...Haaaaaaaaah...
Are you doing alright, Judith?
Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just...taking this chance to unwind.
Are you feeling better now that we've "finished" the mission?
"Feeling better" is putting it lightly. I'm both that and, well... Proud of everyone.
Mm?
All of us, even Ladette, avoided killing a single member of the forest folk. None of us have the blood of anyone on our hands. Where other guilds would've capitulated and followed the Radha's word, we stood firm.
I'm...quite proud of everyone, too.
We three have become the parents to everyone else in the guild, huh?
Well, maybe not you.
...Oh.
...Ahaha, I'm joking, Emmett.
That is...the first time I've seen you full-on laugh since the start of all this.
Is it, now?
Pretty sure it is.









I'm going to fight for this.
Eh?
I'm done fighting for aloof lords and for the blind words of an uncaring government. I've spent so many years fighting for those, even though I despised every second of it. Things are different now. I want to fight for this merriment; this relaxation; this happiness. Everyone in our guild's been through a lot of trauma, either before they got here, during our exploration, or both.
Lords know I fall into the middle group...
Everyone here-- Even Ladette-- And, hell, everyone in town that isn't a part of the Radha-- They all deserve to not have to spend every day haunted by worries and fighting.
Even Ladette, hm?
I don't like what she does, or how she presents herself. But... I've done a lot of thinking. I've come to understand her. Sympathize with her.
Ah, you as well?
Mm. Even she deserves to be free of all the nonsensical stress that's occurred during the course of our exploration. And... You know, we'd maybe be able to have this...feeling in the air tonight constantly, until we finish. But no. Visil has to go and screw it up. His disappearance has thrown the town into chaos, and is going to inevitably taint our upcoming exploration of these new ruins.
I find myself hard-pressed to disagree with that.
I try to avoid developing any feelings of hatred for any person, but... Admittedly, it is hard to avoid that with the Chieftain.
Damned near every ounce of dire stress we've faced was because of him. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure he wasn't doing it on purpose. And you know what? That makes me angry. Angry enough to continue fighting until we find him, and I can press him against a wall, demand answers for that genocidal mission, and demand reforms that will make everyone in Etria feel more at peace.
You've built up quite a lot of resolve. More than I ever could, at any rate...
Oh, hush, Emmett. Not everyone needs intense resolve.
I'm building all of this up so everyone else doesn't have to.









Hopefully, once we've plumbed the deepest depths of the Labyrinth, and found everything it has to offer, we can all go off and live out the rest of our days peacefully. Until then, I'll fight to the bitter end for it.
Well-spoken.




You two want to stay out here and join me in stargazing?
That sounds quite nice, yes.
Oh, let me go get my charts!
...Emmett's an amateur astronomer?
Emmett's a multi-faceted, fascinating, kind man. And I love him for it.

Vince, you were so cool in that fight!
...Was I?
Yeah! Usually you just stand there like a dope and block things, but this time you were throwing yourself against the attacks!
_{...I didn't even notice.}
Hunh?
Yeeeah, when I said I wanted to be a shield for the innocent, this is exactly what I meant, Kat. When it comes to somethin' like this, tryin' to save somebody we were wrongfully ordered to kill, I'm gonna give it my all. Woodland animals are not worth workin' up a sweat.
So, tell me a story!
Huh?
I didn't realize you were this cool. I wanna hear a story, from Vicious Vinny!
...
When I was a child. There was... This pack of bullies.
Oooh...
They were picking on a stray dog. I don't know why... Actually, I do now, I didn't for a long time, but I threw myself at them. Tried to protect that dog. They were hurting it.
And it got away unscathed?!
No.
...Oh...
All I accomplished was getting myself hurt too. We adopted that dog, later.
What's her name?
Was.
Oh, s-sorry--
Nah, it's fine. She wasn't young, already. We adopted her prepared to only have her for a year or two, maybe. But Stacy was a good dog. She was a scaredy-cat because of... Well, everything. ...Except around me. She actually got pretty brave and happy whenever I was around.
Awww!
People say dogs ain't smart. I don't buy it.

Hey, Siggy?
Mhm?
When this is all over, where do you wanna live?
...Hmm. I dunno. I... hadn't given it much thought. Have you?
I wanna live somewhere sunny. Somewhere bright. Maybe with a beach?
Oh, uhhh...
...Oops, sorry, it just occurred to me you may not be entirely comfortable with... swimsuits.
No, it's alright.
If you want, I can try to help you get better at that. Uh, no pressure, though. Absolutely turn me down if you want to.
I'll... sleep on it. Somewhere like that does sound good, though. We could... Oooh, Armoroad? I wanna go sailing.
Ahhh, that sounds wonderful...!
Out in the blue sea, just the two of us and the sea breeze... That sounds like heaven.
And let's get a house by the beach, so we can get up to the sight of the sea every morning!
...
Wh-what's with that look?
I'll. Give you permission to ogle at other girls on the beach, only if you make it up to me at the end of the day every time.
...Y'know, a few months ago I would've taken you up on that, but it sincerely didn't even cross my mind to do that.
...Did it, now?
Yeah. This sounds cheesy, but I think I legitimately only have eyes for you now.
Awww, sweetie... Maybe I should take you up on that offer, then.
N-no, c'mon Siggy, I don't--I don't want you to feel-
Shh.
...
...
...Mmmph.
I'll sleep on it.
'Kay.
...This is the first time I've seen you so red-faced. I didn't know you could be so adorable.

There you are.
Ah, Ladette.
Quixote, leave your shenanigans behind tonight. They need this rest--I don't want you tiltin' at windmills and ruining it for everyone.
You don't have to worry about that tonight. I feel quite calm... perhaps precisely because of all the merriment.
...Okay, it's weird talkin' to you when you're lucid like this.
If I had a penny...
Now that I have you here, though, I might as well take advantage of it. How'd you get so good at this fear thing? 'Good' being a relative term here, but considerin' it works...
Ah, well, I had a number of test subjects!
Guessin' there's some quotation marks, there.
Not so, they were all quite willing. Well... Maybe some collateral horror once in a while, during the most outlandish experiments...
Knew it.
But a few people did aid me in this pursuit of fear. Amongst them was one of my friends, an Etrian Ronin. He isn't one to stay in one place now, he's come down with a case of wanderlust, but at that point he was all too happy to help me with my odd interest. It's a shame I've lost contact with him...
...Ah, excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. Quixote, I may actually know this man. Is his name Asriel?
Why, yes! Then you know him?
He's my patient, in fact. I haven't seen him in a while, he's sort of forgetful, but he should be visiting sometime. I'll make sure to tell you if he ever makes it.
Ah, wonderful! I would ask you for his mailing address, but...
Patient-doctor confidentiality.
If it makes you feel better, he seems to be doing alright. Last I heard, he scored Sigrid a ride during her--on her way to Etria.
The old coot is still kicking, then. I wonder where he is now...

Is there anything in these woodlands besides accursed BEARS?!
GROOOOOOOOOOR!!
DAMMIT!

Ah, sorry Ladette, you got sort of sidelined there.
Whatever. I got what I wanted.

[Is-- Is it alright to be away from everyone?]
[Yeah, don't worry about it. It's been a while since we've had some alone time anyways.]
[True. By the way, I have... I made something for you. Um, just this afternoon, actually.]
[Oh! Let's see it then!]
[Just a second.] ...Ghhk... Why'd I put it so far in under the bed... <Here.>
[... Oh my gods.]
[Did-- Did I do it--]
[This is incredible. I actually did think about Iwao-- Iwo-- That bird thing's feathers and how sharp they are, but actually making it into a spear... When did you have time?]
[It didn't take that long. Maybe a few hours. Been at work since you came back. Um, do you like it? Does it make you happy?]
[Yes! Absolutely! It's made entirely out of feathers, but it's so sturdy! And it's so... Beautiful.]
[I'm glad you--] Mmph!
...




[Still can't help but squirm?]
[S-Sorry--] D-Dangit--
[It's okay, don't worry. Actually, this is a coincidence, because I have a gift for you too!]
<Oh?>
<Right here!>
[...A new quiver. The inside is smooth, the arrows will have no trouble gliding out. And the outside... Wolf pelt?]
<Mhm!> [I hunted it myself!]
[Thank you, it's wonderfWAIT, is that why you have that bite mark in your shoulder?! Oh no, oh no I'm so sorry you got hurt because of me this is terri--]
[Elly, Elly, Elly, Elly, calm down, that's not it. I went hunting 'cause I was bored and then I decided to do something with it.]
[Y-You're sure it's okay?]
[Yes! ...And by the way, this may be a weird time to bring this up, but uh. We have a new guest.]
Arf!
GWEEEEK!!
GYAHAHAHAHAHA! [Ohhh my gosh, Elly, even I could hear that...!]
A-Afon, uh, dammit, [Afon there's an FOE in our room.]
[It's fine, dummy. He's friendly!]
[HOW CAN I BE SO SURE.]
[He followed me home when I was getting back from hunting and he got under your sheets and fell asleep there! I think it's because you smell like the forest.]
[THIS IS STILL WEIRD.]
[C'mon, look at him!]
pant, pant, pant
[His name is Rick!]
...
[He can be like your hunting hound!]
[MY HUNTING HOUND?]
[C'mon! Look, hold out your hand!]
[F-Fine.]
Arf!
[Oh my goodness he hasn't even been trained and he shakes anyway.]
[Keep him! Pleeeaase?]
... [F-Fine. For you.] _{Dangit, I did it again...}