Aphotic Diffusal

...This is the correspondence from Stingray III. Your Excellency, the situation looks extremely serious.

Thank you, Ueno. Inform Swordfish I to stand by. I'll see to the wounded shortly.

Yes, Ma'am.

Hey, Kokomi! How've you been?

Ah, Traveler, it's you. Glad to have you back on Watatsumi Island. I would have liked to have given you a grand reception, but as you can see...

What's going on?

Not long ago, I hosted the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri. It's the most important ceremony on Watatsumi Island. I'm guessing you'll have heard about it from Tsuyuko—

What? How did you know we were the ones helping out Tsuyuko this whole time?

Ahem. Tsuyuko is one of the more conscientious shrine maidens of Sangonomiya. I knew that handing off the planning of the ceremony to her would play to her strengths.

Based on her description of the person who took the commission, it was quite obviously you.

This is all starting to sound pretty suspicious...

It's a bit late for that now, Paimon.

Anyway. I'm sure Tsuyuko will have told you that the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri is a ceremony to reverse the Holy Soil phenomenon on Watatsumi Island.

It's a bleaching process that slowly turns the earth to "Holy Soil," leaving the land infertile and devastating agricultural production.

Granted, crops aren't our staple food on Watatsumi Island, but I can't allow external forces to drastically alter the people's diet — and we certainly shouldn't be overly reliant on imports...

Paimon doesn't quite follow...

Imagine all you had to eat from now on was radishes, no more fish or meat. Clearer now?

(Opposite day. There's something Paimon can follow.)

That would be terrible!

The issue began with the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri. I did not miss a single step during the ritual and there's no question that the Bloodbranch Coral you retrieved was infused with the Omikami's power...

But it didn't reverse the Holy Soil phenomenon as expected. Instead, it just... paused. This has never happened before in history.

This is ultimately a matter of Watatsumi Island's survival, so I sent as many people as I could spare to Enkanomiya to investigate the situation.

The news from Stingray III was that "All of Enkanomiya is engulfed in a darkness that cannot be dispelled." Additionally, there have also been reports of monsters the likes of which no one has ever seen before.

Strange monsters and... an all-engulfing darkness?

That's all that Stingray III has reported. Their investigation otherwise has yielded no useful information, and the unforgiving environment has caused many casualties so far...

I have sent several rescue teams already, but so far... the situation does not look promising.

It brings me no pleasure to have to ask, but on behalf of all of Watatsumi Island... I beseech you. Please lend us your assistance one more time, Traveler.

Anything for you, Ma'am.

Heh... please don't joke around.

But thank you for once again agreeing to put your life on the line for the sake of our island.

Now, please come with me to meet Tsuyuko.

Your Excellency, Traveler...

I did wonder. Hope you're both having a wonderful date so far.

Ahem... Cut the comedy, Tsuyuko. Or I may have to have you and Naki switch posts next year — in which case, you'd be in charge of Specter Eco-Management on Watatsumi Island.

No need, no need! I'll stop. So since the two of you are here together, I assume it's about Enkanomiya?

Kokomi filled us in on what's been going on.

Oooh, "Kokomi." Hehe... ahem.

Right, well, as I'm sure Her Excellency has told you, an ominous darkness has completely engulfed Enkanomiya. At the same time, strange humanoid monsters have appeared when the place should be completely deserted.

Humanoid... monsters?

Armor that can move on its own. I know it sounds ridiculous, but we're not talking about one spooked soldier hallucinating in the darkness. All the wounded who return to Sangonomiya have described seeing the same thing.

On top of this, even ordinary enemies seem to grow much stronger in the darkness. That's why Stingray III has sustained so many casualties.

There's one other thing that the returning soldiers have mentioned. They say a shrine maiden who calls herself Tsumi has been helping to treat the wounded.

Tsumi? I don't recall there being any record of a shrine maiden by that name in Sangonomiya.

That's the thing, there isn't one. But she held something called a Sentou ceremony, which managed to keep a small area in the very center of Enkanomiya brightly lit.

Thanks to her, the wounded soldiers have a safe zone where they can recuperate.

Sentou... I've seen this term in the Deep-Sea Healing Arts Compendium. But it's a ceremony that only works in Enkanomiya, so it was never brought to Watatsumi Island.

I'd love to meet this Tsumi... But right now, helping the wounded has to be my top priority.

Your Excellency... even if you had no duties at all right now, there's still no way we'd let you go down there.

Enkanomiya is exceedingly dangerous right now. Only pre-eminent warriors like Traveler and Paimon should venture there.

Yup, absolutely, a hundred percent. This is a job only we can handle!

...Tsuyuko, you really get Paimon.

Hehe. We've worked together plenty of times in the past, after all.

Do you have any other information about Tsumi?

It was mentioned that she wears a strange mask that covers the upper half of her face.

How interesting. What is she trying to hide? Mmm...

Your Excellency, in my humblest of opinions, Tsumi has shown nothing but goodwill so far. Since the situation is so critical, we don't have the resources to make other defense arrangements and cast suspicion on our allies.

Mmm, I see what you mean.

I have instructed Swordfish I to proceed to Enkanomiya and continue evacuating the wounded. Traveler, you can go with them.

Swordfish I will escort you to the camp at the center of Enkanomiya.

Also — please take this with you.

What's this? Looks like... a missing piece of something.

It's just a little trinket. When you are faced with a difficult choice, it might be able to help you.

Your Excellency... but... isn't that...?

Watatsumi Island doesn't need it anymore. Besides, both of the other two pieces are in Enkanomiya. If we're lucky enough, this could be our chance to reunite them.

Understood, Your Excellency. Okay... emergency measures to hold the Three Realms Gateway Offering now underway.

Mm. I apologize for the trouble. Now, Traveler, please excuse me, I need to tend to the wounded. Please see Ueno once you're ready.

Are you ready to venture into the dark shroud of Enkanomiya?

Here's hoping I have the chance...

The chance to do what?

Next year, I'm going to apply for Swordfish I to be redeployed into Specter management. 'Cause if it's that or spend more time in Enkanomiya, I'll take my chance with the Specters.

Those armor monsters... closing in on you, "ker-chunk, ker-chunk"... It's the stuff nightmares are made of.

Totally understand.

Anyway. We should be safe for now. There shouldn't be any more danger from here on out.

Hey! Whassup!

It's Yabe... The odd guy from Stingray III.

You seem kinda chipper compared to all the other soldiers.

Do I? Hehehe. I've pretty much always loved horror stories and ghost stories and stuff. Ever since I was a kid. This trip to Enkanomiya is something else, though — totally mind-blowing.

Super fun, 10/10 would come again.

Totally do not understand...

Well, I mean, it's pretty sweet to have the chance to come to Enkanomiya. I actually kinda wanted to look into the Bunkoku Puzzle while I'm here. It's the first of the four great puzzles of Enkanomiya.

Yeah, please don't do that. We're the ones that'll have to come rescue you.

Alright, well never mind that. There's a makeshift camp at the top of those steps over there. Yeah, you should head up and catch some rest if you haven't been there yet.

Have you been to the camp yet? Tsumi's the one that set it up. It's over there at the top of the steps.

Gotta get yourselves familiar with the base of operations before you go venturing into the darkness.

You are... different from all the others. Are you human?

Well Traveler is, obviously! Just not a native of Watatsumi Island, that's all.

And you? A human hatchling?

I doubt it.

Oh, really? Because I thought that humans lose the ability to fly when they reach adulthood, just like Bathysmal Vishaps lose the ability to see in color when they reach maturity.

Tsumi, you seem to know a lot about vishaps.

Wait, how do you know my name?

Oh, the wounded soldiers mentioned you.

Oh.

We came to investigate the darkness.

Greetings, my name is Ueno, acting captain of Swordfish I. We're here to evacuate the wounded and support the Traveler's investigation.

Swordfish I needs to rest and reorganize before commencing the evacuation. I'll see you later.

So you're here to help resolve this, hmm?

Very well. It's taking all the energy I have to keep this light shining. I don't have the strength to try and combat the spreading darkness, too.

Do you understand what's going on?

The Void Realm is invading. The people of Byakuyakoku believe that there are three realms: the Vishap Realm, the Human Realm, and the Void Realm.

The darkness spreading in Enkanomiya comes from the Void Abyss. Neither vishaps nor humans can endure it.

But don't Bathysmal Vishaps like the dark?

No. They hate the light, but only because down here in the depths, the presence of light signifies human activity.

In fact, the Vishap Realm is the realm of pure, primordial elemental beings. It's actually referred to as the Light Realm in most books.

The Seven Sovereigns of the Light Realm are the seven foremost elemental dragons at the pinnacle of the raw and primitive elemental forces.

So that's why Tsuyuko called this the "Three Realms Gateway Offering."

"Three Realms Gateway Offering"... Not far off the mark, actually. But technically, I think it should be called the "Triangle Gateway Offering."

Because the source of the darkness from the void is the three towers at the corners of Enkanomiya's triangular borders.

Oh, the three towers! The ones where we did those trials.

You've been there before?

It's a long story.

Oh.

By the way, Tsumi, what's up with the weird mask?

To hide my face. It has to do with some things that happened as I was growing up. I just don't want to scare anyone, that's all.

Does that make me untrustworthy in your eyes?

No, not at all. You've been helping the wounded all this time, everyone must be super grateful to you. It's just that...

It looks like they're resting. Let's not disturb them.

Hello, what can I help you with?

Hi there. We wanted to ask you what you know about the masked shrine maiden, Tsumi.

I see, I see. What're you looking to know, exactly? I've tried asking if she's seeing anyone, y'know, or whether she's looking right now... but she seems pretty tight-lipped about her love life.

That's... not what we meant at all. We were more wondering... do you think there's anything suspicious about her?

"Suspicious," huh... suspicion, the unknowable, the unpredictable... unexplored territory... Mysterious? Enigmatic? Enchanting. Bewitching. Compelling, addicting. Yeah. Know what I'm saying?

Be serious.

I am being serious!

Okay, look — if I had to pick one thing about her that's suspicious, I'd say... okay, two things. Number one, her mask. It's pretty scary, I don't know why she chose it.

Number two, some kind of pendant fell out of her sleeve when she was bandaging me up. It looked like it was a broken-off piece of something. So maybe when you put them together, it makes a whole.

Huh, maybe the other half is held by Tsumi's lifelong sweetheart...

Sounds like you hit the nail on the head. So you know, maybe ease off a little, bro?

Greetings.

Hello. We'd like to ask you about the masked shrine maiden, Tsumi.

Because of her strange mask?

Well, you've come to the right person.

Cool!

I was one of the first people that she rescued. Straight away, I thought there was something very weird going on... Who is this shrine maiden who knows the lost ceremonies of Enkanomiya, and why is she covering her face with a mask?

So I started pestering her about it. I wasn't going to let up until I got an answer.

And?

There weren't so many people around at that time, so eventually, she let me look behind the mask. It was actually pretty normal for the most part. There's just one thing she's trying to hide.

Her eyes have snake-like pupils. Thin vertical lines.

Whoa! Weren't you scared?

I probably would have been, if every Watatsumi Islander wasn't so familiar with our legends... or I should say, our history.

The first familiars of the Watatsumi Omikami were the Vassals of Watatsumi. Legend has it that they are a half-human, half-snake kind who helped our ancestors fight back the Bathysmal Vishaps.

They were said to have disappeared long ago. But then Tsumi showed up, and as soon as I saw her snake eyes, I instinctively trusted her. It's like the vassals have returned to help us in our moment of need.

Huh...

I'm no expert, by any means. But I think Tsumi can be trusted.

Specter Eco-Management... I hear Liyue has a program to get rid of rats, cockroaches, flies, and barnacles.

Specter Eco-Management must be the same kind of thing.

So here's what we learned from the soldiers.

Tsumi's mask hides her snake-eyes, which the people of Watatsumi Island believe to be a distinguishing feature of Orobaxi's vassals.

Based on her actions, it seems like all she wants to do is protect the people of Watatsumi Island. And from what she said, she's doing everything she can to combat the darkness spreading in Enkanomiya.

So she seems pretty trustworthy.

Then let's go talk to her about working together.

So, how's it going? Have you made a decision?

Yep. Let's team up to tackle the darkness.

Okay. Then, take this.

It's called the Bokuso Box. I found it in the Dainichi Mikoshi when I was looking for a solution.

Actually, the Dainichi Mikoshi was where I found the method and tools for the Sentou Ceremony. Lucky I can read human writing.

...Uhh, why wouldn't you be able to? Or did you mean it's lucky that you can read the ancient Enkanomiyan script?

Oh, uh, nothing. I just meant the script in the Deep-Sea Healing Arts Compendium. I don't actually know if it's ancient or modern.

I'm getting more confused the more you try to explain.

Never mind all that. Let's get back to business.

The Bokuso Box collects light. It can dispel the darkness from the Void within a small radius.

So for example, with the power of the Bokuso Box, you can turn monsters affected by the darkness back into their original forms.

As it happens, there are some monsters causing trouble around the camp. Go and try out the Bokuso Box on them. I will join you shortly.

You're a good fighter.

You bet. We were the ones who went and got the Bloodbranch Coral that one time, after all.

...!

You...! So you...

Wh—What's wrong?

Nothing. If what you say is true, then I'm sure that you'll be able to conquer the three border towers quite easily.

Also, there are a few things I need to explain to you.

According to what I have read, the fundamental purpose of the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri is to use the serpent god's life force to awaken its second familiars: the Sangacorallia.

They are creatures that break down raw, primitive elemental energy into the milder elemental energy of the human realm. The giant coral is a symbol that the Sangacorallia have been awakened by the serpent's blood.

The mass awakening of the Sangacorallia causes a transformation in the ecological environment of Enkanomiya.

Makes sense. Even if you took away the darkness and the monsters, Enkanomiya would still look pretty different now with all the new plants and ore around.

Things are even more complicated than usual this time. The darkness from the Void Realm seems to be suppressing things in the Light Realm and the Human Realm, causing them to come to a standstill.

You may need to use the power of the Bokuso Box to dispel the darkness and allow the ecological transformation to continue.

Please try to solve the problem using the Bokuso Box.

I'll wait for an update from you under the statue over there.

It seems that you have mastered the Bokuso Box. Now, let me tell you about the ultimate purpose of this operation.

As I said, we need to proceed to the three towers on Enkanomiya's borders. They are Towers of the Void, restored to their original form by a certain Abyss adherent.

Abyss adherent? Wait, do you mean...

He's a purveyor of incessant nonsense. Somehow, he found out about the Three Realms and the three corners, and brought those things in using Abyssal technology.

Then, he started disseminating Abyssal energy using the towers. This caused great suffering for both the Sangacorallia and the Bathysmal Vishaps.

I don't know why he is doing this. For us, the Abyss is highly toxic, for them... intoxicating is more the word. Addictive, but still destructive.

Maybe he just likes to toy with people and stab them in the back.

Paimon knows exactly who you're talking about.

You know him? Then it seems we have a common enemy.

Oh, you bet we do!

To get rid of the darkness, you need to climb to the very top of the Towers of the Void and activate the Light Realm Chisel, which will let in the energy of the Light Realm.

In Enkanomiya, the Ley Lines of the Human Realm, the elemental currents of the Light Realm, and the dark currents of the Void Realm are all exceptionally strong.

Also, I only performed the Sentou Ceremony going off the steps in the book. But I believe the key to the ceremony is the statue in front of us.

You can offer crystals of Light Realm energy to it to increase the Bokuso Box's power. Also, resting here can restore the box's energy.

Please take this hand-drawn map. I've marked out the locations of the three towers for you. You'll need to explore one step at a time, and I'd recommend you start with this tower.

Well, that's as much help as I can offer you. I'll be waiting here for the good news.

Not yet.

Please make sure you are fully prepared.

So, how's it going? Have you made a decision?

Uhh... Still thinking things over.

Nothing wrong with that. Even if you're just too afraid to venture out, no one can blame you.

Let's go.

Alright. Follow me.

Please, go and fend off the monsters. Don't forget to use the power of the box.

I'm going to observe the movement of the darkness. I'll catch up with you shortly.

How is it going? Any interesting results so far?

As long as Tsumi stays around, we shouldn't have any problems.

I can feel a beard coming on. Oh! Do you guys think shaving it with a weapon would work?

Come on, man, please! My whole life depends on this!

I don't know any other girls, okay? There's no one I can introduce you to.

No, no, not that. There's no mirror here, so could you trim my beard for me? Just use your weapon, it'll be fine.

I've met newly planted carrots with bushier beards than you. I think you're good.

...This is the correspondence from Stingray III. Your Excellency, the situation looks extremely serious.

Thank you, Ueno. Inform Swordfish I to stand by. I'll see to the wounded shortly.

Yes, Ma'am.

Hey, Kokomi! How've you been?

Ah, Captain of Swordfish II. Glad to have you back on Watatsumi Island. I would have liked to have given you a grand reception, but as you can see...

What's going on?

Not long ago, I hosted the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri. It's the most important ceremony on Watatsumi Island. I'm guessing you'll have heard about it from Tsuyuko—

What? How did you know we were the ones helping out Tsuyuko this whole time?

Ahem. Tsuyuko is one of the more conscientious shrine maidens of Sangonomiya. I knew that handing off the planning of the ceremony to her would play to her strengths.

Based on her description of the person who took the commission, it was quite obviously you.

This is all starting to sound pretty suspicious...

It's a bit late for that now, Paimon.

Anyway. I'm sure Tsuyuko will have told you that the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri is a ceremony to reverse the Holy Soil phenomenon on Watatsumi Island.

It's a bleaching process that slowly turns the earth to "Holy Soil," leaving the land infertile and devastating agricultural production.

Granted, crops aren't our staple food on Watatsumi Island, but I can't allow external forces to drastically alter the people's diet — and we certainly shouldn't be overly reliant on imports...

Paimon doesn't quite follow...

Imagine all you had to eat from now on was radishes, no more fish or meat. Clearer now?

(Opposite day. There's something Paimon can follow.)

That would be terrible!

The issue began with the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri. I did not miss a single step during the ritual and there's no question that the Bloodbranch Coral you retrieved was infused with the Omikami's power...

But it didn't reverse the Holy Soil phenomenon as expected. Instead, it just... paused. This has never happened before in history.

This is ultimately a matter of Watatsumi Island's survival, so I sent as many people as I could spare to Enkanomiya to investigate the situation.

The news from Stingray III was that "All of Enkanomiya is engulfed in a darkness that cannot be dispelled." Additionally, there have also been reports of monsters the likes of which no one has ever seen before.

Strange monsters and... an all-engulfing darkness?

That's all that Stingray III has reported. Their investigation otherwise has yielded no useful information, and the unforgiving environment has caused many casualties so far...

I have sent several rescue teams already, but so far... the situation does not look promising.

It brings me no pleasure to have to ask, but on behalf of all of Watatsumi Island... I beseech you. Please lend us your assistance one more time, Traveler.

Anything for you, Ma'am.

Heh... please don't joke around.

But thank you for once again agreeing to put your life on the line for the sake of our island.

Now, please come with me to meet Tsuyuko.

I don't want to see another masked shrine maiden disappear...

Can't say I really understand what you're talking about.

Anyway, if you want to rid this darkness from Enkanomiya, you can come to me for guidance. Of course... if you can trust me.

I'm going inside to tend to the wounded and check in with the new arrivals. Please excuse me.

What're we gonna do, Traveler? Paimon really wants to trust Tsumi, but...

How about we go ask the wounded?

I don't want to be betrayed again.

Me neither. I hate betrayal too.

First the darkness, then monsters, then patrol missions... Guess we're not going anywhere else any time soon.

Maybe I'll go for a little adventure in the Dainichi Mikoshi when we change shifts.

About the three towers...

Each of the towers is positioned on top of a leyline junction, and they are used to maintain balance between vishaps, the Abyss, and humans.

After being modified by that person, they are currently enhancing the powers of the Abyss.

About you, Tsumi...

I am of little note.

Just one life among many. My present concerns are how to survive... and how to help my brethren.

About the Sentou...

The Sentou ceremony used to be used to chase vishaps away. This is the clash between the human and vishap realms.

Once the Daninichi Mikoshi was built, the Sentou ceremony was used less and less. However, as a secret art of the human realm, it can certainly still serve as an effective measure against the darkness.

I'm still working on it.

I look forward to your success.

I am the Jibashiri Kurai. Are you here to help solve the problem of these small orbs of thunder?

Ah, yes, when I went to Narukami Island to conduct an exchange previously, I used a secret technique to capture some strange objects.

I think the academic name for it is an Electro Seele. Or something.

They fly all over the place, and numb all the people living here. It's quite vexing...

How are your efforts to clear the darkness away going?

The wounded are being evacuated swiftly. There's nothing to worry about on that front.

But I fear that we haven't the strength to continue exploring and help you break through this darkness.

Tsumi, we did it!

I can tell. It looks like all three towers have been successfully taken care of.

The evacuation is now going much more quickly thanks to the improved environmental conditions. Most of the soldiers have gotten out...

But it seems like something happened that I hadn't foreseen. Please come with me.

There's darkness churning inside the Dainichi Mikoshi!

Logically speaking, all of Enkanomiya should be back to normal by now...

Unfortunately, this place has now become the most dangerous of all. I don't know why this is happening or what to do about it.

But what I can tell you is the location of the guy behind all of this. I'm going to have to ask you to confront him and make him reveal his whole plan.

How did this happen?

I've been observing the flow of the darkness and I've noticed something peculiar.

There was a faint vortex continuously absorbing the darkness. I can only assume that the flow must be triggered by his need for Abyssal energy.

He is extremely dangerous. Even most vishaps would be no match for him...

Music to my ears. Thank you.

If I have deduced correctly, he should be in the library area right now.

Oh, hey. I would say this is a nice surprise, but... it's really not that surprising. Look at you, venturing out into the darkness, doggedly fighting your way through, just to come and see me.

You're the only person I can think of who could actually pull that off. Still, what's with you joining forces with them? Didn't expect that.

You're just trying to stall for time with small talk again!

...Huh. I guess maybe you're not so clued up after all.

Look, I understand that seeing me has gotten you a little agitated. But frankly, the fact that you're still so fired up and raring to go after the long journey here is a bit of a problem for me.

So let's burn off that excess energy with a little exercise, huh! Just to calm you down enough to hear me out.

Stop, stop! My life is flashing before my eyes!

Oh, then I'm not finished just yet!

That woman, with the slender pupils, what does she call herself?

Huh, how do you know about her?

Her name. What is it?

She calls herself Tsumi.

Hmph. That Reptilian seems to be doing a pretty good job of human imitation.

Reptilian...

Makes sense, doesn't it? The Bathysmal Vishaps are a highly intelligent and fast-evolving kind. There have been legends about this for over a thousand years now.

The "Vishap-people."

"Vishap-people"? Huh, sounds like the kind of nickname Paimon comes up with all the time.

Well this one comes from an old Enkanomiyan legend. When the Bathysmal Vishaps were defeated, they began evolving to survive. That is to say, they imitated the victors.

Eventually, this gave rise to a line of vishaps who were indistinguishable from humans except for their pupils. These were the Vishap-people. The story goes that they gradually infiltrated Enkanomiya and took over many high-ranking positions.

Remind you of anyone?

We did hear that Tsumi's pupils are vertical...

Yep. In good lighting, you can see that reptiles' pupils are thin, vertical lines. That's hard evidence that she's betrayed you right there.

But she's been helping us.

She is just using you to get revenge on me. I mean, I betrayed them first.

I formed an alliance with the vishaps. I said I'd plunge all of Enkanomiya into darkness so they could send their elites into the Dainichi Mikoshi and rescue their captive kin.

In return, they'd allow the Abyss Order safe passage through their territory and help me rebuild the three towers.

But they didn't know that the darkness of the Abyss was a terrible poison to elemental beings.

So they thought you had betrayed them?

I mean, I totally did betray them. To be fair, it'd be pretty humiliating for the Abyss Order if we unleashed the power of the Abyss on them and they were just frolicking around with no side effects.

You are pure evil!

Well, here's where we are now: Once she's done with you, she'll use the power of the Dainichi Mikoshi to suppress the Sangacorallia and create darkness to protect the vishaps.

They are probably diving down into the depths to rescue their imprisoned companions as we speak. It won't be long before the source of Bloodbranch Coral is completely cut off.

Hmm, poor Bathysmal Vishaps, but still...

If you still want to save Watatsumi Island, you're gonna have to hurry.

You can use the mechanism I left behind to guide the light and dispel the darkness in the Dainichi Mikoshi.

We don't believe a single word that comes out of your mouth!

Ugh, come on guys, do you honestly have another choice?

This is just another fruitless trip to Enkanomiya for me at this point. But no biggie. I'm just a marginal figure in the Order.

Unlike those who are falling over themselves to serve our Highness, I'm interested in more inconsequential things.

Yikes, I think I'm all out of time here. I'd better go. I would say "see ya," but... I probably won't. Here, I've got a parting gift for you. It's something I picked up at the Dainichi Mikoshi.

This looks like part of the same set as the one that Kokomi gave us... Wait, now's not the time for that...

Ugh, Paimon's so angry! He got away again!

We can't trust that guy, even if he sounds like he's making sense. So let's go back to Tsumi and ask her about all this.

Oh no, Tsumi's gone...

We couldn't have missed her on the way here...

...Why does it always end like this.

Aw, c'mon, it's okay. Don't be sad.

On the bright side, most of the soldiers have been successfully evacuated. If any vishaps did come through here just now, at least no one will have gotten hurt.

Even though just thinking about that guy drives Paimon nuts, it seems we've got no choice but to give what he said a shot. Let's get some light in here.

Paimon's shocked. It actually worked!

For once, he didn't lie to us.

Technically speaking, he's never really lied to us.

Well maybe with his sneaky way of explaining things, he doesn't have to! Why does Paimon feel like you two have reached some sort of mutual understanding!? That is not okay!

The Dainichi Mikoshi should be accessible again now. Let's get down there and see.

After a careful headcount, it seems like the baby vishaps aren't here anymore. Guess they got rescued...

If the Bathysmal Vishaps really did come down here, that means that guy was telling the truth...

So... Tsumi really is a Vishap-person?

But we still haven't seen her anywhere. Where the heck is she?

*sigh* Whatever. Let's head back up.

It's Tsumi! Uh, what is she doing in front of the Dainichi Mikoshi?

Since you came back, I'm curious to know — did our rescue operation succeed?

Some baby vishaps were rescued before we got there. But the old and weak vishaps went back in the water to hide after we defeated the elites.

Um, Tsumi... Are you really a Vishap-person?

I have no intention of explaining anything. Although I can communicate with you, I know all too well that interaction with humans can only end in betrayal.

The conflict between our two kinds will go on forever.

Before I leave, I'm going to destroy this light.

You think you have what it takes?

Do not come any closer. And don't even think about trying to sneak up on me.

This tower seems to hear my wishes... I just need to think the thought and it will change its brightness.

And if I so desire, it will collapse before me.

With the cognitive equivalent of a click of the fingers, I could destroy this source of great pain for the vishaps.

So why... why can't I do it...?

Oh no, this is way more serious than losing access to the Bloodbranch Coral! What're we gonna do, Traveler?

It's...

It's a pendant in the shape of... are those three entwined snakes?

This pendant has been with me for as long as I can remember. Why does it fit with your two pieces?

I think deep down, you already know the answer.

Don't be ridiculous. Are you trying to say that... that I...

Paimon doesn't understand... This one is Kokomi's, this one is from the Dainichi Mikoshi, and Tsumi's has been with her all along...

You belong to Watatsumi Island.

...

I grew up with the vishaps. My only possessions were this pendant and a few boxes of books. I learned human language and writing from them.

But not long after that, Enkanomiya was left without a single human being. It became completely empty.

Only recently did I finally have the chance to make contact with humans and learn what the things I'd read in the books really meant.

Tsumi...

There is a saying in your human books that I've never understood until right now.

"People belong where they are born, but creatures belong where they are fed." I am a vishap, not a human. So I'm going back to where I belong.

I guess the Dainichi Mikoshi isn't my concern. But we'll be back one day.

Tsumi is gone.

Why did she suddenly change her mind in the end?

Maybe Kokomi knows.

Right. Kokomi will have definitely anticipated this possibility. That would be why she gave us the pendant fragment in the first place.

Everything's resolved here. Let's go back and tell her.

Hey, Kokomi!

Ah, you're back. The soldiers briefed me about what happened.

You successfully worked with a shrine maiden named Tsumi to clear the darkness, but then there was an unexpected change at the Dainichi Mikoshi. Is that so?

Yeah, that's right. But after that is where things started to get all kinds of weird.

Really?

Uhh, sorry, Kokomi... Paimon feels kinda bad that we ended up giving your pendant away.

There's no need to apologize. As I said, Watatsumi Island has no further need for it.

It's a relic from back in the very beginning, when the Watatsumi Omikami reorganized the court and reformed Enkanomiya. The three pendants were given to the Dainichi Mikoshi, the Sangonomiya line, and the Vassals of Watatsumi.

The original intention was that the common folk, the officials, and the divine vassals would all hold each other accountable. But today, only the common folk have flourished, while the other two bloodlines have declined. So the pendant is of little use anymore.

Funny you should say vassals... One of the soldiers seemed to think that Tsumi was one of those. But actually, her vertical pupils meant that she was a reptile... She fooled us all.

That's not true. Vassals of Watatsumi typically take on a half-human, half-snake form, symbolizing that they are the familiars of our serpent god. At least, they used to. Over time, the vassals gradually became identical to humans — all except for the pupils of their eyes.

But Vishap-people and Reptilians... they're pure fiction. There is no evidence for their existence anywhere among Sangonomiya's classified documents.

Oh, so Tsumi isn't actually a vishap?

The Watatsumi Omikami exhausted its power to create Watatsumi Island, and after that, it grew weaker and weaker. No more Vassals of Watatsumi were born after that. But the records do mention the very last of the vassals...

All our hopes were placed onto her. She was going to be the one who could communicate between the vishaps and the humans. But when she was just an infant girl, she and her guardian shrine maiden were attacked by vishaps at the border of Enkanomiya. Her whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

Most believe she died that day. But some believe she was raised by the vishaps.

The people of Watatsumi owe a great debt of gratitude to the Vassals of Watatsumi. Now that the vishaps and Watatsumi Islanders no longer have a territorial dispute, I sincerely hope that she will find her way to where she belongs... wherever that is for her.

What a story...

Still, now that we know how Bloodbranch Coral works, I, as Divine Priestess of Sangonomiya, may need to think of a new way to counteract the Holy Soil phenomenon.

For the time being, however, the issue is resolved, and all thanks to you. Watatsumi Island will be at peace for many decades to come.

I can't thank you enough.