Episode 2: A Name from a Distant Homeland

---

The members of Kaon were on the beach, searching for the plushies that had vanished.

Kaori
I've run all the way up and down the beach, but I didn't see the plushies anywhere!

Makoto
I can't imagine that it was a normal thief. All of our other luggage was completely intact, and more than that, it would be incredibly strange to steal that many plushies.

Makoto
Compared to that, it'd be more likely for the plushies to have walked away on their own, somehow.

Maho
On their own... Everyone... I wonder if they started hating me for some reason.

Kaori
Makoto!

Makoto
I'm sorry, Princess! That's not what I meant! Considering how much you cherish them, there's no way they'd hate you, right!?

Maho
No, it's all right. If they left on their own, then I'm sure they'll come back eventually.

Maho
Let's just have lunch. We're here on vacation, so we can't let this time go to waste.

Kaori
Maho...

Makoto
Princess...

Yuuki
1. "Let's go look for them."

Maho
Mister Prince... But...

Kaori
Ah, now that I think about it, there was a fishing village close to where we were swimming! We might find some leads there.

Makoto
If Kasumi were here, she'd say that the first thing to do is to interview witnesses.

Maho
Makoto, Kaori... Are you sure?

Yuuki
1. "If our friends have disappeared, then of course."

Maho
Thank you. Thank you, everyone...

Makoto
Don't sweat it. Then, let's get some food in our bellies first. I've got some sandwiches and stuff we can eat with our hands, so let's fill up real quick.

Kaori
Oh, right, I was getting hungry! Once we're all full, let's start the investigation!

Later.

Makoto
Huh, so there was a fishing village around here.

Kaori
Doesn't it seem lively? Do you think they have festivals here? I'm all about dancing!

Maho
The mood here doesn't seem to suggest a festival. I have a bad feeling about this...

Makoto
Ah, let's ask that man! Hey, do you have a moment?

Villager
Eep!? O-Oh, it's a person. Please, don't startle me.

Makoto
Why did he act so shocked? ... Am I really that scary?

Kaori
Cheer up, Makoto, you're not scary at all!

Maho
We apologize for calling out to you so suddenly. The village seems to be in an uproar right now -- has something happened?

Villager
... has come.

Makoto
Huh? What did you say?

Villager
The majimun has come!

Maho
Majimun? I've never heard that name. Is it some kind of animal?

Kaori
... It's not that.

Yuuki
1. "Do you know about it?"

Kaori
I know about it. I never thought I'd hear the language of my homeland in a place like this.

Maho
So it's a word from your homeland. It certainly does have a strange ring to it.

Makoto
I mean, your speech does, too, Princess. So, what is this majimun?

Kaori
The majimun is a being from my homeland...

Kaon
It's what you would call an evil spirit.

Villager
Huh. It's quite a coincidence that one of you knows about it. This fishing village was founded by migrants from a faraway country across the sea.

Villager
The word 'majimun' should have come from that country...

Kaori
That must be my homeland! I'm a little happy to hear a story from my homeland.

Makoto
There's nothing happy about this, is there!? An evil spirit!? That means...

Villager
Yes. Earlier, the majimun came and took several people.

Makoto
What do you mean, 'took'!?

Kaori
The majimun is said to steal people's souls. There are all kinds of different stories about them, but the most famous version is, if they pass between your legs, they'll steal your soul.

Makoto
Y-Your soul...?

Villager
They don't actually take your life. But the people who are taken by the majimun become lethargic and unable to move. Essentially, they fall into a deep sleep.

Maho
That does sound very much like stealing someone's soul.

Kaori
Hmm, Makoto, what's the matter? Why're you pressing your legs together like that? Normally, you walk with such big steps!

Makoto
W-What do you mean? I'm always like this, you hear!? I'm a girl, too!

Yuuki
1. "You must be scared."
2. "You're acting cuter than usual."

Option 1.

Makoto
W-What!? No way! There's no way a story like that could shake me!

Option 2.

Makoto
Hey, what do you mean by that? You saying I'm not normally cute!? I mean, it's not like I try to act cute or anything, but still...

End of branches.

Makoto
The point is, I'm not scared! Huh? Yuuki, what are you doing, crouching down and coming towards... Eek!?

Kaori
I see, if you carry her on your shoulders, then it won't be able to pass between her legs! Nice thinking, Yuuki!

Maho
How wonderful, Makoto. Mister Prince, I'll have to ask you to do the same for me next...!

Makoto
No, no, no, that's not the problem! Let me down right now! I'll choke you out with these legs!

Villager
You all sure are a lively bunch. Seeing you makes me feel a little more at ease.

Maho
I'm glad we could support you emotionally. Our guild takes pride in how well our members get along.

Maho
In any case, we got a little bit off-topic. Just what appearance does this majimun have?

Maho
We have some important business of our own, but we of Kaon cannot simply overlook people who are in need. Please, tell us what you can.

Villager
All right. I caught a fleeting glance of something floating earlier, but I swear that it looked...

Villager
... just like a plushie.