Pride Worth Dust

At last! Time to go beat up the Dust Lovers!

My blood's boiling! My flesh is tingling with excitement! Not that I have blood...or flesh.

Shut it. You're always butting in whenever you want, huh.

That's where you're wrong! 'Cause I don't got a butt either!!

Um... It's all well and good saying you'll fight the Dust Lovers. But where exactly do we go?

They said it was their boss's orders. So I wonder where we'll find this boss?

In the Dust Lovers office. Their headquarters. They have control over the east of Dust City. That's where we'll find it.

So we've got to search that whole area? If only we had more to go on... But they said they'd shut down those stores. Someone's going to get hurt. We're running out of time!

You're sitting on a clue and you don't even know it.

Huh?

They'll be visitin' the stores helpin' us, right? So we can go there and ask 'em. Give 'em a good beating, and they'll be spillin' blood and information all over the place!

Oh, how clever! Horrible phrasing, but a great idea!

That does sound like our only option. Although, I do wish you didn't put it like that.

You really are the worst.

Hey! I can take that kinda treatment from them, but not from you! You and me are the same!

No, we are not! You haven't dragged me down to your level yet! But your plan does sound like our best bet. So what's nearby? Ah. The noodle place with the weird manager.

Ooh, the noodle place again? Yippee! Let's go get this done!

You're way too eager. It's nauseating.

Ouch! You're so mean to me! But y'know, I'm SO hungry. I may not have blood or flesh, but I do have a stomach, and it's GROWLING!

They're messin' with my perfect life! And I'm gonna teach 'em a lesson they'll never forget!

You sure are enthusiastic...

But it's great that you're motivated!

Let's go. Time to track down their hideout.

It's over for this place!

You don't get to decide that!

You're not wanted here, you piece of trash! Now get out of here!

Pfft. Not happening. Boss says we get to smash this place up.

......!!

Come on then! Just try and stop us!

As you wish.

What the? How did that⁠...

How dare you bring out those weapons again! What are you thinking?

Not them again! Uh-oh... We better go tell the boss!

Now, now, don't try to run. Tell us where you're going.

Yeah. Take us to your hideout.

Wha?! You wanna go to the office? Ain't no way I'm tellin' you⁠...

You've seen our power. There's nothing you can do here. So consider your options carefully.

Ngh! I don't want to die. She's always telling us not to die.

Top floor. North. If you think you can make it, go ahead and try. The whole area's heavily guarded. You have what you want from us. Now get out of here.

Hey, watch the attitude! You don't seem to get your position.

Leave it.

Tell them upstairs. The Dust Lovers end today.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Phew! Well, at least we know where we're going now!

You rescued me again! Thank you! I really am in your debt! Why don't I fix you up something to eat again?

Don't thank me. I told you. I'm not a good person.

But prepare that dish for me. I'll come back when I've finished up.

We should hurry. It won't be long until they start attacking other stores as well.

Right! Let's go! To the north of the top floor!

Hold it right there.

You're not going any further.

You must have a death wish, storming into our turf like this. You've stepped on the tiger's tail now, friend.

You say that like we're the ones in the wrong. It's you who started this. People like you always turn to violence to get what they want.

And tiger's tail, my foot! You guys are just cute little kittens! You've been messing with my perfect little life. And now I'm gonna mess you up!

Here we go again...

Big talk for a little dolly. When we're done with you, you'll be nothing but a pile of bones.

Not likely, I don't even have any bones!

Bring it on. Let's find out which of us is the tiger.

Interesting. You certainly look powerful.

They're all talk. They don't intimidate us at all. It would be an embarrassment for the Dust Lovers to lose to such little wimps.

Boss!

Huh?!

Oh, I've seen you before. So you're the boss. You think I'm weak? Well, you asked for it. We wimps will make you taste the earth. Let's get 'em, Kumos.

......

Kumos? What's gotten into you? You were so hyped before.

Huh? Why aren't you moving? Kumos?

I'm in love...

Huh?

She is so my type! She is PERFECTION!

What the heck is wrong with you, Kumos? Who are you talking about?

Hubba hubba! Don't you see it? The beautiful woman with the dangerous scent... She's making my heart pound.

Hey! Quit looking at Boss like that, you creep!

I can't look away! I can't stop myself! The flame of love burns inside me!

That's not love, you idiot! Now snap out of it, this really isn't the time for your nonsense!

You beautiful, dangerous goddess! Let's leave these guys and disappear into the night! No, wait... A girl like you must want someone strong and powerful.

So lemme show you what I can do! I'll crush these guys and make you mine! Don't underestimate me, Dust Lovers! When I'm done with you, YOU'LL be nothing but a pile of bones! Why d'ya think, my beauty?

......

......

Die.

WHAAA?!

Did you really think you were going to win her over with that?

I want them dead. Reduce them to ashes, and then reduce those ashes to dust.

You got it, Boss!

Th-That's a lot of strength we're up against!

Looks like we really angered them. We're going to have to fight our way out of this one.

Let's clear this rabble out. Our true goal is further in.

Tch. They really did crush them. They've got me backed into a corner now.

We had that loser under our control. We watched as he rose to the position of branch chief... But now, how the tables have turned. He's even sent his underling to crush my men.

KMS dog. If you insist on coming, then go ahead. I'm the only one who can keep a roof over those thugs' heads.

Th-They're so strong...

Ack, we'd better get out of here! We'll have to use it!

Nooo! Where's the fun in crushin' you if there's no reward?

All that anger, gone to waste...

But now, we can finally continue!

Right. Let's stop the Dust Lovers for real this time!

So. How does it feel to have your own acts used against you?

It sucks. I can't believe someone as ordinary as you managed to make fools of us all.

Tch. You started it. Coming after me, threatening the noodle guy, selling strange drinks. Taking advantage of the weak.

I don't deny that. The weak are destined to be oppressed.

That's an awful thing to say!

Awful? Don't be stupid. I'm just being real. Power is power. So I will crush you with power. For them. For the whole city!

Whoa! That thing is in a different league to all the others!

Heheheh. You're doing this for your friends? How very nice of you. So we are oppressed for your own comfort? So that you can have inner peace?

You think yourselves inherently superior to us? Hero, Princess, stay out of this. I think I need to teach them a lesson myself.

I, some ordinary guy you used to trample over like trash, will bring you to your knees.

No... This can't be...

With our secret weapon destroyed, we...

You won't be able to hurt anyone else now.

Right. Now say goodbye...

To this world!

Yakumo! Stop! You don't need to go that far!

Of course I do. They've stolen the lives of so many. Why shouldn't they suffer the same fate?

Indeed. Only power rules this world.

No... Boss... How could you? All those times you told us not to die...

Are you ready?

NOOO!

Kumos?! What are you doing, you idiot?!

You're the idiot, you twisted man! Don't you know what you're doing? You can't erase this treasure of a woman, with her delicious, dangerous scent! You just can't!

You idiot! You blockhead! You maggot!

Whoa, no need to go that far!

Fine. I've lost interest now. I'll let you live. But in exchange, I want information. Tell me about your connection with the Branch Chief.

Wait, you don't know already? You didn't come here on his orders?

No? I'm not here on company business. I'm here to settle a grudge.

Oh... Then fine, I'll talk. I hardly have a choice, right? He rolled into Dust City a long time ago. I've known him since my predecessor was in charge. We used to watch out for him. But...ever since his promotion, he's been using us. Bringing us strange mushrooms, making us do unsettling things.

That was all his idea? So why did he have me investigate? He manipulated me! But what are his intentions?

Well, that drink of his corrupted the locals. Maybe he wanted to keep them tame, so that they wouldn't cross us.

In the end, I was forced to maintain the Dust City basement for him. There's nothing even in it for me. He's always holed up in the basement these days. But I've got no idea what he's doing in there.

The basement? Maybe that's why we couldn't contact him earlier. It's strange, though. The Branch Chief was at the company office. He even summoned Yakumo there...

It's a different place from the previous time loop. Is history changing?

I've said all that I know. You'll have to go to him if you want to know more.

Tch. Arrogant, even after losing. We're finished here. Don't involve yourselves with the city ever again.

We couldn't anyway. You've depleted so much of our strength we have no choice but to disband.

But Boss...

Good. You've suddenly found yourselves unemployed, then? How about you come work for me?

Ooh! That's a great idea, Yakumo! Didn't know you had it in you! I want her as my secretary! Ooh, just think of the fun we could have!

What? You're really something...

You sleazebag. That's a hard pass from me. But to make sure we never cross paths again...might I ask your name?

It's Yakumo.

Huh? His name is Yakumo? But that name... How could this be?