Superior Cross Volume 1

Bah, I never bothered posting this here, because there wasn't a ready-made entry for it. Now it's done.
Scanlations for this volume and the second one is available from Enxame.
Third volume will follow shortly.
Additional note: the canon (and highly counter-intuitive) spelling for Rocci's name wasn't available at the time the first volume was released.
It has been since corrected in the script here, but not in the corresponding scanlation.
--------------
003
Narrator!Sheyla: This is a world where man and monster war against each other.//I'm Sheyla./And I'm a monster.//I'm with the hero, on a trip.

004-005
Story 1. Prologue

007
Exa: Sheyla, you're a bit heavy. You don't mind getting off?
Sheyla: ZZZ~~~
Exa: Faking sleepiness, are we? I know you are. You said only 5 minutes. Well, it's been 5 minutes already.
Sheyla: Don't wannyaa. I'm tired. You can't expect me to recover in just 5 minutes.[tn: Just like Maou and Demon Lord, I'll be using "meow" and "nyaa" alternately.]
Exa: 5 minutes.
Sheyla: BLOCKHEAAAD!!*pang*
Narrator!Sheyla: This is the hero, Exa. He looks nice enough, but he can be straight-laced and stubborn to a fault.
Exa: Ah.
*peeved...*
*BAOM*
Exa: Hey, Sheyla!! Don't take out your frustrations on the landscape!!
Lakshri: Say, Sheyla-chan./Forget about this uncouth individual's back.

008
Lakshri: You can have mine, if you want to.
Narrator!Sheyla: This is Lakshri. Not halfway bad, but he's also an incorrigible womanizer.
Angelica: That again? Don't you ever stop...?
Narrator!Sheyla: That's Angelica. Tiny and cute-looking.
Lakshri: Now that you mention it, you did weigh a ton.
Angelica: I'll blow you off into oblivion!!*BOOM*
Lakshri: AARGH
Narrator!Sheyla: As it turns out she's among the scariest ones out there.
Narrator: She did the exact same thing, though.

009
Rocci: Snort.....*bonk*
Narrator!Sheyla: This is Rocci. She's been traveling with us for some reason, but honestly, I have no idea what's going on through her head.
Bird: Chirp.
Rocci: It's nothing. My bad...
*glint*
Rocci: ........
Narrator!Sheyla: On top of it, I feel like she's observing me or something. She's not all that good at it.//The 5 of us are all on a trip to defeat the Demon Lord.

010
Woman: AAAAAAAAAH.
Rocci: A female voice?!
Angelica: Over there!! She's being attacked by a monster!!
Exa: We need to go save her...!!*baf*
Lakshri: What?! Did you say "woman"?!

011
*swish*
Exa: ?!
*flomp*
Lakshri: YAHOO

012
*STAP*
Lakshri: Angelica. Rocci. You do your thing!!!
Angelica: Air Cutter.
*kabom* *tap*
*tak tak tak tak*

013
*stap*
*stap*
*thump*
*SBAAAAAAAM*
*Grrrrrr*
Narrator!Sheyla: Ah, yes. I haven't told you the reason why a monster like me is traveling with this bunch.

014
Narrator!Sheyla: They never kill monsters at all. For any reason.
Monster: Grrrrrrrr
Narrator!Sheyla: Once they defeat the Maou, under whom monsters are rallied.
Monster: grrrrrr
Lakshri: Don't worry. You're so small he won't be coming after you anymore.*startle*
Narrator!Sheyla: They want to create a world where monsters and humans can live in harmony.//The Demon Lord is the hero's only enemy.
Lakshri: Are you alright, little miss? Now that I'm here, you need not worry./Give it another 10 years and you'll grow into a real beauty. Come see me when that happens.
Angelica: Hey there. Lakshri.
*pop*

015
*poink poink*
Lakshri: Monster?!//Duh? So he attacked you despite the two of you being of the same kind?
Exa: Lakshri...
Lakshri: Yikes?!
Exa: Have you just... stepped on me?
Lakshri: (Revenge for being unable to carry Sheyla on my back...)/Eh?! Must have been you imagination.
Exa: Dang it.......
*poink*

016
Exa: Heal.......//You don't have to be afraid. We have no intention to harm you, even if you're a monster.
Lakshri: But you did look quite scary earlier.
Girl: It's healed.
*grin grin*
Narrator!Sheyla: A real bunch of patsies.........

017
Girl: Thank you for saving me./Erm... This is all I have, but take it with my thanks.
Everyone: Berries...?
Girl: Ah... I knew these wouldn't be quite enough...
Exa: Thank you. We can eat them later.
*beaming*

018
*swish*

019
*SNAP*

020
*zzz*[tn: Penultimate panel. Look closely.]

021
Girl: Hhe hhe hhe... Looks like everybody's sleeping.//Didn't you ever learn not to put something you got from a stranger to your mouth...?*tchh*
Girl: Hero-sama. What a simpleton you make........
*crrrr*
Girl: Aaah... I wanna murder you so badly I can't help myself./The moment of the kill is the sweetest of all... Now, how should I proceed?*crack crack crack*

022
Girl: Shall I bite you head off.........?//No, that'd be boring./I wanna see you suffer more./Yes. I know.//I'll hurt you enough so that you can't move. Then, when you come to your senses/I'll kill your companions one after another...//As you see them die, you can have a good idea of what fear tastes like./You will be the last one to go. Kh kh kh.

023
Girl: UGH?!!
Sheyla: A simpleton....? Indeed. The hero's not exactly bright.*crack crack*
Sheyla: But I don't wanna hear that from you./You bloody simpleton........

024
*grrrrr*
*swoosh*
Monster: ?!!
Sheyla: Your cronie from earlier? ... That was easy to figure out.
*CRACK*
*whack*
*BAM*
Girl: What the heck is going on?!

025
Sheyla: I fed him those berries of yours, and he didn't even notice./Ahahaha./Brainless as they come.
Girl: Why, you!!
*shrrrr*
Sheyla: ?!//Gh./I can't get away...?
Girl: I'm gonna swallow you whole.*gnah*

026
*GAPE*
*bom*
Girl: Aaagh.*Sbam*
Sheyla: Certainly you didn't expect me to be undone that easily?*teeter*
Sheyla: I knew about the berries' sleep-inducing effect, but I didn't tell the hero. Why do you think that is...?
Girl: Beats me.//(She doesn't seem weak at all. But maybe I can get away...? What a joke. I'm being kicked around by my prey.)
Sheyla: See, the hero won't kill anyone, human or monster. He's always like don't kill this, don't kill that. A real bummer.

027
Sheyla: I wanna stay around him, so I listen, but I've been feeling all rusty, as of late...
Girl: ?!
Sheyla: All the stuffiness is getting to me.//That's why I let him sleep. It was intentional./It's gonna be a lot more fun that way, don't you think?//Surely you can see where I come from.........?
*BAOOM*
Girl: AAAAAAARGH.

028
*rustle rustle*
*Dash*
Monsters: RAAAAH
Sheyla: Attacking by surprise and all at once, are we?

029
*DUUUN*
Monsters: Uuuh......
Sheyla: It's pointless./Pointless. Don't bother.
Girl: You're strong... Why are you so powerful?*teeter*
*grab*

030
Sheyla: Say... I could kill you easily, but you don't wanna die, yes? Do you?
Girl: I... I don't wanna die...
Sheyla: I see. Must be the same for all of you guys.../You don't care about others, but you value your own lives. We have that much in common.

031
Sheyla: Thank God...//See, it's kinda boring to kill off people who already have a death wish.

032
Girl: Hic.../Spa... spare us...!!
Sheyla: Not happening.
*BAAOOOM*
Monsters: AAAAAAAAARGH
Sheyla: ......../........ Oh, well.

033
Sheyla: I merely knocked you guys out, but I don't think you're gonna try anything else against us after that little lesson in terror...//You asked me why I was so strong earlier, yes?
*squeeze*
Sheyla: I'm gonna tell you.

034-035
Sheyla: I am the Demon Lord. That's why.

036
Sheyla: I'm gonna kill off the hero eventually.//So until that day comes/I won't let him die to anybody else.

037
*rustle rustle*
Exa: SHEYLAAAA//I wake up and I find a huge hole into the ground. You've been going wild on the landscape again!/What was the sudden rampage for?/And why didn't it wake me up?
Sheyla: I... I don't know what you're talking about-meow. Exactly what do you mean?

038
Monsters: Uuuuh...
Exa: You lie!! If this isn't one of the craters you open at every given opportunity, I don't know what is!! So why are you lying?!
Sheyla: I... I, eeeer.../(Crap. I can't exactly tell him why I've opened that crater.//That's why I came up with a suitable lie. But you figured it out./You should be thanking me! But I guess that ain't happening...!!)*peeved*
Sheyla: Damn it!!
Exa: Don't you run away. I'm not done talking.
Sheyla: Don'tcha come after me, stoopid.
Exa: What do you mean, "stupid"...?!!
Narrator!Sheyla: I am the Demon Lord.

039
Narrator!Sheyla: And I'm on a trip with the hero, in order to kill him someday/but now I can't anymore.
Exa: I said wait!!/You've got a bruise on your hand!!//And here I was, trying to heal it for you.//Come on!!*grip*
*sbaom*

040
Exa: Sorry!! I didn't mean to pull that hard...!!*bolt*
*CLASP*
Exa: Why are you holding on to me...?/I'm not taking you on my back.
Lakshri: Ah. I feel so cheated. If you wanna hug someone, Sheyla-chan, try me.
Angelica: You're really incorrigible.

041
Sheyla: I don't want you... to see my face...
Exa: Why?[tn: When they said he was a simpleton, they weren't lying.]
Sheyla: .......
Exa: You wouldn't get hurt like that if you stopped doing all these bad things./(Maybe she was hit in the face...? Is she okay...?)/Nevermind. I'm gonna heal you...
Narrator!Sheyla: I can't kill him

042
Narrator!Sheyla: Because I've fallen in love with him.

043
Narrator!Sheyla: The hero is kind, but also stuffy, and an easy mark./Not a day goes by when I'm not left not knowing what to do with him. A real pain in the bum. He gets on my nerves...//An idiot who can't even tell left from right. Cold like dead fish. A cretin.
Exa: Is she bad-mouthing me...?
Narrator!Sheyla: Stupid. Stupid...//But for some reason*pat pat*
Exa: Helloooo. You're healed already. Can you hear me? Let me have a look at your face, now. It needs healing too, right?
Narrator!Sheyla: I've fallen in love with the guy...
Sheyla: Don't wanna. Dummy. You freak.
Exa: Whaaaat?!

044
Sheyla: (Aaah. So annoying.//I'm the Demon Lord, ya know./Yet you've done pretty much everything to piss me off, by now.//Like yelling at me.)Haa.//(.......Wait/That's right!! Why am I listening to him at all?!)*gasp*
Sheyla: (I mean, I even saved his life, despite all the trouble he's causing me. And I didn't even kill those monsters, because you've asked me not to./Why am I getting yelled at in spite of all this?!

045
Sheyla: (And he called me a liar, too...!!/Well, I did tell a lie, but it was a well-meaning one!!//That's right!!/I'm not a liar!!!//Aaah. Being called a liar even though I didn't tell a lie? Now I'm mad.)*chirp chirp chirp*
Sheyla: That, and I'm weak at the knees, in front of him.//This won't be settled until he makes an apology./I want him to apologize!!But I don't know how to talk him into it!! Hell, I'm pissed. I wanna run amok, but I can't.*peeved peeved peeved*

046
Lakshri: Hey. Sheyla-chan. Sheyla-chan.
Sheyla: (Well, he did heal my hand)
Lakshri: ............
Sheyla: (But he healed that other monster too... If that ain't funny.)//Haaa.
Lakshri: (Uh? Was Sheyla-chan pouting?)
*bonk*
Lakshri: What are you doing?!!
Angelica: Don't "what are you doing?!!" me. You've done something bad to Sheyla-chan, haven't you?!!
Lakshri: I haven't.//Exa! It's you!! Whatever you did, Sheyla-chan's all weird, now. Apologize!!
Angelica: Eeeh? It's Exa-sama's fault?!
Lakshri: Yeah. No doubt about it.

047
Angelica&Lakshri: Apologize and cheer her up...!!
Exa: (The... these two get along pretty well...)/Um, Sheyla.*peeved* *gasp*
Sheyla: .........//..........*ignores*
Exa: Uh...? She's ignoring me? Sheyla, do you want something...?
Sheyla: .......... ignores.
Exa: How about we have whatever you want for dinner tonight?/......../Alright. If you want something, anything, just say so.*peeved*
Sheyla: Humph.
Exa: ..........

048
Exa: (Well, no./What the heck am I playing at...?)//Excuse me.......//I've reprimanded you harshly... and for no good reason.../I won't just dismiss whatever explanation you have anymore. >Probably... No, for sure... Though it might still happen every once in a while...<//I'm really sorry...
Sheyla: ..........//When you said I could ask for anything, did you mean it?
Exa: Yeah.

049
Sheyla: So take me on your back./Till our next destination.*tilt*
Sheyla: By the way, I opened that crater in the ground for no good reason. I was in a bad mood, and that's about it.
Exa: (SHE........)
Sheyla: And don't forget about tonight's meal
Exa: (SHE GOT ME COMPLETELY...!!!)

050
Narrator!Sheyla: How long will this happiness last?
Lakshri: Ah. Sheyla-chan, I can carry you forever, if it makes you happy.
Angelica: You really have a problem.
*doze*
Exa: She fell asleep?!
Narrator!Sheyla: I want it to continue for as long as possible.
Flashback!Sheyla: I'm gonna kill off the hero eventually.
Rocci: You're really the Demon Lord, after all... No. You were from the beginning. I thought you were, but now I've been able to hear it from you.//Then I have only one thing to do./Look out for a opening, and wipe you out of existence..........[/end

051
Story 2. Exa

052
Sheyla: (I am the Demon Lord./I'm on a trip with the hero.//Heroes and Demon Lords aren't compatible.)/Yawn.../(In truth, he's a mortal enemy, but I couldn't help taking an interest in him.//The Hero is perfection made man.)*tap tap tap*

053
*cling*
Narrator!Sheyla: Good reflexes.
Angelica: Exa-sama. I've found plenty of delicious-looking berries.
Lakshri: Heeey, Exa. The fire is ready.
Rocci: Hero-sama, I've found some medicinal plants that could be used to heal wounds, so I picked them up. >If someone needs healing, just let me know.<
Exa: Thanks.
Narrator!Sheyla: He's perfect, and has the power it takes to organize people.

054
Narrator!Sheyla: Pisses me off.*peeved*
Narrator!Sheyla: Human beings are allowed to have flaws./Despite this, he sports exceedingly few of them.
Sheyla: !//Heroooo.*splash splash*
Exa: Ah. The fish is getting away.
Sheyla: Here. You can have this.*tudun*
Narrator: Poisonous Frog./Height: 6 cm./Its alkaloid poison attacks the nerves.

055
Exa: What am I supposed to do with it...?
Sheyla: It's got a nice color. You could eat...
Exa: YAH//It's poisonous. I can't eat something like that.
Narrator!Sheyla: He can tell on such short notice! That's what I can't stand about him.
Sheyla: (Crap. It was poison, then.../I was unable to tell, but he could?)*pout...*
Sheyla: Alright. It's fine if there's no poison, yeah? I'll bring you something that isn't poisonous so you can eat it!!
Exa: That's was the fishing is for.../Of course.

065
Sheyla: Here.
Narrator: Okina./Okina genus (monster). Height: 30 cm (Span: 50 cm). Non-poisonous. Found all around the world. The most common variety of the Okina genus.
*rustle rustle*
*rustle rustle*

057
Sheyla: I wasn't poisonous.
Exa: Like hell I could eat that!! >And you pulled the same thing in the past, too.<
Sheyla: Damn it. I'm sure as hell gonna find some food. And you shall prostrate yourself before me.*rummage rummage*
Sheyla: Lakshri.*beckon*
Lakshri: Whaaat it iiiit, Sheyla-chan?
Sheyla: Eat.

058
*munch munch munch*
Sheyla: Tastes good?
Lakshri: Ummm. It's got a pretty wild taste. Yes, it might fly.*munch munch*
Lakshri: It's hard to chew upon, too.
Sheyla: (Good... It doesn't look poisonous. The hero won't be able to raise any objections.)
Lakshri: Sheyla-chan. I'll let you have something nice as a thank-you gift.
Sheyla: What is it? Does it taste good?
Lakshri: Yes.
Sheyla: 'Kay, give it, then.
*smack*

059
Lakshri: It's called a kiss. How do you like it?
Sheyla: Gross.*swipe swipe*
*crestfallen*

060
Shyela: Com on. What about that tasty treat you had for me.......?
Lakshri: Well... um. I just gave it to you. It was the kiss... Ya know?
Sheyla: What? If you've got nothing, don't go lying about it.*putt*
Lakshri: Rocci-chan. I'm sad, console me!!
*woosh*
*pat*

061
Angelica: Aaaah.//Gaaaaaah.
Narrator!Lakshri: Normal woman.*bouncy curvy bouncy*
Narrator!Lakshri: Angelica*sbom*
Lakshri: Oooh. This is dangerous!!/Something that should be there isn'...

062-063
Angelica: Now is not the time to mention it!*WHACK*

064
Exa: ........
Sheyla: What?
Exa: Nothing......*annoyed*
Sheyla: If you've got something to say, spit it out.
Exa: It's nothing, I said...
Sheyla: That's a lie! I can tell you wanna say something!!//You're always like that, only showing the best part of yourself./Always playing the perfect human. Where's the fun in that?
Exa: What are you getting angry for?/What's wrong with a nice human being?

065
Sheyla: Yeah... Guess you're right.
Exa: What are you trying to pull, dragging me down like that?
Sheyla: That's not quite the point...
Angelica: Sheyla-chan, Exa-sama!! Dodge!!
*baf*
*baf*

066
Sheyla: Ah........*slip*
Exa: Sheyla!!
*snap*
*swiiishh*
Sheyla: Uh...?

067
*SPLASH*
Exa: .........
Angelica: Exa-sama... I'm sorry.
Exa: .........

068
Exa: Achoo!!
*tilt*
Angelica: Aaah. Exa-sama?!
Rocci: He's feverish... For now, we better let him rest for a while.
Lakshri: A cold? How delicate. He really lacks in discipline./Look at me. I fell into that river just like he did, and I'm perfectly fine.
Angelica: I don't think so... When you keep steeling yourself on principle, the fatigue eventually catches up to you, all in one go./All the more as he's got a particularly strong sense of responsibility.........//In addition.........

069
Angelica: He wouldn't have caught that cold if it weren't for a certain something...
Lakshri: Hah hah hah.//What are you trying to say? Are you blaming it on me?/It's your fault in the first place, isn't it?
Angelica: No. It's yours./Erm. No. I don't really know what that something would be.//Uuummm.
Lakshri: Ummm.
Flashback!Exa: What are you trying to drag me down for?
FlashbackSheyla: Nothing... That's not quite the point.
Sheyla: That's not what I mean...

070
Sheyla: (So what is it I was trying to do?)
*perk*
Sheyla: (A monster... Now of all times... It's alone, though. Should be easy pickings...)

071
*zzz*
Sheyla: (It's my fault//He didn't need to help me, anyway. He wouldn't have caught that cold./Falling is no big deal, but he had to act all cool.)
Monster: Hh hhe he.../She's all alone./The prey's doing all the work by itself.

072
Sheyla: Gotta admit, though... I'm glad he did...*todom todom*
Monster: Heeey.
*giggle* *Heeeey*
*Heeeey* *chuckle*
Sheyla: ?! *SWOOSH*
Monster: Heh Heh Heh.../I have you now...

073
Sheyla: What the heck is this...?!
Monster: I have y...
Sheyla: Eeeek. It's coiling around meee!!!
Monster: I HAVE YOU NOW.//........
Sheyla: .........//Erm. And who are you?/Don't wanna have to deal with that dude.
Monster: You've just thought of me as a bummer, didn't you?!!
Angelica: We should tell Exa-sa...
Lakshri: He's sick. Leave him be...
Exa: What happened...?
Lakshri: Uh........

074
Lakshri: Sheyla-chan's gone into the forest, and she hasn't come back./We think she might be lost...
Exa: How long has it been...?
Angelica: One hour......... Strange, don't you think?/We were discussing whether we should all go look for her together...
Exa: Together...?

075
Exa: That'd be inefficient. You'd better split up.*brush*
Lakshri: Hey, Exa. Your fever.........//Duh//He's ignoring me...
Angelica: Could he be angry, by any chance...?
Lakshri: Eh? Why...?

076
Monster: Hah hah ha. So?/You're unable to move, aren't you?
Sheyla: (The more I move, the more I get entangled into these threads.)
Monster: (This net is sturdy and flexible. No one has ever been able to escape from it.)
Sheyla: (The hero did save me/but a rescue from anyone is unlikely to happen in this situation.//Here he comes again./Hum!/Mister Good Guy!!*startle*

077
Sheyla: (That's right. The hero is among the best of what humanity has to offer./Brimming with a sense of justice, profusely courteous, inviting gratitude./Whatever happens, things will go for the best.*Hn Hn*
Monster: Ahem./Care to listen already?/I'm trying to explain the reason why you're tied up.
Sheyla: (I fall for it, and even in a situation like this I think about you, and I always end up in trouble. Then, the cycle repeats itself.)/Tsk
Monster: Heey. Heeeey.
Sheyla: (Damn. If only you could share the same feelings, even one time out of ten...)[tn: I'll be honest. Sheyla's stream of consciousness makes absolutely no sense to me, so I can't guarantee the accuracy of this translation.]
Monster: Now it's time for you to be a good prey and keel over already. >I mean, are you even listening to me?<
Sheyla: (Excuse me...? If I got serious, I could vaporize you without even thinking about it...

078
Sheyla: (But if I do, the hero will get mad at me./That's why I'm keeping my power in check, and mulling things over.)//Haaah.*miffed*
Monster: You've been ignoring me from the beginning.*spit*
Monster: It's about time you looked over here./The conversation isn't really progressing.
*splish*
Monster: You can't do anything, can you? Come on, let's see you get angry.//Blllll. Slappin' my ass.*one buttock*
Sheyla: Damn you...!! Now I'm pissed!! Why should I show you mercy for the sake of the hero?/He ain't gonna find out if a small fry like you dies. I'mma kill you dead!! >Both halves of you.< *dudududunn*

079
*crr crrr*
Monster: Wha........What?/Are you trying to cut off the threads?//Don't bother. It's totally.......//POINTLEEEEEESS*SNAP*
*grin*
Monster: Hic.

080
*BZZZZZUUMM*
Sheyla: Now it's time to finish this.//Had enough time to say your prayers...?//DIE!!
Monster: Hiiic

081
Monster: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiic.
Flashback!Exa: Don't kill him...!!
*bzum*

082
Monster: ?!
Sheyla: .........//Ju... Just kidding-meoooooow.//Heh heh heh.//...
Monster: H... Humph. You were just trying to look threatening...?//Then I'll grant you your wish and kill you right away!!
Sheyla: I won't be able to dodge this...!

083
*CLANG*
Sheyla: U... Uh?

086
*swish*
*stap*
Sheyla: Tha... Thanks...
Monster: H... Hmph.//More prey just jumping spontaneously into the predator's maw?!/I'm gonna kill the two of you and put an end to this!!

087
Exa: I've got a fever, I'm feeling sluggish, and my head is spinning./Then you come along and piss me off.//I won't be able to hold back.
Monster: And here I...

088-089
Monster: Come...*SBAOM*
*SLAM*
*whud*
*frrrr*
Monster: Unh...
Exa: Don't worry. My sword doesn't have an edge.

090
Sheyla: Ahem... Hem.//(Well... I already said thank you earlier.../If I thank him for cutting the threads, and for the monster he's just defeated... that's 2 more times.//But it'd be kinda awkward not to say anything... Maybe I should mention how annoying that monster was, just to break the ice.)*tilt*
Sheyla: Hero!!
Exa: ..........
Sheyla: What is it?!

091
Exa: You idiot!!
*baf* *poof*
Sheyla: Calm down.../Calm down
Exa: Why did you have to go about it all by yourself.
Sheyla: I couldn't afford to let you get involved...
Exa: But it wouldn't have happened if all of us had fought together, yeah?*Uh*
Sheyla: ......../(Whatever you say, you're always right./Never a useless move, never showing any weakness.)

092
Sheyla: (That's what I can't stand about you)/Are you mad...?
Exa: Yeah. Because you just went about it without consulting anyone...//And...
Sheyla: And...?
Exa: .........

093
Exa: Nothing.
Sheyla: The heck! If you've got a problem, just spit out the whole thing!!
Exa: Enough. I'm tired.../Time to sleep.
Sheyla: No you don't!! Hell no!!
*zzzzz*
Sheyla: That was fast.../(Why don't you show it all, hero? Except for the nice side, you keep everything else locked up inside yourself...)

094
Sheyla: (I'm not trying to drag you down.)/I wanna know it all. Your nice facet/as well as your ugly side.

095
Sheyla: (That's what being in love is about, right...?//Hah.//(I thought nothing of it, back then.)*bluuuush*
Sheyla: But who would've guessed kissing could be so embarrassing?!!)

096
Angelica: Exa-sama... Are you gonna be alright?
Exa: I will. Give me some time, and I'll be as good as new.
Flashback!Sheyla: The heck! If you've got a problem, just spit out the whole thing!!
Exa: (I felt something, back then./I was feeling jealous.)

097
Exa: (I didn't know what to do with myself.//I can't exactly show you that unsightly part of me./And talking about it is also right out...)
*todom todom*
Sheyla: (Why do I feel like this whenever I remember that moment...?)

098
Angelica: Well, let's get going...//?
Exa: Yeah.
Sheyla: Yup.*chirp chirp chirp*
Flashback!Sheyla: Tastes good?
Flashback!Lakshri: Ummm. It's got a pretty wild taste. Yes, it might fly.*munch munch*
*grrrrrrrr*
Lakshri: (What is it she gave me...?)[/end

099
Narrator!Angelica: My daddy is the son of my granddad, a monster, and my human granny./My human mother married him, and thus I was born.//That makes me 1/4th.
Story 3. Angelica.

100
Narrator!Angelica: Whenever I was bullied, I would come to loathe my eye, and my blood.//Why did you have to fall in love with a monster?/I asked my grandmother this. My grandmother, who gave me my name......//But she couldn't tell me.

101
Granny: But whenever she talked about grandpa/she'd invariably be happy about it.//I can't understand. I heard he'd left her without a word...
Kaward: Excuse me, hero-sama. Can I ask a favor of you?//I've sprained my ankle...

102
Kaward: So could you bring these paints to Umberto-san...?
Exa: Paints...?

103
Umberto: Yes? Umberto, yes, that's me. What is it?*cough cough*
Umberto: Eh? From Kaward-san?/He's sprained his ankle? Is he gonna be alright?//Well, thank you very much.
Party: (A bear/He's a bear//Looks like a bear, and his hobbies involve painting.//Nah, I must not be looking properly. Let's have another look.)

104
Umberto: Please come in./I don't have much to offer, but still... >Would you like some honey?<
Party: He's a bear alright!!! >Even talks about honey<
*SBAM* *spontaneously playing dead*
*poke*

105
Umberto: How rude. I'm not a bear./I'm a honest to goodness monster.*plop plop* *stir stir*
Exa: Ah... Our apologies...
Umberto: But to think you're a hero... And that you even have such an adorable girl following you... This makes me merrier than what my age would allow.*bashful*
Angelica: Oh, my. Adorable. That's too much.
Umberto: If only I was 40 years younger...//What are you talking about. You're pretty well beyond words.
Lakshri: He's gotta have a poor vision.*bonk*
Angelica: Shaddap.
Umberto: The two of you get along pretty well, don't you? I'm jealous...
Angelica&Lakshri: He does have a poor vision after all...
Dude: Umberto-saaaan.*knock knock*
Umberto: Yes?
Dude: Aaah, Umberto-san. Your honey from earlier tasted wonderful. Thank you./Take these apples with my thanks.
Umberto: I enjoy these more than anything else.

106
Dude: Also, Umberto-san.//Thank you for that nice picture from last time./It's done a lot of good to my room's atmosphere.
Umberto: I'm glad you like it. I don't paint landscapes all that often...
Dude: Don't forget to drop by for lunch.
*peck*
Exa: Monster and human getting along so well.../What a strange vision...
Lakshri: People around here don't seem to mind monsters.
Sheyla: *munch* Tastes good./Nah. He doesn't mind the villagers, so they don't mind him either, more like./They ignore me too. Even though I'm a monster.

107
Angelica: So villages like that exist too...//Some good taste, too...
Sheyla: Apples, tea, scones, honey. It's all delicious./Tasty.
Lakshri: What's the connection?
Angelica: Well, it's very important for a girl.
Umberto: Aah, excuse me. What a host I make.
Party: It was nothing.
Angelica: (Umberto-san is such a nice person.)
Umberto: Ah. Stop paying attention for one minute, and it's getting dark already.//In the enjoyment, I didn't even notice when we started talking.
Angelica: Same goes for us......

108
Exa: Guess we'll spend today's night in this village...
Angelica: And you know, Umberto-san is really entertaining, and he's pleasant conversation.
Exa: She sure talks a lot./Angelica, we're going ahead.
Bartender: Aah. Umberto?/He's special...//He came to this village 40 years ago.../He was in shambles... Obviously in bad shape...//He'd been roughed up by human beings...

109
Bartender: Something about him falling in love with a human woman.//And a little girl being born from their union...//Then the villagers drove him out of town.../Sad, it is...//At first, people here thought they'd let him stay just long enough for his injuries to heal...//That's when Umberto turned out to be a very sociable fellow, who never balked whenever something was asked of him, and handled it like it was nothing... You get the picture.

110
Bartender: Before anyone knew/people started to gather all around him...
Angelica: I see....../So that kind of monsters exist too...
Bartender: He's still a monster, though.//And when a monster gets along well with humans, the other monsters come along, looking for trouble./That's why even though he's on good terms with us, he has to put some distance between us and himself.

111
Bartender: By the same token, his house is built slightly away from the rest of the village.//A sad story.......
Angelica: (This is the kind of sadness Umberto-san had to get over...//It never showed even once on his face...)*cough*

112
Umberto: Today's really been a good day...*working hard*
*stomp*
General Grievous: I heard there was a hero in town...
Umberto: So... What of it...?
Grievous: Kill him.

113
Umberto: Me? Not happening.*pout*
Grievous: What?/Last time I checked, you were a monster...
Umberto: I don't wanna stick to the monster or the human side.//I'd rather be on good terms with both, if possible./If there's something wrong, it's with the world, not me.

114
Grievous: You're just sugar-coating the fact that you wanna live around humans...!!/Looks like it's gonna take some pain to make your eyes open.//I can help there. I will make you suffer!!
*SBAOM*
Grievous: Wha........../Magic...?!

115
Angelica: You torment Umberto-san...//I teach you how to fly!!!
Grievous: AAAARGH*WHAM*

116
Angelica: Umberto-san, are you alright?!
Umberto: Well, that was scary enough. Thank you.*poke*
Umberto: Aaah. If only I was 40 years younger.../A strong girl, just how I like them.//What are you doing here, at this time of night...?
Angelica: Eeer... Um.../I wanted to ask you something.//The old man at the inn told me about you./How you fell in love with a human woman...

117
Umberto: Ah, yes...
Angelica: I guess it's impolite to ask this, but I need to know.../Can humans and monsters... really fall in love with one another...?
Umberto: Yes they can. At the very least, it happened for me...
Angelica: .......

118
Umberto: Yes. But is doesn't matter./Human or monster, I just loved my honey.//She was strong.//Had me cry a lot.
Angelica: (A monster losing to a human...)//Honey? That's what you called her?
Umberto: Yes. That's what I called my lover.//She had nerve, and courage.//When I was worried, she'd pat me in the back.
Honey: Cheer up, my darling. Cheer up.

119
Umberto: She might have been strong, but she was a real crybaby./So quite often, the two of us argued and cried at the same time.//Her smile was so beautiful./The mere sight of it was enough to raise my low spirits through the roof.//Tears of anger... Laughs.../I enjoyed those moments I spent with her.//I enjoyed them a lot...//By now, the mere memory of it is more than enough.

120
Angelica: (A simple memory, more than enough........?/Really?/Because for me, it isn't...//Not knowing my granddad makes me feel lonesome.)/You have a daughter, don't you?/Don't you want to meet her...?
Umberto: I wish I could meet her./That's right...(I do.../I do.../I'd like to take a look at my daughter...)/If I have any regret, it's this. I wish I could have seen her grow up, but I couldn't...

121
Angelica: It'd be nice if you could see her...
Umberto: ........//I cannot./I left them behind, even though I knew people were making them suffer./All I deserve is God's punishment upon me...
Angelica: .........And that's why I'd like to let him meet her.

122
Angelica: Because.../from what I hear, I can tell/Umberto-san is a good person.
Lakshri: He's a bear, though.
Angelica: He's not. He's a monster.//He can take a nearly-human form as well./He doesn't do it now, because he's tired.*Umberto, younger and assuming his human form.*
Exa: Is that the case for you, Sheyla?
Sheyla: That kind of monster does exist-meow. But this here is my original form.
Lakshri: But we're talking about stuff from 40 years ago. We aren't exactly drowning under the potential leads...//On top of that, we're on a trip to defeat the Demon Lord./We don't have much room for that kind of things...

123
Angelica: .........//I guess you're right.......
Lakshri: I mean, for all we know he could be your grandpa.
Angelica: He's not. Because I got the half-monster blood from my father./And Umberto-san had a daughter.
Lakshri: How old are you?
Angelica: Are you trying to say I'm 40? >And I'm quarter monster. You know that, right?<//.......... But

124
Angelica: If my own granddad is like him, I won't mind at all...
Umberto: Oh. The hero and his friends.*cough*
Exa: We're here to thank you for the help...

125
Umberto: Resuming our travel, are we...?*cough*
Grievous: UMBERTO!!//You went way too far, yesterday.../We're gonna destroy that village, along with the hero and his friends!!
Angelica: The monsters from yesterday?! Come to pick on Umberto-san again?! >Even brought your little friends with you...!!<
Exa: Everybody! To the fight!
Sheyla: Time ter go hide meowself.
Lakshri: You got it.
Rocci: Yeah.

126
*cough cough cough*
Angelica: Wait a minute... Are you alright...?//Blood?/Umberto-san?!
Umberto: My medicine.........*cough*
Angelica: Where is it?!
Umberto: Second floor.........
Angelica: Exa-sama! I'm going.
Exa: Right!!
Grievous: Oh no you don't!

127
Angelica: Out of my way*BLAST*
Grievous: Argh.
*sbom*
*fshhhh*
Grievous: The little brat... She's playing me for a fool...
Angelica: I need to find it, quick...//Medicine...Where is the medicine...?//Here!/Gotta bring it back to him ASAP...*slam*

128
Angelica: A painting...?/(Me?!!//No. The picture's much too old./And the eye colors are mismatched.//Plenty of pictures of the same person.../What is the meaning of...)

129
Angelica: Now... I remember.../(My grandfather/Granddad disappeared before my father was born, without a word.//That's why he thinks he's had a daughter./The only name he could think of, back then was Angelica.//"Because she'll be our angel", he said...

130
Granny: Gosh... He was such a scatterbrain...//So when our granddaughter was born, we gave her the name.*cough cough*
Granny: Which means your real godparent is your grandfather...*cough cough*
Angelica: Umberto-san!!

131
Grievous: Where are you looking at?!*zip*
*whack*
Angelica: Aaah.
*sbam*
Angelica: ?!
Grievous: You!! You'll pay for what you did yesterday...!!//Without your staff, you can perform magic no longer./I win...
*DUUN*

132
Grievous: ?!
Angelica: You're right... A staff normally serves as a magical enhancer.//But I'm a quarter monster.//And sometimes, the product of an union between human and monster is gifted with incredible power. In my case, the staff is a shackle that helps me keep my abilities in check...
Grievous: ?!/So........

133
Angelica: You're gonna be so sorry!!
*DUUUUUH*
Lakshri: Angelica. You caught me into the blast.

134
*gulp*
Umberto: Thank you...
Angelica: You're my grandpa... aren't you...?
Umberto: I noticed the moment I set my eyes upon you./Because you're the spitting image of my honey...//The butt, particularly...
Angelica: That's why he was after my butt. He was checking...
Umberto: Is she still alright?

135
Angelica: She died of a disease when I was a child.
Umberto: I see....../Guess I won't get to see her again...
Angelica: Why didn't you let me know who you were...?
Umberto: .......//I was afraid that you would hate me.//For abandoning honey behind with the child...

136
Angelica: You didn't abandon them.//I asked the old man at the inn./You left them behind because staying with them might have gotten them killed...
Flashback!Umberto: I understand...//If that's what it takes for you not to bring harm upon my wife and my child...
Villager: Yeah. We don't wanna live with a monster around, who could take our heads in our sleep anytime.//You get lost, and we close our eyes on the half-monster and its mother.

137
Flashback!Bartender: It's not... like he could tell this to his bride./Because he wanted her to live peacefully with the rest of the villagers.//We proposed him to stay here in our village./But because of the monster attacks, he'd have to live away from the rest of us...//(The truth is, he wanted to see them./To live with them...//But he wanted them to be happy./So he spent the rest of his life denying himself that wish. He wasn't a very powerful monster//So he had no other choice.)

138
Flashback!Bartender: If God is watching, I think it's about time he gave the man his reward...
Angelica: (I've been bullied, but they've never tried to kill me.../Certainly I have my granddad to thank for that..)
Umberto: I hope life hasn't been too hard...?/Honey hasn't been crying...?
Angelica: No. For the most part, we've been happy./(He wasn't nearby, but his spirit never failed to protect me........)

139
Umberto: I see...//That's good to hear...
Angelica: That said, granny's always been worried about you./She must have cried a lot too, because she was a crybaby.
Umberto: Huhu. I'm quite the crybaby myself...
Angelica: She must have understood what happened./So she forgave you.

140
Umberto: (I see... She understood...//Aah. To think I had to grow this old to see my granddaughter...)
Flashback!Umberto: I wish I could see her once./See her. I want to see her.)
*cough cough cough*
Angelica: Are you alright?!

141
Umberto: I... I have no more regrets...............
*baf*
Umberto: (This is probably God's whim. He was meant to punish me.)
Angelica: Noooo. Granddaddy, don't die!!!

142
Umberto: I'm not dying. I'm just allergic to pollen.*cough*
Umberto: The pollen went into my throat, and blood mixed with my saliva. I wasn't expecting it, though. My allergy will heal by the time the season is over.//Terrible. Aah, how I hate that period.
Angelica: Well...
Umberto: Take care of yourself, Angelica.
Angelica: Take care of yourself too, granddaddy.
*pfff*

143
Umberto: Well, we haven't talked in a while, honey./My wish has been granted./I'll be coming your way soon enough...//..........//Call me an egoist. My wish has just been granted, but now I've come up with another one.../(I wanna see her grow up for myself./I wanna see her be happy. Even rumors will do...
*slip*
Honey: Stupid... You've never really wished anything for yourself.../There's nothing wrong with your wanting to stay alive a little longer.

144
Honey: I've had more than enough time to enjoy our granddaughter's company.../Now it's your turn...
Umberto: I guess you're right, Honey.//I won't be able to join you before a little while...

145
Lakshri: Angelica, you're gonna be fine? You don't wanna stay behind with your grandfather?/He seemed nice enough.
Angelica: ....... Yeah.//Until now, I've always hated my eye and my blood.//Every day, I was bullied for being a monster's daughter./I was so powerful I had to use a staff to contain my power./And my monster granddad had left without a word...//But human or monster, it doesn't matter anymore...

146
Angelica: Now I know I was born because my parents wanted me.//So I can live on, and carry myself with pride./This is my way of repaying the people who wished me to life.//And my companions here are what makes me happy./We'll build a world where monsters and humans can be happy. So no one ever gets to experience the same sadness as my grandfather did.//Don't you agree?/And I have no shortage of strength either.
Lakshri: .......

147
Lakshri: That's right. You're strong...
*pat*
Lakshri: Alright... Today, you get a little treat. I'm gonna stroke your hair.
*Uh-oh./That's close.*
Lakshri: I guess that's a bit unfair...*stroke stroke stroke*
*smooooch* *trying hard*

148
Angelica: (That's right. It's a bit sad to go away from the grandfather I've met at last. But I have to give it my best shot.)/Aaaaah. Stupiiiiid.*BAOOOM!*
Exa: Hey. Lakshri is flying away?!
Sheyla: Someone tell meow what the heck is going on.
Rocci: I saw it happen. >The man has no decency.<

149
Lakshri: Clive. This is the request of a lifetime.*GRRRRRR*
Lakshri: Give it to me.
Clive: Uuuh...? What are you talking about, Lakshri?*namu namu*[tn: Buddhist prayer.]

150
*munch munch*
Clive: Shouldn't you be using your request of a lifetime on something a bit more significant?*rub rub*
Lakshri: Don't mind. Don't mind.
Clive: You don't have to do that for me to share my food with you, you know./Because we're like siblings, and the older brother protects the younger one.
Lakshri: Well yeah. Since I've used my request, feel free to use yours as well, Clive.
Clive: That said, it does look delicious when you're eating it./You took me a bit by surprise, there...//......... .........//Nothing comes to mind.*bat*
Lakshri: Ack.*GULP*
Clive: Some other time, I guess.

151
Lakshri: Back to this town, it is..........
Exa: What's going on, Lakshri...?
Lakshri: .......... Erm...//Well. Maybe I can chance upon him./My best friend Clive. I've been dying to meet him forever...[/end

152
Story 4. Best Friend (Part 1)

153
Exa: Whereabouts unknown...?
Val: Yeah. That's right.//12 people have gone missing until today. Adult males, all of them./The castle has dispatched the militia in order to investigate, but they've run into an obstacle, so they're stuck.

154
Val: And the prince has asked for a hero to investigate instead./Are you in?
Exa: So? Who are you?
Val: Hum. That's a long story.
Exa: Well, make it brief, then.//Also, this is my money. Get you hand off it, please.*grr* *money* *grr*
Val: Ungh. My hand is against the idea./Well, that's gonna make for another long story...//I did it. Julie, big brother's been able to earn more money!
Rocci: Exa-sama...
Exa: Okay, okay. It's small change, after all.*not very keen on it*
VAl: I am Valentin. It's been a while, Hero.

155
Exa: Valentin...?! But you looked more like that, didn't you? What happened? Why are you answering that message from the Prince?*wooosh*
Val: >What impudence!< Read Superior Volume 9 for the details./Wait up!/The Prince is offering a job. And I've got a massive debt to pay!/I mean, listen already.
Book: Superior 9
Val: Guess I have no choice. I'll give you a rough explanation. Yesterday's foe has become today's ally. That's what's going on between the two of us.*AFTER*
Exa: Face me, will ya.
Val: The reason for my being neck deep in debt is that originally, I was gathering money to heal my little sister's eyes, but my body got torn to pieces along the way. That major sadist of a doc put me back together, and because of this I've contracted a massive debt towards him, damn it!! I'll never be able to repay it, even if I lived for centuries!!
Exa: Can you make it a bit quicker?
Val: Of course!!
Exa: And why are you shouting?//I'm willing to investigate the missing people, but wouldn't it be simpler to assume they've been assaulted by some monster?

156
Val: Guess you're right. That's very likely...
Exa: "Guess you're right..." Am I to understand this isn't going to settle the matter...?
Val: Yeah. We haven't found the flimsiest of traces of those 12 people. No corpse, nothing. I find it hard to believe a monster's just attacked them to satisfy its appetite.//Also, if a monster's gonna attack people, why has it been ignoring the weak, like women, children, and the elderly altogether...?
Exa: Indeed...//There must be some kind of plan going on. I guess that's what needs to be investigated.
Val: That's my hero. You assimilate things quickly. Makes things easier.

157
*AAAAAAH*
Lakshri: Here we are. More recklessness for the Prince.
Rocci: (I see.../So this is the kind of guy my brother works as an attendant for.)
Angelica: (The Prince thinks Exa-sama is a drudge of his, doesn't he?)
Exa: What about my main job as a Maou exterminator?
Val: Duh? Why do I feel such a drop in temperature from you guys?
Sheyla: Don't worry-nya. They're always like that.
Lakshri: We can't exactly walk away from the job, though./What with the people disappearing...
Exa: Yeah. Of course./We'll look for the culprit. I'll be the bait.
Lakshri: Guess there's no way around it.
Rocci: I'm not really getting it...*dozing off*
Angelica: Understood!
Sheyla: Count on meow.
Val: You're helping me a lot, there.
Sheyla: Well, you did have a way of forcing yourself upon us, meow./The Prince has read him like a book.
Lakshri: Tell me about it.
Exa: Hey, that's harsh!!/Lakshri. You have betrayed me.

158
Lakshri: The town hasn't changed.../Just like in the old days..........//It sickens me./(Returning here makes me feel all kinds of miserable.)

159
Narrator!Lakshri: (Back then, I was but a worthless orphan.//Actually, I did have a home to return to/but I would have sooner died than returned there.)
*grrrrrr*
Lakshri: (So I'd steal whenever I was in need of food.//I felt guilty about it)

160
Narrator!Lakshri: (I persuaded myself that those who had something were the ones to blame. That it was their fault if they'd had it stolen from them.//I was always on my own./The whole world was my enemy.//I had no choice but to live that way.//Among them)

161
Narrator!Lakshri: (Clive was the only ally I ever had.//The only one I could accept. As an older brother of sorts.//I'm wondering where he is right now.)*phew*
*woosh*
*stap stap*
Lakshri: Hey... Woops...

162
*CLANG*
Lakshri: ?!!

163
*grapple*
Lakshri: Ungh.
Exa: Lakshri, what's wrong?!!
Clive: Don't move...!!
Lakshri: Un...gh
Clive: This is our first reunion after a long while, so don't interfere.
*close in*
Exa: (No openings... What should I do...?)
Lakshri: (No way... I can't imagine it's him, but...)/That voice...

164
Lakshri: That you, Clive?
Exa: (Clive...?! As in, Lakshri's best friend?!/Why?!)
Clive: Heartless though you may be, you remember me, I see./Has life treated you well? My little brother........
Lakshri: (Heartless.......?! Me.......?!)//Agh...*cling*
Clive: What's wrong? You don't look so good. Oh. I guess that's because of me.//Why are you returning, after all this time.../After the way you fled...
Lakshri: ............?!

165
Exa: Guess jumping him all at once ain't gonna do a lot of good...
Angelica: It's a good thing he's surrounded, but the situation still stinks...
Sheyla: Pah... A stealthy attack from Lakshri's back is out of the question...
Rocci: We should wait for him to get tired, I take it. But if we do, Lakshri won't make it.
*crack crack*
Clive: ........?!
Angelica: (An opening...?!)//Step aside!!*BOM*

166
*stap*
Lakshri: Why... are you doing this...?
Clive: It should be obvious. I want revenge from you...
Lakshri: Why...?
Clive: Don't tell me you've forgotten what you did to me.

167
Clive: That's why I came here today. In order to kill you.//If you wanna stop me, you'll have to kill me first.//Cra...*tremble tremble*
*DASH*
Clive: Let's postpone the mutual killing to a later date!
Lakshri: (You're wrong. I was trying to set things right...)*pant pant*
*teeter*
Lakshri: (And...)

168
*bom*
Lakshri: (If you hated me for it, why did you act as if you'd forgiven me...?!)
Exa: Lakshri... Are you alright...?!
Lakshri: (That's right. I committed a sin against you that even a lifetime couldn't repay.)
*step step step*
*step step step*
*baf*
Dude: You again!!

169
Clive: Let's split up!!
Lakshri: Ri... right!
*baf*
Hat: Ah. You're that kid from earlier.......
Clive: Crap!
Dude: Please catch him for me!!
Clive: Lakshri...?!
Lakshri: Ah.
Hat: We're gonna make sure you can't do any wrong ever again!!
Lakshri: Clive...!! Help me...!!

170
*splat*
*sniff*
Clive: Don't cry, Lakshri... You've been able to escape, so everything's fine...
Narrator!Lakshri: (Because of that wound, Clive became unable to use his hand.)

171
Narrator!Lakshri: (Despite this, he never confronted me about it.)
Clive: Don't worry. Even with one hand, I'll be there to protect you.
Narrator!Lakshri: (But as it turns out, I really shouldn't have asked him to come to my help.)
Voice: Extra edition!!
Narrator!Lakshri: (Clive wouldn't have been injured for the rest of his life.)
Lakshri: A fight to determine who's gonna be a hero.../And there's a reward, too.
*swoosh*

172
Lakshri: (I don't know how strong I'll need to get./But I know I can trust my own speed.//Clive would always praise me about it.//And I/I would always rely on him.//And this is the result.//It's always been like that. I always berated myself about my own weakness./I never did anything to move forward, away from it. And I'd envy those who made it to the top.//I'm must believe in myself!!

173
Lakshri: (Because I have nothing but myself to put on the table.)
Narrator!Lakshri: Then I made my way through the hero tournament, up to the finals.*YEAAAAAAAH*
*YEAAAH*
Narrator!Lakshri: And I felt relatively comfortable/as I lost to Exa.

174
Narrator!Lakshri: I decided to join the hero on his travels, as his right hand man./In order to change the person I'd been up until then.//So I wouldn't have to be depending on Clive ever again.//I've been able to obtain a hefty sum of money that way.//I wanted Clive to have it./That's why I wanted to see him.//But as it turns out, he never forgave me for the loss of his hand.

175
Lakshri: I just wanted to set things right...!!
Clive: Money...? You can't possibly think you can set things straight with that kind of trash!!
Lakshri: I always wanted to see you.
Clive: And I've spent all that time hating you!!/You frigging fled from me...
Lakshri: I wasn't flee...*flapping*
Lakshri: ..........?!!
*chink*
Clive: That's why today, I am here to kill you.

176
*bolt*
Lakshri: Haa... Haa...//Haa.//(But it looked like his hand had been able to heal...//So why did he pretend he'd forgiven me?//No...//It doesn't matter./I am to blame for this, there's no doubt about it.//And Clive hates me enough to want to kill me.

177
Exa: Well, I'll act as a decoy and walk about town. Everyone on my trail. Anything happens, initiate the mutual feedback.
Angelica: Exa-sama...
Exa: Yeah. I'm gonna have to be isolated. No way around it. If it comes to a fight, I'll be counting on you to back me up.//I have high hopes for this.
*Angelica: Aaaah.
Lakshri: .........
Exa: Lakshri!//You're sleeping or what? You're all over what happened today, right?
Lashri: Nah, I'm okay.

178
Lakshri: What do you think you can do without me anyway?
Exa: Guess you're right. You don't seem to be at the peak of your form eith...
Lakshri: I'm okay. I'm okay./I just remembered Sheyla-chan's underwear, and that kinda distracted me.
Exa: Wu... Man, that's wrong in so many ways...
Lakshri: Regarding Clive, there's nothing to worry about. It was just some kind of bad joke./(Even at the best of times, Exa has a lot to worry about. No need to add any more to his concerns.)
Exa: Ye... Yeah...
*strut strut*
Angelica: Doesn't look like anything is about to happen... What if these people just ran away from home...?
Rocci: Don't think so......

179
Exa: !
*BOM*
Exa: .........Hh. Monster?!*zip*
*glance*

180
Angelica: Exa-sama!! Is this monster responsible for the disappearances?!*baf*
*close in...*
*DASH*
Exa: Lakshri!!
Lakshri: On it!

181
*Dash*
Lakshri: ........!!//Waaah.//..........
Exa: Lakshri... Are you okay?

182
Lakshri: Yeah. Sorry./In ended up spacing out, after all.
*pat*
Exa: Don't worry, it can't have gone too far. Let's split up and look for it.

183
*BAOM*
Exa: Sure helps to have you come out and attack.//That saves me the trouble of looking for you.
Kagami: The hero.........//So the Maou must be in town as well...//It would be wise to retreat from this city before he can find me...

184
Clive: Haa.../Haa...*squeeeeze*
Clive: Haa...
*zzzz*
Clive: (There's no more time.//But there's something I have to do before the end.//Lakshri. I have to..........)

185
*creak*
Clive: Uh.
*tremble tremble*
Clive: ?!//(Spasms...? No. I'm just done taking the medicine.)
Lakshri: How nostalgic... You always came here whenever you were feeling down.
Clive: ?!
Lakshri: Clive...?
Clive: Lakshri...

186
*TREMBLE TREMBLE TREMBLE*
Clive: (Cra... So they were spasms, after all. Am I to understand I didn't take enough medicine...?!
Lakshri: Clive... What's wrong...?
Clive: Get lost! Or I'll kill you!!

187
*startle*
Lakshri: .........
*tremble tremble*
Lakshri: Clive!!

188
Clive: I said I'd kill you. Don't just close in like the old friend you clearly aren't!!
Lakshri: This is neither the time nor the place for this!! What's going on?! Tell me!

189
Lakshri: Should I take you to the hospital?!
Clive: Please... Just... go away...
Lakshri: You're still talking about that?!
Clive: Stop... Not now... I can't have a fit of spasms in from on him.*tremble tremble*
*dun*
Clive: AAAAAAAAAH!!!
*CRACK CRACK*

192
*BAOOM*
Lakshri: Haa/haa//(I guess it's gonna be a tough piece of work to capture him on my own.../Would be cake if I had someone to act in tandem with, though...*swipe*
Angelica: I've gotta do something...
Rocci: Bummer...
Sheyla: A pain in the bum-meow.

193
Lakshri: So that monster//Clive, it was you...?!
Superior Cross [1] The End.

Author's afterword scribbling inside the cover page.
Ichtys: Why? Why do I have to put my afterword there...?! Er, cover page scribble, I mean.*GASP!*
Sheyla: That's because you drew so much there was no room left.
Ichtys: Manager-san. I want an explanation!
Sheyla: She told you already. I mean, you've done the same thing before. >It's not like we didn't understand each other. Were you listening at all?<
Outside frame: That happens every single time!! Hopeless.
Ichtys: I'm out of motivation. I've been out of motivation lately, and I'm not getting any better./I'll just play video games already./I feel like crying, honest.
Sheyla: Alright, alright. Forget about the whiny explanation. How about you make this afterword thing look like one?*drag drag*
Ichtys: Right. Let's do that. Pleased to meet you. Or nice to see you again. I'm Ichtys./Ah, crap. They're all cold.*teeter*
Sheyla: Cold means nice.
Ichtys: Superior Cross Volume 1 is out.
Outside frame: The title is a bit long, so we're gonna call it SC.
Ichtys: I've written it so it'd be understandable even for those who start out with it/But if you like it, you can read the previous 9 volumes of Superior. I'd appreciate it.//But man, that's essentially the 10th volume...
Someone: It was meant to last 4 volumes at first. We thought the 10th one would have been the end of it.
Ichtys: Oooh... People who've been reading from the beginning.
Outside frame: Thank you! Author's scribbling inside the cover page. The end![tn: I could barely understand anything at all, so the translation is bound to be inaccurate.]

Ashi-san's word of wisdom gibbering nonsense for this volume.
*scunch scrunch*
Outside frame: Substitute. White Sheyla.
White: I'm hungry./I wanna eat Yakitori.[tn: Grilled chicken dish.]*whisper*
Ichtys: ?!
*Umberto, as a kid.*
Umberto: Thank you very much.
Tn: Trying to read the following list of names without the pronunciation hints would be an exercise in futility. If these are available somewhere else, please point them out to me. Last sentence reads "And you, and me."