﻿\setgamedatatitle("The Fourth City: Rospenn")

\text
Risbell reviews the reconnaissance report on Rospenn.
Ideally, Caym should be here with her as well.
\endtext

\text
...But the man himself can't be bothered and doesn't even
try to look at it.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
He says the lewd videos on the illusion stone are more
important... Men, honestly...
\endtext

\text
She looks over the report that came with that infuriating
illusion stone.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Mercenaries spotted among the defense force...?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...To even bring in the 'Assault Princess'―they really don't
want to lose, do they...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
............
\endtext

\text
Risbell furrows her brow as she sees the mercenary's image
projected on the illusion stone.
\endtext

\text
They're nothing like the defense force. These are opponents
who have fought on countless battlefields, won again and
again, and made a name for themselves.
\endtext

\text
In contrast, the Demon Lord's army is just now getting used
to fighting.
\endtext

\text
They're not even halfway to being a real army yet.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...They're not going to be easy opponents.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
No doubt. She looks like a tough woman to crack.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Please knock before you come in.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Still sulking?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I'm not sulking.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So, who's this?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Margaretta Razantoria... A mercenary hired by Giacomo...
She's basically their trump card.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Razantoria... I've heard that name before.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's a southern country. I heard it was destroyed a few
years ago... If I remember right, the princess's name was
Margaretta.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I see. Got it, in that case...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Just so you know, don't do anything stupid. If you say
you're going to make her yours or something, I'll be mad.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Relax. I'll decide after I see her in person.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Where are you going!?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Can't be helped. I'll go do some enemy reconnaissance
myself.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Think about the situation before you say things like that!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Risbell.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Y-Yes!?
\endtext

\text
Caym grabs Risbell by the shoulders and looks straight into
her eyes.
\endtext

\text
Her petite body stiffens, and Risbell's face turns bright
red in an instant.
\endtext

\text
――Heh, too easy.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
We're already short on people. At least let me handle that
much.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
T-That's... too close...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Besides, I'm a mercenary, right? As long as you pay me, I'll
be useful. Isn't that so?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I understand that... but... I can't let you put yourself in
danger, Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Don't worry. I'll definitely come back to you. So, will you
let me go?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah, um... I understand... Please be careful...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Good, that's what I wanted to hear! Leave it to me―I'll
definitely bring Margaretta back too. Make sure the
bedroom's ready!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes... Wait, what!? Bring her back―hold on a second!
Caym-sama!
\endtext

\text
――So it ends up like this after all!
\endtext

\text
Risbell hurriedly chased after Caym.

\endtext

\text
A tavern in a corner of Rospenn.
\endtext

\text
At one table, adventurers are having a party; in another
corner, soldiers are having a drinking contest. At the
counter, a prostitute is sizing up the men.
\endtext

\text
Nothing special. Just a typical, rowdy, vulgar tavern you
could find anywhere.
\endtext

\text
In one corner, there was a man who looked completely out of
place here.
\endtext

\text
The de facto ruler of Rospenn―or rather, the former Hados
territory―Giacomo Bonci.
\endtext

\text
Not only did he look out of place, but Giacomo himself would
never normally set foot in such a low-class establishment.

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
To think I'd be called to a place like this... Do
mercenaries not know any manners?
\endtext

\text("？？？")
It's less suspicious in a place like this. People will just
think the mayor is out playing with women as usual.

\endtext

\text
The woman sitting across from him―who didn't look like a
mercenary at all―was Giacomo's trump card for Rospenn.
\endtext

\text
Margaretta Razantoria sat down with practiced ease and
downed her drink.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...Still, you've got it rough, don't you?
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
......
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Now you're paying the price for underestimating those
bandits.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
The situation's gotten so bad you have to rely on
mercenaries... At this rate, Shuka won't stay quiet about
it.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
After all, you only got your current position thanks to
Shuka's help.
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Guh...
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
No, wait, maybe it's Diabolica before that. Bet she holds
quite the grudge against you, huh?
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Shut up...! Damn Demon Lord... After all the work I put into
building my position...!

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
More importantly, can you really take that Demon Lord's
head?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...The amount you offered isn't enough. At the very least,
you'll need to double it.
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Wha...! There's no way I can pay that! A hundred million...!

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...If you can't pay, then that's the end of our discussion.
Go find someone else.
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Wait, fine! I'll pay, I'll pay up! So...

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
It's settled, then. I'll bring you the Demon Lord's head.
That works for you, right?
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
...Yeah.
\endtext

\text
Without so much as a thank you or a goodbye, Margaretta left
the place.
\endtext

\text
He'd been talked down to by a mere mercenary, and on top of
that, she took full advantage of his desperation and
squeezed every coin out of him.
\endtext

\text
Giacomo glared hatefully at the mercenary's back.

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Filthy warmonger...!
\endtext

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

\text("Margaretta")
Hmm... Maybe I should've raised the price a bit more.

\endtext

\text
Margaretta regretted it as soon as she left the tavern.
\endtext

\text
After all, that man only ever thinks about lining his own
pockets with the people's tax money.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Maybe I should've just told him to hand over everything he
owns...
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...So, what do you want? Sorry, but I don't have any money
on me.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you noticed.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
You've been tailing me since the tavern. Kiros... no, are
you one of Shuka's people?
\endtext

\text
Margaretta decided that if it was Diabolica, she should
assume it was Shuka's doing.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Did you come to hire me?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
No, you just seemed like quite the catch. I thought I'd say
hello.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Heh, is that so. It's been a while since someone approached
me for that reason... but could you try someone else?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Don't say that. Surely you can spare a drink?

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Even if you say that, my old manservant is waiting for me at
the inn. Plus, I have to get ready for tomorrow... This is
tough.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Are you busy?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Thanks to the Demon Lord's army. Mercenaries like me are all
swamped right now.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I see. Looks like Risbell's information was right.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Hm?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, if that's the case, we'll probably meet again. Right,
Margaretta?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...Come to think of it, I never did get your name.

\endtext

\text
Margaretta, keeping an eye on her surroundings, reaches for
the knife hidden at her waist.
\endtext

\text
―Why does this man know my name?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Me? I'm the Demon Lord...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I've found you, Caym-sama!!
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Hm...?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh, you found me. Did you clean up my bedroom?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I'll tidy it up when we get back. Not that there's
anything to throw out except those illusion stones.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Wha...! Did you just say you're going to throw away my
treasures!?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Which is more important to you, the illusion stones or
Margaretta-san?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ugh...! That's a dirty trick, using material things...!
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...That's actually a tough choice.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Damn... Forgive me, Margaretta...! I can't make you my woman
right now...
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Ah, ah...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
But I promise you. You will definitely be mine...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I'm sorry for the trouble. Come on, let's go home,
Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
............
\endtext

\text
Margaretta watches in a daze as Caym is practically dragged
away by Risbell.
\endtext

\text
That man definitely called himself the 'Demon Lord.'

\endtext

\text
He did say it, but...
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
That was the Demon Lord...? He's nothing like I imagined...
Is he just acting? But still...

\endtext

\text
Trying to think it over, Margaretta shakes her head.
\endtext

\text
If he really is the Demon Lord, I'll know by tomorrow.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...Well, whatever. Next time we meet will be on the
battlefield. No point in overthinking it.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
I'm looking forward to it, Demon Lord Caym.
\endtext

\text
With that, Margaretta also left the scene.

\endtext

\text
....................
\endtext

\text
............
\endtext

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I have no business with small fry! Wipe them out!
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Uoryaa!
\endtext

\text("Soldier")
Gah!
\endtext

\text("Soldier")
Retreat! Fall back! Regroup with the main force!

\endtext

\text
―From beneath Rospenn, the Demon Lord's army advances.

\endtext

\text("Noro")
Uoooo...!
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Man, when the commander-in-chief is fired up, it really
boosts our morale too!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...That's a pretty impure motivation, though.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Impure? Not at all. This is nothing more than a pure and
noble desire―a man seeking a woman!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah, Caym-sama, what are you doing going out in front?!

\endtext

\text
The monsters, forming a horde, follow right behind Caym as
he marches forward.
\endtext

\text
Anyone who tries to get in their way is swept aside by the
might of the Demon Lord's army.
\endtext

\text
Of course. This isn't an invasion. Nor is it a reclamation
battle.
\endtext

\text
The king is returning to the capital. In that case, the ones
in the way are the defense force.
\endtext

\text
No, not even the defense force. They're usurpers.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah, looks like he's finally shown himself. Giacomo, was it?

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Hmph... So you've appeared, you demons. But I won't hand
over this country...!
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
This country doesn't belong to you. We humans, the kings of
this world... it belongs to me. You bastards...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Shut up. Be quiet. You're rotting my ears.
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Ngh... You'll regret that insolent tongue!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I promised. I've come to see you, Margaretta.
\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Guh, kuh... You dare ignore me?!
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
You stay quiet. ...So you really were the head of the Demon
Lord's army.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah. I am the Demon Lord Caym. As for why I'm here... you
already know, don't you?

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Don't tell me, is it really just for me?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
At least for me, it is. Hados is just a bonus. If I win,
you'll be mine.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
I can't do that. I've been hired to slay the Demon Lord.
I'll be taking your head... is that alright?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh... fine by me. That's how it should be...!

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
So taking everything from me is just a bonus to you?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, nothing more than a bonus. This place was mine to
begin with. Kicking out a thief is just a side job.

\endtext

\text("Giacomo")
Shut up! Crush them!! Kill them all!!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Not a bad bit of entertainment for the king's return. Show
them the difference in class!
\endtext