Episode 5: Accumulating Feelings
Scene: The house at the Sarendia Orphanage.
Having earned more money than they'd expected thanks to the bounty, Mahiru and Rin returned to the Sarendia Orphanage with pleased looks on their faces.
Mahiru & Rin
We're back!
Sarendia
Welcome home. From your faces, I can tell that your work went well.
Rin
It was all right. We scored a big bounty on our very first request, and because of that, we became the talk of the town and landed more and more jobs. We ended up making a good amount.
Mahiru
At this rate, it won't be too long until we can get the farm back.
Shiori
I'm home.
Rin
Welcome home, Shiori. You look kind of bothered, is something wrong? Was there some kind of problem?
Shiori
Ah, no. It wasn't a problem, but... I'm not sure how to put it...
Farmer 1
Please, pardon us.
Farmer 2
Pardon us.
Rin
... Who are these people?
Shiori
These two had their farm confiscated by that auditor, the same as Elizabeth Park.
Farmer 1
In the end, we couldn't put together enough money, and the farm went under.
Farmer 2
After our orchard was taken away, it was turned into some kind of villa for nobles.
Mahiru
I'm... not sure what to say...
Farmer 1
It's already over and done. No need to say anything.
Farmer 2
Actually, let us help you.
Mahiru
This is...
Farmer 1
It's all the money our guild gathered to try to get our farm back.
Mahiru
W-What? There's no way I can accept all this!
Farmer 1
We're not just giving it away. It's a loan. Once you've got your farm back, just be sure to pay us back properly.
Farmer 2
It sounds like you guys are beloved by a whole lot of people. So that's why we want to lend you this.
Mahiru
B-But even so...
Shiori
Mahiru. The truth is, this isn't all of the money.
Mahiru
What do you mean?
Yuuki
1. "This..."
Mahiru
I-Is this also yours?
Farmer 2
No, this wasn't from us. Actually, it was because we saw this that we were motivated to lend you our money, too.
Shiori
While we were delivering mail from place to place, in every village we visited, people were asking us what happened to the farm. And when we told them...
Rin
What happened when you told them?
Shiori
Everyone donated money to us...
Rin
Eh? B-But why?
Shiori
The people in faraway places who Mahiru visits to sell goods to, and the people who evacuated to the farm during that battle, they all wanted to express their thanks...
Mahiru
But I didn't do anything to deserve this much thanks... I can't take all of this money...
Shiori
I kept saying, "I should ask Mahiru first," but everyone always responded, "Just take a little bit now."
Rin
This much money is "just a little bit"...?
Farmer 1
A huge number of people chipped in.
Farmer 2
More people than you can imagine.
Saren
That's not all. Here, all of you. I hesitated to bring it up at first, so it looks like I was beaten to the punch.
Mahiru & Others
...?
Girl
Um, big sister Mahiru. It's only a little, but this is from us...
Boy
Here!
Girl
You need money, right, big sister Mahiru? We saved this up so that we could help, too!
Mahiru
N-No, um...
Boy
Rin, this is to thank you for teaching me that game!
Rin
I'm happy to be thanked and all, but you don't need to thank me with money. It would be enough just for you to call me "big sister Rin" from now on.
Saren
Once I explained to these two the reason why you couldn't stay here forever, they insisted that they wanted to help.
Girl
Now we know why the cows were gone. I'm sorry...
Mahiru
W-What are you saying? I'm the one who should be sorry! You don't need to feel bad for my sake! All of this was because of my weakness...
Saren
I understand that it's difficult to accept such a gift, but I believe you should. I think that everyone else must feel the same way.
Rin
In that case... Maybe we should accept with gratitude. Right, Mahi?
Mahiru
......
Shiori
Mahiru...?
Rin
Mahi, are you...
Girl
Big sister Mahiru, why are you crying? I-Is it our fault?
Mahiru
N-Not at all! Not at all! I'm crying because everyone's feelings have made me so happy, not because of anything bad!
Mahiru
I'm so happy that everyone would do this much for me... Even though I didn't do anything to deserve it...
Saren
You're the only one who believes that. On the contrary, my children, and everyone else, wouldn't be helping if they didn't believe you deserved it.
Shiori
That's right. You're an amazing person, Mahiru.
Mahiru
All of you...
Rin
Hey, Mahi. Could this cover the rest of the payment?
Shiori
Everyone gathered it all together.
Later.
Mahiru
I-It's all here... It's really all here! With this, we'll be able to get our cows and our farm back!
Rin
Let's bring this to that auditor right away!
Man 1
Don't just pay him in money -- give him a punch in the nose for me, too!
Lima
It's an emergency!!
Rin
Lima? What are you in such a panic for?
Lima
Elizabeth Park is being destroyed!!
Rin
... What?
Shiori
What do you mean, destroyed?
Lima
They're turning the farm into a resort for nobles! Right now, they're bringing more and more paving stones there, and if we don't do something quickly, the fields will be completely paved over!
Rin
Seems like we need to bring this money over in a hurry.
Mahiru
Right. Let's bring it all over!
Lima
Eh? Bring it...? Whoa!? You made this much money in one day!? Amazing!
Mahiru
I'll fill you in on the details on the way there -- let's hurry!
Scene: A hill in the countryside.
Rin
Pant... Pant... Never realized just how far Elizabeth Park was from town, until I had to run the entire way...
Mahiru
I know, right. I've gotta thank you again for walking all that distance to promote the hot spring.
Shiori
Um... Lima, aren't you tired from carrying me all this way?
Lima
I'm totally okay, don't worry!
Rin
Pant... Pant... Pant...
Lima
Rin, are you okay?
Rin
I thought I'd built up my stamina from delivering those flyers, but it turns out that running in this armor really is tough... But I'm still okay.
Mahiru
Just a little longer. Hang in there, Rinrin.
Cow
Moo.
Mahiru
Look, our cows are cheering us on... huh?
Shiori
Why can we hear cows in a place like this...
Subordinate 1
Walk, you.
Cow
Moo.
Mahiru
T-That's one of our cows! What are you doing to him!?
Subordinate 1
You...
Mahiru
What are you doing to my cow!?
Subordinate 2
These are the nobles' cows now.
Mahiru
I wouldn't mistake a member of my own family. You might have foreclosed on us for now, but I won't let you treat them so violently!
Subordinate 1
These filthy cows from the countryside are disposable. We can treat them as violently as we want.
Mahiru
What!? W-Wait! We have all the money! So you're supposed give us back those cows!
Subordinate 1
... Is that right. You have it all.
Mahiru
I'm glad you get it...
Mahiru
W-Wha!? What are you doing!?
Subordinate 1
It would be trouble for us if you have the money.
Subordinate 2
You need to disappear here.
Rin
So they never had any plans to return Elizabeth Park after all...?
Lima
Really!? Then what have we been doing all of this for...
Shiori
Then that means, even if we deliver the money to them, they aren't going to accept it.
Rin
Giving them the money would be as good as wasting it.
Subordinate 1
So you understand. We're not demons, you know. If you just accept this reality and withdraw, we'll let you go.
Mahiru
Let us go...? What a strange thing to say.
Mahiru
We've helped out a whole lot of people to put together this money, as you told us to.
Mahiru
But you had no intention of returning anything to us from the start. So now, if we don't retreat like you're telling us to... What will you do then?
Subordinate 2
That should be obvious.
Subordinate 1
We will dispose of you.
Mahiru
I see... So that's how it is, huh.
Mahiru
Hey, everyone. You've all been following me on my misguided quest so far...
Lima
M-Mahiru...?
Shiori
You can't mean...
Rin
......
Mahiru
Will you follow me through to the end?
Rin & Others
...!!
Rin
We've come this far, right? Of course we'll stick with you.
Lima
Of course! I'm with you to the end!
Shiori
So am I. Then, the first thing to do is...
Mahiru
To get our cows back!!
Prepared for anything, the members of Elizabeth Park raised their weapons bravely. A battle was at hand.