X-mas Feast

 is an event in SINoALICE.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold,

everything is softer and more beautiful..

I was looking forward to X-mas.

But on that day, we were attacked by monsters.

I guess somethings are inevitable.

Because...

Ah... If I'm to die...

Then let me die in peace.

X-mas Feast

On the eve, a bell tolls for thee...

Parrah:

Jingle bells ♪

Jingle bells ♪

Noya:

Oops! No more singing for you.

Parrah:

Because you said so?

Noya:

Because the company said so!

Parrah:

It's X-mas time, and you know what that means...

Noya:

We have the perfect starring man for the show.

Parrah:

The blathering old geezer, the Nutcracker!

Noya:

The Nutcracker's story goes hand-in-hand with this festive season!

Parrah:

There is one tiny problem, however.

Noya:

In the Land of Sweets where his story takes place...

Trouble seems to be brewing.

Parrah:

Really, now? What happened to our main character?

Noya:

It sounds like he's vanished somewhere.

Parrah:

I knew it! That worhtless old fart!

Noya:

To make a long story short, we've called on the other characters to fill in on a temporary basis.

Parrah:

A special present awaits those of you who see the story through.

Noya:

That's right! Turkey... Mmm, don't forget the gravy.

Parrah:

Well, just do the best you can.

Verse 1
"Stop! Not all are our enemies!"

Snow White was just able

to hold back Red Riding Hood

from butchering a child along with

the nightmares.

"Snow White!"

"I'm okay.

Pinocchio, protect the children!"

With her fun cut regrettably short,

Red Riding Hood's eyes blazed.

"Will you play with me then, Snow?"

"No.

Go play with the nightmares."

Her cheeks puffed,

Red Riding Hood moved on to slay

another nightmare.

The Land of Sweets

was overwhelmed by the cries of

children and

the roar of monsters.

Snow White:

Killing children...

How inhumane.

Pinocchio:

Ugh... so you're going to fight after all?

Snow White:

Stand back if you're scared.

Or get ahold of her before she loses control.

Red Riding Hood:

Ahahahahaha!

Let's play!

Pinocchio:

Th-That's even scarier!

"Wait. Over already?"

"Looks that way. Thank goodness..."

"Well, then, you play with me,

Pinocchio!"

"Huh?"

"Do it.

I'll go gather more intel."

Snow White turned her back on the two

to talk to the children.

Behind her, Red Riding Hood's laughter

and Pinocchio's screams boomed.

"Thank you for your help."

"We're poor, so we don't have any

money."

"That's why we couldn't buy any

candy for X-mas."

"But Santa gave us

candy!"

"The monsters stole our treat from us."

"We were so looking forward to eating it.

How terrible..."

The children's sorrow, on what was

supposed to be a fun

and sacred night, pierced Snow White's

heart.

Verse 2
The Land of Sweets.

Despite the sugary name,

monsters lurked around every corner.

It was more a land of suffering than

sweetness.

While protecting the children

from the nightmares, Snow White raised

her voice in anger.

"What have you been doing, Nutcracker?!

Your role is to protect this world!"

"She's right. Policing isn't our job.

We have no reason to fight..."

"...What? Are you just going to

abandon these children?"

"Th-that's not what I meant!"

"I'm happy to have so many play things!"

Unaffected by neither the screams

nor sobs,

Little Red chortled.

Snow White:

I'll trust in my sense of justice and save the children.

Pinocchio:

If you say so, Snow...

Snow White:

...No one's forcing you to go along.

You must take action of your own will.

Pinocchio:

But that's...!

Red Riding Hood:

Don't you want to play, Pinocchio?

You'll miss all the fun.

That's just weird.

Pinocchio:

Uh...you're the one who's weird!

Verse 3
"Who cares about these children?!

They can all die! I don't want to

fight!"

"...Really?"

"N-no! That was my staff speaking!"

"Oh princess of white. No matter what

you say,

if we run away now,

won't you hold us in contempt? After all,

our sense of justice differs from yours."

"..."

"Snow White,

don't listen to the staff!"

"Justice borne from self righteousness is

no good to anyone!"

The staff's crude laughter left the two in

silence.

To break the ice--

"Look! Nutcracker's here!"

The cheery, pleasant voice was directed

toward

a familiar puppet who passed by.

Red Riding Hood:

Hurry up! Nutcracker's running awy!

Snow White:

Whoa...! He runs faster than I expected.

Pinocchio:

What should I do...

Snow White:

For now, just concentrate on chasing Nutcracker!

Red Riding Hood:

If you have time to worry, put all that strength into play!

Verse 4
Nutcracker, whose ethics were long lost,

had several children gathered round

him.

"It's...It's always like this."

"No matter what happens, we're

only..."

"A supporting role in the story."

"Evil sisters, stupid

brothers..."

"No one will help us..."

"...what is going on?"

"You're not still angry over the stolen

candy...

are you?"

"No crying! No whining!"

The children's laments were like words of

condemnation.

As the wailing grew, Snow White and the

others'

unease grew as well.

Snow White:

Did you see those children's eyes?

Pinocchio:

Yes. Somehow... they look like they've given up on everything.

Red Riding Hood:

Is it because they were robbed of their candy?

Snow White:

That can't be the only reason.

Pinocchio:

No... it seems to be something deeper.

Verse 5
"You were there, Nutcracker!"

"We'll have our turn, Red Riding Hood.

And then, there will be plenty of time to

play!"

"Yay!"

"Ow! Ow! Have these fools no respect

for their elders?!"

"Want respect? Then earn it.

Why did you forsake

the children?

Isn't this your kingdom?"

Under Snow White's harsh gaze,

Nutcracker let out a small cackle.

"Watch your words.

First you must learn to speak properly

and use proper forms of address..."

"Now is not the time!"

"Snow White! The nightmares are here

again!"

Nutcracker:

That's no way to fight at all.

You must be more elegant, more beautiful...

Snow White:

Fight first, then complain!

Nutcracker:

You would force your elder to fight?

Honestly, today's young people...

Elders should be respected, and the youth should work like mice...

Pinocchio:

Ugh. So this is what senility sounds like...

Red Riding Hood:

I don't want to play, anymore.

Can I just hit them?

Verse 6
"I have nothing to say to

a direspectful whelp like you!

Auld Lang Syne!"

By the time Snow White and others

could utter a word of protest,

Nutcracker was long gone.

"My grandmother

can't even move that fast..."

"Nor Mr. Gepetto..."

Seeing her two companions so impressed,

Snow White uttered a deep sigh.

"Well, now we know

that Nutcracker won't be of any help.

Which means--"

Delighted by the shift in tide,

Red Riding Hood smirked.

"Everyone, maim, mutilate, and murder

every nightmare you see!"

Pinocchio looked appalled by her choice

of words.

Young child:

They stole our candy.

Girl:

After Santa gave it to us...

Young child:

If we ask Santa, will he give them candy, again?

I found Santa over there.

Girl:

Is it the red Santa?

Or the black Santa?

Snow White:

...What?

Girl:

Finding Santa won't change anything.

Young child:

We'll never be rewarded, for all eternity.

Girl:

We are fools of fate, only here to make the story interesting.

Young child:

To make the main characters look better.

Girl:

We're forced into nasty roles.

We meet horrible ends.

Young child:

The readers love it.

Our unhappiness is the spice of the story.

Girl:

Ah...If I'm to die,

let me die in peace.

Snow White:

It can't be. These children are...!

Snow White and the others finally

noticed.

The ones inhabiting the Land of Sweets--

a dream-like realm celebrating a holy

night--were actually...

"The characters sacrificed in our

stories..."

The executed, the

dismembered,

the tortured,

the beheaded...

"They're our literary foils..."

As Pinocchio said, those who met

horrible fates in their stories

had taken the form

of children in this world.

"You used us

to attain glory."

The children, eyes black with rage,

pulled at Snow White's dress.

Verse 7
"This world..."

Snow White's legs began to quiver.

Then, from somewhere,

a hoarse voice.

"In fairytales, the main character shines

in the spotlight

while the villain suffers an awful fate.

But I have one question.

Is it right or wrong to help villains?"

Snow White's party stood aghast as

Nutcracker

materialized before them.

His eyes were blood red.

"Nutcracker?"

"Show some respect,

tiny tits!"

"Wha...? How dare you!"

"Daughters of Man and daughters of

Burtality,

bow down to me

with sweet reverence!"

Nutcracker:

Candy!

Give us candy!

Red Riding Hood:

There's something wrong with this person.

Pinocchio:

There's always been something wrong...

Nutcracker:

Candy, candy!

Oh so sweet!

Snow White:

They're completely losing their senses.

Red Riding Hood:

Oh that sweet aroma...Did you eat the candy?

Verse 8
Even in defeat, Nutcracker

was still complaining.

"Sugar... Sweets...

No, this is sour. Even a handsome,

old man like me can't get

the respect he deserves..."

"What's sour is the taste in my mouth

hearing you call yourself handsome!"

"Shall we strike him? Kick him? Cut

him?"

"No, let him live.

I want to know why he's gone mad."

"...Just as I thought. Candy."

"Santa is handing these out, right?"

"Of course...he is..."

Snow White remembered the children saying

there were two: one red and one black.

Snow White:

Let's chase the nightmare who stole the candy.

Pinocchio:

The candy was a present from Santa....

But when eaten, it makes them go crazy?

Snow White:

The children of the town are the supporting players who were sacrificed in other stories...

Red Riding Hood:

Oh, this is impossible to unravel! That's why!

Let me guess, we should kill them all?

Starting with that senile old man!

Pinocchio:

Y-You can't kill your only clue!

Snow White: --Wait. Something's here.

Verse 9
While giving chase to

the nightmares that stole the candy,

we came upon a strange sight.

"Is that...?"

It was a red-clothed Santa Claus.

Next to him was another Santa

Claus, dressed in black.

"Come here, have some candy!"

"Don't eat the candy! It's poisoned! Throw

it away!"

"Eat it." "Don't!" "It's all yours!"

"Give it back!" "It's tasty!" "Don't eat it!"

While the red and black Santas bickered,

their two bodies began

to merge into one.

Red Santa:

The candy is a reward for the good children.

Black Santa:

The candy is a punishment for the bad children.

Red Santa:

We'll give you candy.

Eat as much as you want.

Black Santa:

I'll collect the candy.

Pass all of it to me.

Snow White:

What are these guys saying?

Pinocchio:

They're speaking opposites!

I don't understand this at all!

Red Riding Hood:

So let's just kill them already?

Snow White:

Why do you insist on suck meaningless...!

Red Riding Hood:

Does having fun need to have meaning?

Snow White can be SUCH a headache!

Snow White:

...Hmph!

The united Santa Claus tumbled over

and a pile of candies spilled out of its

pocket,

scattering everywhere. In an instant, a

sweet aroma

filled the air.

As if crazed by the smell, Nutcracker,

who had been taken prisoner, began

scuffling about,

quickly losing control.

"Give me! I need Candy! Candyyyyy!"

"Quick! Hide away the sweets,

Pinocchio!"

"Snow White, aren't these--"

"Withdrawal symptoms. It's the candy!"

"The sweets are drugged! Will

you have some?"

"Don't let others near!"

Pinocchio struggled to restrict Red Riding

Hood

while Snow, beside him, puzzled over the

situation.

"Red Santa was handing out poisoned

candy

while Black Santa was trying to get it

back?"

Verse 10
"Whatever the motive, all candy must be

recouped

and thrown away. Then we should

dole out real candy to the children."

"They already had a hard enough life

as our supporting characters..."

"Which is all the more reason they

should

enjoy themselves here, even if just for a

little while."

"If you say so, Snow White..."

"Is handing out candy fun?"

"Yes! You should be able to make friends

with everyone!"

"Yay! Then I'm in!"

So, the three of them started

handing out candy. The hungry children

clawed at the sweets.

Before long, however,

the children degenerated into

nightmares...

The scramble for sweets began.

Young child:

Hand over the candy!

Young child:

No! It's mine!

I'll never give it to you!

Snow White:

The children are becoming...nightmares?!

Settle down!

Lay down your weapons.

Girl:

I can't wait.

I can't wait any longer!

Candy, candy, candy, candycandycandy

Pinocchio:

No! I don't want to!

I'm scared!!

Red Riding Hood:

Haha! Let's play!

We'll get along GREAT!

Girl:

That candy will be mine, all mine!

Snow White:

Why did things have to turn out this way?

A bell rang, announcing the eve of

festivities.

"Santa says that

good children get rewards and bad

children

get punishments."

"Red Santa went mad and

handed out poisoned sweets as

punishment."

"Black Santa tried to stop this."

"The girls did their best."

"But in the end..."

"The children died from their own

greed!"

"They really deserved to get punished!"

The dolls' giggles echoed across the city.

White clothes stained with blood, a staff

dripping from end to end,

and a hood that was redder than ever.

As the three of them were surrounded

by the corpses of dead

children,

a holy bell rang in the distance.

Verse 11
"Anyway,

let's throw away these sweets."

"Won't you let the children have them?"

"What will you do with the poisoned

ones?"

"I thought we could become friends

if I gave out candy."

"If you change your ways

you can still become friends."

"Really?"

Red Riding Hood's face glowed.

Snow White responded with a gentle

smile.

The burning candy exuded a sweet

aroma.

Suddenly children started swarming in as

if lured by the smell.

"What... are you doing?"

"Ahh! This is..." "Why?"

"Why did you burn the candy?

Aaaaaaaagh!"

Cursing at Snow White and her

companions,

the children attacked.

Young Child: Give me back the candy!

Give it! Give iittt!

Snow White:

Settle down!

The candy is poisoned. You-

Girl: I want candy! I'll never be happy without that sweet candy!

P But you could die!

Young child

Who cares?

If I'm going to die anyway, might as well--

go out on a happy note!

Pinocchio:

How can you say that?

Red Riding Hood:

Y'know...

Playing with these kids is...

kinda boring.

After calming the angry children

with candy,

Snow White and the others left the Land

of Sweets.

"You've stopped the source of their madness,

so we have no more use here."

There's no denying the fact.

But, at least...

"As long as they're

alive

all is well."

Yes, the children still have hope left.

Several months later.

The back alleys of the Land of Sweets

were littered with the dead

bodies of

starved children.

"A bit player should stick to his lines.

It's an awful thing for

a protagonist to give people false hopes."

The old man's remarks

faded in the wind.

Parrah:

That's just the way it goes, I suppose.

Noya:

It's pretentious of anyone to think side characters are worth saving.

Parrah:

The main characters in the story all have missions to uphold.

Noya:

the side characters are only there to make them look good.

Parrah:

Like a spice that adds a burst of flavor!

Noya:

They aren't allowed to be happy.

Parrah:

What about the stories where everyone gets a happy ending, you ask?

Noya:

I mean, technically they're allowed to be happy then.

Parrah:

But is that really the kind of story you want to read?

A victim is born at the start of every story.

Noya:

There's another being born out there, somewhere, at this very moment...

Parrah:

sure to die a pointless, miserable death.

Noya:

Even inside your own imagination...

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