arrow_back 原神 任务 
Mean Streets of the Despicable
While on the road, you witness members of a Snezhnayan gang oppressing members of its citizenry. You step in and resolve the problem, but a far more complex situation lies behind this seemingly tiny conflict.
Ishogu:
Who's there!?
Ishogu:
Someone's moving the goods! Help!
Paimon:
Uh-oh, they've spotted us, 旅行者! Time to scoot!
Paimon:
They're closing in from both sides! What do we do...
Traveler:
Up onto the roof!
Meselson:
Bloody hell! That blonde's got up to the train car roof!
Lorie:
Stinkin' human thieves. "Young Sire" was right. Humans are a shameless race, just like the Luchkin lot.
Lorie:
Nowhere to run now, little crook! Time to die!
Lorie:
Come on, human scum!
Lorie:
Laying your hands on "Young Sire"'s goods... How dare you!
Lorie:
Curses...
Lorie:
You're... pretty good...
Lorie:
Heh... That all you got...?
Lorie:
Too... fast...
Lorie:
"Young Sire"... Think I'm... done...
Lindenovich:
You're over the line, Vseslav. This isn't your business.
Lindenovich:
Get outta my way!
Vseslav:
Luchkin territory, Luchkin rules. We'll be the ones managing this.
Vseslav:
Have you forgotten the rules we follow? It's there in black and white: "No harm to families, no abuse of the women and children." Or do you Izmaylovs not remember that nowadays?
Lindenovich:
And you're gonna stop us, then?
Paimon:
Did something happen?
Traveler:
Looks like two groups have gotten into a disagreement.
Lindenovich:
One more time, Vseslav. One more time I'll tell you. Keep your noses out of this. The "Old Sire" also said this: "Debts are to be repaid. Always!"
Marfa:
Please... Just give us a few days. Just a few more days! You've already taken Papa to the lumberyard to pay back the debt... and Mama can't work due to injury.
Marfa:
It's just Grandma and me at home now... I... I didn't mean not to pay! Grandma and I... We're selling dolls to help with Papa's debt!
Marfa:
Soon... Very soon. We can make seven dolls a day. We just need four, no, three more days! Please. Three more days, and we can pay back what we owe for this month!
Lindenovich:
Three days, huh... That's what the last guy told us. And guess what? We caught him that same night, in the underground gambling dens.
Lindenovich:
No one who owes a debt ever thinks about how they got there in the first place, eh... Let me tell you something, girl. You break trust, and you find yourself slipping down the slope to becoming trash, you hear?
Marfa:
*sob* ...But you were the ones who came early...
Paimon:
Hey! What do you think you're doing, bullying a little girl like that?
Lindenovich:
And what hole did you two crawl out from, huh? First Luchkins, and now some blond "ally of justice" and a Vila kid...
Lindenovich:
If I knew this job was gonna be this tiring, I'd have swapped with that bugger Lorie.
Lindenovich:
Enough. You bloody debtors are always repeating the same old sob story. I'm done listening to that drivel.
Lindenovich:
You really want to stick your neck out for this lass? Don't you forget the shape we beat you into last time... Hehaha...
Vseslav:
...
Lindenovich:
But if that's what you want... You know the rules. Draw your sword!
Vseslav:
I... Even if I get beaten, I won't...
Traveler:
Why don't you let me take it from here?
Vseslav:
Wait, you don't have to...
Paimon:
Oh, don't worry, just leave it to 旅行者. No one who picks on little girls is worth worrying about!
Lindenovich:
Pfft. Idiots all. Don't know what's good for them... The "rules" were made to settle disputes between gangs... But if someone wants to play proxy, I don't see why not.
Lindenovich:
Alright then, blondie. Bring it. Let's see if you can back those words up!
Traveler:
Any rules I should take note of?
Lindenovich:
Both sides will use the weapon in their hands, and nothing else.
Lindenovich:
The Old Sire himself taught us to focus on our own strength. Victory or defeat will be decided by our swords and the courage to wield them!
Traveler:
I see. In that case, I've got this.
Lindenovich:
Hmph. You've got more stones than Vseslav, if nothing else. Well then. Let's do this!
Lindenovich:
Heh... Show me what you've got!
Lindenovich:
Tch. That it?
Lindenovich:
Not bad... C'mon!
Lindenovich:
Ugh. Got careless...
Lindenovich:
Pretty good. You're fast...
Lindenovich:
Good sword-arm... It's my loss.
Lindenovich:
Looks like your bite's not as good as your bark...
Lindenovich:
Gah... Where'd they find you, anyway... You've got good moves...
Vseslav:
Lindenovich... According to the "rules."
Lindenovich:
I know. A loss is a loss. I'll give you two days. We'll be back then.
Lindenovich:
And if you think you can escape, girl, you've got another thing coming!
Marfa:
*sob*...
Vseslav:
It's okay, Marfa. It'll be alright, I promise...
Vseslav:
Ah, right, and thank you for the help, you two! If you hadn't stepped in, I'm not sure if I could've gotten out of this one in one piece...
Vseslav:
I'm Vseslav, and I'm with the Luchkins. What are yours?
Paimon:
Paimon's Paimon, and this is 旅行者!
Marfa:
I... well. I'm Marfa. Thank you so much!
Paimon:
Oh, it was alright. Also, who was that guy anyway? Y'know, that Linde-something guy...
Marfa:
He's Papa's creditor. Papa owes them tons of money because of his gambling habit. They even took him away...
Vseslav:
They're with the Izmaylovs...
Traveler:
And the Izmaylovs are...
Sofya:
One of the gangs in Snezhnaya. They're the biggest, but they're also the most rotten lot.
Sofya:
Their leader, the Young Sire... has been making some real moves lately.
Sofya:
The gang's appetite for Mora's gone up by leaps and bounds, and they've even started harassing women and kids for money...
Sofya:
Utterly infuriating.
Sofya:
Ah! I almost forgot to introduce myself. Greetings. I am Sofya Pavlovna Zaitseva, a fae of the Luchkin, one who stands for justice.
Sofya:
You're as skilled as the legends say, 旅行者.
Traveler:
I see I'm famous around these parts...
Sofya:
The "outland traveler"... We've all heard something or another about you by now.
Sofya:
Well, the Izmaylovs are targeting more people like Marfa, and those people have come to us Luchkins for help... but their numbers are as an endless stream...
Sofya:
We carry righteousness in our hearts...
Vseslav:
But righteousness will not pay their debts...
Sofya:
Well, indeed, justice is rarely worth much Mora.
Marfa:
I—It's fine. If they show up in two days, Grandma and I... We'll have the money to pay up!
Sofya:
This time, sure, but what about next time? The interest on Mora borrowed compounds, and you can barely pay that interest as-is...
Marfa:
*sob*...
Paimon:
Whoa, those Izmaylov guys are horrible!
Sofya:
Many Snezhnayan gangs were founded to protect the people... but the Izmaylovs' have broken with the "rules" as they were first laid down.
Sofya:
They've become blood-sucking insects perched on the bodies of the citizenry...
Sofya:
It's just a shame that we lack the strength to challenge them. If not, I'm sure we would put a stop to their abuses...
Paimon:
C'mon, 旅行者. These guys are beyond awful! Let's help!
Sofya:
If you'd be willing to help, we're prepared to provide some compensation...
Paimon:
Ohh...
Sofya:
Of course, when I say "some," I do in fact mean... "satisfactory."
Paimon:
旅行者...
Traveler:
Alright, alright, if you're compensating us...
Paimon:
Hehe...
Sofya:
Alright. In that case, please come with me. I suspect our leader would have to have some words with you.
Traveler:
Your leader, huh?
Sofya:
Yes. I have a feeling that Mr. Zmei will be happy to see you.
Sofya:
The fae once ruled Snezhnaya, and most in our gang are also fae... but since the Tsaritsa took the throne, humans have been held higher in her favor...
Sofya:
Mr. Zmei, being human, has an easier time communicating with those in power than we do...
Sofya:
I'll bet he's mulling over what to do about the Izmaylovs as we speak. Anyway, come with me!
Soderhan:
Hey, Evgenyi. Wanna get some drinks later at night?
Evgenyi:
Don't remind me... I've got work to do at night. Maybe things will get better in a bit...
Soderhan:
What's your job anyway? Seriously, it's been ages since we've been to Kvasnik!
Evgenyi:
I mean, it's not like you don't know... Lately, the gang's been... *sigh*
Zmei:
Ah, Sofya, you're back... How did things go with Marfa?
Sofya:
Things went fine... thanks to these two. Zmei, this is 旅行者, and this is Paimon.
Zmei:
Ah, so you're the rumored... On behalf of Marfa and all in Snezhnograd who suffer under the Izmaylovs' boot, I thank you both.
Paimon:
Hehe, aw shucks, it's nothing!
Zmei:
My name is Zmei Luchkin. I... guide the Luchkin on their path.
Zmei:
Just call me Zmei.
Iryna:
Iryna Nikolayevna Voronina.
Paimon:
Uh... hi there.
Zmei:
Haha, well, that's Iryna for you. She's the one who enforces the "rules" here, and has done so long enough that she might appear... a little hard. But I assure you, she's as warm-hearted as they come!
Zmei:
Iryna's workload has grown heavier ever since the Old Sire passed, and that's weighed her mood down lately...
Zmei:
And recently, there's been this ugly business with the Izmaylovs...
Sofya:
Ah, right. I was just going to mention that. 旅行者 and Paimon have agreed to help us teach those louts a lesson...
Zmei:
Oh? Well, that's... the best news I've heard of late, I must say! Is it true? Will the two of you help?
Zmei:
Haha, no one told me you were such a funny person... That said, though, we cannot settle the Izmaylov affair with courage alone.
Zmei:
Let's see, where should I begin... Ah, yes. With the debt collection, I suppose. They've been collecting across a vast area recently, regardless of whether the debtors can pay up or not.
Sofya:
Marfa is one such example...
Zmei:
This isn't something that a gang would normally do. Do this often enough, and no one will ever borrow money from you again. Even so, the Izmaylovs are doing it...
Paimon:
That's... Uh, that's gotta mean that they need tons of Mora!
Zmei:
Precisely, Miss Paimon! They need tons of Mora, and my sources tell me they've been using this Mora to rent many a train carriage...
Paimon:
To pay for a trip, maybe?
Iryna:
Pfft...
Zmei:
Ahaha! I'm afraid that renting cars for trips doesn't cost that much... Instead, I imagine they're using the Snezhnayan rail system to move some goods in secret...
Zmei:
That's generally how the world works. If you do things in the open, then you'll more or less pay fair prices. But if you do something in secret, it'll cost you extra.
Traveler:
So, what are they moving?
Sofya:
They're moving raw materials that could very well be used to construct a device that can open a Shadow Realm...
Iryna:
Sofya!
Sofya:
...Oh.
Zmei:
...It's fine, Iryna. If... If we're serious about asking for 旅行者's help, we should lay our cards on the table.
Zmei:
It's as Sofya says... Izmaylov's Young Sire is finding a way to open a gate to the Shadow Realm...
Paimon:
The Shadow Realm... Hmm, you're talking about that weird space that we entered along with Alyosha back then...
Zmei:
Ah, I see you've already entered one such Realm. Well, I'll be frank, everything related to these Shadow Realms is dangerous, whether it's the Realms themselves or the things within them...
Zmei:
The Old Sire once prohibited any of us from touching that business. As the "rules" had it, such matters were to be left to the Druzhna and the Energy Commission.
Zmei:
If the Young Sire does intend to do something related to them, we'll have to move fast to stop him before he succeeds.
Zmei:
So, the order of the day is to identify the cargo they're carrying... which we'll have to trouble the two of you to do.
Traveler:
Isn't this a job for your informants?
Sofya:
...Well, ah, we really don't have that much manpower to spare, you know...
Iryna:
And Sofya failed to complete her mission. In fact, she wound up alerting the other party.
Sofya:
Well, it's not my fault security was so tight! Three or four huge Izmaylov thugs were on me before I could get even a little closer...
Zmei:
We can't blame Sofya for that. The fact is that we've crossed paths with the Izmaylovs too many times, and we know each other too well... which can't be said for 旅行者.
Paimon:
Oh, right! And they'll be less on guard with us, because we're new faces!
Iryna:
Exactly.
Paimon:
So, how will we find the train they're using to transport the cargo?
Zmei:
We've received reports that the Izmaylovs will be sending a cargo batch from the Snezhnograd train station... We'll need you to board that train and find the raw materials...
Zmei:
If you could bring some of that cargo back, that would be best.
Traveler:
Haha, so this is going to be a train heist...
Sofya:
A righteous heist for a righteous thief! Theft isn't theft if it's villains you're up against! You know what they say, "steal from villains what they wish to steal, and they shall steal nothing at all!"
Paimon:
That doesn't sound like any proverb Paimon knows... Something's getting stolen either way, right? Anyway, it sounds like you already know what train it'll be.
Zmei:
I don't know...
Paimon:
...Or are you gonna make us look for it ourselves?
Zmei:
Oh, no need. We don't know which train they're using for the cargo run, but we do know who's in charge of the shipment. It's a small Volkodlak who goes by Lorie...
Zmei:
So long as we track him, we'll find the vehicle they're using to transport the raw materials.
Zmei:
You'll have to be careful, though. If they discover you, all that work will go to waste... Also, Sofya will be in charge of picking you two up.
Zmei:
Although... Well, either way, she's a reliable Luchkin.
Sofya:
What do you mean, "although"!?
Zmei:
Alright, alright. Go get ready, Sofya.
Zmei:
Once again, 旅行者, Paimon, let me express my thanks for your willingness to help.
Paimon:
Oh, relax, it's just s— secretly swiping some samples. We've done this a billion times already, right, 旅行者?
Traveler:
Oh, yes, we're old hands.
Paimon:
That's right!
Zmei:
In that case, I'll be waiting here... I look forward to hearing good news from you.
Lorie:
Hey, you there. Have tonight's goods arrived?
Emaciated Volkodlak Worker:
They're already on the platform.
Lorie:
Hmph. The Young Sire will have your head on a pike if anything goes wrong — assuming I don't gut you first.
Emaciated Volkodlak Worker:
I'm watching it personally! Everything will be fine, sir, so please! Please be at ease.
Paimon:
There he is! That's our guy, Lorie!
Sofya:
Right. That's your mark...
Sofya:
You'll have to stick close to find the train they're using... But take care not to be discovered. Best case scenario? You grab the sample before the train departs.
Sofya:
Good luck, you two.
Lorie:
Finished checking the goods, Kirov? Meselson, go to the back and get Ishogu to swap with you. Good work out there these past few days.
Kirov:
You got it, chief.
Meselson:
Ishogu? Where's that guy gone off to... You two get some rest first, I'll go bring him back here!
Paimon:
Looks like they're changing shifts. C'mon, 旅行者, this might be our chance to sneak in!
Paimon:
He's at the station, 旅行者.
Paimon:
What do we do now?
Paimon:
Yeah!
Lorie:
Hurry it up! If tonight's stock ends up arriving tomorrow, The Butcher's gonna show us where he got the name.
Lorie:
To the station, quick! And get those goods loaded up to the freight carriage in the back...
Paimon:
There are so many people at the station. Are there that many on a normal day?
Paimon:
Huh? Where'd he go? Stange... did he go left or right earlier?
Panicked Passenger:
Oh, goodness, Ciliona! Are we headed the wrong way?
Tired Passenger:
Morga... I think this is the wrong way...
Transport Bureau Safety Officer:
Ladies, gentlemen, please remain calm!
Paimon:
So many people... but no sign of that Volkodlak.
Paimon:
Uh oh, 旅行者, looks like we lost him...
Traveler:
(Hmm, seems we headed the wrong way...)
Izmaylov Guard:
No unauthorized entry beyond this point. Go back to your seat.
Paimon:
Here at last... This has got to be the cargo they're moving...
Paimon:
Quick, 旅行者, now's our chance!
Paimon:
Can we... get a sample from these boxes?
Paimon:
But Paimon's hands are shorter. You do it! Paimon will keep watch!
Paimon:
Dear passengers, the train you have boarded is about to depart... Please remain in your seats, and be careful of tremors when the train starts...
Paimon:
Hurry, the train's about to depart!
Traveler:
Got it!
Paimon:
Nice! Now we need to get off the train... Huh?
You feel your center of gravity shift slightly. Then, the view outside the window slowly moves backward...
The train is on the move.
Paimon:
Well, we've got the sample, and this bad guy is down... But how are we going to get off the train now...
Sofya:
旅行者, Paimon! Over here, over here!
Paimon:
Ah, Sofya!
Paimon:
What's that? W—Wait, is that a sled?
Sofya:
Quick, jump!
Paimon:
Ehhhh!?
Ishogu:
After them! After them! Up, up, you runts! Don't let 'em leave with the stuff!
Traveler:
(Gotta jump!)
Sofya:
Did you get on? Are you alright?
Paimon:
Paimon's here! Are you alright, 旅行者?
Sofya:
Phew! That's good. I wouldn't be able to explain myself to Zmei if something happened to you!
Paimon:
Phew. Honestly, Paimon was scared stiff when the train started moving. She didn't know if you'd be able to pick us up...
Sofya:
The moment I saw that the train was moving and you hadn't gotten off, I started giving chase using the sled!
Lisa:
Good work prepping that sled, Sofya.
Sofya:
Well, uh... I borrowed it last-minute from a kind gentleman at the station...
Paimon:
Well, it's good that this nice guy was there! Otherwise, Paimon and 旅行者 might not have gotten out at all!
Sofya:
Haha, well, I suppose we should go thank that gentleman later, huh?
Sofya:
Anyway, 旅行者, did you get that sample?
Traveler:
I did.
Sofya:
Great! Alright, let's go. Zmei's waiting for us!
You and Sofia ride the "borrowed" sled back to Snezhnograd...
Zmei:
Ah. Do you... still have questions?
Zmei:
Before he passed from illness, the Old Sire was the chairman of the High Table, an organization comprising various gang leaders... Or at least, that was what he was to the gangs.
Zmei:
But to Iryna, Remusov, myself, and the Young Sire... He was something far more important...
Zmei:
He was our adoptive father.
Zmei:
We were all children he picked up from various places. He raised us, gave us surnames, and then... he placed these organizations into our hands...
Iryna:
Hello...
Iryna:
I hope the operation succeeds...
Zmei:
Iryna... You must have had the same hunch I did... The Old Sire was not felled by illness... His death almost certainly has something to do with the Young Sire...
Iryna:
Yes... That is something that he would do...
Zmei:
And if that is the case, he has gone too far...
Iryna:
Perhaps he began to hate the name "Nikolayevich" well before we did.
Zmei:
I never hated that name, Iryna. Never.
Return to the Luchkin stronghold and speak with Zmei for an update on the situation...
After returning to the Luchkin stronghold...
You hand the cargo sample you recovered to Zmei...
Paimon:
Are things alright...?
Sofya:
So, is it really...?
Iryna:
...
Zmei:
Normally, I'd say I've got good news and bad news. But things are worse than we expected. There's only bad news, and worse news...
Sofya:
Then the Young Sire really is...
Zmei:
Trying to open the Shadow Realm. Yes. That's the bad news.
Iryna:
What's the worse news?
Zmei:
He's nearly there. Maybe not all the way yet, but close...
Zmei:
When I was a child, I even... entered the Shadow Realm once. Only, it wasn't exactly a pleasant memory for me.
Zmei:
After that, I never wanted anything to do with the Shadow Realm again.
Zmei:
...He's refining Kresnik Kristall. Once it's pure enough, it can act as the "key" — the energy source needed to start the mechanism that opens the Shadow Realm.
Sofya:
Oh, that's not good. That means the mechanism is already built, at least...
Zmei:
Seems that way...
Paimon:
Hold on a second! How do you gang members know all this Shadow Realm stuff...?
Traveler:
Gangs really can get their hands on anything, huh?
Zmei:
Don't give us too much credit. The Old Sire just happens to have... a few strings he can pull at the Energy Commission.
Zmei:
Some of our people have done odd jobs for the Commission's higher-ups before. Once someone sets their mind to finding it... especially someone with an agenda, information like that isn't hard to get.
Iryna:
What's he after?
Paimon:
Yeah... Why would he want to open the Shadow Realm in the first place?
Zmei:
...Maybe for the ruins drifting through it? Maybe to open it right in front of the Zapolyarny Palace and turn it into some kind of man-made disaster? No one knows.
Zmei:
The Shadow Realm is dangerous. Whatever he's planning, I'm sure it's nothing good... But his motive isn't what matters most right now. The real issue is—
Iryna:
Where the mechanism that opens the Shadow Realm is.
Paimon:
Oh, Paimon gets it! If we break down that mechanism first, then whatever scheme he's cooking up goes nowhere.
Zmei:
Precisely. And as luck would have it, before we sent you after the samples, one of ours had already slipped inside one of Izmaylov's major strongholds. She might know something.
Sofya:
Right — Gureva. She's... she's amazing. She found a way to warn us about Izmaylov using the trains to move supplies, and even about Lorie's cargo run.
Iryna:
In other words, much more reliable than a certain rabbit.
Sofya:
...H-Hey. I just... act before I think sometimes.
Iryna:
Still, as for Gureva...
Zmei:
What's the matter?
Iryna:
Her mission window has already passed, but she never checked back in.
Iryna:
We sent people to look for her, but so far, no one's found a trace.
Sofya:
What!? Gureva? No... that can't be right!
Zmei:
Exactly. Gureva is never late, and she never leaves people waiting...
Traveler:
Then she must be in trouble?
Zmei:
...
Zmei:
I'm afraid so. And that makes this much worse. She slipped into a stronghold run by the Young Sire's second-in-command...
Zmei:
If they found her out, the man they call "the Butcher" won't let her off easy.
Iryna:
Could they have seen through her disguise?
Zmei:
No. Gureva has always kept to the shadows... She's not like us. Izmaylov's people wouldn't know her face.
Iryna:
Then... could she have already...?
Sofya:
No, no, she can't be. H-How could she be...? Gureva...
Zmei:
I don't believe the Butcher would do something like that right away. From what we know about him, he'd try to get more information out of Miss Gureva first.
Zmei:
If I were him, I'd do the same...
Sofya:
I-Is that... how it works?
Zmei:
I know Miss Gureva won't tell them anything. But that means we have to help her right away... before the Butcher completely runs out of patience with her.
Zmei:
But...
Sofya:
There's no time to argue. I'm going to save Gureva!
Iryna:
And get yourself killed?
Sofya:
*sob* ...Maybe, but doing nothing would feel even worse.
Zmei:
That sort of impulse can put you in danger faster than you realize. *sigh*
Zmei:
旅行者, Paimon, I know this is a lot to ask... but will you help us rescue Gureva?
Paimon:
Hmm... Sounds like Gureva's in real danger, 旅行者...
Traveler:
Hmm... A slightly bigger reward might help make up our minds.
Sofya:
Of course! If you save Gureva, I'll give you the fur right off my back. I won't even argue!
Paimon:
Uh, that really won't be necessary! Snezhnaya's cold enough already. Keep your fur, Sofya.
Paimon:
So, where exactly is the stronghold Gureva snuck into?
Zmei:
Northwest of Snezhnograd. It used to be a Fatui military base, but it was abandoned some time ago...
Zmei:
From there, it changed hands a few times before eventually ending up with Izmaylov.
Traveler:
Gangs really can get their hands on anything, huh?
Zmei:
Mora can get you just about anything. With enough of it changing hands, even the ley lines might start moving a little faster. So, getting hold of one small abandoned base wouldn't be much of a challenge.
Zmei:
And among all the gangs, Izmaylov has always been the richest.
Zmei:
From what we've heard, the place is heavily guarded. A frontal assault won't be easy, so whatever you do... please be careful. We want Gureva back alive, but your safety matters to us too.
Zmei:
If rescuing her turns out to be impossible, retreat immediately.
Paimon:
Got it! We're on the case!
Sofya:
U-Um, Zmei... I know you don't really like sending me out on missions, but... this is Gureva...
Sofya:
Can I... Can I go with them? I'm really worried about her...
Zmei:
Hmm... All right. Just don't slow anyone down. Go get everything you'll need for the mission...
Sofya:
O-Okay... I'll get ready right away... Gureva, please be okay...
After returning to the Luchkin stronghold...
You hand the cargo sample you recovered to Zmei...
Sofya:
This place used to be a Fatui base. The layout inside is confusing, so keep your guard up.
Paimon:
Whoa, we haven't even reached the entrance, and there are already a ton of guards! How are we getting in?
Sofya:
Gureva said the main gate would be closely guarded. But there's a hole above it where part of the structure collapsed...
Sofya:
We might be able to get through from there.
Iryna:
...If we move any farther, they'll notice us.
Sofya:
Right... We'd be noticed right away...
Paimon:
Gotcha! Since we're new faces here, they won't recognize us. Leave the rest to Paimon and 旅行者!
Sofya:
Then we're counting on you to rescue Gureva!
Sofya:
Iryna and I will wait outside and back you up, just like we did last time — when you went in to steal the sample!
Paimon:
Then don't forget to have the sled ready again, Sofya!
Sofya:
...
Sofya:
...Haha, don't worry, I won't. Whatever you need, I'll have it ready for you!
Sofya:
Just come back safe, okay? 旅行者, Paimon.
Zmei:
The tremors have stopped... and the Shadow Realm's influence seems to be fading, too...
Zmei:
Then, I suppose that's the end of the "Izmaylov" incident... If Vasya had figured out how to open the Shadow Realm, he could've taken the entire High Table down with him.
Zmei:
On behalf of the Fae Gang Federation's High Table, the Luchkins, and everyone affected by Vasya's actions, thank you again...
Zmei:
旅行者, Paimon, we couldn't have made it through all this so smoothly without your help.
Iryna:
Iryna thanks you both.
Sofya:
Yes... Sofya of the Luchkin thanks you too. And Gureva as well — I'll thank you on her behalf.
Paimon:
Hehe... It was nothing, really...
Paimon:
But if the Young Sire is... what's going to happen to the rest of the Izmaylovs?
Zmei:
The High Table will decide what to do next. You've already done more than enough for us, so we won't trouble you with the smaller affairs.
Zmei:
It may take some time to settle everything... If you can, please come by Zolnyy. And don't forget that we still have a small token of thanks for you both...
Paimon:
Good idea!
Sofya:
Come visit anytime, if you'd like. I... I'll even let you pet my tail!
Paimon:
Why are you always like this when tails are involved?
Paimon:
Ahem! Anyway, we'll definitely come visit!
Zmei:
You're always welcome anytime, friends of the Luchkins.
Paimon:
Zmei! We're here! Huh? Wait, where are Iryna, Sofya, and Gureva?
Zmei:
There's still much to be done regarding Izmaylov, so they have all been busy attending to that.
Zmei:
Oh, right. Aside from the reward we promised you before, we all agreed you should have these two as gifts, too.
Paimon:
What's that?
Zmei:
This is... made from refined Kresnik Kristall...
Traveler:
A "key" to the Shadow Realm?
Zmei:
More precisely, it was the key used to activate the device that opened the Shadow Realm. But now that the device has been destroyed, it no longer has much use...
Zmei:
At this point, it is little more than a block of energy. It would be rather difficult for us to keep, but perhaps you will find some use for it.
Zmei:
Let us say we are passing along a troublesome little package — one that seems far less troublesome in your hands than in ours.
Paimon:
Troublesome little packages are only good when they come with snacks inside. Anyway, what's the second one?
Zmei:
And the second gift... is this.
Paimon:
What is it? A map...? Looks like something's marked on it.
Zmei:
Do you remember the box Gureva took from the Butcher's desk? We had it opened, and found this map inside.
Zmei:
This actually goes back to an old rumor... They say there was once a group of thieves who made a living robbing other gangs. After hitting one gang after another, they hid all the loot away somewhere.
Zmei:
We always assumed it was just a story, but now it seems that so-called "legendary thief's treasure" may have been real after all.
Zmei:
The Butcher probably found a lead and got hold of the treasure map. Izmaylov was short on money at the time, after all. He just never managed to get the box open.
Paimon:
Whoa... But if this really is the "legendary thief's treasure," shouldn't you keep it for yourselves?
Paimon:
Luchkin still seems like it could really...
Zmei:
Haha... How should I put this? Sofya may have said something before about "justice isn't worth a single Mora"?
Zmei:
But to me, that is exactly what keeps justice clean. It is not about money, and it is not about what we stand to gain.
Zmei:
Besides, it is only a map. Actually finding the treasure would still take time, effort, and plenty of people... Still, I have to admit, it does feel like a shame to hand it over.
Zmei:
Quick, take them before I start having second thoughts!
Paimon:
Y—You're not really having second thoughts, are you, Zmei?
Zmei:
Well, no promises...
Zmei:
That should be everything, then. I will not keep you two from your journey any longer. If you ever have time to spare, please come and visit. The others would be happy to see you.
Zmei:
You two will always have a place in Luchkin, our remarkable travelers from afar.
Paimon:
Zmei! We're here! Huh? Wait, where are Iryna, Sofya, and Gureva?
Zmei:
There's still much to be done regarding Izmaylov, so they have all been busy attending to that.
Zmei:
Oh, right. Aside from the reward we promised you before, we all agreed you should have these two as gifts, too.
Paimon:
What's that?
Zmei:
This is... made from refined Kresnik Kristall...
Traveler:
A "key" to the Shadow Realm?
Zmei:
More precisely, it was the key used to activate the device that opened the Shadow Realm. But now that the device has been destroyed, it no longer has much use...
Zmei:
At this point, it is little more than a block of energy. It would be rather difficult for us to keep, but perhaps you will find some use for it.
Zmei:
Let us say we are passing along a troublesome little package — one that seems far less troublesome in your hands than in ours.
Paimon:
Troublesome little packages are only good when they come with snacks inside.
Paimon:
And come to think of it, 旅行者, didn't Alyosha say he was looking for something like this? Maybe this is exactly what he meant?
Traveler:
Then let's show it to him later.
Paimon:
Good idea. Now, where were we... Zmei, you said you had two things for us, right? One of them is this weird core, so what's the other?
Zmei:
The second gift... is this.
Paimon:
What is it? A map...? Looks like something's marked on it.
Zmei:
Do you remember the box Gureva took from the Butcher's desk? We had it opened, and found this map inside.
Zmei:
This actually goes back to an old rumor... They say there was once a group of thieves who made a living robbing other gangs. After hitting one gang after another, they hid all the loot away somewhere.
Zmei:
We always assumed it was just a story, but now it seems that so-called "legendary thief's treasure" may have been real after all.
Zmei:
The Butcher probably found a lead and got hold of the treasure map. Izmaylov was short on money at the time, after all. He just never managed to get the box open.
Paimon:
Whoa... But if this really is the "legendary thief's treasure," shouldn't you keep it for yourselves?
Paimon:
Luchkin still seems like it could really...
Zmei:
Haha... How should I put this? Sofya may have said something before about "justice earning no Mora"?
Zmei:
But to me, that is exactly what keeps justice clean. It is not about money, and it is not about what we stand to gain.
Zmei:
Besides, it is only a map. Actually finding the treasure would still take time, effort, and plenty of people... Still, I have to admit, it does feel like a shame to hand it over.
Zmei:
Quick, take them before I start having second thoughts!
Paimon:
Y—You're not really having second thoughts, are you, Zmei?
Zmei:
Well, no promises...
Zmei:
That should be everything, then. I will not keep you two from your journey any longer. If you ever have time to spare, please come and visit. The others would be happy to see you.
Zmei:
You two will always have a place in Luchkin, our remarkable travelers from afar.
Gureva:
Hm? You're not the Butcher... Wait, you're not an Izmaylov either.
Gureva:
So, who are you? Did Zmei or Iryna send you here? Oh my, I thought they would be coming by in person.
Gureva:
Haha, is that so? Funny. I don't recall Izmaylov having any humans in its ranks. Especially not one with footsteps as light as yours.
Paimon:
Alright, you got us. Zmei did ask us to come. Sofya too...
Paimon:
You're Gureva, right?
Gureva:
Yes... But listen, friends. This place is dangerous, so don't worry about getting me out. Just help me pass on a message. Listen carefully...
Traveler:
You can tell them yourself.
Paimon:
Yeah! Once we get you out of here, you can tell them yourself!
Gureva:
...Well, aren't you two wonderful. Bright and steady, like a little sun and a little star. Looks like Zmei finally picked the right people for once. How nice... I like you two already!
Gureva:
Now then, little sun, come help me get this door open!
Traveler:
(Open the door...)
Gureva:
Thank you. The last few days have been exhausting. When I get back, I'm definitely asking Zmei for a raise.
Paimon:
Come on, we've gotta go before anyone notices!
Gureva:
...Now, now, no need to rush. What's this cute little white star's name?
Paimon:
You mean Paimon? Paimon's name is Paimon!
Gureva:
And this little golden sun here?
Traveler:
旅行者...
Paimon:
Hold on! We don't have time to stand around introducing ourselves!
Gureva:
It‘s all right. The only person who comes here is the Butcher, and he isn’t due back for a good while yet.
Gureva:
After three days locked in this place, a few more minutes won't hurt. And besides, well...
Gureva:
Let's just say I don't take things lying down. If someone insults me, I give it right back. If someone hits me, I hit back. So I'm not about to run off with my tail between my legs...
Gureva:
Not before we leave our dear friend the Butcher a proper little parting gift.
Paimon:
Then we'll wait nearby, and the moment the Butcher walks in, we'll jump him!
Gureva:
Haha, no need for our sweet new friends to get involved. Just hide behind those crates outside for a little while...
Gureva:
I'll be quick. And remember, not a sound, okay?
Paimon:
...Sure!
You and Paimon have only just hidden behind the crates...
when heavy footsteps begin to echo outside. The door creaks open, and someone steps inside...
heading straight for Gureva's cell.
The Butcher:
I know you haven't lost your mind. And I'm running out of patience. So tell me what I came here to hear, and maybe I'll make things... a little less painful for you.
Gureva:
Oh? How merciful of you, Lord Butcher...
The Butcher:
Justice and mercy are for the weak. Only children who don't know the world still cling to words like that. And you know very well why I've let you live this long.
Gureva:
...You want to know who I'm working for, don't you?
Gureva:
But if you really had faith in the Young Sire, you never would have left me alive. You only did because you were thinking, "Maybe whoever's behind her could give me a way out."
The Butcher:
Silence.
Gureva:
We both know the Old Sire's death doesn't add up, right?
The Butcher:
The Old Sire's time was over long ago. If anything, he stuck around too long... Forget it...
The Butcher:
If you're not going to talk, then we'll do this the usual way. Let's get started...
Gureva:
Ngh... Ahh...
Gureva:
N-No, don't... Please, don't use that... I can't... not again...
The Butcher:
Heh. Thought you'd last longer... Talk, brat. Tell me what I want, and I'll make it stop...
Gureva:
Ngh... I'll tell you, I'll tell you... Please, come closer. This isn't for anyone else to hear...
The Butcher:
Heh. See? If you'd just talked sooner, you could've saved yourself a lot of pain...
Gureva:
I know... I know I was wrong... Come closer. I'll say it in your ear...
The Butcher:
There. Now, tell me — who are you really... Mmph—
The Butcher:
Um, so... what... what, uh...
Gureva:
Shh... Easy now. Relax. Don't tense up... And don't try to call for help. You won't make a sound. Breathe for me. Breathe—
Gureva:
Breathe, breathe... Good. That's it. No need to be scared, poor thing. Feeling dizzy is normal...
The Butcher:
Hrk—hah—
You hear the heavy breathing grow weaker, along with the faint sounds of struggling, until both fade away like ripples on water...
Then a dull thud breaks the silence — a body hitting the floor, still warm, but moribund.
Gureva:
Let's go. It's over.
Paimon:
A-Are you okay...?
Gureva:
I'm fine. In fact, I feel wonderful! Ah, what lovely weather for breaking out of prison!
Paimon:
R-Right... Good. Then let's get out of here!
Paimon:
Open up! We... Uh, we have important news for the Young Sire.
Izmaylov Guard:
Hey! What's the password?
Izmaylov Guard:
What? What is that?
Sofya:
No, uh, what he means is, he hasn't eaten anything since this morning and really wants some Sweet Madame... He's not talking about a password...
Sofya:
The password is "Oedipus!"
Izmaylov Guard:
Strange. The password checks out, but we didn't receive any prior notice...
Paimon:
Paimon said it's urgent!
Izmaylov Guard:
All right, all right. Just a moment, I'll open the gate...
Izmaylov Guard:
Wait... You...
Izmaylov Guard:
You are... You are the Luchkin!
Izmaylov Guard:
Enemy attack! We're under attack!
After returning to the base, Zmei slowly pieced together all the information based on the intel Gureva had gathered.
Zmei:
First, I must thank 旅行者 and Paimon for rescuing Miss Gureva... She is a very important companion to us...
Zmei:
I can't thank you enough for this.
Paimon:
Hehe, don't mention it!
Zmei:
And Miss Gureva... How are you feeling now, Miss Gureva?
Gureva:
Not dead yet.
Zmei:
Good enough. Now then, let's talk about this whole incident.
Zmei:
...It all began several months ago. One night, we received word that the Old Sire had fallen gravely ill and passed away all of a sudden.
Sofya:
Yes. The Old Sire was in quite good health, and rumor has it that the last people to see him that night were none other than the Young Sire and the Butcher...
Zmei:
The old man's death is looking more and more suspicious now...
Gureva:
I'm ninety percent sure that this is their doing.
Zmei:
...In truth, quite a few people at the High Table suspect the same. After the Old Sire passed away, many of the smaller gangs beneath them fell into chaos.
Iryna:
The number of punishments handed down to gang members for violating the "Law" has grown far beyond what it used to be.
Zmei:
Many of those cases were also deeply connected to the Izmaylovs. At the same time, they began spending huge amounts of Mora on some kind of plan, even going so far as to collect debts by force...
Traveler:
It's got something to do with the Shadow Realm...
Zmei:
Yes. Either to open the Shadow Realm, or to learn how to open it...
Paimon:
But what good would that do?
Gureva:
The Young Sire wanted to use such means...
Gureva:
...to prove to the lords above that fae gangs could master technology on par with the Energy Commission. He wanted to use it as a bargaining chip and stake the High Table itself at the roulette table...
Sofya:
Really? That’s what he wanted?
Gureva:
That's what I heard... Unlike us, we furballs are satisfied just rolling around in the furnace ash, but some people have ambitions to plant their backsides in the Snezhnograd Veche.
Zmei:
He's gone too far down the wrong path. Now, the mechanism for opening the Shadow Realm is already completed...
Gureva:
And the "key," that thing made from refined Kresnik Kristall... It's nearly complete as well.
Gureva:
All that's left is to insert the key into the mechanism, give it a turn, and then, pop, the Shadow Realm will rise into this world like a fish drawn up to the surface.
Paimon:
Wait, so what's that box for? You know, the Butcher's box?
Gureva:
It's probably just one of many contingencies, and he never used it in the end. Doesn't seem like anything important.
Zmei:
It seems more like some strange collectible. Maybe worth looking into... But that's not important now. What matters is...
Iryna:
...We have to stop him, no matter what.
Paimon:
So the question is... where will he try to open the Shadow Realm?
Zmei:
Miss Gureva...
Gureva:
At the train boneyard... I also found out the password to get in. It's "Oedipus".
Iryna:
The train boneyard... So that's where it is.
Zmei:
Haha, no, of course not. The train boneyard is just a nickname only the locals know...
Sofya:
Yeah... It's actually a half-excavated tunnel. But after a Shadow Realm disaster caused the tunnel to collapse, the construction work was halted...
Sofya:
After that, for some reason, it became a dumping ground for abandoned trains.
Paimon:
So that's why.
Zmei:
If they open the Shadow Realm there... If things got even slightly out of control, the residents of the surrounding villages and towns would surely be drawn in.
Zmei:
But to get there, we'd have to pass through the Subzero Zone... Looks like we'll need to prepare a train...
Sofya:
We'll cover the cost of renting the train.
Paimon:
Ooh! A business trip on the company dime!
Sofya:
Well, I wouldn't go that far...
Paimon:
Hehe, Paimon gets it. Still, whether it's Izmaylov or Luchkin, renting an entire train seems pretty routine for you guys.
Zmei:
Well, everyone has their own connections. We shouldn't waste any more time. Let's get going.
Gureva:
Come on, we can leave through this passage.
Paimon:
Ehh? So the secret passage is right here. Paimon thought we'd have to go back the way we came...
Gureva:
Haha, didn't see that coming, did you?
Gureva:
The Butcher probably never imagined the escape passage was actually right behind his own room. Well... What a shame. I was this close to escaping on my own.
Gureva:
And this box. I could always see the Butcher studying it, so there must be something important inside... All right, let's take it with us.
Gureva:
It might be some kind of antique. I'll have Zmei take a look at it...
Gureva:
After all, as the saying goes, "Steal what the bad guys stole, and the person they stole from will have nowhere to look!"
Paimon:
Paimon feels like she's heard something similar from Sofya before. Wait, isn't that way too sad for the person who got robbed!?
Gureva:
All right, all right. If we stay any longer, things could get bad. Let's go. It's time for the sun and stars to rise from this gloomy cave.
Zmei:
Keep going! We're almost there.
Iryna:
...Just as I thought.
Zmei:
Those devices... They're activation devices! With this concentration of Shadow Realm Energy... there's only one final step...
Traveler:
Then we're still in time.
Vasiliy:
Heh, still in time. The old man loved saying things like that. But how many things in this world can truly be reached in time?
Vasiliy:
So you came after all, my dear little brother and sister...
Paimon:
Huh? Are you...!?
Iryna:
Vasya... the Young Sire, Vasiliy "Oedipus" Izmaylov.
Vasiliy:
Oh? You even brought outsiders with you. Where did you find these hired thugs? How disgraceful. Now that the old man is gone, you need outsiders to help you make a stand?
Zmei:
...Stop this obsession of yours! Opening the Shadow Realm will bring no good. It will only cause more casualties! If this reaches the Druzhna... the entire High Table will be finished!
Zmei:
Stop it, Brother. Before this gets any worse...
Zmei:
It's not too late.
Vasiliy:
Shut up! Zmei, what do you know... That old bastard wanted to leave his seat at the High Table to you. You think I didn't know that?
Vasiliy:
He would have made you the Speaker of the High Table simply because you want nothing, and because you would change nothing.
Vasiliy:
Hah. For all this time, we fae gangs have always been looked down on...
Vasiliy:
All the odd jobs the Druzhna and Energy Commission don't want to do get dumped on the Izmaylov. Oh, snow's piled up on the train tracks? Then send Remusov!
Vasiliy:
Those poor beggars, shivering in the cold with no money and no roof over their heads? Fine, have them report to Luchkin!
Vasiliy:
We're nothing but dogs to those lords! Dogs they can summon and dismiss at will!
Vasiliy:
You have no idea how many innocent people the lads and I have roughed up for those high-falutin' gents above while collecting debts... How much dirty work we've done for them.
Vasiliy:
But now, all of that is about to change... Our poor dear father cared so much about his Energy Commission, didn't he?
Vasiliy:
Now, whatever the Energy Commision can do, I, Izmaylov, can do as well. And what the Energy Commission can't do, I, Izmaylov, can still do all the same!
Vasiliy:
The High Table? You can go play at that make-believe council yourselves! The Law? It's nothing but a leash the old man left around our necks!
Iryna:
Vasiliy!
Vasiliy:
Sorry, I almost forgot there really is a dog here!
Vasiliy:
The old man spent his whole life as someone's dog, too. Hmph. He was a dog back at Hvergelmir, and even after he became president of the Energy Commission and Speaker of the High Table...
Vasiliy:
How impressive. But he was still someone else's dog. That night... I begged him again to let me take over his work...
Vasiliy:
But he said, "The mission is complete. I have already found what I sought in the Shadow Realm. From now on, even the Energy Commission will no longer involve itself too deeply in matters concerning the Shadow Realm...”
Vasiliy:
What a joke! To possess power like that and do nothing with it... Then what about us? What do we get for all that dirty work we did?
Vasiliy:
By the time... by the time I came back to my senses... the old man had already... Heh... Hehehe...
Zmei:
...So it really was you.
Vasiliy:
Yeah, it was me. And now, the old man is gone. There is no one left to stand in my way!
Vasiliy:
I will have a seat in the real council! As long as I'm there, there will always be a place for Izmaylovs at Snezhnaya's table.
Vasiliy:
I will make those lords understand. I, Vasiliy Izmaylov, am no "Nikolayevich"! Nor am I the "Young Sire"!
Vasiliy:
Come, my foolish little brother and sister! You won't be able to witness alongside me the future in which the name Izmaylov shines!
Vasiliy:
Izmaylovs, prove your worth to me! Your sacrifice will be remembered!
Sofya:
...Ah, Gureva, Gureva! You came back... *sob*...
Gureva:
There, there, little bunny... Don't cry. I came back alive, didn't I? Don't let our friends see you making such a fuss.
Sofya:
*sob*... 旅行者, Paimon... I can't thank you enough...
Sofya:
H-How about this? I'm actually pretty proud of my tail. Apart from that one time it got cut by an ice skate blade when I was little, it's never really been hurt...
Sofya:
The Old Sire once praised me, "Even among Volkodlak, a fluffy tail like this is quite rare..." Maybe I should cut off my tail and give it to you as thanks...
Paimon:
You're not taking someone else's tail!
Paimon:
We're happy that we managed to get Gureva out safely.
Sofya:
*whimper*
Gureva:
Little bunny, you can cry if you want, but I'm injured personnel, you know. I can't keep standing here...
Gureva:
Besides, I still have things to tell Zmei and Miss Iryna. Oof, my lower back hurts, my back hurts all over... I'm telling you, that Butcher...
Sofya:
All right, all right. I'll take you all back now. This time, I actually rented a proper sleigh... Let's ride back in a bit.
Sofya:
And that Butcher... I'll beat him up good next time!
Paimon:
Uh...
Sofya:
Paimon, what's wrong?
Gureva:
?
Paimon:
Nothing, nothing. Let's just hurry back!
Iryna:
Stop this madness, Vasya! At this rate, the entire mine will collapse, and everyone nearby will die!
Vasiliy:
Madness? This is a plan I've spent years putting together!
Vasiliy:
I will make people like us take a step forward... None of you can do it. Only I can. Only me!
Sofya:
...Young Sire.
Vasiliy:
Don't you dare call me that! I will accomplish the great work the old man never could, and the people shall call me "Lord Vasiliy"...
Vasiliy:
In years to come, when people speak of the old man, of Nikolay "Pakhan" Izmaylov, they will call him "Lord Vasiliy's father"!
Vasiliy:
I will... surpass him. I will...
Zmei:
But the Shadow Realm is too dangerous... You shouldn't get your hands on it. If the Shadow Realm gets out of control, you'll get yourself killed too!
Vasiliy:
Do you have any other way? This is the right choice, for you, for me, and for the whole family. It will benefit us all!
Iryna:
There has to be another way...
Vasiliy:
What, with that ridiculous Law that only lets us lie to ourselves? With the old man's way of doing things?
Vasiliy:
He spent his whole life building everything so carefully, and in the end, he's just a dead man.
Vasiliy:
He died by my hand... just as everyone does in the end... walking toward a death that cannot be undone.
Zmei:
Vasya...
Vasiliy:
That stubborn old man... I will prove to him that my path is the right path.
Paimon:
Wow... You actually rented one!
Sofya:
Of course we did. The Old Sire may be gone, but the friendships and connections he built are still with us.
Zmei:
As for how long they'll last without him... that's another question. But that's a worry for another day.
Paimon:
Zmei, Iryna, Sofya... Hm? Is Gureva not coming?
Sofya:
...She's injured very badly. It's best to let her get some rest.
Paimon:
All right, then let’s set out for the train boneyard.
Zmei:
The train boneyard... *sigh* Can't believe we're going there...
Paimon:
Something wrong with that place?
Zmei:
...Not exactly. It's just that, a long time ago, when we were still children, the Old Sire often took us there to play.
Zmei:
Me, Iryna... Vasiliy, who is now called the Young Sire, and... Lyubov, who was sent away to Novokitezhgrad...
Zmei:
Ah, Lyubov is now the head of House Remusov. But his hands aren't exactly clean, and I haven't heard anything about him in a long time...
Zmei:
In any case, the four of us grew up together. But like branches splitting from the same tree, the farther they grow, the farther apart their tips become.
Traveler:
Everyone has their own path...
Zmei:
Yes, you are right.
Iryna:
But crooked branches ought to be pruned.
Zmei:
No one can define whether another person's path is crooked... We are gangs, after all, herring with one foot in the shadows. What right do we have to define anyone else?
Zmei:
Still, I think what sets us apart from beasts may sometimes be nothing more than a small measure of compassion.
Sofya:
Compassion?
Zmei:
It is, in fact, the first line of the Law: Do not commit acts devoid of mercy or justice.
Zmei:
Though whether one acts with mercy and justice ultimately rests with the heart. As I see it, everyone is busy chasing after their own ends, and few truly have the time to look after others.
Zmei:
But there are always a few moments in life when one faces a choice that can change the course of their path.
Zmei:
One may choose, "For my own sake, I can hurt anyone else," or think, "Ah, how innocent those who would be hurt are... I simply can't bear it..."
Zmei:
That inability to bear it is compassion, and compassion is a humane heart. If you often find yourself unable to bear such things, you may feel that you're still on the right path a person ought to walk.
Zmei:
But one only needs to choose the former once. Just once, and they will cross that line again and again, until at last, there is no turning back...
Zmei:
I think Vasiliy... is beyond that line now, wandering in a darkness where he cannot even see his own hand before him.
Vasiliy:
Why... Why am I always... just one step short of what I want?
Vasiliy:
I can't see... I can't see anything... It's so... so dark.
Vasiliy:
Ah... I remember now. When we were little... One time I hid so deep inside that I couldn't find the way out...
Vasiliy:
I was so scared back then... I thought I'd never get out again... In the end, some one... who was it...? Who was it...?
Zmei:
It was Irina and me, Vasya. We called your name and found you.
Vasiliy:
Yeah...
Vasiliy:
Zmei... Are you there...?
Zmei:
I'm here... Irina and I, we're both here...
Iryna:
...
Vasiliy:
Take me away... I can't see anything here... Zmei, please take me away...
Sofya:
The device has shut down!
Paimon:
Whew, that was close... That scared Paimon a little bit... I thought...
Paimon:
Whoa, what's going on?
Sofya:
The Shadow Realm may have affected the physical structure here. This tunnel collapsed like this before!
Zmei:
Vasya... Vasya...
Traveler:
Hurry, it's time to go!
Iryna:
Let's go, Zmei.
Sofya:
This way! We can get out!
Iryna:
We've recovered what we needed... Let's go!
Paimon:
Ring ring~ RING~
Sturdy Volkodlak Worker:
What’s that noise? Why is it so loud? Kubiyev, go check it out.
Emaciated Volkodlak Worker:
It's a matryoshka. Strange... Is something inside the doll making that sound?
Emaciated Volkodlak Worker:
Huh. Open one up, and there's another one inside... Who put this thing here?
Paimon:
Oh, that guy's attention is caught by that weird doll. This is our chance to sneak past!
Izmaylov Guard:
The last people to see the Old Sire before his passing were the Butcher and the Young Sire...
Izmaylov Guard Leader:
...Do you have a death wish, talking about that here!? I'll pretend I didn't hear anything. Please, for both our sakes, don't bring it up again...
Paimon:
...What is that?
Paimon:
A matryoshka doll? Who put it here— gah, and why's it so damn noisy?
Paimon:
Layers and layers of— Seriously, who places stuff like this here? Inconsiderate piece of...
Paimon:
Alright. Time to make a break for it, 旅行者!
Gureva:
Hurry, he’s almost here. We need to hide before he arrives.