Part 67: Chapter 10-3: Longing, Regrets and Bonds
Part 10-3: Longing, Regrets and Bonds
The Families Left Behind
Corneria is listening to that music box again. Do you think she’s thinking about her dad?
Probably. I can’t believe she’s never even seen his face! That’s just so sad… I know… I’ve got an idea, then! Let’s really help her in the search for her dad! We know a lot about this region, after all. Let’s ask around and collect some more information! Yeah! For Corneria, let’s do our best! Come on!
Huh? Lydie and Sue? I wonder what they are up to…? Anyway, Lydie… where should we start? We need to ask around… so who should we start with? Hmm… how about Fritz? He’s staying here on Soleil Street, and he’s traveled far and wide as a puppeteer. Sounds like a plan!
Oh? I’m all ears, girls. Just now, we heard Corneria listening to her father’s music box, and it got us thinking… Ah, Corneria’s father. Oh? You’re already aware of the issue? We’re old friends. We searched for clues while we were traveling together, but… We didn’t find any information on her father, I’m afraid. I see. Thanks for your time! Hmm… you know who else in town isn’t from around here? And who travels a lot and might have seen something?
Yes! Pamela! Let’s go to the church right away!
Hmm~! Our lord above, what should I do for the next church gathering?
Ugh?! G-Girls, when did you get here? Heheh… The doors of the church are always open to little lost lambs. That’s true, that’s true! I completely let my guard down! Hehehe… So you’re already thinking about the next church gathering? Yes. Planning well in advance lets me prepare and make it a better event all around. I’m always thinking, somewhere in the back of my head, how to best make everyone happy. You’re so busy, yet always thinking about other people. That’s what I respect about you, Sister Grace! Please. I’m not worth of your respect. In fact, this might all be considered atonement. Whatever for? Once, long ago, I made people close to me suffer due to my own selfishness. If I’d just thought a little more, and acted more carefully, it wouldn’t have come to this… That’s why I want to make as many people happy as I can. To make it up, maybe, to the ones I hurt. Sister Grace… I’m sorry, I got all depressing for a moment there. I do have one question, if that’s alright? Aren’t you happy, at the moment? Oh, I’m happy! I’ve got you, and Sue, and Chloe and Ines, and everyone in the city. Every day is such fun! How could I not be happy? There’s no need to worry about me. Otherwise I won’t call you to the next church gathering! Hey, no fair! We’re not worried! Not worried about you at all! You know, that doesn’t sound quite right either… Hehe. Seeing you so full of energy does soothe my heart. As for them… I just hope they are as happy, wherever they are… I hope so too, Sister… Mmm… Anyway, Sue, remember what we’re here for? Oh, right!
Oh? Who? We’re looking for someone who can copy items and wears… distinctive clothing. Since you’re very well-traveled, I think you might know someone like that! Someone who can copy items and wears strange clothing? Yes, I know who that is! Ooh! Who? Who?! Hehehe. Her name is Corneria. We used to live in the same town, actually! …I should have explained that better. We’re actually looking for Corneria’s dad. Oh, is that so? I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about her dad… I see. Alright, thank you. We’ll try someone else.
So that’s Fritz and Pamela who don’t have any leads… Hmm… how about Mathias, then? He’s usually stationed at the Gates of Merk, so he’d spot anyone as distinctive as Corneria or her dad coming into the city. Right… it couldn’t hurt!
Someone from around here? Remember, Sue, a man! Right! So… a man with foreign-looking clothes, who has the power to multiply objects. Ring any bells? A man in strange clothes, who can multiply objects? I’ve never heard of such a person… That’s a shame… I thought you’d have heard some rumors for sure, Mathias. Hmm, okay. I’ll ask around. Just don’t expect too much! There should be at least rumors about someone who stands out that much, but I’ve never heard a peep. Yes… good point. Thank you, anyway. …Huh… so we didn’t learn anything about Corneria’s dad. Yeah. It would’ve been really great to take some proper information back to her. I guess it can’t be helped… Let’s at least tell her that we’re willing to help. Yeah, good idea. …I’m sorry, Corneria…
Corneria… Uhm…
What? The music from this box…?
Yeah, I think so. Where?! Where did you hear it?! A village I visited on a walk… It was to the east of here, if I remember correctly! There’s only sea to the east! Is that so? Then south, maybe? Or north-north-west? Oh my! We won’t get any help from Drossel’s terrible sense of direction… Hey, don’t blame me. What’s with the music box, anyway? You see… It’s a memento from Corneria’s father, whom she’s never met. The melody you’re hearing is from his homeland, which is somewhere around Adalet. Right, Corneria? Yes. Business opportunities aside… the prospect of meeting him again, close to his homeland, is why I set up shop here in Merveille. Oh… I should have tried harder to remember the location! There were loads of people there dressed just like Corneria! That sounds like exactly the place we want! Gah, I can’t take this heartbreak! It’s alright… If you can’t remember, you can’t remember. I’ll just keep on running the shop… No, hold on. Do you think you can trust me, Corneria? Why do you ask…? I’m going to go back to that place again! Hold on! Are you sure that’s a good idea, Drossel? Sure it is. I have a terrible sense of direction, but I’ll get there in the end, I promise! You want to see your father, right, Corneria? That’s what all your hard work has been for? Well, yes… Family is important, and that’s a fact. If I’m the only one who’s been there, then I have to go! Leave this to me! Very well. I want you to take this with you, then.
Yes. For my store. Please give it to the people in that village. My name was chosen for me by my dad. So, if he is there in that village… He should recognize my name. Just give him that… that’s all you need to do. That’s it? I could tell him to come! No. I have my pride as a merchant. Please just promote my store. That is all. Hahah, promote! I like that. Alright, you can count on me!
She ran off in the opposite direction of the main gates, didn’t she… Hahaha… It’s okay. Drossel said to trust her, so that’s all we can do… You’re right. I’ll put my trust in you, then, Drossel! Mmm! For Corneria’s sake, let’s believe! Now, Sue, let’s go home! We have some work to do… Right! And there’s something else I gotta do…
Mysterious Protagonists and Mysterious Voices
S-Sue! Whatever are you doing? Why are you gripping that uni so tightly? Uwah, it’s no good. I was trying to hear its voice… You can hear the painting… and more importantly… can hear Mom, but I can’t hear a thing. That kinda made me mad, so I decided to train and listen to the materials before you can! O-OK. I guess that makes sense. Kinda. Hahaha! I’ll hear the materials’ voices first and have Mom praise me! Sue, I think I need to tell you something. You see…
We were out shopping and decided to drop by. Is this okay? Yes, of course! Right, Lydie? Yeah, sure. …?
Look at this piece of meat right here! Let’s cook and eat it together! Uwah! I’ll get ready at once! Meat, meat, time to eat!
Oh, Sue… Liane taught me how to prepare this… okay! Dig in, everyone! Ah, meat is such a vital part of life. It just makes me feel so satisfied! It really was good! I could eat that everyday! But are you sure this was alright? That meat looked really expensive…
You’re kidding! How would you even know something like that? You don’t believe me? I’m not lying! I can hear the voices of materials, after all! What?! You can? You can hear them?! Hehe, that’s right! My Miss Sophie can hear them too, actually. Yes, I can. But it seems Firis can hear more types than I can. Yes. I’ve got particular confidence in listening to ores and meat! Ores, I understand, but meat? That just sounds like you being hungry… Hahaha, maybe. All of the meat Firis listens to is always saying it wants to be eaten! T-That’s not true! I’m just telling you what the materials are saying!
So Firis and Sophie can listen to the materials as well? I’ll get there myself one day, you’ll see! But for now… there’s a Weapon Core I need…
We have plenty of good ingredients for this. Like the Gold Eisen and the Rainbow Neutralizer. And the Chaotic Dirt that those giant black monsters in the paintings drop is a really potent catalyst…
Even then, we have very little room for error if we want to maximize this Weapon Core’s potential…
Hmm… I dunno if this’ll do it…
With an Enhancer, it will!
There we go! Still, though… I feel even now, we don’t really have good traits to work with for Weapon Cores. Or accessories. Meh… anyway, it’s past midnight! Wanna check in with Corneria after we wake up? Sure!
A Future Payoff
Corneria… Drossel hasn’t come back yet, has she? No. But I will keep on waiting…
Drossel! Welcome back. So? Hahah! The promotion was a big success! It just took a bit longer than I expected. T-Thank you so much! And my father? Hehe! There was this one person who reacted to the name at once, and even cried. I’m pretty sure that was your father, Corneria. Really…?! That settles it, doesn’t it? Yes. We can only wait now and see if my father comes… Hahaha… It feels like Sue and I haven’t done anything useful… No, that’s not true. You told me about Corneria’s shop in the first place. Without your promotion, none of this would have happened! What do you say, Corneria? How about making these two your promotion agents? Promotion agents? That sounds like a good idea. I think they may be perfectly suited. I don’t mind! With my charm and my voice, I’ll bring in more customers than you can handle! Hahaha, me too. If you’ll let us do what we can between our other work, we’ll help however we can! Very well. I’ll need to find something to reward you with, won’t I? Lydie, Sue, and you, Drossel. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done!
Right! Mysterious friendships… Yeah. We’ve gotten to befriend so many amazing people through our line of work… I’ll cherish them as long as I live! Well said!Later that day…
Uni Buster
Lydie, you’re synthesizing? Oh, you’ve made a burning boom-boom! I assure you I haven’t? What? That, right there. Look! Burning boom-boom! It’s a bomb! Where’s that strange name coming from? I think mine is better. Much more descriptive! I’m not sure about that… What about this one, then?
Okay… This one?
Uwah, you’re losing me here. There’s not even any logic to your naming conventions… Of course not! Being bound by logic goes completely against being an alchemist! You might be right there, but no one else is going to understand those crazy names. I don’t think that’s true, either. The general masses will love my touch of flair! …I knew Sue liked giving things odd names, but I wasn’t aware it was this serious… Uwah, maybe she’s started taking after Dad? As her sister, should I be warning her?
Sorry, Lydie, but you’re wrong there. It’s not me she’s taking after here…
(What are you talking about? It’s just a bomb.)
(Bah! Alchemists sure love to give things dull names. I thought you were creative?) (Go on, then. What kind of names do you want?) (Let’s see now, for example…)
(But why not call it an Uni Buster? Or at least something with a bit more punch?) (It still isn’t really telling anyone what it does, though, does it?) OK, what about this, then?
Uni Buster? You know what, that one might actually work… Honnete… Your spirit lives on, in them. …Some of the weirdest parts of it, anyway.