After defeating the giant stone Vinka, they returned to the city of Aschwold—the city of dwarves and humans, the same place where they'd rented the wagon.
(Patch!)
"Get out!"
The client shouted as he kicked Nacht out the door.
Kisa: "Huh… Nacht?"
Client: "Tch… You destroyed the giant because you were careless."
He slammed the door.
Kisa: "What happened?"
Nacht: "I told him we were the reason it woke up. So he got angry."
Diego: "…Ugh… I'm… sorry. That was my fault."
Nacht stood up.
Nacht: "What's done is done. And you, newbie—try thinking next time. Now my clothes are dirty. Heaven help me… I hate dwarves…"
Kisa: "Nacht, you've got a little cut on your cheek."
Nacht: "Oh."
Kisa licked her finger and gently wiped away the blood.
Nacht: "It's fine, Kisa. You don't have to."
Kisa: "I'm terribly sorry… You were right—you should've done it alone."
Nacht patted her head.
Nacht: "It wasn't your fault either. I didn't expect the monster to be directly under us."
Kisa: "Mmm…"
Nacht: "You too, newbie. You're a pain, but it was still on me. Don't take it to heart… Let's get a hotel for the night. I've got enough for one room."
He rented a room nearby. They all lay down and started to sleep—except Nacht.
Nacht: "…Huh!"
(Gulp!)
He got up.
(Patch!)
He left the hotel and headed out.
Nacht: "Hmm?"
"Hehahahahahaha… finally they killed that giant, hahaha!"
"The good thing is we can rob travelers in the mountains without fear now, hehehe… It may have been a Vinka, but it got in our way… and best of all, I used it as an excuse not to pay. It was a peaceful stone giant anyway—"
The door burst open.
"Huh?"
"What!?"
Figures slipped out from behind the door and attacked the bandits.
(Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!)(Splatter! Splatter!)(Splatter!)
Nacht: "…All right, then."
The client was still alive, trembling.
Nacht: "Did you really think I wouldn't notice something was off about you?"
Client: "Please… spare my life."
Nacht: "Hmm… Fine."
Client: "Huh?"
Nacht: "You can go."
He ran for the exit—only for a massive shape to appear in the doorway and bite off half his body in one chomp.
(Splatter!)
Ichabod: "Mmmm…"
Nacht: "Man… Ichabod—did you have to kill him so the blood splattered on me?"
Ichabod: "Apologies…"
Nacht: "Ah, whatever. I knew from the start that 'monster' wasn't a Vinka. It had no dark aura. It looked exactly like the stone giants from our stories—like in the Grimm-world books…"
He tossed a money pouch, then caught it again.
Nacht: "Wait for me… Lissana!"
(The next morning)
Diego: "Haaaaah…"
Kisa: "Morning, Diego."
Diego: "Morning, Kisa."
Kisa: "Hehe… did you sleep well?"
Diego: "Yeah—whoa!"
He toppled over in shock: Kisa was wearing only her suspenders and trousers; her chest was covered, but otherwise you could see nearly everything.
Kisa: "Hmm?"
Diego: "Ah… it's nothing… Do you… like suspenders?"
Kisa: "Oh, yes. I do. Hehe."
Nacht suddenly came in.
Nacht: "Morning…"
Kisa: "Oh—Nacht."
Diego: "Where were you?"
Kisa: "Yeah, I thought you'd already left."
Nacht: "Since we didn't get paid—because we messed it up—I took another job."
Kisa: "Oh."
Diego: "What is it?"
He showed them a wanted poster.
Kisa: "Oh."
Diego: "Huh… That's… not a monster. It's a human."
Kisa: "Oh—didn't Master Isolde tell you?"
Kisa put on her "teacher" glasses.
Kisa: "Listen, Diego. We hunters don't only hunt Vinka. We go after anything that threatens people."
She tossed the glasses away.
Diego: "Was the glasses bit necessary?"
Nacht: "For once we have the same question."
Diego: "So… we're hunting a human?"
Nacht: "A human with supernatural ability. They say he's a dark mage—a grimoire user. His name is Lupin. He was last seen by a little girl playing in the forest; she hid because she sensed something wrong about him."
Kisa stretched.
Kisa: "Haaaaaah… I'm hungry."
Diego: "To be honest, me too."
Nacht: "Of course. We eat first—then we head out."
They went to a place called the Fish Head Restaurant. Big place, famous food. Best part: you could also pay with valuable items.
"What can I get you?" the waitress asked.
Nacht: "What do you want?"
Kisa: "I'd like the omelet rice."
Diego: "Mmm… what should I… there are so many…"
Kisa: "Oh—let me help."
She leaned in so close her head was right in front of his; she smelled like strawberries, and her hair was beautiful. It made Diego nervous.
Kisa: "Hmm… what would you like as your main?"
Diego: "I… I'd like meat. I've never eaten meat."
Kisa: "Oh… then how about… hmm…"
Nacht: "Steak."
Kisa: "Huh… isn't that a bit expensive for us?"
Nacht: "It's on me. But newbie… you have a week to pay me back—1,500 Grims."
Diego: "Oh… okay."
Nacht: "For me, rice with plant seeds and mushrooms."
Waitress: "Certainly."
Kisa: "Wow… that's his favorite. It's called mushroom rice."
Diego: "Mm."
Kisa: "I don't like mushrooms—at least not raw. Cooked is fine."
Diego: "Oh…"
(Thirty minutes later)
The food arrived.
Diego: "Woooow… it's so good! Mmm."
Kisa: "Omelet rice is… (chomp) the best…"
Nacht: "Hmm…"
Kisa: "Diego, want to try some?"
Diego: "Oh… can I really?"
Kisa: "Yes."
Diego: "Ahh."
He tasted it. Kisa smiled.
Kisa: "Good, right?"
Diego: "Yeah… Want to try the steak?"
Kisa: "May I? That's sweet."
He offered her a bite.
Diego: "Well?"
Kisa: "Delicious."
Nacht: "Hmm."
Kisa: "Nacht, you try too."
Nacht: "No, thanks."
Kisa: "Don't be shy. Here."
She held a spoonful of omelet rice in front of him. He ate.
Nacht: "Mm."
Kisa: "Good, right?"
Nacht: "Mhm… You can try mine, too."
Kisa: "Oh… may I? It's your favorite."
Nacht: "It's fine."
She tried it.
Kisa: "Oh… this is tasty."
Diego: "Really?"
Kisa: "Yes. Surprisingly good. The seeds have a nice crunch, and the mushroom is cooked so well it melts in your mouth."
Diego: "Huh… maybe I should've ordered that."
Nacht: "Hmm…"
He slid his plate toward them.
Nacht: "Finish the rest. I have to step out."
Diego: "Ugh…"
Kisa: "But… you were hungry."
Nacht: "Not anymore."
He stood and left the restaurant.
Kisa: "Hmm."
Kisa worried. Diego did not—he started eating right away.
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Nacht: "…Ichabod."
Ichabod: "Yes?"
Nacht: "How is she?"
Ichabod: "As always—in her room. Drinking milk and petting herself."
Nacht: "Good. So it's the same as ever…"
He returned to the restaurant.
Diego: "Oh…"
Kisa: "Nacht… is everything all right?"
Nacht: "Yes. All good. Let's head out."
They set off.
Kisa: "So, Nacht… how do we find him?"
Diego: "Yeah… the city's huge."
Diego looked around.
Nacht: "We just have to look. Last seen in the mountain area where Aschwold isn't visible. The girl lives with her father—a lumberjack—so he has to be nearby. There's a village close by called Tipa, near that spot."
Diego: "Uh… okay."
Kisa: "Hmm…"
(Meanwhile)
"Mmmm… mmm…"
Lupin: "Hehehe… everything will be fine… everything will be fine. Well then, you wicked spirits—do you hear it? A sacrifice is ready for you."
Suddenly several Märchen appeared.
(Splatter!)(Crunch!)
Lupin: "Good… very good… Now, let's see… hmm?"
"Mmm."
A young girl lay on the ground.
Lupin: "Hehe… let's have some fun."
(Back to Kisa, Nacht, and Diego)
Diego: "So… what exactly is a grimoire?"
Nacht: "It's what lets dark mages use spirits—Märchen."
Diego: "Märchen?"
Nacht: "Märchen have no will. They do only what they're told. That doesn't make them evil—but they can be used for evil."
Diego: "How many Märchen are there?"
Nacht: "Known ones—still 'alive'—about 210. Whether there are more…"
Diego: "Whoa…"
Nacht: "Hmm… Huh?"
Nacht sensed something.
Nacht: "Mmm… He's here."
Diego: "Lupin?"
Kisa: "Mhm… I feel him too."
Diego: "I don't feel anything."
Nacht: "Because you weren't cursed."
Diego: "Ugh…"
They ran.
Diego: "Hmm…"
The village lay ahead—but strangely, it was empty.
Diego: "Hey… isn't it weird it's so deserted when it's not even night yet?"
Nacht: "You're right. Something's off."
Kisa: "Yes… Why is it so quiet?"
They entered the village. Nacht knocked.
Nacht: "Excuse us—we're here with friends… we got lost. Hello?"
The door was unlocked. What they saw inside was… unexpected.
Diego: "Ugh!"
Nacht: "Ugh!"
Kisa: "Huh!"
Corpses—two women and a man.
Diego: "…"
A circle was drawn in the center.
Diego: "What's with this circle?"
Nacht: "A ritual…"
He stepped in and checked their pulses.
Nacht: "They're dead."
He touched the blood and sniffed it.
Nacht: "…About… a day."
Diego: "A day?"
Nacht: "Let's split up and search the village. There are only ten houses."
They checked every home—same results.
Diego: "…Hhh…"
Kisa: "Only corpses."
Nacht returned.
Diego: "Any survivors?"
Nacht shook his head.
Nacht: "No. They're all dead. The last ones died only minutes ago."
Diego: "Tch… Who would do this?"
Nacht: "Lupin—who else? He's a member of the Witches of the Forbidden Library…"
Diego: "What's he after?"
Nacht's face tightened with anger.
Nacht: "Damn it… If only we hadn't been late… tch…"
Kisa: "Huh!"
Nacht: "Ugh…"
They heard a sound—like two knives scraping together.
Diego: "Ugh…"
(Jaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha…)
A loud laugh. They turned. There he was—Lupin, masked, in a clownish outfit like in children's shows: a long red suit, a full-face mask with several pointed tassels like a nightcap.
Lupin: "Hello, dears… I am Lupin, of the Witches of the Library—Sin Witch of Pride… I hope I didn't scare you."
Nacht: "Hmm… so you're still here."
Lupin: "Jahahahahaha… but of course. And you've come at the perfect time to summon the evil spirit…"
Nacht: "Evil spirit… Ugh!"
Lupin: "Haha… that's right—you've realized it now. Around the whole village… I drew a circle. This circle summons the spirit Nosferatu!"
Nacht's demeanor turned deadly serious.
Nacht: "Ugh… Let's get out of here. Now!"
Kisa: "What?"
Diego: "Okay—"
Lupin: "Too late…"
The entire village glowed, and a shape slowly appeared—a huge figure, a woman at its center.
Lupin: "Jahahahaha… there you are, Nosferatu… Kill these brats."
The woman looked at him.
Lupin: "What are you waiting for—"
(Slash!)
Lupin: "…Huh?"
Half his face slid off.
(Splatter!)
Diego: "Ugh."
Nacht: "Damn…"
Kisa: "It killed him."
Nosferatu: "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!"
Nacht: "Tch… You three… looks like we have to fight."
Diego: "Right."
Kisa: "Hansel."
Hansel: "With pleasure!"
Diego: "Little Red."
Little Red: "As you wish."
Nacht: "Ichabod…!"
Ichabod: "Aye!"
They transformed: Kisa into her terrifying form—stitched eyes open, stitched mouth, corpse-like body; Diego into the werewolf; Nacht with his mouthless, noseless face, stitched neck, and massive sword.
Kisa: "All right."
From her stitched seams, ghosts poured out. She pulled on her gloves.
Kisa: "Ghost Punch!"
"Boooo!" cried the ghosts, exploding on impact.
Nacht: "Dark Breath—Raven Feather!"
Black feathers streaked toward the spirit.
Diego: "My turn!"
He charged and slashed its hand open.
(Splatter!)
He sprang back.
Nacht: "Did we get it?"
Diego: "Ghh…"
Kisa: "Hah…"
But Nosferatu barely reacted.
Nosferatu: "Gaaaaaah…"
Its mouth opened; inside, countless eyes blinked—then fired beams at them.
Nacht: "Ugh—watch out!"
He threw himself over them at the last second.
Kisa: "Ghh—"
Diego: "Ow—"
Nacht: "Urk… ghhh…"
Kisa: "Huh!"
Diego: "Ugh!"
Half of Nacht's body was gone.
Kisa: "Nacht!"
Diego: "Nacht!"
He crashed to the ground.
Kisa: "No… no, Nacht!"
Diego: "Kisa—look out!"
(Crash!)
Nosferatu swatted Kisa, sending her flying.
Diego: "Ugh!"
Kisa: "(Gagh!)"
Diego: "Kisa!"
Nosferatu turned on Diego; hands erupted from its belly and lunged for him.
Diego: "Ugh!"
They pinned him.
Nosferatu: "…What… do you think you are? I was created by the Witch of Pride. I cannot be defeated so easily… haaah…"
It grabbed Kisa—intent on devouring her.
Diego: "Kisa!"
Kisa was unconscious.
Diego: "Kisa!"
The hands dragged Diego toward the monster's stomach.
(Patch!)
Nosferatu: "Huh!"
It stared—Nacht was moving. His body began to regenerate.
Nacht: "Ghhh… ghhhh…"
Veins knit together; a fierce aura burst out.
Nacht: "Ghhh… Let. My. Friends. Go… you damned… monster!"
Nosferatu: "Impossible… You still live? No—wait, that aura… You were cursed by the Witch of Greed… I see…"
It dropped Kisa—and Diego as well.
Nosferatu: "Haaah… I cannot—must not—kill you. The curse would kill me. A magic beast created by one witch may not devour a victim cursed by another witch… That girl is cursed too… but not by a witch—by a spirit. No matter…"
It turned away.
Nosferatu: "In any case… I'm leaving. I'm tired."
Nacht: "Ugh."
It slowly left the village.
Nacht: "Ghhhh… Do you know a witch named Lia!?"
he shouted. The spirit turned.
Nosferatu: "Hmm… Yes… I believe that is the Witch of Greed."
It continued on.
Nacht: "…Hhh."
Diego: "Ghhh…"
Diego had returned to human form.
Diego: "Kisa!"
Nacht: "Ugh."
They ran to her.
Diego: "Kisa!"
Nacht: "Kisa…"
Kisa: "…Huh?"
She opened her eyes to see them leaning over her; blood ran from her forehead.
Kisa: "Diego… Nacht…"
Nacht: "Good… you're okay."
Diego: "Thank goodness."
Kisa: "Nacht… what just happened?"
Nacht: "…Ugh… That… that was my curse."
Diego: "Curse? What kind of curse?"
Nacht: "Hah… I think I have to tell you everything… but only after we're back at the tower."
They set off, Diego carrying Kisa in his arms. But, unnoticed by them… something twitched.
(Gulp!)
Lupin: "Hehehehehe… hehehehe…"