bibeak

Orchid... I, I'm still nervous.

Happens to everyone on their first mission. Don't worry, I'm here for you.

Trust the time you've spent in the training room. You could give anyone a run for their money with your sword.

Gloompincers are really fierce, aren't they? If the villagers couldn't chase them away, I...

I won't pretend that they're not dangerous, but I guarantee you that they're not as scary as Instructor Dur-nar's sword, or Instructor Dobermann's whip.

They approved you for this mission because they believe you have the skills.

This is just the first step. It took you a long time to make up your mind, didn't it?

Yeah...

So this is how it feels to sit in this car.

When operators from the office came to find us, I was thinking maybe I should wait for the next chance. But I felt like this was a step that I had to take, and so I raised my hand.

I haven't seen Instructor Dobermann smile like that for ages. I'll get this mission done.

I want to use this sword to help protect more people.

That's more like it.

Tell me about your first mission! I want to know how you felt.

Well, that was a long time ago. I was leading the squad...

Anyway, I almost quit after that mission.

But they started listening... I guess.

So that's what they were like back then...

Excuse me...

Are you girls from Rhodes Island?

Yes, we are.

Why don't you explain our mission to them?

Okay!

Hello, we're here from Rhodes Island.

We'll set up defenses outside the village, and instruct you guys on how to set them up afterwards.

The defenses are equipped with warning systems, giving you a chance to prepare the next time there's a gloompincer attack, and reducing the damage to the village.

We'll also help you defeat them if they attack.

Alright. Er... I have another question.

Go ahead.

Well, you talk so slowly, and your sword is so thin. Why did Rhodes Island send someone like you?

Can you really beat the gloompincers?

Excuse me? Please—

Trust me, I can.

Ah... well, I'm just speaking my mind here, but...

I figured a lady like you would be more comfortable reading a book and having tea, not doing rough stuff like this. Don't want you to get hurt, you know.

We're really grateful you came to help, though.

Come in, we have tea and snacks if you like. We made them ourselves.

Thank you.

The tea was great, thank you.

It was from last year's harvest. The gloompincers made a mess of the tea fields this year, and we couldn't plant much in the fields we have left.

Life's hard.

Have you ever thought about leaving this place and doing something else?

Where would we go? It's not that easy.

Even the factories are looking for people who've been to school. Folks like us, we just stick to our fields and see what our kids and grandkids can do.

I'm sorry...

Oh, it's nothing. I see you girls are pretty well-dressed. Is this some kinda upper-class hobby, coming out here to train?

Know anyone who's hiring and pays a steady wage? We'd love to know.

Don't think we'll last more than a few more years, the way things are headed.

We're not exactly upper-class, just employees of our company.

But we could talk afterwards about your situation. We might be able to help somehow.

Oh, thank you so much.

Hey! We spotted some gloompincers! Grab your weapons!

Go, go!

Our village can't take much more of this! Please, help us chase them away!

We'd really appreciate it!

Stay on high ground! We've got it covered down here!

Don't worry, we've fought them plenty of times ourselves!

We'll guard this side, help lighten the load on you guys!

Alright! Just hold these barricades. Watch out for Arts from above!

You guys can use Arts?

Wow! I hear good casters can blow up a whole building by themselves! This'll be a piece of cake with you guys around!

Don't get too excited. I'm not that powerful.

Just being able to use Arts is amazing enough!

Look out! Wright, Patty, activate the shield's circuit!

Got it!

d

Wow, that's so cool!

You're really letting us keep this?

This way, you won't need to call us in every time something happens, and we get to save some time and effort.

It's a win-win!

Wow, you guys are so nice!

Ah!

Look out, Orchid! They're coming!

Did you get hurt?

Just a scratch on the shoulder. I can deal with it.

Bibeak tears off a piece of her outfit to wrap up the wound, revealing her neck.

Huh...?

(Hey, that thing on her neck... is that Originium?)

(What?)

(Shit!)

Hey, you, you're Infected?!

Yeah! You've got rocks growing out of you!

G-Get away from us!

What did you say?

You're Infected, right?

Damn, we even had tea together! Did I—

Damn you, gloompincers, why do you keep coming for us?! Go get those damned Infected, would you?!

A villager throws some food in the direction of the squad.

The gloompincers follow the trail of the scent.

Eat them!

I-I'd rather have the gloompincers eat everything I own than catch Oripathy!

How did you even get here?!

You asked—

We never asked for any Infected!

But we're helping you!

You even invited us to your house!

That's because we didn't know you were Infected!

You lied to us! How is anyone supposed to tell when you hide your Originium under your clothes like that!

What did you say?!

Get out! Get out!