Plunderer (プランダラ)

Mom!

Hina. Listen carefully.

There's not much time. Take this.

Guard it with your life.

You need to leave. And search for someone.

The Legendary Ace.

Mom, don't go!

Hina, find them. The Legendary Ace.

You're new here. Where did you come from?

From Fieni.

Wow. That's pretty far!

On foot?

I love walking, so I didn't mind it all that much.

Have you been traveling all over Alcia?

Yes, I have. I'm looking for a very special person.

Oh really? Like a boyfriend?

I need to find The Legendary Ace.

That sounds familiar.

Ah, you know, like from those tales.

They run faster than a horse, fly like a hawk?

Everybody heard about them when we were kids,

but that's obviously just a silly children's story.

Right? I mean no one can fly.

Huh?

Licht's here!

He's so creepy!

Hello.

Uh. Nice to meet you.

My name is Licht.

Yeah. I know this is kind of a weird question.

After all, we just met.

But I... I need it. I need it bad.

Will you give me some money?

Why should I give you any money?

I haven't eaten in about a week,

and I'm practically knocking on death's door!

What happened to me is a real tear jerker,

and I wouldn't wish it on anybody!

You see, I was sent on a shopping errand.

But unfortunately one thing led to another, you know,

and I spent all the money on “adult goods.”

No! No! I mean I lost it in an accident!

I know what you're thinking,

but it wasn't a moment of weakness.

I didn't just indulge some silly temptation or anything.

Really, it's the tragedy of man.

But if I don't give that money back,

I won't be given any food.

I'm just so hungry, and I'm dying from thirst.

I can't hold out much longer!

I need some soft, sweet, delicious-- No! No! no!

Just money--

Leave me alone!

Wait, wait, wait! What do I want more?

Food, flesh, or cash? It's so hard to know.

They all have their own very convincing arguments.

Somebody help me!

Money? Matrimony? MatriMONEY!

--A feast for the soul and skin! -- You scumbag!

I send you out on a simple shopping trip,

and this is what you do instead?

My apologies. Are you okay?

Um. I guess?

My name's Nana.

I run, that traveling tavern cart over there.

As a token of apology, how about a nice meal?

If you're offering, can I have some, too?

Pay me. I did give you money earlier.

Yeah. But you haven't fed me in in a week!

I'm starving!

Ever heard the proverb,

“who does not work, neither shall he eat?”

Please, Nana. I'm begging you. Feed Me!

'Scuse me. But if he's starving, I'll pay for his food!

No. You shouldn't.

Trust me, you don't wanna make the mistake of spoiling him!

Ugh. I'm so hungry.

I don't believe you told me your name.

Oh. Sorry about that, it's Hina.

Really? I think you're the first “Hina” I've met.

How do you spell it?

Uh... Well...

Kanji? You don't see that often... around here.

Where are you from?

Well. Right here on the map.

I'd say that's pretty deep in the mountains.

I mean, I hadn't even heard of any villages

or anything near there.

Because... It was just my mother and I

living there by ourselves. Until one day she disappeared.

She was just dragged into the ground all of a sudden.

Oh, you poor thing.

I'm afraid she must've been sent to the abyss.

The abyss? What's that?

Do you really not know what that is?

Mm.

Uh. Okay. Look at all the people around us.

They're great! Please, try one!

You see how everyone has a different number

written somewhere on them?

Those numbers are what control our world.

What do you mean, it's controlled by them?

I'll explain it best I can.

From the moment we're born,

every single person is obligated to count something specific.

Yeah, like what?

Well, like this. I've got my very own number right here, see.

This marks how many times a customer told me

my food is good.

When they say it's bad, my count goes down.

You should have your own number somewhere on your body,

don't you?

Uh...

You mean, this, right?

Oh! Can I see?

I don't think so!

Come on. I just need a little peek.

No. Please. Stop!

The hell's wrong with you?

You pervert!

--No! -- Hello M'Lady.

Where was I?

Oh yeah, like I was saying, the count can go down.

Ah.

You want your count to keep going up and up,

but if things don't go your way and it falls down to zero...

If that happens... you'll be sent to the abyss.

That's not good, is it?

It's not, and that's the reason everybody tries their best

to get those numbers to go up.

Or at least attempts to avoid them going down.

There're rumors about what really happens.

Some say you die in the ground,

and others say it's even worse than death.

Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.

No, I'm fine, really.

Ah. There's one more thing,

another rule about what the number means.

And that's, you can't disobey any order from a person

who has a higher count than you.

Can't disobey them?

Yes, so it's very important you remember that.

What it boils down to is a difference in count reflects

a difference in status.

Ultimately, it's just another way those numbers

have control over our lives.

Oh I never asked what yours meant.

What is it you're counting?

Well, uh. Mine is... It's the distance I've walked.

That's what mom told me anyway.

Wait, are you sure about that?

Because walking converts to one for every hundred kilometers.

And if you're at 441,

you've walked almost 45,000 kilometers?

For the last five years,

I've been searching for someone important, so I've walked a lot.

That's so incredibly far.

I can't imagine how hard that must've been on you.

I don't really think of it that way.

My mother told me to find them without fail.

Those were her last words, so it's just what I have to do.

Every time this number goes up,

I can feel her with me even more.

Like she's cheering me on,

and telling me she knows I'll find them.

To think there's some amazing person out there

who's that important to you.

Who are they, anyway? I'm dying to know at this point.

She said they're The Legendary Ace.

The Legendary Ace?

That's right, an honorable and courageous hero

who wears a shining white star.

Have you never heard of them before?

Yeah. I have. But the “legendary” part

means it's just a fairy tale that people tell--

But it's true! While I was traveling the countryside,

I heard that The Legendary Ace was in this town!

That's the entire reason why I came here!

I've never heard that rumor.

I've been in this town for quite a while now.

And no one has ever mentioned them to me.

Really?

Hear that, Licht? Hina's talking about some Legendary Ace.

Know anyone like that here?

Oh. I see.

Thank you for everything.

Hang on just a second, Hina. I wasn't trying to be cruel.

Are you looking for me, young lady?

You've got a white star!

Yes, I do. A courageous hero from the Waste War

who's adorned with a shining white star.

AKA “the Legendary Ace.”

And I'm indeed here in the flesh.

Huh. Is that right?

Really? It's you? I've searched so long.

What wrong Hina?

I'm sorry. I've just dreamed of this day.

Searching. Looking everywhere.

Hm. I feel so very honored. Truly.

Now, I'm a sergeant major in the military.