act20side

Elysium, we have to bring those two back...

Thanks for your patronage~

Mmh, what an exotic flavor! These grilled mushrooms are as unique as you'd expect!

Kay's culinary tastes are top-class. If the mushrooms of Acahualla are not to be missed, the mushrooms beneath Acahualla are to die for! Care for a bite?

Don't you think you're assimilating way too easily?!

Ugh, my head hurts...

Hang in there, brother! Don't let these little setbacks get the better of you! All our suffering, all our hardship... It all meant something!

The disease is taking me... The time we spent together was pure delight...

There has to be some way, I'm sure of it...

What about that mystical liquid? The miracle juice that supposedly restores anyone to health!

Yeah, that's right... There's still the good stuff. It might even bring back my love of life...

Help us out, kind-hearted passerby. Call out that magical name with us!

You, with the thick tail over there, I'm talking to you!

Eh? Me?

C'mon, dig into your heart, and shout the name with us. Three, two, one!

Old Karl Mead!

Um... Gavial's stew?

Cut!

You said the wrong line, Thick-Tail!

P-Please don't call me that...

Where did Avdotya find such a strange woman...?

Avdotya?

Hold on a sec... You aren't with Old Karl Mead's fan club!

Avdotya's the only sober-looking person in the club!

Wow, they actually use sobriety as their identifying standard...

What now, brother? Should we cancel our yodel-your-heart's-desires-out event?

Not a chance!

You're a Liberi who came here from the surface, aren't you? Fate brought us together today. Come, come. I still have another half-barrel of the good stuff.

Inam, they actually carry around barrels of alcohol with them!

Where did they even get their hands on barrels that big?

This mead's the best stuff in all of Zeruertza! Though, there are always a few know-nothings out there who refuse to admit it.

Wanna give it a shot, Liberi? You won't regret it.

I have to hand it to you guys... You sure are enthusiastic.

All good, it's on us! One look at you, and we can tell you're...

A gentleman of utmost distinction?

Not quite sober. Just the right type to become one of us!

Are you saying I give off far out vibes? Hahaha, that's the first time anyone's said that about me. Never thought I'd be learning something new about myself here.

You can count me in then. Bottoms up!

How about the ladies over here? If you don't mind...

Mm, I'd like a try as well.

J-Just a little bit then!

Wait, come back! Why are you drinking? We still have business to attend to!

Huh? You're uh...

Dear citizen, I know that confronting an important architectural designer such as myself might be a bit intimidating.

But don't be fooled by the fact that these individuals appear idle. They actually have quite a bit of work to do, so if you'll please excuse us...

Are you sure you don't want some, brother? This mead's seriously good stuff.

Me? I'll pass, I don't drink.

As one of the few Durins who needs his brain for problem-solving, I prefer to keep my head clear...

...Ugh.

Why are you looking at me like that? And why are you lifting those barrels up?

Did you hear what he just said? My ears weren't playing tricks on me, right?

This kid says he NEVER drinks? And supposedly to keep his head clear?

We're in trouble, my friends. An alien has infiltrated our city!

Open your eyes, you drunkards! They look more like aliens than anything else!

It's time we let this fella know just how much nonsense he's spewing!

'Harder than ice, longer than winter. More silent than tears, more futile than sighs.'

'Inova still cannot forget the afternoon she departed. The town was like a coughing giant, exhaling rust and spitting blood.'

'She trips and falls, but climbs back to her feet. Her steps know no pause. She doesn't ask for much— she only wants to find a land without dreams, and a few moments to waste.'

'Perhaps a cup of hot tea and a few sips of light liquor. Indulgence is not a sin, at least in her case.'

'What... is she after, and what is she running from?'

'Even she does not know the answers to these questions.'

No need to be shy, Tomimi. It looks great on you.

R-Really?

Ehehe, I loved this swimsuit the moment I laid eyes on it. It's exactly my style!

The tailors here sure are something. They managed to custom-make something to fit your figure so quickly.

I-is there something wrong with my figure? I've been working out a lot harder!

Don't worry. You look super cute.

Phew, that's good then. I don't want people making fun of my tail getting thicker again... Inam, you're not going to pick out a swimsuit?

I'm good. I'm more interested in the buckethead that was helping out the tailor just now.

Durin technology...

That's some crazy good stuff!

I've never had liquor this good before!

Cheers, brother! Let's drink to your health!

A toast to our health! Long live Old Karl Mead!

Hey, Tomimi, about that Elysium guy... Is he actually reliable?

Eh? He's there for us, when the chips are down...

Usually!

Now that you mention it, there are Durin operators at Rhodes Island, but they seem to never talk about where they came from.

Do you think the Durins might be hiding something?

No, I think they just don't care a whole lot. They always seem a lot more concerned about what's on the menu in the canteen.

I never thought we'd get the opportunity to explore an underground Durin city.

Yeah. This might be a great opportunity to spread Gavial's name to the Durin people as well...

You didn't drag Gavial, Zumama, and Kemar with you on vacation this time?

Kemar said she wanted to practice boxing with Blaze. Gavial and Zumama went on a mission and haven't come back yet.

Gavial's been working way too hard recently, and that worries me!

I really wish she wouldn't push herself so much...

I wrote them a letter before I left, telling what you learned from Mr. Stitch, as well as what he told us.

They could've taken the opportunity to go back to Acahualla for a break...

The three of you went and made me Great Chief without a second thought, and it's about time you all came back to see what I've gotten done.

By the way, while you were at Rhodes Island, did anybody find this Elysium guy a little annoying?

Waheeeey, it's a completely different experience!

You, tall guy, I saw you hanging out with those mead boys just now. Listen up, that stuff's for kids!

If you want the REAL good booze, turn your eyes toward our No. 7 Whiskey. Here, cheers.

Cheers!

This aroma... it's like the rainforest after a thunderstorm, the smell of moss in an underground cave!

Oh. Sorry, that's just the wood cup getting a little moldy.

He seems to be enjoying himself.

Oh, Inam, you still haven't told me about how you met Mr. Stitch.

Hm... It's a bit of a long story.

Great Chief, the big things you brought with you last time were really stimulating! Just standing in front of them kept me up for days!