﻿\setgamedatatitle("Magahime_03")

\text("Caym")
Phew... I feel alive again.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh, that's good to hear.
\endtext

\text
Magahime replied with a knowing chuckle to Caym, who let out
a sigh as he spoke.
\endtext

\text
Because he had annexed Shuka, Caym now had more troublesome
work to deal with.
\endtext

\text
One of those was meetings with the military officers from
the former Shuka government.
\endtext

\text
Since the war had just ended, border security had to be kept
tight.
\endtext

\text
As a result, negotiations with the officers had been
ongoing, but Caym was getting irritated by the sheer number
of meetings and their lack of progress.
\endtext

\text
Seeing Caym like that, Magahime decided to take him out into
the city... and that's how they ended up here.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
But maybe it wasn't such a good idea to drag you out here
without thinking it through.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Who cares. Let them have their pointless meetings without
me.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
That's not what I mean... You even ditched the people who
were supposed to be guarding you, didn't you?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmph, I'm not some baby who can't wipe his own ass. Having
them follow me around all day is suffocating.

\endtext

\text
This, too, was a responsibility that came with annexing
Shuka, but for Caym, it was nothing but a pain.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Well, you did annex Shuka, so you have to take
responsibility...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh, it's kind of like, 'You knocked me up, so now you have
to take responsibility...' isn't it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Don't say such horrifying things.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Hehehe... Oh?
\endtext

\text
With that, Magahime suddenly stopped, as if she'd noticed
something.
\endtext

\text
Her gaze landed on a fortune teller who had set up shop on
the street corner.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
That fortune teller is supposed to be really accurate. Since
we're out here anyway, why don't we get a reading?

\endtext

\text
Saying that, Magahime walked up to the fortune teller and
handed over a silver coin.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Please, tell my fortune.
\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
Hmm, let's see... Oh my, well, well.
\endtext

\text
The fortune teller took Magahime's hand and stared in
surprise at her palm.
\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
It looks like you'll face a great hardship in your life.
...But if you overcome it, happiness will come your way.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh, that's not so bad.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
But you'll still have to face hardship, right? Doesn't sound
all that great to me.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
As long as I get through it, everything will balance out in
the end, right?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Well, whether that's about this war or something further
down the line, I guess we won't know.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
You're awfully optimistic.
\endtext

\text
When Caym said that, Magahime's expression clouded over just
a little.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I've been stuck in the world of nasty, underhanded politics
for so long... I honestly started to despair, thinking I'd
just rot away and die like this...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
If I can break free from that, then any kind of change is
welcome.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm...
\endtext

\text
Come to think of it, even Caym gets stressed just from a few
extra meetings or when they run long.

\endtext

\text
If you're constantly on guard, worried about political
enemies tripping you up, you probably never get a moment's
rest.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
You're something else. If it were me, I'd have an ulcer by
now from all the stress.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Is that a compliment? Or are you saying I'm just
thick-skinned?
\endtext

\text
Magahime replied to Caym's words with a small laugh.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh, right. While we're at it, you should get your fortune
told too.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
A fortune? Nah, I...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Just do it. Come on.
\endtext

\text
Magahime slipped behind Caym and pushed him in front of the
fortune teller.
\endtext

\text
And then, quick as a flash, she handed a silver coin to the
fortune teller.
\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
Hmm...
\endtext

\text
Not really wanting to, but unable to refuse after Magahime
had already paid, Caym reluctantly held out his hand.

\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
What!? ...I've never seen a fate line like this before...!


\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do you mean?
\endtext

\text
Unlike Caym, who offered his hand reluctantly, the fortune
teller was visibly agitated as he looked at Caym's palm.

\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
Hmm... A strong fate line... but at the end, it splits into
many lines, tangling together and fading away...

\endtext

\text
Muttering in excitement, the fortune teller let go of Caym's
hand and rubbed his own eyes.

\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
I can't see your future. This is the first time I've seen
such a strange palm. My power can't reach that far.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So basically, you don't know anything?
\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
That's not it. Your future is just too full of
possibilities. It's not limited to a single path.

\endtext

\text("Fortune Teller")
Whether for better or worse, I can say for certain that
you'll create a great current in the days ahead.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you're saying I have to seize my own future. Fine by me.

\endtext

\text
Caym said that with a sly grin and turned on his heel.

\endtext

\text
Magahime followed after him.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
In this country...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah?
\endtext

\text
Magahime, walking beside Caym, suddenly spoke up.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
The Diabolica had a hard time because they couldn't fit into
this bureaucratic, controlled society.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... Well, I suppose that's true.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Yes. They were always seeking excitement and change, and
when I look at you, you're just like a Diabolica yourself.

\endtext

\text
There was a hint of envy in Magahime's tone.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
But even I was just lazing around at the inn in Bram before
Rizbell dragged me out.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Life is unpredictable. Just like that fortune teller said,
isn't it?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Yes, exactly―oh?
\endtext

\text("？？？")
Found you!
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Speak of the devil, huh?
\endtext

\text
Hearing the voice, they looked over to see Rizbell running
toward them, her face flustered.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Caym... you changed my fate.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Hehe, and the one who changed your fate was that girl,
wasn't it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Don't just act all knowing and satisfied―help me figure out
how to calm her down.
\endtext

\text
With Magahime smiling beside him, Caym could only give a wry
smile.
\endtext