A Price Borne

Ooo? Would you mind waiting a moment, Aldo?

Hm? What's up Hozuki?

I just have some business I need to attend to with that gentleman there.

Oh, I see. Sure, I'll wait right here.

Hehehe, thanks.

Hozuki?!

Well, if it isn't my dearest patron, and how are you today?

Um, I'm... I mean... It's good to....see you again... Hozuki.....

Oh stop it, you're embarrassing me.

In fact, if I could have "you know what," I'd be even happier.

Um...well... I mean...

Gosh, look at the time! I'm so sorry, Hozuki! I got to get back to work!

Please forgive me!

That guy's in a hurry... What was all that about?

Oh that? Well...

That man, oh how he makes me suffer so...

What? Really? But he didn't look like such a bad guy...

Hehehe, I'm just playing around, silly. But we do have a little bit of a problem though...

I mean, really! It's all his fault anyway!

Well, if you're having trouble with something, I'll be glad to lend a hand. That guy headed towards the Karek Swampland, right?

Hehehe. Oh, Aldo. You can be so cute sometimes.

Huh? I didn't catch that.

Oh, nothing! Come, shall we head to the Karek Swampland?

Ack! Hozuki! You followed me here?

Well you ran away before we could finish our conversation. Don't you want to hear what I have to say?

So I heard you caused some trouble for Hozuki... What exactly did you do?

You...You got it all wrong! It was actually she who tricked me!

Why, I don't recall doing anything of the like...

Hmm... Looks like there's two sides to this story...

But in situations like these, I have to side with my friend...

You mean it? Oh thank you, Aldo!

Hey Hozuki. What exactly is the problem?

This gentleman here racked up quite the tab at my shop.

And he won't pay up...

So the one in the wrong here is you.

Y-You've got it all wrong! She sweet-talked me into buying all those drinks, then jacked up the price!

Such disgraceful behavior. I'm only charging for the drinks you asked for.

All I said was a handsome, strong man like you can order a lot. I even tried to stop you from ordering too much, but you wouldn't stop. Come now, won't you pay for what you ordered?

Hozuki, you're on another level when it comes to this stuff.

...... Think about it. Can you say no to a beautiful girl like her?

......

Then it makes more sense for you to pay her back, doesn't it?

Well, that's just it. I don't have any money to pay with right now!

If I could only start selling again, then I know I could easily get the money.

Huh? You mean you can't work right now?

Something like that. Monsters in the Nuaru Uplands have put me in a tough spot.

They stole some really valuable merchandise. So now I can't do any business.

So if we defeat these monsters, you can pay off your tab?

Um...yes...I mean... Will you really do this for me, Hozuki?

I mean, I'll be in trouble too if you don't pay off your tab.

Well? What do you say, Aldo?

I don't mind. If it will help both of you out, then sure.

Really! Thank you!

Of course, I'm going to have to add an additional fee for monster slaying, though.

Ngh! Money is going to be tight this month...

But, if you're doing all this for me then I guess I could...

You're one cunning lady, Hozuki.

Hehehe such a wise man. You could never hate little ol' me, could you?

His tab is growing by the minute...

Now then, you said these monsters are in the Nuaru Uplands, right?

Yes! That's right! Please, I'm counting on you!

What kind of monsters would steal that man's merchandise?

Their aim wasn't to fight but to steal. Whatever they are, they must be somewhat intelligent.

Goblins tend to be pretty common round these parts. Perhaps they're the culprits?

Goblins? They certainly are crafty little guys.

Now that I think about it, what did they actually steal?

He racked up quite the large tab, so whatever got stolen, it should be valuable enough to pay it all off. I bet it's worth a fortune!

Though if it wasn't for his tab, I wouldn't be so short on money.

So the shop isn't doing too well...

Speaking of which, what kind of store do you run, Hozuki?

Aldo, you came here before with the other me, after all. Oh, it's just the cutest little pub. It's tucked away in a quiet corner of town. The land was cheap and it's right on the doorstep of the capital.

Aldo, you came here before with Yipha. Oh, it's just the cutest little pub. It's tucked away in a quiet corner of town. The land was cheap and it's right on the doorstep of the capital.

Oh, it's just the cutest little pub. It's tucked away in a quiet corner of town, but it's quite popular with the locals. The land was cheap and it's right on the doorstep of the capital.

I do a lot better business than you'd think given where I am. I'm just that popular.

I get plenty of regulars. So business tends to be pretty stable.

I get plenty of regulars. So business tends to be pretty stable.

I see...

So even though business is good, one man's tab still means you're short on money?

Well...yes...

It's embarrassing to say but I'm also in debt...

Oh, that reminds me of something I recall hearing once. About how much was that debt?

You see Miglance Castle over there?

The castle? Yeah, what about it?

Well, even if I could sell three Miglance Castles, I still wouldn't be able to pay off my debt.

What? You're in more than 3 castles worth of debt?!

I didn't know it was possible to be in that much debt. My head hurts just thinking about it...

Hehe. I have my ancestors to thank for it. I like to think of it as an unwanted gift.

Can you really pay all that back through your pub? I mean, you've got your flaming tail and mysterious powers, right? Surely you could make more money as a mercenary?

Yes, I suppose you're right. I guess it would be better to pay off my debts that way. It's just... I can't use that power for making money...

...?

Gra-wuh-wuh-wuh! It's just as we thought, Gra-wuh!

I told you, Grah-wuh! Leader will love this, Gra-wuh!

We should hurry and bring this to him, Gra-wuh! Leader will be proud of us, Gra-wuh!

Gra-wuh! For a human, he carries some pretty nice stuff, Gra-wuh!

It looks like those goblins have something over there.

So goblins are behind this, after all. They went into the Moonlight Forest. Let's follow their trail, Hozuki.

GRA-Wuh! You guys did good! Well looky what we have here? A fine piece indeed, Gra-wuh!

Hold it right there! You stole that from a human, didn't you!

Gra-Wuh? Who are you? Don't interrupt our fun!

If you don't give that back, I'll be in big trouble.

Come now, won't you be good boys and hand over the chest?

GRA-Wuh-Wuh! Stupid human! We'll never hand it over!

Hmph. So you won't hand over the chest?

Like I said! Gra-wuh, this belongs to us now!

Then I guess we'll have to do this the hard way!

Right then, Aldo. I'm counting on you♪

Sure! I'm with you all the way!

Great! I'll be cheering you on from here♪

Huh? You're not going to join in? But don't we always fight together?

These goblins should be no match for you, isn't that right Aldo?

Well, they shouldn't be...but...

I knew I could count on you! I'll prepare a special gift just for you if you try extra hard. Show me what you got, Aldo. *wink*

There's really no need to...

Gra-wuh-wuh-wuh! Look at them quarrel! Stupid humans!

The girl seems like a waste of our time anyway! Gra-wuh, she doesn't seem powerful at all!

Excuse me? To be spoken to like that by a goblin...

Aldo, I can't go on. I need my prince charming to rescue me.

What the? I didn't take you for a damsel in distress.

What's wrong? Are you mad that the goblin made fun of us?

Ah! Wait...Stop! No Yoko! Don't come out!

Oh you've really done it now...

Huh? What the? You're going to fight after all?

*sigh* I guess I have no choice. I apologize in advance. Bear with me, Aldo.

Huh?

Well then, let's put a swift end to this.

Prepare yourselves, goblins!

Gra-wuh-wuh! Th-These guys sure are strong!

Gra-wuhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Whoa! There's not a trace of the goblins left!

I knew it. You could definitely make some money with that power of yours!

Such kind words, thank you Aldo. But, do you really think so?

Yeah! I mean look, you were able to kick their butts in no time at all!

...I guess you're right.

But it looks like the valuable merchandise was caught in the fire too...

Ah! Now that you mention it!

What should I do now? This is why I hate Yoko...

Yoko...?

Well, it's not like you can undo the past. Anyway, let's hurry back to Unigan. I guess we'll just have to apologize.

I suppose you're right. This really isn't my day...

There you are! Welcome back, Hozuki!

O...oh... Hello there...

Huh? Are you okay, Hozuki? What happened?

Well...

What?! My merchandise was incinerated?!

I'm so sorry...really I am. If I didn't go, this wouldn't have happened...

Arghhh...this is bad! Now I can't pay off my tab!

Yes...and it's all my fault. Needless to say, we'll call it even for now. But you can't show your face in my bar anymore.

O-Okay. That's not too big of an issue anyway. The profits from selling my merchandise were meant to go towards paying off my tab anyway.

Well. I still feel bad. I know it ended up like this but...

If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, you won't leave me alone at my bar for too long, will you?

Ngh! When you look at me with those eyes!

O-Of course I will! Once I get the money, I will come right over!

Really? Oh I'm so glad to hear it. I'll be waiting.

...I can't afford to lose such a valuable customer now, can I?

Cunning to the end, I see...

Well, it's Yoko's fault we didn't get the merchandise back.

This is all Yoko's fault? What do you mean?

If your Yoko is the same as the other Hozuki's, she must be a fox specter, right?

You mentioned this "Yoko" thing before. It appears to be responsible for all this, but what exactly is a "Yoko" anyway?

Well, Yoko is a specter of a fox that's possessed my body.

A specter? You mean those monsters from the East?

These flames you see are called fox flames. They're the power of Yoko inside me.

Long ago, my ancestors were cursed by Yoko. Whenever the fox flames come out, I must pay a price to Yoko for using its power.

A price?

Yes, and Yoko stopped at nothing to exploit me for all the money I had!

Exploited, huh? So that's why you're in so much debt.

Exactly, my ancestors were admirable people. So when money is involved, I can't use Yoko's power.

And so that's why you wanted me to fight alone?

Yes... But the power of Yoko came out anyway. And since I helped fight, you'll have to wait until next time for your special present.

Now that you mention it. About this special present of yours... What do you have in mind?

Hehehe. Are you curious, Aldo? You surprise me! Perhaps you've taken an interest in me?

An interest...? No! It's not like that at all!

You'll have to treat me a lot better then. Do that, and I might just consider it.

Hehehe, I've got high hopes for you. Don't let me down. *wink*