The Guardians of Rumors Part 6

Chapter 4
Part 6: The Drinking Horn that Overflows with Misery


Iroha: Haaa... haaaa... haaaa...
Felicia: Is it really back here-?
Iroha: I wouldn't know either. But, I think it is... since those people, the Wings of Magius, said they were protecting rumors...
Felicia: After all we've been through, it's be the worst thing ever if it wasn't there.
Iroha: I don't want to think about that...
Kyouko: .........
Iroha: (H, Huh...? She kinda seems like she's in a bad mood...?)
Kyouko: W, What's this! ...Looks like this is a bit different from a witch's barrier...
Iroha: I'm glad we were right. Felicia-chan, Sakura-san.
Kyouko: I see, so this is the Rumor's barrier, huh?
Iroha: Yes. It likely came out in order to protect the Rumor of the Misery Water.
Kyouko: Tch, we finally made it here but it looks like time won't wait for us. What're we supposed to do...
Felicia: We just need to hurry, duh!! Let's hurry up and get going!
Iroha: Yes, Felicia-chan! Here I g, whaa!
Kyouko: What are you doing, tripping over nothing, ah.
Felicia: Ahahaha, you two are so clumsy. Ow! Why!? A rock fell from the sky!
Iroha: .......
Kyouko: ...Hey, I was thinking, but
Iroha: Sakura-san, you thought the same thing?
Kyouko: What do you think?
Iroha: ...Since we drank the water from here...in this barrier...
Felicia: W, What? What about the inside of the barrier!
Iroha: It might be full of misery...
Felicia: So you're saying that thing that fell towards me is also misery!?
Familiar:  |hoot - o@$!@fhoot- o~@(#|
Felicia: Wha, is that a familiar!?
Iroha: No. That's a rumor that protects Rumors.[1]

Kyouko: Uwaaa, a bat hit me in the face!
Iroha: Hyaa, I, I stepped on something...
Felicia: Oww, why do rocks keep falling on me!?
Kyouko: Dammit, we need to hurry and this stuff keeps getting in our way!

rumor:  |hoot - o@$!@fhoot- o~@(!?!??>|
Iroha: We managed to defeat it, somehow... It did make me panic when Felicia-chan's hammer came falling towards me...
Felicia: That wasn't my fault though!
Iroha: It's the Rumor's barrier's fault, so it can't be helped...
Kyouko: I thought about getting out of here on my own to go defeat the Rumor but it's starting to look like we'll need to work together, the 3 of us, or we'll all be defeated together.
Iroha: Eh, "get out of here"...You mean, you were thinking about doing something like that!?
Kyouko: Rumors aren't the same thing as witches, right? It's not guaranteed that everyone will turn out okay like when a witch is defeated.
Felicia: You got a point!
Kyouko: Right? But right now, if we waste time thinking about that kind of stuff, the time limit will be here before we know it.
Iroha: Then...
Kyouko: Yeah, now that it's come to this, no matter who gets saved, I won't bear any grudges! Sorry I said something weird like that.
Iroha: No, it just startled me because you suddenly said that things like you were going to get out. Anyway, let's defeat it, the three of us together!
Kyouko: Since the time limit's coming up on us
Felicia: Let's beat 'em up with a bam and a zam!

Kyouko: Daaah! Pehpeh, dammit, sand got in my mouth...
Felicia: Hey, look over there! Up ahead there's another wide area!
Iroha: --!?
Iroha: That cup...is the Rumor...? ...Isn't there water flowing out of the Rumor?
Kyouko: Yeah...if that's the water we drank, then...it seems like we finally got to the original Rumor thing.
Felicia: We just need to break that thing apart, right!? Okay, I'll take it out in one decisive blow!
Iroha: Felicia-chan! Don't go by yourself!
Felicia: What, why? All that's left is to break it, right? Nnaa?
Kyouko: Watch out!
Felicia: Nyaaha! W, What was that? This time a boulder came coming down toward me!
Iroha: Haaa... If Sakura-san didn't break it open...Felicia-chan would have become a pancake...
Felicia: Gunnunu, how dare you! Waa, waa!
Kyouko: Stop trying to recklessly approach it! But, this is bad...
Iroha: Yes...If we try to get near it, it looks like boulders will come falling down...
Kyouko: Couldn't you do something about it?
Iroha: True. From this distance, I can definitely make it. ....... (Aim....) Gooooo!
Rumor: .....
Iroha: I, It didn't have any effect!?
Kyouko: That's really hard... what the hell are we supposed to do...
Felicia: Waaawaaa, what're we gonna do! We only have 10 minutes left!?

Kyouko: If I extend my spear, I might be able to reach over there. Right now, it looks like we'll just have to try a lot of things and see what works.
Felicia: But we don't have any time left!?
Kyouko: We won't get anywhere complaining like this, right? If you have time to make noise, then you think of something.
Felicia: Ugaaaaaaah--!

Iroha: It doesn't seem like that Rumor will do anything...
Kyouko: Unless we break it first, it's their victory even if we're not defeated after all. What should we do? I don't have any ideas left either...
Iroha: How can we get over there...?

[you're given the option between Mokyu--! (Hurry and go over there before the boulders fall!) or MokkyuMokkyu (Try shooting a series of arrows at it)]

q: Mokyu--!
Iroha: Even if we tried to run, I think it'd make us trip... It'd be great if we could get over there in a flash, but...
Kyouko: There's no way we could have something that convenient...
Felicia: I got it! I got an idea!
Iroha: What, what should we do!?
Felicia: Hehe, we just need to get over there before the boulders fall!
Iroha: I was thinking the same thing, but how?
Felicia: If anything, I have confidence in my power! So we can use the boulders to fly with a baaam and finish it off with a whaaaam, right!?
Kyouko: Aah? What the hell does that mean?
Iroha: Do you mean we should kick off of the boulders that come falling down to help us fly over there?
Felicia: That's it!
Iroha: ...Can we...?
Kyouko: Can't we? We won't know unless we try!
Felicia: That's right, that's right! It's better to do it rather than give up without trying!

Felicia: Iroha and Red-neechan! Have you gotten a good hold of the boulders?
Iroha: Yeah! I'm ready over here!
Felicia: Okay, make sure to get a good grip on it, got it!? If I kick it with all my might, it might make you go flying in the opposite direction with a do-------n!?
Kyouko: You have two magical girls here with a firm grip on this boulder. We won't let you make us go flying.
Felicia: Alrighty, if that's the case, then I'm off! One, twwwwoooo.... three!
Da!
Iroha: Felicia-chan!
Felicia: It hit me in the face...
Iroha: Ah, your nose is bleeding...
Felicia: Owwww....
Kyouko: ...If we do this right, won't this end with us self-imploding when we collide with the ceiling or the ground...?
Iroha: ........Yeah, you might be right. Hiaaa! Ahh, we only have 5 minutes left...!?
Kyouko: We still haven't even made it over there... Now that it's come to this, we'll just have to try again!
Felicia: Okay! C'mon, we're doing this one more time!
Iroha: Did your nosebleed stop yet...?
Felicia: Nn, if I knock-knock my head a bit, it should stop, right?
Kyouko: It's not like we have any other methods right now, so we'll just have to gamble on this, huh...


Felicia: Okay, we need to put an end to this with try number 10!
Kyouko: One
Iroha: Twoo and!
Felicia: Ryaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Iroha: Kuuu!
Kyouko: Gugu...! She really does have power, huh...
Iroha: But we succeeded!
Felicia: Okay, I'm going faster than the boulders can fall! --!?
Kyouko: Shit, her speed's starting to drop.
Iroha: Felicia-chan!
Felicia: This is my second rocket-----!
Kyouko: She kicked off the falling boulder...
Iroha: With this, she should make it, Sakura-san!
Kyouko: Yeaaah! Wait, shit!
Iroha: The boulder Felicia-chan kicked is...
Kyouko: Flying towards us!

Felicia: I---madeeeee----it! All that's left is to wham and flatten it!

Rumor: .......
Felicia: Haaa....haaa...haaa... You're kidding...Why is there only a little dent, even though I've whacked it this much!? Uwawa, only 1 minute left!? Whamwhamwhaaaam!! Whew...wheww...
Rumor: .......
Felicia: Dammittttt, what's with you--! Nyouuaa! Oh, the boulder... Funu... .... What is this... There's a net on top of me...
Kyouko: If you think my techniques are limited to using a spear, then you're dead wrong. Noww, brat! It's counting down! Hurry and finish it off already!
Felicia: You say 'finish it off' but! My hammer isn't working at all!?
Kyouko: We can't do anything over here either! Since even though we want to go over there, we can't!!
Felicia: You've got a point but...! Ummm, I, I don't know what to do anymore! Hmmmmmmmmm! In that case, then, how about t----h----is!?

Iroha: T, The cup is flying towards us!!
Felicia: Iroha, shoot that thing!
Kyouko: We don't have any time left, we'll have to finish this off in one hit!

Rumor: ........
Iroha: W, We defeated it... ---!? Wh, what is this...? (Could it be? We actually didn't defeat it?)

Paper: [Congratulations]

Iroha: Hyaaa! Eh, this means... Felicia-chan, Sakura-san!
Kyouko: Yeah, one came falling on to me too. There were tears drawn on there, so it must've been really upset that it lost.
Iroha: Haaaaaaa~ I'm so glad... it means we survived without succumbing to misery...
Felicia: Iroha! Does this mean my stuffed animal won't disappear!?
Iroha: Yeah, I think it won't!
Felicia: It won't disa--pear!
Kyouko: Haha, you're all really making a big deal out of this. This is kind of like the first time I've faced off with the Rumor so even though I did feel like we were in danger, I don't really get the sense that all of that was real yet.
Tsuruno: You did it--, Iroha-chan! You defeated the Rumor, didn't you?
Iroha: Yes, since Felicia-chan used her quick thinking in the end and sent the Rumor flying at us. The power she used to send it flying, combined with the power of my arrow, allowed us to pierce it with all our strength.
Tsuruno: Ohhhhh, that's amazing, Felicia! I kind of changed my opinion of you! Hmhm!
Felicia: Ahhh, is that what happened? I didn't really think about it. I kinda just didn't know what to do anymore, so I just sent it flying you see--
Iroha: That was all a coincidence!? But we defeated the Rumor so I guess it's okay. I'm glad that Yachiyo-san and Tsuruno-chan were safe as well.
Tsuruno: That's because Yachiyo and I first prevented them from moving.
Yachiyo: We might have been a little rough, but
Tsukuyo: .......
Tsukasa: .......
Yachiyo: Too bad for you. We defeated the rumor this time.
Tsukuyo: We were unable to support the will of Magius... What a disgrace.
Tsukasa: In that case, at the very least...
Tsukuyo: If we could at least take the lives of the dissidents somehow...
Tsukasa: Right---.....
Yachiyo: Knock it off. I'm not fond of tormenting people...
Tsukuyo: ........

????: That's right, this time we should quietly withdraw.

Yachiyo: ---!?

Mifuyu: Yacchan.

Yachiyo: This voice...
Mifuyu: Long time no see, Yacchan.
Yachiyo: Mifuyu...?

Mifuyu: Long time no see, Yacchan.
Yachiyo: Mifuyu...?
Iroha: (This person... was the one Yachiyo was looking for...)
Tsuruno: I, It's Mifuyu--------! Where were you!? Yachiyo and I looked all over for you, you know!? Daaaaaaaa---!
Mifuyu: Waapu...! Tsuruno-san, please don't throw yourself at me...
Tsuruno: Looks like we're going to have the return of Mifuyu celebration party today!
Mifuyu: Return...you say...
Tsuruno: That's right! You're home! Let's celebrate at BanBanzai!
Mifuyu: It's a shame, but we can't do that.
Tsuruno: Ho? Why?
Mifuyu: You see, I can no longer go back to where you, Tsuruno-chan and the others are...
Tsuruno: Please stop with the jokes---
Mifuyu: Tsuruno-san, surely you've realized it yourself? Since I appeared with this timing.
Tsuruno: ...But I'm wrong, aren't I?
Mifuyu: No, it's just as you've thought. I am part of the "Wings of Magius".
Tsuruno: ----!? Eaa, oh...you're our enemy...?
Mifuyu: If you're trying to erase rumors... then I am your enemy, Tsuruno-san.
Tsuruno: Y, You're lying... Yachiyoooo---...
Yachiyo: .... I also, want to think that it's all a lie... Are you, the real Mifuyu...?
Mifuyu: ...It sounds like you've gone to the Summoning Shrine. You went through all that trouble, just to find me...
So, you met the fake me there. I'm happy. I'm so fortunate to have a best friend that would look that seriously for me.
Yachiyo: What do you mean, you're so fortunate to have a best friend... you're just another...fake, aren't you...?
Mifuyu: ........ We are not inside of a rumor here... It's impossible for anyone other than the real one to appear here...
Yachiyo: Ku... ...I didn't want to have our... have our reunion be like this! But it's not too late. Come back with us, Mifuyu!
Mifuyu: It's impossible... Right now, I have a role as one of the "Wings of Magius". A role where I act as the connection between Magius and the magical girls that follow them...
Yachiyo: You never know, the things those girls are saying could all be a lie...
Mifuyu: Even so, I want to cling to that.
Yachiyo: About the release?
Mifuyu: Right, about the release...
Yachiyo: As a magical girl, you should have been prepared for that from before!
Mifuyu: Even now, Yacchan, that only applies to you!
Yachiyo: ---!?
Mifuyu: Please don't pursue this anymore. I will not waver... no matter what you say, for sure...
Yachiyo: To think that you'd be willing to hurt other people, just to save them... Is it because of what happened...one year ago...?
Mifuyu: That's right... It's as if it changed you, Yacchan...
Yachiyo: But I didn't end up like you.
Mifuyu: That's simply an issue of our basic human nature. Back then, I thought that no matter what it takes, I want to save them. It's in my nature to think that way... Since you're my best friend, I think you'll understand...
Yachiyo: .......


Yachiyo: Open your eyes, Mifuyu!
Tsukuyo: We won't let you.
Tsukasa: Mifuyu-san, leave this to us!


Yachiyo: Get out of the way, Amane sisters!
Mifuyu: Stop, Tsukasa-san, Tsukuyo-san. No matter what happens, I have no intention of going back to them. Stop this pointless fighting and please retreat without saying anything else.
Yachiyo: .........
Mifuyu: Now, let's get going. Tsukuyo-san, Tsukasa-san...
Tsukuyo: But!
Tsukasa: We can still!
Mifuyu: Let's go...
Tsukuyo: Okay...
Iroha: Is that okay, Yachiyo-san! She's going to leave!?
Yachiyo: Let them go...
Iroha: ..........

[you're given the choice between Mokyu (Let's let them leave) or Mokyu (There should be something you wanted to ask them)]

q: Mokyu
Iroha: Yeah, I need to ask them... (About Ui...) Um, Mifuyu-san!
Mifuyu: ...What is it?
Iroha: Do you know anything... about Tamaki Ui...?
Mifuyu: She's the younger sister you were looking for, right? I'm sorry, but I don't know anything.
Iroha: The Ui that appeared at the Summoning Shrine was saying the same things. That in Kamihama City, magical girls can be saved...
Mifuyu: ....... I still don't know anything about that. It could be, that she's in the Wings of Magius without me knowing about it.
Iroha: Eh...
Mifuyu: Now then, excuse me...
Iroha: ......... Ui, the Wings of Magius...?

Yachiyo: Tamaki-san, do you mind if I change the course of our actions, just a little...?
Iroha: I'm probably thinking the same thing you are...
Yachiyo: I, don't want to give up on Mifuyu after all... Since she's my best friend, the person I shared good times and bad times with as a magical girl for the past seven years... That's why, in order for me to come in contact with the Wings of Magius again, I intend to keep erasing rumors from now on... Regardless, do you still want to work with me as my assistant?
Iroha: Yes, of course I do. Ui and the Wings of Magius... there might be some kind of connection there, so...
Tsuruno: Me too, me too! As your friend, I want to help you with your rescue Mifuyu plan! Mmhm!
Yachiyo: I'm telling you, you're not my friend.
Tsuruno: Wha---t---!
Yachiyo: You're going to come with us as my apprentice, right? Just like in the past.
Tsuruno: That's my Master!
Yachiyo: Gu. Let go of me!
Felicia: How long are you guys gonna keep at it-- If we're done here, let's go home. I'm hungry.
Iroha: Let's go now, Felicia-chan.
Kyouko: Then I guess I'll head home now too. Since it seems like the celebratory mood has turned all gloomy too.
Iroha: Sorry, Sakura-san...
Kyouko: You don't need to apologize. Anyone working as a magical girl will end up carrying some kind of baggage.
Iroha: Um, before you go there's one favor I'd like to ask of you...
Kyouko: What's the favor?
Iroha: If you happen to meet with Tomoe-san, could you clear up the...misunderstanding for me, please...?
Kyouko: Ohh, you're talking about that Doppel thing, right? I don't know if and where I can meet up with Mami but if I do run into her, I'll make sure to tell her that she's over-thinking it.
Iroha: Thank you very much.
Kyouko: Yeah, see ya later.
Iroha: ......

The rumor of the Misery Water has disappeared but I wonder if I really won't succumb to misery...
But if Ui is part of the Wings of Magius, that would be misery to me...
Besides, Mifuyu too...
Wings of Magius...
The talk about releasing that I don't really understand...
Ui...Mifuyu...
Doppels...
While chasing after just one rumor, we learned of way too many things...

Iroha: Haaa, I'm tired...
Felicia: I'm thirsty!
Iroha: Drinking plain water will be scary for a while.
=====================================
[1] = Seems like the game differentiates between うわさ and ウワサ. The former refers to the familiar-like creatures, the latter refers to the big ones. From now on, I'll be making the same distinction by using a lower case r for the former, and a capital one for the latter.