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The Cuore of Truth Brings Good Fortune - Episode 1
Episode 1 | next episode ⭢
T/N: 'Kyu(u)' is a cute animal noise sound effect. It’s Elmo’s equivalent of 'woof' or 'meow.'
[ Mansion of Lucky Items ]
Wealthy Merchant: O, Great Spirit…
Thanks to your divine blessing, today’s business dealings have gone smoothly.
I kneel before you in gratitude. Please accept these offerings of wine and fruit.
???: Kyuu.
Wealthy Merchant: Ah, what a wonderful day today has been... The legend of a magical creature that brings good luck turned out to be entirely true.
This luck, this wealth, it is all because of you. Please bless me with luck for the day ahead...
???: Kyu.
[ Night falls... ]
Wealthy Merchant: Argh... No, no...! Great Spirit, how have you... why…
‘A magical creature that brings good luck. However, those that lay eyes on its true form will only suffer misfortune.’
Which means... misfortune is headed my way!!
???: .........
Wealthy Merchant: Will I be robbed? Murdered? No, I refuse... It's all a lie... Inconceivable...
...... I won't let things be. I won't be robbed! I don't want to die!
I must leave at once...!
[ The wealthy merchant leaves in a hurry. ]
???: ...... Kyuu.
[ Time passes... ]
Ernest: Elmo...! I was looking all over for you! Where have you been all night long? You've been missing every night...
Elmo: Kyuu...
Ernest: Oh no, not again. You're injured all over... There's so much blood dripping from your tail. Just a sec, buddy. I'll patch you up with some medicinal herbs...
This is the last of what I've got though. I went foraging in the nearby forest, but I don't think they grow there anymore...
Oh, yeah! I met this person who lives by the forest. They asked me, 'Are you related to the merchant?' And then, I accidentally nodded...
The merchant must be someone who used to live here, right? ... If the merchant ever comes back...
Elmo: Kyuu, kyuu.
Ernest: Oh, my bad, didn't mean to make you worry. I'll stay here until you're all better. I won't just abandon you like that, Elmo.
I'll go to the city marketplace tomorrow. I'll buy some proper medicine for you. If I sell my hat, I should be able to scramble together enough money...
Elmo: .........
Ernest: Elmo, I don't know why you keep getting hurt every night... but I'll definitely help you make a full recovery.
Because, Elmo, you're…
[ Magical Manor - Shylock's Bar ]
Figaro: Oh, that’s quite the rare item you’ve got there.
Murr: Just when you think it’s changing slow and steady — Flash! Whoosh! Right?
Shylock: Fufu. There’s nothing more delightful than seeing you caught off guard by something like this.
On a night where I woke up in search of a snack, I found myself lured into Shylock's bar by the scent of fragrant spice.
Akira: Good evening, Shylock, and you two too! May I join you?
The three of them exchanged a glance at my question. The next thing I knew, they were all smiling back at me.
Murr: Of course~! Come sit here, Kenja sama!
Shylock: I was just showing them this plate’s fortune-telling properties while they sampled some of my new dishes for me.
Akira: This plate can tell fortunes?
Figaro: Apparently, it's able to tell if there's someone out there that's in love with you. And it's as accurate as the twins sensei — it’s never wrong.
Akira: No way! That's amazing...
Figaro: Ahaha, got you interested now, have we? Kenja sama, would you like to give it a go?
At Figaro's suggestion, Shylock smiled mischievously as he served me some food laid out on a rather large oval plate.
The plate was a beautiful purple, just like the night skies. I wondered if this really was a fortune-telling plate.
Shylock: Please help yourself to some porchetta stuffed with oregano. As a finishing touch, it needs you to add a drizzle of sauce...
If the plate changes colour then, it means that someone is in love with you. If the colour remains unchanged, then no such person exists.
Now, Kenja sama — the sauce, if you will.
Akira: Wait, um, I... I don't think there's someone out there that's...
Murr: Don’t worry, those are just details! Details! Go for it~!
Murr smiled brilliantly. I caved and reached for the saucepan.
Despite my hesitation, I felt curiosity rear its head. To say that I didn't want to know what other people thought of me would have been an outright lie.
Akira: (Ever since I came here, the only people I've grown close to over time are the people at the Magical Manor. I don't think any of them have romantic feelings for me. ... There's ... no such person... r...ight......?)
Right then, a drop of tomato and herb sauce landed on the plate—
Akira: ...!? The plate's green now! W-Wait, that means someone's... Whaaat...!?
Murr: Hahahah! You're making a funny face! Congratulations, Kenja sama!
Well, it was aaall a lie, though!
Akira: A lie!?
Figaro: Ahaha, sorry about that. We were just messing with you. This plate doesn’t tell love fortunes.
Shylock: Fufufu. My deepest apologies. I must admit, Kenja sama, that I had the thought of stopping them because you are always so serious about things...
But you were so adorable about it, I couldn't help but join in the teasing.
Figaro: Actually, this is a rare plate that changes colour depending on its temperature. Its colour changed because the sauce’s warm.
Akira: So that's how it works. Wow, my heart was racing back there... That was kinda fun.
Shylock: I'm glad to hear that. The porchetta's my treat, so please feel free to help yourself.
Akira: Thank you! Well, fortune-telling aside, that plate's really pretty.
Figaro: I've seen my fair share of magical plates, but it's rare to see one display obvious changes like this plate right here. It reacted to the slightest change in temperature.
Shylock: Indeed. It was red in the afternoon, perhaps because it was warmer then. It turns light blue when I serve chilled pasta on it.
Some days, it's a blue reminiscent of the azure sea, and other days it's a deep red, like aged wine. Witnessing its changes alongside the passing of the seasons is something I find rather enjoyable.
Akira: Oh, wow...!
Figaro: Since it's a colour-changing plate anyway, we may as well treat different colours as if they were different fortunes. Let’s say, if it’s red, it’s an affair.
Shylock: A lovely idea. Why, you could have even said the moment it turned green that I, Shylock, was in love with her.
Akira: (I'm glad he didn't say that to me... It would have been an obvious prank...)
Murr: Hey, what colour is a love that burns super hot and passionate? How about we decide on a colour for that?
Figaro: Red's already taken, so... Well, I suppose there's a limit to how many colours it can turn into.
Murr: Then let's find out exactly how many! Let's start from the top, the highest temperature!
« eanul rambul » !
Akira: Ahhh! The plate's on fire!
Figaro: It looks like it's encased by a fireball. Oh, the food's burning too.
Shylock: Now, now, Murr. Behave yourself.
Akira: I haven't had a single bite! Murr... Muuurr......!!
[ Central Country - Marketplace ]
Akira: In the end...... I didn't get to have even a single bite of porchetta......
Shylock: I must apologise for the stray's behaviour. I taught him a good lesson after your bedtime, Kenja sama.
The next day, Shylock invited me to join him shopping at the marketplace in Central Country.
The meal he'd prepared last night had been completely reduced to charcoal. And then Mithra, who happened to drop by the bar, downed the entire plate in one bite.
Shylock offered to make it up to me, and so here we were, shopping for ingredients for tonight.
Akira: Riquet, thanks for offering to come along to help us with the shopping. You'll be joining us for the taste test tonight, right?
Riquet: As God's disciple, it is only proper that I extend a helping hand to those in need.
Of course, as a taste tester, I'll also do my best to properly, thoroughly, taste every last bite of Shylock's bar food.
Shylock: Oya, what a reliable young man you are. I should see to making a drink for the both of you to go with the food.
Riquet & Akira: Yay!
Shopkeep A: Welcome to the markets! How about some real hot spices? It's so spicy, it'll set your whole body on fire!
Shopkeep B: Hey, golden-haired boy, come over here and take a look at these! Frostyberries, a Western Country speciality! They’re in season!
Riquet: What large berries...! You say they're from Western Country... Shylock, have you seen these before?
Shylock: Of course. They're strange berries that are always cold like ice-cream. They might go well with tonight's drinks.
Akira: Wow, these look delish...... Huh?
I found myself looking at a young man doing his shopping at the medicinal herb stand next to me.
Herb Stand Shopkeep: Here, I'll toss in some sprigs of Alraune's leaf for you, on the house. It'll help heal your dog's injuries. Hope it gets better soon.
Ernest: Oh, you don't have to... Thanks so much.
He was a tall young man that looked like he was in his late twenties. He had silver hair and a fragile look to his grey eyes. What struck me the most was how timid he seemed and the nervous expression he wore.
He hurriedly paid for his shopping and shoved his wallet back into his pocket. His movement, however, pushed something else out from his pocket.
Akira: Oh! Hey, you dropped…
I dashed up to him and picked up the object he dropped, but I couldn't catch him in time. All I could do was watch his gangly frame vanish into the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.
Shylock: What's the matter, Kenja sama?
Akira: Someone dropped this... But I lost sight of its owner.
Riquet: It looks like a house key. I think its owner would be rather distressed to find it missing.
Akira: I know... I wonder if we can locate its owner... He disappeared right into the crowd.
Shylock: Fret not. Riquet, shall we help Kenja sama out?
Riquet: Sure!
Figaro: Count me in. If you'll have me, that is.
Akira: ...! Figaro!
Episode 2 ⭢
T/N: 'Kyu(u)' is a cute animal noise sound effect. It’s Elmo’s equivalent of 'woof' or 'meow.'
[ Mansion of Lucky Items ]
Wealthy Merchant: O, Great Spirit…
Thanks to your divine blessing, today’s business dealings have gone smoothly.
I kneel before you in gratitude. Please accept these offerings of wine and fruit.
???: Kyuu.
Wealthy Merchant: Ah, what a wonderful day today has been... The legend of a magical creature that brings good luck turned out to be entirely true.
This luck, this wealth, it is all because of you. Please bless me with luck for the day ahead...
???: Kyu.
[ Night falls... ]
Wealthy Merchant: Argh... No, no...! Great Spirit, how have you... why…
‘A magical creature that brings good luck. However, those that lay eyes on its true form will only suffer misfortune.’
Which means... misfortune is headed my way!!
???: .........
Wealthy Merchant: Will I be robbed? Murdered? No, I refuse... It's all a lie... Inconceivable...
...... I won't let things be. I won't be robbed! I don't want to die!
I must leave at once...!
[ The wealthy merchant leaves in a hurry. ]
???: ...... Kyuu.
[ Time passes... ]
Ernest: Elmo...! I was looking all over for you! Where have you been all night long? You've been missing every night...
Elmo: Kyuu...
Ernest: Oh no, not again. You're injured all over... There's so much blood dripping from your tail. Just a sec, buddy. I'll patch you up with some medicinal herbs...
This is the last of what I've got though. I went foraging in the nearby forest, but I don't think they grow there anymore...
Oh, yeah! I met this person who lives by the forest. They asked me, 'Are you related to the merchant?' And then, I accidentally nodded...
The merchant must be someone who used to live here, right? ... If the merchant ever comes back...
Elmo: Kyuu, kyuu.
Ernest: Oh, my bad, didn't mean to make you worry. I'll stay here until you're all better. I won't just abandon you like that, Elmo.
I'll go to the city marketplace tomorrow. I'll buy some proper medicine for you. If I sell my hat, I should be able to scramble together enough money...
Elmo: .........
Ernest: Elmo, I don't know why you keep getting hurt every night... but I'll definitely help you make a full recovery.
Because, Elmo, you're…
[ Magical Manor - Shylock's Bar ]
Figaro: Oh, that’s quite the rare item you’ve got there.
Murr: Just when you think it’s changing slow and steady — Flash! Whoosh! Right?
Shylock: Fufu. There’s nothing more delightful than seeing you caught off guard by something like this.
On a night where I woke up in search of a snack, I found myself lured into Shylock's bar by the scent of fragrant spice.
Akira: Good evening, Shylock, and you two too! May I join you?
The three of them exchanged a glance at my question. The next thing I knew, they were all smiling back at me.
Murr: Of course~! Come sit here, Kenja sama!
Shylock: I was just showing them this plate’s fortune-telling properties while they sampled some of my new dishes for me.
Akira: This plate can tell fortunes?
Figaro: Apparently, it's able to tell if there's someone out there that's in love with you. And it's as accurate as the twins sensei — it’s never wrong.
Akira: No way! That's amazing...
Figaro: Ahaha, got you interested now, have we? Kenja sama, would you like to give it a go?
At Figaro's suggestion, Shylock smiled mischievously as he served me some food laid out on a rather large oval plate.
The plate was a beautiful purple, just like the night skies. I wondered if this really was a fortune-telling plate.
Shylock: Please help yourself to some porchetta stuffed with oregano. As a finishing touch, it needs you to add a drizzle of sauce...
If the plate changes colour then, it means that someone is in love with you. If the colour remains unchanged, then no such person exists.
Now, Kenja sama — the sauce, if you will.
Akira: Wait, um, I... I don't think there's someone out there that's...
Murr: Don’t worry, those are just details! Details! Go for it~!
Murr smiled brilliantly. I caved and reached for the saucepan.
Despite my hesitation, I felt curiosity rear its head. To say that I didn't want to know what other people thought of me would have been an outright lie.
Akira: (Ever since I came here, the only people I've grown close to over time are the people at the Magical Manor. I don't think any of them have romantic feelings for me. ... There's ... no such person... r...ight......?)
Right then, a drop of tomato and herb sauce landed on the plate—
Akira: ...!? The plate's green now! W-Wait, that means someone's... Whaaat...!?
Murr: Hahahah! You're making a funny face! Congratulations, Kenja sama!
Well, it was aaall a lie, though!
Akira: A lie!?
Figaro: Ahaha, sorry about that. We were just messing with you. This plate doesn’t tell love fortunes.
Shylock: Fufufu. My deepest apologies. I must admit, Kenja sama, that I had the thought of stopping them because you are always so serious about things...
But you were so adorable about it, I couldn't help but join in the teasing.
Figaro: Actually, this is a rare plate that changes colour depending on its temperature. Its colour changed because the sauce’s warm.
Akira: So that's how it works. Wow, my heart was racing back there... That was kinda fun.
Shylock: I'm glad to hear that. The porchetta's my treat, so please feel free to help yourself.
Akira: Thank you! Well, fortune-telling aside, that plate's really pretty.
Figaro: I've seen my fair share of magical plates, but it's rare to see one display obvious changes like this plate right here. It reacted to the slightest change in temperature.
Shylock: Indeed. It was red in the afternoon, perhaps because it was warmer then. It turns light blue when I serve chilled pasta on it.
Some days, it's a blue reminiscent of the azure sea, and other days it's a deep red, like aged wine. Witnessing its changes alongside the passing of the seasons is something I find rather enjoyable.
Akira: Oh, wow...!
Figaro: Since it's a colour-changing plate anyway, we may as well treat different colours as if they were different fortunes. Let’s say, if it’s red, it’s an affair.
Shylock: A lovely idea. Why, you could have even said the moment it turned green that I, Shylock, was in love with her.
Akira: (I'm glad he didn't say that to me... It would have been an obvious prank...)
Murr: Hey, what colour is a love that burns super hot and passionate? How about we decide on a colour for that?
Figaro: Red's already taken, so... Well, I suppose there's a limit to how many colours it can turn into.
Murr: Then let's find out exactly how many! Let's start from the top, the highest temperature!
« eanul rambul » !
Akira: Ahhh! The plate's on fire!
Figaro: It looks like it's encased by a fireball. Oh, the food's burning too.
Shylock: Now, now, Murr. Behave yourself.
Akira: I haven't had a single bite! Murr... Muuurr......!!
[ Central Country - Marketplace ]
Akira: In the end...... I didn't get to have even a single bite of porchetta......
Shylock: I must apologise for the stray's behaviour. I taught him a good lesson after your bedtime, Kenja sama.
The next day, Shylock invited me to join him shopping at the marketplace in Central Country.
The meal he'd prepared last night had been completely reduced to charcoal. And then Mithra, who happened to drop by the bar, downed the entire plate in one bite.
Shylock offered to make it up to me, and so here we were, shopping for ingredients for tonight.
Akira: Riquet, thanks for offering to come along to help us with the shopping. You'll be joining us for the taste test tonight, right?
Riquet: As God's disciple, it is only proper that I extend a helping hand to those in need.
Of course, as a taste tester, I'll also do my best to properly, thoroughly, taste every last bite of Shylock's bar food.
Shylock: Oya, what a reliable young man you are. I should see to making a drink for the both of you to go with the food.
Riquet & Akira: Yay!
Shopkeep A: Welcome to the markets! How about some real hot spices? It's so spicy, it'll set your whole body on fire!
Shopkeep B: Hey, golden-haired boy, come over here and take a look at these! Frostyberries, a Western Country speciality! They’re in season!
Riquet: What large berries...! You say they're from Western Country... Shylock, have you seen these before?
Shylock: Of course. They're strange berries that are always cold like ice-cream. They might go well with tonight's drinks.
Akira: Wow, these look delish...... Huh?
I found myself looking at a young man doing his shopping at the medicinal herb stand next to me.
Herb Stand Shopkeep: Here, I'll toss in some sprigs of Alraune's leaf for you, on the house. It'll help heal your dog's injuries. Hope it gets better soon.
Ernest: Oh, you don't have to... Thanks so much.
He was a tall young man that looked like he was in his late twenties. He had silver hair and a fragile look to his grey eyes. What struck me the most was how timid he seemed and the nervous expression he wore.
He hurriedly paid for his shopping and shoved his wallet back into his pocket. His movement, however, pushed something else out from his pocket.
Akira: Oh! Hey, you dropped…
I dashed up to him and picked up the object he dropped, but I couldn't catch him in time. All I could do was watch his gangly frame vanish into the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.
Shylock: What's the matter, Kenja sama?
Akira: Someone dropped this... But I lost sight of its owner.
Riquet: It looks like a house key. I think its owner would be rather distressed to find it missing.
Akira: I know... I wonder if we can locate its owner... He disappeared right into the crowd.
Shylock: Fret not. Riquet, shall we help Kenja sama out?
Riquet: Sure!
Figaro: Count me in. If you'll have me, that is.
Akira: ...! Figaro!
Episode 2 ⭢