The party is going with Lilac to HQ. Since the wolf flipping out incident was stopped quickly, the meeting is done just as fast.
Lilac: My apologies for bringing you all with me while you're all on break, but I appreciate the help.
Flamier: Oh no we were there when it happened. We're happy to help.
Gorou: Yeah! And I'm in the same agency as you, so no biggie!
MC: Oh right you two ARE part of Laborer's Site
Lilac: Yes, though I work in the Wehrmalt branch so I don't go to HQ much.
Gorou: Laborer's Site HQ is in the Muirauqa star system. If there's not enough people around to help, sometimes we get pulled over from other sites to work together.
Sui: Oh. Does that mean you're from Wehrmalt, Lilac?
Lilac: Yes, born and raised. I'd like to show you around since you're here to sightsee but... (thinks)
Lilac: I noticed an odd smell from that incident earlier. It's strange for someone looking to open a stall to suddenly go berserk and incapable of communication.
Flamier: There must be a reason. If someone is causing it, then that would be dangerous.
Sui: Agreed. It's a good thing there wasn't a lot of people there then. There's tons of people coming for the festival.
Flamier: If we investigate, we might be able to prevent more cases.
Gorou: Not much we can do until that villain wakes up though.
Lilac: Right, I should have the security heroes increase their patrols. That doesn't address the root problem, so I want to look into that as well. Unfortunately I won't be able to guide you around, but please enjoy yourselves. (bows apologetically)
MC: ...hey Sui, how about we sightsee and patrol at the same time?
Sui: I know I'm not one to talk, but wow you tend to work on your time off, huh? Huckle and Master may get mad, but...it is what it is. We should call them about it later. So yes, let's join the patrols. It'll be too late if something already happens, and if nothing happens that'd be best.
Flamier: I agree. May I join you?
MC: That's decided then! Gorou?
Gorou: Oh, you need my help? Sure! Drinking alone isn't as fun anyway.
Lilac: Oh...thank you all. HQ is also managing the festival, so honestly we're short staffed.
Sui: Okay. Let's go ask around about what that wolf was doing earlier.
And so the party walks off to do so.
Title card: False Charm
Things are calm now after what happened.
Sui: Nothing looks strange from here...
Gorou: Yeah, feels like things have gone back to normal. Doesn't look like anything happened at all earlier.
The broken stall has been cleaned up, and people are having fun walking around.
Girl: Big brother they're selling big hot dogs over there!
Boy: They look good, but it'll cost all the allowance Mommy gave me...Celt, that flower berry candy looks good! Gimme some!
Girl: N-no, I bought this with my own allowance!
Boy: Cheapskate! I'm not gonna let you play that game I lent you anymore!
Girl: D-don't! You can just buy some candy yourself!
The boy bumps into MC.
MC: You okay? Be careful now.
Boy: Ow! Oh, I'm sorry! Celt, wait! (runs off after his sister)
Sui: Aww, how cute. Anyways, how about we investigate somewhere else?
Flamier: Right, we should ask if anyone has seen anyone suspicious.
Gorou: I bet they get along great. My boy would be about their age too if he were alive...
Lilac: Umm...
Gorou: Whoops! Right, we should do what we can. Ohh, is that the hot dog place those kids were talking about? I'll come by tomorrow.
Lilac: Those hot dogs are good. Let's come get some after patrol if nothing's wrong. But first, investigation. I will ask the other stall runners.
Sui: We'll go ask the other tourists then.
Lilac: Yes, best to split up. I'll talk to you again soon.
And so the party splits up to start talking to people.
Flamier: Hello, could you spare a moment to talk?
Lady: Oh my, is something the matter?
Sui: Umm, we're heroes patrolling for the flower festival. Have you seen anything strange or anyone suspicious around? Anything at all.
Lady: Oh. Nothing in particular.
Sui: Oh okay. Thank you for telling us. Please inform the management if you do notice anything.
Lady: Okay~
Later
Gorou: Welp, it wasn't gonna be that easy. Let's keep asking around.
Lilac: Right, it's important to be persistent when asking around.
MC: Let's do our best! Look, another group to ask.
Montage!
Dude: Uh, nope I haven't seen anything.
Bubbly Girl: I only heard about that one man from earlier. Creepy.
Stall Clerk: I was busy talking to customers, sorry.
Traveler: Dunno. Oh, could you tell me where the restroom is?
Later
Gorou: Nobody has seen a damn thing! Maybe we're overthinking it. How'd it go for you, MC?
MC: (shrug)
Everyone has gathered at a break area. No one has found anything, so everyone sighs.
Sui: Well this isn't helping much...hmm?
That lady from before is walking over looking concerned.
Lady: Excuse me? There's something I'm worried about.
Lilac: Worried? What about?
Lady: It might not be much but...I thought I saw something by an alley. Umm, please don't laugh, but...I thought I saw a ghost in the fog...
Sui: A ghost? ...what do you mean?
Lady: I thought I saw someone I recognized...it scared me, but I was also curious and took a peek.
The lady starts to turn back and point to an alley, but she stops midway.
Lady: ...huh? What was I doing here?
MC: ...huh? Is something wrong?
Lady: Oh! You must be busy, excuse me for bothering you.
Gorou: H-hey, missy. What's wrong? What were you saying about a ghost...?
Lady: A ghost? You are such a kidder! I'll come again if something bothers me. Bye! (walks off)
Sui: ...what was that about?
Gorou: Something bugs me about what just happened...
Flamier: She mentioned an alley, but nothing more concrete than that. Any ideas, Lilac?
Lilac: Well nothing that seemed helpful from what she said...huh?
Lilac notices something up with the crowds.
Dude: Man it's been like 10 years since my best friend and I...what was his name again?
Bubbly Girl: Ohh, that thing would make a cute present for...who was I gonna give it to?
Stall Clerk: Hello, your order! ...wait who was this for?
Gorou: W-what the hell? How can so many people be forgetting about people?
A mist starts coming in as Gorou thinks.
Lilac: It was just clear as day, but now fog is coming in. I smell something off...
Flamier: That lady from before mentioned fog too. Maybe it's related?
Lilac: How does it all fit together?
MC senses tingling!
MC: I sense evil...o-oh no, Monsters!?
MC looks around but doesn't see anything Monster-ish around.
Sui: ...MC, what's wrong?
Gorou: We aren't REALLY gonna get Monsters showing up now, are we?
MC: No, we are. I can't see them, but they're here.
Flamier: Observers would know. If MC is sensing Monsters, then this fog must have something to do with things.
Lilac: Yes, we should be alert. We should move the guests to safety first.
Gorou: Right, best to be prepared. MC, transform us.
Lilac: This time I should myself under MC's command too. I'm sending the temporary contract form now.
MC: Got it. Here we go!
MC taps their phone to transform the party and accept Lilac's contract.
Lilac: Okay, hero suit on. I'm in your care, MC.
MC: Leave the commands to me! / Looking forward to working with you. / Your suit is awesome!
(C) Lilac: Haha, thank you very much. I will cut down Monsters with these scissor blades.
Gorou: Okay, my turn MC.
MC: Okay!
Click. New message!
Phone: Compatible Path with vision reference point detected. Connect?
MC: Ooh.
Gorou: Wait, what's the hold up? We gotta go!
MC: Right, whatever. Execute!
Click. A blue light wraps around Gorou just like it did for Flamier earlier. Bing!
Gorou: W-wait what!? Is this like with Flamier...!?
Lilac: I've never seen that suit of yours, Gorou! Amazing. How did it happen?
Sui: Did that hero suit come from Crowne's research? It looks like traditional Space Germany Wehrmalt clothes.
Flamier: Oh my, you've also transformed into a new suit Gorou! That reminds me, that pendant...
Gorou: (pulls pendant out of his pocket) Oh right! I had it on me after borrowing it from you... MC, is it okay that I ended up using it like this?
MC: It's fine! Honestly it helps.
Gorou: Well alrighty then. This is my new suit, huh?
Lilac: That looks like an instrument type Parallel Weapon. It suits you.
Gorou: Yeah it looks fancy. This instrument also...hm? (looks over himself)
Gorou: ...have I made this before? It feels like it, but...no way.
MC: It's cute. Looks like an accordian.
Gorou: Yeah, if it's like the instrument I know of then it should make some pretty music. But how do I use this weapon? I'm not supposed to literally beat someone with it, am I...? Well I'll figure it out. I got this! (fixes hat and regrips his Parallel Weapon)
Gorou: Let's go find this Monster you're sensing!
Flamier: Right, they should be hiding close by. We should first send everyone around to somewhere safer...
Flamier turns to look around, but fog is already starting to fill the area. Dark shadows start squirming within.
Sui: W-what? The fog is acting strange. Did it always look like that?
Flamier: I can see someone inside. I don't see any Monsters yet, but we should evacuate them.
The party approaches, but the people in the fog are...
Traveler: ...u-uhh...what was I doing...?
Dude: Syria...? You're...here...
Bubbly Girl: What? ...I've missed you...
MC: W-what? What's wrong with everyone!?
Everyone is staring slack jawed and slowly walking further into the fog.
Flamier: Everyone is being guided into the fog. Lilac, is something there?
Lilac: That way leads deep into the forest outside town. It hasn't been maintained, so even natives are likely to get lost inside. But why there...?
The fog is slowly approaching the party.
Lilac: The fog has reached this point. We should pull people back before it visibility gets worse.
Suddenly a dark shadow appears ahead and stares at Lilac. The shadow wavers as it slowly gets bigger.
Lilac: W-what? I smell something strange...
More shadows appear in front of the party!
Sui: I thought they were townspeople, but something's off...they aren't people, are they? Feels creepy...but I feel like I've seen that shadow before...
Flamier: I feel the same as Sui...but I know something feels off. MC, could they...!?
MC: Get back, they're Monsters!
Only MC can see the shadows for what they really are, silently floating, approaching Monsters!
Sui: They're Monsters!? O-okay! But how do we fight them...?
MC: You guys can't see them!? T-they're ghosts! Follow my directions and attack!
Gorou: MC, calm down! It's still the middle of the day! Ghosts are supposed to show up at night!
MC: oh right
Lilac: It looks like only Observer MC can perceive the Monsters. This is my first time fighting with you, but never mind that and command me! I'll believe in you and attack.
Flamier: I'll help too. I'll blow the fog away with my blasts!
Sui: The fog is getting thicker!
Gorou: Dammit, it's getting harder to see. But I got a new hero suit and it's time to try it out!
MC: Here they come!
Gorou: Bring it!
BATTLE START
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