Sophie and Oliver were attacked by a bat. How will they deal with it?
Bat: "Roaaaaaaaarrrrrrr.."
Sophie: "Gh."
Oliver: "My head!"
Sophie: "Ghhhhhhh..."
Oliver: "ghhhhhh...…."
Sophie: "hhhhahhh.."
She opened her eyes and looked around.
Sophie: "There… has to be something... hahhh… I guess I have to do it… Miwa!!!"
From her bag, a being appeared. A woman emerged with fox ears and a tail.
Miwa: "Yaaawn… Hhhhhh…."
Sophie: "Miwa… do something… It's damn loud… why doesn't it affect you?"
Miwa: "Huh? Because I can close my ears… well, so it's not that loud."
Sophie: "Then do something… please…"
Miwa: "Hmmmm…"
She looked at the bat. Her tail began to turn purple, and so did her hair.
Miwa: "Hehehehehe… fine!"
She jumped toward it.
Miwa: "Hehehe… ugh!"
The eyes on its wings opened. Suddenly she got a headache.
Miwa: "Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Sophie: "Ughhhh..."
Miwa: "What is this… feeling in my head… ghhhhhhh….. rrrrrrrrr….."
Miwa grew angry and purple flames appeared.
Miwa: "Ghhh.."
She took her staff and smiled.
Sophie: "Ughh… is she finally using magic now?"
Miwa: "Take this!"
Instead of using magic, she threw the staff at it.
Patch!
Sophie: "Nugh… huh?…"
The bat was hit and confused for a moment from the impact. At that exact moment Sophie took her pistol and shot at the bat.
Sophie: "My chance!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bat fled.
Sophie: "Puhhh…"
Oliver: "Ghhh.."
Sophie: "Oliver!"
She went to him.
Oliver: ".ghh."
Sophie: "Oliver… hey…"
Miwa: "Hmm?…"
Sophie: "Tell me, what was that just now? Why didn't you use magic?"
Miwa: "Oh… right… I forgot… well… the thing is gone at least."
Sophie: "Hahhh… return to the bag."
Miwa: "Whaaat? Don't I get a reward? You're mean…"
Sophie: "Hahhh… what do you want?"
Miwa: "Pet my ears."
Sophie: "Hahhh."
She stroked her ears.
Sophie: "Satisfied?"
Miwa: "Nehehehe… hehe… yes… mmm… I missed you so much, Sophie… you're really mean for not using me."
Sophie: "Hahhh… oh right… how are the other two, my contract spirits?"
Miwa: "You mean Earl and Wuschel? They're fine."
Earl is a dark figure with a clown mask, while Wuschel is simply a cat. Wuschel's real name is Vincent.
Sophie: "Good… Hey Oliver… are you okay now?"
Oliver: "Yes..."
The door opened.
Klarice: "What is going on here?"
Sophie: "Where were you?"
Klarice: "Shopping… I had no more ingredients for the food."
Sophie: "Hmm… Klarice, we're leaving the hotel. I don't want to put you in unnecessary danger."
Klarice: "You're really not…"
Sophie: "I'm sorry, Klarice… the window is even broken… we'll cover the costs."
Klarice: "Huh.."
Sophie: "Come, Oliver."
Oliver: "Ok."
Klarice: "Wait… at least stay for this night… please… The poor child looks tired."
Oliver: "Huh?"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Klarice: "Please… stay here until you're rested… hehe… I went shopping just for you… to cook… I don't mind…"
Sophie: "Ok… Oliver, go upstairs for now."
Oliver: "Ok… and you?"
Sophie: "I'll look around."
He went upstairs.
Sophie: "Hahh… alright… Klarice… how long have you been working for the Moths?"
Klarice: "Huh… what?"
Sophie: "How long have you been working for the Moths?!"
Klarice: "You… know? How?"
Sophie: "That would explain why you have no problem with us. You yourself are Cursed."
Klarice: "Not exactly… I'm a Stellar user… a mage… nothing more."
Sophie: "I see…"
Klarice: "If you knew or suspected me… why did you save me?"
Sophie: "You misunderstood something. Just because you're with the Moths doesn't mean I should let you die. My job is to save people. What you do isn't important."
Klarice: "Hmm…"
Sophie: "And why do you insist that we stay? Hmm?"
Klarice: "You saved my life… I'll tell the Moths you left… I have a secret room for you… you can stay there… I'll reduce the price… yes, I work for the Moths… but… you must understand this hotel belonged to my family… and… my family… is dead… I take care of the hotel, no one helps me… and I need money… when the Moths came here about a year ago… they said they would give me a lot of money… sob… I'm sorry…"
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Sophie slowly walked to her and stroked her head.
Sophie: "I'm not angry at you… I understand… You want to preserve your family's pride… only brave and kind girls do that."
Klarice: "Huh?"
Sophie: "I'll accept the secret room and stay here… but promise me you won't cry anymore, ok?"
Klarice: "Ok…"
Meanwhile
Ulita: "Hmm?"
She opened the window. Beneath it lay the bat, almost dead.
Bat: "Hrrr…"
Ulita: "Oh dear… what do I do now… I can't paint anymore, I have no strength left…"
Manja: "Miss… news… important news…"
Ulita: "Hmm?"
Manja: "Your… siblings were caught in a terrible fire in the house… and… they died."
Ulita: "Oh… I see…"
Manja: "My lady?"
Ulita: "Hehehehe… hahahahahahaha… hahahahahahaha… hahahahahahaha… Well… what do you say now? You're dead… and I'm still alive… that's what you deserved after how you treated me… hahahahahaha… hehehehehe… Soon there will be more… more who will become evil… everyone who rejected me… who refused to marry me… everyone who made fun of my illness!"
Manja: "My lady… was it… you?"
Ulita: "Hehehe… who else… yes… one of my paintings brought death… and killed them… Grazburg isn't that far and they lived near the border… so it wasn't hard."
Manja: "I see…"
Ulita: "You don't seem very pleased."
Manja: "What? No… it's just… Miss… have you… given up your care for others?"
Ulita: "Care…"
Ulita slowly moved toward her.
Ulita: "What are you trying to say?! Now I'm the villain?! Do you know how long I suffered… how long… how long I still tried to smile and stay silent… every time… every year… I drown in my tears! Where was the care then? Did anyone come and take care of me? Why is it always expected that I must show care, but others don't have to show care for me?!"
Manja: "My lady… I'm sorry… I didn't mean it like that…"
Ulita: "Ghhhh… get out! I don't want to see you today!"
Manja: "But…"
Ulita: "Get out!"
Manja: "Hmm… forgive me… Miss…"
She left the room.
Ulita: "Ghhhhhh..."
Patch, patch, patch.
Ulita: "Oh… you're here… my prince… my knight!"
In front of her stood an armor. But the armor is not a painting.
Ulita: "You are an armor… but you have more heart for me than any living person."
She held his hand.
Ulita: "Thank you… my knight… I painted you… hehe… do you like it? Look… you're standing before the tower…"
Tower Guardian: "Hhhhh…"
Ulita: "Hmm… don't you like it?"
He placed his hand on her head.
Ulita: "Hehe…"
She stroked him further.
Ulita: "Hehehe… my knight…"
Meanwhile the phone rang.
Sophie: "Ahhh… who's calling so late… damn…"
She picked up.
Sophie: "Hello?"
Fiona: "Hello?"
Sophie: "Huh? Hello? That voice… is that Fiona? No… she had a softer voice…"
Fiona: "Your voice hasn't changed much, Sophie… it's me, Fiona."
Sophie: "Ughh… so it's really you… look at that… your voice got deeper…"
Fiona: "That's not important… I wanted to tell you that I'm on my way to Eager Brünn."
Sophie: "And why, exactly?"
Fiona: "Because there seem to be more important investigations there… at the border between Grazburg and Eager Brünn… the house of the wealthy Huber family was attacked… does the name Ulita Huber sound familiar?"
Sophie: "Oh… yes… she's in Skova… but… why are you asking?"
Fiona: "She is the main suspect in the case."
Sophie: "That's nonsense… are you serious?"
Fiona: "As sorry as I am… that was an order from Meliodas, not from me… I would've preferred to spend more time in Prussia… Cossette stays there… but Melina is coming with me… but why were you so surprised? Apparently you know Ulita."
Sophie: "I know her, I even met her… but… she's blind… and can barely walk."
Fiona: "Huh? Are you serious?"
Sophie: "Yes."
Fiona: "Well… nothing we can do… I'll be in Eager Brünn soon… wait for me at the station."
Sophie: "Hahhh… ok… ok…"
Fiona: "Goodbye."
Sophie: "Wait, Fiona…"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Sophie: "Aren't you… angry that you have to work with me?"
Fiona: "Why would I be?"
Sophie: "Uh… do I really have to bring it up again? I pushed you so many times back then… and you cried."
Fiona: "Silence… Sophie… what I think of you has nothing to do with the mission… unlike Daisy, probably… we are not here to deal with private matters… besides…"
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Besides, you don't need to ask. We were both children… I'm hanging up before my cake melts."
She hung up.
Sophie: "Ughh… hmm… hehehe… she still likes sweets…"
One hour later at the station.
Sophie: "Hahh… there's the train."
Oliver: "Huhhh…"
The train stopped. Melina stepped out.
Melina: "Excuse me, miss?"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Melina: "Are you Miss Valeria… and are you Mr. Oliver?"
Oliver: "Huh… is she pretty…"
Sophie: "Yes."
Oliver: "Mmm… I'll finally see Lady Mystery…"
Sophie: "Ughh… it's been a very long time… more than four years…"
Fiona stepped out.
Sophie: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Hello… Sophie."
Sophie: "Oh… hello… do we know each other?"
Fiona: "It's me, Fiona Househould. Lady Mystery."
Sophie: "Hmm.."
Oliver: "Huh?…"
Sophie: "Ughh!"
Oliver: "Häää!!"
They stared.
Sophie: "Damn… she became beautiful…"
Oliver: "Wow… how pretty…"
Fiona: "Huh? Hello? Did you forget your eyes at home?"
Sophie: "Cough… nice to see you again… you've changed… you've grown a lot… more than four years ago you weren't even 160 cm tall."
Fiona: "Now I'm 175 cm… I assume this boy is Oliver Hendrik William?"
Oliver: "Ughh… wait… I've seen you before."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Oliver: "You're the kind lady who helped me fall out of the tree back then."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
She looked at him closely.
Oliver: "Hmmmm…"
Fiona: "Oh… yes… I remember… I'm glad you're doing well."
Oliver: "Hmmm."
Sophie: "Oliver… can you explain that to me?"
After introductions.
Fiona: "So… enough of that. Sophie, did you find anything about the Moths?"
Sophie: "First tell me when Meliodas called you."
Fiona: "Yesterday evening."
Sophie: "He hasn't changed at all."
Fiona: "No."
Sophie: "Good… then let's go."
Fiona: "Ok."
Oliver: "Hmm."
Melina: "Hmm…"