A Sigh

Good day, Gravel, Doctor.

Wh-What a battle! I can hardly believe my eyes!

Actually, I should be talking our unknown Nightzmora! Can you believe this is his first Major appearance, and he's holding his own against a champion?!

The clash of blood-red armor on the field tonight will eclipse the moon!

The audience is definitely feeling it too! Tola, 'Scourge of the Prairie,' Nightmare Knight! His crazed determination is addictive and intoxicating!

Nightmare Knight's been surging in the polls since his duel with the Radiant Knight! Will he add another page to this story?! A rise to grand knighthood?!

By the way, Ancients Entertainment is holding a 'Knightly Title Trivia Game!' Guess the knightly titles and win fabulous prizes!

Where'd your bravado go, Nightzmora?

Ngh...

Minoan, in the times when my ancestors flayed the land, your heroes had all become naught but words on the lips of poets.

You waste your breath.

Where's your Khagan now? What happened to those proud kinsmen of yours?

......

One who lives in a bygone nightmare is a pitiful man indeed.

Minoan, Infected. What are you fighting for?

Survival.

They made me the hero of the Infected... They enshrined me in the annals of history. But I just wanted to survive.

The hero of the Infected?

I see... Do you not also fight for your people?

My people...? No. We don't share the same bloodline, nor were we born in the same place. We are just unfortunate enough to suffer the same disease.

I pitied their plight, so I went to deliver them, to find a way out for them.

You say they're not your people... But you still want to save them...

Laughable.

You are mighty, without a doubt. But, have the prairies of Kazimierz been carved up by the Infected and foreigners?

The Kazimierzians, the Kuranta... Where are they?!

Did I cross thousands of miles to the country of knights, only to fight against the Infected, Minoans, and my own kinsmen?!

––A sick joke!

Woaaaahh... S-So, this is Kazimierz's commercial hub?

Strictly speaking, this is just one of hundreds of commercial centers across the Grand Knight Territory.

I recommended this particular one because it's close.

But there's way too much junk food everywhere! Just one look around and I count three popcorn stands, two pizzerias, and four burger shops!

This is unacceptable!

Haha... Is this because there's a competition venue nearby?

Of course. The arena lies at the heart of every center of commerce.

All businesses revolve around the knights' glorious blood sport. It's the way things are done here.

......!

Is this... a Nearl doll?

Aww! It's so cute!

Wait a minute, this shop... Is it all dedicated to...

Yo! Are you folks fans of the Radiant Knight too?

Then, you've come to the right place! This is a specialty store for everything Radiant Knight! Clay figurines, plush dolls, Nearl family crests – you name it, we've got it!

By the way, if the Radiant Knight manages to defeat the Wind Knight and advance to the finals, our supplier is considering making exclusive commemorative medals from refined Originium! Want to put in a pre-order?

I mean, the Radiant Knight's pretty much sure to win! Hahaha!

Thanks for your patronage!

Oh, uh... You only have foreign money? Lungmen Dollars? Err, you'll have to go to the bank first.

Let me do the conversion for you real quick... That should be about 1.3 million LMD?

A shield? Since when did the Radiant Knight use a shield?

But we have warhammers, double-bladed swords, and even the latest model of swordspears. Want to take a look?

It's hard to tell what's going on! Nightmare Knight's ferocious attack was again repelled by the Blood Knight, and the former champion is slicing through the artificial turf as if it was tofu!

It's already been ten minutes, but the tempestuous exchange of blows continues! Who will be the first to show signs of fatigue in this seemingly endless battle?

––As I speak, the champion is readying his Arts again! He evades a sweeping strike from his opponent!

After all that, are the two sides only feeling each other out?! Neither the champion nor the Nightzmora seems to want to take the initiative and cast the first Arts––

Minoan, how did you learn to fight like this?

Unfortunately, I had very little combat training before becoming a knight.

It was only after that I learned as I fought.

...A born warrior.

Young man.

I am not your mentor. But, if it is an opponent you seek, there is one thing I can teach you.

The fear you seek to instill through bluffing means nothing to someone who lives only in the present.

Answer me, Nightzmora. In the history you dreamt, in the thousands of years between then and now––

Were the Infected ever given a new lease on life?

Why you...

You call yourself a Kheshig? Then don't back down now, Nightzmora!

Where is your Khagan now? Bring him to me!

Where is your Khagan?

Where is your Khagan?

...Father, rival, master, ideals.

Was I actually... looking for these things in this city?

No! It is time to wake up from my dream.

This will just be a lingering memory. The path I drew for my Khaganquest was set in stone a long time ago.

......

......

Done saying your prayers?

My family is dead. My people are lost.

––The Khagan is wherever the tip of my blade points.

I—

––am my own Khagan!

Come!

Clear weather. No wind. A fine day for shooting.

Targets: the two leaders of Rhodes Island - one hooded person of unknown race, and one Cautus.

Mood... Very bad. Because every time I try to do my work, someone gets in my way.

......

Addendum. Extremely bad mood.

Do you have a habit of keeping a diary?

Who would deliberately write these things down? Might as well send it to the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz and ask for a speedier sentence.

By the looks of things, you're the type of person who brings her baggage with her to work.

Confessarius, the Radiant Knight, and that Cautus who gives off strange vibes.

What the hell is Rhodes Island supposed to be anyway?

I never had a chance to ask you before, but... You people...

Where did you hear the name 'Confessarius'?

...I can't tell you that.

I'm also not so kind-hearted that I can just watch an assassin take aim at the Doctor and Amiya, and then let her walk free.

Besides, the last time we met, we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves properly. A bit rude on both our parts.

An aura...?

Why are all of the Radiant Knight's buddies so shiny and sparkly? I'm getting tired of that aesthetic.

(It's a comforting glow... Almost no hints of aggression... Is this Sarkaz witchcraft?)

(No...)

(Her expression... Does she lament drawing her sword?)

......

Not in the mood to chat?

Very well then. Let's find out just what you're worth.

Wh-What just happened...?

Are my eyes playing tricks on me? A black mist is rising from the arena – While that isn't too unusual, do you see something rising from the mist?

Is that... a banner? Wait, that's... an entire army?!

......

Is that... the product of your obsession?

—

A shame...

A shame that those knights watching from the stands cannot fathom how I how I feel right now.

The flag flutters, the horn sounds, an army marches... An entire people, an entire history.

But––

––is this the reason you've given up the present, to seek out death like a madman?

––Hraaaagh!

The Nightzmora knight launched an attack! B-But with the thick black mist enveloping the arena, I can't see what's going on!

Is that something charging forward inside the mist?! Is this Nightmare Knight's true Arts? The ability to summon his ancestors?!

Ridiculous.

You lack the courage to face your fate.

(Ancient language) Sleep now, hero!

......

Damn... Only a flesh wound?

You were able to cut me.

But my blood is now on your weapon.

(A trap––?!)

Don't feel bad. Your lack of combat experience has always been your weakness.

You are still a far cry from the so-called 'Kheshig.'

The sight of you and the Radiant Knight blocking Darksteel's arrow made a deep impression. Even a Silverlance Pegasus would have trouble withstanding Darksteel's punishment.

My sources tell me you and the Radiant Knight call yourselves the 'Followers,' an organization that treats the Infected.

A 'physician,' huh? Looks like I need to toss that informant of mine into the gloompincer cage.

Unfortunately, I'm not fond of fighting.

Is that so?

I used to be in the Victorian army.

Because I was just a commoner without noble blood, I couldn't become an officer. The K.G.C.C. ended up poaching me during a joint military exercise.

At that time, my old bosses were still rejoicing over one fewer thorn in their sides.

......

So, I'm quite confident in my aim.

From this distance, take three of my arrows head on, and I'll drop my plans for Rhodes Island. Deal?

Why should I trust you?

Whether or not you do is up to you. The Armorless Union has no shortage of ways to deal with Rhodes Island.

For example, we could've applied some volatile chemicals to those dolls that they're clutching so unsuspectingly right now...

......

Don't give me that look. Anyone could arrange something like that.

Three shots.

Three shots.

(Exhales) ...

Number one.

......!

Didn't draw enough for that one.

Number two.

Her stance changed, as has the look in her eyes.

Like a hunter, waiting for an opening.

—!

But I have no intention of becoming your prey.

Are all Confessarii all as skilled with the sword as you?

Or rather, are there a lot of other people at Rhodes Island like you?

......

(Should we redo Rhodes Island's risk assessment?)

To be honest, getting rid of Rhodes Island should be the responsibility of the Board.

But soon enough, I won't be acting on their orders.

......

You don't believe me?

No... Actually, that doesn't come as a surprise.

Our leader has also foreseen this possibility.

So what's the point of you saying this? That this duel is solely a matter of your pride?

The point is... You should give this everything you've got, Sarkaz.

Last one.

...Nngh!

It's over.

A stunning reversal! In a single heavy blow, the Blood Knight has dissipated the heavy mist lingering in the arena!

His momentum sweeps right through Nightmare Knight's illusions!

Too bad for you, Nightzmora! You made one miscalculation! In the face of the Blood Knight and his mastery of Blood Arts, you underestimated his skills in a melee!

Was that really an illusion? It seemed like... an entire war.

Graaaah.... Ahhhhh! Arrrrrrghh!!

What?! Even after taking that tremendous blow at point-blank range, Nightmare Knight is still standing?!

Unbelievable! Could he be mustering a counterattack–?

––As the Blood Knight, I would like to put in a request to speak with the judges.

Yes, he has lost his senses. Should we continue this, his life will be in danger. Let's call this match.

––The judges have reached a verdict! Without a doubt, the first knight to advance to the finals of the Major has been decided!

The clash between the Nightzmora and the champion has ended! A battle between fear and terror incarnate! I have the results right here––!!

It is my great honor to announce the winner of tonight's round––

The Blood Knight!

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

They're all... Infected?

The Blood Knight has won! Long live the Blood Knight!

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

......

......

......

Umm...

(The professional thing would be to not interrupt the audience when they're in an uproar, but most of them seem like they're Infected... so maybe it's fine?)

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

This is the hero of Kazimierz's Infected, Margaret.

You strive to fulfill a similar role. How will you deal with this overlap?

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

This is the Infected... Dikaiopolis.

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight!

So that's the hero, the Blood Knight. So much fanfare for that name.

Though the Radiant Knight is a paragon of defiance, the one who truly managed to carve out a space for the Infected... is the Blood Knight, Dikaiopolis.

But... it has been a long time since he bowed his head to us.

In my capacity as a media man, I deeply appreciate your proposal, Mr. Malkiewicz.

But as you know, this... public opinion, is just a thin layer of assurance. To make sure things go smoothly, we'll have to prepare to play hardball.

Of course.

I just don't want everyone to end up... with no way back.

The Blood Knight! The Blood Knight won!

Ahaha! I knew the Blood Knight was invincible! Nobody can take him down!

Oh, what's going on over there?

The roof over there... is it sunrise?

—

You—

......

What... did you do just now...

Was that Sarkaz witchcraft? No, what I felt just now was...

......

Grr...

That technique... You...

You could've killed me!

I was just taking your three shots, Armorless.

Of course, if you go back on your word, I will.

You—

......

Do you want to continue?

No.

Even on the job, we still fulfill our obligations.

Pull out. Stop tailing Rhodes Island.

Thank you.

I have one more, kind of trivial question for you.

I'll consider it, out of respect for you keeping your word.

For you Sarkaz, is there some kind of significance... to cutting off your horns?

It differs from person to person. Some may see their Sarkaz heritage as a curse, and may do that as a way of trying to hide their identity.

It might also be a way to channel a certain form of witchcraft, to a facilitate a certain Arts.

Or perhaps... it might even be a tradition of some unconventional tribes. The possibilities are many, and there's no way to say for sure.

......

Why do you ask?

...No, no reason.