[PEPIN] UH.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] SUPPOSEDLY A MAN DIED WHILE FIGHTING MONSTERS,
AND JUST LIKE IN THE GAME, HE REVIVED IN THE CATHEDRAL.
[PEPIN] I'M ALIVE! I‐I TOTALLY JUST CAME BACK TO LIFE!
[MAN 1] SERIOUSLY?
[MAN 2] WAIT, SO DOESN'T THAT MEAN...
[PEPIN] I DIED, AND I CAME BACK!
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THE MMORPG "ELDER TALES."
WITHOUT WARNING, AN ESTIMATED 30,000 JAPANESE PLAYERS,
AND SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND WORLDWIDE,
WERE TRAPPED IN A WORLD THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE THE ONE IN THAT GAME.
AND IN THIS WORLD, DEATH IS NOT THE END.
WHOA!
ASTRAL BIND!
(TRIFFID GURGLES)
(PANT) HUH!
[NAOTSUGU] AND WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.
[SHIROE] ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S CALL IT QUITS FOR TODAY.
YES, MY LORD.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THE GOOD NEWS SEEMS TO BE
THAT OUR BODIES ALREADY KNOW ALL THE BASIC COMBAT MOVES...
AS IN WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE GAME MENU TO FIGHT.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE INTENT TO FIGHT
AND CAN SEE THE ENEMY IN FRONT OF US,
WE CAN USE SKILLS AND MAGIC AS IF WE WERE USING VOICE INPUT.
HOWEVER, USING THE SYSTEM AND MASTERING IT
ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS ENTIRELY.
AND WE COULD USE A LITTLE PRACTICE.
HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF PRACTICING THE WAY
MARTIAL ARTISTS DO IN OUR WORLD WILL BE ENOUGH.
[AKATSUKI] LORD SHIROE?
[SHIROE] MISS AKATSUKI, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T NEED TO
KEEP ON CALLING ME THAT, OK?
"SHIROE" IS FINE.
WELL, THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP REFERRING TO ME AS "MISS."
[SHIROE] BUT...
THAT'S QUITE THE GAGGLE OF LADIES YOU'RE BUILDING THERE.
DO ME A FAVOR AND SHUT YOUR BIG DUMB FACE!
MY LORD.
[SHIROE] UH, YEAH? [NAOTSUGU] HEH.
[AKATSUKI] I'D LIKE TO DO SOME ADVANCE RECONNAISSANCE ON THE WAY HOME, OK?
[SHIROE] AND WHY IS THAT? [AKATSUKI] FOR PRACTICE.
ONE OF MY SKILLS AS AN ASSASSIN IS DARK VISION.
I ALSO HAVE SNEAK AND SILENT MOVE IN MY INVENTORY,
AND THE FOREST IS A PERFECT PLACE TO PRACTICE.
[AKATSUKI] I SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE.
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
[SHIROE] OK, LET'S MEET UP AT THE SOUTH GATE.
I WILL ILLUMINATE THE PATH WITH MAGIC LIGHT SO YOU CAN SEE US ALONG THE WAY.
[AKATSUKI] UNDERSTOOD.
[NAOTSUGU] SO AKATSUKI HAS A SUBCLASS OF TRACKER ON TOP OF BEING A NINJA?
[SHIROE] I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR ANY LEAVES MOVING AROUND.
THAT GIRL IS PRETTY GOOD.
MAGIC LIGHT.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THE SKILLS AKATSUKI MENTIONED, SNEAK AND SILENT MOVE,
ARE TRACKER SKILLS.
TRACKER IS ONE OF THE SUBCLASSES.
"ELDER TALES" HAS A BUNCH OF SUBCLASSES
FOR AN ADVENTURER TO CHOOSE FROM,
AFTER HE OR SHE HAS CHOSEN ONE OF THE 12 MAIN COMBAT CLASSES.
MASTERING YOUR PRIMARY AND SUBCLASS IS VITAL.
[NAOTSUGU] SO I GUESS ASSASSIN AND TRACKER EQUALS NINJA.
REMIND ME NOT TO PISS HER OFF.
[SHIROE] YOU ALREADY HAVE. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, I JUST REALIZED I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE.
[MARIELLE] PUBLIC ORDER IN THE CITIES IS GOING TO THE POOPER.
[SHIROE] YES.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE RECRUITMENT RACE BETWEEN THE GUILDS IS OVER,
SO WE CAN SAY ALL THE LOCAL POWER BASES ARE SET.
WE'LL SEE WHO STARTS DOMINATING.
ADVENTURERS IN THE LARGER GUILDS ARE SURE THROWING THEIR WEIGHT AROUND.
AND THAT MEANS PEOPLE IN THE SMALLER GUILDS ARE TRYING TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT.
RIGHT. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE AN ENEMY IF YOU'RE NOT IN THEIR GUILD.
YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GO FIGHTING IN THE STREET, NOW, CAN YOU?
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] FIGHTING WASN'T ALLOWED IN THE MAJORITY OF TOWNS
WHEN ELDER TALES WAS A GAME.
IF YOU TRIED TO FIGHT IN A TOWN,
SPECIAL GUARDS CALLED THE ROYAL GUARD WOULD APPEAR,
AND THAT WAS IT.
YOU RESISTED THE ROYAL GUARD, YOU GOT SQUASHED AND REVIVED IN THE CATHEDRAL.
[HIEN] AND THERE ARE STILL WAYS TO HARASS SOMEONE AND GET PHYSICAL WITH THEM
WITHOUT THE GUARD SHOWING UP.
[EISEL] ON TOP OF THAT, PKs HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, TOO.
WHAT'S A PK?
PLAYER KILLINGS, OR AS SOME PEOPLE SAY, PLAYER KILLER.
[HENRIETTA] THEY ATTACK PLAYERS RATHER THAN MONSTERS,
THEN STEAL THE ITEMS AND MONEY THEY DROP AFTER THEY DIE.
IT'S ABOUT THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO.
[HIEN] MINIMAPS THAT TELL YOU WHAT ELSE IS AROUND YOU DON'T WORK OUTSIDE OF TOWN,
AND THERE'S NO ADMIN HERE.
[EISEL] BASICALLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE TREATING THIS AS A DEATH MATCH,
ENRICHING THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE OF ANYONE WHO ISN'T AS AGGRESSIVE.
AND ANYONE WHO'S ALREADY DOING IT IS AHEAD OF THE GAME AND THE OTHER GAMERS.
BUNCH OF JERKHOLES.
WELL, RIGHT NOW, FORTUNE IS FAVORING THE "JERKHOLES."
[MARIELLE] HUH?
[SHIROE] HMM? WHAT'S WRONG, MARIELLE?
(MARIELLE GASPS)
OH, IT'S NOTHING, REALLY!
I MEAN, ISN'T THIS JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION?
[MARIELLE]DON'T YOU AGREE, NAOTSUGU? [NAOTSUGU] HEY, GET OFF OF ME!
[NAOTSUGU] COME ON! AH! AH!
[HENRIETTA] OH, I WAS JUST SO TAKEN BY AKATSUKI'S CUTENESS,
I FORGOT TO TAKE A BREATH AND THINK CLEARLY ABOUT IT.
REALLY, I DID!
NYAH‐NYAH‐NYAH‐NYAH! (HENRIETTA LAUGHS)
[NAOTSUGU] EARTH TO SHIROE.
[SHIROE] I'M HERE, I'M HERE.
YOU KNOW, SHIROE, I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU LATELY, MAN.
YEAH?
AND YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP...
[NAOTSUGU] DUDE. [SHIROE] YEAH, WHATEVER.
[NAOTSUGU] HEY, SHORT STUFF!
[AKATSUKI] DON'T CALL ME THAT, YOU BUTTFACE!
[NAOTSUGU] WERE THERE ANY GOBLINS IN THERE?
[AKATSUKI] THERE WAS ONE WITH A SKULL ON ITS HEAD.
WEIRD AND SILLY... MY KIND OF GOBLIN.
[NAOTSUGU] UH, WHAT?
HUH?
[NAOTSUGU] I HEARD SOMETHING, OR SOMEONE.
WE'VE GOT COMPANY.
HUH! WHOA!
OHH!
THANKS A LOT, SHIROE.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN QUICK TO GET ME OUT OF A TIGHT SPOT.
SO WHAT'S THE PLAN, MASTERMIND?
NAOTSUGU, TAKE UP A TANDEM FORMATION.
WE'VE GOT PK'S OUT THERE, AND I'VE GOT A VISUAL ON 4.
[SHIROE] GIVE ME A SEC.
GOT 'EM.
MIND BOLT!
[KATSUOMARU] HUH. [SHIROE] THERE YOU GO.
OK, CREEPS, YOU GOT A LOT OF GUTS TURNING INTO PKs.
HUH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF YOUR MOTHER'S BASEMENT
AND HAVE HER TEACH YOU SOME MANNERS!
[SHIROE, THINKING] AT LEAST ONE FIGHTER CLASS, TWO THIEVES,
ONE DRESSED LIKE A HEALER.
SO YOU CAN HAND OVER EVERYTHING YOU HAVE
AND WE WON'T SEND YOUR SORRY ASSES TO THE CATHEDRAL.
[SHIROE] FROM THE SOUND OF IT, HE'S BEEN WATCHING WAY TOO MUCH ANIME.
[SHIROE, THINKING] HOWEVER, THEY'RE HUMAN LIKE US.
[SHIROE] WHAT DO YOU THINK?
KICK THEIR ASS!
I'M NOT BACKING DOWN FROM FREAKS WHO ATTACK PEOPLE FOR FUN!
[NAOTSUGU] YOU WANT TO TRY THAT PK CRAP ON US,
THEN YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO BACK AND GET SOME MORE GUYS!
[SHIROE] I'D BE WILLING TO GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF GOLD
IF IT WAS A ONE‐OFF KIND OF DEAL.
(CHUCKLES)
THAT IS, IF THEY CAN BEAT US.
IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!
[SMASH] COME ON.
[SHIROE] THE WARRIOR IN FRONT ON THE RIGHT, TARGET HIM FIRST.
KEEP THE OTHERS OCCUPIED WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.
[NAOTSUGU] ROGER!
(GRUNTING)
[SMASH] I'VE GOT THE FIGHTER. AH!
YOU ATTACK THE MAGICAL NERD GUY.
[LYCOPENE] ROGER!
[SHIROE] ASTRAL BIND.
[LYCOPENE] AH!
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] ASTRAL BIND IS SIMPLY A SPELL THAT RESTRICTS A TARGET'S MOVEMENTS.
IT KEEPS A TARGET FROM COVERING LONG DISTANCES, AND IT DOESN'T LAST LONG.
[SMASH] (GROANS) FINE, I'LL TAKE THE MAGE. YOU FIGHT THE STUPID WARRIOR.
I CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS GUY.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] NORMALLY A GOOD CALL...
BUT NAOTSUGU ISN'T A SAMURAI; HE'S A GUARDIAN.
ANCHOR HOWL!
(SMASH GROANS)
YOU SON OF A...
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] A GUARDIAN BELONGS TO A LARGER GROUP CALLED TANKS,
AND A TANK PROTECTS THEIR ALLIES BY INTERCEPTING ATTACKS.
ON TOP OF THAT, HE CAN CAST THE ANCHOR HOWL.
THIS LITTLE SPELL KEEPS ATTACKERS FROM IGNORING HIM.
IF THEY TRY ATTACKING SOMEONE ELSE, THEY GET CLOBBERED MAGICALLY.
[SMASH] FINE! WHATEVER!
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO KICK YOUR ASS FIRST.
YOU CAN'T BREAK THIS ARMOR, D‐BAGS!
(GRUNTING)
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] MAYBE, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF HIT POINTS FAST THERE, BUDDY.
(NAOTSUGU GROANS)
[SHIROE] ELECTRICAL FUZZ!
OOH!
[LYCOPENE] WAIT A SECOND. HE'S AN ENCHANTER!
[KATSUOMARU] WHAT SPELL IS THAT? IT DOESN'T HURT OR NOTHING.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] A MAGE THAT IS ABLE TO CAST SPELLS IS AN ENCHANTER.
IT'S ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT USES OFFENSIVE MAGIC,
BUT ITS ATTACK POWER IS WEAK. [LYCOPENE] AH!
[KATSUOMARU] HYAH! [NAOTSUGU] UGH!
[SMASH] OH, SCARY.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO WITH THAT SPELL ANYWAY?
[SHIROE] THORN BIND HOSTAGE.
AAH! HEY, WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!
(GROANING)
YAA!
(KATSUOMARU SCREAMS)
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THORN BIND HOSTAGE...
IT BINDS THE CASTER'S TARGET IN SHINING THORNS,
AND FOR EVERY HIT AN ALLY IN YOUR GROUP LANDS ON YOUR TARGET,
THE THORNS EXPLODE, DEALING 1,000 DAMAGE. (KATSUOMARU SCREAMS)
ULTIMATELY, ENCHANTERS HAVE POOR OFFENSE,
BUT THEY CAN WEAKEN AN ENEMY'S ATTACK,
OR INCREASE THE HEALTH OF THEIR ALLIES.
YOU'RE GONNA LOSE HALF THOSE HIT POINTS WHEN THOSE VINES BLOW UP.
YOU WIENERS FEEL LIKE GIVING UP?
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
[SMASH] WE NEED MORE HIT POINTS. HEALER!
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] ENCHANTERS ARE PRETTY HELPLESS,
AND I DEFINITELY CAN'T DO MUCH WITHOUT BACKUP.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, IT'S A ROLE I LIKE.
[LYCOPENE] TAKE THIS, DIRT BAG!
HA HA HA!
NOT VERY SMART FORMING A PARTY WITHOUT A HEALER.
HAVE FUN CRYING IN THE CATHEDRAL, JACKHOLES!
(KATSUOMARU SCREAMS)
UH!
[SMASH] HEALER, WE NEED HEALTH OVER HERE!
HEY!
[SHIROE] I JUST CAST A SLEEP ENCHANTMENT ON YOUR HEALER,
BUT HONESTLY, HE'S BEEN ASLEEP SINCE WE STARTED THE FIGHT.
(SMASH GROANS)
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] ASTRAL HYPNOS, A STOP‐TARGET SPELL
THAT PUTS THE TARGET TO SLEEP.
[LYCOPENE] THAT'S ENOUGH, FOUR‐EYES!
[SMASH] NO, DON'T! NOT YET!
MY ANCHOR HOWL HASN'T WORN OFF YET!
OH, GOD.
(LYCOPENE SCREAMS)
[SMASH] SCREW THIS!
SORCERER, SUMMONER, LET'S KILL THESE CLOWNS AND CALL IT A NIGHT ALREADY!
WE CAN'T LOSE TO A BUNCH OF FREAKING DORKS!
(CHUCKLES)
UHH...
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THE COVERT KILLER, ASSASSIN.
CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS ARE THIS CLASS' SPECIALTY,
MAKING FOR QUICK KILLS OUT OF SIGHT
AND OCCASIONALLY OUT OF MIND.
THE ANCHOR HOWL ATTRACTED THE 4 PKs I SAW TO NAOTSUGU,
BUT THE 4 FRONTMEN DIDN'T HAVE A SPELLCASTER.
WHEN I SAID I HAD A VISUAL ON 4,
AKATSUKI UNDERSTOOD WHAT I MEANT
AND WENT OUT AHEAD OF US TO NEUTRALIZE EVERYONE ELSE
WHO WAS HIDING IN THE FOREST.
YOU WERE NOT WISE TO INSULT MY LORD'S MAGICAL ABILITIES.
YOU FOUND THE ELECTRICAL FUZZ LAUGHABLE,
BUT ALL THOSE BRIGHT LIGHTS KEPT YOU FROM SEEING IN THE DARK FOREST.
YOU NEVER EVEN KNEW YOUR HEALER WAS ASLEEP.
YOUR TEAMWORK IS NONEXISTENT.
[LYCOPENE] AH! UH!
[AKATSUKI] YOUR LEADERSHIP IS JUST PATHETIC.
YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH, AND ALL THE WHILE
YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR PARTY ARE LOSING HIT POINTS.
TAKING OUT YOUR AMBUSH PARTY WAS EASY.
[SMASH] SHUT UP!
KILLING US WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
WE'LL JUST COME BACK AND GET YOU AGAIN.
[AKATSUKI] YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
(SMASH COWERS)
[SMASH] I'M SORRY. I WON'T DO IT AGAIN.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I'M BEGGING YOU!
(VOICE CRACKING) I'M SORRY.
(WHISPERING) NOT SORRY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU FELL FOR THAT!
AH... UH‐OH.
(FUMING)
[AKATSUKI] PUBLIC SAFETY REALLY IS GETTING BAD, ISN'T IT?
[SHIROE] IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A LOT TO BE GAINED BY PLAYER‐KILLING.
[NAOTSUGU] YEAH, SERIOUSLY. WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT RIGHT NOW.
SO WHY DON'T THESE GUYS JUST FIND OTHER THINGS TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME WITH?
[AKATSUKI] LIKE WHAT?
[NAOTSUGU] I KNOW WHAT I‐ OWW!
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD, MAY I TAKE A MOMENT AND KNEE THIS RIDICULOUS PERVERT IN THE FACE?
[NAOTSUGU] ASK BEFORE YOU DO IT, AND LET ME FINISH MY SENTENCE!
[AKATSUKI] I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SAY SOMETHING THAT WOULD GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
[NAOTSUGU] THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!
[SHIROE] OTHER THINGS TO DO?
THAT MIGHT BE IT.
THERE REALLY IS NOTHING.
THERE REALLY ARE NO GOALS.
[SHIROE] IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT THERE IS FOOD TO BE HAD.
YOU CAN MAKE THE MONEY FOR THAT AND A PLACE TO STAY
BY DESTROYING LOW‐LEVEL MONSTERS, I GUESS.
I MEAN, NOTHING IS ALL THAT EXPENSIVE.
FIGHTING ISN'T ALLOWED IN TOWN, SO YOU'RE PRETTY SAFE.
AND DEATH ISN'T EVEN PERMANENT.
[NAOTSUGU] SO BASICALLY YOU'RE SAYING YOU CAN SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD
WITHOUT REALLY DOING ANYTHING?
[SHIROE] PRETTY MUCH, BUT IT'S NOT MY IDEA OF LIVING.
OR IS IT STAYING ALIVE?
SO THEY'VE RESORTED TO KILLING OTHER PLAYERS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO?
[SHIROE] I GUESS SO.
THEY'RE BORED, THERE AREN'T ANY JOBS HERE REALLY, SO, YEAH.
[NAOTSUGU] OK, SO THEY WANT TO GET THEIR ROCKS OFF BY HURTING OTHER PEOPLE?
THAT'S STUPID.
[SHIROE] PRETTY LAME, AND DEFINITELY MESSED UP.
SICK, REALLY.
[SHIROE, THINKING] THING IS, IT'S NOT LIKE I'M DOING ANYTHING EITHER.
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD? [SHIROE] HUH?
UH, ANYWAY, I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE, SO FAR.
HMM.
[SHIROE] IT JUST SEEMS THAT WAY, AND IT PROBABLY HAS TO DO
WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT THIS IS A GAME WORLD
WITHOUT ANY REAL PENALTIES TO SPEAK OF.
IF THIS IS A DIFFERENT WORLD, THEN MAYBE OUR SENSE OF PUBLIC ORDER
IS REALLY AN ILLUSION.
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD...
(RINGING)
UH... YES?
[AKATSUKI] HUH?
[SHIROE] HUH?
[NAOTSUGU] YOU'RE GOING TO SUSUKINO?
[HENRIETTA] ON THE DAY OF THE APOCALYPSE,
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS GOING TO SUSUKINO.
[MARIELLE] SHE'S A YOUNGER GIRL NAMED SERARA.
[SHIROE] YOU'RE GOING TO FIND HER?
[NAOTSUGU] AREN'T THE INTERCITY TRANSPORT GATES STILL DOWN?
FAIRY RINGS ARE THE ONLY OTHER WAY TO GET THERE IF YOU HAVE THEM.
[NAOTSUGU] NOT ME.
RIGHT, BUT WITHOUT THE ONLINE HELP
OR SOMEONE WHO'S MEMORIZED THE TIMETABLES,
YOU COULD END UP TRANSPORTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF WHO KNOWS WHERE
WITH THOSE FAIRY RINGS.
OK, WHY NOT TRY THE RETURN SPELL "CALL TO HOME"?
DOESN'T LET YOU RETURN TO THE LAST 5 GREAT CITIES...
OH, CRAP.
[HENRIETTA] MM‐HMM.
AND THE LAST GREAT CITY SHE VISITED WAS SUSUKINO.
[NAOTSUGU] LIKE I SAID, OH, CRAP.
[SHIROE] SO THAT LEAVES WALKING AND HORSEBACK.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE ARE 850 KILOMETERS
BETWEEN TOKYO AND SAPPORO.
THE "ELDER TALES" WORLD IS HALF‐SCALE, SO IT WOULD BE 425 KILOMETERS.
AND NATURALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO RUN INTO PACKS OF MONSTERS OUT THERE.
[SHIROE] SO WHY ARE YOU SENDING HELP NOW?
HUH? OH, UM...
[HENRIETTA] WE'VE BEEN PLANNING TO SEND A RESCUE TEAM FOR A WHILE NOW.
MARIELLE?
AH, DON'T LOOK AT ME THAT WAY!
YOUR EYES ARE LIKE DAGGERS,
AND YOU KNOW A GIRL DOESN'T LIKE A GUY WHO STARES AT HER LIKE THAT!
(MARIELLE COWERS)
(MARIELLE SIGHS)
HERE'S THE THING:
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE'S A LOT WORSE IN SUSUKINO THAN HERE.
[HENRIETTA] MARIELLE...
[MARIELLE] SOME NASTY... AND I MEAN REALLY NASTY
PEOPLE ATTACKED ONE OF OUR FRIENDS.
LUCKILY, SOMEBODY JUMPED IN AND SAVED HER.
[HENRIETTA] AND NOW HE'S PROTECTING HER.
[MARIELLE] ANYWAY, WE'RE GETTING READY TO TAKE
OUR MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE TO SUSUKINO TO BRING HER BACK.
SO I THOUGHT... I WAS THINKING THAT MAYBE...
COULD YOU WATCH OVER THE REST OF OUR GUILD?
[HENRIETTA] CAN YOU DO THIS FOR US?
[MARIELLE] WE'RE TOTALLY BEGGING YOU.
[SHIROE, THINKING] I DOUBT THEY CAN GET TO SUSUKINO ANY FASTER THAN 21 DAYS...
MORE THAN A MONTH, PROBABLY, TWO FOR THE ROUND TRIP.
EVEN IF THEY TAKE THE CRESCENT MOON'S MOST POWERFUL PLAYERS, IT'S DICEY.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE GAME ONLY ALLOWS A MAXIMUM PARTY SIZE OF 6,
AND EVEN THE BEST 6 DON'T HAVE A GOOD HEALER AMONG THEM.
NO, IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THEIR PARTY STILL WON'T MAKE IT.
SO WHAT DO THEY DO?
WE'RE STRONG ENOUGH. WE SHOULD GO.
WE SHOULD, BUT WE ALSO SHOULDN'T STICK OUR NOSE
IN SOME GUILD'S BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEY WOULDN'T WANT THAT, AND I WOULDN'T BLAME THEM.
SHOULDN'T I AT LEAST...
SHOULDN'T I...
(THUD) [SHIROE] HUH?
SAY IT, SHIROE.
YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING?
(SHIROE SIGHS)
[SHIROE] WE'LL BRING HER BACK.
(HENRIETTA AND MARIELLE GASP)
WE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO GET HER.
[HENRIETTA AND MARIELLE] OHH.
[HENRIETTA] SHIROE, NAOTSUGU, AKATSUKI...
[MARIELLE] ... BRING HER BACK TO US.
[AKATSUKI] DON'T WORRY, MARIELLE. YOU CAN COUNT ON US.
WE'LL SEE THIS THING THROUGH. WE DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF FAILURE.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] JUST LIKE IN THE GAME, WE WERE ABLE TO USE ITEMS TO SUMMON HORSES.
(FLUTES BLOWING)
(HORSE WHINNIES)
[NAOTSUGU] HUH!
[NAOTSUGU] HEY, WHERE DO YOU THINK THESE HORSES COME FROM ANYWAY?
[SHIROE] THIS IS COOL. WE ALREADY KNOW HOW TO RIDE THEM, TOO.
(GROANING) (BONES CRACKING)
[NAOTSUGU] I LIKE THE FACT THAT I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO RIDE A HORSE,
BUT IT DOESN'T HURT MY ASS ANY LESS.
[AKATSUKI] YOU DESERVE IT. [NAOTSUGU] YOU SMELL.
[AKATSUKI] THAT'S A REALLY NICE MAP YOU HAVE THERE, MY LORD.
OH, I WANTED MY SUBCLASS TO BE SCRIBE WHEN I SIGNED UP.
I MADE A COPY OF THE MAPS I SAW OVER AT THE CITY ARCHIVES.
[AKATSUKI] INTERESTING. VERY WELL DONE.
[NAOTSUGU] OK, SO WHERE THE HECK ARE WE NOW?
[SHIROE] WORKING ON IT.
[NAOTSUGU] SERIOUSLY? WE ARE FREAKING LOST.
[SHIROE] DON'T WORRY. I'M GONNA GET US THERE.
[NAOTSUGU AND AKATSUKI] ROGER.
[NAOTSUGU] MAN, I WISH YOU COULD MAGIC UP A WAY TO MAKE THIS FOOD NOT TASTE LIKE DOOKIE.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] WE'LL BRING HER BACK.
(SHIROE SIGHS)
[NAOTSUGU] IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CRYING, YOU HELP. [SHIROE] UH.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, RIGHT?
[AKATSUKI] YES.
THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY JOBS,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN RUN AROUND BEING A TOTAL FARTKNOCKER.
I DEFINITELY AGREE.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] THIS IS MY... OUR ANSWER.
THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.
[NAOTSUGU] OR ARE WE TOO COOL FOR THAT?
[SHIROE] HEH. NO.
[SHIROE, VOICE‐OVER] BUT, YOU KNOW,
I'D PUT IT RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE COOLNESS LEVEL
OF OUR OLD DEBAUCHERY TEA PARTY...
IF THERE'S SUCH A THING AS A COOLNESS LEVEL.
[NAOTSUGU] ALL RIGHT.
[SHIROE] HANG ON.
[AKATSUKI] WHAT ARE THOSE, MY LORD?
[NAOTSUGU] HEH?
(BOTH PLAY FLUTES)
(SCREECHING)
(GASPS)
[AKATSUKI] THOSE ARE GRIFFINS!
YEAH, OF COURSE THEY ARE.
[NAOTSUGU] SERIOUSLY, WE WEREN'T GONNA GO THAT FAR NORTH TO SUSUKINO
ON HORSEBACK, YOU KNOW.
[AKATSUKI] BUT THEY'RE... MONSTERS.
[NAOTSUGU] GIVE ME FIVE, BEAKY. (AKATSUKI GASPS)
[AKATSUKI] WAIT, THOSE ARE OUR MOUNTS? [NAOTSUGU] OW!
[SHIROE] YES, THEY ARE, MISS AKATSUKI.
JUST "AKATSUKI."
[SHIROE] OK, "AKATSUKI." RIDE BEHIND ME, OK?
[AKATSUKI] UH, ALL RIGHT. (GRIFFIN SCREECHES)
[AKATSUKI] UH! EASY, BOY.
(NAOTSUGU GRUNTS) (SCREECHING)
[AKATSUKI] I'VE HEARD OF THOSE SUMMONING FLUTES, YOU KNOW.
THEY WERE ITEMS GIVEN ONLY TO CERTAIN PLAYERS,
THOSE WHO WON THE HADES BREATH RAID MISSION ON THE FIELDS OF DEATH.
DID YOU PLAY THAT ONE?
[SHIROE] OH, YEAH. A WHILE BACK.
[NAOTSUGU] WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE STUPID LOOK ON PEOPLE'S FACES
WHEN THEY SEE THESE.
UHH...
[SHIROE] COME ON, AKATSUKI.
(GRIFFIN SCREECHES)
UH!
(AKATSUKI SHUDDERS)
[SHIROE] HMM?
ALL RIGHT, READY TO GET GOING?
YES, MY LORD. NO PROBLEM. I CAN DO THIS.
[SHIROE] OK. HANG ON TIGHT.
[NAOTSUGU] EASY. EASY, YOU BIG GOOF!
OH‐HO‐HO! I'M UP FIRST!
YAHOO!
COME ON, LOSERS!
(GRIFFIN SCREECHES) [SHIROE] JEEZ.
OK, AKATSUKI. LET'S GET MOVING.
(CRINGING)
(GRIFFINS SCREECHES)
[SHIROE] IT'S A GREAT VIEW.
(AKATSUKI GASPS)
[SHIROE] ARE YOU OK?
[AKATSUKI] YEAH...
MY LORD, THIS IS AMAZING.
[AKATSUKI] I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!
[NAOTSUGU] YEAH, IT'S GREAT, RIGHT?!
[AKATSUKI] OH, MY GOD, IT'S AWESOME!
THE SKY AND ALL THE CLOUDS... THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
UH... HMM.
[AKATSUKI, VOICE‐OVER] SHIROE'S PARTY TRAVELS THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND LABYRINTH
ON THE WAY TO SUSUKINO.
AWAITING THEM ARE PHANTOMS OF THE PAST AND A HORDE OF DEMI‐HUMANS CALLED THE RAT‐MEN,
AND IT TURNS OUT, SHIROE ONCE HAD A GROUP OF FRIENDS HE HELD VERY DEAR.
THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE DEBAUCHERY TEA PARTY.
[SHIROE] THIS IS OUR REALITY.