Reward For Believing

Ratle's full of interesting designs. ...I know! Since I'm here, I should buy a souvenir for gramps!

Gramps? Is that your grandfather?

Yeah! It was gramps who said that I should travel the world! He called it training.

Hmm. Interesting. So what kind of souvenir do you think your grandfather would like?

Well, I remember he said, "I want strange books from each place you go. Heheheh."

He sounds like an odd one, your grandfather.

Yeah, he's so amazing! He was one of the greatest magic users in the world, and was even called the grand sage! I started this journey to try and become as powerful as he is!

Oh, now I get it. Anyway, let's look for something to get him.

You want to help me pick something?! Wow, Aldo, you're so kind!

Welcome to Ratle! Little miss, come take a look at this.

What is it? You have something you want to show me?

I have plenty of rare goods for you. How about a Ratle souvenir? Look! Aren't these jewels pretty?

Wow, they're so sparkly!

Are those really jewels? Let me take a look.

No! Don't touch them with your filthy hands! Just look at them from over there.

Something's fishy about this. Come on, let's go somewhere else.

I'll take this one!

Thank you! Little miss, you have a good eye. This ruby is a one of a kind. Of course, that has an effect on its price.

Lele. Just hold off on buying it, will you...

Okay, I'll just take your money. Thank you for your custom!

Yay! It's so pretty, and now it's mine!

Are you sure it's safe?

What do you mean? ...Huh? My hands are getting sticky.

Hey, the stone, it's melting! And that smell... It's just a hard candy!

Hard candy? You mean it's not a ruby?

Darn it! Let's find that man again!

He went that way! Towards the Nadara Volcano. We have to get our money back!

Heheheh! Today was a good haul.

So this is where you hide the money?

...Ah! It's you! I thought I managed to trick you back in Ratle!

You tricked us?

That's right. Just like I did the other tourists. You're all so gullible.

But why would you do that? Why deliberately do something bad? Do you LIKE being bad? Did you dream about becoming a bad guy when you were little?

D-Dream? I...my dream... Shut up! You're confusing me, you little brat! And I won't give you your money back either! Boys! Time to do your job!

This guy... He's trained monsters to work for him?!

They're my guard dogs. They're here to stop anyone getting at my hoard while I'm away. ...Now get them!

H-How did you beat them! A-Are you all some kind of demon?

Now, are you going to give back the money you swindled out of Lele?

N-No! I earned that money fair and square!

Hey, mister. Why are you saving up so much money?

I'm sure he's just saving it up to spend it on himself. Don't worry about it, Lele.

Is what he just said true?

Right, it's exactl, No! No, it's nothing like that! You see, it's my wife, she's very sick. And the doctor's so expensive!

A sick wife?! That's so sad!

You're despicable! Do you really think we'll believe that?

It's not a lie. Heheh, little miss, you believe me, don't you? My poor wife suffers day in and day out. And we haven't the money for medicine. I could never afford it on an honest living. That's why I turned to a life of crime. I had no choice. Oh, the shame! What a pitiful life I lead!

In that case, I'll give you all of my money!

Lele?!

If I give you all my money, will you promise to give back the money you've scammed from everyone else?

Wh-Whoa, that's a lot of cash! You must be from a rich family!

Gramps gave it to me to fund my travels.

Really? Heheheh. This'll do very nicely! ...See ya!

Urgh...

What's wrong, Aldo? Why are you sighing?

Lele, you need to learn to keep your guard up a bit more.

Why? Gramps said to me, "Those who have faith shall be saved. That's why, Lele, I need you to lend me some cash."

The more I hear about your gramps, the less I understand him. Is he really as wise and powerful as you say? Anyway. Faith is certainly important. Still, let's make sure our faith wasn't misplaced this time.

Right, let's check this guy out! I want to meet his poor sick wife!

Sure. If she even exists...

I don't think he'd go back to Ratle. How about we check out Acteul?

What's up, Aldo? This is a tavern.

You know I really want to believe him as much as you do. But just in case, let's check this place out.

Okay! After all, I believe him!

Hey, Barkeep! Just keep the drinks coming! I just hit the jackpot! And on a stupid half-baked lie, too!

I knew it... Just couldn't help yourself, could you?

Gah! It's you!

You lied to me?

J-Just leave it, will ya? I can't help that you're so gullible.

You really lied to me? There's no sick wife?

Heh! Do I look like I'm married?

...I see...

Lele, I understand you must be shocked, but you had to learn some day...

It's okay! I'm glad this happened!

What?!

Huh? You're even stupider than I thought. You're happy you got scammed?

There's no poor woman suffering. Isn't that a good thing?

Oh...I...guess so. You're not wrong about that.

Yep, all is good♪

What... What's going on... Ugh... Damn it... It was supposed to be a simple scam... Why... When I was younger... Damn it... What is this...was I scammed? I was... Why... This... These feelings... Damn it!

...Huh? Sir, why are you crying? Wait, there really is a poor sick wife, isn't there?

I'm sorry! Little miss, here. Take your money back!

Why? I thought taking money from people was what you've always dreamed of doing?

No. I used to have a very different dream. And you just reminded me of it. Don't worry, I'll return all the money to its rightful owners.

Okay. This time I actually believe you. Now, off you go. Time to return the money.

I'm so sorry. Thank you, little miss.

Hey, Aldo? Why do you think he thanked me?

Because you cleaned out his heart.

Hmm? But I hate tidying up. That's strange!

Okay, now let's go back to Ratle, and carry on looking for a souvenir.

Yeah, okay! Thanks, Aldo!