Episode 3: The Scent of a Fool

Scene: The Landsol town square.

After witnessing the carriage crash and escaping from Kasumi, Ayumi was walking alone, thinking.

Ayumi
Ah... It's already night.

Ayumi
But I'm relieved that Yuuki was okay today. It was all thanks to that beastperson... Makoto, I think.

Ayumi
......

Ayumi
(The attacks on Yuuki are getting more and more violent...)

Ayumi
(It seemed like Kasumi and Makoto both still think it was an accident... But, no... I know from watching over Yuuki all this time...)

Ayumi
(Someone is after Yuuki's life!)

Ayumi
(This can't go on... If I don't hurry, then he'll be done for... But I don't even know who the enemy is, and nobody will believe me if I tell them...)

Ayumi
... Huh? This strange feeling. It's like the atmosphere is changing...

???
Hmm. Can you sense my presence?

Ayumi
Eek!? W-Who's there!?

???
Who, indeed... Hm, hm, hm. Who could it be? Why don't you take a guess?

Ayumi
A-Ah... Ooh...!!

???
My, my, are you so frightened that you cannot speak? How wonderful, that innocence. Like a fresh-picked apple.

???
My name is... the Grieving Goddess. The one who desires lamentation and despair.

Grieving Goddess
The one who've been watching... You think highly of him. A great many girls think the same of him. You are merely one among many.

Grieving Goddess
If tragedy were to befall him, how much despair would be born within Landsol? Ha ha ha, simply imagining it excites me...!

Ayumi
I, I won't... let...

Grieving Goddess
Why not relax? There is nothing you can do.

Grieving Goddess
I know this well. You have the same scent that I once did.

Ayumi
Huh...?

Grieving Goddess
Resigning yourself to being unable to do anything... Cursing yourself as despair taints every part of your life... The scent of a fool.

Grieving Goddess
Will you simply watch him to the end, unable to work up a single ounce of courage?

Grieving Goddess
Only the darkest despair awaits you, shrouding you like sludge.

Ayumi
O-Ooh... N-No...!

Grieving Goddess
Ahh, how wonderful. That face of yours. The wonderful face of someone wanting to resist the despair, but with no choice but to give in. I will be enjoying this greatly...

Ayumi
Ah... W-Wait...

Ayumi
(Just now... There's no doubt. That monster was aiming for Yuuki's life! Someone really is trying to kill him!!)

Ayumi
(At this rate, he'll be... I've got to do something... Something...!)

Scene: The Kaon guild house.

Ayumi
E-E-Exshcuse me! Makoto, Kasumi, I have something important to tell you!

Makoto
Ah! You're the one from this afternoon... What are you doing here so late?

Kasumi
Perhaps you've come to confess... Is that it?

Ayumi
M-My name is Ayumi! Um, um, I'll tell you everything I know about Yuuki!

Kasumi
About my assistant? What's happened?

Ayumi
Yes, um...