The Butterfly Collector

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The Butterfly Collector was a virtual representation of one of Fujibayashi Naoe's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Naoe meets a woman in Katano who invites her to play a children's game.

Dialogue

Naoe heard a woman calling out for her outside Katano Castle.

• Woman 1: Hello there!

Naoe approached her.

• Woman 1: I organized a game for the children here, but... none came. I'd hate to waste it. Might you be interested? There's a reward!
• Naoe: It's been a long time since I played children's games, but all right.
• Woman 1: Oh, I'm so glad that you'll play. Hidden on the trees around west Osaka are colored origami butterflies. Find them, and bring them back to me. Find them all, and you'll win a reward.

Naoe traveled to western Osaka to begin looking for the origami. In the Fisherman's District, Naoe found an orange-colored origami on a tree stem butterfly.

• Naoe: One of the origami butterflies. Well made too.

Near the Temple of Osaka, Naoe found a red-colored origami butterfly on the tree.

• Naoe: More origami.

Northeast of a Gear Vendor, Naoe found a yellow-colored origami butterfly.

• Naoe: There's another piece of origami.

Find the child

On a tree near the river opposite the Kojo Ruins, Naoe found another letter disguised as an origami.

Secret Origami Message from Mucho

Kacho,
I will lure the sake merchant's child to the island west of Osaka and hold him there. His father is weak and will give us whatever we want. You will soon have control of sake trade in Osaka.
- Mucho

• Naoe: Another origami butterfly. How many are there? A child taken for blackmail? What's going on here?

Naoe traveled to the island west of Osaka, and discovered a woman with a child at the ruins.

• Boy: I don't want to! I want to go home!
• Woman 2: Quiet! Do as you're told, or I'll punish you!
• Boy: I don't want to go!
• Naoe: Could that be one of the missing children?

Naoe approached them but was soon discovered by the woman named Mucho, who then tried to run away.

• Naoe: She's running away!

Naoe chased after the woman and assassinated her. She the returned to speak to the child.

• Boy: I want to go home!
• Naoe: Are you hurt?

The boy checked his body.

• Boy: No...
• Naoe: All right. We should get you home. Do you know the way?
• Boy: My father told me. I will take you!

Home and Dry

Naoe followed the boy as they crossed the bridge back to Osaka.

• Naoe: Did you know that woman?
• Boy: Sort of. I thought she was nice until today.
• Naoe: Do you know where she came from?
• Boy: No. She just wanted to go to the island. I've already been, and it's boring.

After a shortwhile, they found the boy's father.

• Man: Where have you been?
• Boy: The jochu (maid) was trying to take me to the island!
• Man: That liar. She was no jochu. My sake business does well, and I am punished for it.
• Naoe: Your son was targeted by kidnappers. I found their plan on this origami paper.
• Man: Only Osaka merchants sell that particular kind.
• Naoe: I'll have a word with one of these merchants, in hopes they remember who bought it.

On a tree behind a stable, Naoe found a pink-colored origami butterfly.

• Naoe: Another origami butterfly. How many are there? No message in this butterfly.

All Will be Well

On a tree near the canal, Naoe found a letter in the form of an origami.

Secret Origami Letter from Richo

Kacho,
I secured the child without problem. Her mother was told to bring the ransom to that burnt-out well just north of the Temple of Osaka. There's no one there but gardeners, so it's easy to watch. No payment yet. - Richo

• Naoe: More origami. What's this? A hidden message in the butterfly... It mentions a child... being kidnapped? I need to find them.

Naoe traveled to the site of the burnt-well mentioned in the letter. As she got near, she overheard a pair of nearby gardeners.

• Gardener 1: Did you see that woman coming back and forth from the bamboo grove? It's odd.
• Gardener 2: I got too much work to be nosey about other people's business. So do you.
• Gardener 1: All right, all right.
• Naoe: I should take a look in that bamboo grove.

Forest Fugitive

Naoe headed to the bamboo grove northeast of Noda Village in the Osaka outskirts. She caught site of a cabin in the middle.

• Naoe: That cabin looks like a good place to hide. Maybe there's a child in there.

Outside the cabin, she identified a well-dressed woman named Richo, the identity the kidnapper in the letter. She sneaked behind and assassinated her.

• Naoe: I wonder if there are other messages. I should keep looking for the butterflies.

Naoe then unlocked the cabin and found a young girl inside.

• Naoe: Don't be afraid now. You are safe.
• Girl 1: I-I wasn't scared! She said her boss would be mad if my mother didn't pay up. Can we go home now? I'm hungry.
• Naoe: Yes, let's get you back home. Where's your mother?
• Girl 1: I'll take you!

Safe as Sandals

Naoe followed the girl out of the grove.

• Naoe: Tell me about your mother.
• Girl 1: She owns the sandal shop.
• Naoe: That's nice. Everyone needs sandals.
• Girl 1: Lots of people buy them. They think we're rich, but we're not really. You won't tell my mother I said that, will you?
• Naoe: Don't worry. It's our secret.

They returned to Osaka.

• Naoe: You should be more careful about talking to strangers.
• Girl 1: Ugh, I know. My mother always tells me that. She just seemed nice.
• Naoe: They always do.

After a short while, they reached near a gate of Osaka Castle, where they found the girl's mother calling the guards for help.

• Woman: Please! Listen to me! Someone has taken my child!

Naoe and the girl approached the mother.

• Woman: Sakae! Oh, I don't know what I would have done if something happened to you! How did you find her?
• Girl 1: They took me and wanted mon for me!
• Naoe: Her captors left a note of her location. Do you have any idea who these people are?
• Woman: She spoke like a peasant, but dressed like she came from the castle. They wanted ransom.
• Naoe: Keep Sakae safe. I will track them down.
• Girl 1: Wait! I made this for you.

The girl handed a trinket to Naoe.

• Woman: Thank you. I won't let her out of my sight.

The woman bowed to thank Naoe, who then bowed back as well. The woman then took her daughter and left.

• Naoe: I wonder if there are other messages. I should keep looking for the butterflies.

On a tree behind a small shrine, Naoe found a blue-colored origami.

• Naoe: Another butterfly. This is a strange game. No message in this butterfly.

On a tree by the river, Naoe found a purple-colored origami butterfly.

• Naoe: No message in this butterfly.

One That Got Away

East of the Temple of Osaka, Naoe found yet another letter disguised as an origami on a tree.

Secret Origami Letter from Shucho

Kacho,
The child escaped, but she cannot have gone far. I am retracing my steps through the Fishermen's District. When I was observing her, I learned she loves horses. I will begin my search near the western stables.
Forgive me this error. I will not fail again.
- Shucho

• Naoe: There's another piece of origami. A message about a missing child. But she escaped her captors!

Naoe traveled to the Fishermen's District, looking near the stables as mentioned in the letter. Just as she reached, she heard calls for help.

• Girl 2: Help me! She's chasing me!

Naoe spoke to the girl.

• Girl 2: A strange woman grabbed me. Then she took me to a place with lots of statues! But I ran away.
• Naoe: What does she look like?
• Girl 2: I-I don't know, a woman! I never saw her before.
• Naoe: Go home now. Don't stop until you get there, and don't speak to anyone on the way.
• Girl 2: I know a secret way from here. She will never see me. And I can run really fast!

As the girl went home, Naoe looked nearby and found the kidnapper Shucho and eliminated her.

Chrysalis

Naoe deduced the location mentioned by the girl as a warehouse that stores carved stones. Near the place she eliminated Shucho, she found a scroll in a storehouse.

Monshiro's Diary Page

I know where Kacho's hideout is. She thinks us unable to think for ourselves, or she would have been more careful. Some of her butterflies escaped and now mark her garden for anyone who cares to look.

She can never suspect that I know, or she will kill me.

• Naoe: This will help me find who's behind all this.

Paper Trail

With the kidnappers dead, Naoe went to look for the paper merchant. Near the Temple of Osaka, Naoe found the merchant who matched the descriptions.

• Naoe: That must be the paper merchant.

Naoe entered his shop and spoke to him.

• Merchant: How may I help you?

Naoe showed the origami she found.

• Naoe: You sell this paper. Do you remember who bought it?
• Merchant: I don't sell much of that. Expensive. People don't want to pay so much these days. Last one was a woman. Very wealthy. I delivered it to her home at Nishinomaru Garden.
• Naoe: Thank you.
• Merchant: If she wants more, tell her I have plenty!

Naoe left the shop.

• Naoe: The kidnappers' leader must be at Nishinomaru Garden.

Piecing together the clues she found so far, Naoe deduced that the ring leader was operating from the Nishinomaru Garden in Osaka Castle. She infiltrated the castle and entered the gardens, where she found a well-dressed lady and confronted her.

• Naoe: You must be Kacho, from the notes.
• Kacho: That nameless little brat. She always resisted me. And she sent you to do what she cannot. Her mistake.

Kacho drew her tanto and attacked Naoe, who defended against her attacks and hit back.

• Kacho: Your death will be beautiful.
  My butterflies will enjoy you.
  You will not escape death. It comes for us all..

Naoe defeated and dealt a mortally wound to Kacho, who fell to the ground.

• Kacho: (groans) You never suspected her, did you... the one who sent you. I raised her. I trained her. I'm almost her mother.
• Naoe: But you are not her mother.
• Kacho: My children... they would have been so... beautiful. Laid in open fields, one... by one. Beautiful in death... before my butterflies... consumed them. Death should be beautiful, don't you think? (sighs)

As Kacho died from her wounds, Naoe left the castle and returned to confront the woman in Katano.

• Woman 1: Have you found the butterflies?
• Naoe: Drop the act. You are one of them.
• Woman 1: Kacho is dead, then. I spent my whole life trying to free myself from her. She thought she was my mother but she was so much worse. I made this game hoping someone like you would find the messages. And stop us.
• Naoe: Stop what?
• Woman 1: She... she wanted me to have brothers and sisters. A family. So I took them.
• Naoe: You have done unforgivable things. But you are a victim too.
• Woman 1: Kacho controlled everything. I am choosing me now. The children. Are they safe?
• Naoe: Yes, they are.
• Woman 1: (sighs) Then I would ask one last favor of you. Kacho took me when I was a baby. I never had a name. With no name, I had no identity beyond her.
• Naoe: You are free now to choose your own name. Not me.
• Woman 1: No. The only name I know is Kacho. Please. A name for my grave.

I name you O-cho (Miss Butterfly).I name you Ageha (Swallowtail Butterfly).I name you Monshiro (Small White Butterfly).

• Naoe: You are O-cho. "Miss Butterfly."
• Woman: O-cho.

• Woman 1: It is strange. I feel different. I always wondered if I would. It is only a small thing, but... What will you do with me?
• Naoe: That is a good name. Good enough for a new life. Do not waste the opportunity.
• Woman 1: Thank you. For everything. I will never forget what you have done.

Outcome

Naoe solved the case behind the hidden origami butterflies, helping the woman to elminate the group members and giving her a new start to life.