Last-Ditch Thrust

Is that right? Oripathic filth?

Ungh?!

Tch, Ingra...

That's it! Brassrust! Keep it up! Get him out of the scoring pen!

Break his hand! Keep going! Don't let that Infected get away!

Shh! Keep it down! Look at the seats over there...

Huh? Why's she all alone there...? 'Infected Knight seating?'

......

Not too loud. She was looking this way earlier.

Hah, aren't there divider walls between the seats? She can't hear anything, right? Besides, you think an Infected would have the guts to climb over here to get at me?

This is a knight's swordsmanship, Ingra. All that blunt movement of yours really is unwatchable.

*Spit*... Infected refuse... daring to lecture me? Wait until I've flayed you and pulled your bones apart... then you'll regret it.

(He really is no brains, all brawn. I just need to wait while he loses his cool.)

(Oh, here it comes!)

Goddamned Infected trash—

—Trash? Why do I feel like it's you knights, resting on your laurels, who can't stand the heat?

Grgh! He can push me off?!

No, your tiny little playsword could never... is it Arts technique? Wind Arts? Or just pure driving strength?

Would I ever tell you? Olmer Ingra.

You—take this!!

(Wait, what—?!)

Tch, it really was wind.

It seems it's only good enough to bolster your movements. Far short of what deranged things the Wind Knight can pull.

(Analysis? So he isn't just a simple-minded moron...)

Hmph, Infected. That sword of yours has no Arts unit, yet still cast... disgusting. The Arts given to you by the Originium in your organs will not change the outcome of this.

That rotten Blood Knight is the same. Just because some Infected knights have cobbled together a false renown, he forces the common folk to recognize the Infected?

The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi have been just too kind to you all. Know how grateful you should be, Oripathic filth.

Grateful?

To you lot?

Hah, such attitude? The Infected crawling and struggling along Kazimierz's lowest layers, you genuinely dare to cast contempt on the knight nobles?

Do you know the price the Infected pay for our legal emancipation?

Hah, why should I know? I only know your coming death will be wretched—

Do you know how brutal a female gloompincer is when it's been snatched from its egg? Do you know, when Infected knights are selected... the tacit homicide that happens?

Oh, 'your coming death will be wretched.' Big words, Olmer Ingra. You just relish in bullying the weak. It's a miracle you have the guts to step into a deathmatch.

—Have you seen what happens to all the lives deemed cheap? You knight noble filth?

There's only five still standing their ground in the scoring pen?!

Kurde! I spent all my savings on this bet, and that idiot doesn't even touch the pen for half an hour?

Why's there still an Infected? Are they fighting 'Brassrust' Ingra?!

Hey! Get rid of that filthy asshole! Ingra!

Ingra! Ingra! Ingra!

Wh-What was that? An earthquake?

No, no, it's that Infected knight over there... she stomped the ground something fierce just now...

...Tch.

These dumbasses... starting to gang up on the Infected, huh.

How's that?! Are you hurting now, Ingra?!

Wha... am I being surrounded?

...Infected...

You have no right to be here.

Ugh—?!

Forfeit, Infected.

I don't like how Ingra does things, but neither my Knightclub nor my family would stand for the humiliation of an Infected sharing the podium.

You... love a good excuse, don't you...

Don't get me wrong. Only one can stand in the scoring pen in the end.

This is a brawl, Infected, but right now, you've made yourself the prime target.

...Feh.

Heedless wretches... once I dispose of this Infected, you're all next.

Sir Ingra... I'm wounded and would be hard-pressed to vie for the title, but at least for the moment, we should work together to topple that Infected slave.

These depraved Infected with the gall to talk their tripe at knights. You all know of the disturbance the Infected caused before, don't you?

Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub always was a suspicious lot. Rumor has it they orchestrate the illegal Infected congregations.

Exploiting the riches from winning alongside us to harm the safety of Kawalerielki, and even Kazimierz in whole? Should we be indulging such action?

...Illegal Infected?

All I saw was a tragedy of people without a home! A tragedy of people dumped out of the factories, the farms and the beast ranches!!

Less of the row, Infected.

If that's how you truly see it, you ought to go on your merry way back to the Infected shelters. No need to stay here, overwhelmed as you are.

Let's be brutally honest. You ache to put every knight to death, don't you? You're welling with rage, gasping for vengeance, aren't you?

Then what are you waiting for?

—You!

Ghakh—hah, hah—

Cur! I'll cleave your hand off and slap you awake with it!

(No, I can't stay any longer in this fight, I need to—)

......

Not today.

You lot... Get out of my—

Ungh?!

Dammit... What are you people doing?!

Naught but standing here.

......

You have nowhere to run this time!

Gargh...!

Oh-ho, your armor's up to snuff. That blow should've cleaved your spine in twain.

Gakgh... gakgh... *cough*, *cough* *cough*...

I don't understand why the Knights Association would allow your lot into the Major. Isn't your blood a deadly toxin?

Enough.

Infected, get out of here. Just give up.

You've already been gravely wounded. Any more, and you'll never win another match.

—Shut up!

You... you people... sanctimonious thugs...!

Ugh?!

Sanctimonious. Is that what you think of me?

We'll see how long you can keep up the sniveling little traitor act. You'll be kneeling, begging for forgiveness...

—!

Hey, where are the judges? What the hell is this?!

Are these knights gonna just rig up their own shitshow right here?!

I—

—

Ingra! Ingra! Ingra!

Long live Brassrust! Long live Kazimierz! Long live the knights!

......

Get that Infected up! Make him get up!

Get him on his feet! Keep him fighting!! Let's see how tough he really is!!

...*Hiss*!

What? What the? St... Stay away from me, alright??

What say I toss you down there? Get you closer to the action? Huh?

Wait.. you...

What are you doing?! You're a KNIGHT and you're gonna assault the audience?

...What...

Where's security?! Security! There's an Infected assaulting civilians!!

You sonnovabitch!

Gagh...

Y... You...

Still have strength in you?

Guh—ulgh... blugh...

That's close enough, Brassrust, he's liable to die.

He might be Infected, but still a registered knight. We don't need the National Council pestering us over an Infected.

Tch! What are you gesturing at me for?! Huh? Who do you think you are?

One of us has to lose, Brassrust. There's only one victor in this match.

Exactly what I—

What is this? Wind? You still intend to resist?

...You...

Hah. You know, an electric fan destined for junk blows more of a breeze than you do, Infected. What's the matter?

...You'll... regret this...

Hoh...

Has he a death wish?!

The wind's—picked up? He's still got strength?

Ngh—

You!

All of you...

Hey, hey, look at the Infected!

What's he doing?! Is he casting Arts?

You—

—Arts? No! He can't keep this up—

Ingra... and the rest of you!

None of you have the first idea what the Infected have to go through... Did we get Oripathy because we wanted it?!

Families abandon us. Fellow soldiers abandon us. You people throw us into the beast arenas like trash, to bleed alongside starving gloompincers.

I'll have you—

I'll make you... pay in blood...!

Ugh, the wind's getting stronger...

Hmph. If I hang around here, come soon enough, I won't be beating any of you. My Knightclub superiors will understand.

I was thinking I'd win by playing the bystander. If there's no chance, I'm out, I'm out! You deal with this yourselves!

Infected can cast without an Arts Unit. That's unfair.

I'll be reporting to Northwood Knight Order, Infected have to be constrained... We should withdraw for now, Brassrust.

......

Brassrust?

Not a sound... He wants to kill me, waste his very life on these Arts so he can humiliate me...

No! You can't run!

Hah! Why would I ever run?

I'll tear your miserable Arts and that face of yours into pieces, and dance with your blood under my boots—!

Come! Unmentionable Infected!

I'll... do you in.. I'll...

......

......

Wha—What happened, right at the end there? Did the wind stop?

Then...

Then Brassrust's hatchet... it...

No! Shit!

*pant*... *pant*... Such a floundering outburst, and where did it get you?

What's the matter, Infected?! Spent at the last moment?!

You mockeries of—

—

Hold on... is he...

Dead?

The Infected... died?

But––

Get the medics here! Now! This is an arena! An infection on this scale—

Brassrust! Get away from him!

He died...?

Hahah, hahahah... he tried casting that piffling burst of Arts, and died?!

This is why you Infected all—

Please vacate the arena, Brassrust Knight, sir.

The medics are stepping in. When we're sure there's no risk of contagion, we'll transport him in a sealed container.

...Tch.

—?!

—

Pinus Sylvestris—! Do you want every knight here your enemy?! Well?!

—Put him down!

We're taking these precautions for the safety of the rest of the knights as well as the audience. Please comply.

Brassrust, sir, please make your way out.

Hmph, filthy knight... I certainly don't want my life ruined by Oripathy...

Are you Infected too? Please calm down, this is a Major...

Ugh...

Can't you see he's still got life in him?! Move!

Now!

Steady. Are you looking to provoke the Knights Association?

Leave this to the medical personnel—

*cough*! *cough* *cough* *cough*—!

*gasp*...

Let me over!

Leave her be... she's Infected too. Get the audience evacuated first.

Are you alright?

Heh... not exactly...

Blood loss... least of my problems...

Aches in my infected spots... they're spreading... hurts...

Dear visitors: there has been an incident in the arena. We ask that you follow staff instructions for a prompt evacuation. The award ceremony will be postponed by two hours.

We repeat—dear visitors...

Wild Mane.

Go on.

...Please... you have to...

Sona'll find your wife and girl.

Don't worry.

Look! The Originium is spreading across him! We can't wait any longer, put him in the container now!

What are you doing?!

Preventing infection.

...You... damned...

Iwona!

Remember their faces!

Remember... These knights... These Kazimierzians... These cold-blooded murderers...

Don't let them get away with it!

It's your turn. Deal already.

What's your rush? Just let me think.

What've you got to think about with this few cards left?

We now report on an urgent news story—

An accident occurred at a capture the flag event held today as part of the Major Show Tournament—

—an Infected knight concealed his condition before the competition and sustained heavy injuries during the match, all while forcing Originium Arts—

—went into shock partway through the event, and passed away after aid proved ineffective—

...Infected...

Passed away? Died? Died on the field?

According to reports, medical personnel on the scene have finished cleanup of the field, and the arena will return to normal use tomorrow following decontamination.

With only three hours since the incident, the National Council have already received mass complaints, and look to revise the Infected Knights Act—

Revise the act? Pull the other one, they're just petrified of owning up!

When the Blood Knight came about, they were pressured to recognize Infected as legitimate. If they fiddle with the laws now, how are they going to save their reputation?

The question of the Infected's no child's game... you think 'reputation' could affect their policymaking?

Was the knight nobles' 'reputation' ever any worse? Decades ago?

Times are different. I can't say I know what they're thinking now, but no matter whereabouts, enforcing the rules takes priority over any objective results.

We've all suffered for it.

Cleanup has been completed. All knights who took part will be given a medical examination within the next three days—

With regard to this incident, the Knights Association is paying a correspondingly high amount of attention.

Currently, several Knightclubs have cosigned a statement to the Association on the accidental deaths of Infected, uncontrollable Originium Arts, as well as the risk of large-scale infection breaking out during the Major...

Haah—!

No problems, Maria.

Your adjustments to the weapon core are perfect. It's been a long while now since I've wielded something so effortlessly smooth.

Ah... mm-hm!

I made them especially based on your past fights after all, heheh.

I will.

If we're done with all the theory, we'll want a little practical combat to try things out.

Maria, keep to one side.

Ah... okay!

You take it easy now, both of you!

I will.

My, that's a good look in your eyes, Margaret.

This is for real now. If you throw, my self-respect will be very sore for it.

Of course.

Now, then—

—Accordingly, we have invited numerous experts on knight competition to publish their own views. We now go to the Knights Association Officer-in-Charge.

Ah. Good morning, people of Kazimierz—

......

—Infected can cast without an Arts Unit; this is known to medical science—

But in the arena, such an ability is 'exceedingly unfair'—

(Fairness.)

Fairness, huh.

And surmounting the rulesetters within their own rules? Lunatic ravings.

......

Ugh...!

Careful.

Are you alright?

Oof... I—I'm fine, now let go...

I'm sorry, it's been a while since I used a weapon with a handle this long. I'm still not quite perfect at exercising it.

*Sigh*...

—Ma-ri-a? What are you laughing at?

Eh? Ah, I'm sorry, sorry.

Margaret.

You really have changed.

Hm? Have I?

I don't mean your appearance. Your hair's all messy now. Come here, I'll comb it straight for you.

Maria, bring the comb over. It's behind your worktable.

Ah, okay.

Let's sit and take a moment to breathe.

Alright. Thank you.

Honestly... it feels like it's only been the blink of an eye since you left.

(The blink of an eye... and you'll be even farther away from us.)

—According to reports, the deceased Infected appeared to be implicated in the illegal Infected incident. The relevant circumstances are still under investigation.

The Knights Association promises that an incident this minor absolutely will not affect the course of the Major's schedule—

Zofia... that's...

Ingra again, is it? For him to be killing on the field, though...

......

—Currently, visitors to events involving Infected knights are asking for the Knights Association to resolve the situation.

At the same time, 'Brassrust' Olmer Ingra and several other knights who were directly involved in this event have taken interviews—

......

Are you listening? Mr. Malkiewicz?

Oh, sorry, Jewell. Carry on.

Yes, sir. Actually, they're forms from the Knights Association, with the personal details and noteworthy points for all Grand Knights taking part this time.

The General Chamber would rather not ruin relations with these stars, so they're hoping we can be more attentive...

Let me see...

(They're all established athletes... oh, the Radiant Knight really is in here, too.)

Hm?

Does this 'Nightmare Knight' not have a Knightclub affiliation? I thought the Radiant Knight was the only case of an independent qualifying for the Major?

And besides, 'Nightmare Knight'... Aren't the Grand Knights' titles usually less of a mouthful? And he doesn't have a 'The' either?

He's not one of the Grand Knights, then? So what's so special about him?

Ah, this one... haha. He's been a great pain for the Knights Association to handle. I don't entirely know what's up, but...

He doesn't care a single bit about knight titles or any such thing, and brushes off all arrangements the General Chamber makes, but he isn't deliberately disobedient either.

He's a weird one.

A weird one, huh?

Yes, sir, but there's no doubt about his strength. And besides, I don't know why, but it seems some knight families are extremely curious about his identity. They've tried asking the Association countless times already.

But we're not too clear on what's going on with him either. Things suggest he came from some rural area near Sargon?

......

Mr. Malkiewicz?

...I understand. You're free to go.

Yes, sir.

Oh, one thing, Jewell.

Hm? What is it?

I'm still the same Malkiewicz you know... so no need to be so reserved with me. I'm not used to it.

Ah... as you wish, I mean, understood, Mal—Mr... Malkiewicz.