Valentine Timeslip Episode 2 Part 1

Flashback starts up with a bunch of forest fairies or wood nymphs gossiping amongst each other. They talk about how Narcissus incurred the wrath of the patron of righteous indignation, and about how Narcissus has horribly rejected Echo, though everyone else saw it coming. One of them pities Echo for being in love with a man who Can’t Love Others. She can’t even talk to him because of the punishment she was given by the patron of jealousy.

 

The faceless gossipers talk about how Echo was called a boring person, then mention how in the end she became just a voice. They say she should have left Narcissus because he had never cared about anyone else. He should just stare at his reflection in the water like he always does, and Rando Voice F is sure Echo thinks so too.

 

Echo however says she never wanted that to happen. She just liked him, and she thought the way he seemed so lonely as he smiled to be painful. She wanted to divert him away from that loneliness, even for a little bit. That was all she wanted.

 

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Bittersweet Memory.

 

Back to the present, the party has returned to the base, which no longer has the traces of Heracles and Snow’s battle. Snow prepares some tea for everyone, and Echo decides to bow her head towards everyone and apologizes for not having any courage. The rest of the party is a bit surprised by her doing this and look at each other. You either say she promised she wouldn’t apologize, say there was a lot of other trouble so it’s just the way it went, or say you guys will make the chocolate right this time.

 

Going B, Echo is touched and thanks you. Gyumao says she won’t get anywhere if she stays pessimistic the entire time and reminds her the machine is fixed now. Snow says that the overworld shift came from her lingering feelings, so having regrets after rushing the conclusion is natural. Gyumao declares that this time the chocolate will turn out great, so they ought to try again and not get discouraged.

 

Echo agrees with the idea, and Snow asks her to dry her tears and says her tea will get cold. She does so. Snow then asks if Heracles wants any slightly sweet milk tea since it’s good for recovering from fatigue. Heracles declines the offer and has something else on his mind. You either bring up that time was rewound, the chocolates Echo dropped, or the mobs that sprung up.

 

Gyumao says everyone has their concerns and suggests they start assessing the situation. He then asks Snow to do it, so Snow agrees to talk through what’s happening. The Analyst starts up for discussion time, and Snow brings up the time rewind, or the time slip, as the first point of concern. He draws everyone’s attention to two things that the group possesses, meaning the cacao pods and the chocolate maker.

 

You talk about how the cacao had grown earlier but has now reverted to being pods, and that the package they came in is no longer torn up anymore. Snow says that there’s no signs of the planting he had done earlier either. Gyumao brings up the chocolate maker was supposed to be broken, but now there’s no sign of damage on it at all. Heracles asks if Snow is saying that having two things that weren’t supposed to be replaceable returned to their original state is evidence of the time slip.

 

You talk about how the cacao had grown earlier but has now reverted to being pods, and that the package they came in is no longer torn up anymore. Snow says that there’s no signs of the planting he had done earlier either. Gyumao brings up the chocolate maker was supposed to be broken, but now there’s no sign of damage on it at all. Heracles asks if Snow is saying that having two things that weren’t supposed to be replaceable returned to their original state is evidence of the time slip.

 

Snow says that if this place is a memory world coming from Echo’s mental impressions, there might be an effect from her Curse of Repetition. If it’s a punishment that restricts her to repeating the same things over and over, he feels it’d be inevitable that memories would remain. If they were memories of nothing happening, they wouldn’t really make it a punishment after all.

 

Heracles thinks on that and says it might relate to why he got pulled in too. Snow asks what he’s talking about, but Heracles brushes it off as nothing before asking what the dragons and choco mobs attacking you guys earlier was. Barguest says that if Snow’s hypothesis is correct, it might be because the rest of you guys are foreign bodies. Heracles has to ask what that means.

 

Barguest says that the overworld shift is a recreation of Olympus’s past. To be precise, it’s made from Echo’s past memories. If Echo’s curse is to repeat the same punishment over on her, how would it treat the rest of them if they’re foreign bodies? You say it might see you all as obstructions. Barguest agrees that the curse might be trying to eliminate you guys.

 

You ask why Barguest is so sure of this or if he has any ideas on that. He says he remembered something his old Master said. You either ask him to explain or ask if he meant Master as in Like That. In C, he wonders why you’re blushing before it hits him, and he insists it’s not.

 

Barguest says it was a long time ago, long before he was summoned from his home world. He was kept to be a guard dog for a master he says could connect the past, present, and future. That person said that if the present has been decided, then it is normally impossible to change only the past. If you try to change just one thing, an influence kicks in trying to change it back. If anyone could do so, you would need a power to surpass that.

 

Barguest then says that if the Curse of Repetition is the power working to reset things, things fit. This world has already decided on which ending it’ll go for, so even if you tried to change the past, the curse wouldn’t allow it. Echo is shocked about the comment about the world deciding it, and Snow starts thinking about what the monsters are. Barguest finishes Snow’s sentence by repeating his own guess that they’re there to remove foreign bodies like you guys trying to change the course of things.

 

Gyumao figures that means that the time rewind is there to reset the path so that the world will head for the ending it wanted. You either exclaim about how the time slip works, wonder if you guys are foreign bodies, or say it’s hard to understand the topic. Echo gets discouraged as she says what she’s trying to do is not permitted.

 

Barguest tells her to not lose heart, saying that while the shift is her mental world, the outside world is different. She made new memories, which is why the world appears as it does now. She still wants to confess to Narcissus, so Barguest says she should do what she can.

 

Barguest then has some thoughts to himself about the possibility that the constant repetitions of failure may drive Echo to give up on confessing. In the worst case, he figures the curse will affect the rest of them and force the memories to keep repeating.

 

Echo says she’ll try to do what she can, saying she’s sure she can make some nice chocolates to give to Narcissus. She also says she needs to do it so she can return everyone back to where they came from. Snow acknowledges her determination but tells her she needs to be calm when making confections. Portions and processes must be exact, and she’ll need to put in her feelings for Narcissus into them too. He offers to help next time, saying they should make wonderful chocolates that will get her feelings across. Snow also says she can’t be afraid to fail and that she should make all efforts to achieve her goals.

 

Echo nods as she says she will, then says she’ll be counting on Snow’s guidance and encouragement. Snow is a bit surprised as he says she doesn’t need to be so humble, then tells her to take some deep breaths. After she does so, Snow wonders if the way he’s wording himself so seriously is why Echo is unnecessarily anxious. You either say you think it’s good he’s so sincere, say he might be a little too stiff, or say you wish he were more easygoing.

 

Going A, Snow thanks you and says he’s always thinking about sincerity and good faith. Gyumao decides to speak up now about something he’s been thinking about concerning Echo and Heracles. Both are curious, and Gyumao says he had the idea since the night before, but he says he sees them as always doing what other people tell them to do.

 

He’s not familiar with Olympus customs, and he admits it could just be their earnestness, but it sticks out to him. Echo seems strangely afraid of her curse and Heracles is accepting of his lot as a slave, and Gyumao says it looks like they’re helpless against anything given to them. He asks if their apparent fear of deciding things by their own will comes from anything.

 

Echo and Heracles look at each other, and Heracles decides to speak up first. He explains that he used to be called and praised as a hero, but now he’s a slave. But ever since even before his birth, he’s never had the time to think about free will until he met you guys. He just carried out the choices/oracles from above, even if they were unreasonable. Heracles says he just swung his strength around as he was asked to do, but right now that’s been ‘forbidden.’ He can’t go against the oracle, and as a slave he is not allowed to use his strength for himself.

 

Snow understands and sees that’s why Heracles didn’t attack back when they fought earlier. He was wondering about that when they first came to blows since he thought it was odd someone so strong wouldn’t use it. Barguest points out that Heracle’s superior isn’t here, so it’s not like he has to stick with acting like a slave.

 

Heracles eventually answers that he doesn’t mind. You ask why and/or if he’s satisfied with being a slave. Heracles says he’s the son of Olympus’s World Representative who sits at the top of the hierarchy, though he isn’t recognized as a direct descendant. He’s a bastard child, which led to the lady who governed fidelity to curse him. The curse sometimes brings him madness, at which point Heracles destroys everything around him with his own hands.

 

That’s why Heracles is fine with being a slave. Not being able to use his strength for himself is relaxing to him. Barguest asks about the madness, so Heracles says the punishment of being a slave is both his atonement and a way to seal the madness. He says maybe the way he is now might be suitable to him since he was cursed at birth. Gyumao doesn’t say anything at that.

 

Heracles then comments on how odd it is to be named after the one who cursed him. Heracles means the glory of Hera, and he refers to her as the patron of jealousy before suggesting she must have been surprised at being connected like this too. Not that it stopped her from sending poisonous snakes at a baby. Heracles is noted to touch his collar as he talks, and he notices Echo looking surprised at what he says.

 

Echo says she incurred Hera’s wrath too. Heracles is surprised as he describes Echo as quiet and wonders why, though Echo says she isn’t the quiet type and was a lot more talkative back then.

 

Barguest sighs, then asks Echo to tell you guys everything. She seems surprised at the idea, so Barguest says he’s got a guilty conscience himself and doesn’t like to talk to people about a lot of things. That said, holding things in forever would be tough, so he asks her to talk about what she can. You either say you won’t force her, offer to listen to her concerns, or say you want to know her better.

 

Echo takes a moment before agreeing to talk. It takes her a bit to dig up the memories, and it comes out in fragments she has to sort out, which the game puts together into a generally more coherent narrative. There was once a time where the One Who Sits Atop the Hierarchy came to the forest of fairies looking for pleasure. The thing Olympus’s System holds important is the connection one has to someone higher up in the ladder. Love is an impetus to get that connection and as such is something ‘consumed’ in Olympus.

 

There was, however, someone who disagrees with that idea. She was the wife of that noble, Hera the patron of jealousy. Since she governs fidelity, she cursed that her own spouse held extramarital connections. She sensed his infidelity, so she came to the forest as well. Echo was known to love talking, and to prevent her friends from being cursed she stalled Hera in a long conversation. In the end her friends escaped danger, but Echo was punished. She was forbidden to speak her own words and could only quote what other people said.

 

The narrative flashback switches back into Echo talking, saying that after she got summoned to Tokyo and got away from Hera, she’s been practicing to speak on her own. She regrets that she couldn’t speak earlier. Heracles sympathizes with Echo for also being cursed by Hera. Echo says not having a voice hurt, and she thinks that if she had it earlier she might’ve gotten through to Narcissus.

 

Heracles tries to argue the point, though Echo continues by mentioning that Hera isn’t in Tokyo. In that case, she wants to regain her words and convey her feelings. Echo and Heracles look at each other, and eventually the scent of tea drifts in.

 

Snow says Echo did well in speaking and offers her some tea since he figures she must be thirsty. You thank Echo for talking, say her punishment is terrible, or think about Hera. Barguest says he’s not sure if Snow agrees, but he also thinks it’s an awful story. Having your life controlled by someone you can’t go against is just bad, but Heracles says that’s how Olympus is. Everything is as those above will it, and there’s no way to resist being tied to the connections made by those above.

 

Echo says she liked Narcissus even more than she cares about how Olympus works. You wonder about these connections or start to ask something about it. In B there’s an extra line with Snow asking you to hold that thought since the serious discussion is still ongoing.

 

Echo says Narcissus was beautiful and that there seemed to be a lot of people who wanted to connect with him. He however couldn’t be connected to anyone, and Echo says he was always smiling in a lonely way. You ask about him being lonely but not connecting with anyone, ask about him being unable to connect, or wonder if someone in the hierarchy did something to him.

 

Echo says the expression on Narcissus pained her, and she even goes into third person for a moment for some reason. She wanted to take his mind off of his loneliness, but she couldn’t speak to him. Snow asks if that’s why she tried so hard to speak for herself. She confirms that, but she trails off on what would happen if she were to stand in front of him. You say that even if she can’t say it, she can still give him her feelings.

 

Echo seems surprised, and Barguest seems wistful as he thinks on the idea of conveying emotions. He reaches for the tea, but somehow ends up grabbing the teapot with his bare hand and burns himself. Snow is shocked he’d do that and says there’s boiling water inside the pot. Barguest starts talking about the kind of day Valentines is and that he could give things too even if he sucks at speaking. Snow is baffled by this comment.

 

Heracles asks why Barguest’s face is turning red and asks if he’s getting an idea. Barguest claims he doesn’t have anything and was just lost in thought. You either ask him what’s wrong, say his face is red, or say it’s cute how shy he looks. Barguest claims his red face is due to being burned by the tea, then quickly says he’ll go into the forest to look for ingredients like last time. He puts on some glasses and runs off, leaving everyone to wonder what just happened.

 

Anyways, Gyumao says he doesn’t get what that was all about but suggests leaving Barguest to do his thing like last time. Snow says he has good (?) news, informing everyone that the cacao he planted is already growing pods again. You point out that this is odd since it hasn’t even been an hour yet and agree it might not be good news.

 

Echo asks if cacao is supposed to grow that fast. Snow tells her that it takes about half a year for cacao pods to grow. For that matter, a cacao tree takes about four years first before it can bear fruit. Heracles agrees it’s unusual, and Snow says the environment isn’t arranged for things. He tried it out since they had nothing to lose, but now it’s clear that some sort of power is at work.

 

Gyumao says it feels off to call it a solution, but he asks how the quality is. Snow already did the quality check and if they avoid the process (if I understand him right), it should make the greatest quality cacao. Heracles asks if there’s any alternatives since he thinks this is all that’s available.

 

Gyumao agrees as he says they’ve avoided the first bit of riskiness, and that they’ll keep trying until Echo is accepted. Echo smiles as she agrees, smiling brighter than anyone’s seen her do so far as the episode section abruptly ends.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 1 Part 3

Heracles starts off a flashback saying that a particular something always happens. Whenever he goes home everything has been “cleared out.” When he asked, he heard that he had killed even little babies who haven’t developed awareness yet, having crushed them like the necks of poisonous snakes lunging at him.

 

Heracles says he was born to clear out every work assignment he was given. All the trials that came his way, the peace he wanted to protect? All “cleared out” by his own hands. He felt that he shouldn’t wish for free will as he did the work he was given that became known as his great feats. He had no time for wavering sentiments, and he spent his days finishing off the work he had to do.

 

Things tune back to the present where several hours have passed, and the party is getting ready to make chocolate. Snow is getting the cultivation of the cacao made. Barguest is out searching for fruits and other things. Heracles is guarding the base, and you are preparing the cooking tools. This leaves Gyumao to be Echo’s enthusiastic advisor in making chocolate, and he laughs as they talk about working together. You either express shock at him wearing an apron, wonder if this is truly alright, or say you’re counting on him.

 

A and B has Gyumao mention that he cooks on his off time and that he’s alright at it. C has him laugh and asks you to entrust things to him, and he offers to treat you to a handmade meal when everyone gets back.

 

Anyways, Gyumao suggests getting started and using your cacao on the trial product. He assure you guys that he’s read up on things for the presentation from how to use the machine to how the process works. His first instruction for Echo is to put the cacao in, bang it in hard and not worry about being gentle. Echo tries her best, and Gyumao cheers her on and suggests she do it like she’s straddling the thing from above.

 

Heracles finds what’s going on weird and asks if it’s really needed to get back home as it call it a strange ritual. Gyumao insists it’s not a ritual, but confection making. It’s a key item for creating an opportunity for Echo, our starring role of love for the day, he says as he turns to her. Echo starts losing heart and says she’s no leading star.

 

Gyumao says that everyone becomes the star when it comes to love, because that’s what Valentines is. He also tells her that her feelings for Narcissus are going into the things they’re making. Everyone else will be supporting her. You either comment on how passionate Gyumao is being or call him cool and refer to him as a mob boss.

 

Heracles decides to ask what love is to you guys. Gyumao says it’s great and the spice of life. When you become aware of love, the world ends up changing. He describes having feelings for someone as having a scorching heat that burns from within just like the Flaming Mountains. He also calls it an incentive and the motivation to stand against any disaster. Heracles doesn’t comment on that, and you either comment that Gyumao has been in love too, say you get what he means, or think about feeling jealous.

 

In B, Gyumao laughs about it and comments on you knowing too. He also says that if there’s anyone that makes you swoon, he’ll also be competing in that red ocean market share. In C, Gyumao asks why you look so sad and offers to advise you about love whenever you want using all his experience.

 

Heracles says that love is a thing that ties fates/bonds together like lightning, and he mentions that ties that bring things closer to results is what’s sought out. He questions if there’s any value in love that doesn’t get anywhere, and he asks about Narcissus avoiding ties. Echo admits that he did, but she still likes him and wants to be connected to him.

 

Gyumao mulls on the idea about love existing for the sake of ties. He says it’s not bad to have a tie that started from love at first sight. Struggling for that connection in itself has value, even if the end result you want is to not be connected. Echo questions that idea, so Gyumao says yes. If he were to give something to the one he loves, he won’t compromise on it. He’ll make every effort to give them the best present ever. You ask him how he’d prepare and ask for an example.

 

Gyumao asks if you’re looking for a more concrete method, then takes a moment to think. He then says he’d study as hard as he can to give the best kind of chocolate he can. He won’t make any compromises when it comes to the time, clothing, and situation when he does it.

 

Gyumao doesn’t believe ready made stuff is any inferior to something handmade, but he makes a point of saying that he Won’t Compromise on Store Bought Things too if he’s giving it to his love. What he wants is for them to smile after all. That also means that no amount of money spent means anything if the chocolate sucks. If it turns out that it has to be handmade, then he’ll take it as a personal challenge, again all for the sake of that person’s smile.

 

At the same time it’s meant to get Gyumao himself accepted too. He suggests in that case the most worthwhile thing is the time spent. They say time is worth more than money, after all. Echo and Heracles seem touched by the speech, and Gyumao adds that he was talking about his personal opinion.

 

For now they should focus on making the chocolate, and he says that fortunately the starter kit has chocolate molds and wrappings in it too. Barguest should be back soon, and Gyumao offers to help decorate too. He feels the chocolate that Narcissus would like would have to be fun, and he says they should work at it. Echo agrees and says she’ll do her best.

 

Some time later, the party (except Heracles) has come together to help Echo make her chocolate. Echo is vibrating in place a little, and Barguest says she may be putting in too much. Gyumao is unconcerned and more like a bit impressed that Echo’s boldly throwing in some fruit. Snow agrees that it is bold and asks Echo if she wants to use some milk he’s handing her. Barguest laughs that Echo will be a big catch soon, then tells you to enjoy things too.

 

Heracles is confused and asks why everyone is having fun even though it might not pan out. He also thinks it’s weird that they’re doing this even though it’s not work/a trial someone gave them.

 

Time then skips to that night, and Gyumao asks about you still being up since he thought you’d be sleeping next to Echo. You say you’re getting nervous for tomorrow and couldn’t get to sleep, and you ask if Gyumao couldn’t sleep either.

 

Gyumao laughs and says he got nervous too. He says that Echo was putting on a bluff and talks about the part where the machine looked like it broke. Gyumao then changes the subject a little and says it looks like Echo and Heracles had their confidence shaved away. He says it looks like they have no will of their own, and they do whatever is told to them. And yet despite that, Echo seemed to be having fun making the chocolate. He hopes he was just overthinking things, but it was on his mind. You either say he’s kind, team-oriented, or say you’re sure it’ll be okay.

 

Going A, Gyumao laughs and says it’s embarrassing that you say that of him. He says it’s because he used to be evil, so he’s not used to being described that way. Gyumao then starts talking about how love can be seen as an investment, where you give something and maybe get something in return some day. In the end though, does the love he give have the corresponding value even if it is accepted? He knows how Echo must be feeling, and she’s be especially worried since she doesn’t see her own value.

 

You think on the idea of one’s value, ask if Gyumao thinks the same way, or say you understand feeling anxious. Gyumao says he wants to equally love and be loved by the people he’s connected with. And since he feels that way, he needs to polish himself up. It’s the ideas that there’s value in loving and being loved, and the idea of wanting to believe in himself. He feels that his belief that he’s raising his own value is why he likes work.

 

Gyumao starts looking at the moonlit mountains. He starts talking again about how there are times when someone really wants to love and be loved by a specific person and monopolize then instead of loving everyone equally. He admits that sometimes his feelings burn like that too in front of that certain someone for him. His eyes settle on you as he quietly whispers to himself, and you can either ask if he means you, pretend you don’t notice and wonder who it could be, or say you’re jealous of whoever that is.

 

Going A, Gyumao avoids the question and says drowsiness made him talk too much. He suggests heading back to bed, then says you can sleep next to him if you want. The moonlight illuminates his smile clearly.

 

The next day, the party converges at Narcissus’s Spring. There are no signs of the dragons, and all is calm. Barguest asks about Echo not being there yet and says it may be dangerous to send her alone even if the dragons aren’t there now. Gyumao says she needed to get something ready, then points out her arrival. He greets her while Barguest is shocked by the clothes she’s changed into.

 

Echo shows up in a dress and apologizes for the wait. You either ask what they are, say she looks like a forest fairy, or say she looks good in them. Echo says it’s what she wore before coming to Tokyo and thought that she shouldn’t surprise Narcissus. Snow agrees that she might have done so if she tried going up to him in her Tokyo clothes and says she made a wise decision. Gyumao asks about the chocolates, so she shows them to you guys with some shame. You either don’t recognize them as such, say they look all melted, or try to reassure Echo.

 

Snow says the cacao and oil content have separated and comments to Gyumao. Gyumao finishes the sentence that this is the worst case to happen, so the machine must be broken after all. Echo starts panicking, and Gyumao says it’s all his fault as the machine’s creator. She tries to protest the point, and Barguest points out she did try hard and that she can still try giving them. You either say Narcissus will recognize her efforts, say you could make cocoa by putting them in milk, or try to say it smells good.

 

Going A, Echo agrees to try. She starts to fly off looking crestfallen, though Heracles quickly notes that she’s coming back. Echo admits she’s too scared to try and is ashamed since everyone helped so much. Despite the efforts they came out horribly, and she worries everyone will laugh at her. She wants Narcissus to smile, but not like that. You tell her it can’t be helped, suggest coming up with a new idea, or say there are still other ways.

 

Gyumao says it’s best to try again with something you can accept rather than sit there with something you can’t, then praises Echo. He suggests heading back to go think of something since there should be alternatives.

 

You go look over at Narcissus and comment on seeing him. He hasn’t moved at all, and all he does is look. Echo calls his name, and Barguest says he seems to be acting strange. As he points out, Narcissus is bending in closer to the water as if to kiss his mirror image. Echo yells that he shouldn’t do that, and her scream echoes through the forest. At the same time she drops her box of chocolates, which starts to squirm.

 

Chocolate Shoggoths pop out of the box and multiply to everyone’s shock. Heracles asks what they are and points out they’re dividing. Gyumao recognizes them and says he saw them during his research on Valentines. He says they interact with the powers of other otherworlders, then manifest using chocolate as a medium. You either yell and ask what they are, say you remember something like this happening, or say it’s time to retreat. The mobs however jump and attack, starting the episode battle. More comes after that.

 

Things pick back up with the Choco Shoggoths forming a wave that bears down on you all. Heracles compares it to the bottomless lake of the Lernaean Hydra, then calls out to everyone. He offers to take the rear while everyone escape. Snow objects since he says Heracles can’t handle it alone, even if he is a hero. Heracles says he’s a slave who works for his master and charged with taking the best and quickest actions. He feels it’s best you guys leave him.

 

You call out to Heracles and say you won’t let him do this alone and/or that you can’t abandon anyone. You run over to him, which shocks him. Echo also yells out your name, at which point a bright light covers everything in an instant.

 

You wake up by the spring and say the light appeared again, call out to Echo and Heracles, and/or call out to everyone else. Barguest calls out to you and winds up banging his head on a branch yet again. He wonders why it keeps happening and bemoans his misfortune. You’re glad he’s okay and wonder how Echo is as you call for her.

 

Echo wakes back up in her default outfit as she calls to you. Everyone is shocked by what happened, and Heracles arrived soon after having followed the voices. He asks if everyone is okay once he shows up. Gyumao notes that the mobs disappeared like the dragons did with the light before. He asks what the light is and says it’s like the one that brought you all here.

 

Snow says you guys should be relieved that you and Heracles are okay for now. Heracles is glad he didn’t have to use his trump card back there and suggests returning to the base. Before you guys do though, Snow has a thought as he asks to look inside your bag.

 

When you look inside your bag, you see the cacao you had supposedly given him earlier. Gyumao checks and finds that the chocolate machine is with them too, without any damage on it. Snow pieces together what’s happening and asks everyone to listen calmly, then says time seems to have been rewound. The episode ends with everyone reacting in shock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine Timeslip Episode 1 Part 2

We pick off from last time with Barguest and Echo watching Snow and Gyumao in bafflement. Gyumao starts testing a mic before asking Snow if everything is ready. Snow questions if he’s sure about this since it’s a product not yet available for release. Gyumao says it’s an emergency, and since they’ll be needing it anyways they might as well present it as if it were the true unveiling.

 

Gyumao and Snow then pop up as Gyumao tells everyone to feast their eyes on the ultimate chocolate making machine. You either point out the obvious that something is happening, be surprised that there’s a presentation being held here, or compare it to a guerrilla fashion show.

 

Gyumao goes on to say that he’ll be presenting a joint developed product made between his company and Claude’s business. He names it something like Amber Clean Tube Chocolate Maker, though I’m honestly not sure what he’s going for. It doesn’t seem to be LW’s fondness for four kanji expressions from what I can tell. But anyways, you ask if it’s a machine that makes chocolate.

 

Snow picks up on the presentation to describe how the machine can handle all the difficult parts of making chocolate like heating by Bain-marie, stirring, and tempering with just a push of a single button. That way, even someone making sweets for the first time can make some world class chocolate. Snow also mentions it was modeled after a certain mysterious water jug in Hourai believed to be able to melt anything. (Probably something from Journey to the West?)

 

It’s the industry’s first machine that can make chocolate just by putting in cacao beans. It’s got a special heating mechanism, which he then demonstrates somehow. Snow also assures that professional chocolatiers can put their trust in it and asks you guys to try it out. Echo just stares. You either say you’ll buy it, express shock that it can make chocolate out of cacao, or be amazed at Snow’s presentation.

 

Gyumao says that if you have problems getting cacao into the machine, then that’s already been taken care of. A little craziness is nothing the Kamata Crafters can’t handle. Snow then offers some chocolate made by the machine, though he tells you it’s something that was made earlier. Echo takes a bite sized piece, which is described as being aromatic and having a comforting smell. Echo comments on how sweet it smells and how she wants to eat it right away.

 

Echo looks at Snow, who smiles back at her, so she decides to eat the piece. She says it has a gentle sweetness that melted in her mouth in an instant. She says it’s great. Snow notes that she loosened up with the feelings they just threw in, then says if she liked it it’s an honor. Gyumao asks what Echo thinks about giving chocolate for Valentines then. She thinks aloud on that, so you say you think it’s a good idea but ask her opinion, nod along with the suggestion, or ask if she wants to try giving her feelings.

 

Echo shyly says she’ll try, and that she wants to give Narcissus chocolate. Gyumao points out to you guys that Echo is slowly bringing out her feelings. He may not really know what happened to her, but he guesses she had considerable feelings. While this is for solving the overworld shift, Gyumao says that as CEO, he wants Echo to try monitoring the new product. He then offers to use all his experiences to help Echo make her second life.

 

Barguest says he doesn’t know about any curses or stuff, but he figures it must be lonely to be distanced from someone. He admits he wants to return, but he agrees to help make Echo’s wish come true. He also warns Echo to not get too close to him or else his luck will affect her. But yeah he’ll be there for her until Narcissus accepts her.

 

Gyumao sidles up to him and laughs about how he’ll be judging how Barguest’s work behavior is and says he has high expectations. Barguest is baffled that people keep walking up to him despite all his warnings.

 

Snow cuts in on the excitement and apologizes for that but mentions that there is one thing he forgot to mention about the chocolate maker. Gyumao asks what, so Snow says they have no ingredients. Gyumao and Barguest are shocked by this, and Gyumao remembers that this is true and beats himself for forgetting.

 

Snow also points out that there’s no way to charge the machine even if they have batteries. Gyumao reacts like he’s been physically struck as he calls it a critical incident before facefaulting like a 90s anime character, which Echo points out. Barguest asks if there’s any sort of workaround to these problems.

 

Snow says that if they conserve the battery, then they have some leeway on that front. The ingredients is going to be a much bigger issue though. They have the starter kit for the machine, but ingredients were planned to be sold separately. Barguest figures that means they’ll have to look in the overworld shift for them and asks if cacao is even a thing in Olympus. Snow says that while the temperature is right, the humidity level is not. Cacao is a tropical plant after all. Barguest groans at being deadlocked.

 

You remember that you have cacao on you and tell everyone so. Gyumao quickly gets up and desperately asks if that’s true. You start to dig them out, which then leads to Barguest asking when you started carrying around some huge tree branch around. You express puzzlement and try to deny it’s some tree branch and point out in shock that there’s cacao growing from it.

 

Narration says that the cacao you got from Volos tore through the packages they came in and are growing into branches. Snow asks to take a closer look, then is surprised that the branches are growing new cacao pods. You wonder what the hell is going on before you remember the pamphlet Volos included.

 

The pamphlet reads more like a letter Volos wrote to you, complete with a start of Dear MC and asking if you’re okay and taking in your veggies. Parts are actually skipped as Volos says the cacao was picked from some especially well raised cacao for research. He describes that tree as naughty, and [SKIPPED] he thinks they’ll be really strong and robust. If you have any interest in cultivating them, he says they’ll grow quick in the right temperatures.

 

You look up from this letter you read out to everyone, comment that you can just see Volos’s smile in your head, and/or wonder if it’ll grow into a tree if you plant the thing. Snow says he understands and thanks you, commenting on the cacao being raised with love and care. Barguest is baffled that Snow can just roll with it like that.

 

Snow says that he understands that the cacao was originally standard cacao, and that it became the way it is now due to some external factor. Gyumao recognizes Volos and says that his company has a deal for that college research lab’s harvests since they’re good stuff. Barguest says the only remaining possibilities would an effect due to the overworld shift or something else completely. You wonder what’s happening, wonder if the overworld shift has something to do with it, or compare it to a growth process on fast forward. But whatever, you turn to Echo and say you guys can probably make chocolate now.

 

Echo asks if the cacao you have can be used for making chocolate. Snow says it was one of your friends who gave you that cacao. Even if the reason it’s growing so fast is because of something else, the fruit itself is normal. Barguest says you guys don’t have any alternatives anyways, so you may as well use it. Echo agrees to the point and says she’ll do it. She also is about to say she wants to return everyone to Tokyo, but she chokes on that and leaves it hanging. She thinks it hard at least, and everyone smiles.

 

Anyways Gyumao hands Echo the machine, and Echo psyches herself up as she stands in front of the kitchen table. She stammers to Snow about working together with him, though Snow asks her to slow down first. She’s confused, and Snow says that while you thankfully have cacao, you guys are still low on ingredients. Echo asks about cacao not being enough to make chocolate.

 

Snow says the sweet meltiness and the scent is from cacao, but throwing them as is will make it bitter. To adjust the essential taste, milk and sugar are added. That way you can make something that suits your intended’s tastes. Echo admits to not knowing what Narcissus likes. Snow suggests getting an assorted collection of flavors then, which Echo is surprised to hear about.

 

Gyumao says you guys will need a lot more ingredients in that case, so he suggests searching the forest for fruits and berries or nuts. Barguest questions whether there’s any at all since he thinks the dragons would have eaten them all already. Echo thinks on that, and no one seems to notice the flash that happens so I’m not sure it means anything. But anyways you ask if Echo will come with you guys to look or wait in the base.

 

Echo says she’ll come with and work hard so that she can’t be left behind. Gyumao has something on his mind as he looks at her, and he starts to talk to her about the change in emotion he saw when there’s a sudden shift in the atmosphere that Snow notices. He says it’s danger and asks everyone to step back. Echo isn’t fast enough to process that quickly, and Snow throws out his chakrams. A figure who comes out from the shadow of a pillar by the entrance repels the attack instantly, and a heavy pressure sets in.

 

Heracles reveals himself as he asks who everyone is and what they’re plotting. Narration describes him as dressed up in rags like a slave that does nothing to hide the scent of a hero he’s giving off all over. His words are described as calm before being corrected to tired. Snow is surprised, but he quickly focuses back on things as the episode battle starts. More story after that.

 

The story picks up midway through the battle as Snow says Heracles is strong to sweep away his chakram. Both continue to go at it, and Echo is surprised into dropping the chocolate maker. She gets upset over that, and you call out to her to get away from there since you can pick it up later. You can also wonder who Heracles is. Gyumao calls out to you both as he drops his work persona speech patterns and personal pronoun, telling you guys to hide behind him. He also instantly enlargens himself.

 

As Snow and Heracles continue to fight it out, the air around them starts trembling. Barguest thinks about how Heracles is fending off Snow easily, but he also notes he’s only fighting defensively and wonders if there’s a reason. Snow notes that Heracles isn’t a normal person, or at least not some sort of reckless fighter. And since Heracles hasn’t really been thrown off his guard the whole time, Snow figures him to be strong but wonders what’s going on.

 

Heracles says he thought you guys might have called the dragons in, but he’s surprised by Snow’s skills. He says it’s still possible to put the weapons away since he Doesn’t Want to Fight. Echo is surprised as she hears that. You try to explain it’s a misunderstanding when you process what Heracles said too, at which point you try to talk Snow down.

 

Echo rushes out, and Gyumao tries to call her back. Echo ignores him as she gets in between Snow and Heracles, then activates her power to repeat what Heracles said and adds that she doesn’t want to fight either. The words reverberate around the pair trying to appeal to them. Snow asks if this is Echo’s artifact’s power. Heracles calls it strange.

 

Echo steps forward resolutely as Heracles watches. She is expressionless at first as if tired of putting up a face, but then steels herself a little bit. Heracles then puts his weapon down and asks Snow to let things stop there since he doesn’t want to cause a fuss. Snow says he’ll believe him and apologizes for attacking him earlier. You are relieved and say you thought the base would get destroyed, then ask Echo if she’s okay. She says she is.

 

Echo touches her artifact, which gets described as a collar or necklace that looks like a scar. Her finger slightly shakes. Gyumao says it looks like things have calmed down now and starts calling you by name before remembering to act like a CEO and calling you his business partner. He asks if you and Echo are alright.

 

Echo says she’s alright and fails to articulate ‘thank you,’ though she still mouths it out as she nods at him. Gyumao waves off the thanks and says it’d be an honor if his body acted as a shield for you guys. You either say he was cool, thank him for protecting you, or point out that he slipped up on his speech patterns.

 

In A, Gyumao talks about how after becoming a manager he often compliments people but doesn’t get complimented much, so he gets a little shy about that. He also decides to take your praise as an incentive to do his best. In B, he mentions that it’s natural for his Role since it hurts him more to see you hurt than be hurt himself. He makes a point of saying that as a superior, protecting his group is equal to protecting himself.

 

In C, Gyumao needs a moment to realize what you’re talking about before saying it might have come out since things were so sudden. He goes back to his public speaking style as he says that as someone who stands as a leader he tries to talk appropriately. Gyumao also comments that it isn’t a bad thing that you know he has that side of him.

 

Heracles speaks up after waiting for a lull in the conversation. He may have put his weapon down, but he says he doesn’t trust you guys yet. He introduces himself and says he’s a slave at the moment. His voice gets described as solemn, dignified, and tired. You either introduce yourself, say you’ve read his name in a book before, or comment on how beefy he is.

 

In B, Snow says the same thing. Heracles doesn’t seem surprised as he says the name gets around, strangely. He insists he’s just a slave and not some hero. In C, you look all over at Heracles. He says it’s probably not going to live up to whatever expectations you have. When he hears you’re okay with just looking, he says you can look as much as you want. He also asks you to step back.

 

Anyways, the game glosses over the party explaining to Heracles what’s going on. He says he gets it mostly and brings up that he vaguely knows what’s happening with his body now. Barguest mentions his surprise at hearing the dragons in the forest attacked Heracles as well. Heracles says that he has certain business that led him to come here to talk to the Spring’s Fairy. He was in the middle of talking to them when this light flared up. Next thing he knew all the faeries were gone. When he tried leaving, he noticed that the place looked like a hazy recollection of things. It looks like Olympus but it isn’t, and that’s when he found you guys.

 

Snow says he was on guard for any movements from the presence he felt earlier and asks if it happened because he attacked. You ask about Heracles being caught in the shift since he’s apparently still in Olympus. Snow suggests Heracles might have been brought in from there, and Barguest is surprised Heracles didn’t come in from Tokyo like the rest of the party.

 

Snow says he’s just guessing, but he thinks that maybe the Olympus that Echo remembers, the Spring of Narcissus, and the forest it’s in happened to be in brought Heracles in because he was already around when it formed on that side. Echo is shocked by this, and Heracles thanks him for the explanation as he refers to what’s happening as a trial. He offers to work with you guys to solve things as soon as possible.

 

Barguest is taken aback and thanks him for the offer but can’t help but comment on how quick Heracles is to accept things. Heracles says he has a mountain of work to get back to so he can’t idle around here. Gyumao, Snow, and Barguest all sigh at the thought of work. You either ask if they’re tired, say their facial expressions are dead, or ask if it is that much work there is to do.

 

Heracles says you don’t need to be concerned about him since he’s used to being given unreasonable orders. All he can do is deal with what’s in front of him because that’s what the role He Was Stuck With entails. Gyumao speaks up to thank Heracles for helping and turns to talk to Echo about the machine when he notices her expression.

 

Echo is teary eyed as she holds up the machine and apologizes, since now there’s a huge crack on it. You ask if it’s broken, try to tell her it’s okay because things happened, or be worried. Gyumao tries reassuring her that his company products aren’t that fragile, then declares they’ll fulfill their customer’s needs no matter what is going on. That’s what an ideal prototype is!

 

Gyumao tries to turn the machine on, and while it sounds kind of busted Gyumao points out that power is still running through it. It’s just damaged on the outside. Echo agrees that it still runs but is worried about the noise she heard. Gyumao says it’s only a trivial concern and that the end result is what matters. Echo tries to get resolved in response.

 

Barguest sighs about what’s happening and says he’ll go look for ingredients in the forest like they were discussing earlier. He feels if he touches the machine it’ll break, then heads off. Snow says he’ll try growing the cacao and asks Heracles to stand guard for the base. Heracles agreed saying if that’s what he wants, that’ll be his work. He also asks Snow to not call him Master since he’s a slave. Snow says he’s a servant too, then adds that he should show appropriate respect for everyone. You try to get Echo excited about making chocolate and thank Heracles for helping.

 

Echo says yes, and Snow thinks about how polite and humble Heracles is, yet brave and self-knowledgeable too. He thinks it’s how heroes should be, but he also notes that he felt some sort of terrible danger coming from him. And that’s where the episode part ends.

Valentine Timeslip Episode 1 Part 1

Light shines wrapping everything in whiteness, from your field of view to voices to the very presence of things. But eventually an unnatural darkness sets in, like you’ve fallen asleep. When you wake up, you’re lying on the forest floor again, with no traces of the wyverns in sight. You question what happened.

 

Echo wakes up next to the spring asking after Narcissus and looking around in a daze. Barguest abruptly wakes up yelling for you and Echo to run away from the wyverns before smacking himself against a branch again. After he sorts through the pain, he asks where the dragons went and points out how calm the forest is. You either ask if Barguest is okay, wonder what’s happening, or say this feels like deja vu.

 

Snow and Gyumao come over as Snow checks in on you all and says he doesn’t sense the wyverns’ hostility anywhere nearby. Gyumao repeats his suggestion from the first time around that Barguest should get his head looked at. Since the danger is gone, Gyumao thinks now would be a good time to make a short speech of thanks, but Snow asks him to save it for later. You either say you’re glad everyone is okay, say this seems familiar, or ask if Gyumao is still doing that speech later.

 

Echo is quiet, and you wonder aloud about what’s happening. Echo says the same thing and says she doesn’t know. Snow suggests discussing that, which Barguest agrees with. Barguest also says if you guys stick around his bad luck might bring the dragons back. Gyumao pops up behind him and says they should go and think up countermeasures later. Barguest tells him to not touch him so casually because his bad luck will rub off.

 

As the three guys start walking, Echo comments that Narcissus is “gone” again. You call over to her and ask her to come along, so she answers that she’ll come too. The party heads back out of the forest, though Snow is the only one to look back at the spring and view what just happened with some suspicion.

 

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called First Love Meltout.

 

Things tune back in at that house base as Echo asks what she’s looking at as she looks around. Snow says he’s prepped some Earl Grey tea and talks about how it has calming effects. He offers Echo some with plenty of milk in it. She thanks him and takes the cup. You ask why there’s an afternoon tea set made, express surprise at having a tea party in an abandoned house, or ask for some Earl Grey with lots of milk.

 

Going C, Snow says you do look tired so he obliges your request. Anyways Gyumao compliments Snow’s milk tea as being as good as his own company’s original brand and says it’s as good as always. He also comments that it feels like his fatigue is melting away as he laughs. Barguest says he knows breaks are necessary, but this feels like a bit much. He’s surprised Snow got out a stand for cakes and sandwiches.

 

Snow says that a butler serving Claude has to always give a consistent first class performance. Gyumao comments that if there’s anything he wanted, it’d be some Hourai dim sum. Snow says he’s already thought of that and has a dim sum set for him. Gyumao is shocked by this.

 

Barguest says this is supposed to be a simple break and questions the point of it being so elaborate. You talk to Barguest and says there is a point as you direct his attention to something. Snow asks Echo how her tea is, commenting that he held back on the sugar to compliment the sandwiches and cakes. Echo says it does go well with those things and that she feels relieved. Barguest shrugs and smiles, deciding that things are fine then.

 

Some time later, Gyumao comments that everyone’s feeling calmed down now, so he suggests examining the situation again. He asks everyone to bring up anything they might have noticed, no matter how unimportant it may seem. Barguest talks about his surprise about the wyverns being in the forest and says they gave no signs of their bloodthirst or presence until they actually appeared. Echo says they were scary.

 

Gyumao asks Snow if the dragons were what he was talking about way earlier about sensing a powerful presence. Snow denies that and says he would have noticed if it moved. You wonder who Snow felt then, but Snow is more interested in the wyverns since they had no presence despite their aggression. He finds that strange and says it’s like they were spontaneously created there. He also questions what the spring is and comments that it’s painfully clear you guys don’t know anything.

 

Echo tries to speak up, so you either ask what’s wrong or tell the guys that she’s trying to talk. Going A if it matters, Barguest remembers that Echo was always staring at the spring and asks if it’s related to her. Echo mumbles a bit, so you ask her to tell you guys what she knows about that place and the person who was there.

 

Echo closes her eyes as she takes a few deep breaths to pluck up the nerve, then she starts speaking. She tells you that the spring is where she met Narcissus, and Barguest asks if that’s the name of the guy you saw. Echo is quiet for a bit before she confirms that it was definitely Narcissus and nods.

 

Snow apologizes in advance and asks Echo about her relationship with Narcissus. She repeats his question back as she gets nervous about answering it, and you can ask if she likes him, is afraid of him, or dislikes him.

 

Barguest protests that it’s a bit too hasty to be asking that question and says you need to be sensitive to kids of that age. Then he apologizes as he remembers you’re that age too. Echo struggles to answer the question before eventually saying that she likes him and adores him.

 

The guys are touched by this response, and Gyumao calls it bittersweet. Snow agrees as he hopes that the young master Claude will have this day come for him too. Barguest sighs as he says he didn’t have much of an adolescence now that he thinks about it. You either comment that they’re all looking into the distance, ask what their expression is supposed to be for, or call them all old.

 

Echo fidgets as she tries to say something else, and Snow apologizes saying he didn’t think their relationship was as deep as it was. Echo panics a bit as she has to deny it’s like that. Gyumao asks if it’s a love affair then, and Barguest has to tell him to stop interrupting and keeping Echo from speaking. You also try to mediate and get them to let Echo talk.

 

Some time later Gyumao apologizes and says he gets so excited when he hears about passionate topics. Echo apologizes for getting excited herself. Barguest says that it looks like you guys have figured out that this shift is reflecting unforgettable scenes from Echo’s heart. Echo says she agrees.

 

Snow notes that Echo is from Olympus and says Narcissus’s Spring is a memory she has of someone she loves. Barguest then says the cause of the shift must be Echo’s feelings for Narcissus. He asks her to tell them about her relationship with Narcissus as much as she is able to.

 

Echo agrees, then takes a deep breath before speaking. She mentions that she likes Narcissus, but Narcissus doesn’t know about that. Gyumao calls it one-sided love and says it would leave an impression if you were summoned and left the other party behind. She doesn’t comment on that. You ask Echo if she wants to convey her feelings to him and/or if she wants him to notice her. She nods.

 

Gyumao says he agrees with her forward facing approach and says they’ll all support her. Echo is confused by this, and Snow says he’ll help too. Barguest says he’ll help too if it’ll get them all back, and brings up the dragons again. There’s no way she can confess if those things come attacking again. Echo hangs her head as she feels it’s all her fault, but Barguest notices and says it isn’t. He tells her to not think or say that again. You either agree or find it weird he’d be saying that.

 

Going A, Echo looks surprised, and Barguest returns to the topic of the dragons. He suggests thinking of a way to express emotions besides words. Echo calls his name, and you think on the idea for a moment before it comes to you.

 

Some time later, Echo asks about Valentines Day and it being a day of giving chocolate. Gyumao is impressed and says you have both a good idea and good timing. Echo says she knows about chocolate but doesn’t know much about Tokyo’s customs yet. Snow offers to explain then.

 

Snow talks about how a certain empire outside of Tokyo that once existed forbade soldiers from marrying out of fear of their morale declining. There was a churchman who heard the soldiers’ laments about this, so he held marriage ceremonies in secret. In the end he was executed under the pretense of sacrifice, but the day he was martyred became linked with the day of lovers. His name became linked with it too, and that’s where Valentine’s Day comes from. Snow also adds in that March 14 is White Day, the day to give back thanks for Valentines.

 

Echo mulls over the idea of a day for lovers. Gyumao speaks up to explain that since Tokyo became connected with other worlds, the meaning of the day has changed a little. That’s because there are many different cultures with different ways of expressing love. There are also cases of sex change and cultures without marriage concepts.

 

Due to that, Valentines has become simplified to being a custom of giving presents to people you care about, including parents and friends. Chocolate especially is exchanged between friends and family, and Gyumao points out it can also be given to someone you have one-sided love for.

 

Echo fidgets over that point, and Gyumao points out that it can carry her feelings, just like it can deep affection and burning passion. You either express shock about another world Valentines, say it’s good and fitting for the holiday, or say there’s a lot of problems though.

 

Barguest says making chocolate isn’t that easy, and this isn’t even getting into the fact that you guys are in an overworld shift yet. He asks if there’s any way to do so. Gyumao laughs and says he’s got that covered as they have That Thing here. The episode ends with Barguest asking what that is he’s talking about.

Valentine Timeslip Prologue Part 2

So picking up from last time, when Echo’s tears hit the floor the garden interior was flooded with light. You shut your eyes to it all, and eventually an unnatural darkness sets in that narration compares to passing out. You then wake up at the mystery spring as you try to figure out what just happened.

 

You’re lying in the ground and feeling a sense of being ill at ease as you slowly get up. Then you realize you aren’t in Tokyo anymore. You wonder if an overworld shift has occurred and are concerned for everyone else. Barguest abruptly wakes up as he starts asking why you guys are in the middle of some forest when you were supposed to be in a botanical garden. He then starts looking for Kenta since he says he was just around earlier.

 

Barguest immediately bangs his head against a branch when he tries to get up to call for Kenta. You ask if he’s okay and comment that he bumped into that thing at full force. Barguest did hurt himself but seems mostly okay, and he notices you’re here and is glad you’re fine. He then tries to ask you about the gardens, the cafe, and Kenta and Inugami.

 

Gyumao walks over and tells Barguest he needs to calm down since they shouldn’t panic. Snow comes over next and is glad everyone is alright. Gyumao says Barguest should really get his head looked at since they don’t know how much damage he just did to himself. You express relief that Snow and Gyumao are alright, ask what’s happening, or ask if anyone else is here.

 

Gyumao says the only thing they know for sure is that something unusual is happening. He suggests keeping in mind the ideas of information, contacting, and discussion to deal with the situation. Barguest however is not okay with taking things slowly since Kenta might be in danger and demands Gyumao move so that he can go look for him.

 

Snow says acting alone is inadvisable and suggests making sure you all are safe first. Barguest doesn’t argue the point. You can either talk to him, call to Gyumao, or say you’re relieved that Snow is so calm.

 

In A, Barguest apologizes and says he’s panicking too much from banging his head. He then prompts you to take his hand so you can stand up, and he tells you that you have to let go immediately after you get up or else you’ll get dragged into his bad luck. But after a second to think on it he figures it’s more likely that he’ll get caught up in your bad luck with how much of a troublemaker you are.

 

In B, Gyumao is relieved to see that you’re okay because if something happened to you, he says there’d be immeasurable losses. He’s a little surprised by what’s happening, but trouble happens when it comes to business. Don’t rush your first move, start by gathering information! Gyumao then holds his hand out to pull you up and says you guys can handle this incident with your combined efforts.

 

In C, Snow is glad you guys all met up safely and offers his hand to help you get on your feet. He notes afterwards that you seem fine, and that he’s glad even if he had an idea that he was worried over nothing. He asks you to leave things to him and says he’ll protect you with everything he has.

 

Anyways, after you get up you take a look at your surroundings. Narration describes the scenery as similar to what you saw through the glass walls or domes of the botanical gardens, but it’s also clearly the scenery of some other forest. Tree branches reach into the sky, and sunlight passes through the leaves. And in front of you is a calm spring that’s like a mirror. Daffodils/narcissus flowers bloom all around it.

 

Snow admires the scenery and says the other flowers around are blooming beautifully. He does sense an unnaturalness to it though. As verdant as the forest is it feels like barely anything lives there. Barguest agrees as he notes it’s too quiet. There are no small animals or birds making any noises.

 

Snow closes his eyes as he focuses himself. He senses Heracles, then tells you guys that As Of Now, you Five are the only people in the immediate area. He doesn’t sense anyone else around but notes that you guys have been thrown into some big trouble.

 

You question Snow saying there’s five of you around, and Gyumao says that last person should be around the spring like you guys. You look over and notice Echo after a bit, recognizing her as that girl looking at the flowers earlier and noticing that she seems to be sleeping sadly. Barguest asks who she is since she wasn’t with your gang. Gyumao figures she’s a Transient based on her appearance and questions if she’s related to this incident. You say she might be, say you don’t know yet, or tell Gyumao he shouldn’t make preconceived notions.

 

Going B, Gyumao is impressed with how calm you are and says his eyes are reliable in having picked you. Anyways, Snow suggests you guys go somewhere safer to think about things. It may be calm now but there’s no telling how long it’ll stay like that. Gyumao says it’s risky to go around in a forest you can’t see that far in at night, so he agrees that you guys should find a way out while it’s still daytime.

 

Snow suggests that it’s likely that thirsty beasts might come by to look for water here. He also decides to share one other bit of information, though he hopes it’s nothing. He informs you all that he sensed someone strong further within the forest, though he doesn’t know who. You either find this scary, suggest leaving now, and/or wonder if there are man eating plants around.

 

Gyumao says that for now you guys have settled on a plan and says you guys should go, then asks about what to do with Echo. Barguest wants to carry her, but he asks someone else to do it because he’d rather not let his bad luck rub off on her. You either volunteer or ask if someone else can carry her.

 

Going A, Barguest thanks you and says it’s sad that he has to do so given how built he is. Though since that’s happening, he offers to take the rear for the party so that he can let his misfortune affect anyone attacking you guys if it comes to that. Snow decides to take the lead as you guys head out.

 

The party starts making their way out, and eventually when you get out into the land of Ancient Greek decor, everyone is shocked by the scenery. You yell asking where you guys are, ask if the gardens disappeared, or ask if this is some new spot in Yumenoshima. Gyumao picks out the roads that reach the sky and asks if you guys are in Gandhara/Ancient India. Barguest denies that though he says he knows nothing about that place.

 

Snow says he’s glad the forest wasn’t that deep and that you guys made it out. Barguest is shocked at how calm Snow is being. Snow says that as a butler he has to be calm no matter what. He laughs that this isn’t apparently as harsh as when he was studying to be a butler. Barguest can’t help but ask what the hell kind of school Snow went to because that’s going beyond ‘it’s a big world out there.’

 

Snow internally thinks about that Mountain and seems to have an idea about it. Gyumao comments that it’s great you guys got out of the forest and says your first mission has been completed safely. Snow says that the next mission would be finding a safe place.

 

Barguest notes that he sees something like a cabin near the bank of the small river over there. Gyumao compliments him and says he’ll give him 100 likes. Snow says he’ll give him 120 likes then. Barguest asks what the hell they’re talking about and is surprised they can joke around now. You either ask if Barguest knows them, demand some likes too, or wonder if Echo is okay.

 

Going A, Barguest says he’s worked at the Ikebukuro Underground Arena for a bit one time, and that he’s also worked at constructing a theme park in Roppongi. Snow says Barguest always does a good job and as a manager would like to hire him long term. Gyumao jokes about Snow being a manager and says he already tried since he thought the same thing. Barguest declines since bad luck will follow if he stays in one place too long. He has his own way of working, and he tells them to think of it as for their sake instead of his.

 

Anyways, the party reaches the cabin around this point, and Barguest says no one is inside. At the very least no one is using it now. It’ll suck for the owners if any exist, but they’ll be borrowing it for now. He also notes that water isn’t that far away, so its position is fine. Snow says it’s great to have shelter from the rain. It’s got room, and it works well enough for a base.

 

Snow pulls out a small bottle from the things he’s been carrying. He says it’s medicine and that it should be enough to wake Echo. It’s kind of strong but it doesn’t have any side effects. Since Echo wakes up with a sneeze I’m going to believe they’re smelling salts. But anyways Echo wakes up confused, and Snow explains that you guys brought her here because she was out cold.

 

Echo parrots what Snow said to her about waking up. Snow and Barguest are surprised by this and asks if she’s not used to speaking. Barguest also mentions that this may be a racial thing among summoned Transients since it happens sometimes. Echo struggles to answer until she eventually says yes and repeats the part about not being used to speaking. Barguest is mildly surprised Echo can converse to some extent.

 

Gyumao says that’s reassuring and asks if Echo can tell them her name. She answers that yes, she ‘can.’ She then goes quiet, so Barguest tries prompting her to say it. Gyumao is a little taken aback and comments that this will be a tough interview if they can’t communicate properly.

 

You pick up on how Echo’s speech patterns work to an extent as you whisper to yourself, and Echo looks up to you as she notices. You introduce yourself and ask Echo to tell you her name. Echo finally answers as she introduces herself back.

 

Barguest understands how Echo generally works in conversations now but comments on how different Transients can be. Gyumao notes and spells out that Echo can only answer questions she’s actually asked. Barguest brings back up that that’s how she could answer whether she could tell you guys her name without actually saying what it is. Echo nods looking slightly ashamed.

 

Gyumao laughs and tells Echo to relax since Transients all have their own circumstances. He had it rough when he first came over, and he had no idea what to do with business talks especially. Echo is surprised by this, and Gyumao says that if you know your quirks, you can handle anything. That’s what the pioneer mindset is all about, baby!

 

You comment that it’s great that you know Echo’s name now, suggest she be optimistic and say you guys have taken a step forward, or exchange pleasantries with Echo. In A, Echo just nods. In C, she repeats the pleasantries back.

 

Anyways, Snow suggests you guys try to get a grip on your situation and asks Echo to help too. He starts by asking if she remembers where she was before she woke up here. Echo answers that she was at the gardens. Snow says you guys were there too and saw the special exhibit on flowers related to love. Echo seems shocked by that.

 

Snow then says a sudden bright light enveloped everything at that point, and everyone was in that forest when they came to. Echo seems confused by that. Snow says he’s experienced something like this before, so it’s probably another one of those cases. Gyumao comes out and says you guys seem to be stuck in an overworld shift. You either ask about that or respond that you thought so.

 

Snow says it’s a phenomenon that happens in Tokyo that you rarely see. You can say you’ve been in them a bunch for times, ask for further explanation, or say this is your first time.

 

Going A, Barguest is shocked by that and asks when did all that happen before wondering if disaster is also in your nature. Snow laughs and says that the frequency increases alongside the number of Transients. He decides he’ll give an explanation on overworld shifts anyways for Echo’s benefit.

 

So, an overworld shift is when an area in Tokyo gets overlaid by an area that resembles somewhere from another world. The cause of this phenomenon is unclear, but there are certain commonalities between all overworld shifts. Insert line break for Echo.

 

Now, there are some exceptions, but the first point in common is that overworld shifts occur in places that are enclosed whether it’s by buildings or the weather. Within that space, there needs to be a majority consisting of Transients or App Users. Then, there has to be a Transient acting as the shift’s core. The mental landscape of the core Transient, like an unforgettable scene, gets overlaid onto that area. That’s how overworld shifts work.

 

You either say you never knew this, thank Snow for his explanation, or ask if Echo understood. Going C, Echo says it was a little hard but she did get it. She mulls over the concept, and Barguest speaks up to say that while he knows caution is important, he wants to head out as soon as possible. He’s worried Kenta is in here somewhere alone and afraid.

 

Snow asks him to wait and says that, while it is a guess, he believes it’s unlikely Kenta is in here. Far as he saw, the only people dragged into the shift was everyone in a part of the special exhibit. Barguest asks if Snow is saying that there are people who were taken in and people who weren’t. Snow repeats that it’s just a guess, but that might be why Kenta isn’t around. Barguest points out he has no evidence. Snow admits that, but he also insists Kenta wasn’t in the forest.

 

Gyumao speaks up to say that he’s experienced an overworld shift before in a certain project, and that not everyone around was pulled in at that time. Gyumao sympathizes but says they’ll just have to believe. He also says it’ll be okay since your friends were there too. Barguest agrees and says Inugami is with Kenta, though he really hopes he’s okay as he shakes some of his anxiety off.

 

Barguest apologizes and continues the main topic by suggesting you guys look for a way back to the gardens. You ask that if a Transient is the shift’s core, does that mean someone here is it? Snow says that since the overworld shift displays the core’s mental landscape, it’s going to be showing their old world. He suggests going outside because maybe someone will recognize the scenery.

 

The Analyst kicks in as the party walks on out a bit, and narration describes the view. Underneath the blue sky, there’s a quiet grassland spreading out in the distance. There are large mountains, and forests spread out at the foot of them. Gyumao notes that the mountains don’t really remind him of Flaming Mountains, and that they aren’t on fire either, so it’s not anything he remembers.

 

Barguest says it could be the Tir na Nog he remembers if the forests were thicker, but nope. That said he still feels some strange sense of nostalgia. No one seems to have any ideas, but as everyone keeps looking, a certain giant mountain catches everyone’s attention. Echo recognizes it, so Snow asks if she knows where they are. Echo says this is what Olympus looks like.

 

Snow seems to have already guessed as much and says that when he was studying other worlds, he heard about that mountain’s special characteristics. It’s the sacred mountain where the the twelve who sit at the top of the world’s hierarchy live. Given what Echo has said, he’s sure this is Olympus too. You ask if this means Echo is the overworld shift core then.

 

Echo is surprised by this, and when the party all starts looking at her she bursts into tears. Barguest quickly apologizes and says they aren’t blaming her as he tries to get her to calm down. Gyumao agrees and says it’s not her fault or anything. They’re just taking things in steps and trying to solve the situation. Snow says he at least sees that Echo has a connection to a certain place. She feels even worse about that.

 

Barguest tells Snow to stop agitating Echo. Snow realizes how insensitive he was being and apologizes, saying he was just trying to understand the situation and wasn’t trying to make her feel bad. You either comment about how the three of them are intimidating, tell Echo she didn’t do anything wrong and that she shouldn’t worry, or gently hug her.

 

Going B, Echo calms down and Snow suggests investigating the spring from earlier. Echo finds that significant, and you agree that maybe there might be something and ask if Echo will help. Echo agrees to help search the place and concedes that maybe she is the one to create the overworld shift. Barguest is quiet, so Snow asks what’s on his mind. Barguest says he was just thinking that Echo is surprisingly strong, and that she’s like Kenta.

 

Time skips to the party going back to the spring as Gyumao tells Echo that’s where everyone else woke up and asks if she knows anything. Echo however is preoccupied with the spring. Snow guesses that based off Echo’s reactions that the spring is the center of the shift. If this is something that Echo can’t forget, then maybe there’s something there that can lead to their escape.

 

Everyone takes a look, and you point out that you see someone on the other side of the spring. Echo is shocked to see that person, who she says is Narcissus. You ask her if she knows him, and she gives a small nod. At that moment fierce wyverns pop out of nowhere.

 

Barguest expresses surprise at their appearance and asks where they came from. Snow says they had no presence or hostility until they showed up and compares it to teleportation. He calls out to you and Echo to come back. Gyumao says things are getting worse and that they should leave ASAP.

 

While chaos sets in, Echo is still standing rooted at the spot she’s at. You either wonder what’s happening or try calling to Echo and ask her to reach out to you. She hangs her head and shuts her eyes as she calls out to Narcissus. Another tear drops from her face, and light covers everything again as the episode ends.