|
|
Location: Corridor of the Pinky Nursefather |
Rufo |
Gah… |
|
Ryōshū |
See? You're already looking much better with those superfluous animal parts removed. |
| Rufo |
You're… serious about founding your own movement…! |
| Ryōshū |
I already answered that. |
| Rufo |
…But you'll need time. Under the Fauvists' wing, at least until you can fully cultivate your movement, perhaps— |
| Rufo |
…I don't suppose words have any meaning now. |
|
|
The Docent raised her giant arm as though to strike us in her final act of defiance… then slammed it down upon the door we entered through instead. |
| Rufo |
All I can do is… buy time… for… |
|
Mid-sentence, the Docent suddenly went limp like a marionette whose strings were cut. |
|
| Ryōshū |
…Dead. And here I thought at least her last words were going to be succinct. |
|
— |
|
Location: ??? |
|
Rufo's POV |
|
… |
|
… |
|
Goodness. Why did I never use my needlework to… reduce the buoyancy located within my chest region…? |
|
A reduction of some sort… would've made my collapse a little less painful. |
|
… |
|
Hold on a moment. Did I not perish just now? How am I able to still communicate my thoughts internally? |
|
Let me just… try to see if my mask is still on. |
|
… |
|
I'm alive. |
|
How in the world am I alive? I felt my death blow at the hands of that aspiring Maestro mere moments ago… |
|
Did she revive me…? Is she going to use my corpus for art like that insignificant Nursefather who raised her? |
|
…Wait, no. Hang on. It would appear as if all my damage has been… magically reverted. |
|
I take my mask off for the moment, mainly to look at myself. |
|
No cuts, no lacerations… I am truly healed. But how? |
|
As I stand, I can see that I have landed in a truly unfamiliar area of the City to mineself. |
|
… |
Rufo |
Where… |
| Rufo |
Where am I? |
Carmen |
Where, where, where… Such an interesting question to ask. |
| Carmen |
But have you ever considered asking who you are instead? |
| Rufo |
If this is one of those pseudo-intellectual Index seminars, I am not entertaining it. |
| Carmen |
Relax, relax~! I'm nothing like those nutjobs. |
| Carmen |
...Although… the person walking up to you now might know a thing or two about following orders. |
| Rufo |
What in the world are you talking abou- |
|
LCB Sinner Faust |
Ring Fauvist Docent Rufo. |
| Rufo |
Gah! |
| Rufo |
…You… You're that aspirant Maestro, Yoshihide's ally from before! |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Correct. Though this "ally" has a name. It is Faust. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Please save your shock and awe for another time. Faust has preparations to make for Limbus Company's next mission. |
| Rufo |
And… what makes you think an artist like myself would miss out on an opportunity to fell you here and now? |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
The fact that even if you did so, such an action would not matter. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
But this is an explanation that will be supplied to you with time. Come. I must take you to the Hana Association. |
| Rufo |
The Hana Association…? What for? |
|
But even before she gave me an answer, she started walking. |
|
…I, obviously, felt compelled to follow. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
In your mind, I can almost guarantee you were thinking to yourself about how you had managed to avoid perishing in our scuffle a few days ago. You had not. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
You did, in fact, die. But you are also alive. These are two truths… Another Faust may say this is doublethink. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
The reason why you are currently feeling as though you have survived is that you are embedded, in a sense, into the Will of the City. |
| Rufo |
…I-I said I was not entertaining Index pseudo-intellectualism. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Just… allow me to explain as we walk. It is not what you think. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
You are within what is known as the Refracted Rainbow™. It is the facet of the City held within its own Mirror World that exists as… a hub of sorts. One might say it is a Gesellschaft of worlds. |
| Rufo |
… |
| Rufo |
You are saying a lot of terms that someone of my caliber would not readily understand without an underlying context. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Let me try to simplify. You have Corridors, yes? |
| Rufo |
Yes. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Imagine Corridors. But with alternative universes. |
| Rufo |
What…? |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
It is somewhat confusing for Faust as well; do not mind your lack of understanding. The best way to grasp it is that something within the City can cause all of these separate worlds from the one you and I come from to co-exist, and this variation of the City you are in now is tied to that meeting place. It is the central hub. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
You died in our Mirror World, but due to something known as your "metadata," you exist within this world, readily able to be interacted with as if you had not perished. |
| Rufo |
Metadata… |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Imagine, if you will, a canvas you were clearing to start a new art project on top of it. Now, pretend you forgot to erase one spot of that former project. That spot is now you. |
| Rufo |
Mmm… But if one preserves an animal and then takes it away from its home, would that animal truly count as the same animal? |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
You have your memories, yes? |
| Rufo |
Well, yes, however- |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Then, for the sake of simplicity, let us both consider you as the original Rufo from the LCB Mirror World and not ask questions. |
| Rufo |
Fair enough. |
| Rufo |
What exactly are you escorting me to the Hana Association for? |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Your societal designation. |
| Rufo |
What? |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Given your moveset when I had first fought you with the LCB, it is clear that you will most likely become an Honorary Member of  Bleed Society, but the paperwork is a necessary part of the process. |
| Rufo |
Hold on a minute. Just what in the name of- |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Ah. Right. Faust had forgotten to explain that. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Within this central hub, the Head has deemed it appropriate to separate the City into seven distinct sections, all named after the Status one would appropriately apply in combat. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
The societies are all appropriately named based on the seven main status effects every citizen can apply either to themselves, allies, or enemies, those being Bleed,  Burn,  Tremor,  Rupture,  Poise,  Sinking, and  Charge. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
Because you have the designation of a "Boss" within your metadata, you will be given an honorary membership rather than a full-fledged membership. This would essentially give you the rights to pop in whenever you feel the need to and otherwise not be too overencumbered with societal affairs. |
| Rufo |
I'm sorry, I don't think I've understood any of what you just said. |
| LCB Sinner Faust |
The Hana Association will help take care of that. Han-ul, if you may? |
| Rufo |
What? |
Han-ul |
Right this way, ma'am. |
| Rufo |
What??? |
|
Location: Hana Association North Building, Orientation Room |
| Han-ul |
Aaaaand… you should be all set. |
|
| Han-ul |
With that Honorary Member card, you should have citizenship within any designated Bleed Society areas as well as a dual-citizenship clause allowing you to roam anywhere designated as Sinking. |
| Han-ul |
Glad you're not one of those Pointilists, for the record. After that whole Ring Yi Sang incident, we keep getting them trying to claim they're every Society at once, and it's all some bureaucratic bullshit I really do not have time to sort out. |
| Rufo |
…So… this City is organized in the same way the Ring is. |
| Rufo |
Multiple schools of thought all trying to prove their superiority… |
|
Somehow, I think I'll feel right at home. |
| Han-ul |
Yep. It shouldn't be anything too strange considering what you were already going through in your previous life. Any questions? |
| Rufo |
Well, firstly, I- |
|
But before I could even say anything, I was whisked away. |
| Han-ul |
…Hmm. |
| Han-ul |
Faust must not have explained to her what having Boss metadata means. |
| Han-ul |
She's in for a rude awakening… |
|
Location: Corridor of the Pinky Nursefather |
| Rufo |
I think I need a run-down on- |
| Rufo |
…What the fuck. |
Dante |
<Yeah, uh, hi.> |
The House of Spiders: The Ring Nursefather Hong Lu |
Dante says hello~ |
| Rufo |
Hello??? |
| Rufo |
…Did you all not already kill me? |
| Dante |
<Yeah?> |
| The House of Spiders: The Ring Nursefather Hong Lu |
Mhm~! |
| Rufo |
Then… then how am I here…? |
| Rufo |
Is that the Corporist Nursefather from the House of Spiders??? |
| Dante |
<Technically, yes and no. Sorry for this. I need event currency.> |
| Rufo |
What is going on?! |
|
About ten minutes of battle later… |
|
Location: Hana Association North Building, Orientation Room |
| Han-ul |
Ah. Welcome back. |
| Rufo |
… |
| Rufo |
What in the fuck just happened? |
| Han-ul |
Your Boss metadata allows for that Manager from LCB to repeatedly fight you with their Sinners as if you had never died to begin with. Constant problem I keep seeing pop up nowadays. |
| Han-ul |
No worries, you're not the first person that's happened to. …Probably won't be the last. |
| Han-ul |
Here. Why don't I give you this extra card just in case? |
|
The Hana Association member, Han-ul, then handed me a business card for a place known as… Antagonists Anonymous. |
| Han-ul |
It's where people with Boss metadata group up, mainly to complain about their circumstances. |
| Han-ul |
They'll be able to understand your situation better than most others. |
| Rufo |
Uh… okay. |
|
But the moment I attempted to leave the office, I was whisked away again. |
| Han-ul |
…Again? Dante typically doesn't usually- Ohhhh, right… She's part of a Detour Tale. In an Intervallo, specifically. |
| Han-ul |
And she's a currency-farming enemy… Mmm. She is not going to like life for a short while. |
|
A few hours of battling later… |
|
Location: Antagonists Anonymous Building, Outside |
|
My goddamn bones feel like they've been stuffed into an automanikin. |
|
This whole thing is maddening… alive and dead in the same instance. "Metadata." "Societies." What even IS a Bleed Society? |
|
…Well, at least I have arrived at the place that was being referred to me. |
|
Antagonists Anonymous, huh? …I would like to consider myself the protagonist of my own story, personally, as I assume everyone would. |
|
But this is not my story, is it? I appear to be on someone else's canvas entirely. |
|
And if I'm painting on someone else's canvas, that means having to learn all the restrictions… I'm a student of the game all over again. |
|
…Much like everyone else who is in this building, then. |
|
Time to see what the deal is. |
|
Location: Antagonists Anonymous Front Desk |
| Rufo |
…Uh, excuse me. |
| Rufo |
I was referred to here by the Hana Association. |
| AA Receptionist |
Ah, yes, you're the 15:00 that was expected today. A little early, but that's okay. Miss Rufo, yes? |
| AA Receptionist |
…Jesus Christ. |
| Rufo |
Yes, yes, I am very much aware. "Bigger than my head" and all that. Where's the meeting? |
| AA Receptionist |
R-Right, sorry! After I get you properly checked in, you'll want to take a left, walk down the hallway, and keep going until you see a door on the right to the meeting room. |
| Rufo |
Understood. Thank you. |
| Rufo |
…Please stop looking down. |
| AA Receptionist |
S-Sorry, sorry! |
|
Once I got that bastard receptionist to focus, I was signed in without much fanfare. |
|
And then, I found the meeting room. |
|
Now, I'm not sure what I expected when I got there, but… |
|
Location: Antagonists Anonymous Meeting Room |
Rien |
…Ah. A new Prescript has arrived. |
| Rien |
"Upon finding the new member of Antagonists Anonymous, greet them by saying-"... Hermes, I'm not doing that. I'll take the  Karmic Consequence; I do not care. I am not- There is a limit to what I will do to appease you, Hermes. |
Lei Heng |
Aw, c'mon, maskface! Hwat could that there beeper have told ya to do now? |
| Rien |
You remember when everyone thought you were a misogynist after Hong Lu's turn? |
| Lei Heng |
Yeah? |
| Rien |
That, but actually. |
| Lei Heng |
It couldn't have been that bad… could it? |
Zilu |
So… a new face has come to greet this cabal of mismatched buffoonery. |
| Rufo |
… |
|
|
This group is already quite strange. |
|
From the looks of things, I can see one of those aforementioned Index nutjobs. Then, I see a member of the Thumb alongside a member of the Middle. |
|
The rest of these people have barely any significance to me, though. |
| Zilu |
Are you going to introduce yourself already? Or should we just assume your reputation speaks for itself, given your status as a Fauvist? |
| Rufo |
…So my name precedes me. |
| Zilu |
At least within business regarding the Five Fingers. |
| Rufo |
I would assume you're from the Pinky, then? |
| Zilu |
…Mmm. Not an inaccurate prediction. However, you are changing the subject. |
| Rufo |
Right. Myself. |
| Rufo |
I… am Rufo. A Docent of Le Fauvisme, with my Maestro being Émile Benoît. I am here because I was given designations that do not make sense to me, and I was referred to this place for more information as to why. |
Erlking Heathcliff |
Bloody hell… Another Finger loon. Just what this place needed. |
Ricardo |
Hey, I do NOT wanna hear you talking about lunatics, mister "there's a white woman speaking to me that no one else can see." |
Ahab |
That woman is REAL, I tell you! I told her to fuck off! |
Dongbaek |
I've also told her to fuck off. |
Jia Mu |
I… most likely should have done the same, in hindsight. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
I do not know how many times I have to tell you bloody jackasses, this is a DIFFERENT white woman than that one! |
| Rufo |
… |
| Rufo |
Can one of you tell me why this group exists? |
| Rien |
Allow me. |
| Rien |
As I have the Will of the City in my ear at all times, when I had unfortunately perished, Hermes had immediately gotten to telling me the secrets of this new world we all inhabit. You see- |
| Rufo |
Please, for the love of all that is holy, anyone but him. |
| Rien |
Why? |
| Lei Heng |
Awright, so, want the short or the long answer? |
| Rufo |
Either. |
| Lei Heng |
This here organization's a mental health center. |
| Lei Heng |
We're all here 'cause we suffer from a condition Rien's dubbed "Temporal Retribution" or some shit like that. Lemme see what he's outlined in these here handy dandy notes… |
| Lei Heng |
Where is it… Ah! There ya are! So- |
|
But before he could say anything, he, like myself before, was whisked away. |
| Rien |
… |
| Rien |
It would seem that the Manager has found new Identities within the Mirror to utilize. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Poor bastard… Always him first every time, without fail. |
| Rufo |
That… That happened to me as well! |
| Rufo |
Are you saying this condition is not just one I have been cursed to suffer alone? |
| Dongbaek |
It happens… to all of us. |
| Dongbaek |
One moment, we are minding our own business. The next? Jumped… by that company. Over and over and over. I was the first of many. |
| Zilu |
All those with Boss metadata are plagued with the curse of Temporal Retribution, never truly allowed a moment of peace. |
| Zilu |
If I had not gone with the plan of exposing Shi Yihua the way my master wanted, perhaps I would not have to be tied to this… arrogant Big Brother of the Middle. |
| Ricardo |
Hey, how do you think I feel? I'm technically doing twice the amount of shifts most of you bums are. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Try three times the amount… |
| Rufo |
What is this… Temporal Retribution… that you all are referring to? |
| Rien |
Allow me to check your metadata first, Miss Rufo. This will not take long, I assure you. |
| Rufo |
Uh… okay? |
|
BEEP. |
| Rien |
Let me see here… 9.5-12. |
| Rufo |
Huh? What is the meaning of those random numbers? |
| Rien |
I am getting to that. Don't worry. |
| Rien |
9.5-12… The node known as S.A.N.G.R.I.A. This is the fight you are tied to, and this is also the fight you will perpetually return to every time the Sinners call on you. That is, unless they happen to encounter you within a Mirror Dungeon, in which you would be sent to the Twining Threads pack. |
| Rien |
Difficulty Level 60, much like myself. It costs two Enkephalin modules to enter your node. The EX Objective is "Clear Stage." |
| Rufo |
… |
|
| Ricardo |
For the record, I dunno how he's able to do any of that shit either. Index motherfuckers, I swear… |
| Rien |
Faction Keywords are "The Ring", "School of Fauvism", "The Fingers", and "Docent". Your starting health is 2,447. Your one and only Stagger Threshold is reached at around 75% of your HP. You have a speed range of 2-4. You have a defense Level of 69. |
| Rien |
All of your attacks on both of your phases are Blunt-focused, and they provide a lot of Bleed and Sinking application. |
| Rufo |
This has not explained a single thing. |
| Rien |
What I am trying to explain to you is that your existence, your very being, is tied to the will of this manufactured world. A "game," one might call it. |
| Rien |
This world is but a facsimile of the wider simulation of existence we have all been created to serve. And we… are the obstacles within that simulation. The Bosses. |
| Rien |
The Antagonists. |
| Rien |
Following so far? |
| Rufo |
I… I suppose. |
|
I take a seat on the empty chair that was presumably left for me. |
| Rien |
Since you have the same condition as us, this must mean you have a story tied to you as to how you got here. Would you like to say what it is? |
| Rufo |
I, uh… |
| Rien |
Do not be too alarmed. We all have a similar story. |
| Rufo |
…Well… |
| Rufo |
My Maestro and I were looking to retrieve the woman the House of Spiders had turned into the ultimate weapon. The one who had fully mastered the Arayashiki. |
| Rien |
…My daughter. |
| Rufo |
Ah. So you are the Index Nursefather I've heard about… Interesting coincidence. |
| Rufo |
The retrieval of her was a secondary goal for the students, in fairness. We had also been looking to poach the artwork of Callisto, the deceased Ring Nursefather. Talentless hack, in my mind, but his daughter… your daughter… for that house's standards, she is truly a marvel. |
| Rufo |
Upon making my way to what I believe is the former Corridor of the Pinky Nursefather, I found myself face-to-face with the individual in question, Yoshihide, and her allies within Limbus Company. |
| Rufo |
I had approached Yoshihide with a simple, humble request. The request to escort her to our gallery. I had even suggested to her that, through the School of Fauvism, she could be elevated. Guided into a higher calling, perhaps founding her own school of art within the Ring. |
| Rufo |
She had declined… so by then, the only appropriate option was retrieving her by force. |
| Ricardo |
Heh. And I'm gonna guess that shit didn't end well at all, did it? |
| Rufo |
…You would be correct. |
| Rufo |
I had fallen. Before I had fully passed away, however, I can say I did cut off their only exit. |
| Rien |
They found a way out eventually. |
| Rufo |
As expected… |
| Ricardo |
I keep telling you people, the only way we're gonna get these idiots to shut up once and for all is through me. |
| Rufo |
I would like to note that they mentioned I was around the power level of a Big Sibling of the Middle. …Which, judging by your gaudy attire, would mean I'm around where you are. |
| Rufo |
If they dispatched me without much struggle, how do you think you're gonna do? |
| Ricardo |
GAUDY? How fuckin' dare you! |
| Ricardo |
Walkin' around in a damn fursuit, and you're the one calling me gaudy?! I'll write your ass up for that! |
| Rien |
Ahhh… Bleed Society on Bleed Society violence… Never gets old. |
|
The door opens once more, and I look behind me to see what looks to be a swordsman with a bamboo hat walking in. |
| Rien |
And speaking of Bleed Society… |
| Rien |
I suppose the Sinners had encountered you in the Mirror Dungeons recently, Bamboo-hatted Kim? |
Bamboo-hatted Kim |
Mmmph… |
|
The swordsman sat across from me. |
|
That hat… |
| Rufo |
If I may ask, Mister Kim, you wouldn't happen to be related to those… Heishou individuals from Hongyuan, would you? |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
…Somehow, you are not the first to ask this question. |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
The home I belong to is of the Blade Lineage. And technically speaking, that home is located within Limbus Company for now. |
| Rufo |
Ah. Fair enough. |
| Zilu |
… |
| Rufo |
Something the matter? |
| Zilu |
Nothing in particular. I've just noticed that you said the word "Heishou" with a certain disdain. |
| Rufo |
Truth be told, I find the technology itself splendid, but it really doesn't seem to offer anything close to a merit beyond the motif drawn from it. |
| Zilu |
Right. As if your art somehow captures the ferocity of an animal better. |
| Rufo |
Oh? Have I perhaps struck a nerve with you? |
| Ricardo |
Ladies, ladies! Calm it down a bit… You're both lame compared to the Middle anyway. |
| Jia Mu |
Actually, no. Continue. I would like to take in the criticism of my prized Boluses. |
| Jia Mu |
I doubt some Ring charlatan would even know the genetic makeup that goes into priming the perfect beast to protect Hongyuan's borders… They just see warriors in fancy hats and call it passe without understanding the inner workings. |
| Jia Mu |
That is why, amongst every single Jia Baoyu I've had the displeasure of meeting due to this wormhole of a world, my favorite is undoubtedly The Lord of Hongyuan. His audacity astounds me… but it also interests me. |
| Jia Mu |
He reminds me of a younger me. |
| Zilu |
He'd most likely strike you down if he knew you said that. |
| Lei Heng |
…FUCK. |
| Rien |
Ah. Lei Heng has returned to us. |
| Ricardo |
…The hell happened to you, bro? |
| Lei Heng |
Take a gooooooood guess! |
| Zilu |
Mmm… Wei Don's  Shattermark, Shi Faust's  Lodged Arrow, the  Corpus Theater status of Ring Hong Lu,  Concussion from Wu Yi Sang,  Embers from Faust's Ardor Blossom Moth E.G.O,  Faint Aroma from FAAShu,  La Mancha Parade from Prince Meursault, and  Charged Sting from AEDD Gregor. |
| Rien |
Ring Hong Lu, hmm…? |
| Lei Heng |
I got about fifteen different voices in my head, and they're all tellin' me to fuckin' kill that clock the next time I see 'em! |
| Lei Heng |
Gosh motherfuckin' darn… |
| Lei Heng |
Well, at least- |
|
…He's gone again. |
| Rien |
Wow. Twice in a row? |
| Ricardo |
What, did that Clockhead really need to let off steam or something? |
| Rufo |
Okay, look, if we're done with the side commentary… I have a question. |
| Rufo |
The one in the golden chains mentions that if we want to stop those Sinners, it would be up to him. That implies he is currently alive. |
| Rufo |
How exactly is he here, then? I was under the impression this was meant to be a City facsimile. I am but a mere preservation of my original self. |
| Rufo |
I imagine some of you are the same, so… how is he here as his alive self? |
| Ricardo |
You'd be surprised by the type of shit you can stumble into when you're using tech in the City nowadays… |
| Ricardo |
The first time I got transported back to that fight with those coupon thieves, I didn't even know what the hell happened. I was knocked the hell out, and before I knew it, it was like I was goin' through the same shit all over again… |
| Ricardo |
Not that I minded. Wasn't like they were ever gonna beat me. |
| Ricardo |
I had Werner try to figure out why. We found a Backdoor, we got to this City replica, and we kicked some serious ass for a few hours. They let us be Honorary Members of Bleed Society without even filing paperwork after that. |
| Ahab |
I, too, had found myself within this devious Rainbow of the Refracted not too long after the sinking of the Pallid Whale by Ishmael and her crew! |
| Ahab |
Though for myself, it was due to the generous Director Hermann. That woman… she has way more understanding of Mirror technology than I will ever hope to have. Complete madness, all these gadgets. |
| Ahab |
The only thing I wish to master is the open sea! …And, hopefully, a way to KILL Ishmael once and for all! |
| Ahab |
I have no idea why I must keep facing her over and over again, in all of these different forms of hers. |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
I end up in a deep sleep within my holding chamber… and then, I wake up as if nothing happened. |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
It is the same dream every time. My form Distorting and the Sinners being there to stop me over and over on a loop. Hohenheim had then told me about this world after the same phenomenon happened to him. |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
If the same thing happens to Ricardo… it must be easy to assume it happens to all of those who are alive. |
| Zilu |
An excellent theory… Master Qiu and I feel this same phenomenon happening from time to time. It is like we lose all control over our host bodies and get sent into these replicas… |
| Rufo |
So… for those who have perished, their "metadata" is accessed, embedded into this City facsimile, and then sent here to live here. |
| Rufo |
But for those who are alive, they actively have to seek this place out in order to come here. Otherwise, this world just has the power to put them in a deep sleep in their host world, access their metadata anyway, and create some sort of temporary host body for the Sinners to fight against. |
| Ricardo |
That's what it is, ain't it! Some weird R Corp. clone bullshit! |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
It's almost like the powers I possess through the Wild Hunt… but on a molecular level. That is evil. |
| Rien |
An intriguing way of looking at it for sure. Second chance for some, forceful invasion of privacy for others… Truly, this Refracted Rainbow™ is quite the interesting boon. |
| Rien |
Well, given that I promised as such, I suppose I will start with how I got here in terms of similar stories, Miss Rufo. |
| Rien |
I am Rien. Index Nursefather of the House of Spiders. Much like you, I was also struck down by my sweetheart, Yoshihide. It was minutes after she had finally mastered the blade of Arayashiki. |
| Rien |
Her daughter… somehow, I get the feeling she seemed to have brought her back from the brink of nothingness. Which makes sense. She was always that one thread keeping Yoshihide from being separated from us when she left. |
| Dongbaek |
Being struck down by those closest to you is… a humbling feeling, for sure. |
| Dongbaek |
My name is Dongbaek. I was the leader of a section of the Technology Liberation Alliance… Yi Sang was partially the reason for my demise… though I do not blame him for such a sorrowful fate I had cast upon myself in my pursuit of revenge against a former fellow. |
| Dongbaek |
If anything, I blame that traitor, Dongrang, for this suffering I have been placed in… That utter benign fool. To believe he could do something like that without suffering any form of consequences is a form of arrogance I've never seen from an otherwise brilliant mind before. |
| Ricardo |
Name's Ricardo. As you appropriately guessed, I'm a Big Brother of the Middle. Those weirdos found me when they were trying to find that old captain over there. |
| Ricardo |
British jackass stole my coupons. Used to think that Wild Hobo over there was the result of that, but he's an entirely different British jackass. |
| Ricardo |
Then they found me again while I was interrupting their fight with the bunny over there. I think they're just trying to cope with the fact that they haven't beaten me yet every time I get summoned to fight 'em again. |
| Ahab |
I am Captain Ahab, the fearless leader of The Pequod! When I had faced that treacherous crew of Limbus Company, I had found myself and my crew facing off against them in combat within the stomach of my most vile enemy, the Pallid Whale… |
| Ahab |
My goal? The heart of the whale, of course! I couldn't care less about that Golden Bough it had swallowed. I just wished to be the one to tear its heart out with my harpoon so I could STOMP ON IT! |
| Ahab |
But that Ishmael… the fault has always, now and forever, lied with her! When she could've given me the death she was wishing for, that damn Manager pulled her out of it and convinced her to steal my kill out from under me! |
| Ahab |
Since then, every time I happen to meet her within these Dungeons created by the Mirror, even if it does not permanently kill her, I LOOK TO TAKE HER HEAD EVERY CHANCE I GET! |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Aye. I do the same to Heathcliff every time I see the bastard. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
…Speakin' of, I suppose I am that bastard. Heathcliff, anyway. A version of him, one might say. The Mirror brought me, too… in a well-crafted plan by N Corp. and my nanny, Nelly. I got to kill Heathcliffs across every Mirror World; they got a Golden Bough. Fair trade. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
I believed it was my responsibility to kill Heathcliff because he was making my beloved, OUR beloved, unhappy. |
|
■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ |
Come now, Heathcliff… You and I both know it was more than just that which made you want to do it in the first place. It was also for petty revenge over Wuthering Heights, was it not? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
YOU DO NOT GET TO SIMPLIFY MY QUEST INTO PETTY REVENGE, CATHERINE! |
| Rufo |
…Who? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
DAMN IT ALL! |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
…My name is Bamboo-hatted Kim. I had already alluded to my circumstances, but for a fuller picture, the Sinners had actually dragged me out of Distortion territory. |
| Bamboo-hatted Kim |
I believe it had something to do with a… Monolith device…? |
| Zilu |
I am Zilu, the Tianjiu Star of the Pinky. As Ricardo had previously stated, my fate is tied to his. I was acting under the orders of Shi Yihua. |
| Zilu |
Though sometimes, I am also brought back to the time of the Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluations… when Jia Baoyu was being tested by Kong Qiu. |
| Jia Mu |
Formerly known as Shi Miyin, I am better known as Jia Mu… the last Hierarch of Hongyuan before Xichun took my place. I am similarly brought back to the time period of the Family Hierarch Evaluations… namely, when the precious jade and his allies decided to strike me down after the evaluations had ended. |
| Jia Mu |
Though due to my… unique… state of living at the moment, I suppose this Mirror World's rules have considered me already dead and given me back my form when I was still the Hierarch. |
| Rien |
There are more of us. People who come and go. Membership is quite open within the ranks of Antagonists Anonymous. |
| Rien |
We promote a space where the Sinners cannot readily practice their new trinkets on us, although I would happily allow my sweetheart of a daughter any and all opportunity to show me just how skilled she's become whenever she gets the chance. |
| Lei Heng |
Glad that makes one o' us, Beeper Man! …Because I fuckin' HATE it. |
| Rien |
Welcome back once again, Lei Heng. |
| Lei Heng |
Can't believe the damn bullshittery I just got hit with… |
| Rufo |
…What is his deal? |
| Lei Heng |
Ah. Right. Introductions n' allat. |
| Lei Heng |
Lei Heng's my name! Bein' part of the Thumb is my game! Or at least it was… until I died to some philosopher with five rings of Mang. |
| Lei Heng |
Ran into Yoshihide and her gang o' misfits when they were tryin' to escort Lil' Miss Hierarch Xichun over to that seat. I was on orders to… shall we say… interrupt the festivities, make the whole thing a schmoz. |
| Lei Heng |
I was havin' fun beatin' the shit out of them until that clock jackass brought me down to their level. The fight I had then was legendary shit. Had to actually break a sweat! |
| Lei Heng |
It was after I died, though, that… that's when the horrors started. |
|
|
In an instant, the boisterous, almost lackadaisical voice I had expected from the man known as Lei Heng took a serious, deep tone as he sat down in his seat. |
| Lei Heng |
Started innocent enough. First time I got sent back, it was just so they could try out some of them Heishou bastards on me… Not my favorite opponents to face, but they ain't the worst either. |
| Zilu |
Do their forms make you miss a certain "honey bunny" you so wished to battle that day? |
| Lei Heng |
…Shut the hell up. |
| Lei Heng |
Anyway, the hits just kept on comin' and comin' and comin' after that. Certainly didn't help that the ol' makers of wishes up there in the sky found it appropriate to nerf me into the fuckin' ground because that damn clock can't read. |
| Lei Heng |
Every other day, I feel like I get put onto some bullshit. Did you know one time, that clock only beat me with TWO SINNERS? |
| Lei Heng |
I used to think me pulling up with six  Unbreakable Coins was dope as fuck! Never before seen! Next thing I know, dumbass clock gets an ID of me, and all that shit suddenly ain't special no more. |
| Lei Heng |
But hey, at least he only got five! I still have my six Unbreakable Coins, right? Hahaha! Guess who gets a fucking ID with nine. |
| Lei Heng |
I swear, nowadays, I can't do shit without that clock and their damn goof troop breathin' down my neck! Any time I try mindin' my own business, I'm brought back to that fight. |
| Lei Heng |
And they're always testin' some new shit on me… They found a way to hyper-optimize the Bleed meta or some bullshit! Sometimes, I lose in three fuckin' turns! |
| Rufo |
Oh. Oh goodness. |
| Lei Heng |
Solos. Some new team comp beggin' to be tried out. Even odd random bullshit for the hell of it, like pullin' out old IDs that apparently ain't even relevant anymore! All that shit gets done to no one else but me! |
| Lei Heng |
God… Makes me wonder how the hell y'all manage to cope with all this summoning shit easier than me. |
| Lei Heng |
How do we get them to stop?! Can't keep doin' this shit forever… There's gotta be an end to this, yeah? |
| Ricardo |
Don't think it'll ever end. I think it just... gets less annoying. |
| Rien |
In fairness, I believe it helps when you don't have Morositas popping up within your boss battle. |
| Jia Mu |
Or a turn dedicated to removing stagger bars and then having the Sinners heal the turn after. Should've used the Health Gate technique. |
| Ricardo |
Ah, yes, the Health Gate technique… Haven't seen that since the Heian Era. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Yeah, lad, unfortunately, you're probably gonna be one of the most farmed bosses in the entirety of this game for those factors alone. |
| Lei Heng |
… |
| Lei Heng |
God damn it… You're so right. |
| Lei Heng |
Why did I not just fake being weak as shit?! |
| ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ |
On the bright side, this means you get to see most IDs before the rest of us do, right? |
| ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ |
What'd you see this time? Was there another Heathcliff there, I wonder…? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Don't answer that. |
| Lei Heng |
Answer what? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Catherine apparently wants to know if you got to see a new Heathcliff Identity before I did. |
| Lei Heng |
You keep mentionin' that girl o' yours… She ain't here. You speakin' to ghosts or somethin'? Feels like you're goin' all crazy on us. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
FUCK OFF. SHE'S REAL TO ME! |
| Lei Heng |
But regardless… |
| Lei Heng |
It was some kinda weird Finger hybrid this time. Part Middle, Part Ring, Part Index. Team of seven. |
| Lei Heng |
I think I got hit with some sorta shit I wasn't even supposed to be seein' yet. One of 'em looked like Outis, but was all… glitchy. Got the fit of that one Nursefather you'd know, Rien. |
| Rien |
Is… Is that so? |
| Lei Heng |
Rest was normal. That Kira ID Ishmael got, Index Don, Index Yi Sang, Ring Rodya, Ring Faust and Ring Hong Lu. Was juuuust that Outis tripping me out a bit. I'm gettin' my ass kicked so bad, fucker somehow tapped into Early Access to kick my ass even harder. |
| Dongbaek |
Hang on. Rodion got a Ring ID? |
| Lei Heng |
Yeah? A few days ago. Think it came with our guest over there. |
| Rufo |
Odd coincidence. She was the long-haired, tall one, yes? |
| Lei Heng |
Uh-huh! |
| Zilu |
…I'm not sure if it was Dante doing that node, Tiantui Star. |
| Lei Heng |
Huh? |
| Zilu |
You mentioned the Outis being glitchy, right? |
| Zilu |
I can't help but feel like… someone jailbroke into the fight. |
| Lei Heng |
What, you tryin' to tell me that one o' these ID thingamajigs just up and went into a node without that clock? |
| Zilu |
Potentially. This… most likely should not be something we write off. |
| Zilu |
An ID being able to be used without even being formally announced is abnormal. This was not training. This was a message being sent. |
| Rien |
… |
| Rien |
On that note, I believe I must take my leave. Consider this AA meeting adjourned. |
| Rien |
Same time next week? |
| Rufo |
Huh? |
| Dongbaek |
Rien? |
| Ahab |
Hey, preacher! Where the hell are you- |
|
Quickly, Rien gets out of his seat and leaves the room. |
| Ahab |
…The scallywag just up and abandoned ship. |
| Lei Heng |
That certainly ain't conspicuous. |
| Rufo |
You meet weekly? |
| Dongbaek |
We attempt to, anyway… |
| Dongbaek |
I was most likely going to take my leave early regardless. I have… plans. |
| Zilu |
Plans? With whomst? |
| Dongbaek |
Spicebush Yi Sang. We will be heading to K Corp. so that I may mess with Dongrang. |
| Zilu |
Ah. That makes sense. |
| Rufo |
You have a life here? |
| Dongbaek |
Within the Refracted Rainbow™? Yeah, I mean… Who doesn't? |
| Dongbaek |
Whoever set this up, it's like I never really died at all. I bet you can probably go back to your prior plans, too, without noticing much of a thing. Apart from, well, being called upon when the Sinners need you. |
| Zilu |
I must make sure to return to Kong Qiu quickly before I am called at an inopportune time. |
| Rufo |
Mmm… |
|
With everyone else beginning to leave… I suppose I shall take my leave as well. |
|
Location: Antagonists Anonymous Building, Outside |
| Ricardo |
…Yo, wait, holy shit! Werner just texted me. That coupon-stealing bastard got an ID of me?! |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Real shit…? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
I suppose I'll have another Heathcliff to hunt soon. |
| Ricardo |
Oh, fuck off. This one's MINE. The Book of Vengeance takes priority over your Wild Hunt bullshit. |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
We'll see about that… |
| ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ |
NEW HEATHCLIFF??? |
| Erlking Heathcliff |
Agh! ...God DAMN it, Catherine. Cease your simping at once! |
| Ricardo |
We really need to get you, like, medication for this shit, man. |
|
The idle chatter lessens and lessens the farther away I get from the building. |
|
…I don't exactly know what to do now. |
|
I suppose I will just have to- Oof! |
|
I just bumped into someone. |
The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Hey! Watch where you're-... going. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Whoa… Meur, are you seeing this? |
The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
I am, Docent Rodion. |
| Rufo |
H-Huh…? |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Hmm… |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Either you've got some excellent fashion sense, or I finally found the person I was based on. Are you Miss Rufo? |
| Rufo |
I… I am. You're one of those Limbus Company Sinners, but… |
| Rufo |
Why do you look like me? |
|
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
She is still quite unfamiliar with this entire process, is she not? |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
It would seem so. Okay, so… how do I put this? |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
So, uh, technically speaking, I'm you~! Well, like… kinda. I'm Rodya. But I'm a Rodya who is living your life. I'm a Docent, like you! |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
I just got back from fighting Lei Heng, so sorry for the slightly rough intro, ehehe~ |
| Rufo |
Are you one of these… Identities… that Limbus Company possesses? |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
Her and me both. You may call me Student Meursault. We are both diligent members of the Syndicate known as the Ring, studying under Emilé Benoit's teachings of Le Fauvisme. |
| Rufo |
Fellow followers of Le Fauvisme? …Prove it. |
| Rufo |
What're your animals? The ones that don your masques? |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
I carry the  Masque de Chien. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
I wear the  Masque de Loup~ |
| Rufo |
What are your art techniques? Do you carry the Mauled Colors? |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
 Mauled Color [Rouge] and  Mauled Color [Bleu], mhm~! |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
I only have expertise in Mauled Color [Rouge]. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
I can also inflict  Touche Hardie and  Palette Vibrante, juuuust like yooouuuu~ |
| Rufo |
Scary… What do you two think about other animalistic techniques the City has adopted? |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
Such as? |
| Rufo |
The Heishou. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Well, truth be told, I find the technology itself splendid, but it really doesn't seem to offer anything close to a merit beyond the motif drawn from it. |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
I agree. The Boluses from H Corp., although a technical marvel, do not capture the same essence of being an animal as Le Fauvisme. |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
I would also go as far as to say that not even R Corp., with their animal divisions, can evoke the same feeling. In fact, they may be worse with their insistence on having their animal features be futuristic. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Mhm. It all feels so… artificial. |
| Rufo |
Huh…? |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Well? Still doubting we're Ring members~? Maybe thinking we're some sorta… impostor impastos~? |
| Rufo |
… |
| Rufo |
This… this is absolutely masterful. |
| Rufo |
Tell me, Miss Rodion and Mister Meursault… Would there happen to be more people like you congregating somewhere? I have heard of things such as a Bleed Society around here. |
| Rufo |
Is that some City vernacular for a Ring sect I have not known about? |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
Not exactly. But there are more people with the Ring keyword like us within that Society. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
Yeah, I hear that there are Pointillists around. I haven't particularly met them yet. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
And I saw that those disgustingly inferior Corporists are here, too. But we get there when we get there. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
C'mon! I gotta show you around before the new game mode gets released, 'cause if you thought you were busy already with the whole disappearing act, you're gonna be REALLY busy in a short while. |
| Rufo |
The new… game mode? |
| The Ring Fauvist Student Meursault |
It is known as the Reflectrial][lairtcelfeR. You appear to be the first test for this mode. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
It's basically a raid boss mode. Kinda interesting idea, not gonna lie… Though given that your boss fight is being used for the first iteration of it, you're gonna be really busy in the future. |
| The Ring Fauvist Docent Rodion |
I'll be able to tell ya more at that theme park they're holed up in. Let's go! |
| Rufo |
Wait- A theme park? |
| Rufo |
…Why are the Fauvists in a theme park? |
|
But the fellow Fauvists did not answer me. Instead, I was being ushered, essentially led by them. |
|
…Mmm. I had no idea that clock had already gained "Identities" of Fauvists. I must applaud their aptitude for scouting talent in that regard. |
|
Maybe living here after my unfortunate perishing won't be so bad. |
|
— |
|
Location: Thumb Eastern Base, A Few Hours Later |
|
Lei Heng's POV |
|
Haaah… Thank God I haven't been needed in a hot minute. |
|
I'm all for a good fight, don't get me wrong, but them IDs… they're downright deranged. On some freaky shit. |
|
Well, as long as there ain't any other shit to worry about, I guess I better continue the work I was doin' before. Gotta keep an eye on Rien. |
|
He's been actin'... weirder than usual. |
|
… |
|
......♬...... |
|
While I'm in the middle o' ponderin', my phone's ringtone starts goin' off. |
|
Must be that Capo tryin' to get to me. Meursault, yeah? …I always compare him to Yoshihide's friend in my head. Think they share the same name and everythin'. Eh, it's whatever. Obviously, I answer. |
| Lei Heng |
Y'ello? |
| Lei Heng |
…Hang on. Hwat? |
| Lei Heng |
The hell's happenin' over there? |
| Lei Heng |
Awright, so- Wait. …You took her to Poise Society, yeah? And then what happened? |
| Lei Heng |
…You mean to tell me ya brought her kid straight to the den of the fuckin' Index without even knowin'? Ah, hell. Yoshihide ain't gonna like that one. |
| Lei Heng |
…Oh, so, she knows. Okay… so what's the issue? She'd be able to pack 'em up in no time. Have you seen her? |
| Lei Heng |
Ya got your own Yoshihide in your own Mirror World, yeah? So you know she'd be able to pack 'em up with ease! |
| Lei Heng |
…What're you talkin' about? Midspring's Night's Dream? An eight-on-one attack? They took the kid?! |
| Lei Heng |
Awright, okay, hang on. I knew some weird shit was happenin' the moment I saw that fuckin' pod. Lemme call you back later. |
|
I hang up quickly. |
|
| Lei Heng |
…Looks like Uncle Lei Heng's got some scoutin' to do. |
