The Last Kheshig

You too are a descendant. I shall not take your life, but you will get out of my way.

So you've got your heart set on dueling Margaret, huh?

Wrong. I am merely continuing a fight that was cut short.

What do you want?

You're stubborn and... mad. What are you looking for anyway? What is it that you actually want?

You do not understand...

Like hell I would. For that so-called tradition of yours, you gave up your whole life and everything ahead of you! It's all pointless!

Did I need you to give my life meaning?

I just don't want to see you stay on this path of insanity forever. The 'Khaganquest' is a coming-of-age tradition followed by a handful of tribes. Doesn't that make you still a child?!

Gah! I am done with you. Out of the way.

Over my dead body!

—You will regret this, old man!

—!

Maria, what are you doing?! You're hurt—

This is my first time to see you so worked up, Nightzmora...

......

The shield of a knight is meant to protect people. That's what my sister told me.

You said my conviction was borrowed. I've got nothing to say about that.

But if I'm going to be scared to walk even well-lit roads, then there's really no point in the knighthood anymore!

How dare you spout that nonsense about knights—

—Sorry, but I'm not a knight anymore. I just want to protect my sister—

I can't let a psycho like you get in her way!

Arts...? It's... Hm?

Is it the light of the Arts turning it gold?

A pegasus whose name is bound to go down in history... yet so frail... Is it a mere coincidence?

Master Vogelweide, go back without me... I'll hold him here.

Drop the act, kid. He'll kill you—!

Don't worry.

I'll stop him!

......

Huh...? Why are you turning around...?

...Pegasus.

You cannot grow stronger on the conviction of others. Not unless you truly believe in it.

And you do not.

......

Dedication and sacrifice.

These virtues border on self-destruction... and you possess them at birth. You taught me a lesson, pegasus, descendant.

Perhaps...

...No, never mind.

Tell the Radiant Knight that my bout with her has not yet ended. I am merely putting it on hold.

......

The Radiant Knight, the Blood Knight... The Major has really heated up in the blink of an eye.

If we go by points and nothing else, the finals should long have been in reach of the Radiant Knight.

Doesn't that make you happy?

You're right...

But even if the General Chamber is scheming something, I'm sure you and the Adeptus will help Nearl overcome.

That said, is the K.G.C.C. really the problem...? They're definitely not ones to do any work themselves. Instead, they prefer to sow the seeds... and wait for them to sprout.

Many will voice their gripes...

Hehe... but that also happened when the Blood Knight first came along.

But who still remembers any of that after the Blood Knight took his trophy and the money came raining down?

They have short memories, Doctor. No matter who ends up winning, as long as they speak on the Infected's behalf, it'll all work out fine.

Kazimierz loves its champions.

You mean... the Blood Knight? No, you wouldn't say something so skin-deep...

Whatever's the case, I believe you and Nearl will overcome.

They're giving the Infected knights checkups and treatment, just as always.

Rhodes Island is plenty efficient. I can see why the Grand Knight trusts you so much.

That said... I'm here right with you, and you haven't shown even a little bit of care for me.

That makes me kind of sad.

What are you thanking me for, specifically?

I'm just doing my job. I was given my orders, and I would go through fire and water to fulfill them.

I've only told you what the Grand Knight permitted me to say.

I'd love to accept your thanks, but it was her who truly helped Rhodes Island.

Oh... so our conversations are just a way to pass the time to you?

Hehe, but in that case, I'll keep talking to you all you want.

So, how will you thank me, Doctor?

Hehe... That sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to be a model, just once.

I may wear all this armor all the time, but I'm still a girl. I got tired of this outfit a long time ago.

That said... I didn't really have the right to think about something like this, in the past.

What I'm into...?

I've never thought about it before... What do normal Kazimierzian girls like? Food? Makeup? Oh... Let's not talk about knight stuff.

Well... as for outfits... All this armor does dampen my spirits every now and then.

Though a campaign knight like me doesn't really get much chance to wear regular clothes, either.

Doctor... do you know what you're saying? 'Anything you want' is pretty much the last thing you'd want to say when you're being interrogated.

Most of us hand our decision-making power away, probably because we find obnoxious to have to make decisions... but sometimes... the one we give that power may have some unexpected ideas.

Well, then, Doctor... Would you lean back, please?

Close your eyes, okay? I wouldn't want anything to happen to them...

And then...

Doctor, don't open your eyes.

If you see an Armorless assassin's face, I'm afraid you won't be leaving Kazimierz alive.

......

You're not just a regular campaign knight, are you?

The Armorless Union doesn't hold the patent on assassination, you know?

Don't move, or I'll cut your throat open.

Now that won't do. I can't let you put the Doctor's life in danger, even if it costs me my own.

It's just some foreign company... Is this one really worth giving your life for, knight—Hm?

The barcode on your arm... You're a purchased slave. Why so loyal to an outsider?

Unfortunately, my desire to protect the Doctor comes from the bottom of my heart.

I see... The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi arranged for a lackey like you to follow Rhodes Island around. They planned to use Rhodes Island to investigate Area 0 right from the start.

Don't make our relationship sound so exploitative.

So you are Rhodes Island's 'Doctor.' There's supposed to be a Cautus girl around too...

I'm not into hurting kids. Bumping you off should do the trick, right?

Doctor, go on without me. I'll hold her here. Take Miss Amiya and leave this place. Look for someone from the Adeptus—

I'm not here alone.

The Armorless Union already has you surrounded... You're not walking out of here.

It's okay, Doctor... As long as I'm here, I—

—Doctor?

Shielding your own bodyguard? What's the idea? You'll give your life for someone else?

Aww, so cute... I've got a job to do though.

What...?

I don't know what you're talking about.

So?

Do you really understand what you're doing...?

Even with this campaign knight in the way, I can—

......

......!

A call...?

......

Centaurea...?

......!

No need to be so shocked, Platinum.

I'm very glad you haven't killed Rhodes Island's leader yet.

Call it off. Your orders were mistaken. Those morons, jumping the gun. It is not up to them to give the Union orders without consulting the Board.

And stop the madness that Area 0 is pulling on its so-called useless Infected. Rhodes Island has opened our eyes. Their lives still have meaning... They can yet create value.

That's all.

......

You... You planned this?

How did you do it?

So what will we do with Area 0...?

We'll be working with too many uncertain factors if we let the two Infected knights make a big splash after all the uprisings the Infected have instigated.

And if the public catches wind of the way Area 0 takes care of its Infected right now...

I suppose there are both upsides and downsides.

We don't permit 'both upsides and downsides.' Whether it's good or bad, what we want is control over the matter.

I have other ways to handle this...

Just to be safe, I've already instructed the Armorless Union to take care of it.

Should I let you go, just like that?

You're an outsider who knows about the Armorless Union...

Don't be such a sore loser, Platinum. You're embarrassing yourself, you know?

......

Doctor! I've got something to ask you about transporting today's supplies—

Hm? Do you have a guest? I-I'm sorry...

It's okay... Come in.

An Armorless and a campaign knight are having tea together because of you, Doctor. You're really full of surprises.

Um... Doctor, may I have a second? I need you to sign this...

(So that's Rhodes Island's leader... If I take her down now...)

Hm...? Miss? Is something the matter?

Never mind. Please excuse me.

I'll send someone to fix the glass I broke. Time to go.

The Doctor...Doctor of Rhodes Island.

I'll be back.

Doctor, Gravel... Did something happen?

No.

We had a cup of tea together. That's all.

Platinum, ma'am... Here's what you wanted.

I'm surprised you found it.

Right. We searched through the communications between Rhodes Island and the Adeptus, and we narrowed it down to this message with the clues we had.

These are the true medical examination records of Operator Nearl... the Radiant Knight.

......

What...?

The Radiant Knight... isn't Infected?!

Welcome to the Kazimierz Major! It's your old buddy, Greatmouth Mob!

Thanks to Nightmare Knight's mistake, we're treated to today's matchup, the Blood Knight versus Nightmare Knight!

With their terrifying auras, and might unmatched by any other, imagine the fight our mighty Blood Knight and the legendary Nightzmora have in store for us today!

The Blood Knight and Nightmare had a fiery first encounter the other day! And now! They face each other in a formal match!

There will be blood! There will be slaughter! Only the victor will get to bask in fame and glory. Let us welcome—our knights—for today's match—!

......

......

No knightclub, no sponsors. Good lord, why are you people leaving that huge pie on the table?!

Somebody, make him a knightclub! You'll be rolling in all the dough!

On the other side, we have the king of blood, Kazimierz's Blood-Red Chalice, the heartless victory machine, and deservedly, the very pinnacle!

THE—BLOOOOOD KNIIIIGHT, DIKAAAAIIIOPOLIIIIIS!

We meet again... Nightzmora.

Are you still searching for the shadows of the past?