A Notable Change
Episode 1
Episode: 1
Location: Dante's Room
It's been a long while since I was able to relax like this, all alone in my room with not a concern in my mind.
Maybe it's because a heavy burden had been lifted from my heart.
I told the Sinners that we should take a day off or so in our respective rooms. After what happened... we deserved a good rest.
... A big part of that decision was also to relieve Yi Sang of his seasickness at least for a day. (I don't think the Sinners' rooms sway with the waves.)
We're still a ways away from getting out of the Great Lake. I thought it would be a good idea to have a day like this where we could just sit and relax.
Of course, this wasn't like a real vacation or anything. If anything were to happen, this little time off would be over just like that.
... Like that eardrum-tearing siren of Mephistopheles that always finds the worst times to go off, for example.
Dante <... Oh.>
... Yeah.
I had a feeling that something like this was going to happen.
I'm not even upset at this point.
Location: Cabins of Mephistopheles
Heathcliff This siren better be worth getting off our bums for...
Don Quixote There was naught to do in our respective chambers anyway, Heathcliff! I imagine that the time spent alone in thy room must have been quite dreary, indeed!
Heathcliff Tsk, I can be a contemplative man from time to time, alright?
Don Quixote GASP! For truth?!
Heathcliff ... Oi, Clockhead. One clock-turnin' coming right up. This'll be the last one in a while, so just take one for the team, alright?
Dante <... Aren't you going to ask Vergilius for permission, too?>
Heathcliff ... Agh, bollocks.
... I think I'm starting to get a handle on how to manage Heathcliff.
Faust Good news, Heathcliff.
Faust This volatility alarm seems to be something we can make use of.
Dante <Then...>
Faust Indeed. A notable change has occurred in one of the Mirror Dungeon doors.
Faust Dante, the short downtime you suggested...
Dante <Yeah, I know... I knew something like this was going to happen anyway.>
Vergilius ......
Faust ... I see. Then, let us investigate the area where the volatility was detected.
There was something odd about the way Faust and Vergilius were looking at me, but...
... I was too busy to worry about the two of them. I had to somehow convince the Sinners, who had their long-awaited proper break taken away from them as soon as it started, to get to work.
Location: Bus’s Backdoor
Outis Hm. Another locked door has opened... The 'Keep Out' tapes have also disappeared.
Ishmael The door looks a bit... blueish this time, doesn't it?
Sinclair Where did the other doors go...? I don't think they were blue like this.
The door did look a bit blue this time. Looks like every new Mirror Dungeon door will have a different design.
... And disappear from time to time, I guess...
Dante <I can hear... rolling waves from the other side, I think.>
Faust According to the information relayed to us via the device, it appears that the official designation for this new area summoned by the Backdoor volatility will be 'Mirror of the Lake'.
Ishmael ... Hm.
Ishmael's eyebrows twitched.
Ishmael This is exactly what happened after we wrapped up Yi Sang's business...
Ishmael ... It seems too convenient to call it a coincidence, doesn't it? It's like these areas are tailor-made for each Sinners. Faust?
Faust ... Mephistopheles' engine is designed to change and adapt every time a Golden Bough is retrieved.
Faust And the Backdoor is also a product of the engine.
Faust It would not be a reach to theorize that the 'incidents' with each Sinner would affect the engine, which in turn influences the contents of the Backdoor.
Ishmael In other words, it's pretty much a guarantee that with each Golden Bough retrieval, we'll be getting a new 'zone', from now on.
Faust Quite likely, yes.
Ishmael Okay... Yeah, thanks for the explanation.
Ishmael's willingness to sharply and boldly question all things suspicious did not change at all, but... (Or maybe she just didn't like the fact that the word 'lake' was even brought up.)
... after the events at the Great Lake, maybe she was starting to take care not to be as blunt and scathing toward her fellow Sinners. Not more than necessary, anyway.
... That's good. I'm relieved.
Outis Wait. That raises another question.
Faust Do ask.
Outis Are the Golden Boughs not immediately shipped to the headquarters by the After Team as soon as we retrieve them? How can they affect the engines if they're not here?
Faust ... The answer to that question requires a rather lengthy explanation.
Outis I care not.
Dante <W-wait. Outis. How about we try to wrap this up as quickly as we can?>
Yi Sang ... Hurk.
Dante <We better get to someplace that's not constantly swaying. Yi Sang's really not having a good time out here...>
Yi Sang I did not take my medicine... for I assumed that we would be having a brief respite... I beg your forgiveness...
Outis ... I'll hear just the summary, then.
Faust In summary... once the Golden Bough is retrieved, and when Limbus Company headquarters goes through a certain tuning process...
Faust ... Mephistopheles' Engine and the Golden Bough's wavelengths will overlap, causing a resonance effect.
Faust ... Which is a process that involves resonating with the Golden Bough in your head as well, Manager.
Dante <T-that's how it works?>
Outis Does that process not harm the Executive Manager?
Faust No. As you have witnessed it yourself.
Outis Hm. So once it is retrieved... the Golden Bough continues to affect those it resonated with. I see.
Rodion Guys~ Are we done with the boring lectures?
Ryoshu E.W.T.L.
Sinclair 'Enough with the lecture'...
Dante <…….>
Dante Faust, this Dungeon... we have to enter it now, don't we?
It felt like I was going back on my promise, after telling everyone that we could relax. I didn't like this one bit.
But... I think I already knew what Faust was going to say.
Faust Faust suggests that we explore the new zone as soon as we are able.
Faust Mephistopheles is still at a significant distance from the shores, and there are not many activities to do before reaching our next destination. This will be an appropriate exercise for us during this empty period.
Dante <Ugh...>
Outis Executive Manager. I understand that you may feel uncomfortable going against your earlier orders.
Outis But consider the fact that this journey will continue on for quite some time. I believe that the resources and the combat experience that can be gained from this new area would be quite considerable.
I nodded affirmatively. The Sinners each began grumbling and aired their woes... but they still prepared to head into the Dungeons once again.
Thus we entered the newly formed door.