somehow, the most inhuman thing about the Abnormality is her face.

Just on the basis of physicality, The Adult Who Tells Lies looks mostly human. Pallid skin and strange choice of dress aside, that is. But her face… again, it's not anything overt that sets you off. She wears what looks like actual mascara in thick black streaks, forming two long tear stain-like marks below her eyes. The dark color of the marks contrasts well with her pale skin and matches the pure black of her sclera, blending almost perfectly. Her irises and pupils are a shimmering, gleaming green, looking more like spots of light set into empty holes of darkness than proper eyes. Instead of hair, a cluster of sharp green crystals bristle from her scalp and extend out into a convincing imitation. None of that alone is enough, though. The most monstrous feature on the Abnormality's body is her smile.

Nobody should be able to smile like that. To wear such a warm, bright grin while surrounded by monuments to suffering. The Adult's expression is somehow both absent of any trace of malice and viciously predatory. The contradiction is uncanny. It doesn't look right, to have a person be simultaneously so blatant in their sadism and absolutely innocent.

"And what exactly do you want to chat about? I wasn't aware we were on speaking terms." you reply, weapons still in your hands. You desperately hope that this doesn't turn into a fight, but if it does you'll need to be ready to defend yourself as you retreat.

You've met three, closer to two Aleph-class Abnormalities since your incarnation in this world. One you didn't have to confront at all and was in a reduced form, and the other two you beat through technicalities. You leveraged your strengths and exploited their weaknesses. But the Adult Who Tells Lies is an Abnormality who does that exact thing. This is a proper competition, and your opponent is one rated with the capacity to wipe out humanity.

So as much as you don't want to engage with them, you don't have a choice. You can't show any weakness, nothing that would make her decide to stop talking and start attacking.

The Adult shifts her head to the side, her smile still bright and hungry. "And why wouldn't we be? I know our kind aren't exactly keen on teamwork, but we're above such petty things. Unlike them, you and I can think past such petty instincts."

"And yet you appear to be preparing for war. You can understand why I see that as a tad threatening." you point out in spite of yourself. After everything, you have no idea why the Adult is acting so friendly. It's an act, obviously, but even that seems unnecessary. Perhaps she just can't help but take the complicated route?

"I suppose it would seem that way, wouldn't it." the Adult says playfully. "But I assure you that it's not directed towards you. I simply have a few goals that require… assurance at my own defenses." Bullshit, obviously, but you don't feel that pointing that out would be very beneficial to you. Instead, you ask a different question.

"Then who? Walpurgisnacht? The Incubators? Even from the oldest Witches I've encountered, I don't see much around here that warrants the measures you've taken."

"Yes on both accounts, though far more the second than the first. I already have plans to handle the arrival of Walpurgisnacht. The Incubators are more… problematic. Excising them is a long-term goal we share. So this is what I'm proposing:" the Adult continues as you remain stony-faced on the other side of the portal. To the side, Minou looks almost statue-like. "I know you are your agents are planning on assaulting Kamihama soon. Not that I'm holding that against you; I can see how my presence might have seemed like a challenge. But I see no reason at all we should come into conflict!" the Adult says cheerfully, all while you thank your general inexpressiveness for the concealment of your surprise and confusion.

You had never hoped to conceal the date of your attack. The kids needed time to prepare, and the element of surprise was out of the question. You had been counting on the Adult's tendency towards passivity to let you control the timetable; she hadn't made any outward moves up until now. There was the possibility of being presumed by the Adult, which you would just have to react to as best you could. But you would never have dreamed of her trying to delay your hostilities.

Yes, she can establish defenses faster than you can develop countermeasures. But for that to even be necessary, the Adult would need to not already be at an overwhelming advantage. Which she is. The only way stalling makes sense here is if the Adult either has some delicate plan that requires it be left uninterrupted, or that she doesn't have confidence in her chances of victory. The latter is far more unlikely than the former, but both still have the same conclusion: you should be doing the opposite of what's proposed.

Of course, that disregards the possibility that it's a double-bluff intended to lure you into a trap. Technically the Adult being honest is also an option, but one you've set aside for obvious reasons.

"I'm open to the possibility, but I will need a bit more to go off than that." you lie. Not about the needing more information, just the willingness to actually regard anything The Adult Who Tells Lies says at face value. Something in your voice must reveal your hesitance, because the Adult rushes to assure you.

"It's just a logical conclusion! Whatever the outcome, a battle will cost both of us precious allies. And I'm sure we can agree that neither of us want that!" the Adult says cheerfully, and you can almost see her imagining the sight of your kids dead. But the Aleph quickly dismissed those visions and returns her full attention to the conversation at hand. "So in our mutual interests, I think it would be better if we just agreed to cohabitate."

It strikes you so suddenly you nearly lose your mask of calm. The reason for the Adult's strange behavior, the thing motivating her to act more out of caution than eagerness. And, surprisingly, it's not a deception at all. It's actually a fairly simple truth:

You are both Abnormalities.

The Adult Who Tells Lies has framed this as a conversation between peers from the beginning. From one powerful, intelligent Abnormality to another. And in that context, everything makes sense. Because while you might not be someone who the Adult needs to avoid confronting right now, the Daughter of the Sun and Moon is. Your "true self".

You can't actually back that threat up, but you don't need to. Just the idea of your full force will give you the leverage you need.

"While I certainly would prefer you not threaten my children like that," you say plainly, not missing the slight narrowing of the Adult's eyebrows and thinning of her smile. "I'm not convinced that such an arrangement would work. You just don't seem the sort to share, really." It's a risky move, needling such a powerful Abnormality like that. But you still need to tease out more information, and your position of imagined strength isn't going to last.

The Adult Who Tells Lies can't be left alone. Setting aside the moral issues (and there are a lot of moral issues to set aside), she's definitely stalling for a reason. You might be acting, but your critique of the idea of the Adult sharing anything was genuine. An Abnormality who embodies ambition and treachery doesn't make for a good partner. You're going to have to attack at some point, and when you do the fact that you aren't able to access your full strength at will is going to become apparent.

Your statement does manage to dim the other Aleph's ever-present smile a tad. "Now, that's a bit hurtful. I'm not like those lesser beasts, just dragged around by whatever instincts are driven into their heads. You and I, we're better than that. Unlike those mere animals, we can make logical decisions. You wouldn't even be the first ally I've made since arriving here. Minou?" The Adult gestures to the woman standing beside the portal, whose pleasant smile has only become more and more artificial as the conversation progressed.

Still, she accepts the cue and begins to speak. "My Benefactor and her other servants have already formed an alliance with the Wizard. We can vouch for her reliability." It would be a much more ringing endorsement were you not able to sense the frustration sizzling beneath the young woman's flawlessly polite tone. Whatever the actual relationship is between this benefactor and the Adult Who Tells Lies, it's not a pleasant one. Or maybe she just doesn't appreciate being ordered around.

"We have shared enemies, yes? I know you're no fan of the Incubators either, and it would be easier to fight them together. I'd ask that you return a certain troublemaker that slipped their collar, but you're putting them to better use than I am." the Abnormality says, chuckling at her own joke.

Admittedly, were this deal somehow legitimate, it would be tempting. The inevitable battle to free Earth from the Incubators would be much easier with an Aleph on your side. Somebody who can build up a proper power base, who already has plans in place for one of the major threats in the near future.

But again, that's all beside the point. There's no way the Adult would offer this sort of deal unless it advantaged them in some way, and you can't afford to give them any more.

"I'll consider your offer," you say. "but it would be a rather significant deviation from my plans. Not to mention having to convince my kids. You don't exactly make it easy for me. I would need some assurances first." You did consider lying and agreeing, but you aren't that confident in your capacity for deception and don't want to push your luck any further than you already have. If you've read the situation correctly, offering a compromise like this is the best way forward. Either you learn something based on what the Adult offers, or she just ends the deal of her own initiative. Either way, you end this interaction not having lost anything.

The Adult's eyes narrow slightly, but her smile remains wide and bright. "We should discuss this later. I have children to look after too, and they're truly helpless without me. Feel free to drop by any time for a chat, though. I can always use the pleasure of an intelligent conversation."" With those words, she begins to sit up. Before the Abnormality can fully stand, Minou gestures to the portal. Faster than it opened, the gate closes and the Aleph is gone.

You sigh deeply. That was far too stressful for something sprung on you out of nowhere. Your hair's going to go grey at this rate, and you don't think you can pull that look off as well as Adam did. At least you got some new information out of it. The Adult is playing things carefully when it comes to you. You can use that. Moreover, you're more certain than ever that you need to strike soon. If she's trying to stall you, then you can't let yourself be delayed.

"That's done with, then." you announce. You and Minou stand on the greenhouse roof alone, bathed in the dusky orange light of sunset. "So, is your job done with?"

"Actually," Minou says, somewhat more stiffly than before, "if I could just ask a moment more of your time. My Benefactor would also like to speak with you privately in her chambers. If it's at all possible, that is."

Your supposed "peer", huh. You would really rather not leave the kids alone any longer, not with the Adult actively going out and trying to delay you. Nor are you particularly eager to jump into another conversation with an extremely powerful entity whose impression of you as stronger than you are is the main determining factor in your dynamic. But you are curious, and you would at least not be so taken off-guard.

It's a risk to be sure, but is the reward worth it?

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Conference
[] Visit the Benefactor directly
[] Communicate via portal
[] Just leave
[] Write-in

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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED

My hands hurt so much, typing an entire chapter in a day on my phone is not good for me.

I'm not really happy with this chapter, but staring at it longer doesn't help me think of how to make it better. It just makes me less happy with it.