Part 20: Chapter 4-6: Their Rival's Challenge

Part 4-6: Their Rival’s Challenge


The Threat in the Grotto


Music: The Glittering Blue Depths -Lydie






Wow! It looked pretty on the outside, but it’s even more beautiful now that we’re actually inside!

Beautiful and fantastical! Let’s get this investigation rolling!



Hahaha! No need to tell Firis twice!

Ah! Just look at her go…



We can walk around, and touch things too! Hahaha! This is amazing, like a waking dream!

She seems very excitable. Is she really older than us?

Hahaha, does it matter? That’s really adorable, if you ask me.

Everyone! Check out these flowers!



Ah! Look at how clear and beautiful this all is! What’s it made from? Crystal?

I’ll see for myself… Uwah, it’s cold! It’s not crystal, but ice. This entire cave is made of ice!

I see. So this is the Luminous Ice Grotto itself. Achoo! We should have packed something warmer.



Kyah! What was that? A monster?

I hope that’s all it was. Let’s proceed with caution. We don’t know what’s in here.

I see rocks everywhere. I bet that rocks in this painting will be full of rare gems and crystals!


Music: The Glittering Blue Depths -Suelle-

Oh? Hey, Sue! Can I see that crystal?

This?

No way… that’s an Ertona Crystal! There’s only one place in the whole wide world you’re supposed to be able to find these, and that’s Ertona, the mining town I hail from! Amazing! This place really is like a dream!

Hate to burst your bubble, Firis, but just look up!



Is this whole tree made of ice? Or crystal? Right down to its flowers?

Wow! This is all so incredible!



Now that we’re deeper in… this section of the Luminous Ice Grotto is very labyrinthine. “Glacial Labyrinth” is pretty fitting.

Labyrinthine?

Like a giant maze.

There you go again with your big words… oh!



Behind that rock, there’s a treasure che-woah!



Oooh, Sue! Use that Ice Bomb!

Sure thing! It makes sense that Ice Bombs will pack more punch in a frozen world like this. …Hope this thing’s ready for some pain!



Hehehe… my turn!



Woohoo! Nailed it! Now, off we go!



Psst, Sue. Did Firis just…

Fire an arrow that caused a huge ice explosion? She made the Ice Bomb look like an ice cube… we really oughta ask her how she does that!

It probably takes some time and effort to charge that up and then unleash it. I don’t think we can rely on her to fire off those ice-imbued arrows every time we toss a bomb.

Right…



The treasure chest had a weapon sub-part, but there’s nothing further in that direction.

So let’s back the way we came. Nowhere to go but to take a right…


Peril, Promises and Plans

Uwah, there it is again. It sounds like it’s getting closer, too.



Hey! Lydie might be frightened, but I’m certainly not.



Settle our rivalry? How?

That monster we’ve been hearing. The one who defeats it first will be the winner!

What? That sounds a bit dangerous. I don’t think we should be playing games in here…

Ohohoho! Then I win by default! I knew it, I’m the best!



Yes! I’d expect no less from my rivals. The contest begins now!

A-Are you sure, Sue? I have a bad feeling about all this.



Anyway! Forward! We can’t back down now, Lydie!

Hmm, something really bothers me about Lucia. For Lydie and Sue’s childhood friend, she sure acts really strangely around them…

Oh, Mathias? What’s the matter?

Tell me, why are you always so aggressive with the twins? You’re childhood friends with them, right?

Oh. Well. I’ll tell you, I guess, so long as you promise never to tell anyone else.

Sure, I can make that promise. Come on, tell me. I really want to know.

Very well. You promised, remember? The reason is… *whisper whisper* That’s it!

Haha! That’s your reason? Hahahaha!

Hey! What are you laughing for?! I’m never telling you anything else, that’s for sure!

Hahah… wait, I hear something huge coming!

So do I! Like wings flapping, but much heavier…



Kyaaaaah! It just suddenly popped out!

W-Wait… W-What’s going on? It feels like it’s just watching us?

Don’t wait to see what it does! Everyone, throw some bombs! T… Take this!

Are you even trying to hit it? Because you’re not! Now let me show you how it’s done!

You aren’t either, Lucia! Did you practice to so completely lack control?!

Calm down, both of you! That monster is too fast to hit with bombs!



Awaaaaah! R-Run for it! Can we just run away from this one?

I don’t think we can… Look at that face! Even if we run, it will just chase us!



Uwah, that looks bad! It’s about to launch a nasty attack, I can tell!

Uwaaah! Save me, Lucia!

Hey, quit it! Don’t use me as a shield!

Graaaaaaaah!



Nyaaaaaah!

…

Phew… we… we made it in one piece!

Somehow! But what about…



Aaaah… Ah?



What’s with that thing? It froze Lucia and then just left?

Does that monster have a grudge against Lucia? Ah, no time for that now! Lucia! Lucia!



Thank you, Lucia. I’ll never forget your sacrifice. Goodbye!

No! Sue, you can’t! We can’t give up on Lucia!

I’m kidding, of course! But what can we do? Use some bombs to melt the ice, maybe?

That might work, but just be careful! Use too strong a bomb and…

You’ll blow Lucia to pieces? Is there such a thing as a “just right” bomb, though?

We’re out of options! Whether or not it works… we’ve only one way to find out!



Gulp! We’re staking it all on this bomb!

Boom!



This is bad. We need to warm her up, and quickly. Il won’t be happy with me for this, but… It’s an emergency, so I’ll use alchemy! Hmm… This medicine should stabilize her! And I oughta start a campfire to keep her warm…

A campfire? We can at least help with that!

Later, around the campfire…



Phew, that’s nice and warm. I didn’t expect to get frozen so suddenly!

I’m sorry, Lucia. I just grabbed you and used you like a shield.

I’m sorry too. I never expected things to take such a chilling turn.

Well, I’m glad to see you show some repentance. I forgive you. See my generosity!

You know what? I’ll give you that, just this once.

One thing I have to say, though. Investigating these Mysterious Paintings is a bit dangerous! With so many monsters around, there’s no telling what will happen next. Is this really safe for Lydie and Sue?

You raise some good points. More experienced alchemists might be more suited to all this…

No! I won’t allow it. I won’t let anyone else handle this!

Same goes for me! I want us to be the ones to continue these investigations!

Sue I can understand, but you too, Lydie? Why do you both feel so strongly about this?



I know, we still have a lot to learn. Keeping that promise still feels like a distant dream… And yet, with the materials from inside these paintings, even we can make incredible items!

We need the materials from here to help increase our Atelier Rank. Please! That’s why we need to continue to investigate these paintings! No matter how dangerous they get!

Please! We have to do this! For our mom… to become great alchemists, to run the best atelier in the kingdom and fulfill the promise we made with her… there’s nothing we won’t do!

I see. So these investigations will help you make your dreams come true? In which case, Mathias, let me ask you on their behalf, too! Please, let them continue…

Say no more. I can hardly turn you down after hearing all that.

You two are as awkward as ever, aren’t you! Let’s just carry on with the investigation. If something happens, you can use me as a shield again. I’m your big sister, after all!

Ah!

Ahem. We need to complete the investigation into this world, first. We’ll settle our rivalry later. In order to complete our task safely, we will need to work together to defeat that monster.

Easy to say, but how do we accomplish that? It’s too fast to hit with our attacks.

… Hmm…

Lydie. Do you have an idea?

Hm? Oh. Yes, I think so, but it’s probably a bit too dangerous…

We’ll decide that once we hear it. Just tell us. It might be a good idea.

Okay, well, first we hit its wings with bombs. Slow it down, to make it easier to hit with attacks. To land that first attack, though, we need to create an opening. That means we need a decoy.

I see. That sounds like a job for me.

Are you sure? You might get frozen again!

That monster does seem a bit obsessed with me. So nobody can do the job like I can. After that… We just have to defeat it before anyone gets frozen.

…Alright! First, then, we need to find it.

Gyaaaaaah!



The monster’s nest might be in that direction. Let’s go and take a look.