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

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 29 - Historically, Adoption Hasn't Worked Out For Me

You don't want to be caught out and questioned about your actions, so for a moment you consider just leaving Homura to sleep and heading back to the guest room. You promptly dismiss this idea. Leaving a child unattended after they were exposed to unknown EGO is a terrible idea. You'll be able to divert attention from your actions easily enough.

Instead of just wasting time waiting, you decide to be productive. To start, cleaning up the spilt tea. Once that's done, you flip through some relevant news stories. There have been more unsolved murders and disappearances as of late, which seem to have been blamed on a serial killer in Asunaro. It could be anomalous, but judging by what few details you can scrounge up it's probably just a normal criminal. Not that that makes them exempt from a response, but you simply have too much on your plate already. More intriguing is the supposed terrorist attack in the same area. Somebody blew up a few city blocks, but no evidence was found and nobody's come forward to claim responsibility. It might have been an Abnormality, or maybe just a turf war between Magical Girls. After your search finally runs dry, you move on to cooking. Sunrise is approaching and Homura's still asleep, so you'll hopefully be able to have breakfast ready by the time she wakes up. Unfortunately, the Akemi residence is far less well-stocked than Mami's apartment was. Now that you think about it, Homura probably stores anything of even the slightest bit of value in her shield. It's safer and more efficient than just leaving things lying around. Eventually you do manage to toss some things together, but the result is below your recently-acquired breakfast standards. Ah well.

It's around six when Homura sits up, looking around in confusion for a moment as she tries to process what happened. Five hours of sleep isn't ideal, but you'll take it. You give your most reassuring smile and hold out a plate of mostly-warm food. The black-haired child takes the meal without a word and eats the whole thing in maybe a minute. At least her appetite's where it should be. The moment the dish is finished, she speaks.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep. I will make sure to be more alert in the future when you wish to meet with me."

So she couldn't even tell that she didn't fall asleep on her own? Or maybe she was actually just tired, and either the timing was a coincidence or the operation pushed her over the edge. Whatever the explanation, she seems fine.

"Sorry, it was actually my fault," you start, a bit sheepish. You do need to deliver this as unproblematically as you can. "You remember how my equipment isn't magic?" Homura nods, giving you an inquisitive stare all the while, so you keep going. "It's made from a technology that interacts with human emotions. There's a lot of complicated factors at play and I don't fully understand it myself, but I might have accidentally performed magic surgery on your soul gem."

There's a sharp intake of breath before Homura pulls out her gem and glares at it. Despite her mechanical efficiency, you can see the small bits of nervous energy in her movements as she holds the deep purple gem up to her eye level. It remains completely clear, in contrast to its state earlier last night. You're afraid you've messed things up. In none of your lives were you ever good at keeping people emotionally healthy, at least beyond keeping them functional. After a tense moment, Homura looks back up at you.

"You performed surgery on my soul?"

There it is. The slight tinge of distrust in the kid's voice stings, understandable as it is.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I just… I wanted to help you. I don't know why it happened, but it did. I wouldn't have done anything at all, but there was so much that shouldn't have been there, and I couldn't just leave you like that…" Your voice trails off. How can you explain a feeling you don't understand?

"When you say something that wasn't supposed to be there, were you referring to Grief? I didn't cleanse my Soul Gem, and yet it's completely clear."

"I suppose? It took a while, and you passed out when I started, but yeah."

Homura returns her gem to its ring form and sits up. The unsteadiness that you heard in her voice is still there, but only a flicker. Replacing it is a new feeling. Whenever you were around Homura, and in all her memories, she always gave off an unassailable aura of determination. A cold steel that blocked out any possibility of failure, along with everything else. That feeling is still there, but a new determination adds to it. A tiny flame, flickering in spite of everything.

You can't let that feeling die.

"I'll join you and Tomoe Mami in your hunt tomorrow," Homura announces. You raise an eyebrow, but you can't hide your smile. It's progress, at least.

—————————

You sit up from your seat and prepare to go. Now that you're sure everything is in order and your alliance remains in place, you have other matters to attend to. Specifically, making sure Mami has no reason to question where you were tonight.

Homura bids you a simple but polite farewell, even though her mind is clearly elsewhere. Admittedly, you've also got a lot to think about as you hop from roof to roof back to the apartment. It's early morning, the nascent sunrise scattering light across the horizon. The warm light dances across the cityscape, illuminating Mitakihara's bizarre architecture.

That EGO… where could it have come from? You know for a fact that you researched every Abnormality in existence in extensive detail, and yet there's nothing that fits the power you just obtained. The obvious conclusion would then be that it's from a new Abnormality. Judging just by the capabilities you've seen so far, it's something strongly related to your Corporation. That leaves three main possibilities in your mind. The first is that it's another Abnormality derived from Carmen. While it wasn't explicitly spelled out, quite a few Abnormalities clearly were linked to Lobotomy Corporation's enigmatic progenitor. Even WhiteNight itself shares a few characteristics with her. Second, it's from an Abnormality that was once somebody in the Corporation. Ayin himself, Angela, even an Employee or one of the Sephirah. That possibility is ranked fairly low in your mind, as you feel like you'd clearly recognize any Abnormality that came from one of them. Still, it's not impossible that you'll be surprised. Finally, you must consider the possibility that you yourself are an Abnormality. It's also unlikely, since that seems like the sort of thing you'd notice and you have neither the distorted shape nor mind of a typical Abnormality. Again, it's still not something you can completely rule out.

You'll need to do more testing at some point, but that requires another person. It would be wildly unethical to start cutting open random people on the street, but you also highly doubt anyone would willingly sign up to have you poking around in their minds. It'll be difficult either way. Ugh, can't things just be easy?

—————————

You finally make it back to Mami's apartment and unlock the door. A quick scan of the residence shows Mami still not awake, to your extreme relief. This also gives you time to prepare your second breakfast of the day, this time properly! With the way things are going, maybe you should consider adoption? It would be a great responsibility to care for two children, but also a noble undertaking. On one hand, Ayin's track record for childcare is terrible. On the other, you aren't Ayin and don't want to be.

Well, those are all plans for the future. Mami seems to be stirring in her room, and Kyubey is still nowhere to be seen. You have another day ahead of you.

Morning Actions
[] Have Breakfast
[] Write-in

Midday Actions
[] Experiment with EGO (Which one? How?)
[] Check Sapling
[] Go Hunting
[] Write-in

———————————————
Blue Star's Sapling - Observation Level 3/3
Day 3, start! Now that I think of it, I'm going to have to start moving the timeline along if I want to live to see Walpurgisnacht.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 30 - When You Wish Upon A Star

"Breakfast!" you chirp as you stand over the food spread across the table. Mami stumbles into the room, completely lacking her ordinary poise, but still manages to give you a tired smile. Kyubey remains nowhere to be seen, not that you're unhappy about that.

"Thank you, X. Although I must insist that you allow me to prepare meals in the future. It's my responsibility as a host."

You sigh and shake your head. "That only counts when the host and guest are the same age. I have a responsibility to take care of you."

Whatever argument Mami was preparing to continue with goes unspoken. She's noticeably distracted for the rest of your morning conversation, forgetting the food in front of her a few times to the point that she doesn't finish before having to leave for school. And yet, her smile seems a little bit softer than usual.

Soon after you see Mami off, Kyubey shows up with your documentation. He also brings a phone, although you don't know anybody's numbers yet. You leave everything but your phone in the guest room and head out yourself. It's been a bit since you checked the Sapling.

—————————
When you arrive at the scene, the Sapling remains unchanged as far as you can see. Wasting no time, you step up to the strange flora and push your hand through its surface.

DEVOTION/ ACCEPTANCE/TOGETHERNESS

Your hand closes on something solid, a shapeless thing floating in the nothingness on the other side. The unknown object sits unmoving in your grasp, and as if by instinct you pull away from the Sapling. The strange plant vanishes in a burst of Light, leaving scattered particles hanging in the air. In your hand is a cluster of tiny pricks of starlight, drifting aimlessly in your palm. As you release your grip, Sound of a Star takes its position in orbit around you. Strangely, your coat has changed with the acquisition of the new EGO. Its normally plain white surface has turned a glittering silver, tiny patterns twisting across its surface. You clearly recognize the weapon and armor extracted from Blue Star, although it does bring up the question as to why you never had your appearance change before. Maybe it was because the suits that would have been extracted from the other Abnormalities don't have any additional effects? You'll need to test this later.

Acquiring this EGO makes the brush with the Aleph easily worth it. Blue Star's EGO was excellent for fulfilling various roles, and could take a hit against most types of attacks. What seems most important at the moment is the healing it offers, since it applies both mentally and physically. You'll need to test how it interacts with Soul Gems and Grief at some point, but at the very least it'll let Mami and Homura conserve their Magic more.

For the moment you dismiss both pieces of EGO. They're too attention-grabbing for you to walk around with them. It's still about noon, so you've got a lot of time to use.

What to do?
[] Experiment with EGO (Which one? How?)
[] Investigate…
-[] Case in Asunaro
-[] Case in Kasamino
[] Go Hunting
[] Write-in

———————————————
And so the sapling is completed. That's the second ALEPH-level EGO you've picked up so far. This chapter is mostly an intermission. Oh, and the Character Profile has been updated.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Sidestory 3 - I Want To Be

Today was a good day.

This was not an unusual thing for Mami. Most days tended to be good, all things considered. She was an excellent student by all accounts, regardless of her other responsibilities. She was a well-regarded member of her school, even if she had little time to enjoy it. She was a Magical Girl, doing her part and saving lives with each Witch slain. She had Kyubey to look out for her even if everyone else had left. It was a good life, and Mami was happy with it.

However, the recent few days had been special. First, Kyubey had told her of two new potential Magical Girls. It had been a long time since she had juniors to look after, but she was confident in her ability to keep them safe as they learned the ropes. Being a Magical Girl was a wonderful thing, but Mami knew better than anyone just how dangerous it could be. Though she had hidden it as best she could, it had frightened her when Kyubey warned her that the two candidates were approaching a Witch's Barrier. Even if one of them had managed to contract, inexperience could prove deadly against even weak Witches.

Of course, that wasn't what had happened. She had rescued miss Miki from a small pack of familiars and gone on to search for her friend, only to find the other potential Magical Girl had already been rescued. That had been when she met X.

At first, Mami wanted to be cautious of the woman. Had X truly been a Magical Girl, she would have been both the oldest and strongest Mami had ever heard of. Her arsenal of weapons seemed as inexhaustible as the woman herself, Mami having never seen her express difficulty beyond mild irritation in combat. Had she been a rival like Miss Akemi, seeing others as little more than competition, Mami had to admit she would have found herself at a loss for what to do. Instead, X had proven to be an anomaly in every sense. Her weapons, despite how clearly magical they appeared, were not born of a Wish. She was a stern but kind person, emotionally grounded, and clearly used to leadership. It did make Mami wonder who X had worked with in the past, considering they were alone now. Not that she would ever ask, of course. Mami knew all too well that some memories were too painful to revisit.

It was a wonderful feeling, she had to admit, not to be alone. Mami had already grown used to X's presence alongside her in combat, the veteran's strength as bright and nurturing as sunshine. It was reassuring to know that there was somebody strong standing by you. To know you could trust them to know what to do. To know that they wanted you around, even if they didn't need you.

To know that you are cared for.

—————————

Mami arrived at the rooftop before her juniors had. This gave her time to scan the area, finding no sign of Miss Akemi anywhere. The raven-haired Magical Girl had been more reserved than usual today, eschewing her constant glares for simply ignoring Mami and the others entirely. Perhaps she was considering surrendering? Mami had not actually seen Miss Akemi fight, but it would take a very powerful Magical Girl to defeat what would soon be four others, especially considering who those four would be. Mami's pondering was interrupted by the arrival of Miss Kaname and Miss Miki, hands clasped over their lunches as they crested the stairs up onto the roof.

"Good afternoon, Mami!" greeted Madoka, followed by a quick "How are you?" from Sayaka.

"I've been doing very well, thank you for asking," Mami replied politely. It was important to maintain composure in front of her juniors, after all. "How have you been?"

It was at that question that Sayaka shifted her hands, revealing the small ring that now rested on her finger. She gave an earnest but embarrassed laugh, as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't be. Madoka seemed a bit nervous as well, looking back and forth between Mami and her friend.

"So you contracted?" There was no point in asking the question, but Mami did so anyways. For politeness's sake, at least. "What made you decide that now was the time?"

At that question, Sayaka's sheepishness was extinguished in an instant. In its place, a simple resolve took form on the young girl's face. "It was mostly that stuff you and X said yesterday about responsibility. I had a sort of epiphany, and didn't want to waste time and risk losing it before I could make a decision."

"Oh? What would that epiphany be?"

To that, Sayaka smiles. "It was about why I wanted to be a Magical Girl in the first place. I thought it would be just like a show or a movie, even if it was a bit scarier in real life. But it's not like that, is it?"

There is an uncomfortable pause as the weight of Sayaka's declaration sinks in.

"Becoming a Magical Girl is a sacrifice. It's giving up your time, putting yourself in danger, for people who will never know what you've done for them. But it's still the right thing to do. If I've got a chance to save people, it would be wrong to turn that down just because I wanted something more out of it."

"You're not wrong," Mami chided, "but I do hope you still used your Wish for something you wanted."

The conversation eased from there, but Sayaka kept glancing at her ring. Today would be her first day as a Magical Girl.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 31 - Not Listening When You Say

You've already let one mystery in particular sit for too long: the murder case in Kazamino. It was definitely not an ordinary murder, and the supposed bite marks on the wound make you doubt it was a conflict between two Magical Girls either. Witches don't leave bodies behind when they kill, so that's out as well. Whether it's an Abnormality or not, you need to investigate before the trail goes cold.

The trip to the Sapling had already brought you close to the nearby district, so it's only a minute or so before you're across the border. There's not a huge difference between the districts, although closer inspection tells you that it's a distinctly poorer area. Not lower-class, but below the avant-garde money-wasting that fills Mitakihara. Even though it's barely noon, it still feels like an early evening just by looking at the sky. Maybe a side-effect of all the industrial complexes nearby? You know pollution in the City could do far worse.

After wandering for a bit, you're finally on the right track to the Sakura Church. The actual scene has probably been cleaned up by now, but if the culprit was an Abnormality you might be able to track it anyways. Otherwise, you'll just have to poke around until something makes itself apparent.

Your planning session seems to have made you look like an easy target, as the whistling of the wind indicates a large object has been hurled towards you from behind. You shift into a steadier stance and draw up the Knight's sword, turning and deflecting the unseen missile in a single motion.

There is another sound from somewhere on the rooftops, and a lattice of red diamond chains twists into place around you. The technique is nearly identical to Mami's in practice, even if the aesthetic differs. From outside the magically-forged web, six Magical Girls step out onto the rooftops around you. Or, more specifically, one Magical Girl steps out in six different places. It's a red-haired kid, a little younger than Mami, wearing a vaguely religious-looking uniform. Jewelry adorns every bit of her body, from earrings to hairpins to bracelets, with a single more prominent cross-shaped necklace. She wears the same predatory smile you've seen before in Homura's memories. At the side of each copy is an oversized spear, all pointed towards you.

Response…
[] Combat (Detailed Tactics?)
-[] Fight to kill
-[] Fight to disable
-[] Stall
[] Negotiations
-[] Surrender?
—[] Explain yourself?
-[] Bargaining?
-[] Intimidation?

———————————————
And you all thought she was dead. Another short chapter, although the next one should be a bit longer.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 32 - The Only Adult In The Room

You pause, awaiting the girl's next move. A moment passes, but nothing comes. Despite her commanding position, she makes no effort to actually attack you. Is this an intimidation attempt? Magic can be expensive, and if she believes you to be a Magical Girl who survived into adulthood you must appear a daunting foe. If your opponent isn't set on a fight, all you have to do is make conflict as pointless and unappealing as possible. If you're lucky, you might even be able to get some information out of her.

"If you're trying to scare me out of your territory, then you don't need to bother," you open impassively. "I'm not a Magical Girl, and I've got no reason to pick a fight with you."

One of the copies shifts posture slightly, wolf-like grin still in place. The original, then? A quick flare of Cogito Ephemera shows it as the only one with any sign of emotion, so the others are either illusions or mindless puppets. Either way, you know who to aim for if things go sour.

"If you're not a Magical Girl, what's with that sword? Looked pretty magical to me," your assailant finally says.

"If you don't believe me, ask Kyubey. He might not be the most forthcoming ferret to ever exist, but he can't actually lie to you," you counter. As much as you dislike the rat on a personal level, you can acknowledge that he's been cooperative so far. That probably just means he wants something from you, but for now you can take advantage of that resources if need be.

There's a tiny moment where the girl's aggression vanishes. It resumes a heartbeat later, far more subdued than before. Ever so slowly, you're making progress.

"Eh, whatever. Even if I'm still ninety percent sure you're bullshitting me, I'm not dumb enough to walk into a fight for no reason. So, mystery lady, if you're not here for Grief Seeds, what's your game?" Her smile remains predatory as ever, but it has a curious edge to it. As if a cat had just discovered a new toy. Regardless of the attitude, you have an in.

"There was a murder just a few days ago, near the Sakura Church. I'm here to investigate," you answer. The girl's vicious curiosity fades into a still-defensive acceptance, but she dismisses her spear. Each copy steps further down the rooftops, out of sight, only for a single girl to leap down onto the streets and dismiss the web of chains with a wave of her hand.

"So, you're one of those virtuous, heroic types? Sure, you can check things out. It's not anything you should be concerned about, and there's already the police investigation, but go right on ahead!" she jeers, digging a box of some sort of candy out of her outfit and dumping a handful into her mouth. "Gotta warn you though: that sort of goodwill is only gonna get you hurt. I don't know if you contracted late or you're just really, really naive, but sooner or later you're gonna learn that Magical Girls aren't meant to be heroes."

"And at some point you're going to have to remember that I'm not a Magical Girl. Not that that statement has any grounding in the first place," you shoot back. You've been talking with this girl for maybe a minute, and she's already starting to grate on you. That callous apathy reminds you too much of the City, where those with power chose not to use it because they didn't believe people were meant to help one another. You already knew what to expect from the average Magical Girl, but hearing Mami describe the situation and seeing it for yourself are two different things. "Anyways, can I go now?"

There's a shift in the red girl's posture, and for a moment you think you're about to be attacked. The Magic she's already shown you would make her tough to pin down, and while you can probably overpower her easily actually ending the fight would be troublesome. Magical Girls can survive as long as their Soul Gems are intact, but you really don't want to get to that point.

Just as you're about to make the first move, the girl's posture relaxes. "Sure, but I'm gonna tag along just in case. Hope you don't mind?"

You…
[] Think that's fair.
[] Don't want a tag-along
[] Write-in.

Explanation…
[] Explain your not-Magic
[] Don't

———————————————
The more dialogue I have to write, the more I see the appeal of silent protagonists.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 33 - Fated To Care For Others

You're not exactly happy with this kid tagging along, but it's not worth fighting over. Besides, you are intruding on her territory already. It's easy to understand why she'd feel defensive at your investigation, even if the rest of her attitude still upsets you.

"Go ahead, do whatever. This is your place, isn't it?" you ask. The girl in red dumps some more candy into her mouth, still grinning. Once it's clear she's got nothing else to say to you, you start heading towards the Sakura Church.

After walking for barely a minute, the redhead speaks up again. Apparently she finished her candy.

"My name's Sakura Kyoko, by the way. What's yours?"

Like the Church? Seems like you were being even more invasive than you'd thought, asking after what might have been her home. You hesitate at the question, but acquiesce after a moment of deliberation. Your name is nothing special, it's not as if you lose anything by revealing it.

"My name's X. Kinda weird, isn't it?"

That gets a laugh from the kid. "You're telling me! So, X, got a mysterious backstory to go with the rest of your getup?"

You do, actually, but that's none of your business. She was probably fishing for some kind of reaction, because your completely neutral expression at the needling leaves a frown on her face.

"What, not gonna give me any hints? Come on, you can't just act all cool and mysterious and just leave it at that?" She's basically pouting, an uncomfortable reminder that she's still just a kid. Maybe fourteen at the oldest. Still, you don't give any reaction to her inquiries.

As you keep moving, Kyoko keeps asking about you. She's notably friendlier than when you first met, and it's a bit off putting how quickly she switched moods. Sometimes you give a few unimportant details, sometimes you don't say anything. Eventually, a pause makes itself apparent between her questioning.

"What's with the attitude change? When we met you seems ready to stab me, now you're acting all friendly."

Kyoko's old, predatory grin returns.

"Heh, caught me. Can you really blame me for trying to get on your good side? You're clearly not new to this, so as much as it sucks to admit I probably don't have the skill advantage. I can overpower most other Magical Girls, but that doesn't seem like it's gonna work either." With that admission, she gives a sigh and her grin fades just a bit.

"At this point, all I can do is hope you're actually being honest about your whole 'truth and justice' thing."

How practical. Lucky for her, you are actually just here for the "truth and justice thing", as she so eloquently put it. It's another sentiment uncomfortably close to home, but unlike the callousness shown before you can't be angry. With how quickly she started her act, you can't believe she was caught off guard by the arrival of someone stronger than her. How long had Kyoko been holding this District, knowing that at any moment somebody stronger than her could show up and take everything away?

"Don't worry, I'll be gone before you know it," you reassure. You dedicated your life to defying the City's nature. You didn't leave that place just to bring it with you.

—————————

After a bit of walking, you arrive at Sakura Church. It's an old building, in a state of horrible disrepair. The stained glass walls have cracked and shattered in many places, their colors long since faded and washed out. The inside, clearly visible even from a distance, is barren and almost completely empty save for the remnants of shattered scorched pews. The surrounding forests are less dense than you had expected, although the foliage thickens deeper in. You consider asking what happened, but dismiss the idea just as quickly. Those place may have once been your guide's home, and you know better than to reopen old wounds without reason.

What you're more keen on asking about is the crime scene itself. A few simple barriers were erected around the area, doing nothing to bar the two of you from access. The body itself has, of course, been removed. A few markings have been left to indicate where the victim was killed, their body having been splayed out across the steps outside of the church just as they were leaving. You would have been able to recognize the general area anyways by the massive pool of dried blood that stretches across the stairs. A single massive gash has been carved into the stone just beside it, stretching all the way from the church's entrance to the ground. You scan for any familiar sensation, any sign of an Abnormality's presence, but nothing makes itself apparent. At your side, Kyoko fidgets and taps the base of her spear against the ground as she fiddles with her necklace.

What now?
[] Question Kyoko
-[] About the murder
-[] About Sakura Church
[] Investigate further
-[] Where specifically?
-[] What to look for?

———————————————
Good thing there wasn't anybody already at the scene, huh? That would've been a very awkward conversation.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 34 - Not Quite What My Job Is

You step towards the gouged earth, scanning the deep gash for any sort of remnants or evidence of the weapon used. Its shape and angle is odd, completely unaligned with the angle at which the victim's body was bitten. Your search turns up empty, any lingering evidence either having been already removed by the police or simply never having existed in the first place. Interestingly enough, there's no blood either. If it had been made by the same attack that killed the girl, shouldn't there still be traces of blood? It's not as if anybody bothered to clean up bloodstains, as the massive puddle beneath your feet proves. Whatever damaged the ground did so after the murder was committed.

A sliver of guilt creeps through you the longer you investigate. Despite the lack of evidence, you have an overwhelming sensation that an Abnormality was involved somehow. You can think of a few with both the will and ability to do something like this. Controlling and managing the Abnormalities is- was, it was your job. If one of them has gotten out and killed somebody, some of that blood is on your hands. Not that one girl's death will tilt the scales much for you.

There is still the possibility that this was just the result of a territory war. Kyoko seemed ready enough to attack you the second you walked into Kazamino, so suspecting her isn't without precedent.

"You know about what happened here?" you yell back to the other girl, who still hasn't taken another step closer towards the church since you arrived. She shakes her head, still not approaching.

"Nah, I was out when it happened. Something's been up recently that got the Witches riled up and I can barely walk five steps without tripping over one. I've been spending all my free time stocking up on Grief Seeds while I've got the chance."

Of course, Kazamino is close enough that any Witches migrating to Mitakihara would pass through it in the process. In theory, there should have been Magical Girls following them. That would increase your list of suspects considerably, since apparently Witches are migrating from all across the world.

"Have you seen any other Magical Girls around?" you ask casually. Kyoko ceases her fiddling and looks up at you.

"Yeah, there's been loads recently. A team of two came in early this morning, plus three separate attacks yesterday. It's possible one of 'em snuck past me and killed somebody, if that's what you're asking." she relays with a tinge of pride. You're torn between grateful that she intercepted five attackers that could have reached Mitakihara and disturbed at the thought of what happened to the other kids. Even if they survived the fight, they'll probably end up running out of Grief Seeds and becoming Witches. Whatever your feelings, it's not a relevant issue now. There is very little you could do for most of Kyubey's victims even if you could find them. For now your attention will have to remain focused on what's in front of you.

Time passes, and your search still finds nothing. Kyoko chimes in occasionally, but grows more uncomfortable the further in your exploration goes. There is still one more trick you have yet to try, though you are skeptical of its effectiveness. With not much else to do, you reach out-

-No, I didn't-
-Please, somebody, help! Please-
-It hurts, why, just let me-

and stumble back, bracing yourself against one of the few remaining stone supports in the church. Kyoko reaches out towards you, then pulls away. Whatever questions she was about to ask dies on her lips when she sees your expression. You found the emotions you were searching for in the same way a man might find light by staring into the sun. The screaming still echoes in your head, fading away as you retract your grasp on the writhing emotions. It's impossible to distinguish a direction, a reason, or even a single voice from the torrent of cries.

You'll just have to try again.

—————————

The sun has begun to set, red light bleeding a thousand colors through the church's shattered glass. Long shadows stretch through the hollow building, swallowing up the dancing lights. Half-concealed, Kyoko hands off a few Grief Seeds to Kyubey before he stalks out of sight and disappears. Hesitantly, she walks over to you.

"Hey, since I helped you out here, can I ask a favor?"

You don't respond immediately, which she takes as permission to keep going.

"Like I said, I've been dealing with a lot of people trying to push in on my territory. Can I ask you to help out if it gets too rough? I can pay."

Deals?
[] Accept the deal
-[] Payment
[] Reject the deal
[] Propose alternative

Also…
[] Further questioning?

———————————————
My knowledge of how to write mysteries is restricted entirely to Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated and the Ace Attorney franchise.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 35 - A Degree In Moral Philosophy

"Sure, not like my schedule's all that busy. You got a phone or something?"

Kyoko breaks into a grin and shakes her head.

"Nah, just ask Kyubey. He makes a decent messenger. Any conditions you're gonna staple on?"

You step out from the empty church and into the evening light. It's not too late, even after all your searching. There was certainly an Abnormality involved, although exactly which one remains unclear. It's your duty to reduce the harm they can do whenever possible, and while Kyubey's already on lookout you could use somebody with fewer ulterior motives.

"Call me if you see anything weird," you say. When Kyoko gives you a very unimpressed look, you clarify. "I mean weirder than normal. Especially if you think it's related to the murder. There are things crawling around here that aren't Witches, and they won't die no matter how hard you kill them."

"I'm gonna need you to be a little more specific here," Kyoko grumbles.

"I really can't. These things, Abnormalities, can be basically anything. They look like horrible monsters, ordinary objects, or even just regular people. But whatever you think they are, no matter how innocuous, they can still be deadly."

Something in your voice gives the Magical Girl pause. For a moment, all vicious playfulness fades away. Kyoko gives you no response but a solemn nod, and that is enough for you to know your point is made. For a moment you wonder how you must appear in the eyes of the child standing before you. You are older than any civilization that stands in this world, lifetimes upon lifetimes dedicated to a singular purpose that ended in betrayal and failure. What sort of face do you make, thinking back to those times?

"On another note," you transition while you still have the kid's full attention, "I'm not okay with killing children. If I'm going to be helping out, nobody's dying."

Your tone brooks no disagreement, although Kyoko can only laugh.

"Wow, I really did have you pegged right at the start! Don't worry, I just try to drive others off when they show up. 'course, if that means they can't cleanse their Soul Gems fast enough, that's not my problem. If that's better or worse than just killing them isn't my problem either."

To die, or become a Witch? Those are the choices every Magical Girl is fated to face some day. From everything you've gathered, there isn't much of an objective difference between the two. Nothing you've learned of Witches would indicate them retaining the actual mind of those that spawned them, and even if they do it's been so unrecognizable twisted that it hardly matters. You could probably argue either way, but Kyoko clearly has little interest in the philosophical intricacies of what defines life.

"You know about that?" you ask, raising an eyebrow at the red-haired Magical Girl. Kyubey made it clear how rare it was for Magical Girls to figure out the origins of Witches on their own, as well as how long they usually lasted afterwards. For Kyoko to be so blasé about it, there must have been some unusual circumstances behind her moment of revelation.

"What, about turning into Witches? Sure, I've seen it happen more than once. Territory wars get tense, so it's to be expected that a few people can't take it."

"You seem very okay with the idea that you might turn into a monster," you bite back. While your face remains only mildly displeased, the cold, commanding tone of your voice reveals more emotion than you'd expected.

"Why should I?" Kyoko responds with a shrug. "If I'm not strong enough, then I don't deserve to be a Magical Girl. And once you've contracted, there's only one way out. At least as a Witch you're prey for somebody else."

You turn and begin your walk back to Mitakihara, refusing to acknowledge that declaration. You have other people to look after. There's no time to argue morals with somebody who has neither the luxury nor the desire to care about them.

—————————

Nearly a full day's work, and all you have to show for it is a mystery on your hands and a tenuous alliance with a Magical Girl who would fit in perfectly back in the City. You leap from roof to roof, the evening light casting Mitakihara's fantastical architecture in warm oranges and reds. Your hair billows out behind you in a scarlet cloud, catching the light unnaturally.
neverfrozenbottomflows
You pause. There's a tugging sensation all throughout your body. The fragments of light, normally floating idly around you, now drift and flow in a wispy trail slightly off your route directly home. The feeling is familiar, drawing up recent memories of the first Barrier you and Mami entered together. It seems your rest will have to wait.

You've only been heading towards the source of the disturbance when Kyubey appears.

"I've found an Abnormality nearby. I can guide you to it if you'd like."

That's what you were doing already, so you see no reason to refuse. Besides, some specificity might be nice as opposed to following a vague feeling. You nod, and the strange creature hops off ahead of you. Watching the alien beast leap from roof to roof gives you a chance to appreciate just how mechanical it truly is. While it looks totally normal on the surface, a keener eye spots how controlled and precise each movement is. There are no inefficiencies, no wasted motions. It's notably different from how the creature adds a bit of flash and show to its every act when around the kids. The true nature of the Incubators has already been made clear to you, so Kyubey has apparently decided keeping up the facade around you is meaningless.

"Here we are."

Extraction
[] "If someone takes that role, no foul act would happen in this world ever again!"
[] "For despair wears down the mind and drains one's will to go forward. When one feels there's nothing left to go for, their soul falls down into Hell, the Devil's domain."
[] "Attention. An invisible string that connects us."
[] "All things natural are bound to turn to dust someday."
[] "There is no such thing as coincidence in the universe."

———————————————
It's been a while since you saw an Abnormality yourself, let's change that.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 36 - From One Killer To Another

The evening light fills an empty park surrounded by buildings. Kyubey rests at the top of a slide, staring at a shimmer in the air at the bottom.

"The Abnormality is currently inside this Witch's Barrier. It has been moving between Barriers in the area without any known direction, killing any Witches or Magical Girls it encounters. I have attempted to approach it on multiple occasions, but I was unsuccessful."

Damn. It was too much to hope for that Kyubey had found one of the more harmless Abnormalities, but knowing that it's already killed people leaves a rotten taste in your mouth. It also does nothing to narrow down which Abnormality you're dealing with.

"What details have you noticed so far?" you ask.

Before Kyubey can respond, the shimmer in the air folds inward. Space compresses and distorts, and then suddenly returns to normal with a ripping sound. A Grief Seed drops from the vanishing Barrier, but it's barely touched the ground before being crushed to powder by the butt of a rifle. Even as he fades into sight, the marksman wheels and fires at Kyubey. The rifle's hammer clicks and an ear-splitting bang echoes through the empty park. The upper half of the play set Kyubey was resting on is reduced to ashes as a crackling bolt of dark blue light tears through it, curving up into the sky after having struck its mark.

Standing before you is a flickering silhouette wrapped in a dark blue coat. He slowly returns his rifle to a resting position, burning blue eyes scanning the area before finally resting on you.

"As you can see, the-"

Kyubey is cut off as its next body is cleanly disintegrated by another well-placed shot. You brace for combat, ready to face off against the marksman, but Der Freischütz simply stares at you. The air is still as your eye meet, the Abnormality's unrelenting glare bearing down on you as you stare back at him. A moment passes and you relax your stance, the marksman sitting down on the smoldering ruin of the slide and laying his rifle across his lap.

"Hey Kyubey, maybe you should just sit this out," you suggest to the open air. "I can fill you in later." The little rat must have heard you somehow, because no further bodies appear. You file away that he can observe you even when not visibly present, then direct your focus to the task at hand.

"You're here."

The marksman speaks, his voice like the embers of a dying flame. It's raspy and low, a bit tough to make out, but even and controlled with an unnatural crackle to it. He sounds… not glad, but perhaps relieved to have found you. Was he looking? Army in Black also seemed to have been waiting for you, and you still don't know how the Knight's EGO found its way to you. There are too many unknowns surrounding the situation for you to make any judgements. You need more information.

"You know, it's not exactly a comforting implication to think that you were looking for me," you say. He is a mercenary, after all. Although he hasn't attacked you so far, so you're probably fine. Besides, with the two of you in such close range, you'd give yourself decent odds in a fight.

"I was asked to find you and allow you to observe me. That is all that was requested."

"Asked?"

Who would even be able to do something like that? Der Freischütz isn't a cheap hire, not to mention how few people even know about it. Abnormalities are entirely new to this world, and the only people who knew about them outside of the Head were your agents, the Sephirah, and…

Angela.

Could she have done this? When you'd last seen her, she had been surrounded by Abnormalities. If she developed some sort of connection to them, then maybe she could have ordered them to follow you here. But why? If she were trying to finish you off, you'd be having a gunfight instead of a conversation right now. It doesn't add up, so you'll shelve that question for now.

"A request was made. Others have been sent as well, although I don't know which." the marksman intones. Without warning, he stands and begins to walk away.

"Follow me. The observation has to be done properly."

You recover from your surprise and hurry to catch up with the departing Abnormality. Even with his leisurely pace, his sheer height let's him cover distance easily. You step up to his side, although his eyes remain firmly directed forwards.

"I'd appreciate a bit more information than that," you ask, a hint of exasperation in your voice. You finally found an Abnormality that can actually hold a conversation, and everything it's told you has raised more questions than it's answered.

"Many Abnormalities were connected to this world so that you could observe them. Because of the Devil's follies, we have been allowed to wander freely." The marks man's eyes flare for a moment before growing dim, a momentary loss of focus the only indication of emotion. "Once we've returned to the place I was allowed to enter, I will return so that my contract can be fulfilled. That is all there is to it."

You want to ask further, but stop. It seems there's nothing more you can draw out of this encounter. The two of you want in silence together, the afternoon turning to dusk as you reach your destination.

"Be wary of the Devil, א. Its bargains only ever bring sorrow." Der Freischütz gives a final warning, then vanishes in a burst of dark flame. In its place, a small Sapling pushes its way through the earth. The glittering plant remains

PAYMENT/TARGET/ANGUISH

as the last one did, a gateway only you can reach through. You suppose you'll need to unlock this one as well. That will probably have to wait, since it's starting to get late.

You…
[] Consult Kyubey about the Abnormalities
[] Go hunting
[] Return home
[] Write-in

———————————————
Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 0/3
Sword Sharpened By Tears - Integration Beginning
Pinks - Integration Beginning
Feels nice to have a Sapling back in the notes. It just feels more complete. Apologies for Der Frei's text colour being so hard to read.

 

[Lepidoptera]

Chapter 37 - Moment of Rest

The Sapling is rather far from your current base of operations, and judging by the last one you'll probably need to check in on it regularly. Unfortunately, you can't just uproot the thing and replant it somewhere else. Not that that's really an issue for you now.

You dig your fingers into the earth, splitting stone and concrete until you've torn out a small chunk of the ground. The Sapling remains attached to the separated ground, swaying slightly from the commotion. You heft the small boulder in one hand and begin heading back to the apartment.

—————————

You arrive to find Mami already in, halfway through preparing dinner. She must have heard you come in, because she turns to give you a guilty smile before going back to cooking. At least she seems to be enjoying herself, so you'll withhold your objections this time.

Your dinner conversation begins with school. Mami is an upperclassman, and while her work keeps her too busy to ever build up any connections or try extracurriculars, she still takes pride in staying at the top of her class. Homura was less hostile than previous days, but Mami still kept a close eye on her. You smile at that. It's a small step, but a step in the right direction nonetheless.

"Sayaka made her Contract last night," Mami admits with a hint of giddiness. On the outside she remains perfectly calm and composed, but you can hear the barely-restrained excitement in her voice clearly.

"Has she? I had hoped she would give it more time and consideration before jumping into things, but it's her choice," you admit with an even expression. Mami's excitement is suddenly blunted, mixed with a hint of shame.

"Indeed. She seems quite eager to rush into things, doesn't she? Still, there shouldn't be anything to worry about with the two of us watching out for her."

You'll have to see. Depending on her strong she is this could be a positive development, but on principle you can't condone anybody entering Kyubey's system. Especially missing so much information. As horrible as the Corporation was, everyone knew exactly what they were getting into. Even amongst the ordinary people who agreed to serve in other branches, the horrors of the Wings have always been an open secret. You hope Sayaka at least absorbed some of what you told her before deciding what she wanted out of her life.

"She hasn't said what her Wish was, but her Magic is quite powerful. It passively strengthens allies, although she cannot apply it to herself."

That… is not insignificant. It would be better if it were multiplicative rather than additive, but depending on how strong the enhancement is it might not matter very much. Whatever the case, another child has been irreversibly drawn into this mess. Only time will tell if you can see them all through it.

With Mami's day concluded, you decide to add in some stories about what happened to you. She already knows about Abnormalities, so it won't do any harm to tell her about this one.

"Kyubey and I encountered another Abnormality. It didn't actually attack me, although it seemed to have something against him in particular. We talked for a bit, and it disappeared," you report. Mami seems pleased at the news, although is somewhat unnerved by your description of Kyubey's multiple bodies. Apparently she didn't know even that much. You're a bit surprised the creature himself hasn't shown up, not that his absence is displeasing.

You are reminded of what Homura told you about Mami and her instabilities. She's been left alone for years now, with only that manipulative little rat for company. It's a wonder she's done as well as she has so far. Hopefully you'll be able to end that isolation once and for all. If not, well, you told Homura that nothing important is ever easy to do. You'll have more tries if you need them.

—————————

"By the way, I met our neighbor. Another Magical Girl nearby, her name's Sakura Kyoko?"

There is a crash as the dish Mami was washing drops to the ground. A storm of emotions flow through her; from sorrow to frustration to fear. She stands there, paralyzed, amongst the shattered porcelain.

You rest a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

You hold your breath, waiting for an answer. Mami starts, the stops. She wants to say something, but can't.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. I'll clean this up, and-"

She takes a deep breath and turns toward you, her usual mask having returned. Then it is gone, and she looks tired and frightened all at once.

"No, it's fine. I am alright. Kyoko was… a student of mine. A long time ago. We parted on poor terms, and I have not seen her for a long time. I am glad to hear she's okay."

"She's a bit feisty, but yeah, she's doing alright. She agreed to warn me if she sees anything out of the ordinary as long as I'm willing to help her hold her territory every once in a while."

Mami struggles for a moment with her next words, decision and anxiety warring in her mind over if she should speak. In the end, decision wins, and her voice is strained but firm.

"Can I come with you? It… would be more efficient to have more people who can fight present. Sayaka could come as well, and perhaps Madoka if she's Contracted by then."

You…
[] Allow Mami to join you when aiding Kyoko
[] Do not

Night Activities
[] Check Sapling
[] Research…
-[] Sakura Kyoko
-[] Tomoe Mami
-[] Recent deaths
-[] Write-in.
[] Hunting
[] Train with EGO (Specify)
[] Write-in.

———————————————
Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 0/3
A nice, easy chapter where nothing bad happens. Also so much dialogue.