01x23 - Cal Mira Archipelago

[bunniefuu]

My name is L'Arc Berg.

You can just call me L'Arc, though.

Oh, and this is Therese.

Therese Alexanderite.

Nice to make it official.

So, um, is Therese from a foreign country or something?

Because I couldn't understand what she said.

[BOTH gasp]

We forgot.

I deeply apologize.

Do you understand me now?

I do!

[NAOFUMI] Oh, yeah.

I forgot my shield translates for me.

Let's try that again.

My name is Therese Alexanderite.

[RAPHTALIA] I'm Raphtalia.

[FILO] And you can call me Filo!

Nice to meetcha.

You?

I'm Naofumi. Naofumi Iwatani.

[THERESE, L'ARC gasp]

"Naofumi," huh?

[THERESE, L'ARC laugh]

Hey, kiddo, if you're gonna use an alias,

I wouldn't recommend the Shield Hero's name!

[NAOFUMI] It's not an alias, I am the Shield Hero.

[L'ARC laughs]

You? You're the Shield Hero, huh?

It's really not that funny, L'Arc.

But I do agree with him.

Your alias is a little too conspicuous.

[RAPHTALIA] Huh? But it's...

Shield Hero's got a reputation.

He's one evil scumbag.

Scams, blackmail, kidnapping.

And he's got powerful friends

that'll execute whoever he doesn't like.

A devil in human clothing.

Actually, that's really not too far off the mark.

Master Naofumi!

Obviously, I haven't known you long,

but I can already tell you are nothing like that creep, kiddo.

--[NAOFUMI groans] --[RAPHTALIA giggles]

[FILO giggles]

Well, If you're gonna insist on it...

Nice to meetcha, Mister Shield Kiddo.

So you're all going to Cal Mira?

Are you headed there to level up, as we are?

[RAPHTALIA] Yes.

[FILO] You got it!

Well, ya wanna team up while we're there, then?

Bigger party is gonna make things more efficient.

Team up with you two?

[knocking]

[SAILOR A] Excuse me!

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

All four of us are greeting them together?

That's right. The crew is gonna be so excited

to have the legendary heroes talk to them.

I know it's really gonna mean a lot to everybody.

Right, whatever.

[NAOFUMI] At least this'll give me a chance

to tell them that if you believe in the systems others are using,

they'll unlock for you, too.

[MOTOYASU, REN, ITSUKI groaning]

Hey, wait, how are you still walking around, Naofumi?

Must be that overpowered shield.

[NAOFUMI] Serves you right

for taking up all the private cabins.

Anyway, I figured something out.

Remember in our meeting when you were telling me

all that stuff about item refining?

Please stop talking.

I really don't wanna think about anything right now.

But you gotta listen to me.

As long as you believe a system exists--

[ITSUKI] Seriously, the sound of your voice is making me sick!

Please stop...

You just have to believe the system exi--

[MOTOYASU retching]

[FILO yells]

[MOTOYASU groans]

[FILO grunts]

[BOTH gasp, scream]

Hiya, Master!

We're having grilled fish for dinner tonight!

Wait a sec, Filo can swim?

Really? That's the first thing you have to say about this?

Those fish stink...

Hey, Shield Kiddo!

Huh? What's goin' on with them?

[NAOFUMI] You need somethin'?

Actually, Therese has a request.

Raphtalia was telling me about

how exceptionally skilled you are at jewel crafting.

Would you be able to make an accessory for me?

Well now that's random.

I'll help, but I'll need you to give me the materials.

[THERESE] Of course.

You can use anything in this bag.

And obviously, I'll pay you for your time.

[NAOFUMI] Hm.

[NAOFUMI] Now that's a gem!

I can work with this!

[THERESE] What do you say?

It might take a while,

'cause I can't work on it while I'm grinding levels.

If that's okay, sure.

That would be wonderful!

You got what you wanted, Therese.

Uh-huh!

[L'ARC] Shield Kiddo, I'll be counting on ya.

Oh! Feels like the sea's getting rougher.

Guess a storm's brewing.

[NAOFUMI] You think so?

[L'ARC] Yup.

The crew's saying we're in for a hard night.

[ALL groaning]

[RAPHTALIA] Wow, Cal Mira is beautiful!

It's hot! The sun is blazing!

Uh-huh! Like the storm last night never happened!

[NAOFUMI] Why isn't she seasick?

That ride was way bumpier than the wagon's ever been.

--[MOTOYASU groaning] --Huh?

[MOTOYASU] I-I swear, this isn't what it looks like, Filo.

[NAOFUMI] Well, somebody had a rough night.

[HABENBURG] Welcome to Cal Mira.

Pleased to meet you.

I'm Habenburg, and I am the caretaker

of our humble archipelago.

I'm here to escort you heroes to the inn...

[REN] U-Ugh, I don't think I've ever felt so sick...

Well, initially, that was the plan,

but I suppose I'll have to start by

escorting the Shield Hero to the inn alone.

[NAOFUMI] Cal Mira Archipelago.

A group of small islands bunched together.

It's a popular tourist spot,

and the legend that the heroes of the past trained here

probably has something to do with that.

Smells like a bunch of crap to me.

The activation seems to have

brought a lot of adventurers here all at once,

so they've given us some ground rules.

"You can only travel between islands by boat.

Try to k*ll as many monsters as possible

without barging into any other adventurers' battles

or stealing the prey from any of them."

Is this a guide to MMO etiquette?

MMO?

Don't worry about it.

So this statue...

...apparently represents the original inhabitants

who developed these islands.

[RAPHTALIA] And there's supposed to be an epigraph

left by a Cardinal Hero.

Is it this thing?

[NAOFUMI] Magical writing...

As source of thy power, the Shield Hero orders thee.

Decipher the meaning of this message

and energize the target of my choice.

Casting Zweit Aura.

[FILO gasps] Oh I feel... powerful.

[FILO] Nailed it!

So a hero of the past left this here, huh?

Well, I guess that means the legend is true.

[L'ARC] Hey! Shield Kiddo!

Filo sure did get some good height on that one.

It helped us figure out where you were.

[FILO giggles]

You know, you kinda hurt my feelings

getting off the boat without saying goodbye.

[NAOFUMI] I didn't realize I needed to.

[L'ARC] Company can make or break a trip.

Besides, you never answered us

when we asked if you wanted to team up.

Obviously, we've only just arrived,

so first of all we'll need to get our bearings here,

but we could help each other out.

[NAOFUMI] Seems like they know their way around a fight.

I guess it can't hurt.

We'll give it a sh*t,

but I'll drop you in a heartbeat if you hold us back.

[L'ARC laughs] Right back at ya, kiddo.

We'll catch up with you later.

Take it easy till then.

I'm a little surprised.

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

I was sure you'd think that

somebody like L'Arc was too hard to deal with.

I wouldn't say that.

It's just that he throws me off a little bit.

[RAPHTALIA, FILO giggle]

[NAOFUMI] It's already after noon.

We don't have much time, but let's go grind some levels.

--[FILO] Okay! --[RAPHTALIA] Right!

[RAPHTALIA grunts]

[FILO grunts]

Even one-shotting trash mobs'll give you that much experience?

And even better, there's an infinite respawn.

They're so weak,

it's hard not to get bored fighting them.

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

Is everything all right?

[NAOFUMI] We stopped gaining experience points.

[ALL gasp]

[ITSUKI] So you're responsible.

Itsuki...

[MOTOYASU] What happened to my EXP?

[MYNE, MOTOYASU groan]

[REN] Hey, what are you guys doing here?

I can't farm any EXP like this.

Go somewhere else.

Oh, no. Why don't you go?

You're gonna have to leave, too, Motoyasu.

You know that I was the first one to find this spot.

[MOTOYASU] No, I was!

--[REN] It was me. --[ITSUKI] No, me!

--[MOTOYASU] I found it first! --Well, this is a waste of time.

We're outta here.

[roars]

[NAOFUMI grunts]

You're going down!

[NAOFUMI] That's a lot, even for a boss fight like that.

I like this island a lot better

'cause fighting stuff here is so much more fun!

Master Naofumi.

I don't know how much longer this sword will last.

[NAOFUMI] When did that happen?

[RAPHTALIA] Maybe our power levels

have outgrown our weapons' durability.

[NAOFUMI] Yeah, look at Filo's.

[FILO] Hm?

We'll just have to make sure to buy you two

some new weapons before the next Wave hits.

Uh-huh.

C'mon, we've still got plenty of time.

All right! Let's see if we got any good drops.

Huh?

There we are.

Those should keep you goin' for a little longer.

This is perfect, thank you!

Yeah, Master. Thanks a lot!

[RAPHTALIA] It's starting to get dark.

Do you want to head back?

[NAOFUMI] Nah, not just yet.

[NAOFUMI] I had a feeling we'd get

some better drops after nightfall.

Enemies are a lot stronger, though.

But we're used to fighting in the dark,

so we can handle whatever we come up against.

--But, what really worries me... --Huh?

Master Naofumi, you still look awfully tired. Are you?

So it's obvious.

Since using Blood Sacrifice,

my body's still feeling the curse.

Just a little.

It's nothing to worry about.

I'm not gonna push it.

And I can handle the enemies on this island.

[rustling]

Huh?

[ALL gasp]

Oh, thank goodness, we found ya, kiddo.

Why are you out here in the middle of the night?

[THERESE] The ferryman was starting to panic

since you were staying out so late.

So you two decided to come look for us?

C'mon, It's not like adventurers dying on a quest

is anything new.

That doesn't mean we're gonna ignore you,

'cause I'd never be able to sleep at night

if my associates were to turn up dead or missing.

[NAOFUMI] "Associates"?

Well, yeah!

What would you call us?

You wouldn't say we're not, would you?

[NAOFUMI] Well...

We haven't even been here a full day.

I understand wanting to grind as fast as possible,

but let's call it a night.

She's right, Master Naofumi, it is getting late.

Raphtalia?

All right then. Let's head back.

[L'ARC] Very well. In that case...

D'ya care to join me for a drink?

[NAOFUMI sighs]

[PATRONS chattering]

[L'ARC] To our safe return! Cheers!

[laughs]

Hey barkeeper, gimme another!

[OWNER A] Coming!

[PATRONS gasping]

[MYNE] Oh! Sir Motoyasu!

[NAOFUMI] I didn't know they made wine out of these.

They're so strong that you have to dilute just one of 'em

in a cask of water to get something drinkable.

Pretty tasty just the way they are.

Saying you can hold your liquor's an understatement.

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

[NAOFUMI] I never thought there'd be a day

when I could just relax and have fun like this.

[THERESE] I'm looking forward to this.

I am, too.

Oh, and Therese,

the accessory you asked for, it's ready.

[THERESE gasps] Thank you so much!

[NAOFUMI] I can't believe you had a starfire.

Those things are rare.

It helped that I already had an oracle crystal on hand

that I used as the base of the whole thing... Huh?

[ALL gasp]

[THERESE] It's beautiful.

Huh?

This jewel's filled with so much joy.

I didn't know you were such a master craftsman.

Uh, do you have to cry about it?

Don't you understand, L'Arc?

Looking at this masterpiece

is opening up a whole new world to me!

Um, okay...

All right. I'm really glad to hear that you're happy with it.

Oh, and I hate to mention the money, but, uh...

[gasps]

[NAOFUMI] Whoa... This is a lot...

Not enough, though, right?

I know this is worth so much more than that.

Hey, L'Arc, give him all the money that you have, too!

Wait, wha?

[THERESE] Just do it already, okay?

[L'ARC] Why?

You can just pay me in installments.

Now let's go grind some levels.

[L'ARC] Your party is pretty high-level. Not bad, kiddo.

Therese has reached Level herself,

and I'm up to .

[NAOFUMI] Already got their class upgrades.

Not your everyday adventurers, then.

How about we discuss our strategy?

[rustling]

[ALL squawking]

We can do that and fight!

[NAOFUMI grunts]

The shield's your w*apon?

Committed to that "Sir Hero" act, huh?

Keep talkin'.

Raphtalia! Filo!

[NAOFUMI gasps]

[yells]

Oh, L'Arc. He's certainly having fun.

Power of jewels far and wide,

I beseech thee to heed my call and come to me.

My name is Therese Alexanderite.

I ask my friends to be the force that destroys my targets!

Bejeweled Ruby Blaze!

I've never heard a chant like that.

[NAOFUMI] Raphtalia!

[gasps] On it!

I never dreamed it would be so powerful.

The EXP curve slowed down a lot as soon as we hit Level .

Okay. Let's go after the big fella, then.

[ALL squawking]

The boss by itself wouldn't be a big deal,

but all these tiny guys'll be a pain.

Just leave the little ones to me.

I'll gather 'em all up.

And then?

I'll take them out once he's got their attention.

L'Arc, Filo, and Raphtalia can att*ck the boss.

Sounds good to me.

Everyone ready?

Let's go!

Hate Reaction!

[NAOFUMI] Therese!

[THERESE] Power of jewels far and wide,

I beseech thee to heed my call and come to me.

Bejeweled Ruby Blaze!

[NAOFUMI gasps]

--[RAPHTALIA gasps] --Master, no!

Now just relax.

[NAOFUMI] The flames are all around me, but I don't feel hot.

[NAOFUMI] Not only am I not taking damage,

it feels like the weight of the curse has been lifted.

[NAOFUMI] Just the big one left!

All right!

We got this!

[FILO] Are you sure you're okay, Master?

Yeah.

What a strange magic spell.

My clothes aren't even singed.

Very strange.

I've never even heard that chant before.

Guess there's more than one kind of magic in this world, huh?

Hey, you wanna divvy up the drops?

Sure. We get anything good?

Well, there's some kind of weird item.

[L'ARC] "Weird"?

See for yourself.

[L'ARC] The heck is that?

With your help,

we gained a lot of levels in just one day.

And it was fun!

I couldn't agree with you more, Filo.

[NAOFUMI] You wanna team up again tomorrow?

[L'ARC gasps]

I think we'll go it alone for now.

Okay...

We'll see ya around though, Shield Kiddo.

Thanks for a great day.

Thank you, too. We worked really well together.

See ya later!

[RAPHTALIA] You asked them to stick around.

That's not like you.

I got rejected, though.

[NAOFUMI] Maybe I should ask them to join my party

after we finish leveling up.

Since we worked so hard, let's take the day off tomorrow.

Yeah!

Personally, I don't mind one way or the other.

But you probably could use a break, Master Naofumi.

[FILO] Hey, Master!

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

I found another island.

Big deal, there's a whole bunch of 'em.

No, listen.

I found a special island underwater,

and it looks like it's glowing red.

A "special" island underwater?

That's not all!

And there was a big brick building down there, too!

We have kinda hit a wall with our leveling grind.

This could be a nice change of pace for us.

[RAPHTALIA] Excuse me, Master Naofumi?

So, uh, what do you think?

[NAOFUMI] Dressed like that,

it won't matter much if a little water leaks into the suit.

I think it's great!

[gasps]

[NAOFUMI] All right, let's go!

Okay!

[RAPHTALIA groans]

[NAOFUMI] This is crazy.

Ten minutes underwater and I can still breathe.

[NAOFUMI] Building's in perfect condition.

There's gotta be a way inside somewhere.

[NAOFUMI sighs] It'll be impossible

to open this door underwater.

[NAOFUMI] There's air inside?

[FILO] It's too dark to see anything.

[NAOFUMI] 'Kay, Raphtalia?

[RAPHTALIA] Sure.

Give me First Light.

[NAOFUMI gasps]

[NAOFUMI] No way! That's a dragon hourglass!

It looks exactly like the one they've got

inside the cathedral back at the capital.

Is that bad?

Anywhere there's an hourglass can be hit by a Wave.

[FILO, RAPHTALIA gasp]

If a Wave att*cks this place, the islanders will all die!

Stay calm.

We don't know that's gonna happen for sure.

Okay...

[NAOFUMI] Hm?

This says the next Wave is coming...

...in just two days!