Gyumao’s CQ 1: A CEO’s Duties

Gyumao starts narrating to you as he wonders if he’s ever talked about his past to you. He talks about how he used to be the rebellious gangster type, as hard as that might be to imagine now. He was the eldest in a set of sworn brothers, and he defied everyone from the palace of the heavens. But eventually, he left that place and came to live in Flaming Mountains with all his friends.

 

Even after this, a dispute with the heavens arose. What started as a chaotic mess between the vanguards turned into a giant ordeal. All of the heavenly army was deployed, and among them was one of his former brothers-in-arms. Gyumao shrugs and says there was no way he could win. He was exorcised and chased away from the refuge to the great path.

 

Gyumao doesn’t have an answer as to why he rebelled as he did. He doesn’t deny that he was foolish, and all he can say is that he didn’t want to obey them. He just couldn’t stomach having anything about himself decided by others, even if it was seen as “correct.” He rejected having anyone else decide how he should live his life, and so he was summoned to Tokyo.

 

Time skips to the present where some people are getting restless amidst a showy festival of sorts taking place. There’s barely any time to people to set their stalls up and many are desperate to put their things up to look nice. It’s the very picture of people aiming for success in the free market of Roppongi.

 

Anyways Gyumao walks over and greets you, thanking you for accepting his invitation. You can either tell him you were thinking of participating, say you came because you’re his partner, or that you’ll hear out any sort of request if it’s from him.

 

Going B, Gyumao laughs and says it’s a delightful answer. He also comments that you’re good at capturing the hearts of others in negotiation, almost enough to get him mistaken as someone special. But anyways he asks what you’ve brought for the store today. You have either old books, a bunch of toys, or unworn clothes from there gang.

 

Gyumao notes that you’re trying to raise money by selling off old things from your guild members. He says it’s good to have a lot of stock and asks you to have fun with it. He also hopes you’ll have a good time experiencing the market event his company is running.

Xolotl shows up at this point and is surprised to see you both. Gyumao is surprised to see him too, and Xolotl asks if you two are participating in this thing because he is too. He also happens to have the space next to yours, which he finds comforting. You ask about him running a store or if he has the day off today.

 

Xolotl explains that Hakumen ordered him to join in the project to make it a success. He does hope he can make it work, though he’s nervous about the actual selling. Gyumao remembers at this point that he has some briefing to do for the event. He wishes you two luck and says he’ll come back later, then leaves while laughing.

 

After Gyumao goes, Xolotl comments on how energetic Gyumao seems all the time. He wonders if this is what it’s like after a storm blows over somewhere, then sets the thought aside as he suggests you two do your best today.

 

Some time later, Xolotl turns out to have sold nothing at all. Neither have you for that matter. Xolotl freaks out about being spanked by Hakumen if this keeps up, then talks to himself hoping he can make at least one sale.

 

Gyumao returns at this point and laughs, commenting that you guys seem to be in trouble. Xolotl is surprised by him, and Gyumao goes on to say that you guys don’t need to worry because he’s here now. With his skills, it’ll be a snap to reform the shop and turn things around.

 

Time skips over whatever Gyumao has to say, and Xolotl mentions needing to learn from his aggressiveness and advice. Randos start walking up and take an interest in Xolotl’s things until a crowd starts forming. He’s happy and deeply touched that people are buying from him, even when the things he’s selling aren’t his. He’s also surprised you’re about sold out too. You comment that you had less to begin with and/or say it’s thanks to Gyumao.

 

Gyumao laughs and thanks you for your words. He feels his stock is rising here and invites you to jump into his chest (by which he means join his company) whenever you want. You decide to ask him how he got to be so good at business, and he tells you that all he did was advise Xolotl to treat his products as if they were antiques. The issue with his shop was that his prices were comparatively too high next to the shops around his. Whether they warranted that price is another story. In that case he may as well give a more direct endorsement and write that they’re Hakumen’s selections. That will boost her popularity as well, so two birds one stone.

 

Gyumao further explains that he suggested that part of the proceeds go to charity. As he talks he starts looking at you, and he mentions that this is just a scheme he presented, even if that’s not all to it. Gyumao notes that you two have a gift for selecting products and that your haul of things had worth in being treated as antiques too. You ask if they’re really worth that much and say you’ll need to thank the gang later.

 

Gyumao comments on your friends being here in Tokyo for a long time. Transients summoned in like him by contrast aren’t that familiar with Tokyo’s history or things that relate to it. Therefore, anything that would evoke local memories have value to them. Gyumao then notices that there’s one thing left in your store and asks if he can buy it. That turns out to be some large bracelet woven from thick threads, but he seems happy with it. He also figures it belongs to you, which you confirm as something you made in class.

 

Gyumao comments that it felt like it was oozing a certain aura and that it was left unsold because it was too big for most people. It’s the perfect size for him though of course, and it’d go well on his arm. You can either offer it to him for free or thank him for buying it.

 

Going A, Gyumao insists that you shouldn’t let business opportunities go and that it’s fine since he just wants to buy it. You put effort into it, so he’ll give you what he feels is the appropriate amount for it. This is also a part of communication, and he hopes you’ll take it to heart in your social studies. Also, he teases you saying you can’t say the thing is worth nothing now can you?

 

Gyumao thanks you for the bracelet and says you’re now sold out. That means you have time to yourself now, so he invites you to look around the place with him. There are parts of the place he hasn’t inspected yet, so he’d be happy if you accompanied him. You either say you’ll happily go with him, call it an alliance, or just nod.

 

Gyumao laughs and thanks you for saying yes. Xolotl tells you two to have fun and says he’ll try to sell out all his stuff too. Time skips a bit as you and Gyumao push your way through the lively crowds. Gyumao asks if you’re alright and says to be careful since there’s a lot of people in the area you’re at. Trouble happens a lot where people gather, and he’s thought about increasing security, but that would go against his wish for things to spread for everyone to enjoy. It’s a hard thing to consider.

 

You ask Gyumao if he’s fine considering how big he is and can wonder if you can sneak a feel without getting caught. If you go with B he notices and welcomes you to his red ocean before asking if you want to try setting up shop in a new area. Time is money but haste makes waste. Discussions can happen in private later~.

 

But anyways, Gyumao comments that the place is a lot livelier than he was expecting. That just means his sponsorship is that valuable, which he takes pride in. On that note he decides to ask what you think of the free market. You either describe it as the place where you can sell things you don’t need or as a place where interchange happens through business.

 

Gyumao nods and says whichever answer you pick has some truth to it, then tells you that it has another sort of significance to it to Transients summoned to Tokyo. Just as it’s not a regular distribution channel, it’s not often that rarities from other worlds circulate much. Lots of Transients have money problems, so they decide to sell off whatever they had on them during their summoning. Gyumao says what he is getting at is this market is a place where you can see treasures and the skill of buyers.

 

You nod and agree as you say you’ve never thought about that before. Gyumao says theft happens in places like this too, which is a problem he wracks his brain about. While this is an inspection, he’s also warning people about it a bunch of times. You ask if that’s why he asked you along or say they may have their own reasons they can’t help it.

 

Going A, Gyumao laughs and says you’ve got good insight. If something happens he’d prefer to have at least someone competent with him. This is also his attempt to make a pitch to you, so you can think of it as a simple internship. If you see anyone suspicious, act right away. You comment on how busy or hardworking he is.

 

Gyumao nods and says his current goal is to make his company even bigger. If the company doesn’t get stronger then he can’t protect his workers. He boasts that he’s been prepared to look after his employees’ lives from the start. He’ll always be waiting for the time you join his company, which he brags is a hot place to work at, Tokyo’s Flaming Mountains. You either tell Gyumao he’s getting too close to you or wonder about the benefits.

 

Before anything else happens Xolotl screams. Gyumao recognizes it and says it’s not some regular thing happening. You say something must be up and suggest checking it out. When you two get over there, Gyumao asks Xolotl what’s happening. Xolotl tells you he was robbed when he looked away for a second. Specifically, someone stole the Hakumen recommended courtesan negligee set that can happiness punch anyone in the world.

 

You are baffled at the thought of this thing while Gyumao comments that Hakumen’s personal stuff is highly valued so maybe he should have put up a guard or done that himself. For now you guys should find the thief, and he asks if Xolotl knows which way they went. Xolotl didn’t see them at all, but it hasn’t been that long so the thief can’t have gone far. Gyumao says you guys should be able to make it if you hurry then.

 

Anyways Gyumao says he has guards set up in the perimeter. The entrances are pretty busy so you can’t relax about it, but at least it’s some peace of mind. He talks about how this is when you need to keep calm and suggests handling things as soon as possible. He then tells you to get on his shoulders. You either agree or question this course of action.

 

Gyumao activates his ability to become a giant, and you yell about how big or tall he’s getting. He laughs and compares it to his skills. Gyumao then talks about how managers are wanted for their ability to see things from above, so doing this means he can get some new perspective on things. You either agree that has some logic to it or say his profile looks cool.

 

If you go with B, Gyumao thanks you for the compliment but reminds you to keep focused on other things. You can watch him do a bunch of cool stuff in the meantime though. Either way he seems to see something at this point, saying it should be possible to catch the thief and asks you to hang on. He starts walking, so you ask if he even has anywhere to put his foot down or say you’re shaking and falling.

 

Going A, Gyumao says there is and that he’s the one who thought up how the stall layout was set up so he could move around. That’s the sort of vision a manager needs! You guys reach the suspect in moments, and rando dark pirate is freaking out wondering what’s going on. You tell the guy to give up, say he can’t run, or ask him to stop so you guys can talk it out.

 

If you go C, Gyumao is surprised you’d go with that but it’s a rare quality not really seen in his company of rowdy types, so he feels you really are worth recruiting to his company. This abruptly shifts into the episode battle, and things continue after that.

 

After the battle, Gyumao confirms that he has the stolen goods. One of his employees comes by at this time and asks if the pirate is the suspect for this case. Gyumao says yes and figures the mob is a stray Transient looking for something to resell. The pirate admits to it and was blinded by his greed, then says he didn’t steal anything else.

 

You take a look at the negligee set, which is described as being decorated with a bunch of gemstones. It’s light on fabric but it makes all the important bits shine, and it gets compared to a starry night sky.

 

Gyumao is about to comment something about the piece before saying it all looks real and is surprised gems can be used in lingerie. You either are surprised they’re all real, nod and agree, or say Hakumen is gorgeous.

 

Going A, Gyumao says that few people would be able to tell that. The mob scoffs and says he’s a pirate, so he’s seen a lot of treasure in his time. He could tell it was valuable in an instant. If he managed to sell it somewhere else he could have made a huge profit, though he doesn’t have anything left to use as funds. As a true pirate himself he figured he may as well steal it...not that he’s figured out where to fence it.

 

Gyumao’s guard suggests taking the pirate away immediately and reminds him that his next appointment thing is almost around the corner. Gyumao however suggests holding off for a moment, then starts talking to the pirate about his eye for things of value. The pirate asks if he doubts him and brags about his experience while staying on edge.

 

Gyumao cheerfully offers a suggestion to the mob, saying he could become a buyer on behalf of Gyumao’s company. The pirate is shocked by this, and you ask Gyumao what he means. He explains that a buyer would be someone who buys stock for his company, and that he’s offering to hire the pirate on as one. The pirate doesn’t answer, and you either are surprised he’d hire a thief or quietly trust in him.

 

Going A, Gyumao asks to leave that subject for later as he wants to focus on talking about the future for now. Anyways, he talks about how you don’t have an organization to protect Strays. People who’ve lost their patronage can’t easily find a new way of living, and with no other ways open to them they may end up turning to crime. Just like how his Flaming Mountains used to be, he says with a wry smile.

 

Gyumao figures Flaming Mountains must be in a state of chaos even now after his defeat. After being summoned here he can’t go and check, but it’s easy enough to imagine. Back then he wasn’t prepared to be responsible for his underlings’ lives.

 

Gyumao says he wants to change himself to become someone who can protect his employees and prevent the same thing from happening again. He declares that’s why he needs to make his company stronger, so that he can protect it. The pirate is still quiet, and Gyumao composes himself saying it’s a bad habit to get fired up when making a presentation. He asks if the pirate gets why he needs him now and says he only sees good things in it for him.

 

The pirate answers that he understands why Gyumao is making his offer, but declines to join since he doesn’t want to answer to him. Gyumao is shocked by this, and you decide to speak up and suggest something to him. He turns to you and asks if you understand, and you ask if he remembers what he was talking about before, saying the pirate might be like how Gyumao used to be.

 

Gyumao sighs as he understands, then looks up at the sky. He closes his eyes for a second, then asks if the pirate will give him a chance to make another presentation. He also asks one of the mobsters to cancel his next appointment for him.

 

Time skips a bit and says what Gyumao and the pirate talked about are kept secret to themselves. All everyone else can see is that the pirate has agreed to turn himself into the police. The pirate then mentions having one thing to say before going, and Gyumao offers to consider any conditions he may put up. The pirate says he’s not so weak that he can only be protected, so when he •becomes one of his employees• he’ll be there to protect Gyumao too.

 

The pirate has one other thing to say, then declares he’ll be drawing a line as he calls Gyumao boss. The mobster says he’ll go explain things to Xolotl and act as his escort. Gyumao sees him go with a bit of shock on his face from behind.

 

Some time later Gyumao asks if you’ll hear him out for a bit. He admits that while he’s thought about protecting everyone under him, he’s never thought about being protected himself. He’s the president after all, and that’s what he kept in mind all this time as he made his way to this point. It embarrasses him to think about being protected by his future employees. You point out that’s what makes for a strong organization, say it’s not about a single employee in front of a CEO, or say a president who’s protected can be a good thing.

 

Going A, Gyumao starts laughing before saying he’s had a one-sided vision for a while now. He notices lots of new things when you’re with him, and narration says a new fire is lit in his eyes. He’s reviewed what it is he ought to do.

 

Gyumao says that in learning something new he’s gotten mightier. He thanks you for that and invites you to join his company again whenever. You can be one of his arms and together you’ll both walk the path of prosperity! He’ll always have a place for you, so join alongside him, even in his private life! You either tell him you’ll think about it, say this sounds like a proposal, or say you’ll be the one proposing.

 

Going B, Gyumao laughs again and says it ends up coming out like a proposal no matter how hard he tries to keep up appearances. He suggests getting some revenge for before, which you can just treat as another business offer. He makes a point of saying there’s a part of him not being against you seeing it as more than business stuff. He personally would like to see what sort of presentation you’d give.

 

Something falls out of Gyumao’s sleeve, which he notices is that bracelet he bought off you today. He’s shocked that it may have broke despite it being fine earlier when he went giant. He apologizes for letting this happen so soon after saying he’d take care of it. You however explain that it’s called a misanga, and when it breaks it’s suppose to mean your wish will come true.

 

Gyumao asks if that’s true and says he doesn’t have enough research done about native traditions. Gyumao talks about how his wish is for his company to become strong and his wish to change himself for that goal. It’s his wish that what happened on Flaming Mountains won’t happen a second time, then asks if that means he did change. You say his wish may have come true, smile and say nothing, or stare at him seriously.

 

Going A, he laughs and agrees. That said, Gyumao says this isn’t the end. He’s changed, and he’ll continue to change. He, as Gyumao the singular person, hopes that you’ll also be with him. A gentle smile rises to his face, softer than his usual one. The fire in his eyes also turns gentler as it shines upon you, brightening his own expression. The end.

 

 

Seth’s CQ 1: Elder Brother, Younger Brother, And...

Seth apparently starts narrating about Seth Original, saying he was so beautiful he’d fall in love with him. He looked brilliant as a warrior with the war paint around his outer eye, the envy of everyone. And Ash himself reached out without thinking about it, wanting to reach him, wanting to be him. It was that time when it happened.

 

A voice calls out, saying “you know nothing.” A detestable voice, cold, indifferent, and ridiculing. It sets Seth on edge, but he doesn’t know where it comes from. What he does know is that this is the voice of someone he knows. The voice speaks again, saying that at the foot of someone that shines is someone who falls to the shadows.

 

The voice fades away with the light, and darkness rises. Eventually a single form rises from that darkness, staring straight at Seth. A shadow of someone that should be light. It’s the one he loves and respects most, the person most important to him in the world. He speaks, “do not avert your eyes. This is your—“

 

Seth argues back in denial, saying his brother is his...something cut off as he wakes up gasping for breath. After a moment he asks what it was he just saw and yells in frustration. Narration says it’s a recurring dream, a dark image that becomes clear in the daylight. If there’s anyone Seth could talk to about it, he can only think of one person. He has a contact number, so maybe he could call it and come up with a countermeasure.

 

Seth thinks aloud to himself that he feels that the great master Seth, the Unruly King of the Desert, doesn’t seem like the sort of person to rely on others. He also gets embarrassed as he admits he’s not good at actually initiating a conversation with other people. But if it were that guy (re: Gouryou), he could just casually invite him over. Seth then figures it’s fine to go talk to him a little bit at least.

 

Seth continues mumbling to himself as he pops open the App to send a text. Scene then shifts over to Shinjuku Academy where it’s just another day at a time between the end of classes and the official end of the school day. Your phone vibrates as you get a message, which turns out to be from Seth.

 

Seth’s text asks how you’re doing as he says he’s doing alright. He then writes about how that wasn’t what he wanted to talk about but gets tongue tied over text for a bit before inviting you to hang out as he has no plans for the day. He’s already making his way over, and if you could meet with him today that’d be great. He has something he wants to talk about, preferably alone.

 

So with that faintly confused text, you think over your plans for the day before sending Seth a response text. You can either say you’ll hear out any request he’s got, call him little brother and say he can come whenever he wants, or tease him and ask if this is a date.

 

Going C, Seth responds back and is embarrassed at the idea as he says it’s nothing so bold. He admits it does sound like one now that you’ve mentioned it, but if that’s what you want then he’s okay with calling it a date. He asks if it’s fine to meet up at the train station closest to you, Shinjuku Station. Anyways he’ll be going now, so he’ll see you there.

 

You take a moment to think back to your meeting with Seth. Narration says a mysterious fate guided you, and the two of you became friends who helped one another in a journey through an endless desert. The path of that little brother who proclaimed himself to be the elder brother pops up clearly in your mind. This memory hangs in your head as you make way to the station.

 

Scene shifts over to the station where things look the same as always...up until you notice Christine in her Scheherazade outfit. You either comment on how she stands out, greet her and comment on your reunion, or say you wanted to see her again.

 

Going B, Christine greets you back and says it looks there’s a connection again. She clarifies that it’s not you specifically, but someone else who’s lost their way. She smiles in her mysterious ways, speaking in a way like a bird chirping.

 

Anyways, Christine asks if you know how to cope when you lose your way. You answer that you calm down and not make any rash movements, then go back to a place with landmarks you recognize. This is a lesson a certain senpai taught you. Christine refers to it as a lesson you picked up in the mountains and says it’s a good judgment.

 

Christine talks about how disasters can happen anywhere even besides mountains. You only need to take one step down a side path in a place you know well to lose sight of where you should be going. Should that happen you’d best not panic and act carefully, right?

 

Christine nods as if discovering something, then continues talking. If you don’t know what’s causing you to lose your way, then there will be times where you’ll repeat your mistakes. A mistaken map can’t lead you to where you’re going, but she says maybe it’s more correct to say that something can’t be kept locked up in the heart. And on that strange note Christine decides to excuse herself, praying for your successful efforts.

 

After Christine goes, you comment on how mysterious she is. That also reminds you of Seth as you wonder how he’s doing and if he’s lost before you notice something. Your phone rings, and it turns out Seth is texting to ask where the exit to the station is. Narration talks about how Shinjuku Station has different routes depending on whether you’re taking an above ground train or an underground train. You realize you guys never mentioned which entrance you’d agree to meet at, then apologize with some shame or laugh it off.

 

The two of you have a rapid text conversation, and Seth complains about there being a north and a new south entrance and not just an east and west. He thought he was on an above ground line but ended up in an underground station, then ended up on some other platform after passing through the ticket gates. Seth then asks if Shinjuku is some sort of labyrinth and says he might be stuck forever at this rate.

 

You text back saying it’ll be okay and ask him to stay where he is or wait by some sort of landmark. Once that’s sent you run off to the underground levels. On your way though, you pick up on a strange feeling that something happened, but everything around seems to be business as usual. You decide to keep on going, then see someone standing around looking helpless.

 

Seth is initially happy to see you and starts calling you brother before stopping himself as he calls you by name and acts all mad about how late you are. You can either respond by calling him by name and being glad he’s alright, call him little brother and say you came to get him, or call him bro and say you were worried.

 

Going C, Seth coughs and tries to save face by saying it was helpful that you came for him. He also mentions underestimating how hard to understand the station would be and compares it to an underground maze. Seth then talks about how crazy Tokyo is to have a place like this underneath where everyone lives, then watches all the people walking by as he does so.

 

Seth starts talking about how there’s this one gigantic snake back in Aaru. Since he brings up his homeworld you decide to ask him what it was like and start with asking if it’s hot. He takes a moment to think and says it’s a bit like that desert world you guys journeyed through. It’s a vast desert with countless oases, and in the center of the land is a great flowing river. Every year, it starts overflowing during the rainy season. Once that passes, the farmlands plant their crops.

 

You either comment on how calm the place sounds and/or ask if Seth did farm work too. Seth says that his/Seth’s job was different because he’s Aaru’s best warrior. It’s his role to fight off foreign enemies and protect the peace of the land. Honorable work, that. Demons (or Shadows I suppose) appear in his world, especially at night. It’s ‘Seth’s’ Role to protect people from them.

 

You either smile and nod or listen closely as Seth talks. Either way, Seth stops as he decides to change the subject and attempt to ask you about something else. Specifically, he asks if you remember anything about Seth Original. You tell him you don’t know since you aren’t him, and you can shake your head as well.

 

Seth apologizes for the odd question and says that’s not what he really wants to know anyways. He talks about wanting to live as his ideal Seth, just as he swore he would in the desert he traversed with you all. Every day he trained and thought a lot about things he’d try at jobs or being a gangster in order to be Seth. He admits that sometimes he wonders about whether things are okay as is. Can he really become like Seth?

 

Seth mentions that when he looks at you, sometimes it surprises him how much he sees Seth Original in you. Normally you two are completely different, but sometimes a gesture you make or the way you speak is so much like him. He knows logically that you two are different, then apologizes for getting flustered. You can either tell him that you believe what’s important is making an effort, that you like Seth as he is now, or tell him to not push himself too hard.

 

Going C, Seth agrees after a moment and says that’s all that can be done. He shrugs and says he may help it if he worries, and all he can do is be the best he can be before something catches his attention.

 

A voice speaks out from nowhere, calling Seth shallow and foolish. It resembles no one you know, yet it feels like a voice you’ve heard before. The voice continues, telling Seth to look away from the truth and to know the weakness of his heart as the same ruling of the underworld returns.

 

Seth demands to know who’s speaking and where they are. The voice tells Seth to remember what form his brother’s shadow took. It says it was supposed to be the form of an ominous terrifying dragonic serpent. It is Uroboros the Regenerating Snake that can’t escape, the true form of the demon who is embroiled in the eternal war with the hero Seth. The voice also says that the hero of Aaru carries one other hidden Role.

 

You try to ask about the voice, and the moment the voice stops speaking the surrounding area changes. Seth is shocked that the area has suddenly changed and surrounded you two. There is no presence of anyone else around in the stone maze you find yourselves in.

 

Seth demands to know what’s going on and seems to recognize the voice from before. You talk about how it mentioned Seth having a true form and having another Role. Seth doesn’t say anything at first, but he thinks aloud about Aaru’s regenerating serpent Apophis.

 

The voice answers back as it calls Seth the executioner of criminals and the one who stands in the way before naming itself Apophis. Seth denies that Seth Original was anyone like that, and you try to calm Seth down to ask for an explanation of what they’re talking about and who Apophis is.

 

Seth apologizes as he says you don’t know anything. It’ll probably take a while but he offers to tell you about his homeland some more. He hesitates as he does so but slowly starts to face you as he speaks.

 

Set explains that in Aaru, they have a certain belief. That is, eternal rest exists after death. When the sun sets, it can even resurrect itself from death to rise again the next day. Death is how an eternal world can be realized, and Aaru is a world where its underworld’s System constantly regenerates. Seth is described as holding back some of his emotions as he thinks back and talks about this.

 

Seth adds that there was a certain restriction added to this arrangement. The dead are judged, and only those whose worth are recognized may be resurrected. You ask what happens to the other people, so Seth talks about how Aaru has two great rivers. The first is the River of the Living which supports life. That one is above ground and flows for the benefit of the people.

 

Before Seth can talk about the other one, he is cut off by the sounds of a large amount of rushing water. He recognizes what it is and suddenly runs off, and you chase after him. You guys find a large volume of water appearing before you two, and Seth asks in surprise why the River of the Dead is beneath Tokyo. While Seth calls it a river, it looks more like a lake or an ocean to you. It is dim and cold, giving off only silence and chills.

 

Seth calls to his brother as he casts his NP. The parching desert wind barely manages to pin down the waters and protect you two. Seth pants as he asks if you’re okay, and you ask if this is the other river he was talking about. You can’t help but mention it looks more like an ocean to you though.

 

Seth says he’s sure because his artifact tells him so. He explains that the River of the Dead exists to wash the ones whose lives have ended to the room of judgment. Not everyone is included in this cycle however. Those who stray from the laws of the world and barred from resurrection are eaten by Apophis down there.

 

Seth explains that his brother was once famous in their world for being the one hero who could fight equally against Apophis. There was a subset of people who were jealous of this though, so they slandered his reputation. Seth says he didn’t believe it himself, and you ask if Seth Original ever said anything about those rumors.

 

Seth says he thinks his brother avoided talking about it to him. He tries to insist something about himself when a dark serpent shadow appears before you guys. Its silhouette and dress is evocative of something from Seth’s dreams. Seth says he wants to deny it, then demands to know why it smells like his brother.

 

You call out to Seth and tell him to get away or tell him to not space out. You run in and block the Shadow’s attack, and its movements and abilities remind you of the Shadow Seth you met back in the desert. Seth starts talking about the tyrant who would mercilessly slay all that refuse to obey the rulers. He is the hunter of those who rebel against Aaru, the assassin of change. Seth connects the dots of what he’s seeing, even as he wants to deny it. The Shadow names Apophis confirms it and says that Seth is both the Slayer of Apophis as well as Apophis himself.

 

Apophis continues and asks what Seth would say to his question from earlier, prompting him to answer as he calls him an imposter. Seth is flustered by this response, deeply impacted that the rumors he always thought baseless are being held as true. Apophis talks about how the one who protects regeneration and the one who causes the untimeliness of death are the Same Person. That is how Aaru’s faith is ruled and the cornerstone of its System. The Evil Dragonic Serpent that Seth’s brother fought? A charade of an enemy he made up himself.

 

Apophis says that the ideal Seth adored was much the same from the beginning as well. There is darkness in the answer he sought, and there is evil in the Role he desired. Apophis prompts Seth to accept that his brother had this side and role to him. His voice is described as not being the voice of someone with a personality, but only having the emotion of one delivering a proclamation.

 

Seth is shaken as he tries to deny it, falling to his knees in doubt. His thoughts overwhelm him, and you remember what Christine was talking about earlier and wonder if this is what she was referring to when she said people may repeat their mistakes if they don’t know why they are lost.

 

Seth sits still in his stupor, and you decide to focus on getting him to move again. You try to figure out how to do that when you get an idea and tell Seth to look at you. You can either slap him, hug him, or kiss him on the cheek.

 

Going C, Seth doesn’t immediately get what’s happening until he freaks out upon you kissing him. He flails around trying to ask what you’re doing. When you step back, he tries to get his bearings again when he noticed you looking at him. You tell him that the Seth you saw back in the desert was real, and so is the Seth he believed in. There’s no need for them to all be the same.

 

Seth regains the light in his eyes as if finding the exit of a long and winding path he was lost in. He gets up as he thinks aloud about the idea that he doesn’t need to be the same as his brother. Now that he’s calmed down, he faces the Shadow. Seth admits that what Apophis said may be true, but he then asks why Seth disappeared from Aaru if so. If he’s an accomplice of the world, why did he have to be driven out?

 

Apophis doesn’t answer, and Seth says there are still things he doesn’t know. Those are things he’ll have to see and think about for himself. The answer may not be there, but Seth at least knows that this isn’t the end for him. He says he’ll continue to think some more after this, on and on until he finds the real answer. Seth proclaims he’ll be the Seth he admired, and he aim for that and continue to be lost about it. He then gets ready and tells the Shadow to bring it as the episode battle starts. More comes after.

 

After the battle, Apophis dissolves after taking one last hit. He asks if denial and rejection is Seth’s answer, then says that path is not ‘Seth.’ He’ll know one day, and narration says this sounds like a curse Apophis is making while being the only thing he can say now. Seth however accepts this and shakes his head.

 

Seth says that even if that’s true, his brother was light to him. He also denies Apophis as being Seth and demands that he leave Seth’s life. Seth waves his staff, clearing away the memory coating covering the world. The next moment, you two are back in the familiar sights of Shinjuku Station.

 

Seth comments on you guys returning and is glad it didn’t turn into a bigger thing. He apologizes for getting you caught up in some trouble and is sure it’s his fault it happened. He might have been the one who called up that Shadow in his egotistic imagining of his brother, though he’s not sure. And as he looks around the area, he remembers his old home.

 

Seth says he was supposed to have understood back in that desert, that he can’t become his brother. Yet somewhere in his ears he still chases after his shadow. Seth admits that he doesn’t know everything about his brother, and that anxiety about it may be the thing that made that Shadow appear.

 

Seth gets annoyed as he says he acted like a spoiled kid and says it looked dumb. He is Seth, but he is also Not Seth, which is some resolve he needed. Even if Apophis was Seth, that isn’t the Seth he should strive to be. He says he wants to be the Set (re: self) he wants to be, not the Set (re: role) he was given.

 

You say Seth will be alright if he can say that, say he’s great, or comment it seems like he’s blown his worries away. Seth says he doesn’t feel like he’s understood enough for you to say that though, and either way he doesn’t have a concrete plan thought up yet. He sighs as he wonders how he should be the best Seth he can be.

 

You suggest that you figure that out together with him. Seth is surprised, but laughs after a bit as he agrees and thanks you. Seth then asks what you’ll do now since he’s done with the thing he wanted to talk to you about. You can either suggest going in a date, imitate Gouryou and suggest hitting on people, or suggest going to play somewhere to clear your heads.

 

Going A, Seth is taken aback by the idea but blushes as he agrees to it. If he’s changing himself to a new person he’ll need to be open to at least that much. He then puts the act back on as he puts some enthusiasm into the idea, and his eyes shine with trust and deep affection.

 

In any case Seth says it looks like things will be going on for a while, so he hopes you guys can get along. The two of you walk off into town, carrying both the day’s happiness and hope from tomorrow. End of Seth CQ 1.