After thinking it over a bit, you decide to choose Maru as your guide. Hearing your answer, Maru jumps with happiness and starts hugging you so tightly she almost breaks your ribs.
“Mary, be careful with the guest — you don’t want to break all his bones, do you?” Lucy gently but firmly stops her.

Maru immediately lets go of you and, with a guilty smile, replies, “Yes, sorry, Mrs. Lucy.”
Then she looks at you again and, smiling awkwardly, says, “I’m really sorry, I’m just too… happy you chose me. But that’s nothing! We should hurry and get to know each other and show you our home! Let’s go!”

Before you can answer, you feel your hand grabbed and are pulled along, barely given a chance to say goodbye to the director and the other two troupe members.

“Well then, you already know Grimace and Conrad! Now I need to introduce you to the rest and show you where everything is. Follow me, I’ll explain everything in detail,” the siren says cheerfully, slowing her pace but still holding your hand tightly.

Leaving the circus tent, you and Maru head toward a small camp of tents.
“Welcome to the sleeping corner!” the siren announces loudly and clearly, sweeping her arm toward seven plain but quite decent tents.

It’s obvious they’re handmade, yet each looks sturdy and comfortable enough to live in. While you look around, your energetic companion runs around all the tents and tells everyone about you. A human-shaped figure appears from one of them. Judging by the silhouette, you can tell this monster looks very much like a human. Were there really ordinary people here?

“Chrgr…? Whtr hppnd…?” the silhouette growls sleepily.
From the sounds, you realize the creature doesn’t know how to speak.

“Oh, Mizumi, I didn’t mean to wake you, but I just have to share the news: we have a new friend!” Maru says, noticing the figure.

The thing that emerged from the tent crawls back inside, then about ten minutes later awkwardly limps out again. When it comes closer and steps into the light, you realize who it is — a zombie.

“Meet Mizumi, she’s our circus clown. The audience absolutely adores her amazing acts,” Maru says happily, wrapping an arm around Mizumi’s shoulders.

The zombie girl approaches and awkwardly hugs you. You decide to hug her back, but carefully. You don’t really want to become a zombie.

“Mrr nmm Mzzmm… Plsd t mtt y…” Mizumi growls, letting you go.

Now you can look at her more closely. Her skin is pale and corpse-like; one cheek is bluish and roughly stitched back on. Her eyes are almost white, with only a faint cloudy iris, and her left eye drifts downward. You also notice that despite being a zombie, she doesn’t smell like a corpse. Her clothes are torn but all the holes are neatly patched. Someone clearly takes good care of her — she’s far too tidy for a typical zombie.

Coming back to your senses, you thank Mizumi for meeting you. She watches you for a while with her head slightly tilted, then turns, mutters something unintelligible, and shuffles back into her tent.

“Sorry you didn’t get to talk much. Mizumi is very sociable, but she needs to rest after some tough days. You’ll definitely talk later, okay? Let’s go!” the siren rattles off quickly, smiling sweetly and pulling you along again.

Pushing through the bushes, you finally reach the next stop of the tour — a wagon area where the circus equipment is apparently kept.

“Vettegheta! Are you here?! Vettegheta!” the siren calls into the darkness.

“Little siren, no need to shout. I’m here, and I hear you perfectly,” comes a hoarse muffled voice, and you feel the ground tremble beneath your feet.

Birds scatter into the air as a huge three-meter monster steps out toward you. You have to tilt your head back to see its face — or rather, its muzzle. You immediately realize who stands before you: a wendigo. You’ve never seen one in real life, only heard and read about them. And now you’re face to face with one. Despite his imposing size, you don’t feel danger from him, which is strange.

“Maru, may I ask who this is beside you?” Vettegheta asks, crouching to your level.

He brings his muzzle close and sniffs you. You notice one side of his face is hidden under a mask, while the other is badly scarred with claw marks. His eyes, dark as an abyss with no hint of iris or pupil, seem to stare straight into your soul. After sniffing you a bit longer and twitching his ears in a funny way — making you chuckle nervously — the wendigo stands and gives you a toothy grin that apparently means a friendly smile. It still scares you.

Seeing the fear on your face, he gently pats your head with his large clawed paw.
“No need to be afraid, little one. I won’t hurt you. I’ve already eaten today,” he says, bursting into booming laughter.

You swallow nervously.

“Vettegheta! Why are you scaring our guest?! Do you have no respect?!” Maru shouts, stepping between you.

It’s almost comical watching the small siren scold a three-meter monster who could crush her with one easy motion.

“I’m just joking, it’s fine,” Vettegheta says, raising his hands and stepping back.

Maru snorts irritably, turns away in offense, and flicks her tail against the ground.
“Your jokes are stupid.”

Vettegheta only shrugs and grins, baring all his fangs.

“His name is Vettegheta. He’s our local animal trainer. And he’s also a huge dumb wardrobe who loves scaring everyone!” Maru says, glancing back at him.

“Oh, is that how you introduce me? I’m very saddened you speak of me so. Because that is an absolute lie,” the giant says with mock offense.

He easily moves Maru aside despite her loud protests and steps closer to you.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly.”

He kneels on one knee, gently takes your hand in his, and carefully kisses it. Your hand instantly grows cold, but out of politeness you resist pulling it away.

“I am Vettegheta, a wendigo from the far northern forests. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me, and I’ll solve all your problems.”

Winking at you, he rises to his full height, and you quickly tuck your hand into your pocket to warm it. Yet despite the cold, the gesture from the enormous monster makes your cheeks flush slightly.

“That’s it, we’re leaving this meanie!” Maru says, breaking your eye contact with Vettegheta and dragging you back into the bushes.

The last thing you see is the huge monster waving with a smile before returning to work.

You walk for about five minutes until you find yourselves near the circus tent again. Nearby stands another small tent with sounds coming from inside. Maru pulls you toward it.

Entering, you see an incredibly beautiful girl with milk-chocolate-colored hair, crystal-blue eyes, and horns. It takes you a moment to realize she’s a succubus.

“Little mermaid, who did you bring here?” the demon asks irritably, looking at you and Maru.

Maru rolls her eyes.
“Goodness, Sed, you’re such a miser. Where’s your hospitality?!”

Sed turns to the mirror to apply lipstick. From behind a screen emerges another figure — a blonde with blue eyes and impressive curves. Her skin is as deathly pale as Lucy’s.

Another vampire? you think.

“Well finally, Veronica dear, you took far too long,” says Sed.
“My apologies, my lord,” she replies quietly.

Wait… my lord?

Seeing your stunned expression, Maru giggles.
“You’re probably surprised that Sed isn’t a girl but a guy. He’s just… a bit strange.”

“Stupid fish! I am not strange! If you don’t understand fashion — be quiet!” the incubus snaps, jumping up.

“Oh sure, it’s very fashionable when literally everyone mistakes you for a girl. Absolutely,” Maru shoots back mockingly.

The demon flushes with anger, wings trembling, and shouts,
“Veronica, escort these snaggle-toothed creatures out of my sight!”

Veronica obediently nods and, taking you and Maru by the hands, leads you outside. Her touch is unexpectedly warm and soft.

Once outside, she crosses her arms and looks tiredly at Maru.
“Marina, we’ve discussed this many times. Please stop provoking Master Sed. You’re hurting his feelings,” she says gently.

Without waiting for a reply, Veronica returns to the tent. Maru mimics her and leads you on.

Stopping near the next tent, Maru suddenly freezes.
“Oh holy fish, I think I forgot I have a rehearsal with Grimace right now. I’m probably late… You don’t have a watch, do you?” she asks.

You shake your head.

“Ah, well…” she sighs. “If you want, you can spend time with the others. You already know everyone now. Or you can stay with me and watch my rehearsal with Grimace. So if you want to stay with me — I don’t mind.”

You are faced with a choice: stay with Maru and her brother, or spend time with one of the other monsters.