[video]

[sicharia]

Hello. [The person seated in front of the library terminal is a pale, white-haired woman dressed in something reminiscent of a nun's habit, though there's nothing to cover her head. One of her yellow eyes is covered with an eyepatch. She tries to smile and does about as well as one might expect of a person in her situation, the expression both pinched and weak.] My name is Claudia Kotomine. I've—just arrived.

[There's definitely some uncertainty in her voice about how she should describe the situation, but nonetheless, she carries on.] If there are any other members of the Holy Church here, I'd like to hear from them as soon as possible. Or— Anyone else I'm acquainted with. And, mm, even if there aren't...

[She trails off momentarily, her one visible eye flicking away from the terminal as she considers something. Her lips purse together for a moment, and then she sighs. Well, she doesn't want to be ungrateful—at least she's able to eat—but—]

Ah, it's just that the kitchen seems equipped to do a lot more than it currently is! [She laughs, but the sound is nervous.] Is the food always in the state that it is now? I just thought—if there are better ingredients around anywhere, I could make something nicer. I'm more than willing to share with anyone who helps me with this, so...

...Ah, in any case, thank you for your time. [She forces another slight smile.] If there's anything you would like to ask of me in turn, I'm happy to assist or answer you to the best of my ability.

[For those that would prefer action, immediately after this she can be found browsing the library (and frustrating herself with her inability to find anything of immediate use), and later on she'll be investigating the thirteenth floor/the cathedral.]

Comments

[sicharia]

Mm, I hope so, too. I'll be careful, so thank you for your help.

[She smiles, grateful for what information he had been able to give her.]

I see. If that's the case, why not ask your Servant to take care of the issue, then?

[Normally, she wouldn't advocate using a Servant against someone like that, but she's much less inclined to be generous to child murderers.]

[vermicompost]

If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. Even if I can't help you, my Servant could.

[As for Ryuunosuke...]

He could kill him... Or I could kill him. He's not a magus. I would. But what good would it do? He'd just come back.

Besides... [Kariya feels a bit uncomfortable about this topic.] He enjoys it.

[sicharia]

Of course. Don't worry about me too much, though. This won't be the first time I've dealt with monsters.

[She doesn't say that she can't really fight them herself. She wouldn't want to be a bother, after all.]

[She had meant that Berserker could "collect" him, if there are jail cells, but...]

He...enjoys it?

[vermicompost]

All right. I won't. If you're sure. You've fought them for the church?

[Kariya's view of her words is a little colored by his own run-in with Ryuunosuke. Berserker collecting him would probably be a better idea, though.]

Being killed. Or injured. I don't understand it.

[He really doesn't.]

[sicharia]

Mm. [It's not really a yes or a no, but it sounds like she's agreeing.] I assisted many exorcists, before the War.

[She really isn't sure how to take this new information about Ryuunosuke. There's a moment or two where she only stares.]

He really is a deviant. [That's what she decides on, eventually.] ...Ah, but I had meant that Berserker could collect him, couldn't he? If there are cells to keep him in.

[vermicompost]

I see. I don't know much about that.

[Kariya's not a religious man.]

These won't be the same as the monsters you know. So please be very careful. I'd recommend returning to the dormitories well before night.

He is. [Religious or not, he can agree on that.] Oh. [He hopes he didn't sound too eager to harm him. He did hurt him, but he doesn't want to mention that.] You're right. That would be a better idea. I don't know if it will work in the long run. I might have to keep Berserker there to keep him there, and I need him to protect other people, too.

But it's worth trying. Maybe other people would want to help, too.

[sicharia]

Don't worry. I'm not foolish. I'm used to dealing with monsters, but I was only a tool. I know I'm not strong enough to fight them on my own.

I don't see why they wouldn't. Keeping a horrible person like that locked up would be to everyone's benefit, don't you think? [She offers him another slight, grim smile.] In any case, it's better to try and fail than to do nothing and let someone like that do as they please.

[vermicompost]

I believe you. I'm sure you know what you're doing.

Yes, I talked about something like that with Waver--someone else here in the tower--but things keep happening, and we never got the chance to do anything. Things always happen here.

You're right, it's better to try. [He feels a new sense of determination at her words.]

I know there are other dangerous people here. We should do more about them, if we can.

[sicharia]

[She nods, both to acknowledge and agree with his words.] I agree. From the sounds of things, we all have enough to worry about here without having to concern ourselves with people like that. I don't know how much I can do to help, but please let me know if there's anything.