Episode 3: Please Visit the Farm Spring!
Scene: The farm at Elizabeth Park.
It was a few days after the hot spring opened. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Mahiru and the others, the farm's hot spring had been doing extremely well.
Shiori
Mahiru, I brought some extra towels.
Mahiru
Put them down over by the lounge. And there should be a bunch there that guests have already used, so pick those up and bring them to Limalima's hidden spot, please.
Shiori
All right. By the way, have you seen Rin anywhere? There was something I wanted to ask her to help with...
Mahiru
Rinrin's out bringing in some more guests with Yuuki. I think she should be back soon, but is it something urgent?
Rin
Mahi, I've brought the guests!
Shiori
I guess this is what they call "speak of the devil."
Saren
Good afternoon. I'm here to enjoy the hot spring.
Girl
Whoa! So this is Mahiru's farm! What about the cows!? Where are they?
Rin
The cows aren't here. But you can pretend that Mahi is a cow if you want.
Saren
Ahaha... Sorry about that. I've tried explaining the situation to them a bunch of times, but it looks like they still don't get it.
Rin
Well, don't worry about it. We just hope that you enjoy the hot spring.
Boy
Mahiru, you hadn't come to see us in a while, so we can to see you! You can teach us those funny jokes now!
Mahiru
Whoa!? You were looking forward to my jokes, and not the hot spring? I'm so happy to hear it!
Girl
Oh, that's right! We were here for a hot spring!
Boy
Eh, but I wanna play with Mahiru!
Mahiru
You must've been walking for a long time, though. Why don't you relax in the bath first? I can tell you my jokes after that.
Boy
Aw. Okay.
Shiori
I can show you all to the bath while I'm bringing these towels over.
Saren
Then, please. Come on, you two, we're going.
Kids
Okay!
Rin
Ahh... After walking all that way to Sarendia and back, I'm wiped out.
Mahiru
Thanks for bringing them here. But you shouldn't have needed to walk them the entire way over, right, Rinrin?
Rin
Well, yeah, maybe. But I figured Saren would have a lot on her hands if she had to bring those kids here by herself.
Yuuki
1. "We were able to do some more publicity on the way there, too."
Rin
Ah, you didn't need to give that part away!
Mahiru
Rinrin...
Rin
Ah, man, don't make that face at me. I mean, you can pretty much never have too much publicity. So I just thought we might as well.
Mahiru
Thanks. How about you take the rest of the day off? I can take over for you.
Rin
But you've already got your hands full, Mahi. You've not only been keeping the hot springs clean, but you've also been selling the souvenirs all by yourself.
Mahiru
But I'm used to peddling at the market, so it's no big deal for me. Plus, it's fun to get to sell some different products than usual.
Mahiru
Like those aged walnuts you gave us, Rinrin. Those are big hit with older people. They go really well with cheese.
Rin
They'd better be popular, since those were my precious snacks! Well, as long as they're making us money, it's all good.
Mahiru
Thanks a ton, for real. It's been tough for sure, but it's also been fun working together with everyone. Am I just a weirdo?
Rin
Yeah, a total weirdo.
Mahiru
Wow, you didn't even hesitate.
Rin
I'm just working hard now so that I'll get to slack off later. Once all the cows are back, I'm gonna slack with all my might. Think about how heavy my workload is now, and get yourself ready.
Rin
Because I'm gonna slack. I'm gonna slack like no one's ever slacked before.
Mahiru
Ahaha. I guess I'll have to work hard, too, so that you'll get the chance to do all that slacking.
Rin
C'mon, you don't have to turn that into more work. All this talk of work is driving me crazy.
Rin
But, considering how much we're chatting now, it's really incredible how many guests there are. It's kind of unexpected.
Mahiru
It's because of all the effort you put into passing out those flyers, Rinrin.
Rin
I've said this a bunch, though -- I don't think just those flyers alone would've worked this well. All the people who came here were already big fans of yours, Mahi.
Mahiru
You think so!? When did I become such a popular entertainer!?
Lady
Mahiru! I'd thought something was strange when you stopped coming to the market all of a sudden, and it turns out, something awful was happening after all!
Mahiru
Ah, you're one of my regulars. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble. All of this happened so suddenly...
Lady
It seems like a lot of farms and ranches have had similar things happen to them. Because of that, food prices have been going up across the board.
Mahiru
Sorry for all of that...
Lady
No need to apologize! I'm just looking forward to when I can see you at the market again! Now, then, I'm going to take a load off my mind in the hot spring!
Rin
Back when Landsol was having all those problems, a lot of people from there also evacuated to our farm, right? It looks like a lot of those people have come back, too.
Rin
During those times, a lot of people must've come away feeling like Elizabeth Park was a nice place.
Rin
Hard to say whether you're a popular entertainer, but there's no doubt that you're a popular person. Leaving that entertainer part aside.
Mahiru
No need to keep repeating that, I get it! But if all that's really true, then I'm happy.
Mahiru
We might be without our cows, but I still want the farm to be a place that people enjoy.
Auditor
Oh, my, my. How lively this place seems.
Hanzo
......
Rin
Ugh...
Mahiru
Oh, it's Sir Auditor. Are you here for the hot spring? Welcome.
Auditor
There is no way I would enter a bath with such lowly commoners.
Mahiru
I-Is that so... Then why are you here? The payment isn't due yet...
Auditor
You must be quite thick-skinned. Do you not understand what you are doing?
Mahiru
What do you mean, we're running this hot spring so that we can repay the debt...
Auditor
And that hot spring is the problem. You did not report that there was a hot spring on this property, did you?
Mahiru
You're supposed to report that!? But the story behind it is a strange one, so I never thought to do that...
Auditor
That is a problem. You see, if there is a hot spring on your property, then the amount that you are assessed for tax purposes will change.
Mahiru
You mean the amount will increase? But that's fine! The hot spring is really popular with our guests. We'll be able to repay any amount...
Auditor
Confiscate everything.
Hanzo
Understood.
Subordinate 1
...!!
Mahiru
Confiscate the hot spring!? Wait!! There are still guests in there! At least let us send everyone home first!
Hanzo
No use complaining. Drive all the guests away.
Subordinate 1
Understood!
Rin
W-Wait...!!
Mahiru
You can't! That's unacceptable!
Subordinate 2
Do you defy us?
Mahiru
I'm not defying you. But I won't allow you to terrorize our guests! F-For that reason, I'm not budging.
Rin
Hey, Mr. Auditor.
Auditor
What?
Rin
If you drive away the guests now, we'll have to refund their entrance fees, you know? If you're so concerned with collecting this money, then it doesn't make much sense for you to do that, don't you think?
Auditor
Hmph, such a piddling amount of money is...
Rin
Maybe not much to a nobleman like you, but all of the people here are spending their precious time and money here. If everyone knows that you're the one who did this, then what'll happen to your reputation?
Auditor
... Well, I suppose we can wait until sundown tonight. But in return, you will be delivering every last rupee of your profits from this hot spring to me.
Rin
So that's how it is... Well, fine. How about it, Mahi?
Mahiru
As long as nothing happens to the guests, I'm fine with it.
Later.
Rin
I'm done patrolling.
Shiori
All of the guests have gone home without any idea of that ordeal.
Mahiru
The two of you, thanks for taking the last patrol.
Mahiru
We spent so much effort building this, and in the end, it's all come to nothing. Ha ha ha. But at least none of the guests were hurt.
Lima
Mahiru...
Boy
Mahiru! The hot spring was sooo nice! We'll totally come again! And when we do, you've gotta tell us those jokes!
Mahiru
... O-Oh, you haven't gone home yet. Yeah! Next time, I'll have tons of funny jokes to tell you!
Saren
Sorry for that, Mahiru. We were on the way back, but they absolutely insisted on seeing you one more time, so I had to turn around.
Mahiru
It's no problem. I'm happy to see them again.
Girl
Mahiru! Can we see the cows next time?
Mahiru
Y-Yes! I'll show you all my beautiful cows! I'll even let you milk them!
Saren
... I'm really sorry.
Mahiru
It's okay, it's okay. The most important thing is that the kids had fun. Did you get to relax a little, too, Saren?
Saren
Yes, I was surprised by just how nice the spring was. It's always hard to find the time, but I'll be sure to come again. Maybe I'll have Suzume bring the kids back here, too.
Mahiru
T-That'd be nice. I'd like to see you back again.
Saren
Mahiru? Is something the matter?
Mahiru
N-Nothing at all! I'm just a little tired. Don't worry.
Saren
Is that right...? Well, then, see you again.
Kids
See you again!
Mahiru
Yes, come back soon!
Shiori
I'm glad those kids didn't have to experience anything frightening.
Rin
Yeah... Sigh... I just don't get what that auditor is thinking.
Hanzo
Is it over?
Rin
Whoa!? Where'd you come from!?
Hanzo
It's sundown, as promised. All of this is now the property of the nobility. Gather your belongings and leave.
Shiori
All of this property? N-Not just the hot spring, but the guild house, too!?
Hanzo
The auditor instructed me to confiscate everything.
Lima
That, that's too much! Telling us to get out without warning!
Rin
Where are we supposed to go if you kick us out so suddenly!?
Hanzo
Go if you want to avoid pain.
Mahiru
F-Fine! We just need to go, right? We'll be out right away, so don't hurt anyone!
Scene: In the woods.
Lima
So we've been chased out... I don't know what we do now.
Rin
The hot spring should sell for a lot, but what'll happen to all that money?
Shiori
We'll manage! If we all work together, we'll pull through somehow!
Lima
I'll work as much as I can! I can handle any amount of manual labor!
Mahiru
Hey, everyone...
Lima
What is it, Mahiru?
Mahiru
Let's give up on this.
Rin & Others
Huh?
Rin
What do you mean, give up?
Mahiru
Give up on taking back the farm. It's impossible. They took our cows, and then, our hot spring...
Mahiru
Not to mention, the only official member of Elizabeth Park is me. Rinrin and Shioshio, you're both transfers from Kaon, and Limalima, you're working here pro bono...
Mahiru
I don't want you to go through this much for my sake. Rinrin and Shioshio, it'd be better for you two to return to Kaon. And Limalima, you'll definitely find a better place than this.
Mahiru
I'll help you find somewhere. Or, since Yuuki's so well-connected, maybe he'll have somewhere in mind...
Mahiru
And Rinrin, this is what you've always been grumbling about. You finally get to slack as much as you want. Nice, right?
Rin
... Are you serious about that?
Mahiru
Y-Yeah...
Rin
Mahi, you said it yourself. That the kids from Sarendia should come back again. That you'd let them milk our cows. Then, was all of that a lie?
Mahiru
W-Well... I could always show them to another farm...
Rin slaps Mahiru.
Mahiru
...!?
Lima & Shiori
Rin...!?
Rin
Don't screw around! Not when I spent that much time handing out flyers, despite how annoying it was!
Rin
All of that was for you, Mahi! It was all because you've always treated me so kindly, even though I'm always slacking off and rambling about stuff...
Rin
Because you kept on bringing milk and cheese to Sarendia even though we were broke, right up until our guild was going to be dissolved from debt -- because you're the kind of good person who would do all that!
Rin
I don't care if our farm gets taken away and I end up twiddling my thumbs at home. But I can't stand seeing you make that face, Mahi!
Rin
Even if you're giving up the farm, don't give it up with a laugh! You're a crappy comedian, Mahi! Do I look like I'm laughing!?
Mahiru
R-Rinrin...
Rin
I'm not giving up. Even if Shiorin and Lima give up, I'm not giving up.
Shiori
Don't say such foolish things. I'm not giving up either.
Lima
And I'm also not giving up!
Mahiru
W-Why would you all go that far for me...?
Lima
Because of how I look, there's nowhere else I can go without being mistaken for a monster, right? But even so, you're always talking about how pretty I look.
Lima
You said you'd find another place for me, Mahiru, but the place where I belong is Elizabeth Park!
Shiori
Even though I'm so frail, even though I can't do much work or offer much help, and even though I'm always needing to stay in and take breaks, you've always accepted me and treated me with kindness, Mahiru.
Shiori
I'll never forget how, when I had first arrived here, when I was often in tears because of how worthless I felt, you always cheered me up. Please, allow me to do all I can for you now.
Rin
... So that how we feel. Honestly, I'm glad -- I didn't have any idea what I'd do if you two had left. I would've been embarrassed if I was the only one feeling this passionate.
Lima
Ha ha, but you knew how we felt from the very beginning, right?
Shiori
You've always known us well, Rin.
Rin
Okay, okay, that's enough of that. This is starting to get embarrassing for me.
Mahiru
......
Rin
Mahi... Are you mad that I slapped you? Um, I'm sorry. I just got really angry for a moment... H-Here, you can do it back to me, okay? As hard as you want.
Rin
......
Mahiru slaps herself.
Rin
Eep... Wait, huh? It wasn't me?
Mahiru
Thank you, Rinrin! I've finally woken up!
Rin
Oh, um, I guess you'd have to be awake after slapping yourself that hard. Yeah.
Mahiru
Elizabeth Park hasn't given up! I know I've caused you a lot of trouble, and it might only get harder, but we're all in this together until the end!
Shiori
Yes!
Lima
That was my plan from the start!
Rin
We can leave the sadness for later.
Mahiru
I don't want to lie to those children -- and I don't want to lie to you, Rinrin!
Rin
Eh? Me? What do you mean?
Mahiru
I said that I'd work hard to get you the chance to slack off later. And I'm absolutely keeping that promise!
Rin
... I mean, Mahi, I'm not going to want to slack off after hearing that...
All else had been taken from them, but they still had their bonds of friendship. Those very bonds filled Mahiru with new determination.
Auditor
Did the people from Elizabeth Park agree to our exchange?
Hanzo
They did, without delay.
Auditor
Very good. Still, I never thought there would be a hot spring at Elizabeth Park. Ha ha, quite an unexpected find.
Auditor
That's right! I should have that guild house demolished right away, and a luxury cottage built in its place, to serve as a resort for the nobility!
Auditor
With not only the Elizabeth Park brand, but also a resort on top of that, my status will be solidified...
Subordinate 1
About that, Sir Auditor. It seems that the Elizabeth Park members have not yet given up on their repayment...
Auditor
What does that matter? There is nothing they possibly do, after having lost everything. More importantly, is the offering proceeding smoothly?
Subordinate 2
Yes. Production is already complete, and it should be on its way to being delivered to the nobles.
Auditor
As long as things are on schedule.
Subordinate 2
However, the cows do not seem to be producing milk as we had thought they would...
Auditor
They could all serve as gifts to people of high status, yes?
Subordinate 2
Yes.
Auditor
Hmm... In that case, we have no further need for them, especially now that we have this hot spring. Get rid of them in any way you see fit.
Hanzo
Is that truly acceptable...?
Auditor
Do you have another opinion?
Hanzo
I do.
Hanzo
Is that right? But, considering your history of being abandoned by your masters, I think you had better do as I say.
Hanzo
Unless you would like to be abandoned again? Ha ha ha.
Hanzo
......