To Stand Together

I'm sorry for asking this of you on such short notice, May.

Don't worry about it. That's what friends are for! Anyway, go ahead and test out how the sword feels to use.

Got it.

It's great! It feels so good to hold. I'd expect nothing less from you, May.

Teehee... Well yeah! I'm pretty familiar with Aldo-like swords by now.

Me-like swords?

Yeah. When the grip wears down and the blade chips in a certain way, I always know it's one of yours. You still put all the strain on your right hand when you're in hot water, don't you?

Well I'll be. You know all that about me?

I guess that's why my swords you repair last so long.

Eheheh... You're making me all shy, complimenting me like that.

But you always seem so busy, traveling all over the world. You must know blacksmiths more skilled than me.

Well, there'll be some good and some bad... But no other blacksmith knows me better than you. Which is why you're the best to ask.

Really?

Then I guess I'll just have to keep on taking care of you!

I'm going to hold you to that! Though it's not so often I get to come back here to Baruoki...

You're so busy, Aldo. Y'know, I was so surprised when I realized my childhood friend was out there, saving the world.

I keep telling you, it's not that big of a deal! I just try to do all that I can, whenever I can. That's all.

You haven't changed a bit, Aldo. You always face whatever comes your way so earnestly, helping out anyone you happen to notice. Going further and further away, without even realizing... I can barely keep up with you.

Really? I wouldn't say that I've gone that far away.

But that's because you're you!

Sometimes I think...if only you had an old friend like me with you on your incredible adventures...

Oh...

Anyway, let's change the subject! That was so unlike me to say. So, I've mended your sword to perfection. Let me know if you need my help again!

I will. Thanks. Well, now...

Aldo!

Darunis? What's wrong?

There's a horde of monsters running wild in Nuaru Uplands. The village guard is struggling to get anywhere with them. Sorry to ask, but will you help us?

It's not like you to be so hard-pressed. Okay, I'll be right...

Oh thank goodness!

Now there's a Miglance knight?

Are you the Baruoki Guard? Please, you've got to help us!

Did something happen?

Yes. Some unknown monster has been wreaking havoc nearby in Karek Swampland. We requested support from Unigan, but they're too far away. They won't make it in time. We need your urgent help!

There's monsters in both Nuaru Uplands AND Karek Swampland?!

What do you mean by an unknown monster?

It's using invisible flames. I've not seen it breathing fire, but the armor burned right off the knights who fought it.

It can burn off metal armor? That's some impressive firepower.

Indeed. We can't possibly hold it back with our limited numbers. Will you be able to help us?

Oh boy. Which one of you do I go with?

It can't be helped. May, Aldo, you should go to Karek Swampland.

But...

Unfortunately, the village guard has its hands full right now, and we can't help the knights out here. But you two should be more than enough. Don't worry about us. We'll manage somehow.

Then why don't I stay behind? The more of us the better, right?

No, you should go with Aldo. I'm sure he could do with your help.

Yeah, he's right. Come with me, May.

I'm happy to, but why?

I don't know much about armor. But you do, so you might find some clues from the damaged equipment. So will you help me?

Aldo...

Okay! I'll show you my skills as a blacksmith!

And once we've dealt with this problem, we'll head back here together.

Okay!

Thank you so much! My division is waiting up ahead.

Okay, let's get there as quickly as we can!

So where is the monster?

It disappeared after it fought with us here. It didn't look like it was headed toward the city...

But it could turn up anywhere, so we'll have to be extra vigilant.

Right! In the meantime, could you show me the armor? You said the monster uses invisible flames? If I check the damage, maybe I can work out how it does that.

Thank you so much! Here you go.

Whoa, this is pretty bad! Metal wouldn't do this unless it was exposed to extreme heat.

And there's something weighing on my mind about these invisible flames...

No amount of armor will ever be enough. We'll have to stop it from moving and attack it from a safe distance where its flames won't reach us.

Stop it from moving, you say?

This monster doesn't fly, does it?

No. It runs on the ground, like a creature.

It does? Then I might just have something!

Really?

Yeah! I make steel hunting traps in my workshop. I'm pretty sure the material is flame-resistant, so we should be able to use it against this monster! I sell a lot of them in Unigan. If we ask around, maybe we can borrow some!

I see. So we set traps to stop it?

Good idea. There should be just about enough of us to corner it into a trap.

Then I'll let the rest know our strategy. Can I leave the trap preparations to you?

Of course!

I know they originally asked for the village guard, but aren't you glad that I came along?

Yeah, you're being a huge help. I was right to ask you to come with me.

Eheheh. I really am second to none when it comes to armor!

Okay, wait right there! I'm gonna borrow all the traps I can find!

Hey! I'm coming too! You're in high spirits today!

Heeey! May?

Oops! I left Aldo behind!

Sorry! I'm over here!

I really got here fast. I'd better wait for the others.

I feel so happy. I'm so glad that I can put my blacksmith skills to use and help out with something like this.

I'm being impatient. Aldo and I grew up together, but he keeps going on all these adventures, and I feel him getting further and further away... I've been thinking way too hard about whether there's anything I can still do for him.

But... I'm so glad I'm actually able to help him.

*huff puff* I've caught up with you at last! You're unusually eager today, May.

Nah, I'm always like this!

Anyway, I may not know what the deal is with this monster's flames, but I do know we're not gonna lose to it!

Right. No matter what enemy we face, so long as we're together, I'm sure we'll manage somehow.

Teehee we will! Okay! Let's fetch these traps! If we lay a hundred or so, we'll catch that monster for sure!

Th-That sounds dangerous!

All right! This should do it!

No sign of the monster yet. Let's set the traps before it's too late.

Here...and here... That's all the traps laid.

Looks like the knights are in position. Now all we have to do is wai...

Is it here?

It's about time, too!

Do you think you'll be able to lure it into a trap?

It's a chimera!

That's strange... It doesn't look like it breathes fire. Whatever, it's coming this way!

All right! We caught it! Everything's going according to plan.

Teehee. How's that? My traps are top-notch!

Now, let's get a little distance between us and...

Huh?!

B-But how?! It burned right through the traps...

Whaa?!

Wait! That wasn't a flame...

May, watch out!

Ack! What the?! Ouch! It feels so hot where it hit me!

Aldo! It's not flames it's using! It's acid!

What?!

I saw it spewing out of that snake mouth. It must be an acid-spouting breed of monster!

Then the traps...

They can withstand flames, but not acid. All those traps we set, they're useless!

Oh...

So c'mon, Aldo! We've gotta withdraw!

I can't do that!

But...

I heard the knights have a lot of casualties. Which means there's even less of them to fight than the first time.

If we run away, there'll be even more damage than before!

Gargh!

Aldo!

I'm fine. I could use your help, May!

We did it! Is anyone hurt?

Don't worry about me. I'm still alive and kicking.

......

Can we rely on you to return the traps to Unigan? There's somewhere we need to be.

Aldo...

I never knew there were chimeras like that! Fire-breathing would've been a walk in the park in comparison! You doing okay, May?

I'm fine. I had you to protect me, after all.

More importantly... Can I see your armor?

Huh? Um...okay.

I knew it. It's melted all over. It's because you faced that chimera head on...

Oh, sorry. I couldn't think of another way.

No, it's me who should be apologizing. Something didn't feel right when I first checked out the damage to the armor. Y'know, like, flames wouldn't melt iron like that, and there's no way invisible flames could exist.

But I was so excited about being useful that I wasn't thinking clearly. And I ended up putting you in danger.

May...

I'm sorry, Aldo. I'm glad that your armor was thick enough, but I dread to think what would've happened if...

You don't need to worry about it, May. None of us realized. We're all responsible.

But... It's me who's meant to be the expert on armor! I was meant to protect you! But I...

I'm sorry. There's no use in me saying this now. Anyway, you should take a rest. I'll go to help out in Nuaru Uplands alone.

No, I can come too!

It's fine, just rest!

I can't let you see me being so uncool anymore.

Hey!

Sorry, but I'm in a hurr...

Oh, I see. So maybe it fled here after losing a territorial dispute?

A twig? I've seen this before. It's from a tree in Moonlight Forest! Which means...

Oh no! I've got to get to Nuaru Uplands!

*huff* *huff* I think we'll be able to hold them back. Darunis...

Are you okay, Nomar? You're out of breath.

I can still fight! The monsters are only small, after all! But there's a lot more than I thought...

Hordes of monsters don't usually advance on human territory like this, do they?

No, it's almost unprecedented. I have a hunch that something strange is happening up ahead in Moonlight Forest.

Strange?

This is little more than hunter's intuition, but... The monsters seem less like they're hunting, and more like they're being hunted. It looks like they're being chased by something.

Oh no. What are we up against? What could make monsters like this flee all the way here?

Darunis! Nomar!

I came to help! Sorry I'm late!

May!

Did you settle things in Karek Swampland?

Yes. Well, it was mostly Aldo's doing.

As always! Speaking of which, where is Aldo?

Well, he overdid it in that fight, and it was all because of me... So I said he should rest up, and I came here alone.

Oh, I see...

But look! We've practically finished up here.

You did all this, just the two of you? That's incredible! You've really improved!

Heheheh! I wouldn't say that...

We stationed the squad in locations surrounding the village, but we don't have any casualties so far. I was worried for a moment, but it looks like our daily training has paid off.

You can always count on the village guard! Looks like there's nothing to worry about now. Even though I came running all the way here...

Well, I do have one concern.

Oh? What is it?

We pretty much handled the monster onslaught. But we're not sure what caused them to act like this in the first place.

Darunis thinks the monsters could've been fleeing from something even more terrifying. If we don't find out what...

Hmm... Something terrifying, eh?

Huh? That's weird.

What is it, May?

The tips of their fur is all melted. What could do that?

Darunis! Nomar!

Wh-What is it?

I have a bad feeling about this. Will you do me a little favor?

Huh? Oh, there you are, Darunis, Nomar. If you're back in Baruoki, does that mean you dealt with the monsters already?

More or less, I suppose.

But May said something strange. She told us to come back to Baruoki and prepare this armor, just in case.

What?

She said the material was corrosion-resistant...

Oh no! Where'd she go afterward?!

She said she was going to Moonlight Forest. There was something she wanted to check.

We said we'd go with her, but she insisted on going alone. In view of the situation, it's more than likely that there's a monster of some kind lurking in Moonlight Forest. I know it's overprotective, but I asked a few of the guard to follow her.

No, you're not being overprotective. If anything, you're helping her! The creature May's about to fight...

Did you hear that?

That's the signal gun to warn us of danger. Did something happen to May?

Oh no!

Aldo!

Come on, let's go!

I knew it. That monster in Karek Swampland fought with you and lost. And you drove that horde of monsters to Nuaru Uplands, too...

What's it doing in Moonlight Forest?

It's hopeless, May! There's not enough of us!

You two stay back. I'll take care of him.

May!

Haaaah!

Guh! Still a long way to go!

Before...my failure put Aldo in danger. But Aldo overcame that danger and defeated a formidable monster. If I want to keep up with someone that strong...

I'll have to get stronger!

Oof...

This equipment can only take a few more hits.

I have to finish this before that happens.

May, this is intense!

I called for help already. Why don't you withdraw...

I'm not waiting for any help!

If I withdraw now, I'll never be able to catch up to Aldo. And I can't... I just can't bear to watch him getting further away from me!

We were raised in the same village, we went on adventures together. But he's gotten so much stronger and it's all I can do just to follow behind him...

I want to catch up to him!

Ngh...

Deep down, I know. I know that even if I can still be with him now, the day will come when I won't be able to keep up with him.

But, if that happens... If that happens, I at least want to protect the place he comes back to. Even if I have to see him off someday. I will protect this place where we grew up, till the very end...

So that one day, I can welcome him home again!

Guh...*huff* *puff* Don't...don't get up again... I-I won't...

Huh?! You've gotta be kidding me.

Wha? Why aren't I...

Aldo!

May... I got angry.

Huh?

What was all that about catching up with me and welcoming me home?

Y-You heard that? But...I...

I always planned to fight by your side! Ever since we left the village together. I never thought about leaving you behind. And I never will!

Aldo...

So you won't be waiting to welcome me home. You'll be coming home with me, when we return to Baruoki after an adventure together!

But no going off by yourself. We fight together, okay?

Okay... Yeah, you're right!

Can you fight still? I'll make sure it directs the acid at me. Meantime, you deal it the finishing blow.

Heheh. You're really twisting my arm here. I'm so exhausted...

But for some reason, I feel like I can do this.

We're here to help if you need it.

Darunis! Nomar!

We finally caught up with you! You were really running like the wind!

Haha, sorry about that. With all of us here, we can't lose.

Are we ready?

Yeah!

Totally!

I don't intend on losing! Not when we're all together!

Okay, let's finish this!

Looks like we did it!

That's what you get when we all work together!

I'm sorry... I ended up needing so much of your help. I'm so exhausted, you all had to come out and fight for me.

What are you talking about, May? It's you who helped us out.

Huh?

It's all thanks to this that we were able to go to the front line without fear of its acid attack.

Those plates...

It's the corrosion-resistant armor you made. We borrowed them from the village guard before coming here. And that's not all. The sword you repaired felt like an extension of my arm, it was so easy to use.

How could I leave behind someone who helps me out so much?

Leave behind? Did something happen before we arrived?

That's between me and Aldo!

There's no way around it! I just don't have your skill when it comes to fighting!

You may think that, but you need more than just fighting skills to go on an adventure!

Umm, should we...

Don't worry about them, Nomar. It looks like they're bickering, but only because they're such good friends. Just watch. They'll settle it soon enough.

I don't know anything about weapons and armor. That's why I need you.

Well, you can just ask someone else who knows about them!

No I can't! I told you before. No other blacksmith knows me as well as you do!

You're pretty easy to read. Your average blacksmith will get the hang of it in no time.

I'm easy to read? C'mon, now you're just being insulting!

Anyway, that's not the point! It's not your blacksmithing skills that make me want to adventure with you!

What do you mean?

I want to go on adventures with you...

Because it's more fun that way!

What?!

When we were young, sneaking into the forest, or into the abandoned house, it was fun because I was with you. Being reckless in the face of danger, feeling frightened yet brave...

With you around, our adventures were so much scarier, so much more fun. That hasn't changed just because we're older.

It's so exciting when I'm with you. Nobody could ever replace you!

Umumumumum...

Darunis, is this...

Then it's decided...

A-A-Aldo... What are you saying?

A-Anyway, that armor! Some of it melted in the fight. I'll have to repair that now!

Wha? We're not talking about armor! Listen to me! You see, I...

That's enough! I get it now! You're such a lech, Aldo!

Lech?!

If you really wanna go on adventures with me that badly, we can go whenever!

W-We can hang out the rest of our lives.

Okay? Can we put a lid on this now? Make sure you bring that armor to my workshop!

Hey, May?! Why'd she call me a lech?! Did I say something weird?

He doesn't even know what he said...

Perhaps this is my fault. I should have taught him better...

What's with you two?! Come on, let's go back to Baruoki and catch up with May.

What do you think? I reinforced the parts that got broken in that fight.

It's perfect!

You're so skilled, May! The village guard will be able to get so much more work done now!

Eheheh... I'm so pleased!

There you are, May!

Guys! Good timing. I've made space in my workshop, so I can repair that damaged armor!

Tah-dah! What do you think? Can you tell what I've repaired?

Huh? This is so...

It's even easier to move than before!

It feels so comfortable to wear.

I think this will be really easy to fight in.

Teehee. Right? I thought your armor was getting a little small for you so I took the opportunity to fix the size.

Oh, I see! It did feel like it was getting stuck whenever I raised my arms.

Come to think of it, it was pretty tight.

Right! I noticed my armor was feeling really constrictive lately. So I figured we were all probably in the same boat.

I barely even noticed how tall you've grown.

I-I mean, I have grown, but not really in terms of height... ......

Hey, where's this going?! Aldo, you're such a lech!

What?!

Aldo, you lech, you look so shocked.

Aldo, you lech, pull yourself together.

What's going on here?!

It was quite simple, really. I'm just glad I was able to grow with you, like this armor. Not so that I can catch up to you. So I can stand shoulder to shoulder with you, as your friend.

Did you say something, May?

Oh, it's nothing.

Take care of that armor, you hear? I'll repair it over and over. I'll make sure it lasts a lifetime.

Don't worry, I plan to. I'll always let you take care of me.

Wh-What...

Uh oh... You've always had this side to you, you know!

You'd better be careful, you lech!

Again with the lech thing?!

Relax, I'm kidding! I can't wait for our next adventure, Aldo!