Chapter 20Witch, Witch on the Wall
(Story)
Once upon a time, there was a young girl who adored the moon.She loved how looking at the moon made her forget everything…The blue moon… the glow of its light… softer than the sun, not warm, but a gentle coolness.Whenever she gazed at it, the girl forgot her worries.
The girl worked as a maid in the household of a noble.The noble was not a good person… nor was his sister.The sister was terribly lonely and clung to the maid in an unhealthy way:she forced the maid to stay with her at night, to lie at her side, to be "hers" and hers alone.It went too far.
One day the sister died of pneumonia.With tears in her eyes, her final words were:"I'm sorry… for everything I did to you…I hope you can forgive me…"
She looked up at the moon and whispered:"At least we have one thing in common… the moon is wonderful…"
When she died, the maid felt a deep hatred toward her master, the brother.She believed he was the reason for her mistress's pain and strange behavior.Her anger boiled, mixed with her own suffering.
Then the family decided something even worse:the maid was to be the one to bear children for the noble.She would have a child, but as a maid, she wouldn't even be allowed to raise or see her own son.She was still far too young.
One night, a mysterious figure appeared before her.Its body was pitch black, made of smoke, with white eyes and no visible skin.
When it saw her crying, it said:"You poor girl.First you lost your mistress…Now they want to force you to have a child with such a man…and you won't even be allowed to hold your own son, because you're just a maid.You are too young for this life.
How about… I help you…so you may finally live in peace?"
The being held out a book.On it was written: "Grimoire".
"With this book,you can bring them all to their knees.Make them pay for everything they've done.
And there's more…You can see your mistress again.If you make a contract with her spirit…and become a witch—or rather, a magician."
Blinded by anger and hatred, the girl lost all sense of reason and agreed immediately.
That night, the moon did not shine with beautiful light.It was dull and heavy, as if depressed.
She looked up one last time."Dear moon… thank you for making my life easier…for always being there,"the girl said, and took the book.
Four days later, she carried out her plan.She used a melody of madness to kill the noble family.
People who heard the faint song from afar said they saw a woman standing at the castle, saying:
"You who dared to bring pain and suffering to others…may the moon's light never shine upon your lives again!"
Those who found the corpses of the wealthy family said their faces were twisted into monstrous grimaces.
The father had a grin that stretched too wide, all the way up toward his eyes.Because he smiled so unnaturally, the skin on his face had torn.
Blood flowed from the mother's eyes, and her body was twisted like a broken doll.
The son, the brother of the woman who had just died, met the worst end:hands were emerging from his body, slowly tearing him apart even now.
The townsfolk believed this to be the work of a witch.Because she was so terrifying and cruel, they called her:
Nightmare Witch.
And on every moonlit night,they say the witch appears in front of the tall towerand speaks these words:
"You who gaze upon the moon's twilight…may it curse you."
The town that was cursed back then had been infamous for cruelty,for slavery and the trade of people as objects.
And yet, the witch was the one branded as dangerous,with a bounty of 14,000 Grims placed on her head.
Kisa: "Ah… I see. So the witch wasn't simply evil after all…"
Pinocchio: "No. She punished bad people, that's all.You're not… going to kill her… right?"
Kisa: "We'll do our best not even to hurt her…If she stops.We were ordered to kill her…but I won't kill someone who gives up and stops doing harm."
Diego: "Hmm…"
Nacht: "Hah… damn…If that happens, we won't get paid."
Diego: "Then this was all for nothing…"
Kisa: "Isn't that right… Nacht? Diego?"
She smiled at them, but there was a dark aura behind that smile,as if she was hiding her anger and silently saying:"You got a problem with that?"
The atmosphere was so heavy it could make monsters wet themselves.
Nacht: "Yes. Of course."
Diego: "Yeah, definitely…We'll totally not kill her…or chop off her head… or make her suffer… or seal her away, or anything like that."
Nacht: "We're dead."
(Bam!) (Bam!)
Both of them lay on the floor, knocked out, with big lumps on their heads.
Nacht: "You really are an idiot…Can you be any more obvious?"
Diego: "S-sorry…"
Nacht: "You should be careful when you say stuff like that,or you'll be in trouble if you ever cheat on your future wife."
Diego: "I would never cheat on my wife!"
Nacht: "Tch, whoever believes that will be blessed…But you're right about one thing—you're never getting a wife anyway."
Diego: "Huh? You looking for a fight?!"
They bumped foreheads.
Diego: "What's your problem, you walking scarecrow!?"
Nacht: "My problem is you never shut up about chests and butts, you pervert!"
Diego: "Of course I do, I'm not stupid."
Nacht: "Too bad you'll never get to touch or even see anything, moss-head!"
Diego: "Oh yeah? Says the guy with the old-man staff and hat!"
Nacht: "At least I look like a gentleman, unlike you,who looks like a sneaky creep!"
Diego: "Oh really."
Kisa: "Hey, you two… can you stop fighting?"
(Dark aura)
Kisa: "Hehehe…"
The eyes of death again.
Nacht: "Yeah, sure."
Diego: "Got it. Won't happen again."
Pinocchio: "(Sweating) Oh no…"
They continued walking until they reached the castle.
Pinocchio: "Here it is."
He pointed at it.
Kisa: "Thank you…"
She knelt down in front of him.
Kisa: "Thank you very much, Pinocchio."
She held his cheeks and kissed him on the cheek.
Pinocchio: "Huh…"
Kisa: "You're a good boy. Stay here, okay?"
Pinocchio: "But… you're not… going to…"
Kisa: "I promise. We'll do our best not to kill her.But if we're in danger, and she's about to kill us…then we'll have no choice.I hope you understand… unless you want me and my friends to die."
Pinocchio: "No… I get it."
Kisa: "Alright then."
She smiled and patted his head.
Kisa: "I care about you. Stay here."
They headed toward the castle.
Diego: "Hmm…"
Nacht: "So this is it."
Kisa: "We finally made it."
Diego: "Yeah…"
(Fart)
(Silence)
Kisa: "(Sweating) Mmm?"
Nacht: "…Uh?"
Diego: "Sorry, that just slipped out."
Nacht: "Ahh, I can't take this anymore."
Kisa: "(Sweating) Oh dear… it's okay, you don't have to be embarrassed. It happens."
Nacht: "Yeah, but seriously, what did you eat to make it smell like that?You trying to kill us before the witch does?"
Diego: "I ate salad and meat… with broccoli!"
Nacht: "Die! Eat less next time!"
Kisa: "…B-broccoli… (Bleargh!)"
She vomited.
Diego: "Huh? What's wrong with her?"
Nacht: "She hates broccoli."
Diego: "Why?"
Nacht: "No idea."
Kisa: "I once mistook it for an apple…and then I tasted it…"
Nacht: "How do you confuse an apple with broccoli? It isn't even a fruit."
Diego: "(Sweating) Wait…Broccoli… is a vegetable?!"
Nacht: "You're kidding me… you thought that thing was a fruit?Did you fall on your head as a kid?"
Diego: "Huh… how… how did you know that…?!"
Nacht: "(Sweating) It's just obvious."
In any case, the witch's castle now stood before them.Would they and the witch finally face each other?
Miss Nightmare: "Oh… look, look, look…seems I'm alone again…and as luck would have it… hehe…the moon is shining."
(Blub) (Blub)
Miss Nightmare: "Hehehe…Those who do not appreciate the moon's light…I shall punish with my own hands."
They entered.
Diego: "It's really dark in here."
Nacht: "She's the witch of nightmares, what did you expect, sunlight everywhere?"
Diego: "…Shiver… shiver…"
Nacht: "Why are you shaking now?"
Kisa: "Is everything okay?"
Diego: "It's just… I'm scared of the dark."
Nacht: "Huh?"
Kisa: "Huh?"
A short silence.
Then Nacht burst out laughing.
Nacht: "Pfffft… hahahahaha…Wow, you're even more pathetic than I thought… hahahaha!"
Kisa: "Hey, that's mean, Nacht!"
Diego: "Ahhh…"
Kisa: "Here. I'll hold your hand."
Nacht: "Ugh!"
She took his hand.
Kisa: "Better?"
Diego: "Yeah."
Nacht: "Ugh… hey… Kisa… actually…I'm also… kind of afraid of the dark…shiver… shiver…"
Diego: "(Thinking: Aha, I knew it.)"
Kisa: "Oh dear… then I'll hold your hand too."
She took his hand as well.
Kisa: "Alright then. You don't have to be scared anymore."
Diego: "…That's a lie, isn't it."
Nacht: "Shut up."
Diego: "And I thought I was the simp here."
Nacht: "Just go along with it."
Diego: "I really am scared of the dark, though."
Nacht: "(Sweating) …Huh?"
Suddenly, a "woooooo" echoed.
(Woooooo)
Diego: "What was that?"
Nacht: "A ghost."
Kisa: "A… a… a… ghost… shiver, shiver…"
Diego: "Wait, you're afraid of ghosts?"
Nacht: "Huh?"
Kisa: "Yes…"
Nacht: "How is that even possible, you literally use ghost powers."
Diego: "Nacht, you're scared of darkness and your name means 'night'."
Nacht: "That's… different, you idiot."
Diego: "Oh yeah… right, forgot."
Nacht: "I've never seen anything like this…"
Kisa: "Nacht… something… is sniffing my neck… is that a ghost?"
Diego: "(Sniff sniff)"
Nacht: "(Sweating) No, that's the idiot… Diego…"
Diego: "Kisa, do you sweat a lot?"
Kisa: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Hey! You can't ask a girl that!"
Diego: "It's fine, I like it when a woman sweats a little. Makes her skin shine."
Nacht: "(Sweating) You damn simp! Go to hell!"
Kisa: "Can someone even do that thing to their own knee?"
Diego: "…I don't know… should I try it?"
Nacht: "No! Get a grip!"
Suddenly they heard something.A strange sound, like someone desperately trying to breathe and laugh at the same time.
"Ugh… ugh… hahahaaghhh…"
Over and over, until a figure appeared.
Diego: "Ugh…"
Kisa: "Gross…"
Nacht: "What the hell is that…"
It was a bizarre creature:its head was in its stomach,and from its neck two arms grew out.Altogether it had four arms.
Diego: "What is that thing…"
Two of the hands had eyes on them.When those eyes opened and blinked,all three of them were hurled backward.
(Crash!)
Kisa: "Ouch!"
Nacht: "Ugh, damn it…"
Diego groaned in pain as well.Then the creature targeted them with its eye-hands again,and suddenly they began to float.
Kisa: "Ugh…"
Nacht: "What's happening!?"
Diego: "Let us down!"
The creature ignored them.Objects started floating as well.A candle holder flew at Kisaand pierced her in the chest.
Kisa: "Aaaaaaaaaaaghhh!!"
It impaled her right in the chest.Before Nacht and Diego could react,Nacht was thrown toward a statue.The statue's sword ran straight through his body.
(Sploch!)
Nacht: "(Bleargh!)"
Diego was bounced back and forth,slammed into the walls,and then a floating sword slashed into his back.
(Sploch!)
Diego: "Urk!"
He crashed to the floor.Kisa was pinned to the wall by the candle holder,and Nacht hung skewered on the statue's sword.
Nacht: "B… (Bleargh!)"
Then footsteps could be heard.A woman approached the monster slowly.The witch, Nightmare.
Miss Nightmare: "Hahhh…I told you… you were only supposed to catch them…Well, whatever.Welcome to my castle."
She walked slowly toward Diego.
Miss Nightmare: "…Wolf…"
Then he blacked out.
When Diego woke up,he found himself in a bedroom.
Diego: "Ugh… huh… where am I…"
Miss Nightmare: "Oh, you're finally awake."
He was tied to a bed,wearing only his undershorts.
Miss Nightmare: "Forgive me…I was afraid you might run away."
Diego: "What are you… doing with me…?"
She took off her jacket and walked toward him.
Diego: "H-hey…"
Miss Nightmare: "My, my… you're adorable…Sorry, but you're exactly what I've been looking for…"
She cupped his cheeks and gave him a quick, unexpected kiss,then pulled back and smiled in a strangely shy but intense way.
Diego: "Mmm… (blushing)…"
She kept clinging to him,resting her head on his chest as though she'd never felt warmth before.
Miss Nightmare: "My goodness…I'm sorry… you're just so sweet…"
Diego: "H-hey… what about my friends? Tell me!"
Miss Nightmare: "…It's alright.They're fine.They're in another room.I even treated their wounds… and yours too."
She lay her head on his chest again.
Miss Nightmare: "…Ahh… this is so nice…"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.She now wore a dark dress that matched her image as a witch.Her long black hair flowed over his shoulder,and her face looked younger than he had expected.
Miss Nightmare: "Thank you…Thanks to you, I'm not lonely anymore…Hehe… tell me…would you like to build a family with me someday?"
Diego: "What is happening right now?! I don't even know your real name!"
Miss Nightmare: "Fiona.My real name is Fiona.I'm 21 years old.I've never truly been with anyone…Maybe that will change soon.How about 'Luis'… for our first child's name?"
Diego: "(Sweating) H-hold on! Wait!"
She traced a fingertip along his chest up to his neck and cheek,making him flinch from the intensity,but then… she suddenly went quiet and simply fell asleep curled up against him.
Diego: "Ghh…"
Her breathing became deep and calm.Sometimes she whimpered in her sleep, as if caught in a nightmare,and occasionally trembled.
Diego: "Hmm…"
The next morning she woke up.
Miss Nightmare: "Haahhh… huh…"
She leaned over Diego.
Miss Nightmare: "Good morning… my sweet one…"
Diego: "Hey… do you… not sleep well usually?"
Miss Nightmare: "Oh… I just feel lonely, that's all…So I'm glad you're here with me.Hey… don't I get a good morning kiss from you?"
Diego: "(Sweating) I'm tied up, remember?"
Miss Nightmare: "Then I'll do it…"
(Meanwhile)
Kisa: "Hahhh…"
Kisa had woken up in another room.For some reason, she was wearing a bunny costume.
Kisa: "Huh? W-what…?"
(Boing!)
Kisa: "Huh?! Wh–what is this…?"
Fiona: "Oh… you're awake.My cute little girl."
The witch entered the room.
Fiona: "You're so adorable."
Kisa: "…May I… ask why I can't stand up?"
Fiona: "Oh… I tied your legs together, that's all. Hehe…"
She hugged Kisa and rubbed her cheek against hers.
Fiona: "Mmm… you're so cute…"
Kisa: "Um… (…I think I'm in trouble.)"
But what about Nacht?
Well…
Nacht: "(Sweating)… uh…"
He was in a room filled with dancing skeletons.
Nacht: "…I have a bad feeling about this…"
A skeleton's head fell to the floor.
Nacht: "(Sweating) I already hate this."
"Dance with us,"a skeleton said, nibbling on his shoulder.
Nacht: "Aaaaaaaaaaaah! They can talk! Help!Someone get me out of here!I'd even prefer idiot Diego to this!"
(Meanwhile)
Diego: "…Ugh… ugh…"
He was covered in lipstick marks and cheek smudges from where Fiona had repeatedly kissed his face and hugged him the whole night.
Diego: "Man… she's… intense…I wonder how Kisa is doing…"
(Meanwhile)
Kisa: "Mmm…"
Fiona: "You're so cute… so cute…"
She squeezed Kisa's cheeks gently.
Kisa: "Please… stop…"
Fiona held her in a tight, almost desperate hug.
Fiona: "I can't… you're just too sweet…I saw your wounds…Who did that to you?It must have been that boy with the gentleman's hat."
Kisa: "No… it wasn't him.That was… my mother…"
Fiona: "Oh dear… what a terrible mother…It doesn't matter.From now on, I'll be your big sister, your mother, and your family."
Kisa: "Huh? F-family…?"
Fiona smiled warmly, if a bit oddly, and adjusted Kisa's bunny outfit.She noticed the bandages on Kisa's upper body.
Fiona: "Hmm… bandages? Why those?"
Kisa: "Um… it's… just… well…"
Fiona: "I see.You're trying to make yourself look smaller.But your figure is actually quite nice."
She squeezed Kisa's hands and feet lightly, checking her injuries rather than anything else.
Fiona: "Mmm… you're in surprisingly good shape considering what you went through."
Kisa: "Mmm… p-please… don't fuss over me so much…"
Fiona: "I can't help it… I love cute girls.You smell so nice… You're like a warm dream."
Kisa: "…Hmmm…"
She gave Kisa a quick, affectionate peck on the forehead and then rested her head on Kisa's shoulder.
(Meanwhile)
Mona: "…Ahahaha… so that's where the witch is!"
Mona.
Mona: "Hehehe… I'll make a lot of money if I bring back her head…"
(A few hours later)
Kisa: "Haahhh…"
Fiona had fallen asleep beside Kisa.
Kisa: "Good… she got tired before anything went too far…While she was clinging to me, I…"
(Crack!)
The chains binding Kisa's legs loosened.
Kisa: "I managed to pick the chains… and free myself…"
She looked at Fiona.
Kisa: "…But… should I kill her…?"
(Flashback)
Kisa: "Ghhh… no…I won't kill her…I'm sorry… this might hurt a little."
She punched Fiona in the stomach just hard enough to knock her out.
Fiona: "Urk… gghh…"
She collapsed, unconscious.
(Back in the present)
Kisa: "…I'm sorry…"
She bound Fiona with the chains instead.
Kisa: "Alright… now I have to find Diego and Nacht."
She searched the rooms.
Kisa: "…Diego! Ugh…"
Diego was tied to a bed, nearly naked except for his underwear.
Kisa: "Aaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Diego: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Nacht: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Kisa: "Huh?"
Diego: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Huh?"
(Huh?!)
Nacht: "Oh… Kisa… you scared me…Waiiiiit… Kisa?! Why are you dressed like that?Why are you only in bandages and shorts?!"
Kisa: "Oh… it's fine. The witch wanted to dress me up in something cute.She fell asleep before anything weird happened."
Diego: "I hate to interrupt… but can someone please untie me?"
Nacht: "And why are you half-naked, rookie?"
Diego: "Well… she kept hugging me all night!"
Kisa: "Huh…"
Nacht: "Wait a second… why was I the only one stuck in a skeleton dance room,while you two got the 'gentle' treatment?"
Diego: "You call this gentle?!I was tied up, she kept kissing me, and she hit me when she got annoyed!"
Nacht: "…Shut up.I had dancing skeletons singing off-key at me.Their song was worse than a dying boar laughing."
Diego: "Okay, I take it back, yours was worse.Now hurry up and free me!"
They untied him.
Kisa: "Hmm…"
Diego: "Where is the witch now?"
Nacht: "I thought you either killed or tied her up."
Kisa: "I tied her up, didn't kill her."
Nacht: "What… tied her up? Why not kill her?"
Kisa: "Why would I?She was asleep.You don't kill someone in their sleep… that's wrong.Also… I felt sorry for her.She was just lonely…And I promised Pinocchio I wouldn't kill her."
Nacht: "Hmm, whatever…Alright then, let's go to her."
They went to her room, opened the door…and found a surprise.
Diego: "She's here?"
Kisa: "Yes… huh?"
Nacht: "Hmm?"
Someone else was there.
Mona: "Uh…"
Nacht: "Uh!"
Diego: "Huh?!"
Kisa: "But that's…"
Mona: "Heeeeeey, it's you again!"
Diego: "Who were you again?"
Nacht: "Can't remember."
Kisa: "Yeah… who is she?"
Mona: "Seriously?! That's so mean!It's me, Mona… the woman you met before!"
Nacht: "Oh yeah… the freckle-face one!"
Mona: "You don't make fun of other people's looks!"
Fiona: "Ugh… what's… going on… why are you shouting…"
Mona: "Ugh!"
Diego: "Ugh!"
Nacht: "Great."
Kisa: "Oh no…"
The witch awoke and opened her eyes.She saw the four of them… and as soon as she remembered what happened,she grew angry.
Fiona: "Oh right… you stupid brat!"
She raised her hand and clenched it into a fist.
Diego: "Ugh…"
Nacht: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kisa: "B-b-b… (Bleargh!)"
Suddenly Kisa coughed blood and collapsed.
Kisa: "Ghhh…"
Nacht: "Kisa!"
Diego: "What the hell!"
Mona: "What's happening to her?!"
Fiona: "I tried to be nice…but I guess some people take advantage of kindness…Very well…"
Mona: "Ghhh…"
Nacht: "Gghhhh…"
From Nacht's mouth, ghostly hands began to emerge.
Mona: "Ugh…"
Diego: "Hhhh…"
Fiona: "Now I'll make your organs twist together until they tear apart!"
Diego: "Urk… aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!"
He collapsed to the floor, clutching his stomach.
Mona: "Hey!"
Fiona: "…And who are you?! Ghhh…"
Mona: "…A bounty hunter.More precisely, a Vinka.And I don't mind killing witches and people if I have to.What did you do to those three?!"
Fiona: "My ability, the invisible hands…Anything I touch is 'mine'.And then, with my words,I can make things happen inside what I've claimed—only things my invisible hands have touched."
Mona: "Interesting…Someone I know had a similar ability…Hehe… I like this."
Chains appeared and a huge eye formed behind her.
Mona: "Transform… Cursed Singer, Holle!"
(Bam!)
Mona: "I'll tell you this much…I can't stand people like you,who torture opponents in such a cruel, drawn-out way!"
She attacked with her flute, which had become a blade.
(Kaboom!)
Fiona: "Interesting ability…"
Mona: "Silence!Your hands can't reach me!"
Fiona: "Are you sure?"
Mona: "Huh?"
She started to float in midair.
Mona: "Ghhhh…"
Fiona: "Hehehe…"
(Crack)
Fiona: "Huh?"
Mona: "Ugh… what?"
Kisa stood up.But something was wrong.
Kisa: "Hahhh…"
She stood in a strange way,arms hanging low,like sleepwalking… or drunk.
Kisa: "…It stinks… it stinks… it stinks… it stinks…Damn it… damn it… damn it…It stinks… I hate this smell…Is that… my prey…?"
She looked at Fiona.Her eyes were no longer blue—they were purple.
Kisa: "…Ghhhhh…You can destroy as many of my organs as you want…"
Fiona: "Hmph… Then how about this!"
She crushed another organ. And another.
Kisa: "Ghhhh… ghaaahhhh!"
Fiona: "Yeah, but what now?!"
Kisa rushed at her.
(Fwish!)(Sploch!)
Fiona: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!"
Her arm was torn off.Mona fell to the ground as the spell broke,and Fiona screamed.
Fiona: "Arghhh… my arm… my arm!"
Mona: "What the hell…"
Fiona: "Damn it!"
Kisa: "Aaahhhhh… hehehehehe…Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
Her open stomach regenerated,her organs moving back into place.
(Sploch!)(Blob!)
Kisa: "Hehehehe…Here comes the mad girl!"
Her gloves appeared,and a large scythe formed in her hand.She attacked the witch.
Kisa: "Raaaaagh!"
Fiona: "Ugh!"
(Sploch!)
Fiona: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!"
Kisa sliced off another part of her arm.
Kisa: "Hahahahaha!How do you like that, huh?What's wrong, witch?!It reeks… reeks of witch…You damn witch!"
She grabbed Fiona's head and slammed her into the wall.
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Urk!"
Mona: "Stop! She can't fight anymore!"
Kisa: "Haaaaah?…Hey… hey, hey, hey, hey!Don't butt into my business!"
(Meanwhile)
Jack the Ripper: "Ah… the little lunatic.Kisa… hehe…Didn't think I'd ever see her again.She was just a little kid when I saw her last."
(Crack)
Jodge Holden: "Hehehe…She had such soft skin…"
Jack the Ripper: "Don't get close to me, you creep.You never even got to touch her.Last time you tried,she tore your eye out.She's like a monster…Take your eyes off her once,and she goes straight for your throat.That's why they called her the Mad Girl.Or… some called her the 'La-la-la Girl'.Anything she sees as a threat,she attacks the moment she half-loses control."
(Back to Diego, Nacht, Kisa, and Mona)
Mona: "Ugh… ugh… hahh…"
(Splop!)
Fiona: "Urk… hahh…Please… spare me…"
Kisa: "Hehehe…"
Mona: "Stop.There's no point in torturing her any further.Just finish her quickly if you must!"
Kisa: "Hehehe…"
Then Kisa heard a voice."Wait," it said.She recognized it.And slowly, she came back to herself.
Kisa: "Ugh… hahh…"
Seeing Fiona in front of her, she let go.She turned around—it was Pinocchio.
Pinocchio: "What are you doing?!You lied to me!"
Kisa: "…But… I… I…"
She looked at her hands.They were covered in blood.She trembled and put her hands to her cheeks.
Kisa: "Ugh…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!"
Pinocchio: "Ugh…"
Mona: "Huh… so she wasn't in full control…That reminds me…There was once a rumor—about a girl with blue eyes and short white hair.Very pretty.But people feared her.At night, they said, a girl appeared…who killed people in brutal ways.They called herКровавые девчонки—the Bloody Girl.
She loved killing,and if you shot her, she'd just regenerate.Pretty like a model…cruel like a monster.That's how they described her."
Kisa: "Aaaaaaaaargh…"
Mona: "I have to calm her down.Hey, kid!"
Pinocchio: "Y-yeah?"
Mona: "Hug her!"
Pinocchio: "What?"
Mona: "Hug her and apologize! Now!She didn't do this on purpose!"
Pinocchio hesitated…but then he remembered Kisa's smile.
Pinocchio: "Uh…"
Mona: "Look at her.Do you really think a girl like that would enjoy this?She's kind… and lonely…she just wanted to protect everyone."
He rushed to Kisa and hugged her tightly.
Pinocchio: "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Kisa…You're not a monster… I'm sorry!"
Kisa: "Ugh… ugh…"
He hugged her even tighter.She fell to her knees, and he didn't let go.
Kisa: "…Pin…occhio…"
Pinocchio: "I'm sorry, Kisa… please calm down…"
She slowly began to calm.Then she placed a hand on his head.
Kisa: "…I'm sorry…"
Pinocchio: "No… I'm sorry.I didn't know it wasn't really you."
Fiona: "Ugh…"
Kisa: "Hahh… she's… still alive."
Fiona: "Damn… gghhh…"
She crawled a little.
Mona: "Oh dear…"
Kisa: "Aren't you going to kill her?"
Mona: "Don't worry.I don't think I will."
Kisa: "You helped us."
Mona: "No I didn't…"
She turned away, grabbed some bandages, and tied Fiona up properly.
Mona: "One more thing…The legend of the witch… isn't entirely true.This isn't some ageless witch.She's just a girl…who happens to have magic.That's all.The original witch we were looking for…is dead.Isn't that right?"
Fiona: "Urk… how… do you know that?"
Mona: "Hmm."
She pointed at Fiona's face.
Mona: "According to the legend,the Nightmare Witch had two moles under one eye.You only have one.So I'm guessing…you're really just her daughter.To carry on your mother's mission,you took on the role of the witch."
Fiona: "Ugh…Yes…"
She bowed her head,Pinocchio kneeling beside her.She put her hand on his head.
Fiona: "It's true…I'm not a true witch.This orb belonged to my mother.My ability is just something I was born with…"
Pinocchio: "…Fiona…"
Mona: "I thought so.Where is your mother's grave?"
Fiona: "…Haahh…It isn't there anymore…"
Mona: "What?"
Fiona: "Some grave robbers stole it…When I was still a child…I tried to find them…but I never did."
Mona: "Great…Although… grave robbers, huh?I happen to know a place where they're active…"
Kisa: "Hahhh…"
Pinocchio: "Kisa?"
Kisa: "…Pinocchio… I'm sorry…"
He hugged her again.
Pinocchio: "No… I'm the one who's sorry…for saying something so mean…"
Kisa: "Hmm…"
Nacht: "Ahhh… damn…What was that just now…"
Diego: "Feels like we just narrowly avoided death…"
Mona: "You did, actually."
Nacht: "We saw everything…even when those hands came out of my mouth…"
Fiona: "It's alright…they were female hands.Otherwise it would have been too disgusting with all the hair."
Diego: "(Sweating)… right…Still, you tried to kill us."
Fiona: "…I'm sorry…It's just…so many strangers came here before…and I wanted to protect the ones who live with me…"
Nacht: "Your people were the ones hurting each other…one of them killed plenty."
Fiona: "…"
Junker: "What are you talking about?"
Philomela: "We're alive."
Bisca: "Yup."
Diego and Nacht: "Whaaaaaaaaaat, ghosts!!"
Kisa: "Aaaaaaaaaah!!"
Fiona: "Calm down.They're half-spirits.They like to pretend to die…but you can only really kill them if you destroy their core.Only Pinocchio is not a spirit.I took him in."
Junker: "It still hurt, you know!"
Philomela: "Stop whining, plant boy."
They all stared blankly.Their eyes were wide, mouths hanging open.
Kisa: "I think I'm the only one who doesn't know what's going on…"
Diego: "Nope."
Nacht: "Not this time…we're just as confused."
Mona: "…Alright then…I'm going to track down those grave robbers."
Diego: "Hey, wait!"
Mona: "Hmm?"
She turned around.
Mona: "What is it, Wolf?"
Diego: "We're coming with you."
Mona: "Forget it!"
She put her hands on her hips.
Mona: "No way, buddy.I'm taking the witch's grave for myself."
Diego: "I just said we're coming along."
Mona: "That's also a no!"
Diego: "Oh yeah?Then I refuse your refusal!"
Mona: "I refuse your refusal of my refusal!"
Diego: "Then I refuse your refusal of the refusal of my refusal!"
(Poof!)
Nacht: "Can you two stop?You've confused Kisa so much there's smoke coming out of her head."
Kisa: "Mmm… how many refusals… I… I can't keep up… (Thud!)"
Mona: "Grrrr… fine!Then you're coming with me.But the witch's grave is mine. Got it?!"
Diego: "Okay."
Kisa just sighed quietly,wondering what madness she had ended up in this time.