Main Scenario/Pagan Ritual

Flamarine Episode
9-1	Secret Trial Under the Hot Sun
9-2	Express Train
9-3	The Imprisoned Princess
9-4	Undersea Corridor
9-5	Echoes Below the Depths
9-6	Rescue
9-7	Whirlpool of Doubts
9-8	Pagan Ritual
9-9	Toe the Line
9-10	Catch of the Day

At the far end of the mysterious Underwater Temple, there was a spacious area. The area is large enough to hold a small sports day, and there are countless armed gillmen standing erect and immobile in a row.
The walls and ceiling are made of a mysterious translucent material, but it must be quite deep ―― The sea seen through the walls is also pitch black, perhaps because no sunlight reaches it, and it was noticeable that deep-sea fish and moon jellyfish that sometimes emit their own light passed through.
We travelled in pursuit of Dr Gloria's Genius Child Actor Boy and arrived here after a considerable amount of time. Of course, we had already retrieved the Genius Child Actor Boy earlier, as it would have been very difficult if we had been noticed by the enemy hordes.
We had to swim across submerged passages several times on the way and had to engage with the gillmen who were on the prowl, so except for the Flamarine group, we were particularly worn out ―― Swimming is a full-body workout, so it's more exhausting than it looks.
Puerto Rico	"This is one of the several unopened rooms in the Underwater Temple, known as the Ritual Room no. For unknown reasons, it seems that Phantom Mist springs up even when left unattended, and it is dangerous, so it is forbidden to enter."
Yakutsk	"Sigh, I'm used to 'for unknown reasons' by now. I mean, when it comes to Flamarine, there's no end to it if I question through the whole thing ―― that's what I've learnt."
Putra	"Ahaha. Sorry about that. We'll explain what we know, and maybe it's better for both of us if we don't pay exceptional attention to the details?"
Yakutsk	"Hmm. That's true, as for the higher-ups in the SSS, I hope they understand a Flamarinian's temperament ―― It's not worth getting angry every time you get hungry for answers."
Yakutsk	"More than that. I've never heard of Phantom Mist occurring on its own, and I cannot ignore it. There's something similar to the Mist-breathing dolls that I've seen several times on missions until today ―― They're also in the Underwater Temple?"
Puerto Rico	"I don't know no, my apologies. No matter how much effort we make to clean the air or remove the Phantom Mist, it's always reverts back ―― It looks like it's been left alone for the last couple of centuries or so."
Yakutsk	"Flamarinians surprises me yet again, very hospitable... If it was us Eisengradians, we would definitely send a survey team or something every few days."
Putra	"I'm not sure know about that, normally? If there's no immediate harm, why not just leave it alone?"
Dr. Gloria	"Hmm. Maybe there's some kind of Phantom Mist source here that Resistance people are always looking for. You know, umm, the one that is collectively called something like that on the railway."
Yakutsk	"... I knew it, is the Resistance looking for Railway Seekers or something like that?"
Putra	"Aah, something like that for Resistance people basically. It was like they were forcing the Railway Seekers to breathe Phantom Mist ―― I wonder if that's what they're after?"
Yakutsk	"What do you mean?"
Putra	"Wha? So doesn't the Resistance want to generate Phantom Mist?"
Yakutsk	"True, if you just follow their actions, you can conclude that... But why would they do that? The Phantom Mist is a common enemy of humanity, a disaster and a bizarre phenomenon that needs to be exterminated, right?"
Putra	"No, I'm not the one to ask. Glorin, do you know why the Resistance is doing that? What are they thinking actually?"
Putra	"To be honest, I don't like to be around dangerous stuff. Even if they are enemies, I want to understand them as if they are equals. It would be sad if we just hate and hurt each other endlessly."
Dr. Gloria	"Ermm～, Doctor is not the Resistance, so no idea no. I was just asked a few times by a Resistance member if I had any idea what could cause the Phantom Mist――"
Puerto Rico	"Speaking of which. It may be unrelated, but something like that is going to be auctioned at the auction we were talking about earlier ―― as per rumours I heard no. Something like a machine that can manipulate Phantom Mist at will."
Yakutsk	"That's... it would be terrible if it were used for military purposes, and it would be possible to conquer the world. I wonder if that's the purpose of the Resistance as well? Trying to control the Phantom Mist and take control of the world?"
Dr. Gloria	"Hmm～, our Doggan Gang is an evil organisation too, and we want to take over the world. But as for the Resistance people, they don't seem to be interested in 'that sort of thing'."
Conductor	Everyone, stay quiet. There is something strange about the gillmen lining up in this Ritual Room.
Putra	"Eh... woah, that's true, what are they doing?"
Gillman	"Gulp gulp! Gulpgulpgulp!"
Gillman	"Gulgulp～!"
In front of our eyes, hiding in the shadows of the colourful coral and looking at the situation, the gillmen were making strange noises as they were lined up in a somewhat remote position. Along with the noise, they were stomping their feet and rubbing their primitive weapons in their hands together.
Puerto Rico	"It's like they're doing some kind of ritual no... The gillmen chanted, 'Awaken, O' Great God of Destruction', something like that."
Dr. Gloria	"Hmhmm, Lady Puerto Rico, you seem to understand the language of the sea creatures, including the gillmen no! Isn't that amazing?"
Putra	"No, really why does Glorin look so smug there no?"
Puerto Rico	"It's bad no! The gillmen went on with 'Let's offer our sacrifices', they said no! Then excitedly, 'Let those who have oppressed us go to Hell' they said――"
Putra	"Ugah, it looks like a pagan ritual... it's too weird. Wait, could it be that the 'sacrifices' are...?"
Putra turned pale as she looked towards the centre of the Ritual Room, where an altar-like object sits. Although her view is limited by the gillmen lined up in front of her ―― Apparently, there are people tied to the altar, and they are being rolled onto it.
Yakutsk	"...... Queensway!"
Yakutsk gasped, just barely loud enough not to be noticed by the enemy. She was equally shaken, but she quickly covered her own mouth with her hand to stop herself from screaming.
Puerto Rico	"Aaah, Baby Aca and Nappy are here too no! My-my family is...!?"
Puerto Rico turned pale and trembled all over. On the altar, were Queensway and Naypyidaw, who I could not see, and a young girl who looked similar to Puerto Rico were lying on their backs.
Acapulco	"............"
Conductor	That's ―― I know this girl's face because she is a world-class dignitary, she's Puerto Rico's sister and one of the politicians who run the Underwater Temple... the renowned child prodigy, Acapulco?
Queensway	"............"
Naypyidaw	"............"
Conductor	Only three people including Acapulco, are lying on the altar, but they all seem to have fainted and did not move even slightly. No way, I don't want to think that they are dead――
Gillman	"Gulp gulpgulp!"
Even as we watched, the gillmen reached out and roughly dragged Queensway and the others up. As it was, they rearranged the girls onto coffin-like objects placed in the middle of the altar ―― and raised the weapons in their hands.
Puerto Rico	"Oh my goodness no...! The gillmen, 'Give blood!', they chanted no! If we don't do something now, Baby Aca and the others will be decapitated with their blades and――"
Putra	"I-I can't take it anymore! I cannot watch any longer, I'm going to help Queensway and them two!"
Puerto Rico	"―― Please wait, if they take Baby Aca and the others hostage, it's over no. I'll distract the gillmen, while the rest of you go rescue our friends no."
Putra is about to run out before anyone else, looking stern, but Puerto Rico who discarded her usual carefree aura stopped her. It's the first time I saw Flamarinians being serious, as they are often described as an easy-going race who don't always think too deeply about anything.
Yakutsk	"...... You're reliable. Let's go with that strategy and I'll do my best to cover you."
Yakutsk	"No. Let's complete the mission, together."
Dr. Gloria	"What? Um, Doctor too? Doctor, should I do something... Big Brother?"
There is one girl who is not following what's going on ―― Thus we set to work to rescue Queensway and the others.

Flamarine Episode
9-1	Secret Trial Under the Hot Sun
9-2	Express Train
9-3	The Imprisoned Princess
9-4	Undersea Corridor
9-5	Echoes Below the Depths
9-6	Rescue
9-7	Whirlpool of Doubts
9-8	Pagan Ritual
9-9	Toe the Line
9-10	Catch of the Day