OF THE VERY NICE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD BETWEEN THE MANAGER AND THE MAGICIAN (before battle)
W-what just happened? I... I just started saying the lines like I've known them by heart...
Y-yeah... it's like... we were almost hypnotized by something. And it felt so real, as though we were really there.
I know this sounds absurd, but I clearly remember transforming into a horse. Then, a pair of running shoes, somehow. But I was still myself up here. Strange...
Ah, how wonderful was that story, hm? I like this one much more than the juvenile, naive story of peace and happiness between humans and Bloodfiends that this place has to tell.
So, where did you place that precious helm? If I had such a priceless artifact myself, I would be wearing it on my head every single day.
…….
... Tragically, the helm ill fit my head. I had no choice but to leave it in mine warehouse.
Most likely...
Shame, shame. Why did you not keep a close eye on something so important, something you had to go through so much to claim?
You might regret the want of it someday.
As much as I would like to hear what comes next... this seems to be where I bid you all adieu.
I will open the entrance to Area 2, as promised. I'm sure there aren't any other Bloodfiends who are as honest about their promises as I am.
Wicked... Bloodfiend, how dare - !
Don Quixote's rage resumed just as the story ended, but she was still stuck in place as though the tale hadn't left her body just yet.
How exciting. What new tales shall greet you in the next Area, I wonder?
Well, then... I hope you enjoy La Manchaland's next Area, O righteous adventurer of justice... Don Quixote.
<What... was that...? That wasn't a Golden Bough resonance, was it? It felt... slightly different.>
I have no idea what he did to us, but we all helplessly froze in place. As though we were all collectively hypnotized...
It wasn't like this when we entered Yi Sang's fathoms, right?
Mm. Quite. We could then well tell that it was merely a reenactment of a tale with a pre-written script we read of our own volition.
Maybe it has something to do with that Bloodfiend's... special ability?
It may be that he took advantage of La Manchaland's Golden Bough resonating with a certain Sinner among us... and inserted his own power there to cause this phenomenon.
<We should... probably steer clear of that Bloodfiend...>
…….
<Faust...>
We can't continue this story. We shouldn't.
I didn't have the courage to tell them what I've been thinking this whole time.
That Don Quixote, the hero of the story in which she vanquished the bandits and protected an innocent village...
That Don Quixote, whose eyes twinkled with sheer excitement at the thought of taking down La Manchaland...
... will eventually be forced to spill before every Sinner...
... That she is a Second Kindred, Bloodfiend.
However, Dante...
Agh... the Bloodfiend hath given us the slip...!
Alas! We have dealt a fatal blow against one of them, and managed to activate the device we had intended to access! 'Tis a very successful mission thus far, I say!
She was back to her usual, energetic self...
... there comes a time when one must awaken from their dream.
... but Faust's answer seemed to be pointing toward something else.
Once the button was pressed, a low rumble emanated from around us...
And a large passageway slowly emerged before us, like gargantuan parts of a great machine ponderously clicking into place.
Ho! Let us hasten to the subsequent canto of this epic!