01x18 - Separate Journeys

[bunniefuu]

[PAUL] I'm so sorry. Rudy!

Oh, Father.

[RUDEUS] I'm sorry, too. For everything.

I think I know what we're having for dinner!

Hail and well met, fair travelers,

I am Rodriguez, third student of Auber the Peacock Blade!

He, in turn, pupil to the famous North God Kalman!

I can see from your bearing

that you are a man of great renown!

I wish to request a bout!

I haven't sparred like this in some time.

You have bested me!

I marvel at your strength, good sir!

In all my travels, never have I met your match!

Fare thee well, great warrior of the Superd!

I hope for yet another bout when next we meet!

Hail and well met!

Hail and well met, sir!

[ERIS retches]

Rudeus, stop standing around and heal me already.

[RUDEUS retching]

Let this divine power be rich and nourishing--

How're you holding up, Ruijerd? Are you okay?

I'm perfectly well, and have no idea

why you two have fallen ill.

Oh cool, rub it in. But hey--

[RUDEUS] I'm glad you get to be up here with us,

instead of having to stow away again.

It turns out, my father is

good for something after all, huh?

[RUIJERD] Try not to speak too poorly of the man.

[chuckles] I promise you he doesn't care.

Our relationship is built on jabs like that.

I'll take your word.

[RUDEUS] Gotta say, it's a relief to make it back

to the Central Continent. It's taken forever.

Though I guess this is only another turning point.

Yes, we've still got a long road ahead of us.

[RUDEUS] Good news, though.

The captain told me that the kingdom

we're set to travel through

is the biggest rice producer in all the human territories.

[RUIJERD] Oh? Are you fond of rice?

More than I can possibly say.

Not to brag or anything, but I've been known

to put away bowl after bowl and still have room

to k*ll a few rice balls when I'm done.

How can you possibly think about food

at a time like this, you weirdo?

If you feel good enough to chitchat,

you feel good enough to cast Healing--

[ERIS retching]

And the roads on the Central Continent

should be pretty well-maintained,

so I'd like to make a point to enjoy

our journey moving forward.

Oh! But our families and building up

the Superd's reputation will still take priority, of course.

Sound good?

Yes, sounds good. No objections.

[RUDEUS] So, Zenith, Lilia, little Aisha, and Sylphie

are all still out there somewhere.

No news about any of 'em.

Heck, we don't even know if Ghislaine's alive.

Maybe by the time we get back to Fittoa,

everyone will there be waiting for us, safe and sound.

And maybe that's too optimistic,

but tearing my hair out with worry

won't do us any good, either.

[RUDEUS] So why not think happy thoughts?

For better or worse, the Millis Continent is behind us.

We'll cross the King Dragon Realm next,

and after that, Shirone.

[RUDEUS] I'll finally get to see Roxy again.

[RUDEUS retches]

[ROXY] Wow. How did Blaze die?

Eaten. By Red-Hood Cobra, if the story is true.

[ROXY] He was never exactly nice to me.

That foul mouth used to curse up a storm

any time I stepped out of line.

And I remember the constant fighting

drove Hawkendale insane.

And yet, we made a great party.

[NOKOPARA] Well, cheers to being a support class.

Might not have made it to middle age, otherwise, eh?

You've really changed over the years, Roxy.

Do you think I have? It's kinda hard for me to tell.

Oh, yeah! For starters, you've gotten a lot more mature.

What's that supposed to mean?

Are you making fun of me or something?

I'm not making fun of you! I just mean your aura's changed.

You used to come off as more of a kid, you know?

I've put a lot of years behind me since then,

even if it doesn't look that way.

[NOKOPARA] See, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

'Cause back in the day?

You were constantly trying to act grown up

and you woulda been ecstatic if I ever said

you were "mature."

Was I really?

I guess you're right. I was like that for a long time.

I wanted to prove I wasn't a child,

and that I should be taken seriously.

Never mind that I didn't have any real grasp

on my own skills or limitations yet.

But these days, I feel like my reputation

has gotten out of hand.

I know I'm a King-class water mage,

but people constantly expect me to do things I can't.

Like silent spellcasting.

You, on the other hand, haven't changed a bit, though.

Apart from your face.

[NOKOPARA] Ooh, what're you trying to say?

I'm all old and wrinkly now?

Sure, you could put it that way.

You got a mouth on you now, don't ya, kiddo?

[ROXY] Well, prove me wrong! What else changed?

Do you still pick on new parties for a living?

Hey now, don't make it sound like extortion,

I'm just teaching them how harsh

the adventuring life can be for 'em!

That being said, I've made sure I'm

on my best behavior since I got b*rned back in Rikarisu.

You got b*rned? How'd you let that happen?

Ah. Party of three really solid adventurers

calling themselves "Dead End."

[NOKOPARA] But that ain't a story worth sharin'.

You tell me, though,

as long as you traveled all the way back out here.

Have you visited your parents yet?

[gasps]

[NOKOPARA] Hm?

Oh, uh. I don't think that's...

No, no, no, you gotta be kidding me.

Don't tell me you haven't been

back to see them once in all this time?

It's not like they'd be happy to see me.

So why put myself through that?

Ugh. You're unbelievable.

Okay, I take it all back.

Turns out you haven't changed one bit

since the last time I saw you.

You're still running away like a scared little kid.

And why do you think you should get to

lecture me about any of this?

[NOKOPARA] Well, I'll have you know that after

you left and the party dissolved,

I found myself a wife and we started a family.

I got three little ones now!

And they're so cute, you wouldn't believe it!

Great. And that matters why?

It matters because sometimes we fight

like you and your parents may have,

but at the end of the day,

I would do or be anything for my family.

And I can guarantee your folks feel the same way.

[NOKOPARA] Who cares if you can't use telepathy

like the rest of them, huh?

Some things are more important than what you can or can't do.

I appreciate the effort, but I don't think

I need a pep talk from an obnoxious,

greedy boor like you.

Then this is the last I'll say about it,

especially 'cuz I know you won't listen anyway:

but you really should go try to make up with them

before it's too late.

You've only got one family, you know?

[ROXY] I guess it's changed a little.

Bigger. More people. Maybe a little more greenery.

[ROXY] But it's still eerily quiet.

[ROXY] Please stop. I can't understand

what you're saying to me.

[ROXY] That's the look they give outsiders.

[ROXY] I've been a stranger to my own people

from the day I was born.

Constantly alienated, excluded.

Can't say I missed that.

[ROXY] I hate this stupid village.

[ROXY] Never thought I'd come back here of my own free will.

[KIDS giggling]

[thud]

May this divine power offer

the strength to rise again. Healing.

[pants]

You're not busy, are you?

[ROWIN gasps] Roxy!

It's been such a long time.

Welcome home, my darling girl! Have you been all right?

And what have you been doing? Are you traveling alone?

[ROXY] I... Um...

We've actually heard a few stories about you from visitors,

but why don't you fill us in on the rest?

[ROXY] It's kind of a lot.

Well, either way, it's such a relief

to know that you're safe.

Will you stay a while before you have to leave?

Please, we'd be more than happy to have you.

Uh, about that.

[gasps]

[ROXY] I should probably go now.

[ROWIN] You're leaving so soon?

Yeah.

Roxy, at least stay the night!

[ROXY] I can't. I have urgent business.

I just wanted to stop by.

Then, when can we expect to see you again?

[ROXY] I don't know. Honestly. I might not come back at all.

[ROKARI gasps]

[gasps]

Roxy, dear.

Surely you can visit every years or so at least.

I'll see what I can do.

Maybe I'll get to stop by sometime in the next years.

Do you promise? We'll be waiting!

Okay.

Look at me.

I promised myself I wouldn't cry if I ever got to see you again.

[ROKARI] I'm sorry.

Hey, it's okay.

[gasps]

[ROXY laughing]

[ROKARI] Now, let's see. Ah, here we go.

Looks like this one is called a "horse."

That's a horse!

[ROKARI] And this right here is a "pelt."

[ROXY] Pelt!

That was perfect, Roxy, you're doing so well!

That's my brilliant girl!

[ROXY] Can I play with you?

[gasps]

[ROKARI] Roxy!

[ROXY cries] Am I a bad girl?

Is that why no one ever wants to talk to me?

[ROKARI] No, honey. It's my fault.

I'm so sorry, Roxy. You're not a bad girl.

[ROXY] My people don't say anything

truly important with their mouths.

But I could tell my parents were heartbroken,

and I knew it was because of me.

Without telepathy, I would always be an outcast.

[ROXY] That's why I eventually ran away from home.

I honestly thought they would all be happier without me.

But maybe...

[crying]

Roxy, what's the matter?

[ROXY] I'm so sorry!

I'm so sorry I left without saying anything!

[ROXY] I'm sorry, Dad.

[ROXY] Just maybe. Words and language have never

been what mattered most. To any of us.

Oh, look who finally decided to join us!

Sleep well?

[ROKARI giggles]

Yeah, I guess.

Thanks for asking. Good morning.

[ROWIN] Are you planning to leave today?

Yeah. I would stay, but I came out here

to look for some friends who are missing.

My apprentice is one of them.

I understand.

Wait, now that you mention it,

a boy who said he was a student of yours

visited about two years ago.

Huh?

Yes, uh. What did he say his name was?

Rudeus, wasn't it?

That sounds right, Rudeus Greyrat!

What?

I wonder if those sweet children have

made it all the way back home by now.

Hang on, did you say "children"?

You mean he had somebody else here with him?

Yes, that's right.

He was traveling with a girl called Eris,

and Mister Ruijerd decided he would help escort them home.

Oh, Ruijerd is a member of the Superd tribe.

H-H-H-He-He's a what now?

Yes, we started dealing with him

not too long after you left the village, actually.

We'd always been afraid of the Superd,

but he turned out to be quite--

Uh... Roxy?

[ROKARI] Oh dear!

[ROXY] I'll be sure to visit again soon.

[ROWIN] Good.

And feel free to bring cute little Rudeus

with you next time!

Huh?

Uh-- Absolutely not! You'll do no such thing!

[ROXY] I just can't wrap my head around the fact

that Rudeus is traveling with a Superd.

But if there's a girl with them, too.

That must mean the infamous trio

calling themselves "Dead End" is them.

That's the only viable conclusion.

[sighs]

[ROXY] Everything is finally starting to make sense.

I thought surely no one would be foolhardy enough

to impersonate Dead End,

but I wouldn't put it past Rudeus.

He's fearless.

And if all of that is sanctioned by the real Dead End?

How amazing will that boy turn out to be?

Hey. I'm back.

[ELINALISE] I'm sorry, love, I thought you'd be gone longer!

[ELINALISE moaning]

[ELINALISE] Uh! Please don't!

[ROXY] Icicle Break!

[sighs]

[ELINALISE] That's going to keep happening,

you should get used to it.

[ROXY] Or you could stop doing it where anyone

could walk in on you without warning.

Oh, I could, but where's the fun in that?

I like when people get to watch.

[ROXY sighs]

Hey, where are we off to next?

[ROXY] I think we should head for the northern shore.

For the time being, I'd like to focus our efforts

on finding Zenith, Lilia, and Aisha.

[TALHAND] You don't want to look for your student?

[ROXY] Not right now.

I have it on good authority that he's in safe hands.

I know we'll get to see each other again eventually.

And there are plenty of other cities we haven't checked yet.

So let's keep moving, just like we have been.