Kabbu

Ahh, the land of Bugaria.

It is a peaceful, prosperous place where many adventurous bugs gather.

Although it wasn't always that way...

Lured by the promise of riches and lush fields, a young queen visited these lands many moons ago.

Together with her daughters and fellow ant servants, she established Bugaria's modest first settlement.

Her people were happy, and the kingdom flourished. And yet, the queen's dream had still not been fulfilled.

For she had heard of an ancient people, who safeguarded a treasure of unbelievable power. It was none other than…

The Everlasting Sapling! A plant which would grant unending youth and strength to any who ate even one of its leaves!

She searched, and searched...and searched…

And yet, she never found it.

She entrusted her dream to the princess, before falling into a hard earned sleep.

Determined to succeed where her mother did not, the new Queen rallied the people together under her cause.

Opening the doors of the kingdom to bugs of all shapes and kinds, she attracted ambitious and skilled adventurers!

Her decree was loud and clear: "Find me the Eternal Sapling, and you shall know wealth no bug ever has!"

With this, The Explorers' Association was founded, with its many members searching across the kingdom for clues and treasure.

Although to this day the sapling has not been found, every bug dreams of one day claiming it for themselves…

...Or at least, those were the stories I was told in my land.

Despite many unfortunate incidents, tales of your people helped me keep my adventuring spirit alive.

Then, Sir Maki, would you consider my earlier offer?

Unproven!? Maki, I am a veteran of the north!

Ngh…

Hm. If you insist..

This sort of thing occurs frequently?

(I'm just going to walk right out of this one.).

Greetings, explorer.

(...He's right. Why am I up here?)

(Hm. I shouldn't disrupt his work.)

An explorer...bee?

I didn't say that, but…

...Hey. Bee.

Why don't we join forces?

We both wish a permit, yet lack a companion…

I have a promise I must keep, and for that I must explore. How bad could it be?

...Sir Maki. Although you outrank me in spades, you shouldn't understimate me.

Sir Maki...I accept your challenge. Bee, get ready!

Bee, our opponent is no amateur. Would you like to review some combat tips?

Very well. So... We can both perform one action per round, be it attacking, using an item...etc.

We can power up our attacks by performing commands unique to each move. Watch this.

If I hold |button,1| long enough...I can power up my horn strike!

A...beemerang?

Alright, I shall trust you then.

Don't let your guard down, Bee. After our turn ends, it is the enemy's turn!

We should pay him back, tenfold!

We should patch your wounds too, using items from the blue flower.

S-such skill with the blade...!

Er, we did it.

Treasure, huh…

He ended up causing quite the scene himself.

But that fighting prowess...How many years must he have trained?

And I am Beetle. I moved in just one moon ago, from the north.

Indeed.

Um, Sir Maki said Snakemouth was to the west, right? Should we get moving?

You need not worry about me. Let us depart.

Thank you. We will be back soon. I promise.

We will find it. Don't worry.

Give him some credit, Bee.

Exploring isn't a game. Many...have been lost while searching for treasure.

As do I. Let's not be careless, Bee.

Hmm...Pompous as he was, he was at least kind enough to test us.

...This will not stand.

I shall challenge him to a duel to the death, our honor on the line!

...Err, yes. Of course. "Kidding". I was most certainly only jesting.

Why, thank you. I assume you've endured it as well?

Stop, you two!

Bee...we just got granted our permit. Let's not get into trouble.

Oh? Thank you for all your hard work.

What is this...? A medal?

Suspicious…

Indeed, thank you for entrusting us with it. Take care, Artis.

This is an...Ancient Crystal, correct? They're unique to this land.

That would be wonderful. Please, do so.

Still, their properties are amazing! Let's use them when we can, Bee.

I've grown quite fond of this area. It's just so scenic!

It's a good thing rain is so uncommon. It gives us ample time to prepare.

Let's enjoy the view while we're here.

Excuse me, bug of old complexion. Is everything alright?

Sorry, Bee. I cannot ignore an old bug in distress.

Chuck, Snakemouth Den is more dangerous than rain on a wedding day. Shouldn't you be warning travelers?

Hm. Watch this, Bee. If I press |button,5| near small bushes or rocks...

Something like this is no match for my horn!

But Bee! Helping others is already its own reward.

And you didn't do anything.

Hm, thank you. We'll be going, now. Just make sure to warn others!

Hey, where are you going? Snakemouth is through the north west.

...I knew that.

This is one of the Ant Kingdom's outskirts.

There are spiked bushes everywhere.

I should be able to cut through these with ease.

This is it...Snakemouth Den.

According to rumors I have heard...It is the grave of a thousand explorers.

Having ended countless journeys, many a song have been written about its dangers.

Its interior must be absolutely riddled with monsters and death traps.

Only the bravest of teams even dare to step inside.

Hm. It's true that the artifact is likely to be inside.

But will you really risk your life for simple riches?

(...It's not like she would understand.)

Snakemouth Den...The grave of a thousand explorers. Ender of…

Yes, I must! Anyone going in must be aware of the danger!

There is much more light here... This room must be quite near the cracked ceiling.

The entrance of Snakemouth Den is surprisingly cozy.

!!!

I... I'm sorry.

...Very well. I will make sure to have information at hand for when you do.

This is Snakemouth Den.

As its name implies, it is a terrifying and dangerous cave.

This bridge seems to be out. How are we going to cross?

Wait, Bee. Hold on! It's too soon to give up! There must be a way…

You can just fly over to it, right?

That thing again?

I will trust you with this, then. Give it your best shot!

Well done, Bee. I wasn't expecting you to do that!

Let's continue. I am glad to have a reliable partner.

Curses! This coziness was an illusion.

Our path won't be easy, that much is for sure.

So many have fallen looking for riches…

...Let's find the treasure quickly, so no one else ventures in here.

(...I will do this for them.)

We've reached a dead end.

Right. If we leave no stone unturned, we will open a path!

A mushroom?

I can understand that you're upset, Bee.

But unfortunate as it may be, let's pick it up and start looking again.

Huh? What?

IYAAAAAAAAAAAA-

Hrgrgh....

Mrggfgh....

Nghgh…

Oof... I am lucky this mushroom broke my fall…

I assure you I am lighter than I seem.

I must agree. There doesn't seem to be a way for me to get back up, though.

We will have to look around.

We're trapped. Well, I am.

How shameful, to make Bee come to such a dangerous place.

Sorry, I shouldn't undermine your choice. Let's press forward.

By the queen... what a terrible fate.

Let us have a moment of silence, in solidarity for a fallen explorer.

Quick! We must free him!

I will make sure there are no other surviv-

Bee! Watch out!

...How could a beast so huge sneak up on us!?

It's not that! We can't abandon this poor moth to his fate!

Bee! Bee, wait! Curses!

This has to be some cruel irony…

...Ngh. I can't give up, even if I'm alone!

...it is stronger than it looks.…

Crud! It's too high up! If only Bee was here…

Must I really sit here and do nothing!?

I...It's too much by myself, after all…

Everyone....I failed. I really was just a rookie in the end…

Bee!?

By the holy jaws of the queen, Bee! You left me to my fate! You are vile!

I will properly scold you later. The situation is dire, but I've got a plan.

We will attack the Web holding the moth while battling the spider.

Precisely. Except we'll run together, this time. Without leaving anyone behind.

Remember the plan! We must attack the web holding the moth captive!

Begone, wretched beast!

Well done, Bee!

Leave us alone already, monster!

Huff... huff…

…

Sigh...

Very well. You are forgiven, Bee.

...Right.

Let's turn over a new leaf, Bee. This moth is our priority.

You're alive!

Could this moth be speaking in an ancient tongue? Perhaps he is of the fabled tribes lurking underground.

Thank goodness, you had us quite worried.

Alright. Let me get you up to speed.

Seriously?

Were you looking for treasure as well, alongside fellow explorers? Err... what's your name?

If we work together, we will surely find both it and the exit.

Can you fight?

Make sure to stay behind us, so we can protect you.

Is something the matter?

Alright. Now let us depart for real!

This is that blasted spider's den.

I really don't want to stay here any longer.

This room seems surprisingly straight forward.

Moth. If you need to take a break, let us know. Bee will carry you.

It seems to be ancient script.

Nice work, everyon-

Moth! Watch out!

By the great antcestors...what kind of sorcery is that!?

Magic...that is no common feat. There are less than ten known sorcerers in history.

We will talk later. I take it you can fight now?

Wait, everyone.

Now that we're a trio, let me share an useful technique.

With turn relay, picked from the colorful flower…

One of us can lend our turn to another.

Well, for example, we could let Bee attack twice to knock down flying enemies.

You shouldn't abuse it like that, though.

The exhaustion will reduce your attack power by 1 every time you act in a round.

Now, on your guard!

Geez, that magic isn't a joke.

If you truly couldn't do it before…

This den really is more than meets the eye.

I say, let's focus on getting out alive. We can collect our thoughts when we're safe.

It's made you more than formidable at combat.

Indeed. If we stick together, we should be able to do it.

S-Sorry, Bee. I couldn't help it.

It seems the ceiling's dripping…

What do you mean?

Impressive! If you can do that...it opens a lot of options for us!

I bet I can push them with my horn, as well.

Let's give your ice magic a try on all we can find.

Indeed. It's hard to know where to go.

Given the way this cave has been laid out…

I believe we will have to go both ways.

That it is. It's a shame this monument outlived its creators.

Despite Bee's protests, it was indeed quite a recent event.

No one really knows how or why it happened, though.

The one before got you as well?

(Not a mushroom...?)

Heh. Thank you, Bee.

The residents probably didn't frequent this area. It's most likely security for the giant door.

It's quite the impressive trinket. I half expected it to break, but it's so reliable!

...We're almost at the end. Please keep your fights for when we get out.

Is everyone alright?

We must have made progress in unlocking the door. Let's keep going!

Good! Let's make our way back to the door!

Weird, I thought Geysers were supposed to be hot, yet this room is very cool.

This place is very strange.

Hm. The possibilities we could do with those two pieces of knowledge together…

That trapdoor we fell through must have been deceptively deep.

...Moth is right. Our only choice is to push forward. That is our only way to get out.

Hmm. Don't be cranky, Moth.

There are quite a bit of bouncy shrooms in here.

We can fly as high as our hearts wish to! Soar to UNSEEN HEIGHTS!

Y-Yes, I apologize. I got excited.

By Venus! Have we finally…

Moth is right. This place has been consistently dangerous. We must stay vigilant.

Fat!? B-Bee, wait!

This is...the artifact? Some sort of mask?

Are you alright!?

That settles it, then. This is probably the real artifact.

The queen has claimed it already, Bee.

What!?

Curses! It's a trap!

YOU!

This is the worst possible timing...!

...We are stronger now, Bee. And Moth is with us. Some battles we cannot run from!

We...We did it! For real this time!

Heheheh...Hahahaha!

We really did it! I was scared for a minute…

But we worked together, and were victorious!

We did it…

C-Curses! We forgot about the flood!

Aaaaaaaaaaah!

...That's not how it went, Bee.

Indeed. Let us depart!

Indeed. It's a relief to return to the association safely.

Regardless, it makes me pretty nostalgic.

Back then, everyone thought Bee was a small helpless child!

P-Please, let's not deal with Gen and Eri.

They always drag me into their quarrels…

Moth! Stop that this instant!

That's Artis the Mantis. He is the accountant of the association, and someone who loves challenges.

I've heard he gives prizes to members that have accomplished difficult tasks recently.

Kina, your brother is one of the most respected explorers. He will be okay!

Sigh. Good job, Moth.

This is Kina, Maki's sister.

She always worries a lot about her brother, maybe a bit too much.

That's Eetl, the caretaker of the Association.

He watches over the quest board and helps teams with their tasks.

Bee, please don't cause him any trouble.

Nonsense. I look trustworthy and approachable!

H-Hello?

This is one of the members of the traveling caravan.

He is always managing trades and sometimes calming his wife down.

Bee, we shouldn't pry on other people's affairs!

...Even if I am curious about that too..

She is one of the members of the traveling caravan. I've heard she is pretty hot headed.

She does have a soft spot for her husband, though.

It seems we shouldn't judge people by their appearances.

Geez, she's crying really hard. We should probably leave her be.

Yes it is, Bee. We should talk to her and see what she needs.

Moth! Have some tact!

Indeed. We will escort you safely. I am sure he is okay.

No problem. Stay safe, you two.

It is that joy we bring that gives purpose to explorers.

…

Ah, this is where we met Chuck.

He mentioned building a "cozy" space for explorers. He must be near.

Let's see if we can find him.

Do you think it has the kid's ball?

Let's go back and give the ball back to him.

Is there really any difference?

W-What?

Stop playing games Moth. Tell me the difference. I demand it!

N-Noooooooo!

Indeed. After all we've been through, we can trust and depend on each other.

Thank you, Chuck. Your hut is progressing nicely as well.

Bee, you know fully well that's Chuck!

His hut has been coming along well, we should say hi.

*Grumble.*

Chuck, we saw your posting on the quest board.

Thank you, Chuck. It was nice to see you again.

Agreed. Just thinking about it makes my back hurt!

Besides, I feel as though this room is hiding more secrets than we can imagine!

Don't worry, we will take care of them for you, just hide somewhere safe!

This kid is in danger! It's not time to talk!

Dib is safe. Let's reunite these two already.

Let's give them some time to talk.

That is more than enough. Thank you, brave lad.

It's quite nostalgic.

Sometimes, it is about the journey, not the destination.

(I never get to have any fun...)

Maybe the door was a trap as well…

This ant is different from other ants we saw.

Maybe we should talk to it to see what it wants.

Ah, the Ant Kingdom's main plaza. It greets both tourists and citizens alike.

It is the bridge between the commercial area, the castle and the residential area.

To top it off, it has many historical points such as the Inn, the Theatre and the founder statue.

We should try to enjoy ourselves and look around.

Apparently, the Queen was heading in a different direction when this ant got lost.

Rather than abandoning it, she decided to return with her people to find the ant.

When they finally regrouped...they were standing in this very soil.

The first Queen was extremely humble. Even if that ant hadn't gotten lost…

I'm sure she would have wanted this statue. It resonates with the people.

What harm could some more honey do?

Oh, Ann! She grows every time I see her!

She's such a great bug - she listens to all my stories without complaining!

This is a pillbug.

Its tiny, round and docile nature makes it a very popular pet.

Pillbugs are also obedient, and simply adorable!

Hm? I haven't met this kid before.

Is that so? He seems to be doing well.

You must've been cute as a baby, Moth.

I can easily imagine a small, grumpy, sleepy Moth.

I...I don't know who this bug is. But she seems very distressed, so we should speak to her.

Excuse us, fine lady. Is everything alright?

!?

Heheheh…

Sometimes, a bit of honesty is all the support someone needs.

She'll be fine. Let us drop by later.

Heh. I hope she gets a big following soon.

We would like to see any and all available ones, if possible.

Nonsense, Bee. Helping others is its own reward.

Vivi helps with the Notice Board.

She makes sure to keep the board in pristine shape, and to alert others of new posts.

I hear she sometimes helps out people herself. She is an outstanding citizen.

She probably won't have an issue with us, well behaved as most of us are.

Indeed. We owe these cozy beds to them.

They'll be happy to know that every new owner took care of the inn with equal passion.

If you ask me, I think it's not about being the founders.

They probably shared the same ideals, that's all.

Yawn... Maybe I am a bit tired…

Ah, that is the Innkeeper. The 7th owner of this inn!

...Although the inn has seen better days, she does her best. Let's support her.

Worry not, Innkeeper. We will accept your generous offer.

Please make sure we have the same experience as all your guests.

And we will keep the price of stay in mind for our review.

Hmmm...

It...it was great, yes.

(M-My bed actually hurt my back...)

Y-yes...of course...

This ant...I've never seen her before!

Or maybe I have? She seems to have no characteristics to make her stand out.

By the holy spikes of Venus! I forgot Janet!

I...I must go apologize…

You know, Bee...for someone who cares so much for treasure, you dislike most high class establishments.

Just take the compliment, Bee. Just take it.

C-Cool? I mean, yes!

Heheh. It's nice to see that Bee has friends.

...Uh, just as expected.

You'll have to introduce us, Bee.

Can we help you?

...! Is... is THAT...?!

P-please, esteemed merchant...name your price!

Hngh! A bit steep…

...…

D-Don't worry, you two.

I shall save up and buy it myself.

Hehe.

I am happy beyond words!

Moth, you have never seen the Bug Rangers?

They are nothing but actors, but they inspire young bugs all over the land.

Say, Moth. Next time they're in town, we can all go watch them!

Maybe you will take a liking to the Blue Ranger!

(...Heheheh. It's so soft.)

That moth is part of the traveling caravan that comes through Bugaria.

We should speak to him, perhaps he has something of use.

Hello, what are yo-

Unbelievable! I must go rip the mask out myself!

Even I have heard of her from my homeland, it is such an honor to be here near her in person!

We saw your listing for help. We are at your service.

We can start as soon as you are ready.

Mothiva seems...different to how I imagined.

Still, let us do our best. This play carries a lot of people's efforts!

(She forgot her lines...!)

W-We will stop you!

Sigh...

Whatever shall we do now? How will we face the people!?

Water...oh gods, guide us to water...

Oh, bandits! We are in such trouble!

...they fled...?!

We are saved! Honey!

Oh, the evil prince. He is so scary and imposing!

Is this the end for us...?

I didn't really like my role...but I managed.

We...we're sorry.

We deserve a break. Let's check it out.

I can't grasp the true nature of these bugs...!

I suddenly feel like leaving no stone unturned…

Ants can carry many times their weight. It is quite inspiring.

Please, do not fight in front of Lady Amber. Her work is stressful enough already.

Ahem.

Indeed. Let's make sure to shop here for what we need.

It's weird to see a Miner Ant out in the surface.

This is the commercial area, Moth. That is unlikely.

...I'm just going to end the conversation here.

Still gossiping, huh.

He probably just wants to see his fellow, common bug smile.

Hmm, a cooked shroom would do me good.

Let's make sure we have the proper ingredients, first.

What is this bug doing here?

Indeed. It's surprising that he would part with his possessions, but I won't judge.

After all, these will be quite useful in our journey.

Hm, it seems this land has seedlings as well.

Despite their adorable looks, they plague many fields and have no qualm devouring crops.

Although weak and puny in comparison to me...their flying variation is troublesome, as I can't reach it…

I'll have to ask Bee for help.

An inichas, this spiky bug is still in its larval stage.

Although it has impressive armor, it stands no chance against my horn!

By Venus... that ant walks after its passing! A "zombie ant"…

I truly believed they were nothing more than a myth.

It is my duty as a fellow explorer... to end its suffering!

By the queen...what an abomination.

I cannot hurt this beast while it is airborne.

Bee, would you lend me your strength?

We meet again...you vicious affront to bugkind.

For all the suffering you've caused, I...no, WE will see to your end!

I'll rely on the others to knock the beast down when I can't reach it.

And use my skills to protect them from damage!

Oh, isn't this a Numbnail? I've read it is quite the endangered species! Perhaps we should flee and leave it alone.

But if we are left with no other choice, I will bring it out of its shell!

Take care with its numbing attacks!

What a sturdy little creature! Its appearance truly betrays its resilience!

But alas...it will be no match for my horn!

Darn! That flying thief keeps stealing my favorite snacks!

And I can't reach them at all…

Quick, team! We must defeat it before it uses it for itself!

Hmph, a cricket bandit. It has been a long time since we encountered each other.

Be ready, you rascal. My strength is far greater than you remember!

Zasp, we are fellow explorers...why must we fight!?

As much as it pains me, I won't let you get in our way!