Episode 1: What Remains of the Farm
Scene: The farm at Elizabeth Park.
After the mysterious group took every last cow, the farm was enveloped in sadness and loneliness.
Mahiru
M-my cows... Why...
???
I said it was a foreclosure.
Mahiru
And why are we being foreclosed on? It's true that we've suffered some damages for a variety of reasons, so we're just barely scraping by, but we haven't taken out any loans from anywhere...
???
Oh, no, no. Don't make such strange claims. In fact, this farm should be quite deeply in debt, no?
???
For you see, you haven't been paying the taxes you owe to this country.
Rin
Another strange person...
Mahiru
What taxes are you talking about...?
Auditor
I am the new official auditor for this area.
Mahiru
Huh, the new auditor. So that's why I haven't seen you before.
Mahiru
Then, Sir Auditor. It's true that Elizabeth Park is short on money, but there's no way that we should be owing taxes. Was there some mistake?
Auditor
Does a lowly farmhand like you dare object to the word of a noble such as I?
Mahiru
That's not what I...
Auditor
Indeed, indeed. I'm sure you meant no such thing.
Auditor
But I am quite a generous person, so I shall answer regardless. Indeed, there have been many mistakes up until now.
Auditor
I reviewed the work of my predecessor, who had recently transferred to a different position, and I found that he had been doing terrible work indeed.
Auditor
He had neglected to collect taxes that he should have been collecting from all manner of guilds. As though he was intentionally leaving it to me, his successor, to run about and clean up after him.
Auditor
Ah, incidentally. If you can pay the taxes that you owe right now, then we'll return your livestock in due haste.
Mahiru
How much do we owe?
Auditor
Here is an invoice for the amount.
Mahiru
Um, the debt for "Elizabeth Park" is...
Mahiru
Ten million rupees!? That much!?
Auditor
You're certainly in trouble if that small of an amount causes you shock. Please, read to the end of the invoice.
Mahiru
Is there really more at the end...? Um, let's see...
Mahiru
If the ten million rupees is not paid in full by the specified date, Elizabeth Park will be dissolved...
Shiori
Dissolved, meaning, our guild will no longer exist?
Auditor
If you can come up with the money, then there will be no problem at all. I urge you to put your utmost efforts towards preparing the payment.
Rin
We're not gonna be able to "prepare" any money at all if you take away all our cows!
Auditor
There is nothing else aside from the livestock that we can take as collateral.
Rin
Well... Sure, but...
Auditor
Now, then, I am quite busy. Have a good day.
Mahiru
Wait!
Auditor
Hanzo.
Hanzo
Yes.
Mahiru
Wah!?
Rin
What are you doing!?
Shiori
Are you okay!?
Auditor
Do not lay your filthy hands on me.
Mahiru
There's nothing filthy about Mahiru!
Mahiru
I-It's okay, Shioshio. I just came back from peddling at the market, so I'm definitely a bit dirty... Sorry, Sir Auditor.
Mahiru
B-But there's one thing I want to make sure of. If we can pay the money, then our cows and the rest of the farm will all be back to normal, right?
Auditor
Of course. I will be waiting eagerly for the payment in full. I do this for the sake of the country, of course.
Rin
... He's gone.
Mahiru
......
Shiori
Mahiru, are you okay?
Mahiru
Huh? Y-Yeah! I'm fine! All of that just happened so suddenly, I was a little bewildered.
Shiori
Please, take a rest. Your face is pale...
Mahiru
I never thought you'd be the one calling me pale, Shioshio. I feel like a real pale beauty.
Shiori
That's not really it... Oh, no, but I don't mean you're not beautiful, Mahiru...
Mahiru
Thanks for worrying, Shioshio. But this is no time to rest. I've got to hurry and put together the money...
Rin
Mahi...
Yuuki
1. "I've got a delivery for you."
Rin
Wah!? That game couldn't be arriving at a worse time! Wait, Yuuki...?
Yuuki
1. "Arriving at a worse time?"
Shiori
The truth is...
Later.
Shiori
And that's what happened. We need to make that money, some way or another... But all of our cows have been taken...
Mahiru
That's right... We'll be toast if we don't do something, but I can't think of anything we can do.
???
Pant... pant...
Mahiru
Whoa!? W-What's that!?
Lima
Sorry for disappearing at the worst time!
Rin
For real. That was no time to be napping in the woods, you know?
Lima
I wasn't napping -- or, I mean, I was napping at first, but I wound up being mistaken for a cow and taken away...
Mahiru
You got taken away, Limalima...?
Lima
That's right! From overhearing the drivers' conversation, I figured that something awful was going down at the farm, and I figured it'd be bad if I got taken to whatever remote mountain they were headed for...
Shiori
Ah, so that's why you're all muddy...
Lima
Eh? Am I dirty?
Shiori
W-Well, it's not that bad, you know? It's just a little. Just a little bit of dirt.
Lima
Sorry! I'll go take a bath...!
Mahiru
A bath...? A bath... That's it!
Lima
Mahiru, you think so, too!? If I look that filthy, then I'd better go pretty myself up quickly!
Mahiru
Limalima, you're just as pretty as always! That's not what I'm thinking about! I'm thinking, we should turn Elizabeth Park into a hot spring!
Shiori
Now that you mention it...
Rin
Ah, we do have something like that. The one that the producer lady from Carmina built.
Lima
But it's a bit too luxurious for any of us to feel comfortable, so we don't really use it.
Mahiru
We can bring in customers using that hot spring... That just might work.
Mahiru
W-Well, actually, it's probably an amateur idea. Sorry, I got a little carried away. I've got to take this more seriously.
Shiori
I don't think so at all! I think that's a great idea!
Rin
We've got nothing we can use, so I think it's good, too. But even if we start it up, it doesn't seem like customers would come to such a remote area...
Yuuki
1. "I can hand out flyers."
Lima
Yeah, if you do that, we'll be able to attract some customers!
Shiori
I'll go hand out the flyers with you, Yuuki. I'll do all I can to spread the word!
Rin
Wait, but you're pretty frail, Shiori, so I think maybe you should take it easy.
Shiori
That's true... Maybe I wouldn't be much help...
Rin
No, no, that's not what I mean. I just mean you should do something easier for you. Like, we also need someone to make the flyers, right?
Shiori
I see...! In that case, I'll work my hardest on these flyers.
Mahi
I'll clean up the unused barn, and turn it into a space for customers to relax in! We'll need more than just a hot spring, after all!
Shiori
It might also be good to sell some souvenirs or local products. Though, I can't think of anything off the top of my head.
Lima
I'll help, too! Leave any heavy lifting to me!
Shiori
Then... Rin, what will you do?
Rin
Me? Well, I'm not gonna... I mean, I'll give out the flyers. Can't let Yuuki do that all on his own, after all.
Mahiru
Rinrin...
Rin
Ah, c'mon! Don't look at me like that! It's just that, if the farm goes away, then my place for slacking off will go away, too. That's all!
Lima
Sure, sure.
Shiori
Hee hee.
Mahiru
Everyone, thank you!
Mahiru
For the sake of getting our cows back and protecting Elizabeth Park, the Farm Spring is open for business!
Rin & Others
Yeah!
Rin
Oh, but before that, you should go take a bath, Lima.
Lima
Okay, okay! I get it!
Scene: A house, somewhere else.
Man
I-I did what you said. I falsified the documents for Elizabeth Park. T-That means the debt from our guild should be written off!
Man
Our guild won't be dissolved, right!?
Auditor
Oh? What are you talking about? I don't remember making such a promise. You falsified these documents on your own. Isn't that right?
Man
... Eh? N-No way! Then, what will happen to our farm!?
Auditor
Quit shouting. ... Hanzo.
Hanzo
I'm here.
Auditor
This man seems to be in need of money. And I've heard that they are in need of workers on that remote mountain. Please, take care of whatever needs to be done there.
Auditor
It is hard work, but it pays well. How fortunate for you.
Man
N-No...! I did everything you said...
Hanzo
Silence.
Man
Mmph! Nnnn...
Hanzo
Come along.
Subordinate
Yes!
Man
Mmmmmph!!
Auditor
Once I have secured total ownership of the Elizabeth Park brand, beloved by nobles and royals alike, I will be set for life. Ha ha ha!
The villainous laugh of the nobleman rang out through the halls, unbeknownst to the forward-looking members of Elizabeth Park.