The Last Kheshig

He's with his family. Give him some time.

To be honest... I didn't really care much about him to begin with.

We can tell.

True enough. Were you trying to hide it?

......

He's still alive, real flesh and blood, right?

The city makes us forget it a lot... but we're all alive.

We should have our own choices, our own lives... instead of drifting about in the endlessly beating waves, never to find out who we really are.

The battle of a lifetime between the Blood Knight and Nightmare Knight will begin tomorrow evening!

Be sure to tune into the Night of Knights channel tomorrow at 8 o'clock for the best competition experience!

(Loud beeping noises)

Oh... Justice! You're okay!

Iwona! You can't get up yet.

Come, I'll help you.

Heh... Thanks, Ashley.

I thought I had exclusive rights to the nickname Ashley?

Haha, let me borrow it for a while.

You're gonna have to pay for using my trademark.

Iwona, that day...

Yeah, I saw the Blood Knight's silhouette.

There were traces of blood Arts...

It's... a really awful kind of Arts. As things are, just casting normal Arts is enough to make me ache. I can't imagine how much pain the Blood Knight has to bear, controlling Arts like that.

The Blood Knight... He's strong.

Everybody knows.

It's thanks to the Blood Knight that the Infected won the right to fight in the Major.

We became the K.G.C.C.'s playthings... We lost our dignity and freedom... but we're still alive.

It's only by staying alive that we have the chance to run.

Between the Radiant Knight and the Blood Knight, who do you support, girls?

The Blood Knight. No doubt about it. He's the one who opened up the future for us Infected.

But what we need is an unflagging fight instead of the status quo... so I choose the Radiant Knight.

And you?

I pick Sona.

You can do that?!

You called...?

......

The Board has made their decision... Area 0 will be wiped clean.

Our current strategy with the Infected is a mistake.

A mistake, huh...?

Moreover, Rhodes Island's leader has been digging too deep into the Area 0 affair. This is a lapse on the Armorless Union's part.

......

Several executive directors are strongly demanding the Armorless Union eradicate this threat. Do not let Rhodes Island's medical team leave Kazimierz alive.

Any issues?

......

None... but this is only an order from 'several executive directors' and not the whole Board. Right?

That is not for you to question. We have authority over your command.

Point of order, it's Mr. Malkiewicz over there who has authority over me.

Malkiewicz... You know what to do.

......

Are you hurt?

Yeah... Probably when I blocked his strike.

I couldn't feel a thing at the time... but it might have bruised a bone or two.

Hold still. Let me see...

You need a doctor. This will affect your performance.

Maybe put some ice on it.

Alright.

Can't we heal this with Arts?

That will alleviate the pain and help the wound heal, but if she's got any broken bones, she could end up worse in the future if we don't take proper care of them.

What do we do? You're up against the Wind Knight the next match... That's a strong opponent. If you have to fight this hurt...

Don't worry so much.

How am I supposed to not worry?!

It's just a minor injury. I'm more than used to this.

You call this... minor...?

Margaret... You've worked so hard, and you've gotten so strong... What is it all for?

To become a champion?

'You cannot surmount the rulesetters within their own rules.' Isn't that what Uncle said?

Mhm...

But that's just because Młynar—

No, I get it.

He's right.

But it's not the rulesetters that we need to defeat.

We need to break free of the rules. We need to teach those who have been tamed to rise up, help those who have fallen to regain the light.

Uncle Młynar... He doesn't believe that there are still those who would follow a lighthouse's beam and charge into the storm.

But I don't agree with him.

If we can dispel this darkness, the people will push forward.

You need to listen to the doctor and rest up for a few days.

Your next match is against the Wind Knight, right? If you don't recover by then, it won't go well for you.

Don't end up like me...

I knew my arm was no good, but I pushed myself even further. This is what I got.

Right. You needn't worry about me.

Margaret... Look! Ta-dah!

The new gauntlet?

Already...? That's amazing. I thought it'd take you until tomorrow.

It probably would've taken me another two or three days if I was working by myself.

We didn't adjust your gauntlet around your new weapon last time, not that we'd know where to start.

But that taught us a lesson, and it really got Maria working.

Maria... I know some excellent craftsmen. Perhaps I should introduce them to you.

Really?! Where are they from?

All over. Ursus, Leithanien, Higashi, Laterano... you name it.

Whoa... That's like a whole guild of master craftsmen... Hm? Why would a pharma company need so many craftsmen, though?

You'll just have to find out for yourself.

This reminds me... there was this one year when Uncle Młynar bought you a small drone for your birthday.

You had the thing torn apart that afternoon.

I... I put it back together after that, though.

I was shocked, you know. It might not have flown again after she put it back together, but I never expected the kid to have such amazing talent—

—I half expected Maria to become a knight back then, though. Otherwise, I'd have entrusted her with my workshop.

You better get on that, Kowal. Who knows when you'll kick the bucket?

Huh? Cursing me now, are you?!

Do you want to pursue your interests, Maria?

Erm... I don't know yet.

Hah, Maria's still young.

I just know that... it's been a very long time since we talked like this...

Oh! I forgot to bring the restoration gel!

We still have to try out the new gauntlet... The match is coming up soon, isn't it? I'll head back to the workshop now!

(Margaret... Those are some serious injuries...)

(But...)

Hm? What's that noise?

......

—Aaah?!

Ngh...

You... You are not her... Right, you are her sister.

Where is she?

—! You want Margaret! Why?

Our battle has not yet ended.

But the match's over!

The match...?

My Khaganquest's purpose is not a mere match in a competition.

The Radiant Knight is an essential part of this path... Our holy battle should not have been interrupted!

Then you just have to defeat the Blood Knight and fight my sister the next round—

Enough!

Gah!

Competitions... The Major... They are all for show.

You heard the rules, you heard the crowd! Couldn't you feel how laughable and blasphemous it all was?!

—!

Do not take me for a jester entertaining the masses!

I am a descendant of the Kheshig. I must complete my Khaganquest!

Stand aside, I have no interest in frail children! The only business I have is for the Radiant Knight—

No...

I won't let you pass.

You...?

You are nothing but an affinity of the Radiant Knight.

A... An affinity?

Your dream is taken from another. Your conviction is borrowed.

You use your young age as an excuse for your confusion... but what point is there?

The world can laugh at the Radiant Knight's stubbornness, but no one may refute the strength in her actions.

Yet you... you are not even a knight.

......

Now stand aside, lest my blade slice your throat open.

No.

I won't let you see my sister.

Is she hiding? No... With her brilliant light, the Radiant Knight is above that...

Then... is she injured?

—!

You mean to tell me I injured her in our fight, and I must wait until she recovers before our next match?

Shameless!

Nngh––!

(So heavy—That's heavier than Tytus's lance strikes!)

......

Haahh... haaahh...

Why am I...

Look at you... already drowned in fear...

You cannot wield your weapon in front of me. If we had met on the battlefield, you would already be dead.

No...!

This... has nothing to do with knights.

I just want... to protect... my sister—

The Radiant Knight is not for you to protect, you ignorant pegasus...

Guh!

This arrow... A far cry from that blue archer.

Step away from the child, Nightzmora.

Batbayar...

Will you stand in my way too?

Maria! Quick, stand up! Come over here!

R-Right!

Are you nuts?!

This is not the first time you asked me this question.

I thought... at least you would...

You have nowhere to go, kid.

Tell me, where is your Khagan?

Where is the Kheshig's banner? Where are their tents?

It's been a thousand years... Why live in that past? Why chase that tradition?

What can all that bring you, kid?

......

......

Batbayar, I made up my mind when my mother died to the fangs of a wild beast.

It was this nightmare of mine... that made me a Nightzmora.

What kind of nonsense are you on about—

I have struggled for years... in this country of knights.

Yet, in the end, I was guided to this path to fulfill my last ideals.

Hold on... hold on.

You can't seriously mean... your journey was all for—

Speak no more.

You are old and frail, but it does not change the fact you once stood on the battlefields. If you insist on standing in my way...

Then I shall trample upon you and destroy one of my last remaining blood kin with my own hands.

Come. I shall charge you.

What—

Master Vogelweide—Get out of there!

Maria, are you okay?!

I-I'm fine.

We can't let this lunatic find Margaret... Or else—!

You would stand in my way... So you will kill me?

Do knights of Kazimierz truly know what it means to fight to the death?

No, you cannot possibly. Batbayar, you are old. And you, naive pegasus, you know nothing of the cruelty of the world.

You would interfere in my fight with her. You are sullying both our names and honor.

No!

Honor doesn't matter at all!

—Then what does your sister fight for?!

You dare spout such blasphemy?! You dare claim the Radiant Knight vies for the Major's title not to regain her glory?!

*Whimpers*...

You heretic! Raise your weapon! You will pay the price!

I... still won't let you pass!

Ever!