Street Girl: HEY, DON'T JUST DRIVE AWAY!
A girl stood on the side of the street. She was around 17 and was wearing a green jacket with the zipper open revealing the white T-shirt she wore underneath. The shirt was obviously too small for her, as evidenced by how tightly it hugged her body, especially around her chest with her large breasts almost threatening to rip the shirt in half. The same could be said for the jeans she wore, which held snugly onto her thighs. She had short brown hair and blue eyes that seemed to shine with a sense of wonder, like a child in a toy store, or a couple watching fireworks.
Her name was Brook Hackerman. She was from the U.S. and had arrived in Japan after illegally sneaking aboard a fishing boat. Now, she was on the side of a rainy sidewalk trying to wave down a taxi with very little luck. So far, three had passed her without even batting an eye.
Brook: Honestly, what is with the people in this country? Do they not recognize when a protagonist needs to get somewhere?
After waiting for 15 minutes, she finally gave up. It was obvious that none of these people would take the time out of their day to help a gild on the street, and a foreigner at that. Taking a large sigh, she walked away.
Brook: I guess I'll keep walking to wherever. It's not like I was going anywhere important.
?: Now that's not a good way to act, is it? You'll just end up making yourself feel depressed.
Brook: Huh?
Brook turned around to see a car parked on the side of the street. Inside the window of the driver's seat, she could see a man in his 40s with black hair and dark blue eyes, and while she couldn't see much of his outfit through the car window, the white on his shoulders told her that he was wearing a lab coat. He must have been a doctor or a scientist of some kind.
Lab coat Man: What's with that look? Weren't you waiting for someone to drop by and pick you up?
Brook: N-No it's not that! It's just that…um…you came out of nowhere and I was a little surprised.
Lab coat Man: I don't blame you, I have that effect on women sometimes. Now, are we going to stand around all day chatting, or are you going to get in the car?
Brook: This is definitely suspicious. A man in a lab coat pulling up and offering a ride to someone they don't even know? Something is very wrong here!
Despite these thoughts, however, Brook's sense of adventure compelled her to get in the car with him. Her gut told her that this man would lead her to something special. She could feel it in her bones! Besides, Brook had smuggled her uncle's .44 Magnum into the fishing boat with her. If he tried to do anything, she could point the gun at his head from the back seat and force him to pull over. What could go wrong?
Brook: Alright, let's go!
Soon, they were on the road, and after sitting in the back seat and doing nothing for five minutes, Brook decided to strike up some conversation.
Brook: So…um…where are we going?
Lab Coat Man: Wherever you'd like. Do you have a preference?
Brook: Not particularly, I'm mostly just going to wherever the plot takes me.
Lab Coat Man: The plot? Does she think she's in a story or something? If it were anyone else saying that, I would have driven them to the nearest mental hospital. However, this girl has a role to play in the coming battle.
Brook: Say, you know what I just realized? You never told me your name.
Lab Coat Man: Is knowing my name necessary?
Brook: Hey, I got into a complete stranger's car without any complaints. The least you can do is offer your name so I at least feel comfortable being around you.
Lab Coat Man: You make a good point. Very well. You can call me Ren for now.
Brook: Nice to meet you, Ren! My name is Brook, Book Hackerman!
Ren: Nice to meet you too Brook.
Brook: Okay! So far, this guy doesn't seem to be a bad person, but I can't let my guard down just I'll ask him a few more questions to get a better idea of his character. By the way, what's with the lab coat? Are you a scientist or something?
Ren: Yes. I am indeed a scientist. Although my research tends to lean towards being…unnatural.
Brook: That's great! I love unnatural stuff! So, what "unnatural research" are you currently working on?
Ren: I am currently performing experiments involving spiritron hacking and conversion.
Brook: I understood nothing of what you just said, but it sounds AWESOME! I assume it has something to do with computers based on the word "hacking."
Ren: You could say that. I better not tell her about the supercomputer on the moon. Telling her a single magecraft term is already a breach of secrecy. She doesn't need to know more until she gets to Sekoyoma. Anyways, what brings you to Japan?
Brook: Oh, I came here to research Japan's cryptids.
Ren: Cryptids huh?
Brook: Yep, I'm a huge fan of cryptids like aliens, the Loch Ness monster, and of course: Bigfoot, the most famous of them all!
Ren: Bigfoot you say?
Brook: Yep, I love Bigfoot. In fact, I would like to meet him!
Ren: Would you now?
Brook nodded, and Ren suddenly looked satisfied, as if he was waiting for her to say those exact words.
Ren: Say, did you know that Japan has its very own Bigfoot?
Brook leaned in close, clearly interested in what he had just said.
Brook: ….go on.
Ren: Yes, it's called the Hibagon, It's called that due to many sightings being reported around Mt Hiba. In fact, I heard one was spotted in the city of Sekoyoma, which is a couple of miles from h-
Brook: TAKE ME THERE RIGHT NOW!
Ren nearly crashed the car from how loud she yelled. He did not expect her to be convinced so easily, but she appeared irrational to anything cryptid-related to the point of yelling.
A couple minutes later, they arrived at the edge of a heavily wooded area.
Ren: This is where I stop. You will find the city of Sekoyoma through those woods. However, before you go, there are some things I would like to give you.
Ren reached into his pockets and pulled out two objects. The first object appeared to be some sort of credit card with strange, intricate drawings on it. The second object appeared to be a red envelope sealed with black wax.
Ren: When you get to the city, you will see a large statue next to the gate. Put this card into its mouth to gain entrance. As for the envelope, you can read it at any time. Although I would recommend reading it early before the fighting starts. It's better to be prepared for the worst rather than simply going into a battle with no battle plan. That is how most people meet their end in these kinds of things.
Brook: Are we still talking about the Hibagon, or…?
Ren: I am sorry, but I have to leave before Manchester notices I'm here. I wish you luck in the coming conflict, Brook Hackerman.
And with that, Ren got into his car and drove off, leaving a confused Brook in the middle of the woods holding a card and an envelope. Not having any Idea what to do next, she decided to open the envelope. What she read inside confused her even more.
If you received this message,
you are hereby invited to participate in the Reforged Holy Grail War.
Please summon your servant by
October 13th at midnight.
You will not have another chance to join again.
May the blessings of the grail be bestowed upon you.
Sincerely
- Manchester Gremory
Brook: What is this, some sort of DND campaign? I'll worry about this later. Hibagon, here I come!
Brook wandered into the woods to search for the city of Sekoyoma, believing the Hibagon to be there. As she was walking she started scratching her right hand, not even taking the three red marks located there.