>"Not quite. The hero didn't rescue the girl, remember?"

"Not quite," you explain. "The hero didn't rescue the girl, remember?"

"The monster... was actually the maiden herself," Rachel continues. "The young maiden was imprisoned by the monster. The monster that consumed the world... The girl rewrote the story's plot to its ending over and over again... So many times that the book became tattered and worn. But no matter how many times she wrote and rewrote, the hero would simply defeat the monster. He would not save the young maiden."

"Because... Well, because it's a monster," she explains. "Of course the monster is defeated. The ending cannot be changed, for that is the pre-established plot to be repeated. The young girl continued to rewrite and rewrite, pleaded to the hero to save the maiden... 'Please, rescue me,' she would say. But the hero wouldn't listen. Of course he wouldn't—he's a character in a book."

"Actors only carry out the roles they are given," she goes on. "The hero was simply to defeat the monster, and claim the fame that comes with being the hero... which is why the hero never saved the maiden. Before long, the young girl fell into despair. And of course she would—her wish for her own story, which she was writing herself, would not come true. And, yet, the girl continued to believe... She continued to believe that the hero would save her."

"She probably still believes it now," she finishes.

>"I take it the girl with the book's whoever's using the Amaterasu Unit."
>"Nice anecdote."
>"Guess someone else'll have to do the saving."
>[write-in]

>>1961896
>"I take it the girl with the book's whoever's using the Amaterasu Unit."

"I take it the girl with the book's whoever's in the Amaterasu Unit," you comment.

"How perceptive of you," Rachel answers. "Yes; the girl refers to the Origin, who generates all of the world's possibilities through the Master Unit. That was meant to be analogous to the girl writing the book called 'The World.'"

"Anyways, I'm afraid I've wasted enough time telling stories," she adds. "Recent information I've come across suggests that the Imperator plans on erasing all life on Earth with the Cauldron in Ishana, using Gigant: Takemikazuchi as a catalyst. The destruction of Ikaruga is intended to be the sacrifice that kickstarts the sublimation of all the souls on the planet."

"Then we'd best get started," Kokonoe responds.

"You know, Noel, you shouldn't just follow Ragna around whenever you feel like it," she gripes.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Professor Kokonoe," Noel reacts.

"It's fine; what's done is done," Kokonoe replies.

"Also, Ragna, I'm busting you out," Kokonoe adds. "You're coming with me."

"Huh? Is it okay for you to be letting me out?" he wonders aloud. "I can't make any guarantees here..."

Kokonoe lets out a sigh.

"Do you know what this is?" Kokonoe asks, showing Ragna a switch.

"Will you be satisfied if I just say 'a rectangle?'" Ragna retorts.

"As you can see, it's a remote switch," she replies. "I believe I mentioned it before. Did you think I'd just fix your left arm and leave it at that? I've fitted your left arm with an MD Bomb."

"A bomb?! Crazy bitch!" Ragna reacts.

"The MDB is fitted to you at the cellular level, so there's no way you can remove it," Kokonoe explains. "As for what it'll do to you? Best not to even think about it, it won't be pretty."

"This is a poor excuse for a threat," he replies.

"Say what you want," Kokonoe responds. "Oh, and one more thing. The MDB will only destroy YOUR body. You don't need to worry about any harm coming to those around you. Enjoy dying all by yourself. Any questions, kids?"

>"What does MD stand for?"
>[stay silent]
>[write-in]

>>1962855
>>"What does MD stand for?"

"What does MD stand for?" you ask.

"Molecular disintegration," Kokonoe answers.

Naturally.

"Bye, then."

"Wh-! Hey! Wait! ...Wait, what? What the hell, Kokonoe?!" Ragna screams. "That was a bluff, wasn't it?!"

"I'll give this to you, Celica," Kokonoe says, pacing to the opposite end of the room. "Don't lose it."

"Huh?" Celica asks.

"Oh," she comments, as if what Kokonoe explained was just dawning upon her. "Yeah."

"Ragna," Kokonoe adds, pacing out. "I've armed the bomb. If you go more than a certain distance from Celica,
the bomb will explode. That distance is... Hmm, well, it should be a comfortable
distance, but... You might not want to test it."

"Are you serious?" Ragna asks.

"You don't understand a word I'm saying, huh?" Kokonoe mocks. "This is a waste of time. We should just get rid of you after all. Let's go, Celica."

"Wait a minute, Kokonoe, what about Ragna?!" Celica begs.

"Hm? What is it, Celica?" Kokonoe asks. "Did you want to watch this man get reduced to his base elements? I'm not really into grotesque shit, but if you really want to watch, I can go and you can just stay here. See you at Kagura's."

"Whoa, whoa, hey! What the hell does that mean?!" Ragna demands. "Just leave the switch near me, okay?!"

"Tch, like I would only have a single switch for the bomb," Kokonoe goes on. "You need to understand me better, kiddo. If you violate any of my instructions I will not hesitate to detonate it."

"Okay, okay! I'm coming out! That's what you wanted, right?" Ragna protests. "Just tell me where you want me to go."

He goes on, muttering, "Oh god, you're somehow worse than the rabbit."

"Did you say something?" Kokonoe asks, halfway out the door.

"Nothing," Ragna replies, making his way past her. "Nothing at all. Uhh, let's go, Celica."

"Hey, wait up, Ragna!" Celica comments, prompting a fit to rid your throat of mucus as she approaches. "Kokonoe... It's a joke, right?"

"How often do I joke?" Kokonoe asks. "Hurry up and follow or he'll explode. Or implode. Whatever."

"WHAT?!" Celica exclaims.

"Wait for me, Ragna!" she adds, making her way out of the jailhouse.

"What noisy people..." Kokonoe laments.

>"Tell me about it."
>"See you at Kagura's place. Unless we're going together."
>[write-in]