﻿\setgamedatatitle("The Forest Kingdom of Lusario")

\text
The revival of Hados cast a shadow not only over Shuka and
Kiros.
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A darker, deeper shadow also fell over Lusario.
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\text("Rudol")
We no longer have any time to spare. If we choose the wrong
path, only destruction awaits us.
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\text("Tiela")
............
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\text("El")
......
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\text("Rudol")
The Demon Lord's army will bare its fangs at Lusario. To
take revenge on us for abandoning Hados 120 years ago.
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\text("Rudol")
And after that, they will destroy Hados and take revenge on
the humans who persecuted their kin.
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\text
Rudol's resolute words stir up a commotion in the council.
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\text
Most of them are elves who know nothing of 'war.' It's only
natural for them to be gripped by an unknown fear.
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\text
Amidst this, an elf who, though inexperienced, has lived
almost as long as Rudol, speaks up.
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\text("Elderly Councilor")
...Everything flows as it must, Chancellor. We are part of
this world. When it is time to perish, we shall perish.
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\text("Elderly Councilor")
Even if that comes at the hands of the Demon Nation, it is
still the guidance of the world. We should not resist.

\endtext

\text("Rudol")
So, are you saying you would offer your loved ones to the
Demon Lord? Are you fine with them being violated and
killed?
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\text("Elderly Councilor")
We are Brightleaf. No matter what happens to our bodies, as
long as our noble souls remain proud, they cannot be
defiled.
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\text("Rudol")
...Don't make me laugh. Noble? Is abandoning your own kin a
proud act?

\endtext

\text("Elderly Councilor")
...That's not what I'm saying. We...
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\text("Rudol")
...I see. Then you must not save your own daughter.

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\text("Rudol")
Even if she begs for help, even if she reaches out to you,
you must not answer. Isn't that what you call guidance?
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\text("Elderly Councilor")
......
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\text("Rudol")
If we are part of this world, then protecting the world from
the coming destruction is also a proud act.

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\text("Rudol")
You all know what that Demon Lord, Astaroth, has done...
don't you?
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\text("Rudol")
This war will be even more devastating. Not just this
forest, but Nilt itself will fall into the Demon Lord's
hands.
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\text("Rudol")
That is the one thing we absolutely must prevent.

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\text("Rudol")
To protect our forest. So that our children can live happily
in this world.
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\text("Rudol")
Above all, to protect what is most precious to us―now is the
time to fight.
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\text("Rudol")
We, Lusario, hereby declare war on Hados... on the Demon
Lord's army. Does anyone object?
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\text
Lusario had always maintained strict non-interference with
the outside world, no matter what happened.
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\text
That was why they could be called the 'strongest
shield'―because they never attacked.
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But now, at this very moment, that shield is being
shattered.
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\text
They have cast aside their 'shield' and reached for the 'bow
and arrow' to strike down their enemies...
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................
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........
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\text
......
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\text("Tiela")
...Was this really the right thing to do?
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\text
In the throne room, after the council members had left,
Tiela murmured quietly.
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\text("Rudol")
Are you dissatisfied?
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\text("Tiela")
But... war...
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\text("Rudol")
Then should we just sit quietly and be destroyed?
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\text("Tiela")
............
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\text("Rudol")
You don't need to worry about anything, Lady Tiela. Just
leave everything to me.
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\text
Rudol gave a gentle smile, trying to reassure her.

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\text
But Tiela kept her gaze lowered, her expression clouded with
anxiety.
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\text
Amidst this, El, who had stayed behind out of concern for
Tiela, spoke up.
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\text("El")
...I'm against all of this.
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\text("Rudol")
Even you, El? What are you saying?
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\text("El")
To me, it looked like you were riling everyone up to fight,
Rudol-sama.
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\text("Rudol")
...Hmm, and what are you trying to say?
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\text("El")
Rudol-sama, what are you really thinking?

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\text("Rudol")
............
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\text
Even El wasn't entirely sure.
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Maybe it was just because El disliked Rudol that things
looked that way.
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\text
Even so, El couldn't shake the feeling that this man was
hiding something.
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\text("El")
............
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\text("Rudol")
...I am a proud Brightleaf. Wanting to protect this country
is only natural, isn't it?

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\text("El")
...Is that really true?
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\text("Rudol")
Yes.
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\text("El")
...Then I'll trust you for now. But if those words turn out
to be a lie...
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\text("El")
If anything happens to Lady Tiela because of this... my
arrow will pierce you before it ever reaches the Demon Lord.

\endtext

\text("Rudol")
..................
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\text
For just a moment, a chill ran through the air as Rudol shot
El a cold, piercing glare.
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\text
But that was more than enough.
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\text
Just that alone was enough for El to see Rudol not as
someone she couldn't trust, but as an enemy.
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\text("Rudol")
...I'll keep that in mind.
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\text("Tiela")
El...?
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\text("El")
...Tiela-sama, you really shouldn't trust that man.

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\text("Tiela")
But... if it weren't for him, I...
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\text
That's why she couldn't bring herself to doubt him. Tiela
averted her eyes.
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\text
El understood that, too.
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\text
In reality, Rudol is the one steering this country.

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\text
If it weren't for that man, Tiela would probably have been
crushed by the weight of her royal duties.
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\text
Even to El, he's like a benefactor who helped Tiela.

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\text
That's exactly why, if he ever deceived or hurt Tiela, El
could never forgive Rudol.

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\text("El")
I'm going to look into Lord Rudol!
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\text("Tiela")
Look into him...? What do you mean?
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\text("El")
I don't know! But I'll protect you, Tiela-sama, in my own
way!
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\text("Tiela")
El...
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\text
This was all for her own sake, too. Thinking that, Tiela
couldn't bring herself to stop El.

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\text("Tiela")
...Alright. But don't push yourself too hard, okay?

\endtext

\text("El")
Yes! Well then, I'm off!

\endtext

\text
And so, the battle to protect what was 'precious' to El
began.
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....................
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\text
............
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\text
......
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\text("Margaretta")
Risbell! Risbell, are you there!?
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\text("Risbell")
Mmm... fuaa... Margaretta-san...?
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\text
Risbell was abruptly awakened by the sudden knocking.

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\text
There was a perfect drool stain on the treaty lying on her
desk.
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\text("Risbell")
The treaty is all soaked with drool... This is bad... I need
to use a repair spell...

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\text("Risbell")
What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?
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\text("Margaretta")
What's wrong? Lusario just declared war on us!

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\text
――A declaration of war?
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\text("Risbell")
Huh...?
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\text
Margaretta grabbed Risbell's arm and led her toward the
throne, where Caym was likely waiting.
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Risbell's mind was completely blank.
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She couldn't process what was happening.
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\text
Before she could catch up, she found herself standing before
Caym.
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\text


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\text("Caym")
Did you hear, Risbell? The elves have declared war on us!
Hahahahaha!

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\text
Caym's laughter echoed through the throne room, filled with
monsters.
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\text("Risbell")
...This is a joke, right? I mean, there's no way... there
can't be any reason for this...
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\text("Caym")
It's the truth. Now we can fight them fair and square. I can
make the queen mine. Too bad for you, Risbell.

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\text("Risbell")
...Don't talk like it's someone else's problem! This is
going to be a war between nations! I can't...

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\text("Caym")
Who would just ignore a country that uses monsters as
soldiers?
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\text("Risbell")
That's... But I was planning to negotiate peace with the
other countries so this wouldn't happen... and yet...

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\text("Spacchio")
Well, nothing we can do about it now. What's done is done.
We just have to figure out what to do next.

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\text("Risbell")
............
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\text("Noro")
...If you eat, you'll feel better.
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\text("Risbell")
...Thank you, but I'll just take the thought for now.
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\text("Agri")
Still, it's surprising. I never thought those guys would
pick a fight with us.
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\text("Margaretta")
Indeed. That's a pretty sloppy decision for elves. Giving
other countries a reason to invade them.

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\text("Margaretta")
――Now that it's come to this, we have to consider the
possibility of facing three countries at once.
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\text("Risbell")
Ugh... Isn't that a bit of an overreaction...?
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\text("Margaretta")
No, Kiros and Shuka will move in response to Lusario's
actions.
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\text("Margaretta")
From Kiros's perspective, Lusario's fertile lands must be
irresistible.
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\text("Margaretta")
And the bureaucrats in Shuka are eager to take control of
Nilt.
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\text("Risbell")
If we beat Lusario, they'll have the perfect excuse to wipe
out the Demon Lord's army... And if we lose, they'll force
the elves into war by claiming we're still willing to
fight... Is that it?
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\text("Margaretta")
Exactly. If we'd just stuck to non-interference like before,
none of this would have happened.
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\text
It's not like Risbell hadn't considered this outcome.

\endtext

\text
She should have acted before things got this far, but being
outmaneuvered was her own mistake.

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\text
Even so, this result was still a shock to her.
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\text("Risbell")
............
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\text("Caym")
Come on, don't look so down. In the end, all that's changed
is our final goal―from restoring Hados to unifying Nilt.

\endtext

\text
Whether Caym understood Risbell's feelings or not, he wore a
grin that really wasn't fit to show anyone.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh heh heh... I see, I see. A life of wine, women, and song
doesn't sound bad at all... Mufufu. Agri, you think so too,
right?
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\text("Agri")
Yeah. I've heard Shuka has the best female swordswoman
around. I'd love to face her at least once.

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\text("Caym")
A female swordswoman...!?
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\text("Agri")
Supposedly, she cuts down any guy who tries to hit on her―

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\text
While Agri and Caym got all fired up about this female
swordswoman, Margaretta let out an exasperated sigh.
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\text("Margaretta")
Honestly, you're as much of a lecher as ever.
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\text("Spacchio")
That'll never change. It's like a disease with him.

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\text("Margaretta")
Heh, it's fine. A Demon Lord with no desires wouldn't be
much of a Demon Lord, would he?
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\text("Noro")
...Munch munch.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
............
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\text
No one here blamed Risbell for her mistakes or lack of
resolve.
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\text
Everyone was already shifting their focus to the next
battle.
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\text
In that case, there's no time to mope around.
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\text
Risbell is the strategist of the Demon Lord's army. Leading
them is her true calling.
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\text("Risbell")
...Alright.
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\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama. Please give me some time to investigate Lusario.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
That was my intention from the start. I'm counting on you,
Risbell.
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\text("Risbell")
Yes, leave it to me!
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\text
―If they're going to fight, she'll lead them to victory.
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\text
That is Risbell's role.
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