act20side

I don't know a lot about your tech level... but I can tell at a glance that your kind can sometimes be outrageously primitive.

Help? From an outsider? Now I'm not so sure we could use any...

Ugh, to me, it's you surface-dwellers who are the outsiders... Never mind.

But Mr. Stitch did point out some serious problems with the 'Forest Mk. III' when he looked at it... although it kinda seems like he got rid of a lot of its functions...

This guy did?!

Yep, that's why Inam figured we should follow Mr. Stitch underground to see what's going on. I-I'm going too, of course, as the clan leader of 'Gavial's Will.'

And while we're gone, it's up to you guys to take care of everyone in Tiacauh.

Well, I've got problem with that... I mean, for the sake of our Yo... No, our 'Great Gold Originium Pearl Triangular Tower of Great Acahualla,' you better get this problem solved!

You used the word 'great' twice...

We will.

But how are you going to get there...? We haven't been outside the forest too much. Are you sure you won't get lost?

Don't you worry!

After all, I am coming along.

Mr. E-Elysium!

You're the Rhodes Islander...

Resilient as I am, even I have to take a vacation to alleviate the stress I've accumulated. Little did I know I'd find myself in another tremendous operation to save the Durins... But never mind. Who am I to miss out on more fun?

Dylan and Blaze were right. It's a bustling place, but you can still relax and wind down a little. A wonderful little spot.

I still have yet to find those famously delicious mushrooms after searching through the woods multiple times, though...

I only hope that Miss Inam will follow through on her promise to help me accomplish the 'seven must-dos when visiting Acahualla.'

Mr. Elysium and Mr. Stitch have already gotten the ball rolling. With the two of them as guides, we won't ever lose our way... or at least that's what they promised.

Haha, perhaps by the time Gavial and Eunectes make it home, we will have already taken care of everything.

She used to be the impatient one... How come I have to wait half an hour in the hallway for her now?

Look at this new gear... I thought Gavial would file a request for this stuff every month, but I guess that wasn't really the case, judging by Master Closure's reaction.

So I guess she's not going back to playing 'wandering medic who left the tribe'?

This is taking way too long! Gavial, what are you doing?!

Don't rush me! You guys put together the most complicated equipment, you know?!

This is what you get when you make an order on such short notice! If you have a problem with that, maybe you should go through proper procedures with Engineering next time.

Ugh—! This sucks! Not even those knights in Kazimierz wear this much armor!

Doesn't matter, if there's anything you can't figure out—

Forget it! This will do! I'm tossing the rest!

Huh?!

Yeah, forget all that junk. Don't need it. The moment I picked up this axe, I figured it all out.

Figured what out...?

That this guy's all I need.

Did you make it?

It was a rush order.

I knew it. Only you could make something this kick-ass. No complaints. From the balance to the weight, all perfect.

But this little ornament...

Lancet-2 told me to pour my feelings into everything I contribute to, whether a patient or equipment.

She said that, huh? Probably learned it from Closure. Well, whatever winds your sprocket.

Alright then, let's go!

...Gavial!

What now, more dawdling?

What... are you going to do? It sounds like the Durins' call for help that Tomimi got might be some kind of crisis their city is facing.

It might be a Catastrophe... It might be war.

The letter says 'fire rained down from the sky and burned our quilts' and 'a giant mushroom sprouted from the ground and blocked the sunlight, preventing the plants from growing,' but it's all too abstract.

No matter what the problem is, we oughta be able to tackle it. I mean, Inam and Elysium are coming too.

Tackle it how?

Didn't you just give me the answer? Check out my getup. I really mean it, Zumama. I haven't been this excited in a while.

So you mean you're using your fists again.

Hah, the usual!

The usual, huh...

Time waits for no one, Zumama.

Don't you want to see with your own eyes what those guys from your tribe have done to the forest?

Hah... I guess so.

Let's get going, then.

A few days later...

Stitch is working hard at the forum again today.

Just like the journey to the surface, the dressing of the city is a task that requires the supervision of all the citizens.

And as the face of the city, the dome's renovation is naturally the most important task.

Which is why it is also necessary for the design tasks to be done in the forum, where everyone can see.

And as Master Edge claims, it also saves time.

That darned old man. He's definitely having me do this because he thinks it's funny.

Noticing Edge's smug look below, Stitch finds himself immediately incensed.

However, not even he himself expected to adapt so quickly to these work conditions.

When he has to take questions from passersby, when he has to hear opinions, and even when he stands up and defends his beliefs in an argument—

None of that actually carries as much pressure as he thought it would.

With Edge grinning away at him, Stitch is definitely irritated, but he also knows what people must be thinking about him.

Just like how they must know what he is thinking.

This little runt. He's had more arguments than I could count the past few days.

Just because someone dared to give him some feedback, he had to argue for the better part of the day.

Still, the work he's turning in is impeccable.

Finch, I don't know where in the world you've tromped off to, but you can rest easy now.

Oh, right, right.

Stitch!

What is it? I'm working here!

Somebody found a letter at the top of the dome while it was being inspected.

A letter?

Yep, and it's for you.

No way...!

I am Finch Canvas, the Zeruertza's greatest architectural designer.

I placed this letter at the top of the dome.

I am sure the one who opens it will be the next person to renovate it.

I hope that he is my dearest student.

This letter is for him.

However, if you are not him, then please do not give him this letter.

As that would mean he has failed.

Sorry, Catch.

Hm?

If only I were more like you...

Everyone's personality is different, and I can understand the way you think, too.

All I can say is, if I'd found out a little sooner, maybe things could've turned out different.

You're allowed to stay, you know.

It's fine.

*Sigh*, it feels like I did something terrible to you.

Not at all, Elysium. I really appreciate your suggestion.

It's true that I made this decision to give him that push at first, but I also really want to seek out Master Finch.

I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear how Stitch is doing.

Well, you've made it plenty hard for me to know what to say here.

Speaking of which, it sounds like this Master Finch really cares about his student. I have a hunch that he might have gone to the surface to seek a cure for Oripathy.