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yumemory[Location: Outside Talbott Castle, evening]
Larry: I apologize for my belated greeting. My name is Larry Talbott. Welcome to our humble abode.
Then he turned to Murr with a polite bow.
Larry: Murr Hart. To exchange words with you once again feels like a dream.
Murr: I’ve heard that you and I had an argument in the past. Is that true? I can’t remember anything.
Larry: It matters not. I’ve long let go of my grudge from that time. Right now, I feel deeply grateful to you.
Larry: Murr Hart. I began studying the moon because of you. I set my mind to prove you wrong.
Larry: But the more I immersed myself in my research, the more I became captivated by the moon. I even swallowed the moonwolf crystal, all for the purpose of getting closer to it.
Larry looked up at the moon, hidden behind the clouds.
Larry: I understand your fascination with it. The moon holds the utmost beauty within it. One that enchanted me to surrender my all.
Murr: Ooh, so now you like the moon, too? You get me!
Larry: I’ve spent countless years in a one-sided rivalry with you, and I have been defeated each and every time.
Larry: Even when I heard the rumors that your soul was shattered after you came close to the moon, I only felt envious of the fact that you accomplished something completely unheard of.
Larry: …But now I can say that I understand your determination after I have offered my own sacrifices.
Murr: So, Larry Talbott, the man who abandoned his human body, what is it like being a wolf?
Larry: Ahaha. You and your rude, carefree questions, as always.
Larry smiled innocently.
Larry: Honestly speaking, I remember very little when I am in my wolf form.
Murr: Aw, really?
Larry: Yes. I’m only self-aware before and after the day the moon weakens. Outside of those days, I am essentially a beast in body and soul.
Larry: Due to that, my wolf senses and human consciousness coexist only for those few days…
He closed his eyes, soaking in the enchantment.
Larry: But strangely enough, I feel content. My eyes and ears are clearer than ever, and I can see and hear farther when I’m a wolf.
Larry: I can explore mystical sights and sounds that I’ve never experienced before; I can feel them all so close to me. It’s a very wonderful world.
Larry: That’s why, on the night when I woke up in the woods near the castle as a human, I sent you an invitation.
Larry: I felt the need to immediately inform you of all this excitement.
But after all that childlike bounciness in his voice, his eyes were suddenly tinged with sadness.
Larry: …I was ecstatic, and returned to the castle. That was when I found out how devastated it had become.
Larry: I was totally unaware of how out of control I was as a wolf. I was truly shocked.
Larry knew he would only harm his siblings if he stayed. For their safety, it was best for him to stay away from the castle.
He knew all that, but the thought of leaving those two behind left him worried and distressed, and he found it incredibly difficult to come to a decision.
As he was struggling with the situation, he eventually turned back into a wolf.
Larry: This is only the second time that I have returned to my original form. It seems that the power of the new moon doesn’t always work.
Larry: Besides, I am no strong wizard to begin with.
Larry: The invitation that I had written and sent to the sky had wandered for a long time in search of you, it seems.
Larry: To see if you would receive the invitation and come to this castle, and to see if I would get the chance to speak with you like this… Both felt like a gamble.
Larry: But you came to this castle. You saw through my desire to become a wolf. And because of you, I have made up my mind.
I could hear his unwavering resolve in his calm voice and expression as he spoke:
Larry: I have no desire to break this curse. I would like to stay this way, and live as a wolf.
Akira: Mister Larry…
Murr: I knew it. Your eyes told me everything—there was no sadness, rage, or disappointment in your eyes!
Larry nodded deeply.
Larry: Nonetheless, I cannot let my siblings continue fighting because of me.
Larry: You see, we’re all very close with one another.
Larry: The three of us had been together since birth. Always angry at each other, always crying, always restless. The fact that we never changed gave me happiness and comfort.
He looked at the castle with a nostalgic gaze, before turning back towards us.
Larry: Sir Murr Hart, Master Sage. I’m well-aware that it was I who invited you, but if I may be so bold, I would like to ask you both for one thing.
Murr: Oh? Oh? What is it?
Larry: I want to hold a party to reconcile with my brother and my sister.
Akira: A party?
Larry: Yes. We siblings often held parties on nights when the moon was beautiful.
Larry: I’ve changed, so I know it won’t be the same…
Larry: But even so, I want to spend another short while like that with my family, for the last time.
For the last time. He said that very clearly.
Larry: Every passing day, I feel the wolf’s curse continue to consume me. Eventually, I will turn into a real wolf, never to be human again.
Larry: So please, grant me this favor. In exchange, I will hand over the moonwolf crystal to you.
Akira: Huh? But didn’t you swallow it already?
Larry: Not all of it. It’s quite embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t have enough courage to swallow the whole thing, so I broke it in half.
Larry: You may receive the other half.
Murr: Can I? Really?
Larry: Yes, if you grant me my favor.
Murr: No problem! That’s wayyy too cheap a price to trade for the moonwolf crystal!
Akira: That’s amazing… It’s been halved, but it’s still a very rare stone, isn’t it?
Murr: Yup! I’ve always wanted to see the real deal!
Murr: More importantly, it's a gem that grants the owner the moon's powers. Maybe we’ll dig up some important info if we look into it?
Murr: Like figuring out the truth behind everyone's afflictions and how to get along with the Great Calamity!
Mitile: Ah, there they are!
Rutile and Arthur: Master Sage!
Bradley: Damn, you’re such a pain in the ass.
Mithra: I won’t let you get away with this.
The wizards who arrived all surrounded Murr and restrained him.
Murr: Ahaha! You found us!
Akira: Everyone, please wait! Murr only kidnapped Mister Larry to talk to him…
Riquet: …Ah, now that you mention it, where’s the wolf?
Figaro: Hm? You are….
Larry: I’m Larry Talbott. Pleased to make your acquaintances.
Everyone: !?
Bradley: The hell’s goin’ on here?
Akira: Actually…
Arthur: So that's what happened. He sent the invitation to Murr when the wolf’s curse weakened…
Riquet: Earlier, I thought Murr was only fooling around. I didn’t realize he knew something.
Bradley: But yer one crazy guy, ain’tcha. You don't wanna be killed, and you don't wanna go back to yer human body. You just wanna stay a wolf, huh.
Mithra: Western wizards truly have a few too many screws loose.
Larry: Thank you very much.
Murr: I have loose screws, yay!
Figaro: Still, I can’t believe you left half of the moonwolf crystal alone. I wonder what you’d be like by now if you swallowed it whole.
Arthur: But I am relieved to hear what Larry truly desires directly from himself.
Arthur: Whether we were to save you or take you down as requested, surely one of your siblings would have been hurt either way.
Bradley: But is it true? Ya really gonna give half o’ that moonwolf crystal to Mister Bobby Hair?
Akira: It seems so. It’s his way of showing his gratitude to Murr for granting his request.
Bradley: Not a bad deal ya got there. It’s cracked, but a treasure’s still a treasure. I’ll make ‘im gamble the real thing next time.
