With Evelyn's help, we took down the giant. She emerged from my body, peeling away the mold to restore my original form. I looked up at the so-called Molded Giganto I'd just been. The more I stared, the more it resembled Venom from that recent movie we saw in theaters. Also, somehow, the bloodstains on my clothes were gone.
"...You were really into that, huh?"
'Heh, caught me? It's just, we're kinda like it. Parasitic, you know? Oh, and I wiped off the blood for you.'
"...If I die, you die too. That's why you were freaking out, right?"
'Huh? Uh, yeah, exactly! I don't wanna die either!'
"...Sounds suspicious. Why's my body even capable of this stuff?"
'I told you, you're still infected with my special fungus. Never took the cure, did you?'
"So I'm turning into something like Jack?"
'Well, yeah. That's about right.'
"Why the hesitation...?"
As we chatted, we moved deeper and found a crystal cave. I collected shards and chunks, stuffing them into the bag as we went. Soon, we emerged into a dungeon-like space, spotting a flask and a static-filled TV on a pedestal.
"The last flask."
'I hope Rose doesn't remember any of this... It'd be awful if she knew her body was chopped up and her dad was a blood-soaked slasher.'
"I feel that deeply."
'Then stop doing it...'
"...!?"
Picking up the flask, I saw something. A flipped truck. Rose crying. And... a masked woman—Mother Miranda—lifting Rose. Was this... Rose's memory?
"What...?"
'What's wrong?'
"I think I saw Rose's memory... What was that?"
Carefully stowing the flask in the bag, the TV's static switched to a chess knight-like emblem, and his voice came through.
≪"Not bad, huh? Full of holes, but it was a hell of a show. Felt like watching a movie! Ready to join us, Ethan Winters?"≫
"So you were watching. Don't lump me in with you. How long you gonna hide? I'll drag you all out."
≪"Ooh, scary, scary. Don't get so eager. Just a bit more, and it's all settled. But first, tell me, partner... who's the girl's voice I heard when you turned monster? Called her Evelyn... that Evelyn?"≫
Heisenberg's question about Evelyn caught me off guard. Since Dimitrescu and Moreau didn't react to her, I assumed he wouldn't know either. How do I explain? Saying only I and those who've taken my flesh can see her would just get me mocked...
"I'm not your partner. That voice is Evelyn. The reason you call me a madman—my family."
'You're just saying it?'
"If he already knows, it's quicker this way, right?"
≪"Family, huh? All I see is you alone. On some bad drugs, seeing things you shouldn't? Hard to believe."≫
His skeptical tone grated on my nerves. Well, I am using first aid, but still.
"I'm telling the truth. Believe it or not, that's on you."
≪"Hey, don't pout, partner. But I heard it, so I gotta acknowledge it. If it's really that Evelyn, she might help me achieve my goal. Alright, I'll lend a hand. But in return..."≫
"What? Spit it out."
≪"Come to me first. Place the flasks in the chalice at the altar where that merchant is. You'll know the place then. See ya, Ethan."≫
"Hey, what do you mean 'place' Rose—damn it!"
He cut the connection after that, and I couldn't help but slam the pedestal. Evelyn peered at me, worried.
'You okay?'
"...Yeah. What's this about handing over Rose, even temporarily...?"
'But if he says he can restore her...'
"No choice but to go?"
Boarding a boat in the back, we navigated an underground waterway and emerged in the village—behind the church, maybe? Headed to Duke's square.
"A great honor to meet you alive."
"Thanks to your weapon upgrades. Got a bunch of crystals to cash in—give me all the first aid you've got. By the way, where's the chalice?"
"Thank you for your business. It's right there in the center."
I noticed it then—a blatant pedestal with four slots. As Heisenberg said, I took the flasks from the bag and slotted them in. With the first, I saw another vision—Rose surrounded by the four nobles. Her memory again?
"What the hell...?"
'You okay?'
"Y-Yeah..."
Placing the other three, the pedestal unlocked and rose, releasing the chalice. ...I'm supposed to carry this huge thing?
'Go for it, Ethan!'
"...I'll manage."
Candles around us lit up one by one, guiding toward the bridge I'd escaped from Dimitrescu's castle. The map called it the Ceremonial Site. Right, there was a slot in the center there. This must be it.
"Stupidly heavy..."
'Think of it as Rosemary!'
"Rose isn't this heavy."
Slowly carrying the chalice with both hands, I crossed the bridge and climbed the stairs. A tremor rumbled, but I ignored it, eventually reaching the Ceremonial Site's center and slotting the chalice into an umbrella-like emblem. It locked in, and bridges rose from the nearby river, with a platform descending like an elevator.
'What kind of mechanism...?'
"I stopped thinking about it."
'Brain cells in top gear, huh?'
At the bottom, a path led to the bridge. I tried retrieving Rose's flask, but it was stuck fast—no clue how to get it out.
≪"Don't worry about the kid, Ethan. That's fine. Just cross the bridge and get over here!"≫
"If anything happens to Rose, you're dead...!"
'W-Well, maybe it's needed to restore her...?'
"Some kind of ritual? I don't believe in magic."
Crossing the bridge as told, I reached a sprawling lot with an old, massive factory. ...Impressive setup.
≪"Well, well! Ethan... Winters! And the invisible Evelyn I'm guessing is there! Welcome!"≫
'As expected of Madao. Greeting me too—what a gentleman.'
"A gentleman? Him?"
With Heisenberg's voice, the gate opened. Inside, I navigated a vast field littered with scrap, wrecked cars, tanks, and metal debris.
≪"Killing not just Dimitrescu but Donna and Moreau too, huh? But in America, that Evelyn caused you worse trouble, didn't she?"≫
'That's true.'
"You're admitting it...?"
≪"I'll be honest—you two are growing on me. I wanna talk about Rose and Miranda. Come inside. No traps, don't worry."≫
"What's your game?"
'With me here, trap or not, I'll see through it!'
"Yeah, I'm counting on you—somewhat."
'That's harsh!'
With a loud jiririri sound, the entrance opened, and we went in. I don't know what he's thinking, but... I'll make sure Rose is restored.
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