That's a nice windmill!
Well, Helshper's capital is also known as the City of Windmills.
Those windmills pump up water, and deliver it to the rest of the city.
So it's got aqueducts?
The castle sticks out, though…
Talk about East meeting West. Where and when is it supposed to be from?
East meeting West? What an odd-sounding phrase.
Um, I guess it's an expression for when two differing cultures mix together?
And you call that East meeting West? I see.
Hearing the reasoning, it fits perfectly.
He accepted that quick.
Ah, but I was supposed to be taking you to Sakaiya.
It's this way.
Still,
you're even acquainted with Sakaiya's own Caerick?
I'm surprised.
Oh, I don't know him. I was just asked to bring him a letter.
Cayna, do you know much of Sakaiya?
No, nothing at all.
I've never met anyone who didn't know about it.
Is it really that famous of a store?
It's not just famous, it's the largest mercantile house on the continent.
From a grain of wheat to a magic item, you can get anything you want there.
You can even hire soldiers. It's said there's nothing they don't have.
So it's like a big general trading company?
We also do a lot of business with them.
I should have known!
Okay, I'm on it!
This is Sakaiya.
This is quite an impressive building!
But…
That tile roof…
East meeting West never looked more chaotic!
Oh, if it isn't Elineh!
You've had quite the trip.
My, if it isn't the young master.
I'm in your hands yet again.
Is the old master in?
We have a letter from Felskeilo.
A letter, you say?
May I read it over?
Certainly.
Here it is.
Thank you.
Pl…
Please wait just a moment!
[Grandson, Granddaughter, Great-Grandson, and Fort]
[Sakai]
It has been far too long, Elineh.
I'm glad to see you, as well, Caerick.
I hear you've been wheeling and dealing your way into as much money as ever.
Much obliged.
Oh, hel… lo?
Caerick's bowing to someone other than royalty?!
It is very nice to meet you,
Grandmother.
Grandmother?!
Yes. I am your daughter Mai-Mai's son, Caerick Sakai.
Mai-Mai's son?
My mother has told me great things about you.
To think I would get to meet the wielder of treasures herself…
I am truly honored.
Grandmother, you appear to be quite tired from your journey here!
Before you use a squalid inn in town,
I shall prepare you a splendid, high-class room,
so why don't you stay here?
[Sakai] so why don't you stay here?
Oh, don't worry about me. I'm not tired.
I've just had my eyes opened to a shocking truth, is all.
Mai-Mai won't be getting off easy.
Grandmother?
Oh, and about those "squalid" inns…
I find their food and my time with the people who stay at them to be quite valuable,
so they would relax me more than your splendid, high-class rooms,
so please… Don't. Mind. Me.
Have I… said something to o-offend you?
No! Nothing at all!
Anyway, my business here is done, so do excuse me.
Ah, C-Cayna! Excuse me, Caerick.
[Sakai]
Please, wait for me, Cayna!
[Sakai]
We're back!
Yup, back.
Hey, welcome back, Mr. Elineh, Missy.
Yo, welcome!
These are Helshper knights.
They had some questions about the bandits we met at the eastern border.
That makes sense.
We just finished explainin' what happened.
We're giving them the staff the bandit had.
That okay?
Indeed. No problem at all.
In that case…
Can we consider our business concluded?
Yes, thank you.
You two, please wait outside.
Yes, ma'am.
What? Why?
It seems your mood has been rather spoiled.
Allow me to apologize for my little brother.
I am truly sorry,
Grandmother.
Grandmother?!
Y-You wouldn't happen to be…
I am Caerick's older twin sister, Caerina Sakai.
Yeah, you do look a lot like that creep.
Calling him "that creep"… My brother must have been quite rude to you.
That said, I'm surprised how well-informed you are. We only just met him.
We have the ability to converse even without being in one another's presence.
Extra Skill: Telepathy, huh?
Well guessed, Grandmother! Again, I am truly sorry about what my brother did.
You don't have to apologize so much for it.
I was also acting a bit childish.
I'm glad you'd say that. Our mother has told us much about you.
My brother was quite terrified.
And what, exactly, did she tell you?
When angry, you fiendishly grind even your relatives into a fine paste, without any mercy.
No, I don't!
Missy, I don't think you should go grinding your relatives into paste.
H-Have you really done something so awful?!
No, never!
Do you really see me as some indiscriminate murderer?!
More an ice flower.
N-No, I mean that bandit sure turned into a pretty ice sculpture!
It was a compliment!
In what way is that a compliment?!
It really was pretty!
It was indeed pretty!
Yup, pretty!
Why are you all on the same page?!
That does it! Nobody can blame me for getting mad now!
C-Cayna…
W-Wait, Missy! Calm down! Just put that down on the floor!
W-When did you get a huge snowball?!
Enough talk! Fire!
Why'd she hit me, too?
S-So pretty…
I just wanted to orchestrate a touching first meeting between Mother and my children…
And then Caerina used Telepathy to tell you,
"Caerick angered Grandmother, and it almost cost lives. What should we do?"
Let me think…
I want to stand up for them, but if I did, Our Mother's ire would be redirected at me.
While you did bring this on yourself by attempting to surprise Our Mother,
well, when she returns, I shall apologize alongside you. Do cheer up.
Okay. Thank you, Skargo.
She's being unusually earnest.
I guess even Mai-Mai has a lovable side.
I guess even Skargo had a nice side.
That was all your fault, Caerick.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…
I have no ball in this court.
I have balls!
All the requests are from merchants…
Most of 'em want bandits dealt with, huh?
Excuse me.
What's up, girlie?
Wait, you're an adventurer, too? Pretty tiny one.
So's everyone else, from your perspective.
Haven't seen you around. You just become an adventurer?
No, I came from Felskeilo.
So, what's going on?
I heard there was a place with a castle on a lake.
Do you know where it might be?
Oh, that?
That's Crescent-Moon Castle.
This is it.
It's deep in bandit lands, so nobody can get close.
Why's it called Crescent-Moon Castle?
Because the whole castle glows on crescent-moon nights.
Wow!
Rumors say it's an ancient treasury,
but ask some old fogeys and they're all terrified, calling it a "Guardian's Manse."
A Guardian's Manse? That sounds promising!
Thank you very much! You were a big help!
Don't sweat it.
You could get this info anywhere.
Um, is something wrong?
Oh, no, I…
Don't sweat it.
He's just a lecher with a habit of practically staring holes in girls' faces.
Oh, is that what it was?
I'll be off, then.
Anyone would be suspicious, bud.
I just felt like I'd seen her somewhere…
Really, that old pickup line?
She's an elf! They're all hot!
I wasn't hitting on her! I swear, I've seen her somewhere.
Says the guy who chats up every elf he sees!
You dropped character.
Whoops!
Oopsie-daisy! I'm a girl, I'm a girl, I'm a girl…
[I'm a girl…] Where have I seen her before?
So, where should I go from here? I do want some more detailed info…
The bandit cleanup requests all came from merchants, so maybe Caerick would know more?
Are you certain? He was terrified.
I already said I was being childish.
Well, nothing for it but to see if we can go make up.
Well…
Anyway, uh…
Sorry.
No, don't grind me into paste!
Paste again? Mai-Mai told you about that, right?
It was Mai-Mai?
Yes?
What shall I do with my idiot daughter?
Oh, right, Caerick!
Y-Yes?
Could you use Telepathy to send Mai-Mai a message?
Y-Y-Y-Yes! What m-m-message should I send?
"Given iron maiden, guillotine, crucifixion,
live burial, burning alive,
quartering, crushing weights, and pear of anguish,
which would you choose?", if you'd be so kind.
O-Okay. It's on its way.
I have made embarrassing remarks unbefitting of a leader of merchants.
I ask your forgiveness, Grandmother.
It's fine, no need to apologize.
I'm sure you were looking out for me.
Plus I was a bit childish.
Anyway!
Yes?
I want to ask you about the Crescent-Moon Castle in this country.
What about it?
It seems an awful lot like a Guardian Tower, right?
What did you say?!
Do you mean the thirteen god-granted pillars supporting this world?!
The mysterious towers that house supreme treasures but that only the chosen may enter?!
Yeah. Though that's a bit exaggerated…
Anyway, I wanted to go in and wake up its guardian before it breaks down. Shore it up, y'know?
I was thinking I'd go tomorrow.
I'm sorry to tell you, Grandmother, but it's currently in bandit territory…
Oh, that'll work itself out.
It's not my main goal, but if they get in my way, I might just take those bandits out.
Catch my drift?
Grandmother…
With the bandits gone, we could reopen the main road…
But even if I get rid of the bandits, keep my part in it under wraps.
May I ask why?
Think. The knights are having trouble with those bandits.
If word got out a little girl did 'em in…
If that happened, I'd hole up again.
I don't want to be in the spotlight.
Grandmother, just one thing.
The knights have a garrison shutting down traffic to the lake.
But we can get around that, right?
Of course.
My sister was sent there on a mission a few days ago.
We'll pull some strings to get you through.
My, is it acceptable for Sakaiya to aid a single adventurer, for all the world to see?
It's no problem whatsoever.
That adventurer will be on an important resupply mission to that very garrison.
I see Sakaiya has a dark side.
Oh, no, we can't hold a candle to you, Grandmother.
Thank goodness Great-Grandmother didn't grind Father up…
Thank you.
Y-You're welcome! Least I could do.
Anyway, I got hired by Caerick to deliver supplies to a garrison,
so I'll be out for a couple days.
Is that so? I'm relieved that you made amends with Caerick.
I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble, Elineh.
I doubt anything could cause you any trouble, Missy,
but it never hurts to be careful.
We'll be needing your skills on the way back to Felskeilo,
so please do take care.
I will. Thanks, Elineh, Arbiter.
Stop for a bit.
Nobody's looking, right?
Okay.
Summon Magic: Veldocancer.
Alright, Veld, you're carrying us to the knights' garrison, okay?
Yes, Grandmother, Caerick contacted me via Telepathy
and said that you would bring us supplies and that we were to let you proceed to the lake.
But that was just this morning!
The trip should take three days by horse, so how are you already here?!
I though you'd want the resupply, so I rushed over,
but now you're blaming me?
N-No, I'm not blaming you, I'm just confused.
Excuse me, Captain, is this adventurer an acquaintance of yours?
She is my grandmother.
Still, treat her as you would any guest.
Y-Yes, ma'am.
Also…
R-Reporting!
It's a raid!
What?!
Who are they?
The enemy is believed to be rock golems!
Nine of them!
Nine rock golems?
Have all hands prepare to intercept.
On it!
Grandmother, you stay put here.
Is that clear?
Hm? Maybe I won't.
It's on you if you get hurt.
Let's go.
Okay!
You're not helping?
Should I, though?
What should I do? I really don't want to stand out…
They are rock golems…
Archers, fire at will!
Yes, ma'am!
Damn, that did nothing!
It's as I feared.
Only impact weapons like hammers and maces can damage them.
But…
We only have 20 knights, and they're all swordsmen.
Captain, let's go and hit them!
Yeah! We can't let them go any further!
Captain!
I don't think we can beat rock golems, but we're out of time.
At this rate, the garrison will be destroyed.
Then there'd be nobody left to protect the capital from bandits and monsters.
We have to do everything in our power.
We're going out there! Don't let them get past us!
Yes, ma'am!
Swords at the ready!
- My sword for the captain! - For Helshper!
- Their advance stops here! - To victory!
- Strike 'em hard and fast! - We're with you!
Keep your guards up!
Charge!
Not even a scratch?
Hang in there!
Get him to the garrison!
Weapon Skill:
Fire Blade!
Nice one, Captain!
Did you see that, you damn rock toys?!
Captain…
I'm fine.
But it is, too…
No way!
If even that wasn't enough,
retreat is the only option left.
Very nicely done! Was that self-taught?
It takes talent to do that much with self-taught skills.
Grandmother?
Leave the rest to me.