[ROE2, VOICEOVER] I WASN'T SURE HOW TO BEGIN THIS LETTER,
BUT I THINK THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY WOULD BE TO USE THE WORD,
"HELLO." SO...
HELLO, WORLD. HELLO, SHIROE.
"SHIROE OF LOG HORIZON."
I MUST ADMIT, HEARING THAT NAME TOOK ME A BIT OFF GUARD.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW OF YOUR MEMORIES
IN MY HEAD... SO I FEEL A CONNECTION.
JUST LIKE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE BEINGS
WHO CAME TO THIS WORLD FROM A FARAWAY PLACE,
MY FAMILIARS AND I ARE ALSO BEINGS FROM A DISTANT LAND.
MY NAME IS ROE2.
I AM ONE OF A GROUP THAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS "TRAVELLERS."
AND, MY CURRENT JUXTAPOSITION IN THIS BODY,
MAKES ME SOMETHING AKIN TO YOUR YOUNGER SISTER.
[SERARA] AAH! WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE KITCHEN TODAY...
I'M SO EXCITED?!
WELL LET ME SEE NOW... HMM?
[SERARA] OH?
[SOJIRO] THANKS FOR COMING, SHIROE.
[SHIROE] ALRIGHT, JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED...
... AND ABOUT THIS NEW KIND OF BEING.
[SOJIRO] AND WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT...
[SHIROE] HMM... THE MARRIAGE GENIUS, KAMAISARU, YOU SAY?
[NAZNA] IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S MORE LIKE
HE'S PLAYIN' ALL THESE GIRLS.
[SHIROE] SO THE WEST WIND GIRLS ARE
ACTUALLY THE ONES WHO FOUND HIM?
[NAZNA] YOU KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. [AKATSUKI] MMM!
WE HAVE A LARGE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
MADE UP OF NOTHING BUT LADIES, SHIROE.
[NAZNA] HEH HEH. [SOJIRO] HMM...
YEP...! THEY'RE PRETTY AMAZING, MY LORD.
YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, AKATSUKI?
NO, I KNOW NOTHING.
HUH?
[SHIROE] UH...
SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
[NAZNA] HE'S SWITCHING MODES.
[SOJIRO] I'LL FINISH THIS QUICKLY.
[KAMAISARU] PROVIDE ME WITH WHAT I NEED, ADVENTURERS.
[SOJIRO] NAZNA! [NAZNA] GOT IT! THERE!
[KAMAISARU] WON'T YOU MARRY ME, MY DEAR?
[SOJIRO] SINGLE STROKE SLASH!
YAHHH!
SO YOU JUST JUMPED IN AND ATTACKED, HUH?
[NAZNA] YOU MESS WITH SOMEONE IN WEST WIND BRIGADE,
YOU'RE GONNA PAY THE PRICE FOR IT!
[AKATSUKI] WE WILL SHOW NO MERCY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, MY LORD.
[SHIROE] YOU HELPED OUT, TOO, AKATSUKI?
NOPE. NO, I DIDN'T. [SHIROE] HUH?
(HALF‐LAUGH)
SO? HOW DO WE GO ABOUT CLASSIFYING THIS GUY?
[SOJIRO] IS HE AN ENEMY?
"ENEMY," WELL?
IF THEY'RE GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO START A FIGHT...
THEN WE MUST DEFEND OURSELVES.
[NAZNA] AND THAT MEANS DOING WHATEVER
IT TAKES TO PROTECT THE CITY.
[SOJIRO] DON'T WORRY, LEAVE IT TO US.
[AKATSUKI] WE WILL HANDLE THIS, MY LORD.
[SHIROE] UH... OKAY, THANKS. [NAZNA] UH‐HUH...
[SOJIRO] COME TO THINK OF IT,
THIS GUY WAS RATHER UNUSUAL. [SHIROE] "UNUSUAL"?
I MEAN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE CAME HERE,
IT REALLY FELT LIKE THE GAME.
[NAZNA] YEAH. IT NEVER SEEMED
LIKE THERE WAS ANY REAL DANGER.
[SOJIRO] IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T REAL.
IT DIDN'T FEEL NORMAL,
LIKE WE FOUGHT THE GUY ONSCREEN OR SOMETHING.
[SHIROE] HMM.
[SARGE] DEEP FRIED ROCKFISH IS THE BEST!
[SOLDIERS] DEEP FRIED ROCKFISH IS THE BEST! (PANTING)
[ITHERUS] MASTER ISAAC! MASTER ISAAC!
(ISAAC GRUNTING)
HOW DOES A MAN THAT BIG MANAGE TO JUMP SO HIGH?
WHOA! TELL ME HOW HE DOES IT, MASTER ISAAC!
JUST CALL ME ISAAC.
OH? OKAY.
WHO'RE YOU AGAIN?
I'M ITHERUS, SIR.
[ISAAC] OKAY, ITHERUS. CAN YOU KEEP IT DOWN?
I'M TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP OVER HERE. (FIGHTING PRACTICE)
[ITHERUS] BUT, MASTER ISAAC, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINING
ALL MAIHAMA'S KNIGHTS AND MAKING THEM BETTER.
[SOLDIERS] HYAHHHH!! (STRUGGLING)
[ISAAC] DON'T BOTHER ME WITH THE DETAILS, KID.
[ITHERUS] ALSO, I HEARD THAT MY OLDER SISTER PRINCESS RAYNESHIA
IS CURRENTLY UNDER YOUR WATCH INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
[ISAAC] YEAH, WELL YA HEARD WRONG.
THAT'S NOT MY JOB... GOT IT.
HER KEEPER'S ON LEAVE, I GUESS.
[ITHERUS] AND I TAKE IT HE'S AN ADVENTURER TOO,
RIGHT? MASTER ISAAC, SIR?
[ISAAC] (SIGH) JUST ISAAC....
[REZARICK] MR. ISAAC. [ISAAC] ERK!
WE SHOULD PROBABLY GIVE THE MEN A LITTLE BREAK...
[ISAAC] WOULD YOU GUYS KNOCK IT OFF WITH THE "MISTER" CRAP!?
[REZARICK] YOU HEAR THAT, ITHERUS?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SO FORMAL WITH MR. ISAAC.
[ITHERUS] SO IT SHOULD BE "MISTER ISAAC."
[ISAAC] ONE OF YOU IS ABOUT TO GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE!
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THAT, MISTER ISAAC, SIR?
IT SOUNDS SO DASHING AND DIGNIFIED, MISTER ISAAC!
(GIGGLING) [MAID B] I THINK HE'S GOING TO EXPLODE!
[ISAAC] AHHH! YOU'RE JUST BEGGIN' ME
TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE BLACK SWORD OF PAIN!
[MICHITAKA] WHEN WE FIRST MET HIM,
HE LOOKED LIKE A NORMAL PERSON OF THE LAND.
AND HE TOLD US HE HAD THE ABILITY TO APPRAISE MINERALS.
EVER SINCE THE APOCALYPSE, WE MADE IT A POINT TO DETERMINE
THE PRICE OF MATERIAL ITEMS BY THEIR QUALITY OR WORKMANSHIP.
ADVENTURERS FLOCKED FROM ALL AROUND
TO GET THINGS VALUED FROM HIM.
BUT HERE'S THE DEAL...
LET'S SAY THIS NEW FRIEND OF OURS APPRAISES JUST ANY OLD ROCK
AND SAYS IT HAS GEMSTONE QUALITY.
NOW, I DON'T GET IT, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY WOULD START
THINKING THAT THIS ROCK WAS A 24 CARAT DIAMOND OR SOMETHING.
[RODERICK] IN SHORT, THIS MAN IS A MONSTER
OF SOME KIND WHO DEVALUES
ALL OF OUR KNOWN MEASUREMENTS AND MATERIAL VALUES.
EVEN LENGTHS AND WEIGHTS ARE SUSPECT NOW.
HE'S BUGRITH, THE GENIUS OF MEASUREMENT.
A CONSISTENT STANDARD OF MEASURES AND VALUES IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.
WE DID SOME SNOOPING,
AND WE ENDED UP FINDING HIS HIDEOUT.
WE IMPROVISED A RAID TEAM. BUT RAN INTO A SURPRISE.
[BUGRITH] (CHUCKLING) WELL, WELL, WELL.
THIS SHOULD MAKE FOR A NICE HAUL OF EMPATHIUM.
[MICHITAKA] LIGHTNING STRAIGHT! HUH?
THIS GUY WAS A FLAT OUT TRICKSTER!
NONE OF US KNEW HE COULD CONTROL DISTANCES,
SPEEDS, TARGETING AND SKILL DAMAGE
IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLE. WE WERE SCREWED.
[BUGRITH] GIVE UP YOUR EMPATHIUM, NOW,
OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!
[RODERICK] AND, JUST WHEN EVERYONE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE UP...
[RODERICK] SORRY I MADE YOU WAIT!
[RODERICK] THANKS TO HELP FROM THE KUNIE TRIBE,
OUR SECRET WEAPON'S COMPLETE AND READY TO GO!
[MICHITAKA] NOW WE'RE TALKIN'!
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, BUGRITH!
YOUR EVIL DEEDS ARE ABOUT TO BE FOILED, MY FRIEND!
WITH THIS...! THE METRO BLADE!
[SHIROE] "METRO BLADE"?
[MARIELLE] YEAH, BUT ISN'T THAT... JUST A RULER?
TOTALLY A RULER.
[AKATSUKI] IT'S A RULER.
[RODERICK] THE METRO BLADE...
ANY UNIT CAN BE MEASURE WITH PRECISION,
AND IT'S AUTHENTICITY IS COMPLETELY CONFIRMED
BY THIS DEVICE!
FIRST WE SHUT DOWN HIS ABILITY, AND THEN...
[MICHITAKA] TIGER ECHO FIST! UWAH!
UAAHHHHH!
[MICHITAKA] ANYWAY. THAT'S THE GIST OF IT.
[SHIROE] THERE WAS ONE MORE...
OKAY, SEINE. GO AHEAD.
[SEINE] UUH...
[SEINE] UH, HELLO EVERYBODY... [AKATSUKI] MM.
MY NAME IS SEINE... AND...
AND THERE WAS MORE THAN JUST THE SCANDAL GENIUS
WE REPORTED THE OTHER DAY.
WE ALSO HAD THE SO‐CALLED "PESTILENCE INCIDENT"
RIGHT BEFORE THE LIBRA FESTIVAL.
AND SISLAU, THE MONSTER WHO CAUSED IT,
LOVED CALLING HIMSELF THE POISON GENIUS.
[RODERICK] OUR BEST GUESS SO FAR IS
THAT A NEW TYPE OF MONSTER WAS INTRODUCED
WITH THE NOVASPHERE PIONEERS UPGRADE.
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD? [SHIROE] HMM?
[AKATSUKI] YOU'RE NOT TIRED, ARE YOU?
[SHIROE] NO. I'M OKAY.
I'M FEELING JUST FINE.
MPH. ALL RIGHT...
[MINORI] MASTER SHIROE!
[SHIROE] HUH?
[MINORI] HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
[SHIROE] MINORI. IS YOUR SHIFT OVER?
[MINORI] YEAH! THEY GAVE ME LOTS OF FREE EXTRA STUFF TODAY!
YOU MEAN "EVERY DAY."
YOU NEED HELP?
NAH, I'VE GOT IT.
[MINORI] AND HERE'S WHY....
TA‐DA! LIFE'S BETTER WITH A MAGIC BAG!
WOW!
MINORI, YOU DESIGNED THAT?!
(GIGGLEE) I SURE DID!
LOOK! YOU CAN JUST KEEP ON CRAMMING STUFF IN!
IT'S VERY EFFICIENT! AND SUPER CHIC AND GIRLY!
[SHIROE] AHHH...
[SHIROE] WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD GET SOME
TREATS TO TAKE BACK HOME.
[AKATSUKI] ABSOLUTELY!
RED BEAN BUNS, MY LORD!
[MINORI] COULDN'T WE EAT SOMETHING LIKE
A FLAN FOR A CHANGE?
[AKATSUKI] YOU GOT A PROBLEM
WITH RED BEAN BUNS?
[MINORI] NO, BUT CHANGE IS GOOD.
[AKATSUKI] HA. IT'S NOT THE USUAL RED BEAN BUNS TODAY.
THEY'RE CHERRY BLOSSOM BUNS, A LIMITED SEASONAL EDITION.
[TETORA] OH YEAH? WELL, [ALL] HUH?
I WANNA HAVE SOME STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE! RIGHT NOW!
[SHIROE] WHA‐?! TETORA?!
GET OFF OF MY LORD.
YOU'RE A NUISANCE, HALF‐STARLET.
[TETORA] HALF‐STARLET, YOU SAY?!
THE GALAXY TREMBLES AT MY STARDOM
WHILE THE PLANETS REVOLVE AROUND ME!
AND SHIROE ALREADY SAID HE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY LOVES IT
[TETORA] WHEN I STICK TO HIS BODY LIKE THIS ALL DAY LONG!
(LAUGHS) [SHIROE] NO, I DIDN'T.
[MINORI] SHIROE...
[AKATSUKI] I'LL CUT HER.
STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!
[MINORI] WE ARE GOING TO GET FLAN! (SHIROE IN PAIN)
THE RED BEAN BUNS ARE THIS WAY, MY LORD! [SHIROE] YAARGH!
[SHIROE] ARRGGGHHH! (HORRIFIED)
[KNIGHT A] DEEP FRIED ROCKFISH FOR ME!
[KNIGHT B] ME TOO!
[WAITRESS A] OKAY!
[KARASHIN] HELLO, ISAAC.
(MUNCH)
[KARASHIN] GOOD TO SEE YOU.
(GRUNT)
[ISAAC] YOU'VE BEEN EXTRA CHUMMY LATELY.
[KARASHIN] OH, COME ON... I'M JUST MEETING A FRIEND
TO DISCUSS BUSINESS OVER DINNER.
CAN I GET A DEEP FRIED ROCKFISH AND A BEER?
[WAITRESS B] SURE!
(MOUTHFUL) TRYIN' TO MAKE MONEY HERE?
Y'DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT THAT WAY...
I'M JUST CHECKIN' IN ON ONE OF MY GUILD'S FINE ESTABLISHMENTS.
[REZARICK] I DEFINITELY TOLD YOU BEFORE
THAT THIS IS A TRADING BRANCH
OF SHOPPING DISTRICT EIGHT, MISTER ISAAC.
[ISAAC] REZARICK. STOP CALLING ME MISTER. I'M SERIOUS.
[REZARICK] YESSIR. [KARASHIN] HERE YOU GO.
STRAIGHT FROM THE ROUND TABLE TO YOU.
[ISAAC] AH.
[KARASHIN] APPARENTLY IT'S A REPORT ON ENEMIES
THEY CALL "GENIUSES."
THE NAME RINGS A BELL, BUT WHAT'RE THEY ALL ABOUT?
COULDN'T SAY.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT SOME PEOPLE OF THE LAND
ARE LOOKING TO GO TO WAR.
SHADY BUSINESS ALL OVER THE PLACE, HUH?
[REZARICK] THEY'RE ALSO SAYING THE WYVERN DISTURBANCE IN SAPHIR
WAS A SIDE EFFECT OF MINAMI
POWER‐LEVELING PEOPLE OF THE LAND.
I GET IT NOW... WE'RE IN MAIHAMA
BECAUSE THE VILLAIN KNEW ALL OF THIS WAS GOING ON...
YEAH, THAT'S SHIROE. ALWAYS A STEP AHEAD.
[ISAAC] TELL ME ABOUT IT.
[SHIROE] WOW... I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR
SINCE WE WERE TRANSPORTED HERE.
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.
[SHIROE] IT MAKES SENSE
THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO LEAVE.
[NYANTA] YEAH. AND SOME A LOT MORE THAN OTHERS.
Y'KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD.
NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN EASY.
[MARIELLE] OH? YOU'RE HELPING OUT? [SERARA] YES, MA'AM
[MARIELLE] AHH... I'M GLAD YOU'RE GETTING THE HANG OF IT.
AND I REMEMBER YOU SAID
YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE SIMPLE THINGS ALREADY...
AND YOU DON'T EVEN NEED THE CHEF SUBCLASS TO DO IT ANYMORE.
WELL THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.
HUH?
[SERARA] ALL DONE!
[NYANTA] NOW THAT'S A LOVELY DISH, SERARA!
[SERARA] THANKS!
[NYANTA] WHAT ABOUT THE NEW POTATOES?
[SERARA] I'VE GOT 'EM BOILED UP
AND SPICED JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT!
[NYANTA] YOU KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
WELL, I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TEACHER!
WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOME TEA
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE VEGETABLES TO COOL DOWN?
SOUNDS GREAT.
(SLIME MOOING)
[NYANTA] IS IT A GOOD POT THIS TIME?
[SERARA] YES, IT'S REALLY WARM AND TASTY.
[NYANTA] MY GOODNESS, WHAT A RELAXING DAY.
I JUST WANNA CURL UP IN A SUNBEAM AND TAKE A NAP
(BLOW AND SIP)
HMMM.
WELL LOOK AT YOU, YOU SEEM TO BE ENJOYING YOURSELF.
WELL THAT'S BECAUSE I AM!
[NYANTA] HMM? I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
UH...
UM, IS EVERYTHING OKAY WITH YOU, CHIEF?
I'M DOING WONDERFUL.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
[NYANTA] HEY SERARA,
ARE YOU GLAD YOU ENDED UP HERE IN THE ELDER TALES WORLD?
[SERARA] HUH? OH! I AM.
ARE YOU SURE YOU MEAN THAT?
YEAH! I MEAN I KNOW I CAN'T SEE MY MOM OR MY DAD RIGHT NOW,
AND A LOT OF REALLY STRANGE THINGS
HAVE HAPPENED TO ME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE...
BUT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO ME TOO,
KINDA LIKE...
HMM?
WELL NOW THERE'S SOMETHING
I WANNA BE IN THE FUTURE.
SO YOU HAVE A DREAM THEN?
MM‐HM...
(CHUCKLING) [NYANTA, THINKING] LOOK AT THAT.
NOT EVERYONE CAME HERE THE SAME AGE OR THE SAME LEVEL.
BUT WE ALL HAVE ROOM TO GROW.
JUST LIKE CHILDREN EVENTUALLY BECOME YOUNG ADULTS,
AND THEN THEY GROW SOME MORE, AND ARE REBORN AGAIN.
AND EVENTUALLY
REINVENT THEMSELVES INTO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
Y'KNOW I THINK YOU'LL BE FINE.
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO, LITTLE LADY.
[SERARA] OHH... EHH! UHH...
B‐B‐B‐B‐B‐BUT... MY DREAM IS JUST SO FAR AWAY!
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GIVING UP OR ANYTHING!
BUT I KNOW I'VE GOT WORK TO DO.
YOU SEE...? WHEN I COMPARE WHAT I'VE DONE WITH WHAT
MINORI AND ISUZU HAVE MANAGED TO DO...
I REALLY HAVEN'T DONE THAT MUCH AT ALL.
SO I JUST GOTTA WORK TO BE THE BEST THAT I CAN BE.
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.
BUT THERE'S ONE THING I HAVE TO DO FIRST.
I MUST FIND IT WITHIN MYSELF TO BE STRONG AND INDEPENDENT.
THEN I CAN GET TO WHERE I WANT.
YOU'RE GROWIN' UP. YAH!
I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO IT...
TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED, UNDERSTAND.
SO YOU KNOW, I'M PULLING FOR YOU TO GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT
OUT OF LIFE. THAT GOES FOR YOU AND ALL YOU'RE FRIENDS, TOO.
(HAPPY SIGH)
[SHIROE, THINKING] KANAMI. I SURE COULD USE YOUR HELP.
I GUESS I SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN.
I WAS BETTER OFF THAN MOST PEOPLE.
I RAN INTO SOME FRIENDS RIGHT AWAY WHEN I GOT HERE.
I'M PRETTY LUCKY TO HAVE BOTH NAOTSUGU AND AKATSUKI AROUND.
FEEL FREE TO THANK ME IN PERSON. I'M RIGHT HERE.
WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT,
I DID SOME NINJA STUFF.
YOU'RE REALLY GETTING THIS NINJA THING DOWN.
I'M GLAD YOU NOTICED, MY LORD.
AH... SO TELL ME...
WHAT SEEMS TO BE TROUBLING YOU NOW? [SHIROE] HUH?
[SHIROE] EH? [AKATSUKI] I TOLD YOU BEFORE,
WHEN SOMETHING IS BOTHER YOU,
YOUR FOREHEAD GETS ALL WRINKLY LIKE AN OLD MAN.
OH, IT DOES?
I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU.
HEY! SHIROE, I FINALLY FOUND YOU! UWAHH!
[TETORA] MY NAUGHTY RADAR IS GOING OFF!
IS THIS A MIDNIGHT TRYST? [NAOTSUGU] ERK!
[TETORA] YOU'RE GOING OVER BORING STRATEGY
STUFF AGAIN, AREN'T CHA?!
[NAOTSUGU] YEAH, ARE YOU GUYS DISCUSSING STRATEGY?
HEY! COME HERE! [TETORA] OOPSY DAISY!
AN ADORABLE FACE,
ATTRACTIVE BEYOND A DOUBT...
WELL I'M RIGHT HERE!
YOU'RE GONNA NEED A GALACTIC SUPERSTAR IN ON THIS PUPPY!
NOT TO MENTION YOUR FAVORITE TANK!
[SHIROE] YOU TWO HAVE BECOME QUITE A PAIR.
[NAOTSUGU] TH‐TH‐TH‐THAT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY!
[TETORA] YOU KNOW WE'RE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!
JUST CALL US, "TETOTSUGU" FROM NOW ON.
THE GUARDIAN'S TOTALLY MASSIVE AND TOWERING ARMOR
GETS PROTECTED BY MY REACTIVE HEALING SPELL!
EVERY TIME HE GETS BEAT UP, THE POWER OF MY STARDOM...
AS WELL AS MY LOVE WILL MAKE HIS HEART POUND FOR ME.
[NAOTSUGU] UGH... JUST... DON'T.
OH, NAOTSUGU, YOU'RE SUCH A TEASE.
(TETORA GIGGLING) UH‐HUH...
[TETORA] SO WHAT NOW?
[SHIROE] IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR
SINCE THE APOCALYPSE BROUGHT US HERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ADVENTURERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TO ADJUST,
AND THEY JUST WANNA GO HOME.
[AKATSUKI] BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY AN OPTION FOR US, IS IT?
[SHIROE] DON'T THINK SO...
AND WELL, EINS SAYS WE SHOULD FIND A WAY
TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE.
[NAOTSUGU] YOU MEAN WHAT HE SAID ABOUT LEVYING A TAX
ON THE WEALTHY AND STARTING A WELFARE STATE?
[TETORA] YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT'S REALLY GONNA WORK.
[SHIROE] I'M GUESSING IT WON'T. [AKATSUKI] NO, OF COURSE NOT.
FOR NOW, I THINK THEY'RE ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN POSSIBLY
HELP THEM. AND THAT'S TO TRY AND GET THEM BACK TO THE OLD WORLD.
AND DO IT SOON...
THE ENTIRE SERVER'S ABOUT TO GO TO WAR.
[TETORA] YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. (BLOW)
YES. AND IT COULD BE POSSIBLE THAT OUR VERY EXISTENCE HERE
IN THE WORLD IS ULTIMATELY THE CAUSE.
SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US...
IS THAT WE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE A DUTY
TO FIND OUR WAY BACK HOME, MY LORD?
HMPH...
[SHIROE] THERE'S SOMETHING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
THAT I NEED TO TELL ALL OF YOU.
[ALL] HMM?
[NYANTA] OH YEAH?
WELL LET'S HEAR WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE TO SAY, MY MAN
HEY CHIEF.
HMM?
[AKATSUKI] A LETTER?
[NAOTSUGU] A LOOOOVE LETTER?
[SHIROE] YEAH, NO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.
HMM?!
THE LETTER'S FROM ROE2.
SHE'S MY SECOND CHARACTER.
[TETORA] OOOH...
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AVATAR
YOU LEFT ON THE TEST SERVER, RIGHT?
YOU GOT HER TO LEVEL 90?
COME ON! ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT
THE TEST SERVER? THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE MOON!
[SHIROE] MM‐HM. [AKATSUKI] THE MOON...?
AND YOUR BETA CHARACTER'S WRITING YOU LETTERS NOW?
I MEAN, HOW DID THE THING GET HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
[SHIROE] MINORI GAVE IT TO ME, ACTUALLY.
THE JUNIOR MEMBERS MET HER ON THE ROAD.
[TETORA] HM... [SHIROE] ANYWAY...
ACCORDING TO THIS, THE PERSON
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND SINCE WE GOT HERE...
HAS INSTEAD FOUND ME.
SO IT'S GOT ME THINKING AGAIN.
WHAT IS THE REAL REASON WE WERE ALL BROUGHT TO THIS WORLD,
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
IT'S STRANGE, DON'T YOU THINK?
IF THIS IS TRULY AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE,
THEN IT SEEMS UNREASONABLE
THAT IT WOULD BE SO SIMILAR TO ELDER TALES, RIGHT?
AND BESIDES, THE IDEA THAT A GAME BECAME REAL
AND SOMEHOW TRANSPORTED US ALL HERE?
THE THOUGHT OF THAT... IS IMPOSSIBLE.
AND AS FAR AS WE ALL KNOW,
THERE'S NO TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
[AKATSUKI] TRUE. [TETORA] I KNOW, RIGHT?
[SHIROE] AND THE CHANGES AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE EITHER.
THE LAWS OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD
AND THE MECHANICS OF THE GAME HAVE BEEN JUMBLED TOGETHER.
IT'S AS IF TWO SETS OF RULES WERE ALMOST RANDOMLY MIXED.
[NAOTUSGU] IT STILL ACTS LIKE THE GAME IN THE WEIRDEST WAYS.
[SHIROE] IN ANY CASE, I DON'T THINK THE IDEA OF THIS BEING
AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE IS PLAUSIBLE ANYMORE...
BUT SOMEONE MUST KNOW... THEY KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE,
AND THEY KNOW HOW WE WERE BROUGHT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T FOUND A PERSON OF THE LAND OR A PLAYER
LIKE US, WHO CAN EXPLAIN ANY OF THIS IN FULL DETAIL.
[NAOTSUGU] SO THAT WOULD BE THE BUTT‐WAD THAT BROUGHT US HERE.
[NYANTA] SO WHAT DOES THE LETTER SAY?
[SHIROE] ROE2 SAYS SHE TOOK OVER MY UNUSED SECOND AVATAR...
BASICALLY SHE FOUND HERSELF A BODY WITHOUT A SOUL,
SO SHE COULD COME TO THIS WORLD.
SO WHO IS SHE ANYWAY?
[SHIROE] SHE REFERS TO HERSELF HERE AS A "TRAVELLER."
AN INTELLIGENT ENTITY FROM ANOTHER WORLD. YOU MIGHT CALL
HER AN "ALTERNATE LIFE FORM," OR EVEN AN "ALIEN" FOR THAT MATTER.
(AKATSUKI INHALES) [SHIROE] SHE COMES FROM A RACE
OF ARTIFICIALLY CREATED LIVING BEINGS...
AND SHE SAYS THERE ARE TWO TYPES,
THERE ARE "OBSERVERS,"
AND OTHERS SHE REFERS TO AS "COLLECTORS."
THESE TRAVELLERS WERE CREATED WITH THE MISSION
OF GATHERING A VALUABLE RESOURCE,
SOMETHING CALLED "EMPATHIUM"
OKAY, AND THAT IS...?
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LETTER DIDN'T REALLY SAY MUCH MORE, HOWEVER,
SHE DOES SAY THAT HER PEOPLE EXHAUSTED THEIR EMPATHIUM
AND ENTERED A PERIOD OF RAPID DECLINE.
[SHIROE/ROE2] "IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE SITUATION
WE NEEDED TO HARVEST IT FROM A DIFFERENT WORLD.
AND LIFE FORMS LIKE ME WERE CREATED TO SURVEY
THE ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSES TO RESTOCK THE SUPPLY."
ROE2 AND THE OTHERS GOT HERE THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED
"THE ECLIPSE." AND OF COURSE THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
IT'S THEIR VERSION OF THE APOCALYPSE.
[NAOTSUGU] WAIT, YOU'RE SAYING THEY KNOW WHAT CAUSED ALL THIS?
[SHIROE] THEY DON'T... IT LOOKS LIKE THE WHOLE THING'S JUST
AS MUCH A MYSTERY TO THEM TOO.
OKAY. YOU THINK THEY EVER GOT AHOLD OF
THIS EMPATHIUM THINGY‐MA‐BOB?
I DON'T KNOW...
[ROE2, VOICEOVER] WE UNDERSTAND YOUR PEOPLE TO BE INTELLIGENT
ENTITIES THAT ARE RANK 3 OR HIGHER.
MINORI AND HER FRIENDS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE SUCH.
CONSEQUENTLY, YOUR PEOPLE RESERVE
THE RIGHTS TO THE RESOURCES IN THIS WORLD.
COLLECTORS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO PRIORITIZE ACQUISITION,
BUT OUR MISSION AS OBSERVERS IS TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATION.
[SHIROE/ROE2] "I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY OLDER BROTHER,
SHIROE IS GONNA END UP READING THIS LETTER,
BUT IF YOU DO, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A TRANSMITTER
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MOON."
[AKATSUKI] AH...
[ROE2] AS YOU MAY KNOW...
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ON THE MOON
WATCHING OVER THE SITUATION.
[ROE2, VOICEOVER] AND IF ANY OF YOUR PEOPLE WISH TO "RETURN,"
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY WE CAN ASSIST YOU.
(GASP)
[ROE2, VOICEOVER] BUT AS A WORD OF WARNING,
BEWARE THE COLLECTORS.
THEY ARE TRAVELLERS LIKE US,
BUT THEIR INTELLIGENCE IS ONLY AROUND RANK 2.
THEY CAME TO THIS WORLD USING PRE‐EXISTING MONSTER
CHARACTERS WITH HIGH COMBAT SKILLS.
AND AS YOU'LL SEE, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY,
THEY'RE NOT EASY TO GET ALONG WITH.
[SHIROE] "AND SO I MUST ADVISE YOU TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS.
[ALL] HMMM...
[SHIROE] SO WE CAN ASSUME, I GUESS,
THAT THE "GENIUSES" ARE
THESE "COLLECTORS" SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
WHY IN THE HELL WOULD THEY BE TARGETING
ADVENTURERS THEN, HUH? [NYANTA] HMMM...
[SHIROE] I'M NOT SURE.
[ROE2] P. S. DEAREST MINORI, IT WAS A PLEASURE
MEETING YOU AND ALL THE OTHERS.
MAY THE WARM GLOW OF YOUR EMPATHIUM,
LIGHT THE WAY TO WHEREVER YOUR FUTURE TAKES YOU.
LOVE, YOUR BIG SIS.
[SHIROE] THERE'S STILL A LOT ABOUT THIS I DON'T UNDERSTAND...
BUT IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH THE OBSERVERS SHE SAYS ARE UP ON THE MOON,
THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GIVE US A HINT
ABOUT HOW TO GET BACK HOME.
[TETORA] SO YOU'RE REALLY GONNA TRUST WHAT'S IN THAT LETTER?
[SHIROE] I THINK WE CAN, TETORA.
[NYANTA] IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY YOU TRUST IT.
WHEN I DIED IN THE ABYSSAL SHAFT, I SAW SOMETHING.
IT WAS A BEACH...
ON THE MOON...
AND NOW THAT I'VE READ THIS LETTER,
I'M PRETTY SURE...
IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T A DREAM.
I SAW IT... I WAS WITH YOU.
I REMEMBER ALL THE MEMORIES FLOATING INTO THE SKY.
THAT REALLY HAPPENED, IT DID.
MPH...
[TETORA] HMM...
HM? (TETORA GIGGLES)
[SHIROE] SO IF WE CAN GET THERE,
JUST ONE MORE TIME...
WE MIGHT...
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME!
[AKATSUKI, VOICEOVER] MEET RAYNESHIA'S YOUNGER BROTHER,
AND MAIHAMA'S PRINCE, ITHERUS.
A BIRTHDAY PARTY IS HELD IN HIS HONOR
TO ANNOUNCE HIS SUCCESSION TO LORD.
BUT EVEN DURING SUCH FESTIVITIES,
THE THREAT OF WAR HANGS OVER THE LAND.
AN INSIDIOUS SHADOW THREATENS THE YOUNG BOY'S LIFE,
AND PROVOKES AN ENRAGED BLACK SWORD KNIGHT.
[SHIROE] MY COMRADES ARE ALWAYS BESIDE ME.