≪"First off, congratulations. Taking down Miranda's prized nobles? Not bad. Your brand of crazy's the real deal, huh?"≫
"You're the last one standing, then. You're done for. Get ready."
'Wash that flask nice and clean too! Knowing you're the one who chopped up Rose, I won't go easy on you, Madao!'
I spat at Heisenberg, presumably on the other side of the TV, with Evelyn echoing my sentiment. Not that he could hear her.
≪"You're tough, I'll give you that. But after collecting the flasks, how do you plan to fix Rose?"≫
'...What do we do?'
"What's your point?"
≪"I could lend a hand."≫
"'!'"
His honeyed words hit at a moment when we had no plan to restore Rose. Honestly, it felt like a ray of hope.
"An apology now?"
≪"Your voice is shaking, huh? Don't get it twisted—this is a deal, nothing more."≫
'Ethan, can we trust him?'
"...No. First, tell me the terms."
≪"Don't rush, alright? There's a fortress at the village's edge. Find my flask there. Do that, and I'll acknowledge you. Start by heading back to the cemetery."≫
"...Irritating bastard."
The TV flickered back to static, and I cursed under my breath. ...Irritating bastard, but if it's for restoring Rose, maybe taking the deal isn't a bad idea.
'Come to think of it, that giant hag mentioned something. She said Madao's loyalty was questionable.'
"Yeah. Might be worth betting on."
Taking the elevator back to the windmill and heading toward the village, it was already evening. A strange sight caught my eye—a massive, handcrafted arrow-shaped sign.
"THIS WAY... [This way]?"
'There's a bunch of signs pointing to the cemetery too.'
"Is that guy... bored or something?"
'Maybe he's like Lucas?'
"Yeah... that makes sense."
Lucas. The Baker family's eldest son. A psychopath I never settled things with—Chris took him down. Skilled with machines, he tormented me with traps. ...The machinery and signs Heisenberg likely made do remind me of Lucas.
"[Don't keep Rose-chan waiting]?"
'[The show starts here!], it says.'
"A fortress means a ton of enemies, right? Let's head back to Duke's square first and reinforce our weapons as much as possible."
'Good idea. Let's sell those compound eyes too.'
Detouring to Duke, I sold off Moreau's compound eyes. I couldn't help but notice he somehow had a jar with Cadou in it.
"Perfect timing. I was just getting bored."
"How the hell do you move around... Anyway, here's this."
"Moreau's, eh? This is... grotesque art, isn't it?"
'Agreed.'
"Also, reinforce all my weapons as much as you can. Money's no object."
"My, my. This level of customization is quick work. Oh, care to purchase extended attachments too?"
"If they'll make 'em stronger, yes."
'Ethan... you're serious...'
Obviously. We've got a lead on restoring Rose. If I die because I'm not strong enough, I'll never rest in peace.
"And all the first aid you've got."
"Thank you for your patronage."
I spent nearly all my money, but no matter. Back at the village cemetery, I followed the signs, used the six-winged fetus key, and found a tunnel entrance. The last sign read [Do your best].
"I'll do my damn best, you bastard."
'He's a genius at pissing people off, that Madao.'
"He'd hate hearing that from you."
Through the tunnel, a massive fortress loomed ahead, crawling with Lycans as far as I could see. I readied my bag and handgun.
"Phew... So, take down all these beasts and grab the last flask with Rose in it, huh? I'm pissed off right now. Anyone standing in the way of saving Rose gets crushed."
'I'm the one mutating you on cue—that sounds like the toughest job. Taking the bag too?'
"It's got first aid and ammo this time. I'm keeping it."
'Don't forget Rosemary's in there...?'
"Oh, right. Can you attach it to my right arm like a shield?"
'Eh... Sure, I guess. Covering it in mold should protect Rose too. But it's heavy!'
"Being able to dual-wield guns is enough. Let's go!"
Molding the bag onto my right arm like a shield, I gripped dual handguns and charged. No time for stealth—total domination!
'Ugh, Ethan, you're such a meathead sometimes!'
"Draaah!"
Sprinting full-speed, I smashed a Lycan with a surprise shield bash, impaling it on protruding branches from behind. Another swung a blade down at me, but I blocked with the bag-shield, repelled it, and unloaded both guns into its torso, dropping it.
"Come at me, you rotten wolves!"
'Your mouth's filthier than ever!'
I gunned down leaping attackers with relentless fire. Those that got close were bashed away with the bag-shield while Evelyn watched my back. The fortress was still a bit away.
"«Ggyaaah!»"
"Take this! Evelyn!"
'On it!'
"You're family too!"
Two charged head-on, too fast for guns. Dropping the Samurai Edge, I kicked one to stagger it, raised my left fist, and Evelyn, reading my intent, morphed it into a Molded fist. A straight punch sent it flying, bowling over trailing Lycans like pins.
'I don't want a family like that...?'
"Sorry. That battle cry just feels right. ...Punching's faster, huh?"
'Eh...'
Picking up the Samurai Edge and stashing it in the bag, I went with the bag-shield and handgun in my right hand, Molded fist in my left. This is the way.
"You're family too! You're family too!"
"Gaaaah!?"
"Ggyaah!?"
"Stay back, you bastards!"
'This is brutal.'
Punching close-range foes, shooting mid-range Lycans, I steadily thinned their numbers while advancing on the fortress. Some, intimidated, flipped a switch and fled inside. That's the entrance, huh? Holstering the handgun, I single-handedly aimed the grenade launcher and fired at the gate.
"Give me back Rose, you beasts!"
"««Gyaahhh!?»»"
'Namusan!'
The explosion sent several flying toward me. I punched with my left fist, shield-bashed with the bag, and swung the grenade launcher's barrel like a bat to knock them away.
"Alright, we're going in."
'I used to be scared, but now? I'm not afraid of anything!'
"Stop. That sounds like a death flag."
'But you're invincible right now, Ethan!'
"A father fighting for his daughter is always invincible."
'Wow, so cool~ (deadpan)'
Inside, the dim fortress swarmed with Lycans. Loading a flash round into the grenade launcher, I closed my eyes and fired dead-center, blinding them all with a searing flash.
'My eyes! My eyessss!?'
"Ah, sorry."
Apologizing to Evelyn, who was clutching her eyes in pain, I swapped the grenade launcher for the shotgun and closed in on the disoriented Lycans, blasting them at point-blank range. A big one, like that Wolverine-looking Lycan, was there too. I shield-bashed its helmet off and shoved the shotgun in its mouth, blowing its head apart.
"Alright! Deeper in!"
'My dad's too psycho, and it's scary.'
Ignoring Evelyn's complaints, I pressed deeper into the fortress.
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