A Convincing Mask
After the training session, Lydia and I stopped by an ice cream shop in town.
Lydia stood in front of the display case filled with various ice cream flavors, her eyes sparkling.
Wow... So you can really pick from all these flavors in NOA?
I'd heard about it, but I didn't think it was actually real!
Oh my, is it your first time here?
Are you from another region?
Yes. I'm a member of the Western Liberators.
It's not easy to find sweet, delicious snacks like this in the barren Western lands.
Most days, we're stuck eating hard, dry combat rations.
Since we always have to be ready to jump straight into battle, it was a necessity.
Oh... You must have had it tough...
Make sure to eat lots of delicious things in NOA while you have the chance.
Of course! Hmm... Which flavor should I pick...?
Mint chocolate...? Dark chocolate...? Or wait, why not just get both?!
Hehe, I've never had such a happy dilemma before.
If my close comrade were here, she would've loved this too...!
She really loved snacks.
If she were here... her eyes would've gone wide as she tried to stuff five flavors in her mouth at once!
Haha! Then next time, bring her along.
Ah... I'd love to, but unfortunately, that won't be possible.
Huh?
Well... she... didn't make it through the last defense battle.
She fought bravely, just as a true Western Liberator would...
...
Ehehe, did I bring down the mood?
This is just everyday life for us, so I didn't even think before talking...
I'm sorry, I wasn't being considerate.
But don't worry...!
No matter what happens, the Western Liberators will never give up.
We will definitely reclaim our homeland and make everyone happy again.
And when that happens, we can all come back and enjoy lots of delicious snacks together!
Just wait and see.
And when that time comes, I'll bring all my comrades with me for some ice cream!
Now then, it's time to pay.
How much do I owe you for the ice cream?
*Sniffle* I-I can't stop crying...
Ah, you don't have to pay.
Your ice cream is on the house. For fighting so bravely.
Next time, make sure to bring your comrades along! Okay?
W-what...? Are you sure that's okay?
Mmm! It's delicious...!
Captain, this is really good!
Especially the mint chocolate! The cool mint flavor and the sweet chocolate blend so well...
Hmm... It's worlds apart from the stale, boring snacks we had back in the West...
Lydia savored her ice cream with a blissful expression.
Captain, do you want a bite too?
Open wide!
No, Lydia. You enjoy it.
Have I been misunderstanding Lydia based on a shallow impression of her?
She's someone who's been through relentless struggles in the harsh Western lands.
It's only natural that her way of life might seem a bit rough or cynical.
But inside her heart, there's still a warm—
Heh... NOA people really are as gullible as they say.
...?!
Can you believe it? I gave a little sob story and bam! Free ice cream!
Hehe... Thanks to that, I saved quite a bit of money.
So it was all a lie?!
Hmm? Oh, you mean the story about my fallen comrade?
Hmm... Well, it's not like I made up the whole thing.
There really was a member who died in the last defense battle.
We weren't that close, though. I don't think she even liked sweets, either.
...And what about your noble dream to reclaim your homeland?!
Just because you're born in the West doesn't mean you have to care about it, right?
To be honest, I sometimes think the whole concept is silly.
I mean, why are people so obsessed with some ruined land?
It's ruined. Move on, start over somewhere new.
Don't you think so?
And that whole speech about making people happy?!
Eh. How am I supposed to care about all that?
Are you planning to shoulder all the world's suffering by yourself, Captain?
Even if there were ten of you, it wouldn't be enough to save all the pitiful people in Lavistar.
How could you toy with other people's emotions like that...?
Phew! Is that really such a bad thing?
Of course it—
But I got free ice cream.
And that shop owner got to feel good about being kind, right?
It's a happy ending where we both got what we wanted.
To be honest, I don't see anything wrong with it.
You see, Captain.
This world is all about tricking and being tricked.
Everyone wears a pretty mask and says things they don't mean just to get what they want, right?
That's not...
And Captain, I bet you're hiding something from me too.
Me? What do I have to hide?
That, I wouldn't know.
I do wonder... What kind of secret might you be hiding, Captain?
Hmm... Maybe you're actually an alien from another planet?
...?
Hehe, just joking!
It's just a figure of speech. That's all.
Now then... where should we go next?
Since we're in NOA, I have to make the most of all these delicious treats...
How about a sweet parfait from Cafe Strega?
Or maybe we could go buy some bread from the famous Street Bakers?
With a cheerful skip in her step, Lydia walked ahead.