Persona 2: Innocent Sin Novel, Chapter 1 (English Translation)
“......would you do? Huh? Anna? Anna-senpai.”
Knocking into the table in front of her, Anna Yoshizaka was finally pulled from her daydreaming. When she looked up, she was met with a gentle-faced boy with wavy brown hair. Despite the dyed brown hair and piercings, the boy had a baby face and was hardly intimidating.
Upon noticing his attempt to talk to her, Anna spat out a “What.” The baby-faced boy, Mitsuo Shimazaki, looked visibly upset, his lips curled into a sour expression.
“Jeeze, you’re awful. ‘The hell. I’ve been tryin’ my hardest to talk to you, but you’re totally ignoring me. You’ll make me cry,” He imitates wiping tears away to accompany the exaggeration.
Mitsuo is a persistent guy. While most tried their best to avoid talking to Anna, known for being callous and asocial, this boy didn’t care.
The setting is Club Zodiac, in Yumesaki district. The area is a popular hang-out among high school students. The inside of the club isn’t very spacious, and it was packed today. The booming bass shook the entire building, and the venue was enveloped in a haze of cigarette smoke.
“What story?” Anna asked in an uninterested tone. Mitsuo ceased his mock crying, then leaned himself across the tabletop.
“Listen carefully now. Joker, the story about Joker.”
“Joker? Like from a deck of cards?”
“No, no. You’re telling me you seriously haven’t heard anything about it, Anna?” Mitsuo wagged his finger vigorously. “It’s a rumor that’s been going around lately. A-Ru-mor!” He enunciated the last part in a staccato beat.
Anna took a cigarette out of her jacket pocket and stuck it between her lips, losing further interest.
Mitsuo loved rumors. Anna couldn’t understand it. Why would you concern yourself with the business of others? All the people who visit the club—no, even with people who don’t frequent the club, it’s the same thing. Everyone’s starved for rumors. Everyone’s eager to gather rumors about people they don’t even know and gossip gleefully with their friends. Your average ghost story, an uninteresting blunder, an obvious and nonsensical lie, or some celebrity’s scandal. It doesn’t matter what it is. You’re subjected to constant blathering of “hey, have you heard...…?” so that people can feel some sort of solidarity with one another.
“It’s an interesting story, but also pretty freaky. When you dial your own number into your cell phone, normally you’re just told that the line is busy. But without even knowing it, this is how you connect to Joker. And then when you ask ‘Where are you Joker?’ you’ll hear a voice, and Joker will appear right behind you…...aaaaaggggghhh!” One of the club’s regulars had accidentally bumped into him from behind, causing him to scream.
Anna brushed her bangs out of her face, and exhaled a thin plume of smoke, asking, “What’s Joker?”
“I’m not really sure. The school newspaper is in the middle of finding that out.”
There are two high schools in Sumaru City. There’s Seven Sisters high school that Anna attends, and Kasugayama high school, in Hirasaka district. Seven Sisters, frequently referred to as just “Sevens”, is said to host a student body that excels in both studies and sports. On the other hand, when compared to Sevens’ prestige, Kasugayama (nicknamed “Cuss”) has a shoddy reputation, and is a rival school of sorts.
Mitsuo is a member of Sevens’ school newspaper. Anna is somewhat acquainted with the boy, having had exchanges regarding some apparent “Tragic Star of Seven Sisters High School” article. After many attempts to drive him away, it looked as though he’d finally given up on the interview, but even still she’d continue to get pestered. The boy had nonchalantly stated “It’s because I’m a fan of yours.”
“According to the rumor, he’s apparently a terrifying boy who wears a mask. Upon summoning him, he’ll grant the caller a wish. However, if the caller doesn’t have a wish to tell him, he’ll steal your ability to dream, turning you into a shadowman.”
“Shadowman?”
“Dunno exactly, that’s just what the rumor says. I actually tried testing it out but nothing happened. Either Joker wasn’t interested in me or he’s been busy with all the other calls he’s been getting…...one of those two.” Mitsuo laughed. “And so that’s what I was asking you, if it were you, what would your wish be? What would you do? If it’s true and you could have anything, what would it be?”
Anna didn’t reply. She muttered “ridiculous” as she put her cigarette back in her mouth. Some girls who were listening in nearby drew closer. It seemed they were interested in Mitsuo’s gossip.
One of the girls began excitedly speaking of one of her friends who had summoned Joker, so she wanted to try it herself but ultimately couldn’t find the courage. The girl trilled on gratingly like a little bird. Anna stood up.
“Huh, you leaving, Anna? Hey wait, please wait!” Anna made her way to the exit, without sparing a glance back at Mitsuo’s flustered voice. The laughter from the group of girls seemed to deliberately become louder. Anna felt relieved as she walked away.
When she exited the building, she was greeted by the pale moon hanging in the night sky. As Anna began to walk she stumbled a bit on uneven pavement, then steadied herself with a wall. She clenched her teeth, then let out a sullen sigh. An onlooker would be able to see that Anna was lightly dragging her foot along. She’d been told that the effects of the incident would never go away. There was no hindrance to her everyday life. But sometimes she still feels like a grotesque failure.
To escape the public eye, she retreated into a dark alleyway. The foul stench stung her nose. A fat cat fished for leftovers among restaurants’ food waste. As soon as the cat saw Anna, it meowed loudly at her before running away. Anna definitely didn’t usually take this road. She didn’t know why, but she felt like killing some time here tonight. Since the brightness of the main street didn’t reach this far, it’d be easy for anyone to forget about this place.
She leaned against the wall and took another cigarette out. It was only when she lit it and took a drag that she was able to calm herself down. After a long smoke she threw the cigarette on the ground and crushed it underneath her shoe. While readjusting the bag on her shoulder, she suddenly remembered the story from earlier.
It’s a rumor. A-Ru-mor.
That obnoxious staccato. How stupid. Everyone wants common topic of discussion, so they fabricate rumors to entertain themselves. Joker? What a dull children’s tale. It’s complete nonsense.
Anna stuffed a hand into her bag and tore out her rarely-used cell phone. She promptly dialed her own number. As she pressed it up to her ear, she sighed at how stupid she felt. What’ll happen? Her thoughts and her actions contradicted each other. She hadn’t drank, but she was certainly acting drunk. She was acting like an idiot. She didn’t believe the stories of the school newspaper even a little. What the hell was up with her?
She couldn’t hear anything.
Waste of time, she grumbled, pressing the end call button.
Ring, ring, ring…
Suddenly, her phone rang. Startled, she clutched her phone tightly. What...was that noise? She’s probably just hearing things. No, the phone’s definitely still ringing.
No way. This can’t be. When you dial your own number into your phone, you’re supposed to hear a tone that indicates that the line is busy. But that didn’t happen. With a click sound, the ringing was cut off. Completely dumbfounded, Anna stared at the phone screen. She pressed the phone to her ear once more and inhaled slowly.
She couldn’t hear anything. However, she could sense that someone was on the other end.
This wasn’t an accident. She was definitely connected to someone right now. But who? Anna asked in a hushed voice, “Are you Joker?”
From the other end came a deep laugh. It was cold as it resonated clearly. Anna nearly dropped her phone, but she quickly caught it.
“Where are you? Joker.”
“Behind you.”
The voice didn’t come from the phone, it came from behind her. Anna took the phone away from her ear and whipped around. She saw a slender silhouette, blocking the alleyway. She could faintly make out the waxy white figure in the dim light. A wide smile. A delicate purple pattern under the single eye depicted. From both sides of his headpiece stuck out peculiar decorations. Along with the mask, his bizarre guise made Anna flinch.
“I am Joker. What is your wish?”
Anna was speechless. Impossible, for such an absurd rumor to be true. She must be dreaming. Anna silently stared at the strange figure.
The mask’s mouth laughed. The corners of the lips turned up, a menacing red. Joker slowly took a step forward, and lightly spread out both arms.
“What’s wrong? Are you not aware of the rules? Those who summon me and have no wish face judgement. Their ability to dream is taken from them and their existence is forgotten by others, rendering them a living corpse––that is, a shadowman.”
It’s the same. It’s the exact same story Mitsuo told.
Anna didn’t find this very funny. She felt like she was being pranked. Her expression remained frozen, unable to look away from that smile.
—She didn’t have a dream.
By summoning Joker, she’d made a grave mistake. It was finally setting in that this was all real.
“What is your wish?” Joker repeated his question. Anna shook her head slightly. Joker’s voice had a trace of amusement when he said, “Can’t say? If that’s the case, then in accordance with the rules, you must forfeit your vitality. Surrender your ability to dream to me...”
“...I don’t,” Anna replied, “I don’t dream.” When she said that, she was finally able to calm down a bit.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have a dream. Ever since an accident I had, that sort of thing’s been completely useless to me.”
“Accident?” Joker asked in return.
She’d made an unnecessary comment. Anna remained silent.
Joker brought a slender finger to the chin of the mask in contemplation, and after some time, spoke up. “I see. You’re Anna Yoshizaka of Seven Sisters high school. It was a traffic accident that brought your athletic career to an end...”
“Why the hell do you know that?” Anna asked in shock.
Joker ignored her question, and instead said, “Since that’s the case, your wish has been decided. Your leg will be healed and you shall run once more.”
Anna stared at Joker unblinkingly. To be able to run again? To be able to return to her best life? Did Joker think that Anna would be so tearfully overcome with emotion that she’d pledge her allegiance to him on the spot? Joker motionlessly observed her reaction.
However, Anna was calm. Joker’s proposal didn’t excite Anna.
She’d be able to run again. She could be the ace of the track and field team again. That’s what you’d think Anna would want, but she couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm at the thought. Instead, the idea felt akin to something getting in the way of a good night’s sleep.
It was unnecessary assistance. She’d gotten used to her apathetic life, so going back seemed like a pain in the ass.
“I have no need for anything like that.” Anna spat out. Joker seemed shocked.
“Is that not your desire? To be showered once more with attention, to be able to grasp glory in your hands…”
“That’s worthless,” She immediately hissed in reply. She readjusted the bag on her shoulder and took a step back as she stared at Joker. “I might jump at the offer if it were right after the accident happened, but now I don’t care.”
“You don’t want to run?”
“No.”
It wasn’t a lie. She wasn’t trying to show off.
She’d been hit by a drunk driver, and her right leg had been fractured in small pieces that day. Something inside Anna broke. It wasn’t her leg, it was her spirit. Anna grew comfortable with hopelessness. Joker probably could heal her leg completely, but he wouldn’t be able to heal her spirit. If she couldn’t have that, she couldn’t run.
Joker remained silent for quite some time. When he began to speak again, the condescending tone had disappeared.
“Nothing? There isn’t anything you desire?”
“No.”
“What about revenge? Not even ruining the life of the man who hit you with his car?”
“Not interested,” Anna replied bluntly.
She never said she didn’t resent the perpetrator. She remembers wanting to kill the man right after the accident occurred. But now that feeling’s faded. She didn't forgive him. She’s come to feel indifferent about the accident itself.
Anna was tired. Standing across from Joker now, she could tell that the negative energy from before had fizzled out. It wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, the change of atmosphere was welcomed.
“—I refuse.”
Anna stared at Joker’s mask. Reflexively, a bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to run and revenge is too much work. Until the world ends, I don’t want to do anything. I just want to sit back idly and watch as everything comes to an end. That’s all.”
Joker looked at Anna’s face. Somehow, his expressionless mask seemed sad. Eventually, he murmured, “Why don’t you come with me?”
“......Huh?”
“Could you lend me your power? There’s a plan I want to execute. Would you care to participate?”
“......What?”
It was a sudden proposal. Anna was suspicious.
“What do you mean? Aren’t you after people’s ability to dream? I don’t have that. I mean it. As far as cooperation goes, I couldn’t possibly…”
Without a word, Joker held out his hand. It was an unexpectedly delicate hand. Bewildered, she took his hand. She didn’t know why she was doing this. Disregarding whether or not she’d even be able to leave. Even still, Anna had automatically taken his hand in her own. Joker’s fingers were thin and cold.
“Starting today, you are a member of the Masked Circle. In order to fulfill the In Lak’ech, you will lend your power,” Joker whispered.
Masked Circle. In Lak’ech. These were unfamiliar words. Anna furrowed her eyebrows. Suddenly, a bright light pierced her eyes. It seemed like something exploded around them. Anna reflexively shut her eyes and attempted to shake free of Joker’s grip. However, he was unexpectedly strong, and she was unable to shake him off.
The only shock was the light. She couldn’t hear anything. Not the exploding sound, nor the clamoring of passersby.
She tried opening her eyes, and she gasped. Their surroundings had completely changed. If she remembered correctly, they had just been standing in a dark alleyway. The stench of garbage, the stray cat roaming around, in a narrow back alley.
Now, Anna found herself in what appeared to be an unfamiliar reception hall. Beneath her feet, an intricate mosaic of a mandala was depicted on the hard floor. A similar mosaic was seen on columns that were placed irregularly in the room, which made the perspective ambiguous. There weren’t any walls visible, nor a ceiling. Anna was standing in the center of this massively spacious room, all alone. Before she even knew it, her hand was free and Joker had vanished.
Surveying her surroundings, unable to get any sense of direction, she had a strange feeling about the overwhelming size. Anna cautiously began to walk forward when suddenly, a blue shadow appeared before her. Anna suppressed a shriek. It swayed like a flickering flame as it slowly materialized. A skull. Anna stared at the crystal clear blue skull floating in front of her.
“—In the underworld shines a skull.”
She could hear a distant voice. It resonated through the air and was immediately pierced into Anna’s brain. Anna clutched her head. She couldn’t look away from the ominous skull. The skull bared its teeth in what appeared to be a smile.
“—Among the heavens shines a holy cross.”
She felt a splitting pain in her head, and Anna was unable to stop herself from screaming.
“—You are the one chosen to represent Scorpio, and I shall accompany you.”
The world began to spin.
No, it was probably only Anna’s senses that became off. Her perspective wasn’t fixed. The ground beneath her began to shake. She was tossed around inside the vortex. Suddenly, a tremendous power arose from deep within her. The impact had her blood boiling in seconds. Some sort of enormous power tore through the shell of her heart and lept out.
And in an instant, the phenomenon ceased.
She noticed that the blue skull had disappeared. Beside Anna now stood Joker.
“What…..what the hell...was that just now?”
“You have obtained the power of a Persona. Your other self that follows you like a shadow. You have been bestowed with a new power.”
Anna cautiously brought a hand to the back of her neck. It felt hot, as if she had a fever. Compared to before, everything was much clearer.
“A Persona…...what the hell……”
The question that began to escape her lips was cut off. In the blink of an eye, the mysterious reception hall had disappeared. Anna stood alone in the dark alleyway. Joker’s form was nowhere to be found.
—Was that a dream?
Anna picked up the fallen cell phone by her feet. There was a record of her sending a call to her own number. It wasn’t a dream.
She can still clearly remember Joker’s cold grip.
The backstreet was messy, as though a strong wind had torn through it. Now though, she felt a gentle breeze. It carried a scent of a flower that Anna didn’t know, and immediately made the stench of the trash around her disappear.
The next day, Anna caught up with the ever-cheerful Mitsuo at Club Zodiac. As soon as Mitsuo heard Anna’s voice, he perked up. “Anna-san!” he exclaimed, following her around. Anna brushed him off coldly.
“I’ve got a story.”
“You have a story for me!? Wooooah, I’m deeply moved! Hey everyone, Anna has a story to tell me!!”
“Shut it,” Resisting the urge to pummel him, she thrust a finger in his face. “I don’t want others to hear. This way.”
She led him over to a spot in the corner of the venue. Mitsuo skipped as he followed.
Sitting down in a narrow seat, she cut straight to the point.
“About yesterday’s Joker story. I want to hear it in full detail.”
“Huh? Why? You didn’t seem interested.”
“Forget about that. Tell me.”
“No way, you wanna try it out?”
She didn’t tell him she’d already tried it. Anna glared at Mitsuo in silence.
“Okay, okay, I was joking. What do you want to hear?”
“Where did the rumor start? When did it begin to spread around?”
“I don’t think it was too long ago. I heard it about 10 days ago. The source of that is confidential but….eh, I’ll spill. It was the same member of the school paper. Just like with me, Chikarin told me about the guy.”
“—Do you think Joker actually exists?”
“Of course, no doubt.”
“Why? Don’t you think it’s a crazy rumor?”
“I mean, I guess…”
She might be able to get clues about Joker’s true identity. However, contrary to what Anna had anticipated, Mitsuo laughed and went on about something else.
“Do you know the curse of Seven Sisters high school?”
“......huh?”
“Well, since you don’t come to school anymore I figured you might not know. Sevens is cursed, and it’s said that if you wear the school emblem, your face gets all messed up. That’s why I haven’t had it on me recently. Here,”
Mitsuo pointed at the pocket of his uniform. The emblem, with its seven star design, was certainly missing from its usual spot.
Anna was getting annoyed. What an idiot. She hadn’t heard this story at all.
“I don’t care about that rumor. I want to hear the one about Joker……”
“Strange rumor, isn’t it? I’d normally think it was nonsense. But, that’s not the case this time. Don’t you think fewer Sevens students have been coming here recently? Like Yuka and Koji-senpai, who are regulars, no longer come in. It’s because their faces have been deformed. They’re always wearing bandages on their face. Must suck for that to happen if you’re good looking…….”
It’s no use. This was a complete waste of time.
Giving up on getting info out of Mitsuo, Anna stood up from her seat. Looking at Anna with desperate eyes, Mitsuo quickly interjected, “Why d’you think that is? Why would a rumor like that spread around?”
“......”
“When I first heard that rumor, I did some thinking. It’s such a stupid rumor, and no matter the credibility, something like that would have to be totally made up. It would make more sense for whoever created it to say ‘their face gets a rash’ instead. And somewhere along the way the rumor became exaggerated…...that’s what I think.”
Anna looked at Mitsuo again. Anna thought he was rambling pointlessly, but it seems that wasn’t the case. Mitsuo had a serious look in his eyes. There was something he was trying to convey.
“That sort of thinking is normal. But, this is different. Given that precedent, the rumor wasn’t spread. It’s the opposite of that. Usually, there’s someone to first start the rumor, when in fact there wasn’t.”
Anna furrowed her eyebrows. As expected, listening intently to Mitsuo’s stories was a waste of time. What he was saying was nonsensical.
But—he was reliable with serious matters. Moreover, something clearly frightened him. He was talking faster than usual, flustered and even somewhat panicked.
“Plenty of other rumors have been passed around too. Like, Cuss high’s school emblem has become a charm that wards off evil. Because of that, Cuss students and Sevens students have swapped in terms of popularity. Keep an eye out in here. Those Cuss guys might use this change to their advantage……”
Anna looked out across the dance floor. Several boys in school uniforms were hanging around. The blue uniforms were undoubtedly those of Kasugayama. A group of girls were giggling and fawning over some nearby Sevens boys.
“Things’ve been a little weird lately. Multiple rumors have been coming true. Before this, I’d laugh these rumors off as lies, but they keep coming true. It’s like something’s awoken in Sumaru City—Some people are saying that some sort of power that turns rumors into reality is at play.”
“No way……”
Anna’s expression stiffened. What an outrageous suggestion. There’s no way something as absurd as that could happen. But, she couldn’t deny the possibility. Anna had recently met Joker, a figure who shouldn’t have been more than an urban legend.
“But that’s just a theory. I have a feeling that someone with bad intentions spread the Joker rumor. But I have no clue what their goal is. Be careful, Anna. A rumor passing around might just screw you over.”
Mitsuo stood up. Anna gnawed on her lip.
A city where rumors become reality. A city where urban legends are actually true.
Is something like that even possible?
There were multiple rumors circulating throughout the city. If you wear the Sevens emblem, your face will become disfigured. Cuss high’s school emblem has become a lucky charm of sorts. The ramen shop in Hirasaka deals weapons behind the scenes. Hanako appears in a Sevens’ bathroom. The bronze statue of Sevens’ principle wanders the courtyard at night…….
These are nothing but silly rumors. Normally, one would laugh at these rumors without a second thought, and forget about them within a few days.
But now, things were different. People in the city took these rumors seriously, whispering to one another, exchanging information, and becoming delightfully frightened by their contents. It wasn’t only young people, but even adults took these rumors seriously, discussing urban legends.
It was just as Mitsuo said. The rumors weren’t based off of reality, the rumors created reality. A greater power was at play in this city.
Anna continued to think about Joker.
That wasn’t a dream. Currently, in Sumaru city, urban legends weren’t merely legends. The one at the center of this mystery is prowling in the city’s shadows.
But, Anna hasn’t had any changes. That weird power from before—Persona—she hadn’t felt that since the initial experience. In an instant, it was like a raging beast had awoken, but now it seems to have fallen back asleep. Why is that? And Joker. If he really exists, why hasn’t he shown up? When he told her to lend him her power, what did he mean?
Unable to figure out a clear answer, the next few days were unbearable. So once again, Anna slipped back into her regular apathetic life.
Anna was in her bedroom, laying down on her bed and flipping through a magazine when her cell phone suddenly began to ring. It’d been a while since she’d heard the ringtone. There are very few people she’d given her number to. With a jolt, she put the magazine down and sat up on her bed. The monotonous electronic tone continued to ring from inside her bag. Anna got off her bed and picked up the bag that was lying on the floor. When she took her phone out, she checked the caller ID. Anna thought about the possibility of the number displayed being her own. If it was, what would she do? If she answered the phone then, she’d have no idea what to expect…….
However, the number was unfamiliar. Feeling relieved, Anna pressed the button to accept the call.
“Anna Yoshizaka-san, right?” The voice of an unfamiliar man spoke.
“......And you are?”
“I’m not the sort of person to give out my name. Let’s go with Taurus.”
It was a strange call. This had to be a joke.
Anna was about to hang up when the guy who called himself Taurus rapidly interjected,
“Hey, don’t hang up. This is a call from the Masked Circle.”
“......Huh?”
“At 9pm tomorrow, you’ll come to Club Zodiac. Inside, there’s a special members only door. Let me know when you come. Enter that door and go up to the third floor. We’ll be waiting in the VIP room.”
“......Hold on a second. What the hell is this…….”
“Don’t be late.”
The one-sided conversation came to an end as he hung up.
Was this a prank? No, the voice on the phone definitely said “Masked Circle.” The same thing Joker said that night.
Unsure of what to believe, she made her way towards Club Zodiac the next night. As Taurus had said, the door to the VIP room was in an inconspicuous place within the club. Despite her frequent visits, Anna hadn’t noticed the door until now. There was a man dressed in black that stood by the door, but upon seeing Anna’s face, opened it without a word.
After she passed through, the door silently closed behind her.
The corridor was illuminated by red light. Though separated by only the door, she could no longer hear the commotion from the dance floor. Anna walked through the dead silent hallway.
She made her way across the winding hallway, then up the stairs. When the massive door in the deepest part of the third floor opened to her, Anna stood petrified with fear.
She would’ve never guessed that a room such as this could be in Club Zodiac. On the deep red carpet were leather sofas and a marble table. It was like some company’s executive office. It was vastly different from Club Zodiac’s teen-oriented decor.
There were three figures in the room. They each sat on their own sofas. Anna’s gaze slowly slid across the room.
On the right end was a man wearing a black shirt and a flashy tie. In the middle was a man who wore a strange mask that covered half his face. On the left end was a beautiful woman.
“Welcome, Lady. We’ve been expecting you,” said the man on the right end.
She’d heard that voice before. It was the “Taurus” she spoke with on the phone. Both his expression and voice came off as insincere to Anna. The masked man in the center seemed completely indifferent. The woman was probably in her mid-twenties. There was a bewitching aura to her. She had rich black hair that flowed in gentle waves. She threw a frigid glance at Anna for a second before immediately darting her eyes away.
Joker wasn’t here. She instantly thought she’d been deceived. Upon reading Anna’s body language, Taurus spoke up.
“We are the leaders of the Masked Circle that serve Joker. Joker is not here.”
“......What do you mean?”
“What’s wrong? Are you not aware of the rules? Those who summon me and have no wish face judgement. Their ability to dream is taken from them and their existence is forgotten by others, rendering them a living corpse––that is, a shadowman.”
It’s the same. It’s the exact same story Mitsuo told.
Anna didn’t find this very funny. She felt like she was being pranked. Her expression remained frozen, unable to look away from that smile.
—She didn’t have a dream.
By summoning Joker, she’d made a grave mistake. It was finally setting in that this was all real.
“What is your wish?” Joker repeated his question. Anna shook her head slightly. Joker’s voice had a trace of amusement when he said, “Can’t say? If that’s the case, then in accordance with the rules, you must forfeit your vitality. Surrender your ability to dream to me...”
“...I don’t,” Anna replied, “I don’t dream.” When she said that, she was finally able to calm down a bit.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have a dream. Ever since an accident I had, that sort of thing’s been completely useless to me.”
“Accident?” Joker asked in return.
She’d made an unnecessary comment. Anna remained silent.
Joker brought a slender finger to the chin of the mask in contemplation, and after some time, spoke up. “I see. You’re Anna Yoshizaka of Seven Sisters high school. It was a traffic accident that brought your athletic career to an end...”
“Why the hell do you know that?” Anna asked in shock.
Joker ignored her question, and instead said, “Since that’s the case, your wish has been decided. Your leg will be healed and you shall run once more.”
Anna stared at Joker unblinkingly. To be able to run again? To be able to return to her best life? Did Joker think that Anna would be so tearfully overcome with emotion that she’d pledge her allegiance to him on the spot? Joker motionlessly observed her reaction.
However, Anna was calm. Joker’s proposal didn’t excite Anna.
She’d be able to run again. She could be the ace of the track and field team again. That’s what you’d think Anna would want, but she couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm at the thought. Instead, the idea felt akin to something getting in the way of a good night’s sleep.
It was unnecessary assistance. She’d gotten used to her apathetic life, so going back seemed like a pain in the ass.
“I have no need for anything like that.” Anna spat out. Joker seemed shocked.
“Is that not your desire? To be showered once more with attention, to be able to grasp glory in your hands…”
“That’s worthless,” She immediately hissed in reply. She readjusted the bag on her shoulder and took a step back as she stared at Joker. “I might jump at the offer if it were right after the accident happened, but now I don’t care.”
“You don’t want to run?”
“No.”
It wasn’t a lie. She wasn’t trying to show off.
She’d been hit by a drunk driver, and her right leg had been fractured in small pieces that day. Something inside Anna broke. It wasn’t her leg, it was her spirit. Anna grew comfortable with hopelessness. Joker probably could heal her leg completely, but he wouldn’t be able to heal her spirit. If she couldn’t have that, she couldn’t run.
Joker remained silent for quite some time. When he began to speak again, the condescending tone had disappeared.
“Nothing? There isn’t anything you desire?”
“No.”
“What about revenge? Not even ruining the life of the man who hit you with his car?”
“Not interested,” Anna replied bluntly.
She never said she didn’t resent the perpetrator. She remembers wanting to kill the man right after the accident occurred. But now that feeling’s faded. She didn't forgive him. She’s come to feel indifferent about the accident itself.
Anna was tired. Standing across from Joker now, she could tell that the negative energy from before had fizzled out. It wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, the change of atmosphere was welcomed.
“—I refuse.”
Anna stared at Joker’s mask. Reflexively, a bitter laugh escaped her mouth. “I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to run and revenge is too much work. Until the world ends, I don’t want to do anything. I just want to sit back idly and watch as everything comes to an end. That’s all.”
Joker looked at Anna’s face. Somehow, his expressionless mask seemed sad. Eventually, he murmured, “Why don’t you come with me?”
“......Huh?”
“Could you lend me your power? There’s a plan I want to execute. Would you care to participate?”
“......What?”
It was a sudden proposal. Anna was suspicious.
“What do you mean? Aren’t you after people’s ability to dream? I don’t have that. I mean it. As far as cooperation goes, I couldn’t possibly…”
Without a word, Joker held out his hand. It was an unexpectedly delicate hand. Bewildered, she took his hand. She didn’t know why she was doing this. Disregarding whether or not she’d even be able to leave. Even still, Anna had automatically taken his hand in her own. Joker’s fingers were thin and cold.
“Starting today, you are a member of the Masked Circle. In order to fulfill the In Lak’ech, you will lend your power,” Joker whispered.
Masked Circle. In Lak’ech. These were unfamiliar words. Anna furrowed her eyebrows. Suddenly, a bright light pierced her eyes. It seemed like something exploded around them. Anna reflexively shut her eyes and attempted to shake free of Joker’s grip. However, he was unexpectedly strong, and she was unable to shake him off.
The only shock was the light. She couldn’t hear anything. Not the exploding sound, nor the clamoring of passersby.
She tried opening her eyes, and she gasped. Their surroundings had completely changed. If she remembered correctly, they had just been standing in a dark alleyway. The stench of garbage, the stray cat roaming around, in a narrow back alley.
Now, Anna found herself in what appeared to be an unfamiliar reception hall. Beneath her feet, an intricate mosaic of a mandala was depicted on the hard floor. A similar mosaic was seen on columns that were placed irregularly in the room, which made the perspective ambiguous. There weren’t any walls visible, nor a ceiling. Anna was standing in the center of this massively spacious room, all alone. Before she even knew it, her hand was free and Joker had vanished.
Surveying her surroundings, unable to get any sense of direction, she had a strange feeling about the overwhelming size. Anna cautiously began to walk forward when suddenly, a blue shadow appeared before her. Anna suppressed a shriek. It swayed like a flickering flame as it slowly materialized. A skull. Anna stared at the crystal clear blue skull floating in front of her.
“—In the underworld shines a skull.”
She could hear a distant voice. It resonated through the air and was immediately pierced into Anna’s brain. Anna clutched her head. She couldn’t look away from the ominous skull. The skull bared its teeth in what appeared to be a smile.
“—Among the heavens shines a holy cross.”
She felt a splitting pain in her head, and Anna was unable to stop herself from screaming.
“—You are the one chosen to represent Scorpio, and I shall accompany you.”
The world began to spin.
No, it was probably only Anna’s senses that became off. Her perspective wasn’t fixed. The ground beneath her began to shake. She was tossed around inside the vortex. Suddenly, a tremendous power arose from deep within her. The impact had her blood boiling in seconds. Some sort of enormous power tore through the shell of her heart and lept out.
And in an instant, the phenomenon ceased.
She noticed that the blue skull had disappeared. Beside Anna now stood Joker.
“What…..what the hell...was that just now?”
“You have obtained the power of a Persona. Your other self that follows you like a shadow. You have been bestowed with a new power.”
Anna cautiously brought a hand to the back of her neck. It felt hot, as if she had a fever. Compared to before, everything was much clearer.
“A Persona…...what the hell……”
The question that began to escape her lips was cut off. In the blink of an eye, the mysterious reception hall had disappeared. Anna stood alone in the dark alleyway. Joker’s form was nowhere to be found.
—Was that a dream?
Anna picked up the fallen cell phone by her feet. There was a record of her sending a call to her own number. It wasn’t a dream.
She can still clearly remember Joker’s cold grip.
The backstreet was messy, as though a strong wind had torn through it. Now though, she felt a gentle breeze. It carried a scent of a flower that Anna didn’t know, and immediately made the stench of the trash around her disappear.
*
The next day, Anna caught up with the ever-cheerful Mitsuo at Club Zodiac. As soon as Mitsuo heard Anna’s voice, he perked up. “Anna-san!” he exclaimed, following her around. Anna brushed him off coldly.
“I’ve got a story.”
“You have a story for me!? Wooooah, I’m deeply moved! Hey everyone, Anna has a story to tell me!!”
“Shut it,” Resisting the urge to pummel him, she thrust a finger in his face. “I don’t want others to hear. This way.”
She led him over to a spot in the corner of the venue. Mitsuo skipped as he followed.
Sitting down in a narrow seat, she cut straight to the point.
“About yesterday’s Joker story. I want to hear it in full detail.”
“Huh? Why? You didn’t seem interested.”
“Forget about that. Tell me.”
“No way, you wanna try it out?”
She didn’t tell him she’d already tried it. Anna glared at Mitsuo in silence.
“Okay, okay, I was joking. What do you want to hear?”
“Where did the rumor start? When did it begin to spread around?”
“I don’t think it was too long ago. I heard it about 10 days ago. The source of that is confidential but….eh, I’ll spill. It was the same member of the school paper. Just like with me, Chikarin told me about the guy.”
“—Do you think Joker actually exists?”
“Of course, no doubt.”
“Why? Don’t you think it’s a crazy rumor?”
“I mean, I guess…”
She might be able to get clues about Joker’s true identity. However, contrary to what Anna had anticipated, Mitsuo laughed and went on about something else.
“Do you know the curse of Seven Sisters high school?”
“......huh?”
“Well, since you don’t come to school anymore I figured you might not know. Sevens is cursed, and it’s said that if you wear the school emblem, your face gets all messed up. That’s why I haven’t had it on me recently. Here,”
Mitsuo pointed at the pocket of his uniform. The emblem, with its seven star design, was certainly missing from its usual spot.
Anna was getting annoyed. What an idiot. She hadn’t heard this story at all.
“I don’t care about that rumor. I want to hear the one about Joker……”
“Strange rumor, isn’t it? I’d normally think it was nonsense. But, that’s not the case this time. Don’t you think fewer Sevens students have been coming here recently? Like Yuka and Koji-senpai, who are regulars, no longer come in. It’s because their faces have been deformed. They’re always wearing bandages on their face. Must suck for that to happen if you’re good looking…….”
It’s no use. This was a complete waste of time.
Giving up on getting info out of Mitsuo, Anna stood up from her seat. Looking at Anna with desperate eyes, Mitsuo quickly interjected, “Why d’you think that is? Why would a rumor like that spread around?”
“......”
“When I first heard that rumor, I did some thinking. It’s such a stupid rumor, and no matter the credibility, something like that would have to be totally made up. It would make more sense for whoever created it to say ‘their face gets a rash’ instead. And somewhere along the way the rumor became exaggerated…...that’s what I think.”
Anna looked at Mitsuo again. Anna thought he was rambling pointlessly, but it seems that wasn’t the case. Mitsuo had a serious look in his eyes. There was something he was trying to convey.
“That sort of thinking is normal. But, this is different. Given that precedent, the rumor wasn’t spread. It’s the opposite of that. Usually, there’s someone to first start the rumor, when in fact there wasn’t.”
Anna furrowed her eyebrows. As expected, listening intently to Mitsuo’s stories was a waste of time. What he was saying was nonsensical.
But—he was reliable with serious matters. Moreover, something clearly frightened him. He was talking faster than usual, flustered and even somewhat panicked.
“Plenty of other rumors have been passed around too. Like, Cuss high’s school emblem has become a charm that wards off evil. Because of that, Cuss students and Sevens students have swapped in terms of popularity. Keep an eye out in here. Those Cuss guys might use this change to their advantage……”
Anna looked out across the dance floor. Several boys in school uniforms were hanging around. The blue uniforms were undoubtedly those of Kasugayama. A group of girls were giggling and fawning over some nearby Sevens boys.
“Things’ve been a little weird lately. Multiple rumors have been coming true. Before this, I’d laugh these rumors off as lies, but they keep coming true. It’s like something’s awoken in Sumaru City—Some people are saying that some sort of power that turns rumors into reality is at play.”
“No way……”
Anna’s expression stiffened. What an outrageous suggestion. There’s no way something as absurd as that could happen. But, she couldn’t deny the possibility. Anna had recently met Joker, a figure who shouldn’t have been more than an urban legend.
“But that’s just a theory. I have a feeling that someone with bad intentions spread the Joker rumor. But I have no clue what their goal is. Be careful, Anna. A rumor passing around might just screw you over.”
Mitsuo stood up. Anna gnawed on her lip.
A city where rumors become reality. A city where urban legends are actually true.
Is something like that even possible?
*
There were multiple rumors circulating throughout the city. If you wear the Sevens emblem, your face will become disfigured. Cuss high’s school emblem has become a lucky charm of sorts. The ramen shop in Hirasaka deals weapons behind the scenes. Hanako appears in a Sevens’ bathroom. The bronze statue of Sevens’ principle wanders the courtyard at night…….
These are nothing but silly rumors. Normally, one would laugh at these rumors without a second thought, and forget about them within a few days.
But now, things were different. People in the city took these rumors seriously, whispering to one another, exchanging information, and becoming delightfully frightened by their contents. It wasn’t only young people, but even adults took these rumors seriously, discussing urban legends.
It was just as Mitsuo said. The rumors weren’t based off of reality, the rumors created reality. A greater power was at play in this city.
Anna continued to think about Joker.
That wasn’t a dream. Currently, in Sumaru city, urban legends weren’t merely legends. The one at the center of this mystery is prowling in the city’s shadows.
But, Anna hasn’t had any changes. That weird power from before—Persona—she hadn’t felt that since the initial experience. In an instant, it was like a raging beast had awoken, but now it seems to have fallen back asleep. Why is that? And Joker. If he really exists, why hasn’t he shown up? When he told her to lend him her power, what did he mean?
Unable to figure out a clear answer, the next few days were unbearable. So once again, Anna slipped back into her regular apathetic life.
Anna was in her bedroom, laying down on her bed and flipping through a magazine when her cell phone suddenly began to ring. It’d been a while since she’d heard the ringtone. There are very few people she’d given her number to. With a jolt, she put the magazine down and sat up on her bed. The monotonous electronic tone continued to ring from inside her bag. Anna got off her bed and picked up the bag that was lying on the floor. When she took her phone out, she checked the caller ID. Anna thought about the possibility of the number displayed being her own. If it was, what would she do? If she answered the phone then, she’d have no idea what to expect…….
However, the number was unfamiliar. Feeling relieved, Anna pressed the button to accept the call.
“Anna Yoshizaka-san, right?” The voice of an unfamiliar man spoke.
“......And you are?”
“I’m not the sort of person to give out my name. Let’s go with Taurus.”
It was a strange call. This had to be a joke.
Anna was about to hang up when the guy who called himself Taurus rapidly interjected,
“Hey, don’t hang up. This is a call from the Masked Circle.”
“......Huh?”
“At 9pm tomorrow, you’ll come to Club Zodiac. Inside, there’s a special members only door. Let me know when you come. Enter that door and go up to the third floor. We’ll be waiting in the VIP room.”
“......Hold on a second. What the hell is this…….”
“Don’t be late.”
The one-sided conversation came to an end as he hung up.
Was this a prank? No, the voice on the phone definitely said “Masked Circle.” The same thing Joker said that night.
Unsure of what to believe, she made her way towards Club Zodiac the next night. As Taurus had said, the door to the VIP room was in an inconspicuous place within the club. Despite her frequent visits, Anna hadn’t noticed the door until now. There was a man dressed in black that stood by the door, but upon seeing Anna’s face, opened it without a word.
After she passed through, the door silently closed behind her.
The corridor was illuminated by red light. Though separated by only the door, she could no longer hear the commotion from the dance floor. Anna walked through the dead silent hallway.
She made her way across the winding hallway, then up the stairs. When the massive door in the deepest part of the third floor opened to her, Anna stood petrified with fear.
She would’ve never guessed that a room such as this could be in Club Zodiac. On the deep red carpet were leather sofas and a marble table. It was like some company’s executive office. It was vastly different from Club Zodiac’s teen-oriented decor.
There were three figures in the room. They each sat on their own sofas. Anna’s gaze slowly slid across the room.
On the right end was a man wearing a black shirt and a flashy tie. In the middle was a man who wore a strange mask that covered half his face. On the left end was a beautiful woman.
“Welcome, Lady. We’ve been expecting you,” said the man on the right end.
She’d heard that voice before. It was the “Taurus” she spoke with on the phone. Both his expression and voice came off as insincere to Anna. The masked man in the center seemed completely indifferent. The woman was probably in her mid-twenties. There was a bewitching aura to her. She had rich black hair that flowed in gentle waves. She threw a frigid glance at Anna for a second before immediately darting her eyes away.
Joker wasn’t here. She instantly thought she’d been deceived. Upon reading Anna’s body language, Taurus spoke up.
“We are the leaders of the Masked Circle that serve Joker. Joker is not here.”
“......What do you mean?”
“He seldom appears before us. Unless you have something else you need to do, we will hold a ceremony for your induction into the Masked Circle’s duty. Up until now it’s just been the three of us—Lady, you’ll be the fourth.”
Anna lowered herself onto a vacant sofa.
“Could you stop with the “Lady” crap? It really doesn’t suit me.”
“We don’t use our real names here. All members are called by codenames. We’d like to call you ‘Lady’. Do you object to this?”
“Guess not.”
“Let’s introduce ourselves. King Leo, Queen Aquarius. I’m Prince Taurus.”
The man named “King Leo” still didn’t look Anna’s way. With the right side of his face concealed by an expressionless mask, he seemed like the least approachable of the group. Queen Aquarius gave Anna a small nod, her attitude arrogant. It was clear that she looked down on Anna.
Taurus seemed to be in a good mood, and Anna turned her attention back to his smiling face. Despite his somewhat handsome face and well-tailored clothing, he somehow still came off as sleazy and gave off bad vibes. He seemed like the type to be in the night entertainment scene, or even be a pimp.
“At last we have assembled all four of the zodiac signs required. We welcome you, Lady Scorpio.”
Scorpio. Anna remembered her vision of the blue skull. During that time, she’d definitely heard a voice. The one chosen to represent Scorpio. Anna, who was born a Scorpio.
“Do you have any sort of connection to the Scorpio sign?”
“Scorpio is one of the essential star signs needed to form the Grand Cross. Your arrival here was part of the natural course.”
Anna scowled. “But...I have no idea what you’re talking about. What’s the point of recruiting me?”
“To accept you as a member of the Masked Circle.”
“What’s the Masked Circle?”
“Haven’t you heard the rumor circulating the city? It’s an elite secret society created by Joker. That is the Masked Circle.”
—Rumors again.
But even so, the answers she wanted were right in front of her.
“......Is Joker the one influencing the rumors?”
Taurus glanced at the other two. Anna asked again, “Is the Masked Circle responsible for making rumors come true?”
“What do you mean?”
“In this city, rumors are becoming reality. That’s your guys’ plan, right?”
Queen Aquarius gave a soft laugh. King Leo remained expressionless. Taurus, seeing the reactions of the other two, answered with an air of importance.
“Recently in Sumaru city, rumors certainly have been coming true. The Masked Circle is involved in strengthening the circulation of rumors. However, Joker is not connected to the existence of this phenomenon, and the same can be said for the Masked Circle. Although we use the rumor system, the one who created it was not Joker.”
Assuming this to be true, then is someone more powerful than Joker observing Sumaru city and toying with its inhabitants? Who the hell is doing this, and for what purpose?
“In any case, you were chosen by Joker as one of the leaders of the Masked Circle. Be sure to fulfill your duty.”
“Don’t recall saying I’d join.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you come here?” The one asking wasn’t Taurus this time, it was Queen Aquarius. She had a sneer on her face. “Joker granted your ideals and you compensate for that by swearing your fidelity to him.”
At this point, she couldn’t take anything back.
“......Ideals, huh……”
She didn’t remember having anything granted. Anna clearly remembered saying that she didn’t have a dream to fulfill. Joker must have excused this.
“What did you wish for?”
Aquarius narrowed her eyes. She was beautiful, but made a cold expression. Anna got the feeling that she’d seen an expression like that somewhere before. That’s bizarre. Anna was certain she hadn’t met this woman before.
“Do tell us. What ideal did you have granted?”
“Queen……” Taurus said this as if to try and stop her, but his tone wasn’t very forceful. For some reason, this made Anna question their power dynamics.
When Anna remained silent, Queen Aquarius laughed mockingly, causing the back of her sofa to droop.
“Would you like to keep it a secret? It’s useless. You can try and hide it, but sooner or later it’ll be exposed. The ideals and desires you keep hidden within you will all be revealed…...you want to trample over others, betray your friends but still succeed, sell your soul but still become the best…...the feelings you hide under your everyday smile will all be revealed. Your true colors will come out, dripping in the greed that you don’t want to acknowledge. That’s what it means to serve Joker.” Her tone was mocking, but also seemed somewhat self-deprecating.
Suddenly, this woman’s name came to Anna’s mind. She recognized her. She’s Junko Kurosu, an actress. Since she didn’t care much for the entertainment industry, she hadn’t remembered right away. But, she wasn’t mistaken. Junko Kurosu. If Anna had to, she’d say that the actress’ licentious private life was discussed more than her actual talent as an actress.
For a famous actress to be a part of the Masked Circle—moreover, a leader in the Masked Circle, was unexpected. Anna remembered something that Mitsuo had been chatting about with others in Club Zodiac once.
“—It’s not Junko Kurosu. That rumor about her getting plastic surgery. After all, she should look much older than she does. My old man’s been a long time fan. He showed me his prized photo album of her from years back. She hasn’t changed at all. She’s become less classy, but she still looks just as young. Even though she’s rumored to have a kid that’s almost grown, she should at least be in the second half of her thirties, her skin is smooth…...when you look at all that she feels more like a demon than just someone staying beautiful……”
Since Anna wasn’t interested, she’d ignored him. Now, being this close to the actress herself, Anna could see what Mitsuo meant.
Junko Kurosu was beautiful. There wasn’t a single wrinkle around her eyes, and her skin was vibrant and youthful. Her beauty was that of someone in their twenties. Even with multiple top-quality cosmetic procedures, it’s hard to believe this level of youthfulness could be achieved.
—She really obsessed over her looks.
Growing old is such a terrifying thing. Whether she’d have to trample over others, or sell her soul, she’d do it to gain eternal youth.
Anna reflexively turned her eyes away from Aquarius’ face. She felt bitterness well up in her stomach. To be obsessed with losing dreams is an awful thing. Junko Kurosu’s beautiful appearance was the exact opposite of her irredeemably ugly personality. Anna couldn’t stand to look her in the face.
Not just Aquarius, but Taurus and Leo as well. All the people gathered here used Joker to grant their desires, and devote their loyalty to him as compensation.
She remembered what Joker told her. “You don’t dream of running?” No, she didn’t. With as much ugliness as this group has exposed, it’s best to be transparent. If she didn’t wish for anything, then it couldn’t become corrupted.
With all the unpleasant things Anna felt, she stayed on alert. Queen Aquarius, or Junko Kurosu, forced a nervous laugh.
“Please don’t say pretty things about not having dreams or desires. Scorpio symbolizes hidden passion. You’ve put on a cool face at this table, but burn with desires more intense than anyone else. That is the fate of Scorpio.”
Anna turned away. Believing in horoscopes at her age was ridiculous.
“First of all, if you truly hold no dreams or ideals, then Joker shouldn’t have shown interest in you. Followers of the Masked Circle present their Ideal Energy in exchange for having their desires granted. In order to fulfill the In Lak’ech.”
“In Lak’ech……?”
Joker had definitely said that word.
“You don’t know anything about it, do you?”
Aquarius shrugged her shoulders. Taurus began to explain.
“‘I am another you.’”
“......Huh?”
“‘In Lak’ech’ means ‘I am another you’ in Mayan. That’s the name of a mystical book. It hasn’t been published yet. Collecting Ideal Energy and evolving humanity to a new stage…...that is the goal of the Masked Circle.”
“Like a religious group.”
When Anna muttered that, Taurus smiled wryly.
“Whatever makes sense to you. It is much more than a religious group, as we aim for salvation. For now, we’ll give you this.”
A blue object appeared in the palm of Taurus’s hand like magic. Anna gasped. It was a transparent blue skull. The same as in her vision—Anna glared at its sunken in eye sockets as it bared its teeth in a smile.
Anna shuddered. Taurus stood up and shoved the skull towards her.
“This is the Crystal Skull of water. The Scorpio sign is associated with the element of water. You will fill this skull with people’s Ideal Energy. That is what Joker wants.”
Anna received the skull, accepting the task.
It was lighter than it looked, and felt chilly in her hand. The skull was skillfully chiseled, the workmanship elaborate.
“Your first job will be an induction ceremony that will be held in three days.”
“Induction ceremony……”
“A ceremony for those who’ve recently joined the Masked Circle. It shall be conducted here at Club Zodiac.”
“Is Club Zodiac the Masked Circle’s nest?”
“You need to remember how to use words a little. What do you mean nest? This is one of our bases of operation.”
She hadn’t known. And none of the kids dancing and partying below had any clue about this. Just what is going on in this building?
“What will I need to do?”
“When the time comes, you’ll know. The Crystal Skull should tell you.”
Anna lowered her gaze from the skull. This way, the well crafted object wasn’t the only thing in her sight. Anna still couldn’t feel that overwhelming power she had experienced in that mysterious hall in the slightest. When that incident came to mind, Anna spoke up.
“I’ve got a suggestion.”
“And that is?”
“Rumors are coming true in this city. If that’s the case, then wouldn’t it be a good idea to use that? ‘Gather plenty of Ideal Energy’ and ‘fulfill the plan of the Masked Circle’ and such…...why not just use the rumor system?”
“I see. A very wise proposal, Lady Scorpio.”
Taurus narrowed his eyes. Anna became uncomfortable, feeling like she’d said something stupid.
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. You say that rumors are coming true in this city, but that’s not quite accurate. The correct statement is ‘there are rumors that come true.’”
“......There are rumors that don’t come true?”
“Exactly. There’s a sizable amount of people who’ve discovered the rumor system as a means to grant desires. For example, a man spread a rumor to have a roll of banknotes fall from the heavens on a certain day of the month.”
“An understandable wish.”
“Oh come now, that’s a ridiculous story. The rumor unexpectedly circulated. It spread because other people want to reap the benefits. In fact, there were many who skipped school or their jobs and looked up at the sky all day. But the rumor did not come true, and those who believed it only saw a bunch of idiots.”
“Why is that? What’s the difference between rumors that do come true and those that don’t?”
“I don’t actually know myself. Whether a rumor comes true or not may depend on the will of whoever’s making them come true.”
“Someone…...huh. Who? It isn’t Joker, is it?”
“Presently, there is a power surpassing human intellect that has control over Sumaru City. Whether it’s a god or a demon, we humans have no way of knowing,” Taurus said jokingly, in an exaggerated tone.
The Crystal Skull grew slightly heavier in the palm of her hand—at least it felt like it did.
Before she even knew it, it seemed that Sumaru City had transformed into a bizarre city. In this city, certain kinds of rumors come true, and a mysterious masked figure spreads despair……
She didn’t feel the terror. She only felt an intense dreariness.
Taurus looked at Anna, giving her a smile that seemed to say, “Joker has high expectations for you. Don’t screw up.”
Translation notes:
1. Kasugayama’s nickname is カス (kasu), which means “dregs/scum (of society)”. The game translates it as “Cuss”, so I’m just going to use that.
2. Throwing this in just in case, but when I first saw the name "Koji", I thought it was “Kozy”, referring to Hanakouji, so I was very confused. But it turns out that “Kozy” is only her nickname in English, so this isn’t referring to Hanakouji, it’s someone else.
3. There’s a legend in Japan about a ghost named Hanako that haunts bathrooms. If you go to the girls’ bathroom on the third floor, knock on the third stall three times, and ask “Are you there Hanako-san?”, you should get a reply of “I’m here.” Supposedly, if you go in the stall after that, a little girl should be there. There are many variations of this legend, so if you’re interested in learning more, look up “Hanako-san”.
4. The original term used for "night entertainment scene" is 水商売 which translates literally to “water trade”, and refers to various forms of nighttime entertainment such as bars, host/hostess clubs and can also include the sex industry.
Anna lowered herself onto a vacant sofa.
“Could you stop with the “Lady” crap? It really doesn’t suit me.”
“We don’t use our real names here. All members are called by codenames. We’d like to call you ‘Lady’. Do you object to this?”
“Guess not.”
“Let’s introduce ourselves. King Leo, Queen Aquarius. I’m Prince Taurus.”
The man named “King Leo” still didn’t look Anna’s way. With the right side of his face concealed by an expressionless mask, he seemed like the least approachable of the group. Queen Aquarius gave Anna a small nod, her attitude arrogant. It was clear that she looked down on Anna.
Taurus seemed to be in a good mood, and Anna turned her attention back to his smiling face. Despite his somewhat handsome face and well-tailored clothing, he somehow still came off as sleazy and gave off bad vibes. He seemed like the type to be in the night entertainment scene, or even be a pimp.
“At last we have assembled all four of the zodiac signs required. We welcome you, Lady Scorpio.”
Scorpio. Anna remembered her vision of the blue skull. During that time, she’d definitely heard a voice. The one chosen to represent Scorpio. Anna, who was born a Scorpio.
“Do you have any sort of connection to the Scorpio sign?”
“Scorpio is one of the essential star signs needed to form the Grand Cross. Your arrival here was part of the natural course.”
Anna scowled. “But...I have no idea what you’re talking about. What’s the point of recruiting me?”
“To accept you as a member of the Masked Circle.”
“What’s the Masked Circle?”
“Haven’t you heard the rumor circulating the city? It’s an elite secret society created by Joker. That is the Masked Circle.”
—Rumors again.
But even so, the answers she wanted were right in front of her.
“......Is Joker the one influencing the rumors?”
Taurus glanced at the other two. Anna asked again, “Is the Masked Circle responsible for making rumors come true?”
“What do you mean?”
“In this city, rumors are becoming reality. That’s your guys’ plan, right?”
Queen Aquarius gave a soft laugh. King Leo remained expressionless. Taurus, seeing the reactions of the other two, answered with an air of importance.
“Recently in Sumaru city, rumors certainly have been coming true. The Masked Circle is involved in strengthening the circulation of rumors. However, Joker is not connected to the existence of this phenomenon, and the same can be said for the Masked Circle. Although we use the rumor system, the one who created it was not Joker.”
Assuming this to be true, then is someone more powerful than Joker observing Sumaru city and toying with its inhabitants? Who the hell is doing this, and for what purpose?
“In any case, you were chosen by Joker as one of the leaders of the Masked Circle. Be sure to fulfill your duty.”
“Don’t recall saying I’d join.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you come here?” The one asking wasn’t Taurus this time, it was Queen Aquarius. She had a sneer on her face. “Joker granted your ideals and you compensate for that by swearing your fidelity to him.”
At this point, she couldn’t take anything back.
“......Ideals, huh……”
She didn’t remember having anything granted. Anna clearly remembered saying that she didn’t have a dream to fulfill. Joker must have excused this.
“What did you wish for?”
Aquarius narrowed her eyes. She was beautiful, but made a cold expression. Anna got the feeling that she’d seen an expression like that somewhere before. That’s bizarre. Anna was certain she hadn’t met this woman before.
“Do tell us. What ideal did you have granted?”
“Queen……” Taurus said this as if to try and stop her, but his tone wasn’t very forceful. For some reason, this made Anna question their power dynamics.
When Anna remained silent, Queen Aquarius laughed mockingly, causing the back of her sofa to droop.
“Would you like to keep it a secret? It’s useless. You can try and hide it, but sooner or later it’ll be exposed. The ideals and desires you keep hidden within you will all be revealed…...you want to trample over others, betray your friends but still succeed, sell your soul but still become the best…...the feelings you hide under your everyday smile will all be revealed. Your true colors will come out, dripping in the greed that you don’t want to acknowledge. That’s what it means to serve Joker.” Her tone was mocking, but also seemed somewhat self-deprecating.
Suddenly, this woman’s name came to Anna’s mind. She recognized her. She’s Junko Kurosu, an actress. Since she didn’t care much for the entertainment industry, she hadn’t remembered right away. But, she wasn’t mistaken. Junko Kurosu. If Anna had to, she’d say that the actress’ licentious private life was discussed more than her actual talent as an actress.
For a famous actress to be a part of the Masked Circle—moreover, a leader in the Masked Circle, was unexpected. Anna remembered something that Mitsuo had been chatting about with others in Club Zodiac once.
“—It’s not Junko Kurosu. That rumor about her getting plastic surgery. After all, she should look much older than she does. My old man’s been a long time fan. He showed me his prized photo album of her from years back. She hasn’t changed at all. She’s become less classy, but she still looks just as young. Even though she’s rumored to have a kid that’s almost grown, she should at least be in the second half of her thirties, her skin is smooth…...when you look at all that she feels more like a demon than just someone staying beautiful……”
Since Anna wasn’t interested, she’d ignored him. Now, being this close to the actress herself, Anna could see what Mitsuo meant.
Junko Kurosu was beautiful. There wasn’t a single wrinkle around her eyes, and her skin was vibrant and youthful. Her beauty was that of someone in their twenties. Even with multiple top-quality cosmetic procedures, it’s hard to believe this level of youthfulness could be achieved.
—She really obsessed over her looks.
Growing old is such a terrifying thing. Whether she’d have to trample over others, or sell her soul, she’d do it to gain eternal youth.
Anna reflexively turned her eyes away from Aquarius’ face. She felt bitterness well up in her stomach. To be obsessed with losing dreams is an awful thing. Junko Kurosu’s beautiful appearance was the exact opposite of her irredeemably ugly personality. Anna couldn’t stand to look her in the face.
Not just Aquarius, but Taurus and Leo as well. All the people gathered here used Joker to grant their desires, and devote their loyalty to him as compensation.
She remembered what Joker told her. “You don’t dream of running?” No, she didn’t. With as much ugliness as this group has exposed, it’s best to be transparent. If she didn’t wish for anything, then it couldn’t become corrupted.
With all the unpleasant things Anna felt, she stayed on alert. Queen Aquarius, or Junko Kurosu, forced a nervous laugh.
“Please don’t say pretty things about not having dreams or desires. Scorpio symbolizes hidden passion. You’ve put on a cool face at this table, but burn with desires more intense than anyone else. That is the fate of Scorpio.”
Anna turned away. Believing in horoscopes at her age was ridiculous.
“First of all, if you truly hold no dreams or ideals, then Joker shouldn’t have shown interest in you. Followers of the Masked Circle present their Ideal Energy in exchange for having their desires granted. In order to fulfill the In Lak’ech.”
“In Lak’ech……?”
Joker had definitely said that word.
“You don’t know anything about it, do you?”
Aquarius shrugged her shoulders. Taurus began to explain.
“‘I am another you.’”
“......Huh?”
“‘In Lak’ech’ means ‘I am another you’ in Mayan. That’s the name of a mystical book. It hasn’t been published yet. Collecting Ideal Energy and evolving humanity to a new stage…...that is the goal of the Masked Circle.”
“Like a religious group.”
When Anna muttered that, Taurus smiled wryly.
“Whatever makes sense to you. It is much more than a religious group, as we aim for salvation. For now, we’ll give you this.”
A blue object appeared in the palm of Taurus’s hand like magic. Anna gasped. It was a transparent blue skull. The same as in her vision—Anna glared at its sunken in eye sockets as it bared its teeth in a smile.
Anna shuddered. Taurus stood up and shoved the skull towards her.
“This is the Crystal Skull of water. The Scorpio sign is associated with the element of water. You will fill this skull with people’s Ideal Energy. That is what Joker wants.”
Anna received the skull, accepting the task.
It was lighter than it looked, and felt chilly in her hand. The skull was skillfully chiseled, the workmanship elaborate.
“Your first job will be an induction ceremony that will be held in three days.”
“Induction ceremony……”
“A ceremony for those who’ve recently joined the Masked Circle. It shall be conducted here at Club Zodiac.”
“Is Club Zodiac the Masked Circle’s nest?”
“You need to remember how to use words a little. What do you mean nest? This is one of our bases of operation.”
She hadn’t known. And none of the kids dancing and partying below had any clue about this. Just what is going on in this building?
“What will I need to do?”
“When the time comes, you’ll know. The Crystal Skull should tell you.”
Anna lowered her gaze from the skull. This way, the well crafted object wasn’t the only thing in her sight. Anna still couldn’t feel that overwhelming power she had experienced in that mysterious hall in the slightest. When that incident came to mind, Anna spoke up.
“I’ve got a suggestion.”
“And that is?”
“Rumors are coming true in this city. If that’s the case, then wouldn’t it be a good idea to use that? ‘Gather plenty of Ideal Energy’ and ‘fulfill the plan of the Masked Circle’ and such…...why not just use the rumor system?”
“I see. A very wise proposal, Lady Scorpio.”
Taurus narrowed his eyes. Anna became uncomfortable, feeling like she’d said something stupid.
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. You say that rumors are coming true in this city, but that’s not quite accurate. The correct statement is ‘there are rumors that come true.’”
“......There are rumors that don’t come true?”
“Exactly. There’s a sizable amount of people who’ve discovered the rumor system as a means to grant desires. For example, a man spread a rumor to have a roll of banknotes fall from the heavens on a certain day of the month.”
“An understandable wish.”
“Oh come now, that’s a ridiculous story. The rumor unexpectedly circulated. It spread because other people want to reap the benefits. In fact, there were many who skipped school or their jobs and looked up at the sky all day. But the rumor did not come true, and those who believed it only saw a bunch of idiots.”
“Why is that? What’s the difference between rumors that do come true and those that don’t?”
“I don’t actually know myself. Whether a rumor comes true or not may depend on the will of whoever’s making them come true.”
“Someone…...huh. Who? It isn’t Joker, is it?”
“Presently, there is a power surpassing human intellect that has control over Sumaru City. Whether it’s a god or a demon, we humans have no way of knowing,” Taurus said jokingly, in an exaggerated tone.
The Crystal Skull grew slightly heavier in the palm of her hand—at least it felt like it did.
Before she even knew it, it seemed that Sumaru City had transformed into a bizarre city. In this city, certain kinds of rumors come true, and a mysterious masked figure spreads despair……
She didn’t feel the terror. She only felt an intense dreariness.
Taurus looked at Anna, giving her a smile that seemed to say, “Joker has high expectations for you. Don’t screw up.”
Translation notes:
1. Kasugayama’s nickname is カス (kasu), which means “dregs/scum (of society)”. The game translates it as “Cuss”, so I’m just going to use that.
2. Throwing this in just in case, but when I first saw the name "Koji", I thought it was “Kozy”, referring to Hanakouji, so I was very confused. But it turns out that “Kozy” is only her nickname in English, so this isn’t referring to Hanakouji, it’s someone else.
3. There’s a legend in Japan about a ghost named Hanako that haunts bathrooms. If you go to the girls’ bathroom on the third floor, knock on the third stall three times, and ask “Are you there Hanako-san?”, you should get a reply of “I’m here.” Supposedly, if you go in the stall after that, a little girl should be there. There are many variations of this legend, so if you’re interested in learning more, look up “Hanako-san”.
4. The original term used for "night entertainment scene" is 水商売 which translates literally to “water trade”, and refers to various forms of nighttime entertainment such as bars, host/hostess clubs and can also include the sex industry.
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