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Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View, i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
" " = System and when talking to it.
「 」 = Thoughts being heard
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--- Mary Skelter: Nightmares, Downtown ---
Entering the area for the first time, Lumine and Otsuu marvel at the sight.
The area was filled with neon signs of yellow, green, and red, reminiscent of a bustling city. The streets were paved with golden yellow bricks. Many signs featured shoes, and pumpkin-shaped neon decorations were strewn about. The area was littered with garbage and seemed grimy.
Otsuu: Lumine, be careful. I can feel that the Marchens here are stronger than the ones at City Streets.
Lumine: I will. You too, Otsuu.
Otsuu: Um.
The blonde then took out her sword to prepare for anything that would come for them.
Otsuu: So, what are the requests?
Lumine: There are three of them. The first is to eliminate some kind of heels like Marchens. The strength of these Marchens is not that great. But because their size is only as big as women's shoes, these Marchens can hide among the garbage and low-light areas before ambushing out of nowhere.
The Traveler spoke while taking out the paper and pointing at the request. Otsuu came closer and read it, too.
Otsuu: While their strength was low, they attacked in groups. No wonder humans find it difficult to kill or run away from them.
Lumine: Yeah. But that's not an issue for us. Thanks to our sharp senses, their surprise attack will be pointless.
Otsuu: Yup… The second request is… corpses. Huh.
Lumine: Hmm. If I am not wrong, the Jail used its mimicry to turn humans who died here into some kind of corpse-like Marchens.
Otsuu: In that case, after turning them to Marchens, the physical limit placed on their body must be removed, increasing their strength further.
Lumine: I also think so. That explains why these Marchens could chase after the humans even if they ran first thing after seeing them and soon caught them.
Then the blonde put her index finger and thumb on her chin, put a thoughtful expression.
Lumine: These Marchens must be why this area is not explored much compared to City Streets. Only the lucky one reached the second floor.
Otsuu: And even luckier one returned alive from there.
Lumine: Yes. The last ones must be those who put in the third request.
Otsuu: Hmm… Some kinds of two-legged, horse-faced Marchens are creating havoc. They are on Floor 2.
Lumine: Yeah.
Nodding, she put the slip away.
Lumine: Let's go with one step at a time. After all, this is uncharted territory for us. Who knows, there might be something that can pose a threat to us. Hence, we should be cautious.
Otsuu: I know. Though I am more inclined toward the nightmare. Presumably, Marchens are stronger here; the same must be valid for Nightmare.
Lumine: Can't agree more.
Next, they started exploring this new area for the first time. They didn't see any enemy for a while, even after venturing deeper. But then, when they were about to pass by an alley, both stopped.
They exchanged glances and nodded before slowly stepping back. They then detoured, reached the other side of the alley, and entered.
When they were about to reach its end, they finally saw the Marchens hiding, waiting to ambush anyone who passed by.
These marchens looked like ladies' heels with teeth coming from the sides, a tongue from the front, and an eye in the middle.
'Lumine: Imp's heel.'
Otsuu: Those must be our target.
The bamboo woman whispered.
Lumine: They are. Let's kill them fast.
With that, the Traveler charged. The Imp's heels still didn't realize their executioner was coming from behind.
SWOOSH!!
Reaching them, the blonde moved her sword, killing three of them instantly. But she didn't stop and slashed two more times, killing six more.
Otsuu also followed behind and attacked with her tentacle-like vines. Because there were many vines, she was able to kill twelve of them instantly, completely surpassing Lumine's deed of killing nine in three slashes.
Still, this wasn't the time to compete with each other. They didn't stop and continued attacking.
By the time the other Imp's heel turned to look at the perpetrator, both girls had finished killing almost all of them in a second. Now, only two were left. They were also killed before they could make their move.
Still, even in their last moment, these Imp's heel would have never imagined that there would be a day someone would ambush them as they did to others.
Lumine: That was easy.
Otsuu: Well, these Marchens were just too weak… By the way, how many do we need to kill according to the request?
Lumine: 70.
Otsuu: If we count the number now, we have killed 43. That means 27 more to go.
Lumine: ...….
Otsuu: Lumine?
Noticing how the girl suddenly became silent, Otsuu turned to look at her, deep in thought. When the bamboo girl shook her lightly, she snapped out of her thoughts.
Lumine: Ah. Sorry, I was thinking about something.
Otsuu: Is something the matter?
Lumine: .... Otsuu, did you notice something strange?
Otsuu: Strange?
Lumine: Yeah. We have been exploring this floor for quite some time, but it was only now that we encountered Marchens. On City Streets, we faced them at almost every turn.
Hearing the Traveler's words, the Bamboo Nightmare thought about it.
Otsuu: This explains why I saw the pieces of Marchens among the garbage around.
Lumine: Eh?
Putting a solemn expression, Otsuu faced Lumine and spoke.
Otsuu: As a Nightmare, I can sense Marchens energy more clearly than humans. Hence, while walking around, I noticed some parts of Marchens littering around the area. At first, I didn't give it much thought, but now that I think about it, when Marchen is killed, and its corpse is lying around, it is absorbed by Jail. Yet, those parts didn't, this means….
Lumine: That those marchens had been killed recently.
Otsuu: Yes.
Lumine: ...…. How much time does Jail take before it starts absorbing them?
Otsuu: One day.
Lumine: ...…I see.
'Lumine: So, someone or something or some people must have been killing these Marchens not too long ago. But who are they?'
Otsuu: If you are worried, we can leave.
Shaking her head, she denied it.
Lumine: No need. Let's continue.
After that, they checked the floor more. As expected, they didn't find any Marchen until they checked every corner.
SHIN!
With one more slash, the Imp's heel cut into two and died.
Otsuu: That's the last one of them.
Letting out a sigh of relief, the blonde put her sword away.
Lumine: At the very least, we complete the first request.
Otsuu: True.
Chucking, she continued.
Otsuu: Though I never thought, one day in my life, I would find it frustrating not being able to find Marchen instead of running away from them.
Lumine: Heh. Life really is full of ups and downs.
Otsuu: Yup.
They then looked at each other and smiled.
Otsuu: Since all the Marchens here are dead, should we proceed to the next floor?
Lumine: Yes.
They had already found the stairs leading to the next floor. However, they didn't go there because Imp's Heel can only be found on Floor 1. As for the floors beyond Floor 2, sorry, no one reached that far yet.
Finally, they entered the next one.
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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
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