"If you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to blow a hole in you. Are you prepared to take responsibility for that?"
"I love flowers. The colors and scents make me feel right at home. I wish we were like that, too."
"…Oh, wow, if you've been watching me, say hello. You're very naughty, aren't you?"
"You, too? There are so many attractive people here, I'm getting lost in the crowd."
"Welcome home. I'm rooting for you, Master."
"Well, I'll leave you to it."
"You've been busy."
"Very well done!"
"Don't look at me like that…"
"I'll take this as payment for the flowers."
"You shouldn't worry so much. I'll be right behind you."
"I don't like going to places I'm not familiar with, but for Master's sake, I'll go."
"…This place is so vibrant and beautiful… And yet, even more than that, it's somehow… Sad… I could come here a thousand times and never get used to it…"
"The man who found his way out of a hole in the ground now plays a part in the Master's plan… I just hope what I found will be of use…"
"Thank you for your help. Did you find anything?"
"Hmm… Aren't I beautiful?"
"Shriveled flowers are worthless. I will work harder."
"How do you like me now, Master? Do I suit your tastes better like this?"
"Compared to them, all I can do is dress up. I wonder if I'll be cuter next time around…"
"Behold… The flowers in bloom, full of lustre and grace."
"I do not understand humans. But I know that Master is a good person."
"Meeting you was the first time I truly learned beauty without adornment."
"If all of me is what you want… I will give it to you anytime…"
━
RINDOU : Aoi-San, do you have it? Is that the new eye liner? It's a beautiful color and looks good on you.
AOI : Hehe, thanks Rindou. The next time I see the peddler, I'll let you pick one out for me.
━
TIO : Haha! We're covered in so much mud! ….Hmm? Rindou, what's wrong?
RINDOU : You're such a brute. There is nothing fun about being covered in mud.
━
TIO : Let's go Rindou! It's time to show them what we're made of!
RINDOU : I don't have half the muscles you have, Tio. I'm sorry if I'm dragging you down.
━
TIO : Rindou! You are very thin! Come train with me!
RINDOU : ….I'll think about it. If I were to tone my muscles, I'm sure my master would be surprised.
━
MIKOTO : Hmm? I thought I heard someone singing. That was you? Not bad. Let's hear some more.
RINDOU : Haha, as if I care. I can't believe you like amateur singers. You're a drunken maniac, Mikoto-San.
━
RINDOU : I don't know what Merry Bad means, but I know all about people's love lives.
YAMANE : Whoa, whoa, whoa! Oh my God! Please tell me more! I want to write about it!
━
MIKOTO : Looking for something's no fun. Rindou, do something to entertain me. A song or dance will do.
RINDOU : Oh, you're so generous, Mikoto! But I don't have that kind of time. Let's explore first, okay?
━
RINDOU : Oh, I see I'm with Yamane today. Let me ask one favor: Do you have any colorful stories to tell?
YAMANE : Yo, nice to meet you. We'll see. I might have a good story to tell once we're done here.
━
WELCK : Well, it is a pretty complicated route, isn't it? But don't worry, Rindou, I have an excellent sense of smell.
RINDOU : Really? Thank you, Welck's nose! You're magnificent!
━
MIKOTO : Hmm…? It seems darker up ahead. Hey, Rindou. Go see what's going on.
RINDOU : Oh, no! But, Mikoto, you've got such nice legs for walking.
━
YAMANE : A story fell from the heavens… I want to go home and write now… I need some paper…
RINDOU : Mane-Han, you look so serious right now… What are you sensing?
━
RINDOU : You're really reliable, aren't you? And so cute, too. I'm enjoying exploring with you.
WELCK : Oh, it's nothing, leave it to me. I'm always happy to be depended on. Come, we've got more work to do.
━
TIO : Brilliant AND intense! This is truly the pride of Muscle, Flesh, Body and Beauty in one!
RINDOU : Yes, it's a very physical beauty isn't it…? Please, bear with me, I cannot go any further…
━
MIKOTO : In the company of my greatness, and yet you are still so weak. You're not ready for this, Rindou…
RINDOU : Mikoto, you were the one asking me to sing and dance. I never got tired.
━
YAMANE : I'm going to work on this manuscript now. If you'll excuse me, please tell us again, the story of Rindou-San.
RINDOU : Thank you for your time, but… I don't know… You suddenly seem very energetic…
━
RINDOU : I never got lost, and it's all thanks to Welck's nose. Thank you very much.
WELCK : Thank you, Rindou. And thanks to you, too. The harvest was good. I'm sure Master will be pleased.
"Come, my servant. Take my hand. Allow the Demon King to lead you to a new dimension!"
"Servant, do you wish to rule half this world?"
"I'm not familiar with real world maps."
"Where's the save point?"
"Yeah… We can get by with an umbrella."
"Visting the store is so exciting. Did you find any rare equipment? Keep an eye out for stat bonuses."
"I'm moved every time they call me the Demon King. Huh? They call me the Servant of the Gray Wolf? Tsk. I'll show them who the real master is."
"Don't be discouraged, challenge is good! We'll show them what we're made of next time, servant of the Demon King."
"Welcome, my servant. Lie back on the soft cushions and try some cake. I hear it's your favorite."
"Hahaha! As expected from a loyal servant! I will match your bravery with all my might!"
"The Magic Castle? What about it? Fufufu, I named it after myself. After all, it's the only place fit for a Demon King to take rest."
"They call me the Demon King. You should be honored to have seen me with your own eyes."
"Witness the true power of the Demon King."
"Let the games begin!"
"We'll clear this in the shortest time possible!"
"Let the darkness consume you!"
"Let's play!"
"I'll go for an insta-kill!"
"Let them know, Kinsmen of Darkness, that it's Game. Over."
"Continue…"
"Hah! That was overkill, huh?"
"Did I let my guard down…?"
"Did you find any rare items?"
"The basics, right?"
"I'm climbing up the ranks."
"It's a Lord's duty to take care of His servants. So if you're in trouble, please, tell me immediately."
"Hmm… You carry yourself with dignity as servant of the Demon King. I'm glad to have you by my side. Will you continue to stand by me?"
"Fight together, advance together. I'm proud to have a Servant like you."
"The Servant of the Demon King… No, I should call you my Right Hand, now. That's how much you mean to me."
"My servant… No, you are more than that… The bond I share with you is the most precious thing in the world to me."
"Hahaha! Any challenge! I will accept any challenge! Come! Have fun with the Demon King!"
"Come, my servants, flock to me! Now is the time to show our power… Together, we shall rule the 2D world!"
"Servants! It's time to play! …What? You're busy? Don't worry, the Demon King is the best at waiting!"
"Is that passion I see? Are you having fun? Haha, that's the way it should be!"
"It's been a long time since I was last outside. I've lived most my life locked inside that castle. It's all I've ever needed."
"Mission complete. Let's head home."
"Mm? Of course it's perfect. As the Demon King, one must be at their best at all times."
"My servant, I ask the contrary. Have I ever been in imperfect shape? For your information, this complexion is completely natural."
"It doesn't get better than this. Today's game marks my 100th win in a row."
"I worry you that much? What kind of a Demon King lets their servant look as sad as that?"
"…Okay, I admit. I'm a little tired… I've had more people asking to play against me as of late…"
"I think I'll nap for an hour or so once we get home. As my servant, it's your job to wake me up. I'm counting on you.
"Are you interested in this game, too? Then I, the Demon King, shall teach you how to play."
"A new game has arrived! Let's play it for the first time together! It'll be fun! No, you're not allowed to look at the manual in advance."
"Competitive games are so fun! You can compete with people from all over the world!"
"Huh? You keep asking me that… Are you about to jump into a game lobby?"
"Puzzle games, simulations, shooters, racing games… What genre do you prefer?"
"Name me any genre you like and I'll suggest 100 different games. I'm always ready to give people my recommendations."
"Claws of a demon king, huh? I might rarely make appearances to the public, but even still, one must take care of their appearance. "
"Why are you staring at my fingertips? Are you transfixed with how I hold my controller?"
"Do my nails get in the way? I would never allow my fingernails to dictate how I play the game."
"If they bother you so much, I give you special permission to take care of them."
"…Hm. You're quite dextrous. They're more beautiful than if I'd done them myself."
"I believe you deserve a reward. Sweets, video games, whatever your heart desires."
"The real face of the Demon King is not known to the public. Even if we were to run into someone, they wouldn't know who I am."
"Do you have a map by any chance? One can roam at will in a video game. But… In real life… Not so much…"
"The Demon King and His servant's secret quest… Hah! That's pretty funny."
"I'm doing well for a hermit, you say? Well there's more than enough space to exercise in the Magic Castle."
"Is there something on your mind? Please, do not hesitate. The Demon King is generous! I'll keep you company as long as you like."
"I'm… Somewhat new to this… People usually call me by my handle…"
"What's wrong? You need to ask a favor? Well, if it's for you of all people, of course I'll do it."
"What is it, my servant? You are calling my name so much today."
"Are you hungry? If so, tell me asap. I can't just let my servant starve."
"I checked the Magic Line. There's a fancy cafe nearby. Let's head there right away."
"Dust… You have some nerve defying me, but you are no match for my servant! Hmph!"
"Thank you for your help. Though it brings me shame as the Demon King…"
"Black clothes show dirt more than you'd think. But… But black is non-negotiable. It is the only color befitting the image of a royal Demon King."
"They're still dirty? Tsk. What a stubborn stain. Thank God you noticed."
"This area doesn't seem well maintained. Let us move on before you get dirt on you, too."
"What's with the surprised look on your face? The Lord cares for His servants, too, you know.. It's only natural…"
"What? I look tired? I took a nap before I left, so it's likely the remnants of that."
"You look like you're having a hard time. Bend down a little, let me help you. When we're next to each other like this, you're much smaller than I thought…"
"You're right. My servant is very clever. I'm glad I have a servant like you."
"Ugh, sorry about this… My hair seems quite fickle today…"
"Oh? My servant… Your hair is a bit of a mess. Let me fix it for you."
"My hair is soft? Like your favorite blanket? Are you… Praising me?"
"Servant, stay close to me. You are safest by the Demon King's side."
"If you're tired of walking, we could take a break at a nearby cafe. I wouldn't mind getting some tomato juice."
"Your eyes are so beautiful, even more so now I see them close up with my own."
"Servant, take my hand. Now put your other hand on my arm. Yes, now you are truly a Servant of the Lord."
"The Magic Company recommended this place to me so I wanted to bring you here."
"A real outing with you is already a must-do dream of mine. Now, where and what shall we do next?"
"I used to never go outside. But now… I look forward to going out with you."
"Too many games? Don't worry so much. This is my job, and I enjoy doing it."
"My cheeks must be cold. Being a vampire, I don't have a very high body temperature."
"Don't touch me when I'm not expecting it. It's upsetting and making it difficult to focus on the game."
"Why are you poking my cheeks so much? …They're pleasant to touch? You are a woman of unusual tastes."
"I think it's time to change things up. As much as you like touching my cheeks, I'm going to do the same to you."
"Your cheeks are so soft. And warmer than anything I've ever felt… I want to hold you like this forever."
"You think I've got marks from the controller on my hands? You've got pen marks, too. Because we both work hard at what we do."
"If you want to hold my hand, fine. I'd be honored to walk hand-in-hand with you."
"…Don't you hate it when we do this? You don't? Well, then… Let's keep doing it."
"It's nice to hold hands, isn't it? I feel like I'm flying higher than ever, thanks to you."
"I want to keep going out with you every once in a while. I'll even hold your hand. If that's what my servant wishes."
"Whatever you wish, I will make it happen. For you are my precious servant."
"Mmm, this ice cream is delicious. Try it, my servant. Don't hesitate to help yourself."
"I never thought I'd see the day when the Demon King would stand shoulder to shoulder with a servant. Or eat crepes with his servant. …It's not a bad feeling."
"Emma, open your mouth. I want to personally feed you something delicious."
"Hmm… I'm very satisfied. Does the taste change when you eat while walking? This is an intriguing discovery."
"My servant, do you know wh at my favorite meal is?"
"That sandwich you make. Nothing compares to it. I hope you'll make it again one day."
"I've been feeling a little… Strange… Lately. Whenever I'm around you, I want to touch you. I can't help it. …Does that scare you?"
"I feel safe with you, Emma… Will… Will you always be with me?"
"What's the matter? Your cheeks are looking a little red. Have you caught a cold? Come here, I'll take care of you."
"Hmm, where to next? I've enjoyed spending time with you! It's so exciting!"
"You don't have to get so close… Do I look lost to you? Hey, what do you think you're doing to the Demon King!?"
"Mm… I like this distance… A fitting position for the Servant of the Demon King…"
"Hm? What's the matter, Servant? Oh, we're not finished with this outing just yet, are we?"
"It's refreshing to be celebrated in person. I can see you smile right in front of me now. And I can't think of a better gift than that."
"Wait! I can't possibly accept anything more! As the Demon King, it's my duty to give unto my servants, not take!"
"Oh, this is good! A fitting tribute to the Demon King!"
"An offering to the Demon King? I gratefully accept."
"You servant, are you trying to reach a bad end…?"
"Oh relax, Servant. Anymore of this and it'll be overkill! You're more dangerous that I thought…"
"O' servant, you shall be rewarded for your daily work."
"Servant, are you good at adventure games? Capture the target? Perfect choice, as expected of you."
"This item on the Magic Line… I've never seen it before… This a new street fad?"
"Yes, this indeed would be a new challenge for me. Fufu, I'll have to take it head on!"
"Huh… If you overdo it with these things, it can be counterproductive, y'know? But that doesn't many any sense when it's you and me…"
"What's the best gift to make you like me? It's funny… It's never this hard to choose in game…"
━
WELCK : You really do think highly of yourself, calling yourself the Demon King. One day I will defeat you.
CINIS : Gray Wolf. I praise your courage, challenging the Demon King like this. You know I'm always ready to accept.
━
CINIS : Here we go, Gray Wolf.
WELCK : Ugh… You're so full of yourself…
━
CINIS : Our turn.
WELCK : We're not going to lose.
━
WELCK : Cinis is every bit as competitive as I expected.
CINIS : Now do you understand why they call me the Demon King?
━
WELCK : Double check!
CINIS : Oooh, this is getting fun!
When we entered the ruins, we were met with a cloud of dust. The amount of dust told us that no one had entered the ruins for a long time.
WELCK : What the heck!?
EMMA : The door!
CROW : That's a nice trick! The door locked behind us. Guess we aren't getting back out that way.
MIKOTO : Mikage, I want a light now!
EMMA : Wait. I'll get the lantern out―
MIKAGE : No, keep that for yourself. There are candlesticks lined up all around, so as long as there's a spark, I can light them.
EMMA : How can you see so well in the dark?
Using fire, Mikage ignited the candlesticks and the surroundings became dimly lit.
WELCK : Oh, you have brightened the place up!
CROW : If air is flowing, then there must be an opening somewhere. No worries about running out of oxygen for now. So far, so good, huh?
EMMA : Crow, what's wrong?
CROW : There were a lot of candlesticks on display. It could be a trap―
EMMA : Eh?
WELCK : What is that sound? It hurts my ears!
CROW : I knew it!
EVAN : It's coming!
From the depths of the ruins, a growling noise sounded out.
EVAN & WELCK & MIKOTO : What the hell is that!!
It was a huge humanoid machine about four meters tall. And clearly hostile toward us.
CROW : The guardian of the ruins, I guess.
Not leaving any time to be surprised, the machine raises its fist in the air.
EMMA : Crow!!
CROW : Woah! What a flashy welcome! You're big and fast, aren't you?
EVAN : Get out of the way, stay back! What the hell is this fucking thing!?
CROW : I guess even a blade can't get through it. This thing looks tough.
CINIS : Probably a golem powered by magical science.
EMMA : What?
CINIS : Magical science is the art of circulating magic, in the absence of a sorcerer. That's why it is so strong. It's like a defensive buff in a game.
CROW : I should have brought my new shotgun that Lagoon recommended!
EVAN : This is no time to be excited!
EMMA : (It's not safe here.)
EMMA : Evan, Mikoto! Please, can you help us?
CROW : Let's do this, Evan!
EVAN : Ugh…I don't want to, but it's better than being crushed, I guess…
MIKOTO : I am a noble fellow, aren't I? My subjects alone are sufficient to defeat this insolent―
EMMA : Mikoto-sama is the true lord! He will protect us all!
MIKOTO : Hmm?
EMMA : We, your subjects, are so proud of your majestic figure that we are inclined to respect you and bow down to you! Right, Demon King?
CINIS : Hmm? Ah! Oh! I think you're right!
EMMA : (He read the room!)
MIKOTO : Kuhahaha, even the Demon King bows down to me! You shall all receive my protection!!
MIKAGE : Yeah, thanks.
WELCK : Emma. You can rest assured that I will protect you.
EMMA : Thanks, Welck!
CROW : Damn! Is it working at all!?
MIKAGE : It's a little beat up, but it doesn't seem to be intimidated at all.
MIKOTO : Damn you, you little brat! Bow down before me at once!
EMMA : (This is just going to exhaust everyone. What should we do?)
EVAN : … Hmm?
CROW : What's up, Evan?
EVAN : There's some sort of glowing stone embedded in the back of this golem or whatever it is.
CINIS : A glowing stone, huh?
EMMA : Do you have an idea!?
CINIS : It's hard to tell without footage, but that glowing stone’s probably a magic stone. It must be the source of the golem’s power!
EVAN : So if we destroy it, it will stop the golem! Let's go, Crow! Don't drag me down!
CROW : Haha, you're in full throttle. I'm gonna beat you to the punch, so go wild!
MIKAGE : No choice. It's a hassle, but I'll at least take care of the diversion.
While Mikage is drawing the golem to him, Crow quickly moves in behind him and engages the golem.
CROW : It's time to end this!
WELCK : Oh, the stone has been broken!
EMMA : Yay!!
The golem raised its arms to attack once more, but its movement gradually slowed and eventually came to a complete stop.
WELCK : Well done everyone!
CROW : Ha, ha, ha. I think I flew off the handle on this one.
EVAN : You could barely keep up with me. Pathetic.
CROW : But thanks to you, it worked perfectly. Thanks, Evan!
EVAN : …Ugh.
WELCK : You look so happy, Evan!
EVAN : No one is happy!
MIKAGE : Well, I can't wait to see what the future holds. I think we should leave this nasty place as soon as possible.
CINIS : Like the golem, the doors seem to combine magic and science.
CINIS : Magic and science are the pride of Daten's civilization, after all, and this place is thought to be the remnants of Daten’s most ancient dynasty. The technology is very advanced for something that is a few hundred years old!
EMMA : Indeed…
EMMA : (Who built these ruins and for what?)
And so we were finally stood before the entrance to the ruins.
MIKOTO : I have come! Now open the door!
MIKAGE : Mikoto-Sama. Do you remember the story of no one being able to enter these ruins unless they solve a riddle?
CROW : Wait a minute. I'd like to check if it opens or not before we solve the riddle.
EMMA : Isn't that dangerous?
CROW : That's what I want to check for the safety of everyone else… Emma, you and the others, should back up a little bit.
CROW : …….Huh. Hmm~……
CROW : Yeah, it's no use. I guess we can't do it by force after--Oh? What's this…
Following Crow's line of sight revealed a long, thin stone platform near the door.
EMMA : This stone has some letters engraved into it…
CINIS : Servant. Read the letters out loud.
EMMA : Hold on. Let's see. …… There are a lot of strange sentences like "Makoto 1, Hiruha 2, Sashimo 2, Ikasanu 2, Sabaku 3".
CINIS : Hmm. So it really is the mystery posted on Magic Line the other day.
MIKAGE : Well then, isn't it the Demon King's turn now?
WELCK : Surely, he said he'd already figured out the answer.
CINIS : Ha ha ha! Of course, in the hands of the Demon King, it would be an insta-kill, but why so impatient? Why not give it a go yourself? It'll be a great warm up for the mystery you'll undoubtedly face further in.
WELCK : Mmm… A great idea! Then I'll solve it! Mmhm, mmhm… Is Sabaku the desert…?
EMMA : Hiruha, Sashimo and Ikasanu 2….. What do they have in common?
MIKOTO : Mikage! I command you, solve the puzzle for me!
MIKAGE : What you mean to say is, you don't have the brains to solve it yourself. But it's way too much trouble for me to use my head, so I'll pass.
EVAN : I don't think you're cut out for this either…
CROW : There's been quite a few cases where I just guessed the right answer without knowing it because I didn't think about it too much.
EMMA : So you've been able to force your way through by sheer luck before…
CROW : What about Evan?
EVAN : …..Just open the door.
EMMA : Demon King. Please lend us your help.
CINIS : Urghh… It can't be helped. I'll explain it to you this once, but I'm sending you all mystery games for beginners later…
EMMA : I'm sorry, what?
CINIS : All right, listen up. Makoto 1, Hiruha 2, Sashimo 2, Ikasanu 2, Sabaku 3… First of all, what happens if you think about this without the numbers?
WELCK : Mm? If you remove the numbers: …The true daytime is a desert where no one lives.
EMMA : It's kind of a meaningful sentence.
CINIS : Mhmmm… The reason it sounds so sloppy however is because the numbers are a misleading trap.
WELCK : Nooo, don't tell me that so soon!
CINIS : Now pick out the hiragana according to the number after each word, like, if it's Makoto 1, then it's Ma, like that.
CROW : Hiruha is 2, so Ru, and Sashimo is 2, so shi…..
WELCK : I've got it! The answer is as simple as that!
CINIS : Correct. Now you just have to solve the rest according to this rule.
EMMA : I see…!
We went on to decipher the rest of the words as Cinis had instructed.
EVAN : ……I've solved it, but I still don't understand what any of this means.
CINIS : Crow. The door…. Are there any symbols painted on or near it?
As Cinis speaks, Crow analyses the door carefully, and then…
CROW : Oh. It's really hard to tell, but there's actually two chambers by the handle. Wait a minute, if you remove this metal here, there you have it, Cinis! A panel with symbols!
WELCK & MIKOTO : Oh, ……!
CINIS : I knew it. The riddles on the magic line were only part of the story. We'd never have gotten the full picture there…
WELCK : To think Cinis suspected this much…..
CINIS : The rest is easy. Just press the symbols according to the cipher.
EMMA : Yes!
We all work together to solve the rest of the riddle and press the answer into the door panel.
CROW : Alright, the last one is Maru!
WELCK : Oh, it's open!!
MIKAGE : Who would design such an annoying contraption…
EVAN : I don't understand how humans think at all...
EMMA : Cinis, you did it!
CINIS : …Hmph. So there really will be puzzles I won't be able solve without going to the site itself…
EMMA : Cinis?
CINIS : Oh, it's nothing. More than that… Go, my servants! It's now time to start exploring these ruins!
CROW : Woo! Let's get going!
MIKOTO : Oh? Wait, Demon King, did you call me a servant just now? Don't insult me! I am a noble lord.
