"5 Days Until Christmas" "Isn't Christmas great?" "It's so exciting." "Why don't we all have a party on Christmas Eve?" "That sounds like fun!" "doesn't it?" "is there anything else you want to eat?" "Let me see..." "I guess." "Salmon?" "Why salmon for Christmas?" "There's nothing wrong with salmon." "Right?" "Isn't salmon great?" "1)\an7}Watermaple House Japan Server Akihabara City/ No Monsters No PVP Entry Restrictions/ None Exit Restrictions/ None isn't this a little too short?" "My legs are completely visible." "That's not true." "Sia." "Fifteen centimeters above the knee for justice!" "It's so cute!" "I don't really know a lot about Christmas was he not?" "That's right." "Akatsuki's betraying us." "She'll have to be punished." "1)}Shattered Wings" "Shattered Wings." "You're both so cute!" "I could eat a hundred chickens!" "That'd be a snack after dessert!" "Yes..." "Right." "They're wearing miniskirt-Santa and reindeer outfits." "It's super-duper cute." "who are you talking to?" "I'm reporting to my lord." "I'm just joking." "I'm not actually on the phone." "Thank goodness... who knows what he would say?" "I'm sorry." "That was a bit mean of me." "I couldn't help myself." "Everyone!" "Lv. 78 Roderic Merchant Guild" "It's snack time!" "Let's eat." "it was only Akatsuki..." "It's delicious." "doesn't it?" "It does!" "Mikakage!" "sweets are an art and all other food is just for fun." "though." "I can't believe I get to eat delicious cake while I'm protecting the princess." "This is a great job." "When are the D.D.D. members coming back?" "I've been told that the attack on the goblins is going very well not till after New Year's." "huh?" "But we had a big event planned..." "Everyone's really busy." "either." "Is he locked in his room again?" "He..." "Shiroe isn't really the type that enjoys events like Christmas." "And I'm sure there's a lot of work to do for the new year." "You're right." "isn't it?" "Princess." "Farewell." "Akatsuki!" "Thanks for today." "For dressing up like that with me..." "That was..." "They forced me to do it." "But you come every day." "I've been meaning to thank you." "Thanks." "it's my job..." "See you tomorrow." "Okay." "When did I get so weak?" "Guarding the princess..." "I should be happy that my lord is relying on me." "But when I realize that he's thinking about her it hurts." "would things have been different between me and him?" "But if I were like the princess..." "I couldn't have been by my lord's side as an assassin." "{\cH112355\3cH5E71AF}Amenoma" "Um..." "May I ask a question?" "What happened to the katana that was here?" "We sold it." "Really?" "really." "They very boldly paid in cash." "Akatsuki seems like she's suffering." "too?" "She does." "so it's really obvious." "I see..." "Akatsuki has been coming to observe the D.D.D. training sessions." "I only noticed her there once... 5 {\cH363333}Days Until Christmas" "But it looks like she's been there many times." "we work hard to provide the best raiding environment in Akihabara." "But it didn't seem like she wanted to join." "I reported it to my lord and he said to allow her to watch as much as she liked." "I guess he owes Shiroe something." "He said to help Akatsuki if anything came up." "Is that so... as well." "Is she dissatisfied with her level or skills?" "It may be something even more basic." "I think what Akatsuki wants is confidence." "I suppose all we can do is to stay by her side." "You're right." "1)}Duvarcher's Bird Land Japan Server Mihama Area Field/ Monsters Present PVP Permitted Skill Use Permitted Entry Restrictions/ None Exit Restrictions/ None" "The Teachings..." "Shiroe said they're real." "Shiroe did?" "he says they exist." "then they must." "Major combat guilds like D.D.D. and the Black Sword Knights should have the world's best assassins." "If they're using the Teachings" "I want to see those techniques and their power for myself." "Get closer!" "That was pathetic." "Move faster!" "too... welcome back." "We're having bouillabaisse today." "It'll be done soon." "Have a seat and wait." "I'm fine..." "But it turned out really good." "And Rudy and the others will be back soon." "I'm not hungry." "What's wrong with her?" "she's been really down." "Yeah." "too-perfect middle school girl." "and a show-off..." "I'm embarrassed." "all I can think about is how jealous I am." "I'm so ugly." "It isn't Minori's fault." "She's working so hard." "I'll work at least as hard as you." "so I don't cause you problems." "Shiroe..." "Minori helped my lord." "I couldn't help him." "I've always been by his side..." "Yet I can't be useful to him." "so I'm only a second-rate assassin." "I can't even buy a first-rate weapon." "That's why my lord didn't take me with him." "but I'm weak..." "I wish I were strong." "It sure has been lively around here lately." "Will they all be back again tomorrow?" "we're going into town." "I see." "If the adventurers are protecting you that must make you feel secure." "They say we'll have a delicious cream stew for dinner." "That's wonderful." "Adventurer-style?" "Seems so." "everything's been adventurer-style." "I even had to wear a costume of someone called "Santa Claus" today." "I asked them to bring some things." "eh?" "Huh?" "I don't know anything about adventurer clothes so I wanted them to teach me." "So that's it..." "But wearing clothes you aren't used to is kind of tiring." "but you seem to be having a good time." "I'm glad you've made friends." "They aren't my friends." "What?" "But you look like you're having so much fun... but..." "I wasn't having fun talking to them." "They aren't like us People of the Land." "They're adventurers." "But you..." "The etiquette I've learned doesn't work with them." "you say you're having fun." "you say you're sad." "you say you're happy." "so that's what I'm doing." "and irresponsible." "I don't care about high society or nobility." "That's just my job." "Maybe she can't be honest with herself because she's been expected to be a perfect lady since she was little." "isn't he?" "Our march on the goblins is steadily raising the participants' levels." "If we keep fighting like this until spring they'll be a powerful force when they return to Akihabara." "My lord?" "yes." "Are you bored?" "Do you want a new toy or something?" "Of course not." "let me know." "He's so easy to read." "1)\an7}Roderic Labs Japan Server Akihabara Separate Zone/ No Monsters PVP Permitted Entry Restrictions/ Yes Exit Restrictions/ Yes" "What shall we do about the ambrosia?" "Keep it going." "Roderic..." "It's already night." "What?" "That's strange." "I thought it wasn't even noon yet." "night will still come." "I have several matters to discuss with you." "How about joining me for lunch?" "it's night now." "Then let's get some ramen." "all right." "Here you go!" "{\cH53646D\3cH131C3D\fs26}Ramen" "How's progress with the list I asked you for?" "You need high-end phantasm- and treasure-class items..." "And quite a lot of them." "But why include the flavor text?" "I assume." "I understand that we're the right people to come to." "We can work out a way to finance the research funds smaller guilds couldn't." "I'm very grateful." "It's none other than Shiroe's request." "I'll do my best." "I'm sure we'll need this research eventually." "I'm counting on you." "do you have a moment?" "Perfect timing." "I just came from the Roderic Merchant Guild." "Thank you." "I know I should've been the one to go." "Don't worry about it." "I got some tasty ramen out of the deal." "How's everyone doing?" "The city's excited for Christmas but nothing's really changed." "It's that time already?" "Um..." "What about Akatsuki?" "She's visiting Princess Lenessia daily." "All right." "I'll contact you if there's anything else." "What did the chief say?" "Nothing's really changed." "but he said everyone's excited for Christmas." "There's no way we'll get this done in time for Christmas." "Enough!" "Ow..." "Thank you!" "Kyouko." "after all." "Please tell us the secret to your strength!" "Akatsuki..." "This is nice!" "Let's take it to the palace." "It'll brighten the place up." "You're right." "Sia will be so happy." "should you?" "so it's fine." "Is that for Naotsugu?" "when he gets back" "I wanted to give him at least a little Christmas to enjoy..." "A maiden in love!" "I-It's not like that at all." "Henrietta?" "Do you have anyone to give a present to?" "Me?" "I don't." "Really?" "buy it." "Just wait a second." "Excuse me!" "from a safe distance." "This feeling is just a sweet ache I can live with." "Of course there are wishes that can't come true." "I've gotten used to that pain." "Marie's bottomless cheer casts its glow on everyone around her." "It may be her self-confidence." "But Akatsuki..." "Akatsuki is so bright!" "She hasn't lost the easily injured vulnerability that grows numb as adulthood sets in." "That vulnerability may be her weak point but it's also a great treasure." "Not that she's realized that." "I just want to squeeze her tight right now!" "Sorry to keep you waiting." "you look so cute and fluffy." "Really?" "I chose it from her wardrobe." "let's go!" "let's look around town." "I want Sia to learn more about Christmas." "Right." "and you'll trip." "Ow..." "The adventurers" "I don't understand them at all." "Many People of the Land ask me various things about the adventurers either." "I deal with them every day but the number of things I don't understand keeps rising." "there's one thing I've learned." "The adventurers are only adventurers." "Even if I don't know the right answers it's a mistake to lump them all into a group and merely view them by their jobs or roles." "Even I know that." "The adventurers are jewels." "Each one of them is different and shines brightly." "They're special." "So I can't call myself their friend." "We're here." "Restaurant Milky Margaret" "The stew here is fantastic!" "I heard it's super-duper good." "Let's hurry inside!" "I'll be leaving you all here." "What's wrong?" "I have something to do." "All right." "We'll take care of the rest." "Restaurant Milky Margaret" "Is she going to watch someone train again?" "too." "She's like a dagger..." "She's like an obsidian dagger strong and beautiful." "I know I can't get stronger simply by watching people train." "I don't have the power needed to do anything..." "I miss my lord." "just for a bit." "to tug on his coat." "and look out the window." "To eat red bean buns." "I want to be near him always." "Even if I'm just in the background." "But that's just me lying to myself." "I can't be by my lord's side." "Right now" "I still can't be with him." "I got three salted salmons at Shopping Street 8." "I'm sure Sou will be happy!" "Santa?" "Enheart Nelreth/ Samurai it's not!" "A PKer?" "But there's no fighting allowed inside towns!" "The Royal Guard isn't coming." "It's okay." "I'm the West Wind Brigade's second captain for a reason!" "There's no way I can lose!" "Soujirou's rage silently rises." "Lenessia is forced to make an important decision." "lost in thought." "the battle with the murderer finally begins." "What secret of the Teachings does Soujirou share with Akatsuki?" "Next time:" "Christmas Eve." "Christmas Eve" "Rise up once more."