Why did things turn out this way?
Bachel!
Yes?
Just how long is it gonna take you to fix those reports, huh?
I-I'm sorry. No, I mean, I'm sorry, sir.
Is "I'm sorry" the only thing you can say?
I'm sorry.
The numbers for the completion rewards just won't add up.
Then you'd better keep at it until they do!
Are you really level 32?
The number of collections is wonky here.
No wonder the numbers for the completion rewards didn't work out.
He's been here longer 'n me, but he's always makin' careless mistakes.
And I still have to wake up at three for an early mornin' quest.
I haven't had a thing to eat for lunch or dinner.
I can't think. None of the shops are open now.
No.
Maybe that the restaurant I heard just opened recently...
Oh. They're closin' up.
Did they have to choose this exact timin' to close?
Are you a customer?
Thanks, Atelier!
Just one last customer.
Please!
What's this? It's rare for Atelier-chan to ask for anything, isn't it?
What's it going to hurt?
Guess I've got no choice.
Come on. Choose what you're having.
Welcome.
Th-Thank you.
Then, I'll have the daily special.
Sure thing.
Henrietta-san, I cut my bangs! Can you tell?
No, not at all.
What? Take a closer look! I cut off two whole millimeters right here!
The atmosphere is nice.
They must be regulars.
Dennis-san, you can tell, can't you?
I spend my occasional work holidays sleepin', and I don't have any friends.
Nope.
Not you, too, Dennis-san?
But they do have a soft look to them.
Look, I took off two millimeters. Two whole millimeters!
Maybe I should start with goin' to a restaurant like this one.
Order up! One daily special. Thanks for waiting.
I've never seen fried food or sauce like this before!
Go on. Eat up before it gets cold.
R-Right.
It's so good!
I've never eaten a meal this delicious before.
Everything here is delicious!
I recommend the vritra bowl, the sorcery ramen, the gastrocino...
Henrietta-san, you certainly like to challenge yourself, don't you?
Vivia-kun, I am, after all, this restaurant's first customer!
You mean our first moocher.
I let you put everything on a tab, and you got all cocky about it!
Hurry up and get a job!
Well, Vivia-kun doesn't have a job right now either.
Vivia is paying for his food.
I saved some money.
What? You traitor!
Just pay every once in a while, yeah?
Sorry for the ruckus. It's always like this here, so...
Huh? I-I'm sorry.
I just can't stop.
This world has food this delicious...
and a place this kind in it. There should be so many wonderful things, but...
Every day's been a barrage of anger and spite,
and I have to work late into the night.
I wake up every mornin' and feel like I want to die.
Why?
She's just a little bitty thing, but she's already usin' magic!
Bachel, you're amazing!
You've all put up so much money for me. Thank you.
Don't fret about it, Bachel.
Get out there and do us proud!
Go and be a great wizard!
Me?
You've skipped grades and become a sage. You are an exceptionally outstanding individual.
We would very much like for you to stay and become a member of the faculty.
I'm gonna find a position with an adventurin' party so I can make money quickly
and send it back to everyone!
This is the strongest party in town.
Do you think she's all right?
If I remember correctly, she's part of the Night Mist Troop.
You mean the ones that left you to die, Vivia?
Do you know her?
No.
I saw her just once...
But something bothered me.
Boss, there must be something you can do, isn't there?
I feel the same way!
I'm grateful that you think so much of me,
but I'm just a cook.
All I can do is feed people.
In the end, she's going to have to do something about it herself.
I couldn't sleep.
But I can't get up either. If I don't shake a leg and get ready...
I'll be late.
I'm late!
I'm so sorry!
Now look, you!
Don't you feel any shame for keeping us senior members waiting?
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Who d'you think you are, anyway?
Squall!
Are you all right, sir?
It's your fault.
What?
I'd have recovered and handled it! Does embarrassing people make you happy?
I'm sure you'll be satisfied with taking all the credit for yourself.
Th-That isn't what I—
Are you talking back to us?
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
We're better off without you around!
Ankake fried rice, shrimp fried rice, crab fried rice...
I know that you like the fried rice, Vivia-kun,
but you should branch out and try something else on the menu.
Rather than worrying about others,
since you're headed to the guild,
shouldn't you be concerned about whether they have any... jobs?
What's wrong?
It's that girl from yesterday.
Why did things turn out this way?
Th-This... is really bad, isn't it?
Yes.
Maybe there's no point in livin' any more.
One step. I just need to take one step.
Palm!
There are... no towels.
What?
Why are you naked?!
After the shower, there were no towels.
Where are they?
That doesn't mean you should go walking around naked!
It was hot.
I'll find a towel! Wait right there!
Here's a towel.
Boss, are you here?
Dennis-san!
Wait! Why is Atelier-chan naked?!
Are you nudists outside of business hours?!
Don't worry about this!
What's wrong?
First, put some clothes on!
First, a towel! That's only logical!
Why are you only stubborn about stuff like that?
Boss!
I told you, don't worry about... it.
She's...
It's an illness of the heart.
The more earnest a person is, the more they take on, and it busts their heart apart.
That sounds like an illness that Henrietta-san will never need to worry about.
Vivia-kun, shall I start pointing out all your failings?
Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh
These two get along really well.
So, how can she be healed?
The only thing that might help is a long rest.
Is that even possible? She's a member of the Night Mist Troop.
I'll have a talk with them.
Sorry about all of this.
I heard that one of ours is causing you problems.
No, I'm the one who should apologize. I knocked out a couple of your people. Sorry.
I'm the captain of the Night Mist Troop, Hopper. Nice to meet you.
Dennis. I'm the owner here.
I've heard this place has good food.
Well, thanks.
This guy's not leaving any openings.
Level 51.
That's a really high level for your average adventurer.
No wonder they're this town's strongest party.
So, about our Bachel...
Yes, please don't worry. She's resting comfortably right now.
Sorry you've had to handle all that, too.
She's in no condition to be working for you.
I was hoping you'd let her leave your party and get treatment.
Well, that would be a problem for us.
We'll be taking custody of Bachel.
What?
That's her contract.
Did she really sign this terrible contract?
This amount of work isn't something you should give to just one person.
That's the way we do things, you see?
An adventurer is always free to join or leave a party as—
That isn't up to you to decide.
You villain.
You've been working her to the bone and you plan to squeeze every last drop from her.
An adventuring party? Don't make me laugh.
You're just a gang of vicious swindlers!
How upsetting.
This here is our turf. That means we're the law.
If you don't want to face a world of hurt, hurry up and hand Bachel over.
This is the last time I'll ask politely.
I hate this.
Why didn't you let me die?
Someone like me is better off dead.
Dying...
That's something you're free to do.
Atelier...
has also thought of dying.
Everything was taken away. And then there was banishment.
After being sold as a slave...
That's when thoughts of death came.
It didn't seem like there was any good left.
But...
Atelier didn't die.
Something good happened, so Atelier didn't die.
First, eat some delicious food.
You can decide after that.
If you still want to die after that,
then maybe there's no other path left.
Atelier will respect your decision.
But it would be better if you didn't die.
That's what Atelier thinks.
You act like you're pretty important.
Do you think you're a king or something?
Well, it's the truth.
In every dungeon town, the strongest party holds the real power in that area. Why?
Because no one else can match them.
The Silver Wing Battalion is a good example of that.
You're nothing like the battalion.
It's basically the same thing.
Though, unlike the Silver Wing Battalion, who has royalty and great nobles as clients,
our control only extends over this little town.
But, you know...
This is a shabby little place, isn't it?
Seems like it'd burn really well.
Is that a threat?
Of course not!
If a dinky little restaurant like this burned down, I'm sure no one would even notice.
Good evening!
Sorry, today we're—
Dennis! So, you are here!
This is a nice restaurant!
Yes, it has that everyday sort of feel to it.
And you really like this kind of atmosphere, right?
Sorry, but I'm in the middle of an important conversation.
Can we do this later?
What? But I came all the way here from the royal capital!
That's a little cold, don't you think?
Can't you at least serve me one delicious meal?
Who is this girl?
That distinctive crimson armor...
Two red swords.
Hair so red it seems like it's made of flames.
And more than anything else, that embroidery on her coat!
This woman is the vice captain of the Silver Wing Battalion...
Crimson Swiftsword.
Who's this old guy?
Could you not just casually call someone by their nickname?
Hey, how long are you gonna be talking?
That depends on him. Go sit at the counter and wait.
What is the relationship between these two?
So, Captain...
It's not like I want to fight.
Isn't there any way that you could let Bachel leave the party?
Hang on, Dennis!
Who is this beautiful girl? I want her!
That's a boy.
You're the vice captain of the Silver Wing Battalion, Katie-san, aren't you?
Yes. Why?
How are you connected to the boss? I mean, to Dennis-san?
This cooking fool hasn't told you anything, has he?
Hey, Katie! Don't go telling them stuff they don't—
I'll have you know that Dennis...
is a former member of the Silver Wing Battalion...
and he was basically my partner!
...he was basically my partner!
What?!
Pipe down! All of you!
Especially you, Henrietta! How are you even making that noise?
A former member of the Silver Wing Battalion?
It'd be bad to make an enemy of a guy like that.
Captain, what should we do?
Burn it!
Y-Yes, sir!
I'll allow her to leave the party.
This discussion is now over.
If you're all right with that, then...
I'll pray for Bachel's recovery. Now, if you'll excuse us.
That seemed like it could've been trouble.
Could've been. I'm glad it worked out peacefully.
I don't like it!
The nerve of him trying to mess with my Dennis!
I don't remember ever belonging to you.
Should I make it so that guy can't stay in this kingdom?
I know that you have the ability to make that happen,
but don't get too cocky, all right?
Ugh. You're such a stick in the mud.
Though, I like that part of you, too.
So, what do you want to eat?
Now, let's see...
Dennis-sama.
Make the daily special again, please.
Then I'll have the same.
Coming up!
The daily special! Thanks for waiting!
Thanks for the meal!
It's so good!
What's wrong?
Eat before it gets cold.
Y-Yes, sir!
Thank you for this meal.
This really is good!
Today, I hope you'll finish your plate for me.
Yes, sir!
Then, I'll Have the Daily Special
Thank you. That was a treat.
I'm very worried.
To be honest, I don't think I can solve this on my own.
But it's a delicate matter, so I have to be careful who I ask for advice.
Episode 5 It's Too Soon for a Marriage Proposal!
What are you mumbling about?
Vivia! Listen to this!