A Dream Father Shared With Me

Oh, Amy! You've returned just in time. I received word from the Sense Vision reporter yesterday that they'd do a report on me. It's only a matter of time before I'm a star! The Master Blacksmith! The King of the Anvil! Mwahahaha!

What? Start from the beginning. A report? A reporter?

They want to know about you, the up-and-coming hunter of Ishar's, and all about our history.

Wait! Stop joking. I can't let you do anything so embarrassing! I refuse!

Don't say that, Amy. If this goes well, it'll be good advertising for our shop. To be frank, we don't have the funds to develop anything new right now. So please, Amy. Please!

If you put it like that...

I guess... But just this once, okay?

Great! Now we're decided, let's not waste any time. In fact, the reporter is waiting at the tavern right now. They want to hear our story.

Okay, okay. Let's go to the tavern.

Yes, I'll be right behind you!

Well, well. So this is Amy from Ishar's! Hello. My name is Roos, I'm a freelance writer. Nice to meet you!

You're the reporter? Erm... Me and my father... That is my father and I... We're closely connected...

A fraternal bond! Oh how lovely to see such strong family ties! That's what I'm here to report on.

Ah... It's not like we're especially... Surely you can find fathers and daughters everywhere... We're completely normal.

What are you saying?! Ishar's began as a simple downtown blacksmith's, and has grown into a thriving business! Besides, you're the up-and-coming hunter who took down the Synth Human army commander Galliard! What's more! You lost your mother in the Synth Human uprising and have been raised single handedly by your father!

Well...I suppose. If you put it that way... (Who is this person?)

Incredible! Without a doubt you are the avatar of all the love, courage, and grace of all Elzion citizens!

I'm getting a headache...

Oh, well done. It looks like you've introduced yourself.

Yes. Now let's move somewhere else. I think I want to turn this into a proper interview...

Somewhere else?

Yes. I'd love to hear more about your story in a place special to the two of you!

A special place?!

Exactly. What are we waiting for? Let's go.

W-Wait! What?!

Well Amy, that's when you were, how old? It was here, with that big egg. "I wanna eat it! Get it for me!" There'd be no consoling you.

What?!

I see. So it is that relentless tenacity that grew into the hunter we see today.

Please don't put that into your article!

That's a nice story though, Amy.

Aldo!

Okay, let's go, Roos. Next is the Theta District.

H-Hey! Wait! For goodness sake, Dad!

This is the house where Amy's first crush lived. Of course, the family moved on a long time ago.

Wha, ?! D-D-Dad! Stop! Please, no more!

What's wrong, Amy? You're blushing. Don't you like reliving the old days?

Hmm. So you deny yourself romantic love... Behind the rough hunter exterior lies a sweet young girl!

But it wasn't meant to be. That young lad had eyes for Amy's friend.

Oh! What a tragic tale! Unrequited love! With a scoundrel!

Every night while Amy slept I'd come into her room and wipe away her tears.

......

This is all extremely fascinating. Is this the true beginning of the human reproductive cycle?

Okay, onto the next one.

Ah! Hey! Enough! No more!

Ah, here I'll tell you about Amy's junior high school sports day. It was a big day over in Beta District, I think.

Yes...I remember.

It was the 100m finals... You tripped...and in the end you didn't even place. You were so distraught, you couldn't stop crying...

Ho ho. Such emotion... That spirit, never accepting defeat, it's something every good hunter needs.

You only stopped crying when I gave you your lunch.

You always cooked too much food. On top of that, it was salty and unappealing... But I loved it.

I see...

You've made me realize that I've never tasted my father's cooking.

Well, that's enough for this one. Okay, let's move on. Next is Gamma District.

Whenever we fought you'd run out of the house and come here to sit, all curled up in a ball. You've always been so stubborn, even as a little kid. That's why when you said you wanted to be a hunter, even though I was worried, I knew I couldn't change your mind.

Yeah...

Amy. Do you remember what you said you wanted to be when you grew up?

......

You used to say that when you grew up you wanted to be a blacksmith. And follow in your papa's footsteps.

Yes...I remember.

When we'd go out together, if we saw a happy family, you'd start staring at them, then you'd suddenly turn to me. I'd look over, and you'd give me a big smile... "It's okay. I have my papa!" That's what you'd say...

......

Amy...I'm so lucky to have you as my daughter. Thank you. I think...you should chase after your dreams, make them come true. I'll be here, looking out for you every step of the way.

Papa... Okay. I'll chase my dreams. It's because of the example you set, Papa, that I'm able to follow my dreams today.

That's my daughter. But I hope one day you settle down with someone... But if they don't treat you right, They'll have to answer to me and my fists!

Stop it! That's never going to happen.

Heh. I wonder. I guess it's only natural that you'd outgrow your old papa one day and head out into the world.

......

Oh, you two are too much. This is such a fascinating story. Thank you! I think I'll wrap it up here. Time's just about up anyway.

Time?

What? Well I was only asked to do this interview somewhere outside for a certain amount of time. And I received payment already from an anonymous client. It was a pretty good deal...

Papa... I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

Me too. I'm gonna head back to the shop.

Me too. Let's go.

What? Did I say something wrong? Wait! I wanted to know the meaning of the shop's name...

Boss! Thank goodness! The shop got really busy all of a sudden, and then from the workshop, this noise just started... It looks like someone broke in from the back, and got away with the Bulk Assistor!

Damn! The interview was just a way to get us out of the shop!

What is a Bulk Assistor anyway?

It's the prototype I said earlier. It's covered in a superconductive electromagnetic skin to boost its attacking power. It was nearly complete... Damnit! Who would want to steal it?!

Er...

You! Wait, you're not in on this, are you?!

No no no! I want to know who it is as much as you do. All I know is that I was paid to do an interview with you. That's all. I was interested in the story, so I took it. Actually, I think I saw the guy who gave me the job earlier. He seemed to be in a hurry.

What?! Where?!

Just over there. It was only a glimpse, but there's no mistaking him. He went down that abandoned road.

He's heading out of the block! He must have an airplane or something ready to make good his escape!

The dastard... Amy, go on ahead after him! I'll stay here and look for any clues he may have left in the workshop.

Okay. Leave it to me!

We'll get you, you sneaky thief!

Damn, I was spotted! That Roos...I should've paid him more. This is bad.

Okay, time to return the Bulk Assistor.

And if I say no?

That machine is very important to me. You really should just return it. While you still have a chance of leaving unharmed. If you do, then I'll just forget this ever happened.

Hmph. I guess things never go quite as planned... It's time, Mega Arianrhod!

Oh, now you've done it! No more Mr. Nice Blacksmith.

Who cares?! Get him, Mega Arianrhod!

Wha?!

Papa?!

Mwahahah! Fool. There's no way you can win, little old blacksmith. Compared to my vast fortune, you're nothing but a little bug that needs squishing! Did you really think you could win?

Gah! Wh-What is this?!

Papa!

B-B-But how?!

Never underestimate the spirit of an old blacksmith who needs to protect his only daughter!

Hahah! Are you ready? I put my blood, sweat, and tears into that thing for my daughter. It's an Ishar's original, there's nothing in the world like it. I don't care how much money you have, I'm not going to lose to you.

Agh!

Papa, enough. I'll take it from here.

Alright, now it's my turn! Rich or poor, it doesn't matter, my fists will hit you just as hard either way!

Tch! Whatever. Get them, Mega Arianrhod!

Ugh, what?! My Mega Arianrhod!

So, are you going to give it back now?

Damn it.

I'll never forget this! This isn't over. We always win in the end. We'll have the last laugh!

Ah, wait!

Just leave him, Amy. We have the Bulk Assistor, we don't need him any more. Let's go home. Back to our shop named after your mother, my beloved wife... Back to Ishar's!

Okay!

Amy. This is the latest model of the Bulk Assistor. I want you to have it.

Thank you, Papa.

Papa, I...

Yes? Amy, what's wrong?

Oh, nothing! It's nothing!

A happy ending. And yet, we hardly appeared. What a pity.

Don't worry about it, Cyrus. We got to learn a lot more about Amy's past and about her father.

Yes.

Wait! You need to forget about all that! Forget it! Now! You'll not speak of it again! Okay?!

But what about Roos, he took some good shots, so I told him he could run the story.

...?!?!?!

I'm going to check in the workshop, to see if I can find any clues about the thief. You guys go on ahead and chase after him!