KATE

[situationship]

Comments

[sootprints]

... There was still a lot that I would have liked to do there.

[ would you like to share a mem...... or would you like to receive a mem. or both ]

[situationship]

Make some sand cabins for your sootmen?

[ we can... exchange.... ]

These new areas are definitely not as fun, either.

[sootprints]

[ a nod. even sootmen are struggling with the housing crisis these days. ]

I really would have liked a place with books...

[situationship]

[ now we won't know about their state... ]

The residence didn't have any at all?

[sootprints]

I haven't had a chance to explore it much yet.

[ too busy getting yanked into memory-voids all day, probably ]

[situationship]

Let's go look then!

[ But as he turns to go to the direction of the residence, it is memshare time.

Satoru and Suguru were tasked to protect a middle school girl before she merged with the a core sorcerer in society. It was her destiny. Until then, they watched over her.

And her maid got kidnapped, but they took care of that fairly easily after taking an airplane with caution. They both wanted Riko to enjoy herself with a beach episode. It may all seem silly, but deep down Satoru empathized with her—fate was etched into their birthright...

What harm was there to let a girl go to school, hang out with her friends, and go to an aquarium in her final days? ]

[sootprints]

... What a beautiful place.

[ the beach, the aquarium... kate seems a bit awed by it herself. the airplane fascinates her too. ]

But... what happened after that?

[situationship]

[ Guess they're not going... He puts his hands in his pockets. ]

We brought her to headquarters where she'd merge with Tengen, but she died there. [ Foot tapping on the ground as he remembers. ] A cult that wanted her dead hired a bastard of an assassin.

He made sure to set this all up to wear me down when he attacked. [ Grumble, grumble. ] Cheater.

[sootprints]

Oh... I see.

[ well. that sucks. ]

... What do you mean by "merge"?

[situationship]

[ It does... He's trying to not be overly sentimental about it, but it may come paired with not being great at emotions. ]

Exactly what it sounds like. Tengen needed a new body and they would merge with her since she is the most compatible. She would be no more. [ ... ] You don't need to ask questions, you know. They're not very nice things.

[sootprints]

Wh... who is Tengen? Why does he need someone else's body?

[ ignores him ]

[situationship]

[ girl... at least she's not smoking. ]

They're an ancient sorcerer with the innate cursed technique similar to immortality, but at some point they could evolve into a monster, which is why they "refresh" by merging with a new body. Their other technique which is more relevant is being the source for barriers that we use to shield non-sorcerers from seeing us exorcising curses.

... If the masses saw everything they'd get stress and panic, then there would be a curse outbreak born from their negative emotions.

[sootprints]

Curses... just from negative emotions?

[ ... ]

And is it really okay to sacrifice someone for that...?

[situationship]

That's how they're born and that's why the population's peace of mind is important or else curses will flood the nation, maybe the world.

[ Fate is cruel in such a way, but he looks up to the sky. Days at the beach... It was nice. ]

Do you think it is?

[sootprints]

[ her head just starts pouring out more smoke.

and then she shakes her head. ]

[situationship]

[ Pats her sooty head. ]

Good! You, Suguru, and I reached the same answer.

[sootprints]

... Huh?

[ the soot stops. ]

[situationship]

We were going to give her a choice! And if she wanted to just be herself and keep her life, we'd figure everything else out with Tengen. [ ... ] That was how it should have been.

Lesson, cults are always bad.

[sootprints]

I, I see...

You're right. [ about cults. ]

... I wish she could have had that choice.

[situationship]

Suguru delivered her, so he likely extended it like we promised. It doesn't change that she's dead, but... I don't know. Maybe she was happy in the end.

[ Like a fairytale. He rubs his neck. ]

She wouldn't want us getting sad over it and I know she'd call me gross. We have to live life to the fullest!

[sootprints]

Yes... you're right.

[ alas, the spooky shadow-hands emerge once more, and they're pulled into another memory!

in the dead of night, kate and her companions confront a shadow-woman and her partner. when asked to explain themselves for the trouble they've caused, they say they have no time left. they've been invited.

awkward. ]

[situationship]

[ Lord... Satoru blinks as this comes into view, then things are explained. The parallels are very uncanny here and he wonders if Tengen has ever deliberated over adopting a new body like this. How many have been erased?

Same with these dolls... For shadows? ]

Sorry, sorry.

[ Since she's young... And memories for a young girl must be very precious. ]

[sootprints]

[ well. her head is smoking a bit. ]

You don't need to apologize.

[situationship]

[ Pat pat. Less soot. ]

That's still a lot to learn. [ ... ] This all makes sense with how you answered. That's the path you're going to take, too?

[ No erasing. ]

[sootprints]

... Yes.

If that's the cost of gaining a face, then I'd rather stay like this forever.