Mission: I'm Possible
Sure enough...
I think we could fit through the ventilation shaft.
And it clearly connects all the way to the annex.
But there's a problem with this plan too.
There's only one entrance into the ventilation shaft.
And it's on the opposite side, far away from the annex.
Going into the shaft blindly when we don't even know how it's laid out...
Heh heh... Hahaha!
Why are you suddenly laughing?
Haha, just watch.
Let's see... Not this...
Don't think I'll need this right now...
Hmm... Ah, here it is!
There. With this, problem solved.
What... is that?
A magitech scanner used by the Kalaid Expedition.
Press the button in the middle to activate it, and it'll instantly map out the surrounding structure.
So once we're inside the ventilation shaft, we just turn this scanner on...
And finding the route to the annex will be a piece of cake!
...!
Ahaha! Feel free to be impressed.
The way of the hunter! Always see farther than everyone else!
All right, now all that's left is to storm the annex, right?
Let's go!
...Wait.
What? Is there still something else?
The other tools we left here.
...Hmm? Don't we barely need any of those? They'll just weigh us down.
That's what I thought too... but let's take a few more.
What, you're finally starting to appreciate the value of my shopping?
Ghh...! I still think you waste money on foolish purchases.
I simply realized... no one can predict what might happen on the battlefield.
Ahaha! No need to be embarrassed. You could just admit I was right!
Hmm... Then... the auto-extending magic rope, the all-purpose multi-tool Mk. 7, and...
Let's take this charm too.
Oh? That's unexpected.
I thought you'd say something like, "I don't believe in superstitions that don't do anything."
...People who fight on battlefields tend to be superstitious.
*Huff...* *Huff...*
It's... way too hot in here...
Of course it is... Two people are crammed into a narrow passage...
Just bear with it a little longer... According to the map... we're almost at the center of the annex...
Nngh...
...?! Did you hear that?
It came from the center of the annex...! Let's hurry.
This is...
I was wondering why there were so few people around Candle Square...
Nnghhh...
They were all being held here.
Treated like cargo...
Look. There's a whole pile of those black stones.
And that huge egg-shaped rock in the middle...
That must be the strange boulder she told us about.
But don't you find this odd?
That person lying on the floor in the corner. Isn't that the maid we saw outside earlier?
Mmm... Nya... Mm...
Looks like her...?
What's going on? There can't be two of the exact same person...
Shh...! Trish. Someone's coming.
Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!
There's no need to be so frightened. Heh heh.
Everything is simply... proceeding according to the natural order.
Mmph...!
L-look at that...!
That dark energy flowing out of the strange boulder...
It's taking human form.
Could it be that... the senior maid of the Kalaid branch, or perhaps all the maids, were in that state?
Was that what felt so strange back then...?
Haha. At last, you've shed your shell and regained your true form. Congratulations.
Ugh... Ngh...
Follow me.
They're... making copies of people...?
Then all those people lying there...
Must have had the same thing done to them.
Ghh...! How could they do this...?
Calm down, Trish. Rescuing the people comes first.
...Right. Then let's get them out of this room first!
Just wait! I'll climb down and—
W-wait...!
Whoa!
Grrr...!
...Munch. Munch...
Snacks while on duty... Grrr...
Somewhere... in a corner... Grrr... to curl up and sleep...
...?
...! Th-that was close...
That black energy covering the floor...
I think those fake humans notice anything that touches it.
That makes things a little more difficult...
Trish. You brought the rope, right?
Yeah. I've got it right here.
Use it to tie our bodies together tightly.
Huh? What? Tie you and me together? What are you planning?
If the strange boulder is the problem, then we remove the problem...!
...It seems the infiltration training I received long ago is finally about to pay off.
I tied us together like you said...
But we're really going down like this?
Don't worry. A descent from this height is nothing compared to what I did in training.
All right, here we go! Hup...!
Ngh...! You good...?
I'm going to lower myself little by little...! Hold on tight, Trish!
That's... easier said than done...!
You think it's easy... holding us up like this...?!
Just a little more...
A little farther and I think I can reach it!
Ghhh...! Fine...!
It's already unbearably hot in here...!
...Wait! I think a drop of sweat is about to fall!
...?! N-no! Trish, hold it just a little longer!
How am I supposed to stop myself from sweating...?!
I-It's falling! No...!
Ngh...!
...Emily?
Phew... It's fine now.
I caught it with the handkerchief from my pocket.
Phew... Thank goodness.
Can you... reach it now?
I can't... hold for much longer...!
Almost there. I've got it...!
Then... we just lift it up, right?
...
Uh, hello?
...I'm sorry.
...What? Why? What now?
This is... much...
Heavier than I expected...!
Whaaat...?! You said I could trust you...!
Tch...! Get back up here! I'll take care of this in one go!
W-wait! Trish! Don't move around! I can't keep my balance...!
Then hurry up and climb back up!
Maybe if I approach it a little more carefully...!
You already failed, so quit arguing...! This is exactly when you need to be bold!
...?!
Stop moving around and hold still! The shaft's going to break!
How am I supposed to stay still while hanging in midair?!
I-it's breaking...!
Waaah!
...Ngh!
Tch! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you from the start!
...I have no excuse.
Hmm... We meet again in quite an unexpected place.
Emily. And Trish.
Grrrr...
We can argue about whose fault this is later. Get ready to fight.
I'm... always ready for combat.
That's good to hear...!
...Here they come!