Chapter 4 - Episode 2: On a Warrior's Journey

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Scene: A forest.

Several days after being attacked by the mysterious phenomenon known as "Shadows"...

Having taken a certain request, Yuuki was walking along a densely forested mountain road.

Pecorine
Ooooh... I'm hungry, soooo hungry...

Pecorine
Even though I stuffed myself with food, and brought as many lunch boxes with me as I could...

Pecorine
My belly's growling again. Is my stomach really that much of a bottomless pit?

Pecorine
I'm starving... This is terrible. If this goes on, I might even faint from hunger. Ahhh... I'm getting all lightheaded...

Pecorine
(I thought that if I avoided using the Royal Armament as much as possible, I wouldn't get hungry, but...)

Pecorine
(I've been getting attacked by monsters this entire way. If I hadn't been using my full power, I would've died.)

Pecorine
(It might have been better if I'd hired someone to serve as a guard, but... There isn't anyone I could easily ask to do that. I've only gotten acquainted with a few people around town.)

Pecorine
(And anyway, I can't forget... Getting closer than this to anyone would only bring trouble. It would only make parting even more difficult.)

Pecorine
(... Huh? Was there something moving in that thicket?)

Pecorine
(Lucky me! If it's an animal or a monster, I'll catch it and turn it into cooking ingredients!)

Pecorine
(Manna from heaven -- destiny must be smiling on me!)

Pecorine
Okaaay! It's time to eat...!

Yuuki
1. "Wait! It's me!"

Pecorine
Whoa!? Hey, Yuuki!

Pecorine
Heya! We sure bump into each other a lot. Have you been well? Sorry, sorry, I almost cut you up there!

Pecorine
Why were you walking through that thicket? Did you drop something? Should we look for it together?

Yuuki
1. Explain the situation.

Pecorine
Uh-huh, uh-huh. So, Yuuki, you have some business up on the mountain.

Pecorine
It'd be troublesome if you were found by a monster, so you were stealthily hiding yourself in the thicket as you walked? That's just like a ninja!

Pecorine
You don't know about them? They were warriors with special skills who existed a long time ago. Well, nowadays, they're just fairy tales!

Pecorine
Anyway. I'm not totally clear on the situation, but it's dangerous to travel alone. Lately, there's been an unusual increase in the number of monsters around here.

Pecorine
I can barely walk any distance at all before getting attacked. Ever since I wandered out of the city, I've had far too many close calls.

Pecorine
Yuuki, you're pretty weak... Ahh, no, I mean, you seem like more of a lover than a fighter, you know? You might die, you know?

Pecorine
If you don't mind, how about I accompany you on the way there? I'll be your bodyguard!

Pecorine
In return, please let me have some of your rations... Ooh, my stomach's still rumbling up a storm.

Yuuki
1. Give her some of your food.

Pecorine
Huh? Are you giving me this biscuit?

Pecorine
Thank you very much! I won't forget this kindness -- is it okay if I fall in love with you?

Pecorine
Nom nom... Mmmmm!

Pecorine
Ah, I feel my life returning from the calories circulating through my body! Whenever I eat sweets, I can feel my dopamine levels overflowing -- this must be what love feels like!

Pecorine
Ah... You really helped me out.

Pecorine
You're always helping me out of trouble like this, Yuuki. Can I give you a kiss?

Yuuki
1. "Sure."
2. "We're friends, so it's only natural."

Option 1.

Pecorine
Eh, it's really okay? You're serious? You're not going to take it back?

Pecorine
Hmm... I get the feeling that you don't really know what a kiss is. Since you have amnesia and all.

Pecorine
I'd feel bad about taking advantage of someone like that.

Option 2.

Pecorine
Huh, what's natural? Giving you a kiss?

Pecorine
Ah, you mean it's only natural for you to help me. Ehehe, friends really are wonderful.

Pecorine
I'm glad. I've been alone for a pretty long time.

Pecorine
So I'm really happy that I could make friends with you and the others!

End of branches.

Pecorine
Anyway. Um, do you think you could explain what's happened over there?

Pecorine
Uh-huh... So, you're headed towards this guild, Elizabeth Park, which is up in the mountains.

Pecorine
A farm, huh? They must have lots of tasty food there!

Pecorine
The place you were staying, the Sarendia Orphanage, is in danger of being attacked by these things called Shadows...

Pecorine
You're planning to evacuate the children to a safe place, temporarily.

Pecorine
However. It might cause trouble to these people if you all showed up unannounced, so you were asked to reach out to them first?

Pecorine
You've met the people from Elizabeth Park before...

Pecorine
I see! So that's why you've been acting by yourself.

Pecorine
You're serving as a messenger from the Sarendia Orphanage to Elizabeth Park. You're acquainted with all of them, so negotiations should be pretty easy.

Pecorine
And you've been acting all by yourself to carry out this duty! Good work!

Pecorine
Yuuki, you're a good boy...!

Pecorine
Ehehe. Sorry, I should've asked before patting you on the head...

Pecorine
I'm pretty excessive when it comes to physical contact, huh. I've been going it alone for a long time, so I've always wanted to have company!

Pecorine
Huh. You want to know what was I doing?

Pecorine
Well, you see, I have a bit of a special family situation... Right now, I'm journeying around the country to improve my fighting skills.

Pecorine
I wander here and there to help people out. If people are being attacked by evil monsters, I'll take them right out.

Pecorine
In my family, we aren't considered to have come of age if we haven't made a warrior's journey like this. My lineage certainly can be annoying...

Pecorine
All the traditions and rules get really troublesome. But, well, people can't choose their parents or their families. That's just how it is.

Pecorine
Plus, while I'm traveling, I get to sample tasty food from all kinds of places.

Pecorine
It's actually pretty fun! Though traveling by myself does get lonely.

Pecorine
The first time I met you, Yuuki... I was on my way to Landsol, where my parents live, to report my progress on my journey.

Yuuki
1. "So that was your situation all along."

Pecorine
Right. But it looks like I still have a ways to go on my journey...

Pecorine
I was turned away from home, so for now, I'm planning to travel around the country some more. Though, it would've been nice to stay in Landsol for just a little longer.

Pecorine
You, Kokkoro, and Kyaru... It's lonely to be so far away from everyone I've befriended.

Pecorine
But this is my duty. I can't skip out on it.

Pecorine
There's no such thing as a permanent goodbye in this world. Once I've been recognized as having come of age, I'll be staying in Landsol for good.

Pecorine
That reminds me. Yuuki, I feel like you and Kokkoro are always together... Is she busy with something else today?

Yuuki
1. "She's going to a temple."

Pecorine
Huh. That's a bit strange -- you mean she's going to seclude herself in a temple?

Pecorine
Why in a temple...? She does seem like a shaman of some sort, so could she be communing with a god?

Pecorine
Ehehe. Well, anyway, I'm on a bit of an aimless journey myself.

Pecorine
I don't have any specific destination in particular. So, if it's all right... I'll serve as your bodyguard, Yuuki.

Yuuki
1. "That would be helpful, but are you sure it's okay?"

Pecorine
Yes. I'll escort you safely to your destination.

Pecorine
If it's no trouble, that is... This also counts as helping people -- a friend in need, as they say.

Pecorine
I'm worried about you, Yuuki. I'd like to make sure that you get home safely.

Pecorine
Since the fact that I have a place to go is also all thanks to you.

Begin animated cutscene.

Rin
Someone, help meeee!

Rin
Y-Yuuki, what are you doing here?

Rin
You're just in time! Help me out!

Pecorine
Is this one of your friends?

End animated cutscene.

Yuuki
1. Give a quick explanation.

Pecorine
Huh... She's someone you see often at Elizabeth Park, and her name is Rin?

Pecorine
I wonder what's happened; doesn't this look pretty serious?

Begin battle sequence.

Pecorine
She was calling for help, and now, these guys look like they want to fight... This looks like an emergency. Yuuki, please stay on your guard.

Pecorine
Don't stray far from my side, now.