Do you have everything?
Yeah.
Remember to talk to your teacher if you need anything.
Okay.
Come straight home, okay?
Okay. I'm going to school now, Dale.
Sure!
I'll see you later, Kenneth, Rita.
Right.
Have a good day, Latina.
I'm going!
Crap!
I forgot to tell her to stay away from strangers!
Hey, Latina!
How does he do this every single morning?
Even though she's been going to class for a while now.
The Little Girl Is Fascinated by the Snow.
Good morning!
Why not just help out around the house?
But I want to get an actual present.
What's going on? You look lost in thought, Marcel.
It's his dad's birth month.
I don't know what present to get him.
Why not think about your budget first?
Yeah, it's best to think in terms of what you can actually afford.
I got my father gloves this year!
I added a little embroidery to them.
Your dad will appreciate it,
as long as it gets across how you feel.
Budget... How I feel...
It sounds even more complicated now!
I'm back.
Welcome home.
What's up?
Did something happen?
Well, um...
I need to ask for something.
Thanks for the grub.
Come again!
Don't overdo it at work.
You bet!
Be careful on your way back.
Yeah, it's starting to get cold at night, too.
Make sure you don't get sick, missy.
Okay!
All right, time for another round!
Latina handles the customers like a pro now!
She might even be a prodigy.
Whether it's cooking or cleaning,
Latina remembers everything after having it explained once.
It's honestly weird how helpless she was at first.
I had to teach her how to handle a knife, and how to wring out a rag...
Simple stuff.
It's not that she couldn't do it, but that she didn't know how to start.
Which means...
What is it?
No one taught her how to do anything,
or maybe she was in an environment where everything was done for her, I'd guess.
You mean me?
Latina, did anyone teach you stuff the way Kenneth and I do now
at the place where you used to live?
Well, it was because nothing was decided yet.
What wasn't decided?
I don't know, really.
But I think—
Um, I don't know!
You're not getting anything out of her now.
Okay, Latina, it's fine! Don't worry about it!
Oh, right. Dale, if it's okay...
Yeah?
Can I go to Chloe's house on my way home from school?
All right, I made it home before nightfall for once!
I bet Latina will be glad!
Latina! I'm home!
Latina's not back yet.
Say what?!
She came back earlier, but then went straight to Chloe's house.
She's been headed there every day lately.
W-Well, I guess it's a good thing she gets along with her friend.
Yeah...
I may have rushed home
at the thought of Latina greeting me with a smile,
but I'm sure that's... more... important.
Yeah...
If you had told her you were going to be home earlier,
she probably wouldn't have gone out.
You don't have to try to make me feel better.
I wasn't, really.
Maybe I'll try to surprise her and get triple the effect of my usual power-up.
You know, just thinking out loud.
He can't even bring himself to be jealous, since it's Chloe.
Oh, come to think of it, her family...
They're tailors. With a good reputation, on top of that.
Well, that explains it.
Just like that, very good.
You learn fast, Latina.
Thank you.
Chloe actually puts in an effort when you come around.
She's got a good talent for it, but...
She gets bored too quickly to practice properly.
I honestly feel as though I owe you!
Stop it, Mom!
Missy, refill please!
Coming!
Two more meunières, please.
On it.
This place is less dead than usual.
Couldn't you say it's more lively than usual, instead?
Pan-baked chicken coming up.
Missy, that one's for me!
Coming!
You guys aren't taking advantage of her, are you?
That's a messed up thing to say.
I pay her a proper wage.
Latina's been officially working here for a while now.
I don't have her working nights because she's a kid,
but she's paid the same as any worker would be.
Hang on. I've never seen Latina with a lot of extra money.
Then she's probably saving it, right?
Now this is good!
Latina...
You...
What's gotten into Dale now?
He looks like he's ready to drop dead.
Mr. Jil, it's really cold tonight, huh?
At this rate, it could snow later on.
"Snow"?
You don't know about snow?
I saw it in a picture book.
It's white and fluffy, right?
That's the girl.
I don't see any horns, though.
Probably broke them off to blend in.
Untraceable kids from other races make for big money.
Shh! Keep it down.
Cash is on the table!
Oh, thanks for coming!
What's wrong?
Nothing...
Well, I better head home, too.
I hope it does snow!
I'll ask the sky for you on my way back.
Where's Dale?
Upstairs.
You're giving it to him today, right? Go on.
Okay!
Latina's been working without telling me.
Is there something she wants?
I usually buy her the things she asks for.
Is she being polite or something? Why so suddenly?
But it's not a bad thing,
so I don't know how to ask her about it.
What's wrong, Dale?
Latina!
If you need anything, just ask, okay?
Or well, you don't need to hold back anything with me, ever...
What's this?
A present. It's a little late, but it's for your birth month.
I made it myself.
A present for Dale?
But Marcel's right, picking the right thing is hard.
Let's see. Lately, gear with this two-headed snake insignia has been popular.
Oh, and for innerwear, there are waistcoats with a flying dragon on the back.
You know a lot about fashion, Sylvia.
Not exactly.
It's just that people where I live won't shut up about stuff like that.
Oh, how about something handmade?
Handmade?
And that's why you've been going to Chloe's house.
I bought the material and thread myself.
I wanted it to be something I made with something I bought.
S-So that's what it was!
Will you accept it, Dale?
Yeah, yeah, of course. I love it!
This is more valuable than any treasure would be to me!
I'm glad!
Thank you so much, Latina! I'm the happiest guy in the world!
Man, today is the best day ever!
Now his head's in the clouds.
Has he finally lost it?
Well, I need money.
Money?
Dale buys anything I ask for and gives me lots of gifts, but...
I can't pay him back.
I couldn't even get him a present for his birth month.
Oh, so you want to get Dale a present.
Yeah. I want to get him something.
And without him finding out about it, right?
Do you think a surprise would make him happy?
I'd really like it.
Is that okay?
Well, if you're willing to actually work hard, instead of just helping out,
I can start paying you.
How about that?
But I'm still just a kid. Am I allowed to work?
Most kids start working as apprentices sooner or later.
An early start won't hurt.
I can work if I'm an apprentice?
I mean... Dale brags about how great your grades are, right?
Being my apprentice is fine,
but you could focus on studying and become a scholar, instead.
Studying is fun, but I think I'll have time to do it when I grow up, if I want.
Because I'm a devil.
Yeah, you're right about that.
I want to learn a bunch from you right now, Kenneth.
Being able to cook as well as you do is my goal!
Well... I'd better work hard too, then.
You, too?
Yeah. If I want to keep being your goal.
But if you do that, it'll be really hard for me to catch up!
How do you like that?!
Latina made this for me, all for me, all by herself!
See?! The embroidery is as good as the real deal!
Wow, missy, that's something.
It's snowing!
Let's build a snowman.
All done!
It's snowing!
So white!
This is amazing! Look, look!
The streets and roofs are all covered in white!
She's been like that all morning.
I doubt she'll be able to focus on work today.
I know it's her first time seeing it,
but I didn't think she'd be this excited.
So cold!
This is amazing! It's beautiful.
Latina.
Dale, look! It's snow!
You wanna go outside?
Can I?!
Sure.
Don't run! You'll slip!
It's in the way...
It's cold!
Welcome home.
I wish I could've played outside more.
If you were out there much longer, you could catch a cold.
The bath is ready.
Thanks.
All right, Latina, time for you to warm up.
Okay!
Imagine how happy she'd be if it piled up a bit more.
It doesn't snow this hard around here, usually.
Back home, I always thought of snow as a hassle.
It could even be lethal.
I've never seen anyone enjoy it the way Latina did.
There's still some snow, so if you're going outside, don't run.
Okay.
And snow can fall off roofs,
so stay away from the edges of the street.
Okay, I understand.
Good luck at work, Dale!
Latina! I promise to slaughter those magic beasts and get back as soon as possible!
Wait for me!
Okay. I'll be waiting.
Gotta love it when someone says something that brutal with a sappy look on his face.
His reactions are like a local attraction at this point.
Have some hot tea, Mr. Jil.
I appreciate it, missy.
On days like this, there's nothing better.
I wouldn't mind if it got colder.
Then there might be more snow!
So what do you think about your fist encounter with snow?
It's so great! Really beautiful!
Oh and then, I went outside with Dale, and we...
What's with this freak blizzard?!
If I brought Latina here...
I wonder how she'd react.
Well, then.
I had fun talking with you, little miss.
I had fun talking to you about snow too, Mr. Jil.
Thanks for the food.
Always glad to have you, Jilvester.
Thank you!
It's still cold, so watch your step.
You realize who you're talking to?
That's...
Did Jilvester forget it?
No need to go after him. He'll be back soon enough.
Maybe I can still reach him!
Mr. Jil!
Whoa, there.
Thanks.
What's the matter, missy?
You forgot this back at the pub.
And you came after me?
I appreciate that.
You're welcome!
You gonna be okay? Can you make it back on your own?
I can. It's a straight walk back.
Well, don't run anymore!
Okay! See you later, Mr. Jil!
Little girl.
Are you adventurers?
That's right.
There's something we need to ask you, though.
Please ask a guard or a policeman instead.
These people... are bad.
Don't be like that.
Damn it!
Don't let her get away!
She's a real catch. Don't bang her up too badly!
What do I do? What do I do?!
Latina, you can't use attack magic, okay?
The only time you're allowed to...
is when you'll get hurt if you don't.
Dale...
All right...
Now I can head home!
Kulado senkulado... (Ebon darkness...)
Something wrong, missy?
Mr. Jil?
Mr. Jil!
I've seen you boys around.
Uh, y'know... We weren't really...
We were just asking the girl for directions.
Are those your last words?
Then die.
What's going on over here?
Oh, it's Jilvester.
Ah, if it ain't the lieutenant of Kreuz's trusty police force.
Looking as dour as ever, I see.
Arrest these two.
We didn't do anything yet!
"Yet." Is that right?
I'll be sure to ask you all about it.
Take them away.
A black market that traffics other races popped up recently.
Sure seems like it.
A devil child like her is a rare sight in human settlements, and a big target.
You're Latina, right?
I've heard a lot about you.
From my daughter, Sylvia.
You're Sylvia's father?
Maybe I should stop by the Tabby Cat myself, someday.
I wouldn't. You're gonna scare all the roughnecks off their booze.
I seriously doubt I'm scarier than you.
Be seeing you.
All right! Today's the day I get triple strength from Latina's smile.
Jilvester?!
Oh! Dale! Welcome home.
What the hell are you doing with my Latina, Jilvester?!
She brought me something I forgot at the pub.
Ain't that right, missy?
Yeah!