Discordant Duet on the Black Snowfield · Chapter 7

Mission: I'm Possible

Trish

Sure enough...

I think we could fit through the ventilation shaft.

And it clearly connects all the way to the annex.

Emily

But there's a problem with this plan too.

There's only one entrance into the ventilation shaft.

And it's on the opposite side, far away from the annex.

Going into the shaft blindly when we don't even know how it's laid out...

Trish

Heh heh... Hahaha!

Emily

Why are you suddenly laughing?

Trish

Haha, just watch.

Let's see... Not this...

Don't think I'll need this right now...

Hmm... Ah, here it is!

There. With this, problem solved.

Emily

What... is that?

Trish

A magitech scanner used by the Kalaid Expedition.

Press the button in the middle to activate it, and it'll instantly map out the surrounding structure.

So once we're inside the ventilation shaft, we just turn this scanner on...

And finding the route to the annex will be a piece of cake!

Emily

...!

Trish

Ahaha! Feel free to be impressed.

The way of the hunter! Always see farther than everyone else!

All right, now all that's left is to storm the annex, right?

Let's go!

Emily

...Wait.

Trish

What? Is there still something else?

Emily

The other tools we left here.

Trish

...Hmm? Don't we barely need any of those? They'll just weigh us down.

Emily

That's what I thought too... but let's take a few more.

Trish

What, you're finally starting to appreciate the value of my shopping?

Emily

Ghh...! I still think you waste money on foolish purchases.

I simply realized... no one can predict what might happen on the battlefield.

Trish

Ahaha! No need to be embarrassed. You could just admit I was right!

Hmm... Then... the auto-extending magic rope, the all-purpose multi-tool Mk. 7, and...

Emily

Let's take this charm too.

Trish

Oh? That's unexpected.

I thought you'd say something like, "I don't believe in superstitions that don't do anything."

Emily

...People who fight on battlefields tend to be superstitious.

Trish

*Huff...* *Huff...*

It's... way too hot in here...

Emily

Of course it is... Two people are crammed into a narrow passage...

Just bear with it a little longer... According to the map... we're almost at the center of the annex...

???

Nngh...

Trish

...?! Did you hear that?

Emily

It came from the center of the annex...! Let's hurry.

Emily

This is...

Trish

I was wondering why there were so few people around Candle Square...

Frightened Savior

Nnghhh...

Emily

They were all being held here.

Emily

Treated like cargo...

Trish

Look. There's a whole pile of those black stones.

And that huge egg-shaped rock in the middle...

Emily

That must be the strange boulder she told us about.

But don't you find this odd?

That person lying on the floor in the corner. Isn't that the maid we saw outside earlier?

Chubby Maid

Mmm... Nya... Mm...

Trish

Looks like her...?

What's going on? There can't be two of the exact same person...

Emily

Shh...! Trish. Someone's coming.

Frightened Savior

Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!

Senior Maid

There's no need to be so frightened. Heh heh.

Everything is simply... proceeding according to the natural order.

Frightened Savior

Mmph...!

Trish

L-look at that...!

Emily

That dark energy flowing out of the strange boulder...

It's taking human form.

Could it be that... the senior maid of the Kalaid branch, or perhaps all the maids, were in that state?

Was that what felt so strange back then...?

Senior Maid

Haha. At last, you've shed your shell and regained your true form. Congratulations.

Frightened Savior

Ugh... Ngh...

Senior Maid

Follow me.

Trish

They're... making copies of people...?

Then all those people lying there...

Emily

Must have had the same thing done to them.

Trish

Ghh...! How could they do this...?

Emily

Calm down, Trish. Rescuing the people comes first.

Trish

...Right. Then let's get them out of this room first!

Just wait! I'll climb down and—

Emily

W-wait...!

Trish

Whoa!

Chubby Maid

Grrr...!

...Munch. Munch...

Snacks while on duty... Grrr...

Maid with a Broom

Somewhere... in a corner... Grrr... to curl up and sleep...

Emily & Trish

...?

Trish

...! Th-that was close...

That black energy covering the floor...

I think those fake humans notice anything that touches it.

That makes things a little more difficult...

Emily

Trish. You brought the rope, right?

Trish

Yeah. I've got it right here.

Emily

Use it to tie our bodies together tightly.

Trish

Huh? What? Tie you and me together? What are you planning?

Emily

If the strange boulder is the problem, then we remove the problem...!

...It seems the infiltration training I received long ago is finally about to pay off.

Trish

I tied us together like you said...

But we're really going down like this?

Emily

Don't worry. A descent from this height is nothing compared to what I did in training.

All right, here we go! Hup...!

Trish

Ngh...! You good...?

Emily

I'm going to lower myself little by little...! Hold on tight, Trish!

Trish

That's... easier said than done...!

You think it's easy... holding us up like this...?!

Emily

Just a little more...

A little farther and I think I can reach it!

Trish

Ghhh...! Fine...!

It's already unbearably hot in here...!

...Wait! I think a drop of sweat is about to fall!

Emily

...?! N-no! Trish, hold it just a little longer!

Trish

How am I supposed to stop myself from sweating...?!

I-It's falling! No...!

Emily

Ngh...!

Trish

...Emily?

Emily

Phew... It's fine now.

I caught it with the handkerchief from my pocket.

Trish

Phew... Thank goodness.

Can you... reach it now?

I can't... hold for much longer...!

Emily

Almost there. I've got it...!

Trish

Then... we just lift it up, right?

Emily

...

Trish

Uh, hello?

Emily

...I'm sorry.

Trish

...What? Why? What now?

Emily

This is... much...

Heavier than I expected...!

Trish

Whaaat...?! You said I could trust you...!

Tch...! Get back up here! I'll take care of this in one go!

Emily

W-wait! Trish! Don't move around! I can't keep my balance...!

Trish

Then hurry up and climb back up!

Emily

Maybe if I approach it a little more carefully...!

Trish

You already failed, so quit arguing...! This is exactly when you need to be bold!

...?!

Stop moving around and hold still! The shaft's going to break!

Emily

How am I supposed to stay still while hanging in midair?!

Trish

I-it's breaking...!

Trish

Waaah!

Emily

...Ngh!

Trish

Tch! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you from the start!

Emily

...I have no excuse.

Senior Maid

Hmm... We meet again in quite an unexpected place.

Emily. And Trish.

Chubby Maid

Grrrr...

Trish

We can argue about whose fault this is later. Get ready to fight.

Emily

I'm... always ready for combat.

Trish

That's good to hear...!

...Here they come!