The Comic With No Answers

Mission Type

Adventure Mission

Requirements

Trailblaze Mission The Indifference of Those Who Yet Live completed

Starting Location(s)

Planarcadia - Duomension City

Rewards
Summary
Characters

400

50

8

200

100,000

A small-scale comic convention just opened up in the city center? Planarcadia really is something else.
You don't know anything about the convention's theme, but hey, you've got time to kill. Might as well check it out.

"Narrator", Ashveil, Chairsky, Mercator, Miss Chair, Trailblazer, Umbralle, Vexis

The Comic With No Answers is an Adventure Mission on Planarcadia.

Steps

Let's check out the comic convention
Help Xueyi buy fan-made comics
Help the hyper-realistic cosplayer escape the scene
- (Optional Help Xueyi buy fan-made comics)
Hear what Mercator has to say and figure out what's going on
Call Ashveil for help
Meet with Ashveil's informant
Head to "Wok 'n' Roll" to investigate Vexis
Catch up with the fleeing Vexis
Pilot Miss Chair! Charge!
Catch up with the fleeing Vexis
Check on Miss Chair and figure out what to do next
Uncover the truth behind the "Chairsky Death Incident"
Encourage Chairsky to finish the story
Listen to Mercator's thoughts
Encourage Chairsky to finish the story
Witness Chairsky bring this story to a close
Say goodbye to Vexis and the others

Dialogue

Let's check out the comic convention

Mission Description

A small-scale comic convention just opened up in the city center? Planarcadia really is something else.
You don't know anything about the convention's theme, but hey, you've got time to kill. Might as well check it out.

Duomension City

(When approaching mission target): Tough-Looking Fan: Victory to Vexis!; Calm Fan: How unreasonable...; (Trailblazer): (Sounds like someone's arguing? Hope it doesn't turn into a fight... Maybe I should go check it out— I mean break it up! Let's take a look.)

(Talk to the Calm Fan)

Calm Fan: Let me emphasize this one more time: Detective Mercator never loses, and your Vexis is just grasping, at, straws.

Tough-Looking Fan: Nonsense! I doubt you've even read the original The Labyrinth Game comic. You're probably just some newbie who hopped on after the animation started airing, watched a couple episodes, and now you're here pretending you know everything!

What are you guys arguing about?

Tough-Looking Fan: We're fighting for our own idols here, so back off! I don't want any collateral damage!

Do me a favor and knock it off.

Tough-Looking Fan: And who are you supposed to be? Don't butt in if you haven't read our comics.

Calm Fan: Take it easy. It looks like we've got a newcomer who hasn't fallen down the rabbit hole yet! So, are you interested in participating in The Labyrinth Game OnlyCon? Come experience the battle of wits between Detective Mercator and vigilante Vexis!

Vexis?

Tough-Looking Fan: One of the main characters from my favorite comic The Labyrinth Game, such a charming villain!

Mercator?

Calm Fan: A mysterious and righteous detective, one of the main characters from The Labyrinth Game, a classic comic from my childhood.

The Labyrinth Game?

Tough-Looking Fan & Calm Fan: Our favorite comic! A masterpiece of tactical brilliance that influenced Planarcadia!

Tough-Looking Fan: If you're interested, you absolutely have to check it out! The animation adaptation is airing right now, and I guarantee you'll fall in love with Vexis once you watch it!

Calm Fan: Nah, fall for our queen of mind games, Mercator! She's destined to win!

Tough-Looking Fan: Destined to win? Oh, please. Don't forget, Mercator is just some kid who look like a normal elementary school student, but Vexis can literally curse people to death! All she needs is someone's face and name...

Calm Fan: What's wrong with being normal? That psycho killer Vexis doesn't even know Mercator's real name. That's her winning hand.

Tough-Looking Fan: I will NOT let you call her a psycho killer! Please address her properly as "Vexis, the Righteous Punisher of Evil, the Enchanting Beauty, and the Vigilante of Justice." She only walked the path of carnage because she couldn't stand the corruption of this city. Her sacrifice deserves to be remembered by all!

Calm Fan: ...Who's supposed to remember all those titles? Mercator only needs one: Detective! Now that is the true path of justice!

Calm Fan: Forget it, forget it, there's no point arguing with you... If only Chairsky hadn't passed away so suddenly and had lived long enough to finish the ending. Someone with her sense of justice would've definitely had Detective Mercator bring Vexis to justice!

Tough-Looking Fan: Nonsense! As if Master Chair would ever write such a hollow and boring ending. You clearly missed all the foreshadowing in the original! Vexis will definitely get away with it and have the last laugh! A mere first-grader who's only 4 feet tall...

Calm Fan: Is that an insult to Mercator's height? Her wisdom is just condensed into an adorably child-sized body!

Tough-Looking Fan: An insult? No, just stating facts!

Calm Fan: Last time you mouthed off and insulted our idol, you nearly got into a street brawl with the Ashen Detective, the head of our Mercator Fan Club. If that talking monkey hadn't stepped in to break it up, you'd probably be visiting this convention on a stretcher today.

Tough-Looking Fan: ...Bringing this up again? I can't be bothered to argue with you. You Mercator fans are such killjoys!

Calm Fan: Hmph, just a friendly reminder to watch your mouth!

(Trailblazer): (Looks like these two aren't going to start a fight... how boring...)

(Trailblazer): (But... the Ashen Detective and the Talking Monkey... could it be that down-on-his-luck detective? He sure has a wide range of hobbies.)

(Trailblazer): (A comic that never even got a proper ending, and it still has fans arguing this hard... pretty impressive, honestly. Too bad I've never read it myself. I better stay out of this and get out of here.)

Messages
Xueyi

Xueyi

(Trailblazer), long time no see.

Madam Xueyi!

(Trailblazer)

Madam Xueyi! I never expected to receive a message from you!

Xueyi

You seem still as energetic as ever

It's been ages since we last talked

(Trailblazer)

t's been ages since we last talked

Xueyi

My apologies, that was my oversight

When I have time in the future, I shall chat with you often

Xueyi

I heard you are traveling in Planarcadia

I have a small favor to ask of you

Speak your mind, your honor!

(Trailblazer)

No problem, your honor, please go ahead!

Xueyi

Have you perchance heard of The Labyrinth Game?

I am very interested in this comic

Hunting down criminals and enemies suits me better than the author's debut work Wok Star

I heard that Duomension City is holding "The Labyrinth Game OnlyCon" recently, where many fan works will be on sale

Alas, due to my position, I cannot personally attend the comic convention in Planarcadia

I hope you can buy some fan comics for me to fulfill my regrets

You're not following me, are you?

(Trailblazer)

I was just wandering around near this con when I got your message... You're not stalking me, are you?

Xueyi

Beep beep, "Xueyi Model 9527" tracking drone exposed, initiating self-destruct protocol

(Trailblazer)

Waaah, have mercy! Don't blow me up! I'll buy you some fan comics, I promise!

Xueyi

Fear not, I was merely jesting

There are no explosive drones, you can rest assured

Looking forward to seeing the new fan works, thank you

What a coincidence, I'm right here

(Trailblazer)

What a coincidence, I'm at the comic con too!

Xueyi

Have you seen it too? That's wonderful, thank you

Do not worry. Leave it to me

(Trailblazer)

No biggie, just leave it to me

Xueyi

Looking forward to seeing the new fan works, thank you

Help Xueyi buy fan-made comics

Mission Description

It's been ages since we last talked, but Madam Xueyi is as adorable as ever. Since this is an order from Madam Xueyi of the Ten-Lords Commission, I simply must carry it out with utmost dedication!
Let's head to the booths and help Xueyi pick out some nice fan-made comics!

Duomension City

(Go to mission target): (Trailblazer): (What kind of fan comic should I get for Xueyi today? Let's check out that booth over there...)

(Talk to the vendor)

Vendor: Hey, this is The Labyrinth Game OnlyCon, why'd you show up cosplaying The Fluffy... Ah well, we niche-fandom folks should be broad-minded anyway.

Vendor: And with The Labyrinth Game animation blowing up right now, we'll become mainstream in no time!

Hi, got any fan comics?

Vendor: Of course! While it's a shame that Chairsky passed away before finishing the ending, but it left us with infinite possibilities for fan creations!

Vendor: Everything you see here is god-tier, feel free to check them out!

My Sworn Enemy Picked Out My Prison Uniform for Me After My Arrest

"In the fifth year of hunting down Vexis, Mercator finally brought her in. No shouting, no struggle, Vexis simply accepted her fate."

"But for the rest of her life, Mercator never dared to stop chasing down evil. Perhaps because she could never forget those melancholy eyes Vexis had when she took the 'M' sized prison uniform from Mercator's hands... just before she was locked away..."

I'll take this one!

Vendor: Great taste! Thanks for your business!

Let's check out the others.

Kill Me by My Name

"Their final confrontation came to an end on a bleak autumn night. 'You were my best partner,' Vexis said as she collapsed to the ground, sorrow in her voice. 'And the only one whose name I wanted to call in my final moments.'"

"'Yeah, but drop the act,' Mercator said. 'Right now, the one who's being called uponcursed to death is me.'"

I'll take this one!

Vendor: Great taste! Thanks for your business!

Let's check out the others.

Rise Again, Chairsky!

"Many years later, staring at the unfinished ending, all fans of The Labyrinth Game would remember that distant afternoon when Chairsky sketched Vexis's very first strand of hair. But the story cannot end here..."

"Rise again, Chairsky! Finish the ending for us!"

I'll take this one!

Vendor: Great taste! Thanks for your business!

Let's check out the others.

I want them all.

Unable to choose, you decide to take them all.

Vendor: By The Laughter above! Thanks for your business!

I'll take all the fan comics here.

Unable to choose, you decide to take them all.

Vendor: Very decisive! Thanks for your business!

Vendor: While I can't exactly encourage you wearing cosplay from other franchises to The Labyrinth Game OnlyCon... I gotta admit, your Baseball Raccoon cosplay is spot-on. You look just like the real thing.

Vendor: Speaking of which, there's an insanely accurate Mercator cosplayer here today. Everyone's been lining up to take pictures. I'm planning to head over and check it out later.

Vendor: Your cosplay is so good, you should learn from others and go to the conventions you're actually supposed to attend! Don't do this again next time!

(Trailblazer): (Can't be bothered explaining to this guy... Speaking of which, Xueyi would probably be interested in this so-called spot-on cosplayer, right? I should take some photos for her before I head out.)

(Trailblazer): (The fan comics here all seem pretty interesting. Maybe I should take another look around.)

Help the hyper-realistic cosplayer escape the scene

Mission Description

Cosplayers are a dime a dozen at conventions, but ones who get completely surrounded and trapped by fans because they "look too much like the source material"? Not so common.
I can't really make out what she's saying, but as the most helpful person in the cosmos, I should probably help her escape first.

Duomension City

(Talk to ???)

Excited Fan: Oh my gosh, what an adorable little grade school detective. It is like seeing Mercator in the flesh.

Skeptical Fan: Is this really cosplay? How does she even look exactly like Mercator?

Devoted Fan: But look at that chair with eyes next to her...

Excited Fan & Devoted Fan: It looks exactly like Chairsky's comic self-portrait!

"Mercator": Please, stop crowding around us...

What's going on?

Hi there, look at the camera.

She's actually pretty cute!

"Mercator": Wait...

"Mercator": Baseball Raccoon? Hey! You're Baseball Raccoon, aren't you?

"Mercator": Since you're also a comic character, you should understand my situation. Please help me get out of here!

I'm just here to take pictures.

"Mercator": Whatever, whatever, just find a way to get me out of here first!

Correction, the comic is based on my life.

"Mercator": Comic, real person, whatever it is, please just find a way to get me out of here first!

It's just a small crowd, if you can distract them, you can make a run for it. You decide to...

Take out the bat and threaten with violence.

Skeptical Fan: W—Wait... is that a cosplayer from The Fluffy? Don't hit me, I'm leaving, I'm leaving!

Excited Fan: Oh no! The fans of Fluffy Across the Blue are here to crash our party!

Toss around some random currency.

You pull a handful of common currencies from different worlds out of your coin purse and scatter them into the crowd. It's just loose change, but the effect is exactly as you expected. People rush forward in a frenzy, scrambling to grab the money.

After all, even if the pie that falls from the sky is only worth a single penny, no one can resist bending down to grab it. Ah, passion always gets its butt kicked by reality!

"Mercator": Nice work, Miss Chair, now's our chance! Leg it!

The crowd scatters instantly, giving you the chance to escape the scene with your two strange new friends.

(Optional) Help Xueyi buy fan-made comics

(Investigate the comics on the table): This is a fan comic set in a "parallel universe." On the cover, both Mercator and Vexis are wearing Xianzhou-style outfits.; "Vexis": Wherefore? Why dost thou not smite me? Dost thou spare my life merely to vaunt thy mercy?; "Mercator": Thy sort doth merit but the steel, and not forgiveness. Yet should I slay thee with this very hand, wherein shall I be different from thy malice?; You honestly have no idea what these two classical-styled characters are saying... but isn't this kind of how Xueyi talks too? She might actually like this?; ...Never mind. The authors' interpretation of "Xianzhou style" in Planarcadia always feels a bit off.

This is a beautifully printed fan comic with excellent artwork. On the cover, both Mercator and Vexis are drawn extra adorably.

"Mercator": Miss Vexis, may I pinch your chubby little cheeks?

"Vexis": You may not, Miss Mercator. You are a detective, and I'm a murderer. People like us shouldn't... Ah! Don't suddenly pinch my chubby little cheeks like that!

"Mercator": Sorry, I just can't help myself... your chubby little cheeks are just too adorable!

Even though you never read The Labyrinth Game, you are absolutely certain that whoever made this fan comic hasn't either.

Looks like every fandom gets plagued by these weird fan works from people who never touched the source material... And it'd be even worse if this fan comic sells well.

This is a... uh, seems to be some kind of fan comic. The cover reads Transcending Modern Ethics with Vexis. It is about seven hundred pages, without a single illustration.

"Vexis's actions represent a complete negation and re-evocation of 'the Other' in the context of modern ethics. Through sovereign charmwork interfering with the existential order, she attempts to reforge the transcendental structure of norms upon the void of the law."

"In other words, Vexis is not merely a murderer, but rather one who questions 'legitimacy itself' through the form of violence. This action is precisely a parodic destruction of deontology and a mimetic interpretation of value re-evaluation."

"She believes she's striving for 'justice,' yet in truth she has fallen into an 'infinite recursion' of signifiers pointing to signifiers, reducing 'justice' to a mere self-referential game of mirrors."

You have no idea what this fan comic is about, but you do know that no matter how many people Vexis killed in the story, she very clearly missed one.

Hear what Mercator has to say and figure out what's going on

Mission Description

This "Mercator" seems to be more than meets the eye.
Chat with her and figure out what's really going on!

Duomension City

(Approach mission target): "Mercator": As expected of the "Baseball Raccoon" from that super popular comic!; (Trailblazer): Seriously, I'm not a comic character...

(Go to mission target)

"Mercator": We should be safe here now... Thank you.

Why are you running?

I mean, getting swarmed while cosplaying is pretty normal...

"Mercator": Oh come on, you really don't get it? I'm not a cosplayer! Just like you're not cosplaying Baseball Raccoon!

I really don't get it.

Actually, Baseball Raccoon is cosplaying me.

"Mercator": ...I think I get it now, Baseball Raccoon is a character based on you. *sigh* Looks like our situations are completely different.

"Mercator": But at this point, I'm really at my wit's end... so I might as well be straight with you.

Mercator: I'm not pretending to be Mercator. I am THE Mercator from The Labyrinth Game.

Miss Chair: As for me, I come from the "Notes From the Author" on the inside cover of each volume of The Labyrinth Game. The little "self-portrait" that Chairsky drew of herself is me, Miss Chair.

Mercator: To put it more bluntly, we are aberrations, unauthorized imagenae who transformed without the Department of Aberration Defense's approval.

Miss Chair: But hey, this wasn't our doing! The Labyrinth Game hasn't been updated for over a decade!

Mercator: I suppose it's because during the Phantasmoon Games, when Wishpower fills the world, that led to our unexpected creation... Plus, The Labyrinth Game recently got an animation adaptation, which brought this work back into the spotlight among readers.

Mercator: Our old work's gone viral, but now Miss Chair and I have become aberrations hunted down by the Department of Aberration Defense. What a pain in the neck.

Miss Chair: Don't be so down! Look, Chairsky drew us with eyes and legs back then, how awesome is that?

Miss Chair: If she hadn't died, this story would've had a perfect ending. That's probably what the fans were thinking when they created us, too.

Miss Chair: What a shame, all four of my limbs are legs, so I got no hands to learn how to draw!

Mercator: But you can run so fast! When the Department of Aberration Defense was chasing us, you just scooped me up and ran!

Turn yourself in, Mercator.

I'll give that chair a try when I get the chance.

Miss Chair: Hey, hey!

Mercator: I hope you are here to hunt down the bad guys, not running away like me.

Mercator: I did consider turning myself in, since my life principle has always been "never break the law"... but I can't do that right now, and as for the reason... I think you've already guessed it. That's right, just like with Miss Chair...

Mercator: Vexis, the ruthless vigilante who kills without batting an eye, has also arrived in this world.

Mercator: Vexis, a child born into a family of security officers, was once my best partner... until she walked down the path of carnage.

Mercator: Once she sees someone's face and speaks their name, they die exactly as she predestined. With this supernatural power, she killed her way from criminals to colleagues, from the heinously evil to anyone who stood in her path, until finally... she turned her blade on the innocent...

Mercator: To stop her, I stepped onto the board right before the comic's ending and set a trap. If she tried to curse me to death, she'd be caught immediately. But alas... the story froze at that moment, and the criminal escaped to this place.

Mercator: As Detective "M" who knows her best, I must first stop her from committing more crimes, then turn myself in.

How can you prove she's here too?

Mercator: Because I was born. Justice never exists independently. Detectives are born only to eliminate evil.

Mercator: Those murder calling cards aren't just convention merch. They're being posted everywhere else, too.

Mercator: So listen up, and I'm not being dramatic here: Vexis has entered reality, and with her blood-stained lips and hands, she will bring violent and absolute death to this city of Elation.

Why don't we report this to security officer?

It's way too dangerous for kids to do this!

Mercator: I'm not a kid, you rude raccoon!

Mercator: If I report this now, I'll get arrested over my identity due to lack of evidence. The best course of action is to find Vexis first.

Mercator: Do you have any reliable detective contacts in Planarcadia?

Oh yes, absolutely. And it is our old friend, the Ashen Detective. You nod with satisfaction. This head of the Mercator fan club will definitely be happy to help.

Mercator: Informants are the lifeblood of a detective. You can contact him over there, and I won't pry.

(Talk to Miss Chair, optional): Miss Chair: Sorry, if only I could have given you an ending...; Miss Chair: Forget it. Chairsky already did a great job.

(Talk to Mercator, optional): Mercator: Let's hope the help you find can provide some useful leads.; Mercator: Don't worry, failure has no place in Justice Detective Mercator's pipe.

Call Ashveil for help

Mission Description

This "Mercator" seems to be more than meets the eye... She claims she's not a cosplayer, but an actual comic book character brought to life in the mortal world! And her murderous arch-nemesis has also shown up here!
Ah, Planarcadia, truly a place where anything can happen.
This situation's a bit tricky. Better get Detective Ashveil's take on it.

Duomension City

(Go to mission target)

(Trailblazer): Let's give Ashveil a call right here.

(Dial Ashveil's number)

Voice from the TV: "Can you confirm that, Mercator?"

"Narrator": Stop watching that animation, you've got a client calling.

Ashveil: Hello, this is the Ashen Detective Agency. I'm busy right now and very unhappy to be of service.

Voice from the TV: "Don't question my answers... It's all in my head, come on! The thrill of chasing crime gets my blood pumping!"...

Not happy serving Mercator either?

Ashveil: I don't care about Mer... Mercator? *cough* You watch The Labyrinth Game too?

Not happy serving me either?

Ashveil: At your service... Well, ever since I met you, I've become the hardest-working detective in all of Planarcadia.

Ashveil: Alright, what kind of trouble did you get into this time?

You told Ashveil about what just happened...

Ashveil: By The Laughter, Mercator appeared as an aberration in Planarcadia? And she said Vexis was there too? If anyone else told me this, I'd think they were messing with me... but since it's coming from you...

"Narrator": (He/She) isn't exactly a saint either, probably just messing with you as well.

Ashveil: No, (he/she)'s different. I believe in (him/her).

Ashveil: Vexis has appeared in this world... It sounds serious, but don't worry. If it's M herself, she'll definitely prevail, just like her catchphrase says, "You can curse everything, but you can never curse justice"!

Ashveil: Too bad I can't make it in person, but I'll introduce you to my best informant.

Don't you want to meet your idol?

Stop watching that animation and get over here!

Ashveil: It's not that I don't want to go, I just can't! Mercator is my favorite detective. In criminal investigation, you must avoid letting emotions cloud your judgment, so I need to avoid getting too close on a personal level.

"Narrator": The lazy detective retorted with such an excuse.

Ashveil: Besides, isn't that what everyone says? "Don't touch your idols: a little gold always rubs off."

"Narrator": The lazy detective tries to get away with it by spouting wise quotes.

Ashveil: Narrator, send the informant's location to (Trailblazer)'s phone.

Ashveil: Remember, the passphrase is: "It's going to rain today."

"Narrator": Before hanging up the phone, the detective cast a profound gaze out the window, where a storm was brewing.

Mercator: Looks like you've got the lead. Well then, let's get moving.

Meet with Ashveil's informant

Mission Description

This "Mercator" seems to be more than meets the eye... She claims she's not a cosplayer, but an actual comic book character brought to life in the mortal world! And her murderous arch-nemesis has also shown up here!
Ah, Planarcadia, truly a place where anything can happen.
This situation's a bit tricky. Better get Detective Ashveil's take on it.
But that lazy detective won't lift a finger himself. Instead, he's referred you to one of his informants. Go meet them.

Duomension City

(Go to mission target)

Streets, alleyways, shadowed corners... In an instant, your mind floods with scenes from spy thrillers, all hidden currents and covert tension. And now, you are about to become one of them.

Mercator: Let's find a way to meet the informant first.

(Trailblazer): (What was that "passphrase" Ashveil mentioned earlier?)

(Knock on the wall)

Voice From Above: Easy, easy. This building is the actual filming location for The Labyrinth Game! In Chapter 32 of the comic, the last panel shows Demetri falling from this very rooftop after Vexis cursed him to death! What will we do if you damage it?

Miss Chair: ...Who's talking?

Mercator: ...Let's try a different approach.

:(Cough lightly)

TV Sound: *bzzt*█▄*cough*...A throaty cough▀▄▄that's chronic, probably█▄heaty lungs, doctor█▄ploo, Fulwish TV's▀▄designated medical▀▄*bzzt*...*bzzt*...

TV Sound: Ad ▀▄▄Welcome back█▄Now▀▄playing The Labyrinth Game Animated Series Episode 47...

Mercator: ...Let's try a different approach.

"It's going to rain today"

Informant?: ...I accept your passphrase.

Umbralle: Need the protection of the law's umbrella? I am "Rainmaker" Umbralle. I'm sure Ashveil has already shown you my strength.

Miss Chair: W—Wow... what a handsome umbrella-head gentleman!

(If Umbralle has not been interacted with before)‍^{[verification needed]}

Why does he look like trouble?

Umbralle: Hey now, I'm still a respectable attorney, you know.

(If Umbralle has been interacted with before)‍^{[verification needed]}

How did you end up becoming an informant!?

Umbralle: Shh, keep it down! Everyone needs a little side hustle, you know!

I don't need protection, I need clues.

Umbralle: No problem, I'm not just an unbeatable attorney, but also an unbeatable informant!

Umbralle: So, you must be Miss Mercator that Ashveil mentioned.

Umbralle: Being an aberration must come with many inconveniences. Perhaps you'd like me to help you file a lawsuit against the Department of Aberration Defense for "imagenae identity registration"?

Mercator: No need. I know I'm not welcome in this world, and I won't stay here for too long. But before I leave, there are matters I need to resolve.

(Shows Vexis's portrait)

Picture missing

Mercator: Her name is Vexis, and just like me, she's an aberration born from a comic. She's a bloodthirsty killer, extremely dangerous, and we need to find her.

Umbralle: Huh? You're not messing with me, are you? This is clearly Pearuna, the head of the Duomension City branch of the telecom carrier Arcadia Telecom.

Isn't that a comic character!

Umbralle: A comic character? I don't read comics, so I might be wrong... but this picture looks exactly like Pearuna.

Umbralle: ...Hmm, I might be wrong about this. Pearuna is quite a good leader, and her subordinates can't stop praising her. Plus, she's happily married, has adopted a child, and both her career and family life are smooth sailing. She really doesn't seem like someone who would be a serial killer.

Umbralle: Besides, she's been the head of Duomension City's Arcadia Telecom branch for several years now, there's no way she could be an aberration who manifested at the same time as Miss Mercator.

Mercator: ...I understand. Rationally speaking, Miss Pearuna shouldn't have anything to do with this. But I must verify her identity in person, because my detective's intuition is sounding the alarm.

Mercator: If she really is Vexis, then she now has access to almost everyone's personal information in Duomension City, and she can curse without any obstacles. In other words, Planarcadia... has become even more dangerous.

Do you have her contact info?

Umbralle: That's private information, I really can't share that. But I do know she often visits this restaurant called "Wok 'n' Roll" in Yum Yum Alley... She goes there three or four times a week.

Umbralle: It's dinner time now, why don't you try your luck at the "Wok 'n' Roll"? You might just run into her there.

Miss Chair: I—I remember that place! That was Chair's favorite restaurant when she was alive. That's where she came up with Wok Star, her debut work!

Mercator: Looks like she might not be completely uninvolved in this... Thank you very much, Mr. Umbralle. We'll head to "Wok 'n' Roll" right away. Hopefully we can find Miss Pearuna there.

Umbralle: Uh, let me remind you... The law rests on the presumption of innocence. Be careful not to let your desire to solve cases take over and push you across boundaries that shouldn't be crossed.

Mercator: Mr. Umbralle, Detective M is driven by justice alone.

Head to "Wok 'n' Roll" to investigate Vexis

Mission Description

According to reliable intel, Arcadia Telecom's execs "Pearuna" and "Vexis" look remarkably similar. And Pearuna's a regular at "Wok 'n' Roll."
Maybe we can track her down there.

Duomension City

(Approach mission target): Miss Chair: "Wok 'n' Roll"... This must be the place! Looks like there's a clerk at the door, let's go ask her.

(Go to mission target): ???: Over forty-eight complaints this month, by The Laughter, we can't even get fifty orders in a month.; Downcast Clerk: But, Chef, we still have regulars coming in every day...; ???: Miss Pearuna is my old friend. I won't count this against her... You should reflect on your own issues!; Indignant Clerk: But as the head chef, shouldn't you be doing some self-reflection too? You bought this place before it closed down. Don't tell me you're planning to run it into the ground again?; Head Chef: This is where Wok Star was born! Of course I can't bear to see it go under!; Indignant Clerk: But this is a new era now. Who still wants plain home cooking with ordinary taste, ordinary decor, and ordinary atmosphere? The Phantasmoon Games is in full swing. We could be riding the wave. Would it really hurt to release some "special dishes"?; Head Chef: Stop fooling around and think carefully about the purpose of your work. Do you want customers to come to our restaurant to savor your culinary skills, or just to chase after some fleeting social trends?; Head Chef: The power of cooking lies in emotions, in life itself. We are here to comfort ordinary diners who are busy just getting through their days, using the simplest of dishes. Have you forgotten that?; Downcast Clerk: *sigh*...Head Chef, no matter how moving your words are, it won't change the fact that business is terrible...; Head Chef: Alright alright, you guys go prep the ingredients.; Miss Chair: No wonder Chairsky created Wok Star. This head chef is just like the protagonist from her comic.; Head Chef: Huh? And you all are...?; We're here to see Miss Pearuna.; Head Chef: Pearuna? Oh, oh, oh, wait... just a second.; Mercator: Is Miss Pearuna here right now? Perfect, we'd like to ask her a few questions.; Head Chef: Yeah yeah, don't worry, don't worry... I'll call her for you.; Head Chef: She's really here! Run, Peary, run!; A figure climbed out of the window and stumbled off.; Miss Chair: She ran away! Mercator, she must really be Vexis!; Head Chef: If you wanna catch up to her, you'll have to first... get past my blade... *sob*; Mercator: Leave the cook to me, hurry and go after Vexis!

Catch up with the fleeing Vexis

Mission Description

So "Pearuna" really *IS* "Vexis"! What the heck is going on here?
Run after her and catch up to get some answers!

Duomension City

(Go to mission target): (Trailblazer): Where's Miss Chair?; Miss Chair: Come on, hurry up!

(Go to mission target): Miss Chair: Quick, I see Vexis right over there!

Pilot Miss Chair! Charge!

Mission Description

So "Pearuna" really *IS* "Vexis"! What the heck is going on here?
Run after her and catch up to get some answers!

Duomension City

(Approach Miss Chair)

Miss Chair: Forget it, just get on me, quickly.

(Sit upright)

Do you have a vehicle registration?

Miss Chair: Cut it out!

I haven't gotten my driver's license yet.

Miss Chair: It's fine. I'm basically automatic.

You gingerly sit down on Miss Chair, as if ascending a royal throne.

Miss Chair: Relax, sit tight and hold on...

Miss Chair: Super Chair Mode, ACTIVATE!

(Trailblazer): What the heck is your power sourceaaaaaah—

Miss Chair: Take a guess.

(Trailblazer): Where's the seatbeltaaaaaah—!

Miss Chair: Blast, there's too many people ahead. I can't fly through.

(Trailblazer): I'll take a detour around, you go ahead.

Catch up with the fleeing Vexis

Mission Description

So "Pearuna" really *IS* "Vexis"! What the heck is going on here?
Run after her and catch up to get some answers!

Duomension City

(Approach the Interplanar Jump! pipe): (Trailblazer): Try out the "Interplanar Jump!" warp here!

(Walk past the group of people, optional): Wait, you can actually do that? You're a genius!

(Catch up to "Pearuna")

You successfully catch up to Chair and stop "Pearuna."

To avoid causing a commotion, you lead Pearuna to a quieter roadside...

Miss Chair: Running away the moment you see us? You must be Vexis!

"Pearuna": It's been fifteen years... why are you showing up now... just when I finally managed to live like a normal person.

Fifteen years?

Vexis: Yeah, I was born fifteen years ago.

A normal person?

Vexis: Can't I just be a normal person?

Vexis: Fifteen years ago, during the previous Phantasmoon Games, Planarcadia was brimming with Wishpower. At that time, The Labyrinth Game was about to end, and the comic was dominating the popularity charts. That's when I was born as an aberration.

Vexis: People love me for cutting down the injustices in the world, but truth is, I'm not a bloodthirsty person by nature. If I could, I would have chosen to live like a normal person long ago...

Vexis: Because I was just... so tired. The sins in that world were piled so high you couldn't see any hope through them. That's why I'm so glad I came here. Planarcadia doesn't have nearly as much evil, and I can finally live a normal life without worry.

But you've got a lot of blood on your hands, don't you?

Vexis: Isn't that just something from the comic?

So how do we count the crimes you committed in the comic?

Vexis: Would you arrest an actor who plays a murderer in a detective show?

Vexis: In the real world, I've never harmed anyone... I haven't even harmed a single wispae. Please believe me, all those "crimes" I committed were nothing but fictional stories.

And what about the murder calling cards?

Vexis: By The Laughter! that's just viral marketing to hype up the animation adaptation, don't take it seriously.

Vexis: I've laid it all out for you, so you should understand by now, right?

Miss Chair: Sorry, I don't understand.

Vexis: ...Which part don't you understand?

Miss Chair: Every single part. Since I was born, I've been trying every possible way to finish that comic that will never have a chance to be completed. Even in an unfamiliar place, Mercator still tries her hardest to catch you.

Miss Chair: And you, with your superpowers, are telling me that you want to give it all up and be a normal person?

Vexis: Superpowers? In this mundane life, there are too many frustrations where you try your hardest but get nowhere. My marriage is dead in the water, my adopted kid's a disappointment, what am I supposed to do?

Vexis: Should I curse both my son who keeps failing his exams and his useless father to death?

Vexis: In the comic, I was always scheming and plotting my every move, yet I lived in constant fear. But now, even though I have to put in all my effort just to get through ordinary daily life, I feel steady and at peace.

Vexis: Those who seek the ordinary and those who seek the extraordinary will never truly understand each other.

Vexis: You can keep chasing after that thrilling, heroic destiny from the comic, but Vexis is dead. Please, let her go from your hearts.

Mercator: Cut the act, Vexis.

Mercator: Don't let her fool you.

Mercator: Want a peaceful, normal life? Fine.

Mercator: Crimes in the comic don't count? Sure thing.

Mercator: But are you really that pure and innocent in the real world? Have you never given in to your murderous desires and committed crimes?

Vexis: Of course I did not!

Mercator: Then why does the date of Chairsky's death perfectly match the day you came into existence?

Vexis: ...

Did she not die of an illness?

Mercator: It was her. She killed Miss Chairsky. The so-called "death by illness" was simply the result of her death curse.

Mercator: After becoming an aberration, you must have found out somehow that Chairsky intended to write an ending where you failed and were captured. To stop her, you took her life.

Vexis: ...You even found out about all that? You really are... Why are you so obsessed, why won't you just let me go!

Miss Chair: ...It's all because there was no ending... that you got the chance to go after Chairsky who created you! She loved comics so much, cared about all of you so much... and she was so talented...

Vexis: ...Sorry. For both her and me, that was the only way.

Miss Chair: I get it, I get it now... To make up for this mistake, I will give everything I have to fulfill Chairsky's final wish.

Miss Chair: To draw an ending for this unfinished comic...

You feel a wave of dizziness. When your vision clears, all that remains is an ordinary chair that can no longer speak.

Check on Miss Chair and figure out what to do next

Mission Description

After a series of chaotic events, Miss Chair disappeared along with the two comic book characters. Her physical form seems to still be around, but it's probably just a chair that can't fly anymore
Let's check out Miss Chair's "remains" first. Who knows? Maybe we'll find a way to solve this mess?

Duomension City

(Talk to Miss Chair)

You look at the chair, but the chair can no longer look back at you. It seems Miss Chair truly gave it her all.

There's nothing more we can do for now. Let's sit down.

A chair that can no longer jet around, and one that is even a bit uncomfortable to sit on. This is definitely not going to spark any fountains of inspiration.

There is still a chance. Wait for me, Miss Chair!

Life is full of opportunities, but not everyone can seize them. You should focus on finding them first.

(Trailblazer): Ashveil? Why's he calling me all of a sudden?

(Answer the phone)

Ashveil: How about that? Wasn't Mercator's deduction absolutely brilliant!

How do you know what happened?

Have you been following us?

Ashveil: Following you? Haha, don't underestimate the intelligence network of the "Ashen Detective"!

Ashveil: ...By the way, did you know? Detective Mercator's greatest ability is her ability to retain every single detail inside her head and analyze them inside her "Mind Gallery."

Ashveil: I put myself through some intense training just to be like her, and I finally mastered this skill. Pretty impressive, right?

Hey, we have a rather urgent situation here...

So this isn't really the time to discuss comic plots!

Ashveil: You're right. Detective Mercator always manages to solve the mystery and uncover the truth at the most critical moments using her signature Mind Gallery technique.

Ashveil: Let me teach it to you right now! I'm sure it'll come in handy later.

Ashveil: Hmm, what would Mercator say at a time like this...? Oh, I remember now:

Ashveil: *Ahem*... Attention! Now, it's Deduction Time!!!

Ashveil: Since Miss Chair says she wants to complete the ending, there's a high chance the place they're going to is related to the author Chairsky herself.

But isn't Chairsky dead?

But wasn't the author killed by Vexis?

Ashveil: That's where things get real interesting. Based on Mercator's deductions, Vexis likely harbored intense hatred toward the creator who intended to give her a sad ending. This would establish a compelling motive for murder.

Ashveil: As much as she won't admit it, Mercator made a grave error here. She conflated Vexis from the story with Pearuna from outside the story.

Ashveil: Remember that conversation you overheard at Wok 'n' Roll?

A downcast-looking clerk...

Downcast Clerk: But, Chef, we still have regulars coming in every day...

(Trailblazer): Vexis is always here, and seems to be on good terms with the staff too.

An indignant-looking clerk...

Indignant Clerk: You bought this store before it closed down. Don't tell me you're planning to run it into the ground again?

Head Chef: This is where Wok Star was born! Of course I can't bear to see it go under!

(Trailblazer): The head chef bought Wok 'n' Roll to keep it from closing down, apparently because it was where Wok Star was born.

Head chef...

Miss Chair: No wonder Chairsky created Wok Star. This head chef is just like the protagonist from her comic.

Head Chef: She's really here! Run, Peary, run!

Head Chef: If you wanna catch up to her, you'll have to first... get past my blade... *sob*

(Trailblazer): Miss Chair also mentioned that this head chef is just like a character straight out of the comic, and she seems to be close to Vexis too.

(Trailblazer): So this is where things obviously get contradictory.

(Trailblazer): Based on Mercator's deductions, Vexis and the writer Chairsky were sworn enemies who could not coexist in the same world.

(Trailblazer): But at Wok 'n' Roll, a place that is deeply connected to Chairsky, and especially to her comic...

(Trailblazer): ...not only is Vexis, who now goes by the name Pearuna, a frequent guest, she is also a good friend of the owner.

This doesn't look like what a killer would do.

This doesn't look like an antagonistic relationship between two enemies.

Vexis is not the killer.

Ashveil: Ha, impressive! But we need proof of the pudding here, and a detective's pipe needs tobacco to spark the flames of truth.

Ashveil: About what really happened back then, I think you still need more information.

(Trailblazer): This is...

Ashveil: This is Chairsky's studio from when she was alive. More strictly speaking, it's a recreation of her studio based on my memory and deduction.

Ashveil: After Miss Chairsky's sister announced the news of her passing, I did some research... after all, she was one of my favorite comic artists.

Ashveil: The comic ended right there, back then.

Ashveil: With M closing in on her, Vexis issues her final murder notice, declaring that she will kill someone truly innocent.

Ashveil: Mercator and security officers stage an ambush in M's name, ready to arrest Vexis the moment she moves to cast a death curse on her.

Ashveil: Mercator decided on this move because she was certain she had never revealed her real name to Vexis.

Ashveil: That must be why... she's so convinced she'll win.

As you flip through the manuscript, you notice that the final pages are heavily marked with revisions and corrections. ~~"Mercator: Justice never dies... You shall never..." "Vexis: What even counts as justice..."~~

Huh. Looks like she was nowhere near decided on that ending.

Ashveil: That's right. The scene was littered with discarded drafts and loads and loads of margin notes exploring various endings. That was exactly the kind of artist Chairsky was: talented, diligent, and meticulous down to the last hair...

Ashveil: To think that a genius like her was born only to leave behind fragments of her work... it's truly frustrating.

Uncover the truth behind the "Chairsky Death Incident"

Mission Description

You can always count on the one and only Detective Ashveil!
With Ashveil's help, you begin investigating the truth behind this incident.
Did Chairsky really die of illness? Is Vexis truly the culprit? And can this whole farce finally come to a satisfying end?

Ashveil's Mind Palace

(Investigate the shelf)

We now bring you this piece of news: "Confirmed: Prodigy Comic Artist Chairsky Passed Away!"

"Chairsky, creator of The Labyrinth Game and Wok Star, was confirmed dead this morning after emergency treatment for a sudden illness failed. A large crowd of fans has gathered on the streets, coming together to mourn Miss Chairsky..."

"At the memorial site, tensions flared when overzealous fans caused a disturbance. Reports indicate the dispute revolved, surprisingly, around the ending of The Labyrinth Game. Chairsky's older sister confirmed that the artist had repeatedly received threatening letters concerning this very issue..."

Ashveil: Such disruptive behavior by extreme fans has continued unabated to this day.

You were there too, weren't you, fan club president?

Ashveil: I... I—I was just administering moral justice to those obsessive fans!

Got into a fight with a crazy fan, but was stopped by a monkey...

Ashveil: What are you talking about? You must've heard wrong. Mister N was actually about to get into a fight over a banana, but I stopped him.

Ashveil: It's only right that we all stand against toxic fan behavior. Who knows, maybe Chairsky struggled to finish the ending because of all that pressure.

Ashveil: Despite repeated attempts, the mysterious sister was never heard from again. After that, Chairsky was gone from the public eye, and no proper funeral was ever held.

(Investigate the table): A room with no obvious signs of struggle, with art supplies and draft papers scattered everywhere.; It was in a space like this that Chairsky created The Labyrinth Game, a series still beloved by fans to this day.

(Talk to Ashveil)

Ashveil: Anyway, let's go through what we know so far.

A room with no signs of struggle.

(Trailblazer): While we can more or less rule out murder, if it was death by illness, there are some signs missing.

(Trailblazer): I see no drugs, and there aren't any medical reports either...

(Trailblazer): Maybe her sister came by to clean up after.

The pressure of completing the ending.

(Trailblazer): Even a comic genius would have a hard time dealing with obsessive fans.

(Trailblazer): Given how meticulous she was, just imagine the kind of pressure she was under to deliver the perfect ending for this sensational hit.

Chairsky's older sister.

Ashveil: None of my sources can reach this mysterious sister anymore. What's more, according to Chairsky's family records, she has no living relatives left.

(Trailblazer): If that's the case, then the "older sister" who announced Chairsky's death and then vanished so quickly can be...

(Trailblazer): Vexis, who was born at that time by chance.

(Trailblazer): So... Vexis might have posed as Chairsky's sister. But why would she do something like that?

The missing body.

(Trailblazer): That's the most puzzling part of this case.

(Trailblazer): Following Chairsky's death, her fans hastily put together a memorial on their own. The exact cause of death and any funeral arrangements that were made were never reported in the media...

(Trailblazer): And why was that?

(Trailblazer): A brilliant comic artist, struggling under immense pressure to complete the ending, suddenly passes away. Her mysterious sister announces the death, and nothing has been heard since...

(Trailblazer): And we now think Vexis might just be that mysterious "sister."

She helped Chairsky.

She helped Chair, who was unable to come up with the ending, feign her death.

So, Chairsky isn't dead after all.

Ashveil: I see. So Chairsky isn't actually dead... That would explain quite a few things.

Ashveil: If Chairsky isn't dead, where is she now?

(Talk to Ashveil)

(Trailblazer): The comic artist and her villainous creation weren't adversaries, they were accomplices.

Ashveil: I take it you already have some ideas.

(Trailblazer): Yes... through all of this, one person stands out for their truly strange behavior. It's like... they knew everything.

You.

Ashveil: Still playing dumb at a time like this? Looks like it's time for the "hard-boiled detective's" Fist of Deduction to make an appearance.

Me.

Ashveil: Oh come on, you barely pieced everything together just a few moments ago!

Head chef.

Head Chef: Miss Pearuna is an old friend of mine...

Head Chef: She's really here! Run, Peary, run!

Head Chef: If you wanna catch up to her, you'll have to first... get past my blade... *sob*

(Trailblazer): At first, we thought the Head Chef was the inspiration for Chairsky's Wok Star, but now it appears that...

(Trailblazer): She might be Chairsky herself, who faked her death.

Ashveil: Oh, look who's been following you guys around.

(Go to mission target): (Trailblazer): Head chef...; (Trailblazer): No, I should call you: Miss Chairsky, the prodigy comic artist...; (Trailblazer): Found you.; Ashveil: So, the Head Chef is really Chairsky... What a revelation.; (Trailblazer): You knew the truth all along, didn't you? You realized Mercator would go off on a wild goose chase with her deductions, but as her fan, you couldn't bring yourself to point out her mistakes. That's why you refused to help us directly. Am I right?; Ashveil: ...Fine! Deduction Time is over! Now it's time for you to go confront Miss Chairsky herself. That's it. Goodbye.; (Trailblazer): So, let's have a chat... Miss Chairsky.

Chairsky: ...

Chairsky: I've long known this day would come, and yet now that it's here, I can't help but feel, "Ah... the grand finale has arrived."

Your story isn't over yet.

Chairsky: I did my best, but I'm afraid I couldn't give the story a perfect ending. That Miss Chair... she's my "self-portrait," isn't she? In a way, she's also an idealized version of myself. Maybe it's not such a bad thing to let her bring this story to a close.

Miss Chair is helping you wrap things up.

Chairsky: She... she's my "self-portrait," isn't she? In some ways, she's an idealized version of me: purer, with a deeper and far stronger desire to complete the comic. But I've lost the will to continue.

Chairsky: Creating comics was the most beautiful time of my life. I loved giving life to my characters through my drawings.

Chairsky: But fans have all sorts of expectations, and characters have all sorts of destinies, too. I had to carry all that pressure to find the perfect ending, but I... I'm just an ordinary person who loves drawing silly little comics!

Chairsky: Everyone calls me a genius, but Vexis is the only one who truly gets me.

Chairsky: She stepped out of the comic and told me to stop when I felt exhausted. "Forget about everyone else's expectations," she said, "those millions of readers can wait. From now on, that weak version of you is dead."

Chairsky: And after killing that version of myself, the self that was weighed down by so many expectations, I actually felt true freedom.

But it's been 15 years, and it's time to face reality.

Chairsky: Although, why should I have to face it anyway?

You should stop running away from the truth.

Chairsky: Running away isn't exactly honorable, but it works!

Take us to Miss Chair.

Chairsky: I know you're in a hurry, but you can catch your breath here first. How about I make you something to eat?

Chairsky: Why can't I simply draw comics and cook as I please? Why must I face public opinion, the obsessive fans, and the constant pressure to complete the ending?

Chairsky: Please... I'm just a coward who can't face this comic that's causing me so much pain anymore.

But you're the one who created those characters...

Chairsky: And therefore I must bear the pain that comes with creating them?

You should be protecting them!

Actually, you can't really bring yourself to abandon them.

Chairsky: ...

You actually recognized Chair and Mercator right away.

You've been protecting Pearuna's secret all along.

Are you really going to do nothing about your friend Pearuna?

Chairsky: ...*Sigh*... You're right.

Chairsky: I promised Pearuna I'd give her a brand-new life. This might be the only thing I can do for her now.

Chairsky: As for Chair and Mercator... I created them, and they were once my most beautiful memories. It's true that I haven't been able to let go of them for even a single day.

Chairsky: ...Oh well. I've had 15 years of peace up till now after all...

Chairsky: Come with me. I think Chair will take them to where I used to draw. I can show you the way.

Let's go now.

Chairsky: Please come with me.

Chairsky: Oh, don't forget to bring this chair along.

Just give me a little bit of time to get ready.

Chairsky: Well, there's no need to rush headlong into an ending.

Encourage Chairsky to finish the story

Mission Description

You can always count on the one and only Detective Ashveil!
With Ashveil's help, you begin investigating the truth behind this incident.
Did Chairsky really die of illness? Is Vexis truly the culprit? And can this whole farce finally come to a satisfying end?

Ashveil's Mind Palace

Mercator: Vexis, my best of partners, remember the time we parted ways?

Vexis: ...

Mercator: Why aren't you saying anything? Alright... let me refresh your memory.

Mercator: You may not remember the name Radek, but you likely remember his crimes. He kidnapped his rival's daughter and murdered her in cold blood.

Mercator: We had been on the case an entire year, but he was protected at every turn, and the girl's death was eventually ruled an accident. Back then, you asked me what justice really meant, and I had no answer for you...

Vexis: If your version of "justice" can't provide tit-for-tat punishment, then this so-called "justice" that's always delayed and doomed to be absent cannot be the right answer.

Mercator: So your answer is to commit brutal murders in the name of justice?

Vexis: "Brutal"? Death by vigilante justice is still way too merciful compared to what he committed.

Mercator: Even now, you still won't admit you're the vigilante?

Vexis: Enough. That's where the original ending stops.

Mercator: That's not enough! Vexis, even if this person did deserve what they got, what about all those innocent lives you took after that?

Vexis: ...Please, just look at me. I'm the innocent one.

Vexis: I just want a normal life, Detective Mercator, so please just leave me alone!

Mercator: Hey, come on! That's not how your character should act or speak!

Mercator: *Ahem* Moving on. "Innocent," you say? Then what about the deceased Chairsky? Vexis, it's time for you to face justice!

Chairsky: Hold on a second. Vexis did not kill Chairsky.

Chairsky: I say that because I am your creator, the comic artist Chairsky. As you can see, I'm still alive.

She feigned her death back then.

I can confirm that Vexis has never killed anyone in real life.

Miss Chair: ...You're still... alive?

Chairsky: You look really worn out... I'm sorry. You must have used up so much Wishpower trying to fill in that ending I never drew.

Miss Chair: You don't need to apologize! I don't know why you chose to fake your death, but from the bottom of my heart, your art is truly, truly amazing!

Chairsky: ...

Vexis: Miss Chairsky, I'm sorry... I never wanted to pull you back into more drama surrounding this comic.

Chairsky: No, this all started because of me. I should be the one apologizing, Peary. I've been running from this for far too long.

Mercator: W-what's going on here???

Maybe we don't need to go after Vexis anymore.

Please just spare each other!

Chairsky: Mercator, in the real world, Vexis has never committed any crimes, nor will she ever commit any.

Chairsky: You no longer have to wear yourself out chasing her... You're free now, ready to embrace a brand-new life like we did.

Mercator: A new life... what life is that? Am I supposed to live an ordinary life just like her? But... I'm Detective Mercator! The great detective who never stops hunting evil...!

Mercator: Hahaha! So what you're saying is, all the chasing I've been doing has been for absolutely nothing!?

Mercator: ...Sorry, I need some time alone right now.

Miss Chair: I understand how she feels. It is just as how I was born with an obsession to finish the comic. For Mercator, hunting Vexis has been her whole life.

Miss Chair: I've been feeling a little lost myself, but now that I know Chairsky is still alive, it feels like I have something new to look forward to... Unfortunately, that isn't true for Mercator yet.

Miss Chair: Please, do me a favor and console her in my stead. She's just... a little overwhelmed after learning all these.

Listen to Mercator's thoughts

Mission Description

Let's hear what Mercator has to say.
This detective rarely opens up about how she feels, but despite her emotional resilience, there are probably still a lot of doubts and worries..

The Comic's Ending

(Talk to Miss Chair, optional): Miss Chair: Just as how I would willingly use up all my Wishpower to bring you here...; Miss Chair: Mercator probably wants to give it her all in one final, concluding battle, no matter the cost.

(Talk to Vexis, optional): Vexis: I know it couldn't have been easy for you, trying to get to the truth back then. I originally intended for it to stay buried forever.; Vexis: Mercator... *Sigh* Why does she always have to be so persistent?

(Talk to Chairsky, optional): Chairsky: I'm really sorry. If only I was able to draw the ending back then...; Chairsky: But I was just so tired...

(Talk to Mercator)

Mercator: Thank you for bringing me the truth. I've spent my whole life pursuing justice, only to be crushed by a truth that's far from just... Don't you think I'm absurd?

Truths about life are always the hardest to bear.

Mercator: Yeah. Those clear-cut, black-and-white truths about justice are probably easier for people to accept.

Can't you at least try to live a normal life?

Mercator: But giving up isn't as easy as it sounds! Everything I've been pursuing is what I love, and what I'd give anything for!

Mercator: From the very moment I was born in the comic, I've been chasing criminals, punishing evil, and bringing justice to the world nonstop.

Mercator: Like I said before, "you can curse everything, but you can never curse justice"! I also believe that "failure has no place in Detective Mercator's pipe."

Mercator: This is what I was born for, and these are the words that have kept me going all this time. Do you know how much despair I felt when I realized I was nothing but a comic character?

Mercator: But I still pulled myself together, because I believed that this world needed me, that it really needed me to save it by arresting Vexis.

Mercator: But now, everything is gone... My dreams, my purpose, the justice I fought for... They're all gone.

Life never had a meaning on its own.

Mercator: What a painful realization...

So go seek a new meaning and values.

Mercator: An endless pursuit like this is just too agonizing to bear...

Mercator: Thanks for talking to me. I'm starting to see things a little more clearly now...

Mercator: Everything I've been chasing... it's all just a made-up story. But so what? I've given it my all to get to this point, so even if it's just a story, I demand an ending from destiny.

Mercator: Miss Chairsky, since you're still alive, please finish drawing our final showdown! I need this if I am to fully accept the new journey ahead of me.

Encourage Chairsky to finish the story

Mission Description

Maybe the only way now is to have Chairsky write an ending to the story.
Let's give her some encouragement so she can overcome her writer's block and finally fill this ancient plot hole!

The Comic's Ending

(Talk to Chairsky)

Chairsky: You want me to draw the ending? But... it's been so long...

Miss Chair: Actually, I would like that too.

Miss Chair: I've always thought Chairsky to be really amazing. And since I'm her self-portrait, I make sure to keep my back straight and my eyes wide open every day! It's the only way I can do our genius comic artist justice.

Miss Chair: Even though I hadn't met you yet back then, your writing was so gentle and full of happiness, I already could feel your love for me.

Miss Chair: So I won't force you to draw this ending... because someone who loves comics as much as you do must have their reasons for not doing so.

She was under a lot of pressure from the world outside of the comic.

Miss Chair: So this is what you call the "harsh realities of the ordinary people," huh?

Vexis: To be honest, this is far from ordinary. When you have the time, come to the kitchen and try your hand at cooking! I assure you that you'll get a good taste of day-to-day living then!

She couldn't handle the pressure of drawing the ending.

Miss Chair: Don't want to say goodbye? Then how about using the ending of one story to start a new one?

Miss Chair: Hehe, I'm not trying to pressure you into starting or updating anything.

Chairsky: Actually... I already came up with an ending 15 years ago.

Miss Chair: Really!?

Chairsky: It was the ending I had in my outline. But as I drew, I couldn't convince myself that it was an ending everyone would love, and the perfect conclusion among countless possibilities.

Miss Chair: Nah, anything you draw would be absolutely perfect!

Chairsky: Don't put me on a pedestal like that, Miss Chair. comic artists have to make a living too, you know. So of course, I had to take the editor's opinions, the publisher's views, and my readers' likes and dislikes into account... but once you start thinking about all that, perfection goes right out the window.

You don't have to worry about all that today.

Completion is more important than perfection.

Chairsky: ...

Vexis: Are you worried about me?

Vexis: Have you actually forgotten that I'm Vexis just because you've been calling me Peary for 15 years? As a vigilante who punishes evil, I've long been ready to face judgment.

Vexis: This may be hard for me to accept, but if bringing me to justice is what Mercator considers a life she's willing to give everything up for, then we're not so different after all. Because I feel the same way about living an ordinary life.

Chairsky: ...

So don't hesitate any longer, artist Chairsky.

Miss Chair: Remember what you wrote in your "Notes From the Author"? You said, "A first-rate idea in your head is worth less than a third-rate one on paper."

Miss Chair: Don't tell me you don't actually believe in any of that?

Mercator: Stop worrying about the pressure and responsibility. Remember, you don't have to shoulder it all by yourself. After all, the ones who played this thrilling game to its spectacular finale were actually Vexis and I in the comic!

Vexis: Let's put an end to all of this. We'll see if she lives like a hero, and if I die like a villain.

Chairsky: ...Alright.

Witness Chairsky bring this story to a close

Mission Description

Maybe the only way now is to have Chairsky write an ending to the story.
Let's give her some encouragement so she can overcome her writer's block and finally fill this ancient plot hole!

The Comic's Ending

(Investigate the comic book on the table): Back then, Mercator enlisted the Security Bureau's help in M's name, and set a trap at the site of their final confrontation. Had Vexis tried to use the name "Mercator" to kill her, she would have been immediately exposed and arrested.; Mercator reunited with her former "best of partners," Vexis, determined to succeed and feeling extremely confident since she had never revealed her true name.; Mercator: In the murder case of Milos, the pen left at the scene was your favorite brand, and after his confidant Frady was cursed to death, I also saw someone who looked remarkably like you in the archive room's surveillance footage.; Mercator: And Chairman Tacca, a suspected crime boss, died the very day after you were forced to release him without charges.; Mercator: Even now, you still won't admit you're the vigilante?; Vexis: You've certainly done your homework, M.; Mercator: So it's true. You already knew who I was.; Vexis: Not only do I know who you are, I also know that a high-ranking official has just been killed by a curse, and that all the security officers who were lying in wait have now been reassigned to VIP protection duty...; Vexis: Mercator, just as justice is always betrayed by power, you have now, once again, been grossly let down by this world full of rot and filth.; Mercator's heart was pounding like a drum. Realizing she was completely on her own now, she slipped her hand into her pocket and quietly pressed the Record button.; Mercator: So... do you really have to kill someone?; Vexis: Since there's so much rot and filth in this world, we should excise it all with death... We were once the best of partners. Surely you understand me, and you'll be willing to help me, right?; Vexis: So be my best partner again, and together, we will create a new world of absolute justice!; Mercator: No. Whatever the reason, justice built on murder can never be true justice. Give it up, Vexis. Even if I'm the only one left, I will arrest you no matter what.; Vexis: Well. I guess this means goodbye, then... McDonna.; "McDonna": H—how... d—did you know...; Vexis: How did I know that "Mercator" isn't your true name, you ask? Because I never wanted to kill anyone! The day I cursed Radek to death, I was so terrified, I put a curse on myself...; Vexis: "Vexis, whose hands were covered in blood, was slain by the righteous Mercator!"; Vexis: Then, I just waited for death to take me, but nothing happened.; Vexis: That's when it finally dawned on me: Mercator, my "best of partners," had never revealed her true name to me.; Vexis: The day you saw me checking the surveillance footage from the archive room, I uncovered the name "Frady" as well as yours, "McDonna."; Vexis: But I never... never wanted to curse you to death, because we used to be the best partners, and I was the one who taught you to always carry a voice recorder on you. And unfortunately, it's that very habit that forces me to bid you farewell today.; Vexis: If I die, this world will once again be filled with people tainted by rot and filth. So rest in peace, McDonna.; "McDonna": Are you saying that I had already failed years ago?; Vexis: No, you haven't failed, Mercator. I would never let you fail.; Vexis: I will carry your wishes with me and build a new, absolutely just world. There, pure "justice"Mercator shall prevail.; Mercator: ...Hahaha! What's with that.; Mercator: This is a pretty good ending! Why didn't you draw it 15 years ago?; Mercator laughs and vanishes before your eyes.

(Unlock Achievement To Be Continued...)

Say goodbye to Vexis and the others

Mission Description

Every story must come to an end, and this one's no exception.
They say that "people chasing ordinary lives" and "people chasing extraordinary dreams" are like aliens to each other. They just don't speak the same language. A can't wrap their head around why B is still dreaming of becoming a stand-up comedian at their age, while B can't fathom how A made it to forty without any dreams at all.
By The Laughter above, they both genuinely think the other's got a screw loose.
Believe it or not, they're both happy.

The Comic's Ending

(Talk to Vexis)

Vexis: It's over.

Miss Chair: So... this is how it ends, huh?

Chairsky: 15 years ago, anti-hero characters like these were really popular. At the time, when I was still weak and immature, I found myself drawn to decisive and ruthless characters like Vexis.

Where will Mercator go?

Is she really dead?

Chairsky: It's just the obsession that's faded away, that's all.

Vexis: I really admire her, being able to burn with such complete passion for one purpose...

Miss Chair: She must really admire you too, given how you're able to let go of those grandiose obsessions and simply live fully in the present.

Stop making this sound like a memorial service!

Chairsky: Ah, my apologies! I just got caught up in the moment.

I admire her too.

Chairsky: What do you admire her for?

I admire how she openly states her desire to be a hero.

Miss Chair: It takes real courage to stand by your dream when no one else understands it.

I admire how she died like a hero.

Vexis: She pursued the extraordinary life, and got what she wanted.

I admire how quickly she grasped the Trailblaze.

Chairsky: You do seem rather gratified.

I don't know what to say. I just know that I do admire her.

Vexis: Alright folks, I have to head home and help my kid with his homework. By The Laughter, I hope I can keep my cool.

Vexis: As for Mercator's fate in the comic...

Vexis: It's all in your hands now.

Chairsky: Go live out your ordinary days!

Chairsky: And thank you for your help. Without you, I might still be running away from everything.

Goodbye.

Chairsky: See you, my friend.

Will you go back to drawing comic [sic] now?

Chairsky: Maybe... just maybe.

Miss Chair: Then I... I...

Chairsky: Come with me. A comic artist always needs a chair that can zoom around fast.

Miss Chair: Huh? What's with that weird scenario of being used?

Some time later...

Vendor: It all happened in a flash! Chairsky, cornered by over 20 media outlets and a dozen publishers, jumped onto her jet-powered chair and made a break for it! And nobody could catch up to her... except for one furbo!

Vendor: And so, that very chair ended up taking her place for the furbo's exclusive interview!

What in the world is going on?

Vendor: This is a documentary-style account titled D*mn, Chairsky Has Really Risen Again!, the sequel to Rise Again, Chairsky!.

That's right, that's right! Check out Furbobocom for all the details!

Vendor: Take your advertising somewhere else, buddy! And don't let the door hit ya on the way out!

Comic artists do have a need [sic] fast-rolling chairs!

Vendor: Right? Who would've predicted that it'll be used like that?

Since when did you become a storyteller?

Vendor: It's just a part-time gig!

Vendor: Want to check out the new work by Chairsky, the artist who famously came back to life? The Mercator Files is now flying off the shelves at a store near you!

???: I never expected Miss Chairsky to go back to drawing comic again. And I definitely didn't expect her to reunite with Mercator in this way.

Vexis!

Pearuna!

Vexis: Long time no see, my friend. I've officially received legal recognition from the Department of Aberration Defense, so from now on, you can call me by my real name: Vexis.

Vexis: As it turns out, while Miss Chairsky might be a great cook, she isn't so great at running a business. Wok 'n' Roll eventually went under, and she "had to" return to her old profession. But if you ask me, she was simply looking for an excuse.

Vexis: Back then, Miss Chairsky chose to feign her death because she couldn't handle the pressure that came with being a famous comic artist. But this time, she doesn't have to shoulder all that pressure by herself.

Vexis: Look at the cover of The Mercator Files. It says "Story by Miss Chair, Art by Chairsky."

Vexis: Tsk, having Miss Chair take all the heat while you sit back and quietly draw behind the scenes... how sly of you, Miss Chairsky.

I hope she won't run away again this time!

Vexis: She won't. That chair zips around so quickly, there's no way she will be able to shake it off her tail, even if she tried.

Would Miss Chair be able to take the pressure though?

Vexis: I'm not sure... but she's a chair, isn't she? Isn't "handling pressure" what she's designed to do?

Vexis: Hopefully this time, whether they're chasing the extraordinary or embracing the ordinary, everyone gets what they wish for.

Vexis: Have fun hanging around here. I have to go buy some workbooks for my little rascal at home. See you around!

Messages
Xueyi
Xueyi
(Trailblazer)
Have you read the fan comic I sent last time?
I've seen it!
(Trailblazer)
Yep yep, I've seen it all!
Xueyi
Please, forget about it quickly!
I haven't seen it
(Trailblazer)
Sorry, I haven't read it
Xueyi
What a relief
Xueyi
Among them was a pirated copy of The Labyrinth Game that closely resembled the original
All style and no substance
How dare they append such a poor imitation, arbitrarily depicting Mercator's defeat
Breaks my heart
Do you like Mercator?
(Trailblazer)
Do you like Mercator?
You don't like Vexis?
(Trailblazer)
Do you not like Vexis?
Xueyi
No, I just thought that
A true masterpiece should never end!
That was drawn by Chairsky...
(Trailblazer)
Could it be that Chairsky drew this herself?
Xueyi
She doesn't understand The Labyrinth Game
(Mission completed)

(Talk to Ashveil, optional): Ashveil: Miss Vexis! What a surprise to see you here. If it's not too much trouble... could I get your autograph?; Vexis: Of course. But... I seem to recall that you were a hardcore Mercator fan? So why ask me for my autograph?; Ashveil: *Sigh*... Since I won't be seeing Mercator anytime soon, I guess I'll just have to settle for second best...; Vexis: You wanna get cursed to death right here and now?; Stop fighting, please!; Ashveil: Then quit fanning the flames!; Vexis: But hey, I just found something interesting, so consider it a little meet-and-greet gift for a fellow Mercator fan.; What Ashveil and you take is the first volume of The Mercator Files, and on the frontispiece, someone has left a line in bold, flowing writing:; "This is my final assignment for you: Keep an eye on those two, and don't let them skip out on more updates. — Mercator"; Ashveil: Thank you. *sniffles* Thank you!

Trivia

This mission's name is possibly a reference to the short novel The Picture Book With No Answers (Japanese: 答えのない絵本) from the 2011 Japanese detective novel collection Thus Spoke Mercrator (Japanese: メルカトルかく語りき) by Maya Yutaka (Japanese: 麻耶雄嵩).
- Mercator is named after the Mercator detective novel series by Maya Yutaka.
The Labyrinth Game is a reference to Death Note, the Japanese manga series written by Ohba Tsugumi (Japanese: 大場つぐみ) and illustrated by Obata Takeshi (Japanese: 小畑健).
- Vexis is inspired by Light Yagami, the anti-protagonist of the manga who uses the Death Note's curse to assassinate criminals.
- Mercator's title "Detective M" is inspired by L, the world's greatest detective and the rival of Yagami Light in the manga.
Wok Star (Japanese: バオチャオ！ Baochao, "rapid stir-fry") is a reference to Bakuman, the Japanese manga series also written by Ohba Tsugumi and illustrated by Obata Takeshi.

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	The Comic With No Answers
Chinese (Simplified)	没有答案的漫画
Chinese (Traditional)	沒有答案的漫畫
Japanese	答えのない漫画
Korean	정답이 없는 만화
Spanish	Cómic sin respuestas
French	La BD sans réponses
Russian	Комикс без ответов
Thai	การ์ตูนที่ไร้คำตอบ
Vietnamese	Truyện Tranh không Có Câu Trả Lời
German	Comic ohne Antwort
Indonesian	Komik Tanpa Jawaban
Portuguese	O Quadrinho Sem Respostas

Change History

Released in Version 4.0

[Create New History]