The World of Otome Games is Tough For Mobs

Volume 7, Chapter 6 “Revolution”

Part 1

She thought it was the same everyday life as usual.

That day, Lelia was taking a class at the academy.

It was the second period, and the students were quietly taking their classes. As usual, Leon and his friends had not come to school, but the academy knew that it was understandable that they did not feel safe in the Commonwealth, where their servants were missing and there was a lot of uneasiness in the atmosphere.

The students knew about the rumors of the rebellion, and some of them said they would join.

(It’s almost as if the rebellion is a lie when we’re living our normal lives like this)

Lelia thought that it was none of her business.

Lelia, who grew up in Japan in her previous life, is troubled to hear the word of a rebellion because she lived in a time of peace.

There was such a commotion in other countries, but she could only see it on the news or the Internet.

Because she hasn’t experienced it, she can’t help but feel like someone else’s problem.

However, Lelia was worried about the current development, which was very different from the scenario of the second otome game.

She is taking a class, but she can’t seem to concentrate.

Her gaze went to the outside of the window, and from there she could see a huge sacred tree.

It’s a world where airships flying in the sky are the norm.

It was no surprise to see a huge sacred tree and numerous airships flying around.

However, there were a lot of airships today.

(Huh? Why are there so many airships flying around?)

Many of them were different from the commonwealth airships she was used to seeing, and there were more of them than usual.

Is that a lot? It was not, but it was an unusually large number, even for Lelia.

Suddenly, the sun’s light was blocked and the entire school building was in shadow.

Was the sun hiding in the clouds? She thought so, but there was an airship moving in the sky.

(Airships couldn’t fly around here, could they?)

The other students were curious, as this was a place where airships didn’t usually pass.

Even the teacher had to interrupt the class to look outside.

When the classroom becomes noisy ―― an image is projected in the sky.

When a huge image appeared, Lelia stood up. The chair pulls back so fast that it hits the desk behind her, but she doesn’t care.

“Serge!”

Lelia shouted in surprise, but the people around her didn’t pay any attention to it.

Her classmates were also gazing out the window.

The giant Serge, projected in the sky, was sitting on a magnificent chair. He bends his hips, puts his elbows on his knees, and holds his hands together.

[To all the people of the Commonwealth, I say. ―― From this day forward, I will be the king of this country.]

What the hell is he talking about? The classroom was filled with buzz, but Lelia was not concerned with that. When Serge was finally found, he said he was going to be a King.

Then he raises his right hand in the video.

When a magic circle appeared behind the throne, it was the crest of the guardian.

Everyone is surprised, and Lelia is no exception.

(Why would Serge be given the guardian crest? But Aneki wouldn’t have chosen Serge, would she? Then who ――)

In the video, Serge introduces a woman.

[And let me introduce you to a new priestess. The new priestess of the country is ――Yumeria]

An elf woman was introduced as a priestess.

And the classroom gets noisy, but Lelia is surprised by something else.

(The servant girl from Leon and the others’ mansion? How could she be chosen as a priestess? Why is there a priestess from a house other than the Lespinasse?)

Wasn’t Noel the one to be chosen as the priestess?

Serge’s speech continued, and the teacher and classmates in the classroom were glued to the images in the sky.

“Now, since you think she can’t be a priestess unless she is from the Lespinasse house, here’s a fun little sideshow for you. Yumeria ―― do it”

Serge commanded Yumeria. She didn’t respond very well, and it seemed as if she was being manipulated.

As Yumeria slowly stretched her hands out in front of her, red light radiated from the sacred tree.

It enveloped the entire Commonwealth, and everyone closed their eyes in surprise.

The light soon disappeared, but then there was a shout in the classroom.

“M-My crest’s gone!”

“My crest disappeared! W-Why?”

She can hear the sorrowful cries from the people of noble.

The crest seemed to have disappeared, probably due to the red light that had just been cast before.

When Lelia turned her gaze to the sky, she saw Serge grinning.

It’s like he knew this would happen and did it.

[The new priestess has taken your crest. This is the best proof I have.]

Never before had a priestess taken a crest from an entire country.

The people from the noble houses sat dumbfounded by the reality in front of them.

The great power that they had possessed was taken away, and they were in despair.

[If anyone still dares to defy me, I will deal with them. You can always come to the Temple of the Sacred Tree.]

The nobles who lost the crest did not have the strength to resist, and the soldiers who knew the strength of the crest would find it difficult to resist Serge.

“Serge, what is wrong with you? Why are you doing this?”

As Lelia is puzzled, Clement comes into the classroom.

Neither her classmates in the classroom nor the teacher aware of him.

Clement grabbed Lelia’s arm and forcefully led her out of the classroom.

Out in the hallway, Lelia asks Clement about the situation.

“What’s going on? Why is Serge calling himself king?”

Lelia was confused, and Clement was also at a loss for an answer, as if he didn’t have any reliable information.

“I don’t know. I can’t predict what’s going on either. The situation is dangerous. I have prepared a car for Lelia-sama outside, so please evacuate.”

“Where are we going?”

Where would be safe in this situation? Is it the territory of Emile’s parents, the Pleven House? While she is thinking about it, Emile appears with Ideal.

“Both of you, over here!”

Lelia glared at Ideal as a panicking Emile called out to them.

“Where the hell have you been all this time!”

[I deeply apologize. I was checking the situation and it was late.]

“What’s going on? And why is Serge calling himself king!”

[But you need to evacuate quickly.]

“Where!”

She asks as they run, and Ideal answers.

[――The mansion where Count Bartfalt lives. It’s a kind of extraterritorial place. You’ll be safe no matter what happens.]

Thus, Lelia and the others had to flee to the mansion where Leon and the others were staying.

.

Part 2

Serge will be the King of the Commonwealth! This was a few hours after he had made the statement.

After welcoming Lelia and the others who had rushed into the mansion, Marie gathered everyone in the dining room.

Then, she questioned Lelia and the others.

“What are you guys doing! Serge said he’s going to be a King! This is not part of the plan!”

Cara was the one who calmed the upset Marie.

“C-Calm down, Marie-sama”

“It’s like this all the time! Why do things always have to get worse? I didn’t even do anything this time!”

Lelia grew angry in front of Marie, who covered her face with both hands and began to cry.

“I don’t know anything about it either! If you hadn’t come here in the first place――”

Lelia’s quarrelsome attitude was calmed down by Emile, who was by her side.

“Let’s calm down, Lelia”

Breathing heavily on her shoulder, Lelia looked around the room. The person who was supposed to be there was not there.

“――Where’s Leon?”

In the room, there are only Marie, Cara, and a tired-looking Kyle.

In the five idiots, only Jilk can’t be seen.

Noelle is in her room with a case of saplings.

Cordelia is not here because she is preparing tea, but she is at the mansion.

Emile was also curious and asked Marie.

“Ano, is Count Bartfalt not here?”

Leon was nowhere to be seen. And yet, Luxion was the only one here.

――Ideal asks in a low voice, instead of his usual bright and friendly voice.

[Luxion――where is your master?]

Lelia was surprised by Ideal’s reaction.

The reaction was the same as when Lelia had called Ideal a “liar” earlier.

Lelia was afraid of Ideal, who reacted as if he were another person.

“Ideal, what’s wrong? Just because Leon is not here.”

[It would have been fine if he had just left the house. But I have not been able to locate him. I was aware that Leon was here.]

A moment ago, he had called him Count Bartfalt, but now he was calling his name.

Lelia and the others’ gazes were drawn to Luxion.

[Master has gone out. He’ll be back soon.]

As Luxion said this, he heard Leon’s carefree voice coming from the entrance of the mansion.

“I’m home ~”

As it was, Leon came to the cafeteria and brought a guest with him. ―― It was Louise. When Ideal saw this, he turned one eye to Luxion.

He glowed red and seemed to be on high alert.

[Why does Leon have Louise with him?]

Lelia was bewildered by his reaction, as if Louise’s presence here was a bad thing.

“What’s wrong, Ideal?”

She asked, but Ideal ignored her and looked at Luxion.

Luxion moves to Leon’s side.

[Oya? Didn’t I say I would help you if I could convince Master? My Master is a man of many words, and I could not persuade him. Too bad, Ideal]

Leon gives a thumbs up.

“That is how it is. Too bad, Ideal-kun!”

Ideal tried to make a move on Leon, who started laughing.

Then Noelle jumped on Lelia and pushed her down to the floor.

“A-Aneki?”

When she was surprised, she heard a gunshot this time.

It seems that a sniper shot through the open window of the room and hit Ideal.

As Ideal fell to the floor, sparks flew.

[You betrayed ―― me]

He treats Luxion as a traitor, but the guy in question brushes off the comment lightly.

[Betrayal? I was only following Master from the beginning. Master suspected you when Yumeria disappeared.]

“Oi oi, don’t make it sound like I’m skeptical. ―― It’s just that you were the only one who could outsmart Luxion at that point. So, you will be suspected, right?”

He suspected him from the start.

Hearing this, Ideal is both surprised and understanding.

[You were acting it all out from the beginning? Even the quarrel?]

Luxion looked down at Ideal, who was about to stop functioning.

[Unfortunately, it’s an everyday conversation]

Before he could finish listening to Luxion’s answer, the light disappeared from Ideal’s lens.

Lelia and the others could not understand what had happened and could only be dumbfounded.

They looked out the window and saw Jilk holding a rifle.

It seems that Jilk had been positioned from the start with the intention of sniping.

Marie and the others didn’t seem surprised.

“Y-You guys, I knew you were gonna ――”

Emile approaches Leon.

“What is this mean? Why did you attack Ideal?”

Leon was squeezed, but he narrowed his eyes and looked down at Ideal.

“He’s the one who messed with us first.”

Noelle pulled away from Lelia, who had been pushed down. It seems that Lelia was blocking the line of fire, so Noelle forced her down.

Noelle stands up and makes Lelia stand up.

Lelia, who had lost Ideal, glared at Marie and the others.

“Why do you do this?”

Leon didn’t answer, and Marie couldn’t answer because she didn’t know the details of the situation.

But as the noise outside grew louder, the reason became clear.

Jilk came back to the room and reported to Julius.

“His Highness, there’s a group of soldiers outside. Judging from their gear, they seem to be from the Holy Kingdom of Rachel.”

Crossing his arms, Julius was the first to suspect a fake operation.

Are they not disguised as soldiers of the Holy Kingdom?

“Are they real?”

“Yes. The rebel soldiers were there, too. Apparently, they’ve joined forces.”

When Emile heard this, he put his hand over his mouth and said, “Speaking of which”.

“There were rumors that Rachel’s people were often seen in the warehouse district lately. Besides, I heard that warships have been coming in and out of the port frequently.”

When Clement heard this, his muscles bulged with anger and two buttons of his shirt were blown off, exposing his chest.

“What did you say! There was that move, but the Commonwealth missed it!”

“Were they underestimating those guys?”

Lelia, who was listening to their conversation, could not believe that something was going on without her knowledge.

The soldiers outside started firing warning shots, and bullets were fired into the house.

“Everybody down!”

When Greg said that, everyone down.

Chris took out the weapons he had prepared beforehand and handed them out to everyone.

“Rachel’s soldiers are troublesome. They are Holfart’s enemy. If they catch us, we’ll be in big trouble.”

Leon shows motivation as to whether he has a grudge against the Holy Kingdom of Rachel.

“I’m going to make sure those guys in Rachel can’t do anything weird ever again.”

Chris was surprised.

“You’re very motivated today. You don’t seem like your usual self.”

When the people around him are curious, Luxion reveals the reason.

[The Holy Kingdom of Rachel is in a hostile relationship with the United Kingdom of Leparto, the home of Milene. It’s for Milene.]

” ―― Luxion, don’t reveal it.”

Leon looked uncomfortable, and Julius, who was approaching on foot, gave him a look of disgust.

“Bartfalt, have you ever imagined your classmate flirting with your mother? ―― It’s gonna be tough.”

“Don’t call it flirting. This is a pure contribution to the nation.”

[It’s not pure when you have ulterior motives, is it? In addition, I’ll put a hole in Roland’s stomach! ――That’s what you said.]

“Luxion, shut up already”

[Yes, yes]

While bullets were being fired one after another, Leon and others kept talking nonsense.

Lelia holds her head and thinks in dread.

(What the hell is wrong with these people? This is not the kind of talk you want to have in this situation!)

.

Part 3

In the Temple of the Sacred Tree, Serge was sitting on the throne that Ideal had prepared for him.

On the side are the figures of Ideal and Gabino, as well as the men who are Serge’s approved as bodyguards.

They have the crest that belonged to the six great nobles.

The rest of the soldiers are given subordinate crests.

In front of Serge is the handcuffed figure of Alberg.

“Serge, why did you do this!”

Alberg, who had injured his leg, was being treated.

――Serge did not kill Alberg.

“It’s because I was chosen as a guardian. I wanted to destroy this country and build a new one.”

“You would destroy a country for that reason?”

Serge smiles atrociously at Alberg, who is surprised.

“To me, a country is just a country, and I’m going to show you how it’s going to die. I’m going to kill your wife, your daughter, and your cute son, Leon, right in front of your eyes.”

“Son? Do you mean Leon-kun? He’s not my son.”

“You like him more than me. You were going to make him marry Louise and make him your son, weren’t you? She is also beyond help, right? She’d be crazy to fall in love with a man who looked exactly like her brother.”

“Serge, don’t get the wrong idea! Louise and I both want you to――”

Although he was in the middle of a conversation with Alberg, Ideal interrupted him.

[――Serge-sama, apparently trouble has occurred.]

“Ah?”

[The troops that were sent to capture Louise have been destroyed. The troops sent to retrieve Lelia-sama have been destroyed as well.]

“Ideal, what do you mean? You said you would bring Lelia soon?”

When Serge heard that Lelia still hadn’t arrived, he was in a blatantly bad mood.

When Gabino heard that his unit had been destroyed, he showed a pained look.

“I believe we sent soldiers from the Kingdom of Rachel to both of them? They are elite. I don’t think they can be defeated.”

[Luxion has betrayed]

When Serge heard this, he grabbed Ideal with his right hand and tightened his grip.

“You said it would be okay, didn’t you? If anything happens to Lelia, I’ll never forgive you. You lying bastard.”

While everyone around him is frightened by Serge’s anger, only Ideal is resistant.

[―― Liar? Take it back]

“Ah?”

[Take it back]

Ideal showed a different mood than usual, but Serge kept his strong attitude.

“You’re a liar. You told me everything was going to be okay ―― Tsu!”

Ideal produces an electric shock which freeing him from Serge.

Serge’s right hand was numb and he held it with his left.

“You!”

[You have to take it back. I’m not a liar.]

The others were surprised by Serge’s rage and Ideal’s quiet - and strong - defiance. Gabino interfered.

“Both of you, we have the other priorities right now, and I don’t think we have time to fight, do we?”

Serge clicks his tongue.

“Go and get Lelia now! Where’s Louise?”

Ideal also seemed to follow Gabino’s opinion and refrain from fighting for now.

“They all are gathering in the mansion where Leon and others are.”

“If that’s the case, dispatch a squad immediately. The one who gets the credit will be rewarded with the crest of the six great noble houses.”

Serge held his right hand and looked at the altar behind the throne.

There, a part of the sacred tree is exposed.

In the dimple, Yumeria, who had lost the light from her eyes, was sitting in her ritual dress.

The thin branches of the sacred tree and the birds tangled around Yumeria’s body to keep her from escaping.

Serge and others had made Yumeria not a priestess but a tool to control the sacred tree.

Gabino stroked his beard and advised him, slightly dismayed by Serge’s attitude.

“That’s quite a treat. Aren’t you selling the crest of the six great nobles too cheaply?”

Serge waved his numb right hand and spat that the crest had no value.

“What’s the value of this thing? It’s just a tool to borrow the power of the sacred tree.”

The sacred tree, and its blessing, the crest, were of no value to Serge.

Alberg, who was listening to the conversation, hung his head.

“Did I push you this far?”

Hearing these words of regret, Serge turned his gaze to Alberg.

“It’s too late for regrets now. You never accepted me as family.”

Alberg didn’t answer, but it irritated Serge.

“Put him in jail!”

.

Part 4

“A~Ah, the house is a wreck. I can’t live there anymore.”

After a fierce firefight, Rachel and the Commonwealth rebel soldiers were lying on the floor.

Some of them were moaning in pain, others were put to sleep.

We used non-lethal rubber bullets and tranquilizer guns.

Carrying a rifle on my shoulder, Julius comes to me with a machine gun.

“We’ve taken care of the enemy outside. Some of them have escaped, but we don’t have to chase them, do we?”

“Do you really think we can have that kind of time?”

“No, we don’t. But I think you’d be the one to tell me to hunt them down and crush them.”

Julius is also becoming less hesitant to me.

No, it never was, but it’s worse than before.

Julius asked me about the future.

“Bartfalt, we’re done here. We’d better get out of here now.”

When Julius suggested that we flee the Commonwealth, I can’t say “No, we can’t, because the world will be destroyed!”, So I dodge the answer.

“That’s no good. You can go, but I’m staying.”

“Why? This is a Commonwealth matter. What reason would you have to get involved?”

Julius and the others probably don’t understand why I’m sticking to the Commonwealth. I want to run away, too. I want to take Noelle and Louise-san like this and run away ――.

“P-Please wait!”

――Kyle, who had been listening to our conversation, sits down on the floor and bows his head.

It was Dogeza*. Normally, there is no culture of getting down on one’s knees in the Kingdom of Horfalt. But these people were influenced by Marie and learned to get down on their knees.

(Note: In general, dogeza is translated into English as “prostration” or “kowtow”.)

Thanks to Marie, I feel that Dogeza is spreading in this world.

“P-Please, please help my mother. Please!”

Kyle gets down on his knees and asks me to save Yumeria-san from being captured by Serge. Seeing this, Julius looks sad, but shakes his head.

“Kyle, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do. Normally, the enemy would still have Ideal. If they have the same performance as Luxion, we’re at a disadvantage.”

After hearing Julius’s righteous argument that he couldn’t overreach for a single servant, Kyle still rubbed his head on the floor and begged him again and again.

“I will do anything. If you can save my mother, I will never disobey you in the future. I will also change my cocky attitude. I don’t care if it’s without pay. I will work to repay you! Please――please help my mother. Ple―― please――please. “

Julius looks at Kyle, who has started crying, and he looks very pained. Then he looks at me. He had a look on his face that said, don’t make the wrong decision.

“This is it. Bartfalt, I’m taking you back with me.”

“That’s impossible”

“Why!”

I get Kyle to his feet.

Kyle, who is crying, seems to be age-appropriate because his usual cheeky and mature attitude disappears.

I felt guilty for not being able to be filial to my parents in my previous life, and I hated to abandon them.

So I’ll help. That’s all.

“Don’t cry anymore. If you want to help Yumeria-san, there’s no time to cry.”

“Eh?”

Kyle looked at me in surprise, his face crumpled up in tears and snot.

“I don’t like Serge’s King attitude after kidnapping our precious Yumeria-san. So I’m going to help you.”

When I said that, Julius was holding his face and looking up to the heavens.

“Are you insane? If they’re as strong as Luxion, they’re stronger than ever.”

“You think I haven’t done anything before? Luxion!”

When I call out, Luxion comes towards me.

[Ideals’ manufacturing capabilities are greater than mine. I have seen airships, armor, and other items that the commonwealth’s main weaponry cannot compete with. They had some high-performance stuff.]

Julius seemed to have given up on Luxion’s report after examining the forces that Ideal had prepared.

“If they also have high-performance airships and armor, we’ll lose by a number.”

[――Who said the Einhorn and Arroganz I built were defeated?]

Luxion’s cold attitude to Julius’ reaction convinced me that I had a chance. But let me make sure of something.

“Can we win?”

[There is a condition that Ideal’s body must come out.]

That’s the problem.

I hadn’t been able to move until now because I didn’t know how seriously Ideal was taking Serge’s side. The biggest problem is that I don’t understand his purpose.

“――Where is Ideal’s main body?”

[He has left the Commonwealth to keep an eye on my body.]

“All right, then, let’s get on with the assault. I’m going to take back Yumeria-san. Kyle, you’re going to have to work for it.”

When I called out to him, Kyle wiped his tears with his sleeve.

“Yes!”

But Julius grabs my shoulder.

“Did you hear what I just said? I’m telling you, we’re outnumbered. Besides, if Yumeria-san became a priestess, she’d have to be heavily guarded. Do you really think we can handle this on our own?”

“When did I tell you we were going in alone? I told you―― I was prepared.”

Luxion looks up at the sky.

[Master, apparently they have arrived]

When we went outside, Jilk and the others in their armor were looking up at the sky.

There――many airships were floating in the sky.

Julius is flustered.

“Are they enemy!”

But the flag they’re flying belongs to the Kingdom of Horfalt.

One of them was the Licorne, the same type of ship as the Einhorn.

.

Part 5

Einhorn’s deck.

So I spread my hands out in front of my friends who I had summoned from the kingdom.

“Thank you, everyone! You come to rescue when I am in pinch!”

A group of friends from the poor Baron’s house gathered in response to my call.

The daily behavior is important, isn’t it.

The great friendships I’ve made with them have been an asset to me.

But as soon as they saw me, Daniel and Raymond, who I hadn’t seen in a long time, hit me.

“You’re the one who forced me into this!”

“You threatened to take the airship away if I didn’t show up, what the hell do you mean come to rescue? Leon is the one who forced me to come!”

The other boys were dissatisfied as well.

“If it weren’t for the contract, I’d ignore it too!”

“That’s right. I was told to go from my parents’ house because I have a contract!”

“Why are you dragging us into the rebellion of the Commonwealth!”

It was really nostalgic to see the boys with their hands on their heads.

Previously, I gave them free, state-of-the-art airships.

It’s a plan I knew well in my previous life. ――It’s a way to get a two-year contract for a communication plan in exchange for free money for the product.

(Note: The two-year contract lets you buy an expensive phone (say, the $649 iPhone 6) for a seemingly inexpensive, subsidized price ($199). Naturally, however, the cost of the phone is baked into your monthly fee, and by the time two years have passed, you’ve paid the full price for the device.)

――That’s what I did with the airship. And the contract is indefinite.

I was hit, but I’m an open-minded guy, so I forgive my friends.

“If you’re going to hate, hate yourselves for thinking you were going to get a free airship. Now, according to our agreement, you will cooperate with me.”

Julius and the others who were listening to my conversation gave me a dumbfounded look.

“You’re the worst.”

Jilk was slightly taken aback.

“It’s malicious”

Brad pities my friends.

“Hmm, even with a state-of-the-art airship and armor, that’s a minus when you consider that you’re still obeying Bartfalt?”

Greg is trying to cheapen our friendship.

“What do you think friendship is?”

Chris, who was somehow wearing a loincloth, shook his head. My friends were surprised to see him, but he didn’t mind.

“Stop calling the contractual relationship as a friendship.”

You can say all you want, but we now have the strength to fight.

“Now we have thirty airships. No complaints, right?”

Daniel shouts angrily at my words.

“There is a huge problem! Why should we get involved in a foreign rebellion!”

Raymond is on the verge of tears.

“And the opponent is the Commonwealth. It’s a powerful nation that is undefeated in its defense! If you’re going to involve us, think about who you’re dealing with! You always picking fights regardless of who they are!”

Please don’t make it sound as if I’m picking a fight no matter where I am.

“I’m a peace-loving man. I was just picked a fight with.”

“Pacifists don’t buy the fights they sold!”

As they are making noise, a small boat lands on the deck. Coming down are Ange and Livia.

“Leon!”

“Leon-san!”

The two of them ran towards me and hugged me.

It sounded like my friends were clucking their tongues, but even such jealousy was comforting.

We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and they were worried about me.

Ange pressed her forehead against my chest.

“You’re always worrying us. What did you do this time?”

It’s sad to be suspected.

“I didn’t do anything. There was a rebellion within the Commonwealth. No, is it a revolution?”

There is no way the Commonwealth can win against Serge and the others with Ideal on their side. And now that Serge has the guardian’s crest, the six great nobles can’t compete with him.

Ange raised her head and looked up at me.

“I’m going to have to ask you for some details. And then ―― “

Ange’s eyes went to Luxion. Before I knew it, Livia was also looking at Luxion with an alert look. Livia was talking to Luxion.

“Luc-kun, I want you to tell me one thing.”

[What is it?]

“Luc-kun ―― won’t betray Leon-san, right?”

Why is she asking this now? As I was thinking this, Luxion glanced at me.

[If he is worthy of being my master, I won’t betray.]

“Oi, does that mean you’ll betray me if you don’t think I am worthy?”

[Yes]

I grabbed Luxion with both hands for his hateful and refreshing answer.

“Looks like you need a good lesson in master-servant relations for once.”

[Master doesn’t need to explain it. Other than that, are you sure now is time to play?]

“It’s because you’re talking unnecessary stuff!”