Liberi Reader

Oh, looks like you're all done sorting. Nice job.

Mr. Dolly! Shouldn't you keep an eye or two on your clones?

Do you know how much trouble they'll make for everyone, letting them run amok like this?

I told you, not all of them are me.

I did bring them here, true... but I'm only indirectly to blame here, right?

So... sorry?

Just saying sorry isn't going to fix this!

If their merchandise gets damaged, what are the shopkeepers going to do? Your clones are being nuisances! Can't you do anything to stop them?

I do actually have something... um, under normal circumstances, I could choose to 'Cry'.

'Cry'?

Like this. I face into whatever, the sea, the wasteland, and lift two hooves up like this, and then I yell: 'Heeeeeeeey! Where are you guys?! Come here quick!' Like that.

Adele, you're going to have to help me for that. I've Cried too many times, so sometimes they act like they haven't heard me.

So... we just have to call them over?

We need something to lure them too. Like, 'Ice cream here!' or 'We've got balloons and skateboards!' and stuff.

But remember, don't call them 'Little Black Sheep' or 'lambs'. They won't even know you mean them.

Ahem...

Heeeeeey! Ice cream here!

Heeeeeeeey! We have balloons and skateboards! Come here quick!

What? Ice cream? Is it free?

Miss, is it true? I want strawberry!

Is there some kind of event? Are you giving out balloons?

Huh? No, um...

Uh-oh, something's happened.

You're gonna have to go get ice cream with them to fix this, and probably buy balloons too, and ramble the streets, and soak up the Siestan sun.

Tough one, huh? What a big coincidence that I know of a really good ice cream shop.

How about I lead the way?

...Mr. Dolly!

So this is how you corral visitors into your Volcano Museum? Buying ice cream for strangers? I think I like this!

Dearie, how about we spend the afternoon exploring the museum?

Perfect! Then after that we'll go for barbecue!

Let's go!

Er, thank you very much.

(What's it about to do?)

(Huh?!)

Where'd my wallet go?! Someone stole my wallet!

Huh? What kind is it? Dark or light?

Just now? But I didn't see anyone, did you?

(Oh, no, Mr. Dolly's not here either! I have to catch it, quick!)

(Delighted trots)

That's—the whistling rock!

Hey! Wait up!

Give everyone their stuff back—

Errored three-dollar gold certs are rare collectibles here. They'll fetch a big price at the trade fair! Miss, are you sure you won't think about it? I've got a price I can give you!

Really? Could you take a look at this, then?

This is old Higashinese issue! I'll take it for this much!

And this?

A Gaulish copper livre—I'll take it too! Miss, what else have you got? Bring it all out!

Miss, how much did you bring? Last one, I swear, the very last one... I'll take one more, and then I'm going home!

Th—Then take a look at this! After this, I could afford a whole new device!

Ahhh, it's our own Sargonian mint... Let me see, we've got...

—Gavial!?!

Yep! Is that valuable?

Valuable? No! This is the end of our talk! I don't do ANY business with thin-tails! You take all of this back! I'm leaving!

Uh... uh, Eyjafjalla?

Sorry, Snowsant... I...!

Blargh! What the hell?!

Wait, my coins... I'm missing two!

D—Don't look at me!

Mr. Eastman! I'm here to pick up my photocopies.

Right, right, all these fliers of yours. You really put your back in, printing this much just to advertise your bar.

298, 299... that's exactly right. Here's the fee!

I'm not taking money off you for this. I'll just say, next time I drop in at the White Volcano, mix me your house Oasis, heavy on the ground cardamom. Appreciate it.

Also, can you help change out my shop sign one minute?

Of course I can! Thank you!

—Ah, Mr. Enis!

Adele...?

What's the hurry?

Look out... Look out!

Oof... ow, ouch, ow... what just...

Ah, Mr. Enis! I—I'm sorry!

Huh...?

*whistle* Times really are a-changing. Youngsters have such urgent schedules these days.

Weird, what knocked me over just now...? I've never seen anything as strange as this...

...Wurgh!

Where did it go...?

It's like hide-and-seek!

Mr. Dolly, this isn't the time to play around! If we don't catch the Little Black Sheep soon, more people are going to lose their things!

No-no-no, they aren't going to lose anything, they're just borrowing it for a little fun. They'll give it all back.

Actually, why do YOU never play with children your age? Are you just going to keep yourself shut in a lab, even on a summer like this?

Mr. Dolly, I'm not a child anymore, and studying Mount Siesta is a VERY important job which I shouldn't be distracted from.

But right now, finding these Little Black Sheep is more important so we can stop them causing a ruckus!

I know how lonely children work. I know how many love using 'I'm busy with work' as an excuse.

......

This shop looks empty, but the Little Black Sheep just...

Er... who are you?

Excuse me, I... I lost my pet, it ran off! I think I saw it enter this coffee shop just now...

This cafe went out of business a year ago. The door's always locked.

But I definitely saw it wriggle inside just now, straight through...

What kind of pet did you lose...?

A... um, a beckbeast.

Ah, nono! Don't you associate my clones with those animals...

Okay... a beckbeast.

Is your beckbeast in here?

Ngh, I don't think it is...

I'm so sorry! Sorry to bother you...

That's fine, I was just here to pick up a few things anyway.

The property deed should be right... no, not there...

Sir, are you the owner of this cafe?

Not any more, I won't be. This shop, and all the shops on this street, are due to be demolished soon.

I'm so sorry...

Don't be. The demolition isn't news to anyone here... *hisses* Not in this cupboard either...

Sir, what does it look like, the thing you're looking for? I can help you, maybe?

It's a red binder...

Ungh, it really is dark...

Girl, are you sure you can see anything in here?

Wuh!

The place closed ages ago. Might be tricky to get the lights on.

It's fine if we can't find it, I'm not in that big of a rush. Carry on searching for your pet, I'll... I'll keep an eye out for you.

Come on, girl! There's no clones of mine here and no whatever you're looking for! Off to the next location!

It's all pitch-black... I can't see a thing. Nothing like when I went surfing in Siesta before!

So, what does it look like?

Er, it's a pink and white... beckbeast, carrying a volcanic rock on it, the kind that whistles in the wind.

That whistles in the wind... is it named 'whistling rock'?

Eh? Yes, it is. How do you know?

Ah! Sir, are you alright?

—They sound just like that when blown across, those stones. Like you could perform music on them.

Urgh, I'm getting sidetracked.

Mrroah, the romance. Whistling rocks are like guitars? How did I never think of that?

Is your pet carrying one of those? That's an odd luxury. If I remember right, it's fairly uncommon...

It took it all by itself...

You're going to humiliate me. Don't tell people my clones are kleptomaniacs.

Okay, if I see it, I'll get in touch with you. How should I go about doing that...?

Oh, thank you! Please contact the Volcano Museum if you can; I'm one of the staff there. My name's Adele.

Dammit...

Sir, are you sure you don't need help? It seems like you're...

Not in that good of a... mood...

The Atlas of Terra's Volcanoes? Are you interested in volcanology, too?

No, I'm... well, no, it's not as if I hate it.

Er, I mean, this isn't my book.

Let's get outside for now.

You work at the Volcano Museum? Do you know a... Keller?

I know Professor Keller. Are you friends?

She used to be a... regular here, I guess.

One summer, she suddenly left Siesta, together with two Leithanians. I never got in touch with her after that...

How's she been? She's... doing alright the museum, right?

Right, Professor Keller's been occupied with survey prep for Mount Siesta, and the museum's still under improvement. She's very busy.

She and you both work at the museum?

Hm? Professor Keller is its curator.

Curator... now, that's something.

Well, um... if you can, please return this book to Kell... to the curator for me.

Where am I? Where am I? Find me if you can ♪

Take the flowers in, maybe behind them's where I am ♪

Bang!

Hide-and-seek ♪

Mr. Dolly!

Not me!

But you didn't spend all of today cooped up inside the museum. You went out for a walk, you ate ice cream, you bought balloons. The sun's fine, the people are wonderful, and you've made a new friend, haven't you?

That's the stuff of life!

What is the seed you're after? Is this rock a seed?

You need to look slowly, take your time! The sun tomorrow's just as fine!

Where am I? Where am I? Find me if you can ♪

Is it one of these coins? Or what's on this poster...? 'Letter of Intent for Relocation'?

Is a coffee bean the seed, Mr. Dolly?

Take the flowers in, maybe behind them's where I am ♪

Bang!