Location: Somewhere in L Corp’s Nest
Index Proxy Hubert
Hnff… How many do we have left to skewer?
Index Proxy Esther
One hundred and ninety-three.
Index Proxy Gloria
Would you please stay still~!
The Thumb Thumb Soldato
How could you do this when the Finger Bow-Bell is imminent…
Index Proxy Gloria
Don’t act like it’s anything new, this isn’t even the first time we’ve had a quarrel with the Thumb~ Your boss isn’t gonna make a big deal out of this, y’know~?
Index Proxy Esther
“Remove the limbs of all Thumb personnel still remaining in the Nest. And hang their bodies on skewers…”
Index Proxy Esther
We’re simply carrying out our Prescript. No personal feelings are involved in this process.
The Thumb Thumb Capo
You fanatics, you’re blind and deaf to anything but your Prescripts… Obeying them without a second thought…! I can’t fathom how you stake your lives on following orders from nowhere…!!!
Index Proxy Esther
Isn’t that how everyone in the City lives? We’re all fundamentally the same, aside from the variation in methods.
Index Proxy Gloria
And that’s the end of this Prescript~
Index Messenger Yan
…We only have one Prescript left to carry out now.
Index Proxy Hubert
It’s quite a magnificent sight to see those limbless bodies make futile struggles with their fading consciousnesses.
Index Proxy Esther
That makes the Index the last Finger standing in L Corp’s Nest.
Index Proxy Hubert
The only other obstacles remaining are the beasts of R Corp, and the Blue Reverberation.
Index Proxy Gloria
All hail the Prescript~ I love how it always leads us to blissful places~
Index Messenger Yan
Prescripts are just meant to be followed.
Index Messenger Yan
It’s not a good idea to give extra meaning or have any sentiment for them…
Index Proxy Gloria
Some big mouth you have, Mister Messenger~?
Index Proxy Gloria
You were barely alive when we found you, your lower jaw destroyed and your tongue and eyes gone~
Index Proxy Gloria
If it weren’t for the Prescripts, you might not have gotten any treatment, let alone lived~?
Index Messenger Yan
I still don’t thank the Prescripts or anything.
Index Messenger Yan
…That’s just them being carried out.
Index Proxy Esther
The Messenger is correct. Prescripts are to be fulfilled—it’s as simple as that.
Index Proxy Esther
Messenger Yan demonstrated it well through his past actions.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Gee, dear… The scent of blood is in the air. I’m not one to speak, but the Index really hasn’t changed.
Index Proxy Hubert
The Blue Reverberation…
Index Proxy Esther
I don’t believe we’re mutually hospitable enough to be having chats in such close proximity, now?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Hum, friends, no need to be so wary.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I’m here to ask you a favor, Proxy Esther.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I was wondering if I could take those heaps of flesh on the skewers you prepared.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
It looks like you’re done with your Prescript anyway. It never told you to keep them hanging forever, no?
Index Proxy Hubert
Yet it did not tell us to bring them down.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
It’s up to you to interpret the messages, so I’m personally asking you, Proxy friends.
Index Proxy Gloria
This is tough~ What do we do~?
Index Proxy Gloria
I really don’t wanna let him get away with what he wants, but there’s no good reason to refuse~
Index Proxy Esther
…Let the Blue Reverberation do whatever he wants with them.
Index Proxy Esther
We only need to see to it that the Prescripts are fulfilled one after another. There is no need to cause unnecessary conflict.
Index Messenger Yan
That’s a clear explanation.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Good wisdom as always. I’m glad we won’t have to see each other’s guts today.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
It’s always a delight to talk with Proxies, you see. They have a similar scent as mine…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Mmh, you know, I’d love to recruit maybe one of you to my ensemble.
Index Proxy Hubert
I have no interest in learning what you’re trying to do, and I suggest you cut your antics short while you still can.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Is that so? I’m sure you’d like it once you heard it…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Anyway… We’d better take them while they’re fresh, right? I’m counting on you.
The Musicians of Bremen Bremen
Ruff yap, ruff!! Neighhh~ Bwwakbawk!
L’heure du Loup Tanya
Pah, you’re right. He always dumps the tedious chores on us.
The Eight Chefs Greta
Hawhawhaw! Look at how the meat’s skewered nicely on these sticks… It’s like I’m looking at fine brochettes with a delicious smell!
The Eight Chefs Greta
I know! This’ll make a perfect treat if I spread a mix of soy sauce and ground garlic on this and then grill it! What do you say, mixer face?
The Musicians of Bremen Bremen
NEIIIGH~! BARK!! NEIGH!!!
L’heure du Loup Tanya
Some appetite you’ve got there. They did a good job of chopping the meat into nice chunks, I’ll give them that; but the meat itself isn’t very high quality.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Easy, friends. We need them for other things. As long as you carry them all in mint condition… I’ll let you have two or three, maybe.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Of course, that’s up to Jae-heon to decide, though.
The Eight Chefs Greta
No worries! He’ll definitely allow it when I tell him that I’m gonna make mind-blowing cuisine out of it!
The Eight Chefs Greta
Oh, he’ll have to! Hawhaw!!
L’heure du Loup Tanya
Guess we’re having a barbecue party for the first time in a long while.
Index Proxy Hubert
You’re being quite loud for someone keeping others waiting.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Sorry about that. We get along much too well with each other, as you can see~
Index Proxy Esther
…The Blue Reverberation, as long as you’ve chosen to roost in this Nest, know that you and your minions will have your guts spilt upon this land one day.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Really, is that what you think? I beg to differ…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Methinks the little animal friends from R Corp. are the only ones you’ll get to gut, rather?
Index Proxy Gloria
The Blue Reverberation is still an obnoxious spook~
Index Proxy Esther
There’s no need to pay him much attention unless the Prescript commands us to.
Index Proxy Esther
…Messenger Yan. Is the next Prescript prepared?
Index Messenger Yan
Sure. Here you are.
Index Proxy Esther
Let me guess, it says “Esther, Gloria, Hubert, and the Proselytes under them shall head to the Library.” …Am I correct?
Index Proxy Gloria
Mm? The Library~? Guess we’re going there ourselves, after all~
Index Messenger Yan
…How did you know that?
Index Proxy Esther
You look surprised, Messenger Yan.
Index Proxy Esther
We were already aware that the Prescripts you’ve been delivering to us were illegitimate.
Index Proxy Gloria
What~? I was the only one being fooled?!
Index Messenger Yan
…Since when did you notice?
Index Proxy Esther
That matters little.
Index Messenger Yan
If you knew the Prescripts were fake, then why did you still declare war against the Thumb… And why are you about to dig your own grave by going into the Library?
Index Proxy Esther
I simply followed the Prescript.
Index Proxy Esther
It commanded me to “Carry out every Prescript delivered by Messenger Yan.”
Index Messenger Yan
…So the Prescripts knew, then.
Index Messenger Yan
Just how much do they know, really…?
Index Proxy Esther
We cannot escape from the Prescripts. Every thought and action of ours is within the boundaries of Prescripts.
Index Proxy Gloria
I don’t understand! But Yan’s been a good boy, fulfilling many Prescripts throughout his life?
Index Proxy Gloria
Yan~ Why’d you betray us! Was it for money?!
Index Proxy Hubert
Gloria, there is no such thing as betrayal in our vocabulary. All that matters is whether or not one has carried out their Prescripts.
Index Messenger Yan
I’m sick and tired of this! Those stupid Prescripts are everywhere…
Index Messenger Yan
I’ve lost so many things, abandoned and neglected so much because of the Prescripts.
Index Messenger Yan
I lost my family, killed my friends with my own two hands, stole precious things from people and looked the other way…
Index Messenger Yan
I was ridden with guilt, but I forced myself to do it anyway. Because the Prescripts must be carried out!
Index Messenger Yan
The Prescripts… guide us to the right path, they said.
Index Messenger Yan
But have they really led me along the right path?
Index Messenger Yan
I resented Prescripts; I feared them; I loathed them; I didn’t even want to look at them again; And then… a Prescript gave me the role of the Messenger.
Index Messenger Yan
Delivering Prescripts… with my own hands?
Index Messenger Yan
So I began making fake Prescripts. I thought I was showing my will for the first time with that act…
Index Messenger Yan
But then the Prescripts do this, as if they knew everything already…
Index Messenger Yan
Tell me, Esther. Was this… not done out of my own will all along?
Index Proxy Esther
It doesn’t matter if you did it of your volition or not.
Index Proxy Esther
It’s our obligation to follow the Prescripts. And the Prescript now tells us to head to the Library.
Index Proxy Esther
And ask yourself this: Does free will truly exist in this City?
Index Proxy Esther
Proxies. We shall go to the Library this instant.
Index Messenger Yan
You don’t even have an invitation, though.
Index Proxy Esther
I’ve already received one.
Index Messenger Yan
But how. The order to head to the Library was just a lie I made up…
Index Proxy Esther
Messenger Yan. The Prescript has invited you to a certain place.
Index Messenger Yan
The Prescript… invited me?
Index Messenger Yan
Are you guys actually going to the Library, then?
Index Proxy Esther
As the Prescript orders.
Index Messenger Yan
I guess you would’ve said the same even if I brought you a Prescript telling you to die on the spot.
Index Proxy Esther
We move according to the Prescripts at all times.
Location: Inside the Library
Library Director Angela
Don’t you wonder what the Blue Reverberation is up to?
Servant Roland
We’ll see soon enough. Although I’m not exactly thrilled to find out…
Servant Roland
By the way, Blue Sicko’s got more new members for his band of freaks, from the looks of it.
Servant Roland
I’ve seen that wolfhead, but I… don’t think we’ve seen the other two before.
Library Director Angela
One of them seemed rather enthusiastic about cooking.
Library Director Angela
Do you have any guesses?
Servant Roland
Oh, it’s no big deal. I was just reminded of the stories I read the other day about the guests we received from District 23. That’s all.
Servant Roland
Besides, we have the Proxies of the Index to deal with first.
Library Director Angela
The Index… A Finger that acts strictly based on Prescripts.
Library Director Angela
It’s curious how he forged false Prescripts, but it looks like the Prescripts anticipated that as well.
Servant Roland
Yeah. Whoever’s making those must be a genius at precalculations.
Servant Roland
They make seemingly weird instructions, and those Prescripts end up benefiting the Index in some odd ways, like their maker is somehow omniscient.
Library Director Angela
I imagine that the one who makes the Prescripts is quite an impressive individual.
Servant Roland
Probably is. You gotta be a cut above the rest to be leading a Syndicate as colossal as a Finger.
Servant Roland
That doesn’t make those Prescript-worshipping zealots any less insane, though.
Servant Roland
Is anything wrong?
Library Director Angela
…Nothing, I was just having some thoughts for a moment.
Location: Library Entrance
Index Proxy Gloria
Hellooooo~~ Anyone there~?
Index Proxy Hubert
Such unnecessary rowdiness.
Library Director Angela
Greetings, dear guests. I am Angela, the dir—
Index Proxy Gloria
Whaaa~? You’re a human~?
Index Proxy Hubert
Is she? Seems rather ambiguous to me.
Library Director Angela
I don’t believe that’s relevant right now.
Index Proxy Hubert
The director of the Library, also known as ‘The Pale Librarian’, was supposed to be a machine to my knowledge.
Index Proxy Hubert
Perhaps we should update the knowledge base with this new information…
Index Proxy Gloria
She’s a liger~ I’m surprised to see such an awkward freak still exist in the City~
Index Proxy Gloria
Ooh, look at her, she’s razor sharp~ Are you getting mad~?
Library Director Angela
You are to overcome the ordeals in this place and fight for the rewards, dear guests.
Library Director Angela
Please go through that door if you wish to enter.
Index Proxy Hubert
…And you’re calmer than what the current information suggests.
Index Proxy Esther
Proxies. Our primary directive is to enter the Library as the Prescript dictates. Stop this quarrel and get on with it.
Library Director Angela
May you find your book in this place.
