Jasmine...
Jasmine!
I guess I lose.
And that's our fault?!
#3 The King Is Stranded.
Let's go over the situation.
I had taken a commission to capture a mana beast from the Helstea family.
Until I was caught in a storm...
I was on a job from the guild.
There's been a series of fishing boats being lost
in the waters near some farmland,
and I was supposed to investigate the cause... when I was caught in a storm.
You two are pathetic.
It's hard to believe you're A-rank adventurers, like me.
The same thing happened to you!
This is the boat that Jasmine and I were in.
I see.
Hopefully she's all right.
Well, it's in no shape to be of any use! Now what're we supposed to do?
Lucas, are you seriously—
It's fine, Elijah.
But...
We need a boat. Lucas has a point about that.
Obviously!
You can be pretty mature, Note.
If I survived, I have no doubts that she did.
Sylvie, can you hear me?
I can. What's up, Papa?
I'm in a bit of trouble. Could you do me a favor and find Jasmine?
Sure. Where should I look?
By the sea.
You'll wanna look...
Note! If you can hear me, answer! Note?
This is my fault.
Regarding the arachne... frankly, there's still a lot we don't know.
But there have apparently been other, similar cases happening.
There's even more?
A group goes out on a C-ranked job, but encounters an A-rank mana beast.
There's been no shortage of stories like that.
Could the guild be misjudging the jobs?
It's not out of the question.
The three-kingdom treaty has made things confusing for the guild, too.
But there's a chance that someone
opposed to the treaty is causing these accidents.
Not that I have any proof.
As his father, I would honestly rather he stop adventuring because of this.
I don't think Arthur intends to stop.
Well, he gets his stubbornness from Alice.
As things stand, the best we can do is stay on our toes.
When you head out on a quest, be more cautious than ever before.
Jasmine, look after my boy.
I know.
Note!
Master Lucas!
Please, respond!
So much for my luck.
Then you two work for the Wykes.
Yes. We were sent here by the Sapin royal family...
but a storm hit, and we found ourselves here without...
...the young master!
A storm...
Oh, Master, please be all right!
Master Lucas!
Young Master!
A dimensional ring.
I've never seen one in person.
I'd considered getting one myself before,
but even at the lowest rank, they cost several thousand gold.
You don't have one?
Sadly, no.
You two can take care of it from here.
What? You don't even know how to set up a tent?
I could ask the same of you!
Easy, there.
You know your stuff.
My partner taught me how.
Hey, I'm hungry.
Is there no food inside your ring?
I'll take that as a no.
He probably had his underlings collect food.
Do you have anything?
A bit, but with three of us, it'd be gone in one day.
I see. In that case...
This should cover us, right?
Amazing! You can do just about anything, can't you?
Handle the fish, Lucas.
Do a good job cooking them.
Why should I?!
You're the one here who's most skilled with fire magic, right?
Obviously.
So, it's up to you.
I guess I'll have to.
Try to leave enough for us to actually eat.
I know!
Make sure it's actually cooked.
I get it, all right?!
Look at that! Expect nothing less from a Wykes!
They'll be good to eat once the juices start to surface.
You really do know your stuff!
Pay attention!
Not bad at all.
The seasoning is a bit plain, and the presentation is unacceptable,
but I'm willing to compromise.
The fish you cooked is pretty good, Lucas.
Obviously!
Hopefully you'll figure it out faster next time.
You don't have to eat if you'd rather complain!
I wouldn't want that. My apologies, Lucas.
As long as you understand.
Why did you have Lucas handle the cooking?
It's more efficient if we split the labor.
You manipulated him nicely.
I'm amazed you can eat with that thing on.
It is impressive, isn't it?
I did some simple scouting around the island while gathering food yesterday.
To start with, we're the only people here.
I found the boats that you two washed up in,
but they won't help us escape the island.
There are two things we can do: wait for rescue, or find a way back ourselves.
Is there any hope we'll be rescued?
Jasmine is an AA-rank adventurer.
I know she's alive, and that she'll find me.
You really trust her, huh?
Then what about leaving ourselves?
We can't be that far from the mainland.
We should be able to make it.
Neither of those plans will work.
Since we're stuck in this together, I'll enlighten you.
This is the target of my quest.
It can control weather, albeit on a limited scale.
If we run into it out at sea, we'll be done for.
Then the fishing boats...
And the boats we were all in...
That was all thanks to this, most likely.
Considering how dangerous this mana beast is,
it makes sense that His Majesty the king
would bring in the Wykes family to hunt it down.
Do you have any more info on it?
It tends to nest near water's edge,
and claims the surrounding area as its territory.
In other words, it's somewhere on this island.
I'm going to burn it to cinders.
Wait, Lucas.
It'll be more effective if all three of us go.
Just don't get in the way.
Arthur...
What are you doing here?
Arthur's alive, isn't he?
Thank goodness. Arthur...
I'd better hurry.
It's in there.
Sure is.
We can be sure that this is its nest.
Can you start us off with something big, Lucas?
Very well.
I'll put on a display of the power we Wykes wield.
How's that? Impressive?
Yeah. Better than I expected.
Maybe show a little restraint next time!
I may have overdone it. Hopefully its mana core is intact.
Is that...
Get clear! Now!
It's... kind of big.
Yes. Just a bit.
I'll keep it occupied. Whip up another big attack.
I know! I was just about to do that!
I can handle defense!
Right.
Let's go!
Make a fool out of me, will you!
Seriously?!
What the hell is this thing?!
We're not getting anywhere!
My attacks are effective,
but almost instantly undone by its regenerative ability.
I find the biodiversity...
of the world I find myself in fascinating.
It's worth a try.
Let's swap positions.
Lucas, we need backup!
I know!
But who's gonna protect me if it turns this way?!
Are you sure this is a good idea?!
Yeah. Probably.
Probably?!
We don't have any other options.
Fine!
What's wrong, Lucas?
I thought you were from the most powerful family of mages in the Sapin Kingdom!
Do not mock me!
I am Lucas Wykes!
Stick to the plan, Elijah.
Right!
Elijah!
It can't regenerate?
Let's keep it up!
Yeah!
We beat it thanks to you, Elijah!
All thanks to your plan, Note!
And the Wykes family's renown is bound to grow yet again!
There he goes again.
Those with great power
must carry the responsibility and pressure that come with it.
Maybe the concern I show for this young noble is because
he reminds me of myself when I was younger.
What?
Nothing.
That was some impressive firepower.
Of course!
It's still alive.
I'm already exhausted.
How much further can I push this?
There! Arthur!
Dammit!
Stay back! Stay away!
Are you all right?!
What about you, Jasmine? Are you okay?
This is what an AA-rank adventurer can do?
I-I am mildly impressed.
I'm sorry. I should have known what we were getting into.
I could say the same thing.
But...
We're a party, aren't we?
Arthur...
Thank you for coming to save me.
Yeah. We're a party.
Note!
Don't let her get away!
That mana core is mine!
I forgot all about that!
Wait.
Whoa, hang on, you still haven't seen Arthur?
I can't help it. We just seem to keep missing each other.
I know what this is.
Yeah, me too.
Are you scared?
Obviously not!
Fine, then! I'll go right now! Just you watch!
Tessia.
What?
Don't forget to pay for your share.
I can do this.
I mean, I'm the princess of the Elenoir Kingdom.
Visiting a friend I haven't seen in a while is nothing.
Here we go, Tessia!
Can I help you with something?
E-Excuse me!
That girl was an elf.
Looks like other races have started showing up in Xyrus!
Guess that treaty is working out.
That's welcome news to me!
Things seem to be proceeding apace.
Yes. They're performing admirably.
But it's still not enough.
I'll need to find one that's even more powerful...
for the appointed day.