Ancient Evil Bug vs. Sword-wielding Savior

*joyous humming*

You seem to be in a good mood, Thillelille.

Of course Thillelille is! It's a beautiful day, it's nice and warm, and I'm feeling so happy and upbeat!

Glad to hear it!

This continent is a wonderful place. A gentle breeze, solid ground, warm fire, and clear water.

You came from the western continent, didn't you, Thillelille?

Thillelille did indeed. I came here as a missionary, to spread the doctrine of my order. Where we live in the western continent is so much more chaotic. Not like here at all.

That's why Thillelille's gonna do my absolute best on this continent and make sure we find our god. I want everyone on the western continent to be able to enjoy nice and warm days like this!

Thillelille... If there's anything I can do, just say so. I can help you out.

Really?! You're so kind, Aldo...

Your big sis Thillelille's so important with many subordinates! Now I shall shower you with words of praise!

Huh?! No, that's okay...

Don't be shy about it! This kinda chance doesn't come about very often! You see, within my order, Thillelille is a first-class, real special...

Oh! Is that who I think it is?!

Looks like I'm in luck! I'm so glad I ran into you! Thillelille, come to Ratle, quick! Will you? Oh, please! Right now! Come right now!

Do you know that man, Thillelille? Looked like he was in a real hurry.

Ummmmmm...

Looks like something big's happened and they're in need of Thillelille's help! Quick, Aldo, let's go to Ratle!

Alright!

*huff* *huff*

We came as soon as we could!

Are you okay, Thillelille? You've been out of breath since a while back.

We can't be ambling along when the village may be facing the greatest disaster in its history!

Y-Yeah. The greatest disaster in its history... (Huh? Did that guy say that?!)

Everyone, look!

You came!

Thank heavens! We've been waiting!

Sorry I'm late! But Thillelille is here!

Thillelille is ready for the worst disaster ever in the world!

Worst disaster ever in the world?! You sure are amplifying this.

Please be silent! Shhhh!

O-Okay...

So what's this terrible incident then?

Incident?

Hmm?

There hasn't been an incident!

Hmmmm?!

The reason we called you out here so quick...

Was because the best cook in Ratle's invented a new sweet!

You said you wanted to always try Granny's new sweets right away!

I see... You like sweets, don't you, Thillelille?

Urgh!

Thillelille wanted you to see me as this amazing and cool big sis, the commanding officer of loads of subordinates, but I guess...

My, my, Thillelille! I've been waiting for you. Try some of these. I made loads, just for you.

You did? Thank you!

*munch munch*

They're delicious!

Oh, I'm so glad. I made some for Moke, too. Here you go.

Blipple-blep... Blepple...

Moke only ever has this same blank expression. I can't tell what it wants.

Hey, Thillelille. I've been wondering... What exactly is Moke? Is it a cat?

How can you expect me to know something like that?!

What?! But Moke's your...

Moke isn't my pet. Moke just decided to come with me one day...

Moke's just Moke!

Just Moke...

Blep...

Thillelille's the reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior... *nom nom* *gulp*

And so! If Thillelille were to have a pet, it'd be only right for it to be one far more amazing!

Hey, you shouldn't say things like that. You'll hurt Moke's feelings...

Blep...blipple...blup...

(Is it...sad?)

Heheh Thillelille and Moke are both so cute, they soothe my soul.

Indeed! Thillelille is akin to a granddaughter of Ratle. Hohoho!

Looks like you're pretty popular, Thillelille.

I...

I suppose, but then also no! Thillelille is the true reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior! The people of Ratle idolize me!

What exactly do you mean by the "reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior"?

It's a legend of the Order of the West. "When the Sword-wielding Savior descends upon the land, he will be met by one with twelve wings." In other words, Thillelille is...

The reincarnation of a totally, totally incredible god! Ahem. That's how it goes♪

......

Did you give yourself this title?

How could you say such a thing?! Look at me, Aldo! Look at how incredible Thillelille is!

Everyone, come and tell Thillelille the Sword-wielding Savior all your worries, great and small!

Has anything big happened, are any wicked monsters bothering you?!

Thillelille will give my absolute all to help those in need!

Th-Thillelille, calm down. If you ask around that forcefully...

Hmm. Come to think of it... A child from the neighborhood was attacked by a monster a few days ago...

Aha! Is that so?!

Why didn't you tell me sooner?! Well then, tell me all about this fiendish monster!

I didn't hear much about it. But Thillelille, this monster... It isn't exactly fiendish...

Hmph! I accept this task! I want you all to stay calm! I, Thillelille, will destroy this fiendish monster... And bring peace back to Ratle!

Wow, you're so incredible, Thillelille!

Ahem! First, I will make some inquiries. But before that...

Thillelille needs a helper, so I will be off to fetch my subordinate!

Hey, Thillelille! Wait up! (Wasn't that old man... About to say something?!)

Phew! I thought I'd lost you.

How come you were so out of breath before, but now you're suddenly so full of energy?

I can't get myself worn out before a big event!

I guess... Anyway, is this subordinate of yours somewhere nearby?

Indeed, he's almost always around these parts.

He is? Who is this person? I'm pretty curious to find out.

Ah, he's over there!

And at that time, a great rain poured from the sky! That was surely god's grace!

Huh?

It was our lord's blessing... Demonstrating his tremendous love for us!

It was our lord's blessing... Demonstrating his tremendous love for us!

Owwwwwww... I-I can't take any more!

Gah! I heard it was hot... But I thought the sauna sermon was just a rumor!

I can see my late grandfather's face in the flames... Argh. I'm shaking from the heat... Somehow he looks more handsome than when he was alive...

Prai!

Hmm? That voice!

Uhhhh!

Aha, this is our chance to escape! Let's go, Gramps, Granny!

I see you're giving villagers the sauna sermon! I'm sure I told you to do this in moderation!

S-Sorry Sister Thillelille! I got over-enthusiastic!

To get your deadly jump and stone head-butt once more, Sister Thillelille...

They cause Thillelille unbelievable pain, so I don't want to! Good grief, Prai, you're always doing this! The direct subordinate of the reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior can't even properly moderate one single sermon... It's just sad!

I apologize... I feel so ashamed...

When you say your subordinate, you meant Prai.

Oh, Aldo! I didn't realize you were here with Sister Thillelille.

You mean, Prai is your subordinate?!

Oh, Aldo! I didn't realize you were here with Sister Thillelille.

I never thought you'd be Thillelille's subordinate! That was quite something, the sermon you were giving...

No no, it was nothing special. It was just...

Enough! Now isn't the time for that!

Y-You're right, Sister Thillelille! Am I right in thinking you came looking for me today because you require my help?

Of course! It's time for some charitable work!

Oh, I see! And what is the nature of this charitable work?!

Heheheh... We're going to exterminate a monster!

Exterminate a monster?!

A-Are we really going to do that?

That's why I said it! We must defeat the fiendish monster resurrected from ancient times, who's attacking the Ratle villagers.

Thillelille... Aren't you exaggerating a little?

Gosh... This sounds like a difficult job...

Prai? What's wrong? Tell me, if you have any complaints.

N-No, I would never dream of such a thing!

Then let's head off to find out more from the child attacked by the monster!

Are you the child who that terrible monster attacked?

All right!

And yet you managed to get back safely. How remarkably brave you are!

Stop, you're embarrassin' me...

Thillelille will take care of this monster for you, don't you worry! So I'll need you to tell me all about it. What kind of monster was it?

Erm... It was flyin' real fast...

It was flying?! That's not good!

And it made a terrible noise! I tried to run but it blocked my path...

And once it saw me, it stabbed at me!

It stabbed at you?!

Then when you said it was fiendish, that may not have been another of your misunderstandings...

This monster sounds like trouble! Can you tell me precisely where you were attacked?

Uh okay! It was right in the middle of Zol Plains!

I have all I need!

Prai, Aldo. Thanks to that conversation, I've been able to identify the monster. The monster is...

The Ancient Evil Bug!

I-I...

Is that so?!

Did he actually say that?

(Aldo!)

No monster gets away with attacking a child, not on my watch!

Right... I'm off to perform my charitable work before that nuisance girl comes along!

S-Sister Thillelille! You're going too fast, you might fall over!

Nuisance girl...?

Whatever, right now I've got to follow Thillelille!

I...

Thillelille did it! I was the first to get here! As I thought, Thillelille is the only member of our order to get information on the Ancient Evil Bug! Just me! Now... Now I've won against that other girl!

Thillelille... Who on earth is this girl you keep talking about?

All right! Thillelille is ready for any monster! Bring it on! This sword of mine will finish you off!

Hmm? What's that sound?

Did you hear the buzz of the Evil Bug just now?! It could be coming from anywhere!

Erm, it was more like the sound of wings than a buzzing...

Wings? I see... It must be the flapping of its giant wings as it moves! This Evil Bug is most certainly bigger than a mountain and heavier than rock!

......

......

......

Wh-What?

That... That isn't an Evil Bug...?

N-No, apparently not! How strange... I was sure it would be the Evil Bug we found. I have no business with this dull monster.

But, Sister Thillelille. The monster is flying through the sky with incredible speed.

And see how sharp its stinger is? That could pierce right through its prey!

Eh?

Aaaaargh!

P-Prai?!

Prai! Are you okay?! Pull yourself together!

I-I feel like...

I have pins and needles...

Nothing in particular out of the ordinary! Oh no, I'm so embarrassed! It's like the prick of a sewing needle, nothing more!

Urgh, what are you playing at?! Don't worry me like that!

I'll strike you with the back of my sword for this! Bad Prai!

Eeep...! Please calm down, Sister Thillelille!

It makes a horrible buzzing sound, it can fly quickly, and it stings. This has got to be the monster that kid was talking about, right?

Urgh! Thillelille knew from the very beginning that there was a slight chance this would happen!

But we can't be careless! It may be small and it may not be the Ancient Evil Bug...

But it surely is an awfully strong monster! I'll prove that point now. Aldo, I want you as my support!

O-Okay...

I'm going in!

Hyaaaaaaaah!

You defeated it in one blow!

N-Now...

Now there's no reason at all for that girl to come!

Th-Thillelille? What's this all of a sudden?!

I came here eager to exterminate a monster, and all I got was this tiny, feeble creature! That means the Evil Bug wasn't after the people of Ratle! What a relief! Buuut!

C-Calm down!

Aldo! When she's like this, no amount of consoling will ever take effect...

Thillelille served no purpose here today! I'll be the laughing stock of the people of Ratle now!

No, it's okay, Thillelille. The people of Ratle won't laugh at you over this...

Bleep! Blipple!

Hmm? Moke's suddenly...

Huh? I-Is it...?!

Blip! Bleep!

What on earth's the matter with it?! For its face to change color and then run off like that!

It may not look it, but Moke's a wild creature! Which means it has an amazing ability to sniff out enemies!

Th-Then...wherever Moke ran off to, there could be another monster!

Precisely! This time, I'm sure we'll be greeted by a ferocious monster!

Moke! Where's the monster?

Bliiiip-bleep! Blipple-bleep, blup!

......

It's eating fruit fallen from the tree.

Blepple...

Mo...Mo...

Moke! You're a waste of space!

Haha...

Sister Thillelille! Aldo!

What is it now?!

Stay back for the time being!

Oh no! We've got to go back and help, quick!

Urgh! For an adult, he sure does make a lot of trouble! Never in a million years will I make such a self-sacrifice!

Prai! Are you okay?

I-I am...Somehow.

Lucky we managed to chase them away before they stung you.

You're wrong.

Huh? What did you say, Thillelille?

We didn't chase them away...

They flew off of their own accord!

What do you mean? Sure, they weren't particularly near Prai when we arrived, but...

The monster that first attacked Prai... And the two monsters that came next... Must be the same species...Their actions...

Aha! What if...

Thillelille, have you worked something out?

You two, chase after the monsters right this second! If I'm right, the goal of those monsters was... Well, this time, there'll be an awfully, immensely, terrible monster! I'm sure of it!

Huh?! Wait a moment, Sister Thillelille! Less haste, more speed!

Thillelille! Prai! Couldn't you finish explaining things before you start running off?!

I was sure the monsters flew in this direction... But there's nothing here.

Hmph... We've lost sight of them. This is a hard blow.

Where there's a will, there's a way. We may have lost sight of them, but they can't have gone far.

Hey, Thillelille. You said you knew what their goal was... What did you mean by that? And when you said there'd be a terrible monster this time...

Teehee! That was sweet of you to listen so intently! Since you still seem ignorant on this, I'll explain it to you nice and simply.

Erm...thanks.

Ahem. Are you ready, Aldo? Those monsters from before have a tendency to live in groups.

What we saw, was basically an army!

Then how is this terrible monster you mentioned connected to all this?

Whaaaat?! I've told you this much already, but you still don't get it? Aldo, you're as slow as Prai!

Err...

S-Sorry, Aldo... I seem to always make Sister Thillelille angry...

But Prai is always willing to learn, so that's one of his most admirable qualities.

S-Sister Thillelille!

And. So. Returning to the topic at hand! My point is, what attacked both ourselves and the child from Ratle was quite possibly a group patrol! The two monsters that surrounded Prai flew over, sensing something unusual. They were scouts!

Having detected an enemy, the scouts would be sure to return to base...

And report to the king of their pack!

I see. So you're saying the group of monsters and their king should be here!

Precisely! You're a good boy, too, Aldo!

Erm...thanks...

Still, you seem to know a surprising amount about monsters, Thillelille.

A surprising amount? That was uncalled for! It's only natural for Thillelille, the reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior.

Don't treat me like a child...

What's that sound?

It's...!

Look, Aldo! It's exactly as I said!

It is! A group of monsters this size, it won't be long until they start causing real trouble. We've got to do something!

I never imagined such a huge monster as this would be hiding here.

Hehehe! Finally, a monster worthy of the reincarnation of the Sword-wielding Savior!

Aldo! Prai! Follow me!

I will stamp out this monster nesting in the plains!

Darn! It's still not giving up!

You may not have enough attack power! Sister Thillelille, I strongly recommend considering a strategic retreat! If not, your magic power may run out before long!

Thillelille! Your sword! What happened?!

She's run out of magic! I knew it! Now we'll be forced to withdraw!

Oh no! Thillelille, get behind me!!

Wait, Thillelille! Don't be rash!

Thillelille!

...... Eh?

......

......

Couldn't you have just done that at the beginning?!

What am I saying? What were YOU doing, Thillelille?! Prai and I were fighting for our lives... And you defeated it with one blow?!

It's just, you always use magic when you sword fight...

But if your standard way of fighting is actually stronger, surely there's no need to use magic? Aren't you just wasting that power?

(Aldo... He speaks the truth...)

The Winged Child...

Oh, that's Melina. Looks like you two are quite the rivals.

You mean, Melina?!

I wouldn't say "reputation." Then, "that girl" you keep mentioning, is that Melina?

Hm...?

But if you use up all your magic halfway through, like you just did, then what's the point? I think you'd be better off fighting normally.

......

(Aldo... He speaks the truth...)

B-But before, when you held your sword with your own hand, you defeated that monster in a flash! Surely it's the same result? Nothing changes, you're still as strong as before.

Okay. I don't think we're going to get anywhere with this...

Sister Thillelille, Aldo. Since you've defeated the monster, perhaps we should return to Ratle and report as such.

Ack... That...

Alas, it is unavoidable...

P-Prai...?

S-S-Sister Thillelille! Please give me a clear signal! And try not to make any mistakes!

U-Understood!

Aaaaargh?!

Ah... So that's what "our usual thing" was... Poor Prai, she sure knocked him back a fair distance...

Bleep! Blup!

And Thillelille's showing off more than when she actually defeated the monster...

Heh heh heh! Thillelille... You're exaggerating again!

It was just a little bug-like monster you went to defeat, wasn't it?

After I talked to you, I told everyone else, too. About the little monster buzzin' around in the sky.

Hohoho! Don't you think you over exaggerated a little? I suppose it's a common enough thing when you're young.

Oh, your sword...

Look, you simply couldn't have defeated such a monster with that level of magic.

And there's no way we'd tell you to go defeat such an immense monster in the first place!

Exactly! We'd never tell you about something so dangerous!

Huh? Oh, right! It's no lie. (Though it is a little exaggerated...)

I was there too. I saw her defeat the monster with my own eyes.

Oh I see. Then... It was you who defeated the huge monster? That makes more sense.

Huh? No... That's not what happened!

You're so amazing!

You finished it off with that huge sword?!

Now the monster king's been defeated, Zol Plains must be safe for now!

My, my! Your help is much appreciated.

Sister Thillelille! How did our performance fare? It surely conveyed your efforts to the villagers?

Wh-What is this unpleasant aura? Perchance, were your efforts not believed by your audience?

Ack?!

Hahaha...