Day Five: The Victor's Choice

Raid Event: Doomsday Getaway

Episode 5

Day Five: The Victor's Choice

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Day Five: The Dolls

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Day Five: Cursed Trust

Summary

As the party reels from Patia's death, Carmen appears and claims there is a way to revive the dead. Soon thereafter, Mikoto also dies! A moment later, Norwin declares to the group that he has puzzled out the real culprit.

Dialogue

There are five dolls! What in the world...? Patia! She's gone!  ! Everyone spread out and look for Patia!

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Guys! Over here! ...... It's Patia, but she's... I sense no breathing; she certainly appears to have passed. Yeah, but she's not DEAD dead—she's just all crammed inside one'a these little creepaziod dolls here. So we can bring her and everyone else back, right? ...Right? I fear that may be wishful thinking. Aw, c'mon... I think Carmen knows something. Perhaps, but good luck trying to force that miscreant to reveal it! Aw, you're gonna get me soaked with all these boo-hoo tears!  ! You scamps did good to find this place. Aren't you the smartest widdle duckies? Yes you are! You are SO infuriating, Carmen! Go stick your snout somewhere else! Yeah, I thought you were an overseer or a guide or whatever, but you mostly just show up and tick everybody off. Ouch, that hurts. Right in the ol' kisser! Buuut, fine. You want to know the score? Here it is... This is a prison for souls: A place where those who lose the game are trapped. Think of it as a rumpus room where Scylla keeps her personal collection. You can't mean she thinks of these foul dolls as a COLLECTION?! I can and do! Scylla just loves to capture live souls so she can look at 'em and play with 'em and... Well, whatever she wants to do, I suppose. So she turns souls into dolls and stores 'em right here in this cavernous cave. ...Betcha didn't see THAT coming! Zing! So they aren't dead yet? Technically, no—but it's only a matter of time before Scylla gobbles 'em up. Gotta get that fresh soul flavor, am I right? Carmen, is there any way to return our friends to normal? Oh sure—and it's a real wowser of a method. But THAT'S something you won't learn until the end of the game. I wish you would cease your blabbering and just tell us the plain truth for once! Truth? Lady, I've told you nothing BUT the truth—that's just how I was made! In fact, I'll drop one more truthbomb on you right now about your big final prize. Our...prize? As you know, the person who survives to the end can choose to live and leave this island. Buuuuut... They can ALSO serve as a substitute for the others. A substitute?! Yep! If they choose to die and let Scylla devour their soul, all their little pals get to leave the island without becoming scrumptious spiritual snackies. Hark the noble, self-sacrificing heart! ...Makes great patter, am I right? So if the last remaining person chooses to sacrifice themselves, the rest get to live? Did I stutter? Seriously, it's not that complicated. One life in exchange for a whole bunch of 'em. What a deal! But then the last person has to die. Like, REALLY die. ...... I'd always thought I'd be ready to sacrifice myself for others, but... It is not courage to run toward one's own death without thought or pause. Such a decision is difficult for all living creatures. And even if he did agree to do it, we'd still have to trust him. And trust is very hard to come by in these dark days, it would seem. What, you think he'll betray everybody and leave us to die here while he sails off into the sunset? Do you even KNOW him?! No, that's not what I mean—I'm referring to the fact that Scylla is one of us. Oh yeah. THAT. I don't want to doubt him, but we can't ignore the possibility that she is him. Of course, it's the same for all of us, which means we're all under suspicion. If it's only the person who survives until the end who gets the right to choose, that means the others are already dead. We cannot afford to fail. ...... Even before all that, the notion of assuming someone will die for the rest of us is nigh-unthinkable. Agreed—but in that case, what are our options? ...... Carmen? How do we win this game? You're asking that NOW? Sheesh! But yeah, the way to win is to be the last person standing. I mean, dur. That's not what I mean, exactly. That's how I can win over everyone else, but I want to know how we can ALL win. Ooooooo! Now THAT is an interesting question, my sylvan friend. For example, if we discover Scylla and defeat her, does that mean we've won? ...Huh. You know what? I have no idea. It's actually never come up before. Although this IS Scylla's island, so if she was gone, I imagine lots of other things would also end up gone. Right then. We find Scylla, crush her, and end this charade for good! Uuugh, you people are sooo naive. You're just little pieces on a board, but Scylla is the one moving you around! You're not even fighting on the same level; she'll wipe the floor with you! Then does that make YOU our opponent, Carmen? What? No. That's dumb. If you're pieces on a board, then I'm more like...the board. It's not even an option to fight me. In that case, further dialogue is useless. I will slay everyone and become the victor. Wait, WHAT?! No matter who among us is Scylla, the end result will be the same so long as I cut everyone down. Once this game is at an end, I will simply offer up my soul in exchange for yours. But then you'll DIE, man! I am already one with nature; it will change little for my soul to be vacated from this earthly vessel. My existence will simply continue in a different form. And what if YOU are Scylla?! I cannot prove a negative. All that can be done is to ask that you trust me. You talk like this is easy, but I know you understand the gravity of this situation. Still, at this point your plan might be better than going around in circles forever. I don't know about the others, Mikoto, but I trust you. Then perhaps this marks the end of our troublesome situation. HOWEVER...do you trust me? Of course. I have no reason not to. Then leave this duty to me. I cannot. So you DON'T trust me! That is not the case. However, I... I... URK! Mikoto? What is it? M-my strength...falters... Mikoto?! MIKOTO! ...... His heartbeat has stopped. But no one DID anything to him. I understand now. I've figured it out. Figured out WHAT? The culprit in all of this. I know who has killed Mikoto and all the others.  ?! Then TELL us, for the love of all! The culprit is... And then there were five.