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[X] Find someplace they can talk in private.

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Grimnír looks thoughtfully at the youkai girl. How did she find him? Why didn't she ask someone else for help? Why is she hiding from the others in Hakugyokurou? Everything about this situation smells like trouble, and he has enough on his hands right now. The logical, practical and reliable part of his mind is telling him to refuse. He can't let himself get involved in this. He needs to stay focused and find Yukari.

"Please, can you come? I can't do this alone," cries Wriggle.

She clamps her hands together as if praying, and looks up at him with her shimmering blue-green eyes, which, upon closer observation, seem to be slightly damp, as if she had been crying.

He sighs, wishing he could plant his palm on his face, hard, several times. How can he refuse her? Once again, he resigns himself on doing something completely stupid.

"Alright, I'll hear what you have to say," says Grimnír, not looking her in the eye.

"T-Thanks! We should hurry and -"

Grimnír raises his hand to cut her off.

"We can't talk here," he says. "Let's find a room where we can speak in private."

For a moment, Wriggle looks like she is going to argue, but in the end, she simply nods and follows him obediently. They easily find an empty room, since the place is pretty huge. Grimnír places his tray on a nearby table before turning to Wriggle.

"So, what's bugging you?" he starts.

"What's that supposed to mean?" cries Wriggle. "I resent that!"

"What?" stammers Grimnír.

"Don't look down on us bugs! We have feelings too, you know? Hmph!"

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he replies.

"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't. You humans just push us around and step on us like we don't exist!" returns Wriggle.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"I, for one, take pride in being a bug, and I refuse to stand while some human insults -"

Wriggle stops abruptly, blinking at him in surprise.

"W-what did you say?" says Wriggle, slowly and carefully.

"I said," he replies. "That I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or your kin."

Wriggle shuffles around uneasily.

"T-that's alright then," she mutters. "You're alright."

Grimnír nods patiently at the youkai girl. While a discussion of bug rights and their history of persecution might be mildly interesting, they do have some other business that they need to talk about. After Wriggle composes herself, she turns to him, her face a picture of worry.

"Something's wrong with them," she says. "No matter what I say or do, they just won't listen to me any more! Some of them even started attacking travellers, and there was a whole bunch that just flew off somewhere! Something must be driving them all mad!"

"Slow down," interrupts Grimnír. "First of all, who are 'they'?"

Wriggle stamps a foot hard on the floor.

"The bugs of the forest, of course! Who else do you think I was talking about?"

Oh wow. This is just great. He can't say he is surprised. All this panic for a bunch of bugs. He doesn't have time for this. He needs to think of an excuse to get rid of this girl. A sharp prod at his side interrupts his line of thought.

"W-what?" he stammers, rubbing his side. It hurt quite a bit.

"Hey, are you listening? Like I said, I think that it's being caused by that crazy trident guy wandering the forest. Even the black-white agreed when I told her about it this morning," says Wriggle.

"Wait, you mean Marisa?" Grimnír asks.

"Yeah, the reckless black-white. She said that she could take care of it herself, but she was easily beaten. That nut even drove his spear through her chest! I was surprised that she survived at all! It was lucky that Eientei wasn't too far away."

"That guy hurt Marisa?" he repeats hollowly.

"I was hiding when I saw how strong the guy was, but I think that's what happened. The black-white should be fine though, since that moon bunny girl found her."

No, Marisa isn't fine. If nothing is done, she is going to be erased, permanently.

"A-anyway, could you help me fight that trident guy? I think we can bring him down if we both attack together. You're a magician, after all, so we shouldn't have trouble."

Trident Lunatic, was it? If he could defeat and injure Marisa so easily, they don't stand a chance! Wriggle must think that all magicians are as powerful as Marisa or Alice. Maybe he should have told her that he is just an apprentice.

"Please," whispers Wriggle as she looks up at him desperately.

His decision...
[ ] Offer to fight alongside her right now. He is a magician, after all.
[ ] Suggest gathering allies before going. Alice and Reisen must be somewhere in the Forest of Magic.
[ ] Tell her that they will need extra help. He needs to contact Yukari.
[ ] Refuse to get involved.
[ ] Custom

Wriggle looks pretty emotional right now. She might just run off...
[ ] She can take care of herself.
[ ] Try to calm her down with words.
[ ] Block her path if she tries something reckless.
[ ] Don't let her leave this place alone, even if you have to fight.
[ ] Custom