Namco × Capcom/Story/S7:Pre-Stage

Makai - Path of Penance

Ken: "Hey, wait a minute. Let's take a break, huh?"
Ryu: "Not again, Ken."
Ryu: "We just rested about 10 minutes ago, you know?"
Ken: "We weren't really able to rest."
Ken: "We got attacked by some weird-looking guys with horns along the way."
Ryu: "Yeah, those... were oni."
Ken: "Oni? What's that?"
Ryu: "An imaginary monster that appears in Japanese folk tales. ...A resident of Hell."
Ken: "Hell... Huh? So this is Inferno?"
Ken: "Don't be ridiculous. Maybe you've trained too hard and something happened to you?"
Ryu: "Then where are we?"
Ken: "...Um, well... I guess this is where those kinds of people are."
Ryu: "The monsters in Roppongi... I think they were the kind of monsters that appear in Japanese ghost stories."
Ryu: "The recent monster incidents, Shibuya being designated a closed city... these people are coming from somewhere."
Ken: "Is 'here' from somewhere?"
Ken: "We went to hell alive... No, maybe we're already dead."
Ryu: "That's not really funny."
Ken: "How did it end up like this? ...Japan is a mysterious country, after all."
Ryu: "Hmph... You're right..."
???: "..."
Ryu: "...!"
Ken: "Hey, Ryu!?"
Ryu: "..."
Ken: "What's wrong, Ryu?"
Ryu: "...It's 'him'."
Ken: "What did you say?!"
Ryu: "...There's no sign of him anymore."
Ryu: "It looks like he intentionally directed his energy in my direction."
Ken: "Hey...why is he so obsessed with you?"
Ken: "He wasn't in Roppongi back then, so why is he here?"
Ryu: "...I don't know a thing. But..."
Ken: "But?"
Ryu: "If we walk a little further, we might find some clues."
Ryu: "Like us, Chun-Li and the others might be out there somewhere."
Ken: "Hmm, so we're just walking after all."
Ryu: (Akuma...why does he reveal his presence but never show himself...?)

Shinkai - Sky Temple, High Priestess's Room

Lolo: "Klonoa and others are outside... are they alright?"
High Priestess: "I don't know. But I can sense a lot of energy other than the Phantom Beasts."
Lolo: "Huh?!"

[Location: Ishtar's Temple]

High Priestess: "Perhaps they are the visitors from Busshitsukai who appeared at Ishtar's temple."
High Priestess: "I hope they are allies..."
???: "It does appear to be that way, yes."
Lolo: "Huh?! Who are you?!"
High Priestess: "You are..."
Joka: "Sorry for the delayed introduction. I'm Joka, and I hope you'll all be acquainted with me from now on."
High Priestess: (Without me noticing... How did this happen?)
Lolo: "What's going on? You! You're in the presence of the High Priestess! Please stay put!"
Joka: "Now now, calm down."
Joka: "But still... You live in a nice place, as expected."
Lolo: "Where did you...?! Klonoa and the others are outside!"
Joka: "That's right. We had to get them out."
High Priestess: "...So it was a diversion, so that everyone except us would leave here."
High Priestess: "...What's your goal?"
Joka: "Nohohoho, that's easy. ...I want something."
Lolo: "Uh, something...?"
Joka: "That's...the 'Priestess'."
Lolo: "...!!"
Joka: "I'd like to say she's a priestess of the goddess Ishtar, but that would be too extravagant."
Joka: "Besides, it'd be a problem if that terrifying Golden Knight showed up."
High Priestess: "..."
Joka: "Well, I'm sorry to say goodbye, but... that's enough chatting."
Joka: "Then, I'll take the priestess over there."
Lolo: "Hey! I won't let you do whatever you want! I'm not following you!"
Joka: "This is an important place, the center of Shinkai."
Joka: "For the sake of our future actions, I would like you to disappear."
Joka: "...I have no grudge against you, but please forgive me."
Lolo: "High Priestess! Run...!"
High Priestess: "...It's no use, Lolo."
High Priestess: "This person is not going to be that easy to beat."
Joka: "Hahaha. You understand very well."
High Priestess: "But those in the shadow of the door are not easy to beat, Joka."
Joka: "!!"
Joka: "Wh-what did you say...!?"
Lolo: "...What!? Th-the door? Huh?"

(The door opens)

Kurino: "...You noticed, how wicked of you... High Priestess."
Sabine: "Really?"
Joka: "Hero Kurino...!"
Joka: "Wh-whawhawha... why are you here!?"
Kurino: "I heard that soldiers of Zouna were heading towards the Sky Temple."
Kurino: "...From him."
Sabine: "Thanks, Zuhl." ???: "Oh my goodness, High Priestess. It's nice to meet you."
High Priestess: "You are...?"
Zuhl: "Heh heh, who am I?"
Zuhl: "Zuri Zurkovich Kozruinen, a stingy traveling merchant."
Lolo: "Zu... Zu... Zur...?"
Zuhl: "Zuhl is fine, my lady."
Zuhl: "Now, you two, come with me inside."
Joka: "W-wait a moment!"
Kurino: "...You'll be the one waiting. You'll have to deal with me first."
Kurino: "Zuhl, go."
Zuhl: "Hehehe, Kurino... I'll give you a little extra for your work, okay?"
Sabine: "You... do you even understand the situation?"
High Priestess: "Zuri Zurkovich Kozruinen... and the Koakuman... Andy's daughter, Sabine..."
Lolo: "You know something, High Priestess...?"
High Priestess: "Hmhm... It seems the maiden knight still has a lot to learn."
Lolo: "??"
High Priestess: "Our fate... I entrust it to you, the hero, Kurino."
Kurino: "High Priestess, I am a fool who broke Ishtar's prohibition... the prohibition to not get involved in this incident."
Kurino: "...I'm no longer a 'hero'."
Joka: "Aha... I see, it all makes sense now."
Joka: "Nohohohoho! So, does that mean the Maiden Knight won't be showing up here?"
Joka: "No, no, that's what I was worried about."
Sabine: "...We're enough for you."
Joka: "Do you think it will work out that way? ...The fate of a traitor is usually predetermined."
Joka: "Nohooohohoho!"
Kurino: "...Zuhl, take them both inside."
Zuhl: "Y-yes!"
High Priestess: "...'Rebel' Kurino."
Kurino: "..."
Sabine: "You...! Even you speak like that!"
Sabine: "Kurino...!"
High Priestess: "Your fight... Lady Ishtar is always watching."
High Priestess: "Hold your head high. You have chosen... your proud rebellion."
High Priestess: "Kurino Sandra."