"Sion... remember this." "It doesn't matter who speaks poorly of you." "Because you'll find plenty of people who will love you." "So even if I'm not there you're not alone." "Sion!" "Well?" "How are things going for Ryner's group?" "Well, let's see..." "There's a dumb prince and a good prince." "Nobody likes the dumb prince." "Everybody likes the good prince the best." "Toale Nelphi." "And the wild beast said that Toale's dessert was so delicious, he'd just sleep off his full stomach!" "Is that right?" "Ryner and Ferris are at Toale's place, aren't they?" "Yup!" "Nelpha, huh?" "Nemuri toki agunete" "Kimi o miushinai" "Kowashitaku naru ima subete" "Nozomu kotoba ga nidoto kikenai nara" "Inochi sae mui ni sashidasu deshou" "Kiesou na kagayaki e to" "Yorisou omoi" "Kodoku da yo" "Watashi no moto ni mo asahi ga kuru no?" "Kotaete, futari o" "Tsunagu ai ga aru to" "Manekareta zetsubou no hate ni tachimukau" "Umarete horobiru" "Hito no ishiki koso ga" "Mirai o erabi, kagi o akeru" "There are many who are of the opinion that this visit to Imperial Nelpha should not be carried out." "But rumors of a visit to Nelpha are spreading within the nation." "That's obviously a ploy by Duke Stearied's faction." "It's clearly a trap." "Nothing you should be going into." "Just call it off." "Nelpha is a place you should visit, Your Majesty." "What do you mean by that, Colonel Froaude?" "The foolhardy nobles have set up a foul trap." "Given that, you must overcome it without breaking a sweat, Your Majesty." "If we handle this well, we could use this chance to round up the entire anti-king faction." "If Sion gets killed, it's all over!" "The anti-king faction has joined forces with Nelphan nobility, and they're conspiring to have Sion murdered." "Even if His Majesty heads for Nelpha, he wouldn't die." "What makes you so confident of that?" "I will act jointly with His Majesty, and enter Nelpha." "And what would happen if you were the hired killer?" "If I was, all you'd have to do is kill me and protect His Majesty." "Or do you lack that much confidence, Rear Admiral Klom?" "If I have reason to suspect Sion might die at your hands in Nelpha," "I'll kill you right here, on the spot." "Your Majesty." "Please make your choice." "I'll head to Nelpha." "Froaude will be the only one that comes with me." "The king of the Roland Empire, Lord Sion Astal, has now arrived!" "Don't tell me he plans to invade Nelpha?" "If Roland were to invade, in its current state," "Nelpha would be helpless to stop them!" "It is a pleasure to meet you in person, King of Nelpha." "I cannot convey the gratitude I feel for your kind reception of this sudden visit." "I-I beg your pardon." "I am Gread Nelphi, King of Nelpha." "I wished to seek your wisdom, Lord Nelphi, as one who has long reigned as a wise ruler." "Thus have I humbly made my journey here." " You have quite a way with words." " Not at all." "If it could be done, I would wish for my Roland Empire to enjoy a long period of fellowship with Imperial Nelpha." "Lord Astal..." "You're awfully young, aren't you?" "Roland's hardly a kingdom fit for such things!" "Prince Starnel!" "How can you speak so?" "Who do you think you're talking to?" "I'll kill you." "Starnel!" "I am Sion Astal, King of the Roland Empire." "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." "Don't put on airs with me just because you became king of some backwoods country..." "What's the big idea, old man?" "!" "Silence, you foolish son!" "Leave!" "I must apologize." "He has deeply shamed me." "I truly apologize for my son's rudeness..." "Please do not worry." "It is true that I am a young king with no power." "Regardless of how your son put it, I cannot deny it." "Tomorrow night, I wish to hold a grand welcome banquet for you." "May I trust that you will attend?" "It would be my pleasure to accept." "Sir Astal, the king, is incredible." "He deals with commoners like me on equal terms." "He truly puts this kingdom first in his mind." "You still have that letter with you?" "Yes." "I'll deliver it as soon as I return home." "You saw the figurehead being propped up there, didn't you?" "Starnel Nelphi." "Who's the one pulling his strings?" "They'll be identified soon enough, I'm sure." "The people I'm using are first-rate." "And you're also first-rate." "Is that what you're implying?" "I am devoted only to you, Your Majesty." "I shall protect you, whatever happens." "That's quite encouraging to hear." "There's a place I wish to visit." "Take care of the rest." "Surely you jest?" "I'm not the kind of king who would die in a place like this, remember?" "Understood." "Please leave the rest to me." "Hey, Ryner." "Long time no see." "Have you been doing your job?" "I'm going back to sleep..." "No matter how hungry you are, desks aren't edible, you know." "I'm not eating it!" "Why'd you kick me, anyway?" "!" "My way was blocked." "I merely pushed you along." "That's not what a kick is!" "How nice, you seem to be getting along beautifully." " "Beautifully"?" "Shut up!" " "Beautifully"?" "Shut up!" "Sion, what's the big idea, pushing this annoying woman on me..." " I'm dying!" "I might die from this!" " You really do get along beautifully." "Ferris was nowhere near so unreserved around me." "Do you know the meaning of the word "mercy"?" "Why do I get beaten to the verge of death just for one harmless morning joke?" "Delicious!" "I'll kill you..." "I swear I'll kill you one day." "But if I can't get Ferris, maybe Sion..." "Thanks for waiting." "So, you said you were Ryner's cousin, Sion?" "Are you nuts, Toale?" "This is Roland's..." "We're cousins, right?" "Huh?" "What are you talking about?" "Take a hint." "Yes!" "That's it exactly." "I can't take this." "I'm taking an afternoon nap." "Aren't you always sleeping?" "I really wish I could sleep all day." "With all the women you attack on the streets at night, it's no wonder you'd be so tired." " Is that true?" " It's not!" "The three of you all get along beautifully, don't you?" "What three?" "!" "Toale, I understand you carry the blood of this nation's royal family?" "It's nothing that glamorous." "Your father is Prince Starnel Nelphi, correct?" "Yes, but to my father, I'm just a burden." "But I hear that you excel in academics, and that the cabinet ministers secretly consult with you behind the prince's back." "If I can see to it that my younger siblings are raised in happiness, that's enough for me." "Too bad." "I bet Toale would make a way better king than someone like you." "Besides, what are you even doing here?" "!" "I just happened to be in the neighborhood." "Quit lying!" " Well, on that note..." " What is it?" "I have a favor to ask the two of you." "Wh..." "Man, I'm tired." "Why are we going through all this hassle for Sion, anyway?" "He said that if we don't guard him, he'll crush the Wynnit dango shop." "Aren't you concerned for Sion's life?" "Is that necessary?" "Guess not." "Is there someone on the roof?" "Careful..." "I've been waiting for you, Your Majesty." "Let's hear your report." "Count Werius." "He is one of the ringleaders in this affair." "And who's in charge?" "It's Prince Starnel." "It seems that the root of this matter was when the king began considering making Toale Nelphi his successor." "That would mean that he seeks to assassinate his father before that happens, and ensure his place on the throne?" "Yes." "He shamelessly turned to the nobles of our land of Roland for support." "Would you truly have me conquer the entire Menoris continent?" "A true king is not what you want, but what the world wants." "I shall speak with King Nelpha." "Let him handle Prince Starnel's punishment." "As you command." "What a beautiful moonlit night." "All of you, have a pleasant rest." "Now most of the Nelphan collaborators have been disposed of." "All that's left is..." "Ferris." "I'm impressed that you noticed my presence, Lord Toale Nelphi." "But there was nothing reported in your background about being skilled in combat." "And who might you be?" "Oh, I beg your pardon." "My name is Miran Froaude." "Miran Froaude?" "The citizens of this land believe you should become its king, Lord Toale." "But it would be a problem for this land to be blessed with a good king, and have a position of power." "For that reason, Toale Nelphi, please die." "Let there be darkness!" "Hey, Ryner." "What is this?" "It's not magic." "Even the Alpha Stigma can't make out any structure." "Let there be darkness!" "Ferris, incoming!" "Do it, Ryner!" "Got it." "I offer up this contract, to bear the wicked spirit beast which sleeps in the earth!" "Magic from the Kingdom of Estabul?" "What I seek is the burning field." "Kurenai!" "Now he's using Roland magic?" "Let there be darkness!" "I see." "You're not Lord Toale." "You're a guard of his, aren't you?" "You seem to be a dangerous person as well." "And that swordswoman's moves were far from ordinary." "For him to have gathered this much talent, it only confirms that Toale Nelphi must be disposed of." "Ferris!" "What I seek is thunder." "Izuchi!" "Ferris?" "Ferris!" "She's finished." "In the end, all the weak can do is prostrate themselves before the strong." "You're calling Ferris weak?" "You're full of crap." "That woman isn't the kind to fall over clumsily on the ground." "She's always strong, and always acting all high and mighty." "If she didn't..." "If she didn't it'd mean I'd lose the chance to get beaten up all the time!" "Then what would you do to me?" "Beat the crap out of you and make that shadow disappear." "You cannot do it." "There's no telling until I try." "You control the shadows with that ring, don't you?" "You are truly a frightening person." "How could you tell?" "I remembered the legend of the Great Emperor Kokuei." "The legend of the shadow king who enshrouded the world." "That king bestowed upon his top subordinate a ring with a strange power inside of it." "It was the power to control shadows." "That subordinate used the ring's power to assassinate high-ranking people in enemy nations, but a certain knight cut off the finger that bore the ring with a sword." "The name of that knight, that legendary hero, was..." "That's right, Halford Miran." "Halford Miran sliced off the finger of the shadow-controlling assassin, and repelled the ring's power." "You cannot do it." "Yeah, it might be impossible for me." "But maybe Ferris..." "If you've got time to explain that, find this man's weak spot, pronto." "It's that ring!" "That ring creates shadow monsters." "So if we both focus on that ring, we should be able to crush him!" "The ring?" "So, in other words, that ring is a hero relic?" " Yes!" " Then, with a hero relic right in front of us, what are you doing lying around like an idiot?" "You're the one who..." "Sorry." "My hand slipped." "You're such a..." "Oh, whatever." "Let's just crush this guy already." "You two are quite amusing!" "Truly a pity I have to kill you." "But if I let you live like this, you would certainly pose a hindrance to my master one day." "Your master?" "Please be at ease." "I will not harm Lord Toale." "After all, I have a much larger matter to deal with in killing the two of you." "Then, let us meet again soon." "If that bluff just now hadn't worked, things could've gone way south." "You've had a rough day." "I'll take care of the rest, so get some sleep." "If you're thinking of assaulting me in my sleep..." "I'm not going to assault you!" "I can't discern that man's character at all." "None of my searches have turned up any information about him from before he was adopted into Duke Froaude's house." "Everyone involved has been killed." "And, the nobles who plotted your assassination in Nelpha." "Didn't he murder them all?" "Yes." "He's too dangerous." "You should remove him immediately." "It's Miran Froaude." "I have brought an additional report from the visit to Nelpha." "Enter." "What did you find of my background?" "Would you like to see for yourself?" "You've done quite some research here." "What do you plan to do?" "Will you dismiss me?" "You did amazing work for me in Nelpha." "Why would I need to dismiss you?" "You are certainly a strange person." "I hardly need to hear that from you." "In your shoes, I would just as soon eliminate such a dangerous person of talent." "I believe in utilizing whatever can be utilized." "That caliber is what qualifies you as king." "As long as you desire it, I shall serve you." "So, what is this additional report?" "I attacked the residence of Toale Nelphi, the king's grandson, but there was unexpected interference." "Froaude and Ryner's group got in a fight?" "Does that mean I indirectly tried to kill Ryner and Ferris?" "Ridiculous." "I would never make such a blunder." "There's no problem." "Let's go before he notices." " Come on." " Right..." "If we stick around, that Froaude guy might come back again, right?" "Ryner." "My back injury has gotten better." "It shouldn't be a hindrance after this." "Although without your crude care, it might have healed a bit faster." "You are such a..." "I see." "Good for you." "Well, let's get going somewhere." "Have you seen a beautiful, violent woman and a black-haired man?" "Thanks a lot!" "Ryner, I'll be sure to find you!" "Semaru yami no kaori ni" "Kokoro tozasu toki" "Yomigaeru tool hi no refrain" "Hibiku itami o koete mezasu yo" "Kimi to mita sukitooru ano mirai e" "Oshiyoseru kyomu no kanata" "Kimi ga soba ni itekureru nara..." "Habataku chikai no sora e" "Kono te, nobasu yo" "Hakanai yume o, kimi no namida o" "Mamoru kagayaki ni naritai" "Zankoku ni somerareta sadame o tokihanate" "Shinjiteru" "Mou hitotsu no truth of my destiny" "To another world" "I keep saying searching for hero relics is a huge pain!" "What is it this time?" "Pursuit?" "Taboo breaking?" "No idea what that means." "I'll just dump all of them and go home!" "Geez." "Ugh, this really sucks!" ""Ryner takes no damage!" "The legend continues!""