#strongestleif

// Noelmun here, sharing some info on the (2024) 10th Anniversary SaGa Prefecture Collaboration festivities that started yesterday.

So about a decade ago Ishikawa-san started collabing with Saga prefecture to boost sales/marketing for both the series and the prefecture's tourism. To that end, they do various collabs with local businesses and you'll see them around SaGa events. Seriously, they even have SaGa print on the trains.

So because of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven being released this year, they're collaborating with the local government to have some of their residential taxes (ふるさと納税, furisato nouzei) be dedicated toward different initiatives. Each group gives a thank you gift and a card and I just wanted to point out two in particular.

The other five before those two are:

Noel - JA Foods glutinous rice, notable for its sweet flavor

Rocbouquet - Marubun ramen bowl set

Subier - Squid Siumai & Toppings Set (Crab, Squid, Shrimp)

Bokhohn - Shirokawa Tea Garden's Yoshino Tea

Kzinssie - Ariake Seaweed

But then come Dantarg's and Wagnas' items...

Dantarg's item is Sirloin Steak from Saga Central Ranch. I find it funny that the item, if you're from the UK, is a "rump steak". Even the devs know it!

BUT THEN COMES WAGNAS

with Munemasa Brewery DRAFT BEER. (RIP that poor butterfly during Dantarg's New Year's exchange with Wagnas...)

"Ahhhh."

Does he have to say aaah? There are faint, trace memories of childhood here, of reluctantly being spoon-fed bitter medicine when poorly. But...

He is no child. He is a hero.

This is for growing in power.

This is for saving the world.

"... ... ...Ahh."

Uh oh, @soulxsteal...

Campfire flames licked greedily at the dripping fat, sparks flared as the underside crisped. The beast was fierce in death, so as it must have been in life, a taut, fanged face pulled back in a permanent snarl.

"Were there no smaller beasts available for the hunt?" he asked, voice dry, gaze travelling along the expanse of the colossal carcass skewered on Dantarg's lance. The meager pat of butter he had brought along would scarcely cover a single toe. "I understand there are Seven of us, but is this not a touch... excessive?"

I really like this idea. No wonder he refuses to eat with forks properly, Its the principle of the thing. Refusing to sit in their little noble box he went to pursue his dream of being the strongest, because that is how you make a difference in the world.

Kzinssie's gasts would be so flabbered if Dantarg knew stuff like how to do the noble dances.

"Sure, but let's make it more interesting. We'll start at Bokhohn's landship in the Steppe, go through the Savannah to the Melu desert, head through North Longit, then turn south through Ludon and end at the Child and Mu Calf Cave. That'll give us a much more varied and challenging course than simply one area. As proof we were at each spot, pick something small from each place, like a fruit."

He paused a moment. "Also, no going after larger monsters until AFTER we've finished the race. Unless we both get blocked, then it's fair game." He teleported both of them to the Steppe, just outside the landship.