Your tummy's gotten so big, Rita.
It's moving!
Having such a big tummy... Is it heavy?
It sure is.
And it's done a real number on my back and hips.
Do you want me to cast healing magic?
Thanks for offering,
but I don't want to take it too easy.
You don't?
Having a baby is a big-time job, after all.
Moms are amazing.
This hair ribbon is a good luck charm.
I was told to wear it during our trip.
You can borrow it, Rita.
I appreciate the thought.
But it's okay, considering...
You already gave me this!
Besides, the ribbon was made for you. You should wear it.
It really is lovely, though.
Well, the thing is,
I made a friend in Teathrow, and they helped make it!
I see. You've even got friends over there, now.
A "friend," huh?
Is it the bad kind of friend?
It turns out that there's a phantasmic beast habitat next to our village.
Phantasmic beasts? You're kidding, right?
If an adventurer obsessed with money made a move on them,
I doubt there'd be enough left to bury, afterward.
Even if it was you?
I chatted with the leader of the pack.
And I don't like the idea of having to take him on.
I see.
And that pack leader took a liking to her.
To who?
Latina, who else?
I get it.
So that means her hair ribbon was made from materials provided by phantasmic beasts.
That's quite the accessory.
Among the goods my people produce, it's pretty fancy stuff.
This really is beautifully made.
Helmine?!
We meet again, Dale.
The Young Girl's Wish.
Who's this?
So this is our little mage, then?
I'm not little!
Wh-Why are you here?
I figured you would be coming back soon, so I came to see you.
I'm going to be joining you on your next job.
Say what now?!
Do you have any rooms available?
Yes, we do.
You're not gonna stay here, are you?!
It's what makes sense, considering.
But there are other places you could stay!
We're heading to the royal capital next week, so keep that in mind.
You haven't gotten any better at dealing with her, I see.
I-I don't know that I'd say that.
Aw, and after all those sweet things you used to say?
You haven't changed a bit, even from when I was a rookie.
And yet, you never really showed any interest in me.
Well, I married the type of girl I'm attracted to, after all.
Not mincing any words, are you?
Well, Latina's a girl, too, after all.
Latina?
Dale, do you have another job? Is it going to take a long time?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
I'm gonna be leaving you on your own for a while again.
No, it's okay.
I'll make sure to take care of things while you're gone.
Someone wants to return that hug.
But he won't, because Helmine is here.
I'll wait for you, Dale.
But I wish you could stay a little longer.
Someone seems a little hungry for attention.
It's my fault, since I'm always leaving her for work!
And she tries so hard while I'm gone!
Oh, I see. You're actually the one who's clingy.
Well, I'll see you around, Dale.
Dale...
Is that lady someone you work with?
Yeah. Attitude aside, Helmine is a skilled mage.
You only know her from work?
We're just... work acquaintances. Yep.
Latina?
I'll be bigger when I grow up.
I'm only little because I'm still young.
You're fine as you are, Latina! And cute!
I don't want to stay little!
I want to grow up!
Latina's a girl, too, you know. She can probably tell.
Women's intuition can be scary.
There has been suspicious activity in neighboring territories.
I'm currently escorting my father and brother as they deal with the matter.
As the letter from my father explains,
in the near future, a force will be tasked with subjugating demons.
Your official report on this mission can wait until we convene for that.
To think I'd be teamed up with her...
Latina? Latina?
What is it?
C-Can I... cheer you up?
I'm not in a bad mood.
I'm just focusing on my studying.
Except I've never seen her in such a bad mood...
Dale.
Yes?!
I'm not mad, okay?
So you don't need to be so worried.
B-But...
You don't need to worry.
Well, I'll be downstairs.
Okay. I'm going to keep going until I get to a good stopping point.
O-Okay.
How about lunch when you finish?
Okay!
I really wish I could grow up sooner.
You really ought to hold back on the booze, just in case.
I'm not a kid anymore. I'm not gonna let my judgment get impaired.
I mean... You're over her, right?
I've been over her for a long time!
So bitter...
Well, you're probably more worried about Latina being in a bad mood.
Exactly! Why? Why's she so upset?
Come on, man. She's not gonna be a kid forever.
What are you doing?
Oh, Latina, what were you doing?
Studying. Since school is off today.
That's impressive.
I like studying.
Plus... it helps me not to think about... things.
She's clearly the more mature one.
You seem well, Jilvester.
As luck would have it. I hear something major is going down in the capital.
If you were still in the game, I would've come straight to you for help.
Here is your order.
What's wrong with the little miss?
I'm guessing her.
Oh yeah, she and Dale used to be a thing.
I think it's cute.
I bet she's worried that Dale's gonna be stolen away.
Gotta say... That is still one fine woman.
Get a load of that chest. It's practically spilling out.
Maybe bigger is better after all!
Here, Mr. Jil.
Hey, missy. Appreciate it.
She really is adorable.
I'm working right now.
There are a lot of things you can only enjoy when you're a kid.
So I wouldn't be in a hurry to grow up.
I'll grow up soon!
And she's staying at the Tabby Cat?
Yeah.
Is this lady a mage?
Do you know her, Sylvia?
She talked with my dad and wanted to know where to find adventurers.
She's supposed to be famous in the capital.
She's always talking about how little I am! It's terrible!
I might be an apprentice, but I'm still working.
And she says I'm a little kid!
I wish I could grow up faster.
You can't help it. We're still kids, after all.
And we're going to grow up, whether we like it or not!
If I were grown up, I wouldn't have to stay home and wait.
I bet I could know even more about Dale.
Well, you are pretty little, Latina.
I've already grown!
Rudy!
Don't!
See? You wouldn't be so worried if you weren't actually little.
You even talk like a baby!
Like a baby...?
I know that compared to Rita and Clarissa...
Even Grandma, I'm different, but...
Atia! Maya's!
So I'm like Maya?!
Hey! Latina?!
What's wrong?!
Latina!
Kenneth...
What's up?
When I get older, will I get bigger?
You're already taller than you were when you first showed up.
But I might not be very big, even after I grow up.
Rag used to say I took after Mov.
"Mov"?
Yeah.
Mov was small, so I wonder whether I'm going to stay small.
Who's Mov?
My female parent.
My mother.
What was she like?
The color of my hair and eyes are the same as Rag's,
but the shape of my horns and face are supposed to look a lot like Mov's.
Hers were little, even though she was grown up.
Uh, Latina...
What?
When you're talking about your mother being little, what do you mean?
Her chest.
Maybe you should talk to Rita about this?
Rita's not big, either!
I can't talk about it with someone who's not big.
I asked Mov why she was little once,
and she almost pulled my cheeks off!
Okay, okay. I get it.
Well, let's see.
Maybe you could drink more milk?
Will that make me bigger?!
Y-Yeah. That's what people believe, anyway.
Got 'em!
Wendelgard, my friend...
What is it?
This is your doing, isn't it?
Wanting to test your abilities,
and knowing to ask for help is a strength, I'd say.
The little pup is bound to have a bright future.
And maybe Latina will come along whenever the homesickness strikes.
You... You think?
There! Going to Latina now!
Ever since Helmine started staying here,
Latina's adorable smile has been gone.
Give me back my reason for living!
But I can't chase her out for something like that.
This sucks.
Still drinking?
Are you off to see an ex or something?
Will you be jealous if I do?
Of course not.
I just wanted a drink before turning in.
You really oughta just pick a guy to settle down with.
To hear that from you...
You really have gotten older.
Well, for me, it's been a long time.
You might be right.
Kenneth!
Can I get something to drink?
Here you go.
We're closed, so you two enjoy yourselves.
Thank you!
Come on, Kenneth!
Just keep it down!
It's a bad idea...
To try and fit us into the kind of sense your lives make.
Is this a lecture?
More like advice.
Races with long lifespans....
Dedicating your life to one person is talked about as if it's something beautiful,
but it's not realistic.
Are we supposed to spend the rest of our lives in mourning when they pass on first?
That's just cruel.
Which is why a lot of us don't have a special someone.
Because the more you care,
the more painful goodbye becomes.
There's a special kind of pain and wisdom that comes from a long life.
You're that girl's guardian right now, aren't you?
If I die someday, will you help her out?
I certainly won't.
So if you care about her, try to live as long as you can.
See you, Rudy!
Yeah. See you around.
See you tomorrow!
I'm leaving!
Hold on!
We won't be spending every day together for much longer, huh?
Once fall arrives, that's it for our two years of studying at an Asfar school.
What're you going to do after we graduate?
Help my mom with tailoring work.
I'm going to order clothes from you with my pay from the Tabby Cat, okay?
Yeah!
I'll make something special that'll look great on you!
What about you, Sylvia?
I'm going into the temple of Akhdar.
Don't Akhdar's priests travel all over the world?
Then we won't get to see you much anymore...
The Tabby Cat has an Akhdar's flag on it,
so there should be plenty of ways to stay in contact.
And then one day, I hope to go to Vassilios!
Isn't that...?
Yeah. It's the devil race's nation.
Oh, I need to head home first today!
Do you have something to do?
Dale's going to the capital soon, so I'm helping him get ready.
See you!
Rudy!
L-Latina...
S-So about the other day...
I wanted to say I'm sorry.
What for?
Y'know... Saying you're little. And a baby.
I'm not worried about it.
Oh, I said it again.
You're fine the way you are.
It's more... like you, I guess.
You know, today I was talking with Chloe and Sylvia.
What are you and the others going to do when school is over?
Marcel said he'd be working at his parents' bakery.
Maybe I can get Marcel to teach me how to make bread.
He loves baking as much as he loves eating, so probably.
Anthony says he's going to move onto the next level of school.
I wonder what kind of things they study.
Maybe I can ask him someday. What about you, Rudy?
I'm gonna join the town guard.
The town guard?
That's the only thing around here
that can compete with the adventurers, after all.
What did you say?
S-So what you do is join a reserve squad,
where they train you to join the main force!
There are lots of town guards who come to the Tabby Cat, too.
I'll tell them to look out for you!
Aw, you don't have to do that.
S-So, what about you?
What're you going to do?
I'm...
I want to grow up soon.
You can take all the time you need, you know.
But I still want to.
I was basically forced to grow up as fast as possible,
so I wish Latina would take her time.
When will you come home this time, Dale?
I think in a month.
Two, maybe, if things go poorly.
I'm really sorry.
No. It's okay.
It is, huh?
Dale! Dale!
I'm not leaving you.
(Problem, none.)
Rainedo merubolbu.
It's okay.
It's... okay...?
Do you remember? That was the first time you spoke our language.
Yeah. I remember.
Oh, Latina!
What is it?
You want to go out tomorrow?
We can go out?
Yeah. Since we won't get to spend any time together for a while,
just the two of us.
Sure! I want to go out.
It started pouring out of nowhere!
Sorry, Latina.
That's okay! This is a lot of fun!
But where are we going?
We're almost there!
And the second we arrive, it clears up.
Dale, isn't this...?
Yeah.
We haven't been by since we got back from Teathrow, right?
I figured he'd want to see you every now and then.
So he can see how much you've grown.
I'm probably going to die before she does.
But until then, I promise to keep her safe.
So, please, even if I do pass away,
look after her.
You should be able to find happiness.
You're allowed to be happy.
Fate will protect you.
So please... please be happy.
I'll be watching you, from now on... beyond the rainbow.
Latina!
I'm sorry! I'll let you know as soon as I can head back!
Okay.
Kenneth! Rita! Look after Latina for me!
I'm more worried about you.
By the time you get back,
Latina's probably going to be a big sister.
Do you think the baby's a boy or a girl?
Either way is fine, as long as the baby's healthy.
I'm going now.
Have a safe trip!
One more time before I go...
You really are starved for attention, aren't you?
I guess I'm going now.
Okay. Good luck with work!
If it weren't for you, I could've hugged her three more times.
Why exactly do I have to work with you, anyway?
Hey, Helmine, don't!
Latina!
Be a good girl!
I want to grow up.
This person who I love saved me.
I thought I was going to die in that forest.
But the last thing Rag asked for was for me to live,
so I thought I had to try to survive.
And then I found someone who saved my life, body, and soul.
The first person who ever hugged me and told me that he loved me other than my family.
He took me to a safe, warm place where I could be at home.
Rita! Are you okay?!
I think it's time.
Kenneth!
I love you all so much.
Rita?!
Get the doctor, quick!
Right!
I've been gifted with so much,
so I want to be able to give back.
Like that person, who's nicer than anyone I know...
I want to be able to save someone.
Rita! You did it!
There are things that I can do now
that should be easy once I'm grown up.
What do you think Latina's up to?
Good question. I wonder.
She's got a good head on her shoulders, in spite of how much my brother spoils her.
She certainly does.
Latina's a really good girl.
I'm sure she's fine.
Yeah.
I'm sure the two of them will be fine.
When he's sad, or in pain...
If I were an adult, I'd be able to tell.
What are you guys doing? Honestly!
A bunch of grown men staring googly-eyed at a baby...
Latina?
Latina!
It's good to see you again!
I don't want to just be a little kid who's always protected.
Atia!
Ow...
I want to be able to support him.
Maya, calm down.
Huh? Where's Dale?
I can't do those things now because I'm a little kid.
But I ought to be able to, once I'm grown up.
So I hope...
that I can grow up soon.
And then... I know...
Welcome home, Dale.
I'm back, Latina.