﻿\setgamedatatitle("Sapphire_02")

\text
An inn in a certain town.
\endtext

\text
In one of its rooms, Sapphire is surrounded by men.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Hmm, and?
\endtext

\text
Sapphire stands in the center of the room, casting a
sidelong glance at the men.
\endtext

\text("Assassin")
We want you to assassinate the leader of the Demon Lord's
army, Caym.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Wow♪ Even I know about Caym, you know?

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
He's the hero who unified Hados and even took down his enemy
Lusario, right?
\endtext

\text
Sapphire repeated information she'd heard from Fio, feigning
surprise.
\endtext

\text("Assassin")
If you know, this will be quick. We've heard he's a hopeless
womanizer. This job is perfect for you.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
But I don't get it. Why is Vexation attacking the Demon
Lord's army?

\endtext

\text("Assassin")
You don't need to know that. Just do the job as requested,
and we'll pay you as promised.

\endtext

\text("Assassin")
That's how it's always been, and always will be.
\endtext

\text("Assassin")
Here's your advance. The other half will be paid after the
assassination is successful.
\endtext

\text
The assassin pulled a heavy bag of gold coins from his
pocket and placed it on the table.
\endtext

\text
It was a fortune so great that ordinary people could never
hope to see it, let alone earn it in a lifetime.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Alright, fine. I'll do it for triple that. And I want to
borrow a few of your men.

\endtext

\text("Assassin")
...Fine. Then get started immediately. Contact us when you
need personnel.
\endtext

\text
With that, the assassin and his companions left the room.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
......
\endtext

\text("Fio")
You sure took that job quick, even though it hasn't been
long since your last hit.
\endtext

\text
Fio, who had been silent until now, asked curiously.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Hmm. Yeah, you're right. I've still got plenty of money, so
I could've turned them down...
\endtext

\text
Sapphire trailed off, then curled her moist pink lips into a
smile.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
A hopeless womanizer who can make a whole country's queen
his own, huh? Aren't you curious what he'd think when he
sees me?
\endtext

\text("Fio")
I'm not you. How should I know?

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
But wouldn't it be wonderful if I could get a guy like that
to call me the cutest in the world?

\endtext

\text("Fio")
So that's why you're taking the job. Heh, you're just as
crazy as ever.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Hehe, coming from a demon like you, that's rich.
\endtext

\text
With that, Sapphire shoved the bag of gold coins into Fio's
mouth and briskly left the room.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Even so...
\endtext

\text
A few days after accepting the request.
\endtext

\text
Sapphire is walking through the city of Lusario, where the
Demon Lord's army is currently stationed, together with Fio.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
It's really lively here. If you told someone who didn't know
that this city was under occupation, I doubt anyone would
believe you.
\endtext

\text("Fio")
Yeah. Usually, cities in defeated countries get looted―it's
just how war goes. But apparently, the top of the Demon
Lord's army has forbidden it.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
By 'top,' you mean Caym, right?
\endtext

\text("Fio")
Yeah, that's probably it. I caught a glimpse earlier, and it
looks like a lot of merchant caravans are coming and going
too.
\endtext

\text("Fio")
The market's gotten busier, and a lot of people say it's
easier to live now.
\endtext

\text
Fio twitches one ear, picking up the voices of people
passing through the city.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Hmm. But most of the Demon Lord's army is made up of
monsters and Diabolica, right?
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
With an army like that hanging around, don't the townspeople
feel weird about it?
\endtext

\text("Fio")
Well, there is some discrimination against Diabolica and
monsters here too. But those voices seem to be in the
minority.
\endtext

\text("Fio")
Well, maybe it's just that with the Demon Lord's army
stationed here, people can't say it out loud. Heheh.

\endtext

\text("Fio")
Oops, we're almost at our destination. You remember the
plan, right?
\endtext

\text
At Fio's words, Sapphire puffs out her cheeks in protest.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
It's my plan, you know? There's no way I'd mess it up.

\endtext

\text("Fio")
If you say so. But this time, our opponent's no joke. Stay
sharp.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Yeah, yeah, I got it. Anyway, our target should be coming
down this road soon, so could you be quiet for a bit?

\endtext

\text
Sapphire gives Fio a light smack on the head with her palm.

\endtext

\text
Since they're up against a big shot this time, instead of
going solo, they've borrowed a few henchmen from Vexation
for the assassination plan.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(According to the info I gathered over the past few days,
Caym should show up at the tavern up ahead around this
time.)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(Which means if we wait on this road, we'll definitely run
into him...)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Ah, here he comes.
\endtext

\text
From a distance, even in the crowd, a certain person stands
out walking toward them.
\endtext

\text
Caym's red hair and jet-black horns were the features Fio
had told her about first.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(No doubt about it. That's Caym.)
\endtext

\text
Once Sapphire confirms it's him, she exchanges glances with
the henchmen waiting nearby.

\endtext

\text
The men are dressed like laborers, with scars on their faces
or tattoos―looking every bit like thugs.

\endtext

\text
Sapphire had made a special request to Vexation to have
these men prepared.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(Alright, I'm counting on you.)
\endtext

\text
As Caym was about to pass right in front of them, Sapphire
gave the men the signal.
\endtext

\text
Then, right after that, one of the men shoved Sapphire.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Kyaa!
\endtext

\text("Thug A")
Watch it, you bastard!! Where the hell are you looking when
you walk?!
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Ah, u... s-sorry...
\endtext

\text("Thug B")
Hey, what's up? Who's this little runt?
\endtext

\text("Thug A")
Oh, this brat bumped right into me. Damn, that hurt.

\endtext

\text
The thuggish men glared at Sapphire as she stood up.

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Uh, um... I didn't bump into you that hard...

\endtext

\text("Thug A")
Shut up!! I don't recognize your face around here. Where are
you from?

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
I-I... um, my village was destroyed in the last war... so I
came to this city to look for work...

\endtext

\text("Thug B")
What, a refugee? Then you probably don't have any money.

\endtext

\text("Thug A")
If you don't have money, then you'll have to pay
compensation another way. Heh...
\endtext

\text
The thugs blocked Sapphire in, grinning lewdly.

\endtext

\text
Then they reached out toward Sapphire.
\endtext

\text
At that moment.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's enough. Even if you don't know her face, you know
mine, don't you?
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(He took the bait!)
\endtext

\text("Thug A")
Huh? Who the hell are you? What the hell does a Diabolica
want...
\endtext

\text("Thug B")
W-wait!! Wait, wait, wait!!
\endtext

\text
He stopped his partner from glaring at Caym and backed away.

\endtext

\text("Thug B")
W-well, if it isn't... Caym-sama of the Demon Lord's Army.

\endtext

\text("Thug A")
C-Caym!? Wait, what's he doing here... Nobody told me about
this!

\endtext

\text
The thugs forced a strained smile and slowly backed away as
Caym approached.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I won't allow such lawlessness in my city. If you don't want
to die, leave. Now.
\endtext

\text("Thug B")
Eek!
\endtext

\text("Thug A")
S-sorry!!
\endtext

\text
The men scrambled away and disappeared in an instant.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmph, filthy trash. Looks like this city needs a thorough
cleaning.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
U-um... uh... Th-thank you for saving me...


\endtext

\text("Caym")
I didn't help you because I wanted your thanks.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
More importantly, are you a refugee?
\endtext

\text
Caym glanced over Sapphire's body, eyeing him from head to
toe.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(Heh, he's definitely interested. Definitely interested.)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Y-yes. I used to live in a village near Ezorn, but it was
burned down in the war...

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
S-so I thought maybe if I came to Lusario, I could find some
kind of work...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I see. Alright.
\endtext

\text
Caym gave a big nod, then beckoned Sapphire over.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
If you don't have a job, come with me. I'll make an
exception and introduce you to some work.
\endtext

\text
He started walking back the way he came.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(As expected of a womanizer. No way he'd let a catch like me
slip away here.)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Uh, ah... b-but...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I'm not going to eat you or anything. Or do you just not
want help from the army that started the war?

\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(Yeah right, like he doesn't want to eat me up♪)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
(Well, he doesn't seem like a bad guy, but right now, he
just looks like a dumb guy with his intentions written all
over his face.)
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Ah, no... that's not it...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Then come with me.
\endtext

\text("Sapphire")
Y-yes... Th-thank you very much.

\endtext

\text
While sizing up Caym in his mind, Sapphire followed after
him.
\endtext