[He allows this but he's taking note of the poise and posture, and when Hizamaru gives him the clear he slips into the room and shuts the door halfway to give some semblance of privacy and authenticity. He looks around for a moment, taking it in.]
...it looked just like this, but it was dark at first. We needed to turn on the lights and when we did, we found the switchboard and the camera. [He walks to the switchboard, motioning for Hiza to follow.] Look at these buttons and tell me what you think they do.
[Turning, Hizamaru follows Junpei over to the switchboard. He looks it over, but it's clear he probably hasn't ever seen anything like this before. What it is doesn't register on his face.]
I don't know... But elder brother said something played when one of the "cassettes" was placed into a board with switches. It sounded like all of these strange things were connected.
[He doesn't actually touch the buttons, but a hand hovers to show him how it works.]
You're right. They're all connected and routed in different directions. [He's also using a free hand to reach into his pocket where he's keeping a cassette he stole from their adventure.] This is a cassette. It's a pretty old method of storage but it can be used to record audio. This switchboard plays it, like the announcement we heard this morning. And these buttons probably route to different parts of the hotel. This one says all, so we could hear the announcement everywhere.
...one of us pushed one of the basement buttons, so people heard things coming from the floor. Remember what I said about listening closely? What you hear isn't always what's true.
The noise we heard...! [His eyes shift back to the switchboard.] Why would this room need to exist...? It reminds me...
It reminds me of the summoning room Master has, but... darker. How elder brother described it--it isn't as wonderful and exciting as summoning at home. Does it hold a similar purpose?
Mm. There is a room in the Citadel for summoning us into our bodies. When we're summoned, there is usually someone there to greet us and show us around. Then we meet the master.
I don't think this room has the same purpose, no. This one is meant to capture things and keep them forever. Like...like memories, but in the form of an item. The problem was that what it kept was something that wasn't so great.
[Hm...how can he make these comparisons.] Does your Captain do a report for your master when you guys finish your mission? Or anything like that?
[He does look a little confused by the first explanation. He gets the basis of it? This all seems to capture things like... well, a camera, but what it caught was pretty wild and somewhat terrifying.
And then he perks.]
Yes! When we return from a mission, the Captain reports to our master how the mission went.
The cassettes had something like a report on them. It was recorded so that it could be listened to later, but it was a progress report of something that had happened. When we played back the first one, something changed on the camera. That was when we saw our bodies turn and noticed they didn't have faces. But playing the tapes again gave us other information I shared this morning.
Think of it like a Captain's log. Someone who was here before has been leaving us clues to find about how the mission went. [He gestures to the camera.] This is a visual report. It can show you thinks that've happened before, or you can record them to keep.
[At this, Hizamaru nods. Putting it this way, he understands what the things in here do a little better.]
I see. Do you think there are any more of these cassettes we should be searching for, Junpei-san? Brother brought one back with him when he returned. But there were others, right?
Maybe. The other ones we checked were blank. Your brother took one and I have the other...but I haven't tried playing it again. I'm not sure it'd even play back.
Perhaps we can find others. I'll help you search for more. Don't give up hope, Junpei-san. We'll figure this out. Kanesada-san, Nikkari-san, Tonbokiri-san, elder brother, and I will protect all of you if anything happens.
["Don't give up hope." Hah. Well...it's a kind of sweet reminder he'd expect from someone who's used to fighting, but he keeps his opinions to himself for now.]
I appreciate the offer. I've been trying to get to know the five of you better, but you're all...pretty different, even for being teammates. Do they know about what happened here, too?
We were made by different blacksmiths with different materials. So we are different swords. [Hiza, he was talking about... nevermind.] We have had different masters, too, and different histories.
If we were all the same, we would never be able to help Master.
They know, I'm sure. Nikkari-san is probably thinking of a way to assist us in finding and destroying any demons. I'll talk to them later and find out.
[...he'll nod along because that probably means something. People are created differently even if they're fundamentally the same. Different masters and different histories...yeah, he gets it.]
I suppose you have a point. [But. Hm.] If you hear anything from them that may help, let me know? I have some things to research on my own time, too. This room being open helps because everybody can check for anything we might've missed. Like...energies or whatever. That's a thing, isn't it?
Mm. I'll relay you any information I hear, Junpei-san. [But the next thing gets him to shake his head.] I'm... not sure. You'll have to talk to Nikkari-san. I don't know as much about spirits or demons as he does.
[He glances at all of the stuff again.]
Junpei-san... Do you think demons can possess these devices?
Thanks, Hizamaru. [He'll have to see if he can wrangle some answers out of Nikkari later. But then Hiza brings up a good point and Junpei looks at the camera.]
It's possible, sure. There was a movie about that once...ghosts possessed a television to communicate with a little girl. I don't see why that couldn't happen here.
[Oh no. Praise. It isn't quite like big bro praise, but--for half a second, he sort of beams warmly because he did a good job. Sort of. And then he's serious again.]
Do you think the spirits of people before are trying to tell us something through the devices? Mm. The fact it has happened already...
[An uncertain pause, and then a frown.]
Did a battle occur? When they went from thirty-three to twelve...?
[Hiza did a good job, it's true. But...ugh. This is a tougher question.]
I don't know if they're people, exactly, but yeah. I think it was something waiting in this place that's trying to talk to us. We're here now, and we were meant to hear that. We just don't know why.
[...] If another battle has to occur, will you be ready for that? The fight might be a little different than what you're used to.
[Oh boy! At this last bit, Hizamaru perks up, standing formal with his hand on his sword.] Yes! [If he doesn't sound certain about anything else except for the love for his brother, he sounds 100% certain of this.]
I was made to protect my master and my friends in any battle. I'll try my best so I don't fail. My master and elder brother's honor depends on it. Whatever decides to come, I'll be ready.
[An honor-bound sword. He's not surprised, but it's a little disheartening at the same time. He has suspicions about how this might end, and while he gets that swords are pretty sturdy when it comes to their emotions, loyalty is something that's tricky in these situations.]
I know you won't. You'll do fine. [So he'll just shove all of his own baggage elsewhere to pick apart later.] Whenever the time comes...let's talk before you head into battle. It'll be easier that way.
[It's fine. He'll learn the hard way. Maybe his spirit will be broken... (relieved)]
Alright. I'll find you before deploying for battle, Junpei-san. I hope we get a chance to fight. There's nothing more thrilling than being on the battlefield and fighting for your master and your friends.
I'll, uh, take your word for that. [Wow.] I've never been on a battlefield. [...] But it's always good to have something to fight for. Even if you don't always understand why.
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...it looked just like this, but it was dark at first. We needed to turn on the lights and when we did, we found the switchboard and the camera. [He walks to the switchboard, motioning for Hiza to follow.] Look at these buttons and tell me what you think they do.
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I don't know... But elder brother said something played when one of the "cassettes" was placed into a board with switches. It sounded like all of these strange things were connected.
When one was activated, it worked something else?
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You're right. They're all connected and routed in different directions. [He's also using a free hand to reach into his pocket where he's keeping a cassette he stole from their adventure.] This is a cassette. It's a pretty old method of storage but it can be used to record audio. This switchboard plays it, like the announcement we heard this morning. And these buttons probably route to different parts of the hotel. This one says all, so we could hear the announcement everywhere.
...one of us pushed one of the basement buttons, so people heard things coming from the floor. Remember what I said about listening closely? What you hear isn't always what's true.
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The noise we heard...! [His eyes shift back to the switchboard.] Why would this room need to exist...? It reminds me...
It reminds me of the summoning room Master has, but... darker. How elder brother described it--it isn't as wonderful and exciting as summoning at home. Does it hold a similar purpose?
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Depends. What does a summoning room do? Is it just for your master to call you and give you a body for your missions?
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I don't think this room has the same purpose, no. This one is meant to capture things and keep them forever. Like...like memories, but in the form of an item. The problem was that what it kept was something that wasn't so great.
[Hm...how can he make these comparisons.] Does your Captain do a report for your master when you guys finish your mission? Or anything like that?
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And then he perks.]
Yes! When we return from a mission, the Captain reports to our master how the mission went.
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The cassettes had something like a report on them. It was recorded so that it could be listened to later, but it was a progress report of something that had happened. When we played back the first one, something changed on the camera. That was when we saw our bodies turn and noticed they didn't have faces. But playing the tapes again gave us other information I shared this morning.
Think of it like a Captain's log. Someone who was here before has been leaving us clues to find about how the mission went. [He gestures to the camera.] This is a visual report. It can show you thinks that've happened before, or you can record them to keep.
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I see. Do you think there are any more of these cassettes we should be searching for, Junpei-san? Brother brought one back with him when he returned. But there were others, right?
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You can count on us.
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I appreciate the offer. I've been trying to get to know the five of you better, but you're all...pretty different, even for being teammates. Do they know about what happened here, too?
[Have they updated their teammates, he means.]
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We were made by different blacksmiths with different materials. So we are different swords. [Hiza, he was talking about... nevermind.] We have had different masters, too, and different histories.
If we were all the same, we would never be able to help Master.
They know, I'm sure. Nikkari-san is probably thinking of a way to assist us in finding and destroying any demons. I'll talk to them later and find out.
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I suppose you have a point. [But. Hm.] If you hear anything from them that may help, let me know? I have some things to research on my own time, too. This room being open helps because everybody can check for anything we might've missed. Like...energies or whatever. That's a thing, isn't it?
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[He glances at all of the stuff again.]
Junpei-san... Do you think demons can possess these devices?
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It's possible, sure. There was a movie about that once...ghosts possessed a television to communicate with a little girl. I don't see why that couldn't happen here.
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[Oh no. Praise. It isn't quite like big bro praise, but--for half a second, he sort of beams warmly because he did a good job. Sort of. And then he's serious again.]
Do you think the spirits of people before are trying to tell us something through the devices? Mm. The fact it has happened already...
[An uncertain pause, and then a frown.]
Did a battle occur? When they went from thirty-three to twelve...?
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I don't know if they're people, exactly, but yeah. I think it was something waiting in this place that's trying to talk to us. We're here now, and we were meant to hear that. We just don't know why.
[...] If another battle has to occur, will you be ready for that? The fight might be a little different than what you're used to.
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I was made to protect my master and my friends in any battle. I'll try my best so I don't fail. My master and elder brother's honor depends on it. Whatever decides to come, I'll be ready.
I won't let them or you down.
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I know you won't. You'll do fine. [So he'll just shove all of his own baggage elsewhere to pick apart later.] Whenever the time comes...let's talk before you head into battle. It'll be easier that way.
[Knowing other people's plans usually is.]
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Alright. I'll find you before deploying for battle, Junpei-san. I hope we get a chance to fight. There's nothing more thrilling than being on the battlefield and fighting for your master and your friends.
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I'll, uh, take your word for that. [Wow.] I've never been on a battlefield. [...] But it's always good to have something to fight for. Even if you don't always understand why.
Did seeing the room yourself help at all?
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Yes. I understand a little better. Thank you for taking the time to show me.
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