Section 12: Last Night / Preparation

Wh-who, me?

Me? The dread Queen of Kur? Don't be silly!

Okay, MaybeMAYBE I was a little anxious when this all started...

...but now, I just keep thinking about the why of it all.

The why, huh.

Specifically, why did I end up like this in the first place?

Now that we're coming up on our last day here, if BB really was behind it...

...then, like Lip said, she would have done something to mess with me by now.

But instead, we haven't seen her at all since she gave us those credit cards at the mall.

At the time, I already had this horn. But she didn't say or do anything about it.

？！

I don't know about that, but...

...seeing as nothing else has happened, it might just have been some kind of naturally occurring phenomenon.

At least, that's what I'm thinking now.

(It's still kind of unsettling that I can't seem to smell death anywhere in this city.)

(I thought there was a chance things might be different at the souq, but they weren't.)

(I wonder... Could that have something to do with this?)

(Maybe there's just something about this place that doesn't agree with me, like how certain climates give some people headaches?)

...At any rate.

I'm sorry I've been making so much trouble for you, but at least that should be over with tomorrow.

Thank you for everything. ...And, I'm sorry I put you through this.

？！

A-anyway, whatever happens tomorrow...

...I'm just glad my...issue didn't ruin summer vacation for everyone else.

A-and I'm really glad I managed not to mess anything up while serving as your guide.

It's nice to know I can still be useful even though I'm slow and clumsy... Ehehe.

I feel like I may not have contributed much to the security detail, but it may be that my mere presence deterred potential threats.

So I think I'm going to give myself a well-deserved pat on the back.

...Okay.

I think we're all pretty worn out, so let's call it a day and rest up for tomorrow!

Good night!

It looks like we actually have a chance of finishing our trip without incident.

Which is not to say we should let our guard down just yet, but...

Since nothing's really happened so far...

...it's really starting to look like it was just some weird natural phenomenon, don't you think?

Hmmm.

I guess I could see something like this happening naturally.

Hopefully, everything will be wrapped up nice and neatly tomorrow. That's the best future we could hope for.

That being said...

Percival?

Sorry. It's nothing.

Either way, tomorrow's the last day of our trip.

Whatever happens...we'll just have to do the best we can.

Indeed. None of us here have forgotten our top priority.

I will do what I must, come what may.

... ...

Who's there?

Good evening. It's me, BB Lily☆ It looks like you all had fun at the souq.

You took so long to get here that I took the liberty of waiting in your room.

Oh, could you lower that dangerous-looking spear? I'm not your enemy.

Then I'll rephrase. What are you doing here?

Why, it's time to reward you, of course.

I was very impressed by what I saw of you at the souq today.

Now, may I see your hand?

What is this?

It's your "Great job!" stamp.

... ...

Your hard work today proves you have what it takes. That stamp just makes it official.

I'm relieved you accepted it without any pushback.

Hehe. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if you might counterattack with that spear of yours.

There is a lot we still don't know about you. I get the feeling you're more than just a guide.

But, like you said, I do get the sense you're not our enemy. That's all.

Thank you. And that concludes my job here.

Your job, huh. If you mean your guide work, you barely showed us around.

If you're referring to a different job, what is it?

Oh, just a little insurance for the various things that are about to happen.

... ...

...(Sigh)

Ugh!

How am I supposed to sleep like this!?

... ...

Maybe I should try going for a walk.

I mean, they do say moving around helps take your mind off things and makes you sleepy.

Slowly... Slowly...

I really don't feel like seeing anyone right now, so... Oh, I know!

I just remembered this hotel has a gym!

Perfect! I'll go there, get some exercise, and clear my head!

I don't see anyone here. I hope it's okay to go in without asking.

We're here, and yes, it's perfectly okay.

Yeah. This gym is for hotel guests, and you're a guest, so it's fine.

As for us, we're part-time personal trainers.

We usually work at other gyms, but today, we're on duty at this hotel.

You can just call us "Guy" and "Girl," respectively.

U-uh, okay...

So, where would you like to begin? The bench? Dumbbells?

No, I can see from the look on her face that she's here to clear her head.

The treadmill is what you need. Follow me.

That's it. You don't have to go fast. The important thing is to just keep running.

Just like life.

(I don't understand what they're talking about...)

(...but this rhythm I've got going is helping clear my head.)

I love your hat, by the way. Though it does seem like it might be getting in the way right now.

Even so... I'm not...taking it off...for anything... (Huff...huff...)

Besides...it's basically...my treasure...

That's great. It's not often people find real treasure in this city.

It's been a very long time since anyone bought or bartered for anything, too.

Now that anyone can get what they want when they want, "treasure" just doesn't mean what it used to.

Don't you...two have...anything...to say...?

I thought...a trainer's job...is to give...advice...

Let us ask you something first, if answers are what you want.

If we're reading you right, you're looking for a complete physical and mental detox.

You can tell us what's on your mind.

Well... (Huff...) Let's say...hypo...thetically...

Purely...hypothetically...

Can you...think of...any reason...

...why someone...might suddenly...turn into...a Beast...?

I see.

So you're worried this someone has suddenly awakened some sort of Bestial nature hidden deep in their DNA.

Well, don't worry. That's not the only way something like that happens.

Yeah. There's probably some external factor at work, like an accidental collision from another realm or something.

This city's in a pretty unusual state. It's not at all impossible that you

I mean, this person, might have unwittingly synced up with a version of themself from another world.

It could be a form of interdimensional quantum entanglement. Or it could be something else entirely.

But either way, that doesn't make it your fault.

In any case, as long as you don't approve of what this Beast is about, I think the synchronization will fade on its own.

You're saying "you" now.

Whoops! Sorry. Purely hypothetical, obviously.

So...it'll go away...on its own...? I see... That's great... Really...great...

Okay, that's enough. Time to hydrate.

Great job.

Huh? When did it get so late?

Phew. I must have gotten so caught up in running I lost track of time.

That's the great part about exercise. You're not trying to accomplish something. You just do it because you want to. It's the most natural thing in the world.

So, do you feel better now, or is there still something on your mind?

I'm sorry. I don't remember what we talked about very well, but...

...Yeah. I do feel better, mentally and physically.

I think I can get a good night's sleep now.

That's great. Glad to hear it. Maybe we'll see you again someday, if there's something else we can help you with.

If nothing else, we can always help show you the way.