The Helper's Errand
One day following the incident in the Nexus Labyrinth Dharma, Joy hears (Captain) and company discussing a problem. Upon learning that the ship's supplies are nearly exhausted because everyone's been so busy, Joy offers to go shopping.
Some time has passed since the Nexus Labyrinth Dharma incident involving the Divine Generals was resolved.
Joy: Heave-ho, heave-ho...
Joy: Delivery complete! What's next...
Vyrn's Voice: Wait, seriously? This is a real problem...
Joy: Vyrn has a problem? What could it be?
Vyrn: Ugh, we're almost outta food. And that goes for rations too...
Lyria: We've been so busy with requests lately that we haven't had time to stock up.
Joy: What's wrong, everyone? Did something happen?
Lyria: Oh, Joy! Well, the ship is running low on food and supplies...
Lyria: We asked some other members to go shopping, but then they had to leave on an urgent request.
Vyrn: Everybody else is out, and we've got our own mission to handle. So we were tryin' to figure out what to do.
Lyria: I don't know if we even have enough ingredients to make dinner tonight...
Seeing Lyria's shoulders slump, Joy thinks for a moment before clapping its hands together.
Joy: Lyria, Vyrn! Joy has a good idea!
Joy: Joy will do the shopping for everyone!
Vyrn: What! I mean, that'd be a big help, but still...
Lyria: There would be so much to haul around. And what if something happened to you!
Joy: Don't worry! Joy's new form helps Joy carry lots of things!
Joy: So leave it to Joy! Gooong!
- We can trust Joy.
Choose: We can trust Joy.Lyria: Yeah, you're right. And Joy does seem pretty excited about it!
Vyrn: Just don't push yourself too hard, okay? And no runnin' off with any strangers!
Joy: O-kay! Joy will make everyone proud!
With this, Joy accepts the shopping list from (Captain) and heads into town alone.
Joy: Shopping, shopping! Joy will work hard!
Joy is happily skipping along on its way into town, when suddenly...
Monster: Graaah!
Merchant: Aaahh! Save meee!
Joy: Meep! That man is in danger! Joy has to help!
Spotting a merchant under attack by a monster, Joy immediately springs into action.
Monster: Groooar!
Merchant: Eep!
Joy: Hyah!
Monster: Awroo!
Struck on the rear by Joy's arrow, the monster leaps high with a yelp and flees deep into the forest.
Joy: Are you o-kay? Any injuries?
Merchant: I-I'm fine. Thank you for coming to my rescue. If it weren't for you, I—
Merchant: Oh nooo!
Joy: Meep! What's wrong?
Merchant: My cart... It's completely wrecked...
Joy: Joy did hear a loud crash. Was that your cart breaking?
Merchant: Unfortunately, yes. That monster came out of nowhere and rammed right into it. I was hoping it survived, but alas...
Merchant: Sigh... It's still a long way to the village. What am I going to do now?
Joy: Hmm...
Joy: Joy knows! Joy will carry your things to the village!
Merchant: What? That's very kind, but isn't this load a bit much for your small frame?
Joy: Joy is strong! You can count on Joy!
With a confident thump to the chest, Joy wraps both arms around the damaged cart and begins mustering tremendous power.
Joy: Heave... ho!
Merchant: Oh? Whoa, you actually lifted it! You're incredible, my friend!
Joy: Ehehe! Joy is incredible! So let Joy take you to the village!
Merchant: Well, if you insist—thanks! It's not too far, but don't strain yourself. Feel free to take breaks if you need to.
Joy: O-kay! Off we go!
Thus, Joy sets out to escort the merchant and his cart to the nearby village.
Joy: We are here! All the goods are safe, and no monsters attacked us!
Merchant: Boy, you really saved my bacon! Sorry for making you lug all that.
Joy: No problem! Joy is just glad you and your cargo are unharmed!
Merchant: You're a good egg, my friend. Oh, and weren't you running an errand? Here, take these as a thank-you.
The merchant grabs a basket of apples from his cart and hands it to Joy.
Joy: Wow, apples! They look so red and tasty! Are you sure Joy can have them?
Merchant: Of course! I just wish I could do more after you went out of your way to help me.
Joy: Joy is so happy! Everyone will love these delicious apples! Thank you!
Merchant: Glad to hear it! Take care on your way, and give my regards to your friends.
Joy: O-kay, thank you! Joy must go now! Goodbye!
Holding the basket of apples, Joy bids a cheerful farewell to the merchant and sets off toward the town once more.
The Helper's Errand: Scene 2
Joy assists several people on its way into town before getting caught in a sudden downpour. While sheltering from the rain with a young man, they hear a loud rumble on the edge of town and rush toward it, fearing a landslide.
After parting ways with the merchant, Joy continues toward the town, prize in hand.
Traveler: Sniffle... This is the best thing... I've ever tasted!
Traveler: Without your help, I would've starved to death!
Joy: Ehehe! Joy is happy you're feeling better!
Traveler: Here's a little something to show my gratitude. It's all I've got to offer right now.
Joy: Wow! What a pretty box!
Traveler: Those tea leaves are famous in my hometown. Please enjoy them with your friends.
Joy: Another present! Thank you! Everyone will be so happy!
Along the way, Joy assists a traveler who had collapsed on the roadside.
Boy: Mommy!
Mother: Oh, thank heavens! Where in the skies have you been! I was so worried...
Boy: I'm sorry, Mommy. I chased after a rare bug and got lost...
Boy: But Joy brought me back here! Right, Joy?
Joy: Joy found him crying by the lake! So Joy escorted him home!
Mother: I see. Thank you for bringing my son back safely.
Mother: It isn't much, but I hope you'll accept this as a token of my gratitude.
Joy: Such pretty flowers! Lyria will love them! Thank you!
Mother: Are you heading to town now? Please be careful along the way.
Mother: There have been landslides in the area because of all the rain recently.
Joy: Really? O-kay! Joy will be careful!
Joy also stops to guide a lost child back home.
Soon, the happy helper's arms are filled with gifts from those it had assisted along the way.
Joy: Ehehe! Joy helped lots of people and got lots of presents!
Joy: Now Joy just needs to finish the shopping! Vegetables, meat, wheat, and what else...
Joy: Meep! It's raining! Hurry, hurry!
Large drops begin to fall from the suddenly overcast sky, sending Joy scrambling toward the town.
Upon arrival, Joy ducks under the awning of a shop and looks up at the darkened clouds above.
Joy: So much rain...
Joy: Joy can't go shopping like this. What should Joy do now?
As the rain pours down with no sign of stopping, a young man taking shelter in front of the same shop turns to Joy.
Young Man: Wow, we don't get visitors like you every day. Are you out all alone in this deluge?
Joy: Yes! Joy came to buy supplies for Joy's friends!
Joy: But Joy didn't expect it to rain.
Young Man: Oof, that's rough. You came all this way to shop, only for the weather to turn sour, huh?
Joy: Joy doesn't mind the rain! Joy is waterproof!
Joy: But shopping bags aren't. If Joy lets them get wet, no one will have food to eat.
Young Man: Yeah. If the food gets drenched in this downpour, it'll be ruined for sure.
Joy: Oh no...
Young Man: But I wouldn't worry about that! The storm should let up soon.
Joy: Really? The rain will stop?
Young Man: Yep! The weather here's been all over the place recently. It'll be sunny one minute, and then the next thing you know, the sky is falling.
Young Man: But after a little while, the rain clears right up, and a big rainbow appears. It's really beautiful!
Joy: A rainbow! Joy has heard they appear after rain!
Joy: Joy wants to see a rainbow! It would be Joy's first one!
Young Man: Oh, is that right! Then what do you say we wait out the rain together?
Young Man: The time will pass faster if we've got someone to chat with, right?
Joy: Yes! Thank you!
Joy: Oh? What's that? Joy hears a strange sound.
Joy: Meep! Now a much louder sound! It came from over there!
Young Man: This can't be good! I'll go take a look—you stay here where it's safe, little buddy!
Watching the young man run toward the noise, Joy recalls a warning it had been given on the way to town.
Mother: Are you heading to town now? Please be careful along the way.
Mother: There have been landslides in the area because of all the rain recently.
Joy: Could that loud noise Joy heard have been a landslide?
Joy: There might be lots of people in trouble...
Joy: Joy must help them!
Muttering to itself, Joy dashes out into the weakening rain to follow after the young man.
The Helper's Errand: Scene 3
Joy rescues a child and an elderly man from a river after the bank collapses. Upon returning to the Grandcypher, Joy realizes it forgot its errand, but the crew praises its heroism and plans a shopping trip together for the next day.
Joy: Wow, so many people...
Joy arrives at a riverbank on the edge of town where a crowd has gathered.
A palpable tension fills the air.
Young Man: What! You came too, little buddy?
Joy: Joy got worried and followed! Was that sound Joy heard a landslide?
Young Man: Yeah, the riverbank gave way because of the rain. Look over there.
The man points to a gouged-out spot in the ground, where rescuers are already hard at work.
Joy: Oh no! Joy wants to help! Is there anything Joy can do?
Young Man: Well, the rescue workers seem to have things under control. I hear they're just focused on getting people evacuated now.
Young Man: The folks here will probably feel safe enough to start heading home soon. See?
Sure enough, the throng of people begins to thin, revealing a clear view of the flooded river.
Joy: You're right! No one was hurt?
Young Man: Nope! Sounds like nobody was crazy enough to go near the river in that rain. Everyone's safe and sound!
Joy: O-kay. Joy is relieved to hear that!
Young Man: Same here! With that awful noise earlier, I expected the damage to be much wor—
Joy: Hm? Joy hears another strange sound.
Young Man: Really? I don't hear anything...
A thunderous roar suddenly echoes through the area as a large section of the riverbank is torn away and engulfed by the muddy torrent.
Joy: Meep!
???: Aaahh!
They frantically turn to see an elderly man and child being swept downstream, clinging to a piece of driftwood.
Young Man: No way! Were they caught in the collapse?
Child: S-somebody, help!
Hands outstretched in desperation, they are quickly swallowed by the raging current.
Joy: Joy will save them!
Young Man: Huh? W-wait, little buddy!
Joy dives in before the young man can intervene, leaving him to gaze helplessly at the churning waters, hands clenched tightly.
Young Man: Little buddy...
As the minutes tick by, the onlookers begin to lose hope. But just then...
Joy: Joy is here! Joy brought them both back safely!
With an enormous splash, Joy emerges from the river, carrying the elderly man and child who had been swept away.
Young Man: Little buddy! Thank goodness... Is everyone all right?
Child: Yeah! This white robot thing showed up just in time! Right, Grandpa?
The elderly man makes some indistinct noises in response to the little girl's words.
Joy: Joy can't understand him. Is he o-kay?
Child: Oh, it sounds like Grandpa lost his dentures. But he's saying he's fine!
Nodding vigorously, the man continues his unintelligible sounds.
Joy: O-kay! Joy is glad he isn't hurt!
Young Man: What about you, little buddy? Any problems or anything?
Joy: Joy is fine as well! Nothing broken!
Young Man: Whew, what a relief. I was so worried you might've gone under too...
Joy: Joy is sorry for making you worry.
Joy: But Joy is o-kay! Joy has gotten stronger!
Joy: Joy is a skyfarer now! Helping everyone is Joy's job! This was nothing for Joy!
Child: Wow, I didn't know you were a skyfarer! Thank you for saving me and Grandpa, Joy!
Joy: Ehehe, you're welcome!
As Joy smiles bashfully, the elderly man points to the sky and mumbles something again.
Joy: What is it? Is there something in the sky?
Child: Wow! So pretty!
Young Man: Whoa, it's really something today!
Joy looks up to see a huge rainbow stretching across the clear sky above.
Joy: Wow! So this is a rainbow! It's so big and beautiful!
Joy: The rain stopped, and no one got hurt. Joy is so happy! Gooong!
Beneath the bright sky after the rain, the joyful tolling of a bell mingles with the sounds of laughter, ringing out across the town.
Vyrn: Hmm, Joy sure is takin' a while...
Meanwhile, back on the ship, (Captain) and the crew have finished their mission and are waiting for Joy to return.
Lyria: Oh gosh, oh gosh... I can't do this! I'm going into town to find Joy!
Vyrn: Hey, hold on, Lyria! It's too dangerous to go by yourself!
Unable to wait any longer, Lyria is about to leave to search for their missing friend, when suddenly...
Joy: Joy is back!
Lyria: Oh, Joy! Thank goodness you're okay!
Vyrn: Looks like you're still in one piece! You were so late, we were startin' to worry.
Joy: Joy is sorry. Joy was very busy and got delayed.
Joy: But Joy brought lots of things! Look, look!
Saying this, Joy plops down a wooden box and opens it proudly.
Inside is a collection of gifts from people Joy had encountered on its journey.
Lyria: Wow! Apples, flowers, tea leaves, and some yummy-looking sweets! Where did all this come from?
Joy: Well, you see...
Vyrn: Gotcha. So that's why you were so late gettin' back.
After hearing Joy recount the events of the day, (Captain) and the crew nod in understanding.
Joy: Joy helped lots of people! And everyone gave Joy presents in return!
Lyria: Hehe. You've really become a full-fledged skyfarer!
Joy: Joy is a real skyfarer! Gooong!
Vyrn: Wait... Huh?
- What's wrong?
Choose: What's wrong?Vyrn: Well... I don't see any of the stuff we asked Joy to buy.
At these words, Joy suddenly jumps up in realization.
Joy: Joy forgot to go shopping!
Vyrn: Ahh, so that's what happened. I thought it seemed like a lot of stuff was missin'.
Joy: Oh no... Joy is so sorry. Joy went to get food for everyone but ended up forgetting...
Joy: Joy isn't a real skyfarer after all...
Joy couldn't even do a simple errand...
Vyrn: Hey, we're not blamin' ya. You only forgot 'cause you were so busy helpin' people, right?
- You did great!
- Perfect skyfarer performance!
Choose: You did great!Lyria: Absolutely! It's really impressive that you helped all those people on your own!
Lyria: So give yourself some credit. You get a gold star and a perfect score for today!
Choose: Perfect skyfarer performance!Lyria: Exactly! Our mission as skyfarers is to help others!
Lyria: So as far as we're concerned, you were beyond amazing today!
Continue 1Vyrn: Yeah! Besides, there's plenty of food in this box of gifts. We'll be good for at least a day!
Joy: Really? Everyone gets to eat?
Vyrn: Yep, no worries! So don't be so hard on yourself, okay?
Vyrn: You did an awesome job today. You oughta be proud!
Joy: Vyrn...
Joy: O-kay! Joy will stop being sad!
Joy: But Joy still forgot the shopping. Joy will learn from this mistake.
Joy: From now on, Joy will work hard to handle both shopping and helping!
- We're counting on you.
Choose: We're counting on you.Joy: Yes! Leave it to Joy! Gooong!
Vyrn: Hey, I know! How 'bout you come shoppin' with us tomorrow?
Joy: Tomorrow? Is it a day off?
Lyria: Uh-huh! We wrapped up our current request, so we decided to treat ourselves to a well-deserved break!
Joy: Yay! Joy wants to go! Joy will help carry everything!
Vyrn: Heh, sounds like a plan! For now, let's hand out all the goodies ya brought back!
Joy: O-kay! The box is heavy, so Joy will bring it!
Lyria: Oh! And I'll go get a vase for the flowers!
Thus, Joy's little adventure comes to an end.
Despite a minor slipup, the day's experiences and expressions of gratitude mark another small step in the little bell's growth.