Argh! Such incredible skills!

You leave me no choice...I must withdraw for now.

You think you can run away?!

Please, wait!

Why did Genba lead this revolt?!

Please, tell me what you know!

If you want to know, ask Lord Genba yourself.

*Cough* *cough...* What is this? Smoke?

Well, we certainly can't let our guards down with him if he's always this prepared. He had something just to help him get away!

I suspected you were skilled warriors after our earlier bout...

...but I was still amazed to see you drive off Genba's personal shinobi.

A fitting victory for you, Master Seria!

M-Master?!

Yes!

Watching you fight, Master Seria, your strength has moved me.

Please, accept me as your pupil!

My p-pupil?!

W-Well, I'm obviously a lot tougher than a weakling like you...

...but I'm still training, myself. Or, well, you could say I'm taking a breather of sorts between training...

I have no intention of taking on pupils, though.

I ask only that you reconsider...!

*Sigh* This is definitely a new experience...

Oh, what harm could it do? Why not take him on as a pupil?

It's not that easy!

Well, okay...

...but what if you just agreed with a condition...something like, just for the time that we're in this world, or whatever?

Hmm. Well, if that were the case...

So...you will accept me as a pupil?! Thank you so much!

I will do my absolute best to catch up to my fellow pupils...

...Hans and Tilith!

Um... I guess we're Seria's pupils now too?

Give me a break...

Princess, I have an idea!

Why don't we ask Master Seria and her pupils to assist us?

As allies, they are a force to be reckoned with!

Huh? But...

Regrettably, I lack the strength to defend you on my own, Princess.

Should you intend to make your way to Genba...

...I believe seeking aid from a skilled master is our best option.

......

He has a point. In any case, why don't you explain the situation to us?

Since we're already this involved, it's safe to assume that guy in black...

...will keep coming after us while we explore this world.

Yeah, and also, who is this "Genba" guy?

That name keeps coming up in the conversation.

Is it a person?

......

You are correct... Allow me to explain...

...about this country, and about myself and my people.

Genba is the name of the person who rules this land.

He is also a former vassal of mine.

A former vassal?

Yes...

As you probably have already inferred, I am of this country's royal family...

Indeed, I was its ruler.

Even so, I had only just succeeded my late father a year ago...

...and had not yet achieved anything to benefit my people.

You mustn't say such things!

Princess, you struggled constantly to craft policies that would benefit the people.

I know that well, as do any of your retainers who still possess common decency!

......

So, if this Genba guy is currently the one in charge...

...does that mean he led a coup?

Yes. That was exactly what happened.

That vile coward Genba waited until the princess was visiting distant territories to perform her duties, then seized the palace.

From there, he seized key points across the land and established control.

I am ashamed to admit it's true.

I attempted to return to the palace immediately...

...but Genba's followers are watching me, and it has proven difficult to even get close.

I made it as far as Bluesun Grove Path, but then I was attacked.

That's where we saved you, I take it.

Yes...

I realize that I am not a worthy ruler.

But if Genba is making life difficult for my people, I cannot stand by and watch...

...but conversely, if Genba's rule brings them good fortune...

...then I hold no ill will.

I simply want to ask Genba personally...

...why he did such a thing...

...and what he found so lacking in me.

I felt that, if I were captured......

...I would be unable to ask Genba this as an equal...

...and so, shameful as it is, I fled from his men and was making my way to the palace on my own.

Suzune...

......

Hey, Seria? Do you think we could--

Sure we can.

Wha...?

I know you. You're going to ask if we can help Suzune, right?

U-Um, yeah, I was, but...

And like I said, sure we can.

But...what about the sealed god...?

Yeah, I haven't forgotten about that either.

But I also agree with you about how we can't just turn a blind eye to Suzune and her people.

Oh, Seria!

You're the best!

H-Hey! You don't have to hug me for every little thing!

What about you, Hans? Do you have any thoughts on this?

As if I have to ask.

You truly intend to help me?

Of course, I greatly appreciate it...

...but it sounds as though you have your own mission to carry out.

That's true, we do...

But like I just said, I don't intend to abandon our mission, either.

So let's make a deal.

A deal?

Yes, a deal.

Once we defeat this Genba jerk and bring peace to the country...

...you can convince your people to aid us in our search for the sealed god.

How does that sound?

If you ask me, that will be more efficient...

...than searching for the sealed god on our own.

......

I accept.

I can't...say anything with any certainty the way things are right now, but...

...as soon as I am able, I promise to repay your kindness.

That settles it!

So where to next?

In all likelihood, Genba will be in the Thousand-Mat Hall within the palace.

With that in mind, let's proceed to the palace!

Okay! Off we go!

Indeed!

Hehe...

Hans, you look like you want to say something.

Oh, I get it.

You think offering Suzune a deal was out of character for me.

Well, you're not wrong.

Maybe it was just that up until now, that kind of thing was always Paris's job.

Still, if I hadn't put it that way, Suzune would've rejected our help.

Hey. What's that face for?!

Oh, never mind! Just get moving!

Tilith and the others are gonna leave us behind if we wait for that head of yours to catch up, stupid!

Still, the old me... The person I was before going on that journey with Tilith and the others...

...might have put the mission before Suzune and her people...

...and certainly wouldn't have offered her that kind of deal.