Cain 2023 Mahopa Card “A Night Lit Up By His Smile”

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Card story: Because You Are the Way You Are

Akira: Cain, this should be that magical fountain, right?

Cain: Nice view, isn’t it? People in this city say it grants wishes.

The Central wizards and I went to the magical fountain in the City of Glory to investigate a certain incident.

Riquet: There doesn’t seem to be anything unusual about the fountain. It’s simply clean and beautiful.

Arthur: According to Cain’s friend, people notice that objects that are reminiscent of Cain appear in the fountain every morning.

Cain: Yeah, things like toy swords, boots, or dolls shaped like me. All of them have human hair wrapped around them. That feels unsettling so my friend got worried and wrote to me.

Oz: It’s common practice to use part of the practitioner’s body as a medium in a curse or charm. Nothing worked because the ritual wasn’t performed correctly, but it’s obvious that there are multiple culprits who have tried to cast a curse on Cain.

Cain: A curse?

I shuddered at the unsettling exchange. At the same time, something didn’t really make sense to me so I shook my head.

Akira: I can’t imagine that there’s someone who would do that to Cain though. He’s so kind and friendly to everyone.

Riquet: That’s right. Cain often doesn’t pay enough attention to details, and he can be too rough when he ruffles my hair. But being with him always cheers me up even when he’s like that. He isn’t the kind of evil wizard that people would hate.

Arthur: That’s what I think too. Maybe it’s something opposite. Perhaps instead of hating Cain, someone likes him so much that they wish for him to like them, so they made that charm.

Cain: Hey that’s enough. You three are embarrassing me with those praises to high heaven. In any case, the issue is, no matter if that person did this charm thing out of good will or hatred, the magical fountain will curse them in exchange of granting their wish. We need to stop them for their own good too.

Arthur: Let’s ask around about the charm. Maybe we’ll learn something.

Akira: That’s a good idea. Let’s start by collecting more information.

[A while later]

Arthur: There is nothing unusual… I see… Even so it’s valuable information for us. Thank you for your time.

Cain: We’ll stay in town for a while so please tell us if you remember something.

Resident: Wait, that’s Cain, isn’t he?

Resident: For real? Since when has he been back?

Akira: (He’s popular with literally everyone like a celebrity as always)

As we gathered information, the stream of people striking a conversation with Cain or looking at him admiringly was endless everywhere we went. He was indescribably well-loved. Not letting on that he couldn’t see anyone, Cain responded to everyone with practiced ease.

Resident: Cain! Come by my restaurant if you have time!

Cain: Sorry, we’re in the middle of investigating an unusual incident. I’ll take my friends for a visit later.

Fortune teller: Oh my, aren’t you the handsome young man from that night? Nice to see you again. Will you give me the pleasure of divining your partner for tonight?

Riquet: You’re the fortune teller at the festival of the Serpents? Back there you said you would predict my love life for me.

Cain: Ah, that fortune teller! Sorry but I already know who I will spend the night with. Once we solve the curse incident, we’ll have a big party to celebrate.

Cain: Oh, there’s something I’d like to ask you. Do you happen to know something about the strange objects that are found at the magical fountain recently?

Fortune teller: Ah, that’s likely a love charm?

Arthur – Riquet – Akira: Eh.

Oz: Love charm?

Fortune teller: With this charm, you will find love with the person you fancy by wrapping your hair around something that belongs to the person in question and offering it to the fountain. But you’ll fail if that person finds out what you do.

Fortune teller: ‘Something that belongs to the person of your dream’ doesn’t have to be literally that person’s belonging though. Just something that represents the person to the caster of the charm is fine. The charm is simple so it’s currently the rage in town. People tell each other that their friends found love thanks to the charm and the whole city try it.

Arthur: I see. Then it should be someone harboring love for Cain who cast that charm.

Riquet: His Highness is right, it isn’t a curse!

Just as relief washed over me that the incident wasn’t something out of malice, I recalled the sight of people flocking to Cain earlier.    

Akira: (Suddenly the number of suspects increase dramatically)

Cain: So we know the nature and the purpose of the charm now. The next step is to find the ones who attempt it and stop them. Let’s split up and ask around so we can cover more ground. I’ll go check the entertainment district. Will you join me, Master Sage?

Akira: Yes, of course.

Arthur: Leave the site over there to us. See you later.

[A while later]

Cain: Let’s start with the main street. There’re many young people around so maybe we’ll find some clue. Still, a love charm, huh. I’m from this city yet I don’t know anything about that.

Akira: It’s said that the charm would fail if the person in question finds out so maybe that’s an underground trend.

Cain: Probably. Also since I started living at the Magic Manor, it’s harder to keep up with the talks in the city.

Just as Cain shrugged, yet another passerby started small talk with him. He casually waved his hand back. Looking at his face, I couldn’t resist asking him.

Akira: When we find the person who casts the charm, will you return their feeling?

Cain: Nope, I’ll politely turn them down and tell them that I’m currently occupied with deepening the bond with my new allies in the battle with Calamity.

Cain answered my question without hesitation. Then he turned around and looked at me, who was walking by his side.

Cain: From that point of view, I suppose I understand how the caster of the charm feels. When we just met, if there had been a charm that helped me to become friends with you in an instant, I would be tempted to try it myself.

Akira: Ahaha, but you don’t need any charm like that though. You can be friends with anyone you just meet, right?

Cain: How about you then?

Akira: Eh?

Cain: If there were a magical charm that helped you to become my friend, would you try it?

Cain looked at me in the eyes and smiled mischievously.

Akira: Uhm, I wouldn’t try that charm, I think. Because I’ve liked you since we first met, I’d like to invest in the time and become friends with you with my own effort.

For some reason, Cain’s eyes widened a little. In that moment, two girls hugging toy swords carefully like they were precious to them passed by us. Curiously, the hair in the front of both girls was uneven.

Akira: Cain, those two just now seem about to attempt the charm! They’re holding toy swords.

Cain: There’re two of them?! What on earth? First thing first, let’s go after them!

Akira: Y- yes!

[In a café]

We resolved the charm incident without trouble. Afterwards, we went straight to a café in the City of Glory.

Arthur: In the end, the casters of the charm include the florist’s daughter, the daughter of the family at the crossroad, the third daughter of the baker. Who else…

Riquet: The grandchild of the shipwright and… Oh no, there’re more of them than I can count with my fingers.

Akira: I certainly didn’t expect that every day had a different batch of charm casters.

Oz: Why are there so many culprits?

Cain: Ahaha, knights are pretty popular, you know.

Akira: (I feel that’s definitely not the reason though.)

Cain: Anyway, thanks for helping me out. I’ll take it from here so please order anything you like.

Riquet: Nice! I’ll go pick something from what’s available in the display case. Your Highness, Oz, are you going with me?

Arthur: Sure!

Oz: Fine by me.

Riquet: Don’t worry, Oz. I’ll choose tasty treats for you too!

Cain: You don’t want to go with them? It’s my treat, don’t be shy. It’d be nice if you show some mercy for my wallet though.

Akira: Ahaha, I’ll definitely help myself to the cakes later, but I’d like something to drink first.

I soothed my throat that had gone dry from talking to so many people in our investigation with tea. Then I remembered the surprise on Cain’s face right before the two girls walked by us.

Akira: By the way, why were you so surprised when I answered your question about the charm to make friends?

Cain: Oh, that. I just thought that you must be pretty well loved by everyone.

Akira: I s-… What? Me?

Cain: Yes, you. You’re honest and always say what makes the other person happy without any calculation. I was embarrassed from being told something unexpected and couldn’t find my answer. You’re so charming like that, so all of us Sage’s Wizards love you.

This time, it was my turn to be at a loss for words from surprise.

Akira: ….

Cain: Akira?

Akira: If we go by that metrics, then you’re the same. I’m so embarrassed my face goes all hot.

Cain: Oh, looks like I manage to score a point. Let me get you some cool tea in return then.

Cain had already noticed that my cup was empty. He raised a hand and called a waiter for me. It was natural as breathing for him to be caring to other people like that. He definitely needed no magic or charm to make friends.

Akira: (Everyone loves Cain because he’s such a person, I think).

 

Card episode: The target of many people’s affection

Akira: Hi, Cain. Are you back from the Castle?

Cain: Hello, Master Sage.

Akira: Wow, so many candies! What happened?

Cain: The ladies at the Castle asked me to pass these to the Central wizards. I’m about to sort and deliver them.

Cain: Let’s see. ‘For the charmingly taciturn handsome gentleman’, so this should go to Oz. The one with ‘The cute boy with good posture’ is Riquet’s. These are all for His Highness.

Akira: That’s a lot! It’s like gifts for an idol on Valentines.

Cain: The kind of people who hate Sage’s Wizards are almost non-existent. Well, looks like many people are still hesitant to talk to the serious-looking Oz or the refined Riquet. And Arthur is royalty on top of being a wizard.

Akira: I see. So everyone entrusts their gifts to you because you’re easy to talk to and willing to pass them on.

Akira: (There’s still a wide gulf between wizards and humans, but I’m glad there are people who admire wizards so much)

Cain: And I’m done. I’ve checked these for poison so time to deliver them.

Akira: I’ll give you a hand!

Cain: That’d be great. Please take over that pile and this one for me then.

Akira: Got it. By the way, whom is that biggest pile for?

Cain: Hm? Oh, that’s for me.

Akira: (He doesn’t even bat an eye. Amazing)