A favor for a favor

For the first time after starting their new life, the party has a clear objective: Find Giovanni and question his motives. But before strangling an old friend, Suzuki requested them to check on an acquaintance of hers who is not answering her calls. She fears that his disappearance is a signal that him being in danger. As a gesture of gratitude for her help, they accepted. Not long after bidding farewell to Deramos Fagusio, the group, back on the continent, is almost at the last known location of Suzuki’s friend as they walk down a road that stretches across a vast plain.

- Why couldn’t we use one of her portals again? - Pietra questions, tired of walking so much.

- It can’t be helped. Suzuki only trusts corrupters, and we would never leave Asai or Lirika behind - Nicholas reminds her.

- Your commitment towards your companions is much appreciated - Lirika thanks them while grinning.

- Asai!

- Couldn’t she go after him herself, though?

- C’mon, Pia. Look at her condition. It’s obvious why she doesn’t leave her room. Don’t you pity her, even a bit?

- No.

- I can see something - Kai states, spotting a building on the horizon.

They come across a suspicious two-story house situated in the middle of nowhere. The place appears as if it stepped right out of a horror movie, creating an unsettling feeling of being in constant danger. The wooden structure seems abandoned, and the decor, featuring dead trees and a dry fountain by the door, only adds to the uninviting atmosphere.

- Are you guys sure it’s here? - Lirika asks, raising one of her eyebrows.

- Please, let it have ghosts that can rip my guts apart, but not spiders… - Kai begs on his knees.

- Hmm, what should we do? Something is definitely wrong here - Nicholas ponders.

- I know - Pietra calls Suzuki.

- Good idea, she should know what to do.

- What is it? Did you find him? Is Isaac okay? - Suzuki answers and promptly goes to business.

- We politely back out of your task. Bye - Pietra hangs up.

- Pia!

- What? You wanna go there and die? I’m getting shivers just from standing here! Let’s leave.

While the others argue, Kai looks at the center of the fountain. A marble sculpture of a man wearing a toga lies there.

- Strange, I could swear I was being watched.

After scolding Pietra, Nicholas calls Suzuki. She doesn’t answer this time.

- Dammit. What now?

- We leave.

- If you don’t want to help her in good faith, at least think about the pros of having Suzuki as an ally.

- It’s not like I don’t want to help her. What are we supposed to do if we find a ghost or an even worse monster?

Once again, Kai feels like he’s being watched. Quickly gazing back at the sculpture, he, only for a second, catches it moving back to its original position.

- Uh, guys…

- Nicholas, you are being too soft.

- I know, but… Pia, please. Suzuki did all she could for us, and her only friend could be in danger. What if it was Gio?

- Urgh… Fine - she groans in annoyance.

Ignoring Kai’s warnings, they all entered the building.

- Ah, here - Kai sighs, following them.

- It’s checking you out… - the spectre of the knight that only Kai can see whispers to him.

- What?! - he exclaims, stopping.

For a third time, his attention goes to the sculpture. He clearly saw the male figure maliciously licking his lips and rubbing his hands together while staring at him before going instantly idle again.

- Guys, wait for me! - he runs inside the house, covering his lower back with his hoodie.

Similar to any regular house with the addition of some exotic decoration, the place is oddly clean despite not showing signs of life. A portrait painting of a senior man wearing fancy clothes, hanging in the entrance hall, greets them.

- Oh, hello! Finally, some guests! And quite the handsome bunch, I dare to say!

The gentleman painted does not move, but the painting itself suddenly changes his expression whenever he speaks.

- Do you know a man named Isaac? Suzuki is worried about him - Pietra questions.

- Oh! Master Isaac? I haven’t seen him in a while, but since that’s the case, he’s probably still inside this house somewhere. He always waves and gently smiles at me when he leaves! It feels quite lonely, you know? Being a painting and the only source of social interaction you have, you have suddenly stopped coming by. By the way, do you want to see a magic trick? I’ve been practicing-

Without letting him finish, Lirika takes the frame.

- Hihihi! M’lady, please watch where you touch. That tickles.

She turns the picture around and hangs it facing the wall. No movement or sound comes from it anymore. Nicholas gives her a judgmental look.

- What? It already gave us all the information it had. Why should we waste more time with it?

- That was mean.

- It’s a painting.

- Is anyone else hearing someone sobbing, or is it just me? - Kai, arriving now, asks.

- It’s your imagination.

Following the tragic tale of the picture trapped in its loneliness, they search for the corrupter.

Nicholas opens a door in the living room. It leads to a small room with a single toilet.

- Hey, bud. Can you get some toilet paper for me? It would be catastrophic if someone decided to relax here and realized too late that there was no paper.

He gently closes the door, trying to forget what he saw.

Kai interacts with a black suit of armor near the stairs.

- In a bedroom upstairs, then?

The armor gives a thumbs up.

- Between the two of us, should I worry about the guy wearing the toga outside?

Another thumbs up.

- Why always me…

In the kitchen, Pietra and Asai bet their lives against a toolkit and a chandelier.

- Do you remember everything I told you? I’m counting on you - Pietra’s tone is serious.

- Asai - she answers with confidence.

- Madam, I believe you are taking a game of cards a bit too seriously - the chandelier politely comments.

- Shut up! Better keep your word when we wipe the floor with you.

- If you want to clean, the mop will gladly assist in this task.

- I’ll send you to the shadow realm!

Lurking in the basement, Lirika experiments on the stored objects there. She pulls out one of her crystals from a poor book.

- As I suspected, even for a goddess, it is not possible to give a soul to an inanimate item. Your existence is purely to mimic a living being. I pity you.

- Evil lady, would you mind stepping on this insignificant mat? My futile being craves for it

Likira stares at the mat for a few seconds before casting a spell that burns it completely.

- Joke's on you… I’m into that too… - the last spark of its existence whispers.

Around an hour later, the party gathers in front of a room on the second floor.

- Who would’ve guessed Isaac was in his bedroom this whole time - Pietra says, thoughtfully.

- The armor told me from the beginning, but you had to beat the entire kitchen at truco! - Kai complains.

- Sorry, when the tools came out of the chest to avenge their father, I got carried away…

Upon entering the room, they are confronted with a scene that reflects the eerie appearance of the house from the outside. Lying on his bed, Isaac has a gaunt, pallid face, with his veins appearing to emerge from his body and intertwine with the structure, making him one with it. A human-sized doll, designed to perfectly resemble a woman, clings to him tightly and murmurs continuously. The doll is dressed in a beautiful, ornate blue dress.

- Is there anything we can do for him? - Nicholas wonders.

- He won’t die if we leave him be, but he won’t wake up either - Lirika states solemnly, after closer inspection.

- What about getting him out of here? Can we do that?

- Unfortunately, the only way to free him is by killing him.

A minute of silence.

- We should try calling Suzuki again.

Nicholas tries contacting her. This time, she answers, sobbing uncontrollably.

- Please, please, please! I don’t have anyone else to ask for! The other corrupters are either useless or mean to me! I promise to treat you the best I can! I will share my kotatsu properly and cook my best instant noodles next time!

- Suzuki, we found Isaac.

- Oh? That was easy - she instantly stopped crying.

- But there is a problem.

He tells her the situation, and she is devastated.

- You can change our call to video. Please, I need to see him! There’s gotta be something I can do!

Doing as she requests, Nicholas moves his phone to show Isaac

- Damn, he’s done for - Suzuki suddenly changes her mood again.

- What? Are you sure?

- Have mercy and finish him before his creations go out of control. As soon as you do it, everything will die with him. It’s the best for everyone.

Upon hearing that, the doll screams and becomes hostile.

- If you dare to come closer to my beloved, I’ll murder you all!

- He made the love of his life real… What a hero… - a single tear comes out of Kai’s eyes.

The creature lurches forward, trying to grab Kai. He dodges. As it falls, its body twists at an impossible angle.

- Why?!

- The ugliest dies first! - it goes after him spasmodically, its joints creaking and clicking.

- C’mon! Can I not be the comic relief just once?! - he runs away.

- Well, that makes things easy - Lirika summons one of her crystals and pierces Isaac’s chest with it.

Nicholas sighs in disappointment.

- We didn’t even discuss it properly… Suzuki wasn’t he your only friend?

- He was - her voice is now shaky.

Understanding that it was not an easy decision for her, Nicholas doesn’t question any further. He leaves the room and goes down the stairs, only to find Kai saluting the black suit of armor, who made its last thumbs up not long ago. Examining his surroundings, Nicholas notices the armor stuck its leg out to make the creepy doll trip and rolls, breaking it in the process.

- I will never forget about him. He saved my life.