SL-6 Little Cabin in the Wood

A disaster! This is a disaster, I tell you!

You call this interior design? No wonder no one hires Siestans for design work. This is a tourist destination, yet it has no architectural style of its own, and you don't even know how to copy someone else's properly!

How could you sully the elegance of Victorian style like this? Look at this table. I said I wanted it to have a marble-like texture. Instead, you went with this cheap, low quality wood!

Perhaps you should look at your budget and again see if you gave me enough for even half a slab of faux marble.

Hah! Alright. Looks like you don't quite understand your place, Miss Ann-Maier.

If it wasn't for me, you'd still be following the Sargonian caravans, fumbling your way around town! There's nothing stopping me from reporting you to the cops as an undocumented immigrant who illegally entered Columbia. Then, you won't see so much as a dime!

If you do that, I'll report you for sheltering and hiring an illegal immigrant! Now pay me!

Why... you!

Hmph, what a foolish Siestan. So crude and disrespectful...

When the city's so stupid as to willingly gave up their obsidian mining industry, their bread and butter, there are bound to be citizens like you with no respect for others!

(Money first... Yell at him only after you get the money...)

Nothing to say? The tragic thing about you is that you haven't even realized Siesta's foolishness, and you're here shouting and accusing me!

(I can't make nothing from this job. I need my traveling money...)

If you people had chosen to join Victoria all those years ago, you would long have become citizens of the empire, indulged in the opulence the empire has to offer, and found your place in the empire's grand history! Instead, you're here, trying to earn a bit of coin to get on your way...

......

Hmph, looks like you're at least savvy enough to understand my point.

Take this. It's your pay. Hmph, count it well. It's in Victorian pounds. You know the denominations, right? Don't you even think I'm trying to shortchange you, lest you make yourself seem ill-mannered.

Mister, you aren't deserving of my manners.

You don't know anything about Siesta's history. You don't even know the first thing about the Victorian architectural history you're so proud of. What's more, Victoria's glory is all thanks to your ancestors' contributions. It hasn't got one bit to do with you.

Why don't you go take a look at the buildings in Victoria and see how Siesta's obsidian has changed your architectural style and become the kind of luxury commodity that you snobs adore so much?

Who's the one with a narrow perspective here?

Why you...!

The Siestans closed off the mines to protect the environment. Everything we do, we do it for the sake of our homeland's future. Not like some stingy man who's just talking about the glorious past over and over to win himself respect.

I'm going back to rebuild my homeland and help breathe new life into it, but what about you? What have you done for Victoria given the shape it's in these days?

Even the Columbian demolition crews pay more, oh noble employer.

I only hope your tastes will help you make your comeback.

Now cheerio!

Need to go over anything again? It doesn't hurt to be careful.

Everything of value is still here, and the house is in one piece. That's good enough for me.

I'll send you the reward I promised you. The exhibition-grade obsidian and the certificate will make it to you in probably two months.

That's great!

I'm looking forward to it.

Is there some kind of bewitching power to these obsidians that has you enthralled like this?

Are you interested in obsidian yourself? I suppose not... I've learned my lesson. There are very few people out there who truly have an eye for their beauty. Most with have their eyes on obsidians are up to no good!

Never mind. I shan't bother you any longer! Goodbye!

Mr. Pelipper Brown. Are you perhaps related to the bankrupt Siestan tycoon, Beat Brown?

......

Don't even mention that scary old man...

There may not be many who still remember him, but I'm sure he was much more well known back when obsidian was still Siesta's main export.

I spotted this name while I was going over the data. I didn't expect his successor to be running a little hot spring hotel in the area.

The volcano gave Siesta plenty of riches, and the hot springs are no less wonderful than the obsidian.

The old man died a couple years ago. Oripathy.

He never went anywhere close to the mines, but he got infected on his way to Columbia for vacation when the car's Originium engine broke down.

Oh... I'm sorry to hear...

He wasn't really a good man, but his mines did create many jobs. If his protective measures were just a little more comprehensive, perhaps he would've won the gratitude of the miners.

I've heard that when the government announced the ban on obsidian mining, your mines were the first ones to work toward shutting down.

What else was I supposed to do? The only alternative I had was to break the law.

Alright, Mr. Brown. I hope we'll get to work together again in the future. Your hot spring hotel is very spectacular. Would you perhaps be interested in developing it into a hot spring resort?

I'll pass. I'd rather not go through all the ruckus—That is, unless you make me an offer that I truly can't refuse. Say, an even bigger obsidian that's even more pleasing to the eye.

Speaking of which... your obsidian collection here have all been delicately cut and polished. How come there's a geode that hasn't been polished whatsoever?

Oh... Don't you get any funny ideas about it.

That thing's more expensive than all the pieces in the hotel combined.

Adele.

...Adele?

(Is this... Mutti's hand?)

(So warm...)

(Mutti... is stroking my shoulder...)

Wake up, Adele.

Adele, you mustn't sleep here. You'll catch a cold.

(I won't...)

(It's very warm... when you're here by my side.)

Mutti...

Adele?

......

Are you awake?

Oh... Professor Keller.

Did I just...?

I'm sorry, Professor Keller! I fell asleep...

You seem exhausted.

Did you have a nightmare? Are you feeling unwell?

Or is it your illness...?

I'm okay...

Professor Keller... Could you tell me just...?

Just what happened at Wilhelm University all those years ago...?

......

I don't understand, Adele. What are you asking?

No, Adele. We have to go.

Yes. It's time.

Where are you going?

We have to head back up the volcano before it starts to rain.

Rain...

Hm?

Professor Keller... Does the word 'rain' have any other meaning?

......

Adele... When this observation is over, I will tell you everything, alright?

Mr. Dolly, you told me before that every Little Black Sheep is different. They... aren't just your clones, right...?

Are those dreams... really just dreams?

We've found the 'Northern Wind' and the 'Seed.' Will you give me all these answers if we find the 'Fur?'

Why does it seem like... everyone is hiding just about everything from me...?

Mr. Dolly?

Good morning, Siesta. Today is August 21, 1099.

The humidity is 63%, visibility 12km, wind's blowing south-southwest. Estimated three days until volcanic eruption...

The exciting time is almost upon us. How is everyone feeling? Who do you want to share the moment with?

Did any of you forget anything back in Old Siesta? If you did—that's too bad. I mean, what's anyone supposed to do? You only have yourself to blame for being so careless in your move. It's all too late now!

But whatever the case may be, we should try to look at the bright side. It's only by casting away our old burdens that we can better welcome the future.

'You Go Your Way!'

Let's get our day started with this song from the Reef Band.

Watch out, be careful. Hold that sign up. It's a bit heavy, so get a good grip.

It's such an old sign. Since we're tearing things down anyway, can't we cut it up first before we take it down?

Yeah, we may be tearing the place down and moving, but if Old Man Mockingbird were to find out about you cutting his sign down with an axe, he'd climb out of his grave and beat the living hell out of you.

Stop complaining. 3—2—

Mister, are all these instruments here discounted?

Yeah, they're all as cheap as they get.

I couldn't bring myself to, but I figured I wouldn't have a chance to sell them once I move to the city center. Keeping the instruments on gag order? Now that would be a real waste.

How about it? Why don't you pick one? I remember you said you've always wanted your own guitar. I could give you a free textbook on how to play, too.

This discounted guitar... goes for a hundred and fifty certs... Enis says he earns three for every hour he works...

L-Let me think about it...

Not like we can bring it with us. Might as well take it out and let everyone have some fun.

We want to do something special that we can look back on before we all move out of this street.

Like what? Drink? Look at the sea? Set off some fireworks?

We'll invite all the old miners that we used to drink with and the other shopkeepers on the street, have them bring their friends and family—

How about we have a party at the empty plate the night before the eruption? A container party. Sounds cool, doesn't it?

Mr. Costa.

Oh, the punk from White Volcano. What are you doing here? Don't you need to look after the shop?

We're preparing for our move, too.

We don't have a lot of customers these days... If I don't come out to earn some cash, we all might just go hungry.

I'm sorry about Grandpa Mockingbird... May he rest in peace.

He was getting on in years. It was going to happen...

Perhaps he's in some other place, sharing his taste in coffee.

No need to be so polite. Just a couple years ago, you were still a punk who would come out to watch my concerts at night instead of going to bed. Just call me Costa like before.

If I remember correctly, it was the 'Corybantic Costa.'

I'm not so corybantic anymore. My guitar, bass, synth... Sold them all long ago.

Truth be told, I really miss sneaking into the venues with the adults, too. Those were the good times.

You'll get it once you get a little older. There are no such things as good times.

All times are a waste of time. It's only after we waste our time away that we can bring our memories back out, dust them off, and think back on how great those times were.

Thinking back... I must've pissed Grandpa off so much back then.

So, Enis, if there's anything you want to do, do it now. Don't wait till everything you knew no longer resembled what they once were. By then, it's all too late.

Yeah... I will.

The residents of the shopping district have, for the most part, agreed to the rebuilding proposal, and my work has come to an end, for the time being. With the way things are, this isn't so bad.

Life must go on.

Strange...

I haven't seen a single sheep on my way here...

We have to go now.

Yes. It's time.

Was it all... just a dream?

No... That letter... the rock, and the surfboard that flew right into the sky... They were all real...

Mr. Dolly—

Are you there?

Mr. Dolly?

Mr. Dolly—

Are you still there—

Your blood originium-crystal density is fluctuating a little, but for the most part, it's still within the normal range...

You said you pass out suddenly. What do you mean by that, more specifically?

Dr. Ceylon, can Oripathy... cause hallucinations?

Theoretically, it's possible... What did you see?

Lots of Little Black Sheep, and they all talk to me...

And... I don't know why, but it feels just like I've seen them before...

Well... That sounds like it could've been caused by stress.

But it's weird... Some old miners have told me about similar hallucinations when they came in for consultations...

Let's keep an eye out for a few more days. During that time, make sure you take your medicine on time and get as much rest as you can. If you get any hallucinations again or feel unwell, come to me immediately.

Okay...

*sigh*... If only all my patients would be as cooperative as Eyjafjalla, things would be so much easier for me as a doctor. Not like a certain someone here who's always giving me a headache.

Stop chewing me out. I'm here for my follow-up and my medicine, am I not?

Alright, this counts as an improvement. As a way to encourage you, I won't charge you for this consultation.

Really?!

But I have something I want to ask you.

A few days ago, I found this basket of obsidian on the shopping district. None of the shops nearby admitted that it was theirs. Do you have any clues about its origins?

Well...

Judging from their color, these obsidians are very similar to the one you gave me before... It could very well have been mined around the same time from the volcano.

It wasn't me! I promise! I haven't been near the volcano since I got infected!

So you mean there are still people mining obsidian illegally.

Enis, what else do you know?

Well... I guess I'd be lying if I said I didn't know anything about it...

Don't try to fudge your way out of this. Out with it!

Dr. Ceylon, some of the workers here know you're the mayor's daughter. It was hard enough to get them to come to you for consultations. If you dig into who's mining obsidian...

True, what they're doing's not right, but this might just be... a conflict of interest...?

I'm me, and the mayor's the mayor. Why must I be grouped together with him?

I came back here this time because I wanted to do something for Siesta with my knowledge. The Rhodes Island office is my blood, sweat, and tears. He's got nothing to do with it!

(It seems like Dr. Ceylon really doesn't like Mayor Herman...)

(Maybe Ceylon isn't on very good terms with her father?)

Phew...

Anyway, Enis, you know who the obsidian belongs to, right? Take me to them.

It makes me feel kind of like I'm selling them out, but if it's for the greater good...

A-Alright...

Take me with you. I can help identify obsidian!

No can do. Last time, you almost sneaked away. You aren't leaving here until you get enough rest.

Huh? What about me...?

I'll take you out to eat!

Huh? Another hallucination?

What's going on? Didn't I just get some rest...?

*sigh*...

......?

There's really a light...?

Not a hallucination?

No, I've seen you before. You're the sheep who ate the address off the letter. What's that you're carrying on your back... A miner's lamp?

......

Here are the results of the latest public opinion survey.

The Schwire Group's Aquatic Paradise proposal is supported by 33% of those polled, while the MountainDash Logistics center proposal is supported by 21% of those polled.

The other competitors are all hovering at around 10%.

Although the result of the public opinion survey is only one of the factors that the city government considers when making its decision, based on the current results, the Schwire Group's proposal has the advantage.

Say no more. I'm sure Mr. Bison here can figure out the situation by himself.

Surely Miss Swire didn't invite me and the city government here just to gloat over the results?

Of course not. Bison, sir, I'd like to make a deal.

The Schwire Group will drop out of the bidding, but in return, I want to buy into MountainDash Logistics's company here.

Hasn't that been your goal all along?

Not entirely, but I thought about it little afterwards, and your being here isn't all bad news to me.

A smart businessperson always looks for possibilities where both parties gain something and makes decisions that yields the maximum profits given the situation.

Going by what you said... If you were really so confident, you wouldn't have come negotiate with me.

Well, would you not agree that trading a percentage of your shares in exchange for your biggest rival's exit is a good deal?

......

How much are you looking at?

I want this much.

I will report your arrangement to the mayor and continue to inform you of any further arrangements.

I wish you two a pleasant time in Siesta.

Is that all for the show?

For the time being, I guess.

Phew—

Haha... Hahaha...

What's so funny?

Sorry, sorry... I just didn't expect... that you'd resort to these means, too, Commissioner Swire...

If I were to openly invest in MountainDash's business, forget about registering our own company. They'd write MountainDash up for thousands of reasons and shut it down on our first day in Siesta.

My family's wary of me. Good thing they aren't that wary of me yet. As long as they still see me as a young, hot-headed superintendent, I can still cover my actions with that as a ruse.

Phew—I'm really fortunate that I'm not actually your business rival.

This is just the first step, though. The Federation of Enterprises will put it all together sooner or later. We'll face all sorts of difficulties going forward. Are you ready?

Having come this far, it's probably too late for me to have any regrets.

Well, partners, then?

Yeah, I look forward to—

Your terminal?

No, isn't it yours?

Hello, is this Bison, the legal representative of Mountaincomm Trade?

Hello, is this Miss Swire?

The city hall has received a report that your company has illegally employed undocumented Infected. At this point, we need your company to immediately cease all operations.

Please prepare the following documents for the city government's investigation. First, we need the list of all Infected employees working for your company...

Miss Swire, that was an interesting show, and it did buy you some time for your prank. Unfortunately, the group is very unhappy with your decision.

You should know that there are limits to what you should and shouldn't do. This investment game is over.

Thank you for your cooperation. Goodbye.

This stops here. I hope you'll think about the consequences of your actions.

......

......

This is some uncalled-for slander.

Well, it's pretty obvious who snitched on us. They're trying to buy time right before we sign our contract just so they can catch up.

But why use the Infected as an excuse... Since when has Siesta had any policies against the Infected in any way?

We don't have time to deal with these setbacks.

If only we could convince Mayor Herman—

You're right. Herman is our chance at a breakthrough, but what reason does he have to stand on our side...?

Besides, if my hunch's correct, he's probably being pressured in some other way right now.

Mayor Herman, you're a hard man to reach.

I thought my answer before was more than clear. There is nothing for you and I to discuss in person.

Naturally, Columbia respects all the rights that Siesta enjoys as an independent city state. I am here today for a different matter—Siesta's Infected question.

......

Columbian federal law states that Infected citizens must be enrolled in a suitable healthcare plan in order to reside in our nomadic cities. Otherwise, they must join the Pioneer Teams.

Siesta was not a nomadic city, and so it was not bound by this regulation. However, given the current circumstances, we need to reevaluate the rule of law here.

So this word game is your idea of pressuring me?

I hope you grasp the situation, Mayor Herman.

This is not a negotiation.

Since when do we need to be so sneaky about buying obsidian?

What choice do we have? They've been pretty strict with inspections lately. But this is a great opportunity for people like you, in-the-know, to seize the day!

The logistics center will be done soon, and there are lots of merchants waiting to buy obsidian.

Ugh, when has Siestan obsidian ever been all that rare? You probably have plenty hidden in your shop yourself. Why come to me?

What they want is freshly-mined obsidian. What's it...? Volcano-heated obsidian contains the land's energy and has amazing health benefits!

......

Alright, I'll stop messing with you. Do you have any other new obsidian pieces, aside from this basket? Whatever you've got, I have buyers lined up. If the quality's good enough, they're willing to pay this much.

That much? Yeah, I do. I dug up a bunch just a couple days ago.

Oh? So recently?

Yep. I kept some real pretty ones—Look, these are some mighty fine obsidians, don't you think?

They're lovely indeed.

Now, would you please tell me more about your illegal obsidian mining operation?

Enis! You set me up, didn't you?! When did you fall so low?

Uh, this isn't exactly a set up now, is it? A cop with a really loud mouth taught me this... Sorry, Uncle Jackie. This is for your own good. You shouldn't put your health on the line.

We just have a couple questions we want to ask you. Work with us, will you?

That's everything...

Are you gonna lock us up?

Who were you planning to sell the obsidian to?

Is it Pelipper?

No... Pelipper stopped buying from us a long time ago, and he's a man of his word. He hasn't bought a single pebble. No matter how high quality the obsidian, he doesn't so much as take a single glance.

Hmph... You got all this out of us, but what good is it going to do?

That bastard Herman's always doing whatever he wants without a thought to the consequences. First, he made us all stop mining obsidian. Then, he said the volcano was going to erupt. It's been almost two years since we moved here, and it hasn't so much as let out a puff of smoke!

Maybe he should've taken a look at where our money was coming from just a couple years ago...

But doesn't Siesta have really lax Infected policies...?

That doesn't mean they've got jobs for us! If all the out-of-work miners became drivers, they could probably tow the city a couple kilometers.

Besides, I'm already infected. What else can I do? Once MountainDash Logistics moves into the city, we'll have even more people without work. Now the Mayor's talking about tearing the shopping district down. Why tear it down, even? Just to chase us out of here?

Maybe... Maybe the Mayor will come up with a policy to help you guys...

Forget it. Haven't you heard? They're going to chase us Infected out. The Columbians are here.

Where did you hear that?

We all know how the Columbians treat the Infected. If something does end up happening, we might as well just head out into the wastes ourselves and start pioneering.

That shell-brain Herman... That darned shell-brain!

Ugh... *cough*! *cough*!

What's wrong? Are you sick?

No, no. Uh, I...

......

Uh, Dr. Ceylon, they're also...

The Mayor must be having a tough time, too. Don't get mad over this...

No, I'm not mad.

I thought this was just going to be warning a few men to stop illegal mining, but if the Columbians are here, that changes everything...

This is Siesta's own problem.

......

Sir, how many are still mining obsidian?

......

......

I'll come out and say it. I'm not going to turn you in to the police.

Enis said it just now. I'm a doctor. I know it's not realistic to just stop your obsidian work. What I want to do is help you solve this problem... Please trust me.

So, won't you tell me?

What do you mean, you're going to help us?

Uh, who are you...? And why?

Hold on... You look familiar...

Hah, you finally figured out, huh? You watched the Obsidian Festival broadcasts, right? Remember the lady at the closing ceremonies with Mayor Herman?

Who? No, no, no. I'm saying you look a lot like a woman I once met...

It was a long time ago, and we worked at the obsidian mines together.

There was a scholar from Victoria. She was pregnant, but she went to the mines every day, for environmental surveys or whatever.

She didn't know that much about mining, but she was real kind to us...

Oh, now I remember. Her name was... Bora... No, Barbara.

—!

Do you come here often?

Hmm, you can still see Old Siesta here...

Well, music is pleasing to the ear, and the sound of the waves, carried on the wind, is good accompaniment for the guitar.

I didn't expect you to ask me that, though... So you're actually willing to talk.

Huh? Isn't this what one would normally do...?

Yeah... I guess it is. maybe I'm just a bit too narrow-minded.

If everything can talk to everything else, then music might be the best language there is. Even if you don't speak the same tongue, music can help you convey your truest thoughts—Not bad. This feels like a new inspiration.

You two are the first to hear this piece.

'You two?' Oh... Are you including this fowlbeast here? Maybe the grass?

Hm? No.

Don't we have another listener here?

......

Weren't you talking to it the whole time?

Miss Byrd... You can see it?

Yeah, I've been able to see it since the day I came to Siesta.

Just the one?

Are there others?

Too bad... This is the only one I can see.

I wrote the miners of Old Siesta a song. Maybe it just happens to like things that have to do with ores?

I'll play the song again, just for it.

Come to think of it, even though there hasn't been a single song of mine that could represent my whole life, perhaps there's one or two that could give comfort to somebody out there...

...even if my audience is just a lone... Little Black Sheep?

But that's not so bad!

It stayed behind to listen to you play your guitar.

You said you could see more of them. Where are they?

They... They disappeared all of a sudden. I don't know where they went.

Do they eat road signs like this one?

I don't think so...

Hm, I have an idea.

Do you think this one eats road signs because... it's a stray sheep?

......