A Fast & Furious Delivery!

Since becoming the official messenger of Erpien, this sprite has raced between Erpien and Monatium. So fast that her sturdy legs are barely visible to the naked eye...

She has made great contributions to establishing and maintaining positive relations between the sprite and elf races.

With heartfelt gratitude, we present her with this award and medal!

Shoupan, thank you for your hard work. Thanks to you, the bond between Erpien and Monatium has been maintained.

You are... Erpien's hero!

Head Priestess, Your Majesty, thank you!

Here, this is a gift sent by the Mayor. Take this opportunity to open it!

Already? I thought the gift-giving ceremony was supposed to happen last.

The Mayor instructed me to have her open it when the level of excitement was at its peak, no questions asked. Couldn't we make an exception here?

Order, schmorder! If it's fun, that's all that matters!

Did you say Elena sent a gift? What is it?

Your Majesty! Please refrain from coveting gifts meant for your subjects!

I won't touch it if it's not food, okay?!

Hmm, alright. We will skip ahead and proceed with the gift-giving ceremony.

Elf representative, what is the gift Monatium has prepared for Shoupan?

Introducing the State-of-the-Art Dual-Wheel Speed Machine: Thunderbolt 4.1 Alpha!

Wh-What's that?

You ride around in it. Please refer to the manual for details.

The Mayor hopes this will help you make deliveries even faster.

Hm, I guess it's not food. Hurry up and accept it, Shoupan.

Is it like a bicycle?

It says that if you control these handles, it will move automatically.

How unusual for the elves to send you something that is actually useful.

It moves automatically?

Does that mean... I don't have to run on foot anymore?

I'm gonna cry! I never thought the elves would send me something like this as a gift!

Thunderbolt... No, wait... Shoupa, Shoupabolt...!

Shoupa... what?

I'm gonna call you Shoupabolt from now on!

I am never getting off you!

You have already given it a name? You really like to move fast!

I can really have this, right? You can't take it back!

By the way... the free warranty lasts one month from registration. Hem-hem...

That seems awfully short...

Well, I suppose it will not be much of a problem.

It doesn't matter!

Shoupabolt just became my number one prized possession! I'm going to take super good care of it!

Congrats, Shoupan! You'll be even faster from now on, so I can put in as many orders as I want, right?

Of course, Your Majesty! Hehe!

Wahahaha!

I feel she might have agreed to something she will regret in the heat of the moment... Hopefully, it will be okay.

Now then, please give Sprite Kingdom's hero messenger, Shoupan, a round of applause, and we shall bring this ceremony to a close.

Thanks, everyone!

Urgh... What time is it? Who's paging me already?

Sender... Sprite Queen...

Shoupan... Zoom on over to Ashur's bakery right now... I want one of everything she has there... except mint chocolate...

Urgh! Again?! What am I, your personal servant?!

I said I'd help with deliveries, but this is endless!

*Siiiiigh*

Fine. This stinks... but work's work, right?

Yeah, I'm Erpien's Hero Messenger Shoupan, after all.

Shoupabolt! Coming through! Outta the way!!

Delivery! Your long-awaited parcel has finally arrived!

Zoom, zoom! Let's pick up the speeeeeed!

Huh? Again? What's wrong with this thing?

Oh, no! Get it together, Shoupabolt! We don't have time for this!

Ugh! It hasn't been long since the last repairs. Why are you breaking down on me again?!

And during peak delivery hours, when the packages pile up, no less!

If repairs are not completed within one hour, operation will cease.

The nearest repair shop is at 28 Elena Digital Complex, Monatium.

Ugh... 28 EDC? I need to go all that way to get Shoupabolt repaired? Ugggh!

Why is the repair shop so far? Going all the way to the elven city over and over is a pain!

*Sigh* Let's calm down. I'm the hero, Shoupan! I'm the hero, Shoupan! The hero... Shoupan...

Alright! Repairs first! Let's go!

Thanks again! Please get back safe!

Waah... why in the world are the repairs this expensive?!

It's not like they covered Shoupabolt in gold or anything...

I've got work piled up and now the cost of these repairs...

Ugh, nothing's going right!

Whoa! Why are there so many pages...?!

Don't tell me... these are all from the Queen telling me to hurry?! *Sigh*

This is seriously so annoying!

I'd better hurry and deliver her baked goods before my pager explodes.

Let's go before it gets any later!

Go, go, Shoupabolt! Quickly!

Uh, Shoupan? I believe I told you to get off your Shoupabolt and walk when you are inside the palace!

I don't have time to get off!

Move! I need to get to Her Majesty!

Ahhh! I said, be careful!

Delivery, Your Majesty!

Yeooow!

Shoupan! That is dangerous! You cannot throw packages like that!

I was in a hurry!

Your Majesty? Your Majesty!

Huh?

What? Her Majesty got knocked out by getting hit on the head with a bag of baked goods? Really?

Her Majesty has weakened because she has not had her snack yet!

Doesn't Her Majesty usually get stronger when she's hungry?

Only temporarily!

Like the final flare of a candle before it goes out, hunger is poison if it lasts for too long!

...I have no idea what you're talking about. Anyway, I've made my delivery, so I'm off, okay?!

Shoupan! Where are you going?! You did this to Her Majesty!

Finally... I'm finished...

Hehe... It's 2 AM...? I shaved off an hour compared to yesterday, didn't I?

Three hours before I have to start work again... That's three whole hours I can sleep! Hehe... heh.

I see you have finally returned, Shoupan.

Huh? Ner? What are you doing here?

Would you care to explain these complaints that were sent to me?

Ugh... What is all this? What do these scraps of paper have to do with me?!

I'm tired, so let's talk tomorrow, Head Priestess!

Absolutely not.

You should not have ignored the pages I sent you during the day.

Huh? Pages? I thought they were from Her Majesty. Were they from you?

Wh-What...?

Ugh... Whatever. If you have something to say, say it quickly.

I've worked all day, so I'm tired!

Do you have any idea how many damage reports were filed today alone? Yes, speed is important, but so is making sure the packages survive the trip.

More and more customers are saying that if you order something for delivery in Sprite Kingdom, everything arrives smashed.

And please explain this repair bill!

Did you not have Shoupabolt fixed fairly recently?

You said you would take good care of it, but look! You are reckless with it, and now you are draining our budget!

Huh? I am taking good care of it! You know how much I love my Shoupabolt!

Ugh... Shoupan! Do I look like I am joking right now?!

You are showing less care for your packages, and your work efficiency is steadily declining.

With your Shoupabolt, your productivity should have doubled!

Are you finished?! Because this is so unfair!

If I want to keep up with this workload, throwing packages is not a choice; it's a must!

And it's not like I can do anything about the work that keeps piling up because Shoupabolt constantly breaks down!

Your excuses just keep growing by the day.

I take back what I said about you being Erpien's hero!!!

...What?

The kingdom will handle compensation for the broken packages, but since maintenance of Shoupabolt is on you, you will have to deal with that yourself!

Your wages will be cut in half for the next three months!

...I QUIT!

Well then, I'll be on my—What did you say?!

I said I quit!!!

Being treated like a servant for being a messenger... All those overtime shifts...

I was rough, but I sucked it up and did my work! Because I was Erpien's Hero Messenger!

But now you say I'm not a hero? Then forget it!!!

.........!

Shoupan?

Um... I think we both got a bit heated last night... Have you really decided to quit?

Yeah, I'm quitting. I've made my decision!

*Sigh* Alright then. I suppose it cannot be helped. It looks like we might have to outsource our deliveries now...

You'll pay me my severance, right?

Yes, you will receive it. However, there is something I must explain first.

Hmm?

Remember when we spoke earlier, I mentioned how your actions have incurred damages?

Urgh... Yeah, so? Are you saying you won't pay me then?

No, you'll get your severance, but...

The kingdom treasury will cover your losses as well as the Shoupabolt repair costs so far...

However, we will have to compensate you with goods instead of money.

Goods? What? Ugh, fine!

I suppose I am not free of fault myself, so just hand it over already!

It is right in front of you, Shoupan.

What? A-Are you talking about this?!

This is just a bunch of those bean logs you have piled up in the warehouse! I don't need this garbage!!!

That is not a gift... That is your severance.

What the hell?! Are you messing with me right now?!

Please calm down and listen to me. I feel bad about this, too.

But you yourself admitted that you made a mistake, did you not?

And we are not even sending you off empty-handed!

Arrrrgh! Are you for real?! THIS is what passes for employment benefits in Sprite Kingdom?!

If you prefer, you may put in some extra hours to work off the losses.

To work off all those losses, you will have to put in approximately 11 more years.

Assuming you handle everything perfectly without any accidents, of course.

Urgh...!

Which do you prefer? I will let you choose.

...I'll just take the bean logs!!

Heh, you should have said so from the start.

Tch! Enjoy your stupid life! I'm never going to take jobs for the palace again!

*Sigh* What am I supposed to do with all these bean logs?

I've gone from being Hero Shoupan... to Jobless Bean Log Shoupan in the blink of an eye!

After everything I did for Sprite Kingdom all these years...

*Sniff*

Ugh... Let's get out there. I'll go for a ride and shake this gloominess off!

I'm a freelancer now. No one can say anything, even if I speed indoors!

Go, go, Shoupabolt!

Hey, you! The sprite in front of me! Get out of the way if you don't want to get run over!

Hm? Is that Shoupan?

Your Majesty? Don't just stand there in a daze! Get out of the way!

What? I can't hear you over the sound of your engine!

I said to moooove over!

Fooood over? Over where? You brought food?

Ugh! Have all those baked goods clogged your ears?! Try cutting back!

I definitely told you to move! I'm a freelancer, and I'm in rage mode right now!

Hey, what are you doing?! Slow down! You're gonna hit someone!

Ugh, seriously! You're so annoying! Let me get the brakes—

Huh? Whoa! Why won't it stop?! Your Majesty, moooove!

Wh-Whoa! You're gonna crash into me! Ahhh! Stoooop!

Huh? What was that?

Oh, nothing happened. That had me panicking for nothing...

Wh-What the... M-My Shoupabolt!

NOOOOOOOO!

This is on you! It's all your fauuuuult!

What the heck? You're the one who crashed it!

What is all this commotion?

My Shoupabolt... Her Majesty did this...

N-Ner, I didn't do anything! I just stood here!

That clown just came and crashed her Shoupabolt into me!

Unbelievable... Are you resorting to insurance fraud now, Your Majesty?

Shoupan, we will cover the repair costs, so please get out of here.

Urgh... That absurdly sturdy Queen...!

Heave ho!

Ugh! Why are these bean logs so ridiculously heavy?!

My bag's about to burst!

Hang in there, Shoupabolt! You can't break down here!

Ever since you crashed into Her Majesty, you have not been yourself, Shoupabolt!

I won't give up on you! Just hang on until we reach the repair shop!

Ahhh! Wh-What the...?!

Why won't you move, Shoupabolt?!

Don't give up heeeere!

Getting a tow truck to come all the way out here is way too expensive!

Huh? What are those?

Those are elven devices! Are those what they're using to make deliveries now?!

I quit, and they replace me just like that?!

How heartless, Head Priestess! *Sob*

*Sob, sob* I'm sorry, Shoupabolt...! You got stuck with such a useless owner...!

Is anyone theeeere? Someone help me...!

*Sob* Please... help me...

Oh? I think I just heard something... Was it someone's voice?

Huh? There really is someone!

What are you doing, standing there like that?

H-Hey, please help me! I'm stranded here!

...Stranded? You're standing in the middle of a road, though.

Yeeeooooow!!!!

Huh? Why won't she let go?

Hey, buddy, why don't you let go of the handles?

I didn't ask for help getting off of this...!

J-Just let go first!

It huuurts!

Has a spell been placed on you or something? A curse that keeps you stuck to your bike?

Urgh... that hurt...

Hey! You can't just grab someone by the face like that!

I was just trying to help...

Oh, er... sorry for snapping. I'm just a bit on edge.

My Shoupabolt broke down... I couldn't move it at all.

See? It's completely out of power.

Can't you just climb down off of it?

No way! I can't just abandon my Shoupabolt here!

Shoupabolt? Wait... isn't this the elves' newest transportation device?

Ooooh... wow! There's so much to repair!

Huh? You know about my Shoupabolt?

Interesting, very interesting!

Hey, buddy! I might be able to help you...

Mind if I take a look at this?

Why... what will you do with it?

I think I might be able to fix this!

Really? You can fix my Shoupabolt?!

Ah... but I don't have a single bit of coin on me...

Oh, no worries! I don't need any money!

Getting my hands on one of these elf machines has been a dream of mine!

Since the elves always look down on us werebeasts... I've never had the chance to work on one of these complex machines!

Are you sure you can fix it?

All machines are basically the same. I may not look it, but I'm a skilled blacksmith, you know!

Alright, everyone! Let's get to work!

O-Okay!

Understood!

Uh, buddy? What are you doing?

Why? What's wrong?

If you don't get off, I won't be able to do any proper repairs!

Oh, I'm one with my Shoupabolt, so I am never separated from it.

Please understand, okay?

Sprites sure get dramatic in the strangest ways. You'll get in the way, so get off!

Ow! That hurt! Just what do you think you're doing?!

Let's get started!

Hey, buddy? I don't like folks talking to me while I work, okay?

So just go over there and shove your face with bean logs while you wait.

Wh-What the heck?! She becomes completely different as soon as she starts working!

Maybe she's the type of werebeast who suddenly transforms when they have a hammer in their hands?

I didn't hear an answer! You got what I said, right, buddy?!

Why are you just sitting there in a daze?!

H-Hurry up and tell her you understand!

Yes, I got it!

She must be really skilled for a werebeast if she has elementals following her like that...

Shoupabolt couldn't get any more damaged here... right?

Listen up, fire! Keep the heat steady, will you?!

You've got all these flaming years under your belt, and you still can't keep a steady burn?!

S-Sorry!! I'll do better!!

Earth! We're short on materials here! Go fetch some iron ore!

Y-Yes, on it!

Water? You are supposed to give regular status reports! Must I keep asking you every single time?!

S-Sorry!!

*Sigh* Honestly... it feels like it's been ages since I've worked on such an interesting device!

B-Boss! You need to come see this!

What?! Can't you see I'm busy?!

We found something strange in the machine's air pressure device!

Huh? Something strange?

This!

Th-This is...!

Shoupan! I'm done with the rough repairs for now! Come over here and try it out!

Oh, yeah?! You really fixed it? I'll start it up!

The engine sounds a bit outdated now... but it looks like it's working well!

Thanks, Bana! You saved my Shoupabolt!

Ah, we're not done just yet.

We'll need to do a few test runs to make sure it's in good condition.

It is my first time working on such a complex device, so I rebuilt some parts my own way.

It's a bit slower than before, but it should work fine for now!

And no more things like that strange malfunction timer now!

Malfunction timer...? What's that?

To put it simply...

It's a very sneaky device that causes minor malfunctions in machine parts from time to time, forcing you to get regular repairs!

There was something like that in there?!

You didn't know? I guess if you had, you would have had it modified a long time ago.

Wait... all those times Shoupabolt broke down... The elves were behind that?!

I suppose you didn't know of the cocoa-palooza taking place inside, either, did you? Have a look.

Here... Do you know what this is?

A bucket full of black sludge...? What is it?

I thought it was grease at first, but it was actually cocoa.

The brakes were covered in it... It was so sticky and was causing the mechanism to rust.

It looks like someone drank some cocoa and spilled it all over the Shoupabolt.

I've cleaned it all out and given it a fresh new coat of paint.

You said it would have frequent minor breakdowns in the past, right?

The elven device definitely caused some of that, but...

I'm sure there were times the brakes would malfunction, right?

Uh, the brakes failing? My collision with Her Majesty...?

.........

The frequent breakdowns after the warranty ran out... those expensive repairs...

Those bakery runs... the braking mechanism covered in cocoa... and bean logs.

The puzzle pieces are finally coming together...

The sprites and the elves have been toying with me this whole time?!

Hehe... Wahahahaha!

G-Get it together, Shoupan! You're scaring me!

These bastards... They thought they could mess with me?!

Did they think I'd just sit back and take it?! Vengeance! I will have vengeance!

Calm down, buddy!

The repairs aren't even finished yet!

I'm furious! My rage is boiling over, and I can't just sit still!

Sprite Kingdom and Monatium... I'm gonna tear you down myself!

You said you fixed Shoupabolt, right, Bana?

Uh, we need to do some test runs—

Great! Let's do this then! I'm gonna deal with that Queen and the Head Priestess first!

What are you planning to do, Shoupan?

You don't need to know, Bana!

Here, take this!

Hm? *Sniff, sniff* It smells like chestnuts...

It's a bean log. A token of thanks for fixing Shoupabolt.

Oh, I didn't do it for a reward or anything.

I just want you to have it!

Okay, Shoupan! Now all that's left is revenge! Full throttle for revenge!

Go, go, Shoupabolt!!!

*Nom, nom*

Shoupan... She's a bit of a whirlwind, but she's not a bad bean log buddy.

I wish you well, Shoupan!

Sigh...

I suppose there will be more work piled up again.

I wonder if Her Majesty is still asleep...

Hm? The pager the elves gave us is beeping?

What is this about, I wonder...

"Your delivery package has been stolen." Huh?

What is this...?

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her Majesty just screamed! What happened?

Please... Please forgive me!

I'll give you the kingdom and the throne...

So, please stop! Pleeeease!!!!

You had the nerve to spill your filthy cocoa all over my cute little Shoupabolt?

You knew this day would come, right? Huh?!

I didn't do it on purpose, so please spare them!

There was also that time you stood in front of my Shoupabolt and totaled the bumper!

Hey! Wasn't that your fault?!

Usually, pedestrians have the right of way, you know!

The brakes failed because of the cocoa YOU spilled!

You damaged my precious Shoupabolt, so now it's payback! I'm gonna destroy your precious things now!

Nooo! Stoooooop it!!!

My perfect cake!! The fresh-out-of-the-oven one that Ner went out of her way to deliver!!!

Mwahaha! Watch closely as your cake turns back into batter!!

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Wh-What are you doing?!

Ner! Shoupan turned my cake into mousse...

Wait... it is easier to eat now? It might not be as bad as I thought...

Get a hold of yourself, Your Majesty!

Really? You would go so far as to eat food waste with a bit of cream on it?!

Shoupan! What do you think you are doing? Stop this immediately!

Oh, nice of you to finally show up, Head Priestess!

Perfect timing. I prepared a finale just for you.

What do you mean?

I'll put the bean logs you gave me to great use!

Ahhhhh!!!!!! What are you doing to the cake?!

Adding a topping... bean logs!

With this, you won't be able to take a single bite, will you?!

Hnng! Glurg! Gah...!

Do not faint over something as trivial as this, Your Majesty!

Shoupan! You even received a medal from the kingdom! Why would you do something like this? Have you no shame?

The only thing I got from working for the kingdom was a bunch of bean logs and a mountain of debt! Besides, I threw that medal out ages ago!

Do you know how many hours I worked every day?

Just because I worked for the kingdom, you thought you could work me to the bone?!

Shoupan, you are not blameless either! You threw packages around during deliveries...!

That's because you kept ordering so many things to be delivered in the first place!

Does it make any sense that I was the only messenger in the entire kingdom?!

I tried to hire more, but there were circumstances!

Circumstances? What circumstances? Don't try to talk your way out of this!

Now I know that you had way too much work!

But... I did not know back then!

How does that make sense?! I was sleeping only three hours a day while working nonstop!

Our distribution volume appeared unchanged, so I failed to notice.

After you left, I reviewed the shipping orders. That is when I found out.

Orders from Monatium skyrocketed after that ceremony we held for you.

Huh?

Now that I think about it...

After the elves gifted me the Shoupabolt, the shipping volume definitely increased.

I don't think I ever thought this job was that hard before that...

Aside from Her Majesty throwing the occasional tantrum about slow deliveries.

Let's say Her Majesty's cocoa incident was an accident...

The faulty Shoupabolt from the get-go, the impossible repair fees, and the massive surge in deliveries...

Did... the elves orchestrate this to make me quit?

That seems likely...

Considering they contacted us immediately after you left, asking whether we would like to outsource deliveries to them...

Right after I quit? Then, wait... those flying contraptions...?

Yes. I see you have seen them already. Those are the elven transport drones.

Well, they do reduce labor costs significantly, which is good...

But they do leave a bad taste...

I see... So that's what happened...

Mmm...

Alright, got it. I will cross Sprite Kingdom off my list, then.

Sorry? List...?

I will let the trouble Her Majesty caused me slide with that smashed-up cake.

From now on, watch yourselves, okay?

...? Er, what?

Bana! Banaaa!!

Huh? What's up, Shoupan?

I thought I'd never see you again.

What are you talking about?! I still need you on as Shoupabolt's chief mechanic going forward!

You... want me to be the chief mechanic for Shoupabolt?

I'll make sure to pay you properly!

I'm not like a certain someone who pays in bean logs.

Bean logs as payment weren't so bad...

Anyway! I figured out who's behind everything!

The elves planned it all!

Elves? Again?

What do you mean?

As werebeasts, we're used to this type of scenario.

When something goes wrong, just blame the elves and you're usually right.

So what are you planning to do now?

I am going to hit them with something big.

Um... huh?

Bana, I've made a list of mods I want installed on Shoupabolt.

Take a look!

Hmm... This won't do...

What? Why?

This... is far from being enough... mwahahaha!

We're starting the modifications! Grab everyone on standby! I want them here on the double!

Nice! That's what I'm talking about! Calling all elementals!

Finally... it's done...! Wahaha!

This is no longer your ordinary Shoupabolt! It's an ultra-rare legendary grade Shoupabolt!

Nice, Bana. Great work!

When this is over, let us go for a nice ride on it together.

I have to ask, though... Shoupan, what exactly are you planning to do with this machine?

I'm going to ride...

What?

To the end of the world...!

Shoupan...

I'm not sure what you're trying to do exactly...

But giving another slick send-off would be kind of forced.

Anyway, have a safe trip.

*Yaaawn*

Another quiet day...

The shift change is coming up soon. I doubt anything will happen before then...

Like some fool breaking the speed limit right before I clock out...

Or some lunatic showing up to tear the city apart?

.........

Why do I feel like I just jinxed myself...

Why, hello, there!

Oh, Shoupan?

*Chomp, chomp* Hard at work there, are we, Ms. Elf Guard?

Huh? R-Really?

Hey! What do you think you're—

*Chomp, chomp* Oh... It's just my leg... Just a slight cramp...

Remove your foot, this instant!

And stop talking to me with that sassy attitude while smacking away at that gum!

Why are you using these ridiculous little tricks to rile me up?!

Hmph. Pointy-eared freak.

Wh-Why you little...!!!!

Eeeek! What the heck?! Why is that revving so loud?!

From illegal mods to that speed...!

Ack! The speed gun exploded?!

Hey, you up front! Pull over, NOW!

Hehe, got their attention. Now they'll all come after me.

Things are only getting started, you know!

How is she going so fast?! We can't seem to close in!

All Suppression Unit forces on standby, move out!

Those elf losers on their unmodded regulation machines can never catch up to me! Hehe.

Elves have sharp hearing, so they're sensitive to sound...!

I'll continue going full throttle like this throughout Monatium, making noise pollution!

Ahhh! Gunfire! Someone's shooting!

It sounds like what those Earth bastards used!!!

And that's not all!

Stay on that fleeing vehicle! Sharp curve ahead!

An inertia drift, losers!

Aaaah! Stop! Stop! Hit the brakes!

Bwahaha! Serves you right, suckers!

Hah! Choke on that, freaks!

Okay, I've lost those elf bastards!

Now, the drone factory is just up ahead!

You dare place a malfunction timer in my Shoupabolt...!

I'll make you regret it forever!

Okay, folks! It is now time to install the malfunction timer Bana worked so hard to modify!

You made my Shoupabolt weak from the moment it was born...

I'll give you a taste of your own medicine!

Ptoo! I suppose sticking it under the table with gum will do the trick!

Perfect! Mission complete! Hahahaha!

The fugitive is in there! Get her!

Ehehe... Ahahaha!!! You're too late, officer!

She was on the run... but now she's giving it up this easily? Weird...

Ugh, whatever! You're under arrest, Shoupan!

Wahahaha! Heehehehehe!

Sigh...

It must have been that day...

The day something went wrong with the Monatium drone manufacturing process.

I don't know what kind of magical trick Shoupan pulled...

But from that day, 30% of the drones coming off the line showed major irregularities.

...Would it not be possible to just fix the assembly program?

Well... it's like a hidden code or something, so it's hard to pinpoint. They say they've combed through it hundreds of times but can't find the issue...

And Shoupan still refuses to tell us how she did it.

And you call yourselves top engineers...

How could you have been caught off guard like this by a mere courier...? It is hard to comprehend.

T-Technically, the investigation wasn't conducted by our department!

The Monatium Foreign Species Corrections Unit is a different department. They're the ones who carried it out!

All we did was chase her down. We handed her over to them as soon as we did!

Hmm... Anyway, getting back to the point, please release Shoupan quickly.

Er... well... I don't know if it's okay to let her go...

The elves' petty scheme involving Shoupabolt has already been fully exposed by an investigation conducted by our Order.

What Shoupan did to that factory was an act of self-defense when you think about it!

Besides, Master has granted a special pardon to let her off with a warning this time. The Mayor has agreed, too!

Oh, alright, alright!

I'll send word to the prison and have her released.

Inmate 12! Inmate number 12, step forward! You have good news!

Vroom! Vrooom! Vrm, vrm! Wahahaha! Gear break! Screeech! Vrm, vroooom!

Stay still! This is an important day!

Master has given you a special pardon, so you're to be released today.

Step forward and collect the items you surrendered upon intake.

Shoupabolt! I've missed you...!

We can go ride again...!

Hey! Guard! What about me? Isn't Master letting me out too?!

Quiet, phantom! You were caught attempting to attack the mayor. You are not going anywhere!

I told you, I always have it with me! I just happened to carry a gun to a theater! What's the big deal?!

Listen, Magic Bullet Slinger!

H-Huh?

Don't lose hope! Who knows...

A ray of light may one day slice through this pitch-black darkness and wash away your sins!

Ugh, there they go again! Will you be quiet?! I can't take any more of your weird, overdramatic theatrics!

Shoupan! After all this, you cast yourself as the light and abandon us to the darkness?!

We are shadows born on the same day, at the same hour, inside this detention facility they call a prison! No shadow has a clear grip on the divide!

So go out there... and tell Master that I'm here!!

I believe I have already told you that I do not know this Master.

They said that Master's the one letting you out! Hurry off to the Order and tell them that I'm here!

Aye... Understood. I shall do that when I meet them!

First, I'm going for a drive around Elias!

Hey! Noooo! Go look for Master fiiiirst!

Ahhh! It's so refreshing!

I spent quite a while in the slammer... but I got my sweet, sweet revenge, and I've been able to cool my head...

Shoupan!

Huh? B-Bana?!

I heard that you're getting released today from the Head Priestess!

Long time no see, hehe.

Are you okay? Wait, you're looking good! That elven prison did wonders for your skin!

Oh, yeah, I guess it wasn't too bad.

They fed me cake every day so that I wouldn't escape, and showed movies...

I suppose what they say about elven detention facilities is true... that they're actually quite nice.

The only thing that made it unbearable...

Was not being able to ride on Shoupabolt.

Good job holding out. I guess you can ride to your heart's content, now, right?

Of course! The elves even gave it a full tank of gas to celebrate my release, you know!

It's ready to go!

...They go that far... for an ex-con?

If life gets hard for me, maybe I'll stir up some trouble in the elven city, too?

Bana!

Huh?

Let's go for a ride!

Together?

Yeah, like I promised before. Hop on!

We'll go from the Elftobahn to the top of Elemental Mountain! We'll set off with a vroom!

Wahaha! I've been counting down the days for this!

Titles like "hero" that others place on you are not important!

Because with Shoupabolt, the world is mine!

Vroom, vroom! Ready? Hold on tight, okay?

Yep! I'll grab on tight!

Wahaha! Let's go!! To the end of the world!