>>6006445“You know, if you’re really trying to stop the end of the world you’re doing a pretty bad job of convincing me to help you,” You reprimand the little girl sitting in the grass in front of you. It’d be more intimidating or meaningful if your eyes weren’t watery.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” She agrees and she puts one of her cheeks into her hand and pouts. Wait she agrees- “Can’t help it though, it’s just my nature,” hey don’t cut off my thoughts!
“What-”
“Hey, don’t you hate it when a bunch of outsiders come in and ruin your little community?” She perks up and questions. Don’t cut off my words either!
“Huh?”
“I mean when you have a good thing going, with just you, your friends, and people who share similar interests. But then a bunch of random people come into your carefully cultivated world and mess everything up? It’d be the end of the world you and your friend created if they weren’t removed, wouldn’t it?”
Is she talking about some sort of hobby? You’ve heard some noblemen complain similarly about board games they’re interested in back at the Academy. But is that really where this conversation is going? Is she just ignoring you?! Unacceptable you demand to be answered! “How does any of this have to do with me!” Is the first thing to spill out when you open your mouth.
“Huh?” She seems genuinely confused, “Because we’re family, dummy! What do you think I’d call you big sis for nothing, Ina?”
“I don’t have a sister!” You reaffirm.
“Is Edith not around at all?”
“You mean my niece?”
“Oh… That's no good,” What the Hell is she talking about? “Seems things are deviating faster than I thought they would. I bet this is <span class="mu-i">HER</span> fault.”
“H-hey! Pay attention to me!”
“Hmm, oh sorry, sis. Looks like I have a few things to sort out before we meet again! You probably want to go home anyway so, bye bye!”
As she says those words you start to feel faint and your vision blackens. How though, you didn’t even see her cast a spell or use mana? “What are you?” You question as you start to fall.
“Shouldn’t that be obvious by now? My name is Alice and this is Wonderland. Maybe you should ask one of the Strangers you know if that truly confuses you.”
One of the Strangers? But you only know the one. Does she mean to talk to the “king” of the Metal Castle? These are your last thoughts before your head falls on the soft grass and the darkness takes you.
>Mental Corruption rose by 5%>Mental Corruption fell by 2% 