Chapter 2/Transcript

A New Day

 * Aster: What a beautiful morning! I might be nocturnal, but I slept like a baby last night---
 * Yakumo: Oh...
 * Yakumo: (I don't know why, but after last night... with Mr Eiden... my body feels so relaxed.)
 * Yakumo: Strange... most of the time, I struggle to keep my essence under control, but now it feels so stable... I feel so at ease... It's the first time I've ever felt like this.
 * Aster: That's proof that the essence exchange you performed last night reinvigorated your gemstone and has allowed it to function properly once again.
 * Aster: As such, my new manservant... *cough* I mean, Yakumo... Starting today you'll leave the village to come live at my house!
 * Yakumo: Huh...?
 * Yakumo: (Why do I have to leave the village? Ah... I suppose it makes sense if I think about it, but this is a little too sudden...)
 * Yakumo: (Not only grandmother and grandfather, but there are also many villagers who have helped raise me over the years...
 * Yakumo: I'll have to go say goodbye to all of them... Even if there are some who are scared to come anywhere near me...)
 * Eiden: Hey, don't be so pushy. At least let Yakumo have some time to think about it, okay?
 * Eiden: (You can't just spring something so big on him just like that! His serpent has come out again!
 * Yakumo: I know yesterday was very... frightening. The villagers were probably terrified... If I stay here, I'll only make more trouble for my grandparents...
 * Eiden: (Whoa, he said that while using his hand to squeeze his serpent back in... Go Yakumo!)
 * Grandfather: Don't be silly! It's that damn "Earthworm Curse" that makes you transform like that.
 * Grandmother: It's true... the "Earthworm Curse" really is awful. But there's no avoiding it... These days, all sorts of cursed beings have been appearing from the "Dead Zone"...
 * Eiden: ...Morvay, come here for a sec.
 * Eiden: What the hell is an "Earthworm Curse"?
 * Morvay: Just a little something Aster cooked up. In any case, it's better than telling them about Yakumo's rampaging serpent power.
 * Morvay: While Master and Yakumo were in the midst of a red-hot night of passion, Aster and I sent a few messengers to the local taverns to spread rumors that this whole incident was caused by a cursed earthworm from a swamp in the Dead Zone, and that anyone affected by the curse suddenly goes berserk, and...
 * Eiden: And?
 * Morvay: ... Gets a taste for eating dirt.
 * Eiden: Hey!
 * Morvay: We had to make it sound believable! Anyway, we've put a lot of effort into capturing this clan member. You just run into them everyday, you know?
 * Morvay: Plus, we also had to discretely deal with those two knights.
 * Eiden: How exactly did you "deal" with them?
 * Morvay: We transformed their memories of Yakumo going berserk into memories of an attack by a giant earthworm. They'll never forget the sheer terror...
 * Eiden: I guess that's reasonable...
 * Aster: As such, dear grandmother,in all of my benevolence and charitability, I am able to provide special potions which will eradicate said curse back at my home.
 * Aster: But I also believe that young people should learn the meaning of hard work. So, if Yakumo agrees to come work with me, I will give these "ultra-expensive" potions as payment.
 * Yakumo: I... Ah? But...
 * Yakumo: (It sounds reasonable but also strange somehow... Grandmother and grandfather do look very happy, though...)
 * Eiden: *cough* ... Yakumo, lets find a way... to get rid of the earthworm curse... together, okay?
 * Eiden: (There might be no curse to get rid of, but I might as well take advantage of Aster's little white lie to entice him...)
 * Yakumo: Yes... you're right! If I go with Mr Eiden... I'll make sure to work extra hard!


 * Yakumo: (... Grandmother... grandfather...)
 * Yakumo: Mr Aster, will you really be able to stop those knights from bothering the villagers anymore---
 * Aster: As I said before, I'm on very good terms with the noble in charge of the knights around here.
 * Aster: I'll take my cute little pet, Momo, to pay him a visit for a friendly chat.
 * Eiden: (R.I.P. noble...)
 * Morvay: Don't worry. This guy is an expert at persuasion. Plus, I'll send people to check on your home every now and again!
 * Eiden: See. Nothing to worry about, right?
 * Yakumo: (With Mr Eiden at my side, I feel so at ease... Mr Morvay and Mr Aster also seem like good people...)
 * Eiden: (Ah, Yakumo smiled. It seemes we've put his mind at ease.)
 * Aster: ... In any case, my home isn't far from your village. Treat it like moving to a neighboring village for work. You'll be able to come back and visit anytime.
 * Morvay: Exactly. And now that the power of your gemstone has been liberated, it may be necessary to take further excursions in the future.
 * Morvay: It'll be good for you to get used to being away from home.
 * Yakumo: ... Ermm... What exactly is... this gemstone? If possible, I'd like to understand more about... what you all do.
 * Yakumo: (It's humiliating knowing so little. If I can learn to properly control my powers, then maybe I can be of help to everyone...)
 * Aster: Didn't you explain everything to Yakumo last night, Master?
 * Eiden: I wanted to, but before I had the chance... we got kinda busy...
 * Eiden: I'm not that clear myself on all this essence and magic stuff anyway! It's better coming from you guys... Ah! Yakumo, what's that in your hand?
 * Aster: Hey! Don't try to change the subject!
 * Yakumo: My grandmother gave me these. She said to eat them if we get hungry. They're probably just some snacks. I'll take a look...
 * Eiden: Cookies? Bread?
 * Yakumo: ... It's dirt.
 * Eiden: (Ah...)
 * Yakumo: ... *sob* D-Do grandmother and grandfather hate me now...?
 * Morvay: This is your fault! You damn shitty little vampire!
 * Aster: How could I know they'd take it so seriously! Dumbass incubus!