02x11 - To You

[bunniefuu]

My partner's long-awaited reawakening got me so worked up I couldn't sleep.

Fitz was all I could think about anymore,

but my buddy didn't seem to care.

How am I supposed to go about curing him, anyway?

Good morning, Luke.

I'm surprised to see you up so early.

We need to talk about Fitz.

I know nothing.

Oh? Nothing at all?

I guess he's sounding me out.

I may be repeating myself,

but I have no intention of opposing any of you.

I don't know Mister Fitz's identity

or anything else.

You mean you'll feign ignorance for us? Why?

I've cut my ties to both the Boreas and the Notos.

And most importantly, I'm afraid to challenge you.

Let's leave it at that.

I know I decided not to make trouble for Fitz,

but this isn't easy on me.

II

i

carnation

So, um...

What did you want to discuss?

Rudeus approached me while I was out shopping the other day.

He was suspicious of Fitz's behavior.

Rudeus tackled Fitz in the library, and Fitz shouted that he was a man.

Or so a little bird told me.

He must be certain now, if he's touched you.

But Rudeus claims that he won't spread Fitz's secret.

No doubt he means to do right by you.

I admire his devotion.

Now,

what will do?

I see nothing wrong with winning Rudeus to our cause slowly.

But after six months without any progress at all,

even I feel the need to speak up.

I've grown tired of watching you dither.

So kindly work up the courage to reveal yourself to him, Sylphie.

I...

Isn't there something that you want to do?

You've saved me many times.

You've been saving me since we first met.

Only because I want to help a friend!

Holding back for my sake is just like you.

But you're my friend, not my servant.

So if you've found what you want to do, put that first and leave me.

But... that would be a betrayal.

Have courage and answer me.

What do you want to do right now?

I...

I want...

to be with Rudy.

Well spoken.

But if Rudy doesn't remember me, I don't think I'll ever recover.

Then, let's think this through now.

Simply introducing yourself as the Sylphiette who grew up with him in Buena

strikes me as your best course.

That won't work.

Since he hasn't remembered her yet, he must have completely forgotten her.

Hm...

Do any memories of your time together stand out?

Memories?

Well, I've told you about how I was bullied, right?

Yes, you mentioned that you were bullied due to your hair color.

I met Rudy when he stepped in to save me.

That's my strongest memory of him.

Can you think of anything else?

Well...

Oh, there is one more.

Rudy thought I was a boy, at first.

But then it rained while we were practicing magic,

and we ended up taking a bath at his house.

He, well, forced me to undress

and pulled my, er, p-panties down.

A-And then, um...

What a lovely story.

I understand.

Now, let's discuss our plans.

But first, allow me to confirm one thing.

O-Of course.

Sylphie, you said the other day that you want to be with Rudeus,

but precisely what sort of relationship do you want with him?

What sort of relationship?

We'll share a bed.

And Rudy can be crude sometimes, so he might ask, "How many kids do you want?"

Then I'll be crude, too, and say, "Oh, Rudy, how many do you want to put in me?"

He'll chuckle and say, "How about lots?" and start undressing me.

Then I'll chuckle, too, and say, "Lots it is, then."

Or something like that!

Sylphie, this plan depends on your efforts.

R-Right!

Failures of nerve will not be tolerated.

If you lose heart at the crucial moment and can't bring yourself to tell him,

then by my authority as the second princess of Asura,

I shall forbid you any further contact with Rudeus Greyrat.

Take this seriously.

R-Right.

Good.

Now,

let me tell you the plan.

Rudeus.

Oh, Mister Fitz. What can I do for you?

Well...

Actually, it's a bit sensitive.

Let's talk somewhere else.

I understand.

Well, then, Zanoba, go ahead with what we discussed.

Of course. Leave the details to me.

So, what's this about?

Well, you see, I'd like to ask you for a big favor.

All right. I'll help with all the force of a red dragon.

Hang on. I haven't told you what it is yet.

For you, Mister Fitz, I would even sh**t down a flying fortress.

You see, Princess Ariel got frustrated

because another noble bragged about their bodyguard.

Oh? And then what?

This other noble said that with just a party of four,

their guard could fetch a flower that only grows deep in the Forest of Hail.

A flower that grows deep in the Forest of Hail?

You must mean the Freeze Fringe, which only blooms in winter.

So, er, after that, Princess Ariel had gone too far to back down.

She said, "Fitz could do that with an even smaller group."

I see. So that's the problem.

I'll ask some adventurers I know to cut you a deal on that flower.

What?! Rudeus, that wouldn't be right!

I'm supposed to show what I'm capable of!

Capability comes in many forms, and connections are a type of strength.

I can't do that. Princess Ariel would lose face if anyone found out.

I see.

Then, I'll round up the Stepped Leader party and—

No, no, no! Rudeus!

Don't worry. They'll just "coincidentally" enter the forest when we do.

B-But couldn't you and I pull this off easily, even without them?

That's true. I humbly accept the job.

Th-Thank you, Rudeus! I was so nervous about going into the forest alone!

Sorry. I basically left all the prep work to you.

Don't be. That's only natural if I'm your guard.

Should I, um, pay you for your services, then?

Of course not.

I'm doing this as a favor, so don't worry about that.

You don't have to. I can at least pay you for your trouble.

I don't come cheap.

I... I'm sure you don't, but...

Buying Rudy with money...

A-Anyway, let's get going!

The flower blooms on a cliff.

I'll melt a path through the snow straight to it,

so keep an eye out for threats while I do.

That's the staff I fetched for you the other day, right? It still amazes me.

I mean, all made-to-order, with a colored magical crystal?

I've never seen that outside of the palace.

A young noblewoman I tutored gave it to me on my tenth birthday.

Would you let me hold it for a bit?

I only have a beginner's wand, so I've longed to try it out.

Here. Feel free.

What do you think of the heft?

It's so thick. Was it made to be held in both hands?

It must have been sized for me to use when I grew up.

Huh...

Okay. All according to plan so far.

Next...

Red tower.

I hope this works.

Good. It's going well.

Hm?

Rain clouds?

Mister Fitz, it looks like rain.

You're right. We should—

Oh, I'll have the sky clear in no time.

Oh, no!

Just like Rudy taught me,

I'll gather moisture into clouds, cool it, and let it fall!

Hm...

I'm sorry, Mister Fitz. I must be out of sorts today.

D-Don't apologize.

It's probably because I'm still holding your staff.

I borrowed the staff so Rudy couldn't use it,

but it really helped me out instead.

Well, now that it's raining, we'll just have to live with it.

There should be a cave up ahead. Let's take shelter there.

G-Good idea.

There it is.

Fitz seemed off when she hired me, and that's not the only weird thing.

I feel like the clouds moved too fast when this rain came in.

Someone might have cast a spell on them.

I wonder if Fitz has picked up on that.

She looks tense, so she probably has.

Maybe she expected this level of interference.

Okay, that should do it for now.

But what about my underwear?

I guess I can't exactly take them off in front of Fitz.

I could dry—

Mister Fitz.

Y-Yes?!

A girl I once knew told me that showing bare skin is taboo among elves.

I'll turn around and close my eyes,

so please use magic to dry your clothes while I do.

Mister Fitz?!

Please at least change clothes.

Would you like me to make you a private room?

Or I could leave the cave. How about that?

That should work.

Wait.

You'll catch a chill, you know.

Yeah, you're right.

It's dangerous to leave those clothes on.

Losing too much body heat can be fatal.

Yeah. I'll die.

Unless you do something.

I can't get my clothes off.

Undress me.

If you can't undress yourself, then I suppose I'll have to.

Y-You know,

I figured out that you're a woman.

I know. But I might die unless you remove my clothes.

Haven't I seen these blushing ears somewhere before?

Something like this happened a long time ago.

When I was five or six, maybe. I'm sure of it.

There's still one thing left.

Um, Fitz...

Yes, Rudy?

Is your real name...

Sylphiette, by any chance?

Yes.

That's right. I'm Sylphiette.

Sylphiette from Buena Village.

I finally said it.

Just like back then.

She's still a crybaby.

I've waited so, long.

I worked really hard all the time I was in Buena.

Yes. I'm sure.

For... For such a long time,

I've loved you, Rudy.

And now I love you even more.

Please never leave me again.

Episode To You

I want to stay with you forever.

I Want to Tell You