Episode 4: A Rift of Light and a World Crisis
Scene: On the trail up Gastros Mountain.
Yuuki and the others were locating and defeating Gigases on their way to the mountain.
Kyaru
This magic detector is amazingly accurate. So far, we haven't encountered any monsters aside from Gigases at all.
Anne
Right! That's because I've set the device to detect only the frequency of the magical stones!
Kyaru
I didn't know that was possible... Wow, you're pretty skilled.
Grea
Thanks to the magic detector, as well as everyone's efforts, we've managed to gather quite a few magical stone fragments.
Ruu
So, are we gonna be able to go back to Mysterchia soon?
Anne
Hmm... That would probably still be difficult. We still haven't found the core of the magical stone...
Ruu
Core? What's that?
Anne
The core is the central piece of the stone, the part that's constructed to absorb our spells. Fundamentally, the core is what reacts to magical energy...
Ruu
...???? Um, am I going crazy? Why did I suddenly stop understanding what Anne was saying?
Kyaru
To put it simply, we still haven't found the most crucial part of the stone.
Ruu
Oh, I get it. Kyaru sure is smart. Good girl, good girl.
Kyaru
Hearing praise from you doesn't really make me happy...
Grea
But that poses a problem. It means we won't make any progress just defeating Gigases in a haze...
Anne
Oh? The pieces we collected are glowing -- it looks like they're illuminating some kind of path...!
Grea
Ah...!? Anne, look! Above the mountaintop... The light is spreading out in some kind of rift!
Anne
It's true -- is that where we're supposed to go...?
Kokkoro
What do you think, Master? ... Master? What's happened?
Scene: A dream. Ames's garden.
Ames
... Sorry for bringing you here so urgently. But there's something I need from you right away. I know this isn't a good thing to do, but please, forgive me just this once.
Ames
I understand that we have visitors from another world. But because of their presence, problems are beginning to occur in this world.
Ames
The rift of light that just appeared will develop into something worse if we do nothing.
Ames
You see, from within that rift of light... A monster that shouldn't exist in this world is being born.
Ames
Because of that, the world is beginning to distort...
Ames
If you don't defeat that monster soon, then this small incident may develop into something that the world cannot accommodate, maybe even causing it to collapse...
Ames
That's why you have to work together with those girls to defeat that monster. Please, save the world together! I'm counting on you! And please, share all of this with Kokkoro...
Scene: Back at the mountain.
Kokkoro
... ter, Master! Ah... What a relief. You worried me when you suddenly spaced out like that.
Kokkoro
If you're feeling uncomfortable in any way, then... Eh? You received a vision from Lady Ames?
Kokkoro
Master, what did Lady Ames tell you...? Hm... From within that rift, a powerful monster is emerging?
Anne
Certainly... That rift is powerful. There's a lot of magical energy radiating from it...
Grea
... That might be where the core is. I'd like to go see, but...
Pecorine
... Ah, that's right! Wait a moment -- to reach the summit, we need to travel through a cave.
Kyaru
Is that true? You sure know a lot.
Pecorine
I remembered just now. And on that subject, the cave to the summit should be somewhere close to here...
Ruu
Okay, then I'm gonna look for a cave! Ruu's Expeditionary Team, move out!
Kyaru
Hey, wait! Don't go by yourself!
Kyaru
... Sigh. Also, Pecorine, you said you just remembered, but does that mean you've been to this mountain before?
Pecorine
Eh!? Umm, well, I wonder? I don't think I've ever been here before... ahahaha...
Pecorine
Ah! Could this be amnesia...!?
Kyaru
No, I think you're just forgetful.
Yuuki
1. "Do you remember yesterday's dinner?"
2. "That's just like you, Pecorine."
Option 1.
Pecorine
Of course! Mmm, I can remember tasty meals without a problem!
Option 2.
Anne
She looks so happy when she's eating, too! When I see her, I can't help but smile along with her.
End of branches.
Kyaru
That's not what I was talking about at all...
Grea
W-Well, anyway... In that case, let's search for this cave.
Kokkoro
Yes, agreed. ...? What's the matter, Master?
Kokkoro
You forgot what Ames wanted you to tell me? What was the subject...
Kokkoro
Eh...? If we don't defeat the monster in that rift, the world could collapse...!?
Kyaru
Huh!? What nonsense is that!?
Pecorine
But think about it, Kyaru. Considering that Anne and her friends are right in front of us as visitors from another world, it's hard to call anything nonsense, isn't it?
Kyaru
I also said that was nonsense to begin with, so... Ahh, man, my head hurts...
Anne
It seems that a crisis is developing in this world... We should hurry...!
Grea
Then... We need to find Ruu as well. She ran off ahead of us, it seems...
Anne
Ahaha... We probably should have stopped her...
Ruu
Ahh... Ruu's Expeditionary Team is in trouble. Where is this cave? Umm... This is just a hole...
Ruu
... Wait, where is everyone? Could everyone else have gotten lost? To think that they're all older than me, too...
Gigas
Roaaaar!
Ruu
Gaaaaah! It's a G-G-Gigas!
Kyaru
Ruu! Take cover!
Ruu
That's what I'm good at!
Kyaru
Here I go! Haaaah!
Gigas
Roaaaar!
Ruu
Y-You saved me...! Ruu's Expeditionary Team is officially disbanded!!
Kyaru
Listen, you! This mountain is no place to wander around! Honestly... Well, I'm glad you're okay.
Ruu
I know... In the end, all I found was this weird hole...
Kyaru
Weird hole...?
Ruu
Yeah, over there. That gap in the rocks...
Kyaru
Ah, you're right. It looks like there's a cave behind that gap... Hey, wait, that's a cave!!
Kyaru
Hey! That's a big find! Nice job, Ruu!!
Ruu
Huh? You're complimenting me?
Kyaru
Well, when I think about it, it's not surprising that you could help. After all, you're a student at Manaria Magical Academy, just like Anne and Grea.
Ruu
That's right! Anne and Grea are both super great students!
Kyaru
They sure are. Anne has amazing magical power, and Grea has incredible power of her own...
Kyaru
Do you ever dislike being surrounded by those two?
Ruu
Huh? I've never thought about it. Why would I dislike it?
Kyaru
Well, I mean... Your grades aren't that great, right? You talk a lot about things like retaking or failing tests.
Ruu
That's true... I'm practically the empress of retests, the queen of failures. Those are more titles that I can add to my resume, along with being the goddess of detention.
Kyaru
You're always having to work so much harder to get by, compared to those two who pass with flying colors, right?
Kyaru
Doesn't it ever feel unfair?
Ruu
Hmm? I don't really get it.
Ruu
I'm just enjoying my youth every single day, the way I want to! So, every single day is tons of fun!
Kyaru
... Huh. How should I put this, Ruu -- you're...
Ruu
Yes? I'm what, Kyaru?
Kyaru
You're... even more of an airhead than I'd thought.
Ruu
I thought you were gonna praise me, but you insulted me instead!?
Kyaru
Ahahaha. ... It's not a bad thing. Actually, I'm a bit jealous.
Anne
Kyaru! Are you over here!?
Ruu
Ah, that's Anne's voice!
Kyaru
Oh, that's right, we split up to search the area, and you did just that.
Kyaru
Let's join up again. We'll have to tell everyone about your discovery.
Ruu
Yes! ... Everyone! I found the cave! It's over here!
Ruu and Kyaru met back up with Yuuki and the others, and they all headed for the cave.