POOR AKATSUKI...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] WHERE AM I?
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
COME AND GET YOUR FRESH HOT CHRISTMAS CAKES HERE!
AND REMEMBER, IF YOU DON'T HURRY AND GET ONE TODAY...
NOM, NOM, NOM...
YOU CAN'T BLAME ME,
WHEN IT TURNS BACK INTO A BORING OL' NORMAL CAKE.
AND THE KIDS WILL LOVE THIS!
IF YOU BUY YOURSELF A CHRISTMAS CAKE RIGHT NOW,
YOU'LL GET A REINDEER MASK FREE!
THAT'S RIGHT.
(GRUNTS)
[NERURESU] DISGUSTING ADVENTURERS!
[RIEZE] THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
HENRIETTA IS AT THE CATHEDRAL,
AND SHE'LL LET US KNOW THE MOMENT AKATSUKI WAKES UP.
KAY.
AREN'T YOU A BIT COLD, MILADY?
YOU'VE BEEN STANDING BY THE WINDOW FOR A WHILE NOW.
YEAH, I SUPPOSE.
[RIEZE] OF COURSE, I'M ALWAYS COLD HERE.
I DIDN'T GROW UP ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
YOU MEAN, YOU'RE NOT FROM AKIHABARA, LADY RIEZE?
NO, I'M FROM A TOWN CALLED KIYOSE.
I BELIEVE YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE IT
AS THE AREA AROUND NOBIDOME DISTRICT.
UH, BUT WAIT, I THOUGHT THAT...
I THAT YOU WERE DESCENDED FROM NOBILITY.
NO, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
MY FAMILY IS WONDERFULLY AVERAGE.
UH?
[RAYNESHIA] HM. I GUESS THAT MEANS,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING, DO I?
[RIEZE] HUH...
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU,
OR EVEN ANY OF THE PEOPLE I'VE MET HERE.
NOT MISS AKATSUKI, OR LADY HENRIETTA OR LADY MARIELLE.
I MEAN, MAYBE I... WHAT I MEAN IS...
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T KNOW YOU,
BUT RATHER, I'VE NEVER EVEN TRIED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU.
I DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO LEARN ABOUT MASTER KRUSTY.
[RAYNESHIA] MM?
[RIEZE] WELL ALLOW ME TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU.
I WAS AN HONOR STUDENT AT SCHOOL, Y'KNOW.
[RAYNESHIA] HM?
THE FACULTY TOOK A LIKING TO ME,
I WAS EXCELLENT IN MY CLASSES.
AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS ACT INTELLIGENT,
AND THEN I WAS SHOWERED WITH PRAISE.
IT'S LIKE I'D BECOME ADEPT AT PRETENDING I WAS SMART.
SO AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,
I'M GLAD I FOUND MYSELF IN A GUILD LIKE D. D. D.
I MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE GUILD.
AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT I REALLY NEEDED TO FOCUS ON
SOMEONE OTHER THAN MYSELF.
IF I DIDN'T LEARN THAT...
I CAN'T REALLY IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF WONDERFUL THINGS
I WOULD HAVE MISSED IN THIS WORLD,
OR THE AMAZING PEOPLE I WOULD HAVE MET.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHERE I'D BE.
HMMM... I CAN RELATE TO THAT.
EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY.
WE JUST DON'T ALWAYS SEE IT DO WE?
AND WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT WHEN WE DO SEE IT.
PERHAPS THAT'S THE REASON I FEEL THE NEED TO ACT LIKE A PRINCESS.
'CAUSE MY STRENGTHS, THEY NEVER SEEM LIKE ENOUGH.
I FEEL THE ONLY THING I REALLY HAVE IS MY ROYAL HERITAGE
AND SO...
I WANT TO...
I NEED TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN AND HONEST WITH YOU, LADY RIEZE.
IF I'M ANYTHING ELSE, THEN I DO NOT DESERVE YOUR KINDNESS.
ANYTHING LESS IS NOT WORTHY OF SOMEONE'S RESPECT OR FRIENDSHIP.
SO, YOU WANT TO BE "OPEN"? ALL RIGHT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, MY FIRST BIT OF ADVICE IS SIMPLE.
BEING A PERFECTLY "OPEN" PERSON IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
UH...
(EXHALE) LET'S JUST START BY BEING FRIENDS, RAYNESHIA.
IF YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT, OF COURSE...
I AM AN ADVENTURER AFTER ALL.
MPH.
(STREET NOISE AND CHATTER)
[ AKATSUKI, THINKING] DON'T TELL ME...?
COULD IT... NO...?
[AKATSUKI] MMNPH.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] OKAY WHERE AM I TRYING TO GO?
I KEEP GETTING PUSHED AROUND,
RUSHED SOMEWHERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE...
[AKATSUKI] UH? MPH...
(RUNNING AND HEAVY BREATHING)
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] ALL RIGHT. WHERE AM I GOING NOW?
WHAT IF I, WHAT IF I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE?
MAYBE I'M JUST RUNNING FOR THE SAKE OF RUNNING.
(SHATTERING)
[SHIROE] I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS QUIET.
[AKATSUKI] YEAH...
OH...
AH!
I THINK I... I LOST PART OF MYSELF...
DID YOU SEE THAT? OR FEEL IT, MY LORD?
HERE, AKATSUKI.
YEAH, OKAY...
UH...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] AH SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
[SHIROE] INCREDIBLE, ISN'T IT?
[AKATSUKI] LOOK AT THAT... IT'S... BEAUTIFUL.
YEAH.
[AKATSUKI] THOSE ARE... THEY'RE MEMORIES?
[SHIROE] EVERY TIME A PLAYER HAS DIED,
THEY'VE OFFERED A MEMORY SO THEY COULD STAND UP ONE MORE TIME.
SO I'M GUESSING YOU GOT KILLED ON YOUR MISSION...?
UH?
[AKATSUKI] THAT'S RIGHT! I DIED. DIDN'T I?
(EXHALE)
YES, I DIED.
AND I WAS JUST ABOUT TO LEARN SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT!
YEAH, WELL... THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME.
AND NOW WE'RE BOTH DEAD.
YOU TOO, MY LORD?
MM‐HM
THIS HAS TO BE THE STRANGEST CHRISTMAS EVE EVER, MY LORD...
REALLY.
OH... UH?
HEH...
I'VE COMPLETELY FAILED...
I DON'T THINK I PLANNED WELL ENOUGH...
I DIDN'T TRUST ANYONE.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE I UNDERSTAND MY LORD.
SOMEHOW I'M NOT ALL THAT UPSET ABOUT LOSING MY BATTLE.
[SHIROE] A MYRIAD OF THINGS
KEPT ME FROM DOING WHAT I PLANNED TO DO.
AND IT WOUND UP GETTING ME KILLED.
IT'S ALL SO STRANGE.
I NEVER IMAGINED I'D END UP SEEING YOU OUT HERE LIKE THIS.
HEH, YES, MY LORD. IT IS STRANGE.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] WAS THIS JUST COINCIDENCE?
NO, IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE
I WANTED SO BADLY TO SEE HIM AGAIN.
I WAS ACHING TO FEEL HIM NEXT TO ME.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
SOMETHING ABOUT TO CLICK.
I WAS ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING BIG.
[AKATSUKI] YOU KNOW, MY LORD. I NEED TO GO BACK AGAIN.
I THINK I SHOULD GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT TOO,
AND USE EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE.
SHALL WE...
MHM.
UH... MPH.
I WAS SOMEWHERE WITH MY LORD. IT WAS COLD AND I REMEMBER THE SEA.
(SNIFFLE)
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] I HAVE...
I HAVE A FLEETING FEELING.
I ALMOST HAD SOMETHING. ALMOST HAD IT IN MY HANDS.
THAT'S IT. I'M GOING TO FACE HIM AGAIN.
AND NO MATTER WHAT, I WILL NOT FAIL THIS TIME.
[HENRIETTA] AKATSUKI!
[AKATSUKI] HUH?
[HENRIETTA] UHA! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
HE DIDN'T LEAVE ANY SCARS ON YOU, DID HE?!
OH! YOU'RE JUST SO CUTE!
PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME FOR YOU
TO COME OUT OF THAT SLUMBER OF YOURS.
[AKATSUKI] EXCUSE ME... [HENRIETTA] (COOING) HMM?
[HENRIETTA] SORRY.
[AKATSUKI] IT'S PROBABLY A BIT RUDE OF ME TO ASK,
BUT I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP WITH SOMETHING.
COULD YOU PLEASE TEACH ME THE ORAL ARTS?
I WANT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP THAT SERIAL KILLER
[NAZNA] HMMMM... [RIEZE] DIDN'T MASTER SOJIRO
ALREADY USE HIS ORAL ART AGAINST HIM, MISS NAZNA?
[NAZNA] HE DID.
AND THAT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE, WAS IT?
THAT'S RIGHT. (EXHALE)
[RIEZE] THERE IS NO SENSE OBSESSING OVER IT
KNOWING THAT IT DIDN'T WORK BEFORE.
[AKATSUKI] WELL I MEAN,
I WANT TO STOP THIS MANIAC FROM KILLING ANYONE ELSE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ORAL ART.
IT'S JUST...
IF ANY OF YOU KNOW ANOTHER WAY TO END THIS...
I'M WILLING TO LEARN ABOUT THAT TOO!
[NAZNA] YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BEAT HIM?
[AKATSUKI] LOOK, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I HAVE TO TRY, I CAN'T JUST SIT BACK AND LET HIM KEEP GOING.
MASTER SHIROE'S NOT IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO HANDLE THIS!
AH... DID I JUST HEAR YOU CORRECTLY?
SHIROE ISN'T HERE IN THE CITY?
UH... LISTEN HE ASKED US TO KEEP IT QUIET IF WE COULD.
BUT YES, SHIROE ISN'T HERE.
HE'S CURRENTLY ON A MISSION OUTSIDE OF AKIHABARA.
[NAZNA] WELL THAT EXPLAINS A LOT.
NOW I KNOW WHY YOU'VE BEEN ACTING SO STRANGE.
AKATSUKI? UH?
[NAZNA] YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN?
CAN YOU STOP THIS GUY FROM KILLING AGAIN?
UPH.
AND ARE YOU ABLE TO DO IT ALL ON YOUR OWN?
[AKATSUKI] 'COURSE NOT ALONE. [HENRIETTA] OH?
I KNOW I CAN'T HANDLE THIS GUY BY MYSELF.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
PLEASE HELP ME END THIS!
(SHAKY BREATH)
[AKATSUKI] OHH...
[RIEZE] I WOULD SAY YOU'VE PASSED OUR TEST,
IF ONLY HALFWAY.
D. D. D. HAS BUT EIGHT CONFIRMED ORAL ARTS
AMONG ITS MEMBERS AT THE MOMENT.
LORD KRUSTY'S ALREADY GIVEN US PERMISSION.
WE WILL SHARE EVERYTHING WE KNOW WITH YOU.
UH...
GOODNESS...
THIS IS LIKE GOING THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL ALL OVER AGAIN.
[MISA] SEE FOR YOURSELF,
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY MORE GOBLINS IN THIS AREA.
[KRUSTY] YEAH...
[MISA] MY LORD!
[KRUSTY] HM?
YOU'RE GETTING BORED AGAIN, AREN'T YOU?
AH... OKAY GUILTY AS CHARGED. I'M COMING OUT OF MY SKIN.
YEAH WELL DEAL WITH IT.
LOOK I WOULDN'T BE HERE
IF I WASN'T ABLE TO ENDURE SUCH THINGS.
(SIGH)
HM?
[KRUSTY] WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
MY WEAPON'S BEEN ACTING A BIT STRANGE AS OF LATE.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT, REPAIR IT?
YEAH, I GUESS I COULD, BUT IT'S WORKING FINE OTHER THAN THIS.
[KRUSTY] IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN,
YOU WEAPON IS NAMED "DISASTER," YES?
YEAH, EVEN THE FLAVOR TEXT ISN'T VERY FLATTERING
IN ITS DESCRIPTION OF IT EITHER.
IT'S A LITTLE BETTER NOW. SORRY FOR BRINGING IT UP.
(ELECTRIC SOUNDS)
(MUTTERING)
[ALI] MMMMMM...
GLAD THAT'S OVER WITH...
I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS
WHEN I HAVE TO PRESENT MY RESEARCH TO THE CLASS.
[AOMORI] WELL EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE PRETTY IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR WORK Y'KNOW.
IT WAS THE COOLEST THING TO COME OUT OF RODERICK'S WORKSHOP...
AT LEAST IT SEEMED LIKE IT TO ME.
IT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY COOL THING IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
NOT NEEDING A CHEF SUBCLASS TO COOK ANYMORE.
[MIKAKAGE] YEAH WELL, I WOULDN'T CALL MAKING A SALAD
A GRAND ACHIEVEMENT.
STILL I'M NOT SURE REALLY HOW IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE
TO BEGIN WITH. (DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
[ALL] HM?
[AOMORI] IT'S THE GUILD MASTER.
[RODERICK] AH, CONTINUE EATING EVERYONE.
I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE SOME OF OUR LATEST FINDINGS
ON A FEW OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING.
THERE ARE THREE TOPICS I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU
WHILE WE STILL HAVE THE TIME.
FIRST IS THE GENDER GAP THAT GOES BACK TO OUR GAMING DAYS.
[AOMORI] "GENDER GAP"?
YOU KNOW HOW SOME PEOPLE PLAYED THE GAME
AS THE OPPOSITE GENDER? THAT'S WHAT HE MEANS.
THE BODY INFLUENCES PERSONALITY,
BUT NOW IT APPEARS THOSE GENDER CHARACTERISTICS
WILL ALSO BE PASSED TO YOUR VOCAL CORDS.
THUS FURTHER ALTERING ONE'S GENDER IN THIS WORLD.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY AN ADVENTURER IN A FEMALE BODY,
YOUR VOICE WILL GRADUALLY BECOME MORE FEMININE.
THOSE MALE PLAYERS WILL CONTINUE TO ACQUIRE
FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS.
(SURPRISED GASP)
NEXT IS A GEOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATION.
AND TO BE HONEST...
THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ABOUT THIS.
BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE DISTANCE BETWEEN AKIHABARA
AND MT. FUJI IS GRADUALLY INCREASING.
ACTUALLY IT'S THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ANY TWO POINTS.
ALTHOUGH THE INCREMENTS ARE RATHER SMALL FOR NOW.
[BLACKSMITH] EXCUSE ME! [RODERICK] YES. GO AHEAD.
[BLACKSMITH] IS THAT GOING ON EVERYWHERE, GUILD MASTER?
I MEAN, ARE THE MOUNTAIN RANGES THEMSELVES ALSO GETTING BIGGER?
IS EVERYTHING GROWING?
YES, THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE.
[RODERICK] THE LAST ISSUE WE'LL BE ADDRESSING IS FLAVOR TEXT.
[RODERICK] AS YOU'RE ALREADY AWARE,
FLAVOR TEXT IS JUST AN EXPLANATION DESCRIBING
AN ITEM'S ORIGINS AND ABILITIES
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY THE DEVELOPERS.
THEY CALLED IT "FLAVOR TEXT" BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY THERE
TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GAME PLAY.
OKAY, THEY'RE THE LITTLE POP‐UPS
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO SET THE MOOD AND STUFF.
[RODERICK] THAT'S RIGHT.
THESE BLURBS WERE NEVER MEANT TO HAVE ANY REAL MEANING TO THEM.
BUT SOMETHING ABOUT THEM SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED.
ANYTHING WRITTEN ABOUT ANY PERSON OR THING IN ITS TEXT
HAS A NEW RELEVANCE.
[MIKAKAGE] CRAZY...
[RODERICK] IS IT SIMPLY COINCIDENCE
THAT ALL THESE RECENT PHENOMENA HAVE BEEN HAPPENING LATELY?
PERHAPS WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
THAT THIS WORLD IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE‐SCALE TRANSFORMATION.
IT APPEARS THE APOCALYPSE ISN'T ANYWHERE NEAR COMPLETE.
[RIEZE] I HAVE A REPORT ON HIM.
THE SERIAL KILLER IS A PERSON OF THE LAND.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] SHE TOLD THEM...
[RIEZE] IF THIS INFORMATION BECOMES PUBLIC,
IT'S GOING TO DO IRREPARABLE DAMAGE
TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTH OUR PEOPLES.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT'S THE REASON
YOU WENT OUT TRYING TO HANDLE THIS MATTER ON YOUR OWN?
[RIEZE] AM I RIGHT?
MM.
I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANTED TO DO THIS...
BUT THE PUBLIC WOULD'VE DISCOVERED THE TRUTH EVENTUALLY.
WELL NOT IF EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC IS ALREADY DEAD.
IS THE BRIGADE OF THE WEST WIND
PLANNING TO RELEASE THIS INFORMATION?
NO! SOJIRO SAID WE'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF IT FOR NOW.
HE'S WAITING FOR THESE TWO TO FIX THIS MESS.
[RIEZE] MEANING?
[NAZNA] MEANING SOMEONE NEEDS TO SET THEM STRAIGHT.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU WANT ME TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT.
(SIGH)
[HENRIETTA] SO WHAT EXACTLY WERE THE TWO OF YOU THINKING?
I'M GOING TO GUESS YOU DECIDED ON YOUR OWN
THAT YOU SHOULD HANDLE IT YOURSELVES.
EVEN THOUGH YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT YOU COULDN'T DO THIS ALONE.
YOU WENT ANYWAY.
PERHAPS YOU DON'T THINK
VERY HIGHLY OF YOUR FRIENDS' ABILITIES.
HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON BEING A SOLO ACT?
SHIROE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE OUT HERE THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO RELY ON ONE ANOTHER.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] SHE'S RIGHT.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I'VE SEEN THINGS.
HE CASTS A BIG SHADOW.
AND I'VE BEEN HIDING IN IT ALL THIS TIME.
I NEVER EVEN MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GET TO KNOW ANYONE ELSE.
MUCH LESS LEARN TO TRUST THEM.
AS SOON AS MY LORD WAS GONE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I COULDN'T EVEN DO WHAT HE ASKED ME TO...
[HENRIETTA] WEREN'T YOU COMING TO THIS MANSION
TO BE A BODYGUARD FOR THE PRINCESS?
UH!
YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE ASSIGNED TO SUIFUU.
DID YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE THE ONLY PERSON
GUARDING THE PRINCESS?
RIEZE AND I MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON
MY LORD COUNTS ON.
BUT... BUT WHEN I SAW HOW THAT BURDEN WAS BEARING DOWN ON HER,
I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT LESS THAN IT WAS.
I HAD TO HELP THE PRINCESS.
[AKATSUKI] I NEED YOUR HELP.
I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
[HENRIETTA] OF COURSE WE'LL HELP YOU!
RIEZE AND I ARE HERE TO HELP HOWEVER WE CAN.
BUT THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN HELP YOU AS WELL.
[AKATSUKI] SOMEONE ELSE...?
[HENRIETTA] YES.
[RAYNESHIA] SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO...
BECAUSE ABOVE ALL, AKATSUKI IS MY FRIEND!
(EXHALE)
[AKATSUKI] RAYNESHIA'S DOING THE BEST SHE CAN EVERYDAY.
WE CAN HELP HER.
ALL OF US.
TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT.
I ASK YOU...
I NEED YOU... I NEED MY FRIENDS.
[MARIELLE] HMM...
[RIEZE] ALL RIGHT THEN. LET'S STOP ENBART NERURESU.
I'LL MAKE UP THE PLAN.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. SO LET'S GET IT DONE.
[MISA] MY LORD. IT'S DARK NOW.
LET'S GET BACK TO CAMP.
THIS SPEARHEAD IS A BIT STRANGE.
[MISA] WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
[KRUSTY] IT LOOKS LIKE THIS AREA MIGHT'VE BEEN
A TRAINING GROUND FOR GOBLINS.
[MISA] FOR GOBLINS YOU THINK SO.
I MEAN, WHEN DO GOBLINS INVEST TIME IN COMBAT TRAINING?
[KRUSTY] HM?
[MISA] OH HERE WE GO,
IT'S ACTING UP AGAIN.
(GASP)
(SCREAM)
[KRUSTY] MISA!
HEH!
(STRUGGLING)
(GRUNTING) AH HUH?
MILORD!
(STRUGGLING)
OH NO, KRUSTY!
(KRUSTY STRUGGLING) (MISA SCREAMING)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
(ELETRIC SIZZLING) MILORD...
[RIEZE] THE SWORD OF THE COLD, BYAKUMARU?
ARE YOU SURE THAT'S THE SERIAL KILLER'S KATANA?
I KNEW IT THE MOMENT I SAW IT...
UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY IT WAS IN AMENOMA.
[HENRIETTA] MARIELLE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
[MARIELLE] UH... UH, I DON'T KNOW.
HE USUALLY CALLS RIGHT ON TIME.
BUT MAYBE TODAY, HE'S JUST RUNNING LATE.
YEAH, WELL THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY HAVING A CAMPOUT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME DAYS HE'S TOO BUSY TO CALL.
YOU MIGHT JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW, OKAY, MARIELLE?
YEAH, I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT.
[MARIELLE, THINKING] OH NAOTSUGU.
WHY TONIGHT?
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT HIM YOU THINK MIGHT BE HELPFUL?
(PING) OH?
I HAVE TO TAKE THIS...
I'M HERE.
OKAY...
(GASP) [BOTH] HM?
OH NO!
[AKATSUKI, VOICEOVER] AS A MAN LOSES HIS HEART,
THE SERIAL KILLER BECOMES A REAL MONSTER.
MEMORIES OF A LEGENDARY HERO RUN THROUGH HIS MIND.
WHILE RIEZE AND HENRIETTA GET READY
TO STAGE A RAID TO CAPTURE HIM.
A WARRIOR DEDICATES HERSELF TO LEARNING AN ORAL ART.
ALTOGETHER, 26 MAIDENS JOIN TO STAND AGAIN THE MONSTER!
[SHIROE] STAND UP, ONE MORE TIME!