Exhausted-Looking Woman

Wait a second!

Right now, you're carrying

too many things with you.

Please come back after

using the Kafra Service

to store some of your items.

[Absent-Minded Boy]

The great serpent

swallowed the sea.

The eagle of the rainbow

swallowed the serpent.

Then snake scales grew on

the eagle, and it slowly died.

[Exhausted-Looking Woman]

Goodness...!

Will you please stop

singing that song?

..................

The little boy quietly

stared at the woman for a

little bit, and then crouched

down and began petting a

dog sitting next to him.

...

......

.........

Woof-woof, have you

heard this song? Mommy

taught me to sing it, you

know. She says it was sung

by people for a long time~

The boy continued speaking

to the dog like an old friend,

ignoring your presence and

acting as if you didn't exist.

Kaanu...

What did I tell

you about ignoring

people's questions!

[Kaanu]

Uh oh, Woof-woof.

Mommy seems upset

for some reason.

I'm sorry, my kid is...

Look, did you want to know

more about that song? Try

not to worry about it: it's just an old children's tune.

.................

The woman's lip tightens

with shame. It's obvious

that this topic makes her

feel very uncomfortable.

Woof-woof, do you know

why Mommy is always

so sad? I wish I knew

why Mommy never smiles...

........

Okay. I can do this

simple thing for you.

Let me recite this song...

...........

Not too many people

come to this remote area.

What brings you all the

way over here, I wonder?

[

Actually, I'm just

trying to learn the

real lyrics of that

song that little boy

has been singing.

That song's lyrics, and

its meaning, can change

from person to person as

time goes on. I suppose part

of the reason is because it's

been handed down orally...

It sounds like such a happy

song, but it's meaning had

changed for me ever since

the accident had happened...

It's been so long, but I don't

think the pain will ever heal.

I'm... I'm sorry.

I don't think I can talk

about it. If I try, I know I'll

relive the horror. Every day

is already a struggle to cope

with the sins I've committed.

I know it's selfish, but

I have a favor to ask of you.

I can't really leave this area,

and seldom do I receive visitors. Would you be so kind to deliver

something to Prontera for me?

I used to live in Prontera,

and ever since the accident,

Father Bamph has been so very

supportive of me. It's not enough to repay his kindness, but please

give these herbs to him for me.

You can find Father Bamph

in Prontera Church. When you

see him, please give him my

warmest regards. I would do it

myself, but because of what I did, I can't return to Prontera...

(Alright then. I guess

I should deliver these

herbs to Prontera Church

before I talk to Rodafrian.)

Father Bamph has helped

me so much. Please bring

that herb pouch to him in

Prontera Church, and give

him my warmest regards.

[Bonnie Imbullea]

Oh, you've come back?

Were you able to deliver

that pouch of herbs that

I gave you to Father Bamph?

Yes, I did. Actually,

Father Bamph sent me

here to ask you a few

things. You see, he told

me all about the royal secret

and, well, your exorcism.

Oh. I see.

You must think

me a monster...

Those poor children

are dead because of me...

N-no! Not at all!

I just wanted to ask if there

was a connection between

the song that Kaanu has been

singing and Jormungand's curse.

After the exorcism failed,

I should have been punished

with death. But the royal family and the Prontera Church took

mercy on me, and allowed

me to live here in exile.

I began to sing this song

to keep myself distracted,

even if it was related to

the Jormungand curse.

You know, now that I think

about it, I do remember hearing

that after the exorcism failed,

a maid found a fragment of a

Red Gemstone while cleaning

the secret ceremonial grounds.

I always thought it

was a little strange.

I wanted to investigate

it, but then I was discharged

from the Prontera Church

after my failure...

A fragment from

a Red Gemstone?

Maybe... maybe it's

evidence that someone

sabotaged the exorcism!

What happened was tragic,

but it would make me feel

so much better if that were

really the truth. Even if the

exorcism was sabotaged,

we can't turn back time...

(Hmm...

I better head back

to Prontera Church

and let Father Bamph

know about this information.)

It's really very

difficult to live

with this guilt.

I was trained to help

people, not kill them!

You tried to comfort

Bonnie Imbullea for a

little while before you

return to Prontera Church.

You tell Bonnie Imbullea

that the deaths of the princes

were not her fault and that the exorcism was probably sabotaged.

However, you keep specifics, like the use of poison, to yourself.

Is that really true...?

Oh, I'm so happy! I really

thought I'd have to live the

rest of my in seclusion with

this horrible shame. Oh, thank

you so much for your help!

Kaanu will be able to

meet other kids his own

age... We can finally live

a normal life. How wonderful...

But wait...

How exactly did the

princes die, then?

There weren't any

wounds on the bodies

from what I remember...

Well, um, I wouldn't know

anything about that, but

Father Bamph and Father

Biscuss are handling the

investigation, and they're

doing their best to find out.

I see. Well, I believe in

them: they're great priests,

after all. Although I may be

forgiven for my failure, I still fear for the royal family...

All I can do for now is pray.

Anyway, I promise that

I won't reveal what I know

about this incident to the

public. And if you ever come

by the mountain again, I hope

you stop by to visit us.

You don't understand

how much the news you've

brought really means to me.

I can finally free myself from

this burdensome guilt...

Thank you, kind adventurer~

Now, you can return to

Rodafrian, the historian

stationed in Morocc.

By your grace and mercy,

please pity the poor souls

and protect the royal family...

Bless us with your light and

may your wisdom guide us...

I guess we've gotten

too used to the peace

and serenity of Mount

Mjolnir. It won't be easy

to leave, even if we're welcome to return to Prontera...

Thank you so much

for helping out in the

investigation of the

princes. I'd never know

happiness again if it

weren't for your efforts.

*Sigh...*