#logsto

Chloe: Master Sage!

Shino: Sage.

Shino & Chloe: Happy New Year!

Shylock, Murr & Rustica: Happy…

Faust, Heathcliff & Nero: New Year!

Chloe: Here’s to making tons of memories this year, too!

Shino: You better work hard and become the legendary Sage who took down the Great Calamity once and for all.

Shino & Chloe: You’ve got this!

Murr: Alrighty, let’s get down to business and assemble some lucky bags!

Heathcliff: We heard your world has this New Year’s custom of going out and buying bags full of lucky items.

Shylock: To celebrate in accordance with it, each of us has created one just for you, Master Sage. Your world is quite charming, Master Sage.

Chloe: Let’s start with you, Rustica. What did you bring?

Rustica: Well, I filled my lucky bag with soothing music that plays as soon as you open it….

Nero: Oh, I’m sure the Sage’s gonna love it.

Nero: What about you, Faust?

Faust: This is mine.

Shino: Why does it look so ominous…

Heathcliff: The tag says ‘put your hand in’...

Nero: What’s gonna happen if they do?

Faust: Try and see for yourself.

Nero: Ehhm…

Shino: I’ll do it.

Faust: Are you ready for a test of courage?

Heathcliff: You’ve got this, Shino.

Shino: …

Shino: Here goes!

Chloe: Whoa, no hesitation!

Heathcliff: A-Are you alright?

Shino: …Hm?

Shino: It’s… fluffy…

Faust: Heheh.

Faust: I prepared this for days when the Sage wants to pet something fluffy, in case the cats in the courtyard aren’t feeling particularly cuddly.

Nero: Ya know what, that’s real as hell…

Murr: A paw-some present for all cat lovers!

Heathcliff: What about you, Chloe? I know you’ve been working on yours for quite some time now.

Chloe: Sure have!

Chloe: Tada–h! I sewed little costumes for Saku-chan to match the ones I’ve made for the Master Sage.

Shylock: How adorable, I’m sure they’re going to be delighted with your bag, Chloe.

Chloe: Oh, I hope so! I’d love to see the two of them on the runway!

Faust: Save me a front row seat.

Rustica: Truly a thoughtful gift, Chloe.

Nero: Damn, y’all put so much effort into the ‘lucky’ part. Mine’s gonna look real boring in comparison…

Heathcliff: How come?

Nero: Well, all I did was cast a spell on this bag to make it perfect for storing food and makin’ it last longer.

Nero: Obviously, it can’t keep stuff fresh ‘till the end of time, but it should be able to make food hold on for another day.

Shylock: A good present should be practical.

Murr: Nothing beats convenience!

Nero: Ya think so? Heh, I’m glad to hear.

Murr: I want one, too!

Shylock: Me too, if I may be so bold as to request one.

Nero: It’s a simple spell, do it yerselves.

Heathcliff: Let’s hear Shino’s next.

Shino: Mine’s awesome, 100% guaranteed. Here, try to guess by smelling it first.

Heathcliff: O-Okay…?

Heathcliff: It smells… of nature?

Shino: More precisely, of Sherwood forest. This bag’s the perfect terrarium for raising strong beetles and other bugs.

Rustica: My, what creative thought!

Shino: Right?

Faust: It’s your turn to present, Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: I took a more classic approach with mine…

Heathcliff: It’s an instant-ojiya set. All it needs is boiling water, and it's ready to eat.

Murr: Wowie, that’s a whole year’s worth of ojiya!

Chloe: The Master Sage loves ojiya, so I’m sure they’ll be overjoyed!

Shino: Anything made by Heath has to be high quality. I bet the rice has just the right amount of sweetness, and the grains are beautifully shaped.

Heathcliff: You always have such a… way with words.

Faust: Well, Murr? Shylock? You two are the last ones left. What did you bring?

Shylock: Curious, are you?

Faust: Let’s just say I’m watching out for the Master Sage’s emotional well-being.

Nero: An’ I support ya.

Shylock: Come on, did you really think I would prepare some sort of scandalous lucky bag?

Shylock: Behold.

Murr: And here’s mine!

Heathcliff: Wow, they’re so colourful!

Shino: And yet somehow they match.

Nero: What’s inside?

Shylock & Murr: Hehe…

Shylock: Mine’s super-secret lucky bag No.1.

Murr: And mine’s super-secret lucky bag No.2.

Rustica: Ooh, how exciting!

Shino: There better not be anything inappropriate inside.

Chloe: Oh, I hope the Master Sage will be fine…

Faust: Can’t you just tell us what it is?

Shylock: Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Murr: My lips are sealed!

Heathcliff: Now I’m even more curious…

Nero: Don’t go ruinin’ the Sage’s innocence now… We can’t have ‘em growin’ up too fast.

Shylock: Do you suppose they’ll have a smoke with me if they do?

Murr: Or maybe they’ll split in a gazillion pieces like me!

Faust: I propose we’re all present when the Sage opens these. Just in case we need to exercise… damage-control.

Rustica: But of course! I wouldn’t want to miss the Master Sage’s reactions when they’re opening these wonderful bags.

Chloe: I second this!

Rustica: Such fleeting moments must be cherished. And now, Master Sage…

Western wizards: We wish you all the best this year!

Cain: 97, 98, 99… 100!

Cain: Phew, I worked up a sweat. Man, does this breeze feel nice—

Cain: Whoa! What was that roar!?

Rustica: Why, hello there, Cain. Pleasant day we’re having, wouldn’t you agree?

Cain: Rustica! Now’s not the time!

Cain: There’s a monster nearby. We might be under attack!

Rustica: Ah, I’m afraid that was my doing. Apologies for the concern.

Rustica: I was merely playing with this violin.

Cain: You’re telling me a violin did that!?

Rustica: It’s a rather special make.

Rustica: I was lucky to acquire it at the shop while getting the strings replaced.

Cain: That’s neat! So it’s a violin that can mimic the growl of a monster?

Rustica: Indeed, but that’s not all it can do. If we play a higher note like this…

Cain: It meows!

Rustica: And in the middle range…

Cain: Oh, that’s a horse!

Rustica: Then, if you pluck two strings at once…

Cain: Ahaha, that’s the roar I heard earlier!

Cain: It’s incredible what you can do with a single finger, but that’s a musician for ya.

Rustica: Why, thank you. Would you like to try it as well?

Cain: Huh? Me? I’m no violinist.

Rustica: That’s quite all right. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly.

Rustica: Simply place your chin here and rest the bow there…

Cain: Whoa, it’s lighter than I expected! I better be careful not to drop it.

Rustica: Why, you’re in perfect form already. It’s as if the violin were made for you.

Rustica: Now then, have faith and relax your fingers as if you’re brushing the wind.

Cain: Like this? Hm, or maybe this?

Rustica: Yes, yes, splendid. All that’s left is to lower the bow and play a note.

Cain: Okay, I’ll give it a try…

Cain: Whoa, it sounded like a frog! Ahaha, that’s awesome.

Rustica: Marvellous work. It’s as if you’re giving birth to new life with the mere flick of your fingers.

Rustica: Try playing again, but more gently this time. It should sound like the chirping of a songbird.

Rustica: However, if you apply too much pressure—

Cain: Like this?

Cain: Gah!? A snake!?

Rustica: Oh dear…

Rustica: What a lovely surprise.

Snow & White: Sage, dear! Felicitations!

Snow: We are most thrilled you have survived this long!

White: Even though you’ve faced countless dangers…

Snow: You’re still standing strong! What commendable perseverance!

White: What laudable persistence!

Snow & White: May you live a long life!

Mithra: Happy anniversary, Master Sage.

Mithra: Few humans have ever come into my territory and lived to tell the tale, yet somehow you are still here.

Mithra: So long as you continue to prioritise my sleep, I suppose I’ll let you live a little longer.

Owen: Happy anniversary, Master Sage.

Owen: I’ve never had a human survive this long on my territory without becoming a plaything. It’s been a most amusing experience.

Owen: I do hope you’ll survive until the next anniversary as well. 

Bradley: Yo, Sage! ‘Grats on the occasion.

Bradley: It takes someone real special to survive for this long on my turf. Ya really are somethin’.

Bradley: I’ll be keepin’ my eye on ya from now on.

Snow: Goodness, you really are quite the audacious lot.

White: To think you’d call this your territory when we, and our dear Ozzy, are right here.

Mithra: It’s not a problem if it’s true.

Owen: It seems you're mistaken. The manor is clearly mine.

Bradley: Bickerin’ ‘bout this is a waste of time. If ya really wanna claim this place, take it up with Oz himself.

Snow: Precisely! We’ll get nowhere at this rate, so let us move on to the topic of the hour—the wonderful memories we’ve made with our dear Sage, no matter how small or trivial they may be!

White: Yes, yes, let’s share all the joyous times we’ve spent together.

Snow & White: <Noscomnia>!

Mithra: Huh, they’re bigger now.

Owen: Why did you switch to your adult forms?

Snow & White: <Noscomnia>!

Bradley: Make up yer mind, damn!

Snow: Whoopsies, it would appear our timing is a little off.

White: However, once we tell our story, you are sure to understand.

Snow: Our tale begins with the two of us accompanying the Sage on a shopping trip.

White: When suddenly, a stranger commented on how difficult it must be to take care of twins.

Snow: While the two of us love to be doted on as children…

White: That day, we wanted to lend our help as adults.

Snow: And so…

Snow & White: <Noscomnia>!

Owen: Ah, they’re big again.

Snow & White: However, our story does not end here.

Snow & White: Flanking our lovely Sage on both sides, we strolled about the marketplace, glowering at anyone who’d even dare look our way.

White: Occasionally, we’d even turn and strike a pose if we felt like it.

Mithra: How intimidating…

Snow: While the Sage was surprised at first, they were immensely grateful for our presence.

White: And even asked us to carry some bags for them if we insisted on staying in these forms.

Snow & White: Such is the burden of an adult.

Snow & White: How pitiable.

Bradley: Hmph, so all that talk about “wonderful memories” and “joyous times” was all bunk, was it?

White: Hmph, I’d like to see you do better.

Bradley: Alright, leave it to the boss to show ya how it’s done.

Bradley: Once, when I was bored, I called the Sage out to meet me by a tree.

Bradley: Then, I chucked an apple at ‘em and said this:

Bradley: If ya really trust me, put this on yer head.

Mithra: And what did the Master Sage do?

Bradley: They said they had an urgent matter to get to.

Owen: Aw, they were scared.

Bradley: But I insisted it was fine, and they should just go with it while takin’ out my gun.

Bradley: After fumblin’ through a few more excuses, they finally put the apple on their head.

Snow: And did you shoot it with your gun?

White: Was it a bullseye?

Bradley: Right before I pulled the trigger, I sneezed!

Owen: And?

Bradley: That’s it.

Owen: Talk about pointless…

Mithra: You certainly nailed the trivial part.

Bradley: Hey, even the little moments count. I’d like to hear the kinda story you’ve got, Owen.

Owen: Me? Fine, I’ll humour you. Once, after summoning the Master Sage, I released Cerberus from my trunk…

Owen: Then, I asked if they liked animals.

White: This is definitely bullying!

Snow: You really are a big meanie!

Owen: Since the Master Sage is such a big animal lover, I thought they might like to help out my poor Cerberus, who seemed to have had a fish bone stuck in its throat…

Owen: I told them they ought to be a dear and stick their head inside of its mouth to take a look around.

Owen: After all, that’s what a good and kind person would do, yes?

Mithra: So what happened next?

Owen: I don’t remember.

Bradley: Yer kiddin’ me...

Snow: Was our dear Sage alright?

Owen: You ran into them earlier, didn’t you? Of course, they are. Anyways, what’s your pointless story of the day, Mithra?

Mithra: I was having another sleepless night with the Master Sage by my side.

Mithra: They told me I should try counting sheep if I couldn’t fall asleep, but no matter how far I got, it simply didn’t work. So I opened up my door and summoned a flock of Final Evolution Super Dream Sheep into my room.

Bradley: The hell is that…

Owen: I’ve never heard of such a creature in my life…

Mithra: I just took them from some farm and gave them a name.

Mithra: It’s supposed to evoke some sort of card-collecting game from the Master Sage’s world.

Snow: Well, what happened afterwards?

Mithra: My room was filled with lots of Final Evolution Super Dream Sheep.

White: Is that all?

Mithra: Yes.

Bradley: I wouldn’t really call that a trivial situation… Especially with Mithra of the North involved…

Owen: Talk about anticlimactic.

Mithra: If it’s trivial you want, I could tell the story about the time I transformed the Master Sage into their Final Evolution Super Dream Form.

Snow & White: Oh, do tell! Do tell!

Snow: Ah, but before that, Sagey, dear!

White: I hope we make many more delightful memories together!

Mithra: Now and into the future…

Arthur: Happy anniversary, Master Sage!

Arthur: Your brilliant guidance throughout the past year has made it possible for us to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Arthur: Every day spent by your side is my pride and joy.

Cain: Happy anniversary, Master Sage!

Cain: Your unwavering trust in us means more than you can imagine.

Cain: It’s what has kept us going all this time. And will continue to do so for the hardships to come.

Riquet: Happy anniversary, Master Sage.

Riquet: You gave us hope in times of despair, and it’s thanks to you that we can celebrate all the good that we’ve done.

Riquet: I’ll always remember the kindness and courage you’ve given me.

Oz: You’ve come a long way since the day we met.

Oz: I shall continue to serve you.

Cain: Wo~w, now that’s a real killer-line!

Riquet: Right!

Arthur: It’s not something just anyone can say, but I want to give it a try, too.

Arthur: …You’ve come a long way since the day we met.

Cain: …You’ve come a long way since the day we met.

Riquet: …You’ve come a long way since the day we met.

Oz: …

Oz: Let us return to the main topic, if you will.

Arthur: My apologies!

Arthur: Since it’s our anniversary, I’d like to take a trip down memory lane with you.

Arthur: We’ve reminisced over plenty of our most memorable encounters and incidents, so…

Arthur: This time around, I suggest we take the occasion to talk about something we wouldn’t normally bring up, however trivial it may be.

Cain: Hoho, we’ve got tons of those together, don’t we, Akira?

Riquet: So do we!

Oz: …

Cain: Oz? You there?

Oz: …I am listening.

Riquet: Then give us a sign.

Arthur: You must’ve been terribly deep in thought! How wonderful!

Arthur: We’ll save the best for last then, Master Oz. If there are no objections, I’ll go first.

Arthur: Not too long ago, the Master Sage complimented my nails.

Arthur: The chamberlain at the royal palace is adamant on trimming them for me, but I find it hard to stand still for such a long period of time…

Arthur: Ever since, though, I’ve been paying close attention to the procedure and eventually got the Master Sage to let me trim their nails!

Arthur: Not to brag, but I might be a full-fledged manicurist now.

Cain: Certainly a great skill to have!

Cain: And I bet Akira was real thrilled to have you do that for them.

Riquet: How wonderful! It’s never even occurred to me to trim my nails.

Riquet: Your diligence and attention to detail are as inspiring as always, Your Highness. Your nails are looking spick-and-span even today.

Cain: Sure are!

Arthur: Ahaha, you’re all too kind.

Oz: …

Arthur: Ah, here, Master Oz.

Oz: They look good.

Riquet: Now then, I’ll go next.

Riquet: A few days ago, I asked the Master Sage to teach me how to write in their native alphabet.

Riquet: Imagine my surprise when they told me they use not one, but three writing systems! They’re called ‘hiragana’, ‘katakana’ and ‘kanji’.

Cain: What do they need all that for?

Riquet: Apparently, it’s because you need all three to properly express things. I was in awe!

Riquet: But also really intimidated… Learning one way to write is already hard enough, so three sounds impossible!

Oz: It’s certainly not easily achievable. Perhaps only a select few in the Sage’s world are capable of this.

Arthur: I’ve seen the Master Sage write in their language before.

Arthur: It’s a fascinating mix of elegant curves and confident strokes.

Cain: Hmm, could it be a social thing? You know, one class of people use this one, and the rest use the others?

Cain: Like if you’re a noble, a knight or a commoner?

Riquet: Then perhaps there’s a distinction between how you would communicate with God, others, and yourself?

Arthur: Perhaps they’re used to distinguish between sound, meaning and something in-between?

Riquet: How would you make the distinction, Oz?

Oz: …One for friends, foes and self.

Cain: Makes sense to have words exclusive to those you consider close! It must be the greatest feeling in the world to know with certainty when you’ve gone from an enemy to an ally.

Oz: …Of when you’ve conquered them?

Cain: Close enough! Made a friend was what I was looking for. I guess it’s my turn to talk now.

Cain: On our way back from our last mission, Akira and I passed by my hometown. And, of course, we couldn’t miss the river that’s been a big part of my childhood.

Cain: Telling Akira all kinds of stories got me feeling really nostalgic, so…

Cain: We went in for a swim.

Cain: It felt strange, but in a good way. Like bringing a piece of the present into the past.

Arthur: Inviting someone to experience your hometown can be a very intimate moment indeed.

Riquet: Mhm, it’s fun to revisit all your favourite places and make new memories with someone you love.

Oz: …

Oz: The Sage has been to my castle before.

Cain: That’s great! Is that the memory you wanted to share?

Oz: …Yes, however…

Oz: …

Oz: The Sage also came to my room a few days ago.

Oz: They were talking, and I was listening. When they finished, I had no further comments.

Oz: With nothing left to say, the Sage seemed troubled. They were fidgeting and looking around nervously.

Oz: The room gradually fell silent.

Oz: Then, their gaze settled upon the fireplace, and slowly, they seemed to return to a state of calm.

Oz: Eventually, they fell asleep. I could only watch over them.

Oz: …

Oz: It felt nice. That moment we shared.

Arthur: …Wow…!

Arthur: That does sound like a very calm and peaceful time.

Arthur: I’d love to do that together sometime as well.

Riquet: Me too! But…

Riquet: Oz, you need to work on your storytelling. You talk so slowly, I felt like I was going to fall asleep just like the Master Sage.

Arthur: Lord Oz’s voice can be very calming.

Cain: I knew you had your soft spots, Oz.

Oz: …I do.

Riquet: Is today also going to become one such fond memory for you, Oz?

Oz: No.

Riquet: You’re supposed to say yes! Read the room!

Oz: …You’ve come a long way.

Cain: Even you thought that line was cool, huh.

Arthur: I hope we’ll make many more little, but precious memories together with the Master Sage from now on.

Cain: Yep, we’ve got the whole future ahead of us.

Riquet: Let’s spend lots and lots of time together!

Oz: Sage.

Rustica: Greetings, everyone~ ♪ Please take a seat~ ♪

Snow: It’s a beautiful day~ ♪

White: The flowers are blooming~ ♪

Arthur: And our tea party is about to begin~ ♪

Rustica, Snow, White, & Arthur: Ladida~ ♪

Oz, Shino, Lennox: …

Snow & White: All together now~ ♪ One, two~ ♪

Lennox: Ladida~ ♪

Oz & Shino: …

Snow: Thank you, Lenny~!

White: As for the other two… Where are you ‘ladidas~’ ♪?

Shino: Okay, can someone explain what we’re doing here?

Oz: I thought this was a tea party.

Oz: Why are we singing?

Rustica: Look all around you—the sky is bright, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming. Doesn’t the sight of it make your heart want to sing?

Rustica: When I saw the weather today, I simply had to gather everyone out here for a song.

Snow: Aren’t we oh-so cute?

White: Aren’t we oh-so charming?

Lennox: Yes, you are.

Shino: Okay, I guess I understand the singing part now, but why us specifically? And what’s with the tea party?

Arthur: Granvelle Castle received a set of four teas for us Sage’s Wizards.

Arthur: There’s one for spring days when the flowers are blooming, summer days when the sun is shining bright, autumn days when the leaves turn red, and winter days when the snow is falling…

Arthur: Essentially, there’s a different flavour for every season.

Snow: The one we’re serving now is perfect for warm days such as today, when the flowers are in full bloom.

White: And to continue with our spring theme, we’ve decided to invite all of you here to join us!

Lennox: I assume this is also somehow related to our birthdays?

Rustica: Indeed. Everyone here possesses a heart as kind and peaceful as the blue skies above.

Oz: …

Shino: …Sure.

Arthur: I couldn’t have put it any better myself!

Rustica: Now then, shall we get started before the tea gets cold?

Snow & White: …Mmm, yummy~!

Shino: The smell reminds me of the cherry pie I had yesterday,

Oz: It smells of peaches to me.

Lennox: There’s definitely a hint of fresh fruit in here.

Arthur: And is that… gardenia? It’s certainly some sort of floral scent.

Rustica: Why, its sweetness reminds me of picking flowers for a bouquet beneath the gentle sunlight.

White: Shall we try adding some sugar to make it even sweeter?

Snow: Oh, add some for me, too~!

Rustica: Ahaha, we might as well bring out the pastries too, then.

Rustica: I purchased these delectable sweets from the City of Affluence for everyone to enjoy. Please, help yourselves.

Shino: There are canelé, madeleines, and is that “The Lady’s Kiss”? Man, West has really got it all.

White: Arthur, Snow, and I brought sweets from Melitro as well!

Snow: These were specially made by the famed confectioner, Sarkana, and have Arthur’s stamp of approval. He was certain even Oz would like them!

Arthur: I thought you might enjoy these brownies—they had a more bitter edge to them.

Oz: …I see.

Snow: (He’s as expressionless as ever but we can tell he liked them.)

White: (So he did like them.)

Lennox: I brought some polvorones to share as well. I got them fresh from the South yesterday,

Lennox: They’re made with a dough consisting of flour, sugar, and crushed almonds that’s been left to sit overnight, then baked in an oven the next day. I think they’ll go well with the tea.

Shino: And I brought some of Nero’s cookies to share.

Shino: Since they’re cut to look like flowers and butterflies, I thought they would fit with the theme.

Snow & White: What delicious sweets!

White: …Since we have gathered wizards from all five countries, it’d be lovely to have an assortment of treats from each of our homelands to try.

Arthur: Right now, we have West, Central and Southern desserts on the table.

Shino: Cookies made by Nero count for East. He’s the greatest chef we have.

Lennox: No arguments there.

Snow: That means only North is missing.

White: Whatever shall we do? Oh, I know! What about that thing Ozzy likes!

Snow: Yes, yes, that’s perfect!

Oz: What thing…?

Snow: Oh, Ozzy dear, you must fetch it for us!

White: To the North with you! Go, go!

Oz: …

Oz: <<Vox Nox>>

Shino: He actually went…

Lennox: I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what that thing is.

Arthur: Oh, but Master Oz’s tea will be cool by the time he returns.

Rustica: Luckily for us, there’s no need to worry about that—Lord Oz’s cup is already emptied.

Rustica: Shall we brew another round while we await his return?

Bradley: …A- Achoo!

Chloe: W-Wah!

Bradley: This is… the Western tailor’s room?

Chloe: Welcome back, Bradley! Did you sneeze your way here?

Bradley: Aha. I landed at a Northern ore mine earlier.

Bradley: Thought I’d save myself some time an’ try my luck with a coupla’ more sneezes, and it seems third time’s the charm. 

Chloe: W-wow, talk about lucky…

Chloe: Well, I’m glad you made it back safe and sound.

Bradley: And with a prize too.

Chloe: Oh, wow! What a beautiful gemstone!

Chloe: It’s like a frozen piece of a crystal-clear lake…

Chloe: Ah! And if you look at it from the side, the colour changes!

Bradley: Heh, you wanna closer look?

Chloe: You bet!

Chloe: Wow… It’s even more beautiful up close…

Chloe: When light passes through, the inside glitters like a sky full of stars, and it makes the prettiest sounds…

Chloe: Wait a minute… Is this a Starchime Sapphire!?

Bradley: Ya heard of it before?

Chloe: I learned about it from Murr!

Chloe: It’s a gem that resembles the night sky, and when you tap it, it makes this gorgeous tinkling sound like the stars are playing music…

Chloe: Wait, isn’t this, like, super rare!? I heard you’d have to be ultra lucky to even see one. I can’t believe I’m holding it!

Bradley: Whoa there, you aren’t thinkin’ of takin’ it, are ya?

Chloe: Of course not! S-Sorry, I’m getting carried away.

Chloe: I’m actually making a necktie pin right now, and I was just thinking a gem like this would be perfect for it…

Bradley: Hmm…

Bradley: In that case, how ‘bout I cutcha a deal.

Chloe: A deal?

Bradley: Anyone would kill to get their hands on this thing, unpolished or not.

Bradley: But if you can give it an even better price tag, then I might just give it to ya.

Chloe: Huh!?

Chloe: A-Are you asking me to buy it!? I don’t have that kind of money!

Bradley: Hmph, I know that.

Bradley: But hear me out—you wanna make this necktie pin, and I wanna raise this rock’s value, right?

Chloe: Y-Yeah?

Bradley: So why don’t you use it for the tie pin?

Bradley: With the condition that ya give it back to me, of course.

Chloe: …!

Bradley: How ‘bout it? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, y’know? Are yer skills up to the challenge?

Bradley: Deal or no deal?

Chloe: D-Deal! Oh wow, I can’t believe this… I just got the craziest burst of inspiration!

Chloe: Okay! I won’t let you down, Bradley! I’m gonna make the greatest tie pin the world’s ever seen!

Shylock: …It doesn’t seem to be here either.

Owen: Is that Shylock Bennett I see crawling about the floor like a dog?

Shylock: Good afternoon to you, too, Owen. Murr and I are actually playing a game. He’s hidden a gemstone somewhere in the manor, and I am to find it without using magic.

Shylock: I thought it might be an amusing way to pass the time, although Murr himself has disappeared to who knows where.

Owen: Is that right? Well, I’d hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m afraid your little game is already over.

Owen: <<Cur Memini>>

Shylock: My, my, wherever did you find that gemstone?

Owen: It was at your bar. The place was empty when I walked in, but I felt the presence of Murr’s magic under a seat. When I investigated, this rock rolled out.

Shylock: It appears I’ve been defeated. Murr knew the bar would be too obvious a hiding place, which was exactly why he placed it there.

Shylock: Since  you’ve found it, that makes you the winner, Owen.

Owen: As if I care. Rather, I’ve come up with a new game for you.

Owen: <<Quare Morito>>

Shylock: Oh my, the floor’s littered with all kinds of jewels now. It’s as if a kaleidoscope’s been shattered.

Owen: Only one of these jewels is real. Find it without using magic.

Shylock: Hehe, what a terribly cruel challenge.

Owen: And don’t even think about cheating. I’ll know as soon as you try.

Owen: Isn’t sniffing out fakes what you Westerners are good at? Although I’ve done my very best to mimic the real thing, so even you’ll have a hard time. 

Owen: Now drop to your knees and scramble for me.

Shylock: Owen… Have you really put in all that effort just for me?

Shylock: Why, I couldn’t be more honoured.

Owen: …Ugh, why did I even bother?

Owen: I ought to turn you to stone this instant and see if anyone can pick your pieces from the pile.

Shylock: As much as I’d like to indulge this twisted fantasy of yours, I’m afraid there’s a more pressing matter that needs to be addressed. 

Shylock: You’re thirsty, aren’t you? I believe I owe you a cocktail.

Owen: Excuse me?

Shylock: You stopped by my bar earlier, no? I presume it was because you were craving a drink.

Shylock: As the barkeep, it is my responsibility to serve guests with utmost haste, and I’ll even make it an extra special victory drink this time around.

Shylock: I believe that might be more appealing than watching me crawl around or turning me to stone.

Owen: Hmph, you’re just trying to distract me. After this drink, we’ll resume the game.

Shylock: That’s fine by me. However, by the time we return…

✦✧ What is Iroha Karuta?

Iroha karuta is a Japanese card game played with two decks. One deck contains a description, and the other contains illustrated syllable cards. To play, an MC will begin reading a description card while players race to find its illustrated pair.

Arthur: Master Sage! Happy New Year!

Oz: Happy New Year.

Cain: Cheers to the new year!

Riquet: Happy New Year, Master Sage.

Arthur: Thus closes one chapter and another one opens.

Arthur: No doubt this year, too, will be full of challenges, but we’ll learn and grow with each one.

Arthur: Thank you for continuing to support us!

Riquet: Shall we begin the manor’s karuta tournament now?

Arthur: Karuta? What’s that?

Riquet: It’s a card game from the Master Sage’s world played around New Year’s. To emulate it, we created our own deck based on the manor’s wizards.

Riquet: On each of these cards is a phrase one of us has said.

Riquet: You have to match the first letter of the phrase with the cards from this second deck, and part of the fun is guessing which saying belongs to who.

Arthur: That does sound fun! Thank you for preparing everything, Riquet.

Riquet: You’re very welcome.

Cain: So basically somebody reads these cards, and we race to grab the matching illustrated ones here, right? 

Riquet: Yes! And I’ll be playing as well!

Riquet: Oz, please be the MC for us.

Oz: …

Oz: What is an MC?

Riquet: You’ll be the one reading the cards. Here you go.

Oz: “The manor is…”

Arthur: Manor… Manor…

Cain: I’ve got it!

Riquet: Whoa! Wait for me!

Riquet: Oz, since you’re the MC, please explain to us the rules.

Oz: …

Oz: I will read these cards.

Arthur, Cain, Riquet: …

Oz: You will grab those cards.

Arthur, Cain, Riquet: …

Oz: Begin.

Arthur, Cain, Riquet: Alright!

Oz: …

Oz: When do I start reading?

Arthur: When… When…

Cain: Where is it? Where is it?

Riquet: I found it!

Arthur: Way to go, Riquet!

Cain: I’ve gotta up my game!

Riquet: Ehehe! Look! There’s a cute waffle drawing on this one!

Oz: …

Oz: …

Oz: I was not reading yet, but you may have the point.

Arthur: …What?

Cain: Huh?

Riquet: Oz, you can’t just make up whatever rules you want!

Oz: …

Oz: Return the card.

Riquet: Very well.

Cain: Maybe we need to signal when a card is being read.

Arthur: Yes, that way there’s less confusion.

Arthur: Master Oz, could you clarify when you’re about to read a card?

Oz: …

Oz: …

Riquet: Wow, Oz’s staff just meowed!

Arthur: The Master Sage would love that!

Cain: Aw, so even a guy like you has a cute side. I would’ve expected something more like a thunderclap.

Oz: …

Oz: “If I could, I’d like to ride a dog sleigh.”

Cain: I… I… I…

Riquet: Got it! Wait, no!

Arthur: I’ve got it! I wonder who wants to ride a dog sleigh.

Riquet: Maybe Mitile?

Cain: That sounds like something he’d say.

Oz: …

Oz: “My goodness, what do we have here?”

Riquet: Ah! I saw that card earlier….

Cain: Yes! Got it!

Riquet: Aw, I was so close!

Arthur: Was that Shylock’s line? Or perhaps Rustica?

Cain: It could be Faust whenever he’s in a good mood.

Riquet: Or maybe Figaro trying to be funny.

Oz: …

Oz: “Die.”

Arthur: Mithra?

Cain: Mithra?

Riquet: It must be Mithra!

Oz: …

Oz: …Is anyone going to grab a card?

Arthur: Oh, right!

Cain: I totally forgot!

Riquet: I’ve got it! Hooray!

Arthur: I hope we’ll spend more fun times like this together, Master Sage.

Arthur: Master Sage, we wish you….