To Market
Recorder's last words to me hang in the air for just a moment. Then, suddenly, his eyes widen, and his face shifts into a scowl of intense irritation. His reality marble collapses a moment later, and he stalks past me, moving towards the room we just left. "This is my error. I expected Chaldea to be safe, so long as it remained outside of the TATARI. Now we need to work to salvage this…"
I blink. "What do you-"
"Follow me," he commands, refusing the question. "That has already moved, which means negotiations will be necessary." I want to refuse, want to demand answers - but something about the urgency in his voice compels me to follow. He's well ahead of me by the time we reach my room, and as I begin to walk through the door, he thrusts a bundle of clothes into my hands - that Mystic Code Wallachia had prepared.
"So do you want to tell me-" I start to ask, and he cuts me off.
"Arima Miyako has perished. She provoked the Crawling Chaos, meaning my own discretion earlier was for naught," He says with the casual annoyance of a man who wasn't able to find his preferred bento at the store, even as I feel terror sink into my veins. "Do not panic. Tezcatlipoca may be our enemy, but she is helpful for this situation. There's no trap in that garment itself, so make use of it. You only have one chance at this, so remember what you learned from Anastasia Hoshin."
I barely pay attention to his words as [Invisible Providence] reaches for my brain- hesitating only for a moment before I crush. There's a strange pulling sensation, and-
***
The Prop Room
Blood sprays everywhere as half of those present fall. Emiya-senpai, someone who looked like Sion-san, and a girl with vibrant red hair are ripped to shreds by a storm of shadows. Meili and the bloodstained Tengu have their heads torn from their necks by Scandinavia Peperoncino before I can react.
Buckets of crimson stain the pristine white space of Od Laguna's Corridor of Memories a sickening red.
"Wha-?" Before I even finish the word, the violence has ended. In a swirl of shadows, Wallachia teleports back to a chair that is now dripping with blood. Peperoncino, on the other hand, remains on the table for a moment, shaking the blood off of his hands with a regretful grimace on his face.
"...Sorry for letting you see that," he says, inclining his head towards Miyako and me as he hops down.
The adrenaline is still pouring through me. "You-! That was-!" I gesture towards the rumor that was Meili Portroute as she melts into a pile of shadow.
"...Honey, that girl was only here in order to hurt you," He says.
"I know! I know that, but-!" I protest.
"-But she was a kid!" Miyako says, and I glance at her, and then at her weird red-haired clone in the next seat over. The clone's expression is firmly neutral, exposing nothing - but as for Miyako, her eyes have narrowed into pinpricks, her breathing fast.
"She wasn't. She was a fake, the same as the 'me' that I just killed," He answers.
("Wait, that Tengu was...?" Miyako mumbles, her eyes tracing Pepe's form again.)
"...Yeah," I admit after a moment. "The real Meili Portroute is in another world right now, and she's alive and well, the last I saw."
"Oyaaa…? Isn't that curious, considering what she was telling everyone who would listen before you arrived," Comes the voice of Wallachia, reminding me of his presence, and I turn my glare upon him.
Before I can say anything, though, the clapping of small hands cuts through our conversation. "Alright, well done everyone. A good round of opening purchases," says Tezcatlipoca. "But with that done, let's get into the main event - that is, who's buying whose way out of the underworld? Other items on offer, of course, include two Sirius Lights, Zepia's [Idea Blood], Daybit's [Angelic Artifact], Peperoncino's Master Authority, and- ah, that's right." She cuts herself off, and snaps her fingers. "Miyako, I've passed Peperoncino's Rayshift Affinity to you. Nanaya went and bought it for you the last time he was here."
"What… what even is that!?" She asks in a mix of confusion and anger. "What is any of that, any of this-!?"
"It's the underworld," Tezcatlipoca answers. "My underworld, which -putting everything else aside - means you can come back to life if you've got something to trade for that right, or if someone else has something to trade in your place." She glances at me meaningfully.
"Wait, Su-kun, you-" Miyako starts to say, horror building in her voice. Yeah, she just put together that I'm dead. That's not really the problem, though.
"No, I'm fine. Recorder did a thing to send me here, so I'll be able to get out just fine," I lie. "The problem is just getting you out of here." I'm not sure what Recorder was thinking giving me these clothes, but what I've got to trade is obviously going to be-
"-In that case I suppose you'll want this eye back?" Pepe says, and I stare at him in shock.
"...Dude, there's gotta be a limit of how much you're willing to give up for strangers," I mutter.
"Strangers? Aren't we friends already, though?" He replies with a teasing smile.
"Y-you…"
"Sorry, but one eye won't cut it. It took both for me to revive Nanaya, after all. Can't have him come back and complain at me," Tezcatlipoca says. Why do I get the feeling she's just making up the prices as she goes…?
"...I don't really understand," says Miyako. "But is there something we can do to make up the difference?" She glances at her redheaded clone for a moment.
"Black Tezcatlipoca has no interest in flayed skin like myself," the redhead answers - what does that even mean?
"...But I guess that means it's me," I mumble. I doubt she wants to buy these clothes that Recorder shoved into my hands, though… why did he do that, anyway? Out of my Witch factors, the best to give away would be Gluttony, but she's already got that one. Which means… did Da Vinci pick up the Greed factor, back in Okeanos? She only showed off the Gluttony one, but maybe-
"Ahem," a cough comes from across the table, and I glance again towards the main culprit of all of this mess. "Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?"
His close-eyed smile widens as my gaze falls upon him, and I reflexively grimace.
"Su-kun, Su-kun," Miyako whispers. "Who is that guy, anyway?"
"He's Wallachia, the culprit behind all of this. Recorder and I took him out a few minutes ago," I whisper back.
"Eh!?" She jolts upright, looking back and forth between him and me. "Wait, we won already?"
"Of course not. The show will go on, even without a playwright's hand actively thrusting the script in the actors' faces," Wallachia says with a chuckle.
"...Yeah. The TATARI we're dealing with belongs to Quasar, so it's still going to be up to its usual tricks once we re-enter," I say. "Though I guess there'll be less malice involved."
"Oh? Were you under the impression that I was ensuring the production of more enemies than you would have otherwise seen?" Wallachia tilts his head in exaggerated inquisitiveness, then raises his hands in a large shrug as he shakes it. "Not so, Subaru. I simply focused their production. I'd estimate you'll see more rumors than before, and who can tell how they'll spiral out into further falsehoods?"
"Well, that's if he doesn't just buy his way out of here," says Tezcatlipoca. "You sold your [Idea Blood], but not your [Principle], right?"
"-And what exactly are either of those?" Asks Pepe.
"[Idea Blood] is the crown of a [Dead Apostle Ancestor], that thing which makes one an Ancestor. Of course, it does not exist outside of Quasar's simulations - not in this worldline, at least," Wallachia says. "Fundamentally, the bearer becomes a Singularity, and their [Principle] can then be written onto the world around them - usually as a Reality Marble."
"But the [Idea Blood] will survive its bearer's destruction, and another existence can pick it up - and doing so ascends them to the pinnacle of vampirehood on the spot. If they're not cut out for it, they'll probably break down and die, though," says Tezcatlipoca, examining a crimson fruit in her hand. "It's not so different from Witch Factors, in that sense."
"That fruit…" Pepe mutters leerily.
"The Fruit of the Tree of Life, as conjured by the [Marble Phantasm] of Crimson Moon Brunested - or so one story goes," says Wallachia. "That is to say, my [Idea Blood]. But I only sold it, and not my [Principle] - so it remains of little use for you, my dear stagehand."
"No, this is for resale," Tezcatlipoca replies. "My Class Container won't let me take this thing in, anyway. Still, if you're putting your [Principle] on sale, I'd be a fool to turn it down."
"Mmm…" Wallachia hums, and then inclines his head towards me again. "Well? I possess the means to purchase Miyako's escape from this place. I'm not opposed to it; I had no intention of her leaving the stage this early. Will you cooperate with me at last, my dear Protagonist?"
…What. "You mean-?" I glance at the bundle of clothing in my arms. "The costume!?"
"Yes." His sharp-toothed mouth splits into a wicked grin as he leans forward into his hand, a single blood-red eye peeking from between his fingers. "Come, Dress Parade. I went to all of the trouble of producing it for you, did I not?"
…What the hell is this guy's problem, seriously? Is it just for the aesthetics of it? No, actually-
"You said it was a Mystic Code," I say.
"Of course. I would never have an inadequate costume produced for my star player! Its nature is simple - a single Code Cast that directly interfaces with the TATARI using Etherlite, in order to temporarily manifest one of your delusions as what that hostile critic refers to as a [Figment]," He says, face shifting back to that same smug smile.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, how the hell do I turn this down?
"Delusions…?" Miyako asks.
"The mental contamination he has suffered from being so close to his counterpart. I'd wager they've appeared to him as hallucinations, no? Of course, this Mystic Code will also reduce that corrosion," He says, and Miyako turns a worried glance my way.
…In other words, it's a Mystic Code that will trim back on the hallucinations while also allowing me to see Emilia and Beatrice again. Yeah, as if it would be that easy. "What's the catch?" There's got to be some kind of poison pill here.
"Ki..he…hehehehe!" He breaks into laughter, the red pools of his eyes again open and leaking blood. "To drive you further along, of course! To cause your heart to stray! To let things proceed to the inevitable end, where you fail to say that thing which must be said, and say the thing that must never be said!"
I grit my teeth and try to parse the words of a madman. 'To cause your heart to stray' - that's the new part, here. There was no trap in Recorder's eyes, but he's an asshole. My first reaction, the first impulse, was to summon Emilia, even if she was just a shade born of my delusions of what she'd say. And if I did that, the one hurt the most would be-
"...Your target is Rem, isn't it?" I ask with sudden, cold clarity. "It has been all along." He dies. He's already dead, but I'm going to make sure he dies, no matter what.
"Yes! Yes, that shall be the finale! That is your inevitable fate! The last time, it was a mere accident, but this time, this time THISTIMETHISTIMETHISTIME-!" He cackles madly.
Miyako jumps to her feet, and Pepe does the same, the two readying fighting stances. But it's not time, not yet. My eyes meet those of Scandinavia Peperoncino for just a moment - and his widen slightly. He can read people's intentions thanks to his Shugendo - is what the other him, outside this place mentioned before.
"I'll wear it," I decide, steeling myself. "I'll wear your damn costume, if you sell that [Principle] of yours so Miyako can come back." I need to not summon Emilia, obviously, but… beyond that, won't it be fine?
"Very well, then," A swirl of shadows fills my sight, and Wallachia is sitting again, completely placid. The Explorer's Outfit has replaced my Chaldea Uniform. "My [Principle] is Eternity(Tragedy), the recognition that the only end of humanity is misery, that no matter how many futures you may scour, only tragedy lasts to the end. You may receive it, in exchange for Arima Miyako's revival." Blood flows down his cheeks from beneath closed eyelids, and floats through the air to merge with the crimson fruit in Tezcatlipoca's hand.
"That's fine, but I still need one Mystic Eye here…" She says, glancing at Pepe expectantly.
"Hm?" The man glances back with a raised eyebrow. "What are you looking at me for?"
"Oya? Are you backing out, then?" Wallachia says with some amusement - and finally Pepe bursts out laughing.
"It's you who's paying for all of it, honey!" He cackles pointing at the vampire as I reach for the first button of the Explorer's Outfit.
"Wait, what are you-!?" Wallachia shouts, leaping to his feet. "Don't take it off! How can the lead performer be out of costume!?"
"I only said I'd wear it, idiot, not that I'd keep wearing it!" I grin. "Now sell the eye too, if you want me to keep it on."
"Gnnnnn-!" Wallachia grips the table as he staggers like a Phoenix Wright villain. "You-! A Geas! Tezcatlipoca, I demand a Geas Scroll!"
"Sure, I still owe you three favors," the Aztec god says, a scroll made of some strange parchment I don't recognize materializing in her hand. "Technically it's not a 'Geas' since that's Irish, but it's close enough." She tosses it onto the table, and Wallachia falls upon it with ferocity, scribbling a hasty contract.
"You will wear my provided costume, and keep it on for the duration of the performance!" He shouts, pointing at me.
"Sure, sure," I answer with a grin and he looks up at me, fury written on his face as clear as the writing on the scroll itself.
I take a moment to scan it, and show it to Pepe. Looks like Wallachia's completely earnest, including a clause that requires him to immediately make the deal with Tezcatlipoca, and do nothing else until that's finished. Well I was gonna demand that no matter what, so it makes sense.
"Lookin' good!" Pepe says with a laugh. "Sign away, honey."
"Ah, wait, what about a clause for when I'm sleeping and using the toilet?" I ask, and Wallachia strangles a scream in his throat.
"Never! Never have I been subject to such disdain from my own performers!" He mutters as he scribbles in an extra clause permitting bathroom use. "You will sleep in it, however!"
"Fine, fine," I sigh as I scrawl my name upon it, and button my shirt back up.
"Haaah," Wallachia sighs, straightening himself up again. "Very well-"
Pepe begins moving.
"-in exchange for-"
Wallachia notices said movements and his eyes widen. But he has no choice but to finish his sentence before doing anything else.
"-Arima Miyako's revival-"
Absolute fury is written upon his face.
"-I sell this eye."
Scandinavia Peperoncino slices Wallachia to pieces with his own Mystic Eye using his bare hands.
His body falls to the ground in chunks, leaving only the pattern of a bloody smile hanging in the air for a moment.
"My second favor… Master Authority…" The faint whisper of Zepia's voice emits from that smile for a moment - and then Pepe's hand slices through that too, and it's gone.
"Well, I get what he was after, so I'll fulfill it for him," says Tezcatlipoca with a snicker. "Seriously, what a perfectionist to the very end. But enough of that. It's been a productive sale, so I'll send you guys back now - unless you want something extra."
"Not from you," I reply. "Pepe. Can you stay here on cleanup duty for now? I'm getting real sick of guys crawling out of the underworld the moment we get rid of them."
"Nooooo! You can't! That's my whole business model!" Tezcatlipoca shouts in outrage. "If you want me not to revive people, at least pay me for it!"
"How much?" I ask. If it's even slightly cheap, I'll probably take it.
"Mmmm… a Command Spell?" She asks.
That's probably worth it! "In that case-"
"No, you shouldn't take that deal," Pepe mutters. "There's a ton of malice behind it."
"Huh?" I blink. I guess I trust his insight, but…
"If Black Tezcatlipoca receives a Command Spell he can use it, on your Servants," the Red Miyako speaks up for pretty much the first time in this whole exchange. "Don't buy this whole 'No-one's side' nonsense. He's on his own side."
Right. Recorder said she's probably our enemy, too. "...In that case, I'm not interested. Send us back." Then, looking at my companion's eyes for a moment I follow up. "Pepe, Miyako says thanks."
"Eh!?" The girl jolts, looking at me as her face flushes. Pepe, on the other hand, just smiles and waves.
"Alright, I'll just get it next time. Later, Master of Chaldea, Red Tezcatlipoca," The thing wearing Louis Arneb's body waves, and the white space fades away.