Hide 'n' Seek

All right, I'm ready.

Uhahhah... I took the chance to take a nap. I feel like a new novel.

Let's go!

Not interested? You break my heart! Well, come back anytime.

Best of luck!

You'll never find me♪ Never ever♪ Teehee♪

She's not on this floor. We've searched everywhere.

In that case, she must be upstairs. Let's split up, like before.

Got it!

Um...

Oh, I know!

Lady Miyu, come out. I know you're inside the chest.

Huuuh? How?! How did you guess?

It's not easy to hide from me.

No fair! I bet you cheated!

I did not.

Lady Miyu, you are very unskilled at concealing your presence. A treasure chest is the first place anyone would check. It's too obvious.

It's not obvious! I'm good at hiding!

...Moving on, will you please come out of the chest now?

......

Teehee... Can't open it.

Ah, so that's where you've been hiding all this time. I've been looking for you everywhere.

That's enough hide-and-seek for the day.

No, let's play more! This time I'll hide so well, even you won't be able to find me!

I'll find a better hiding spot... Where no one will find me!

Off she goes. Hey, Miyu. I've got a bad feeling about this. Maybe it's just me...

No, actually, I kind of remember this and it worries me too.

Please wait, Princess Miyu!

Oh, we've met before. You're the monster hunters.

Is there a problem we could help with?

It's not monsters this time but... would you mind helping us find the princess?

We've been playing hide-and-seek and I fear she's gone to hide in the forest this time.

The royal hunting grounds? No problem, you can count on us.

Much appreciated. Let's split up, shall we?

They just go with whatever we tell them. What if we were kidnappers?

Haha...

Well, we've got an advantage in this game, since I can just ask you where you hid that time. Lead the way, Miyu.

About that... I can't recall where I was hiding.

What?

She's definitely somewhere in the forest, so let's just go there and hope for the best.

No luck so far. You still can't remember anything?

No, sorry.

It's all right, don't worry about it. Let's check over there.

Yes.

Whoa!

Don't shout.

Don't sneak up on me like that.

Any luck finding the girl?

Over there.

Huh? That's just a bunch of mushrooms. Is she hiding among them?

They look like fungi, but they're actually monsters. The princess wouldn't have been aware of that, though.

Miyu...

I'm sorry, Aldo! I was a difficult child...

That's not what I meant. Look, there's a Bibliovore among those shrooms too!

Ah, you're right! I see the foggy blob.

Leave this to us, Felmina! We'll rescue the princess.

You're not going anywhere.

Ouch! What did you kick me for?!

Don't provoke the monsters.

So what do you want us to do?

Be patient. Bertrand will get the girl out safely.

Psst! Princess Miyu. Come over here slowly, without making any noise...

Oh!

No, don't talk!

Oh, poop! You found me!

Nooo!

Don't panic! We'll take care of them!

Princess Miyu, are you hurt?

I'm okay.

That's a relief! Let's go back.

No! We're not done playing!

But, Princess...

You didn't do it right! You have to say the words.

Ah, of course.

......

In that case... Ahem!

Found you!

Can we go now?

Meh... I didn't like it.

Well...we've got ourselves into quite an impasse here...

Felmina! You say it!

Bertrand spotted you first, not me. It would be against the rules if I claimed to find you.

Grrr! Then he can do it!

M-Me?!

Um...

Is somebody there?

That's...King Miglance?!

Huh? Dad's there?

It's His Majesty's custom to hunt at this time. What do you want to do, Bertrand?

We cannot pretend we did not hear His Majesty call. It would be dishonorable.

No, wait!

Please behave yourself, Lady Miyu. His Majesty will not be pleased when he discovers we let you come to the forest again, though...

But I don't want Dad to get mad at you!

Unfortunately...

That's not for you to worry about, Lady Miyu. We failed in our duties, and will need to take responsibility for it.

That's right. Besides, His Majesty won't be angry at you, so don't worry about that.

But...

What's going to happen? Will you have to quit? Will I not see you again?

Can't rule out that possibility.

...... I don't want that! Nan left me, and now you will leave me too? I don't want to be all alone again!

Princess Miyu, please don't cry. We won't leave you, if we can help it.

Boo hoo! Bwaaah!

And now she's throwing a tantrum again...

You're partially responsible for it, Felmina.

Perhaps there is a solution. We may be able to get out of the forest with the princess without His Majesty suspecting anything.

What's your plan?

It involves deceiving His Majesty. Will you be okay with that?

I would normally say no, but if it's just this one time.

Perfect. If you could keep His Majesty occupied for a while while I make the preparations.

Of course. I will keep him distracted.

Let us help you buy Felmina some time.

I will see you in a bit.

Your Majesty!

Is that you, Bertrand? Was that commotion earlier your doing?

I'm afraid so, Your Majesty. We were discussing methods for monster population management...

Your Majesty. We're humble monster hunters, glad to be of service.

It is a great honor to work for the royal family.

Ah, monster hunters? With how many monsters we've got here, I imagine it's keeping you busy, haha! Bertrand, I thought you were entertaining my daughter? At least that's what a maid told me.

Yeah, but...

You haven't brought her here, have you? This is no place for a little girl, even accompanied by a skilled knight. I explicitly prohibited her from coming here.

I wouldn't have let the princess set foot in this forest, of course...

Good. What's in that box you have there, Felmina?

B-Box?!

......

(No way! Is the little Miyu hiding in that box?) (That's the cheesiest idea ever. The king will definitely want to look inside!)

That's um...

Let me see.

It's just an old treasure chest we found! It was already empty, nothing to see here!

In that case I should like it removed. Don't need empty boxes littering my forest.

Allow me, Your Majesty! Your guards have much more important things to do.

Ah, well. That's fine by me. As long as it gets taken away.

But is it really empty? I'd like to take a look myself.

Your Majesty, I assure you...

......

Felmina?!

It doesn't weigh much, being empty.

Hahahaha! Aren't you amusing!

Y-Your Majesty...

Heh, I'm not without sense of humor. You really had me there! To think my girl would plot such a prank with you. She had never opened up to anyone but her nanny before!

It goes to show I was right to choose you as her guardians, unconventional as you are. Although I ask you not to indulge her too much. She is a princess after all, not a street urchin.

Naturally, Your Majesty!

I'll let it slide this time. Seeing Bertrand lose his composure was greatly entertaining. Well, I have hunting to do. Farewell.

Felmina, where is Princess Miyu?!

Calm down, Bertrand. She's perfectly safe. Come out, Lady Miyu!

We did it!

So that's where you were.

Dad had no idea I was there!

On the contrary, Lady Miyu. He noticed you very quickly.

What? But then... He didn't say anything?

His Majesty proved to be very forgiving. We can still be your guardians.

We seem to still have His Majesty's approval. This little stunt seems to have only reinforced his conviction that we're doing a good job looking after you.

So you're not going anywhere? You'll stay with me forever?

Yay!

......

Let's walk back to the castle, Little Princess.

Nah uh! Let's play some more!

Oh no.

This time you won't find me in a million years! You'll have to give up!

Princess Miyu, that's really enough!

Haha! Little Miyu hasn't learned her lesson, from the looks of it.

Yes...I certainly didn't make life easy for them.

Looks like they had their hands full with you!

Welcome baaack!

That wasn't too bad. We're getting the hang of it. The Bibliovores are pretty predictable.

Yes, we just have to look out for historically inaccurate events.

That's it! Aren't you two clever. Able to follow instructions and all that.

You've still got four Bibliovores to find. Looking forward to your next adventure?

This is pretty personal for you, Miyu. Are you excited for it, or not so much?

Somewhat. It's very nostalgic for me. I'm curious to see what's next.

Uhahah... I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes♪

Well then, once you're ready, come back.