Canto I: The Outcast/Story Episodes

Overview

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

The ride is awkward and intimidating. Even though
I've been handed the title of 'Manager', I have
no idea what to do at a time like this. I decided
to aske the Sinner with a bug's arm
where we're currently headed.

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 don’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.
Many different sets of eyes on the bus are lethargically facing forward.
It felt like a pretty gruesome scene, but based on the others’ reactions, maybe this kind of violence is common in the City.
	Manager DANTE	<Hey…>
It felt rather awkward to close my eyes again now that I was wide awake. That’s when the conspicuously bearded man grabbed my attention.
	Manager DANTE	<Bu― I mean, Glasses. Know where we’re going right now?>
…A feature far more conspicuous than his beard 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 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 the trip go in peace?
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Why, I had remained silent unto mere moments ago!
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	I said to shut up!
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	…Sorry, did you happen to realize you’re being louder here?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	…Even if you can’t die, you sure as hell can suffer, no? So say that again.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	I say the right thing and your first response is violence? Shows how refined you are.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	…Ha.
I contemplated for a second.
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	Grh…
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Kuhㅡ
	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—it left a spot on my clothes. Look, do you guys really have to fight next to me?
	Manager DANTE	<I must be mad…>
We haven’t even reached our destination and they've already killed three. Of our own, that is.
	Guide Vergilius	Can’t take a small break without anticipating trouble, 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	Oh, also! Tell them to do my laundry, too. Blood doesn’t wash off as easily as wine stains. Sheesh, dry cleaning’s costly…
No one bats an eye at the lifeless janitors-to-be littering the floor.
Maybe they’re already taking their indefinite revivals for granted.
But, 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	That must mean there’s a puzzled look where your face should be. I’ll keep that in mind.
	Guide Vergilius	Ms. 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 instinctual 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 never set in your sky.
At that, I felt a thread of light creep into my sight.
As if to open my eyes, I embraced that light.
Location: ???
Then I saw a space.
I was alone there.
And a massive door stood before me.
It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Suffocating heat and agonized cries seep through the gap.
Hearing the endless laments and wailing for even a split second makes me feel faint.
However, I’m approaching the door, grasping at its handles as if it’s what I was born to do.
Despite being seemingly heavy, pulling it open was surprisingly easy.
I grope about in the door. Thousands upon thousands of last wails lay within.
And reaching inside, I grab a few unknown hands.
I can feel the histories of different sins bearing their brands crawl up my hand onto my arm.
Art thou prepared to share the pain?
Could that have been a question? Or rather, pressure to comply?
I pulled forth the Sinners grasping my hand with all my strength.
	Manager DANTE	<…RAHHHHGH!>
A terrible pain spreads through my neck and head.
It’s so crushingly severe, it makes me wish I were dead.
The indescribable sensation of bone and muscle twisting, entangling with each other, goes on for what feels like an eternity.
My legs weren’t prepared to endure all this agony; I fell to kneel atop the pool of blood in helplessness.
Then I see it.
Trembles in the bloody pools, gradually growing into waves and bubbles rising from the floor.
Soon, that blood soaking the ground coalesced into three masses.
Then the agony that seemed to last forever vanished just like that.
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Mmgh…
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	…Ugh.
As the lumps of blood rose into the air and flew away, my sight was cleared of dreadful redness, returning to the grumbling bus.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	Keh… How does it feel to have your head back after it was severed? Was it exciting?
Right as Heathcliff is restored to consciousness, he rubs his neck, mutters vulgar words, and approaches Ryōshū.
	Manager DANTE	<Hold on, I just brought you back and you’re going straight into another fight?>
Heathcliff turns around to glare at me. His eyes are those of a man devoured by blind fury.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Isn’t it your job to bring us back?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	If your job’s done, then step aside before I knock your dumb clock off.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	P—Please, wait! Dante looks like they’re in a lot of pain, so we really should sh―
Before he could finish, Heathcliff’s steel bat caved in the side of Sinclair’s head.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Kurgh…grh…
The incoherent gurgles of a dying person violated my ears.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Next time, Clockface, you’re crushed. Are we clear?
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	You really are as coarse as you look.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	…Was dying once not enough for you?
Heathcliff tightens his grip on the bat, and Ishmael is ready to swing her weapon as well.
…Have I seriously become the manager of people who can’t be stopped even by death?
While I was lost in thought, all tension in the bus suddenly dropped and froze over.
	Guide Vergilius	Ahem, it seems this team’s in serious need of discipline.
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	…!
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	……
The Sinners on a collision course stopped dead in their tracks.
A cold pair of red eyes cast their glare between the two.
	Guide Vergilius	Rule number one.
	Guide Vergilius	Do not let me hear weapons clashing inside the bus.
	Guide Vergilius	If any of you break this rule as of now…
	Guide Vergilius	You’re going to be begging for me to let you die.
	Guide Vergilius	I’m sure you know I’m capable of that and more, right?
Sinclair’s writhing on the floor was the only sound breaking the silence.
Heathcliff glowered, but couldn’t bring himself to argue back.
	Guide Vergilius	Dante, I’m sorry about this. I need you to rewind one more time.
	Manager DANTE	<I have to do that again…?>
I’d rather die than have to bear that harrowing pain once more. I waggled my head in dejection.
The faint hint of a smile on Vergilius’s face vanishes as his expression shifts.
	Guide Vergilius	…You’d better open up while I’m still feeling generous enough to ask and offer apologies, Manager Dante.
	Guide Vergilius	Oh, in case you’re refusing simply because you don’t want more pain, I can gladly help you with that.
	Guide Vergilius	This degree of pain will feel like nothing by the time I’m done. Surely you’ll be a tougher person afterward, right?
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	Did I hear correctly? I’m pretty sure our manager clearly declined your request.
	Guide Vergilius	You… This is not the time to step in.
	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 clear with a shake of the head.
	Guide Vergilius	I see, so their aide has decided to step in, is that it?
	Guide Vergilius	Then it’s my turn to make clear what I mean.
The red hue of his eyes grew deeper, much to my dread.
…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 here so we don’t get into an even bigger mess.
Reviving one should hurt less than reviving twelve at once…
	Manager DANTE	<Outis… I’ll rewind the clock. It’s okay.>
Vergilius noticed me motioning her to stand down, and withdrew the red glow from his glare as if in mutual understanding.
	Guide Vergilius	Good thinking.
	Sinner #12 OUTIS	…As you wish, Manager.
Outis seemed to want to add her input, but she promptly backed down and straightened herself out.
The red door greeted me again, along with the twisting sensation.
I’ve given up trying to describe the throes I go through.
Words can’t express it in full, anyway.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	…Th, thank you very much…
Sinclair stood up with a pained moan and bowed to me before waddling back to his seat.

1-2: Dance Time

After being "asked" a favor I couldn't turn down, I was
forced to bear a series of pains worse than death
rewinding the clock. The bus fell quiet in a less-than-pleasant
way, and I kept my mouth shut. Let's hope
nothing else happens until we reach District 4…

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Pardon me! I have a question!
Don Quixote suddenly raised her hand.
	Guide Vergilius	Shoot.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	Verily, I understood the first rule well! What is the second rule, then?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Hah, really… Why are you so eager to learn that?
	Guide Vergilius	……
Vergilius gave a cold stare to Ryōshū, who had just lit her cigarette. She looked back at him with a peculiar face.
	Guide Vergilius	Rule number two…
	Guide Vergilius	Don’t litter the bus floor with cigarettes. They leave burn marks.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	…Hah.
The bus falls silent again.
	Guide Vergilius	Now wait a second, 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.
Are we dropping by a gas station?
The idea of Vergilius casually plugging a fuel nozzle into the bus like an average driver felt alien.
	Guide Vergilius	A car 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, if we do that, we’re effectively asking to be attacked.
	Sinner #5 MEURSAULT	That appears to be the intent.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	…Sorry?
I could hear someone slam the bus outside.
	District 4 Backstreets Number-nuts Hooligan	Oi! Leave all ya stuff behind and get off! Y’got 30 seconds! Ten! Nine!
	District 4 Backstreets Sharp Hooligan	Ey, you skipped twenty of ‘em.
	District 4 Backstreets Number-nuts Hooligan	Er… Uhh… Well say your prayers for the other 20!
	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! They must be villains without a shadow of a doubt!
	Guide Vergilius	Alright, everyone off.
	Guide Vergilius	And one more thing: we want them near death, not dead. Got it?

1-3: The Bus Deck

A band of thugs attacks us, trying to take the bus.
For some reason, we leave them barely breathing
instead of killing them outright,
placing them in front of Mephistopheles…

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location:Some Backstreets of District 4
With a guttural noise, the side of the bus lurches and splits open.
A number of human shapes littered the ground before its maw. Some were still conscious, while others weren’t exactly in one piece.
Then, the bus began devouring those served to it in the most literal sense. Gluttonously, voraciously.
	Sinner #4 RYŌSHŪ	……
Ryōshū watched it with a satisfied expression, seemingly determined to savor every moment…
While in the corner of my eye, Sinclair was clearly distressed.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	They… all look like they’re out of their minds. Don’t you think so too?
His reaction got me curious to know their stories.
	Manager DANTE	<Just to make sure… None of you were forced to join, right?>
Though what I was involved in before my head’s change is a mystery, I myself was practically forced to join the company judging from what I know at the moment.
And maybe they aren’t so different from me, or so I thought, when…
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Ah…
Sinclair’s head drooped in response, like I struck a nerve.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	That’s right. It was by my choice. I’ll get used to all this… Right?
He muttered as if he were talking to someone other than me.
	Sinner #3 DON QUIXOTE	‘Tis what I would have done even if the company recruited me not! Look, yon horde of evil approaches!

1-4: Enkephalin

We watched Mephistopheles as it consumed the corpses,
its maw looking more reliable than the Sinners.
I knew something was up from the moment I saw this bus
for the first time, but what is this thing exactly?
Faust seems to have something to say.

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
	Sinner #9 RODION	Gee, when was the last time I had a feast? Even a big blocky machine eats better than we do…
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Do mind that all meals are provided with appropriately determined quantities.
	Sinner #9 RODION	It’s not nearly enough to get me going!
I thought I heard Heathcliff shout “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 Lobotomy Corporation treated.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	You mean the previous L Corp. I heard it produced energy using its Singularity, though all that remains of the company now is rubble.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	That’s right, 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 posed a question, watching Outis give orders to the other Sinners, then glancing to the maw of the bus in turn.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Correct, Enkephalin can only be extracted from the brain and the spinal nerves. It can be taken from live subjects for greater efficiency.
So that’s why Vergilius told the Sinners not to kill the assailants.
	Manager DANTE	<Okay, and…>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	If “Why the rest of their body?” is what you’re thinking, there is a point, as their blood and flesh can also be processed into fuel.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	While Enkephalin is used to generate ignition and thrust, the remaining organic matter is spent on maintaining speed, thus reducing Enkephalin usage.
	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 it won’t be a sufficient source on its own…
But most of it went in one ear and out the other.
	Manager DANTE	<…Well, that’s complicated. I got that it’s tough work, at least.>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Don’t mention it. Faust knows no struggle.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	If anyone’s doing the heavy lifting, it’d be us… Hey! Manager Bud! More incoming!

1-5: Yuri

When the bus had just about finished its "meal",
Vergilius shouted to me that we're expecting a guest.
I'm curious to see who'd be joining us on this less-than-pleasant trip.

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
	Guide Vergilius	Hey! That’s enough of that. We’re expecting a guest any time now.
Vergilius said, poking his head out the window.
	Manager DANTE	<A guest? Who?>
	Sinner #2 FAUST	I’ve determined that we’ll 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 slowly.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Looks like it…
The bus had just about finished its meal, crunching on the last remaining bone chips.
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	<By L Corp, do you mean…>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Has to be Lobotomy Corporation.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	That’s right, we will explore the former branch facilities of Lobotomy Corporation—also called the old L Corp.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	If I were you, I wouldn’t have taken part in this.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Being a fallen Wing and everything, I doubt your employment ended on pleasant terms.
	Sinner #9 RODION	What’re you on about? Any point in your life can be pleasant as long as you’ve money to spend.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Hrm, I heard those places are still teeming with monsters to this day…
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Not “monsters”, Abnormalities. The rumors are true, either way. But there are more important matters.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	In the deepest reaches of these branches are neoplastic plantlike growths holding the essence of L Corp’s technology.
	Guide Vergilius	Dante, if you remember, I believe I offered to let you finish engraving your Aspect a few days ago.
	Guide Vergilius	With the essence… those Golden Boughs in our hands, it’ll be as easy as pie.
The word ‘Aspect’ still makes my head ache.
What 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 I currently know and see.
	Manager DANTE	<And if it’s Lobotomy Corp we’re scouring… we might find some Enkephalin, too.>
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Oh, does that mean we won’t have to… feed people into 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 my head tilt…
But in any case, it seemed rather rude to keep talking to each other when we had a guest on board.
…And someone else seemed to agree.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	So, Miss Yuri, what’ve you been up to since the layoff?
Gregor gave his best shot at making some conversation with a well-meaning smile to put the newest passenger at ease.
His brows seemed to twitch due to a lack of practice, but it’s no big deal.
	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 was nodding lightly, I heard Ishmael let out 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 to promote you to team leader or something if you struck gold in your former workplace?
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	…My contracts might get extended if I return with results.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	R—Right. A good result is something to risk your life for if you want to earn a permanent spot.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Ha, and what a futile life that is.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	(Hey, what’s with the sarcasm? Is something a problem?)
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	…I dunno, I have a problem with every single thing I’m hearing right now.
Seemingly unaffected by the abrasive attitude, Yuri quietly took an empty seat.
Looking back and forth between the two, Gregor returned to his seat as well, scratching his head.
	Manager DANTE	<I… can’t seem to get used to being around these people.>
	Guide Vergilius	It will be beneficial for you to adapt to them sooner than later, 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

Our guest was a Fixer named Yuri, a former employee of
Lobotomy Corporation. Seeing us as she showed an indifferent response to
the bus devouring bodies, she must've gone through a lot herself.
But then she grows nervous as she checks the map
and looks at the driver's seat…

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Umm, sorry to ask…
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	But if I have the map, how do you know what roads to take?
Answerless, the bus keeps speeding anyway.
	Bus Driver Charon	We do have something to lead us…
	Bus Driver Charon	Intuition. Charon’s intuition.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	Whaaat?!
	Bus Driver Charon	Pinky-hair, explain why you keep rubbing 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 ignore the thing right in front of her eyes.
	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, you’re going the wrong direction…
	Bus Driver Charon	Look ahead, more obstacles. Do I vroom-vroom?
	Guide Vergilius	No, Charon. Wait one second.
	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

I was shocked to learn that… Charon has virtually no sense
of direction. Though, I guess it's fortunate that it's come to light
early into the trip. Yuri took matters into her own hands
and started teaching her how to read a map, and Sinclair joined, too.
They're rather noisy, but still… I can't say that I hate to see it.

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 gal might’ve put up with a rough childhood.>
Gregor turned around to take a glance in my direction, then shook his head and went back to looking at the driver’s side with his chin resting 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… A Nest was 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…>
As I was about to go on, a glimpse of Gregor’s expression I caught from the side stopped me in my tracks.
His eyes seemed to be fixed somewhere far more distant than the driver’s seat.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Don’t get me wrong, Manager Bud, I’m not trying to criticize you or anything. Heck, it’s actually a pretty standup attitude for a boss, I’d say.
He slowly continued, taking a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Still, ignorance is a gift you should savor while you have it, if you ask me.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Once you’re burdened with knowledge, there’s no going back.
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 cackled with cigarette smoke still in his 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.
An urgent matter showed up right before our bus-shaped doorstep, too.
	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, fuel is making a fuss. Charon will get dizzy if many mouths are 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?
Looking at the trio arguing over the map once again, a question arose in my mind.
	Manager DANTE	<By the way, this bus was specifically made 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 appear to be failing to identify 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 that 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 driverside figure out the way. Can’t sleep a wink with their constant bickering.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	Faust is no meddler. She answers to questions, but doesn’t chime in 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 so vitriolic…>
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Huh. You and me both, Manager Bud. You and me both.
With Gregor’s snickers, the bus started again.

1-8: Pests

Rodya looks out the window at the Backstreets
before flinching abruptly.
Her eyes fell on a group of people with the heads of bugs.
Then, Gregor's expression shifted as well.
It was not out of flinching disgust like Rodya, though.

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: Aboard Mephistopheles
	Sinner #9 RODION	Bweh… Greg, you know those pals?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Huh? Gimme a break… There’s no way I’d know someone in this corner of the Backstreets―
Gregor’s face goes dark the moment he looks out the window.
	Manager DANTE	<…Bug heads?>
Unlike the other miscreants we’ve run into, they were part insectoid.
	Sinner #9 RODION	Gosh… Dante, thank goodness your head’s shaped like a clock. I would’ve gagged if my manager was a huge bug.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	Isn’t that… the same type of augmentation you have, Gregor?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	They stitch disgusting insect heads to their necks on purpose?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	You’d better stay away. Wouldn’t want to catch the pest, ‘ne?
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	Eek, is that true?!
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Just a joke… Does my sense of humor not fly with kids your age?
While Gregor was left scratching his head, the bus made a languishing sound and came to a slow, deflating halt.
	Sinner #2 FAUST	In the past, G Corp. had procedures on most employees to give them biomimetic weapons like the one Gregor has.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	You used to work for the old G Corp, Gregor? That company must’ve been…
Ishmael frowned as if she remembered something unpleasant, but didn’t speak further.
Gregor wore a smile on his mouth, but his hardened eyes were resting downcast, just as a moment ago.
	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.
	b|6]}	Aha, so they’re the poetic sort!
	Manager DANTE	<I don’t think that’s what he meant…>
	Guide Vergilius	And, unless my eyes deceive me, they’re intent on obstructing our journey.
	Guide Vergilius	Aren’t you going to get off, Gregor?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Care to explain why you’re calling my name specifically?
	Guide Vergilius	Who knows. I don’t feel like rambling about someone else’s past with my own tongue.
	Guide Vergilius	Take the lead, Gregor. You know the reason.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	…You’re one nasty fellow.
Location: Some Backstreets of District 4
A group of soldiers with the heads of insects gathered near the bus.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	Bah… I’m not too fond of being in the vanguard.
	??? 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. Don’t think we have the time for reminiscing.
	??? 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	Why are they showing their buggy sides out in the open, anyway?
	Sinner #9 RODION	They’d make kids cry. Really ought to take some concealing lessons from our Greg over here, right?
	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’d 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 so.
	Guide Vergilius	There ought to be many that are after the essence.
	Guide Vergilius	…And I’m sure each has their own wishes. Isn’t that true?
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	What’s that look for? I haven’t got a clue, either.

1-9: Guides

After a number of scuffles and scrapes, we arrived
at an old Lobotomy Corporation branch. Near the entrance,
new faces were waiting for us…

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 had to steer you from both sides nonstop.
	Sinner #11 SINCLAIR	I’m glad that at least you learned to tell the difference between southeast and northeast, Charon.
	Manager DANTE	<So this is… the old L Corp?>
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	This is my first time seeing it with my own eyes, too… It can’t have been long since ‘that’ happened.
	Sinner #6 HONG LU	My goodness… How can a building be in such a derelict state?
	Sinner #7 HEATHCLIFF	Hah, this is a surprising scene for our rich boy, is it.
	Guide Vergilius	Cut the chatter. Time to step off.
District 4 - LC 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’re experienced explorers who have visited the branches of L Corp. a number of times.
	Guide Vergilius	Give your greetings. The person on the left is Hopkins, and the one on the right is Aya.
	Grade 8 Fixer Aya	Greetings~
	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, and to see you in person…
	Guide Vergilius	Myeah.
	Guide Vergilius	See the shabby warehouse there? That’s where the stairs leading down to the branch facility are.
	Guide Vergilius	From there, Yuri here will be your guide.
	Grade 8 Fixer Yuri	…Yeah.
	Guide Vergilius	These Fixers have been around a bit. Count on them to handle 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	So you’ll take a back seat and idle away all alone?
	Guide Vergilius	If I get myself involved, the expedition would be a little too free of challenge, wouldn’t it? It’d turn into more of a tour.
	Sinner #13 GREGOR	…In other words, you want us to come back red, black, and blue.
	Sinner #8 ISHMAEL	That’s the kind of line people with ulterior motives say…
	Guide Vergilius	Think whatever you want.
	Guide Vergilius	I’ve gotten you guides and everything, so do your best down there.
	Grade 8 Fixer Hopkins	Yes! I certainly won’t disappoint you, Mister Red Gaze!
	Grade 8 Fixer Aya	I’ll try my best, I think~

1-10: Grade 8 Fixers

Just before we entered the LC branch facility,
Vergilius stopped me all of a sudden. It seems
that he has something to say to me alone.

Pre-battle

Speaker		Dialogue
Location: District 4 - LC Branch Exterior
	Guide Vergilius	…Dante. A moment with me, please.
While the team was busy exchanging greetings, Vergilius called me to a secluded place.
	Guide Vergilius	Let me tell you in advance that they’re only Grade 8 Fixers.
	Manager DANTE	<Grade 8?>
	Guide Vergilius	…It means they’re low-rank drudges, errands being their main tasks.
	Guide Vergilius	Use them for your benefit, but don’t rely on them.
	Manager DANTE	<I can’t count on them to deal with everything for us, in other words.>
I nodded to let him know that I understood his point.
	Guide Vergilius	…You might be the only one on the bus I can actually converse with.
	Guide Vergilius	…Well, best of luck, Dante.
Vergilius pat my shoulder with a bitter smile before slowly making his way back to the bus.

1-11: Branch D-02

Main article: Branch D-02/Floor 1