Special Training Begins
I suggested some special training to Muriel when we met for training.
Special training? Why all of a sudden?
To fix that cowardly streak of yours.
Pfft, who are you calling a coward?
A devoted believer like me doesn't know fear, you know?
Oh look, there's a monster over there.
No sooner did I say it than Muriel rolled around on the ground, clinging to my pants leg.
Eeeeeek! Help me, Captain!
Fight a monster? That's way too much for someone like me! No, no, nooo!
Please save me, Captain! Muriel's gonna diiiie!
...
...
Once it got quiet, Muriel slowly got up.
So? How was that performance? Pretty intense, right?
She could say that without even brushing the dirt off her clothes...
Maybe Lavistar just lost its best potential politician.
Anyway! I don't need special training!
The training I do with you is already hard enough!
That's nothing to brag about.
Well, it's true, so what can I do?
At our Order, we basically start the day with prayers and end it studying sacred relics.
And now you expect me to be good at physical stuff too? You're asking too much!
Don't worry. It won't be hard at all.
Huh? Not hard?
You just have to walk.
Hmm... Really...?
Well, that changes things then...
I took the half-doubting Muriel to the training grounds.
...What is this? It's just a haunted house.
It's not just any haunted house.
It's the biggest one on the continent that takes an hour to get through.
It's the perfect place to test your courage.
I thought special training would be impressive or something...
Captain, you really thought I'd get scared by tricks that only work on kids?
Lame. I'm just gonna head back to the quarters.
If you finish on time, I'll give you the Star Piercer.
Muriel, who'd started walking away, whipped right back with a sparkle in her eyes.
Really? You better not take it back later!
Wait, no! Let's put it in writing! Right now!
Heh heh heh! I'm not a kid. This'll be eas—
Kyaaah! I can't take it anymore! I'm out!
I thought my heart would jump out... Scared me to death.
Everyone who came today gave up halfway. It's brutal...
—Uh, hmm.
O-of course not! Who do you think I am?
Muriel strutted up to the entrance, then spun around to glare at me.
What are you waiting for? You've got a Journey to finish too, remember?
I'm not going alone! Hurry up!
Why you...
As I stepped up to the entrance, Muriel latched onto my hand.
I-if you let go of this hand, you'll get divine punishment...!
Th-that's impossible! Do you know how faithful I am?!
My faith will never waver, no matter what...!
But her hand was shaking like crazy, faith or not.
Omniscient and omnipotent Lord Gaph, shield us from the machines and the underdwellers...
...The moment we stepped inside, she started chanting some weird prayer.
Calm down. And stop shaking already.
W-who's shaking? My heart's calm like a lake!
These cheap props don't scare me at all!
Eeeeeek!
Your scream is scarier than any ghost here!
Kyyaaaah!
Calm down! It's just a sound effect!
Aaaaaah! Don't eat me!
Lord Gaph! Caaaptaain! Save meee!
Muriel let go of my hand and bolted off somewhere.
You idiot! Get back here!
I searched everywhere for a long time, but Muriel was nowhere to be found.
I had no choice but to explain the situation to the costumed staff.
Oh no, that's serious. We'll help you look for her.
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Somewhere inside the haunted house.
Heh heh heh...
I bet the Captain's running all over the place, getting scared out of his mind by all the ghosts.
Pfft, so gullible! Even I wouldn't get that scared by some silly sound effects!
Okay, I'll wait here, and when the Captain shows up, BAM! I'll scare him good.
I'll make him pay for calling me a coward.
How scared will he be? What if he faints? Puhuhu ♪
Um...
What do you want? Don't interrupt me. This is a critical moment.
Um, miss?
Ugh, really! Who keeps—
I-i-i-it's a m-m-m-m-monster...!
Grrrrgh...
Looks like the costume really gave her a scare.
Miss! Wake up! Please!
I thanked the staff who helped find her.
Afterward, I was on my way to the quarters with the unconscious Muriel on my back.
Ugh... ugh...
You awake?
C-Captain?
Where's the monster? Where did it go?!
Monster? You must've dreamed that.
It was a dream...?
The staff found you passed out and brought you to me.
Ah... Ahaha...
Good thing it was just a dream. My heart dropped when I locked eyes with that thing.
So what really happened in there?
Hmph, I'm not telling you.
It's your punishment for calling me a coward. Wonder about it forever.
Yeah, yeah. Anyway, guess you won't be getting the Star Piercer.
Eeeh?! How'd we get to that?!
So unfair! At least give me half! They say half is as good as whole!
How am I supposed to split this thing?!
Waaaah! Nooo!
I held it together and went in just for the Star Piercer! You big liar!
Listening to Muriel bawling, I couldn't help but think.
This one's... way too much for me to handle alone.