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Birthday 2022 SSR Owen - Card Story, Episode, Homescreen
Birthday 2022 SSR [ Welcome to the Den of Beasts ] Owen
Scenario writer: Minami Yuna @373_yuna
Homescreen line:
“You'll forget about me soon enough, if I were to turn to stone. Humans, wizards — we're all forgotten in the end. But if you were to light up the whole night sky with giant fireworks in memory of me, then maybe I'll think about whether I might want to return to your side.”
Card Story: Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Card Episode: What Makes Him Happy
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 1
[ Magical Manor - Corridor ]
Akira: Hello, Owen. If you have some time, could we talk?
One day, I dropped by Owen’s room.
He didn’t answer the door at first. It took a great deal of me calling out for him before he finally opened it.
Owen: Why are you so stubborn? What do you want?
Akira: It’ll be your birthday soon, right, Owen? I came to invite you to perform the Starlight Ritual with me.
Owen: Oh, that weird ritual the twins found in some ancient scripture…
Akira: Yes, it’s a ritual that's been passed down from Sage to Sage's Wizard since ancient times. Apparently, it’s best to perform it on blessed days, such as birthdays.
It's said that lots of good things come from it, such as prosperity, magical strength, health, and so on. That’s why, Owen, I hoped that you might agree to it…
Owen: Sure.
Akira: Wh… Seriously!?
Owen: What are you acting so surprised for? You’re the one who invited me to do it.
Akira: I’m sorry. Honestly, I was bracing for you to rebuff me…
Owen: You said that good things will happen to me, right?
Or are you hesitating because you have no definite proof that anything will happen? Are you trying to tell me you managed to get the other wizards to join you in performing this sketchy, unproven ritual?
Akira: N-No! Good things happened to the other wizards, so I'm hopeful the same will happen to you too, Owen.
Owen: Then I shall hold you to your words.
Sneering, Owen seized my neck, his fingernails cutting into my throat. He leaned in close to peer at me with his mismatched eyes of red and gold; it was apparent that he was not going to allow me to get another word in edgewise.
Owen: If it turns out that you've fed me empty words, and this ritual is nothing but a meaningless waste of my time……
You know exactly what will happen to you, right?
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 2
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
After that, I went to gather up three wizards to provide the words of blessing required for the ritual.
Mithra: I think I shall go kill Bradley after all. Being interrupted halfway doesn't feel good. Be right back.
White: Hey, no more fighting! Think about why I'm here without Snow. It's so I can keep you under my watch!
Akira: Well, the two of you had been fiercely at each other's throats... Good thing Snow and White were there to put a stop to that.
After forcibly separating the two wizards, the twins had split up to each keep an eye on one of them.
Mithra and White were wizards that had longstanding relationships with Owen. I requested their participation as fellow Northern Wizards.
Cain: Man, I don't know how you got Owen to do the ritual, but I'm glad he's down. Though I gotta say, that last threat was really in-character for him.
The remaining wizard was Cain. He was someone who had a score to settle with Owen, but he was also someone who wanted to become friends with him.
White: He's never honest about what he thinks. Well, that's just how he is all the time. He does what he wants, and he's a bully about it too.
Akira: Even so, I'm glad he agreed to this.
Thank you for gathering here today, all of you. Let's put our heads together and think of what he'll be happy to hear.
Cain: ... Well, that's fine and all, but I wonder if he'll be happy to receive well-wishes.
Akira: Huh?
Cain: Y'know, that guy sorta... Instead of things that anyone'll be happy to hear, he seems like he'd prefer being told things that are like, down and depressing.
For example, things like fear, malice, and so on...... I dunno man. Something like that.
Mithra: Yes. It's not worth the effort to praise him. Whenever I say something nice to him, he makes a weird face.
White: In other words, we should wish him the best by speaking ill of him.
Akira: T-That's quite the hurdle. I have no idea where to even start...
Mithra: Really? This is easy. For instance......
[ BGM dies. ]
The instant Mithra opened his mouth, White quietly covered my ears with his hands.
Akira: Huh?
Mithra was saying something, and Cain looked horrified, and then White lifted his hands.
[ BGM resumes. ]
Cain: YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT!?
White: Oh, come on! I knew the smart decision was to cover Kenja's ears right away.
Cain: How should I put it, that's kind of too cruel, or should I say, too vividly described...... Feels like it might appear in my dreams tonight.
Akira: Whaaaat...!? What did you say, Mithra.
Mithra: You'd like to hear it again? Then I have no choice.
Cain: (yelling over Mithra) Whoa—! Whoa—! Kenja sama, don't listen!
White: Mithra chan, stop!
Once again, White covered my ears.
There was nothing but rough seas ahead of us, but we sat down together, determined to brainstorm what exactly we would say to Owen: the absolute worst insults to convey our very best wishes.
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 3
[ Forest of Dreams ]
On the day of the ritual, Owen and I went to the Forest of Dreams.
The ritual was said to be most effective if performed under a starry sky at a location the wizard is associated with.
Owen: Hmph, these are weird clothes.
Akira: These are very special clothes Snow and White prepared for you. You look lovely in it! You fit right in the dreamy and fantastical scenery of this forest.
Alright... Shall we begin? Owen, if you'd please close your eyes.
Owen: ......
Owen did not close his eyes.
I thought it was very much like him not to, so I closed mine instead, and placed my hand over his chest.
Akira: The first blessing is from White:
"You have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy, but we don't hate you in the least."
Akira: The next one is from Mithra...
"You do have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy. Though, well, you always look so bright and seem like you're having so much fun, I'm envious of how carefree you can be."
Akira: And here's Cain's...
"You have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy, but I think there are parts of you that deserve my respect.
I'll be counting on you as a fellow Sage's Wizard. Have a good time out there with Kenja sama!"
Akira: Last but not least, my own:
Bit by bit, I think I've started to learn a little about your likes and dislikes.
I pray that you will come to enjoy life at the Magical Manor more.
I pray that lots of good things will happen to you.
Once I finished reciting the blessings, I felt something warm bubble up from deep within me.
I wanted to believe that that warmth was conveyed to Owen through my palm on his chest.
Akira: And with that, we conclude the ritual. ...... Um, well, how was it?
I opened my eyes. Owen was looking at me in displeasure.
Owen: Is that all? That was terrible. Somehow, it felt like I was being told a lot of things that piss me off.
Akira: Even so, we tried our very best to think of things to say that might make you happy...
Akira: (I ended up throwing in the towel though......)
Owen: And?
Owen raised an eyebrow as he spoke sharply.
Owen: And not a single thing happened, that's what. I knew you were lying all along.
You'll get what you deserve — you no longer have the right to complain about what I'll be doing to you.
The corners of Owen's mouth twisted into a mean smirk, and he started to close the distance between us.
It was now or never. Steeling myself, I immediately held up to his face the package I'd prepared beforehand.
Owen: ...... What's this.
Akira: It's chocolate! We made it for you.
I got everyone to help out, and we put in lots and lots of sugar... I'm sure it's sweet enough for your tastes.
See, Owen? Something good happened!
Owen: ......
Devoid of all visible emotion, Owen took the package from me.
And then he crushed it in his hands.
Akira: Ah...!
Owen: You underestimate me. Did you think you could fool me with this?
Akira: That's not...! Owen, we just wanted you to be happy about someth—
I was cut short by something dripping down on my head.
I looked up, and I noticed a pouch hanging off a tree. It seemed like it was the source of whatever dripped down on me.
Owen: ... Hm, it must be something left behind by a foolish traveller.
Akira: A lost item... Now that you mention it, I've seen a water tumbler dangling off a branch around these parts.
It's said that the snowfall in this area is heavy enough to bury the entire forest up to its treetops.
That's when the toxic fumes in this forest thin out. Travellers often scramble to cross it then, and they occasionally leave behind a thing or two in their hurry.
Owen: « cur memini »
Owen summoned the pouch to him with magic and smiled when he opened it.
Owen: Oh?
Akira: Oh, what's in — mfft!
Its contents were suddenly poured into my mouth like a stream. The taste that flooded my senses was best described as...
Akira: It's extremely sweet!!
... What's this, candy? Caramel? No, it's fudge?
Owen: Who knows what it's called. Though, people traveling through Northern Country often carry really sweet stuff like this for nourishment.
I think I used to lead those fools stumbling around this forest astray so I could snatch these off them.
As he spoke, Owen chewed on some of the fudge too. When narrowed, his heterochromatic eyes looked like crescent moons.
Akira: (Was this mere coincidence...? Or maybe, just maybe, the ritual might've worked.)
Owen: Fufu. I wonder which is sweeter: this confection, or your chocolate.
Akira: ... I don't think our chocolate will lose to this. Please give it a try. You'll see.
Owen held a piece of each sweet up to the stars, as if he were comparing them.
Then, he popped the chocolate we made into his mouth.
I couldn't see his expression clearly. He had his hand over his mouth, and it cast a shadow over his face.
But I caught a glimpse through his hair, of pretty lips that were just faintly curved.
Card Episode: To Make Him Happy
[ Magical Manor - Courtyard ]
Akira: Owen, it was your birthday recently, and we had three wizards contribute words of blessing to you. Did they celebrate for you as well?
Owen: Definitely not. In fact, they did the opposite.
Akira: The opposite?
Owen: They did nothing but insult me.
[ Owen smiles. ]
Owen: The dead twin scolded me, saying, 'You're the naughtiest child in the North, and you always give us so much trouble.'
And Cain was like, 'I've never met a wizard as unnerving and unfathomably scary as you.'
Akira: (Owen... is complaining, but he looks a bit happy about it.)
(What they said to him might have sounded like insults, but the two of them were probably trying to incorporate things that would please him...)
Akira: Hey, uh... What about Mithra? Did he insult you too?
Owen: The moment he saw me, he threw candy at my face.
Akira: What!
Owen: At once, it became a battle to the death.
Akira: Whaaat!?
I-I think that was Mithra's way of celebrati... No, wait, you're saying he just felt like attacking you?
Owen: He probably just got into a mood as always. There's no way someone like him has it in himself to celebrate others.
[ Owen smiles again. ]
Owen: Well, his candy didn't taste half-bad though.
Akira: Ah, you ate it all the same...
Scenario writer: Minami Yuna @373_yuna
Homescreen line:
“You'll forget about me soon enough, if I were to turn to stone. Humans, wizards — we're all forgotten in the end. But if you were to light up the whole night sky with giant fireworks in memory of me, then maybe I'll think about whether I might want to return to your side.”
Card Story: Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Card Episode: What Makes Him Happy
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 1
[ Magical Manor - Corridor ]
Akira: Hello, Owen. If you have some time, could we talk?
One day, I dropped by Owen’s room.
He didn’t answer the door at first. It took a great deal of me calling out for him before he finally opened it.
Owen: Why are you so stubborn? What do you want?
Akira: It’ll be your birthday soon, right, Owen? I came to invite you to perform the Starlight Ritual with me.
Owen: Oh, that weird ritual the twins found in some ancient scripture…
Akira: Yes, it’s a ritual that's been passed down from Sage to Sage's Wizard since ancient times. Apparently, it’s best to perform it on blessed days, such as birthdays.
It's said that lots of good things come from it, such as prosperity, magical strength, health, and so on. That’s why, Owen, I hoped that you might agree to it…
Owen: Sure.
Akira: Wh… Seriously!?
Owen: What are you acting so surprised for? You’re the one who invited me to do it.
Akira: I’m sorry. Honestly, I was bracing for you to rebuff me…
Owen: You said that good things will happen to me, right?
Or are you hesitating because you have no definite proof that anything will happen? Are you trying to tell me you managed to get the other wizards to join you in performing this sketchy, unproven ritual?
Akira: N-No! Good things happened to the other wizards, so I'm hopeful the same will happen to you too, Owen.
Owen: Then I shall hold you to your words.
Sneering, Owen seized my neck, his fingernails cutting into my throat. He leaned in close to peer at me with his mismatched eyes of red and gold; it was apparent that he was not going to allow me to get another word in edgewise.
Owen: If it turns out that you've fed me empty words, and this ritual is nothing but a meaningless waste of my time……
You know exactly what will happen to you, right?
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 2
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
After that, I went to gather up three wizards to provide the words of blessing required for the ritual.
Mithra: I think I shall go kill Bradley after all. Being interrupted halfway doesn't feel good. Be right back.
White: Hey, no more fighting! Think about why I'm here without Snow. It's so I can keep you under my watch!
Akira: Well, the two of you had been fiercely at each other's throats... Good thing Snow and White were there to put a stop to that.
After forcibly separating the two wizards, the twins had split up to each keep an eye on one of them.
Mithra and White were wizards that had longstanding relationships with Owen. I requested their participation as fellow Northern Wizards.
Cain: Man, I don't know how you got Owen to do the ritual, but I'm glad he's down. Though I gotta say, that last threat was really in-character for him.
The remaining wizard was Cain. He was someone who had a score to settle with Owen, but he was also someone who wanted to become friends with him.
White: He's never honest about what he thinks. Well, that's just how he is all the time. He does what he wants, and he's a bully about it too.
Akira: Even so, I'm glad he agreed to this.
Thank you for gathering here today, all of you. Let's put our heads together and think of what he'll be happy to hear.
Cain: ... Well, that's fine and all, but I wonder if he'll be happy to receive well-wishes.
Akira: Huh?
Cain: Y'know, that guy sorta... Instead of things that anyone'll be happy to hear, he seems like he'd prefer being told things that are like, down and depressing.
For example, things like fear, malice, and so on...... I dunno man. Something like that.
Mithra: Yes. It's not worth the effort to praise him. Whenever I say something nice to him, he makes a weird face.
White: In other words, we should wish him the best by speaking ill of him.
Akira: T-That's quite the hurdle. I have no idea where to even start...
Mithra: Really? This is easy. For instance......
[ BGM dies. ]
The instant Mithra opened his mouth, White quietly covered my ears with his hands.
Akira: Huh?
Mithra was saying something, and Cain looked horrified, and then White lifted his hands.
[ BGM resumes. ]
Cain: YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT!?
White: Oh, come on! I knew the smart decision was to cover Kenja's ears right away.
Cain: How should I put it, that's kind of too cruel, or should I say, too vividly described...... Feels like it might appear in my dreams tonight.
Akira: Whaaaat...!? What did you say, Mithra.
Mithra: You'd like to hear it again? Then I have no choice.
Cain: (yelling over Mithra) Whoa—! Whoa—! Kenja sama, don't listen!
White: Mithra chan, stop!
Once again, White covered my ears.
There was nothing but rough seas ahead of us, but we sat down together, determined to brainstorm what exactly we would say to Owen: the absolute worst insults to convey our very best wishes.
Blessings of the Starlight Ritual ~ Owen ~ - Episode 3
[ Forest of Dreams ]
On the day of the ritual, Owen and I went to the Forest of Dreams.
The ritual was said to be most effective if performed under a starry sky at a location the wizard is associated with.
Owen: Hmph, these are weird clothes.
Akira: These are very special clothes Snow and White prepared for you. You look lovely in it! You fit right in the dreamy and fantastical scenery of this forest.
Alright... Shall we begin? Owen, if you'd please close your eyes.
Owen: ......
Owen did not close his eyes.
I thought it was very much like him not to, so I closed mine instead, and placed my hand over his chest.
Akira: The first blessing is from White:
"You have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy, but we don't hate you in the least."
Akira: The next one is from Mithra...
"You do have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy. Though, well, you always look so bright and seem like you're having so much fun, I'm envious of how carefree you can be."
Akira: And here's Cain's...
"You have a villainous nature, befitting a villainous villain, truly the face of villainy, but I think there are parts of you that deserve my respect.
I'll be counting on you as a fellow Sage's Wizard. Have a good time out there with Kenja sama!"
Akira: Last but not least, my own:
Bit by bit, I think I've started to learn a little about your likes and dislikes.
I pray that you will come to enjoy life at the Magical Manor more.
I pray that lots of good things will happen to you.
Once I finished reciting the blessings, I felt something warm bubble up from deep within me.
I wanted to believe that that warmth was conveyed to Owen through my palm on his chest.
Akira: And with that, we conclude the ritual. ...... Um, well, how was it?
I opened my eyes. Owen was looking at me in displeasure.
Owen: Is that all? That was terrible. Somehow, it felt like I was being told a lot of things that piss me off.
Akira: Even so, we tried our very best to think of things to say that might make you happy...
Akira: (I ended up throwing in the towel though......)
Owen: And?
Owen raised an eyebrow as he spoke sharply.
Owen: And not a single thing happened, that's what. I knew you were lying all along.
You'll get what you deserve — you no longer have the right to complain about what I'll be doing to you.
The corners of Owen's mouth twisted into a mean smirk, and he started to close the distance between us.
It was now or never. Steeling myself, I immediately held up to his face the package I'd prepared beforehand.
Owen: ...... What's this.
Akira: It's chocolate! We made it for you.
I got everyone to help out, and we put in lots and lots of sugar... I'm sure it's sweet enough for your tastes.
See, Owen? Something good happened!
Owen: ......
Devoid of all visible emotion, Owen took the package from me.
And then he crushed it in his hands.
Akira: Ah...!
Owen: You underestimate me. Did you think you could fool me with this?
Akira: That's not...! Owen, we just wanted you to be happy about someth—
I was cut short by something dripping down on my head.
I looked up, and I noticed a pouch hanging off a tree. It seemed like it was the source of whatever dripped down on me.
Owen: ... Hm, it must be something left behind by a foolish traveller.
Akira: A lost item... Now that you mention it, I've seen a water tumbler dangling off a branch around these parts.
It's said that the snowfall in this area is heavy enough to bury the entire forest up to its treetops.
That's when the toxic fumes in this forest thin out. Travellers often scramble to cross it then, and they occasionally leave behind a thing or two in their hurry.
Owen: « cur memini »
Owen summoned the pouch to him with magic and smiled when he opened it.
Owen: Oh?
Akira: Oh, what's in — mfft!
Its contents were suddenly poured into my mouth like a stream. The taste that flooded my senses was best described as...
Akira: It's extremely sweet!!
... What's this, candy? Caramel? No, it's fudge?
Owen: Who knows what it's called. Though, people traveling through Northern Country often carry really sweet stuff like this for nourishment.
I think I used to lead those fools stumbling around this forest astray so I could snatch these off them.
As he spoke, Owen chewed on some of the fudge too. When narrowed, his heterochromatic eyes looked like crescent moons.
Akira: (Was this mere coincidence...? Or maybe, just maybe, the ritual might've worked.)
Owen: Fufu. I wonder which is sweeter: this confection, or your chocolate.
Akira: ... I don't think our chocolate will lose to this. Please give it a try. You'll see.
Owen held a piece of each sweet up to the stars, as if he were comparing them.
Then, he popped the chocolate we made into his mouth.
I couldn't see his expression clearly. He had his hand over his mouth, and it cast a shadow over his face.
But I caught a glimpse through his hair, of pretty lips that were just faintly curved.
Card Episode: To Make Him Happy
[ Magical Manor - Courtyard ]
Akira: Owen, it was your birthday recently, and we had three wizards contribute words of blessing to you. Did they celebrate for you as well?
Owen: Definitely not. In fact, they did the opposite.
Akira: The opposite?
Owen: They did nothing but insult me.
[ Owen smiles. ]
Owen: The dead twin scolded me, saying, 'You're the naughtiest child in the North, and you always give us so much trouble.'
And Cain was like, 'I've never met a wizard as unnerving and unfathomably scary as you.'
Akira: (Owen... is complaining, but he looks a bit happy about it.)
(What they said to him might have sounded like insults, but the two of them were probably trying to incorporate things that would please him...)
Akira: Hey, uh... What about Mithra? Did he insult you too?
Owen: The moment he saw me, he threw candy at my face.
Akira: What!
Owen: At once, it became a battle to the death.
Akira: Whaaat!?
I-I think that was Mithra's way of celebrati... No, wait, you're saying he just felt like attacking you?
Owen: He probably just got into a mood as always. There's no way someone like him has it in himself to celebrate others.
[ Owen smiles again. ]
Owen: Well, his candy didn't taste half-bad though.
Akira: Ah, you ate it all the same...