Scenario:Constance - This Is Your Home

This Is Your Home

Salria panics when Constance goes missing, and the initially calm Dorothy and Claudia quickly realize this is no ordinary disappearance. As the maids prepare to search for her, Constance manages to disembark from the airship on an unknown island.

---

Cephalomancy Castle looms over Sharom Island, the homeland of gentle monsters.

The peaceful calm of the afternoon is shattered by a girl's high-pitched scream.

Salria: Waaah!

The Two: What's wrong!

Salria: S-s-something terrible has happened! Queen Constance...

Salria: Queen Constance is nowhere to be found!

Dorothy: Oh, what else is new?

Claudia: A bit of excitement never hurt anyone.

Salria: How can you be so calm!

Dorothy: This makes, what, the thirtieth time she's escaped through the window?

Claudia: Thirty-second, actually. But it feels different this time.

Claudia: Would she really run away right after giving us such a moving speech?

Dorothy: Well, this is Queen Constance we're talking about.

Claudia: True enough.

Salria: (Whatever happened to trust!)

Salria: Ah! N-now that I think about it, the kitty is gone too!

Dorothy: What? You should've led with that!

Claudia: Yes, it changes everything. This doesn't seem like the queen's typical escape.

Salria: Um... I don't really understand the differ—

Claudia: Listen carefully. Queen Constance's usual disappearances are acts of fleeing from responsibility.

Claudia: And that cat was taken in from another party—one could say it, too, is a responsibility.

Claudia: Which means that if this were a true escape, the cat should have been left behind indoors.

Salria: Um... Could she have run away together with the kitty?

Dorothy: That would mean dragging the cat into a spectacular self-destruct! She doesn't have the guts for that!

Salria: W-well, that's a really intense way of putting it!

Claudia: In short, the queen is a kind person. I cannot imagine her doing such a thing.

Claudia: If this is not another escape, then the real question is what happened.

Dorothy: Maybe the kitty ran off, and she chased after it out of the castle?

Claudia: I hope it's that simple, but we have to consider the worst.

Claudia: We depart at once—no, we mobilize. Prepare yourself, Dorothy.

Dorothy: Roger!

Salria: I-I'm coming too!

While the maids begin preparing to search for Constance...

Constance: Wh-wh-wh-what should I do... I boarded an airship without permission or fare...

Constance: If the crew finds me, I'll be strung up, steamed, boiled, and torn limb from limb...

Constance: Ah... D-did it stop?

Broadcast: This vessel will remain docked for a short time to resupply.

Constance: N-now's my chance!

Constance tumbles off the ship while clutching the cat.

Constance: Sigh... I somehow managed to get off before being discovered...

Kitten: Meow.

Constance: Um, so...

Constance: Where... are we?

This Is Your Home: Scene 2

Unable to find a way back to Sharom Island, a lost Constance encounters a young boy sheltering an injured monster from the local militia. Touched by the boy's kindness, Constance thanks him—only for the militia to appear.

---

Having been swept away to an unfamiliar island, Constance heads into town to gather information.

Constance: U-um... Excuse me...

Constance: Do you... happen to know where Sharom Island is?

Nervousness keeps her voice from carrying, and no matter who she tries to speak to, no one notices her.

Constance: (If I can't make it back, what am I to do?)

Constance: (It's bad enough being stranded, but I have this little one to worry about too!)

The urgent need to return home is a fear Constance has never known before.

Though she is well-versed in slipping away, she has never once tried to make her way back on her own.

Constance: Ah... Er... What should I do...

Kitten: Meow.

Constance: Hyah? I-I'm so sorry!

Youngster: 'Scuse me, I'm in a hurry!

Constance: It's just one thing after another...

Kitten: Mrow!

Constance: Huh, k-kitty? Where are you going?

The kitten slips free from Constance's unsteady arms and runs after the boy.

Constance: Please wait!

Chasing the kitten, Constance arrives at a massive tree on the outskirts of town.

Kitten: Meow!

Youngster: What's your deal? Want some meat? You're a needy one...

The boy is holding dried meat, and the kitten seems to have caught its scent.

Constance: Um...

Youngster: Whoa!

Constance: Eek!

Youngster: You're the one from before... Is this your pet?

Constance: Y-yes, that's right!

Youngster: You're not from around here, are you.

Youngster: Once it's done eating, take your cat and go.

Constance: (Ah... I've upset him... Why am I always like this...)

Constance: (Wh-what do I do... Help me, Dorothy, Claudia, Salria!)

The boy, framed by the great tree behind him, continues to glare at Constance.

???: Gwoo.

Youngster: Idiot!

Constance: Huh? That sound just now...

Youngster: Damn...

Youngster: Can't be helped... Don't tell anyone, okay?

The boy steps aside, exposing a hollow in the great tree along with the monster within.

Monster: Gwooh.

Constance: This child is...

Youngster: The militia's been all fired up about wiping out monsters lately.

Youngster: I found this one collapsed and covered in blood near the foot of a barren hill...

Constance: W-wiping out monsters? Is that why you're hiding it?

Youngster: It's not like I like monsters or anything.

Youngster: But somehow... looking at it, I just felt sorry for the poor thing...

Constance: ...

Kitten: Mrow.

Monster: Gwoo.

The kitten and monster show interest in each other and begin to play together.

Youngster: S-see? It plays with the cat. It's been calm this whole time... That means it's different from other monsters!

Youngster: But it's still growing. It gets bigger every day.

Youngster: When I brought it here, it was small... At this rate, it won't be long before I can't hide it anymore.

Constance gently places a hand on the slumped boy's shoulder.

Constance: Thank you, truly, for your kindness and for seeing the truth with clear eyes.

Constance: This monster child truly seems to have a gentle heart.

Monster: Gwoo?

Youngster: D-don't just say stuff like that. How would you even know?

Constance: Because I—

???: Found you at last.

Youngster: ...!

Without warning, heavily armed adults carrying guns, spears, and torches appear before the boy.

This Is Your Home: Scene 3

Hiding in fear, Constance is confronted with the harsh truth: Beyond Sharom Island, many people despise monsters. When the kitten is threatened, Constance steels herself, steps forward as the queen of monsters, and saves both the monster and kitten.

---

Militia Captain: Humph... It's grown quite a bit, hasn't it.

A man who appears to be the group's leader calmly steps toward the boy.

Militia Captain: We're fortunate that things haven't escalated. Hand over the creature for everyone's safety.

Youngster: How did you find this place...

Militia Captain: During the purge at the barren hill, we let a small one get away.

Militia Captain: We heard there was a reckless child who fled with a monster in his arms, so we came looking.

Youngster: Damn it...

Youngster: Miss, please! Take it and r—

Youngster: Huh? She's gone!

Constance: Aiieee...

Startled by the sudden appearance of the adults, Constance escapes to the shadows where she freezes.

Militia Captain: What do you think you're doing? Monsters are not animals.

Militia Captain: They burn fields with fire, foul marshes with poisonous breath, and deceive people with cute appearances...

Militia Captain: Such creatures grow many times their size in just a few days.

Youngster: ...

Militia Captain: How disgusting. Just having something like that exist on our island is repulsive.

Listening from behind the tree, Constance bites her lip and holds her breath.

Constance: (This is how people outside see monsters...)

Constance: (I knew it... but still...)

Youngster: Please. Let it go.

Youngster: This one's different. It doesn't go anywhere... It's gentle! S-so—

Militia Captain: Hm...

Militia Captain: This is pointless.

Youngster: Guah!

The militia captain coldly pushes the boy away.

Constance: Eep!

Militia Captain: We'll exterminate it here. Everyone, ready your weapons.

Youngster: N-no! Stop! Please stop!

Constance: (Wh-what do I do, what do I do, what do I do!)

Constance: (At this rate, the boy and monster... But those people have their reasons too... Oh, what do I do!)

Militia Captain: Fire!

Kitten: Myaaow!

Militia Captain: Whoa!

In that instant, the kitten leaps out from the hollow and attacks the men.

Militia Captain: What the heck? Get off me!

Kitten: Mew!

Constance: ...!

Constance: (I see... I'll do it. I'm the only one who can.)

Constance: (Because I am...)

Militia Captain: ...!

Militia Captain: Why is the sky darkening?

Constance: I am the queen of monsters!

Constance: She who rules over creatures astray!

Militia Captain: Queen... of monsters?

Youngster: Miss?

With overwhelming magical power, Constance manifests darkness, lightning, and a massive suit of armor as she reveals herself in grand fashion.

Facing the shaken men, Constance weaves her words with all the authority she can muster.

Constance: You, too, have things you must protect. To that end, destroying monsters may be unavoidable.

Constance: But there is one thing I wish you to know.

Constance: Just as people seek peace, there are those among our kind who seek it as well!

Militia Captain: Eek!

Militia Captain: P-please forgive us! Anything but lightning!

Constance: Huh? S-sorry...

Constance: Wait, what am I saying!

Constance skillfully manipulates her armor and grabs the monster from the hollow.

Constance: This child is—ahem... By my decree, this child shall come under no harm. Is that clear?

Militia Captain: Y-yes!

Cradling the kitten as well, Constance calmly departs for the forest.

Constance: Huff... Huff...

After dispelling the darkness and confirming she is not being pursued, Constance hides among the trees.

Constance: Maybe I overdid it a little... But I had to... Ugh...

Youngster: Hey there, Monster Queen!

Constance: Urk!

Youngster: Thanks. You were amazing, miss.

Constance: Ahh, so it was you! You startled me...

Hearing the sudden timidity in Constance's voice, the boy smiles slightly.

Youngster: You laid it on a bit thick. A monster queen wouldn't sound that scared.

Constance: Ah, well, I really am the monster queen... even if I did exaggerate some parts.

Constance: There's an island called Sharom where only peace-loving monsters live. I'm its ruler!

Youngster: Huh? Pssh, yeah right... Like that kind of place actually exists.

Constance: B-but it's true!

Constance: This child would be living freely too if we were in Sharom...

Monster: Gwoo...

Youngster: Yeah? Then where is that island?

Constance: Well... I don't actually know how to get back myself...

Just as Constance's shoulders slump in despair...

???: Queen Constance!

Constance: That voice...

This Is Your Home: Scene 4

Dorothy, Claudia, and Salria show up in search of their queen. Seeing the maids, the boy accepts that Constance is a true queen and entrusts the monster to her care. As the four set off for Sharom Island once more, Constance carries herself with newfound dignity.

---

Salria: Queen Constance! You're all right!

Constance: Mmph!

One after another, the maids who serve Constance appear before her.

Dorothy: It really was you, Queen Constance! Thanks to your magic, we found you right away.

Claudia: We have come to retrieve you. It is a relief to see you and the cat unharmed.

Dorothy: Though it seems you've been through quite a bit.

Monster: Gwoo?

Constance: Phew... I'm sorry, everyone...

Constance: The kitty ran off, so I rushed after it, and then I—

Dorothy: Really now! You should call us right away whenever something dire happens!

Claudia: Feeling responsible is admirable, but there is no need to shoulder the burden alone.

Salria: That's right! We're here for you! We want to help when you're in trouble!

Constance: Th-thank you...

The boy, who has been watching the exchange in a daze, finally opens his mouth.

Youngster: M-maids...

Youngster: If you have maids, then maybe you really are a queen...

Constance: Wh-what kind of standard is that?

Youngster: You said earlier that if the monster went to Sharom Island, it could live freely. Was that true too?

Constance: Yes. Very much so.

Constance: If you would allow it, I would like to take this child back to Sharom.

Youngster: ...

Youngster: Maybe this one really is just special.

Youngster: I get what those people were saying... It probably doesn't belong on this island.

Constance: Yes...

Youngster: So... Okay.

Youngster: I'm trusting you with it, Monster Queen.

Constance: Thank you! I'll take full responsibility.

Constance: Please come visit Sharom someday! It's a wonderful place.

Youngster: For sure!

After exchanging promises with the boy, Constance and company board a skyskimmer for their return trip to Sharom Island.

Kitten: Meow.

Monster: Gwoo...

Salria: I'm glad the kitty made a new friend.

Constance: Agreed! Oh, how adorable they are!

Dorothy: Seeing Queen Constance so cheerful, even though she's being brought back to the castle, is a first for me.

Constance: I never imagined I'd be happy to be taken back...

Claudia: On most runaway returns, you sob quite loudly.

Constance: Come to think of it, how did you all know which island I was on?

Claudia: I'm afraid I can't share the details.

Dorothy: Just know that we had our own adventures on the way.

Constance: Huh?

Dorothy: If you knew how we tracked you down, you'd definitely try to outsmart us on your next escape!

Constance: Nooo! I won't run away or sneak off again!

Constance: Probably...

As their timid master tilts her head uncertainly, the maids share a faint smile.

Claudia: At the very least, let us trust in your resolve as queen.

Claudia: That you stood up for a monster, despite your fear, is more than enough.

Dorothy: We look forward to what's to come, Monster Queen!

Salria: We're cheering for you!

Constance: That's good to hear!

Her voice now seems to carry a bit more weight and authority than before.

With gentle smiles, the maids watch their queen, in whom a newfound dignity has taken root.