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Supply Run
Episode 1
Location: Hearsay
Rover
Executive Manager
...Huh?
Empty.
The pantry was empty.
I usually keep adequate supplies for everyone in the Bus so that the sinners complain a lot less, but somehow they managed to clean out everything without my knowledge.
Next to me was Hán Jìn, who leaned over to check with me. I think he wanted to make some coffee.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Um, Manager…? Did we run out of everything already?
Rover
Executive Manager
That’s strange. I bought enough groceries to last us two weeks. How did we run out so quickly?
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Did you make sure we split everything evenly? We do have a list to separate among the fourteen of us.
Maybe I was calculating things wrong?
I don’t think I did, because just as he said that, some of the others peeked in to see what we were dealing with.
Dearil
Sinner #8
Fufu, look at that! We’ve got no eggs, no flour, no sugar, nothing! I’m starving!
Cám
Sinner #4
We’re starving, idiot! I was gonna make you bake some cookies for me.
Dearil
Sinner #8
What?! Why would you even think I would bake something for you?! Especially not after you broke the oven!
Cám
Sinner #4
That wasn’t me!
Already, Dearil and Cam are arguing over food—Food that we don’t even have at the moment.
This kind of banter was pretty normal, at least.
Rover
Executive Manager
How did we even manage to run out of eggs? We bought three dozen last time…
Dearil
Sinner #8
Hum… Probably because Arne was throwing some at our fuel?
Rover
Executive Manager
She what?
Dearil
Sinner #8
Never mind.
...Right. Looks like this is going to be trouble.
I could only sigh. After all, the groceries wouldn’t come back anyhow…
Rover
Executive Manager
…I guess we’re due for another supply run…
Some of the others widened their eyes.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Supply run…
Alice
Sinner #3
Supply run...
Most of the others looked displeased by this information. It meant having to go find a store before our Guide finds out we ran out of…everything.
Might also be because we'll have to work together, and that could go wrong in many ways.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Locating a grocery store should be fairly easy within this area.
Alice
Sinner #3
The last time was a disaster, so I don't expect everyone to work as efficiently this time.
Dearil
Sinner #8
Oh wings, Alice, you can't just say that! Maybe talk to Gretel about it, actually, I don’t know.
Alice
Sinner #3
...Why Gretel?
Dearil
Sinner #8
You didn't mean it, yeah? Anywho, we should go already so I can buy more chips.
Cám
Sinner #4
I want this brand of candy, and this brand of juice, and…
Sigh.
I can only hope this goes smoothly before the others find us.
Episode 2
Location: A Grocery Store
Gretel
Sinner #7
Three dozen eggs, five packs of sugar, ten packs of coffee.
Rover
Executive Manager
S-Slow down…!
Dearil
Sinner #8
Ow! Hurry up and grab it already!
Cám
Sinner #4
I’m TRYING! This shelf’s too high for both of us! Who even designed this store?!
They're all following me. That was good.
What wasn't as good was the chaos I was leaving on my trail.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
We forgot a few things on the list…
Alice
Sinner #3
This sucks. What's the point of the list if we aren't gonna follow it in the first place?
I don’t know what I expected. Bringing so many of the sinners with me was probably not the best idea…
Rover
Executive Manager
Ahh...you guys worry me sometimes...
Gretel
Sinner #7
Manager.
Rover
Executive Manager
What is it, Gretel?
Gretel obediently pushes the cart alongside me. The commotion isn’t bothering her at all, or so I think.
Her eyes scanned around, carefully.
Gretel
Sinner #7
I overheard some conversations from the employees here.
Rover
Executive Manager
Oh, that's nice.
She doesn’t usually make comments like that…
Rover
Executive Manager
Did you hear anything good?
Gretel
Sinner #7
All I can say is that we should be careful. The Middle is apparently on their way here.
Rover
Executive Manager
...Wait, what? Should we be worried?
There was no answer.
Was that some kind of warning? I couldn’t tell.
The Middle.
What was their problem again?
Alice
Sinner #3
Awfully vague of you.
Alice was right to say that, but I shrugged it off, not wanting to make too much of a conversation while we were doing something important.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
This should be good enough.
Our cart was obscenely full.
Dearil
Sinner #8
Think we got too much.
Rover
Executive Manager
Yes, I think so too…Why do we have so many different cuts of meat?
Gretel looked away as I began to double-check. This was definitely a bit over our budget, but I couldn’t bring myself to care so much about funds. I just hoped we covered everything we actually needed.
Dearil
Sinner #8
We gotta have SOME variety in our food.
Alice
Sinner #3
It's all the same to me.
Cám
Sinner #4
Wait just a second! You're forgetting that I have very specific needs that you all need to address carefully!
Dearil
Sinner #8
Dooooon't care. Whoopsies!
Cám
Sinner #4
ACK!! WHY'D YOU DROP ME?!
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Haha, um…Should we check out already?
Rover
Executive Manager
Please.
We proceeded to the counter so we could check out everything in our cart. As we did, crowds of people started leaving.
Some looked afraid, and others panicked.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Huh. That's quite a number.
This was a strange sight indeed. I began to wonder if we should check it out.
Alice
Sinner #3
...Fuck. Wait.
The cashier on our counter, as soon as they finished scanning the last item, suddenly left.
I remembered the words Gretel spoke of.
Trying to put everything in our bag, I gestured to the others.
Then, we heard music.
One I swear I've listened to before.
Little Brother
The Middle
Make way! Move! Make way, make way! The Middle is here to raid!
...Great. To think we were just finishing up.
Several Little Siblings marched their way to the entrance of the store, pushing whoever aside with great force.
Soon, their leader would stand before everyone.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Hawhawhaw!!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
We’ve got lots to do, dear siblings! A whole party’s worth of groceries, waiting before us. Gotta prepare to have a blast, first and foremost. Ain’t that right?
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
(They’re just here to shop like we are…?)
Dearil
Sinner #8
(More like raid, but wow, who knew?)
The sinners who were with me couldn’t help but stare at the flashiness of the Middle. We’ve definitely come across them before, but it wasn’t for good reasons.
To get into specifics would take me a while to even try and think about.
Gretel
Sinner #7
I had warned of this a while ago.
Gretel
Sinner #7
We must make way before they notice. Please keep your heads low.
Rover
Executive Manager
You're right. Let's quickly walk past.
We began to move, one by one. Some of the Little Siblings glared at us as we brushed against them.
Fate was not exactly on our side, because as I walked, the Big Brother quickly took notice.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Whoa, whoa whoa. Where do you think you folks are going?
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Not even gonna show an ounce of respect towards me? Huh?
Rover
Executive Manager
S-So sorry, sir.
The Big Brother sighed, scoffing. Oh no.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
(Look down...Look down...!)
He leaned closer, and closer to me. Beads of sweat rolled down my face.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Say, haven’t I seen you before?
Rover
Executive Manager
I-I don’t think so…?
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Hmmm.
Rover
Executive Manager
B-But maybe in passing, since you're a really respectable figure! I have a bad memory, you see.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Huh. Alright then.
A Big Brother was someone we definitely shouldn’t mess with, or so I’ve heard from the others. Luckily, they knew better than to say anything at all.
He was about to signal for us to pass, when someone suddenly speaks up.
Cám
Sinner #4
Ugh, this is taking too long. Move, baldy! We’re going home!
Dearil
Sinner #8
C-Cám, what the fuck?!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
...What did you just say?
Silence fell. In those few seconds, I could hear the sounds of everyone's racing heartbeats.
Someone didn't get the memo, even with warnings.
Little Brother
The Middle
Put some respect on the Big Brother’s name, you—!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Hold it, Little Bro. I got this.
The Big Brother takes the book on his hip chain. He flipped through it, checking through its contents.
Was that the Book of Vengeance?
He closes the book with a harsh thump.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Haah...
At the second sigh, I noticed the Little Siblings began to step away, making room for their leader.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
See that? Your gang made me sigh twice. Not to mention, you insulted me. Calling me bald? Really?
Cám
Sinner #4
Uh...
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
(Eek!)
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Title 8, Section 5, Row C. In the event of foul language against a Big Brother who has trouble with their...Hm. Anywho. Punishment? The complete extermination of all involved parties, starting with the insulter.
Dearil
Sinner #8
Goddammit!!!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Hear that? It’s your lucky day, folks. Remember that the Middle doesn’t forget.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Siblings, keep up the raid. I’ll cover this one. Bwahaha! Meet me outside, right now.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Don’t even think you’ll get away with this.
This was going to be painful.
He turns away, with us having no choice but to follow suit.
Dearil
Sinner #8
We are so fucked.
(Cám was silent, looking down in shame.)
Alice
Sinner #3
You're so fucking stupid.
Cám might be regretting her words now.
Regret isn’t going to save us from the beating we’re surely about to get, though.
Rover
Executive Manager
Do your best, everyone.
Episode 3
Location: Outside the Grocery Store
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
What a joke. See that? I can crack your skull open like nothing.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
I heard about you guys, from some time ago. Something about coming back like nothing ever happened.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
You think you can come back from this? AFTER YOU CALLED ME BALD?!
Cám
Sinner #4
But you are…bald…
SLAM!
He slammed her body to a wall, laughing maniacally as he did so.
I tried backing away.
I can’t bring everyone back forever. Not while we’re already on the list.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
No matter how many times you come back, the Middle will find our way to make you pay your debts.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Keep your whines coming! I’ll hunt each of you down to the very last!
Even if we were to run, they’ll find us.
What should I do from here?
Gretel
Sinner #7
.....
Gretel
Sinner #7
There is much to do in this world.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Someone special to me said this, once.
Gretel
Sinner #7
I have long since lost the will to live as I once wished.
Gretel spoke to me with a solemn tone.
She of all people would know what horrors are within this City.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Rather, I never believed in having a will.
Her need to protect me was admirable.
But how long can she keep this up?
Gretel
Sinner #7
This does not mean others are the same.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Please do what you can, Manager.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Still alive? You won’t be in a minute.
He lept towards her. I could only watch from afar.
Episode 4
Dearil
Sinner #8
HRK–!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Gotta love the way this one loses the light in his eyes. Let’s see, who else are we missing?
I rewind, and rewind.
Each new pain I feel grows worse, so much that my body is shaking from fatigue.
I knew that Limbus Company already had problems with the Middle, but having to be a witness for this punishment…
...was utterly humiliating, even for me.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
There were plenty of other reasons why you guys are on the Book of Vengeance, you know! But pointing out my head? That was the last straw.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Manager…
I thought I would get used to it by now—The shaky voices of my sinners calling for my name.
They would always get the job done. That’s why I trusted them despite everything.
Gretel
Sinner #7
I do not believe…I will be backing down anytime soon…
Gretel
Sinner #7
So long as you are still alive.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Huh! Would you look at that? See, I was wondering how you gnats were rising every time, but I figured it out.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
This’ll stop when I crush that guy, right?
Gretel
Sinner #7
No...
The Big Brother pointed his finger at me.
It was becoming difficult to breathe. I found myself on the ground.
Gretel
Sinner #7
…I refuse.
Yet, Gretel stood in front of me. She wasn’t in her best state either.
Her legs were already stumbling, as if she could fall anytime.
Her will hasn’t been broken yet.
Or maybe, as she said, there never was one in the first place.
That was what I had thought too.
Gretel
Sinner #7
I won't let him hurt you.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
What brave words from such a small girl. Fine, let’s keep at it then!
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Until you’re nothing but stains on the ground. Hawhaw!
Gretel glances towards me, one more time.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Hgh...
Gretel
Sinner #7
I believe it would be best you considered your options, Manager.
Gretel
Sinner #7
If those legs can still carry your body…
Gretel
Sinner #7
Then we will surely find our way.
She was telling me to run.
There wasn’t anything I could say to her. That was my mistake.
She held her weapon and charged against the prideful Big Brother.
While I held the chains again as blood spilled from my mouth.
Episode 5
Location: Outside the Grocery Store
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Well, well. Your little army is down to one again.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Had enough yet?
Gretel
Sinner #7
Hah...Hah...
Rover
Executive Manager
Gretel.
My own voice is hoarse too. There was practically no hope in this situation.
If I ran away now, I would leave Gretel—Everyone—behind. That wasn’t an option at all.
But if we keep going, it’ll be an endless torment for everyone.
Rover
Executive Manager
...It's going to be okay.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
The nerve!
I don't want to die.
I don't want to leave them.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Hold onto me.
Gretel
Sinner #7
Please.
Reluctantly, I cling to her. What else could I do? Everything’s getting hazy.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
I’ll make sure there’s nothing left to bring—Ow!
Just then, something gets thrown at Fabio.
....
A rock?
No, it was worse than that. The Big Brother couldn’t possibly be this affected by a throw that he’s rubbing his shoulder in pain.
Something is in the darkness.
The sound of whistling silences all three of us.
A happy tune to end the day.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
What the? Who the hell are you?! Did I really get a rock thrown at me by some...some goblin?
The silhouette felt like someone I knew, but I couldn’t put a finger on why.
Still, green eyes stare down in the short distance, and I suddenly felt my heart racing again, sensing a grave danger.
As I held onto Gretel, her expression changed into one I have never seen from her in my entire stay in this company.
Horror.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
Quit your staring! I’m busy her—WHAAAAAA!!!!!
A flurry of appendages pulls the Big Brother closer to the figure. Flesh warped before my very eyes.
Where my sinners could barely land a scratch, this stranger effortlessly dragged him up in the air.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
WHAT THE FUCK?! PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN!!!
I thought those hands of his could easily crush bone into a fine powder.
His pride and strength disappeared all in one go.
When the figure spoke, the air became twice heavier than it already was.
???
???
That's enough.
Though I couldn’t see much, the sounds of the Big Brother’s terrified screams, the sounds of crunching and grinding all mixed into one terrible cacophony.
Fabio
Big Brother of the Middle
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
This man, whom I swore was impossible to defeat, was crushed and devoured by something else before our very eyes.
Hearing it was far too horrible for either of us to bear.
And Gretel, not meaning to drop me, fell onto her knees.
Gretel
Sinner #7
It can't be...
Rover
Executive Manager
Gretel? What’s happening?
My question fell on deaf ears, as expected.
Her body shook. So much that I couldn’t even reach out and see what’s wrong.
We were not alone either.
Gretel
Sinner #7
H…Ha—
SNAP!
A green flash, and her head is immediately decapitated. The body falls limp, right onto my own.
My last hope, gone.
Something flickered in my chest. I could always bring them back.
Will I have to run against my own wishes?
Questions swirled in the back of my mind as the figure walked closer towards me. Maybe this was the death of our department.
Rover
Executive Manager
Who are you?
The end of my life draws near.
How could I still ask that, after all this time?
???
???
……
His voice felt kinder. It was strained.
???
???
S…Someone…who was…never supposed to be here…
Strained, like he was struggling to speak.
I couldn't see his face at all.
???
???
I…have heard…many stories about you, R…Rover…
Rover
Executive Manager
You know my name.
???
???
Yes. And…you have heard…of mine.
The familiarity of his voice shook me to the core, but this time, I didn’t feel as afraid to ask questions.
Rover
Executive Manager
Why did you help us?
A pause.
He looks to the side of my body, towards Gretel’s severed head. For a fleeting moment, I felt a new pain.
Did he know her?
???
???
Consider this…a favor. F…For now.
???
???
Someday, she’ll…she’ll find out about me, and…it’ll change everything…
???
???
Take care of her until then…Okay?
It clicked.
But I knew better than to reply.
I nodded, watching him walk away without saying another word.
The night grew darker.
Soon, two headlights shined upon the mess that was left.
Episode 6
Location: Hearsay
Wendell
Sinner #14
Whoa, what the hell happened to you guys?
Somehow, we managed to save most of the groceries we bought.
Everyone else looked embarrassed, not wanting to talk about what just happened.
I didn't tell them that the Big Brother had died. How could I possibly explain that?
For most, it was deeply out of our bounds. I still had to be honest.
Rover
Executive Manager
We fought the Middle.
Wendell
Sinner #14
Oh. You did? I thought the company was already on that old book of theirs.
Dearil
Sinner #8
This is all your fault, Cám!
Dearil practically yelled, being the first to speak amongst the others who were with me.
He only barely managed to keep his cool.
Cám
Sinner #4
Like I don’t already know that!
Dearil
Sinner #8
Well, I sure hope you do. Cause you’re not living this down, ever.
Cám
Sinner #4
Ughhh!!!
Frustrated, Cám walked off towards the corridor, presumably to her room.
Dearil could only shake his head otherwise.
Hán Jìn
Sinner #6
Did we put everything on the shelves yet?
Alice
Sinner #3
I’ll do it.
While the others got to work, I looked over towards Gretel.
She was staring at the window of the bus.
Her expression wasn’t the same horror I saw a while ago, but it felt more like confusion.
I couldn't even blame her.
Gretel
Sinner #7
…I don’t understand.
Giving her a single pat on the shoulder, I tried to give some reassurance, because I was the only other person who knew.
She couldn't even look back.
With a sigh, I moved past her to help Alice unpack.
Nothing could be said to comfort her over this new predicament.
Her world view had changed before I could do a thing.