After the incidents on Friday, the school was locked up. No one was allowed to leave, and no one was allowed to come in. An accommodation was provided for the entire school stuff, mostly using wings of Yamaku dormitories that were previously vacant. The independent investigation agency 'Garan no Dou' was hired to shed light on the mysterious circumstances that surrounded the murder of Kenji Setou, Saki Enomoto and Emi Ibarazaki.

For the entire past week, Garan no Dou scheduled meetings with students and group of students to interrogate them, confront their versions of the facts and analyze any discrepancy.

The head of the agency was a woman called Touko Aozaki. Apparently, she was an old acquaintance of Mutou, the man who opposed the hiring of Garan no Dou the most.

In this very moment, Mutou and Aozaki are arguing about dollcrafting in your professor's atelier. You can't do much, besides trying to make sense of what they have to tell each other. Even so, the jargon is so complicated you can barely keep up.

"It's no mystery the Demon Hunter Organization is going downhill, Mutou! With people like you, even the Atlas Association would fall apart".

"Spare me your compliments, Aozaki. The Ryougi family has cut their monetary support to the organization, the Fujou are all dead, and the Asagami pay their fees all the while pretending the Asakami never existed. The only remaining supporters are the Nanaya, but most of them died at the hands of Makihisa Tohno. Our best hope is that boy over there", he says, pointing at you.

"Don't even get me started on that. The fact that a talentless hack like you gets to co-operate with a Mystic Eyes of Death Perception user fills me with undying rage. Truly, the best things happen to the worst people".

"Sorry for interrupting you", you interject. "There's a few things I meant to ask you".

Mutou was sure from the beginning that Saki was not a vampire. Still, the thing that attacked you was definitely nonhuman, and you never received any explanation about that. More importantly, Rika was still at large. No one was following her trails, and if the Church were to reach her first, that would spell certain death for her.

So thing you need to know the most is

>What happened to Saki. As long as I am locked in this school, I don't want similar accidents to happen again.
>What happened to Rika. She's alone and she's probably scared, taking care of her is my responsibility.
>Write-in

>>589585
>What happened to Rika. She's alone and she's probably scared, taking care of her is my responsibility.

>>589585
>>What happened to Rika. She's alone and she's probably scared, taking care of her is my responsibility.

>>589585
>What happened to Saki. As long as I am locked in this school, I don't want similar accidents to happen again.

If Mutou knew what happened to Rika he would've presumably told us already.

>>589584
>>Write-in
Just give our report and act like a good soldier. Do not embarrass the boss in front of others.

>>589585
>>What happened to Rika. She's alone and she's probably scared, taking care of her is my responsibility.

>>589584
>>What happened to Rika. She's alone and she's probably scared, taking care of her is my responsibility.

"First of all, of course, I'd like to know how you plan to proceed with Rika. No one can leave the campus yet, and I can't help thinking that there's a girl out there who has been turned into a monster, and she probably feels lost and alone".

Mutou nods, but Aozaki looks at you perplexed.

"A monster is a monster, Nakai. I thought Mutou would teach you that much, at least. If anything, our concern is that she's on the loose. Have no fear, I will dispatch my agents. Thus, the matter will be taken care of."

"That's your personal opinion, miss Aozaki. I am quite aware of my capabilities, and I know well that saving her is a possibility. Now, even if we have a different perspective on the problem, if you were to let me go, I could solve it."

The red-haired magus lights a cigarette, looking at you with curiosity. This confidence you're brimming with, it wasn't with you all along. After killing Saki, it's like your internal dissidences ceased. You felt at peace, and you drew strength and resoluteness from that tranquillity.

"Considering the paperwork involved, I can't give you that permit before Thursday", Aozaki says.

"I beg of you, miss Aozaki. Tomorrow is Sunday, the only day I can be absent from campus without losing any lesson. If the permit were available by tomorrow, I could bring her back and ease the burden on Garan no Dou before the start of the next week".

"I agree", Mutou intervenes. "Nakai's education is important as well, and I am not saying that just as his professor".

Aozaki looks annoyed for an instant, then she grins and nods. "Alright Nakai, hear me out. This is how we'll do it. I'll give you the permit by this evening. You will have the whole of tomorrow to look for her, then I will take the matter in my own hands. Sounds fair for you?"

While she phrased it in a way that might make it look like she's open to discussing the terms of the agreement, her tone of voice leaves no room for ambiguity. It's a take it or leave it kind of deal.

You have no choice but to give in.

"Fair enough, I will find her and bring her back", you boldly claim.

"Good. Now leave me alone, I have work to do. You too, Akio, I need you to fetch me Kokutou"

"I think you're overstepping your authority, Touko. This is my atelier"

"Atelier? Looks more like a junk room to me. Come to Mifune when this is over, I will show you what an actual atelier looks like!"

Having no interest in listening to their lovers' quarrel, and heeding Aozaki's order, you decide to leave.

It's Saturday, and classes are over. You can visit any place in the campus, but you can't leave it yet. Now, is there somewhere you'd like to be or someone you'd like to visit in particular?

>Write-in

>>597278
Get permission to search Rika's room.

>>597283
>>597278
Second

>>597283
Thirded

>>597518
Fouthed?

You have no clue where to begin your search for Rika once you get to the city. After all, it's quite large, and probably your former schoolmate doesn't know the entirety of it either.

But she could be lurking around places she knows well. In that case, inspecting her room could yield some pointers.

"Ah, Miss Aozaki, before I leave: I'd like to visit Rika's room, if it that's alright with you. May I?"

She rolls her eyes and sighs. "Whatever Nakai, do whatever you want. Just get out of here already".

It seems like she's quite invested in her current fight with Mutou, but you're content with her authorization. Since she's in such a mood, you ponder if you shouldn't try a bit harder and press her for more concessions. Maybe she'll give in for the sake of winning the argument.

You shrug. It's probably better not push your luck.

You know where Rika's room is very well, so you get there quickly. Using your switchblade knife, you crack the lock and enter.

The room looks fairly ordinary. Nothing in particular stands out, her sheets looks clean, her desk is a bit messy, and a few bags lie at the foot of the bed. Rummaging through them, you find a few books, an old brass pocket watch, and new clothes.

The old watch is coated in dust, but the clothes and the books are perfectly clean.
"That's strange", you think out loud.

In the bags, you find the receipt for those purchases. You smile with satisfaction.
Those pieces of paper are a goldmine of information, as they contain the name of the stores where said purchases took place, as well as their address.

You put them in your pocket and leave. This went beyond your rosiest expectations.

Now, you have two options: visiting the information center or going back to your room to train your eyes.
Ideally, you could do both, since you don't have any form of time constraint.

The thing is, asking about the city at the information center is bound to raise some suspicions and possibly make Aozaki's work more difficult. No one can leave the building, so why would a student ask for the bus schedules or a city map?

On the other hand, going in blind also presents some difficulties. You have to weight the odds, it's your call.

>Go to the information center
>Go back to your room
>Go somewhere else [write-in]

>>597622
>>Go back to your room

>>597622
We have a phone. Browse the Net.
If we can't, go borrow someone's Net access. Someone like Hanako probably won't be able to refuse us. Or ask Misha in exchange for playing more of their TTGs.

>>597639
It's 2007, isn't it a bit too early for phone internet?
Keep in mind our phone is an old model.

>>597656
Oh. Well, the Student Council still might have Net access.

>>597656
Didn't the iPhone come out in 2007?

>>597890
That's true, I wasn't entirely sure of that.
In any case, the phone is an old model. You can use internet from the SC's room as the anon proposed, if you're so inclined.

>>597689
+1

You definitely need a map, but you can't ask the information center. That'd be playing with fire.
Instead, there's a certain organization within the school who's supposed to uphold the rules while continually breaking them.

You have some leverage with them, and you're going to exploit that to the fullest.
You're quite sure the Student Council is currently passing time playing their games in their room.

You knock on their door a few times. The ever-cheerful Misha opens it, greeting you with a smile.

"Hello, Hicchan! What brings you here?"

"Hello, Misha. Is Shizune inside? I'd like to talk with the two of you".

Misha beckons you to come in, then in a flash, her hands start moving to translate for her deaf-mute friend. Shizune is glaring at you, which is quite the red flag considering how delicate the negotiation you have to carry on is.

"So, Hicchan. What do you have to propose us?", Misha asks.

"Ah, well, I want to propose you an exchange".

You could swear you saw Shizune's eyes glowing with a different light as the girl with pink drills translated that into sign language for her.

"Let's listen to it, Hicchan".

"Very well. I will play a game of your choice in exchange for internet access and printing privileges".

Shizune grins and sings something to Misha.

"Hey, Hicchan, you've been hanging out with that bad woman, Lilly, haven't you? You've been neglecting us. To make amend for your past actions, one game isn't nearly enough. Shicchan says, five or bust".

You gnash your teeth. You had no doubt that she would have driven an hard bargain.
You decide to skip the intermediation process. Walking in front of Shizune, you hold three fingers high.

She grins again, then nods.
'This girl could turn anything into a competition. No matter what, you feel like you've already lost when you started negotiating with her', you think.

You spend the next four hours playing incredibly long and repetitive games. At some points, it looks like even the Student Council is bored. The only one occasionally grinning in your direction is Shizune.

"Four, five, six. That's the end, Shicchan won. Yay!", Misha shouts, looking more excited than the actual winner.
You sigh in relief. It's finally over. It's finally over, so why is Shizune still grinning?

"Alright, Shizune, Misha, it's time to fulfill your part of the obligation. Where can I access internet and print what I need to print?"

Misha chuckles, and even Shizune laughs silently.
"Hicchan, didn't they tell you? All students have access to the internet and to the printer from the Library. It's free".

"No. No, they did not tell me. I had no idea".
You slam the palm of your hand against your forehead. "I've been had again".

"Oh come on, Hicchan, you couldn't know. Coming to the Student Council was the wisest move after all. Shizune is just a bit jealous that you spent time with her rival, so..."

>>598310
"Yes, yes whatever. You pranked me. Well done", you say, turning around, not leaving Misha any time to respond. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see her frowning.

'I am done with their bullshit', you promise to yourself.
Even so, you feel a bit bad for Misha. You shouldn't have lashed out at her. Has your heart grown harder?

No, that's not it. You do feel sad for Misha, but only because she's stuck with that manipulative woman. But as a matter of fact, that pain is self-inflicted, so you have no right to break the chains she forged for herself.

In the library, you ask Yuuko for help in order to access internet. You find a map of the city and print it, making sure to highlight the addresses you're interested in.

The area comprised between the four shops roughly looks like a trapezoid. Satisfied with your results, you go back to your room.
Is there anything else you want to do before sleeping?

>No, I need to get up early and catch the early bus
>Yeah, I thought of something actually. [Write-in]

>>598313
>>No, I need to get up early and catch the early bus

>>598313
>>No, I need to get up early and catch the early bus
We only have one day, lets do it right

>>598313
>>No, I need to get up early and catch the early bus

>>598541
This guy is right. Since we spent the day playing games, we really need to make the most with our time now.

You wear your pajama and go to bed right away. You put the alarm at 5 o'clock in the morning. You want to be at the bus stop as soon as possible.

The following morning, you have no problem waking up as the alarm goes off. You've been excited all night, and now that excitement still lingers. You wash yourself, change into casual clothes, then head for Mutou's atelier.

You knock a few times before someone answers the door. Miss Aozaki looks like she hasn't slept at all that night. She hands you the permit right away, then once again she asks you to leave.

You oblige her immediately. She has no time to waste, and neither have you.

You have to show the permit at the gate multiple times before being allowed to leave, and you can't help but notice how the guards paid for by Miss Aozaki seem to be much more efficient than the old surveillance system in place at Yamaku.

"That woman must really be rich beyond belief", you comment, making sure that you're far enough from the school.

You've been to the nearby town a few times, and there you noticed where the bus stops are. Just to make sure, you double-checked that on the internet yesterday.

The first bus arrives at 7 AM. You pay the ticket with a couple of spare coins, then go on the front row, in order to be as close to the door as possible.

The trip doesn't last long, and when you finally arrive, the bus is only half-full. You get off and breathe in some fresh air.
The city looks wonderful to you, used as you are to the campus and to its meager town.

In any case, you must stay on the target. You have an area to patrol and a few shops to visit. Of course, if Rika really is a vampire, she won't come out before night. That leaves you some free time if you wish to explore the town on your own.

>It's early morning, no one is around. I will wander through the city as I please.
>I'd better start looking for her near those shops.
>write-in

>>600718
>I'd better start looking for places where a vampire can hide during the day. Starting from those shops.

>It would be prudent to ask around inside the shops too. Maybe someone has seen her.

>>600718
>>I'd better start looking for her near those shops.

>>600718
>I'd better start looking for her near those shops.

No, you can't exactly afford to fool around. You have only one day, then Aozaki will...
Perish the thought.

You get your map and head towards the first shop, a bookstore.
The shop assistants there greet you warmly, but don't remember seeing Rika around. You politely thank them, then get out.

You don't have much luck in the other stores either, bar for the antiquarian that you haven't visited yet.
The shop appears to be closed, and it will be so until four o'clock in the afternoon.

"How strange", you think.
There's nothing you can do about it, so you decide to go for a walk in the commercial district, asking people if they saw your friend. Most of them shake their heads, but some of them say that they've seen such a girl loitering and skulking around in dark alleys.

You stop by a bar to eat something, since you skipped both dinner last evening and breakfast this morning. The meal really helps you clear your thoughts, and you feel energy coming back to you.

You take a deep breath. You need to be a bit more methodical about this. Not that you've been shoddy so far, but you won't go far by simple trial and error.

The police station isn't far from where you're standing. You could go there and ask the policemen if they saw a girl that fits your description. The alternative is asking the same question to those shops and restaurants in the area that remain open 24/7: they're more likely to have seen someone wandering nearby during the night.

>Ask the police
>Ask the people working in the commercial district
>Write-in

>>602533
Find a bum and ask if any of his buddies had disappeared recently and where.

>>602533
>>Ask the people working in the commercial district
We would get in trouble for bringing the popo into this

>>603332
>>602541
>>602533
Could we do both of these?

>>602533
>>Ask the people working in the commercial district

>>604826
Would also be ok with this

You start your patrol of the commercial district, interrogating in particular the people who work in restaurants and always-open shops.
Some of them claim to have seen her, some even claim to have served her recently.

In any case, none of them knows where could she be hiding. It's normal, after all: under normal circumstances, no waiter would ask about private information.

You decide to take the matter into your hands more directly and seek out a homeless person. After all, technically, Rika is homeless too. You walk away from the commercial district and move closer to the outskirts of the city, where worse off people are usually found.

You see a man living in a cardboard box. His clothes are worn out and he has a plastic glass standing in front of him. Somebody has left him some coins, but you estimate that he couldn't even afford a sandwich with that money.

You give him some alms, then clear your throat to make sure he understands that you want to talk with him.

"Sir? Can I ask you a few question?"

The man rises up and looks at you with a distraught face.

"What is it?"

"Have you seen my friend around? She's a tall girl with red eyes and white hair, usually arranged in a braid, and she..."

"AAAAAAAAH! STAY AWAY FROM ME! STAY AWAY FROM ME!", the man screams, standing up and running away as fast as he can, knocking over his glass with donations in the process.

You take some of those coins for yourself. They're going to be useful if you wish to interrogate more homeless people.

Indeed, you find another, and after donating him some money, you ask him the same questions.

"I am not going to ask why you're looking for her, or why are you friends in the first place. Truth be told, some strange rumors are circulating about a girl just like the one you described. Rumors have it that she seduces passersby, lures them in a dark alley in this area, and then leaves them for dead. The police has already been alerted, but they say they can't do anything if they don't have evidence, and so far no corpse of any victim has ever been found"

"I see, that's certainly worrisome. Thank you very much", you tell the man, leaving him a bit more of your spare change.

You don't know how long you've walked for, but you reckon that the antique shop should be open by now.
You could either go back there, or continue your investigation in this side of the town.

>I'd like to continue for now. It'd be a waste to go back and forth
>I'd like to talk with the antiquarian in the shop
>Write-in

>>606407
>>I'd like to talk with the antiquarian in the shop

>>606407
>I'd like to talk with the antiquarian in the shop

>>606407
>I'd like to talk with the antiquarian in the shop

>>606407
>I'd like to talk with the antiquarian in the shop

File: eJwNyMENwyAMAMBdGAAIccBki(...).jpg (209 KB, 1000x600)

209 KB JPG

Talking with homeless people turned out to be informative, but also outright dangerous. There's no guarantee one of them won't turn violent if you ask him about your friend.

You already know that she's believed to lurk nearby. It'd be much better to ask the antiquarian instead, since he's the one who might possess information you don't have yet.

You walk back there, and upon arriving, you find that the shop is no longer closed. Without further ado, you open the door and let yourself in. The whole store smells pungently yet pleasantly, so much that you feel almost inebriated.

You take a look around. The objects for sale look remarkably good, and even if you don't need or have no use for them, you can barely fight the temptation of buying some particularly beautiful antiques.

An old man appears from the back of the shop. He smiles warmly at you, and you reciprocate the gesture.

"Can I help you, boy? Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"Well, not really. I am sorry to bother you with this, but I am looking for my friend. She purchased an old brass pocket watch here, so I thought I'd ask you. She disappeared a few weeks ago, she's tall, beautiful, and her white hair is combed in a braid. She's a Yamaku student, just like me".

The man nods, lost in thought.

"Did she perchance have an heart disease?", he inquires

"Yes, yes she did! Have you met such a girl?"

The man looks at you, his expression no longer cheerful. He responds with a voice full of sorrow.

"I met her a few days ago. She pleaded with me to buy back the brass watch back, even at half the price. She told me she urgently needed the money. Son, I think she developed a serious drug addiction"

You give him a quizzical look. Drug addiction? If that were true, you'd be jumping for joy. Vampirism is, unfortunately, much worse than that.

"I understand. I realize I might be asking for too much, but do you have any idea where she could be staying?"

"In fact I do. Come here", he tells you, motioning you to come closer to the counter.
He produces a tourist map for the city, then circles with a pen a small area not too far from where you're standing now.

"This place is popular amongst drug addicts and drug dealers. It's not particularly dangerous if you don't bother the wrong people, but still, you must really be desperate to go there on your own. Does the police know about your friend?"

"Not yet, sir".

"Maybe it's better if it stays that way", he says, handing the map over to you. "I won't charge for it, but promise me you'll save your friend somehow"

"I will, sir".

"Very well. Good luck, then"

"Thank you very much, sir", you respond, feeling for the first time confident about your chances.

>>607500
That is, until you open the map. You notice that the area circled by the antiquarian is on the opposite side of the area that you scouted on your own earlier. You clearly can't examine both in one night.

>Walk through the area inhabited by the homeless
>Walk through the area the antiquarian showed you

>>607503
Now that's just not fair. It's not like we can reload after a wrong guess.

Ok, let's think. We know for sure Rika at least used to hunt homeless in this area. On the other hand, she's not a drug addict and might not even know about that drug den, if the antiquarian didn't tell her.

Let's ask him whether he told her about the den, and if not, try to ambush her in the homeless living area.

>>607532
We know shes not a druggie, so its likely shes in the homeless area. >>607503
>>Walk through the area inhabited by the homeless

She might have decided to start feeding on addicts instead.

>>607503
>walk through the area the antiquarian showed you

>>607503
>>Walk through the area the antiquarian showed you

>>607503
>Walk through the area the antiquarian showed you

You try to think about this rationally.
How could the man tell that Rika is addicted to drugs? Probably she was acting twitchy or strangely, and he concluded that she was intoxicated. Her offer to sell him back the clock must have further convinced him.

There's no way he told her the whereabouts of the den. It's much more likely that he assumed she was hiding there somewhere, given her behavior. So the only thing left to question is your own theory, in other words, that she turned into a vampire.

There are many factors at play here. Would a vampire ask for medicines? That was her last request after all.
The old man sounded strangely confident about his prediction. Maybe a bit too much.

In any case, you decide to trust him. You arrive in the marked area, and you begin your patrol. Hour after hour, the sky gets darker, and the people around you get shadier. Just like the antiquarian said, since you're not bothering anyone, no one is bothering you either.

Still, you can distinctly feel the gaze of some of those people upon you.
The sun has set, and you try to observe discretely, never lingering too much on a single individual, so as not to arouse suspicion.

A single, long white braid comes into your field of vision suddenly. You turn just as quickly in that direction, and quietly follow the girl that resembles your classmate so much. You can't quite make out her face, since she has her back turned on you, but the green skirt she's wearing is a strong clue. You try to keep your distance, in order to avoid any surprise attacks, but deep down you just want her to show her face.

You hear the footsteps of more and more people behind you. 'It's starting to get crowded in here', you think, but something doesn't feel right. Your eyes twitch, and soon enough, the lines of death appear before you.

'Something supernatural, huh? Nothing unexpected... but what if the danger is behind me, rather than in front of me?'
You turn your head slightly. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the people trailing behind you. They are no longer people.

Lines and points of death cover them entirely. They're zombies, or to use a more formal term, they are the Dead.

>Prioritize taking them out here and now. Their corpses turn into dust anyway
>They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika.

Hmm, getting swamped could prove to be a burden, but we could lose Rika otherwise.

>>607909
>They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika
Eyes on the prize baby

>>607909
>>They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika.

>>607909
They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika

>>607909
>They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika.

>>607909
>They're small fry. Keep on stalking Rika.

Really enjoying this OP. Thanks for the good work.

You can't afford to lose track of the objective. With your eyes, you scrutinize the girl in front of you.
A vampire's body is decaying at a much faster rate compared to a human body. Thus, on average, there are more death lines on a vampire than on a human. The girl in front of you has a lot of them, not as many as a member of the Dead, but more than human.

Step by step, the lines become clearer for you, and you start seeing her points too. You finally see it: the 'origin' of her vampirism is right in front of you, a bit below her stomach. You'll stab that point quickly and decisively.

Her 'vampirism' line, instead, is merely a trap. Slicing it means crossing over several other death points, and that's probably what killed your friend Kenji back then.

The girl turns left, entering a poorly-lit alley. With your hand wrapped around your switchblade, you follow her.

The Dead are, in turn, following you. By now, you know for sure that they're her familiars, and that she's leading you to a trap.

Still having her back to you, the girl starts to talk.

"Welcome, my guest. It's a pleasure having you here. I don't exactly know what you are, but I sense that you're very far from the ordinary".

You heartbeat accelerates. You pull out your knife, as you feel that the Dead are drawing near. You have only one chance of doing this right, yet your confidence doesn't waver.

"I will take your blood, and give you some of mine. Who knows, maybe you have what it takes to become a vampire...", she says, snapping her fingers.

Obeying her command, the Dead spring forward to assault you.

From the collarbone to the stomach.
Along the throat.
From the forehead to the neck
From the left arm to the left lung.
Finally, you stab the death point on the heart.

You slice those lines as fast as you can, and the five zombies who were following you fall on the ground and turn into dust. They couldn't even touch you.

Finally, the vampire turns around to face you.
It's definitely Rika, but her face exudes hate.

"Hisao...So it was you. Very well, my friend, we'll settle the score here and now".

"That we will, Rika", you respond, holding fast to your knife.

She lunges forward, so you just need to prepare your body to intercept the blow and stab her 'point'.

Her right arm descends upon you, a strike aimed at breaking your shoulder and making your arm unusable in combat. You follow the trajectory of the attack, dodge it, and then stab her abdomen.

Rika clutches her stomach, taking a few steps forward and breathing heavily.
She starts puking, a black liquid flowing endlessly from her mouth.

You rush to her side to help her, holding her frail body.

"H-Hisao... y-you really did... help me in the end".

>>609318
"Yes. I fulfilled my promise. Sorry, it took me too long"

The girl in your arms won't die like Kenji. Your eyes are bleeding from the effort of locating her 'vampirism' point, but you don't care. Rika is saved.

She's barely conscious, and she lost a lot of her vampiric blood. You'll call Miss Aozaki and Mutou very soon, since calling an ambulance would be too risky with the real Dead Apostle still at large.

The real Dead Apostle... Rika must know who he is...
She shouldn't push herself, but this might be the only chance you'll get of asking her.

>Ask her about the identity of the Dead Apostle
>Let her rest. There's time for that.

>>609320
>Ask her about the identity of the Dead Apostle
You don't miss on chances like that, lest your informant turns up dead.

>>609320
>>Let her rest. There's time for that.

>>609320
Ask her.

>>609320
>Ask her about the identity of the Dead Apostle

>>609320
>>Ask her about the identity of the Dead Apostle

"Rika, who did this to you? Who made you into a vampire?"

"Ah...", she whispers. "Hisao, you're after... the Dead Apostle? I expected... no less of you. But... you already know who is it... don't you? If not, with the time... with the time, you will find out".

"What do you mean? For heaven's sake, Rika, now is not the time for riddles! Rika!"

You try shaking her up a few times, but she's passed out. You call Mutou immediately, and about half an hour later, a black car comes by to pick you up.

The driver is a boy in his early twenties, who introduces himself as Mikiya Kokutou. He strikes you as a very considerate and kind person, in jarring contrast with Aozaki's abrasive personality.

You bring Rika to the city hospital, with a false report from Yamaku's Medical Staff that cites complications linked to her heart condition.

A few days go by, and you can't help thinking about Rika's words and her situation. She was sure that you already solved the case, while you haven't got the faintest idea where to begin.

The situation makes you upset, but you try to rationalize this setback by thinking that it was caused by Rika's faith in you. What's more, you learned a valuable lesson: the price of overconfidence can be quite high. If Rika wasn't so confident in your skills, she might have told you directly and the Dead Apostle Ancestor would be already gone.

'No crying over spilled milk', you think. 'I have to find the solution for myself'.

The most straightforward option would be visiting Rika at the hospital. You'd have to make sure that no one is around while you're talking about it, but you already accomplished more difficult tasks.

The other path is continuing this investigation with only the clues you have right now. Rika said that they are more than enough to find the vampire you're looking for, and since she knows him quite well, she might be right.

>Go visit Rika
>Trust Rika
>Write-in

>>609666
>>Go visit Rika

>>609666
>Go visit Rika
Even if she doesn't tell us anything, this is a nice gesture.

>>609666
>Trust Rika

>>609666
>>Go visit Rika

Visiting your friend is the right thing to do. You're sure she wants to see you as well.
For today, you'll skip class and go to the city hospital.

You take the bus from the stop at the town, then get off as close to your destination as possible.
The lady at the desk gives you a module to fill in, and once you're done with it, she tells you to sit and wait until it's your turn.

After what feels like an eternity, you're let through.
Rika is lying on a bed, connected with tubes and needles to I.V.s, looking at you with a vacant expression.

"Who... are you?", she ask, hesitantly.

"I am Nakai. Hisao Nakai, remember? It was me who sav... who found you on that street"

The girl shakes her head. "I am sorry. I don't remember anything".

"I see. So you too suffer from amnesia", you say, disheartened. "I know how you feel, believe it or not".

"You... suffer from amnesia?"

"Yes. I lost all my memories about a month ago. I know how it feels to be all alone in a foreign world".

"Am I alone?"

"No, you're not. You have friends who will be waiting for you once you're back. Just take it one step at a time, ok?"

The girl nods, smiling. "Thank you very much. I guess I feel a bit better already".

You smile back at her, and after promising to visit her again, you leave.

You sit on the steps outside, sighing. It feels wrong to call this a waste, since you lifted Rika's morale. But still, you haven't learned anything new about the Apostle.

The last thing that is left to ponder is what to do next, considering the situation.

>Go for a walk around the city. Classes are over anyway.
>Go back to Yamaku. Search for more clues.
>Write-in

>>610856
>>Go for a walk around the city. Classes are over anyway.
More things seem to happen off campus

>>610856
>Go for a walk around the city. Classes are over anywa
Other anons probably right

>>610856
>Go for a walk around the city. Classes are over anyway.
Since we're here, might as well.

Resigned, you get up and go for a walk around the city.
The commercial district is still quite busy, but not as much as in the weekend.

The atmosphere is much more pleasant, possibly because you're more relaxed than the last time you visited. Looking back, it was quite the stroke of luck to meet that antiquarian.

'Yeah, if it weren't for him I wouldn't have found Rika. I should probably pass by and greet him'

The shop is open, but no one is inside. You suppose that the owner is probably busy at the moment, taking a break while the influx of clients is relatively low.

Once again, you walk through the shop like a kid at a toy store. Most of the items for sale lack a price tag, which means that they're either extremely expensive or too unique to value.

'An elite shop, huh? Explains the small customer base. Still, how was Rika able to afford an antique pocket watch if this is the case?'

As if reacting to your thoughts, your eyes suddenly activate. You recognize a strong source of magic coming from somewhere behind the counter, and other, smaller sources all around you.

'Mystic Codes', this is the term that Mutou used to define potent magical items that a magus uses to amplify his capabilities or carry out a specific task. You've seen a couple of trivial ones in his atelier during the past week, as well as more potent ones brought over by miss Aozaki.

Those in the shop vary widely in range, but the one behind the counter is without a doubt the strongest presence you've ever felt.

>Go take a look
>Leave the shop

>>613881
>Go take a look

>>613881
>Go take a look

>>613881
>>Go take a look

Guys I am really sorry, I wanted to push one more update for today but I simply lack the strength. It's a damn shame, because I only updated once, but with some luck the pace will pick up tomorrow.

>>614652
Don't sweat it. Good work so far.

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You move closer to the counter, holding your knife steadily in front of you.
You're mostly afraid that you might have to destroy the object you come in contact with, and you don't really have a good explanation to give to the antiquarian.

Behind the counter stands a box. The source of magic is inside of it. You open it with your left hand, and suddenly something wraps around your arm.

It's a sturdy chain, and before you can locate its death and kill it, more and more chains flow from the box and immobilize you.

"I am sorry about that. I am afraid you'll have to be my meal for today", a familiar voice tells you. "It's regrettable, really, but my agents have stopped giving me my much needed nourishment. I had to take the matters into my own hands".

The voice comes closer to you. "Rejoice, however. The thing that is keeping you chained is a rare Noble Phantasm. Not many people have the honor of dying by such a powerful mystery".

The antiquarian finally stops once he's right in front of you.
"Oh my. Well isn't that unexpected", he comments with a smirk. "I guess that explains why Rika isn't feeding me. You killed her, didn't you? I felt that something was unique about you from the moment we first met".

"I didn't kill her. I freed her from your grasp".

"Freed? You mean you returned her to a life of feebleness and hopelessness? How can that be called freedom? You're wrong. It was me, who gifted her freedom. You simply took it away from her".

"This farce has gone on long enough, old man. Release me now, and I might let you live", you lie to him.

"Quite confident, aren't we? I'd appreciate it if you called me by my name. I am Othello, or if you prefer, Diabolon. Who do I have the pleasure of talking with?"

You think about it for an instant. You can't give him your real name: in case you don't make it out of here alive, he might seek revenge against your family and friends.

"My name is Nanatsu Yoru. Remember it well, for it's the last name you'll ever hear"

"Very well, Nanatsu Yoru. Me and you are going to become partners. Give me a minute, I will be back. Oh, but it's not like you can move, right?"

He laughs, walking away and into the back of the shop. You notice that his laughter isn't malignant, indeed, it sounds almost... benevolent.

You're alone with the shackles now. The best thing you can do is

>Try to break free by moving
>Cry for help
>Localize its death points
>write-in

>>617906
>Localize its death points

We should have realized this geezer was suspicious after he told us Rike tried to sell him the watch back. We knew she didn't take the watch with her.

>>617913
>>Localize its death points
>>617906
Shit.... Your right

Struggling is no use. You need to stay calm and locate its weak points. After all, passing a finger through them would be more than enough to break the chains.

Othello comes back, sipping from a metal flask.

"Forgive me for leaving you alone. I really need a meal, but for now this will do. Besides, I am sure that investing in you will be profitable."

"You will come to regret this, Diabolon".

"Young man, you're standing against a Dead Apostle Ancestor. Know your place", he says, taking a final gulp and placing the flask on the counter. "And yeah, why not, know my place as well".

The ground around you shakes violently. Your field of vision is invaded by a bright green color and a shining sun. You close your eyes, blinded by the light.

When you reopen them, you're in an idyllic garden. A huge tree is standing right in the middle of it
"Reality Marble..."

"Indeed, my friend, indeed. This is my Reality Marble, the Garden of Eden".

The luxurious nature, the pure air, and even the noise of water flowing in the distance definitely belong to a world far removed from yours. It is so... relaxing.

"I didn't expect a rotten soul like yourself to be capable of such beauty"

"Didn't you? I can't blame you. Nanatsu Yoru, what was your dream when you were a kid?"

"I don't know. I lost my memories a month ago".

"Ah, that's truly regrettable. I will help you regain them. But I, I always had a dream. I wanted to kill God. Don't misunderstand me. I don't mean a wise old man with a long white beard, or a beautiful angel-like lady. I mean God meant as the cruel nature, the rules every human being must follow. Those very rules who arbitrarily decide who is strong and who is weak".

He stretches his arms as if to say: look at this, this is the world I dreamed of.

"That's why I begged that kind True Ancestor to bite me. To make the world right. To help those who are weak become strong. I select those Yamaku students who have a natural aptitude to vampirism, and I gift them a new life, one in which they won't be feeble cripples. It takes a long time to become a vampire, so I host my partners to be here until their transformation is over. 10 years here is a mere second in the real world, and they don't need to expose themselves to unnecessary risks. They can just eat off that tree over there, which turns the human blood and flesh I and my vampires collect into fruits".

>>619365

"I understand. So that's how it is. You, the sadistic caretaker, select your victims to turn into monsters, then lock them up here and nourish them. This is your garden of cripples, in which you administer your misguided justice. You're not curing them, you're just condemning them to a greater suffering".

With your free hand, you trace one of the death lines on the chains. They all come apart, and you stand up effortlessly.

"How? How did you destroy my most precious treasure, the Bindings of Samson?", Othello says, in rage and fear.

"Sorry, old man. You're out of luck today. The innocent blood on your hands demands justice". Your now blue eyes are shining with fury. Death lines and deaths spots appear all over the place, so you just need to look for the right one. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go back".

Putting all your strength in your arm, you stab a point floating mid-air. The Reality Marble comes apart, as if it were just a piece of scenic design, and you're back in the antiques shop.

"Nanatsu Yoru... You, Nanaya!"

Othello is still in shock. You decide to take advantage of the situation, and dashing forward, you slice his body in half. The Dead Apostle falls to the ground, or rather, his upper body does. His legs are still awkwardly walking around, but look like they'll fall down any second now.

"W...ait! Wait, please, let me talk! Then you'll do with me as you please", the Apostle called Diabolon begs.

You kneel and point your knife against his forehead. One wrong move, and he's dead.

>Let's listen to what he has to say
>Kill him now

>>619371
>He's either stalling for time or trying to hypnotize us or something. Slice him into 17 pieces.

>>619371
>Rip and Tear

>>619371
>>Kill him now

>>619371
any chance theres a line connected with lying?
probably too abstract.

>>619365
>Rip and Tear

There can be no room for hesitation. Your enemy is just trying to distract you, and you won't fall for it.
"Sorry, old man. Your time is borrowed".

"No... my memories...!", he wails, pointing with his index to someplace behind you. But it's too late. The knife sinks in his death spot, and his body evaporates.

Sighing, you stand up. There's no sign of struggle in the shop, no , but the thought that someone could have come in while you were murdering Othello frightens you.

You try to calm down, thinking that the worst case scenario didn't happen in the end. Sure, you were a bit impetuous, but it paid off in the end.

Curious, you turn around and look in the direction Othello was pointing at. The shelves there seem to be devoid of any magic item, so whatever he pointed at wasn't a trap. Or maybe he didn't need a trap as much as he needed a distraction.

"No harm in looking now", you suppose, standing up and walking closer to the showcase. There are a few dolls exposed, a music box, a few hand-made statues, and a wooden case.

The wooden case contains a diary. "That's what he meant by 'memories'", you say, with a tinge of regret.

After all, looking back at your interactions with him, he never lied to you. He did tell you where Rika was hiding, even if his purpose was using you as a meal. He talked about making you his partner, and he meant it.

No matter how depraved or twisted his actions were, he was always honest and true to his dream. What kind of man becomes a vampire to help the weak?

In any case, there's no point in crying over spilled milk. Whatever he had to talk about, you can read it in his memories now.

>Take the diary with you
>Read the diary here
>Just leave it, it was probably a ploy to bring you to his side
>write-in

>>624516
>Take the diary with you
And don't even open it until an experienced mage takes a look. Just in case it uploads Othello's memories into the reader to hijack their body or something.

>>624516
>Take the diary with you

>>624523
You sure? I said it's devoid of magical presence

>>625128
You didn't, actually.

But even so, how experienced is Hisao in detecting magic? Can he be sure?

>>624516
>>Read the diary here
It might reference an item in the shop that may be gone by the time we get back

>>624516
>Read the diary here

>>625750
>Read the diary here

You open the diary and begin to read.

This is a story from a long time ago. An orphan lived in a dark corner of the town. He begged for money, because he was too weak to work on his own. His legs were malformed and he needed makeshift clutches to walk around. Every day he would see other kids running free and playing together, and every day he thought to himself 'One day, I, too, will play with them'.

But in the cold nights of winter, when the pain from his legs was so bad that he couldn't even sleep, he was reminded of the harsh reality. He was a cripple for life, destined to beg until the end of his days. When he could no longer delude himself, he started hating the one at fault for his condition.

"It's God's fault. He made my body like this, while giving everyone else legs to run with"

Even so, the boy didn't hate the kids he envied so much. He thought that harming them would have made no difference. He wanted everyone to be equally happy, not equally unhappy.

One day, a blonde lady left him some food and some money. The boy thought that the lady looked beautiful, with those bright red eyes and porcelain skin.

Every morning, the lady would leave him some food and some money. Every morning, the boy wished he could say something to her, but he couldn't bring himself to talk, so he began to follow her secretly.

Just seeing her would make him happy, more happy than seeing kids playing. But eventually, she caught him spying on her. Clumsy and noisy as he was, it didn't take much for her to notice that she was being followed around

The boy was very frightened. He thought the lady would get mad at him or scold him, but that didn't happen. She smiled at him, and invited him to sit on his lap.

'Why were you following me, young man?"

The boy blushed. No one before called him young man, but that was a term mothers often used with their kids.

"I see. You have no place to call home, no one to call mom or dad, and nothing to eat. Hey, what is the thing that you want the most?", the lady suddenly asked.

The boy's surprised expression became serious all of a sudden. "I want to kill God", he said, trying to sound and look as threatening as possible.

But the lady just laughed. There was no trace of mockery in her laughter, but the boy still felt very embarrassed. Then, she started stroking his hair.

"To kill God is an awful thing to do. Didn't he create this wonderful world?"

"The world isn't wonderful! It's full of sadness and misery. Look at me, I am a cripple!"

The lady's expression turned serious for an instant. "That's not true, you're not a cripple. Only you legs are sick, but the rest of you is sane. You ignore your fortunes and focus on your misfortunes, and that's why you're miserable".

"That could be!", the boy responded resolutely. "But still you call an half-rotten apple 'rotten', don't you? In the same way, an half-crippled man is a cripple. Besides, I don't want to kill God just for myself. I want to do it for the sake of all those who are more miserable than me, too!"

"Are you sure they would want that? Can you really make that decision on their behalf?"

The boy paused, puzzled. The he responded with renovated confidence.
"Yes, that's true, they might not like it at first. But then everyone will be able to play and laugh together, so I am sure they'll be happy about it, in the end"

The lady lifted him from his lap, and he struggled to regain his balance.
"Very well, young man. If that's your wish, I will help you, but know that there's no turning back".

The boy nodded. He was ready. There was just one last thing he wanted to ask.
"What is your name, miss?"

"That's not how it works, is it? You should say your name first. Oh well, I will make an exception for you. My name is Elisabeth Brunestud, but you can call me Lilly".

There is a picture of a beautiful girl in a frilly dress on the last page of the book. The resemblance is uncanny, but it's not like you had any doubts left.

Putting the book back in the wooden box, you wonder if there's anything else you want to do before going back to school.

>Write-in

>>628522
Burn the diary

>>628522
The demon did warn us.

>Call Mutou. Let him and Aozaki deal with this. It's just too much.

>>628945
This


>but you can call me Lilly".
Aww fucking shit. Hanakos probably a vamp too.
Fuck, just gonna kill all the waifus aren't you?

>>629050
Let's see.

Lilly's a vampire. Hanako will not take this well even if she isn't a vampire. Shizune is a manipulative bitch. Misha is her henchwoman. Miura fucked off. Rin wasn't even named. Yuuko is used goods. Rika is a blank slate. Suzu is dead. Saki is dead. Emi is dead. Our course of action is clear.

We must waifu Aoko Aozaki.

Does Lilly really seem like she'd harm us though? And could Mutou actually kill a True Ancestor?

>>629107
Aoko probably could.

>>629063
We could waifu a vamp. however I am perfectly fine with going full inquisition.

Again guys, I am sorry. I had a d&d session today and I couldn't update timely.

If everything goes according to plan, there will be two more updates until the quest's over. So brace yourselves for tomorrow!

>>629720
Wait the quest is going to end in two updates?

>>629733
roughly, maybe more.
I originally planned that the quest would be more spaced, having one thread dedicated to rescuing Rika, one dedicated to killing Othello and one dedicated to the final confrontation with the True Apostle.

I just didn't have enough content to push it even further, and I didn't want to give you something watered down.

Fear not, I will tighten any loose end left hanging.

You get off the bus at long last. The starry sky is dark, lighted only by the full moon.
Before leaving Othello's Antiques, you warned Mutou and Touko about the situation. There's a True Ancestor in the school, a force powerful enough to wipe them out without even lifting a finger.

That unstoppable force is standing right in front of you, smiling warmly as usual. Only one detail is off: her azure eyes are now crimson red. The bus departs, and only the two of you are left at the stop.

"I suppose your blindness was fake, too".

"A cover, if you wish. I knew Othello would have targeted cripples, so I masqueraded as one to watch over them. I must say, it was quite fun".

"Oh, it was tons of fun. Like when I had to kill my roommate, or when I saw my friend being torn to pieces by the Dead. Or when I had to practice with my eyes until they bled to save Rika".

Lilly frowns. "I am sorry, Hisao. But that's just how it works. Humans are food for vampires, just like animals are food for humans."

"Well, I am not having it. I don't care if drinking blood is their nature, I just won't stand by and watch as vampires kill innocent people! What if the Dead Apostle had targeted Hanako?"

Lilly tenses up. "That would have never happened. I wouldn't have let that happen. I wanted to protect you as well, but after seeing how you disposed of Saki when she gave in to her Inversion Impulses, I thought you would have been fine".

"So you knew it was me".

"Of course. I knew you were something potent the moment you woke up from your coma, yet I didn't expect you to grow so much in power that you could even defeat one of my Dead Apostles".

"Where did you find your nourishment, Lilly? Which students are now your minions?"

"That's not how it works, Hisao. True Ancestors don't drink blood out of hunger, but out of psychological reasons".

You grip your knife tight. Your blood is boiling.
"So you justify the vampires claiming that they kill for necessity, and not for pleasure, and now here you are, claiming that your likes kill for pleasure and not for necessity".

"Yes, that's correct. A True Ancestor spends most of her life trying to suppress her Vampiric Impulses, and when she cannot suppress them any longer, she goes into eternal slumber. My power was growing weaker, so I embarked on a quest to kill Othello and retrieve my power, to protract my life a little bit more".

"And what will happen when that additional power won't be enough? Will you go into sleep? What happens to those who refuse to go into sleep?"

Lilly averts her gaze, embarrassed. "I do not wish to talk about that. I would never become one of those monsters who kill indiscriminately".

You gulp. If a Dead Apostle Ancestor was capable of such a tragedy, imagining what a True Ancestor could do is horrifying beyond compare.

"So what now, Elizabeth of the Crimson Moon? What will you do?"

Lilly sighs. "My mission here is over. I do wish to stay, but you probably alerted Mutou and miss Touko, so I have to leave. You'll never hear of me ever again in you lifetime, Hisao. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

There's true sorrow in Lilly's words. Even if her concept of who is a friend and who is livestock is completely arbitrary, you can't help thinking that this irrational way of thinking makes her more human, not less.

And yet, you are a member of the Demon Hunters. There's no doubt that the beautiful girl in front of you is, potentially, one of the greatest threat humanity might ever face. In that case, killing her now is your duty.

>Let Lilly go
>Fight Lilly

>>630969
>Pretend to let her go then backstab her.
How many good people, who were our friends or could be our friends (or waifus), died because of her? How many more will die? She said she will never ikill indiscriminately but she did it anyway, just indirectly.
Also, being humanlike is not a virtue. There's plenty of sick shit humans can do.

>>630969
>>Let Lilly go

>>631692
You can't waifu her anyway anon.

>>631950
Can we even see her lines though?

>>632068
I can't answer that question directly, but I can tell you that you can kill her if you want.

There won't be a bad ending if you fail to make the right choice, but each choice leads to a unique ending.

I have both endings ready, but it'd be a shame to let the coin decide what happens next. I am crossing my fingers and hoping this thread won't be deleted, I'll be updating tomorrow.

>>632350
Well, if it comes to a die roll, how about this?

>Play for time.
Engage her in a long, meandering conversation. Talk like an Italian; use one hand to elocute and distract her. Use the other hand to reach into the flip phone pocket and -- since we have actual buttons -- silently touch type a text to Mutou to get over here.

Think of the research opportunities that could come from capturing a live True Ancestor!

>Fight her
I was going to abstain, but I'd rather not let the fate of the quuest come down to a die roll.

>>630969
>>Let Lilly go

I'm not sure what kind of ending this leads to but I imagine the kill vote ends with hisao going full grim dark with the Demon Hunters.

>>634095
Grimdark might be fun, and this is a vampire story, afterall.

>>634095
>Leaving a powerful vampire loose in the world
>Not grimdark

>>634244
>>632986

I think capturing a True Ancestor is nothing short of impossible.
Since your main reason for voting was breaking a tie-break, do you wish to change your vote?
Or shall I just toss a coin?

>>634313
Nah, i mean hisao would get all cold, dark and broody like the main guy in Fate/zero that summoned Saber

>>634357
Kiritsugu was efficient, not broody.

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"No", you respond, pulling your knife out. "In all honesty, what I'd like to hear is that this is all a bad dream. That this senseless bloodshed was just a nightmare. The girl I considered sweet and caring was a bloodthirsty monster all along, and that hurts me. But most of all, I am hurt by the fact that you won't take responsibility for your actions. If that's the case, here and now, I'll show you what vengeance means!"

Lilly scowls. "I hoped you would understand, Hisao, but you sorely disappointed my expectations. Even if you kill me, you can't bring the dead back to life"

"I know that better than anyone else. Still, if I don't stop you here, the lives of countless more people will be shattered. I can't save what I have lost, but I can save those things you haven't taken from me yet".

Lilly's frown turns into a malevolent grin.
"Very well, then. Watch as the Crimson Moon comes for you!"

Her red eyes turn into a shade of gold, and her fingers become more like claws. This is the full power of a True Ancestor, further fueled by the power she recovered when you killed Othello.

Under the full moon, this existence has no death lines, nor death points.

With a simple movement of her left hand, Elisabeth turns the air around you in something as sharp and sturdy as metal. This is her 'Marble Phantasm', the complete opposite of a 'Reality Marble'.

While a Reality Marble replaces the outside world with the inner world of the user, a Marble Phantasm changes the outside world to fit the user's preference.

But that, too, is useless. You locate its death point before it can even strike, and kill it.

"Fool! Don't you understand? I am the closest thing to a god that exists on this planet. How do you hope to stand against me?", Lilly taunts you, attacking you with her Marble Phantasm once more.

The asphalt around you turns into boiling lava. With a quick cleave, you kill the asphalt, and lava disappears as well. Still crouched, you notice a death point right next to where you're standing.

True Ancestors take their power from the world, so if you were to kill 'the world' in that point, then...

No hesitation. You have to take this opportunity now. Pulling your knife out quickly, you stab the world's death point.
Lines and points appear over Lilly, as the grass to the sides of the street wilts and turns to dust.

"Even if it's a god, if I can see it, I can kill it!", you shout, running towards Lilly.
She tries to use her Marble Phantasm once more, but it's all in vain. Her connection to the world is severed, and it takes her an instant to realize that.

But that's one instant too much. You've already closed the distance, and using your knife, you slice fourteen of her death lines.

Lilly falls to the ground in pieces. Your breath is labored, but you have done it. The True Ancestor that was the root of this tragedy finally died.

A white object suddenly enters your field of vision. Before you can even think of what it is, you feel pain in your chest.
Looking down where your heart should be, you see that Lilly's claws have pierced it. You're bleeding, and your consciousness is fading.

With your last strength, you stab one of Lilly's death points, and you watch as her body vaporizes. You fall next to where her corpse was, with a smile of satisfaction on your face.

It's dark, and it's cold. You're there again, and that you who is not you is there as well.
This time, you're staring at each other.

"Seems like you couldn't do it. You didn't walk your very own path, but it's ok. I didn't think it was possible to begin with", he says.

"I thought you disappeared".

"I didn't. I just went to sleep, I guess. That's because there's nothing else I want. Everything is so boring to me".

"That sounds awful. Have you no interest in living?"

"Not really. What's the point? I've seen it all. I guess it's different for you, but for me, everything is trivial"

"Who are you, exactly?" It dawns upon you that you never asked him such a question before.

"Good question. You could say that I am the part of Hisao that rejects Hisao, or more accurately, the part of Hisao that rejects existence. To put it in simple terms, I am the dormant part of you that is connected to the Origin".

"You mean, the Akasha?"

"Exactly that. We all come from that place, and we all will return there. By being connected to it, I've already seen all the possible paths you could walk".

"How are they? The others, I mean".

"They're happy. Most of the times, you have a girl you love besides you. You look like you found purpose. Hey, Hisao, have you found purpose?"

"I guess. All I do is kill, however. That's not really fulfilling".

"Do you think so? Even if you were able to save Rika and countless more people by killing?"

"Well, you see...."

"No, no. I get it. It's a thankless job, you can't tell someone 'I just saved you from a vampire'. No one would believe you. Still, I think you can find joy in a thankless job as well. Isn't it wonderful to think that so many people are alive thanks to you?"

You nod. He has a point.
"I didn't want to be thanked to begin with. I just wanted to save my friends, but that didn't turn out so well. But you're definitely right, many more were saved. I think I can die happy".

"Die? No, it's not the time for that yet", he says, turning his back on you and walking away.

You let him go. The only thing he wants is to sleep, so it seems rude to disturb him.

When you come to, you're in Mutou's workshop. He's sitting at his desk, while Miss Aozaki is kneeling next to you, looking at you with an air of satisfaction.

"I told you, Akio, I told you it'd work".

"W-where am I?", you stutter.

"In this hack's atelier, of course", Touko responds. "but if you mean your soul, well, that has been placed within one of my lifelike dolls. You've very welcome".

"A...doll?"

"Yessir, a professionally crafted doll. It'll be like your real body, no, even better! I have so many of those as a replacement for myself, that I don't even know where my real body is! And this service is offered to you for the low low price of..."

Aozaki stands up and turns around. Mutou tosses her the relic of the church you gave him, and she catches it mid-air.

"Always a pleasure doing business", Touko says, putting the hand in one of her bags.

"Will I still... see those lines?", you ask.

"Ah, of course. You'd see them even if you went blind. You have some talent, boy. I'd like to have you as my coworker, once you're done with highschool".

Putting strength in your arms, you lift yourself up. Your new body works well, but you'll have to get used to it.
"Professor Mutou, Miss Aozaki. Thank you very much for all you've done for me".

You spend the next few days savoring the joys of an ordinary schoolboy's life. Garan no Dou concluded that the Enomoto-Ibarazaki incident was a case of homicide-suicide, and that it had no connection to Kenji's disappearance. That ended the regime of isolation in Yamaku, and life returned to normal.

You accepted Touko's offer. After you graduation, you will be moving to Mifune City to work in the headquarters of the Demon Hunters.
It was the best thing to do. A life of hard work and unspeakable horrors awaits you.

A voice calls to you in the distance.
"Hey Hicchan! Are we gonna play today?"

You sigh. Those girls never change. "Oh we will, so prepare yourself! I am definitely gonna win this time!"

In a way, you already miss this school. But for now, you'll enjoy your life to the fullest.
===========

This is the end of the quest. Thanks to all those who participated. I planned to use the remaining life of the thread to discuss and/or post the alternative finale, but there's no more time for that.

I did use the 'grimdark' finale because I had a nice photoshop ready for the occasion. I'd be glad to keep discussing the quest, maybe even on /ksg/ if you guys attend the thread.

if you really, really want the 'let lilly go' ending, I will post it in a pastebin in /qst/ and in /ksg/.

Deal?

Thank you everyone.

>>634410
>if you really, really want the 'let lilly go' ending, I will post it in a pastebin in /qst/ and in /ksg/.

Showing alternative paths is in bad taste

>>634415
how so?

>>634415
Maybe the whole ending would be too much, but I'd like a brief summary.

It would also be nice to know how many people who died we could have saved.
And whether there was a romantic route or having a ren'ai backdrop was a red herring?

>>634436
>a ren'ai backdrop was a red herring?

Not sure what this means, sorry

>Romantic route

Didn't plan any. I am honestly bad at romance, I just exploited a bit the fact that every girl in Yamaku seems to like Hisao.

>People we could have saved.

I think you saved all those you could save. You could have ended up killing Miki and Rika if you didn't train your eyes enough but you did.

So props to all of you.

>>634438
>Not sure what this means, sorry

Red herring is a literary device that leads readers or audiences towards a false conclusion.

>I think you saved all those you could save

Emi ;_;

>>634446
I don't know what a ren'ai backdrop is, though. (I do know what a red herring is). Emi could have probably been saved on second thought. It would have required further investigation on Saki.

>>634457
Ah. Ren'ai is what Tsukihime and KS are - dating games.

Saki really seemed like a red herring to me, by the way. Don't know why.

>>634459
You guys decided to keep chasing after Rika, or you would have learned more. Lilly says that she fell prey to her inversion impulses-she had a bit of demonic blood in her body and that blood activated once she was rejected by the track and field captain.

>>634487
So that really was a case of making senpai notice!

>>634490
You could say that.
It's like Akiha getting mad when Shiki refuses her in favor of Kohaku

>>634493
Nasu's love for incest storylines had always disturbed me.

>>634506
To be fair, it's non-blood related. Still, Akiha's stubbornness in calling Shiki 'her only Nii-san' definitely adds a certain incestuous element to it.

>>634511
He was a lot less subtle in FSN and F:Z

>>634513
I am not sure what you're referring to.
Is it Illya and Shirou? Also Kariya loves Aoi, not Sakura

>>634515
Not F:Z, sorry. KnK.
And I was thinking of Sakura and Shinji. I forgot they aren't blood related

>>634523
That part was cut in RN, and I think it's a damn shame. Shinji doesn't do it out of romantic feelings, he does it out of a desire to get revenge against the girl who stole what he now desires, i.e. being a magus.
The whole thing with Azaka is indeed quite disturbing, then again Azaka is my favorite KnK so I might be a bit biased.