Kamitsubaki Academy
...Even how to believe in myself
Finding my true self may be a lost cause
Teller of stories, I have a question for you
Can you teach me the secrets of this world?
About my true, true, true, true self...
About pain...
We're running and we're living
I want the answer
And I don't know why I want it!
We're all looking for meaning in our lives
Looking for the meaning that's—
Oh, it's you, Laplace.
Here by yourself?
I couldn't be here the day we were all supposed to do it.
Very diligent of you.
No, I just like cleaning days.
Yeah, you seemed to enjoy singing.
How long have you been there?
Since "my true self" or thereabouts.
Jeez...
But the fun's over now.
Kamitsubaki City Reconstruction Division
To Area 0 City Hall Warning: Traffic Restricted
Kamitsubaki City Area 0 Metropolis
Expect to find the enemy near city hall.
Ms. Kafu, please work with Ms. Rime to nullify the tesseractor.
Witchling: Part 2
Ms. Haru and Ms. Sekai are en route to Area 1 to quell the collateral damage.
Area 0 Outside City Hall
The Region hasn't started distorting yet.
It's close.
Yeah.
...wanted... to...
Area 1 Outside Psychiatric Hospital
Kamitsubaki City Police Do Not Enter
Looks like quite a mess.
They said the damage was quite severe.
So this is...
...where the tesseractor spawned.
This Region's distortion is quite advanced.
At this scale...
Yes, there will be quite a number of them.
So let's wipe the floor with 'em, right?
Agni!
Please.
You're weak...
Way too weak!
A consciousness so weak that it can't even hold itself together
deserves to die from shame!
Completely lacking in refinement, as usual.
Until recently, they were ordinary people going about their lives.
Now look at them. They're...
Incomprehensible Regions cause a person's desires to swell
so large that they can no longer maintain human form.
I wonder what their desires were...
Sekai?!
Ms. Sekai, it seems a bit dangerous here. Come this way.
Anemos, I'll be fine.
But...
I'd prefer to put them to rest as quickly as possible.
As you wish.
...wanted to... together...
Kafu! Get back!
...together...
Rime?!
Kafu! Watch it, okay?!
But... But that person...
They've all been pacified.
Ms. Sekai, if you please.
Right.
The day passed by, you know
And I still kept it safe
Kept inside a little pencil box
That fragrant memory
How many times have we searched for an answer?
Laughing together about that is part of the memories
Riding on ever-changing feelings
Deep in eyes as big as space
When nothing can be written down, I trace the contours
Yet still, I know nothing
Listen to my selfish request
Don't waste a single night
Come to see me, come to see me
We're alive, we're alive
If the color of my life becomes so faded
I root myself to a hollow hospital bed
I'll use the power of imagination to dream the pain away
and escape it, that's all
A white bouquet and a love letter
I know you're there
But my eyes can't see you
My heart just flits and dances
Swimming in a sea of memories
Filled with transparent goldfish
One snatched me from above my bed
And took me away
I woke up with wet cheeks
A moment's dream and the scent of death
That's my miniature garden
My heart is still going...
Area 0 The Schild
2300. Lift all traffic and media restrictions.
This concludes today's Q-85 Twilight Stories.
Sounds like you guys had way more fun.
Wish you wouldn't always make us run cleanup.
You seemed to enjoy cutting loose.
Besides, Laplace and Hastur outperform us against airborne opponents.
Plenty of ways to bring 'em down to earth.
Better to take them out first.
We have to protect reckless witchlings trying to get themselves killed.
It requires great delicacy and care.
Right, Kafu?
Yeah.
Hastur.
The goldfish is right.
She'd be dead if I hadn't fired.
You are the only witchlings we have.
Without the Songs of Purification,
tesseractors would have corrupted this world long ago.
See that you do not forget that.
I won't.
Thank you.
Now, as I believe you know, Q occurrences have been increasing rapidly.
If things continue at this rate, it could trigger another Blackout.
Blackout...
I make this request of all of our witchlings and familiars:
stay alert and ready to respond to summons as swiftly as possible.
It's been seven whole years, but you still see scars from the Blackout everywhere.
That tesseractor today?
Yeah.
He said he wanted to die... to disappear.
I think maybe I felt the same way.
If I hadn't met Erry, Laplace, and all of you guys...
When people can't control their desires, they become a tesseractor.
That's what my father told me.
What do you think "human desires" are?
Do you think powerful wishes and despair both count as "desires"?
A powerful wish... to die.
We've got school again tomorrow. Better get to bed soon.
Yeah. Good night.
Good night.
Like a beam of light in a dirty alley littered with scrap
"Is there any point in staying here?"
I ask everyone but nobody knows
Hey, girl!
You look awesome!
Will it all end with the winner—
I'm afraid he's not in the picture.
I see him with someone else.
Really?! Ma-kun's not the one?!
I'm afraid not.
Oh, no!
What's wrong?
Will something happen to Ma-kun?!
Ma-kun!
I'm closing up for today.
Area 0 The Schild
Sorry I'm late.
This is usually my most profitable time.
Why'd you call us?
It was Ms. Sekai who called.
I saw an image.
A vision of the future?
Yeah.
Like tesseractors pouring from the sky in the direction of Area 3.
In the morning?
It was still a little dark.
Pouring?!
Tesseractors attacking en masse?
Yes.
They were all heading the same way.
There are currently no signs of such an event...
The fact remains that tesseractors have been more active lately.
We should stay on high alert—
What is it?
An Incomprehensible Region has spawned in Area 3.
It's rapidly expanding!
Hurry to the scene at once.
What's going on?
A sudden mass influx of tesseractors?
But Area 3 is the agricultural sector.
Given the population density, it's hard to imagine a mass event there.
Yeah. It's a quiet place.
Sekai. You were born in Area 3, weren't you?
The rapid expansion of an Incomprehensible Region in a place like that...
Agni, what do you think?
How should I know? We'll see when we get there.
"Know your enemy, know yourself, and you'll never fear a hundred battles."
Should we attempt to concoct a preliminary strategy based on what we know?
And if our predictions are all wrong?
It could delay our initial response.
Hastur.
What?
It's just, you're always so testy at times like this.
I am not. Don't talk to me unless you need something.
I was just worried.
Please hurry. We're heading out now.
Wait for me!
Q Mystery Server Momiji I saw it too. Chinchoge Friend of mine said the RD's put out an evac order. Fuji Is that the mass-scale disaster they mentioned on the news? Momiji Can I get a TLDR? Yuzu >Fuji Your friend okay? Chinchoge Made it as far as the Area 0 bridge thanks to mass evac. Super crowded RN.
Theories have started up on Dimcord, too.
None of the information is reliable, though.
But there are those who can use it to perceive the truth.
The Reconstruction Division takes this information seriously.
Based on that evidence, the alarm level has been raised to 6.
Six?!
In just ten minutes?
Yes. We're cordoning off Area 3 and taking measures to evacuate the populace.
What's going on?
A level-6 alarm has been issued in Area 3.
A large-scale disaster may occur.
All residents are asked to leave Area 3 as quickly as possible.
Do not use the emergency shelters.
Leave Area 3; go to other sectors.
Mist?
Is this an Incomprehensible Region?
It feels weird.
Everyone, we never know what we might find.
Be careful.
Huh?
What is that?!
Something's coming out.
A tesseractor being born?
Is that possible?
Looks like a big guy.
Kinda reminds me of someone...
Y'know?
What do you mean?
Just what it sounds like.
It looks just like you and Hastur.
Don't compare me to that giant lump.
Laplace?
So, what do we do about it?
As the scale of the ongoing Q remains unknown,
it would be inadvisable to split our forces.
But it's moving toward the evacuating people.
I'll stop this one! Go on, I'll catch up!
Haru!
They just keep coming.
Do you think Haru can handle it?
Kugel.
Kugel can support Haru and the rest of us from here.
I'm getting off!
Koko!
Hastur!
Anemos. If you please.
As you wish.
The readings should be centered on this point, yet...
I don't see anything.
Not even an Incomprehensible Region.
I was certain that this was the source.
Just a moment. I'll recalculate.
We should go support Haru and Koko.
Let's all go.
Who knows what might happen next.
It's not safe to split up.
It's huge!
There are still people...
Laplace!
Laplace
Anemos
Kugel
Agni
It's almost like...
Like the tesseractors are luring the witchlings in.
They're clearly cooperating.
I thought tesseractors were lone operators.
Could it be the result of a spontaneous mutation?
Is anybody there?!
This sector is currently under a level 6 disaster alert!
Please evacuate quickly!
We have to get them out before the tesseractors come.
Kafu. Why aren't you singing?
I can't hear it.
This tesseractor... its heart is empty.
Caller KCRD Chief
RD Chief?
What?
Head for VALIS!
The tesseractor horde is a diversion!
Huh? VALIS?!
The barrier that protects the city!
Huh? Doesn't VALIS protect us from cosmic radiation or something?
Isn't that what they taught us?!
Kugel!
The current curriculum teaches that to students in 6th grade.
I'm impressed you remembered.
I didn't ask for your praise!
Previous tesseractors were believed to operate independently,
but these show behavior patterns reflective of social insects.
What does that mean?
It appears as if the whole group is moving as one, as ants and bees do.
Ants? Bees?
Having recalculated based on that assumption,
we have determined the goal of this Q to be
the Area 3 Barrier Relay Point,
Laplace
a large, former farm on the western side of Area 3.
But people haven't finished evacuating, have they?
Even if it's a diversion, pulling out now means leaving them for dead.
Either way, it's not exactly like we can leave right now!
The KCRD is focused on leading the evacuation.
You need to defend VALIS!
This is your top priority!
If VALIS is lost, the damage will be far greater!
But seriously, how do we—
I'll go!
Let me investigate.
Laplace! Please!
I can't get in.
What's happening in there?
Laplace!
Kafu!
Right!
Huh?
Hey! Wait!
Hang on!
You're not goin' anywhere!
What's with these things?
Kugel?
What could it be?
Is this it?
They can't approach it.
Is it... that barn?
A feed plant?
It's emitting Fragments at a tremendous rate.
Then that's the third relay point?
Who's there?! It's not safe!
Laplace!
Laplace
Kugel
Agni
They suddenly turned back!
Koko and Agni are chasing them!
We have eyes on it too.
There's a 98% chance that their destination is the farm.
Kafu's there too, right?
Laplace
Yes.
Hurry!
This takes priority over purifying the Region!
I don't see much influence from the Incomprehensible Region...
It never ends, does it?
Clear the way. I'll show 'em what's what.
Agni!
Haru! Koko!
Thank goodness.
Kafu's in there?
A-A person?
It's warm.
No!
No... No!
No!
What's... going on?
VALIS?
Kafu?
Song of purification