Episode 4: Hardworking Days
Scene: The house at the Sarendia Orphanage.
Having been evicted from their homes, the members of Elizabeth Park were staying at the Sarendia Orphanage, thanks to Yuuki's connections.
Mahiru
Saren, I'm really sorry for the trouble. Thanks for letting us stay here.
Saren
We owe Elizabeth Park a lot, so there's no need to fret. The children are happy to see you, too.
Girl
Hey, big sister Lima, look at this! I drew a picture of you and Shiori!
Lima
Wow, thank you! I'm happy you drew me so cute!
Shiori
Lima is so detailed, too. Look at all her fluffiness.
Boy
Hey, Rin! How do you play this game?
Rin
Hey, why don't I get to be a "big sister"... Well, whatever. Watch this. Here's how you play.
Saren
It's really helpful that they can keep the children occupied. It'd be nice if you could be here forever, honestly, but that's of course out of the question.
Mahiru
We need to take back Elizabeth Park, after all. Though one way or another, we've managed to find profitable jobs here in the city, and we'll work hard at them.
Shiori
Um... I wonder if it's really okay for me to stay behind.
Mahiru
The highest-paying jobs all take a lot of labor. You should help out with Yuuki's postal delivery work, instead. Don't push yourself.
Shiori
I guess I'll be doing my part that way.
Yuuki
1. "Let's do our best together."
Shiori
Yes!
Mahiru
Rinrin, we should get ready.
Rin
Yeah... Ahh... I guess I have to put that thing on now...
Rin
......
Shiori
Rin...
Lima
You look suuuper adorable!
Rin
Ugh, that's why I didn't want to wear this!
Shiori
I didn't know you owned all that armor. I do feel like it's not really your style, Rin.
Rin
Well, um... When I was a new member of Kaon... My mom bought me this and told me to wear it well... or something...
Lima
I guess she bought a big suit for you to grow into!
Rin
It's always been this oversized for as long as I've had it.
Mahiru
Don't give up yet! You should still be able to grow even taller!
Rin
... That doesn't really sound convincing, coming from you, Mahi.
Mahiru
Wait, why!?
Rin
Well, uh, y'know...
Shiori
Mahiru, you look cute, too.
Mahiru
Cute!? But I thought this outfit would make me look extra majestic...
Mahiru
How strange... This is the traditional battle armor of Elizabeth Park, passed down through generations, you know...
Lima
Wearing that makes Mahiru look... well, not really more mature, but more vigorous, I guess? It looks good on you!
Mahiru
Thanks, Limalima! But I was hoping to have some more mature charm...
Rin
It's not there, so maybe just move on.
Shiori
Ha ha. ... But your work must be dangerous, if you need to wear that equipment.
Rin
Hmm, well, there are a lot of security-related jobs out there. The rewards are good, so we'll do our best to earn our keep.
Saren
Hey. Are you sure you have time to chat?
>Mahiru
Ah! That's right! We need to go!
Lima
I've gotta go, too!
Mahiru & Others
We're heading out!
Scene: The bulletin board in Landsol.
Old Man
Are you the ones who took our request? You don't look too reliable... But there's nobody else willing to take the job.
Mahiru
We'll get the job done perfectly, so don't worry about a thing. Just tell us what we need to do.
Old Man
We're going to stock up on produce, and we'd like to you be our guards.
Mahiru
...? Is that all? I've been selling at this market for years -- was this area really that dangerous?
Old Man
Since the price of food has been increasing, the market has become the target of robbers. Honestly, it's unbelievable what the world has come to, with thieves aiming to steal food.
Mahiru
That must mean, that auditor...
Rin
Mahi, let's focus on taking the farm back for now. That's all we can do.
Mahiru
Right. Let's finish the jobs at hand, one at a time.
Scene: A volcano in the mountains.
Supervisor
Hey! You!! Don't slack off! No breaks until you've met your quota!
Lima
We've come to a frightening place... But there was nowhere else I could find to work, so I've just got to make do.
Man 1
W-Why are you here...!?
Lima
Ah, I'm sorry! I'm not a monster! I'm just a hobbyist who likes to wear this costume.
Man 1
S-So you didn't come to chase me down...
Lima
Huh? What do you mean...?
Man 1
N-Nothing! Don't worry about it!
Lima
Saying that only makes me worry... But instead, why don't you tell me what my job is here. The supervisor didn't tell me anything.
Man 1
Y-Yeah... We're here to quarry stone and deliver it back to town. Apparently, the stone from here can make for beautiful pavement.
Lima
Okay! I see! Then, I'll do my best, in order to get the farm back!
Man 1
They haven't given up... If only I had it in me to work that hard... But it's probably too late already...
Man 1
It's all because of those scary fellows the auditor has with him... Who knows what'll happen to me if I go against them...
Scene: A road outside Landsol.
After finishing their shopping, Mahiru and the others were leisurely pulling their wagon along the road.
Old Man
It seems like we didn't need to hire you all after all, since nothing happened coming to and from town.
Mahiru
Sorry about that. I'd give you a discount, but we're in a tight spot...
Old Man
Ahaha! I'm joking, just joking! I never thought that we'd be hiring the guild master of Elizabeth Park herself.
Old Man
It would be enough for me to be able to do business with you again, after you regain your farm.
Rin
Is Elizabeth Park really that famous?
Old Man
It was originally became famous just as brand of high-quality produce, but lately, the Elizabeth Park brand has also become popular amongst nobles, thanks to your gifts to them.
Mahiru
Gifts...? But we didn't do anything like that.
Old Man
Really? Well, certainly, if you'd been behind all of that, then you wouldn't be needing to take such lowly jobs as guards now.
Rin
Then, where did this talk of gifts come from...?
Thug 1
Hey, you!
Thug 2
Give us all your goods!
Old Man
Eeeep!?
Rin
Whoa... They really showed up.
Mahiru
Rinrin! Don't just stand there -- we've got to do our jobs!
Rin
I know, I know.
Thug 1
Huh? What's with you girls?
Rin
We're the guards for these people.
Thug 2
Hahaha! What are a bunch of shorties like you gonna do? That armor's at least a size too big for you! Idiot!
Rin
You...!
Mahiru
Don't belittle us!!
Thug 2
Gaaah!?
Mahiru
The thought of lowlifes like you stealing products that people put their hearts into making gets me angry enough -- but don't make fun of Rinrin's armor on top of that!
Rin
Mahi...
Thug 1
What are you staring at, you baggy little girl!
Rin
Whoa!?
Thug 1
... Huh?
Rin
Where were you even aiming that?
Thug 1
W-What? Take this, then! Hiyah!
Thug 1
She dodged it again!?
Rin
Oh, sorry. I guess this baggy armor of mine threw off your aim. Not so funny now, is it?
Rin
Well, then. How about I pay you back for the grave sin of teasing my getup?
Thug 1
W-Wait! I didn't...
Thug 1
... mean it...
Mahiru
All bark and no bite, these guys.
Old Man
My goodness. You girls are surprisingly strong.
Rin
Mm, well, when you run a farm guild like ours, you get caught up in all sorts of things.
Mahiru
That's right. But I wonder what we should do with these thugs.
Old Man
There's sure to be a bounty on these guys. Since you're in need of money, how about you two bring them in?
Rin
Can we really? Hmm, the bounty on these two weaklings probably isn't that big, but every little bit counts.
Scene: The bulletin board in Landsol.
Rin
I never thought those bandits would be worth such a high bounty.
Mahiru
It seems like they've attacked quite a few merchants. Things should be a little more peaceful now.
Rin
That grandpa was also happy to have all his goods intact, so all in all, I'd say it's a good start.
Mahiru
Definitely. But we're not done yet. Everyone else should also have been working hard. Let's keep on finishing requests!
Scene: A rural village.
While Shiori was helping Yuuki with his delivery work, the two of them found themselves in an unexpected situation.
Shiori
U-Um, um... Well...
Woman
With all we've heard about Elizabeth Park's milk going to the nobles, does that mean you won't be selling to us anymore?
Old Woman
Also, what's this about the farm's hot spring closing? I was really looking forward to meeting Mahiru!
Shiori
Um, well, the hot spring closed down because that auditor confiscated it, and as for the milk, they took away all our cows, so there must be some mistake about that...
Woman
That's a relief to hear! I knew that Mahiru would never do something like that!
Shiori
Why are we being asked about this everywhere we go... I hadn't thought there were this many people who knew about Elizabeth Park.
Woman
The boy over there was the one who was advertising the hot spring. Is he not a member of Elizabeth Park?
Shiori
Right, he isn't. But he was generously helping us out with putting together the money to pay back our debt.
Old Woman
Goodness, you should have been clear about that from the start. If you were in trouble, then you could have come to us for help.
Shiori
Eh? Oh, um, but, getting bystanders involved would have been...
Old Woman
That boy was also helping you out, wasn't he? So I don't see why we couldn't, too.
Woman
That's right. After all, Mahiru is the only one who comes to sell her goods in this remote village. We owe her for that.
Man 2
Hey, we overheard you guys talking...
Man 3
Could you tell us about what's happening, too?
Shiori
...?
Scene: The volcano.
Supervisor
Now, carry these stones!
Lima
Where are we supposed to carry them to, though?
Supervisor
I won't say it again! Just ask someone around you!
Lima
O-Okay, okay! ... Honestly. He's already frightening enough -- I don't get why needs to be so rude, too.
Man 1
You'll be in our group. Come this way.
Lima
Really? Thanks for being nice!
Man 1
Ah, no, I... I'm not really...
Lima
...? Oh, it looks like we're leaving! Let's go!
Man 1
I sold out a guild full of good people like her. And in the end, I couldn't even protect my own farm. What's even the right thing to do now...
Lima
All right, the more we bring, the more we'll make!
Lima
Though, I kind of feel like this is the same road that leads to Elizabeth Park... But there's no way!
Lima
Because of the foreclosure, Elizabeth Park should be totally shut down.
Scene: The farm at Elizabeth Park.
Lima
... Huh? W-Why are we at the farm!?
Construction Worker
Oh, it's here. Use those stones to pave that lot over there.
Man 1
...
Lima
W-Why? Why is this happening? The payment shouldn't even be due yet!
Construction Worker
Is that cow talking!?
Lima
I'm not a cow! I don't look like one at all! And, more importantly, why is the farm being paved over!?
Construction Worker
L-Look, I don't have all the details, but I've heard them talking about turning this place into a noble resort...
Lima
R-Resort? W-Why... Ah! I need to tell everyone else about this!
Lima
B-But if I leave the site, it'll be more work for all of you...
Man 1
... As someone who's deceived you, I think should go tell your friends.
Lima
Is that okay!? Thank you! I'll be back soon!
Man 1
I'm not deserving of your thanks... I'm only a coward...