The Promised Canaan Prologue

Things begin at some lecture hall in Koto City in Toyosu, and the teacher within tells whoever is knocking to come in. The school itself is called Toyosu (spelled differently like how Shinjuku and Ueno Academies are) Marine Academy and is that school Ebisu, Eita, Ahab, and Aegir are with.

Dagon is reading something or other that talks about an Inhuman White Uniformed Transient with Nice Horns. It’s consistent with some description he heard before. He then turns to the one that came in and calls them the student from the outside that wanted to talk to him and was introduced by Aegir.

Dagon says he’s already heard the story during the referral and brings up someone being from a high class family in Gehenna. Mystery Transient just nods in response, and Dagon introduces himself while mentioning he only recently got summoned to Tokyo.

After the two handshake, Dagon goes right for the point and asks if their question pertains to his specialty about oceanic construction. Mystery Person nods and spreads out a map and a bunch of reports onto a table. Dagon looks and notes this is all about the students who have been caught in a new overworld shift in Tokyo Bay that no one has ever heard of before.

Dagon says this place has a name that isn’t found in any of the 23 worlds connected to Tokyo, not in Gehenna, Old Ones, or Tokyo itself. He thinks it’s fascinating and talks about how all this could be the key to reaching it. Dagon then pulls a “as you may know” and explains that overworld shifts occur in places that resemble their original world. In bringing that up, he thinks it’s location must be a place that makes that possible.

Dagon then asks for things to continue on, then looks at one of the reports. There’s a list of the students stuck in there, and it just so happens that you’re on that list. Dagon says he’s never seen nor heard of you before and repeats that he’s only been to Tokyo recently. He declines to read anyone else’s name for the same reason.

The next paper Dagon looks at has the name of the place you’re all at, and his hand stops moving when he sees the word Canaan. Mystery Person just looks at him, and Dagon says he’s not *supposed* to know that name but feels drawn to it somehow. Saying it out loud makes him feel like he’s forgotten some sort of old promise he made. Dagon then wonders about the strange feeling he has about something that should be in himself.

After a flicker of some temple pops by, Dagon sweats a little and staggers. He apologizes for having to cut the meeting short, but Mystery Person politely tells him that what he’s said is ‘enough.’ Dagon is surprised, and Mystery Person says he was taking time out of his busy schedule to help with the guy’s hobby.

Mystery Person then decides to tell Dagon something and prefaces that it might be a bit much to call it thanks. It’s also a bit awkward to tell someone who only just came to the city. But anyways, that message is that Tokyo is likely to face destruction in the near future. If that happens, Mystery Person says Dagon can take refuge with them and hands him a map.

Mystery Person says that the location on the map is neutral territory and is the safest place in Tokyo. He also suggests that if there’s a lead to Canaan anywhere it’s probably there, so Dagon should go visit sometime. He leaves, and Dagon calls after him asking what he knows.

Scene shifts over to Ueno in its blasted hellscape version as hero angels descend upon you. Astaroth shows up soon after accompanied by governors and is listed in the text box as Timid Boy? as they ask you to not run. They think fighting isn’t cute and something they aren’t suited for, so they hate it.

You attempt to force your way through, and the instant you try a snake from Astaroth’s neck jumps up to clash against your sword. Astaroth is resigned to this turn of events and decides to take a step back and have the snake bite into their own neck. If it’s come to a battle, then they’d rather leave it up to their lovely ‘true self.’

Astaroth says that the poison will eat through like doubts and prevent any action-intention discrepancies before activating their NP. Astarte (listed as Confident Girl?) takes their place but says nothing. You either ask in surprise if this is a transformation or wordlessly get into a battle stance as you head into the episode battle. More story afterwards.

After the battle the story picks up midway. You notice that Astarte isn’t going all out so you try to look for an opening to escape. Astaroth is switched back in, or the transformation is undone, but either way you take that moment to run away. Mystery Person then comes by and asks Astaroth if they failed.

Astaroth says their poison is already in you, and that if you keep running so hard you’ll soon be unable to move. They explain that their power will force up anything hidden within and expose it. Whether it be pain that you’re ignoring or suffering you’re trying to endure or something else, it’s only a matter of time.

Mystery Person asks why Astaroth isn’t chasing you then. They respond that he’s being rude while being shallowly polite, but Astaroth will serve anyways since he’s higher in the pecking order than they all are. Astaroth is referring to the rankings set by the Hexagon Ring and not Gehenna’s social classes and swears upon their position as the 29th.

Mystery Person thanks them but asks if their real motive for serving is about Canaan. Astaroth is shocked by the question, but starts talking about how when they first heard that word their true self reacted for the first time. Mystery Person asks if Astaroth means that person they changed into earlier, but Astaroth replies that it isn’t a transformation; it (should be) their true form from within.

Astaroth admits to only knowing her biological sex and says she seems to have no memories. Every time they tried talking to her she never answered, and Astaroth is upset about not knowing anything about her despite their connection. They then repeat that Canaan got a reaction out of her, so maybe investigating that will get her memories back. They also hope that this will lead to them becoming her.

Mystery Person says they see and comments on understanding what they truly want. He swears upon his position as the most noble to honor his promise with them. Should they complete the request, Astaroth will be able to reach the truth about Canaan. Astaroth agrees and says they’ll be sure to fulfill it, then excuses themself to go after you.

Astaroth takes a moment to wonder why Astarte seemed to be avoiding the fight and wonders who she is. Mystery Person just watches silently.

Scene then shifts to follow you as you run as hard as you can, not thinking about anything. Narration says many things have happened, so you’re probably tired of it all. It happens to everyone, or else it will happen to everyone. Losing something you had hurts worse than never having to begin with, and being betrayed by the world fills your heart with poison.

You trip, but then pull yourself back up and keep on running. But still your mind becomes cornered as the information you know rolls in your head. You’re losing your understanding of who you really are. As you take a breath, all you remember are the days you enjoyed as the events of Gogo flit through your mind. And in your chest, there is a crying voice that says “I want to go back to that day.”

Flashback shifts to the school as Triton comes up asking if you’re okay. He’s hurt himself but brushes it off as nothing compared to what you’re feeling inside. He tells you to run, and that will leave after Jinn and the other students do. He tells you not to worry because he’s your assistant teacher. Triton also brings up that teachers should protect students, and that The One who taught him that also believes that. He prompts you to escape again.

You keep on running and running until you eventually end up at Babel Tower, though you don’t recognize it. But since you hear someone pursuing you you decide to go inside to hide. Astaroth walks in after you, though they’re surprised you came here before following suit.

Scene shifts back to Ueno with Michael and his guild as he talks about losing sight of you. His minions say they’re organizing search squads and ask him to wait, but Michael dismisses them and says it’ll probably be a stalemate this time. The flood will wash away the memories of this land and start everything over again. He sighs in annoyance about this turn of events repeating and wonders how many more times will it go on.

Michael says that despite that, he still has to fulfill that Promise. He has to make up for the mistakes that happened in the Promised Land with his own hands.

Scene shifts back to you as you hear the gentle sounds of rolling waves. You then wake up at the base of Babel Tower as it is somehow underwater now, which you eventually note in shock. Then you realize you have no idea who you are. Astarte walks up and asks what you’re doing there before calling herself a soldier and commanding you to state your clan and affiliation.

After a moment Astarte notices something is wrong and asks about it. You either introduce yourself or ask where you are. Astarte asks if you’re an outsider from above as she looks up at the tower and sighs. She then talks about how you must be in the same position as her world (re: undersea city) where you were sunk by a judgment to wash away the sins above ground.

You ask Astarte who she is, so she gives her name and declares herself as obviously a soldier of Canaan. You ask about that word, and the chapter ends with the title card popping up. The title is just Prologue.