Episode 3: Too Good to be True

---

Scene: Inside of a store.

Nanaka traveled on foot by herself to a general store owned by an acquaintance.

Nanaka
Nyanhello! What's up!^[1]

Store Owner
Oh, if it isn't our favorite collector. Thanks for coming out to the sticks to see us.

Nanaka
Well, y'know! It's part of my brand to come swooping in whenever I hear about something good!

Store Owner
Ha ha, there's no doubt about that. So then, are you looking for those ancient texts that were discovered in the cave?

Nanaka
Exactly! You've got them, right?

Store Owner
Quick on the info as always. You're really something. But... Unfortunately, you're out of luck this time.

Nanaka
Huh!? How come!? I can't even! Tell me! Gimme the deets!!^[2]

Store Owner
We're completely sold out. Every last one.

Store Owner
Some noble from the capital came and bought out all our stock. He named a mindboggling price for them all, too.

Nanaka
Bought out!?

???
Excuse me.

Store Owner
Speak of the devil. ... Ah, welcome!

Nanaka
Was it him!? All right, then, this is my chance! Hello there, good traveler.

Noble
Do you need something of me?

Nanaka
Um, so, my goal is to become a magical girl, and I heard that some ancient texts had been unearthed in the canyon cave, so I was wondering if I could maybe have just one?

Noble
......

Noble
If you are aiming to become a magical girl, then why not devote your time to training in magic, rather than ancient texts? Now, if you will excuse me.

Nanaka
H-How can he ignore me with such flair!? Is this a special technique known to those of noble birth...!?

Noble
Mr. Manager, have you received the items that I ordered?

Store Owner
Yes, right here. Here you go.

Nanaka
Hmm? Is that... a primer on decoding those ancient texts? Why would a noble like him be buying a book like that?

Noble
... Mm, very good. Thank you. Here is a token of my gratitude in exchange. Please accept it.

Store Owner
My goodness...! Thank you very much! Looking forward to doing business with you again!

Noble
Well, then, I will be off. ... Good day to you, too, young lady.

Nanaka
Huh? I could feel something unpleasant about that noble person's gaze just now... What could that have been?

Nanaka
Well, whatever. I guess this was all in vain. Maybe I should just go work part-time with Anna...

Nanaka
But I promised I'd go meet up with big sis Luka, so I should do that. Anna said she'd be there once she was done with work, too.

Scene: A country road.

Nanaka
Yep, this was the road that led to the village. Let's head out, then...

Villain
Hey, missy.

Nanaka
... Ah, I wonder how far away it is. I hope it's not too far...

Villain
Hey, can't you hear me!?

Nanaka
... But I wonder how I'm gonna get enough money to buy back my waifus. I'm no Anna, but I wouldn't mind catching and turning in a few thieves from the wanted list myself...

Villain
Hey! You can definitely hear me!! I'm telling you to wait!!

Nanaka
My ears are stuffed with bananas, so I can't hear a thing! Weirdo! If you want me, come and catch me!

Villain
Don't run! Guys, get your bows out!

Nanaka
Bows and arrows won't do a thing against a magic user like... W-Wait, there's a lot of you! Lots of people with lots of arrows!

Nanaka
Whoa, whoa!! Isn't aiming for the head a little bit much!? Eek! W-Whaa!!??

Nanaka
Eeeee!! Help meeee!!??

Luka
All right, all right, I'll help. Oh, my. I thought I'd heard a familiar scream, and it turned out to be you, Nanaka.

Nanaka
B-Big sis Luka!! Help, help, help!!

Villain
There's another one! Take them both out!

Luka
Nanaka! Get your magic ready!

Nanaka
Copy that! Enchant!

Luka
Wind magic! Perfect! Haah!!

Villain
She blew all of our arrows away!? Impossible!

Luka
What's the matter, is that all you've got? You won't mind if I blow you all away next, will you?

Villain
D-Damn...! F-Fall back and regroup!!

Nanaka
Yeah, yeah! Get outta here!

Nanaka
Man, that was close, though. Thanks, big sis Luka! I love you!

Nanaka
When I found myself surrounded all of a sudden, I thought it was Magical Girl Nanaka's time to take the spotlight! But then all the arrows started raining down!

Luka
Sounds like a rough time. Oh, but did you get those ancient texts you mentioned?

Nanaka
Ahh. Well, about that, there was this weird nobleman who bought them all out himself.

Luka
A nobleman?

Nanaka
Yeah. He felt like a super unlikeable type of person. I met him at the store where I went shopping.

Nanaka
And then, once I left the store, I was attacked, just like you saw... Huh? But why would I have been attacked?

Luka
Did you talk to that man?

Nanaka
Well, I tried asking him if he wouldn't mind letting me have one of those ancient texts from the canyon cave, but he just totally ignored me with flair.

Nanaka
Oh, huh. Now that I think about it, that nobleman really was staring at me... Do you think he could've hired those thugs!? For real!?

Luka
The canyon cave... That seems to be at the root of everything, after all.

Luka
Nanaka. This seems to be an even bigger problem than I'd thought. Use a communication spell to get in touch with Mitsuki and Eriko.

Luka
After that, we'll head for the cave. I'm worried about those two!