Announcer
The train will be stopping for a few minutes to wait for signals.
So there are traffic signals in outer space?
It would seem so.
Though, one would think that with so much room they could arrange it so that the train would never have to stop.
Yeah.
Oh! Nageki, Nageki!
There’s a station!We aren’t really trying to get anywhere, anyway.
Want to get off?
A station…?
Didn’t they just say we were stopping to wait for signals?
But there’s a platform and everything.
Look, it says “Southern Cross Line – The King’s Station”.Let’s get off!
…all right.
Let’s go.
Wooooow! It’s wonderful!
It’s like we’re in a fairy tale!
What a pretty town, Nageki!
I’m getting excited already!
Indeed.
It’s almost like we’re dreaming.
We are!
We can look around a little, right? Let’s see what there is to see and then get back on the train. It’s not like we’re headed anywhere in particular, after all!
That’s true, but… the station’s gone.
?!
I turn around, and the station is indeed gone.
The aged platform has disappeared, leaving only the pale glowing tracks running off into the distance.
Hmm… maybe this is like that thing in adventure games where we can’t leave until we’ve completed some more events?
Who knows?
We can’t leave this star for now, anyway.
In that case, we’ll have to see its sights until it’s sorry!
Where do you want to go, Nageki?
We don’t have a map, so should we just wander around?
I don’t think the planisphere will help us find our way around this star…
I’m fine with anywhere.
Anywhere you want to go, Miss Tosaka.
So I get to be his escort?
Leave it to me!
Um, my hunter-gatherer instincts are telling me–
???
Excuse me…
You must be guests from away.
Welcome to the Holiday Star!
We were addressed by a somewhat vague-looking dove.
He must be a local?
This is the Holiday Star?
That’s right.
The Holiday Star.
A happy name.
Very happy, indeed.
We celebrate our holiday, which never ends.
This is a happy star.This must be your first time here.
Why not go pay your respects to the ruler of this planet, The Dreaming King, our lord?
We’re meeting the King already?!
What a forward King he must be!
Is that palace in the distance where he lives?
Yes, it is.
If you head straight for the light atop its tower you will be there before you know it.
Getting invited to see the king as soon as we arrive is definitely VIP treatment!
Let’s go!
The palace was impressive on the outside, but it’s even more kingly on the inside.
The citizen we talked to earlier said the king would be in here, but–
The King
His Royal Highness, The King!
Hello. I am the King.
Did he just announce himself?
Maybe that’s how they do things around here.
The crowned bird sits himself down on his magnificent throne.
He doesn’t quite seem dignified, or maybe he seems a little humble, or– at any rate, he’s a very forward king.
You are The King?
Yes.
The King is the king of this star.
He’s very assertive, in an extremely plain way.
The King asked, are you from the outside?
You have a very nice planisphere.
Yes, we’re from Littledove Hachiman City — from Saint Pigeonation’s.
It sparkles, and is pretty.
The King thought he would like it.
This?
That’s so rude! How can you ask for someone’s things as soon as you meet them?
Are you a selfish character, Mister King?
-sniff-
That was too harsh, Miss Tosaka.
You’ve made The King sad.
He’s kind of a wimpy king.
You can’t have this, though.
I was told not to give it to anyone.
I’m sorry.
The King does not mind.
The King is not crying.The King asked, would you listen to The King’s request, instead?
Request?
The King and his people are troubled.
Troubled by the new restaurant at the edge of the Crystal Forest.
I would think that restaurants opening at a tourist draw would be perfectly normal…
Birds who go into the new restaurant don’t come out.
They go in, but never come out.Once they go in, they don’t come back out.
Those who come out can’t go in.
Do you understand?
So people are disappearing inside the restaurant?
Well, this got creepy awfully quickly.
The King was very scared. The King cried.
The King asked you, who have come from outside, if you could investigate.
I guess wandering travelers will always get asked to run errands if they talk to the king, no matter where and when they are!
What do you think, Nageki?
Should we accept?
We don’t have other plans.
This could kill some time.
An investigation which smacks of intrigue and danger “could kill some time”? You’re awfully bold, Nageki!
I like the cut of your jib.
Understood, Mister King!
Leave it to us!
We’ve been walking, following The King’s somewhat inexact directions, for about half an hour.
Is this the “Crystal Forest” The King mentioned?
There do appear to be crystals.
Of course, with everything in the kingdom as sparkly as it is, this forest really doesn’t stand out at all…
That is correct. This is the Crystal Forest.
?!
G-g-g-g-g-geez! He startled me!
Doesn’t anyone here know to make their presence known beforehand?!
If this is the Crystal Forest, then the restaurant should be nearby…
???
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
?!?!
Happy New Year!
(Miru and Kaku are hungry!)
W-w-w-wait!
Miru, Kaku!What’s wrong?!
Did you suddenly turn into New Year’s characters?
You do realize New Year’s Day is over already too, right?
…
Merry Christmas!
(That’s true.)
Merry Christmas…
(Miru and Kaku felt lonely because everyone forgot about Christmas…)
Merry Christmas!
(But Christmas will always live on in Miru and Kaku’s hearts!
Oh, good. It would really be a little much for them to suddenly change themes that soon after being introduced…
Do you know those white things?
Oh, right!
You’ve never met them!They’re Miru and Kaku.
They’re… white things! That look kind of like doves, but aren’t!
How vague.
Well, I don’t really know just what they are yet either, to be honest…
It’s fine.
I’m Nageki. Nice to meet you two.
Merry Christmas!
(Nageki! Nageki!
Nice to meet you!)
Anyway, I hadn’t expected to see even you two in this dream.
What are you doing? Are you still looking for trees?
Merry Christmas…
(No… Miru and Kaku have a terrible problem.
Miru and Kaku are hungry!)
Merry Christmas!
(Hungry! Hungry!
So Miru and Kaku are going to the restaurant! Yaaaaay!)
No! Wait!
…too late.
Miru and Kaku vanish deep into the forest.
This must be another one of those flags!
After them!
And so Nageki and I ran through the forest after the disastrously hungry Miru and Kaku.
This… is the restaurant Miru and Kaku were headed for, then?
The sign says… “Chateau Chukar”?
I have a terrible feeling about this. That name can’t be a coincidence… or maybe it’s just my imagination.
Well, if this was the restaurant The King was talking about, we need to investigate…
Nageki looks to me, as if asking what we should do next.
March straight in the front door, of course!
It… doesn’t look like a restaurant.
A passage, a door, and a sign.
It’s a little plain.
Maybe they’re closed?
The signpost says–
Manager
This shop has many orders.
Please be patient.
…huh?
Does that mean there are a lot of customers, so we might have to wait?
There isn’t anywhere for a queue, though.
What do we do, Nageki?
What if it’s reservation-only?!
We’re here as investigators.
I don’t think we need a reservation.
Oh, right!
Let’s keep going.
We open the door to reveal an identical plain corridor.
Another door, another sign, and… Miru and Kaku in a bucket.
Merry Christmas!
(Warm and steamy! Warm and steamy!)
What are you two doing?
Taking a bath?
Merry Christmas!
(Following instructions!)
Look, Miss Tosaka.
Nageki points at the sign.
Management
Please clean yourselves here.
This reminds me of a certain restaurant in Breath of Fire 2.
How sanitary!
This restaurant must cater to celebrities.
…so we may hope.
Merry Christmas!
(Next room! Next room! Yaaaay!)
Miru and Kaku, looking a little glossier than usual, head through the door.
…this place is like an onion. Go further in and it looks exactly the same.
There’s another sign, as well.
Management
Please rub this cream into your hands, feet, and face. From the tips of your feathers all the way into your skin.
Cream?
Before eating?
I’ve never been to a high-class restaurant before. Do celebrities always put on moisturizer before eating?
Merry Christmas!
(Creamirukaku!)
They’re covered in it!
Merry Christmas!
(On to the next room! With excitement and dampness! Yaaaay!)
They run through the door, still covered in the cream.
Oh, dear, they’re leaving footprints…
…and, surprise surprise, it’s another passageway with another sign.
Management
All those orders must have been hard to follow. What a pity.
…so then that one that said there were a lot of orders didn’t mean orders to the restaurant, but–
Orders from the restaurant, yes.
I’m not taking instructions from some greasy diner! I do what I want!
Management
This is the last order.
Please rub this salt all over your bodies.
Salt?
On top of the cream???
Celebrities do some pretty weird stuff!
This would be torture if you had a papercut or something.
Merry Christmas…!
(Ow! Ow! It’s in my eye!)
Are you two okay?!
Cream, salt, and tears… I almost feel bad for the floor.
It is in a rather sorry state now.
Merry Christmas…
Merry Christmas!
(But that was the last one!)
Merry Christmas!
(Miru and Kaku get to eat now! Yaaaay!)
They go into the next room, leaving a trail of salt and sadness.
The janitor will probably have a nervous breakdown…
The sign, Miss Tosaka.
Huh?
There’s more written on it.
Management
We are so sorry for all that. You did very well. Now, go ahead.
We’ll be so happy to have you for dinner.
Well, that ended on an awfully polite note!
…you think so?
It says they’ll be happy to have us, see?
Polysemy is a terrible thing.
Contextually it’s probably obvious but “polysemy” is “multiple meanings”. I’d never heard this before. What was my university education even for?
Nageki stares at me coldly.
St-stop it!
You’ll leave a hole!
You are reading ‘have you’ to mean ‘have you over’, yes?
I… suppose so? What else would it mean?
What does it mean to have something for dinner, Miss Tosaka?
I think it means Miru and Kaku are the main course.
WHAT!!!
Oh, no! Thanks for the explanation!
Now we need to hurry!
Comin’ through!
The passage from the entrance leads straight into the kitchen?!
This is a bit much!
Merry Christmas!
(Ow! Ow!)
They’re being boiled!
A-are you two okay?!
Merry Christmas…!
(This bath is too hot! Can’t they turn it down a little?)
It looks like we’re in time.
Wait just a minute, you two!
I’ll have the temperature down in no time, and then you can enjoy your bath!
???
My, you are noisy. Are you with them?
I knew it would be you!
Does your cruelty know no bounds, even in dreams, Doctor?!
Why can’t you at least be nice while I’m asleep?!
Do you not think I should behave in your dreams how you would expect me to?
I guess so, but…
Now, then… it is not yet your turn.
May I ask you to be quiet while you wait?Also, it would appear that you have not followed all of the instructions. Please return to the entrance and start over.
He has a knife, Miss Tosaka.
Let’s get out of here.
Humans who’d be scared of a butterknife like that died out ages ago!
Don’t worry, Nageki! I can handle this!
Take this! Right Golden Lightning Spiral Kick!
…not only do you not follow orders, but you also damage my hardwood floor?
He dodged it…?
Miss Tosaka, watch out!
You have not adequately cleaned yourself, but there is no helping it.
Become sashimi.
Let’s try that again. If you recall Shuu is disabled in one of his… wings, as was mentioned in BBL. So one side he can counter, but in the other…
Take this! Legendary Left Tempest Uppercut!
Gah!
Hahaha! I knew you were weak on your right side, Doctor!
Know the enemy and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles, eh?
Agh… I had not… accounted for this… I did not expect a human as strong as you… to come to the restaurant…
We’ll be taking Miru and Kaku back now.
And you’re closing this restaurant!
You’ve been making The King worry, you know!
Hohoho… very well.
I shall defer to your impressive physique.Don’t worry. I shall spend some time coming up with a new way of harvesting ingredients.
He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s planning to be back open soon…
Make sure you get permission from The King before you reopen, okay?
That’s it for that, then.
Yup!
Are you okay, Miru? Kaku?
Merry Christmas!
(Miru and Kaku are warm and steamy!)Merry Christmas!
(And Miru and Kaku got to eat the vegetables from the bath!)
They’re still a little on the rare side.
That’s good.
Merry Christmas!
(Miru and Kaku are going to burn off some calories now! Yaaaaay!)
Some people just never slow down.
???
Aah, I’m so hungry… and to be hungry is to be sad…
Oh my, a restaurant!
Wait, no, don’t go in!
Hm?
What’s wrong?
You can’t go in here.
It’s closed right now.
Wh-what?!
No… and I thought I would finally get to eat some corn…
The King thought this restaurant was suspicious… you aren’t from around here, are you?
No, I’m not. I’m a migrant.
I’m on a journey, now…
A journey…?
Did you come here on the train, sir?
Yes, that’s right. I’d never seen this star before, so I decided to look around.
Aaah, journeys are so wonderful! So many things to see!…but being hungry is terrible.
It makes me so sad.
Me too, Snufkin.
I suppose I’ll keep looking for food, then.
Goodbye.
Nageki and I watch the migrant wander back into the forest.
If he’d been five minutes earlier, he might have ended up on a spit…
A lucky fellow.
Definitely!