Metabasis of Ashen Embers · Chapter 13

Interlude

A familiar voice carried from afar, breaking the peaceful silence of Candle Square.

Luna

Waaah... Captaaain! Save meee!

What is going on this time...?

Smile

S-so heavy...

Asherah

Just a little farther, Smile! We're almost there.

Hup...!

Luna thrashed inside a huge net while Smile and Asherah dragged it along the ground.

Asherah

Whew! After all this, she shouldn't be getting into any more trouble for a while.

Smile

The Gotcha Smile Capture Net works perfectly.

Tried and tested. Five stars.

What a headache.

I was curious how Luna had ended up like that this time, but I really didn't want to know.

I felt like my head would start hurting the moment I heard her excuses.

Luna

WAAAH! Captain! Get me out of here!

Asherah

Absolutely not, Captain!

Luna has to stand in there with her hands up until she reflects on what she did!

What did she even do...?

Smile

Hubble cleared Luna's debt as thanks for the Captain's cooperation.

Luna took the news as a chance to start over, grabbed the remaining party funds, and charged into the casino.

Asherah

She blew through all of that too, and we caught her hiding in a corner of the casino, so we dragged her back here.

Luna

K-keeping a cool head is the most important thing in gambling!

With my debt gone, nothing could hold me back! I was unstoppable again!

I was sure I could turn it into a fortune in no time—!

...Or so I thought!

...Keep your hands up.

Luna

...Yes, sir.

Asherah

So... what do we do now?

The Void Trial really is just around the corner...

Smile

The key issue is whether our remaining funds are sufficient to reach the west.

Asherah

...At this point, maybe our only option really is to sell Luna to the coal mine for a while...

Luna

Eeeek! Please! I'm so sorry! Anything but the coal mine!

Lisa

Everyone! If it's a money problem, don't worry!

I brought some very good news!

Asherah

Hmm? Really? I never thought I'd hear Lisa say not to worry about money.

Lisa

...What's that supposed to mean, Asherah?

Smile

It's presumed that Lisa herself would know best.

Lisa's sense of financial responsibility is—

Lisa

Th-that has nothing to do with this!

What's the good news?

Lisa

Fufu... Faren's famous Morrel Ocean Traders has decided to sponsor the Voyager Savior Party!

At last...! Finally...!

Now that we have a sponsor, this is our chance for the Voyager Savior Party to become a full-fledged mid-sized Savior Party!

Asherah

Morrel Ocean Traders...? Why would a company like that suddenly sponsor us?

Cristelle

Because your Captain was of tremendous help to us.

Haydee

Sponsoring a small Savior Party like this doesn't cost all that much anyway.

Haydee! Cristelle!

Cristelle

Ufufu! Captain, it seems you've been taking good care of yourself.

I'm glad to see you looking well.

Though...

...Hmm. Now I see why you were so troubled when I suggested starting a harem in Faren.

You already have ladies on both sides of you!

Splendid! Women naturally gather around an exceptional man!

Please stop saying things that give people the wrong impression about me...!

Luna

...Hmm? Faren?

Smile

Harem? Women?

Asherah

...Captain, what's she talking about?

Whatever you're imagining, it's all a misunderstanding.

Cristelle

Ufufu! I'm delighted to see you accepting my final gift before we depart.

You're leaving already?

Cristelle

Nothing unusual about that. We only ever intended to stay in NOA for a short while.

Our business here is finished. It's time to get back to what needs to be done.

People often misunderstand this, but...

Running a trading company isn't simply a matter of playing with numbers.

Haydee

...Though I handle most of the actual work.

If you ever need help with anything, contact us.

Of course, if we end up needing you instead... we'll contact you.

When that happens, you'll at least hear us out, right?

...Hmph. After all that talk about helping us, don't you dare run away when the time comes.

Of course.

Cristelle

And...

Captain. For the time being, you'd do well to keep a close eye on your surroundings.

Huh?

Cristelle

This is still only speculation, but...

Our recent investigation suggests Morcerf may be hiding somewhere in NOA.

Pay close attention to whether anything strange happens around you.

If my instincts are correct, then sooner or later she and you will inevitably...

No, before long, you'll inevitably cross paths.

Got it.

Cristelle

Oh, and if anything happens, visit our NOA branch.

Morrel Ocean Traders' NOA branch isn't an ordinary branch. It's a front for gathering information.

If you find yourself in danger, don't hesitate to tell them. I'm sure they'll be of help.

???

Hmm...

Lately, everything's been...

Boooring.

I mean, I'm not complaining or anything, but... couldn't they make something a little more...

Thrilling? Something with a bit more excitement and suspense?

Such useless children... honestly.

There really aren't any promising talents these days.

Every time I think I've found someone fairly entertaining...

I give them a smaaall poke and they keel over dead.

And the toys that actually manage to entertain me either break too quickly or go missing.

It's more fun when they struggle a little harder!

*Sigh...* The toys back in the old days had some real grit.

Enough to still be chasing after me even now. Huhuhu!

Reporter

Boss.

???

Hmm? What is it?

Reporter

I heard you have an appointment for a meeting.

???

Oh? Right, right! I did, didn't I?

Ufufu! Send them in about five minutes from now.

I need to prepare a little gift first.

Reporter

Understood.

???

Hmm ♪ Hmmm ♪

I almost forgot. I still had one interesting plan left, didn't I?

Now then... where did I put that fountain pen?

Hmm...♪ This should make for a truly entertaining stage, won't it?

Ahh... I can't wait...!