﻿\setgamedatatitle("Trushka  \nConquest of the Second City, Nantai")

\text("Caym")
Yeah, things are going really smoothly.
\endtext

\text
With victory in hand, Caym nodded to himself in
satisfaction.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Good work, Caym. You seemed really fired up today.


\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, there are days like that. How were Shuka's soldiers?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Looks like another miss. They were all used to fighting... I
don't think the chancellor or his subordinates were among
them.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I see. I thought they'd be getting impatient by now... hmm.

\endtext

\text
So, we still haven't cornered them enough. Thinking that,
Caym fell into thought.
\endtext

\text
Now then, what to do next?
\endtext

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

\text("Caym")
What? Is something funny?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
You just made such a cute face. Like a kid who just thought
up a prank.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Don't call me cute. How long are you going to treat me like
a child?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Hehehe, you're still just a kid.
\endtext

\text
Laughing, Beatrice pulled Caym close and patted his head.

\endtext

\text
...Apparently, she didn't notice Risbell fuming behind them.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...You're in the way, both of you.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Risbell, I'm not doing anything. If anything, I'm the one
being targeted here.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
That's not the point! Even now, could you please stop
flirting!

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Then I'll do it to you too, Riz♪
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Wah!? Mmph, mmph!!
\endtext

\text
As Beatrice hugged Risbell into her ample chest―her gaze was
fixed on a corner of the city.

\endtext

\text("Spy")
...!
\endtext

\text
At the end of her gaze―a spy hiding behind a half-collapsed
building hurriedly pressed against the wall.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Come on, let me go! What is this?! Are you mocking me?!

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Oh my, Riz, are you jealous of your big sister's huge
boobs~?
\endtext

\text
Beatrice's gaze could no longer be felt.
\endtext

\text
He was sure he'd completely erased his presence, but he'd
been noticed.
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Damn... that Demon Lord...
\endtext

\text
The spy put away the knife he was holding. From this
position, he was in Caym's blind spot.
\endtext

\text
This moment, while they were basking in victory, was the
only opening he had.
\endtext

\text
If Beatrice doesn't show up, that is.
\endtext

\text("Spy")
At this rate...
\endtext

\text
Grinding his teeth, he had no choice but to leave. The spy
was out of options.
\endtext

\text
Even knowing that, he had no other choice.

\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
R-report! After Toujin, Nantai has also been occupied by the
Demon Lord's army...!

\endtext

\text
At Wenjin's panicked announcement, the throne room erupted
in commotion.
\endtext

\text("Military Officer 1")
What...!?
\endtext

\text("Military Officer 2")
Damn... so easily...! At this rate, Hakusha will be next...

\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Chancellor, what do you intend to do?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
There's nothing for it but to consolidate the forces in each
city...
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
How can you be so calm!? All the defense squads in the
occupied cities have been taken prisoner by the Demon Lord's
army!
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
The more we fight, the more Shuka's soldiers dwindle! If we
keep fighting like this, we'll...!

\endtext

\text("Military Officer 2")
Yeah... at this point, we have no choice but to throw
everything we've got at the Demon Lord's army.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
There's also the matter of the Great Calamity... We can't
just leave the cities defenseless.
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
But... what about the people?! What will happen to the
citizens of the occupied cities...?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
About that, there's something that's been bothering me.

\endtext

\text
At Honju's words, the throne room suddenly fell silent.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
According to a report from a spy sent to Toujin, it seems
the citizens are unharmed.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...What do you mean?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
Well, apparently the monsters are roaming around freely, but
things are peaceful. Even the defense squads are safe, it
seems.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
That can't be... It's just for show, isn't it?

\endtext

\text("Military Officer 1")
I agree. Who knows what they're really up to behind the
scenes...

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(I wonder about that...)
\endtext

\text
Magahime also thought there must be some reason behind it.

\endtext

\text
Then, for what purpose?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(It's not to make me theirs... There must be some other
reason...)
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...How about we just ask him directly?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
Huh...?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
He seems interested in me. So I'll act as bait and ask him
myself.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Don't be ridiculous...!
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
It's fine. I don't think he'll try anything with me.

\endtext

\text
I remember the first time we met.
\endtext

\text
Caym still hasn't beaten either Magahime or Shuka.

\endtext

\text
So, it'll be fine. At least, that's how it feels.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Alright, Honju?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
...Then, I'll have soldiers lying in wait nearby. If things
go well, we might be able to take out the Demon Lord right
there.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...
\endtext

\text
It was a risky gamble, but Honju agreed, reassured by the
confidence in Magahime's words.

\endtext

\text
And so, a plan using Magahime as bait was devised over the
course of the night.
\endtext

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

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

\text
...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Mmm... I'm exhausted.
\endtext

\text
The moment she stepped outside, Magahime stretched her back
with a groan.
\endtext

\text
With the strategy meeting over, she could finally relax a
little.
\endtext

\text
Spending the whole day in the palace was mentally draining,
even for her.
\endtext

\text
Still, as a queen, going to a tavern in these times didn't
seem appropriate.
\endtext

\text
In the end, all she could do was slip out to the back where
no one would see her and let the night breeze wash over her.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Two-Shin?
\endtext

\text
Out of the corner of her eye, Magahime noticed Two-Shin
talking to someone.
\endtext

\text
Were they hiding in the shadows of the building because they
didn't want to be seen?
\endtext

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

\text
Magahime kept that in the back of her mind and quietly
returned to the palace.
\endtext