On a Quest for Spirit Grass

What do you mean she can't be saved? You're a doctor, aren't you?!

Please, I understand how hard this must be for you but try and calm down.

Calm down! Just how am I supposed to calm down when my son is dying?!

What's the matter?

I know you. You're Miss Erina, right?

Miss Erina? The merchant's daughter?!

Umm... Well, yes, I suppose that would be me.

Wait, Erina, are you famous or something?

Haha. No not famous or anything like that. I just come from a big merchant family, is all.

I used to go to all the parties my family threw even when I was young. So I guess I know a lot of people around town.

Please, Miss Erina, you must know somebody who can help my son get the right treatment!

Excuse me, doctor. What exactly is her child's illness?

Thanato fever, I'm afraid.

Thanato fever! Oh my...

Have you heard of that before, Erina?

......

You see, thanato fever is a relatively new disease, so nobody has discovered a cure for it yet. It's pretty much a death sentence for anybody who gets it. All you can do is comfort the sufferer until the end.

A death sentence...

You mean, there's nothing anybody can do for my son? I can't believe it. He's still so young...

What's that? Uh-huh... I see... Wuh-huh?

Umm, Erina. Who are you talking to?

Really?! There's a person researching a cure for thanato fever right now in Gamma District?

H-How do you know about that?

My sister told me.

Your sister? Where?

Huh? She's right here, silly.

So that person you just mentioned! You think they can save my son?!

It's true that he has been saying that he's on the verge of a breakthrough. But he's been saying that for years now. What's more, I thought only a very select handful of people were aware of his work. How would you...

Really? How do you know about th...

There's no time for worrying this way and that! We need to find this person straightaway and see if they have a cure!

Y-Yeah, I guess you're right.

Let's hurry there, before it's too late!

My sister says that's the man we're looking for.

Yellos! Yellosity!

What is he saying?

Ah, wait! He won't be able to hear you if you talk to him, you know that.

Don't worry, I'll go talk to him.

Yellosyellos! Ye-ye-ye-yellos! Yeeeeeellos!

Whoa... He's actually kinda scary.

H-Hey there...

Yel?

A-Are you the guy who's trying to find a cure for thanato fever?

Wh-What? How do you know about that?

Wait. You can talk normally?

Of course. And, I am indeed the researcher you describe, yes.

I'm just going to ask you straight up! Have you found a cure for thanato fever?

Ohohoho?

Please, you have to tell me!

It's complete. Well, almost...

Really?!

I'm just missing one final material before I can be satisfied that it is truly complete. Yellos Spirit Grass. Unfortunately, it comes with a price tag way above what my funding can cover.

Oh right. So Yellos is the name of a plant?

I think I've heard of Yellos, now you mention it. A particularly rare spirit grass that goes for a high price even by medical standards.

So, exactly how much does it cost?

Well, so the amount I would require, you're looking at something around this figure.

Whoa! Are you serious? You sure this decimal point's in the right place?!

It's not as bad as I thought. About the price of a house. Isn't that right, Jorna?

Wha?! Who uses house prices as a comparison for anything?!

If I just had enough of that spirit grass, I might, just might have been able to save that kid...

What kid?

I promised to save her. But in the end that didn't do her much good.

Hang on. You kind of remind me of her. Sure you're a bit older, but I can definitely see the resemblance.

R-Really?

Well, well, looks like we have ourselves a penniless people party, eh. I overheard you talking about Yellos, did I not?

Hey, gramps, do you know something about this plant?

Of course. It is truly a thing of beauty. But not something for the likes of you peasants to behold, I might say.

Hey! What's your deal? What a horrible old man.

Sure it may be called a "grass," but it is in fact a flower of radiant beauty. It is small, but elegant and strong. Yet gives a sense of fragility and hope at the same time. I don't think anyone would dispute it if I said that flower is one of treasures of the world!

A flower appropriate for me, a man of dignity and class.

Yes, yes, I'm very happy for you. So, Mr. Dignity-and-Class, I suppose you know of how to get hold of it then?

I do. But it is no doubt beyond the reach of dirt such as yourselves.

Even I am forced to deal with those uncouth smugglers, in order to acquire it.

Sm-Smugglers! What do you mean?!

Oh my, seems I spoke a little too liberally. You, of course, mustn't tell anyone of this. Here, take this, hurry.

Whoawhoawhoa! Wait a second. What's this money for?

It's called a bribe, you peasant. Here's how it works. I give you a more than reasonable sum in exchange for your silence.

Ooohhh! Man, that guy got on my nerves! Aldo, we have to go give this money back right away!

Of course. I think he knows where they get that plant. It looked like he was heading to Theta District.

Found you! You horrible, creepy old man!

Oh it's that raggedy bunch of plebs who don't know when a conversation is over.

You know where the Yellos grows, don't you? Please, can't you tell us too?

Heh. I don't know what you are talking about. I thought it was clear that you didn't either, hmm?

Ohhh! You rotten old man, don't play dumb with us!

Hmm? What's that, Jorna?

You've seen this guy before? At one of father's parties?

Wait, Erina. Do you know this guy?

Umm... Well, if I'm not mistaken, he's the president of the Miracle Firm.

Whawhawha?! How did a nobody like you...

You're a client of my father's company, aren't you? My sister says she's seen you at one of our parties, a long time ago.

Wha? So... I... You mean...that would make you Miss Erina?!

You were right, Jorna! I knew I could count on you. Wish I had a memory like yours!

So, Mr. President, I'm sure father would be very interested to hear about your involvement with smugglers...

N-No! Please, anything but that! I'll tell you everything about the Yellos. Just please, don't tell your father!

Hmm... Whether I tell him or not depends completely on whether I'm satisfied with what I hear.

The Yellos Spirit Grass is very popular among the upper echelons of society as a show-flower. However, it's a rare commodity, even among those with the means to acquire it. Many of us have to rely on smugglers. What's more, one particular smuggler controls the majority of trading and has made sure it never reaches the open market.

A "show-plant"?! You mean, people use it just because it looks nice?! All while people are dying because a shortage of that very same plant! And you were trying to buy it all for yourself, just to look at?! What's wrong with you?!

Well, it's just all part of being rich.

Earlier on, it sounded like you had just met with a smuggler. Do you have any Yellos on you now?

N-No, not right now. I was actually on my way to the airport for a trade. I had to oversee some cargo reshipment anyway, so it was a convenient locale to make the trade for me.

So if we look around the airport, we might find a container holding the rest of the smuggler's stock.

Let's go, Aldo! And you, here! You can have this.

Isn't this the pocket money I gave you?

Well, now it's payment for information. And that's all of it too! Laters, Mr. President.

So one of these containers should have the Yellos Spirit Grass in it.

But there're just so many. How are we supposed to find the one we're looking for?

It's not like we can just go around opening them all till we find it either. Any ideas, Erina?

Just leave it to me! I have an ace up my sleeve!

Really?! What is it?

Jorna! I need your help, please!

......

Erina? How come you just stopped talking all of a sudden?

Hang on, Aldo. I'm getting my sister to check the containers for us. She says it's not around here though.

But she said she can sense something from one of the containers further in! Let's go!

Whoa, what?! What do you mean, "sister"? Where is she?

You don't believe me? Fine. Why don't you just go check each container one by one then!

Hey, wait a second!

I guess I'll just have to trust Erina for now.

Aldo, come quick! She says this is the one. Let's open it!

Wait, are you sure we can just open it? Aren't there laws or something?

Oh, don't worry about that. Smuggling Yellos Spirit Grass isn't legal in the first place. They only have themselves to blame.

I didn't realize you could be so headstrong. But if you say so, let's get this open!

Look at all that! My sis strikes again! There's no fooling her eyes!

Hey, just what do you think you're doin' with my product! If any of those got damaged, those stupid rich people would stop buyin' them!

You're the stupid one! Selling these as a "show-plant"! Just what are you thinking?! Do you even know how many lives all of this could save?

Look, I sell 'em 'cos they fetch a good price. How am I supposed to know what they're for!

So, you don't even have any idea just how immoral it is to be cutting the supply of this to honest people!

Yeah. Don't know. Don't care either!

My...my beautiful guard drones. What have you done to them!

Just give up already! There's nowhere you can run to now.

Exactly my sentiment! You're under under arrest, you dirty smuggler!

Whoa! The EGPD? What the heck are you doin' here?!

We received a tip off from a medical researcher about this, but it seems like the case has already been solved. Thanks to you lot, we've successfully apprehended this smuggler. I can't thank you enough for your help.

A medical researcher? Oh, that guy.

So, will people be able to get the Yellos they need now?

I can't say for sure. Unfortunately, everything that was found in that container will have to be detained as evidence.

Evidence?! Please, Officer, we need at least some of that Yellos. A young boy's life depends on it! Even just a bunch will do. Please!

Officially, I just can't allow that.

Really...

But, just looking at how much is here, I doubt anyone would notice if just one bunch were to go missing.

Wha?! You mean...

Thank you! You're a good man!

The researcher should be able to make the cure with this! Let's hurry and get it over to him!

Please, you have to save my child!

You don't think I want to save people, too? But without any Yellos...

We've got it, we've got it! We brought you the Yellos Spirit Grass!

Yes! With this I can finally make the cure for thanato fever!

Also, good idea calling the EGPD and everything!

I just did what I thought would be best. Now, it's time to make some medicine!

Miss, come with me to my lab, I'll have it ready for you in a flash!

Oh! Thank you ever so much! I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you.

We don't need any payment. I just hope your son gets better real soon!

If only the city had more people like you. Thank you!

Anyway, Erina, what's the deal with your sister?

Hmm? What do you mean? She's right here. Can't you see her?

Umm, here?

No, silly, here. Right here!

Erina, look, sorry but I guess I just can't see her.

Oh...

You know, my sister had thanato fever, too.

What?

But I was powerless as she lay in bed getting weaker and weaker as the days went by. After that, I swore to myself that I wouldn't let anybody else die from that horrible illness.

So that's why you were so desperate to help that kid back there.

Breaking news. Earlier today, an arrest was made of a smuggler working at the airport.

The EGPD has confirmed that the man arrested is connected to a cartel monopolizing the Yellos Spirit Grass market...

I just know that Yellos is going to find its way back into the right hands soon enough.

Once it does, prices will go down and soon everybody in need of it will be able to get hold of it. No more people will have to suffer from thanato fever ever again.

Heheh. And this is all thanks to my sis' spirit watching over me and having my back. She was the one who passed through the containers to see what was inside them after all!

Your sister's spirit? Oh! So that's why I couldn't see who you've been talking to this whole time. You were talking to her, weren't you?

Yeah! She might not have a body anymore, but she's still here in spirit.

She's the real MVP of today. Isn't that right?

You got that right. Without her help, I'd still be looking through containers!

But, if only there had been a cure available sooner. Then you might have been able to save her too...

H-Hey, cut it out already, would you! No need to get all down now and ruin the moment.

My sis says that we're still together now and will be forever! So I'm not in the least bit lonely!

Yeah, I...I guess you are. Sorry abo...

But, you know. It's not like I didn't want to spend more time with her when she was alive too. I...

......

*sniff* Sorry, Jorna. I'll stop crying now, I promise. Yeah, I love you too.