☆ WELCOME TO HELL, YE POOR SOULS.

[raisingproject]

Magical Girl Raising Project

Graveyard

The last thing you remember is dying. Whether it's by murder or execution, that's was all it. But surprisingly enough, you wake up in the hotel room that you were assigned in, as if you had never died to begin with. However, once you walk right outside, you'll start noticing that while this is the Town A you remember, there are some slight differences that you notice.

The first thing is the fact that while you can see those who are still alive, they simply cannot see you. In fact, they pass through you, as if you were a ghost. And spoilers: you kind of are one, now. The second thing is that sometimes, if you look at a building for too long or too closely, you'll notice that it fizzles a bit, almost glitchy.

But that's completely fine, isn't it? There is, however, one more thing to keep in mind: there are voices of other people, mumuring. Of course, these other people, unlike you, don't have a complete shape; they're just a silhouette of themselves, looking like static.

However: it wouldn't be Town A without an announcement, would it? Of course not. Hence why upon rearriving, there will be a message, typed out:

Welcome to the afterlife, everyone. This is a greeting message to introduce you to how exactly this works. You have the ability to send one message to the living a week, so choose your words wisely. Of course, there are limitations to what you can say! You cannot reveal the mastermind's true identity, even if you know it. You cannot reveal a culprit or a victim, even if you know it.

Also, all messages will be sent to all players during the trials. If there is no trial, the message shall be sent on Saturday. You may investigate as you wish. If you have any questions to ask of me, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Comments

[partyleader]

Okay. [Nanami follows after her, curious but not second guessing too much. The fact that she's here at all even though she's dead... There are already enough strange things at work here.] That investigation... It's for me, right? Someone out there will go the dollhouse and...

[Find my dead body, is what goes unsaid. Somehow going that extra mile is a little too much for her, still.]

[crossingout]

[ Zange nods, not saying anything more as she leads the way to her bedroom, unlocking it with her phone. She closes it immediately after she's inside, since Nanami can walk through the door anyway.

She then sits on the bed, crossing one leg over the other. ]

So, do you have any questions so far? I'm willing to answer as much as I can. And don't worry, Fav-san can't hear us in here.

[partyleader]

[Sure enough.

Nanami hadn't been certain she would be able to pass through the door, but she was able to. Sort of a weird feeling, but she can't complain about how convenient that is, either.]

I guess... More than anything, I want to know why I'm here after I died. And... also, why you're able to see and talk to me.

[crossingout]

Whenever someone dies, they become a spirit. Simple. And as for the second... I never had my powers taken away.

[partyleader]

[It's... not anything like what Nanami expected. She hadn't really thought much about what would happen after she died, and yet... It doesn't exactly surprise her; it's just unexpected.

But... The powers in themselves weren't a surprise, but the fact that Zange had them is a little unexpected to her.] And that power was... speaking to spirits? Do you know why you still have them?

[crossingout]

I do.

[ Her words are firm and clear, without any sort of hesitation. ]

After all, I was the one who brought you all here.

[partyleader]

...What?

[Nanami's mind slows, crawls to a halt as she tries to process this.] Why... Why would you bring us here?! Did you... want everyone here to kill each other? Did we do something to hurt you?

[crossingout]

Not on purpose. If I didn't bring people here, my world would have been destroyed.

[ Her voice is quiet, but also serious. ] My answer for the questions that follow that are "no". I have never, ever wanted people to kill each other.

[partyleader]

Zange-san... [Her feelings shift, heart starting to hurt in a different way.] ...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that without knowing.

Isn't there any other way to keep your world safe, though? If you don't want anyone to hurt themselves, then... What if there's another way we can find? A way for everyone still alive to go home and not kill or be killed anymore, you included?

[crossingout]

It's fine. I'm used to it.

[ Zange shrugs her shoulders. ] I need to end this game. If I can do that, then... I can keep my world intact.

[partyleader]

[The fact that Zange is used to it makes Nanami sad, but she lets it be for now.]

Is there a way to end the game without anyone else dying? [There must be...

Nanami doesn't want to think of the alternative.]

[crossingout]

Unfortunately, no. People must die in order to get the keys and people have to die to give me power. One way or the other, people will have to get killed in order to save everyone.

[...] It's not the best option, but it's the only option we have right now.

[partyleader]

[Nanami is quiet for a long moment. The horror of that hangs over her. Even if everyone works together and tries to find a way out...]

...What a terrible cycle.

If there's nothing else we can do, though... I guess that's the only option for now.

[Can she really accept that, though? Even with the heaviness that weighs her down at the thought?]

...So everyone will have to keep killing and killing. Will it ever stop, or will the killing just go on until no one is left?