Episode 1: Seeking the Tools to Overcome the Legend
Translation notes
[1] Kaori actually says ゴーヤーっぽいもの (gōyā-ppoi mono), literally "bitter melon-like thing." But I'll just use bitter melon for brevity.
[2] The term used here is うどん用麺棒 (udon-you menbou, lit. "rolling pin used for udon"). As far as I can tell, she's referring to a type of traditional Japanese rolling pin; here are some examples.
[3] A Japanese superstition is that sneezes are caused by people talking behind one's back.
Scene: The Kaon guild house.
Kaori
All right, let's go eliminate the vampire! We'll protect the peace and harmony of Landsol!
Maho
But wait, Kaori. Even if we find where the vampire is, we still don't know how to defeat it. We don't know what sort of enemy this vampire may be.
Kasumi
Don't worry. You see, vampires have weaknesses, too.
Kaori
Oh! Like how Makoto's weakness is cute-looking things!
Makoto
H-Hey, I don't really like cute things that much! And anyway, this isn't about me!
Kasumi
The first weakness that vampires have is garlic.
Kaori
Ahh, I get it -- because garlic has a really strong smell, right?
Maho
It's certainly true that, if the smell of garlic seeps into your clothes, then even your cutest outfit will be ruined. Garlic... How terrifying.
Kasumi
... I guess garlic is one of your weaknesses, too.
Kasumi
To get back on topic, a vampire will be weakened by the smell of garlic, but they won't die from that alone. Once they've been weakened, you need a very particular thing to finish them.
Kaon
What kind of thing? Will my Ryukyuan Hound's Knuckle Arrow not be enough?
Kasumi
The one weapon that a vampire is weak against is... a wooden stake. If you drive this into the vampire's heart, their fate will be sealed.
Maho
Ooh... Does it have to be in the heart? That seems a little bit cruel...
Kasumi
Unless you've destroyed their heart, a vampire won't die. What's more, a vampire is a monster. Showing mercy and sparing it will only lead to more problems.
Kaori
So, garlic and a wooden stake! Now that we know these weaknesses, I think we'll be able to pull it off!
Maho
That's right. Thank you for telling us, Kasumi.
Kasumi
Best of luck. I'm sure you two will be fine.
Kaori
Leave it all to us! After all, the two of us are vampire hunters!
Scene: A town square in Landsol.
Kaori
Okay, then, while we're looking for the vampire, we need to get ready for the battle by finding some garlic and a wooden stake!
Maho
Kaori, you're right, but... I'm rather worried. Will those two items really be enough to win?
Kaori
Huh? What do you mean?
Maho
Kasumi taught us the way to defeat a vampire, but... We're facing a "Vampire of Legend," aren't we? Surely, such a being must be different from normal vampires...
Kaori
T-That's true...! All of a sudden, I'm worried about whether normal garlic and wooden stakes will work against it...
Maho
So am I, which is why...
Maho
Kaori! We need to gather even more powerful items!
Kaori
More powerful items...?
Maho
Items that are even more powerful and gorgeous than ordinary garlic or wooden stakes!
Kaori
Okay! Then, let's try looking around town right away!
Scene: A shop in Landsol.
Kaori
Excuse us, is anyone here?
Yuuki
1. "Hello."
Kaori
Ah! You surprised me!
Maho
Mister Prince! For us to meet in a place like this -- it must have been destiny!
Kaori
You must be... I see, you work at this shop! This couldn't be more perfect!
Kaori
The two of us are looking for items that are more powerful than normal garlic or wooden stakes. Do you have anything like that here?
Yuuki
1. "For garlic, maybe ginger..."
2. "For a stake, maybe a spear..."
Option 1.
Kaori
Ginger won't work, though! The smell is too nice!
Option 2.
Maho
It's true that spears are more powerful than stakes, but... Ordinary weapons won't work. Sorry, Mister Prince. I know you were trying to help.
Scene: Back in the town square
Kaori
Um, none of the stores had anything... Finding these powerful items is... surprisingly hard...
Maho
Seriously... Also, Mister Prince, are you sure this is okay? Helping us out with this...
Maho
You don't have any other plans, so it's all right...? Ha ha, thank you, Mister Prince! I'll take you up on your offer, then.
Maho
But, something more powerful than garlic... What kind of object would that be?
Kaori
... Ah! I just thought of one food that's even more powerful than garlic!
Kaori
It has a stronger flavor and a stranger shape than garlic... And it's really tasty!
Maho
What could that be? Is it a food that I know, too?
Kaori
It's something that we eat often where I come from, called bitter melon![1]
Maho
"Bitter melon"!? Even the name sounds powerful!
Kaori
It looks more striking than garlic, and the flavor is distinctly bitter, but it's delicious when it's cooked right!
Kaori
But they won't sell it in these markets, so... We'll have to go find some ourselves!
Kaori
It took some effort, but we've found the first item that we need, even more powerful than garlic -- bitter melon!
Maho
That sounds right! Then, the second thing we need is something more powerful than a wooden stake...
Kaori
Umm... I wonder...
Maho
Ah, that must be it. A rolling pin!
Kaori
A rolling pin? Is that more powerful than a stake?
Maho
Of course, I don't mean any ordinary rolling pin! I mean a kind that's made to be used in traditional techniques in the Maho-Maho Kingdom -- an "udon pin"![2]
Kaori
A traditional item from the Maho-Maho Kingdom!? That's definitely more powerful!
Maho
You can tenderize things with it, beat drums with it, roll out dough with it, and use it as a weapon, too! A wooden stake can only be used as a weapon, right? But an "udon pin" can be used for all sorts of things!
Maho
And the udon noodles you make with it are simply the best... Springy noodles in a rich bone broth, infused with the delicate flavor of dashi... Oh, no, I'm starting to feel homesick.
Kaori
How amazing! With so many uses, there's no doubt we'll be able to defeat the vampire with it! Where can we get one?
Maho
I doubt anyone will be selling one in this city... And even in my hometown, they only had them in very old, traditional udon restaurants... We'll also have to look long and hard for one.
Kaori
That makes two things we'll need to defeat the Vampire of Legend: bitter melons, and an udon pin! If we get these two items, we'll be able to win against the vampire!
Kaori
First off, let's go look for the bitter melons!
Maho
Can they be found nearby?
Kaori
Not quite, but if we look around outside the city, they'll turn up eventually!
Kaori
You two, let's go! Just you wait, vampire!
Scene: A road outside Landsol.
Iliya
... A-choo!
Iliya
What was that? Was someone talking about me?[3]
Iliya
Ho ho, it must have been my vassals giving praise to me. It's difficult, being so adored!
On the contrary, it was Maho and Kaori, beginning their search for bitter melons and an udon pin.