Chapter 2 - Episode 4: Curtains Close on the Banquet

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Scene: Kaon guild house.

Christina
Oh, what a fast reaction! You're pretty interesting, after all -- keep it up! Do your best, I have high expectations of you!

Kokkoro
A weak spot! Please, excuse my interruption!

Christina
... Oh!?

Makoto
She's lost her balance, now's our chance! Bring her down, Kaori!

Kaori
Okay! This will finish it -- sorry for the force!

Christina
Ngh... Tch, what's this? My "Absolute Attack" and "Absolute Defense" are wavering!?

Christina
I can't dodge it, I have to block it! Calm down, even if these clothes are my favourite!

Christina
(What happened? From behind... Did that pipspeak throw her spear at me?)

Christina
(Ordinarily, shouldn't I have been able to avoid even a surpise attack like that? Was I having so much fun that my senses became dull?)

Christina
(Or is there... Something special about you? )

Kokkoro
Eek... What's with that look? I... I don't think she's a sane human being at all!

Christina
I'm quite human. Filled with greed, always a slave to pleasure.

Christina
However, this is interesting. At first glance, you look like a little girl, but... Just like the "Empress" and me, you're a special creature, aren't you?

Christina
No, could this be a simple coincidence? Could I just have been caught off-guard by that surprise attack?

Christina
Well, I'll know after some investigation. You, come here.

Christina
This Christina will thoroughly examine you. After some chopping and dissecting, I'll uncover everything about you!

Yuuki
1. Stand in front of Kokkoro.
2. Strengthen Kokkoro.

Option 1.

Kokkoro
Ah, Master...? Are you protecting me?

Kokkoro
You mustn't. Master, your fighting strength is practically zero, isn't it?

Kokkoro
The moment you meet eyes with such a dangerous person as her, you'll be done for! It... It's as if her very gaze is going to rend you apart!

Option 2.

Kokkoro
Fwah? Ah, are you strengthening me... Master?

Kokkoro
T-Thank you for helping me. To be honest, I felt like I was about to give out. But now, I've regained my readiness to fight.

Kokkoro
Prepare yourself, peon! As long as I have my Master's blessing, I will not lose!

Christina
Ha ha, "peon". You're sure confident all of a sudden, little girl.

Christina
It seem like you get along quite well with that boy... Fufufu, is the power of love that great? Seems like love has turned a toothless rabbit into a fierce lion.

Kokkoro
It is not love or anything! Yes, this is the manifestation of my loyalty to my master!

Christina
Fufu. No need to be embarrassed, young lovestruck maiden!

Makoto
Oi, where are you looking at! Your opponent is us!

Christina
(Tch... How annoying, I'm outnumbered. Should I have the troops from Nightmare surrounding this guild house rush in?)

Animated cutscene.

Christina
No, it seems noisy outside.

Christina
Ah... that voice...?

Christina
Too bad, it seems we're all out of time. The fun will have to wait until later...

Saren (from outside)
Move, move out of the way! It's not very elegant, but I'm breaking in!

Saren
There! Both of you, put your weapons away!

End of cutscene.

Saren
Excuse me, I'm stepping in! Stop fighting right now! It's already the dead of night, and you're being a nuisance to the neighbourhood!

Suzume
M-M-Mistress!?

Saren
Suzume, are you okay? I heard that you had been taken in by Kaon, so I hurried over from the manor!

Saren
What happened here? Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?

Yuuki
1. "Ah, it's Saren."

Kokkoro
... So she's your acquaintance, too. I've mostly gotten used to this, Master.

Christina
Hello, Lady Saren. Or I should call you "Former Lieutenant" instead?

Saren
Christina... I've already heard about the situation up until now from the other Nightmare members.

Saren
The captain was very upset about your unauthorized rampage, you know? In the interest of saving face after today's events, won't you withdraw?

Christina
No problem. Though, honestly, I still haven't had enough...

Christina
At least, my objective was completed. Everyone here, wasn't there something fun to mowing down these people?

Christina
I've come to like Nightmare quite a bit. I'd like to keep my current position.

Christina
But if you get involved, Nightmare will end up ostracized. Seems like you are quite popular, Former Lieutenant...

Christina
For the sake of having more fun in the future... Patience is one of mankind's celebrated virtues.

Christina
Fine, I'll leave now. But first, there's something I need to check.

Kokkoro
Eep...!?

Saren
Hey. You shouldn't scare small children like that.

Saren
This is becoming a problem. I'm reporting this to the leadership of the Princess Knights. Don't think you'll always be able to get away with such lawless actions.

Christina
I'll keep that in mind, young lady. Now, excuse me.

Christina
I haven't had fun like this for a long time! Let's play again next time, ladies and gentlemen!

Christina
Well then, adieu...

Makoto
Ah, wait! After causing such a big mess, you really think you can just leave like that!?

Maho
Makoto, don't chase after her. She said she was leaving, and that's good enough.

Maho
More importantly, let me see where you are hurt. Let's heal everyone up. Kaori, you too, okay?

Kaori
Alright. But I haven't been injured that much!

Kaori
That person, did it look like she was holding back? If she had been taking it seriously, Makoto and I would already be in the afterlife!

Makoto
Are you serious? That was "holding back"? Damn it, she was just messing with us...!

Maho
That person was weirdly strong... Handling both Makoto and Kaori with one hand tied behind her back? Hmm, something feels unnatural about it.

Maho
Do you know something about this, erm... You, who seems to have some connection with Nightmare.

Saren
Yes, I'll explain that properly later, so don't worry. But before that...

Saren
It's good that you're unharmed, Suzume. Honestly, please don't make me worry so much.

Suzume
M... Mistress! I-I-I was sooo scared!

Suzume
Just in one day, I kept seeing these scenes of unimaginable carnage, over and over! I felt like I was going insane!

Saren
It's okay, poor thing... I'm sorry I rushed over so late.

Saren
Enough already. I don't know all that's happened, but it feels so unpleasant... Even though it's peaceful for now, things are as suspicious as could be.

Saren
This is trouble. I hope that these dark clouds won't cover the childrens' futures.