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>>6108984
The lively atmosphere around you is almost pleasant. There’s enough chatter to mask anything you, Alyssa, or the Inquisitor say to each other under the volume of voices, but seeing neither of them doesn’t seem to hold conversing in high regard, there’s not much to say. The tea is decent, though, not exceptional or even really all that good, but it’s the small mercies that count. After all, it’s already been an hour since Marie entered the boat, and nothing has even happened except for a few other obvious Strangers showing up and being escorted by a cloaked figure like Marie was.

The Inquisitor told you to wait as long as Marie needs, and while you have the utmost faith in her, the waiting is undoubtedly an affair in restraint. There’s been no obvious sign of anything going wrong or Marie requiring help, so you’ve just had to sit here on the cobble patio overlooking the beautiful summer day and wait. Your knee hasn’t stopped shaking in the past five minutes.

“So,” Immediately, your voice trails off, for you have quite literally no idea how to start a conversation with the Inquisitor or what you want to talk about, “How did you join the Inquisition?” Your voice comes out at an embarrassing high note at the end, dammit.

“I was a promising squire to a royal guard and got poached,” and just like that, the conversation ends. Your mace, Bedelia, would make for a better conversational partner.

“I see, uuh, do you like it?”

He gives a shallow nod, “It’s a job. Enough to support my family.”

“You have a family?”

A small smile, “A wife and daughter,” And once again, the conversation dies there. For some self-explanatory reason, you feel Alyssa isn’t going to make for a great discussion partner, so it seems you’re confined to this waiting for now.

“That’s nice,” Is all you say before smushing your cheek against the palm of your hand and staring out over the river. You hope things are going better for Marie, at least

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>>6108986
Things are not going all that well for you, “Alright, that should be everyone. James, go untie us, and let’s get this show on the road!” The European woman says to the clearly enthralled local. Enthralled in the magical sense, you’re pretty darn sure. You involuntarily gulp as the large man walks outside and closes the door, the sound of a magical engine starting shortly after. Hopefully, Lorina-senpai doesn’t do anything rash.

” You will accomplish nothing if you out yourself as a spy immediately. Calm down.” You almost instinctively thwack your sword as it speaks up in your mind but manage to contain your outburst. It’s right, so you willingly allow its power to course through you and settle your nerves; no one even notices you in your corner of the narrowboat.

Oh, you should probably recount everyone. That would be a good idea, seeing as you’re setting off. That’s something a detective would do, right? Hah, you’re basically Conan right now. Anyway, there are seven people currently on this boat, but only six in the cabin, and you’re pretty sure they’re the only ones that matter. Eto- that sounds mean, but the man outside steering, James, seems to be some sort of servant and doesn’t seem to be from Earth. Then there’s the fact he behaves as if mind-controlled, which he might very well be. Then there’s, of course, Usami-kun, who doesn’t need any more introduction. But Morgan, the blond woman who approached you outside, certainly does.

It was after a couple minutes of loitering near the houseboat waiting for someone to instruct you what to do that you met her. She came over holding a parasol to stop the sun from hitting her delicate and ashen skin and asked you who you were and if you were here for the event. That quickly led to you and the slime in your bag being ushered into the canal boat and being told to enjoy some refreshments as you waited. Surprisingly, they had soda cans and other Earth treats, so you’ve been enjoying those as others filed in, though everyone has kept to themselves so far. The others being a rather mean-looking Asian woman, a rather edgy-looking Asian man, and a white guy.

Morgan grabs your attention with a clap, “Alright, looks like everything is all set! I’m so excited to finally begin!” She says before sitting on the couch across from you and closing the blinds, “Marie, could you get the other ones, please?” You do so as to not arouse any suspicion. “Alright, now I know you’re all very curious about all of this, but first, why don’t we go around with some ice-breakers? This will all go better if we can all get to know each other a little more, so I’ll start! Hi, I’m Morgan and I’m from Cambridge, England. I’ve been here for about two months now,” She then looks at the mean-looking girl beside her.

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>>6108993
The girl glares at the woman in the eyes for barely more than a second before wavering and looking at everyone else, “Hey, I’m Seo-yun, and I’m from Seoul like everyone else in Korea,” She stops there but a sharp look from the leader makes her click her tongue and continue, “I came to this world four days ago.”

Next is the final member of the couch on the other side of the boat, the edgy guy, “Name’s Rin, don’t forget it. I came here from Hokkaido a couple weeks ago,” He looks like he wants to say more but doesn’t, merely crossing his arms and huffing out a breath. Probably some super-“tragic” backstory.

” He would make a fine master,” You hear in your mind before mentally commanding it to shut up.

Then it’s the white guy’s turn, “A-ah, I’m Maxwell. It’s nice to meet everyone. I was- uh, born here twenty-five years ago, but before that, I was from Earth too. It doesn’t matter where I’m from, right? A-anyway, it’s nice to meet you all?”

No one answers him, and then it’s the Usami-kun’s turn. A nervous ripple goes through him as all eyes land on him. “H-hi, everyone. My name is Usami Minato, and I’m from Saga, Japan. I’ve been here for a few weeks now.”

Once all eyes shift from him, you’re the only one left. You reply as formally as possible to get the attention away from you as quickly as possible, “Hello, I’m Suzuki Midori from Tokyo, Japan. I’ve also been here for a few weeks.”

Another clap from Morgan, and you breathe a sigh of relief, ‘Alright, thanks, everyone! Now that we all know each other, this should go much easier. First, let me explain I’m here as a representative for the Heaven Society, as we’ve taken to calling ourselves. You may be familiar with Joseph, our leader. Still, please rest assured he’s overseeing a different group of ‘Strangers’ as this world has so unjustly labeled us,” The air practically gets darkened from the combined angst from the Korean woman and Japanese man, no not the slime one, “Our mission is to fix that and regain our rightful place on top of the world and in doing so we’ll uplift this savage medieval status world,” From what you’ve seen this kingdom is barely medieval and is hardly in status but you don’t say that, “And I’m sure everyone else here is as committed to the cause seeing as you had to complete the mission Joseph assigned for you to get here, don’t worry I don’t know what each one was but I know you all did marvelously to make it this far!”

Morgan then moves after looking around the group and slowly lifts up the blinds behind her in a rather awkward position so the light doesn’t hit her hand. The view on the other side is of stone and lowering water. You’re in a lock and being brought down. “But before we get any deeper, I regretfully have to ask you all to do one more thing for me. Since Joseph is certain that one person who was invited on this boat this afternoon is a traitor,” The word hits you like a truck once did.

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>>6108995
”Calm.” But thankfully your heart rate doesn’t rise.

“Someone here seeks to sell their fellow Earthlings out to the hellish Inquisition of this world. And,” Just as the boat leaves the lock and a wide river flows into view, she drops the shade, “None of us are leaving this boat until they confess,” She has such a sickeningly sweet smile as she says that, “The fun part is I wasn’t told who they were either,” Somehow it gets even wider, as the group around her looks increasingly alarmed, “So, shall we begin?”

Things aren’t going well for you at all.

>Abort! This is obviously a setup, run outside and get the other three to help you

>Stay calm. You just need to play this game properly, and you’re good at lying. Still, you’ll need to talk to the people here to get them on your side [Who do you wish to talk to?]

>[Write-in]

>>6108996
Are we even the only traitor? Wouldn't Usami also be one now?

>[Write-in]
Say Seo-yun is the traitor, just like everybody else in Korea

>>6108984
Welcome back, boss. Glad to know you’re still around.

>>6108996
>Stay calm. You just need to play this game properly, and you’re good at lying. Still, you’ll need to talk to the people here to get them on your side [Who do you wish to talk to?]

>Morgan, but out loud so everyone can hear
>Ooh, is this like that Dark Brotherhood introduction in Skyrim? Or is this more akin to Oblivion’s “Whodunnit?” mission?

Let’s fake being a fantasy nerd for a bit, make it seem like we think we’re in a video game.

>>6108996
Morgan is an actual vampire
>[Write-in]
Be suspicious. Ask why this Joseph didn't just say who the traitor is. Wonder if this is a hazing ritual. Make Morgan justify herself instead of looking for the traitor.

>>6109357
+1

>>6109044
No no no if you're trying to do video games you should instead go "OMG THERE'S A SUSSY BAKA AMOGUS????"

>>6109493
>>6109407
>>6109357
>>6109044
>>6109031
Writing!

>>6109044
Hey, it's only been like a week since the last one.

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>>6109624
A wave of tension strikes the room as all of you look around with the new knowledge that one of you is a traitor, and you’re stuck here until they’re discovered. But wait, that’s not exactly right, is it? Shouldn’t there be two traitors? You look down at Usami-kun and see him shaking like a leaf. Yeah, there are definitely at least two traitors here, so Morgan’s information has to be incorrect. Or is that a set-up two, and she’s trying to get at least one of you to out yourselves? Or maybe she’s looking for someone who isn’t one of you two? Or maybe it’s an elaborate hazing ritual? You never really joined any school clubs so you wouldn’t know what those are like.

“Wait, why didn’t Joseph just tell you who the traitor is? Is this another test?” You question with the most confused and naive voice you can muster.

Morgan, however, answers flippantly to your questions, “He probably just doesn’t know,” She shrugs,” he has to do a lot as our glorious leader, so his fingers can’t be in every pie out there,” She smiles, “And besides, he can make mistakes too, we’re all just human after all.”

“Uurg,” Usami-kun blubbers.

“Oops, sorry! But I suppose you can think of this as another step in your evaluation process for the Heaven Society. I might just put in a good word for you as well if you all can root out the mole fast enough.”

“Hpmh, that should be simple enough. the traitor here is obvious,” Rin says before dramatically pointing his finger at Maxwell and leaning back, “I expect to be promoted immediately upon my induction.”

“Wha- H-hey! Who are you calling a traitor- you- you traitor!?” The man immediately bursts up from his seat and tries what might be his hardest to defend himself.

To no effect, as the eyepatched man chuckles in a rather corny way and strikes a pose with his fist on his forehead so he can side-eye the other man, “Tsk, why do you just admit it? You’re practically revealing yourself right now.”

“I’m not revealing anything! You’re just spouting nonsense!”

Ah, it’s getting chaotic already. That’s good. Though you ignore the fact that most Strangers you’ve come across behave rather stupidly. Since that might say something about the type of people that end up here, you included. But anyway, if you can derail this whole thing before it even begins, that can only benefit you. Then you wouldn’t even need to pin the blame on anyone else!

Remember, your mission is to learn more about the “Heaven Society,” it would not do well to return empty-handed to the,” Somehow your sword shivers, ” Inquisition.”

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>>6109632
Right, you can’t forget that either. Somehow, you’ll need to get information off of Morgan. But that can come later once things are a bit more hectic, “Wait! Is this like that one Dark Brotherhood mission in Oblivion?” You shout out, “Er- wait, no, you play as the traitor in that one. Is it like the one in Skyrim? The introduction mission? Hey! Don’t act clueless in front of me! Those are popular games in Japan, too!” You feel your face heat up at the combined clueless faces towards your outburst. Somehow, it seemed you settled down the accusation chaos! “Uh, I mean, is it like being a sussy baka in among us?” And then some of them have recognition, but it doesn’t matter anymore since you totally outed yourself as an otaku who does nothing but play games all day… Dammit…

“Hey, why are you throwing accusations around anyway? What makes you so smart?” Seo-yun says to Rin, completely ignoring you. You don’t wilt like a soppy wet cat… Okay, fine, you do.

” Stop feeling sorry for yourself and focus,” Oh, buzz off.

“Hmph, the traitor could be you for all we know, but that’d be too obvious,” he responds.

“Huh? Why?” Says with an utterly dumbfounded look of confusion.

“You’re Korean. Need I say more? You’ve a penchant for traitorism.”

“The fuck did you just say-!” Seo-yun looks to be ready to fight.

“Is that even a real word?” Maxwell adds.

*Crash*

Everyone’s attention was brought to Morgan after she obliterated a teacup on the table with her fist. She doesn’t look the least bit hurt. “As I was saying,” She stresses, “I’m not going to leave you in the dark here either. In fact, what I’ve planned for all of you is quite similar to a game. This boat was designed to have three rooms, each with a pair of magically noise-canceling doors. All of us will pair up and talk to each other before returning after a few minutes. You’re going to talk one-on-one, and after a few rounds, if you all figure out whoever the obvious traitor is then kill them,” Both Usami and Maxwell gulp in a shockingly similar motion for a human and slime, “You’ll be allowed into our organization. Else, you have no further use for the Heaven Society and know too much to let go. Sooo~ in the case of failure, I’ll have James sink this ship, and you’ll all die. Fun, right!”

You’re sure this woman is mentally unstable, yet for some reason, she has aura- Ah! Sorry, you mean it looks like everyone in this room, including you, feels compelled to both listen and obey her, seeing as they all reel back. She’s broadcasting that this is a dramatic, suspenseful moment, so you feel that, but for some reason, you can tell you’ve been charmed.

” An ability much the same as mine, a Cheat Skill perhaps?” Right, your Cheat Skill must be defending against hers. Maybe you’d be more scared if she knew just how everything is currently in your favor. There are two traitors, not one. This boat is being followed by allies, and her mind effects don’t work on you.

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>>6109633
“Now, while I was only expecting four of you so I could be an impartial debate leader, I suppose I’ll just join the roaster. Is everyone ready to begin~! Let’s pair up then!”

>You want to pair with Rin [What do you wish to discuss with him?]

>You want to pair with Usami [What do you wish to discuss with him?]

>You want to pair with Seo-yun [What do you wish to discuss with her?]

>You want to pair with Maxwell [What do you wish to discuss with him?]

>You want to pair with Morgan [What do you wish to discuss with Her?]

> You’ve hard far too much embarrassment already, and this is such a farce, just attack Morgan

>[Write-in]

>>6109635
>You want to pair with Morgan [What do you wish to discuss with Her?]
No but seriously is this a test?
Isn't it wasteful to kill off several recruits for a single potential traitor that may not even exist? She did say Joseph could be wrong. Wouldn't it be more efficient to capture and imprison us?
How will she survive if the boat sinks? Also you're pretty sure Rin has waterbreathing.
Why does she get a capitalized pronoun?

>>6109678
Why does she get a capitalized pronoun?
I must have autocorrected that one and didn't see it so just a grammatical mistake on my part, sorry.

>>6109635
Let’s avoid Morgan for now, lest she gets suspicious about our lack of suggestibility. Wonder if our slime pal can dissolve wood so we can get some more chaos on here and get the others to attack her, since everyone now knows she had that planned in advance, maybe make it look like Joseph planned to kill her in the first place.

>>6109635
>You want to pair with Usami [What do you wish to discuss with him?]
We need to reassure him before he does something stupid. But we also must not say anything incriminating in case Morgan can listen in.
We'll say to him this: there is no traitor, this is obviously just a stupid game. If there was a traitor, then they could just kill whoever they're paired with and claim that was the traitor. Also if Morgan sinks the boat she dies herself. What we need to do is thell this to the others.
Don't let Usami speak so that he doesn't say something he shouldn't.

>>6109635
>You’ve hard far too much embarrassment already, and this is such a farce, just attack Morgan

>>6109704
Since I didn’t really pick a choice…
>You want to pair with Usami

I don’t have any suggestions on what to say, though.

>>6110172
>>6109787
2 for Usami

>>6109678
1 for Morgan

>>6109931
1 to just get this over with

Writing.

>>6109704
I'm not entirely sure what your plan is here, anon. Do you mean for Usami to dissolve the boat?

>>6110185
It was more to dissolve a small hole into the boat, thereby speeding up the sinking timetable Morgan had originally set and getting the others to turn on her to save themselves. After all, if the boat starts sinking sooner than she expects, does everyone really think she’d be that close to Joseph to not know when it’ll start leaking.

Admittedly, it’s a risky ploy that could backfire, but getting her rattled could be handy to get her to make mistakes. And I always like watching smug pricks getting nervous, like with Akio.

>>6110213
I get it now, that's definitely something you could do if you wanted though it'd have to be something after the next update.

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>>6110185
You quickly get yourself paired up with Usami, seeing as Morgan is the only one who knows the two of you came here together, you don’t get any complaints except for a sweet-borderline-malicious smile from the pale woman. Then Seo-yun loudly demands that she doesn’t care who she’s paired with as long as it isn’t Rin and the eyepatched edgelord quickly picks Maxwell as his partner to “interrogate him,” and despite protests from the taller man Morgan is perfectly fine with the decisions. So after a few minutes to get everything settled, the pairs go like this, You and Usami at the kitchen in the front of the boat, Rin and Maxwell stationed in the sleeping quarters in the middle of the boat, and Seo-yun and Morgan at the staying in the living area. All together, you close the dividing doors and seal yourselves off, but you’re quick to give the room a once over for any obvious magical listening devices. After failing to find any stereotypical wizard scrying orb, you turn to Usami, who has climbed up the countertop to be closer to eye-level with you.

“I feel queasy,” He whines before making a weird slimy belqing noise. Yes, that word is made up, but it describes the noise perfectly.

“Are you seasick? Stomachache?” You ask before immediately, mentally slapping your head.

“Uur- No, It’s about, you know.”

“Right, obviously. Isn’t your entire body a stomach anyway.”

“Urgh,” He belqs again, “Please, don’t talk about my body that way. I don’t want to think of it that way, and it makes the queasy feeling worse.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Uurhg,” He blubbers, clearly not taking the situation well.

” A pathetic display. Is this truly the one you call an ally?” You smack the sword.

You lean against the wall opposite of him and begin to tap on your sword, “This whole thing is a mess,” You say aloud, voicing your thoughts, “Is it actually a test? What purpose would it serve? If we were suspect of being ‘traitors’ wouldn’t it be easier to capture us? What’s with all the murder? And how is she going to survive if the boat sinks? Is she so fanatic as to go down with us? What if one of our Cheat Skills lets us breathe underwater?”

“Miss Morgans scary… What if she just wants to see us kill each other?”

“Then this is the worst death game plot I’ve ever seen. Not even Dangranonpa level, embarrassing,” You click you tongue as you look around the small room, “Hey, Usami-kun, do you think you can dissolve wood or the lock on the door?”

“Eto, I don’t think so? Whenever I eat a creature with something nonorganic on or in it, that part usually floats inside me until I spit it up. Why?”

“But wouldn’t wood be organic?”

“Maybe? I’ve never tried it,” There’s a moment of silence there as you both think before he breaks it again, “Hey Midori do you think the In-” and you instantly jolt up to shush him.

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>>6110216
You can’t really describe the sound you make, but it ends up with you putting a finger up to Usami-kun’s slimy flesh to silence him, “Hey, don’t say anything incriminating!” You whisper-snap to him, “And don’t you dare say anything to the others! Alright, Usami-kin?”

“Urrp, sorry,” You return to your leaning position, “Hey, uh, it’s kinda weird for only one of us to call the other by our family name, so you can call me Minato if you want- S-since we’re together in this- O-only if you want to of course.”

“Hm? Okay, that’s fine- wait, I get it!”

“Get what?”

“We’re all in this together! That’s what this must be!” You exclaim, “This whole game is too stupid to make any sense. Why wouldn’t a traitor just kill who they pair with and claim the other revealed something? Morgan would die if the boat sunk, so this must be a test! One of our Stranger comradery! We’re supposed to figure out there isn’t a traitor despite the circumstances, and then we’d all be let into the Heaven Society!” Ha, you figured out this puzzle without the need for a guide!

“The other’s don’t seem inclined to believe that,” Minato-kun says, causing you to hesitate.

“Then we’ll just have to convince them, won’t we?” You say. Not long after some more inconsequential chatting and planning with Minato-kun, an alarm resounds from the room, and the interior doors of the narrowboat all open, revealing Morgan gesturing for everyone to come back. Returning to your previous seat, you gauge everyone else’s reactions and consider your plan. You and Minato-kun need to convince the others that there is no traitor, but while Seo-yun and Morgan look mostly the same, Maxwell seems a bit put off, and Rin looks rather determined.

“Did everyone have fun?” Morgan receives no replies, “Anyway, let’s start the next round immediately! Obviously, you can’t figure everyone out just talking to one buddy! Oh, and new partners!” The plethora of emotions she speaks with reminds you of an adult talking to a child, with every tone being exaggerated and fake, “Now why don’t we all partner-”

“I want to talk with you,” Rin cuts her off with earns him a half-second hate-filled glare before Morgan’s smile returns, “I figured something out.”

“Hm? That’s fine with me. What about everyone else?”

“I don’t care,” Seo-yun crosses her arms and looks away with a snarl.

Maxwell just helplessly shrugs.

>First, you want to say something to the group [What?]

>[Choose who you want to pair with and what to say]

> Your sword aches for combat. Attack Morgan

>[Write-in]

>>6110221
>First, you want to say something to the group [What?]
Our brilliant deductions. This is all a test, there is no traitor.

>>6110221
This

>>6110296
+1

>>6110296
Supporting

>>6110296
+1

I have to admit, my sense humor wants everyone in the group to be a traitor for their own reasons. Not just for the Inquisition but other groups of Strangers trying to infiltrate.

>>6110296
>>6110519
>>6110522
>>6110532
>>6110547
Writing.

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>>6111253
“Wait, can I say something before we start again? I think I figured something out, too!” You say with a determined look towards Morgan.

“Oh, what is it?” Her tone sounds innocent enough, but you can just tell it’s mocking.

“There is no traitor, is there? This is a test of comradery! we need to prove that we support other Strangers no matter what before being allowed in the Heaven Society!” You’ve got a satisfied smile and fist pump when you see Maxwell and Seo-yun seem agreeable while considering your words.

“Hey, I like that one. Is that the answer?” Maxwell says.

“Idiotic,” Rin dismisses.

*Snort* And just like that, a dam breaks in Morgan, spilling out an extensive volume of hideous laughter. It’s solely directed at you, even though three others seemed to agree with you, and goes on for far too long. Your cheeks are flushed red with embarrassment when she finally settles down from her gut laugh to wipe the tears from her eyes, “That’s good, that’s a good one, Ma-Midori, that’s good. Stranger comradery, I’ll have to use that in the future. What a stellar deduction you came up with after only a few minutes of talking with the person you came here with. Hey everyone! Did you know Midori and Minato here came together? She carried our poor slime here in a sack!” Huh, what exactly is she trying to do?

"Discredit you," I mean yeah, that’s obvious. But why?

But before she can continue, the eyepatched man speaks up, “You’re saying she’s suspicious? I agree, she is, but why signal her out for this?”

“Hm? No reason,” Her faux innocence is apparent, “But trying to stop someone’s fun game before it even really begins is quite rude. But what she said about Stranger comradery really itched a nerve. Some Heaven Society members were killed by Strangers, don’t you know?”

“What!? Why would someone kill some of our own?” Seo-yun is the most disturbed by the revelation, while Maxwell and Rin barely seem disturbed.

” Ignorance, this one has never tasted combat before. Deplorable.”

“Pah, and using the Inquisition term for us too, Stranger, how distasteful,” She spits the word out. You thought that was just the catch-all term! “We’re Earthlings, maybe even Terrans if you want to get sophisticated. Hey, did everyone know some Strangers sold themselves to that terrible organization? It’s true! I heard quite a few Heaven Society applicants were done in by other Terrans just the other day during their missions. Horrible, isn’t it?” At that, Maxwell’s eyes dart from the group, Minato shivers, and Rin looks at you suspiciously.

” She knows things she should not. Unwittingly, you’ve made her force her hand at the cost of raising your suspicion amongst the group.”

Then Seo-yun blinks, “What’s the Inquisition?”

“How could you possibly not know what that is? Your suspicion is so obvious it’s downright obnoxious,” Rin remarks.

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>>6111270
‘Hey, I’ve only been here four days! Am I just expected to know everything about this shitty world!” Seo-yun yells to him.

Morgan clicks her tongue dismissively, “We’ll be here all day if this keeps up. Can her next partner tell her relevant info about this world? Come on, if we waste too much time, all of you are going to go kaboolie! So partner up, people!” Morgan yells out while making a few dramatic gestures before finally presenting the open doors.

“Hmph, I haven’t changed my mind. I have questions for Morgan,” Rin remarks before side-eyeing you, “That I will keep in private, unlike some of us.” Hey! Asshole!

“Yes, yes, fine, whatever,” Slowly Morgan’s mask appears to be falling as she dismissively waves Rin off.

>First, you want to say something to the group [What?]

>[Choose who you want to pair with and what to say]

>Oh, she has it coming for that! Attack Morgan

>[Write-in]

>>6111271
>"I came with Boyon here because I heard that the Heaven Society would be inclusive to all Strangers, including ones who were turned into monsters, you jerk! I heard they even accepted a vampire! Are you some sort of anti-mons racist? Because if you are, you're doing a lousy job of showing that the Heaven Society won't discriminate!"

>>6111271
>Talk to Seo-yun
>Tell to her our "conclusions" in full with the argumentation. Logically, this can't be a real way to find a traitor
>But if it's not a camaraderie test, and it doesn't seem to be, then it's some sick game by Morgan
>Did you notice she's a vampire, btw?
>She totally seems like she's just a narcissis sadist manipulator who was a fan of death games manga
>Bet she's going to kill us all and tell Joseph the Inquisition attacked us or something.
>We need to get the rest on our side and overpower her.

>>6111271
Uh, did she just almost call us Marie?
She might already know we’re the traitors and she’s playing around

>Partner with Seo -yun
Admit we’re the traitor
Tell her we’re living proof the Inquisition doesn’t kill all Strangers, just the evil ones
Ask if she really wants to join a group willing to so casually drown her and everyone else here
Try to recruit her

I'm surprised that Seo-yun is not going ballistic with all this colonialist talk.

A bunch of Japanese people are talking about taking a backward kingdom and uplifting it. Using a bunch of similar sounding points that Meiji Japan used to justify taking over Korea...

>>6111886
Presumably we introduced ourselves as Marie when we loitered by the houseboat, since she called us that here >>6108993
, and then when we actually introduced ourselves we gave our Japanese name. She likely just slipped since that's the name we first gave

>>6111288
+1

>>6111288
>>6111886
>>6112324
Everyone but >>6111285 looks to want to partner with Seo-yun so that's what we're doing.

>>6112088
We'll I can assure you she isn't exactly happy right now but knows she's outnumbered to really say anything.

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>>6112587
Across from you in the middle living room Seo-yun sits, more so crashes, onto the double bed while you’re left leaning on the door leading to the small bathroom,” So? You wanted to speak, so speak,” She all but orders. It is true though, that after Rin and Morgan paired you decided to pair with Seo-yun leaving Minato with Maxwell, the man seems the easier of the two to work with.

“Honestly? I just wanted to give my earlier argument in full without all the heckling,” You say to ease her into what you might decide to tell her.

“That whole ‘nobodies a traitor let’s all be friends' thing?’ Right? Yeah, sorry I find it hard to believe given who we’re trapped with,” She not so subtly glares at the door to where Morgan and Rin are.

“Well, then I agree with you there.”

“Huh,” She turns to you, a bit shocked, “Wait you agree with me?”

“Yeah, I think it might still be a comradery test but there’s certainly an element of this being some sort of twisted game as well. Morgan doesn’t exactly seem like,” How do you put this? “She doesn’t seem the most stable of people.”

“That’s putting it lightly. Can you believe her? Thinking I’d want to just up and kill someone? She this place is different but it doesn’t seem to be some- some backwater that needs to be, argh, forget it.”


“No, I understand you. I’ve been here for a bit and met some pretty cool people who’d fit in pretty well back on Earth too,” You can imagine Catherine-chan as one of those trendy popular girls with an expensive purse and obsessed with fashion, and Lorina-senpai yelling at people over voice chat during ranked matches.

“And can you believe Rin? He speaks like one of those super-old nationalists in a retirement home, who actually speaks like that in 2020?”

“Maybe that’s his Cheat Skill? Making himself look younger?” To that Seo-yun lets out a little snort before looking at you, a bit more cordial.

“Um, Cheat Skill? Like systems in a manwha?”

You nod, “Exactly, it’s another Inquisition term for abilities Strangers have on arriving in this world.”

“Oh, okay. Then I’d bet on it, stupid bastard.”

“Hey, did you notice something else about Morgan? She’s obviously a vampire, right?”

“Hm? What do you mean? She comes off as a parasite, totally but a vampire?”

You list off, “Hide from the sun, very pale, red eyes, psychopath, it’s all there.”

Seo-yun nods as you continue, “Okay, I see you. Maybe that’s why she’s not afraid of drowning? Vampires don’t have to breathe, right?” That’s actually a pretty good point.

“You’re probably right there, she definitely seems like some sadistic narcissist obsessed with death game manga,” You don’t mention how you’ve read and played quite a few in the genre.


“Do you think that’s why she set this all up? I still have a hard time believing she wasn’t told who the traitor was ahead of time.”

>>6112623
“Most likely, it seems she’s just after her own amusement. This isn’t even a good way to route out a traitor. Maybe she’s just going to kill us all anyway and say the Inquisition attacked? It seems likely,” That the Inquisition will attack anyway, but let’s see if you can minimize damages, “to me at least.”

“Hey, you mind telling me what’s up with that whole Inquisition thing? You and Morgan keep talking about it but I really don’t understand it all.”

“Have you ever read The Executioner and Her Way of Life?”

“No? What’s that?”

“Uh, never mind. Let me tell you-

>Reveal you’re an Inquisitor

>Don’t but paint the Inquisition in a good light to Seo-yun

>[Write-in]

>>6112628
>Don’t but paint the Inquisition in a good light to Seo-yun

>>6112628
>Don't paint the Inquisition in too good of a light (we're supposed to all be here back from a mission against it) but definitely make it clear that Strangers are hunted for their deeds and not just because racism
>Btw, doesn't it look like Joseph sent us on missions to ensure the Inquisition will be after us? So that we couldn't work with it instead?

>>6112628
>Don’t but paint the Inquisition in a good light to Seo-yun
>"Honestly, I'm wondering if there's some sort of faction infighting going on with them. It'd explain why there's so many different opinions on experiences."
>"Speaking of infighting, you think Tall, Dark and Chuuni there might have figured out Morgan's deal and is trying to become one? Because we could try to trick him into not going for it if we make him think he can have more power by going to her sire, make him think he has a chance with her."

>>6112852
Actually, I'll switch to
>Reveal you’re an Inquisitor, as subtly as possible. Maybe even write it down in case of eavesdroppers.
>"Well, if you've only heard bad things about the Inquisition and good things about the Heaven Society from her, and she's a member of the Heaven Society, what affiliation would you think another person would have if they state the opposite?"
Keep the rest of >>6112852 write in, though.

>>6112623
>“Hey, did you notice something else about Morgan? She’s obviously a vampire, right?”
I thought we were on a river, is it a lake instead? Or maybe the running water weakness is too obscure for Morgan to have picked up.

>Reveal you’re an Inquisitor
All in

>>6112995
>Or maybe the running water weakness is too obscure for Morgan to have picked up.
That's the problem with vampires... You got so many different interpretations, not just in media but worldwide, that figuring out their weaknesses and powers is sort of a crapshoot. Like, is she the kind that can only be stopped by a stake to the heart, can she be distracted by throwing a bag of grain at her feet forcing her to count it, would running into where we live keep her outside if we make sure we don't invite her inside?

>Also, keep an eye out for bags of grain, in case that's a vampire thing here.

>>6112804
I like this, seconding.

>>6112738
>>6112804
>>6113073
3 to not

>>6112995
>>6112868
2 to reveal

Writing. Probably going to be a short update.

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>>6114073
“Ah, it’s kinda hard to explain when I think about it,” It’s impolite to speak bad about your employers, isn’t it? That’s what Dad always said, and you are an employee of the Inquisition. Not even by technicality, you just are. You actually got your first, like first-first in your entire life, paycheck the other day. It was an experience being given a sack full of gold coins, that’s for sure. “It’s pretty similar to the ones they had in Europe, I’m pretty sure. It’s run by the church here but seems to mostly concern itself with hunting down and finding Strangers, that’s what they call us here.”

“Okay, I get that, but why? Why wouldn’t they just leave us alone like the other freaks and weirdos around here? I saw like an actual ogre the other day just buying trinkets at the market. If people here are cool with that, why wouldn’t they be cool with us? It’s not like I’m green, twice the size of a normal person.”

” She is right about one thing. This world is far too docile. No tension, no strife, no action. The races of this world should be tearing each other apart to prove whose strongest, not engaging in petty things like trade,” Oh, shut up. We’ve literally seen people explode and kill someone new every week.

” Yet, I thirst for more…”

“Ah, it’s because each Stranger, that I know of at least, has a Cheat Skill, and those can be pretty dangerous. You have one, too, right?”

Seo-yun looks a bit apprehensive, “...Yeah, I don’t really want to share, though.”

“Oh, that’s fine! I wasn’t trying to pry. But it’s just I know about a few cases the Inquisition took from my friends- uh- at the adventurers guild!” Nice save! “Like there was one who had the power to totally brainwash and mind control people to being his underlings.”

“Okay? And the Inquisition hunted him down just because of that.”

You grimace, “I learned it was a teenage Japanese boy,” You don’t say that you read the depressingly clinical report when you were shown the archives, “What do you think actually happened?”

Seo-yun makes the same face babies make when given something sour, “Right, yeah, I get you. Still, that’s probably why the Heaven Society was created then. Does the same thing happen when the Inquisition finds someone normal though?”

“Well, as far as I know, the common person sees us Strangers as demons, but the organization itself isn’t genocidal. I can’t say for absolute certain,” You can, “but from what I heard from some of my buddies, the Inquisition is fine with living and letting live as long as the Stranger agrees to some pretty strict rules about their movement and identity.”

“Your buddies sure seem to know a lot,” She says as she presses her cheek into her palm and leans over, not exactly suspecting you but more so trusting you for answers.

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>>6114113
“Aha, they haven’t said anything, but I’m pretty sure they’ve worked with the Inquisition in the past. Apparently, the Inquisition and the guild are tight-knit behind closed doors,” You almost feel bad for how easily Seo-yun eats up your lies.

”But you do not,” Yes, that’s why I said almost, baka.

“But if you’re sure they’re chill, then why did you agree to go on the mission the Heaven Society told us to do? I mean, I only had to deliver a package somewhere, but Maxwell was responsible for that huge burning of some dude’s Chateau. What was it? Cender something?”

“O-oh, yeah, my mission was simple like yours. I didn’t even know the Heaven Society was behind all that awful stuff until now,” Delivering a package? That’s it? You would’ve tried to plant doubt about the Society here, but that’s not something the Inquisition would raise a huge stink about, is it?

She nods, “Yeah, I didn’t at first either. I was just so happy to know I wasn’t alone here. I didn’t even think about it till it was over.”

“Same,” At that, the conversation dies for a few awkward minutes as the two of you kinda just look around and wait. It should be about now the doors open, so you don’t really want to say more. You tried to come across as impartial to the Inquisition, but anything that doesn’t paint them as raving lunatics might just push Morgan over the edge into outright accusing you.

“Hey, what do you think’s taking Miss Vamp and eyepatch so long?” Seo-yun finally asks as she stares at the door.

“Maybe the thing Rin figured out was that Morgan’s a vampire, and he’s trying to get her to turn him? Graduate from chunnidom to something actually kind of edgy?”

“Hmph, that’d be something. Not sure I’d like our chances if that happened.”

“Don’t worry, I still have some coins on me,” You say to Seo-yun’s confusion, “You know because she’s a vampire?” No realization, “If you drop coins, vampires have to count- Oh, never mind, I have a sunlight sword.”

“Oh, okay. That sounds like it’d be effective,” Seo-yun absentmindedly says before reaching into her purse and cursing when she doesn’t find what she’s looking for, “Hey, did your phone come with you here?”

“No, only my clothes did.”

”And myself,” You don’t count. I didn’t own you before.

”You don’t ‘own’ me now,” Want me to tell Asher-kun you said that?

”No, please. I’m sorry.”

“Fuck, me too,” She says after flopping back onto the bed, “It kinda sucks here sometimes.”

“Yeah, no arguing with that,” What you wouldn’t give for a normal shower.

Still, this is taking a while. It’s definitely been at least ten minutes, maybe more. Should you try and open the door on your own? Or maybe take initiative to talk to Minato-kun and Maxwell? Or perhaps you can just stay put and wait. Is that what Morgan want’s you to do?

>>6114116
>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>You open the door to the living room, containing Morgan and Rin

>You stay put with Seo-yun

>[Write-in]

>>6114119
>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell
Each second we do nothing the enemy is acting.

>>6114119
>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114119
>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114119
>Stay put
Let the enemy act, and blunder

>>6114119
>>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114119
>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114119
>>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114119
>>You open the door to the kitchen, containing Minato and Maxwell

>>6114137
>>6114366
>>6114403
>>6114421
>>6114516
>>6114574
>>6115282
Basically, everyone wants to check on min and max. Anyway, I'm excited to finally watch re: zero season 3. Writing.

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>>6115333
Surprisingly, when you pull on the door handle to the kitchen, you are not met with any resistance. No lock or magical barrier keeps the door closed, so a second later, it’s opened. “Yeah, my friends have been acting kind of weird the past couple of days, but that’s it for any strange-” You make out the tail-end of Minato-kun’s sentence before both the slime and average-looking man turn towards you. They’re in positions reminiscent of when you and Minato-kun shared the room only a little bit ago, with the slime on the counter and Maxwell on the back wall.

“Oh, is it time to meet up again?” Maxwell questions as you and Seo-yun are revealed to him. What he doesn’t question or seem to notice is the closed door behind you.

“I don’t think so?” You state, “I wasn’t really expecting the door to just open,” And that’s you being honest. Is this intentional, or did Morgan just not prepare for a scenario like this?

”Based on my impression of her, both scenarios have an equal probability. The mad rarely make for a predictable opponent.”

Maxwell blinks once, “Oh okay,” Then again. He doesn’t go to say anything else. You doubt he has anything more to say at all.

Seo-yun raises her head to look at the two men in the other room, raises her hand for a singular wave, and flops back onto the bed. It’s not like you were exactly expecting her to help you out, but a little effort would be nice! At the very least, you grab the teakettle from the kitchen to keep the door open so she isn’t excluded from any conversation between all of you, whatever that turns out to be.

“You guys learn anything insightful?” You ask to start off and receive the expected shrug and shameful rocking back and forth of the slime.

“Uh, other than the fact this whole thing is loony?” Maxwell says with a gesture to the boat around you all.

“Oh, wait! I learned Maxwell was reincarnated, so he’s been here for a long time!” Minato-kun says, puffed up and expecting praise.

“Yeah, bud, I introduced myself with that,” Only for Maxwell to instantly deflate him. You mean this in the most literal way you can. Minato-kun resembles a puddle for a few seconds, “It ain’t a secret or anything, but I do got some attachments here, yeah,” He then raises and shakes his hands in a disarming gesture, “N-not enough to betray the Heaven Society or anything though.”

“I wasn’t accusing you,” You state before awkwardly looking around.

It seems you’ve stopped whatever conversation Minato-kun and Maxwell were having dead before they could figure out something more worthwhile with each other. Though that doesn’t mean you can’t reignite it or another one. Or perhaps you could test the lock on Morgan’s door and see what the other two are up to.

”You could always beat the answer out of someone,” What part of we’re not the bad guys do you not understand?

>>6115354
>Say something to the assembled people [What?]

>Open the door to the living room with Morgan and Rin

>Accuse/Attack someone [Who?]

>[Write-in]

>>6115354
>”About your friends, Maxwell… would you say they’re acting like James up front is, or differently?”
>(give significant look to Seo-yun if he says yeah)

I’ll come up with more when I get home…

I'm back.

>>6115390
>"Can you think of anything that corresponds with your friends odd behavior starting? Like first meeting with... (point's to Morgan's room) or someone above?"

>>6115354
>"Can you think of anything that corresponds with your friends odd behavior starting? Like first meeting with... (point's to Morgan's room) or someone above?"

>>6115390
>>6115441
+1

>>6115355
>>6115441
+2

>>6115390
Goddamnit, that's supposed to be Minato's friends, not Max's. I apparently still can't read.

Still...
>"What about you, Maxwell? Anything strange on your end, relationship wise? Besides, well, us and them?"

>>6115771
>>6115876
>>6115758
>>6115746
>>6115441
>>6115390
Writing.

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>>6116172
“Hey, Minato, I have a question, if you don’t mind,” You say, which causes the slime to perk up.

“Sure, what’s it about?

“Well, it's about what you were saying before we walked in,” Only you walked in. Seo-yun is still looking at the ceiling on the bed, “What do you mean your friends were acting strange? It wasn’t anything like James up front, right?”

“Huh? Oh nonono! Nothing like that!” Thankfully, while he fiercely denies your accusation, he doesn’t seem offended, “It’s just, well, they’re less animated?” He says before trying to explain himself, “Mikhail always paces around the room when he talks. He always has a hard time being still, but for the last few days, he’s barely moved from that chair and only really uses his arms. I hope he didn’t get hurt adventuring, but I think it’d be rude to ask since he doesn’t like talking about himself. Then there’s Xiao, she really likes to talk to people- eer, tease them at least, but I haven’t talked to her in days! She just says in the dark and watches people all day! It’s kind of unnerving,” You see the slime shiver as he thinks about it.

“And around when did that start? Like first meeting with someone new,” You point to Morgan’s run, a subtly innuendo to whatever charm magic she has if the other can pick up on that, “Or someone else from above?”

“Eto-” He stays on that for a while as he clearly strains himself to think, “It was a couple days ago, at least I think, around the time the riots started. I sorta just walked in on it after I spent a few days in the hills outside town trying to take on other low-level monsters,” After he says that, he freezes up! “Oh no! You don’t think this whole riot thing has shaken them more than I realized?! Oh fudge, what if they need help and I’m not there for them!”

“Bud, you do know the Heaven Society is behind the riots, right? You didn’t actually forget that, did you? Wait, these friends of yours, even Strangers?” Maxwell pipes in.

“Huh? Oh yeah, they are! We’re a part of the League of Heroic Monsters! Isekai’d people who’ve been transformed into monsters!”

“Eh, sure thing, bud.” Maxwell scratches the back of his neck in a gesture that looks kinda lame.

”Notice the tension in his shoulders has relaxed. Do not be fooled by the front he’s put on. He was agitated at the thought Usami was here at the Heaven Society meeting while having nonStranger friends”

“Thanks, Minato. That helps a bunch!” You say, overexaggerating your enthusiasm, causing the slime to let out a weird blurrble as he tells you it’s not a problem.

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>>6116200
“Right, well, if that’s over with-” Maxwell goes to say, for which you cut him off.

“What about you, Max? Has anyone around you been acting strange recently?”

“Eeh-” For a second he makes an ugly snarl before it’s gone just as fast, “This some sort of interrogation you’re doing? What about your friends, huh?”

“We’ll, my friends are Strangers too,” A half-truth, well sorta, “But we’ve been out of town until after the riot’s started, but no, they’ve been behaving pretty normal,” Maybe expect Lorina-senpai, but you’re not exactly sure what’s normal for her and what isn’t.

Maxwell scratches the back of his neck again, “Yeah, well, my Stranger friends have been normal too. So that’s that,” You don’t need your sword to tell you how suspect that answer is, but you’re not sure pushing will be that smart a move. “How about sleeping beauty over there?” He says a bit louder while looking at Seo-yun.

The only thing he receives is a middle finger, “I told you I’ve been here for four days, or are you too stupid to remember that?”

“Ah, right,” Maxwell looks away awkwardly.

There isn’t exactly tension in the room, but no one other than you seems willing to discuss any conversation topics. But immediately, as you’re about to open your mouth again, there’s a thud that shakes the boat, as if something has been rammed into the bottom of the boat. Minato-kun even gets a bit of airtime from it to which he yelps. Then the others look around anxiously, the thought that we’re sinking at the top of their minds, until a minute later there hasn’t been any change on the boat. No leakage, no shaking, it certainly doesn’t seem like you’re going under, and through the blinds, you seem to all be doing just fine. No one voices the question but it’s obvious what everyone thinks based on the shared confused glances.

Could James have done that? Or Morgan? Even Rin? Maybe with the four of you here, you might be able to figure out a way past the lock, or are you just strong enough to cut through the door? Would it even be a good idea to try it?

>You decide to open the door to the living room containing Morgan and Rin

>You decide to try and break out of the boat to see if anything going on up top

>You decide to say something to the group [Write-in]

>[Write-in]

>>6116201
>"Hey, Minato? Do your slime powers include stretching your body past tight areas? And can you stretch out an eye to spy into rooms?"
>Bring Minato to the room where Rin and Morgan were talking, and have him look in through the lock or door crack.

>>6116201
>You decide to open the door to the living room containing Morgan and Rin
hey you guys feel that or what

>>6116201
>>6116217
+1

>>6116217
+1

>>6116217
+1

>>6116217
>>6116351
>>6116494
>>6116757
Writing.

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>>6117303
“Hey, Minato, your body can stretch and stuff, right?” Oh, if you’d known that little innocent question would get you into this situation, you’d have said no. You’d prefer to have never seen what you’re seeing now, but here you are. Maxwell holds most of your body behind the door in a death grip so you don’t slip all the way through, and just the tiniest portion of your slime slides under the door crack, just enough to maneuver the organelles you need for “sight” into the other room. Just enough, no one would be able to see anything but a little blue stain at the bottom of the door. Just enough for you to witness a man die.

“What was that little trick you said? You never miss a shot? As long as a gun is in your hand, you’re unstoppable?” The tea table at the center of the living room is shattered, Rin’s bleeding body having been thrown through it, leaving splinter and shards of glass to pierce him. At least you know where the thud came from, “Shame you didn’t even unholster your weapon before gloating,” Morgan kneels to his side, her knee keeping his chest down, and a singular hand holds his in a vice grip.

“You bitch-!” Rin starts before a sickening crack reverberates across the room as Morgan tightens her hold, “Arg- dammit!”

“Ah, ah, ah! Big sis Morgan’s talking now, so best not to interrupt!” She says before another crack. You find yourself unable to move even as Maxwell asks what’s happening to the other side of your body, “Kids these days are so bratty, don’t you think? Arrogant too! I mean, what did you think was going to happen threatening me? That I’d temple in fear? Beg for your forgiveness? Join that harem you’ve been trying to build and suck your cock?” With each question, she says, her grip gets tighter, and Rin continues to gasp and swear. Blood is coming from between her fingers now.

“I-I’m going to kill you-” He continues to try and act tough.

“Will you now? And how are you going to do that without hands?” At that, she finally finishes in her squeeze, and you witness what was once Rin’s two hands resemble nothing but a clump of skin, flesh, blood, and bone. Morgan sticks her tongue from her mouth and slowly, ever so slowly, licks her own hand from the base of her palm to the end of her middle finger. Then, before you can react, she moves, “Or legs?” For a second, she lets go of the writhing form of Rin, grabs one of his knees as he desperately tries to kick her, and smashes the joint so hard it bends the wrong way, jagged broken bone breaking through his skin. Then she repeats this for the other leg, revealing in the man’s agony.

It almost looks like a fake special effect, like you’re watching a horror movie on the TV. That this isn’t real.

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>>6117338
“Come on, Slime. What’s going on?” Maxwell repeats before Seo-yun chimes in with, “You think he crushed his head under there?” But you don’t react. You can’t do anything but watch. For the first time, you’re thankful you’ve transmuted into a single-cell organism; at least your bodily processes are gone.

Morgan then stands and paces around the mangled man, “That must be why Joseph thought you were suspicious, hm? Too narcissistic to place nice with others. More likely to threaten superiors than follow orders? I mean, how hard is it to just pick someone to kill? That’s all I asked you to do, you know?”

“I did- didn’t choose-” Whatever Rin tries to say is interrupted with a kick to the head. You hear the shattering of teeth, even see one go flying. Just how much strength is this woman carrying in that tiny frame of hers?

“You know, you could have had it all, you know? The Heaven Societies goal is to let all its members engage in as much hedonistic debauchery as suits a lofty place like Heaven. Eat, murder, fuck, all as much as you please, in that order no less if it favors you. No one would care as long as it isn’t a fellow Society member and as long as you obey those above you,” She shrugs, “I’m a founding member, after all. And who wouldn’t want a taste of a serial killer’s little slice of Heaven?”

Morgan looks completely different than the cheerful woman you saw before, full of life and excitement. She looks detached and emotionless. The only hint of anything you can see on her face is mild amusement at watching Rin struggle. Every time he tries to push himself up, she kicks him down until he can do no more but glare at her with a blood-filled and hate-fueled eye. “G-go to Hell,” He coughs out but is all but ignored.

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>>6117341
“See, members even get missions that appeal to their tastes! No rules for me to follow as long as I sort through those. Joseph finds the most suspicious amongst us Terrans. I bet he wouldn’t even care if I just slaughtered you all right off the bat!” She says in faux excitement with a forced smile. Perhaps another would find that it’s merely an act meant to unnerve. But you are unnerved, “But no, I prefer to take my time, you see,” She licks her lips as her eyes scan over Rin, “Enjoy every bit of it,” Then she kneels down to his side again and puts her delicate and small hand on his chest, forcing him still, “But I can make it stop if you want, make all the pain go away,” As she says this she wriggles a clump of flesh free from his crushed hands, it looks like a finger and placed it in his open maw as he gasps for breath, “Chew and swallow. A simple two-step order, follow it.”

For a moment, time seems to stop as you watch the gory display, and for a moment, you think he’s going to do it. Eat his own flesh and blood. What else is he supposed to do? You’d do something like that for far less, but at the very last moment, the finger flies from his mouth and hits Morgan between the eyes. Bullseye. But in this scenario, all it does is bounce off her and leave only a smidge of blood where it landed, “B-bitch,” Is all the dying man can bring out before Morgan clicks her tongue.

“Shame,” Is all she says before rearing her head up, opening her mouth far wider than any mouth should over, and revealing her long fangs. The next you know, Morgan hungrily bites into Rin’s neck, shaking her head left and right as the man gurgles and dies. The last you see is Morgan victoriously ripping her head back up, taking a third of Rin’s neck up with her.

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>>6117343
“Aaaa-Aaaaahhhh-AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!” Minato-kun screams after popping out from under the door and forcing himself into Maxwells arms. He hasn’t stopped screaming for the last minute, obviously terrified of what went on in the other room. You’d be a bit more sympathetic if he could actually tell you what’s wrong, and that’s kind of important right now, and if you didn’t have a sword actively suppressing your emotions—all except for the familiar dull fires of righteous anger that never quite extinguishes.

“Can you stop crying already? You’re stressing me out!” Seo-yun complains nastily, but you can see the clear signs of panic slowly being written on your face.

“Uh, It’s alright? Everything’s gonna be okay?” Maxwell says while rather awkwardly shaking the slime, like one would do a crying babies. He clearly has no idea what to do in this situation, nor the ability to do whatever it is if he did.

“Sssss-she killed him! T-tore his throat out! S-she’s going to kill us all!” Minato-kun yells, but all you can think is that, finally, you have a lead. Morgan killed Rin, and that’s all you got. It might be all you need. You’re going to get much out of Minato-kun for at least a few more minutes, and it’s not like you need all the gory details either. But what exactly are you going to do with that lead?

>Yeah, this is enough [Barge in and attack Morgan]

>Talk to the assembled group [What do you say?]

>Wait for Minato to calm down and explain things clearly

>[Write-in]

>>6117345
>Talk to the assembled group [What do you whisper?]
>”I think it’s safe to say Rin didn’t get embraced as a Vampire… you guys want to try to get the fuck out of Morgan’s lair before she eats the rest of us on a whim? Because I do.”
>”We need some way to distract her or to keep her in there, someone to get James to snap out of it to sail us back or to sail back ourselves, and some way to keep her from leaving this ship alive, so she doesn’t kill other people… Including us.”

I really hope that grain counting thing will work… you guys have any other ideas? I’m thinking we make molotovs as a way to finish her off, after we get off of the boat we toss them with a grain bag, light the thing on fire and watch her burn while doing math.

>>6117384
Oh, wait, that’s using information that hasn’t been relayed to Midori yet.

In that case, get back to the room with everyone and have Minato chill out before we proceed with the rest of the plan.

>>6117345
If we have some emergency signal to call in our backup now would be a good time to use it

>>6117345
>Wait for Minato to calm down and explain things clearly

>>6117345
>Wait for Minato to calm down and explain things clearly

>>6117795
>>6117767
>>6117388
These three seem to all be to wait for Minato to speak.

>>6117415
You don't have anything preplanned but the first sight of fighting outside the cabin will have the others pouring in to help.

I caught something nasty so update is going to be very short. apologies.

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>>6118035
It takes a good while of waiting for Usami to finally calm down, to the point you start to feel annoyed. Whether that feeling actually comes from you or leaks from your bond with your sword, you can’t tell, nor do you really care as you stand arms crossed looming over the slime. However, you don’t allow all of your attention to be spent waiting for him to recover; you also have to keep a good view of the door. It’s rather uncomfortable knowing that one of the group has already been murdered by the hostess, no less. Seo-yun has also taken to watching the door with you but in a rather different matter, seeing as she’s pushed herself into the corner of the bed and has her knees huddled to her chest. Doesn’t look like either she or Usami will be much use during a fight. What’s worse is you don’t have Asher-kun around to rectify any mistakes you make. Their lives are in your hands.

“Come on, bud, we gotta know what happened in there too,” Maxwell continues to try and coddle the slime to the best of his, not good, ability.

“O-okay, I- She started by- I saw-” It’s after a good maybe five minutes or so does he calm down enough to tell the tale of what he saw. By the end, you’re not exactly sure what’s fact and what’s fiction created by his terrified memory, but what you can tell is that Rin is indeed dead, and it sure wasn’t peaceful. There’s also the fact Morgan is a self-professed serial killer with inhuman strength and some useful tidbits of knowledge about the Heaven Society that the Inquisition will want to hear of. Sadly, you doubt it’s enough to justify this mission’s success.

Surprisingly, Maxwell doesn’t share in the terrorized sentiment’s of Seo-yun and Minato-kun; instead, after hearing of what happened in the other room, he simply sighed and grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen, “Best to be prepared, eh?” Is all he said when he caught your gaze. He must have also picked up on the part about Morgan calling Rin a part of the people Joseph saw as suspect. There’s a good chance everyone has been gathered in this boat to die, but so far, no one has actually confessed to being a “traitor” to that murderous organization. Not even yourself. But now that you have a more thorough understanding of the situation your in, it’s time to

>Say something to the assembled people [What?]

>Accuse someone of being a traitor [Who?]

>Open the door to the living room containing Morgan

>Kick down the door to the living room and attack Morgan

>Attempt to leave the canal boat

>[Write-in]

>>6118080
Well, it looks like it's time to go...

>Say something to the assembled people [What?]
"I think it's high time to say what our Cheat Skills are, so we can figure out how to (slit neck hand motion) or escape. Thankfully, I have some guild friends nearby that are keeping an eye out."
>Max: Place LPG bottles, cooking oil, gas canisters against the door Morgan is in, unless his cheat skill can come into play.
>Marie: Bring out sword, head outside, fire off a light beam away from where Morgan's room is as a signal for the cavalry to come, then aim sword at LPG bottles and pray his beams can ignite flammable liquids.
>Seo-Yun: Find any lifejackets or flotation devices around the boat, or any grain or bag full of small objects like nails, bolts, or screws.
>Usami: Try to eat any wooden objects to shape them into stakes to use on Morgan.

>>6118080
>Say something to the assembled people [What?]
We think it's certain that we're all have been gathered here to be killed, and the only reason we're alive and have a fightnig chance is because Morgan is a sadistic psycho. Our only chance to survive is either defeat her or escape. It's time to confess each other's Cheat Skills and formulate a plan.

>>6118107
+1

>>6118080
Backing >>6118125
Let's get cheat skill knowledge before making plans.

>>6118125
>>6118188
Writing a bit for these two. The vote here still stands when it's over.

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>>6118731
“Hey, I think it’s pretty obvious what we were brought here for, and we’re going to need to work together to get out. But before we do anything rash, can I ask what everyone’s Cheat Skill is so we can plan more effectively to either beat her or escape?” You say to the assembled people in the living room. Seo-yun huddles deeper into herself and wilts at the question, but Maxwell looks at you with a keen eye.

“You first,” The taller man says.

“Alright, mine is the sword at my side. It helps me think rationally and calmly when I’m stressed. With it, I’m able to cast magic and have intricate knowledge on how different weapons and machinery work,” You don’t mention how it’s a sentient entity with a thirst for blood.

” And if you were to give in to that urge you would be strong enough to drown the world in that blood,” Shut up.

“Well, fair enough,” Maxwell says with a nod, “It’s kinda similar to yours, I guess,” He chuckles awkwardly, “But it’s for buildings and designs. Like I have this intricate knowledge of what needs to go where to build whatever is asked of me. I also know the best ways to get the materials for it, like it’d take a lumberjack a few hours or a day to fell a large tree, but it’d take me a minute or two.”

“So, like Minecraft?” You ask. That’s a game everyone knows. Nobody will think you’re weird for bringing that up.

“Eh, I guess?” He scratches the back of his neck, “But if you asked me to build a modern military base, gave me a couple dozen workers and some materials, I’d be able to do it in a week at most,” Then he tenses for a moment before relenting, “I haven’t used it for anything that big so far, but I got this feeling at the back of my mind that this isn’t the limit, you understand? Like, I feel I could build something big, like futuristic wonder of the world big, but I just haven’t used it enough. How about you, bud?” He immediately deflects from his rather awkward admission by bringing everyone’s attention to Minato-kun.

“Urgh,” He makes a sound of displeasure at it, his eye(?) not leaving the door before speaking, “I’m a slime, and anything organic I eat, I gain the knowledge and abilities of.”

“Including humans?” Maxwell takes a slight step back as he says this.

“N-no,” He pauses, “Well, probably? I haven’t tried it on anything other than low-level monsters, really. But I can echolocate now, which is pretty cool, right?” He tries to sound excited, but it is all undercut by his anxious mannerisms and clear fear of Morgan. He’s not putting his all into the conversation, most likely only half-hearing it.

“And then there was one,” Maxwell says as his head turns to Seo-yun, who tilts away.

“Hell, you looking at me like that for, creep?”

Instantly Maxwell backs up with both his hands in the air, “Nope, not doing this right now. This one is yours, Midori.”

>>6118735
You sigh, “Seo-yun, please? It’ll really help us decide what we’re going to do next,” You press while talking in the most disarming voice you can. She doesn’t look you in the eyes and mumbles in a voice too quiet to hear, “Seo-yun, please.” You stress.

“...I don’t have one.”

“Huh? Everyone’s got one,” Maxwell says with a weird look.

“Well then, I don’t know it, okay! What am I supposed to magically know what reality-bending power I can do overnight?! I’ve been here for less than a week!” She snaps in a flurry of anger before throwing a pillow at Max. You guess it sort of makes sense. You only figured out what yours was when the bladed basted manifested itself in your hand when you fought those goblins.

“Sorry, sorry!” He apologizes frantically before mumbling, “Fucking hell, woman.”

Well, that went about as well as it could have. Without Rin to sow discontent, everyone else seems more or less willing to work with one another with only a little bickering. They seem honest enough and don’t seem like villains either, so that has to make you wonder what you’ll do with them once this is all over. They all agreed to be willing to join a terrorist organization and are Strangers, but they don’t feel like bad people. Granted, that’s if they survive the coming hour.

>Voting cont.

>>6118736
Okay, an ambitious plan: Marie breaks into the cabin, throws Minato at Morgan's face and fights her, while Minato starts eating her. If we succeed, Minato will get vampire powers AND all the intel she knew. Maxwell and Seo-yun hold off her charmed slave.

>>6118736
Does Minato have any relevant anti-bat skills or experience? His echolocation could help us spot Morgan if she's hiding.

>>6118736
Alright uh not too useful for combat
Does Maxwell have any weapons prebuilt? If not then start on one, while we call in backup by breaking through to the outside of the boat

>>6119125
If Maxwell is minecraft man can he punch the walls of the boat to both make an exit and to get wood to make stakes with?

>>6118912
He's killed a few direbats before

>>6119125
>>6119208
2 to call for backup and have Maxwell make wooden stakes

>>6118780
! for Minato acid attack, you if you convince him to try and eat someone

>>6118107
>>6118159
2 for the detailed plan

Vote is still open since this bug is putting me through the wringer right now and whatever I end up writing would be subpar because of it.

>>6119738
9xg8OpC+ here, housesitting for a bit.
How about we use bits and pieces of both >>6118107 and >>6119125?
>Maxwell uses his building cheat skill to either make a bow and arrows to fight off Morgan, or a bomb to blow her to bits
>Midori sends a signal to the others and prepares to launch a light beam at Morgan or Max’s bomb
>Usami acts like a motion detector from Aliens and keeps using echolocation to figure out where Morgan is
>Seo-yun sticks with Usami and tries to discover her cheat skill by thinking about her motivations and real life hobbies, since morals and motivations seem to correlate to what a person’s skill is

>>6119845
Maxwell should make a crossbow instead of a bow. I doubt there's any feathers lying around for arrow fletching but crossbow bolts can use wood fletching... and bolts, if you squint, kind of looks like stakes too. AND crossbows have the word "cross" in it so surely it would be more effective against a vampire. He probably doesn't know archery so crossbow would also be easier to aim for him.
Or we could make a heavy siege crossbow / ballista and just gib Morgan with a giant stake.

>>6120037
Well, I went with a bow and arrow for two reasons…
One, it’d be easier to make a bow and some arrows out of whatever we have in the ship, including using the goose feathers in the pillows as fletching.
And two, watch the video below.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xukCxZHtma0&pp=ygUddGhlIGxvc3QgYm95cyBkZWF0aCBieSBzdGVyZW8%3D

I have a proposition Slimeboy won't like
He need to sneakily eat the dead Rin
Just a bit. Just to steal his projectile Cheat Skill.
Then we stack him with Knives.

>>6120223
Well, if it works on the silver screen...
>>6120310
I'm against this because if he gets used to eating people he might start getting power hungry and become... a problem.

>>6120310
Yeah, I’m in agreement with >>6120476 regarding eating Strangers and normal humans. Really don’t want to find out if eating weebs and sociopaths will affect his personality, and lord help us if he becomes a vampire slime.

>>6120310
That's why I'm proposing he eats Morgan
Alive

>>6119845
Writing mostly following this plan and I think most people seem to agree to not have Usami eat Morgan and for Maxwell to make a bow because of >>6120223

Thank you for bearing with me, I definitely have the best players on this board

>>6120862
No problem, QM. Looking forward for Morgan’s death to be just as awesome as the video.

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>>6120862
“So, is anyone going to disagree with me that there’s no we face Morgan unprepared?” The best way to get the others on your side is to be gradual about it. Don’t start off with ‘Let’s all kill Morgan,’ but instead with words about how she’s dangerous and you might need to fend her off. Eventually, that is.

”I dislike your petty attempts at deception. It lacks honor,” Yeah, and you can shut up. You’re the leader of this partnership.

“No complaints from me, lass,” Maxwell says as Seo-yun shakes her head. With no Rin to shake the boat and Minato-kun already pledged to your side, it’s effortless to assume control of the situation when faced with a threat. You could probably tell them, “Hey, I’m going to bring Inquisitors here to help out,” And they wouldn’t be able to muster anything but a verbal complaint. But that’s not what you’re going to do; what you are doing is a bit more complex. “Maxwell, do you think you can use your abilities to make a bow and a couple of arrows?”

“Uh, I know I agreed when you said Minecraft, but I’ve never actually built a weapon before. I guess I can try? Not sure I’d be able to be more effective with a bow than a knife, though,” He trails off.

“I’m in- uh, was in the archery club at school. I’m not the best in the club, but I was pretty good,” Seo-yun says quietly as if she’s trying to pitch her skills to the group.

“Sounds good,” You say before turning to Maxwell, “Get on it,” You state, channeling your inner Lorina.

“Aye, aye, boss!” He says with a mock salute and a smirk before turning to the kitchen to get to work. Good enough.

“Now, Minato, do you think you could use your echolocation to find Morgan?” You question.

“Why? Shouldn’t we be able to see her?”

“Just trust me on this one. Call it a hunch,” You say before the slime starts to vibrate in a rhythmic fashion, much different from his nervous shakes.

“Uh, I can tell through the bottom of the door that she’s walking around. She’s also picking something up? Rin maybe? Now she’s walking again.”

“Just give us the summary of what you think is important, please?” You can tell his continued rambling will get on Seo-yun’s nerves.

”And yours, don’t lie,” Shut up.

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>>6120898
“And Seo-yun, can you please get up? You can stay in the back, maybe look for lifejackets if they have those in this world, but it’s too risky to be sitting down if a fight breaks out,” You say as gently as possible to the freaked-out girl. She looks about your age, maybe even younger, since you were about to graduate high school.

“Ookay,” She says as she does as you told, only for your sword to pierce where she was a moment later. Hey, she was sitting in front of the window after all. Though with this act, there’s no going back now. As you wave your radiant sword in the air outside, you can only hope that your allies see your message and that the thrall outside doesn’t.

“H-hey, what was that for!” Seo-yun shouts as the other two look over to you, a mix of curiosity and skepticism on their features.

“She’s a vampire, right?” You say, “Best to let the sun in,” You gesture to the rays of light as you retract your sword, “And it got my adrenaline to start pumping!” Uncontrolled by your mind, your body readies for the inevitable fight. You smile and lick your lips as you feel closer to your sword. You give one last look outside; the river is wide but calm, though it doesn’t seem to end. It looks almost like you’re heading out to the ocean, but it must be miles away. Though you do not you’re out of the city by now.

Then your attention turns to the door, and your battle-hungry mind doesn’t leave it as you end “the zone.” You don’t know how many minutes have passed, but the only things you pay attention to outside your mental mindscape are the comments on Morgan’s movements by Minato-kun and Seo-yun discussing how best to fletch an arrow to Maxwell. Then, by itself, the door opens.

The living room looks normal, too normal. There’s no apparent corpse or Morgan. She stands, eyes closed, and hands clasped, “Alright! Is everyone ready to reconvene? All of my little Strangers!” She says, her words seemingly casting some sort of spell on all of you before her eyes open to look at all of you, and her cheery expression drops. It’s then that you notice the blood under a couch cushion.

”Her spell, a charm to make all of you believe Rin never even existed.” Thanks, but you already figured that one out. And you came prepared.

An arrow flies into Morgan’s chest and your heart rate soars. You’ve been waiting for this.

Immediately, your mind registers two things happening in quick succession. A thud resounds on the boat again, but this time, it must be from outside. Just then, Morgan snarls as she rips the arrow out, showing no pain but her utter resentment for all of you, “We’ll see about this, little lambs,” Before a cloud of pitch black smoke erupts from behind her, for a brief second forming what looks to be bat-like wings before it spreads so fast you can’t even see what’s in front of you.

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>>6120899
“Midori!” Minato-kun shouts in alarm as time seems to slow down for the briefest of moments. You’ve positioned yourself in front of your allies. Morgan’s going to attack you first. You know this, you’ve meant for it, but you can’t see her. What is it you do?

>The answer is simple: You have a sword, but she does not. Strike at her!

>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>Instruct your allies to do something [What?]

>[Write-in]

>>6120901
>Unsummon sword in hand.
>Then summon sword above her head, point down, to drop like the proverbial Sword of Damocles.
>”Do you sparkle in the sunlight, Miss Swan?”
If this works, we’re giving the sword both a name and a good sharpening and oiling.

>>6120920
Wait, damnit. I forgot the sword magically gives Midori courage, so unsummoning it will make us less effective.

In that case…

>>6120901
>Midori uses HM05 in Morgan’s face.
>Seo-yun nocks an arrow.
>Maxwell prepares for the goon.
>Minato uses Echolocate.

>>6120901
>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>>6120901
>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>>6120920
Sounds cool but even without the mental resistance, can we even do this? I don't remember Midori ever summoning it to a location that isn't her hand.

>>6121077
I guess that’s another issue to think of…

Well, at least I’ve got a pithy one liner Midori can use to piss her off.

>>6120901
>The answer is simple: You have a sword, but she does not. Strike at her!

>>6120901
>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>>6120901
>>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>>6120901
>>It may blind you and your allies, but this darkness is ridiculous! Use your abilities to shine a brilliant radiance throughout the boat’s interior!

>>6120930
>>6121077
>>6121413
>>6121587
>>6121691
5 to let there be light

>>6120928
1 for a more detailed plan

>>6121365
1 for ol' reliable

Writing!

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>>6123181
One second, the world is black, your visual sense completely impaired, then in the next, there’s a spark, not even bright enough to illuminate the rapidly approaching vampire. Yet, for less than a fraction of a second, there’s an overwhelming sense of vertigo as a force, of raw unfettered magic, flows from every square inch of your body, from every muscle, every hair, every cell, every molecule, every atom. You cannot possibly explain how you feed that little spark at the tip of your blade, just as you cannot explain how you move your limbs or wiggle your ears; you just do. An instinctual process forged not through the million-year march of Earthen evolution but gifted through the underlining properties of this fantastic world you now inhabit. Another second, and you make that spark a light, revealing the fiend’s face a mere foot from your own, then another, and there’s a blaze, an inferno, and then you Radiate.

Brighter than any blessing, more powerful than any star. You are a force unnatural and yet dominating. It’s such a shame you glow so brightly that none can witness your elegance.

A hiss of pain, a scream of anguish, a whimper, and an unsightly curse. That is all you get from the others as the darkness is banished and your light takes its place. You are a beacon of radiance this sun-starved nation needs, the hero that vanquishes the very darkness itself! No, you think as your mind clears of all emotion, and the hold on your sword’s hilt tightens. Not yet. The villain still lives. Yet, even as your rational mind banishes your fears and doubts, one tenacious emotion lingers, that same dull rage at the center of your heart. But it’s not dull anymore. It’s sharp and wild. Still, you can control it as you can control all your feable feelings. By directing it towards the injustices of this world, towards the injustice that is Morgan herself. Why should someone as horrible as her deserve power? You won’t allow it a second longer

Your sight returns quicker than everyone else, quick enough to see Seo-yun unleash one final ill-fired missile from her bow as she tumbles to the ground and scrambles to cover her tear-filled eyes. The arrow flies past you and the devil, shattering a window and spraying the both of you with sharpened glass. You feel no pain from the blow, but you see, Morgan certainly does. Her stance is weak, and her steam rises as her skin peels, unsightly ulcers a blistering red mar her once beautiful and delicate skin, and her features shrivel and wrinkle. Though, unlike your currently decommissioned allies, she still finds the will to stand and snarl, making her appear as if she was nosferatu herself.

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>>6123207
“Fucking whore! I’m going to tear you apart for that!” Her voice loses all eloquence as she screams through a torn and haggard throat as she leans back and, as though she was picking up a feather, lifts the boat’s coffee table and tosses it into the air. Then, with a force powerful enough to send a shockwave through the air, punches it, shattering the object and propelling a cloud of large splinters toward you.

You drop, dodging those most deadly and ignoring those that do strike true. Maxwell, however, is not so lucky. Out of your three allies, he was the only one to remain standing, merely cursing as he staggered about with an arm to his eyes. The next anyone knows he resembles more of a pincushion than a man as he tumbles onto the puddle that is currently Minato, red mixing with blue. You, however, do not have time to ponder their fates as your logical mind forces your head back to the enemy and dodge a clawed swipe.

“Bitch- Cunt- Whore-!” Each expletive from the Brit is accentuated with another swipe, and you dodge each one with the utmost grace. You are beautiful compared to her wretched form. An all-powerful angel dueling with a sniveling demon.

But she is not the only one who can attack. Your blade cuts and strikes her disgusting form, but with the limited space the boat provides, you only find yourself hitting glancing blows and thrusts. That’s not even to mention that with every missed strike from the bloodsucker, she strikes the boat, both roughly shaking the vessel and creating a new hole, and you’re starting to take water.

Through one of the shattered windows, you see a black-cloaked figure fall into the river with a loud splash after one such blow before Morgan seemingly remembers her plans as she snarls at you, “Dammit, James!” She screams in her ghastly voice, “Blow it up, now! Let them all fucking drown!”

A few seconds after her command, once you’ve passed your ally’s bodies a few times and resettled your duel back in the living room, you hear nothing but the continued clashes of steel from the upper deck of the canal boat. Still, while you have the clear advantage, it would be a good idea to end this quickly. Though an easily crushable thought chimes that you won’t gain much should Morgan meet her timely end, her knowledge of the Heaven Society evaporating to dust with her under the light of your ever-blazing rage-filled light.

> You’re sure you can angle one decisive thrust through her heart that will certainly end her

>For the safety of the entire vessel, it might be a good idea to force your way above deck, though that may leave your allies alone with Morgan’s rage

>Light has done her in once, and it can do so again, reducing the parasite to ash

>[Write-in]

>>6123209
I dunno how we’ll be able to do this, but I kinda want Morgan to see the sunrise one last time, either as an execution or a form of interrogation. How close are we to the sunrise, QM?

>>6123209
>Light has done her in once, and it can do so again, reducing the parasite to ash
The heart thrust is tempting, but our sword isn't made of wood

>>6123235
It's near midday.

>>6123245
Hmm, we could blast holes into the boat while the others grab reflective objects to burn her with beams of sunlight, like the end of Fright Night…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kndeWhsNlJs&pp=ygUTZnJpZ2h0IG5pZ2h0IGVuZGluZw%3D%3D

…or, ugh, the fucking disco skull scene from the 2002 Scooby Doo Movie…

>>6123209
>You’re sure you can angle one decisive thrust through her heart that will certainly end her

>>6123209
>>Light has done her in once, and it can do so again, reducing the parasite to ash

>>6123236
>>6123260
>>6123617
Not going to lock the vote yet but it seems to be that you guys are voting to tear the room of the building and letting the sun do the rest even though this will likely kill Morgan, am I right?

Also again sorry about the lack of updates but the start if this week has been very busy with my new job and studying. I'm trying to update three times a week but sometimes I'm just not going to be able to do that, my apologies. Just want to reassure everyone I'm not going anywhere.

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You look behind yourself to the unconscious bodies of the other Strangers in the room. At least you hope they’re unconscious. Through the busted windows, you hear the sounds of swords clashing, then you look back to the disgusting thing in front of you. There’s only really one choice you have here, isn’t there? With every moment that passes, things only get worse for those who can still be saved. Damn Morgan to Hell, it’s time you end this.

As the vampire again attacks, without restraint or remorse, you prepare. You make sure each of the windows gets smashed and their shades torn, and with each strike, she makes more sunlight reach into the once-dim interior. With each ray, the woman gets weaker and weaker, even though she’s too far gone to notice herself. It almost makes you wonder why this plan was set up like it was. Who sends a vampire out in the middle of the day? Is it simply the woman’s hubris? Or was she one of the ones Joseph saw as unstable and sought to get rid of? There’s no use thinking about it now, not while you’re still fighting.Once you’ve danced enough with the fiend, you again channel magic into your sword, causing a much smaller flash of light. Still enough to send the vampire reeling in pain and confusion.

As she flinches, you do not stop funneling the power inside you to your blade. The radiant light around it grows and sharpens, forming an extension made of solid light, and you swing deliberately away from Morgan. Your sword rises above your head and completes a half-circle above you, finishing behind your back. Perhaps you could kill her here, but you aren’t so sure. You won’t claim to be a vampire expert, but you do know of one thing that seals the end of her life, the thing that gives everything fuel for their own life. You hear the boat groan as it starts to split. However, you’re confident enough in Lorina’s abilities to dodge your telegraphic move.

As the blood-sucker recovers, she’s met with a blow, not from your sword, but from some of the coins from your pouch. She stares dumbfounded as they collapse onto the ground in front of her feet, then she looks up at you, not with a hate-filled gaze or a snarl but with a dumbfounded look. You nod your head up in triumph, “You have to count them, don’t you?” You say cockily.

“What?” She snaps as the last of the coins falls to its side.

“You’re a vampire, aren’t you? That means you have to count every coin I throw in front of you- or maybe it’s grain? Should I go to the kitchen and try that again,” You trail off in your rambling.

“Are… are you retarded?” She asks. God, she sounds like your dad.

Regardless, you relent, “Eh, maybe. Still not as dumb as you though,” As you say those words, you crack a smile as the canal boat groans and rumbles. The water pooling at your feet ripples like that one scene in Jurassic Park. Then, ever so slowly, Morgan looks up towards the clear sky above the two of you. And screams.

It is not a good death.

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>>6124964
Her skin boils and pops, then combusts and melts. She was so confident before, outside the boat with her umbrella and just being out in the day, only to be laid low by the deadly laser that is that great burning ball in the sky. Slowly and painfully, the flames around her grow as her skin falls away, first revealing her horrid flesh, then blood-stained bones as she howls in pain. Soon after, the pool of gore collecting at her feet starts to dry into dust as her bones turn a bleached white, and the final bits of the woman who was just alive evaporate from her body as the boat continues to split and fall apart. Once more, you get the feeling you’re a little girl again. The one watching a scary foreign movie on the TV to distract yourself from the arguments of your parents upstairs. This time, however, the heat from the flames is very real, but the disappointment when it ends remains the same as you are forced back into reality. Was that all? Your mind asks; it all seems to be over far too soon.

In your hand, your sword soon follows suit and slowly fades to glowing particles that dance in the sun’s rays, and all that’s left around you is a sinking vessel, three bodies, an inquisitor treading water, Lorina-senpai and Alyssa-san looking down on you through the cracked roof, and a knight whose armor is evaporating into mist on the other side of the crack revealing the sight of an unconscious James. “Is everything okay?” Lorina-senpai lamely asks after a pause to observe the wrecked boat.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” You reply just as lame as your eyes turn back to the ashes that used to be a Stranger, “Everything’s just fine.”

“What about them?” She says, raising her sword, Sturmfahrerin you remind yourself, towards the other Strangers. Maybe you should name your sword?

It doesn’t say anything at that.

“If they’re still alive, they’re clear. We should still bring them in, though. Can you try and heal them, and I’ll try to steer us to land?”

Lorina-senpai nods as Alyssa-san collects James, and the Inquisitor swims to the slowly sinking vessel. You’re just glad that even the large river you found yourself in, you can even see the bridge you were on earlier(!), is a calm one, and you can get away with simply beaching the boat. Then, it’s not long to get everyone off, and all you have to do is wait for the maid to collect reinforcements. You kinda just stand there awkwardly for a bit as Lorina-senpai heals Maxwell, who took the worst of the blows, and the Inquisitor inspects the wreck for things you might have missed. Seo-yun seems to have fainted from shock sometime during the skirmish, and Minato-kun’s slime has hardened into a rather solid shell as he enters a state of hibernation/healing, as Lorina-senpai explains. Apparently, it’s something his kind can do when it loses a lot of its mass and can be fixed when it gathers enough magic to make more.

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>>6124965
It’s probably a half hour later before a squad of priestesses and inquisitors arrive to cart off the prisoners and escort all of you back to the Cathedral for reports. You feel like an outsider as it all happens, even though you logically understand you played a significant role in what just happened. And it’s not until Lorina steps up to you that you’re brought out of your trance, “I’m not entirely sure what just happened,” She begins, “But I think you did pretty well for someone without Mageknight training,” She says in that awkward tone she has when trying to compliment someone without really knowing how. You can only imagine how strange a princess’ upbringing is.

“Thanks, you were pretty reliable yourself, Ina,” You say back with a smile. It seems to stun her for a second as she blinks, and a slight blush appears on her cheek.

“A-ahm, but I didn’t really do much?” She asks.

“You came when I needed you,” You list, “Probably saved Maxwell’s life and dodged my awesome finishing move without it being coordinated.”

“W-wait, you’re being too-” She starts to flusher a bit more before her face turns to confusion and scarily fast resets to an accusing neutral, “Wait, dodge your finishing move? Did you not know where I saw on the boat when you tore it apart?”

“I- uh, had faith in your abilities..?”

“Marie, that blade rose five feet out of the boat! It could have cut me in half!”

Perhaps, you think, it would be best to leave this part of the walk back unwritten and resume when-

>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>You are Marie Sarodieu once again in the interrogation chamber, surrounded by the other Strangers and two Inquisitors.

>You are Asher, no last name, a few minutes from arriving back in Ivern. Sally’s hungover words causing an increasingly large headache

>>6124968
>You are Asher, no last name, a few minutes from arriving back in Ivern. Sally’s hungover words causing an increasingly large headache.
Wonder if Maxwell’s Minecraft skill can fix vehicles… got to increase the royal vehicle pool somehow.

>>6124968
>You are Marie Sarodieu once again in the interrogation chamber, surrounded by the other Strangers and two Inquisitors.

>>6124968
>You are Asher, no last name, a few minutes from arriving back in Ivern. Sally’s hungover words causing an increasingly large headache

>>6124968
>You are Asher, no last name, a few minutes from arriving back in Ivern. Sally’s hungover words causing an increasingly large headache

>>6124968
>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>>6124968
>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>>6124968
>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>>6124968
>>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>>6124968
>You are Lorina de Lindan, sitting across from the Lord Inquisitor. Ready to receive your next assignment.

>>6126323
>>6125674
>>6125472
>>6125424
>>6125286
Back to basics

Writing.

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>>6126369
You expected a far less colorful room when you entered the study of the Lord Inquisitor hidden away in the Cathedral of the Goddess. It feels as if all rhyme and or reason was thrown away by the designers of this otherwise grand but standard building. Strange, but not without the bounds of what’s standard for noble excentricities, and the Lord Inquisitor himself certainly has the appearance that only a noble can have, fat, old, lethargic qualities in a man that will all the rage in high society until only a few decades ago. After all, it was seen that such a build meant that you were a person of great means and greater wealth. Until the reign of your grandfather, that is, Goddess, bless his soul. The last Demonic Crusade made qualities you’d find in soldieringfolk more attractive, duelist scars, athletic bodies, martial prowess, and the like. The Lord Inquisitor must be old-fashioned, you guess. Though that doesn’t explain why his personal workspace looks like a room fit for a child but, that would be impolite to question.

You cough to get the bald man’s attention; he seems to be fiddling with a skeletal hand with familiar glowing runes inscribed on its back. In fact, he seems to be a collector of many different Stranger “relics,” which you should probably describe as. He performs the standard means of continuing to appear distracted for a few moments, tinkering with his toys as he does. It’s a way of showing power in high society, meaning that the ignored is below the notice of the ignorer. You’ve done it yourself a few times, once even to Lyndale, though you’ve rarely been the recipient of such a gesture other than by foreign diplomats in Herrman’s Kingdom when you were a child. It’s only known that you realize how much of a chore it all is. A pointless and a waste of time. You’re sure neither Asher nor Marie would bother with it. But unlike them, you aren’t an extradimensional commoner. You are a polite and well-behaved princess who is more civilized than the common rabble, so you endure it.

Twenty-seven excruciating seconds of waiting later, the Fatman turns his head towards you, a large smile on his face revealing perfectly white and straight teeth. A rarity in Lindan. But a second later, the smile drops as he looks at you, “You reek,” he says before taking two sausage-like fingers to plug his nose and using his other hand to wave a nonexistent smell away from him.

“I beg your pardon?” You say in the most polite tone you can muster. That is saying it isn’t very polite.

“Ah, never mind that, Your Highness,” He says as his smile resumes. It’s far less jovial this time, “It’s probably nothing, though I do recommend you stay away from, let’s say, foreign woman in the future,” Your brows knit. He couldn’t possibly be implying, “Ah, not that little friend of yours, I assure you. Ah! But I forget myself, you’ve been having quite a lot of fun dealing with strange insurrectionists, yes?”

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>>6126449
Though a bit perturbed, you still nod, “I suppose,” In truth, you aren’t exactly sure what you’re here for. Once you arrived at the cathedral, an inquisitor with a cockle hat escorted you right to this room before leaving as Marie went deeper towards the dungeon with Inquisitor Corvus and the prisoners, “I take it something you have found something relevant that involves me in some way?” Your mind shoots back to the letter at the start of all of this, who wrote it, for what purpose, and why they have such a grudge against you still eludes your senses.

The Lord Inquisitor drums his fingers on the table as he smiles, “Not quite, Your Highness, twas just an innocent question! Forsooth, I’ve actually brought you here as more of a check-up. Why, it’s practically a disgrace that all this time in the Inquisition, we’ve yet to even chat face-to-face!” Somewhere, the man gets a great deal of energy as he excitedly rambles, “Now it’s true, you’ve been seeing a great deal of success in your short time here, and that is to be expected. Someone of your prestige is doubtless to have an Old Soul. To achieve heights that in ways that their lessers cannot hope to be in reach in so more time.”

Unconsciously, you sit up a bit straighter as the highborn man heaps praises upon you, though a more rational part of your mind demands an explanation for his erratic behavior, “So is this a debriefing or a check on my progress? Though you seemingly already understand the latter.”

His eyes move around, shaking about as he makes a so-so gesture with his hand, “Hmm, a bit of both, no? I mean, it sure is wondrous everything you’ve been able to achieve in less than a season’s worth of time, but then there’s the fact I’ve dealt with an entire crusade worth of Royal Knight in the past few days! That’s strange too, no?”

You wilt a bit as your cheeks grow a bit hotter, “That situation is under control, Lord Inquisitor. I’m certain my father will be much more cordial when this situation has passed, and the rebellion is squashed,” You state in a clipped manner, “He is simply overreacting to the actual danger I am in.”

“Hm, you’re right, more or less,” Surprisingly, he agrees with you, “Those like us, cut from the cloth of an older soul, are always made of sterner stuff. And with the little Hero, we put you with as a mentor, the chances of you actually dying were next to nil. Still, that’s another reason I brought you here, Miss Lorina,” A faux pas; even if he’s your superior in this organization, your rightful title is still Your Highness as long as you’re not disinherited, “You have another important mission you must partake.”

“As expected, what is required of me?”

Then the Inquisitor brings back that all-familiar smile, “For the next week or so until dear Asher returns, you are not to take a single step outside this cathedral. It would be oh so tragic if you were to die without a way to bring you back in a timely manner.”

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>>6126450
“You wish for me to stay here for a week? That’s your mission?” You say not commenting on the fact the Lord Inquisitor seems to think you couldn’t survive without Asher’s help. The nerve.

“Yes, quite so. Do you happen to be hard of hearing? That wasn’t written in any reports, I don’t think,” Like a buffoon, he quickly upturns some papers and documents on his desk and behind him, “Ah, blast it all! I’ ’ll have to look later,” He mutters before laughing as if he just told a hilarious joke.

You sit there awkwardly, “Is that all..?”

“Oh, yes. Now, I’m certain you’ll find a way to wander into something important going on sooner or later. Though do stay away from any Kansans you if you happen to find any,” He mutters, and he appears to go back to looking at his relics, a sign of dismissal. Though his eyes do shoot back to you for a brief moment, “If that is all?”

>”Yes, it is,” You say before leaving and trying to put the strange encounter out of your mind. [You head to the dungeons to find Marie]

>”Yes, it is,” You say before leaving and trying to put the strange encounter out of your mind. [You head somewhere else]

>”Of course it isn’t! We’ve barely just begun talking!” [What would you like to say to the Lord Inquisitor?]

>>6126453
>”Of course it isn’t.”
>”I need dossiers on Inquisitors Abram and Silas.”
>”Who is responsible for watching over the Slaver Crest and recording those who accessed it?”
>”Finally, where can I find reading material regarding Outsider cant and literature? I’ve been confused lately with what my coworker’s have been saying, and would like to know more.”

>>6126369
>One post IDs
>>6125674
>>6125424
>>6125286
I fully expect to never see them vote again or see them vote only one more time after this post.

>>6126572
Let's go with this

>>6126572
>I fully expect to never see them vote again or see them vote only one more time after this post.
Me neither but I'll just run Asherquest after Lorina does her stuff since I want to write his POV regardless

>>6126572
Actually, make that first write in…
>”I need dossiers on Inquisitors Abram, Silas, and Asher.”

>>6126572
I'd second this but I also think we should push the Lord Inquisitor to "fast track" our "promotion" to Inquisitor.

>"Well, Lord Inquisitor. As you are already well aware I dislike sitting still when their is a job to be done. Perhaps I can be persuaded to...rest for a week if, by the end of it, I can add 'Inquisitor' to my list of titles "
Or something like that.

>>6126652
Personally, I’d prefer it if Lorina was made a full Inquisitor at the same time as Marie, so we could be partners. She’s been a damn good friend to us, after all, and it wouldn’t feel right to order her around like everyone else.

>>6126661
Narratively that'd be great character progression. On the other hand, having it to fall back on in the unlikely case "Princess" doesn't get us anyway is what I'm thinking of.

>>6126662
I mean, I’d be okay with being a full Inquisitor if Marie said she felt like she was okay with being one, but she sounded like she wanted to take it slow and steady when Asher brought it up. Besides, I feel like it would be the reverse if we were immediately be promoted to official Inquisitor after running away from our family and their plans to marry us away. Other Inquisitors might think we wanted power and authority to rule Lindan and left our family over being forced into marriage, when we really couldn’t give a damn about that.

>>6126671
>Other Inquisitors might think we wanted power and authority to rule Lindan and left our family over being forced into marriage, when we really couldn’t give a damn about that.

…Well, okay, the forced into marriage bit WAS something we cared about, but not so much the wanting to rule Lindan as Queen part.

>>6126453
>”Of course it isn’t! We’ve barely just begun talking!” [What would you like to say to the Lord Inquisitor?]
>”I need dossiers on Inquisitors Abram, Silas, and Asher.”
>”Who is responsible for watching over the Slaver Crest and recording those who accessed it?”
>”Finally, where can I find reading material regarding Outsider cant and literature? I’ve been confused lately with what my coworker’s have been saying, and would like to know more.”
>"Do I really reek of foreigner smell?"

>>6126453
>”The hell is a Kansan?”

>>6126572
+1

>>6126453
>>”Yes, it is,” You say before leaving and trying to put the strange encounter out of your mind. [You head to the dungeons to find Marie]

>>6126572
No u

>>6126572
>>6126602
>>6126786
>>6126824
Looks like all of these can be merged easily enough though >>6126652 seems to have 1 person for it and 1 against if anyone else would like to vote either for or against it please do so since I'm not locking the update until tonight though regardless I'll still have Lorina ask a few questions about Marie's Inquisition process.

>>6127381
Without a response, I'm going to leave it without asking to be an Inquisitor, but Lorina can definitely head back at any time to do so.

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>>6127540
Contrary to what the man in front of you seems to want, you defiantly remain in the padded seat across from him. “Of course, that isn’t all,” you state with the utmost authority, “If I am to remain quarantined for a week, then there are things I require.”

“Oh, why, of course, Your Highness, whatever is it that you require to make your stay more pleasant,” For some reason, his tone goes sardonic as if he was making fun of your reasonable noble privileges. Confusing since his appearance dictates he is a prime example of what he appears to be mocking.

“I have heard that the Inquisition has an extensive archive containing information on its members and the Strangerhunts it undertakes. I require dossiers on Inquitors, Abram, Silas, and Asher.”

The man blinks at you, his sarcastic grin gone and replaced by blankness. For all of a second, that is. Soon after, genuinely shocked laughter rises from his gut. It takes a solid minute for the man’s chittering to elate as you continue to stare with an expression of the utmost seriousness. The old man ends his final chuckles with a few coughs before looking back at you, tears in his eyes, “Why, of course, Your Highness! The Lindan Church Archive is the greatest in the world, so of course, we can provide! But first, I must applaud your deceitfulness. Truly, you’re going to make it far in our great institution! Though I’d never imagine you’d be so blatant with simply asking for dear Asher’s file, don’t worry, I won’t tell,” After that, the man gives you a “sly” wink, but you aren’t sure exactly why. You asked for two other dossiers, too, didn’t you?

“I do not understand this play,” You say with a wave toward what can only be an act. Right? “He has undoubtedly already read whatever you have on me,” You state to clear any confusion.

Only a few soft chuckles, but his large smile doesn’t abate, “Perhaps, but I wouldn’t be so sure it wasn’t just all scraps,” What in Hell does that even mean?

“Whatever,” You chide, “On the topic of the archive, I also require reading material regarding Earthen cant and literature. Loathe as I am to admit, I often find myself confused by what some of my fellow Inquisitors have been saying and would appreciate knowing more.”

Sagely, the Lord Inquisitor nods his head, for a moment adopting a look only a wizened wizard can after decades of cloistered study, “Jokes are not quite as funny for those outside the loop,” Then his grin splits open and shatters his faux look, “Or maybe they’re all the more so for those inside the secretive troupe!” His eyes get wider as if he’s expecting a reaction from you.

You give none. That made no sense. “Can you please just-”

Immediately, he appears bored of the conversation and cuts you off with a wave of his large hand, “Yes- fine- whatever,” Then he quickly grabs a small sheet of paper from a drawer, scribbles a bit, and hands it to you, “Hand this to one of the archives scribes, and they’ll get you everything you request.”

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>>6127542
You carefully nod as you take the paper. It’s coded and written in a language you don’t understand, perhaps one from Earth? “My thanks, Lord Inquisitor. Though I have not exactly been directed where this Grand Archive is.”

“Do not worry about that, Your Highness. Poor little Alyssa knows this land like the back of her daggers. She’s been pulled aside to learn the specifics of where you’ll be staying and will greet you once you’ve escaped my little slice of wonder.”

You don’t give a nod of respect but say, “I understand,” Seeing as your confinement here is not something that would be proper for you to be thankful for. Though in your opinion, it certainly beats the awkwardness that would be confinement in your own home. It’s certainly strange how things work out, isn’t it? “Now I believe I have a few more questions for you,” You continue.

“Oh? Do go on. It’s not like I’m busy or anything,” He says, but there’s no bite to his bark. You question what exactly could have gone wrong in this man’s life to make him behave in this erratic fashion.

“Then I would like to know what exactly you’ve done with the Slaver Crest,” you gesture to the skeletal hand on his table, “As it is a case I’ve directly worked on.”

“Usually, I’m in every right to simply not tell you, still am, actually! But, since I’m the nicest Lord Inquisitor around, I suppose I will,” He says as he picks up the skeletal hand and twirls it around, “Only two Inquisitors have used it, myself and Asher, first was when I used it on willing Inquisitors and assets of different mental fortitude to observe its effects and limits. Then, after the initial trials were finished, Asher used it on a Stranger you should be familiar with, Saori Tamlin, right before they left for Ivern. A bit of insurance that she won’t go rogue.”

“And that is all?” You were sort of expecting more like the Inquisition raising an army of their own mind-controlled Strangers. Not just using it on one whose already attacked you, though you suppose some might see that in of itself as corrupt. Perhaps, but she’s lucky she’s still alive, you think with a slight sneer. You remember exactly what she did to one of the people under you.

“Once you settle more into life in the Inquisition, you’ll find that much of what we do here is rather boring. Few people look at the scientific method and start to bristle with excitement.”

“Fair enough,” you’re not sure about the specifics of this method he talks about, but you can infer from the context of magical relic tests what it is well enough. “I also wanted to talk about Marie. How is she doing?”

He raises an eyebrow with a leer, “Do you want her file too?”

You shake your head, “No, I mean, how long do you think it is until she becomes an Inquisitor?”

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>>6127548
“Ah, well she’s been doing pretty well for herself, so most likely around half a decade if I had to guess,” You blank, and the man again looks mischievous, “You do understand that becoming an Inquisitor is quite a long process with those without special circumstances such as yourself. Inquisitors are given much power, so they must be closely vetted. Even many of those we train from a delicate young age still fail the process and are delegated elsewhere. Besides, it does her no favors that she’s a Stranger either. She’ll need to prove her loyalty to us without a shadow of a doubt, and that will be no easy or short task,” Then he seems to concede, “But everyone she’s worked with so far seems to give stellar praise, and she’s worked with some influential people so that will speed things up a tad bit.”

“...I see,” You slowly nod, “Then comparatively, how long does it usually take for one to become an Inquisitor?”

“Around a decade or so, but shave off a few years if they’re of noble birth. Politicking and the like,” You nod in complete understanding of his last statement.

“I was unaware of how long a process it is.”

“Not that long in truth,” He says before looking you dead in the eyes, “Remember, you’re with us for the rest of your life,” Then his look loses its intensity, “And you young folk always overestimate how long a few years is, time gets faster as you age.”

“So, I’ve been told,” That’s a favorite of your father when he seems to forget how old either you or your brother are, always assuming you’re younger than you actually are. “Now, I have one more question, “He gestures for you to continue as he rolls his hand in a circular motion, “Do I really smell? Like that of a foreigner?”

He howls, and the only thing of note you get from him is that Alyssa will know the directions to the washroom. Though as you stand and go to leave, hand opening the door, one more question comes to mind. You turn your head to the Lord Inquisitor and ask, “And what is a Kansan?” All you get is one last large smile before leaving.

“Commander,” And as ever, Alyssa curtsies with respect to your royal status when she meets you outside. “Do you wish to head anywhere specific?”

>You wish to head to the archive to receive the items on the list the Lord Inquisitor gave you

>You wish to head to wherever Marie was taken

>You wish to head to wherever it is you’ll be staying for the next week

>You wish to talk with someone in the Cathedral [Who?]

>[Write-in]

>>6127549
>You wish to head to the archive to receive the items on the list the Lord Inquisitor gave you
>On the way, discuss with Alyssa about the two Inquisitor factions, the Traditionalists and the Renegades, and who their heads are.
>”And do you know why the Head Inquisitor might have found my request for Asher’s dossier funny? All I was trying to do was to attempt to figure out why Abram might have gone rogue, or if my family’s assassin could be related to Silus’s death or his dislike of Asher.”

>>6127549
>To the washroom
What if we really smell?

>>6127549
>To the washroom

>>6127549
>To the washroom
Foreigners are stinky

>>6127549
>>You wish to head to wherever Marie was taken

>>6127867
>>6127905
>>6127978
The things I got to write man. Writing.

>>6128249
Inexplicable Japanese onsen in western fantasy setting time?

>>6128257
...no comment in what im writing

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>>6128249
You think to yourself for but a moment before a stray and treacherous thought hits you. What if you do smell? Though however preposterous you give it some thought, you did just get back from a fight, and you’ve been skulking around in some pretty unhygienic areas recently. Like where the peasants live unhygienic. After a discreet sniff of unimportant results, you respond to Alyssa, “I’d like to drop my things off wherever I’ll be staying, then head to the washroom.”

Alyssa nods, “Please, follow me,” she says before about facing and walking off. You immediately fall into step behind her.

You actually walk far, far more than you would expect in a cathedral even as large as this one. Stranger still was that you did most of so after walking down a flight of stairs. There is an alarming amount of space under the cathedral. You were wondering if you’d have to stay in a communal dorm with the priestess,’ but that now seems far from the case. The entire basement feels alien as well, as if it were made by another civilization, one that has a penchant for very harsh ceiling lights. And even if it was to make yourself feel a little more comfortable in that alien environment, you strike up a conversation with Alyssa, “Do you know of the supposed renegade and traditional sections of the Inquisition? I’ve heard of them but would like to know more.”

“I am knowledgeable. Do you have a specific question?”

You think for a moment before answering, “Do you know of the leaders for each?”

“You are in luck. Lord Beneger has instructed me on this!” She says it with a lot more emotion than you’re used to hearing from her. She seems thoroughly glad that she can actually answer one of your questions in a strange sort of fixation way, “The traditional and radical schools of thought is a recent divergence after I led an experiment to see if Strangers were capable of making it into our ranks. The Lord Inquisitor was quick to accept my proposition, making him in support of my-”

“Wait, please don’t repeat it word for word!” You stress, “Summarize the report, please,” You then say in her weird military way of speaking so she really gets the message. She sounded like she was repeating verbatim what her father once taught her.

She looks a bit alarmed as her slight smile turns to a bit of a frown, “My apologies, commander,” She says as she opens a door revealing a small, hideous, small, room and holding it for you to walk in. You sigh as you look over your pitiable accommodations before starting to untie your stuff,

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>>6128275
“In summary,” Alyssa begins, looking a bit unsure, “Neither movement is centralized, and in truth, they’re more of a reaction spawned by a controversial decision leading to some being partial to become more reliant on Stranger’s and their technology. Technically, Lord Beneger and the Lord Inquisitor are the most influential members behind the radical movement, but the Lord Inquisitor never actually spoke in support of it, unlike Lord Beneger. However, most Inquisitors still resist this movement as that is not how the Inquisition has acted for centuries, leading the vast majority of old Inquisitors to be Traditionalists,” She speaks during the entire time in your room and into when you start walking towards the washroom.

“But surely there must be a most influential member or members?” That is how political factions simply work! However, it is almost always just the highest-ranking noble in the faction.

She shakes her head, “The Inquisition is a decentralized order with every Inquisitor having the same amount of power as the other. Only Lord Inquisitors can outrank one, and Lindan has only one who has also expressed his unwillingness to play in any sort of inter-order politics.”

“A sufficient answer then,” You say with a sharp nod, congratulating your subordinate like you’re supposed to, “And another question, do you happen to know why the Lord Inquisitor might have found my request for Asher’s dossier humorous? I was simply asking for files on Inquisitors I’ve already worked with, so I could get more insight into what transpired during Iver,” You say, but you’re not sure if you’re talking to Alyssa or yourself.

She thinks for a long second before her face lights up again, though only slightly, “I believe you missed a sense of doublespeak. As you are technically an Inquisitor’s apprentice in status, with your assigned mentor being Asher, it might be seen as inappropriate to acquire his details. It implies that you are inspecting him as much as he should be inspecting you, which can be seen as an offense in courtly terms. A squire is strictly obedient to their knight, not judging them,” Damn it! You knew you missed something! You made a blunder in the manner of high society, a rare mistake for you, but that can be understandable, “Or perhaps you failed to perform properly socially regarding those classified as your friends. Some may believe it is improper to inquire to acquire secrets behind a friend's back,” What? No, that’s not what you meant- “But do not worry, I often fail in social citations as well,” The sparkle in her eyes makes her look like she’s found a fellow socially awkward kindred. She damn well has not! You’re very socially capable, damnit!

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>>6128276
“Wait, that’s not true. I was trying-”

“And I’ve also read her file on multiple occasions as well,” Wait, what? That- “Now, would you prefer to use a private room or head into the onsen?

“The what?”

“It is a form of Stranger facility using magical hotspots to make a public bathing facility. The magician who created the room makes it feel as if you’re outside.”

“The Inquisition has an ancient bath underground?” You’ve heard of such things, even seen the ruins of one, leftovers from the ancient empire that once ruled over these lands. You never imagined they’d ever come back, nor would one be under the cathedral. All Alyssa does is nod.

>”That sounds completely unhygienic, show me the private washroom.” [Skip scene and choose something else to do]

>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>[Write-in]

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>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”
Steam censor time is now.

>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”
Inb4 it stinks worse off foreigners

>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>>6128277
>”That sounds completely unhygienic, show me the private washroom.” [Skip scene and choose something else to do]

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>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>>6128277
>That sounds completely unhygienic, show me the private washroom.” [Skip scene and choose something else to do]

>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>>6128277
>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>>6128277
>>”Of course, I would like to head there.”

>>6128558
>>6128835
>>6129191
>>6130227
>>6128397
>>6128310
>>6128295
Alright, it's sauna time lads. Here's hoping I don't disappoint on lighthearted ecchi hijinks.

>>6128558
I approve

>>6130530
As long as we accidentally and unintentionally mog the rest of the female inquisitors bathing in there, I’ll be pleased as punch.

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>>6130530
“Of course, I would like to head there. At the very least, I must examine what an underground bath is like,” You state with the utmost confidence. Only for it to completely evaporate only a few moments later as Alyssa leads you to a “changing room” filled with very nearly naked women, only the thinnest of towels hiding their forms. You stare wide-eyed at the shameless Inquisitors and clergy in this- this stripping room! A blond woman in her middle age sits on a small chair as she pours a bucket over her head; a scribe dries herself before retrieving her clothing from a locker nearby to her two younger apprentices, who are both chatting about some new spells they’ve learned. You even see another woman’s backside with the same exotic skin as Marie’s as she enters a doorway to take her further into the complex.

“Commander, your towel,” Then your attention is brought to a nonpulsed Alyssa by two open lockers. Dumbfounded, you take the offered cloth- Big mistake! Not soon after, Alyssa begins to strip as well! You feel a shame-filled blush on your cheeks as you find yourself unable to do anything but stare at her scar-covered body. After a solid minute of your increasingly anxious staring, during which you get a good luck at the maid’s very muscular, let lithe form, does she notice you and a small emotion that looks akin to realization dawn on you. Thank the Goddess. She also realizes just how strange this all is. “Apologies, Commander. There is a sign to instruct newcomers on proper etiquette and what steps to take. You may also follow my lead if you would like,” she points towards a strange-looking square sign of metal before resuming her undressing. Oh dear, there goes her undergarments.

Quickly! You look away and towards the sign, and it’s a simple four-step process for using the “Onsen,” as it calls itself. Step 1: Undress and store belongings in a locker. Step 2: Wash. Step 3: Enter and enjoy the onsen. Step 4: Wash again. Step 5: Collect belongings and depart. There are also a few diagrams of a silhouette with rounded edges that show you how to complete each step. You are about to muster the courage to do something- anything really before it vanishes as Alyssa’s, rather pretty, you admit, body covered with only a towel begins to walk away. You grab her arm and pull her a little bit closer than you mean to, “T-this is debaucherous? Are you certain this a Church facility?” You ask in a hushed whisper.

“Yes.” Huh? How the hell did they come up with this? This isn’t how it was done in the Ancient Empire, was it?

“W-well, are there any suits to use? F-for etiquette sake?!”

“The etiquette of the onsen is that all much enjoy it in the nude, else the systems would not operate.”

“So there’s no bathing suits?”

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>>6130577
The last bit of hope dies in you as she utters her next word, “No,” limply, you let go of her wrist, and unluckily, she takes this as a dismissal and continues her calculated march to the wall of faucets and buckets. Why did you not insist on heading to the private washroom? Dammit, all, you’re stuck here now! So, with about the same amount of reluctance as a cat heading towards a bath or thief to the gallows, you walk towards the locker left open for you. First comes your waistcoat, then your boots, oh, and your gloves, and then every tiny piece of clothing you can remove without revealing much skin. You allow yourself one last look at Alyssa as she washes before looking back and sighing. Let’s just say the towel comes on very quickly after that.

You noticed that Alyssa washed with her towel on, and you loathe to not do the same. Still, you’re knowledgeable enough to give yourself a nice scrub with the nice-smelling soaps provided. Ones that come from a strange bottle that you need to press down the top of. For you, washing is a rather long and elegant process, doubly so given the length of your hair and limbs, which are both longer than many. However, you do notice that Alyssa’s almost reaches your length when undone. It’s not nearly as silky or smooth as yours, for truly, you have no equal, but well, it is rather pretty.

You see her softy smile as she sits next to you, “Thank you,” She says. Ah, you must have said that aloud, “Your hair is beautiful as well,” Then she gets a thoughtful look in her eyes, “Do you acquire assistance washing it? That is a duty of a maid, am I correct?”

“No!” You say a bit too forcefully, “I mean- It can be- Er, but- I haven’t had a maid- not since I was a child!” You stutter and stammer, though it seems all of it goes unnoticed as Alyssa adjusts her seating, puts something labeled as conditioner into her hands, and takes your hair as you’re too stunned to move. She’s gentler than you expected.

You don’t spasm or react in any way as she slowly scrubs your scalp or runs the bucket of surprisingly warm water down your long locks. That would only start a scene, and your frantic eyeing of the room makes it clear that no one has noticed what’s happening yet. Goddess, you’re nearly nineteen you do not require help bathing of all things! But you reckon it’s best to just bear it. There’s no doubt Alyssa has a few mana circuits loose, and she seems to be enjoying herself, humming as she plays with your hair, that is, so you simply let yourself relax as much as you can. Strangely, you find yourself almost missing her coarse hands as she lets your hair go. That is before she asks, “May I braid it?”

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>>6130579
Your eyes blink open as you look back at her blank expression. “Why?” You ask. You never put your hair up as a rule. Long flowing hair is a sign of martial strength on the battlefield as it imposes a significant disadvantage to the combatant, so those strong enough to fight on in spite of that may use their dazzling locks as a form of intimidation. That’s not even to mention the fact that it’s scientifically proven that people with long hair look better than people without, and yours is some of the longest, so your beauty is, in fact, backed by the greatest minds in the world.

“It might get uncomfortable in the onsen if it was to freely float around,” She stops and thinks for a moment, “And I would like to try braiding someone else hair as well.”

You hesitate briefly, “You may. The same braid you carry, I assume?”

Her smile comes back as she nods. “My mother taught it to me,” She says as she grabs a brush and starts to untangle your wet hair, “I do not know many others.”

“Your favorite then?”

“Yes,” She says softly, “It is,” She says before she starts to hum the same tune again.

With how gentle Alyssa is, the process is by no means swift, though you will not lie and say it is unpleasant. It’s to the point where halfway through, you feel the need to speak simply as it might start to feel awkward if you don’t, “It makes a rather nice bun, though I’ve never seen this style before. Did your mother invent it?”

“I do not know, but from what I’ve heard of her, that is likely the case.”

“From what you’ve heard?”

You can see her nod in the large wall mirror, “She perished when I was young,” then she hesitates as she puts a pin in your hair to help the braid, “Permission to speak freely?”

You blink. She doesn’t need to ask your permission for that. You aren’t some tyrant, “Granted,” You say, realizing how your speech differs from your inner thoughts.

“My thanks. I often use this braid as a means to remember her. It can take a while to put together every morning. I like to think of her as I do so.”

“My condolences, but that is a rather sweet tale. I appreciate you sharing it.”

“Thank you,” And just like that, she continues to braid in silence. You know for a fact that sometimes you aren’t the best at carrying out a conversation if it does not have explicit goals. Something you feel the other girl also struggles with. But perhaps the silence isn’t bad either.

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>>6130582
You’re hit by a wave of hot air as you enter through the wooden door labeled “Onsen,” and hot steam follows in its wake. Then, when your eyes open, you’re immediately blown away by what you see. D-did you just go outdoors? There seems to be an open hot spring, with three large walls of some sort of barkish plant that looks like unbarked long sticks, and one wall, the wall you entered from, has the exterior of some unfamiliar building with a uniquely tiled roof. But above all those walls is an open night sky with a full moon and a gorgeous view of the stars. Wait, it’s still the afternoon. Night shouldn’t be for many hours in the middle of summer. What sort of spell must have been cast over this underground cavern for the ceiling to appear as such? A relatively well-placed one, seeing as it does indeed do well to make the atmosphere here very palpable. Palpable enough to make you forget you’re sharing this space with naked strangers. Though at least there are the towels- And Alyssa just dropped hers…

You stare, shocked, at her brazen behavior. Then your stare gets a bit more intense as you look at her, almost to the point of leering. Though it’s not what you think! You can’t actually see anything improper on her! A lot of skin, yes, but there’s so much steam from the water all her most personal bits seem to be… hidden? Is that the right word? Then, as a test, you look down at your own wet towel and lift it a bit away from your body. The towel unsticks and then steam. You cannot even see your own privates. Then you stare at the other women here, even the ones submerged, and see that you can’t see a single one of their “parts.” There’s always a piece of steam, a rock, a leaf, a limb, or even a passing bird? How did that get in here? Whatever, that’s beside the point, for you get so caught up in this little test that, completely by accident, mind you, you throw your towel off. And as such, your form is revealed for all present to see/

It is only a second later that you realize just how dramatic you unintentionally made your display as you spy an Inquisitor look from you to her own chest and slowly slink down further into the water with pursed lips. Even if they cannot see your privates, you realize they can see most everything else. Filled with shame, you try to put your towel back on before seeing that Alyssa has already dragged it away to throw in a bin for used ones, and without anything else to do about your little display, you rush into the heated water wish that the water would just swallow you hole as you inch down into its depths.

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>>6130586
But by the time Alyssa comes to the little corner you’ve pushed yourself into, you find you couldn’t care more about what anyone or anything thinks as your body melts. Figuratively, of course, though you do feel a healthy blush on your face from just how hot the stream is, though that in no way affects how relaxing it is. Perhaps it even helps. You’ve taken hot baths before, something only privy to nobles, but this? This is so much better, different, but a whole realm above anything you’ve experienced. You don’t even know how long you’ve sat here, eyes closed and deaf to the world, as all the tension of the last few weeks simply washes off of you. Maybe being here for a week won’t be so bad-

“Oh my god, Lorina, you look so pretty!” Your eyes fly open to the sight of Marie standing before you. How the- What?! When did she?! “Oh, you have Alyssa’s braid too! Can I get one!?” She practically squeals as she looks over to Alyssa’s blank face, who gives a hesitant but not reluctant nod.

As that happens, you get a good look at Marie’s not-so-covered form, except for that ever-present steam, that is. She looks the complete opposite of you in truth, a practical physical foil. Whereas you are tall, she is short, where you are sharp, she is soft, where you are quiet, she is- “This is awesome! It’s been so long since I’ve gone to an Onsen with friends!”- You get the point. There’s even a bit of a splash as she sits down between you and Alyssa. You do not hiss as the hot water splash upon your face. You do not.

“M-marie, when did you get here?” You say as Alyssa dutifully starts to pick at Marie’s black hair.

“Just a moment ago, I didn’t even know you were going to be here,” You stare at her, “Promise!” You shake your head, “Ugh, fine, I just wanted to relax after work,” Then she pauses for a moment, “That’s a strange thing to say, isn’t it? I’m still surprised I even have a job. I for sure thought I was going to become a shut-in after high school. After he went to the same college as- Anyway, how was your meeting?” She seems very eager to change the topic.

But she is no match for your skill! “It was fine. How was the interrogation?” Not even two sentences, and it’s flipped back to her!

She nods, to which Alyssa quietly informs her not to do. She quickly apologizes before replying, “It was fine, kinda funny though. We had to release Maxwell, uh, the human guy, back immediately.”

“That seems strange, why?”

“Eto, apparently, he’s a known worker for Lord Cendre. Was there as a spy for the guy without us even knowing.”

“Is he… allowed to do that? I wouldn’t think the Inquisition would just let Stranger have freedom like that.”

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>>6130587
Marie shrugs, “That’s someone else's job... Probably. Best not to worry about it. Seo-yun’s kinda facing that right now. I vouched for her interrogation, and she seems to have been given a choice between joining the Inquisition and living the rest of her life in house arrest like Johann does. She’s, uh, kinda in shock right now,” You nod, that’s more understandable.

“And what of the slime?”

“He’s staying the night, but Inquisitor Corvus and I are supposed to investigate his little group again tomorrow. I’d tell you more, but,” She trails off.
“But what?”

“Etooo,” Now she looks awkward, “I’m not supposed to tell people not affiliated with my mission the details of it.”

Your brow furrows, “But I am affiliated with it, though?” Then it dawns on you, “Ah, I understand.”

“Sorry,” She says sheepishly as Alyssa brings the first bun together, “I’d probably be fine if I told you, but Inquisitor Corvus said it’d be bad to make any bad habits about loose lips.”

You stare hard for a second. Marie wilts for all but a second before she sees where your eyes are. It’s the steam, of course. How does it just appear when she raises her chest above the water? It’s almost like it spontaneously generates! Ugh, whatever, you sigh and relax back into the water. Enjoying both your company and the warmth.

Though should you so choose, this may be a good time to speak with one of your companions

>Say something to Marie [What?]

>Say something to Alyssa [What?]

>Say something to both [What?]

>Simply rest in the water before it’s time to leave

>[Write-in]

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>>6130590
>Say something to both [What?]
>(various sus relaxation sounds)
>Suddenly a strange bottle full of clear liquid and three small cups float to us in a bucket…

I’m sure I’ll have some actual questions to ask in a bit.

>>6130616
Alright, so here’s a question or two…
>”Are these… Onsen popular in your world, Marie? It’s the first time I’ve been to one.”
>”It makes me wonder if our world is able to influence yours as much as the opposite.”

>>6130648
Actually, I just realized a few more, for both of them…
>”I never would have thought Lord Cendre would have a Stranger on his staff. Do you think my father knew about this?”
>”Would it be possible to sponsor one as a noble? It might be a way for Seo-yun to see if she’d prefer working with us or not.”

>Say something to Marie [What?]
"It is nice sharing this relaxing time with you Marie. I actually missed you a bit."
Mental note : I'll firmly deny ever saying that

>>6130590
Ask about their experiences with boys and share our own

>>6130590
>Boy gossip

>>6130590
>”Are these… Onsen popular in your world, Marie? It’s the first time I’ve been to one.”
>”It makes me wonder if our world is able to influence yours as much as the opposite.”

>>6130590
>Say something to both [What?]
>So where do the all heat and steam come from?
>Boy gossip

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>>6130590
>Say something to Marie [What?]
>”Are these… Onsen popular in your world, Marie? It’s the first time I’ve been to one.”
>"Are my.... assets considered normal in your world?"
>”It makes me wonder if our world is able to influence yours as much as the opposite.”
>So where do the all heat and steam come from?

>>6131432
>"Are my.... assets considered normal in your world?"
Thought you could sneak this one in huh

>>6130590
Voting against the above question

>>6131747
Man, you are just no fun when boobs are involved, are you?

Y’know what? Take this.
>Tell them the tale about why you had to stop taking archery lessons, and how you’re jealous of girls with more petite bodies, including why you think it might be why your fiancée never showed interest in you.

>>6131800
It's no fun for others when you try and force it into everything

>>6131747
I vote against the vote against

>>6130590
Personally I'd like to know a little more about Alyssa. Maybe after a cup or three of >>6130616 to loosen up

>>6131800
Support adding this and others

>>6131833
>reads anime deconstruction/parody quest
>hates anime tropes

>>6130616
>>6130648
>>6130719
>>6130818
>>6130900
>>6131000
>>6131014
>>6131342
>>6131432
>>6131800
Writing

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>>6131432
>>6131747
>>6131800
>>6131833
>>6131850
>>6131894
>>6131933
Anons...

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>>6132313
It comes after a bit of time letting the hot water warm your pours and after a few moans of contentment that it falls from your mouth, “I believe you are correct, Marie, it is rather nice sharing such a relaxing time together,” You eyes are still closed at this moment so you don’t get to see whatever, probably absolutely horrid, face Marie makes as she does a little squeal and tackles you. Tackles you while you are… uh… “Ah! Get off me, you wretch!” You shout as you shove the woman with as much force as you can muster before rapidly splashing hot water in her direction.

Infuriatingly, all she does is giggle and laugh at your reaction, “Oh, come on, Ina! We’re girls, so that kind of thing is allowed in an onsen!”

“Says who?!” You demand.

She looks at you like you’re clearly supposed to know something you don’t, “What, have you seriously never watched an onsen- oh right.”

“Oh, yeah, ‘oh, right’ sure, let me guess a Stranger thing?” You’re smart enough to at least put that together at least. One day, you’ll understand all those small references Asher and Marie make together, and the world will be all the more dangerous for it. You can assure that “Let me guess, this whole contraption is modeled after something popular in your world?”

Marie sheepishly nods, “Specifically from my country as well. They’re trendy relaxing spots, and I think there are a few outside of Japan? I’m not really sure. I never looked into it.”

You look over at her, “Your kingdom is certainly a weird one then,” You say with all the expectation that she’ll disagree.

“Yeah, pretty weird,” Only for her to agree in a heartbeat.

“Would either of you like a drink,” Alyssa randomly chimes in. Somehow, she seems to have acquired a floating disk containing a container of a clear liquid with a rather strong smell and a few cups. Marie makes a muttered remark of not having to be twenty before pouring a cup herself, bringing it to her lips, drinking it down, and having a massive coughing fit where you’re sure plenty is spent spewing into the bath. Then Alyssa drinks it and has no reaction whatsoever, other than her face instantaneously becoming more flush than it already is. You sigh, take a cup, and handle the liquid as a dwarf would. Yes, that is the truth we will go with here. You handle your alcohol well.

“Sso isn’t it soo weird that Lord Cendre has a Stranger as a part of his ssstaff? You think dad knows ’bout that,” There’s no slur in your speech when you’re three cups deep and on your fourth. Anyone or thing that implies otherwise will, from this point forward, meet a grisly demise.

Marie hiccups, “Maybe? I dunno,” Marie says as her eyes trail off to yonder.

“From what I have seen in his records, Maxwell is the architect behind the room we currently occupy. He is known by the Inquisition, who begrudgingly admit they cannot accuse the Lord in the open about his affiliation,” You silently glare at Alyssa for daring to hide her liquor well.

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>>6132361
“Then you think I could do it? Employ a Stranger like maybe that Sex-yoyo girl? Since I’m royal and stuff,” Your prose is the epidemy of grace, as always.

“I apologize, commander, but it is unlikely due to your current status. However, it may be possible for the king or another member of the royal family to do so. The Inquisition only exists in Lindan due to the royal family’s continued approval,” Is it just you, or is she speaking more than usual? Eh, whatever.

“How did Max set this up?” Marie says, “It’s underground. I’ve never seen an underground sauna.”

Again, strangely talkative, Alyssa answers, “According to my understanding, there is a separate room under this one filled with super-heated pipes. The heat comes from magical enchantments and warms up the water to a desirable level before it is pumped into the onsen through small jets like you can see there,” She points to a tiny opening in the side of the bath, “Or through the waterfalls. That water is then recycled back into the pumproom through vents like you can see there,” She points to an opening in the side of the bath, which does seem to be taking in water when you put a hand near it, “Though I may be wrong on the exact specifics, it is just something I have overheard during my time here.”

“Woaw,” Marie says as she just kinda stares at Alyssa and takes another sip.

“And what about the steam that covers everyone's privates? How does that work?” You frantically ask.

Alyssa, the bastard, just gives you a slight, teasing smile, “I’m sorry, commander, I do not know what you mean,” You splash water at her, causing Marie to laugh.

Your mind trails off momentarily as your head rocks, not in a drunkard way, mind you! Before another sentence slips from your lips, “There’s so much strange shit in my world. I wonder if Lindan can influence Earth at all,” You say to no one in particular.

“Isekai is pretty popular nowadays,” Marie says, seemingly thinking your statement over and nodding in agreement, “Maybe?”

“I have no clue what that is.”

“Aw.”

And like that, the topic that may have been of actual importance dies as three drunken girls continue to relax and speak of more important matters. By that, you mean the topic spills over to talking about boys and love. And by that, you mean you rambled about how Herrman and Lyndale are bastards. “Bruh, he fumbled big time! Don’t even worry about him. You’re too good for him!” Marie says as she tries to make you feel better.

“I’m sorry, but I do not have anything I can deem relevant to add to comfort you. But I believe you are right in this situation,” Is Alyssa’s attempt at consoling you.

“No relevant wha-? Alyssa, how old are you?” Marie asks.

“Twenty-six.”

“And have you ever been with a guy?” She continues.

“No.”

“And not like- y’know, have you ever dated a guy?”

“No.”

Marie turns towards you with a look of shock before turning back, “Really?”

“Yes.”

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>>6132362
Then she grasps her face with her hands, “If someone as pretty as you can’t get a boyfriend here, what hope do I have?” She says in drunken despair.

“Wait, didn’t you mention having a boyfriend before?” You ask, “I thought you talked about that back in Ivern.”

She slowly moves her head towards you with pursed lips, “I had a childhood friend who was a boy. Then we went to high school, and a bunch of girls flocked to a plain guy like him for literally no reason. Oh, then the girl who was always mean to him met him under the f- fu- fucking cherry blossom tree!” She’s rambling, “They met under the tree that guarantees a romantic fairy-tale life, Lorina, the cherry blossom tree behind the school! Then they got accepted to the same fucking college!”

“And that is bad, I take it? The man you courted got taken by another woman, too?” You say in a manner like you’ve found a fellow sister-in-hardship.

“Yeah, kinda! Even after he came over and watched all those foreign movies with me!” She looks on the verge of tears, “Dammit, why doesn’t the childhood friend ever fucking win!” For some reason, you see another Inquisitor, an older one, look over at Marie’s yelling with a nod of understanding(?) What the hell. You sigh and rub Marie’s back as you look towards Alyssa.

“Did you ever have affections for someone at least?” It might be best to change the topic away from Marie for a while.

“I believe I had affections similar to what one might consider a crush in my youth when Beneger brought me and Asher to the Demon Wastes. However, the one time I acted upon this, he said I was just a kid and I’d grow out of it. Then, after our time in the wastes, he seemed to have forgotten about me due to overuse of his Cheat Skill during said time.”

You understood there was something about the two of them before with how Alyssa acted around him, but that is much more laid out for you, though it does leave you with a question, “Did you outgrow your feelings?” She just stares at you for a long time before helplessly shrugging.

“I have not communicated with other males in a non-professional capacity since. Most not even close to my age either.”

“That’s kinda sad,” Marie says as she scoots to put her back to a stone, “Sorry about that,” She says to Alyssa before looking over towards you, towards a specific part of you, in fact, “Lorina, why are your boobs so big?”

“I-i beg your pardon?”

“They’re like pornstar tier. I don’t think I’ve seen a girl IRL who had some those big. Well, maybe except the class president,” You stare at her, slack-jawed, “Hey, can I touch them-”

She again received a face full of hot water.

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>>6132367
From there, nothing of value or logic is said in that onsen. Not by the three of you, anyway. Your topics derail from the every-important one of what size cup is best to more mundane ones like archery, your ex-fiancee (again), if Alyssa can redo Marie’s braid once you’re all done washing your hair, what things Marie wants to show you as your stuck here for a week, before finally the three of you stumble back into the cold hallway fully clothed and ready to do something else. Just what that is, though, seems up to you. It’s not like Alyssa or Marie have any pressing matters at the moment.

>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want

>You want to talk to someone in the Cathedral [Who and what do you say?]

>You wish to head to your room and rest

>[Write-in]

Note: heading to your room and resting will end Lorina’s PoV and Asher’s mission in Ivern with start

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>>6132368
>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want
>Ask the librarian to tell you what a porn is, and why and how stars are involved with it...

>>6132394
+1

>>6132394
+1
"Is a porn star a kind of astrological sign?"

>>6132368
>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want
Thanks for handling that ridiculousness well OP

>>6132394
Supporting

>>6132368
>>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want

>>6132368
>>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want

And as we settle down to read them the alcohol hits us and we fall almost immediately to sleep, switching to Asher Nonames perspective

>>6132368
>You go to the archives to receive the documents you want

>>6132394
Nice pic

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>>6134090

>>6132394
>>6132593
>>6132708
>>6132739
>>6132788
>>6132970
>>6133175
>>6133179
Writing.