Sophie ran into Ulita Huber. What she doesn't know is that she was the one who once created the Moth Fairy… of course, she also doesn't know that Ulita belongs to the House of the Cursed Children.
Sophie: "Hmm… here…"
Ulita: "Thank you very much…"
She placed it on her wheelchair.
Ulita: "You are such a kind lady…"
Sophie: "Hmm… tell me… don't you have any help here?"
Ulita: "Yes, Manja helps me… hehehe… but she went grocery shopping…"
Sophie: "I see… hmm?…"
She looked at the painting.
Ulita: "Hmm?"
Sophie: "You can paint… isn't that difficult… for… you?"
Ulita: "Hehehe… no… not really. Do you like it?"
Sophie: "Kind of creepy… A wolf… a werewolf with tentacles… doesn't sound particularly cool…"
Ulita: "Oh… okay… hehehe… I just like it dark…"
Sophie: "I understand…"
Ulita: "Tell me, Sophie… how old are you?"
Sophie: "20 years old…"
Ulita: "I see… you're still young… hehe… how about staying for some tea… hmm?"
Sophie: "Uh… well…"
Ulita: "Mm?"
Sophie looked at Ulita and her… smile… it was a smile filled with hope and innocence. Sophie sighed and scratched her hair.
Sophie: "Yeah… sure…"
Ulita: "Hahaha… okay… Manja will be here soon…"
Knock, knock.
Manja: "I'm back, Miss Huber…"
Sophie: "Hmm."
Ulita: "There she is, hehe… come in…"
She walked in.
Manja: "Oh… hello… we have a guest?"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Ulita: "This is Sophie Valeria… she caught me when I tried to grab my coat and fell out of the window…"
Manja: "Oh my goodness… Miss Huber…"
Ulita: "I'm sorry… hehe… but she caught me… like a princess…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Manja: "Thank you very much for your help, Miss… Valeria."
Sophie: "Just call me Sophie…"
Ulita: "Please make us some tea… be so kind, okay?"
Manja: "Sure… I'll be right back…"
She left briefly.
Ulita: "Manja is a really kind woman… she's been taking care of me since she was 12 years old… can you believe it?"
Sophie: "Excuse me? So young?"
Ulita: "Yes… well… her family has always been part of the… well, servants… of ours… but Manja wanted to stay with me… even though I'm so demanding…"
She came back.
Manja: "Here is the tea."
Sophie: "That was… fast."
Manja: "Oh… that's probably because of my Stellaron ability, hehehe… shall I show you?"
Ulita: "Yes… show her."
Manja: "Okay…"
She slit her vein.
Sophie: "Ugh…"
Manja: "Mm."
Suddenly… tea came out.
Sophie: "Huh?"
Manja: "Everything I drink or eat beforehand… goes into my vein… so I don't need to boil the tea…"
Sophie: "Sweat… I don't know if I want to drink that now… cough… okay…"
Manja: "Here you go… would you like sugar?"
Ulita: "I'd like one…"
Manja: "Okay…"
She opened her mouth and pulled out a tooth… within seconds it turned into sugar… and she placed it into the tea.
Sophie: "Uh…"
Manja: "Oh… hehe… my bones are made of sugar…"
Sophie: "Question… do you pee wine?"
Ulita: "Pfff…"
Manja: "Uh? Hehehe… no… it's not like that…"
Ulita: "Hehehe… but I understand why she asks… I asked you something similar back then…"
Manja: "You once asked if fruit could come out of my butt…"
Sophie: "I'm going crazy here… I'll never dare eat anything again if I stay here longer…"
Manja: "Would you like sugar?"
Sophie: "No… I'll drink it bitter… actually not… but this is too much…"
Manja: "Alright… then I'll go…"
Ulita: "What? Don't you want to sit with us?"
Manja: "But Miss… I have to cook for you… I'm worried the cooks in Skova might prepare something that harms your body… please… stay here… if I finish earlier and you're still here… then no problem… I'll sit with you…"
She left the room.
Pat, pat.
Manja: "Hmm…"
Someone appeared behind her.
Manja: "Tell the Moths that a member of Dark Umbrella is here… I thought you killed her… what is this?"
Hehn am Heim: "Hahaha… unfortunately, I don't belong to the Moths, my dear…"
Manja: "So what… we're working together for now…"
Hehn am Heim: "That may be true… if Ulita ever becomes too dangerous… you know what to do."
Manja: "Yes… I know… I have to kill her then… right?"
Hehn am Heim: "Exactly… how is your group, the Moths, doing?"
Manja: "Right now we're pursuing our own goals… don't think we're friends… we're only working together to eliminate the members of Dark Umbrella… nothing more."
Hehn am Heim: "But they're cursed just like you."
Manja: "Cursed? Maybe… but they help the state… and exploit the cursed…"
Hehn am Heim: "Isn't it strange to kill them then?"
Manja: "Sacrifices are necessary… and whoever chooses to work for Dark Umbrella is to blame… that bitch over there… Sophie Valeria… I saw her coat… it had an umbrella symbol…"
Hehn am Heim: "Don't do anything reckless."
Manja: "Don't tell me what to do… I still work for the Moths."
Hehn am Heim: "Hah… as you wish…"
He left. She dialed a number… 951031.
Manja: "Hello? This is Manja… I need to speak with the boss… Mr. Lincoln Hensson."
Moth Member: "Sure… wait…"
Mr. Hensson: "Hello?"
Manja: "Master… I don't trust this House of the Cursed Children…"
Mr. Hensson: "For now, we have the same goal."
Manja: "One of Dark Umbrella is here… talking to Miss Huber."
Mr. Hensson: "Hmm… I see… so they're not dead yet."
Manja: "No."
Mr. Hensson: "Observe her for now… don't do anything without informing me… I would prefer not to kill any cursed… remember… they are people who were forced to work for Dark Umbrella since childhood… you can't blame them for still being there… they don't know any other way…"
Manja: "Okay…"
Mr. Hensson: "Anything else?"
Manja: "Mr. Hehn am Heim said I should kill Miss Huber if she becomes too dangerous…"
Mr. Hensson: "Hah… you don't want that, do you, Manja?"
Manja: "Hmm…"
Mr. Hensson: "She is also cursed… let's leave it for now…"
Manja: "Okay… I have to go, master…"
Mr. Hensson: "Alright… take care of yourself."
Manja: "I will."
Click.
Meanwhile.
Zantanel: "As I see… you don't really trust us."
Mr. Hensson: "Hah… Miss Zantanel… you shouldn't just walk in like that… please don't take it the wrong way… even if we dislike Dark Umbrella… I would prefer not to spill unnecessary blood…"
Zantanel: "I understand…"
The flowers at the window died.
Zantanel: "My apologies for the flowers…"
Mr. Hensson: "No problem… that Hehn am Heim… interferes too much in our observations…"
Zantanel: "Yes… he is indeed clumsy in that regard… but believe me… he is strong and clever…"
Mr. Hensson: "Hmm… did you order him to kill Ulita if she becomes too dangerous?"
Zantanel: "No… that's just his nature… when it comes to that, I simply leave it to him… I don't interfere… hehehe."
She stood up.
Mr. Hensson: "Hmm…"
Zantanel: "Anyway… thank you for the invitation."
Mr. Hensson: "Hmm… wait…"
He held her hand… nothing happened to him.
Mr. Hensson: "Hehehe… I am immune to curses… that's my ability."
Zantanel: "Huh… I see."
Mr. Hensson: "Tell me, Miss Zantanel… aren't you bored? Now you have someone you can touch…"
Zantanel: "Hehehe… let me guess… are you asking me on a date?"
Mr. Hensson: "Hahahaha… what do you say?"
Zantanel: "Hmm…"
Mr. Hensson: "Come on, stay… let's relax with some music and a cold drink…"
Zantanel: "I like chase music."
Mr. Hensson: "Then it shall be so… hehehe…"
Meanwhile.
Manja: "Hmm…"
She prepared the food.
Manja: "Haaah…"
Sophie and Ulita were still in the room.
Ulita: "Ahh… how much I wish to marry…"
Sophie: "Hmm? And why aren't you engaged yet?"
Ulita: "Because I am blind and can barely walk… too much of a burden, I suppose…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Ulita: "You know… it hurts more than not being able to see… that no one is there for me… to take care of me… no children… being alone… I feel sorry for Manja… I burden her so much…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Ulita: "What about you, Sophie? Are you engaged?"
Sophie: "Hmm… no…"
Ulita: "Was there someone for you?"
Sophie: "Yes… but he is dead…"
Ulita: "Ugh… I'm so sorry…"
Sophie: "It's okay…"
Ulita: "May I… know his name?"
Sophie: "His name was Parzival…"
Months earlier.
Dong… Dong.
Sophie: "Huh… what do you mean… Parzival is dead… I just returned from my mission…"
Meliodas: "I'm sorry… he is dead… Sophie…"
Sophie: "I see… cough… well then… that's how it is…"
Meliodas: "Hmm…"
She walked on.
Sophie: "I'm tired… I'll go to my room…"
She closed the door and leaned against it.
Sophie: "Mm…"
She said nothing… but a few tears fell.
Sophie: "And I couldn't even say goodbye… I returned because I heard his sister died on a mission… and then… he dies shortly after?"
A few days later.
Dark Umbrella Member: "Did you hear… Fiona killed Lady Natasha…"
Sophie: "Ugh…"
Meliodas: "Yes… it's true…"
Sophie: "Huh… why?"
Meliodas: "The mission Parzival, Mona, and Fiona were on was too dangerous… and Lady Natasha knew Edwardson was a traitor… yet she still sent them… Fiona saw it as revenge for Parzival, Mona, Noelle, and Pinocchio…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Meliodas: "And now she's gone…"
End of memory.
Sophie: "Hah…"
Ulita: "But you weren't engaged, right?"
Sophie: "No… he always tried to take me out… but I said no…"
Ulita: "Ahh, I see… he was in love with you…"
Sophie: "Yes…"
Ulita: "I understand…"
Sophie stood up.
Sophie: "Sorry… I really have to go now…"
Ulita: "Oh… and the food?"
The door opened.
Manja: "Food is ready."
Ulita: "Come on, Sophie, eat with us… for a while… please…"
Sophie: "…Hhh… okay…"
Meanwhile.
Rosika: "Huh?"
Daisy: "Hmm… the ship stopped… something's wrong…"
Suddenly, from the sea… a loud scream.
Hoooooo.
Rosika: "Aaaaaargh… Daisy… Daisy… look… in the sea…"
Daisy: "Ugh…"
It was a giant monster swimming beneath them.
Daisy: "A… Ningen!"
Ningen are beings with a whale-like body but a human-like head… they even have hands… they are about 20 meters tall… and they are evil monsters.
Daisy: "Damn it… go faster!"
The ship's captain fell dead to the ground.
Daisy: "Huh?"
Rosika: "Why is he dead!"
Daisy: "Damn… right… a Ningen's scream is lethal for non-cursed… it's not a normal scream… it's filled with magic…"
Whale song.
Daisy: "Ghhh…"
A hand emerged.
Daisy: "Hold on, Rosika!"
Ningen: "Hooohhhh… rrhhhhhhhh!"
It swam through the sea… then grabbed the boat with its hands.
Daisy: "Ghhh…"
Rosika: "Hhh…"
Daisy: "Rosika… can you freeze the sea?"
Rosika: "Not completely… but I can freeze part of it…"
Daisy: "Okay… wait for my command…"
Rosika: "Okay!"
It surfaced again.
Daisy: "Now!"
Rosika: "Ice Frost!"
She touched the water… almost half the sea froze… the Ningen didn't freeze, but it was halted.
Daisy: "Now it's my turn…"
Roots emerged from her hand and shot toward the Ningen, piercing its stomach.
Splash.
Ningen: "Haaaaaaahhhh…"
It sank down after the ice disappeared.
Daisy: "Hahh… hahh…"
She went to the helm and steered.
Daisy: "I'll drive myself…"
Crash.
Daisy: "Ghhh… go… go…"
It sped off.
Daisy: "Puhhh…"
Rosika: "Hahh…"
Daisy: "We were lucky… Ningen are really dangerous monsters… but this one was probably not that old yet…"
Rosika: "Not that old and already so big?"
Daisy: "The biggest is 40 meters…"
Rosika: "Oh… uh… Daisy… I think… we have a problem…"
Daisy: "What?"
Rosika: "Look at the sea…"
Daisy: "Ugh…"
Ningen: "Hooooaaaahhhh…"
It was a clearly larger Ningen.
Daisy: "…Damn…"
The hand emerged from the water.
Rosika: "Daisy, I'm scared… I can't swim…"
Daisy: "You think I can? Nope…"
Rosika: "Then why didn't you just take the airplane?"
Daisy: "Hahaha… it would've been too boring… don't worry… I've got this…"
She pulled something from her pocket.
Daisy: "As you know… I love tinkering… and I built this… it blinds the eyes… even underwater… hehe… I tested it when I wanted to annoy some nobles and threw it into their pool…"
She threw it onto the sea.
Ping.
The Ningen became confused and let out a loud whale song… Daisy used the chance and sped up.
Daisy: "Puhhh… I have one more…"
Rosika: "It's following us…"
Splash.
Splash.
Daisy: "Just go away already… ah… look there… the harbor… the water isn't deep enough for it there…"
Rosika: "What is it even doing in a lake?"
Daisy: "Hhhh… this lake is actually enormous, my dear… hold on…"
She drove even faster… until they reached a shallow area… the Ningen stopped and swam back.
Rosika: "Puhhh… hahh…"
Daisy: "Boah…"
She leaned back in the seat.
Daisy: "Damn… ahh… we almost shat out our organs… hahh… wuhhh… that's the first time I've seen a Ningen…"
Rosika: "Hahh… me too… hopefully the last time…"
Daisy: "Hahaha… at least we finally made it… we're at the border between Titia and Eager Brünn…"
They jumped off the boat. Daisy helped Rosika.
Rosika: "Next time… please just take the airplane…"
Daisy: "Oh come on… it was awesome… it's been a long time since I was this excited… hmm… Oliver… big sister is almost there… hehehe…"
Meanwhile.
Tom Fog: "Hmm… I guess I have to climb this mountain… what…"
Back to Sophie.
One hour later.
Sophie: "Okay… I really have to go now…"
Ulita: "Hmm… alright…"
Manja: "Thank you for the visit and sorry for the circumstances…"
Sophie: "It's really no problem… thank you for the invitation…"
She left the room. Manja followed her.
Manja: "I'll walk you out…"
The door closed… Manja was no longer smiling.
Manja: "Now that the door is closed and Miss Huber can't hear… what exactly do you want here… you damn Dark Umbrella detective?"
Sophie: "Well, look at that… you know the organization…"
Manja: "Of course… I can see your umbrella symbol… what exactly do you want here?"
Sophie: "It's not my duty to tell you because it's unnecessary… long story short… none of your business."
Manja: "…Stay away from Miss Huber… you're putting her in unnecessary danger… is that what you want?"
Sophie: "Then tell me why unnecessary danger… answer me one question… do you know the Moths?"
Manja: "Ugh… the Moths? No…"
Sophie: "Hmm… I see…"
Manja: "I've heard of them, nothing more…"
Sophie: "…And the House of the Cursed Children?"
Manja: "Is that from a movie? Do I look like I watch movies?"
Sophie: "Do I look like I'm talking about movies? So you know nothing about it?"
Manja: "No… my job is to take care of Miss Huber… other things don't interest me… especially not what you from Dark Umbrella want…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Manja: "Stay away from my mistress… or there will be trouble."
Sophie: "Sweetheart… you misunderstand something… our meeting truly wasn't intentional… I helped her when I saw her fall from the window and caught her… that's all… no need to make that creepy stare… it looks more dumb than scary… if you excuse me… I'll be on my way… and you can let go of my hand… be glad… the last one who did that… I shot his hand off…"
She let Sophie go. Sophie sighed.
Sophie: "Cough…"
Manja: "I… apologize… that was rude…"
Sophie: "It's fine… at least I can understand… you take good care of Ulita… continue doing so… I have a bad feeling…"
Manja: "What do you mean?"
Sophie: "Whatever happens… never trust the House of the Cursed Children… they can exploit Ulita's weakness… she is a lonely woman… a broken woman… broken and lonely people… are easy to manipulate…"
Manja: "And why do you care? Why does it matter to you how she is? Don't get me wrong… I just… don't quite understand… why it concerns you…"
Sophie: "Because it's my job… simple as that… anyway… thank you for the food… and the drink… that reminds me… do you brush your teeth before turning them into sugar cubes?"
Manja: "Sweat… don't worry, once I pull them out… they're gone…"
Sophie: "That doesn't answer my question… but okay… I have to go…"
She walked away.
Sophie: "Something isn't right here… first she behaves like that… warns me… and then she's nice… hmm… maybe I should find out more about Ulita… or at least Manja… gather information…"