Pumpkin Scissors
Episode 19
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At my grandfather's retirement home,
I came in touch with books of heroic epics gathered from all over the world.
Although there were many books I could not understand,
I was dragged deeper and deeper into these heroic epics,
for I knew heroes really existed.
The hero that I had the most respect for,
with a gentle yet sad expression,
left me with a message.
I bet you're thinking about work again.
No.
I will be wed.
Are you really getting married?
I am only leaving for a few days.
Oreld, I name you acting-commander during this time period.
Alice.
Alice!
I knew you were thinking about work!
No.
Make sure you get to speak about your engagement with Lord Leonir tonight.
For all the delays you've caused the process,
you will have to start making up for them tonight.
I will.
I am here tonight to resume the talks.
Big guy.
Hey, big guy!
Y-Yes, sir!
Quit daydreaming.
I'm done peeling the skin off of these potatoes.
F-Forgive me.
Master Sergeant, here you go.
Wow...
Oreld is skilled...
Maybe the LT's news was really a shock for him?
It's not like she's getting married today or tomorrow.
This is just a guess,
but maybe he liked the LT.
Who knows.
I think it's a bit different.
Corporal, could you hold me up a bit?
O-Okay...
It's hot!! The steam!
We don't have to worry too much, either, if he really does have a crush on her.
In his case, though, I figure it must be some kind of irreplaceable feeling.
Don't cut!
What'd you say, punk?!
I said, don't cut!
You quit lining up over and over again!
All right, all right, enough.
Don't be fighting over stupid reasons.
We're all mature grown-ups.
Get lost, soldier!
You guys sure have it good!
You get to eat good stuff every day!
You're no different than those people up there!
I heard they're throwing a ballroom party tonight,
wearing nice clothing,
eating good food,
drinking good wine...
...as if they're showing off to us while we line up for rations...
That will piss people off.
What do you have to say?!
Huh, yo!
God, don't say this stuff to me.
How about you all go complain to them personally right now?
Nah...
We won't go that far...
Y-Yeah...
Sorry for losing our temper...
What's with that reaction?
Did it go well?
Well, yeah.
Sorry...
We're usually set up in a different park,
but our superiors suddenly gave orders to change locations.
It's really just a bad coincidence for the ration distribution and the ballroom party to be on the same night...
No, the fault belongs to us soldiers.
We can't do anything else but give supplies...
...to you people that are working hard in social welfare organizations.
Oh, don't say that.
You're even helping us peel potatoes,
and you're very good at it.
I've peeled tens of thousands of them inside the stockade.
I wonder if the LT's arrived already.
Dearest Alice!
Lord Schultz.
I have been waiting for you!
Has Lord Leonir arrived yet?
I'm not sure.
I haven't met him yet.
I see.
Ah, please accept these-
Alice...
Alice sure isn't being sociable.
You should make a decision soon, eh?
Decision?
It's the three princesses of the Malvin family.
I heard the two elder ones have already married.
No, the families they married still allow them to carry the Malvin name.
Ah, to emphasize that they've become relatives of the Thirteen Appointed Families.
So, is that third princess becoming the next head of the family?
No, actually, there's some interesting rumors going around.
This atmosphere makes me angry every time.
It's only in the beginning.
It'll calm down right away.
Shall I bring you some food?
No, I shall be fine.
Where have you left behind your heart?
Whenever you come to these places,
you always let out a protesting sigh.
Have you ever noticed?
You have never smiled in front of me, Alice.
That isn't-
I've always been wondering who are the people you would smile at.
Would it be Lord Leonir?
No, that's not correct.
And that's when it came to me.
You always leave your heart in Section III.
I-
Let me tell you honestly.
I am jealous of Section III.
Right now, as you look at these dishes,
you have Section III in your mind, right?
Why if it isn't the famous three princesses of the Malvin family?
You two, I'll be fine here.
It sure is rare to see all three princesses in dresses together.
Who's this old fart?
Marquis Paul.
The director of our country's Economic Development Branch.
Schultz, long time no see.
I am humbled.
Oh, pardon me, pardon me.
If you'd forgive me, Schultz.
My, my, the pizza tonight sure is excellent.
Please forgive my disrespect.
This is my first time meeting with the next head of the Malvin family.
Well met.
Yes.
I've caught you, my princess.
Lord Leonir.
Look, it's Leonir Taylor!
I've heard he has created three extremely successful businesses this year!
He's handsome and he's successful at work! How wonderful!
He surely is the young lion of the financial world.
This is so vexing!
Why does a little girl like her get to have him?
Ah, but that rumor-
We may have a chance now, too!
My princess.
How about we have some champagne over there?
Be strong.
Give us a report afterwards.
Alice...
Do pardon us, Schultz.
Lord Leonir.
What is it, Princess?
You have heard the rumors, right?
I will soon no longer be the princess you are thinking of.
I, Alice L. Malvin,
will likely be stripped of my title as the next head of the family in a few years.
The rumors of your baby brother are true then?
While he has not been introduced to the public yet,
he is already five years old now.
Ever since my current mother gave birth to my brother,
Father seems to have made up his mind.
If my brother should become the head of the family, the Malvin family would no longer need to take in grooms.
Neither would the Taylor family reap any benefits for taking me in.
Right now, it wouldn't tarnish the reputation of the Taylor family.
This is my own judgment, but-
You want to annul our engagement?
How arrogant of you.
Is this how the Thirteen Appointed Families are like?
Yes.
This is how the Thirteen Appointed Families are like.
I am shocked,
not at the arrogant way you talk,
not at the way you speak lovingly of a brother that you should be hating,
not at the way you alone would bear all the ensuing disgrace,
but I am shocked as a gentleman that you do not appear to even feel sorry for our engagement.
Ahh... no...
You are a very charming man, Lord Leonir.
That's all right.
Let us stop this questioning.
However, answer me one thing please.
Even as you know your brother will become the head of the family,
why have you been able to maintain your fervor as the next head of the family?
There's no special reason;
because I am the next head of the family right now.
No, but you will lose that title in a few years, right?
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking.
If there's no meaning to something that'll eventually be lost,
then there's no meaning to your life either, right?
Whether it's because of time, illness, or the blade,
your life will eventually be taken.
Then, will you take your life now?
It's the same thing.
You sure are...
You sure are unique!
Forget about annulling our engagement!
I have made up my mind that I will not let anyone else have you.
My princess.
Umm, I cannot drink alcohol-
I would like to look after you.
They seem to be having quite some fun.
But she is not smiling.
What?!!
Marquis Paul...
What happened, Marquis Paul?
What do you think?!
I was asking for the recipe of this canape since it was so delicious,
but he said it uses a paste made from acorn!
Acorn!!
We're lacking in supplies, so...
And we made sure we processed and prepared it well-
Acorn is what animals eat!
It's acorn...
Oh gosh, didn't you say it tasted delicious when you had some earlier?
You said it, too!
Don't think you can ever work inside the capital again!
B-But...
This tastes wonderful.
Very well, I'll hire you.
You stupid girl!!
Don't pick things off the ground and eat them...
But Sisters,
this canape is a nice dish that the chef prepared under lack of supplies-
The canape may be nice, but the floor's dirty!
Even so, you didn't need to hit me like that.
Alice.
What is it, Lord Schultz?
That was a wonderful smile from you.
It was really natural and lovely.
Lord Schultz?
You have no idea how much that chef has been saved by your words and your smile.
I now understand somewhat the meaning to Section III's job.
I want to know even more about what you aim for.
To achieve that, I shall leave you for a while.
I thank you, dearest Alice.
Lord Schultz...
Section III...
Alice L. Malvin...
What exactly have you seen in this cold and harsh world?
Done and done.
A job well done.
Big guy, tell the kiddo to start packing up, too.
Yes, sir.
It's only a small part of the whole picture,
but this is the war relief you've accomplished.
You're not going to eat, Mom?
Mom is already full.
So, eat my part.
Okay!
The frostbite hurts.
Mom, look, look!
That's great, isn't it?
Thank you very much.
Thanks, Mr. Soldier!
Okay!
There's nothing left for Mer-kun.
Master Sergeant...
What should I do?
You shouldn't do that, Corporal.
I understand how you feel, but...
Here, done!
Thanks!!
I'm sorry.
Next time, you won't even have a coat to wear.
Of course, that feeling is very important.
I've made the same mistake many times already,
but whenever we give out rations,
I always give too much to the poor children.
So, Corporal, you should-
Huh?
What am I doing?
Am I expecting something to happen?
Do I want to achieve something?
"I can accomplish many things"...
To be able to say, "I can accomplish many things," when the 2nd Lieutenant eventually leaves Section III...
Oh, there's no way something could-
Men!
Are you done eating your last supper?
Yeah!
We've made up our minds when we saw the lights of that ballroom party!
We can't let this go on!
I have in my hands documents that comrades have sent me!
Documents that are evidence of embezzlement by Director of the Economic Development Branch, Marquis Paul!
By dawn tomorrow, every media agency will have received a copy of it.
But that by itself is not enough!
There needs to be one more blow!
Why not let us deliver that blow?
I need to report this to the Sergeant Majors...
We will most definitely be arrested and executed.
But one more blow!
One more blow...
...against Paul and those nobles!
Mer-kun, the evil plotters are finally making their moves.
Yet, I have to sit in the office on this snowy night.
Hurry and go save Alice, Corporal!
Next time, "Enter the Performers."
Come get us if you dare!