Trying to get "In Water" ending, should I explore South Vale with Maria?

[DreamDecker]

I know there's other factors like not healing, looking at the knife, and not looking at Mary's stuf... but I kind of want to see all of the new Maria scenes while still trying to get "In Water," and I don't know if the "Maria" ending overrides "In Water."

[Vagrant]

No, that doesn't matter.

Rotten Apple, Rust Egg and walk away in long corridor. Check Knife before endboss ladder. Receive damage during fight, don't heal. After phase 3, re-check the Knife.