act18d3

Excited?

Fear and excitement are pretty much the same. Both get your heart racing and your blood flowing.

Am I sick?

You are not sick. To some people out there, this is what it means to be alive.

I didn't know it feels this good to be alive. Is it like this outside every day?

It must feel better than here.

Can I really go outside...?

My box... Once my box is full.

I need to... get more food. I need to make sure Grandma Petra's all set.

I... Argh!

Excited, the girl loses her footing.

Just as she is about to fall into the sea, a hand reaches out and grabs her.

The monsters will eat you if you're so careless.

Singer... you saved me again.

And you could've saved me the trouble if you didn't come.

Haha... S-Sorry...

Huh? Huh?

My leg... Something's grabbing my leg.

It's slippery... and heavy!

There they are again... Everywhere, too. What a pain.

Ugh... Singer, I-I'm losing my grip...

Close your eyes.

Hm?

And then let go.

Can I really...?

You can either believe me or not. The choice is yours.

The girl closes her eyes and lets go as she is told.

The force gripping onto her leg quickly disappears. She can hear all sorts of tiny trinkets splashing into the water. Just before she herself touches the surface of the sea, a force pulls her upward and sends her back to dry land again.

—She lands face first.

*cough* *cough* *cough*.

It's not easy to control the strength and angle while I'm dealing with a person.

I-It's okay. I'm fine.

(Smells herself)

My bleeding's stopped.

Why are they still so excited? Have there always been so many Sea Terrors here?

Are these the same monsters from last night?

More or less.

I've never seen them before.

You should stay away from this place for a couple of days. Now go back.

Singer.

Stop tugging my skirt... You aren't a child.

I just want to say... I think I know what it is that I want now. I want to hear you sing.

Oh...

And that's because... I don't know what songs are like. I heard you humming in your sleep, but I didn't understand it.

Alright.

Singer, will you do it? Is this what it means to make a promise?

More or less.

(Frowns)

My harp.

Huh? Oh yeah, singer, where did your harp go?

I'll go look for it...

Okay. I'll help.

So does this mean you'll come back with me? G-Great!

Is this something to be so happy about?

Hey, Drywall, good morning!

Sheetmetal...

Oh yeah, where did Sheetmetal go? You never go anywhere without each other.

Sheetmetal.

Are you looking out... to the sea?

Does this mean... It was Sheetmetal who got the red seashell last night?

*Sigh*...

Woodframe, my condition got worse.

My chest is bloating like it's about to blow.

I don't even want to eat. Leave me alone.

*Sigh*...

Singer, welcome to our home sweet home again!

Ugh... agh...

Your grandmother...

Grandma Petra is still sleeping. She's been lying down ever since we got back last night.

She's probably tired, getting so worked up like that. I didn't expect her to run out and talk to the Inquisitor like that. She was different.

You're right. That was very amazing. She fought off the Inquisitor.

Hmn... ha...

She fought off.. the Inquisitor?! Singer, if the Inquisitor catches you saying that, she'll be really mad.

I don't care if she does.

But if she wants another go...

She won't come to you looking for trouble again, right?

It doesn't matter to me whose trouble she's looking for.

(Strokes case)

Oh, yeah, why don't we go look for your harp?

Hold on.

Eh?

You got stuff on your head.

Whoa! All this green, slimy stuff... W-What is this?

That's seaweed.

Did it get on my head when I tripped?

Probably.

Is this stuff... useful in any way? Looks kinda like seagrass. Can I use it as bedding once it's dried? Grandma Petra's back is hurting her, so this will come in handy.

Give it to me.

Take some seashells and use them to grind up these seaweeds. Don't wash off the slime.

Add enough seawater to completely cover the seaweeds. Put it all in a jar and seal it up, then wait half a year.

You can drink it once the liquid's greenish color has faded. That's when it's fermented.

Singer...?

What's wrong? Is there something you didn't understand?

No... I just don't think you've ever talked to me this much in one go.

Yeah.

Don't throw away your seashells either. Wash them and lay them out to dry. You can use them to drink alcohol and such.

Alcohol? What's that?

It's written right there. This place used to be a bar, a place for alcohol.

So this word means alcohol!

Alcohol can supposedly bring happiness and help us forget all our worries.