Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 5

[Oldmansour]

>Forgive me for sidetracking briefly, but... 'strongestsecondstrongest'? You used that term before, I believe. Is that some traditional title in your order?

>What are you talking about? I said no such thing.

[DracoOmega]

>You said 'I may be the strongestsecondstrongest miko of this shrine', no?

[Oldmansour]

>You said 'I may be the strongestsecondstrongest miko of this shrine', no?

>Byakuren, that phrase is nonsense. I said quite clearly that I was the second strong-strongest miko of my shrine. ... Didn't I?

[DracoOmega]

>Second strong-strongest?

[Oldmansour]

>Second strong-strongest?

>But I said... Pah, does it matter? Kiku snaps, switching suddenly from confusion to hot anger, only for a moment later to add, I'm sorry, I... I don't know why I snapped at you...

[DracoOmega]

>I... I fear that I might. I may be wrong, and it would be nice if I were, but I am reminded unpleasantly of how Lily acted when questioned on Satori's behavior shortly after I spoke with the Metal Tiger - saying things she did not mean to say, or even fully realize she had. Can you try again to repeat what you believed that you said?

[Oldmansour]

>I... I fear that I might. I may be wrong, and it would be nice if I were, but I am reminded unpleasantly of how Lily acted when questioned on Satori's behavior shortly after I spoke with the Metal Tiger - saying things she did not mean to say, or even fully realize she had. Can you try again to repeat what you believed that you said?

>What about Lily? Kiku asks. You say you have some knowledge about this? Say what you mean.

[DracoOmega]

>Someone placed some kind of block in Lily's mind. When she tried to speak on oddness in Satori's recent behavior, instead she would insist that everything with her was normal and trustworthy - even if that had not been what she had meant to say a moment earlier. It seemed to confuse even her awareness of what she had intended to speak, as well as her memory, like some kind of fog. I assumed it was something of this nature that prevented you from remembering the incident with the sacred flame, but I wonder if there might still be other blocks remaining, even after that was removed.
>Or perhaps I'm leaping to conclusions - I don't know.

[Oldmansour]

>Someone placed some kind of block in Lily's mind. When she tried to speak on oddness in Satori's recent behavior, instead she would insist that everything with her was normal and trustworthy - even if that had not been what she had meant to say a moment earlier. It seemed to confuse even her awareness of what she had intended to speak, as well as her memory, like some kind of fog. I assumed it was something of this nature that prevented you from remembering the incident with the sacred flame, but I wonder if there might still be other blocks remaining, even after that was removed.
>Or perhaps I'm leaping to conclusions - I don't know.

>The Metal miko emits a long, thoughtful growl. This... block, you say you found. Is it still in place?

[DracoOmega]

>No, I removed it. If you were here in person, I could probably search to see if something similar might have happened to you.

[Oldmansour]

>No, I removed it. If you were here in person, I could probably search to see if something similar might have happened to you.

>That should not be necessary. Kiku replies quickly. Maybe a little too quickly?

[DracoOmega]

>Oh?

[Oldmansour]

>Oh?

>'Oh?' Oh, what?

[DracoOmega]

>Why would it not be necessary? Surely, even if I am wrong, it is worth checking to be sure?

[Oldmansour]

>Why would it not be necessary? Surely, even if I am wrong, it is worth checking to be sure?

>Checking into what?

[DracoOmega]

>This doesn't sound very promising...
>Where are you right now, anyway? I think I'd rather speak face-to-face if that's possible?

[Oldmansour]

>This doesn't sound very promising...
>Where are you right now, anyway? I think I'd rather speak face-to-face if that's possible?

>In the pool building of your school. I have nearly finished my experiments.

[DracoOmega]

>With positive results, I hope?

[Oldmansour]

>With positive results, I hope?

>I believe so. I have been somewhat limited by this location, but I believe I have learned as much as I need for tonight. Enough so that no one at the shrine should notice anything different about my powers, at the very least.

[DracoOmega]

>That is good to hear. I shall be over your way shortly, then.
>"Rin, I fear there may be something of a problem."

[Oldmansour]

>That is good to hear. I shall be over your way shortly, then.
>"Rin, I fear there may be something of a problem."

>As you wish, but I do ask you be quick. I would like to return to the shrine before too much longer.
>In the interim, Rin has finished her domestic shore, and is now reclining in one of your living room chairs in her feline form. She looks up at you when you speak aloud.

[DracoOmega]

>Of course.
>"I'm worried someone may have done something to Kiku's mind, just as was done to Lily's. She was acting strangely when questioned on certain topics, saying things she immediately did not remember saying and then explicitly said made no sense, only to forget about it shortly thereafter. I need to go see her in person, just to be sure."

[Oldmansour]

>Of course.
>"I'm worried someone may have done something to Kiku's mind, just as was done to Lily's. She was acting strangely when questioned on certain topics, saying things she immediately did not remember saying and then explicitly said made no sense, only to forget about it shortly thereafter. I need to go see her in person, just to be sure."

>Rin stands and stretches grandly, like any proper cat would. She then hops off her chair, transforming back to her humanoid form in mid-leap to land on her feet. "Do you need me to come along?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Not unless you wish to, I think. I don't believe there should be any danger involved here, but planning an infiltration of the shrine while I cannot entirely trust what Kiku says about it sounds potentially very dangerous. I need to be sure."

[Oldmansour]

>"Not unless you wish to, I think. I don't believe there should be any danger involved here, but planning an infiltration of the shrine while I cannot entirely trust what Kiku says about it sounds potentially very dangerous. I need to be sure."

>Rin nods. "Just one thing, Byakuren. Is she still at the school?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes. By the pool, she says."
>Frown slightly
>"I do hope it isn't too difficult to slip inside at this point, but if it turns out so, I assume we can just meet up somewhere nearby. We would need some privacy, but there are other places to find that."

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes. By the pool, she says."
>Frown slightly
>"I do hope it isn't too difficult to slip inside at this point, but if it turns out so, I assume we can just meet up somewhere nearby. We would need some privacy, but there are other places to find that."

>"Let me check." Rin offers. Moving past you, she opens up the front door and stick her head outside, her ears twitching for a moment before she pulls back in. "I don't hear anythin' like cops from that way, but ain't a guarantee they're all gone."

[DracoOmega]

>"No. Well, we'll see. It's hardly suspicious to walk by one's own school. I can figure out the rest on the fly."

[Oldmansour]

>"No. Well, we'll see. It's hardly suspicious to walk by one's own school. I can figure out the rest on the fly."

>"Okay." Your Rin taps the side of her head. "Just gimme a ring if you need a distraction, or somethin'."

[DracoOmega]

>"Of course. Let's hope all goes well - I'll let you know, either way."
>Let's get bundled up nice and warm again and head back to the school