Episode 6: Operation Gourmet Palace

---

Scene: On a beach.

Kyaru
Aaah! Koro, we're here to save you! If you're alive, say something!

Kyaru
W-What? What's this... Where are we? We were in those ruins until just now -- how are we outside now?

Suzume
T-That door could have been a magical portal of some kind, which teleported us somewhere else... But we can still we the ruins we came from behind us, right?

Kyaru
How weird, a gate that connects distant locations... I've never heard of anything like that! I don't understand what's happening at all!

Pecorine
Please, calm down, Kyaru... We need to set all of that aside and look for Kokkoro.

Kyaru
Y-Yeah. If we hurry and save Kokkoro, we can leave this weird place behind. All the thinking and investigating can come later.

Suzume
Ah, my scouting magic is picking up something! Kokkoro is probably this way... Towards the ocean horizon!

Suzume
Wait, she's getting closer and closer... Eeek!?

Kyaru
...!? Something giant is coming out of the water! I've never seen a monster like that!

Pecorine
Ahh, it looks big and powerful... And it has big tentacle-looking things, which it's using to trap Kokkoro!

Kokkoro
......

Kyaru
You're right! Koro, are you all right? Can you hear me?

Kokkoro
Ah, uhh... Everyone, you came to save me.

Kokkoro
What a relief... I was truly frightened. After I was pulled into the water so suddenly, I had resigned myself to becoming this monster's next meal.

Kyaru
We won't let you become anyone's meal! We're the Gourmet Palace -- we're the ones who eat the meals here!

Kyaru
We're coming for you, Koro... Ahh!?

The monster attacks Kyaru.

Pecorine
Watch out! Waah, the monster is thrashing its tentacles all over the place! How terrible...!

Pecorine
Look at how much sand it's kicking up -- it must be really strong! A direct hit from that would flatten anyone!

Suzume
Ahh, wahh...!? Help me!

Pecorine
Ah, Suzume! One of the tentacles is coiling around her leg... That monster isn't just thrashing about, but it seems to be able to move really precisely, too!?

Kyaru
Are you just gonna stand there and look impressed!?

Kyaru
Yuuki, use your sword to cut that tentacle and save Suzume! If she gets pulled under, she's gonna drown... Ahh!?

Kyaru
No, no, no, it's got me, too! Yuuki, quit staring and help me!

Kyaru
Ahhh! It's all creepy and slimy, I hate it!

Pecorine
Wah, this is really going terribly, isn't it...?

The monster attacks Pecorine.

Pecorine
Whoa! It's aiming for me now! Those tentacles are scary! I-Is this revenge for all the seafood I've eaten!?

Pecorine
I'm sorry, I'm sorry! But fish is just too tasty! Please forgive me for finding it so delicious!

Kokkoro
(Ah, no... Everyone is in serious trouble.)

Kokkoro
(I have to do something... Fortunately, I've managed to hold onto my spear. But with these tentacles holding onto me, I can hardly move.)

Kokkoro
(Somehow, I have to escape these bonds... and stop this monster.)

Kokkoro
(All of them came to help me. They're all so kind... I would feel terrible if something bad were to happen to them as a result.)

Kokkoro
(Ugh... All I can do is try to aim my spear at the monster's weak point.)

Pecorine
Ahh, be careful, Kokkoro! If you move carelessly, won't you provoke the monster and cause it to hurt you...?

Pecorine
(Those tentacles have immense power behind them. In the worst case... Kokkoro could be torn limb from limb.)

Pecorine
(W-What do I do? Is there anything I can even do...?)

Pecorine
(I feel so useless...! Without my Royal Armament, am I completely incapable?)

Kyaru
Ughh, this thing! How long are you going to toy with me for... you lousy piece of seafood!

Kyaru casts a spell.

Suzume
Eeek!? Watch out, Kyaru -- don't throw your offensive magic all over the place!

Suzume
The enemy still has Kokkoro in its clutches! What if you accidentally hit her...!?

Kyaru
Ugh, that's right, isn't it? Sorry, I lost my head for a moment! Koro, are you hurt!?

Kokkoro
N-No! I am unharmed!

Kokkoro
Sniff, sniff... Huh, an appetizing aroma is coming from the parts of the monster that you burned.

Kokkoro
(Hmm, if only Lady Pecorine had the Royal Armament... She would be able to devour a monster like this in its entirety.)

Pecorine
Huh? Kokkoro, look by your right arm! Under the bit of skin that was just burned off, do you see something glittering?

Pecorine
It's my tiara! A part of the Royal Armament!

Kokkoro
Huh? Y-You're right! This beautiful, transparent item -- it can only be your tiara! Why would it be here...?

Pecorine
I don't know, but please, grab it and throw it to me! Even if I only have that tiara, I'll be able to fight!

Kokkoro
Y-Yes! If you regain even a small portion of your original power, you'll be more than a match for a monster like this, yes?

Kokkoro
I believe in you! If I stretch out my hand, I just might be able to reach it...!

Kokkoro
Ugh!? Ah, the tentacles are tightening around me all of a sudden...!?

Pecorine
Kokkoro!? Ahh, this is terrible -- at this rate, she'll be killed...!

Pecorine
... Huh? Yuuki, you look like you want to say something! D-Do you have an idea for how to get out of this situation?

Yuuki
1. "Follow my instructions!"

Pecorine
Y-Yes! Understood! Ahh, you're looking confident all of a sudden...!

Pecorine
(No, not quite. Rather, I feel like Yuuki has always been this way.)

Pecorine
(When everyone else is at their wit's end... He always comes up with a plan, and gives everyone clear commands.)

Pecorine
(But why do I have that impression...? I'm not sure, but Yuuki looks as animated as ever!)

Pecorine
(How cool! I feel like I can trust him with my life!)

Yuuki
1. "Kyaru!"

Kyaru
Huh? What, do you have something to say? At this point, I'll go along with whatever secret plan you've got, so out with it!

Yuuki
1. "Launch Pecorine into the air with your magic!"

Pecorine
(Whaaat? What are you planning, Yuuki!? Should I really be trusting you with my life!?)

Kyaru
My magic? Ah, you mean the magic I was using to propel us to the undersea ruins?

Kyaru
You want me to wrap Pecorine in an air bubble and launch her forward at a high speed?

Kyaru
Because right now, the only one who hasn't been restrained by the tentacles is Pecorine, right? She's the only one who can move freely... So I'll be able to launch her right up to the enemy, right?

Kyaru
Hm... I'll give it a shot. My magic is nearly exhausted, though.

Kyaru
I'll muster all I have left to do this, so be grateful! Okay, Pecorine, the rest is up to you!

Pecorine
O-Okay! But even if I reach the monster, what do I do then? Without the Royal Armament, I'm nearly powerless, right?

Yuuki
1. "If you have the tiara, you can fight."

Pecorine
Ah, that's right! That's what you're getting at! Then, Kyaru... Launch me towards that spot where the tiara is!

Kyaru
Okay, fasten your seat belt! Here goes!

Pecorine
W-Wah... Waaah! Incredible, I'm really flying through the air! This is terrifying -- but also kind of exciting!

Kyaru
Gh... I was using this spell to move everyone through the water, so repurposing the same spell for moving through the air is pretty hard to control.

Kyaru
But it wouldn't be like me to fail at something like this!

Pecorine
Eeek!? It's scary when I wobble from left to right like this! Kyaru, please try to hold me steadier!

Kyaru
This is as steady as I can keep it! Now watch out, because the monster isn't just going to let you fly right up to it! It's going to try to intercept you!

Yuuki
1. "Suzume, block the enemy's attacks!"

Suzume
Ah, yes! Is that my role?

Suzume
Don't move, Pecorine! I'm gonna mow down any tentacles that come near you!

Suzume
Haaa! Don't fail me now, my magic!

Pecorine
Eeek!? Magic is exploding all around me like fireworks! How did I end up in this insane situation!?

Kyaru
Can it! Quit screaming and do what you've got to do!

Kyaru
... Ah, no way!? With how much the monster is thrashing, the tiara is going to fall!

Pecorine
Huh!? W-What do I do? Can I catch the tiara if I hold out my hand... Ahh, it's impossible, I'm moving too quickly!

Yuuki
1. "Kokkoro!"

Kokkoro
Yes, Master. You need not say anything for me to understand your intentions completely.

Kokkoro
Deep breaths... I must focus on carrying out Master's orders flawlessly.

Begin cutscene.

Kokkoro catches the tiara on her spear and flings it up to Pecorine.

Pecorine
Nice pass, Kokkoro!

Kyaru
Incredible... Everyone's motions are completely in sync.

Kyaru
Just as Her Highness said, Yuuki is no ordinary person...

Pecorine
Ahh, Kyaru! You can break off your magic now!

Kyaru
Ah! Right, the rest is up to you, Pecorine!

Pecorine falls and cuts up the monster with her parasol.

End cutscene.

Pecorine
I've landed on the monster! Now, it's time to eat!

Pecorine
Munch, munch, munch! Ahh, it's medium rare, delicious! How awesome!

Pecorine
I'll polish off the tentacles that are holding Kokkoro first! I think it might drop her in mid-air, so please bring her back safely with magic!

Suzume
U-Understood! I'll use my magic to grab onto her like a lasso... I'm reeling her in now!

Kokkoro
Ahh, thank you for your help! Lady Pecorine, can we leave the elimination of the monster to you?

Pecorine
Yes! It's time for the main course!

Pecorine
I'll eat to replenish my energy, and take out the monster, too! Hmm... Ordinarily, would I be able to eat all the way up to those feelers on top of its head?

Pecorine
Hee hee! Since it's such a giant monster, I can eat and eat and there'll still be more! All of this seafood is going right into my stomach!

Pecorine
Munch, munch, so tasty!

Pecorine
I feel myself coming back to life, as a member of Gourmet Palace! As the one with the rumbling stomach, Pecorine!

Kyaru
Ah ha ha, I feel kind of bad for that monster... Getting devoured while it's still alive. But I guess predators and prey are just the natural order of things.

Kokkoro
Indeed. It may be ruthless, but it is survival of the fittest. Lady Pecorine, be sure to leave some for us to eat.

Kokkoro
Now that we've defeated the monster, we can enjoy a nice meal... And then, once we're back to safety, we can resume our fun and games by the ocean.