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Chapter 30:
As the Lobbyists rest and take some time to relax, Sim heads over to the Chapel and gently handles the Holy Relics they retrieved from the Ruins.
"Oh, I cannot thank myself enough for going after these precious Relics. I cannot let anyone else have them, ever!"
Sim had been obsessing over the things ever since they got back. The time alone with the Relics seemed to amplify his Deviant Tastes, but it also gave him the time to reflect on the redemption that he has worked hard to obtain.
With a deep sigh, he stares deeply into Rise Kujikawa's plastic eyes as he clutches her tightly.
"For so long now, I've blamed myself for letting so many others die. Everyone else seems content to blame me too. But, is beating myself up over it really the right way to go? Is this my lot in my life? I have delved deep into the Ruins and other places, putting myself and others at risk because I had to 'prove' myself worthy of leading this group. Yet, despite all that, I never really faced my fears, did I? I never went back to fight the Hag. I let others do it. Has the guilt that's been haunting my dreams all this time been because I let them down, or because I let them down in vain?"
Smiling at the Relic, he realises that part of forgiveness is learning to let go of his guilt.
"I made mistakes in the past, yes. But my real sin isn't making the mistake, it's failing to rectify it. I never went back to finish what I started. I let E-Ro, Sully and others fight on my behalf while I ran from the Hag. I let the mantle of leadership consume me. I have to end this. Avenge my friends, and finally let them go..."
Sim stands, tall and erect. He is at peace with himself and his actions. One final expedition, to kill the Hag. To free himself of the past.
Unbeknownst to Sim, however, there were others who witnessed the deep internal conflict and eventual realisation of the Leper.
"Holy F*cknuckle, has Sim always been this creepy? The f*ck is he on about, and why is he rubbing the breasts of that figurine with his thumb while he talks?"
"You have no idea. You should see some of the Ancestral Diseases & Darkest Dungeons (AD&DD) tabletop characters he makes for our group. You won't look at him the same once you've seen him roleplaying as a Female Graverobber named BoddyRausur..."
"Oh. Weellll, it looks like he's about to round you guys up for a raid on the Hag. So have fun with that, I'll be in the Tavern."
The Hellion promptly powerwalks the hell away, leaving Dio alone with Sim in the Chapel. The Highwayman coughs pointedly to get his attention, subtlety was never his strong point.
"Dio! Friend, round up the others. We need to kill the Hag."
An invigorated Sim strides forward with confidence and leads Dio back to the Tavern where Rah and Lotion could be found. Dio could only wonder what deity he had pissed off in another life to deserve all this.
With Rah recovering well from his injuries and Lotion on a losing streak, they were both happy to oblige Sim and along with Dio, the four set out to the Weald to hunt down the final incarnation of the Hag, to end Sim's guilt once and for all.
Knowing that this would be the toughest incarnation of the Hag, the group comes mentally prepared for a long slog and it isn't long until they're greeted by the welcoming committee.
An old Witch begins combat by channelling dark, negative energy and attempts to throw it at Rah and Lotion. But the two manage to dodge the spell easily enough.
A Cultist however, continues the attack by using dark magic to pull Rah towards the front of the formation, putting the Jester in harm's way.
Where he's promptly whacked by the enemy Giant and his thick log.
Lotion, bringing forth a banner of the Imperium, channels his devotion into healing magic energy, which he uses to revitalise Rah.
Sim meanwhile, goes toe to toe with the Giant in melee combat.
Picking his moment and waiting for the right opportunity, Dio unleashes a storm of bullets. They make Swiss Cheese of their enemies, bringing the battle to a sudden conclusion.
With the enemies cleared, the Lobbyists continue towards the Hag, fighting against nature itself on their righteous expedition.
The team's field of vision goes down as light begins to fade.
Sim lights a torch, and surprisingly, they catch a band of roaming MP Brigands unawares.
"I PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE TO THE EMPEROR OF MANKIND AND THE MEN OF THE LOBBY WHO WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE YOU XENO FETISHISTS, YOU TALI AND GARRUS F*CKERS, ALL OF YOU, FROM THE FACE OF GLORIOUS TERRA!"
Lotion begins thrusting awkwardly, building up speed as he rushes at the enemy group. In the end, his Xeno Penetrator attack was deathly effective.
With the MP Brigands focused on Lotion's devastating maneuver, the Brigands leave themselves wide open and Dio doesn't hesitate to take advantage.
He lets his ego get the better of him and boasts to the last remaining MP Brigand.
Not taking the banter kindly, the Brigand viciously attacks Dio in retaliation.
However, the massive attack leaves the Brigand wide open, and Rah finishes him off with a dagger to the neck.
The Lobbyists continue on, travelling down narrow pathway after narrow pathway, navigating difficult traps.
Sim noted that they didn't have much longer left to go until they find the Hag's home. The forest was becoming more pronounced, and the Leper warns his team to stay on guard. Sure enough, they encounter a group of mutated Fungi near the Hag's location.
The hostiles react quickly to the group's presence, and strike violently at the Lobbyists. The Fungal Artillery goes first, launching toxic gas at Rah and Dio.
The Giant Ectoplasm goes next, pushing back Sim and Lotion so that they are unable to aid Rah and Dio. The Ectoplasm attacks them hard, Sliming them at every opportunity.
Sim is knocked over and injured. Struggling to get up, he kneels for a few seconds to meditate and focus his energy instead of the pain.
Lotion on the other hand, moves to engage the Ectoplasm in melee combat, catching it off-guard and injuring it with his powerful sword swing.
Dio recovers quickly and secures a good spot on the battlefield. He again picks off an enemy not expecting his piercing pistol fire.
Rah meanwhile, gingerly gets up and begins to "lift" morale with another song, as is his trademark.
"We're here in the Weald, our pants stained with mud! But it's better than them, being soaked in our blood~!"
However, Rah is targetted and Slimed by the Ectoplasm for his efforts. The Jester is knocked to the ground once more, his endurance beginning to fail.
Sim finishes meditating and charges into battle with a focused mind, cleaving his Fungal enemies in two.
However, the surviving Fungal Artillery launches around spray of deadly Toxic Gas. Rah and Dio inhale the gas before they can stop themselves, and are immediately effected by it.
Both the Jester and Highwayman begin coughing up blood, neither of them can continue to fight for much longer.
However Rah, upset that his performance was interrupted, kills their last foe with a powerful cleave of his sickle before collapsing in a heap.
With two of his group grievously hurt, and suffering an injury himself, Sim decides that the group camp out and recover from their wounds. It made even more sense, when he realised that the Hag was not too far away. This would be the last chance they'd have to regroup and he was definitely going to take it.
The Lobbyists sit, rest, eat and bandage their wounds. Despite nearly succumbing to his, Rah still has the mind to poke fun at Sim's injury.
Lotion on the other hand, reminded the team of why they were there in the first place.
Sim addresses the group before they break camp.
"Guys, I know you like to make fun of me and I don't blame you. I'd make fun of me too if I were in your position. But, this is serious. Ever since I lead that disastrous mission here all those months ago, not a day goes by when I don't see their pained faces. I've been running away from it all, trying to be the 'best leader' I can be, yet never finishing what I started. I don't want to be the best leader anymore, I just want to be me, and to do that, I need to put this to rest. For that, I need 100% commitment from all of you. Not just for me, guys, but for Eternal Phoenix, for Jock Cranley and OWA. For our comrades, all our fallen friends. I bear the weight of their loss still but if we can get rid of the Hag, once and for all, maybe I can finally move on and honour their memories without being ridden by guilt. So, what do you say Dio, Rah and Lotion. Are you with me?"
"Yes. Let us Purge the Hag once and for all, brother."
Dio and Rah look at each other and shrug their shoulders before turning back to Sim.
"Yeah... we're with you, Sim. Lead the way."
Sim smiles, and puts out the campfire. He leads the team through one final pathway before confronting the Hag. However, the cohesion doesn't last long. Dio notices a backpack and immediately heads towards it despite Sim warning him not to touch it due to traps.
He ruffles through the backpack and finds nothing. Turning it inside out and opening all it's pockets, he comes to the conclusion that it's completely empty. He sighs before returning to an irritated Sim.
The Leper sighs and puts his frustration aside. Seeing the pathway wind down, he orders his team to stay on guard. They spot a small dwelling in the distance, and smell an aroma all too familiar to Sim. This was it. Finally, the Hag. And with her death, freedom for Sim.
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