Chapter 4 - Episode 4: Courage Lies in Everyone's Hearts

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Pecorine
Hii-yaaa!

Scene: The barn at Elizabeth Park.

Pecorine
Okay, here we are!

Pecorine
Somehow, we managed to make it to where that emergency signal was coming from!

Yuuki
1. "Well done!"
2. "Are you hurt?"

Option 1.

Pecorine
Ahaha. You're saying that as if you weren't involved. You've done quite a lot, like using your mysterious ability to strengthen the rest of us...

Option 2.

Pecorine
Not at all, I don't have a single scratch on me! I'm still good to keep going!

Pecorine
Thanks for worrying about me.

End of branches.

Pecorine
... Whoops, this is no time to slack off. Um, did someone call for help here? We came to save you; where are you?

??? (Lima)
Eek! W-What? Who are you?

Pecorine
Hmm? Um, are you... a monster?

Pecorine
But you can speak using human words, can't you? If you were a monster, you wouldn't be able to understand human languages, right?

??? (Lima)
How rude, I'm not a monster! Though I guess it's a natural misunderstanding. My heart is that of a human, you see?

Rin
Lima, you're okay? What a relief...

Lima
Oh, Rin! You said you were going to get help -- aren't you back surprisingly soon?

Rin
Yeah, I met Yuuki on the path down from the mountain! Um, and this really flashy person is also on our side! We came to save everyone, you know?

Lima
Really? Ah, it really is Yuuki! Yoohoo!

Yuuki
1. "Yoohoo."

Pecorine
Ahaha. Yuuki, you're really well-known, aren't you...?

Pecorine
Anyway. I'm sorry for being impolite earlier. Are you a member of Elizabeth Park?

Lima
Yes, though I'm more of a freeloader than anything. I helped everyone else hole up in this barn.

Lima
Because all of this happened so suddenly, it was too tough to escape from the farm entirely.

Rin
I slept in, so I was still at the lodge... All of the monsters were headed towards the barn, so there weren't any on the back roads that I used to escape.

Lima
I wanted at least Rin to escape to a safe place.

Lima
But you came back after all, Rin. What a weird girl. Normally, you're always dodging work.

Rin
Even I know when it wouldn't be right to run away...

Rin
Everyone at Elizabeth Park is like my family, so I couldn't leave you all behind.

Pecorine
... Family, huh. That's something important enough to risk your life for.

Pecorine
In any case. I'm going to make a flashy decoy attack, which should give the rest of you time to evacuate.

Pecorine
For some reason, the monsters are pretty fixated on me... If I draw their attention, then everyone else should be able to escape.

Lima
B-But...? Isn't that too dangerous for you? You could die!

Pecorine
Ahaha. Risking our life to protect people was "our" original duty, after all.

Pecorine
Are all of the survivors here? Are there any stragglers?

Rin
Huh? Mahiru and Shiori aren't here!

Lima
Yeah. Mahiru was worried about the cattle and sheep we've been raising at the farm...

Lima
So, she headed for the pastures. She thinks of our animals just like family, after all.

Lima
Shiori... She seemed to be brooding over something, and then she ran directly into the crowd of monsters.

Lima
She said that protecting the peace at the farm was her duty.

Rin
No way... That was supposed to be my job.

Rin
It was only because I kept skipping out, that Shiori started helping out as a guard.

Lima
She's pretty serious, that Shiori...

Lima
But more than that. Wasn't she raising a baby monster that she adopted? She named it Nyatto, I think.

Lima
When the monsters attacked the farm... It seemed like Shiori was thinking that the monsters might have come to take back Nyatto.

Lima
That would have made it her responsibility, so she picked up Nyatto and headed straight for the monsters. She thought that, if the monsters got Nyatto, they might consider their goals achieved and go back.

Rin
But I don't think that Nyatto has anything to do with this... The monsters that attacked are from all different species.

Rin
And it doesn't seem like they're looking for anything, but instead are just going on an aimless rampage.

Mahiru
Right, right! Just like Rinrin said!

Mahiru
These monsters look like they just wanna smash whatever they can get their paws on. You've done a good job avoiding them, but if you hang around any longer, things will get dangerous, you know?

Rin
Oh, Mahiru! What a relief, you survived!

Mahiru
Ahaha. Whether it's the animals or all of you, I wouldn't die and leave you behind!

Mahiru
First off, I thought the animals deserved better than to die here, so... I sent them off towards the mountain path.

Mahiru
With any luck, they'll get away and be taken in by one of the nearby villages.

Mahiru
Though, eventually, we'll have to find them all and get them back here.

Mahiru
Well, I raised my farm animals to be nice and strong, so it'll take more than a few monsters to take them out.

Mahiru
It looks like it's just the monsters who've lost their minds and gone on a rampage. The animals all listened to my directions and evacuated like the good boys and girls they are.

Mahiru
After that, if I saw that Rinrin and the others escaped, then I wouldn't have anything to worry about. The farm's buildings might be all smashed up, but everyone's lives are the most important!

Mahiru
Look, Shioshio is okay, too.

Mahiru
Doing such a dangerous thing, collapsing in the middle of that crowd of monsters... If I hadn't noticed you there, you would've been trampled, you know?

Shiori
......

Rin
Shiori! You dummy, don't go doing such dangerous things, okay...?

Shiori
S-Sorry... I must have worried you a lot.

Shiori
But with my frail constitution, I can't be sure when I might pass away.

Shiori
If I could protect everyone with my dying breath, then... My life would have had some value.

Lima
Honestly. Don't ever come up with such a dumb idea again, okay, Shiori?

Lima
Even without having to sacrifice yourself... You're a member of Elizabeth Park, just the same as the rest of us. Doesn't that in itself give your life value?

Shiori
Yes. I'm sorry. Lima, Mahiru, Rin, everyone...

Lima
Right. But let's leave these lessons for afterwards. For now, isn't it time to evacuate?

Shiori
Yes. In that case, I know a path that should allow us to escape easily. Allow me to lead the way.

Shiori
It seems like the monsters' rampages are centered around a "certain location" in the mountains. If we move far away from that point, then I think we should be safe.

Pecorine
Hmm... Sorry to interrupt, but where is this "certain location" you mentioned?

Pecorine
It definitely seems like the monsters' movements are unnatural. It might be that someone is controlling them by way of magic or some other means.

Pecorine
If that's the case, then the person controlling these monsters... They should be at the center of this magical power.

Pecorine
I suspect it'll be this "certain location" in the mountains.

Pecorine
Assuming someone is indeed controlling these monsters, if we defeat that person, then this will all be over with. I'll head for the source and take out this person with an ambush.

Pecorine
That should be easier than taking out all of these monsters.

Pecorine
But if I head that way, then the rest of you will have to ensure your own safety.

Rin
It'll be okay. Just escaping is something that we can do.

Rin
Anyway, besides me... Lima, Mahiru, and Shiori are all pretty strong.

Shiori
Rin, you're also strong... It would have been fine if you'd just escaped, but you came back for the rest of us.

Pecorine
Hmm... Yuuki, you should evacuate along with the others from Elizabeth Park...

Pecorine
While I'm drawing the enemies' attention with my attacks, I'll take out whoever is controlling these monsters.

Pecorine
This was also true when we first met, and it's true now. Being attacked by hordes of monsters like this is nothing uncommon for me.

Pecorine
If I don't get to the root of the problem, then the same thing will just keep happening... For that reason, I'd like to wrap this up as cleanly as I can.

Pecorine
Just like Snow White, or another fairytale princess. I've just about had enough of attempts on my life.

Pecorine
I'd much prefer to live a relaxed life... Eating tasty food, and passing the days in peace.

Pecorine
More than that, I'm always turning the monsters I slay into food.

Pecorine
Spending day after day like this, fending off these persistent attacks... Eating the monsters I defeat is something I'm growing used to.

Mahiru
Okay. Then, let's head that way.

Mahiru
Yuuki, I don't know who that girl with you was. I guess self-introductions will have to wait until afterwards, huh?

Mahiru
We'd better take this chance and get moving right away! On the count of three, we'll burst out of here, okay? Follow my lead!

Mahiru
This farm's like my garden, and I know the terrain like the back of my hand! Now, let's go -- one, two, three!

Begin animated cutscene.

Mahiru
All right, let's go! One, two, three!

Things happen; Rin is about to be hit.

Lima
Rin, look out!

Shiori shoots a monster from behind Mahiru.

End animated cutscene.

Shiori
I'll cover you, Mahiru. ... I won't allow you to die.

Lima
Shiori, ride on my back! Isn't it super fluffy? Ah, Rin, you'll just have to walk on your own!

Rin
Ehhh... Well, whatever. I guess I've gotta get serious every once in a while, huh?