level_act36side_07_end

I-Is it over? Did we manage to take care of them all?

Hah... Hah... I'm beat...

Hahaha! Not bad, girlie! You've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve. I sure am a big fan of casters!

Oh... Good... They aren't at fisticuffs any longer... Good, good, as long as everyone's fine...

C'mon, let's go, I'm in a good mood today! You can have a taste of some of my corn!

Boss, you...

Hmm? ...Wait, corn...

The laughter dies on the pioneer's lips as he raises his weapon at the team of four.

*huff*... *huff*... Guess he remembered. And here I was thinking we could bury the hatchet.

Marcille raises her staff, strands of her hair rippling with magic.

Wha? Are we back at this already? Really? You were all battle buddies earlier, surely that's got to count for something, right?

Hmph!

*huff*... *huff*...

Let's not go for magic right away, Marcille.

We're all tired out from dealing with those things. There's no benefit in starting up another fight.

We'll count down from three, lower our weapons, go back the way we came, and agree not to bother each other for the night. How about that?

*cough* *cough* *cough*! How... about...... that...........?

Look, this guy's plenty sincere, alright? He's still offering even after he got a bomb chucked at him! Why not think his offer over?

Our boys are tuckered out too, boss. I don't think fighting'll do us any good neither.

...Fine. We'll get out of each other's hair for the night. Start counting.

Oh, yes, good!

Three, two, one!

Great... I can sleep soundly tonight...

Zzz...

Marcille? Marcille?

Zzz... Eh...?

Ah! Wh-What's going on now?!

Nothing.

We were thinking of going to examine the bodies of those monsters earlier, and while we're at it...

...Huh?

Well, they looked like crabs to me, so they might taste like mimics.

Ahh, the chewiness of mimics... The more you chew it, the better the flavor gets.

Just don't use my lockpicks to scoop the meat out again.

But they've got just the right shape for it!

'Bob's Gourmet Guide' says they're edible. Apparently they're delicious, as long as you can get through the shell! Don't you want to have a taste?

Absolutely not! Besides, if those villagers think we're sneaking back onto the battlefield for an ambush, we might get into another fight!

Those magic items flying all over the place were a pain to deal with, and there's still plenty of them out there! Not to mention, I'm still tired as—

Huh?

Munchmunchmunch... Huh?

Munch... Huh?

Huh???

The pioneers freeze in the middle of stuffing gloompincer legs into their mouths.

The only sound breaking the awkward silence is the crackling of the bonfire.

The sparks plik and plak amidst the flames.

Their pincers and limbs are stuffed full of flesh. No wonder they can support such heavy shells, as well as crush those magic items...

So you cut them open from the belly, then pull back their shell... I see now. Looks like you prepare these things the same way you do mimics.

Then... Oooh...

That smells amazing!

Err... Wanna try some?

...Ggh.

Laios accepts the roasted meat, hesitates for a moment, then stuffs it into his mouth.

...MMM!!!

IT'S DELICIOUS!

Haha! It's all in the technique—*cough*! Gah...

Want a taste?

...Eh? It really is chewy! So fragrant too!

Here, you guys have some as well.

Huh? For me? Thanks...

It's roasted just right, so it hasn't lost any moisture. It even <i>tastes</i> just like mimic!

Alright, just eat already.

Keep your lips shut once you're done, I've got a reputation to keep.

Not a word about tonight, you hear?

(How is it you can be at each others' throats during the day, but be eating roast gloompincer together at night?! Guess there wasn't any need for me to rush over...)

Just going for a midnight tinkle, don't mind me, haha.

Gosh darnit... C'mon over! You've given us meds, and I never forget a debt.

I'll let you guys off this time...

...No, I can't! My barn! Why'd you guys blow up my barn?!

We didn't! It was your magic items that attacked us! We had to counter their magic in self-defense!

M-Magic items? You mean my drones? They went nuts, weren't listening to me!

Huh?! But you still came out and attacked us!

Because you were gonna steal our crops!

You thought we were <i>what</i>—

Alright, alright, I've heard enough, I get what happened now! This was all one big misunderstanding!

Your drones went amok and bombed them by accident, they thought you were attacking them, then you thought they were trying to take your stuff using the Catastrophe as cover. One! Big! Misunderstanding!

So, how about we all shake hands and let bygones be bygones?

No.

Forget it.

I'm... frozen...stiff...!

How...about....we...take...care...of...them...first...?

The drone relay's busted. I took a couple of courses on equipment maintenance, let me see if there's a way to fix it...

Gah! Anyone understand Originium circuits enough to come help me out? Everyone else handle the drones, get them to use up their bombs! I can't get anything done while I'm getting pelted by them!

Go on then, we'll draw them away! Y'all work quick, ya hear!

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh––––

Only thing I can do is help them remove the cover of this 'drone relay' quicker! Marcille, do you seriously have no way to handle those things? We can't ask Senshi to boil them all!

Uh... Umm... You'd need to give me time to learn a whole new system of magic...

Two more magic items flying over! Their flight speeds follow a pattern, and so do their patrol routes...

Each one carries a single bomb. Seems they fly away as soon as they drop it. Are they returning to their nest to replenish their stock?

I can't think of anything on such short notice...

I've got a plan.

What is it?

You think these items use some magic or other to know who's an enemy?

Well, they're not monsters. They don't have eyes, but since they can only throw a bomb once, they must have some way to tell friend from foe...?

Right, lad. I noticed earlier that they didn't pay any attention to a dead gloompincer.

But then I saw a live one walk into one's range by accident. At first, no response, just like the dead one, but the moment the gloompincer raised its pincers, it got a bomb thrown at it.

...So they detect 'hostility'? The moment they sense it, they attack?

Oh, I've got a way to make them use up their bombs then!

What is it?

I'll use a familiar to act as bait!

A familiar?

Nothing too complex, I just need somethings full of hostility. I can use the gloompincers from earlier!

Get me some fruit from the forest to add in as well. Just pile them up while I think of what I want to make it look like...

Whoa whoa whoa, why're you cutting your hair all of a sudden?

Hair's full of magical power. It's a good resource to have on hand.

Some flour, a handful of sugar, then knead in some butter... Now I just need a reference from real life.

Hmm? Why're you looking at me like that?

Ah, I know what I want to use as the model!

(Incants)...

Is it done? What's it look like? Let me see!

Hey, isn't that me?!

Alright, time for a test run...

Left leg, right leg, left leg, right leg...

(Follows her commands)

Okay, now run!

Good, let's get going!

AHHH! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Have you repaired it yet?! We're on our last legs here!

We're here!

With a cheer, the pioneers turn their heads, but all they see is a strange figure running towards them at full speed, shouting in a stiff voice they don't recognize.

They have faced bloodthirsty wild beasts, survived Catastrophes big and small, and have been pelted by barrages of bombs from dozens of drones, but the sight is still enough to make the pioneers tremble in fear.

A man down on all fours, his long tongue rolling from his slobbering maw, his eyes bulging, screech as he crawls towards them at full speed!

Left leg! Right leg! Left leg! Right leg! Gah...

Why did I make it move that way?!?

(Follows her commands)

...AHHHHHH! RUN FOR IT!!

Just get back as fast as you can! I'll distract the magic items! Don't stop here, head back to—

Eh? Where'd everyone go?

...! The items must have noticed us!

I just need to lead them somewhere far from everyone else, then get them to throw all their bombs at the familiar!

There's a field here, that should be okay...

Ah! I nearly forgot! They're not going to wait for my command to start attacking! They've already begun!

No good, it's still too close; I'll get hit too. I need to find somewhere a bit further away!

It's working! Marcille got the drones to head over there!

Now they just need to use up all their bombs! She's amazing!

Your 'magic' sure is real weir—I mean, great.

Argh! This is way more difficult than I imagined!

*pant*... *pant*...

Wait, that noise...?

They're about to fire?!

This place... Would here be alright? Are we far enough? I need to keep running! It's all up to you now, Fami-Laios! I'm releasing control over you!

Gurgh...

Hey, I see her running out into the open! The drones are firing!

Hooray! She's done it!

That girlie sure is something... I always said I was a big fan of casters.

Yeah, Marcille's amazing.

Wait, I just remembered something...

Isn't that where the corn fields are?

What?!

I think you might be right...

Hey, wait! MY... MY CORN FIELDS!!!

They're about to fire!

I'll hide here—Whoa!

Explosions resound all around her, as expected.

But they are joined by the sweet scent of corn wafting through the air.

Marcille raises her head. It's like time itself has slowed, to the point that she can see every kernel fly through the sky, popping into fragrant popcorn of purest white under the bombardment.

The popcorn falls, floats, flutters like snow, landing on the tip of her nose.

She shudders.

...Huh?

Before she can do anything else, she is buried in an avalanche of fluffy white popcorn.

Gurgh...

Th-This is...

Popcorn!

I'm super strong! Even with a hundred... Err, wait, ninety-nine pieces of popcorn in front of me, I can eat them all!

Hyah! Bam! Pow!

Mount Popcorn, here I come!

Marcille! Marcille?

Marcille! Where are you? Can you hear us?

Oh no... We can't resurrect Marcille here!

Munchmunchmunch...

Hmm, that sounds familiar...

That's the sound of Kay eating!

Munchmunchmunch... Oh! Mister Beard! It's you guys!

Why are you here, lass?!

I smelled something real tasty, so I ran over!

Come on, Mister Beard, Mister Short, Mister Blond! There's so much popcorn and frozen fruit to eat!

Munchmunchmunch... Oh yeah... munchmunchmunch... you're here too, Miss Blonde!

Don't...

Don't... eat... my... HAIR!

Pfweh! Sorry! I didn't mean to!

Marcille! You're alive!

*cough* *cough*... Just buried, not bombed.

Wow! This sticky stuff smells great!

Brr, it's all frozen! Real different from the popcorn!

*sigh*... Sure is...

Want to try some?

Munchmunch... So frosty and sweet! Yummy!

Oh thank heavens, I'm glad you're alright!

Eh? ...Kay?!

Huh? Oh, I remember you!

You were the one who came hunting with me! Did you get anything? I got looooots of stuff, but I ate it all!

You...

Never mind. The guys before me were right. As long as I find you, it's mission complete—Hey, wait, what're you eating?! Spit that out!

Munchmunchmunch!

Don't just eat stuff off the ground! C'mon, spit it out already!

Munchmunchmunch... *gulp*!

AHHHH!!!

Don't worry, she's just eating popcorn.

Heavens to Betsy! What doggone disaster! That corn was gonna go to market!

Boss, don't say that, you're a Perro yourself...

How'm I supposed to sell any of this after it's been wrecked like this?!

I mean, you can sell popcorn. There's definitely people willing to buy it, out by the tents.

Throw in some butter and sugar, warm it up a bit while giving it a stir... Good, the smell's coming through! Not bad for a snack.

Pound the frozen fruit, stir in some batter from the familiar, shape it for presentation's sake... and you've got ice cream!

There you have it, a sweet treat!

Eh... Hmm... I guess this popcorn's good enough to sell...

Not like I got much choice now...

I'll have a bite, then...

*cough* *cough*...

Not yet recovered?

Just breathed in a bit too much corn smell all at once.

It's really delicious, though.

The popcorn's warm and buttery, sweet and crisp...

The ice cream's amazing, too. The fruit's so fresh, and with such a smooth texture...

Best of all, no monster meat.

Mhm. Lucky me.

*phew*... Glad that's all done and dusted.

Mmm... Heheh... Yummy, yummy ice cream...

*sigh* You sure know how to make people worry, kid.

Hey, I'll be taking her home now. You guys don't start fighting once I'm gone, alright?

Yeah, yeah, I know.

Ryan helps up Ceobe, fast asleep on the ground after eating her fill, and takes her to the nearby vehicle.

Its engine roars to life, and putters away into the distance.

Hmm? Where's Kay gone?

You mean that other girlie? Ryan's taken her home.

Ryan? Why?

Sounded like he was on some sort of mission for Rhodes Island.

Wait, did you say Rhodes Island?! Ryan's from Rhodes Island?!

Yeah. Why? What's got you in such a tizzy?

Laios!

Does that mean it's close by?

Uh, yeah, they're stopped a few kilometers away.

Ryan just left. If we start running now, we can catch up.

Let's go then! We can't afford to lose their trail again!

Right.

...Huh?

What're they on about?