01x04 - The Villainess and the Flower Field

[bunniefuu]

[LUKE]

Alicia,

[LUKE]

Alicia,

would you agree

to serve the kingdom

as Liz Cather's watcher?

What do you mean by that?

[LUKE] Are you familiar

with the legend of the Saint?

[ALICIA]

Yes.

Someday,

a girl beloved

by the Gods will appear.

She will join hands

with the royal family

to bring prosperity

to the nation of Durkis.

You're well-informed.

It was in a book I once read.

We actually

learned it in the game!

Straight to the point.

There's reason to believe

that Liz Cather is the Saint.

I've heard you and Liz

are already acquainted.

I'm very curious.

What was your impression

of her?

Her head seems to be

quite the lovely

field of flowers, no?

You're a ruthless girl,

but I can't deny the truth.

All right, it's time.

[footsteps approaching]

[papers rustling]

Please read it.

It's an essay regarding Roana.

[papers rustling]

[gasps]

[ALICIA] What kind of idealized

naivete is this?

If she is going to be involved

in our government as the Saint,

she must be capable of thinking

realistically and critically.

That's where you come in.

I would request

that you guide Liz

toward becoming

a respectable Saint.

[Alicia gasps]

[ALICIA] That doesn't sound

like the sort of thing

a cold-hearted villainess

like me would do.

Your Majesty, please!

Given the state of the Academy,

saddling her

with such a task would be

Huh?!

Liz has become a very

well-loved person, hasn't she?

However,

it's beyond familiarity.

That fondness is verging

on widespread worship.

[LUKE] There is essentially

no one left at the Academy

who would dare

speak out against her.

[ALICIA] Oh, boy, is that

what they call "plot armor?"

[ARNOLD]

Do you have any idea

what happens to people who

criticize or disagree with her

in front of her

overzealous supporters, Alicia?

[ARNOLD]

They may find themselves

hated and ostracized.

[ALICIA]

Hated?

You can refuse him,

it's all right.

You have no reason to take on

the role of the villain.

[ALICIA]

I shall accept it gladly.

[both gasp]

I, Alicia Williams,

am fated to become

the greatest

villainess of all time!

♪

[WILL]

Impossible to imagine

what the people at that castle

are thinking.

What do you even get

out of the whole thing?

Oh, come on.

I didn't agree to it for free,

of course.

I made the king

accept my conditions, as well.

Oh, yeah, I hope you're ready

to get out of here soon.

Huh?

[birds chirping]

[water burbling]

[Arnold sighs]

Goodness,

that was quite a shock.

[DEREK] And so were

the conditions she set.

One request,

I'd like my friend

Gill from Roana

to be allowed to attend

the Academy with me.

He's from Roana?

Impossible,

you wouldn't dare to venture

to that village on your own,

would you?

I've been going there

for years.

[whimpering]

Ah!

[ALICIA] Gill was six years old

when I met him.

His parents

had already been k*lled,

and he was on

the verge of death himself.

Now, tell me,

what sin does that boy bear

for simply being born

the son of criminals?

There are all kinds

of people in Roana

whose talent and creativity

are going to waste.

Just think,

if they had a chance

to get an education.

There could be no one

better suited for such a job.

[GILL]

I get to leave the village?

Well, there is a catch.

You'll be doing so

as my servant.

I was always

under the impression

that people who work for nobles

need to be of good breeding,

as well.

Oh, my, you don't want to go?

Yes, I do!

You're good enough.

After all, I'm the villainess

that discovered you, right?

Best to be selfish enough

not to miss chances in life.

[chuckles softly]

This is completely unheard of.

No one from here

has ever left before.

And I'm just

getting started, too.

It seems as though the Saint

has her eye on this village.

Does she?

[ALICIA]

The rest of the world will soon

take an interest in Roana, too.

Change is coming to this place.

[sighs]

Grandpa Will,

do you have any desire

to return to the royal palace?

It's just I've been thinking.

I'd be willing to ask

the king to help you, as well.

[WILL] I appreciate

the thought, but

Huh.

Remember, dear, I'm a criminal.

I accepted my fate

the moment

I came to this village.

[ALICIA] I suppose

I put him on the spot.

Still

I can't believe I have to guide

the author of that shiny,

happy fairy tale.

[grass rustles]

[gasps]

[gasps]

[ALICIA] What in the world?

She's covered in wounds!

Help me.

Please.

[gasps]

[ALICIA]

Stay calm, Alicia.

A villainess

never acts on emotion.

She acts on logic alone.

Hmm.

♪

[gasps]

[ALICIA] I can't treat her

in dirty water.

[breathes heavily]

I may stand out, but

Casually saving

a helpless life on a whim,

with no regard

to what others may think?

Sounds like

the villainess way to me.

♪

The water's glowing.

She's using real magic!

[whimpering]

[footsteps approaches]

What in the world

are you doing, Alicia?

She crawled over to me,

reached out,

and then begged me to help her.

What's a little princess

doing here?

Hmm.

♪

Did you use barrier magic?

You shouldn't ever

use that here!

Hmm.

[ALICIA]

There are burns everywhere

and some are infected.

Necrosis from

the right knee down.

Can magic even heal this?

[GILL] She's too badly injured

to be saved.

I think she's from a house

that just got burned down.

I'm sorry.

Here, the injured

are doomed to die.

[ALICIA]

There I go,

being arrogant again.

I learned swordplay

and magic so quickly.

I convinced myself

I could do anything I wanted.

But this is the world

of a video game

and even if I am posed

as the rival

of the protagonist,

I'm by no means omnipotent.

[ALICIA]

I can't fix everything.

[WILL] In her current state,

she will soon be gone.

[gasps]

Does the greatest villainess

agree with my assessment?

[gasps]

But a villainess

isn't a doctor.

I can't!

Of course, that makes sense.

So, why don't you tell me

just what kind of life

this "villainess

who will go down in history"

wants to live?

[ALICIA] The type of woman

I strive to be?

She's determined

and ambitious

and hates lip service,

but she's always calm

and thoughtful, too.

She's strong to her very core!

Filled with fortitude!

Hmm.

I see.

[ALICIA]

That's right.

A true villainess

doesn't give up until the end.

Dark magic lends itself

to tons of healing spells,

but I don't know

how to cure burns.

With lower-level magic,

I could soothe inflammation

from acne and rough skin.

[gasps]

[ALICIA]

That's it!

[electricity crackling]

Uh?

If a normal person

can cure rough skin with it,

I can figure out

how to cure burns.

Or I'm not the world's

best villainess, am I?

♪

[electricity crackling]

[screams]

Enhance output now!

Strengthen!

Strengthen!

What an immense amount of mana.

You can do it!

[screaming]

It worked?

Her treatment

isn't complete yet.

-[sword clanking]

-[gasps]

[GILL]

Wait a sec!

[ALICIA]

Bite down on that cloth.

I'll do this

in one quick stroke.

[all gasp]

[Alicia grunts]

[Rebecca breathes shakily]

[REBECCA]

Where am I?

Huh?

[ALICIA] You shouldn't

get up too quickly.

[Rebecca gasps]

My leg is gone?

But why?

Your right leg became necrotic.

I'm afraid the risk

to your life was too great,

so I removed it.

You what?

Hmm.

You lived to see another day.

That's a good thing.

[breathes heavily]

I got lucky.

If I'd grabbed anyone else,

right now, I'd be, you know

Thank you so much for saving

There's no need to thank me.

I don't go around

helping people

out of the goodness

of my heart.

I expect to be repaid in kind.

Huh?

So, my name is Alicia

and yours is?

My name is Rebecca.

It's lovely!

Rebecca, I'm going to need you

to be my personal informant.

Huh?

[Alicia snaps fingers]

♪

[all gasp]

[ALICIA]

Behold one and all!

This woman, brought back

from the brink of death,

is a true miracle!

The savior

who'll guide your village,

-Lady Rebecca!

-Pardon?

Please,

what do you mean by that?

[Will chuckles softly]

I'll explain.

You're to listen

to the villagers' opinions

and report

everything back to me.

Oh, that's all you want?

But what for?

To make the Saint my pretext

to become a villainess!

[GILL] What do you mean,

"make the Saint your pretext?"

[ALICIA] I told you about

Liz Cather's essay, didn't I?

In order to make

that fairy tale a reality,

I as her watcher,

need to know as much about

Roana's situation as possible.

[Gill sighs]

Tell the truth,

do you really think

you can change Roana?

How would I know

I'm just the covert mastermind.

The only people

that can change it

are the people that live there.

[WILL]

I still have no intention

of ever leaving the village.

Hmm.

Grandpa Will, really?

Listening to you

made me realize.

Rather than running away,

I'd rather stay here

and see how Roana develops

and changes.

Well, not that

I can see it literally.

Hmm.

Of course.

♪

[gulps]

Now you can pass through

the barrier for a little while.

You two

take care of yourselves.

[GILL]

You do the same.

[footsteps receding]

♪

Huh!

[birds chirping]

Oh, wow,

the outside world's pretty

but how bad was I

to be robbed of it?

Oh, so, you were bad?

[GILL]

No!

That's good.

Then you can

carry yourself with pride.

[chuckles softly]

[GILL]

Being little is my weapon!

[LIZ] My neck always

feels so stiff in the morning.

[birds chirping]

I'm off now, Father.

Have a great day.

Alicia,

you're not having

second thoughts, are you?

Not a one!

By the way,

there's a certain matter

we were going to discuss

when I entered the Academy.

Why were you always so against

my taking

the swordsmanship test?

Because your skills

are far too incredible.

Hmm.

Well,

it is a flattering explanation,

at least.

[ALICIA]

And so it begins!

The saint versus the sinner!

Here we go!

[FEMALE STUDENT 1] Hey,

that's Miss Alicia, isn't it?

[FEMALE STUDENT 2] The one

who got an exception?

Her servant there,

I heard

he's an orphaned commoner.

[ANNA] Excuse me,

are you Miss Alicia?

Miss Liz has told me

all about you.

You're Master Albert's

little sister, right?

But truth be told,

I see a stronger resemblance

to Master Alan

and Master Henri.

[ANNA]

I agree!

I wonder if Master Henri's hair

is this silky, too!

You're being quite forward.

I don't care for it.

Really?

All we were trying to do was--

[LIZ]

Alicia, dear! Good morning!

[ALICIA]

Here she is, the Saint herself.

I've been so looking forward

to seeing you!

Oh, Miss Liz,

she just said

she didn't care for us

right after her sudden

violent outburst!

No, that can't be true, can it?

They came on a little

too strong for my taste.

[chuckles softly]

That may be so

but it's no reason

to hurt someone.

Now be brave

and apologize, okay?

There's nothing to worry about,

I'm sure they'll forgive you.

I'm good, thank you.

[GILL]

Hm?

Uh

[ALL]

Oh!

[GILL]

Was it smart to go against her

in front of all those people?

That's how you introduce

a villainess!

Perfection,

it couldn't have

gone any better!

I gotta keep it together.

Now, what sort of evil deed

Huh?

Alicia?

♪

You're doing well, I'm glad.

Why, Prince Duke!

Using transport magic

on me like that

-[gasps]

-Tell me,

why did you accept

my father's request?

[ALICIA]

The watcher thing.

He knew about it?

That's supposed to be

top secret.

Hmph.

I'm a prince, remember?

Huh!

[ALICIA] The Saint

works in collaboration

with the royal family

to bring prosperity to Durkis.

In the game,

Prince Duke was already

in love

with the heroine by now.

Clearly, he can sense that

I'm up to

all kinds of villainy!

I accepted it so I can

speak freely to the Saint.

See, I can't be punished

for doing evil

if I'm following

His Majesty's orders, can I?

Hm?

Huh.

♪

[ALICIA]

Go on, yank it away!

That's how

you treat a villainess!

[kisses]

[Alicia gasps]

You're still wearing it, I see.

[Alicia breathes heavily]

I'm glad.

[Alicia whimpering]

How adorable.

[DUKE] A girl who blushes

as easily as that

could never be evil.

I, uh

Even princes should

keep their hands to themselves!

[whimpering]

[footsteps receding]

[ALICIA]

Okay, plot twist!

Who'd have thought Prince Duke

would treat a woman

other than his love

in such a manner?

[GILL]

Alicia!

[gasps]

What happened back there?

Your face has never

looked like that before.

Huh!

Don't you worry about it!

[ALICIA] This is a blunder

unbecoming of a villainess!

I have to switch gears!

♪

Hm?

[LIZ]

Alicia, dear!

Quite the tea party

you've got going.

I would be honored

if you would join us!

[chuckles softly]

[ALICIA]

Well, well.

Her whole fan club's

in attendance.

Looks like the stage is set.

Time to begin.

The invitation

is much appreciated

but as it happens,

I've come to get your thoughts

on a different matter.

Uh, is that

Yes, the essay

you wrote for class.

It seems to have

been well-received.

Your teacher made

a copy of it for me.

Aah!

Based on this

I take it you hold the belief

that all people

are created equal?

And that the hierarchy

imposed upon them

by this nation is problematic?

I do!

For that reason,

the wall around Roana,

which stands

as a monument to poverty,

should be torn down.

This will free

its suffering people

to live happy

and abundant lives

and our citizens will rejoice

in our neighbors' good fortune.

Everyone will be happy,

and there shall be

no more inequality!

[Alicia scoffs]

[papers rustling]

A terribly shallow

and unrealistic screed

and worst of all, so boring

that it was a struggle

to even finish it.

Wha

You've crossed the line!

[ALICIA] First-rate villainy,

I must say.

[ALICIA] All right then,

heroine, you're up.

Alicia, dear, I, uh,

I'd find it very helpful

if you'd explain

why you find it unrealistic.

It's impossible

for all people to be equal.

Thus, your essay is

but a fairy tale.

And yet if we were to give up

on pursuing that ideal

what would we have left

to stand for?

[ALICIA]

Right, in the game,

the heroine gives

her dauntless rebuttal,

increasing the conquerable

boys' affection for her

and the villainess

gives up and leaves.

But I wanted her

to put up more of a fight!

[ALICIA] You think you can

end systemic inequality

by tearing down a wall?

It's hardly as simple as that.

Without

proper measures in place

public order will deteriorate.

You truly think

so little of those villagers?

You assume they'll run around

and start causing trouble?

That they won't

display any gratitude?

You'd expect them

to be grateful?

To have outsiders

arrogantly claim credit

for curing their resentments?

Dear Alicia,

to be free from resentment

is a gift.

Forgiveness could bring about

a true age of peace.

Idealistic arguments

will change nothing.

You need to gain a realistic

perspective of the situation

and formulate a logical,

step-by-step approach.

[ALICIA]

It is precisely that

which is missing

in the essay you wrote.

[gasps]

♪

Oh!

♪

I've heard just about enough!

I was simply pointing out

the obvious flaws

in her writing.

You know, if all of you weren't

so busy fawning over her

you might have

done her that favor.

I will not have you

belittle our friendship!

[sighs]

I suppose blind acceptance is

how the small-minded

show their love.

[ALICIA] How sad to be

surrounded by so many people,

all of whom

are utterly useless.

You may say

whatever you wish about me,

but please don't

speak ill of my friends!

Thank you.

[ALBERT]

Hm.

[ALICIA] A cheerful disposition

that everyone loves,

a beautiful appearance,

an incomparable amount of mana,

and unprecedented proficiency

in every magical element.

You certainly are blessed.

Come to think of it,

you are the embodiment

of inequality.

[LIZ]

Huh?

Please, don't misunderstand me.

I don't believe it's necessary

or practical

for all people to be equal.

[ALICIA] Environment,

family, looks, talent.

No two people

are ever going be the same.

Indeed, it is that very fact

which makes us competitive

and ambitious enough

to train and grow.

Viewed in that light,

the resulting hierarchy

is a healthy thing.

If we ignore people's strengths

in order to establish

a false sense of equality,

is that not unfair in itself?

I-I wouldn't suggest that.

[ALICIA]

In that case,

what is your idea of equality?

Hmm.

You are a blessed

and important person.

It is incumbent upon you

to recognize the weight

your words hold

and take care

in how you wield them.

[ALICIA]

Because if you don't,

they are liable

to become a burden

the weaker among us

are forced to carry.

Alicia.

Hey, Liz!

All that fancy talk--

[LIZ]

I can't argue.

I didn't think it

through enough.

[gasps]

Even so,

I still believe it's wrong

to abandon

the pursuit of our ideals.

I want to strive for a world

where everyone can be happy!

[Alicia chuckles softly]

[ALICIA]

That's what I like to see.

No heroine worth her salt

would give in to evil

that easily.

I see my hopes for

a more constructive debate

were all in vain.

How disappointing.

[footsteps receding]

Miss Liz, please put her

harsh words out of your mind.

I cannot

because though they were harsh,

they were spoken

for my benefit.

[gasps]

Hmm.

[NEIL]

Alicia Williams!

Our first battle!

Not too shabby, eh?!

[ALICIA] Next time she spouts

that goody-two-shoes drivel,

I'll shut her down on the spot.

Because after all.

I'm the villainess

in this story!