Chapter 2 - Episode 1: Princess Maho's Hospitality

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Scene: The Kaon guild house.

Several hours later...

After escaping from the tumult, Yuuki and the others are shown to the place that Makoto calls "Kaon", and are taking a quick rest.

Animated cutscene.

Suzume
Sigh...

Maho
Miracle Mahorin! Kururin paaan!

Everyone
Wow...!

Maho
Okay! You should be good as new now!

End cutscene.

Yuuki
1. Thank you, Miss Maho.

Maho
No, no, rather than Miss Maho, you should call me Princess Maho from now on. Don't be so mean, seriously.^[1]

Maho
Anyway, there's no need for thanks. Leaving you with those wounds would make me feel worse.

Suzume
Oooh, the pain was just sucked right out of me! And what's more, to have my even my clothes restored... No, they're practically brand new, now, haven’t they?

Maho
Actually, I’m more skilled at repairing clothes than living things. So I thought, while I was at it, I might as well fix them up real quick. Pardon me if it was a little too much...

Suzume
No, no, it was a big help! If my mistress were to see me with my clothes all ripped up, she'd surely worry. Thanks for everything!

Maho
Ahh, please don't mention it. Really, it seems like Makoto caused you a great deal of trouble. It must have been quite scary, yes? Poor things...

Maho
Because of this, it would only be right to make it up to you. There, there...

Kokkoro
Ah, please, I would appreciate it if you didn't pat my head.

Kokkoro
Thank you, everyone... It seems that "Kaon" had no ill will towards us. The amount of damage was also small, so please, do not worry so much.

Maho
That might be, but... We also interfered with your work. So, I'd like to compensate you for the trouble. Already, we've put out an urgent request for another carriage.

Maho
I apologize that your first carriage was blown away by the explosion. At least, the driver looks like he managed to escape unharmed... But just in case of any injuries, we've brought him to a clinic.

Suzume
I, I see. On a battlefield like that, the fact that there were no casualties is truly a silver lining.

Suzume
But that girl, Muimi, or Noemu... She ended up getting abducted by that "Labyrinth" group.

Maho
Yes, we have also sent people to pursue them. Our guild "Kaon" is frantically searching for them.

Maho
Even so... That "Labyrinth" gang seems to be really good at running and hiding. They've deceived even the noses of our canine beastpeople and made a clean getaway.

Maho
Really, I don't know what to make of it, but... Because of us, you guys got wrapped up in an unfortunate situation, and I'd like to provide assistance however I can.

Maho
Whatever you need, feel free to give me a call.

Kokkoro
We are obliged to your care. On a personal level, I'm deeply sorry for having caused an interruption to Suzume's mission...

Suzume
Even though escorting the carriage was part of our mission, we were unable to fulfil our duties. A shameful display.

Suzume
Ah, no, it's okay! Please, don't worry about it. It was just an unfortunate accident -- there's no one to blame for it.

Suzume
It seems like the people at Kaon will have a new carriage for us. Let's regroup and set out for the manor.

Maho
Though you say that, it's already gotten so late... If you were to leave now, you would wind up traveling in the dead of night. Once the sun goes down, the monsters turn violent; it's far too dangerous.

Maho
Tonight, we'll have you stay at our guild house. Of course, you won't need to pay rent or anything.

Maho
Rather, we should be paying you an indemnity for all that's happened. At the very least, we'll compensate you for the cost of the goods that you were transporting.

Suzume
No, no. We were only carrying empty boxes that we were going to use to store other items, so don't worry about it.

Suzume
More importantly, we won't arrive at the manor for quite some time, so my mistress will grow worried, won't she?

Suzume
Could I ask you to get in touch with her? I'm not very good with communication magic.

Maho
Ah, calculating coordinates and the like is troublesome for me, too... I find that manner of using magic to be terribly dull, so I'm not skilled at it, either.

Maho
If Kasumi, another of Kaon's members, were here, she'd have no problem with that kind of tedious magic. But she stepped out a short while ago.

Maho
What did she say, again... It was something about investigating some sort of incident with "shadows".

Maho
Makoto is also out, looking for the ones behind today's mess... She was going to press someone Okuto for information, so she'll be busy, too. Until all these things are settled, I'll be here to look after Mister Prince and his companions!

Kokkoro
... Mister Prince?

Maho
That one right there... My darling Mister Prince!^[2]

Kokkoro
You mean Master, huh. Um, the guild master of Kaon... Lady Maho, was it?

Kokkoro
Are you also one of Master's acquaintances?

Maho
Yes, yes. The two of us met as if drawn together by fate, making him my Mister Prince...

Kokkoro
Hm. In such a short time, you've really been befriending girls left and right... Master.

Yuuki
1. "I'm glad to have made so many friends."
2. "Er, pardon me?"

Option 1.

Kokkoro
Ah, that's how it was. It's not that you've been striking up conversations with girl after girl with any ulterior motives, right?

Kokkoro
If that's the case, then I don't mind. And to begin with, it's not my place to complain.

Option 2.

Kokkoro
... There's no need to be apologetic.

Kokkoro
In truth, it's quite fine. Heroes such as you are said to have such preferences.

End of branches.

Kaori enters.

Kaori
Haitai, I’m back!^[3] While I was out on patrol, I prepared the carriage you asked for!

Maho
Ah, Kaori, welcome back! Thanks for your work; please have a seat and rest.

Kaori
I'm not tired at all, so I'm okay! I'm all full of energy today! Ahaha!

Kaori
Oh, you're here, too! What are you doing here? If you've come to hang out, then you're mighty welcome here! Haha, let's sing and dance together!

Yuuki
1. "You're just as lively as always, Kaori."

Kaori
You know it, liveliness is my strong point! You're always quiet, but sometimes you've just gotta let yourself get amped up, y'know?

Kokkoro
(Oh? This Kaori person... She also seems to be an acquaintance of Master's. At this point, it would feel unnatural to brush it off as a coincidence.)

Kokkoro
(Hm... Just as Lady Ames divined, it looks like somehow, Master has become the center of a fateful chain of events.)

Kaori
Hmm? The girl over there is making a troubled face, isn't she?

Kaori
A smile would be cuter! Happiness comes to those who smile! Could it be that you're hungry?

Kaori
I went on patrol in Makoto's place today, and I made a big circle around the neighborhood! Because of all that running, I'm starving, too!

Kaori
How about we use the kitchen in the guild house to make some snacks? Maybe some sata andagi!^[4]

Kokkoro
Sata... um, what might that be? My appetite is rather small, so I'm quite all right.

Kokkoro
Now that I think about it, I haven't had anything since lunch. If we could prepare some food, it would be greatly appreciated.

Suzume
Ah... If it's all right, could I help with the cooking?

Kaori
No, no, I'd like our guests to relax, okay? Just wait a little while, and I'll make plenty for everyone to eat! If we have the right ingredients, I'll be able to make it authentic, too!

Maho
Ah, in that case... Why don't we ask Makoto to pick some up on her way home?

Maho
I'm pretty familiar with Makoto, so my communication magic should be able to reach her in a jiffy. She probably should be somewhere not too far away.

Maho
She might be in the middle of arguing with that Okuto person, so... Let's use a simple communication spell to leave a message that she can get back to when she has time.

Maho
Miracle Mahorin, Kururin-paaa...

She casts the spell.

Maho
Huh? What's this, there wasn't any response...

Maho
Hmm... Did I mess up the magic? No, I feel like the signal was jammed...?

Kaori
Hmm, it's pretty rare for Maho to mess up with magic, isn't it?

Suzume
Um, is something wrong?

Maho
No... I hope it's only my imagination. Kaori, when you were on your way back, you didn't see anything suspicious, did you?

Kaori
Anything suspicious? Now that you say it, the area around the guild house was quieter than usual... And the air felt a little heavy?

Kaori
Animals are fond of Kaon, so this area is usually noisy with the sounds of pigeons, cats, and the like. But today, it seemed like everyone was holding their breaths?

Kaori
Could something have been up with that? In that case, should I take a closer look around?

Maho
No, that won't be necessary. Why didn't I notice this earlier?

Maho
No good... I guess I slipped up. There's a repulsive presence drawing close to here.

Maho
Kaori, please prepare for battle. Everyone else, take cover behind me. ... My apologies, but it seems an uninvited guest is about to arrive.