﻿\setgamedatatitle("Lusario\nConquest of the Third City, Moomoon")

\text("El")
.............
\endtext

\text
El trudged through Moomoon, looking like she didn't belong.
\endtext

\text
El, who had been investigating Ludoll in Lebresque, rushed
over as soon as she heard the Demon Lord had arrived in
Moomoon.
\endtext

\text
But by the time she got there, Moomoon had already fallen...
\endtext

\text
No one had died, but there were plenty of injured.
\endtext

\text
Some people had even lost their homes.
\endtext

\text
The only reason she was still able to continue her
investigation was because they'd let her go.
\endtext

\text
It wasn't because they were kind.
\endtext

\text
They didn't kill her because they wanted her as an ally. It
was definitely not out of kindness.
\endtext

\text("El")
As I thought, the Demon Lord is still a Demon Lord... a
villain through and through...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do you think I am, exactly?
\endtext

\text("El")
Eek!? Wh-When did you get behind me!?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
You're the one who's been here all along.
\endtext

\text
A woman named Margaretta... and Caym, along with a beautiful
woman who hadn't been there before.
\endtext

\text
...Especially compared to the beautiful woman, El lost in
every way and didn't stand a chance.
\endtext

\text("El")
Nngh... That's not fair...!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What's not? Anyway, this is perfect. Where around here can
you see the Valca Mountains from?
\endtext

\text("El")
Huh? Oh, if that's what you want, there's a hill over there.
You can see them from there.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Good, that's helpful.
\endtext

\text("El")
No, no, you're welcome.
\endtext

\text
As she watched them walk away and their figures grow
smaller, El suddenly realized something.
\endtext

\text
―Why was I just talking to them like normal?
\endtext

\text("El")
...Sigh. I ended up being nice...
\endtext

\text
Even though he's supposed to be a villain, when you talk to
him face-to-face like that, he doesn't seem like one at all.
\endtext

\text
She could have just shot him with her bow right then and
there, but for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself
to do it.
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
Captain El...?
\endtext

\text
El's shoulders slumped, and she came to a sudden stop.

\endtext

\text
The person who called out to her was probably a member of
Moomoon's defense force.
\endtext

\text
Maybe he'd been treated by the Demon Lord's army―he was
wrapped in bandages all over his body.
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
You're safe... I'm so glad.
\endtext

\text("El")
...Yes. I just got here.
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
Just now...?
\endtext

\text
Nodding weakly, El explained to him where she'd been and
what she'd been doing until now.
\endtext

\text
She thought he might blame her, saying things like, 'What
have you been doing?' or 'It's your fault...'―

\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
...If you need help, I can assist you.
\endtext

\text("El")
Huh... help?
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
Yes. I saw Lord Rudol heading toward the northern warehouse
district. I don't know what for, though...

\endtext

\text
Her gloomy mood instantly vanished.
\endtext

\text("El")
Is that really true!?
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
Y-Yeah... I did wonder why he'd be here at a time like this,
but I had my own duties...

\endtext

\text("El")
Mmmmmm... With the Demon Lord's army approaching, what's he
doing in a place like that...
\endtext

\text("El")
There are a lot of fruits ready for shipment this time of
year... but I can't imagine Lord Rudol would sneak a
taste...
\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
...Lord Rudol too?
\endtext

\text("El")
N-no, it's nothing! I'm the captain of the guard, after all,
there's no way I'd sneak a taste!

\endtext

\text("Moomoon Soldier")
Uh... okay...
\endtext

\text("El")
Well then, I'm off! And I won't be sneaking any snacks!

\endtext

\text
With her expression changing rapidly, El dashed off.

\endtext

\text
She might have finally found... a clue.
\endtext

\text
El's heart swelled with hope as she raced off like the wind.

\endtext

\text
After Moomoon was occupied, a report came in from Brightleaf
and the others who were providing rear support―
\endtext

\text
There was something like a giant shadow in the Valka
Mountains.
\endtext

\text
With Risbell busy pacifying the area, Caym reluctantly went
to check if it was true.

\endtext

\text("Brightleaf")
Demon Lord, that's it.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Hmm. It really is a shadow... What is that?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Depending on how you look at it, it almost looks like a
tower.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
At the very least, there's definitely something over there.

\endtext

\text
Brightleaf pointed toward the Valka Mountains.

\endtext

\text
It was probably somewhere between Shuka and Kiros.
\endtext

\text
There, something like a tower reaching up to the sky could
be seen peeking through the clouds.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do you think it is?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Given the location, it's not likely to be a Kiros defense
base... If anything, I'd sooner believe it's one of their
new weapons.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...So basically, you have no idea what it is either.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Well, that's about right.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do you think, nee-san?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
..................
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Nee-san?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Huh? Oh, yeah. Maybe we should just leave it alone until it
makes a move.

\endtext

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

\text("Margaretta")
Yeah. For now, we've got to deal with Lusario.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
And it's best to be cautious with things we don't
understand.
\endtext

\text
Margaretta's reasoning made sense. Caym had no complaints
either.
\endtext

\text
More than that, what caught Caym's attention was Beatrice's
forced smile from earlier.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text
The closer you got to the warehouse district, the fewer
people there were.
\endtext

\text
The city lights were out, and El walked through the
darkness.
\endtext

\text
They had just been fighting the Demon Lord's army a few
hours ago. It was only natural.
\endtext

\text("El")
Oh... that's Spacchio and the others.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Hm? Oh, it's you, El.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
What are you doing here?
\endtext

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

\text
With the three Demon Lord army members staring at her, El
couldn't help but feel a bit out of place.
\endtext

\text
As a member of the Lusario army, she really did seem out of
place here.
\endtext

\text("El")
Obviously, I'm here investigating for Lord Rudol.

\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
In that case, this might be perfect.
\endtext

\text("El")
Huh?
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Just come over here and take a look.
\endtext

\text
Spacchio beckoned her over, and she followed, hiding behind
a building to look at the warehouse district.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
It's that warehouse with the red roof over there.
\endtext

\text("El")
...A wagon? Are they merchants?
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Yeah. From what I heard, Lusario does trade in Luct using
the waterways, right?
\endtext

\text("El")
Yes. Merchants are forbidden from coming to pick up the
goods directly...
\endtext

\text
As El peeked out, the wagon began to move slowly.

\endtext

\text
At the same time, Noro's nose twitched.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Noro?
\endtext

\text("Noro")
............A smell.
\endtext

\text("El")
A smell?
\endtext

\text("Noro")
I smell an elf... coming from the wagon.
\endtext

\text("El")
What...?
\endtext

\text
The wagon passed right in front of them, unaware of El and
the others.
\endtext

\text
In that moment, El's eyes caught it for sure.

\endtext

\text
A tarp covered the cargo bed, but through a gap, she saw a
girl's face peeking out at them.
\endtext

\text("El")
Wait!
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Hey!
\endtext

\text
She saw the girl's mouth was covered. Unable to call for
help, the girl was being taken away.

\endtext

\text
Rudol didn't matter right now. More than anything, she had
to save that girl.
\endtext

\text
Ignoring Agri and the others trying to stop her, El took off
running.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
Damn it...!
\endtext

\text
―He really should have tried to escape while the Demon
Lord's army and the defense force were fighting, even if it
was risky.
\endtext

\text
The merchant, panicking, whipped the horses to make the
wagon go faster.
\endtext

\text
Right after his deal with Rudol, the Demon Lord's army had
attacked Muumoon.
\endtext

\text
If he was going to get caught up in a battle, it would have
been better to escape after things calmed down.
\endtext

\text
That was probably the right call. He just had bad luck.

\endtext

\text
Whether it was Rudol or this merchant... if no one had found
them, the deal would have gone off without a hitch.

\endtext

\text
Or maybe he should have called off the deal entirely. Or
maybe he should just ditch the cargo bed right now―
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
Gah!?
\endtext

\text
An arrow flew through the trees and pierced the horse's leg.

\endtext

\text
At that point, the merchant's defeat was all but certain.

\endtext

\text
After falling from the horse, he quickly got up and hid
behind the wagon, scanning his surroundings.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
Haa... haa...
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
(Where are they... Where are they coming from...!)
\endtext

\text("El")
Don't move.
\endtext

\text
Directly in front of the merchant―El appeared slowly, bow at
the ready.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
...I give up. I don't stand a chance against you guys in the
forest.
\endtext

\text("El")
Of course you don't! Now put your hands behind your back!

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
............
\endtext

\text("El")
Hehehe, looks like I did a good job. So you're the bandit
who's been kidnapping children, right?

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
I haven't done anything like that. I just receive them and
deliver them...
\endtext

\text
The merchant did as he was told and put both hands behind
his back.
\endtext

\text
There was a knife tucked into his belt there.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
(Idiots... Just because I'm a merchant, you think I don't
have any weapons?)
\endtext

\text
His fingertips brushed against the hard handle.
\endtext

\text
And then, for some reason, he also felt something cold
against his throat.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
!?
\endtext

\text
The cold sensation at his throat was a katana.
\endtext

\text
At some point, Diabolica, the owner of the katana, had
appeared at his side, making no effort to hide her murderous
intent.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Raise your hands. Try anything funny and I'll slice you to
pieces.
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
...Diabolica...!? The Demon Lord's army...!

\endtext

\text("El")
Agri-san!?
\endtext

\text
The merchant's attention had been completely focused on El
in front of him.
\endtext

\text
That's why he hadn't noticed Agri approaching right beside
him.
\endtext

\text
But Agri wasn't the only one who had followed El.

\endtext

\text("Brightleaf Child")
Mmm! Mmm!
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Hey, hey, hang in there, I'll get you out now.
\endtext

\text("Noro")
Are you hurt...?
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
(Monsters!? Are these monsters from the Demon Lord's
army...!?)
\endtext

\text
The merchant had no idea why the Demon Lord's army and
monsters were here.
\endtext

\text
He couldn't possibly imagine that they'd come after El to
rescue the children.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Hurry up and put your hands up. If you don't, I'll cut them
off with this katana!

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
Why is Brightleaf with demons...?
\endtext

\text("El")
That doesn't matter. Why did you do this?

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Three seconds of silence and I'll cut off your ear. Lie, and
I'll kill you on the spot. Hurry up and answer!

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
L-Like I said, I'm a merchant. I just buy and sell, that's
all.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Is that so. Well, guess this is goodbye!
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
Calm down... I don't know why. The ones kidnapping the kids
are Rudol's men.

\endtext

\text("El")
...Is that true?
\endtext

\text("Merchant")
In my line of work, I can't afford to lie. That would ruin
my reputation.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
...He's not lying. That's enough, get out of here.

\endtext

\text("El")
Huh!? We're not done talking yet!
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Shut up. Just go ask Rudol or whoever.

\endtext

\text("El")
Hmm... That might actually be faster...

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
...You're not going to kill me?
\endtext

\text("Agri")
I've been told not to kill without reason. Besides, killing
you won't solve anything.

\endtext

\text("Merchant")
...Then I'll be on my way.
\endtext

\text
Watching the merchant leave, Agri finally let out a sigh of
relief.
\endtext

\text
He'd left his post without permission. He didn't even want
to imagine what Risbell would say later.

\endtext

\text("El")
Grr... So Rudol-sama really was the culprit...!

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Looks like it. So, what now?

\endtext

\text("El")
It's obvious! I'll throw Rudol-sama in jail myself!

\endtext

\text("El")
No time to waste! Agri-san, I'm counting on you to take care
of the kids!

\endtext

\text("Agri")
I told you to calm down... Hey! ...I'm not chasing after you
anymore.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Like a wild boar. No, maybe a piglet suits her better.

\endtext

\text
All they could do was watch El dash off with reckless
abandon, sighing as they saw her go.
\endtext

\text
All that was left was to pray things would go according to
Risbell's plan.
\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...I see. So now, only one barrier remains...

\endtext

\text("Rudol")
That's right. Only Rebresque is left... There's nothing else
now.

\endtext

\text
Tiela slumped her shoulders deeply at the fall of Moomoon.

\endtext

\text
El still hadn't returned.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
(…If only I had been stronger, this never would have
happened…)
\endtext

\text
Her heart felt like it was about to be crushed at any
moment.
\endtext

\text
The failure to protect this country was none other than
Tiela's own responsibility.
\endtext

\text
If only she had led the soldiers as queen. Or if she had
done everything she could to avoid the war.

\endtext

\text
But she couldn't. No… it's more accurate to say she didn't.


\endtext

\text("Councilor")
Don't talk like it's someone else's problem, Chancellor. You
know exactly whose fault it is that we're under occupation
and being cornered.
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
...Yes, I know.
\endtext

\text("Councilor")
Good. But when Lusario falls, you'll take responsibility
with your life.

\endtext

\text
Just imagining if it were her in that position made her legs
tremble.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
(I'm just not cut out for this… for the throne…)

\endtext

\text
To bear the weight of a nation is to bear the fate of its
people.
\endtext

\text
One wrong step, and it could all disappear in an instant.

\endtext

\text
She inherited it by blood―neither because she wanted it nor
because she didn't.
\endtext

\text
For Tiela, it was simply too heavy. She wasn't fit to be a
queen.
\endtext

\text
That was why she felt so sorry for the soldiers who believed
in her and fought for her despite what she was.
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
...Tiela-sama.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Rudol...
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
All the responsibility lies with me. Please, don't make such
a face.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
But... no... that's something I...
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
You only need to be there for the soldiers and the people.
Bearing the burden is my duty.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
............
\endtext

\text
Rudol smiled gently at Tiela as he said this.
\endtext

\text
Tiela couldn't discern what his true intentions were.

\endtext

\text
There was neither kindness nor loyalty in his words.
\endtext