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

\text("Honju")
Magahime-sama, Itsuki-dono has arrived.

\endtext

\text
In the afternoon, summoned by Magahime, Itsuki made her way
to the palace.
\endtext

\text
Yozakura Itsuki, the greatest swordswoman in Shuka. She's
said to be so famous that there's no one in the country who
doesn't know her name.
\endtext

\text
But in truth, not many know that she's actually extremely
shy around people―
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
......
\endtext

\text
Feeling Itsuki's anxious gaze, Honju tilted her head
slightly.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
...Is something wrong?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Ah... Sorry, but could you leave us alone? She's a bit shy.

\endtext

\text
Prompted by Magahime, Honju finally realized and bowed
before leaving the room.
\endtext

\text
Only then did Itsuki finally let out a breath.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Sorry. That helped.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
It's fine. More importantly, since you came here, does that
mean you'll accept?

\endtext

\text
―Extermination of the Demon Lord.
\endtext

\text
And, knowing Itsuki's personality, she'd have to dive into
his labyrinth alone.
\endtext

\text
Magahime asked Itsuki, fully aware of that.

\endtext

\text
Itsuki nodded deeply in response.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Of course. There's no way I'd refuse a friend's request.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
You could have said no, you know. ...To a mission like this,
that's basically an assassin's job.
\endtext

\text
From Magahime's perspective, sneaking into the enemy's
stronghold and taking the king's head is the work of an
assassin.
\endtext

\text
She even feels bad, thinking it's not fitting for a proud
samurai.
\endtext

\text
To Magahime's concern, Itsuki shook her head.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Not at all. If anything, I'm grateful.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
To challenge the Demon Lord to a one-on-one duel―there's no
greater honor for a swordswoman.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
The Demon Lord's head... I'll be the one to take it.

\endtext

\text
With her beloved sword in hand, Itsuki declared with
absolute confidence.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Yeah... Thank you, Itsuki. I can count on you.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Ah... yeah...
\endtext

\text
Itsuki averted her gaze shyly.
\endtext

\text
When it comes to swords, she's talkative and confident, but
in everything else, she's surprisingly meek.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(That's exactly what makes her so soothing.)
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Also, Magahime-dono. There's something that's been bothering
me...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
What is it?
\endtext

\text
With that, Itsuki began to talk about the fortune-teller
from the other day.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
It was when I had my fortune told before...

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
That fortune-teller said it. That a 'Great Calamity' is
coming... and that Nilt will be destroyed.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
That means...
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
It's probably nothing to take seriously, but it still
bothers me...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
The court diviner told me something similar.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
Really...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
It's fine. This country is protected by the Dragon God.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Besides, they said as long as we defeat the Demon Lord, we
can avoid it. So, Itsuki, don't worry about that and focus
on the Demon Lord.
\endtext

\text
Nodding at Magahime's words, Itsuki agreed.
\endtext

\text
Even so, the strange coincidence in the fortunes left her
uneasy.
\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text
After parting with Magahime, Itsuki headed straight for the
labyrinth.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
I can't believe even the court diviner saw the same thing...

\endtext

\text
Just what is about to happen?
\endtext

\text
Even if she wasn't interested in fortune-telling, that kind
of agreement couldn't be ignored.

\endtext

\text
But Magahime had said that as long as they defeated the
Demon Lord, it could be avoided.
\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
...In that case, what I have to do doesn't change.

\endtext

\text
She felt no tension or fear about it.

\endtext

\text
Her heart was as calm and cold as ever, already focused on
the coming battle.

\endtext

\text("Itsuki")
(To 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... and Shuka, then maybe
I...
\endtext

\text
Only then would she finally be able to have confidence in
herself as a warrior.
\endtext

\text
For herself, and for her precious friend, Itsuki set out for
the Demon Lord.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Now, my minions! Fight with everything you've got and take
Nantai for me!

\endtext

\text
The monsters roared in response and began advancing through
the labyrinth toward Nantai.
\endtext

\text
At the very rear, Caym was more fired up than usual, raising
his voice to boost the morale of the monsters.

\endtext

\text("El")
Caym-sama, is something wrong? You're unusually motivated
today.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Well, it's not like it's rare for him to be fickle. Anyway,
it's good that the monsters are fired up.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh? You want to know? Then I'll tell you.

\endtext

\text("El")
No, not really...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's probably pointless to ask anyway.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Magahime is looking forward to becoming my woman. What man
wouldn't be fired up by that?

\endtext

\text
It was the kind of answer that would make you worry what
Margaretta and the others at the front would think if they
heard it.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Caym-sama, haven't you forgotten our original objective?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's a separate matter. Now, charge! Crush the enemies
before you!
\endtext

\text
With that rousing cry at their backs, the Demon Lord's army
advanced toward Nantai.
\endtext