Part 60: Chapter 9-4: Trials and Tasks

Part 9-4: Trials and Tasks


Gratitude

No problem. Please come again anytime.

I’ll be sure to! Have a wonderful day.

Hehe… hahaha!

Hahahaha!



Hah! You got a problem? We’re laughing in our own atelier, that’s all!

No. Well… it’s suspicious. Why do you laugh every time you finish a job?

Because she said “Thank you”.

What? What’s that got to do with anything?

Doing a job and being told “Thank you” makes you happy, right?

You understand, Lucia, don’t you? How people’s gratitude makes you feel warm and fuzzy?

I guess I understand that… I do like making customers happy. But I still think I should warn you: you looked really, really suspicious laughing like that! If customers saw you doing that, I think it would even scare them off!

W-Was it that creepy? We’d better take care, then.

Yeah. We wouldn’t want to lose customers over something like that!

Okay then! Next up…


The Twins Royalty(?)

Uwaaah! That’s going too far! Sis!

Ah. A sense of deja vu.



Hi.

It’s just like last time! Even that business-like smile!

Oh dear, you heard us again? Maybe I should try to keep my voice down? …Anyway, a topic for another time. I’ve got another request for you.

Yes? What is it this time?

Ready for this? We want you to take the Royal Trial.

What! Are you serious, Sis?

Yes, of course.

The Royal Trial? That’s quite the name. Just what does it involve?

It’s the trial to become the ruler of this country. Those who pass it earn the right to rule!



If we can complete it, we might become royalty!

That’s fine. The two of you will make much better rulers than pathetic Mathias here!

Gah!

OK, twins. Once you’re ready, head to the place of testing! Mathias knows where it is. Have him show you.

What? I have to do that, too?

Of course you do. No complaints, from any of you!

Uwah, she’s a real tyrant!

Psst… Girls, a word?

Mireille…?



Will you please just play along?

You’ve clearly got something in mind. In which case, we’ll do all we can to help! Mathias! We’re ready!



The testing ground is at the Spring-green Odahlia. Right off the Path of Resolution.

The Path of Resolution, huh? I never noticed anything looking like a testing ground there.



Just cross that bridge up ahead, and keep going.



OK. There’s a rock in the way, though. What do we do?

Ah, I know what this is! When someone of royal blood comes close, the rock will shatter!

Sounds a bit optimistic. …Here you go!

Shovels? …Oh, don’t tell me…



Haah… haah… Finally finished. I can’t believe we had to move it by hand.

This sucks! I was hoping for more from something called the Royal Trial!

Come on, girls. The royal family aren’t magicians! Now we can reach the place of trials, anyway. Off you go, girls! Good luck!

Uwah, I just want to punch him in his perfect teeth! What’s this trial all about, then?

I don’t know. We’d better be ready for anything. So… that courtyard up ahead. This is the place of trials?

Yes. A sacred place, where you will be tested to see if you are worthy to rule.



Hahaha, who do you think you’re talking to? I finished all that work in a flash! After all… There’s no trial without me here! You don’t even remember the rites, do you?

Right! There was some stuff we have to say!

I knew it. I’m going to call forth the guardian of the trial. Ahem… Solitary protector of our lands since ancient times! See now if these before you are worthy!



Uwah, something has shown up! This is the guardian of the trial?

Great… I’m going to feel silly for asking this, but what exactly do we have to do?

Fight! Win! That’s all!

This doesn’t feel especially royal to me! You just have to beat a boss to be king?

Good luck. I’m behind you all the way.

Gah! You’ll pay for this!



It’s just us two against this hunk of metal, huh?



Eat this!



Yowch!

Sue! Use a Lightning Crystal to keep it at bay!




Right, Lydie! Now, for the formalities…




Haah… haah… we did it. We won!

Great work, Lydie! A victory of working together! Yes!



Tell me about it! This is their potential?

Ah, anyway. Ahem. Congratulations, both of you! You’ve earned the right to take the throne! …Although, this wasn’t quite the plan.

Huh?

No, forget I said anything. …Say, Mathias. These two really might take the throne. Are you alright with that?

Just a little more time. Give me a little more time. I’ll decide soon, I promise. Please, Sis.

Okay. Twins, thanks for your help! I’ll reward you in due time. See you later!



Mathias? Are you alright?

Yeah. I’m OK, all the time. You bet. Let’s go back, anyway. You must be exhausted after that battle!

Yes. Sounds like a plan.

Mathias has acquired the skill “Veteran Player”.

Veteran Player - Increase DEF when afflicted with an ailment.

The morning after…



Ah, hold on! Mireille? What’s wrong?

I need to apologize about the Royal Trial… That was meant to light a fire under Mathias… Seeing you two fight, he was meant to realize that someone else may take the throne from him, if he’s not careful.

We pretty much guessed that much. But why are you apologizing?

I know you defeated the guardian, but the rules actually state that it has to be fought alone. So you haven’t actually earned the right to take the throne. I tricked you, used you, and then gave you false hope! I’m really sorry, girls.

Hahaha, don’t worry about it. All that power, those robes, it would be too much for us anyway.

Lydie is right. We can’t rule. Those born to become rulers should rule, after all. So we’re not that bothered about it. In fact, we’re not bothered at all!

Twins! At least let me give you this as thanks for your cooperation.

Smaragd, Ruby, Sapphire received.

Uwah, thank you! I think we can use that!

Good. …You two really are something else, though, aren’t you? Defeating the guardian like that!

That’s right. There’s nothing we can’t do when we’re together!

Hehe, nothing at all? I almost wish I could see you both take the throne, then!

Hold on! I don’t think that “nothing” includes ruling a nation! Sorry!



That’s what you always say, right? So nothing is impossible for you in this world.

Hehehe, you might be right! Becoming queens would let us live in the lap of luxury!

Hold it, Sue! Don’t get distracted. We have to become the greatest alchemists in the kingdom! Bah, all this because Mathias won’t just bite the bullet and become king! Mathias, you flake!

Haha! Greatest alchemists in the kingdom… best of luck to you both on your way there! Good day!

Bye, Mireille! …Still, Lydie… us becoming royalty would be the ultimate rags to riches story, right?

Hmm… not as good as the two of us rising to become the greatest alchemists in the kingdom! Anyway… you know where we can find two fantastic alchemists?

I sure do! And I have a book to report on, too!

Then let’s go!

Sophie, listen to this! I read a picture book…


The Reluctant Ghostbusters

Firis is right! Why do you always do this?

Ugh… what can I say…

H-Hold on, what’s going on here? There’s a lot of anger in this room!

We’re not angry, just worried! Sophie has taken on far too much work. Again!

Including stuff that she isn’t very good at. I guess that’s one of her good qualities, but still…

I see. In which case, we’re here to help out!

Count me in! Sophie helped us out, so now we can return the favor!

Girls! Sorry you have to do this… But that would be a big help.

Dragging children into your mess! Sorry about this, you two.

We can handle it! What’s the job?

You see… It’s some… ghostbusting?

…What?!

I’m just so scared of ghosts… If you can give me a hand, it would be a real big help.

Ah, well… Sue?



It’s too late for that now! You’re coming with me to bust those pesky ghosts!

Noooo! I hate ghosts too! More than Sophie, I bet! Lydie, don’t make meeeee!

No! Sophie, we’ll see you in a little while.

Nooooo! I’d rather die than goooooooo!

Uwah, sorry, Sue. What have I gotten you wrapped up in?



I’m really, really sorry… I’ll be more careful, I promise.

So, Sophie, where were the ghosts reported?



At the Great Woods of Gurm-Adis. …Uwah…

Coooome on, off we go!



There it is! That’s the ghost we need to defeat!



Haah! Evil spirit, begone! Evil spirit, begooooone!

Ah, I think these two are broken. I have to pull everyone’s weight this time!

BEGOOOOOONE!!!



Uwah, nothing happened? We aren’t cursed?

I think we’re in the clear. Thank you, both of you. That was such a big help.

No problem. …You really do hate ghosts, though, don’t you, Sophie! So why did you even take this job?

The client really needed some help. I simply couldn’t leave them in distress.

I understand that feeling, but you are just too kind! Next time, you can pass work like this on to me. I can handle this alone, no problem.

Hey, we’ll help again too. Just let us know if you need us.

For anything other than ghost-related work!

Everyone! Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.

Let’s get out of here, anyway. We wouldn’t want the ghost we defeated to curse us!

Cursed…? By the ghost we defeated?!

Uwah, don’t even joke about it! Let’s get out of here!



Firis! You couldn’t help yourself, could you?

Hehe, she’s too easy. If I don’t scare her a little, she’ll take the same job tomorrow. …Although that side of her is one that I really respect.

Hehe, me too. She’s something special, isn’t she!



I don’t want to get cursed! Let’s go home! NOW!

A new Combination Art for Firis and Sophie “Alchemy of Happiness” is unlocked.


Combination Arts

Ah! That’s the latest issue of Monthly Uni Maiden! It must belong to Sue. …Hey, Sue? Can I read this?

Sure, go ahead. I’ve finished it already.

Heheh, thanks. Time for this month’s Puni Knight Legend!



Hmm, I really like this combination attack… oh! We could totally do this ourselves! Sue!

Uwah! What is it? A page got ripped?

No! This! This right here!

Hmm… Masked Royal and Knight Saber Combination Attack! True Super Destruction Secret God… something! Yes, what about it?

What about it! I want to do this myself! I want our own combination attack!

Huh? I forgot you have a weak spot for stuff like that, Lydie…

You’re right I do! But this is about more than just shouting a cool attack name! Combination arts should have strategic value, too. More power at less risk! Those who master combination attacks will rule the battlefield! They’ll help us a lot, I’m sure!

You think?

Yes! They will!

Okay, okay! We can at least give it a try!

Great! Heheh, now I need to start thinking up attack names.



Phew. I guess it might help us win battles, if it works out… I’d better let the others know. Hah, what a wonderful sister I am! Hehe! Oh! While she’s busy with that…

INTERMISSION: Combination Arts have a gauge to fill, and you fill this gauge (and trigger the Combination Art itself) by having the frontliner use skills or items that the backliner can follow up with. And unfortunately, despite what Lydie says, Combination Arts in practice are not only almost always weaker than a good follow-up skill chain, but take a long-ass time to charge up to boot (especially for now, since I don’t have any equipment or Battle Mixes to speed it up). I’ll post them at the end of each chapter if I can manage to trigger them. Now, let’s see what Sue’s up to…


Chez Sophie

Hey, Sophie…

Hello, Sue! This is rare! You’re here on your own?

Yes, I just sneaked out. Please, will you teach me how to cook?

My! What’s brought this on so suddenly?

Firis told us about how you hate housework but are great at cooking.

Gah! A bit of a barbed compliment, that one.

I always leave the cooking up to Lydie, so I’d like to be able to make something.

Well said, Sue! OK! I’ll teach you everything you need to know. First… Let’s head to the kitchen! Let’s try some beef and potato stew! First…

Turn up the heat to full blast, right? Here we go!

N-No, wait! Sue!



Hahaha! It was even worse than I expected, but don’t worry about it! Now, I’ve got some advice for you. First, you need to stay calm. Second, think about who you are making it for. Finally, and most importantly…



It will? I thought I was just saving time!

No, you’re not! Burning it wastes time! Anyway, give my advice a try. You’ll be cooking up a storm in no time, I’m sure.

Thanks! I’ll head home and give it a try right away.

…Hahaha, she reminds me of myself. How many things did I burn to a crisp, when I was younger? That was the same advice my grandma gave me… You can do it, Sue! Cooking is all about persistence, and you’ve got that in spades!