Canto I: The Outcast/Story Episodes

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Story Episodes

Battle Chapters

I was given the role of Manager.
My Guide instructed me to find a branch of
gold, to which my head nodded.
Unknowingly,
I walked face-first into one of nightmares.

1-1: Vroom-vroom

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Bus Driver Charon	Verg.
	Bus Driver Charon	Blockage ahead. Permission to vroom-vroom?
The chatter was what finally got me to open my eyes.
After all, nothing beats blocking out your sight when you want to keep boredom at bay.
Not that there was much else to do on a bus whose destination was unknown to me...
My lack of head and memories certainly didn't help, either.
	Guide Vergilius	……
	Guide Vergilius	Alright, let’s proceed.
	Bus Driver Charon	Ok. Here come bumpity-bumps.
	Bus Driver Charon	Expensive washer fluid. Verg said he paid a fortune.
The clumps stuck to the window gently dissolve, letting light through.
Most of the people seated on the bus—Sinners—fix their gaze ahead with varied expressions in their eyes.
It felt like a pretty gruesome scene, but based on the others’ reactions, maybe this kind of violence is to be expected in the City.
	Manager DANTE	<Hey...>
It felt rather awkward to try to get another shut-eye again now that I was wide awake. Just then, a man with conspicuously overgrown stubble drew my attention.
	Manager DANTE	<Bu― I mean, Glasses. Know where we’re going right now?>
... A feature far more conspicuous than his stubble made me slip.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... You almost called me "bug guy," didn’t you?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Once again, my name is Gregor.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	The same way you’re called Dante and not clockface.
... I couldn’t find any excuses so I just gave back a light nod.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Say, Bus Girlie. Where are we headed?
	Bus Driver Charon	Once again, my name is Charon.
	Bus Driver Charon	The same way you’re called Gregor and not "bug guy."
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	……
	Manager DANTE	<She got you there, Gregor.>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Haha, she really did.
	Bus Driver Charon	... Verg said:
	Bus Driver Charon	“The Sinners will go to District 4.”
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Whaaaat ho?! Did the name "District 4" fall upon my ears?!
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	That place is known to be the home of the Grass Maiden! ‘Tis the origin of the heroine’s journey. And ‘twas the...
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Bloody hell, you’re rattling on and on and on...
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Can’t you just shut up and let us have some peace and quiet?
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Why, I had remained silent unto mere moments ago!
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Don't you bloody argue with me!
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	... Hey, do you even realize you’re the louder one here?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	... Lass, pain is pain whether it kills you or not. Now flap that gob of yours again and see what happens.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	I make a valid point and you jump straight to violence? Real classy of you.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	... Ha.
For a moment, I found myself contemplating:
Should I step in? Is this the part where I exercise my authority as the manager with dignity and grace? A faint memory urges me to do something.
	Manager DANTE	<Now now, guys, it’s inadvisable to lose your c―>
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Ngh...
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Hrrk...!
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	TRANCHES.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	To Right Against Noisy Crying Hogs Entails Scragging.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	……
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Senseless violence shan’t be forgiven! I will bring about justice!
	Sinner #9 RODION	Aw~ I knew this would happen—ya got blood on my clothes. Look, do you guys really have to fight next to me?
	Manager DANTE	<This... is just crazy...>
We haven’t even reached our destination and three people are dead already. And all because of infighting, too.
	Guide Vergilius	Can't even look away for a minute without things going sideways, can I.
	Guide Vergilius	You four. Cleaning duty for the next month.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Such unfairness! I merely sought the hand of justice!
	Sinner #9 RODION	Hang on! Tell them to do my laundry, too. Bloodstains don’t wash off as easily as wine. It wasn't cheap, you know, this getup...
No one bats an eye at the lifeless janitors-to-be littering the floor.
Maybe they’re already taking their unlimited revivals for granted.
Problem is, I don’t even know how exactly I’m supposed to bring them back...
	Guide Vergilius	Dante, I’d like you to turn the clock back.
	Manager DANTE	<Turn... the clock?>
	Guide Vergilius	*sigh*
	Guide Vergilius	So that's what you look like when you're puzzled. I’ll keep that in mind.
	Guide Vergilius	Miss Faust.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	……
Vergilius gives Faust a tired nod and gestures to me.
She let out a small sigh but still came to my seat, probably out of a sense of obligation.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	It’s the same thing you did the day we first met, Dante. Though I suppose that was more of an instinctive reaction.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Now, let’s try again. Close your eyes.
Though I have no eyes to close, blocking out my sight is something I’ve done.
I had no reason not to follow Faust’s instruction here.
Sinner #2 FAUST	In fact, the door is everywhere.
Sinner #2 FAUST	However, only you can see it. For the stars in your sky have not fallen.
At that, I felt a sliver of light easing into my sight.
I let it come to me the same way I'd open my eyes.
Location: ???
And then... an expanse of space laid itself out ahead.
There, I was alone...
... with a massive door that stood before me.
It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Waves of suffocating heat and cries of agony escape through the gap.
My mind almost blacks out at the sound of the incessant lamentations and wailing.
However, I find myself approaching the door still, grasping at its handles as if it's the most natural thing to do.
Despite appearing rather ponderous, the door opens without much resistance.
I run my hand along the inside of the door. Thousands upon thousands of cacophonous wailings lie within.
And reaching further inside, I grab a few outstretched hands.
I can feel the histories of different sins, each bearing a brand of its own, crawling along my hand and up my arm.
Art thou prepared to share the pain?
Could that have been a question? Or rather, pressure to comply?
With all my strength, I yank out the Sinners clinging to my hand from the door.
	Manager DANTE	<... RAHHHHGH!>
A torture so unbearable I'd have taken death over it—and it refused to let up.
It’s so crushingly severe, it makes me wish I were dead.
The sensation of bones and muscles twisting and entangling with each other goes on for what feels like an eternity.
My untrained legs buckle under the unbearable pain, and I drop to my knees onto the pool of blood.
And then I see it:
The vibrating surface of the red, viscous liquid bubbling and spattering as the pain grows even worse.
Soon, the blood soaking the ground coagulated and fused into three separate masses.
Then the pain that seemed to go on forever disappeared just like that.
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Mmgh...
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	... Hrrk.
As the lumps of blood rose into the air and flew off, the terrible red haze cleared from my vision, and I was once again returned to the rumbling bus.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	Keh... What's it like, coming back from a decapitation? Did your heart race?
As soon as Heathcliff comes to, he rubs his neck, hisses out a few curses, and stomps toward Ryōshū.
	Manager DANTE	<Hold on, I just brought you back and you’re going straight into another fight?>
Heathcliff whips around to glare at me, eyes blinded with fury.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	It's your job to bring us back anyway, innit?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	If that's done, then piss off before I smash in that bloody clock you call a head.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	P-please, wait! Dante looks like they’re in a lot of pain. We really should sto—
Heathcliff does not wait for Sinclair to finish his speech, and slams his steel bat into the young man's skull.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Kurgh... Grk...
The bus filled with Sinclair's choking, unintelligible gurgles as he lay dying.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Next time, Clockface, it'll be your noggin getting bashed. That clear enough?
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Guess you really are as much of a scumbag as you look.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	... Dying once not enough for you?
Heathcliff tightens his grip on the bat while Ishmael readies to swing her mace.
... How did I end up managing a bunch of people who stay the same wrecks even after literally coming back from death?
As my mind wandered, a sinister chill swept in and froze the tension in the bus into total silence.
	Guide Vergilius	... Ah. It seems we are overdue for some proper discipline.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	...!
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	……
The Sinners, who'd been seconds away from jumping at each other's throats, came to an immediate standstill...
... as a pair of red eyes raked over them with a freezing, merciless glare.
	Guide Vergilius	Rule number one:
	Guide Vergilius	Do not let me hear weapons clashing inside the bus.
	Guide Vergilius	Any of you break this rule from this moment on...
	Guide Vergilius	You will be begging me to kill you before I'm done.
	Guide Vergilius	I'm sure you're aware that I am capable of far more than just that, yes?
Sinclair’s death throes were the only sound that broke the silence.
Heathcliff glowered at Vergilius, but didn't dare argue back.
	Guide Vergilius	Apologies, Dante. I need you to rewind the clock again.
	Manager DANTE	<Again...?>
I quickly shook my head—there was no way I was putting myself through that again. It hurt so much that death seemed downright merciful.
The ghost of a smile on Vergilius's face evaporates as his expression hardens.
	Guide Vergilius	... Best open that door while I'm still feeling generous enough to ask you nicely, Manager Dante.
	Guide Vergilius	Oh, and if it is the pain that you fear... If that is why you are shaking your head, I will gladly help you with that.
	Guide Vergilius	The agony of rewinding won't even make you bat an eye once I'm finished. A surefire way to boost your pain tolerance, don't you think?
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	Did I hear you correctly? Our manager clearly declined your request.
	Guide Vergilius	You... This interruption is ill-timed.
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	I was informed when I joined the company that the Executive Manager would be my superior, not you.
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	I would say that the manager has made themself perfectly clear by shaking their head.
	Guide Vergilius	I see, so the aide has decided to step in now, is that it?
	Guide Vergilius	Then let me make myself perfectly clear to you as well.
Vergilius's eyes turned a deeper shade of red, sharpening that bone-cold stare.
I don’t really know what I’m meant to do as the manager, or if I even deserve to take this role...
... but I felt that I should at least stop things from spiraling into an even bigger mess.
Bringing back one Sinner should hurt less than reviving all 12 at once...
	Manager DANTE	<Outis... I’ll rewind the clock. It’s okay.>
Vergilius caught me frantically gesturing for Outis to stand down, and the red gleam in his eyes faded.
	Guide Vergilius	A wise decision.
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	... As you wish, Executive Manager.
Outis looked like she had more to say, but quickly backed off and snapped into attention.
The red door greeted me again, bringing with it the sickening sensation of my bones and muscles churning and contorting against one another.
I decided to stop describing the pain to myself going forward.
It's not the sort of torture I could ever put a name on, anyway.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	... Th-thank you...
Sinclair stood up with a pained moan and bowed in appreciation before tottering back to his seat.

1-2: Dance Time

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Prithee! I have a matter to inquire!
Don Quixote suddenly raised her hand.
	Guide Vergilius	Inquire.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Verily, I understood the first rule well! What, then, is the second rule?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Good grief... did you really have to go out of your way to ask?
	Guide Vergilius	……
Vergilius shot a cold stare at Ryōshū, who had just lit a cigarette. She returned the look with an unreadable expression on her face.
	Guide Vergilius	Rule number two...
	Guide Vergilius	No littering cigarette butts on the bus. They leave burn marks.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	... Hah.
The bus falls silent again.
	Guide Vergilius	Hold on. The bus shouldn’t be this quiet. Where’s the engine’s roar?
	Guide Vergilius	Charon, why aren’t you speeding up?
	Bus Driver Charon	No food. Mephi is hungry.
	Guide Vergilius	Good. We could use something to lift the mood.
Could he be suggesting a fuel stop?
The idea of Vergilius casually plugging a fuel nozzle into the bus like some normal person at a pump felt strangely out of place.
	Guide Vergilius	A vehicle needs fuel to run.
	Guide Vergilius	Charon, try flashing the headlights a bit. Like stage lights.
	Bus Driver Charon	Mhm, it’s dance timey.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Wait a minute. That's like an open invitation for highwaymen to come rob us.
	Sinner #5 MEURSAULT	That appears to be the intent.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	... Sorry?
I could hear someone pounding against the bus's steel plating outside.
	District 4 Backstreets Number-nuts Hooligan	Oi! Leave all ya stuff behind and get off! Y’got 30 seconds! 10! 9!
	District 4 Backstreets Sharp Hooligan	Ey, you skipped 20 seconds.
	District 4 Backstreets Number-nuts Hooligan	Er... Uh... Then 20 seconds fer ya to say yer prayers!
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	*sigh* Why am I surrounded by dullards left and right?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	... What’d you just say?
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	How cowardly of them to ambush us thus! Verily, they must be villains without a shred of doubt!
	Guide Vergilius	Alright, everyone off.
	Guide Vergilius	And one more thing—we want them half-dead, not dead. Clear?

1-3: The Bus Deck

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location:Some Backstreets of District 4
A deep, guttural rumble erupts as the side of the bus heaves and splits open.
A number of human shapes littered the ground before the bus's gaping maw—some still conscious, others no longer in one piece.
The maw then stretched even wider and, for lack of a better word, started chewing through the bodies. Every bite came fast and voracious.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	……
Ryōshū took in the spectacle with clear satisfaction, as though determined to savor every moment of it...
Off to the side, Sinclair looked visibly shaken.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Everyone here is so... We're surrounded by insane people. You think so too, don't you?
The way he reacted made me wonder what history the Sinners carried.
	Manager DANTE	<Just to make sure... None of you were forced to join, right?>
Whatever happened before my head got replaced with a clock is a complete mystery, but as far as I can tell, I was basically forced into the company.
And maybe they're not so different from me—or so I thought, until...
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Ah...
Sinclair bowed his head, as if I'd hit a raw nerve.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	That's right. This was my choice. I'll get used to all this... won't I?
He was muttering under his breath like he wasn't talking to me at all.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	‘Tis the deed I would have done even if the company sought me not! Lo, yon host of evil draweth nigh!

1-4: Enkephalin

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
	Sinner #9 RODION	Seriously, when was the last time I actually got to stuff myself? I swear, this lump of metal's eating better than we do...
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Do mind that all meals are portioned in appropriate amounts.
	Sinner #9 RODION	It’s nowhere near enough to get me going!
I thought I'd heard Heathcliff shouting “You think I’m doing this on a full stomach?!” in the distance, but Rodya seemed to pretend she heard nothing.
Speaking of...
	Manager DANTE	<Does this bus run on stuff like blood or protein?>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	It’s Enkephalin, an energy source extracted by Lobotomy Corporation.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	The previous L Corp., right? I heard it used its Singularity to produce energy... though, now that the Wing's fallen, all that's left is its rubble.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Correct, which is why it’s become a rarity these days.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	However, Mephistopheles is capable of forcibly extracting Enkephalin from the body.
	Manager DANTE	<The body...?>
I could not help but fixate on that word as I looked back and forth between the chewing maw of the bus, and Outis, who was barking orders at the other Sinners.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Yes. Enkephalin can only be extracted from the brain and the spinal nerves. It can be harvested from live subjects at greater efficiency.
So that’s why Vergilius told the Sinners not to kill the assailants.
	Manager DANTE	<Okay, then—>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	One might ask: "Then why feed the whole body?"—the answer is simply that their blood and muscle tissue can also be processed into fuel.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	While Enkephalin is used to generate ignition and thrust, the leftover organic matter is used to sustain velocity, which in turn reduces the bus's Enkephalin demand.
	Sinner #1 YI SANG	A hybrid.
Faust went on to explain how most of the vehicle’s fuel is taken from the branch facilities, and that harvesting Enkephalin from human bodies won't be sufficient in the long run...
Most of it went straight over my head, though.
	Manager DANTE	<... Well, that’s complicated. But I get that you're in for some tough work.>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Not at all. No work is tough for Faust.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	If anyone’s doing the heavy lifting, it’d be us... Hey! Manager Bud! More incoming!

1-5: Yuri

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
	Guide Vergilius	Hey! That’s enough of that. Our guest will be here any moment.
Vergilius said, poking his head out the window.
	Manager DANTE	<Guest? Who?>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	I have determined that we will need a guide as this is our first trip to a dungeon.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Excuse me... Are you the people from Limbus Company?
Someone approaches us with apparent hesitation.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	You sure look like it...
The bus had just about finished its meal and was crunching down on the last bits of bone.
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
Yuri watched it indifferently before introducing herself.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	I’m Yuri, a former employee of the previous L Corp. I look forward to working with you.
	Manager DANTE	<"Previous" L Corp.? You mean...>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Has to be Lobotomy Corporation.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Correct. We will move on to explore the former branch facilities of Lobotomy Corporation—that is, the fallen L Corp.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	I wouldn't have taken this job if I were you, even if somebody specifically requested me.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	I doubt the end of your employment here left any pleasant memories, it being a fallen Wing and all.
	Sinner #9 RODION	What’re you on about? Fallen Wing or not, a huge payday'll turn any brutal work into a charming memory.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Hrm, I heard those facilities are still crawling with monsters even now...
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Not "monsters"—Abnormalities. Regardless, what you said is true. But it is also a home to more important things than those entities.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	In the deepest zones of these branch facilities are plantlike growths that have only recently begun to form: the essence of L Corp.'s technology.
	Guide Vergilius	Dante, if you remember what I said a few days back, I offered you the chance to eventually engrave your Aspect.
	Guide Vergilius	Once this "essence"—the Golden Boughs—is retrieved, it'll be easy as pie.
Hearing the word "Aspect" still makes my head ache.
What exactly was "I" trying to do?
	Sinner #2 FAUST	There’s no need to rouse your brain trying to remember what you can’t. It’ll all come back in due time.
I returned a slow nod to Faust’s placid advice.
Alright, for now, I should focus on what my present self is able to process.
	Manager DANTE	<And if it’s Lobotomy Corp we’re scouring... we might come across some Enkephalin, too.>
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Oh, does that mean we won’t have to... feed more people to our vehicle?
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	We could also grab some E.G.O if we’re lucky, so that’s three rats with one stone.
E.G.O? That’s another unknown term that makes me tilt my head...
But in any case, it seemed rather rude to keep talking to each other when we had a guest on board.
... And apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	So, Miss Yuri, what’ve you been up to after L Corp.?
Gregor flashed what looked like his best attempt at a kind smile at our new passenger, hoping to strike up a conversation.
The corners of his eyes twitched from forcing a facial expression he obviously wasn't used to, but I pretended not to notice.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	It appears to me that thou art an honorable Fixer! It is said that all Fixers exude the noble scent of heroes!
As Yuri gave a slight nod, I heard Ishmael release a deep sigh.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	I don’t know who gave you that idea, but Fixers are anything but noble or heroic. The only scent you’ll smell is the miserable stink of wage slaves.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... It couldn’t have been easy to find another job so soon. Good that you’re holding up.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	For now... I’m just a contract worker.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Aha. That explains why you decided to crawl on back there.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Did they promise you a team leader position or something in exchange for a major find in what's left of your previous workplace?
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	... My contracts might get extended if I return with results.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	R-right. Strong performance becomes a life-or-death matter if you're aiming for a permanent spot.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	*sigh* And what a pointless life that is.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	(Hey, what's with all the sarcasm? Something grinding your gears?)
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	... I dunno, every single thing I'm hearing right now is getting on my nerves.
Seemingly unaffected by the abrasive attitude, Yuri quietly took an empty seat.
Glancing between the two of them, Gregor returned to his seat as well, scratching his head.
	Manager DANTE	<I... I don't think I'll ever get used to being around these people.>
	Guide Vergilius	You'll want to fit in fast if you want to make your job easier, Dante.
	Guide Vergilius	... Charon, time to go. Our guest has taken her seat.
	Bus Driver Charon	Mephi’s tum revived. Charon’s raring to drive.

1-6: Map

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Umm, excuse me...
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	I don't remember showing you my map... how do you know where you're going?
No answers were returned, but the bus keeps speeding anyway.
	Bus Driver Charon	By using...
	Bus Driver Charon	Intuition. Charon’s intuition.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Whaaat?!
	Bus Driver Charon	Pinky-hair, explain why you're wagging that odd paper in Charon’s face.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Because you keep going in weird directions! Take a look at this map. Our destination is to the southeast of here...
Charon reluctantly gives the map a cursory glance, as she couldn’t continue to ignore it when it was shoved right in her face.
	Bus Driver Charon	Follow the heart. That’s where the true path lies.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Hear, hear! We all must follow as our hearts lead!
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	... You’re just admitting that you can’t read a map.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	You took the words right out of my mouth.
Yuri and Ishmael put a palm over their respective faces at the same time, almost like they were in sync.
	Sinner #9 RODION	Ooh! Did our driver make a new friend?
	Bus Driver Charon	Pinky keeps on blabbing. I know the way.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	No, I mean, we’re headed in the wrong direction...
	Bus Driver Charon	Look ahead, more obstacles. Do I vroom-vroom?
	Guide Vergilius	No, Charon. Hold on a moment.
	District 4 Backstreets Famished Hooligan	Lookie! Nice bus you got there! Why don’tcha gimme a ride!
	Guide Vergilius	... I guess Mephistopheles could use a helping of dessert.
	Guide Vergilius	Get on down... It needs to be fed just a bit more.

1-7: The Trio

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Now Charon, tell me, is this east or west?
	Bus Driver Charon	Charon only knows two directions: Mephi’s front and back.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	How did you come so far with a driver who has zero sense of direction?
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Charon... Like I said, the sun rises from...
At the driver’s seat, three heads gathered together over a map.
Well, one of them might have been at a slightly different elevation from the others.
	Sinner #9 RODION	Pft... Chiquita~ Aren’t you gonna join them too?
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	I beg your pardon?! I am no child! And most certainly not little!
Watching Don Quixote shake her fist sky-high at Rodya, I noticed a bitter gaze falling upon them out of the corner of my view.
	Manager DANTE	<... I’m starting to think that Yuri might’ve put up with a rough childhood.>
Gregor cast a quick glance toward me, shook his head, and went back to watching the driver’s side with his chin propped on his hand.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... Wouldn’t be on the youngest side, either. Some Nests used to conscript anyone old enough to hold a knife.
Nests... They explained that a Nest is basically the center of a District, if my memory is correct.
Sounds like Nests used to get into wars with one another in the past.
	Manager DANTE	<Did that happen often?>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Not frequently, but it sure as hell did happen.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... Interested in learning about wars, Manager Bud?
	Manager DANTE	<Oh, I’m not really curious about the details, just gathering info I should know as the manager...>
Just as I went to speak again, a sideways glimpse of the look on Gregor's face made me pause.
He had this faraway look in his eyes, as though he was staring past the driver's seat.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Don’t get me wrong, Manager Bud. I’m not calling you out or anything. Heck, it’s actually a pretty stand-up attitude for a boss, I’d say.
He slowly continued, taking a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Still, ignorance is bliss, if you ask me—I think you should savor it while you still can.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	War's the kind of knowledge that sticks to you and never lets go.
Without another word, he lit his cigarette.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	No, you should’ve turned right at that intersection!
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	I-it’s okay, Charon. We can turn around at the next junction.
	Bus Driver Yuri	Ahh... The woes of a driver.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Well... Looks like we have more pressing matters at hand. Ain’t that right, Manager Bud?
Gregor chuckled, each snort sending a puff out from his smoke-filled mouth.
I was still curious to learn what he’d been through, but he’s right that I should focus on other things for now.
Because, as if on cue, an urgent matter presented itself right before our eyes—or rather, right at the doorstep of our bus.
	Guide Vergilius	Enough squabbling now. More enemies inbound.
	District 4 Backstreets Head Hooligan	You shoved my pals into that bus, you sick bastards! Are you nuts?
	District 4 Backstreets Head Hooligan	You’ll pay for this! We were just gonna leave with the bus, but now I’ve gotta see you all bleed!
	Bus Driver Charon	Verg, the fuel is acting up. Charon gets woozy when many mouths start being noisy.
	Guide Vergilius	Nothing to worry about, Charon. They’ll shut their mouths soon enough.
	Guide Vergilius	Off the bus.

Post-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Okay, let’s look at the map again.
	Bus Driver Charon	……
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Charon, can you please focus?
A question reared its head as I stared at the trio arguing over the map once again.
	Manager DANTE	<This bus was made specifically for Limbus Company, right?>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	It was made exclusively for us, to be more precise.
Isn’t that basically what I said?
	Sinner #2 FAUST	You don't appear to be catching the nuance.
	Manager DANTE	<... That’s weird, I don’t think I spoke that part out loud.>
Is the clock broken or something?
	Sinner #2 FAUST	I can tell as much without hearing it verbalized.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	There is nothing that Faust doesn’t know, after all.
	Manager DANTE	<Anyway, it must’ve taken a long while to get it out of the oven. Especially with that... “mouth” on the side.>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	It only took the expected amount of time.
	Manager DANTE	<……>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	……
She’s downright oppressive to talk to.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Faust is a well-renowned genius. She knows the ins and outs of the City.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Oi, if you’re so smart, why don’t you help those twits at the driver's side figure out the way. Can’t sleep a wink with their constant bickering.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Faust is no meddler. She answers questions, but doesn’t intervene without being asked first.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Additionally, there is no greater joy for a human being than to ponder on problems in order to grasp an answer. Faust would rather not spoil that delight.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	He wouldn’t get it. I doubt he’s pondered on anything ever.
I saw Heathcliff’s grip on the bat tighten, however...
... with Vergilius casting a glare his way, he clicked his tongue as he crossed his arms and forced his eyes shut.
	Manager DANTE	<I wonder why they're always so prickly...>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Huh. You and me both, Manager Bud. You and me both.
With Gregor quietly snickering, the bus resumed its ride.

1-8: Pests

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #9 RODION	Bweh... Greg, you know those people?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Huh? Gimme a break... There’s no way I’d know someone in this corner of the Backstreets―
Gregor’s face stiffens the moment he looks out the window.
	Manager DANTE	<... Bug heads?>
Unlike the other enemies we’d run into, they were part insectoid.
	Sinner #9 RODION	Gosh... Dante, thank goodness you got a clock for a head. I would’ve gagged every time I looked at you if you were a huge bug like them.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Isn’t that... the same type of augmentation you have, Gregor?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	They transplant those disgusting bug heads onto their necks on purpose?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	You’d better stay away. Wouldn’t want to get infected and turn into a bug, nah?
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Eek, are you serious?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Just a joke... Do I just have a weird sense of humor or what?
Gregor scratched the back of his head awkwardly as the bus made a dragging rumble and came to a deflating halt.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Most former G Corp. employees were given biomimetic augmentation procedures like Gregor was.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	You used to work for the old G Corp., Gregor? Heard back then, they were...
Ishmael frowned as if she'd remembered something unpleasant, but didn’t elaborate further.
Gregor managed a smile, but his hardened features didn't relax in the slightest.
	Sinner #6 HONG LU	I wonder, where do people like them sleep at night?
	Guide Vergilius	For many, the sky is the roof over their head, and the stars are their firelight.
	Sinner #6 HONG LU	Aha, so they’re the poetic sort!
	Manager DANTE	<I don’t think that’s what he meant...>
	Guide Vergilius	And I see they're bent on standing in our way.
	Guide Vergilius	Aren’t you going to get off, Gregor?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Mind telling me why you're singling me out?
	Guide Vergilius	Well, I'd rather not be the one to ramble about someone else's history.
	Guide Vergilius	Take the lead, Gregor. You know the reason full well.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... You’re one nasty fellow.
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
A cluster of insect-headed soldiers were gathered close to the bus.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Bah... I’m not too fond of taking the lead.
	??? Fiery Veteran	What are you? Why does your arm look like ours?
	??? Puzzled Veteran	Hold on... I’ve seen that face before.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... Mostly on flyers and magazine covers, I’d bet.
	Manager DANTE	<Gregor? Do you know them from somewhere?>
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	... Not really important right now, Manager. Now's really not the time to be digging into the past.
	??? Fiery Veteran	That arm bothers me... But, whatever. Point is, I can’t let you through.
	Manager DANTE	<Is that so. I suppose we can’t talk this out...>
	Sinner #9 RODION	Anyways, shouldn't they at least cover those insect parts before coming out where people can see them?
	Sinner #9 RODION	They’d make kids cry. Couldn't they have made their parts less conspicuous like yours, Greg?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	I’m a special case. The procedure makes those “buggy” parts grow on the head most of the time.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Although... I’m not sure if I should consider myself lucky.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	It feels like they’re trying to stop us from getting to the branch facility for some reason.
	Sinner #9 RODION	Are they after the Golden Bough too?
	Guide Vergilius	Maybe.
	Guide Vergilius	They are many who seek the essence, after all.
	Guide Vergilius	... And I'm sure they all have their own wishes. Isn't that so?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Why are you looking at me? I'm just as lost as the others are.

1-9: Guides

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Bus Driver Charon	We’re here. Charon knew the way all along.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	No, no you didn’t! Sinclair and I were next to you the whole time pointing you in the right direction.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	I'm just glad you've finally learned how to tell southeast from northeast now, Charon.
	Manager DANTE	<So this is... the old L Corp.?>
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	This is my first time seeing it for myself, too... It can't have been long since "that" happened.
	Sinner #6 HONG LU	My goodness... How does a building get this run-down?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Hah! So the posh lad can't even handle seeing a grotty place, huh?
	Guide Vergilius	Cut the chatter. Off the bus, now.
District 4 - L Corp. Branch Entrance
	Manager DANTE	<Huh, there are people over there...>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	They’re Fixers from the same Office as Miss Yuri.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	They are experienced explorers who have delved through the branch facilities of L Corp. a number of times.
	Guide Vergilius	An introduction, then. The person on the left is Hopkins, and the one on the right is Aya.
	Grade 8 Fixer Aya	Hello~
	Grade 8 Fixer Hopkins	Th... The... The—
	Grade 8 Fixer Hopkins	The Red Gaze! It’s—it’s such an honor to meet you...! I’ve heard so many stories of your deeds. To see you in person, it's...
	Guide Vergilius	Ah.
	Guide Vergilius	See the shabby warehouse there? That’s where the stairs leading down to the branch facility are.
	Guide Vergilius	From there on, Yuri will be your guide.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	... Yeah.
	Guide Vergilius	These Fixers aren't rookies, either... Count on them to deal with any complications.
	Guide Vergilius	That should be enough, yeah? This is as far as I can accompany you. I’ll be waiting back at the bus.
	Manager DANTE	<Huh? Wait, what?>
	Guide Vergilius	You’re sorely mistaken if you expect me to babysit you forever, Dante.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	You sayin' you’re gonna take a back seat while we do all the work?
	Guide Vergilius	If I get myself involved, the expedition would be a little too free of challenge, wouldn’t it? It’d turn into a happy little tour.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	... In other words, you want us to come back red, black, and blue.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	That’s the sort of thing people say when they're hiding something...
	Guide Vergilius	Think as you like.
	Guide Vergilius	I got you guides and all—now go make it count.
	Grade 8 Fixer Hopkins	Yes! I certainly won’t disappoint you, Mister Red Gaze!
	Grade 8 Fixer Aya	I’ll try my best, I suppose~

1-10: Grade 8 Fixers

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: District 4 - L Corp. Branch Exterior
	Guide Vergilius	... Dante. A word.
While the others were busy exchanging greetings, Vergilius called me over to a secluded corner.
	Guide Vergilius	Let me warn you in advance that the guides are only Grade 8 Fixers.
	Manager DANTE	<Grade 8?>
	Guide Vergilius	... It means they’re low-rank drudges, errands being their main tasks.
	Guide Vergilius	Put them to use, but don’t rely on them.
	Manager DANTE	<In other words, they're not dependable enough.>
I nodded to let him know that I understood his point.
	Guide Vergilius	... You might be the only one on the bus I can talk to in any meaningful way.
	Guide Vergilius	... Well, best of luck, Dante.
Vergilius gave my shoulder a pat with a crooked smile, then slowly made his way back to the bus.

1-11: Branch D-02

Main article: Branch D-02/Floor 1