﻿\setgamedatatitle("Shuka  \nThe Second City, Nantai")

\text
Magahime was sipping fruit wine at a tavern she'd become a
regular at.
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\text
There were other customers around, but no one went out of
their way to be polite or show her special respect.
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\text
They understood that she came here to let her guard down.

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However, the reason Magahime came here today wasn't just to
relax.
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\text("Customer 1")
Oh, what a cute little samurai we have here. How about a
drink with me?
\endtext

\text("？？？")
No, I...
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\text("Customer 2")
Hey, isn't that Itsuki-chan! Is today finally the day you'll
pour me a drink!?

\endtext

\text("Customer 3")
No, let me pour for you instead! Come on, Itsuki-san, over
here!
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\text("Itsuki")
Ah, um... well...
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\text
As her friend grew more timid from the men's advances,
Magahime couldn't help but burst out laughing.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Sorry. She's with me.

\endtext

\text("Customer 4")
Aww... That's not fair, Magahime-sama! You always get all
the luck!
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\text("Itsuki")
Magahime-dono...
\endtext

\text
Relieved, Itsuki relaxed her expression a little and hurried
over.
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\text("Magahime")
You're as shy as ever, I see.
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\text("Itsuki")
Magahime-dono, I'm not good with places like this. At least
let's go to the dojo...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
No way. Drinking in a place like that isn't any fun at all.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
I don't think that's true...
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\text
Shuka's greatest swordswoman, Yozakura Itsuki.
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\text
Her name is famous as a master swordswoman, but in reality,
she's a shy and introverted girl.

\endtext

\text
To Magahime, she's also one of her few friends.

\endtext

\text("Shopkeeper")
May I take your order?
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
..................
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\text("Shopkeeper")
Um...
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\text("Magahime")
Sorry, she's really shy. Tea is fine, right?

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
...Yeah.
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\text
But once she has her katana in hand... as long as there's a
fight, she changes completely.
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\text
She becomes Shuka's strongest swordswoman, so fierce even
monsters won't approach.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I'm glad. Looks like my letter reached you safely.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
If Tsushin had found it, not only would the contents have
been changed, it probably wouldn't have reached you at all.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
It's fine. It arrived safely. It wasn't opened, either. I'm
the only one who read it.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Will you take on the Demon Lord extermination?
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\text
A letter Magahime wrote to her friend. It was a request for
Demon Lord extermination addressed to Itsuki.
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\text
Before Tsushin gains more power. Before they reach
Shinrenga. She wanted the Demon Lord defeated...

\endtext

\text
Without a moment's hesitation, Itsuki nodded in response to
Magahime's question.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
It's a request from a friend. Of course I won't refuse.
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\text("Magahime")
...Itsuki.
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\text
Especially since it was Magahime's heartfelt wish.
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\text
Itsuki had absolutely no reason to refuse.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I'm sorry. You're a swordswoman, and yet I'm making you do
something like an assassin...

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
No, if I can have a one-on-one with the Demon Lord, there's
no better stage for me. I'm actually grateful.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Besides, being able to help you, Lady Magahime, makes me
happy.
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\text("Magahime")
...Thank you. You're really reliable. So different from the
bureaucrats.
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\text("Itsuki")
Is that related to the ominous signs?
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\text("Magahime")
Hmm... maybe that's part of it. But even if I wanted to
investigate, I can't do it alone.
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\text("Magahime")
I don't have any allies in the court.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
...If you're looking for an ally, I'm right here. No matter
what happens, I'll always be on your side, Lady Magahime.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Itsuki?
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\text("Itsuki")
I, Itsuki, will claim the Demon Lord's head as proof.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
And anyone who tries to bring you down, I'll cut down every
last one of them myself.
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\text("Itsuki")
So please... trust me. I want you to rely on me.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Hehe... I do trust and rely on you. But, you know, maybe you
should let go of my hands now? Everyone's watching.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Ah...
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\text
Maybe Itsuki hadn't even realized it herself. She was
tightly holding both of Magahime's hands.
\endtext

\text
Noticing it now, Itsuki's cheeks turned red.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Um, sorry about that...
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\text("Magahime")
I don't mind at all~ Hehe.
\endtext

\text
Feeling comforted by Itsuki, Magahime spent as much time
with her as she could.
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\text
....................
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\text
............
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\text
......
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\text
After parting ways with Magahime, Itsuki headed straight for
the labyrinth.
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\text("Itsuki")
Is it really okay to leave Magahime-dono alone...?

\endtext

\text
Still, she couldn't shake her worries.
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\text
Remembering how anxious Magahime looked made Itsuki feel
uneasy too.
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\text
Itsuki knew that Magahime couldn't trust the bureaucrats and
was isolated.
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\text
But she had no idea how to ease those worries. All she could
do was cut down the enemy with her katana.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Take the Demon Lord's head...
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\text
She felt no tension or fear about that.

\endtext

\text
Her mind was as calm and cold as ever, already switched over
for battle.

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\text("Itsuki")
(Defeat the Demon Lord who even took down Lusario. I will
fulfill Magahime-dono's request, no matter what.)
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
And if I can protect Magahime-dono...

\endtext

\text
Only then would she finally be able to have confidence in
herself as a swordswoman.
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\text
For herself, and for her precious friend, Itsuki set out for
the Demon Lord.

\endtext

\text
....................
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\text
............
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\text
......
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\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Hey, move it! Step lively!
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\text("Agri")
Ugh... damn it...
\endtext

\text
A little ways outside of Nantai, there was a makeshift
detention center.
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\text
All the Diabolica gathered here had been rounded up in
Nantai.
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\text
On this day, they were to be transferred from here to
Hakusha's large-scale detention facility.

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
The horses are acting weird. They're scared.

\endtext

\text
As they loaded the Diabolica onto the wagons, one of the
soldiers muttered quietly.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Maybe they're scared of these guys. I mean, they're demons
after all.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Wouldn't be surprised if the Demon Lord's army was nearby.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
............
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Even if that's true, Nantai would be the one getting
attacked. Wouldn't mind if they took out those military
officers while they're at it...
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\text
It was outside of Nantai, and there was nothing here but the
detention center.
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\text
There was almost no reason for this place to be attacked.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Yeah. If there were fewer officers, even Lord Tsuushin
would... huh?
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\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
What's wrong?
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\text
A soldier, feeling like something moved beyond the horizon,
stopped in his tracks.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
No, I just thought I saw something move over there...

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
You're just imagining things. Or maybe you're just tired.

\endtext

\text
Is that so...? The soldier squinted his eyes. He was sure he
saw something move.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
...No, something's definitely moving. Look―

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Wha...!?
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
W-What the...!?
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\text
A roar like distant thunder rumbled deep in their guts. And
then―
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\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
N-No way... it can't be...
\endtext

\text
The horizon began to turn black. Soon, it became clear to
the soldiers' eyes.

\endtext

\text
A massive horde of monsters.
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\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Monsters...? The Demon Lord's army!? Why here...!?

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Isn't it obvious? They're here to free these guys and take
over Nantai.
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\text
And Agri began to move at the same time as the monsters.

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\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Tch... In that case, we need to... Wait, how do you know
that?
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\text("Agri")
Well, you see...
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\text("Agri")
I'm with the Demon Lord's army too.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Wha... y-you...!!
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\text
Agri drew a hidden knife and pressed it to the soldier's
throat.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
You'd better not move if you want to live.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Damn...
\endtext

\text("Monsters")
UOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Eek...!
\endtext

\text
While this was happening, the monsters quickly surrounded
the detention center.
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\text
They couldn't fight back or escape.

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
W-What do you want here...? There's nothing here for you to
gain by taking this place...

\endtext

\text("Agri")
I told you. We're here to free the Diabolica you've locked
up.

\endtext

\text("Agri")
That's why we let you take us in. Now that we've got you
surrounded, there's nothing you can do.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Agri, tie them up. We'll have a nice, long talk with them
later.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
You think I'll talk...? As if we'd ever bow to demons...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You don't have a choice. Caym-sama, is it all right if we
take them as prisoners?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yes, I'll leave it to you.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Then as planned, once we've secured the Diabolica, we'll
advance on Nantai.
\endtext

\text
The monsters let out a roar and began their invasion of
Nantai.
\endtext