Wow, that's a lovely windmill.
The royal capital of Helshper is also known as the Windmill City.
That windmill gathers up water
and distributes it all throughout the city.
Wow, they have a waterline.
But that castle...
We've got some East-meets-West acculturation here, huh?
Exactly what world am I in, and what era?
Acculturation... What a bizarre word.
Er, it's a word you use to express the mixing of two different cultures...
Or something like that?
Ah. Acculturation, eh?
Indeed, I think that's a perfect word for this.
Wow, he just went with it.
Oh, right. I was taking you to Sakaiya.
Right this way.
But to think that you were acquainted with Sir Caerick.
I'm not, though. I'm just delivering a letter.
Are you familiar with Sakaiya, Lady Cayna?
No, not at all.
I believe you're the first person I've met who's not familiar with it.
It's that famous?
Famous? It's the biggest merchant business in the land.
From a single grain of wheat to magical items...
And even the hiring of bodyguards and sentries.
Sakaiya is a famous shop where you can obtain everything
you could possibly need.
So it's like a general trading company.
We rely on them quite often for trade.
Oh, I see.
This is Sakaiya.
Well, this is a grand building.
But...
A roof with kawara tiles...
This is the most chaotic East-meets-West acculturation I've ever seen.
Oh, Sir Elineh.
Welcome.
Good day, Young Master. It's always a pleasure.
Is the master in?
We have a letter for him from Felskeilo.
A letter?
Would it be all right if I took a look at it?
Of course.
Here you go.
Pardon me.
I-If you'll excuse me for a moment!
A Grandson, a Granddaughter, a Great-Grandson, and a Fortress
Sakai
It's been too long, Sir Elineh.
It's a pleasure to see you again, Sir Caerick.
I hear you're still the master of charm and making a fortune.
You're too kind.
Oh, hel...lo?
Sir Caerick is bowing his head to someone who isn't royalty?!
It is a pleasure to meet you, Grandmother.
Grandmother?!
Yes. I am the son of your daughter, Mai-Mai. My name is Caerick Sakai.
Mai-Mai's son?
Mother has always told me many great things about you.
I am truly honored to meet such a treasured guardian as yourself.
Ah, Grandmother. You must be exhausted from your long journey.
We will prepare you the most luxurious room, one no shabby inn could ever hope to match.
Please rest here for now.
Sakai
Nah... I'm good. Really.
I've just been hit with a rather shocking truth.
Mai-Mai is going to pay.
G-Grandmother?
Besides, shabby little inns
are wonderful places for delicious meals and camaraderie,
and I'm rather fond of them.
I feel like I can relax better there than in some stuffy, luxurious room.
So please, pay no mind.
D-Did I offend you in some way?
Oh, no. Not in the least.
Well, I guess we're done here. Bye now.
L-Lady Cayna! If you'll excuse me, Sir Caerick.
Sakai
Please wait, Lady Cayna!
Sakai
We have returned.
We're back.
Hey, welcome back, Elineh, missy.
Welcome back!
They're with Helshper's knights.
They had a few questions about the bandits we ran into on the eastern border.
Ah, I see.
We just finished our explanation.
We're handing over the staff that the bandits had to them. You don't mind, do you?
Of course. That's perfectly fine.
In that case...
We can probably wrap things up here, can't we?
Yes, thank you.
Could you wait outside for a while?
Yes, ma'am!
What?
Allow me to apologize on behalf of my younger brother for offending you.
I am terribly sorry, Grandmother.
Huh?
"Grandmother"?!
W-Wait, are you...
I am Caerick's older twin sister, Caerina Sakai.
Oh, I guess you do look like that fool.
If that's how you're referring to him, he must have offended you greatly.
I'm surprised you already know of this considering it just happened.
We have the ability to speak to each other even if we are not face to face.
Must be Special Skill: Telepathy.
You are amazing, Grandmother. I am very sorry about my brother.
You don't have to keep apologizing.
I was being kind of immature myself.
I am relieved to hear you say that. Our mother always spoke about you,
so my brother was quite nervous.
She told you about me? What would she even say?
If anyone ever made you angry, ever if they were family,
you would tear them limb from limb.
I'd never do that!
I gotta say, missy, tearing your own family limb from limb is a bit harsh.
Y-You were that cruel?
I was not!
Are you saying I look like some heartless serial killer?
Ice flowers...
I-I mean...
The ice sculpture you made outta that bandit looked amazing... right?
That was a compliment!
That was absolutely not a compliment!
Er, it really was pretty!
I-It sure was!
It was! It really was!
Why do you all have to react like that?!
You know what this is?
This is where I can get angry, isn't it?
L-Lady Cayna...
W-Wait! Calm down, missy!
Just put that gently onto the ground...
Where'd that giant snowball come from?
Enough talk! Fire!
What did I do?
I-It's so pretty...
All I wanted was for my children to have a touching first encounter
with their grandmother.
So Caerina sent a telepathic message saying, "Caerick made Grandmother angry.
We almost died. What shall we do?"
I see...
As much as I'd like to protect them,
if I do that, Mother Dearest's rage will be directed toward me.
That's what you get for trying to surprise Mother Dearest.
But when Mother Dearest returns, I'll apologize with you,
so cheer up.
Thank you, Brother.
She's being meek and honest for once.
I guess even Mai-Mai can be cute at times.
I guess he can be a little kind at times.
You put me through hell.
I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorr—
You made her lose her marbles.
I've still got my balls, though!
They're all just quests from merchants.
And most of them are quests to get rid of bandits, huh?
Um, excuse me...
What is it, missy?
Er, you know, you're awfully small for an adventurer.
Anyone would be from your perspective.
I haven't seen you around here before. Are you a new adventurer?
No, I came from Felskeilo.
So what brings you here?
I heard there was a castle in the middle of a lake. Do you know where that is?
You must be talking about Crescent Moon Castle.
It's right here.
Right now, it's said to have fallen into the hands of bandits, so it's off-limits.
Why is it called the Crescent Moon Castle?
It's said that on a night with a crescent moon, the whole place starts sparkling.
Wow!
Rumors say it has an ancient treasure room,
but according to some old geezers, it's called the Hall of the Guardian,
and is feared by many.
The Hall of the Guardian? I might have a bingo.
Thank you very much. You were a great help.
Don't worry about it. You can get this information anywhere.
Uh, can I help you?
Er, I was just—
Ignore him. He has a terrible habit of starting at girls.
Oh, I see. Well, if you'll excuse me.
She's definitely suspicious.
I'm pretty sure I've seen her before.
You need to work on your pick-up lines. Of course she's hot if she's an elf.
I'm not hitting on her. I've really seen her somewhere before.
You always try to hit on elves.
You're not concealing yourself very well.
Oh. Whoopsie!
I'm a chick, I'm a chick, I'm a chick, I'm a chick...
Where have I seen her before?
What should I do? I'd like some more concrete information.
All the quests to take care of the bandits were from merchants,
so maybe Caerick would know more.
Are you sure about this? He was quite terrified.
Really, I realize I was being immature.
Oh, fine. I guess I'll try to make up with him.
So... Yeah, I, uh...
I'm sorry.
I'm gonna be torn limb from limb!
Huh?
Torn limb from limb? I'm assuming Mai-Mai told you that.
It was her, wasn't it?
Y-Yes...
What am I going to do with that stupid daughter of mine?
Oh, right, Caerick.
Yesh?!
Could you send Mai-Mai a message for me with your telepathy?
Y-Y-Y-Yes! Wh-What would you like me to tell her?
"Would you prefer the iron maiden, guillotine, crucifixion,
being buried or burnt alive,
being ripped apart by bulls, kneeling on triangles, or the pear of anguish?"
Thanks.
O-Of course. I will send that to her.
I am terribly sorry for my rudeness when it is my duty as a merchant to
provide the masses with wares, Grandmother.
You don't need to apologize anymore.
You just wanted me to be comfortable, and I acted immaturely.
By the way...
Yes?
I wanted to ask about the Crescent Moon Castle that's somewhere around here.
What did you want to know?
I'm pretty sure it's a Guardian Tower.
What?!
But the Guardian Towers are thirteen bases bestowed to us by the gods!
It's a holy tower that holds treasures the likes of which we've never seen,
and can only entered by the chosen few!
Yeah, though that's a bit overboard.
I figured I'd wake up the guardian inside
before it's destroyed so they can up the defense.
I'm thinking about going there tomorrow.
But, Grandmother, bandits currently rule over that area.
Oh, I'll figure that out.
What?
My goal isn't to defeat a bunch of bandits,
but if they get in my way, I might have no choice.
Grandmother...
If the bandits were to disappear, we'd be able to open the trade route again.
But even if I defeat these bandits, make sure you don't tell anyone.
Why is that?
I don't want any rumors going around saying that a girl easily defeated the bandits
that the knights were having so much trouble with.
If that happens, I'm holing up again.
I don't want any attention brought to me.
Grandmother, if I may...
The knights have a fortress in front of the lake,
and the road to the lake has been blocked.
But it'll still work out, right?
But of course.
My sister left on a mission a few days ago,
and I will ask her to let you through.
What's this? Are you sure Sakaiya can help out a lowly adventure like myself?
There is absolutely no problem with that.
That adventurer will be carrying out a very important quest,
by delivering goods to the knights at the fort.
Oh, Sakaiya, you villain.
Oh, no, no. I'm no match for you, Grandmother.
Thank goodness Great-Grandmother didn't rip Father limb from limb.
Thank you very much.
N-No problem! This is nothing.
So... I'll be gone a couple of days so that I can deliver some items
to the knights at the fort.
I see. I'm glad to see that you seem to have worked things out with Sir Caerick.
I've caused you a lot of trouble, Elineh. I'm so sorry.
I'm sure you'll be just fine in most incidents,
but you can never be too careful.
We'll need your help getting back to Felskeilo, so please be careful.
Right. Thank you both very much.
Stop one sec.
No one's watching. Okay.
Summoning Magic: Veldocancer.
Okay, Veldo. Get us to the knights' fort.
Yes, Grandmother.
I telepathically received Caerick's message saying you were bringing supplies,
and to let you through to the tower.
But that was this morning!
It takes at least three days on horseback to get here.
How did you get here so quickly?
Well, I rushed here, assuming you were waiting for the supplies.
I didn't think I was going to get yelled at.
E-Er, that was not my intention. I was just curious.
Um, do you know this adventurer, Captain?
She is my grandmother.
Treat her like you would anyone else.
Y-Yes, ma'am.
And...
R-Reporting! We are under attack!
What?!
By who?
We believe they are rock golems, and there are nine of them!
Nine rock golems?!
Tell everyone to be ready to intercept their attack.
Yes, ma'am!
Please stay here, Grandmother.
Understood?
Oh, I don't know.
Well, don't blame me if you get hurt.
Let's go.
Yes, ma'am!
You're not going to help them?
I'm not sure.
What should I do, though? I really don't want to bring attention to myself.
Rock golems...
Archers, fire!
Yes, ma'am.
Damn it! It had no effect!
I figured that wouldn't work.
Without a weapon that actually strikes them, like a hammer or mace,
we won't be able to deal enough damage.
But...
We only have twenty knights here. We stand no chance with our armor and swords.
Captain, let's strike!
Yes! We cannot allow them to advance any further!
Captain!
I don't believe we're a match for those rock golems, but we have no time.
If they aren't stopped, this fort will be destroyed.
And if that happens,
no one will be able to protect the royal capital from bandits and monsters.
I'll just have to do what I can.
Let's go. Do not let them advance any further.
Yes, ma'am!
Knights, draw your swords.
I will draw my sword for the captain!
For Helshper!
Hey! That's not fair!
Do not let them through!
You snooze, you lose!
Let us be victorious!
Me, too! Me, too!
Do not let your guard down.
Charge!
It's unharmed?
Get up!
Let's take him back to the fort.
Weapon Skill...
Fire Blade!
Way to go, Captain!
Did you see that, you stupid stone dolls?!
Captain!
No, I'm fine. But it's no use.
Wha—
No way!
If I can't defeat them with this attack... We have no choice but to retreat.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Did you learn that on your own? It's super impressive if you did.
Grandmother...
Leave the rest to me.