Latina is too cute, and it's making me not want to go to work.
More stupidity, huh?
This time I have to go all the way to the capital in Ausblick!
I don't get to see Latina. Instead, I have to deal with a bunch of scheming old geezers.
How is that supposed to make me feel better?!
Don't wanna go!
I understand. It's work.
And if I think about how Latina will be waiting...
Plus, she's made some friends,
so she'll at least be occupied while I'm gone.
Which is why I understand...
But I still don't wanna, okay?!
In that case, think of it as a chance to buy her a souvenir she'd like.
A souvenir?
A souvenir, huh...
Since you're heading to the royal capital, some rare candy should probably do it.
Thank you!
Dale, I love you!
I might be able to do this, after all.
Well. That's nice. I guess.
The Young Man Heads Out.
You don't need to get up if you're tired, okay?
I'm sorry, Latina.
I'm going to be gone for a little while.
Can you hang in there?
I can hang in there.
I'll be sure to bring you back some presents!
Okay.
Take good care of her for me.
Of course.
Don't do anything crazy out there.
Not with Latina waiting for me!
Okay, I'm heading out.
Okay.
Have a safe trip, Dale.
Be careful at work.
I think I can do this, after all.
Titi, today we're flying an adventurer to the capital.
I hear he's a hard guy to deal with, though.
There he is, Titi!
I've here to receive you on the orders of Duke Eldstedt!
I'm Dale Reki. I appreciate the ride.
W-Well...
Go ahead.
Let's fly, Titi.
I heard the guy who used to have this job got demoted after getting on the guy's nerves.
What should the present be, though?
I have no clue what a girl would want.
I guess it's gotta be sweets or something, right?
This is terrifying!
I should try and cheer him up if I can.
Um... Would you like some?
Candy?
I just remembered.
I think the old flightmaster got on his nerves by treating him like a child!
I never should've offered candy to someone like that!
I guess I've never bought her candy before, have I?
The idea of her cheeks being stuffed with it...
And these are a pretty color, so I bet she'd like that, too.
I'm doomed!
W-We've arrived at your destination, sir.
Uh, was there...
Where do they sell these?
Lord Gregor is waiting for you, sir.
There you are.
It's been a while, Gregor.
Could you introduce me to your fiancée?
Very well, Dale.
May I kill you now?
Surly as ever, huh?
First of all, Rose is not my fiancée.
A gift? You just arrived, and you're already getting ready to leave?
I'm trying to find something a little girl would like.
And if I know you,
you don't know anyone who'd have a clue about stuff like that,
other than your fiancée.
All right. Stay right there. I'll try to make this quick.
Wait... What little girl?
My kid.
She's just the sweetest thing, and so, so cute!
Not to mention, so brave!
When she waved at me with that tiny hand and said, "Be careful"...
Just the thought... makes me wanna cry!
I wanna go home.
Yeah. Let's do that.
Hey, Gregor! Let's move out, like, now!
The faster we wipe these guys out, the sooner I can leave, right?
What in the world happened to you?
You've adopted a devil child with a broken horn?
That she's a devil shouldn't be a problem,
if it's me she's living with.
No, that wouldn't be the problem. Although...
The fact that you are killing members of her race,
from time to time, could become one.
I'll kill humans, too, if that's the job.
I'm relieved to hear that.
We've located the servants of the Seventh Demon Lord,
Demons? Or just some minions?
It's not certain yet.
As you're aware, by entering the service of a Demon Lord,
demons are granted power far beyond what they'd have naturally.
And not all of them are of the devil race.
As I said. Doesn't matter, if that's the job.
I'll be accompanying you.
Seems that the young master still likes to play rough, huh?
Instead of drawing on any noble status,
I've chosen to rely on this to establish myself in life.
My mother was a foreigner, and not the first wife of the duke.
I let my older brothers worry about our house,
and instead, I deal with things freely, which generally works for the best.
Well, having you around will be a relief.
Do try and show some manners around Father, at least.
I know.
The rationale behind sending a small, elite force to deal with the Demon Lord's minions...
is that a coordinated martial action on behalf of the nation
may be seen by the Demon Lord as a declaration of war.
In order to minimize that risk while still disposing of the threat,
an ambush by a small, irregular force should be effective.
I'll be awaiting news of your success.
An assassination, in other words.
Same as it ever was.
According to the scouts,
the target is located on the other side of the mountain.
The other side, huh...
That'd be a piece of cake with a flying dragon, but...
If we wanted them to see us coming, maybe.
This is going to take a few days.
Not enough...
This is all what we expected.
There's plenty of suppl—
Not enough! Not enough Latina!
Not enough what now?
Not enough Latina!
I need more, right now!
Latina—!
Seriously, what the hell happened to you?
It's a shepherd's pie.
I'll give you a discount on your bill, so eat it.
I guess you're pushing orders on people now, then?
And it looks kind of rough.
Well, it's practice.
Practice?
For the little miss?
That's right. It's a pie Latina made for practice.
All right. Just leave it here.
You sold one!
Was it okay?
You can ask them yourself.
Let me know once it looks baked, okay?
Hey, Rita. You're back.
You certainly found a nice apprentice.
Nah... She just looked so lonely, y'know?
Dale's going to come back.
He knows you're waiting for him.
He always lets you know when he's home, right?
That proves it.
He does let me know.
He didn't do that before you showed up, though.
He didn't?
You're special to him.
I'm special to Dale?
Yep, that's right.
Is it okay for me to stay with Dale?
If you were gone, he'd probably make a huge fuss like last time!
They chased me away from where I was born.
They said I was bad.
Rag... died because he stayed with me.
Who's Rag?
Latina's male parent.
My family were the only ones who said I wasn't bad.
But Rag died, so I wondered if I was bad after all.
Dale says I'm a good girl.
He stays with me, even though we're not family.
Dale was the first one do that.
He's special to me.
Have you ever told him this?
If he finds out I'm bad, he might hate me.
I'm scared... of Dale hating me.
I see.
Hey, Latina.
You wanna practice something while Dale's gone?
Practice?
If you could cook for him, he'd be surprised and happy.
I want to!
Teach me, Kenneth! Please!
And it was just the cutest thing you ever saw!
She's ruined another one.
A guardian and his child...
And both of them as your apprentices.
That guy is not my apprentice!
All I did was teach him what he needed to know.
On the other hand, I think Latina might be worth the investment.
She's got a real knack.
Oh... Latina, your friend's here.
Friend?
Thank you!
Enjoy yourself.
Chloe, are we friends?
What brought that on?
I never had a friend before.
Well, a friend is like... Let's see.
Someone around your age who plays and talks with you, I guess?
I've only ever been around family and grown-ups.
I get it. You were never really around people your own age.
Well, that explains it.
Wait, speaking of age!
The reason I came to see you is to ask about school.
School?
We go there every year, in the fall.
Rudy, Marcel, and me.
You're the same age as us, so I was wondering if you'd go.
Wait, how old are you, Latina?
Seven. Almost eight.
Really? I thought for sure you were around five.
I wonder whether Dale knows.
He never asked.
Will Latina be going to school?
Probably?
No. I'm pretty sure that's what'll happen.
That's great!
I'm so glad we'll be able to go to school together!
If you're happy, so am I!
This will be great!
Yeah!
I'd better have Dale enroll her as soon as he gets back.
It's gotten a lot hotter.
The ground itself is hot here, thanks to Ahmar's blessing.
Which attracts dragons during their mating season.
Those dragons definitely belong to the Seventh Demon Lord.
Yeah. No doubt.
That woman's a demon.
Kunil luodov tiera... (Spirits who embody the earth,)
Dale Reki leduuro. Mofusnaato... (I, Dale Reki, entreat you.)
Imu elize (Surge forth as I see fit,)
uorous gufutailev niidop... (and shift your form to swallow all.)
Tiera Egunak! (Earth Metamorphosis!)
Tiela Dale leduuro. (You who embody the earth, by my name.)
Imen kukatta enotos lapus. (I command you to strike at my foes!)
Tuse tolp!
Rurik! Rurik!
That's that.
Yeah.
Here are your drinks.
Can I get a shepherd's pie?
Same here for me!
It'll take a while. Is that all right?
Yeah, of course! I'll wait as long as it takes.
That's what we came here for today.
Two shepherd's pies, coming up.
Uh, Rita, you're not gonna be serving them up, are you...?
Relax.
She's been taking them out herself,
because she wants to see the people who order them.
Here you are.
It's hot, so please be careful!
Missy, you've really got this down!
Thank you, Mr. Amos!
Please, enjoy!
That's what we're really here for, right?
Yeah. It's as if it heals you, somehow.
Might as well chow down.
She's even got a bunch of brutes who never deal with kids wrapped around her finger.
Excuse me.
That was the best shepherd's pie I ever had, missy.
Really?!
Yeah!
Thank you, Mr. Jil!
That might just be the little gal's gift.
I can finally get out of here!
Get me a flying dragon ready, right now!
Latina's waiting for me!
Do you realize you're still on the clock until you've attended tonight's dinner banquet?
Don't wanna! Wanna go home!
Don't you have to select the souvenir from what you had the maids prepare, anyway?
Isn't the whole point that you pick out whatever gift you give?
Good point.
I wonder whether Latina will like it.
I'm sorry, Dale. But I've given up here... in a few different ways.
Latina!
Latina?! Latina! Latina—!
First thing out of your mouth, huh?
Oh, it's just you Rita. Where's Latina?!
She's with Kenneth, okay?
Dale!
Latina!
Welcome home!
I'm back, Latina!
You took good care of the place while I was gone!
Did you miss me? I'm so sorry! I missed you so much!
I missed you.
But I'm glad that you came back okay!
Welcome home!
She really is my source of healing.
I worked hard.
He's gotten worse.
Oh yeah, Latina, I have a present for you.
Wait a second, Dale!
Was two weeks too long?
Maybe if I eradicate all demons,
I'll be able to stick close to Latina.
You must be really exhausted.
She was really brave while you were gone, you know.
I thought she might be lonely in the attic,
so I asked whether she wanted to sleep in our room until you got back, but...
I'll stay in Dale's room.
It feels safe, because it smells like him.
She said.
How...?!
How is she so good?!
So, she was fine?! Nothing happened?!
Well, she did miss you.
But once she had something to focus on, she seemed to be doing better.
Focus?
Dale, I made this.
I wanted you to eat it. I worked hard!
Y-You made this?
I tried hard!
You... You made this.... yourself?
F-For me?!
I'm too touched to bring myself to eat it!
No, just eat it.