Stratum 10: Giant Tree 10F

We made a flower crown! And it's all 'cause we worked together!

Oh my, it's beautiful! It really came out wonderfully!

Big Jeanne showed me how to make them! I'm so glad I remembered!

Uh... Y-yay? (Clearly uncomfortable)

Aw c'mon, you can be happier than that. You helped gather the flowers to make it, remember?

Oh yes! And we all wove them together to make the crown too, right?

And since you gathered more flowers than any of us, I think you should get to wear it first. Here you go.

Oh, uh, that's okay. I'm just here on an assignment.

I only helped out because I couldn't say no when you asked. You three can share the crow

Huh? You mean you didn't want to make it with us?

Oh no. Do you not like flower crowns?

No, it's not that.

If anything...I really like them.

They're so precious. There's just something about them that warms your heart and makes you feel...happy...

Oh good! Then you won't mind wearing it!

Right, I'm sure it'll look wonderful on you!

Wait...what?

But, that has nothing to do with whether I'm going to wear this one now.

Don't care! Here, it's yours! Put it on!

Put it on!

(Puppy dog eyes)

Ulp... O-okay.

So pretty!

So cute!

Give us a spin!

U-uh, okay...

Now say hi to Master's group behind you!

...Huh?

？！

(Frozen in place)

... ...

Where's Medusa going? She looks really put out.

She went over to a corner... And now she's cupping her hands around her mouth and facing a small tree hollow?

(Inhaaale)

Who is thaaat!?

And why is she so adorable!?

？！

Just had to get your feelings out, huh?

What do you mean?

Breathing the air from a hollow in a tree is a great way to clear your mind. Didn't you know?

A-anyway...

Are you here to slow us down too, Lancer Medusa?

...I suppose I am.

I'm guessing you won't tell us why even if we ask, little me?

No, I won't. This is just something I have to do.

Believe me, this whole thing was their idea, not mine.

If we had a choice, we wouldn't be here at all.

(Their idea...?)

Hey, Master's here, too! This is great!

Um... I'm sorry.

Master's group and I are about to do some exercise, so you should probably give us a little space.

Exercise? Like some kind of game? We wanna play, too!

No. I'm sorry, but, um...this exercise is kind of a bad thing. Good children shouldn't get mixed up in it.

Is it the dismembering game we're not allowed to play? That's a bad game, right? (Eyes shining)

Well, I have my naughty moments, too...

But there are kind people out there who say they don't mind and invite me to play with them, anyway.

I bet Master's one of them!

Uh-oh. It looks like the kids want to join the fight, too. Now what do we do!?

We'll just have to "play" with them gently enough to make sure they don't get hurt.

...By the way.

Yes?

Maybe you should take that crown off?

Hold on. I'll put it somewhere safe, so we don't ruin it.

...Khh. I'm suddenly feeling an urge to clear my mind in a tree hollow again.

Did you SEE her tiny little steps!? It's so unfair!

Okay, kids! No more play wrestling!

You got uuus!

That was fun!

That goes for you, too. This should be enough, no?

Yeah, I guess so.

I'd heard about you before, but seeing you in person is...

Well, you're not quite what I expected.

Looking at you feels weird...and in a very different way than with the Avenger or Rider me.

You're not really me. You're my younger self, back before Athena cursed me.

And you, on the other hand, have Athena's

Now that we've fought, you can tell for yourself, right? I'm giving her a run for her money.

If anything, I could eat her for breakfast.

...I guess so. It's good to see I'm so strong.

...Okay. See you around, me.

Aren't you forgetting something important?

Oh, yeah, good point.

Um, excuse me. Would you all...mind if I kept this?

You're leaving already? Then yeah, of course you can keep it!

We'll just make another one!

Come play with us again sometime!

...It looks good on you.

It definitely wouldn't on me, though.

The other, erm, mes here in Chaldea are...the same, but different too.

Sometimes, very different.

Well, unless there's one I'm not aware of, you've met all your other selves now.

Okay, I know it sounds kind of nuts when I say it aloud, but it's the truth.

At least we won't have to worry about another you showing up to get in our way now...I hope.

I hope so, too.

It's odd to think a place like this exists inside a tree at all...

...but it does. Also, it looks like we can use this field of flowers as a place to rest.

There's no need to rush. We can take some time to relax as we continue on our way up the tree!