Section 8 "New Game Plus"

...We've come back...

Ignoring the fact that there's a giant Siegfried floating in the night sky...

What could it be that Elisabeth doesn't understand?

Green man, you seem to have some idea.

Huh?

Haha. Don't play dumb.

You were the only one who had a knowing look on your face.

Oh, yeah... Probably.

What? What is it!? What don't I understand?

...Didn't you notice something about the town?

The town...? Hmm... Oh, now that you mention it...

Nobody was preparing for Halloween. Everyone was locked up in their houses.

Isn't that because the queen in that pyramid banned all the festivities?

No.

The lack of activity was apparent long before she even came.

...Huh?

Let me fill you in.

You were so busy getting excited for Halloween that you left all your administrative duties in the lurch!

...Oh.

Don't "Oh" me!

And because you were doing nothing as leader, the townspeople didn't know if it was okay to get ready for the festival or not!

Neither did your soldiers! They couldn't decide whether to go forward with the preparations or whether to stop them!

You were the only one who was getting excited for Halloween, basically!

Ahhh...ahh...ahhhhhh!

Th-That's really bad...

...That's... So that's it...

So you alone got so swept up in Halloween fever that you forgot to order preparations to begin?

I'm in shock. How can you be a ruler if you don't care for your people?

A ruler must first ensure that their subordinates' bellies are full. Only then can the ruler eat. (Chomp chomp)

B-But I was really busy preparing for the concert...

...There's really no excuse for what you've done...

Ugh... Wh-What should I do, Puppy? Uncle Vlad was really mad!

Waaahh...

Elisabeth, I understand how you feel, but...

We need to go back towards that gate to see the queen anyway...

But Uncle Vlad's going to get mad again...

We can't do anything about that. But there's one way to apologize...

You need to make the festival a success.

The best ever...? But how?

...Well, all you have to do is tell the townspeople that Halloween's begun.

？！

That's right, Elisabeth! Let's start Halloween properly!

Y-You're right! But how...?

Hand out pumpkins, throw sweets, and have the little brats get their costumes ready.

And then get rid of the wandering ghosts drawn to the festivities.

...G-Got it!

Hmph. Then make the announcement.

Huh?

Make the announcement. Tell everyone that the festival you promised them, the one with overflowing sweets, is set to begin.

As a leader, you must be capable of such a proclamation. Especially given how loud you are usually.

...You're right. I can't just lip-synch along with some recording through a mic. My pride won't allow it.

...Here I go!

This is Elisabeth Báthory, the ruler of Castle Csejte!

I'm sorry I'm laaaaaate! But I have an announcement!

...Let the Halloween festivities commence!

Be careful! Elisabeth's proclamation made the dead burst from the ground!

Haha! As I expected, your words made the dead scream in terror!

It's time for this Halloween thing to begin! Come, Master!

I'm seeing lots of Pumpkin Heads! Let's smash them all!

Master! I'll do my best!

This time, I will do Halloween right!

We got a lot of pumpkins...

Let's give them to the people. This should get Halloween off to a good start.

That's right. You gotta start with a strong opening act!