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- !dungeon,
- adrasteius anor'thalion (warcraft),
- aigis (persona),
- allelujah haptism (mobile suit gundam 00,
- arashi narukami (ensemble stars!),
- asuna yuuki (sword art online),
- emil castagnier (tos:dotnw),
- gilbert nightray (pandora hearts),
- gilgamesh (fate/),
- haruna (kantai collection),
- ichigo hitofuri (touken ranbu),
- jae-ha (akatsuki no yona),
- josuke higashikata (jjba),
- kaede (elfen lied),
- kaito kuroba (dcmk),
- kasen kanesada (touken ranbu),
- kija (akatsuki no yona),
- kobato hanato (kobato),
- korra (legend of korra),
- lapis fathalla (original character),
- levi (attack on titan),
- lord light (original character),
- minato arisato (persona),
- misaki yata (k),
- noel vermillion (blazblue),
- potemkin (guilty gear),
- regene regetta (mobile suit gundam 00),
- rory connor (original character),
- sans (undertale),
- setsuna f. seiei (mobile suit gundam 00),
- shin-ah (akatsuki no yona),
- shinoa hiiragi (owari no seraph),
- sion astal (lolheroes),
- slaine troyard (aldnoah.zero),
- souji seta (persona),
- tieria erde (mobile suit gundam 00),
- vietnam (axis powers hetalia),
- vivienne stanbury (bloodborne),
- wukong (league of legends),
- yukari takeba (persona),
- zelos wilder (tales of symphonia)
DUNGEON ♛ SALAMANCA TEMPLE
20 MARCH (NARCISSA) 2016
Once a grand place of worship for the ancestors of the Alfersa, the thousand-year-old ruins of Salamanca Temple returned to their full glory overnight. However, it also seems to be teeming with ancient reptiles long thought to be extinct. As the Heroes enter, it’s clear that the multilevel temple is a prime example of the artistic achievements of its time. The rooms are lush with plantlife that creeps in between the cracks of marble tiles and statues of Gladia with serpents at her heel, and the walls are covered in paintings and bas-reliefs depicting a famous epic about the Alfersa’s victory over all reptilian creatures.
The majesty of Salamanca Temple almost makes one fact easy to forget: it was most infamous as a site of magic… and human sacrifices.
Our Heroes know that there’s only one way to get out of here: find and defeat the boss!
Lisbrand I’m sure you’re all aware, to some extent, that in addition to the war with Noir, Blanc must deal with threats within its own borders. These are what we call dungeons, and we only have a basic working understanding of them. Think of them as natural phenomena. Your task is reconnaissance and retrieval of the mana cores believed to be hidden in the deepest part of the structure, but you will likely encounter resistance. [a gesture to her side] Secretary Verdoni has more details about the nature of the structure. Secretary, if you would. |
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Verdoni This is Salamanca Temple, a sacred and important site of cultural heritage to the Alfersa. Grand temples such as this were supposed to fill the devout with hope, but the Gladia of old was not always a benevolent goddess. Gladia’s Alfersan cult was infamous for its taboo sacrificial rituals. As a result, this temple is shrouded in frightening rumors and legends. Over the course of its bloody history, many atrocities were committed over the most trifling matters... The most famous is the tale of Moura Serpente. Perhaps you Heroes will have the chance to personally witness the truth behind these hallowed walls. |
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Lisbrand Our scouts are incapable of exploring the structure the way this task force can. Therefore, you will be the front line in this mission. Your issued magical weapon will grant you immediate access to the temple once you approach the entrance. [and just to be safe, she gestures again. some of the Blanc soldiers who have tagged along for support functions march their way towards the appropriate door] Base camp will be established just outside the temple, in the event that you need to leave the area. |
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Verdoni Which means that the Airy will be here for a while. Once you finish the dungeon, you are free to retire to your quarters. If you don't feel like riding the ship again, then walk. The journey to Caissa on foot will take a week at most. I suggest heading north to spend the evening at the city of Polgar. I suppose walking is a good thing for you Heroes; we will not always have the luxury of air travel. |
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Lisbrand We will be breaking camp in the evening to rendezvous with Airy, so if you are not out of the dungeon by that time, you will be walking back to Caissa. [a pause] But I expect a number of you will do so anyway. This country is on full alert, and traveling by foot should be relatively safe inside our borders, but I hope I don’t need to tell you to be vigilant. I will expect all members of the task force back in Caissa by Lathrya 8th. Heroes, move out! |
Basic info on the dungeon can be found here. Dungeon mechanics can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.
When you enter the temple, the flooring is surprisingly weak — wait, no. That’s a trap. And those are your screams.
You land in what seems to be the vast and sprawling corridors of the temple’s basement: dark, dank, and full of rats. But it’s more than just that — the smell of blood is thick in the air, and every so often, you might hear cries of agony. Magic circles, dried blood on ornate daggers, and tables with unspeakable tools for keeping mouths shut and human limbs in place… something tells you this is exactly what Verdoni warned you about.
MONSTER ♟ Lizardman | ||
Weak against None |
Strong against None |
Immune to None |
Men cursed to roam Enprise in a LIZARD-LIKE FORM by the goddess Gladia. Some conspiracy theorists say they aren’t cursed. In fact, their kind was the first to inhabit Enprise before the Alfersa arrived on a giant spaceship! But locals will squint and silently judge if you honestly believe this.
These ANGRY, ARMORED lizardmen are equipped with BLADED WEAPONS and their surprisingly exceptional prowess in COMBAT. Their TOUGH SKIN and SHARP SENSES set them apart from your average human soldier. If you grab one by the tail, he’ll simply chop it off and grow one right back! But you might want to go ahead and take the risk — in alchemy, LIZARD TAILS are known for their regenerative properties. Their WEAPONS, SMELLY ARMOR, TAILS and LOINCLOTHS may be acquired as loot. |
Once you make it back to the first level where the laity worship, you’ll be met with... more lizardmen. But not all hope is lost! Find the switch on one of the many life-size Gladia statues to open the hidden door behind the altar and proceed. The switch’s location may vary for each party.
TWO ♙
Only the clergy may enter the higher levels of the temple. Before they do, they must wash themselves in the pools of holy water that flank the entrance. These pools are so rich in mana, bathing in them will even replenish your own. As you splash around, you realize you’re not alone. Red and black lizard-like creatures emerge from the depths of the pools with eyes alight with fire and smoke blowing out of their nostrils. Looks like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed!
MONSTER ♟ Salamander | ||
Weak against Water |
Strong against Ice |
Immune to Fire (except salamander fire) |
In Enprise, salamanders are not amphibians, but FIRE-BREATHING reptiles the length of crocodiles. They have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to CRAWL UP WALLS and LEAP on unsuspecting victims. We hope your spars with the feathered inhabitants of Airy prepared you for this.
When COOKED, a salamander’s MEAT can BURN ANYTHING that consumes it. However, it can only be cooked with SALAMANDER FIRE. It’d be wise to keep one alive to cook the rest. We suggest using the FLAME on the tip of its tail — less teeth and much safer. The SALAMANDER PARTS and MEAT may be acquired as loot. |
At the other end of the room, there is a door with… teeth? That breathing sound isn’t your imagination; the door is very much alive and will chomp at anything that gets too close. Time to get creative. Behind the door is a staircase to the next level.
THREE ♙
Among the rooms on this level filled with treasures of wines, weapons, gemstones and gold is a large shrine with an imposing 20-foot tall statue of Gladia, a thick needle, pieces of cord and a scroll rolled out on a raised pedestal. Written in old Chernovian are instructions in poetry that varies for each party: Heroes must make a necklace out of the eyes of snakes and offer it to the statue. Those who did their research will be familiar with this practice: by doing this, you are giving her all your bad luck and having her bless your journey ahead.
You’ll need all the luck you can get because the moment you finish reading the scroll with your eyes, hundreds of snakes begin to slither out Gladia’s eyes, nose and mouth.
MONSTER ♟ Alfersan Snake | ||
Weak against None |
Strong against None |
Immune to Poison |
The SNAKE PARTS and VENOM can be acquired as loot. |
Once the necklace is complete and offered to the statue, the statue will turn, revealing another staircase to the next level.
FOUR ♙
Men weren’t the only ones punished by Gladia. One thousand years ago, the priestess Moura grew envious of a higher member of the clergy, whom everyone preferred over the selfish, narcissistic Moura. What did that woman have that she didn’t? Consumed by these negative thoughts, Moura transformed the woman into a snake and chopped her into pieces for Gladia, praying that the goddess would hear her plea.
In an instant, Gladia answered: “All your life you have lived a lesser being, so a lesser being you shall become!” With these words, the goddess cursed Moura with a head of full of venomous snakes. Ashamed of her appearance, she locked herself up in the temple to fully devote herself to Gladia. They say that Moura lives up to this day, waiting for Gladia to grant her salvation...
As our Heroes enter a large, circular room at the top floor, they will see a desolate young woman muttering the prayers beautifully inscribed in gold leaf on the walls. Olive skin, pointed ears and amber eyes — there’s no doubt that she is Alfersa. As she raises her head and meets their eyes, she greets them with an eerie, twisted smile.
And so do the snakes in her hair.
BOSS ♟ Moura Serpente | ||
Weak against Fire |
Strong against None |
Immune to Poison |
![]() PRAYING to Gladia — even if by just talking or asking her for anything — will grant you a temporary RESISTANCE TO POISON. MOURA’S ARMOR and TOMES ON STATUS MAGIC may be acquired as loot. |
You may exit the temple by going back the way you came or jumping out the hole Moura’s serpent made. Falling to your death won’t be a problem — the giant serpents of the temple see you as their new masters. They will catch you and let you hop off their backs once they reach the ground.
FIVE ♙
Salamanca Temple is in a secluded area, so the Airy is parked at an open meadow. Walking back involves cutting your way south across the jungle and crossing the river. We hope you brought a map and a compass! Both are available for purchase on the Airy. The Airy will leave for Caissa on the evening of the 20th. It will arrive in Caissa on the 22nd.
For those who want to explore, the jungle gets thicker as you head north until you find winding stone paths that lead to the city of Polgar.
LOCATION ♟ Polgar | ||
![]() Although Polgar is a city relatively untouched by Blanc’s technological advances, it remains one of the country's largest urban centers due to its TOURISM. The city is home to the ALFERSA, a matriarchal society similar to that of the Amazons, in which men are often relegated to housework and manual labor. Most Alfersa believe that machines are no replacement for good hard work and prefer to live alongside NATURE, though small clockworks and machinery do exist in certain parts of the city. TROPICAL FLORA blankets Polgar and its architecture. There are many TEMPLES and SHRINES here dedicated to Gladia, Lathyra and Oubliette, all well-kept as the Alfersa are proud of their heritage. For the gods, their faith does not waver. Some of their festivals last entire months, with the celebration moving from shrine to shrine in resplendent procession. Polgar is also a popular tropical GETAWAY; its spas, resorts, restaurants, hot springs and brothels are all well-known and high-class, staffed by beautiful men and women and catering to all preferences. |
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[ Upon looking around for her temporary partner, she notices that he is definitely not around anymore and not caught in snake jaws. Or hanging out somewhere on the ground because Yata is loud. Her shout cuts short and she goes a bit blank-faced. He was eaten...
HE WAS EATEN??
Okay, she won't tell them then. She's still holding on by gripping her sword but she finally pulls it free when she notices that she didn't keep her word about watching his back. No, she'll keep her word. And as the only person in this party with something sharp for a weapon, her eyes harden.
Snakes swallow things whole and digest their food over a long period of time. He's still alive but she has to get him out immediately. The way to do that? Cut the snake open. So she goes for that softer underbelly. After stabbing it around the neck (and making it screech louder) she jumps off her serpent joy ride and uses her own weight to cut downwards, holding onto her sword until her feet slam on the ground and she stumbles.
But at least now there is a large opening for Yata to escape from and Asuna is covered in whatever a snake has inside its body to spill out and get into her hair and all over her. This is super gross. ]
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The serpent screeches at the top of its lungs, its voice loud enough to rattle even the snakes on Moura's head, aaand out comes a sticky and bloody Yata. Look, Asuna, at least you didn't have to go in the snake. That's a story he'd rather tell for another time. He'd wipe his face clean, but his face is the cleanest part of his body right now. ]
Ugh... I hate snakes.
[ So does everyone else. The moment Moura realizes Kija isn't where he ought to be, she spins around and bares her teeth. However, she pauses when she spots both Kija and Asuna. Which will she go for first? ]
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Anyway, that's one down. They have one to go! Moura screams when she sees what they had done to her serpent. No! How dare you! It's always the pretty ones! When Moura spots Asuna, she rushes after her immediately, seeking a vengeance. ]
I cannot allow you to do that.
[ It was Kija's task to take Moura down (you had one job), so he won't allow her to hurt his friend! With her back turned to him, he takes the opportunity to strike at it, tearing up her skin and leaving a nasty mark. She howls in agony, but that isn't enough to take her down just yet. ]
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[the torch falls with it]
[it clatters onto the stone in front of Moura, the flame on the tip still crackling brightly. the reaction is immediate. with a shriek, the dungeon boss leaps back from the fire, fear written on her expression]
[that's all it takes for Kaito to make the connection]
-- fire! She's weak to fire!
[the boss whirls around to glare at the magician for calling out her weakness, but it's too late. he stumbles forward to grab at the nearest torch, which is good, because now that the big serpent is dead, the smaller Alfersan Snakes are beginning to slither and ooze out of the cracks in the wall and floor to slow the party down. as if the snake swarm back at the Gladia statue wasn't enough]
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As quickly as Kaito figures it out, Asuna scoops up the torch in front of her too and THROWS IT towards the boss when her attention focused elsewhere. She dodges anyway and the torch clatters near Kija, scaring off some snakes.
The Alfersan Snakes are pretty much avoiding Yata and Asuna. Probably because they are covered in blood and guts of their much larger relative. Oops. They do head for the other two, snapping at their ankles and calves. They're already looking worse for wear. They all are...
They need to finish this, quickly.
Moura is weak to fire. Then Asuna will start to use her mana (since that's a thing) to create a fireball in her palms that's about the size of sports ball. Once it's big enough, she runs towards Moura and works on distracting her with that fire and her model looks. Double whammy. ]
Over here, you... [ Ah. ] Ugly snake woman!
[ Make that triple. Asuna noticed the pretty thing. Take this chance as you will, party companions. Asuna is just going to dodge whatever attack is thrown at her now. ]
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[ Yata is alert as Kaito alarms them and Asuna sets up the diversion, and the plan clicks. Kija's already gotten some damage in, but with half of their party looking worse for wear, Yata can't let this fight go on any longer.
The mark unlike the one he knows burns with a familiar heat on his collarbone and it tells him he isn't weak. He still has power, but unlike the aura he knows, it's a strength that comes from within. As Asuna holds Moura's front, he closes in from behind with a raised staff and a cocky grin.
No — it falters for a second, but he'll make this fast. Yata clenches his teeth.
Then, violent flames surge from the tip of his staff to sear the open wounds on Moura's back, but they don't burn for long. He can't use them like that, nor does he want to. In the very next moment, he yells as he drives steel into her flesh, piercing through her chest and letting it bleed. In shock, Moura can't even bring herself to scream. In a way, Yata's lucky: all she can do to retaliate is a mere snake bite on his arm that soon grants him an affliction that spreads from head to toe.
Like Medusa's many victims, Yata's been turned to stone.
let's hope kija doesn't freak out... ]
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Moura knows she's dying - there was no way she could survive, after getting this much damage in - and after a final lashing out at the one who had dealt her that final blow, she seems to come to terms with it, collapsing to the ground and lying on her back. Then, she closes her eyes, as if going to sleep. Something in her chest glows, and several precious items manifest themselves above her.
But Kija's not concerned about them at all ...He rushes to the petrified Yata, touching him very tentatively to confirm what he sees before him. The surface under his fingertips that was supposed to make up Yata's skin felt cold, smooth and hard. The boy's really been turned to stone. ]
Yata! Can you hear me?! Yata! He --He's been turned to stone! How do we change him back?!
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[Kaito lets out a shaky breath, lowering the flaming torch to his side, before he turns around to face the rest of his party]
Yata!
[oh god. was that-- was that stone? Kaito trots forward, torch falling from his fingertips, and comes to a halt next to Kija. concern is written all over his expression, because while poison is easy to combat. . . petrification isn't]
I don't-- I don't know. There's gotta be some kinda antidote for it.
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And then Yata is turned to stone.
Kija isn't the only one that freaks out, although Asuna's is a quiet version. She stays rooted to her spot, staring and not really comprehending what just happened. They won, right? Why is Yata like that?
For an Asuna who has never really lost someone she knows and has a bond with right in front of her, she's as still as stone too. ]
Healing. A healing spell. [ The way to counter magic is magic, right? Her feet finally move, a goal in mind. Use a healing spell. And she joins Kaito and Kija and touches the stone!Yata's shoulder to try and use healing magic with some of the last bits of her mana on him.
Nothing is happening. ]
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I cannot do it after all! [ He kind of expected that, but he still wanted to try. Kija tries to scope out other options. He isn't usually the man with the plan but he does try his best to pitch in whatever ideas he has. ]
Perhaps -- the snake woman's tome! [ Maybe that tome on status magic that continues to float above Moura's body might hold the solution to their predicament!! ]
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[Kaito swivels around to face Moura's body. the movement nearly causes him to lose his balance as a dizzy spell descends upon him, and he sways to the side slightly as a result. but even that isn't enough to stop him. with his bearings regained, he utilizes that Pawn speed to practically glide him across the room. he's crouching down to scoop the tome on status effects into his hands before anyone can say "someone grab the book!"]
Let's see-- [he flips the book open and begins to scan the pages. god, he wishes he could read faster] Poison, silence, paralysis, sleep. . . whoa, this thing is detailed-- wait!
[a note of triumph laces his voice as he points at the passage on petrify]
Right here! It says, "petrify may be reversed by a simple kiss on the lips."
Wait.
[he squints at the page, because certainly that can't be right?? this poison status effect must be blurring his vision or something]
. . . er, nope. That's right.
[someone's gonna have to pucker up, here]
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We'll bring you back.
[ Asuna tries to remember if she read anything about petrification in the library. Or was there a way to heal it when Medusa turned her victims to stone? What if he's stuck as stone forever?
There has to be someth-- a tome works. She stops to watch, inhaling sharply when Kaito wavers but sighing in relief when he rights himself. Everyone has really gotten messed up from this dungeon. This is only the first one they've been in. Will they get more difficult? She looks at Kija with a furrowed brow and sticky brown hair plastered to her cheeks. ]
Kija-san... what about you? Are you alright? [ Kaito obviously isn't feeling 100% either. But he's not stone.
He is nerding out over books tho. Stop nerding out over how detailed it is you nerd ]
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─Heh?
[ A simple kiss on the lips.
A kiss. Ki... ss.....
WHAT'S SIMPLE ABOUT THAT?
Don't look at her, you two. It's as if she has also been petrified. ]
Th-this is no time for jokes.
[ SWEATS ]
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When Kaito starts going through the book, Kija looks to him hopefully for an answer. It sounded like he knew what he's doing! The answer that comes, however, isn't what he had expected at all... ]
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Please, now is not the time to be joking! [ He moves over to where Kaito is, peeking at the text, and ... true enough, that's exactly what it says. ] This is difficult to believe!
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Oi! Why would I joke around at a time like-- [hurk. a hand shoots to his mouth as he tries to swallow down the strong urge to throw up again. uuugh he needs an antidote, but he's going to have to worry about that later]
[when the feeling passes, he speaks up again]
-- at a time like this? [gestures to Kija, who read the text from over his shoulder]
Tell her I'm being serious.
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IT EXISTS
Asuna stays in her spot because SHE IS LIVING STONE. Her eyes dart between Yata and Kaito/Kija a few times.
Kaito is also looking a little green. If either of them kiss Yata, they might get sick. Not that kissing Yata is sickening? Probably. what ]
I can hear you just fine! [ She's embarrassed so she replies hotly from her spot, stamping a foot.
]
... Kija-san, please check and see if he's serious.
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Like, literally. He is a rock. ]
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[ And the reluctant, nervous look on Kija's face should indicate that there's no way he's joking about this himself (not that Kija ever jokes about anything). Now, there's one other pressing matter that they ought to address.
Who's going to be the one to do it?? ] What shall we do now?
[ He definitely wants to help his friend, but it feels so inappropriate to kiss someone without their permission. Not to mention, it's so embarrassing!! HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS, PASS. ]
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[Yata's rock hard abs are more pressing right now. he shakes his head, dispelling the guilt from his mind almost immediately, and turns towards Asuna and Kija once again]
We can't just leave him like this, so someone's gonna hafta give the guy a kiss on the lips.
[and then, almost immediately]
Asuna-san?
[YATA IS NOT A CUTE GIRL KAITO PASSES TOO]
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[ SHES NOT BEING GIVEN A CHOICE?! ASUNA WANTS TO LOG OUT!!! ]
Wha-- me?! I...! [ Look, she wants to help Yata as much as Kija and Kaito but they don't understand. It's her first kiss. ITS HER FIRST KISS. HER MAIDEN HEART. It's not supposed to happen after defeating a dungeon boss and while being covered from head to toe in snake guts. It's not supposed to happen when the reason she's doing so is to save a friends life. ]
M-maybe the boss... since she did it...
[ MOURA IS DYING AND DEAD also no. And the way her heart is racing isn't from leftover adrenaline. ]
No, that will probably make things worse. Rrgh! [ PACING. It really has to be her. They can't leave him here while they look for someone willing. She looks at Kaito and Kija again. Then Yata. WHY IS IT ALWAYS YATA.... did those weird dreams actually mean something? She inhales deeply and then holds her breath. Okay. EXHALE and stare at her feet.
This could be worse. And she wants to help, she said she would bring him back. Making sure everyone makes it back alive is top priority. ]
I-if I do this, I want you two to promise me two things! Not a word will be said about it again. And another...
[ what is it ]
Don't you dare peek or watch.
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When Kaito brings up Asuna, Kija looks to her hopefully. Of course!! She'll save Yata!! He's still wondering if they're together, anyway, and if they are, he wouldn't want to kiss Yata in front of his gf!!
Once Asuna makes her request, Kija accedes to it immediately, bringing his hands to his eyes and turning away. It's the only way to save his homie gangster ... ]
Y-Yes, of course! Kaito, you turn away as well!
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