Storyteller: Last time we spoke—
Citizen VI: Lùshǔ the Xiángruì came to the human world to go through the god's test, but she repented!
Storyteller: Exactly. She had been troubled by the repentance until the New Year's Eve. That night, her tutor straightened her out, and she was very grateful. After that, she bid him goodbye and went to the broken bridge alone.
Wooden Doll: Ms. Mouth! Ms. Mouth!
The candles are dim. The place is clearly deserted.
As the paper floats into the room through the window, a wooden doll eagerly rushes up to it.
Pandora Wilson: Are you … Ms. Jiǔ's arcane creation?
Wooden Doll: A message, a message.
The wooden doll jumps on a piece of paper.
Pandora Wilson: … I can't believe she couldn't even keep her promise to me.
The tone is mocking, yet intimate. It has only been a few days she has stayed with her, but they have become quite familiar with each other.
The farewell letter left for Pandora is unfolded, with a crude drawing of a person carrying a package on the paper. The figure has a bun on its head with a liquor ladle sticking out from it.
Below the drawing, a few words are written roughly, as if they have been copied from somewhere else.
Pandora Wilson: "Alright," "Xiángruì," "Goodbye"…
Pandora Wilson: It seems like she has found her own way of walking through walls.
The night sky outside the window is bright, and firecrackers ring out—it is a night of celebration.
The streets are filled with a sense of peace and tranquility. Firecracker debris is scattered on the ground, silently indicating the excitement of the previous night.
Jiǔ Niángzǐ's tavern is deserted. Its door left wide open, with not a drop of liquor left in any of the jars.
The foreigners hurriedly make their way towards the city gate.
Bessmert: Hm? What's this …?
Yenisei: What is it, Madam Bessmert?
Bessmert: No, it's nothing. It's just that there is a strange business card in my backpack with Braille engraved on it. It seems to say … "UTTU"?
Yenisei: What's that?
Bessmert: I'm not sure. Maybe a magazine, or a novel. I feel like I know it from somewhere … It sounds very familiar to me.
Yenisei: I see. My mother never allowed me to read books for leisure, and after joining this expedition, I really had no time for reading ... I suppose I know nothing about these kinds of things.
Yenisei: Once we get out of here, I'll help you find more information about it. Don't worry.
Bessmert: Thank you, child.
They go far away, and their voices are muffled and inaudible.
The tavern door stands open, and a white letter floats up from the table, shaking off the dust that had settled on it overnight.
Before her lay another sheet of paper. The local chronicle has been completed. The cover depicts a girl with a backpack and bun and a silver hairpin, as if drawn by hand.
Pandora Wilson: Before my old friend knocks on the door of UTTU Magazine—
Pandora Wilson: We obviously have our own business to attend to.
