act13d0

中秋 泥岩

Bob, how have you been?

I received your letter. I'm happy to hear you made it to Columbia safely.

We're all doing well enough. At the least, we're all alive.

Chainsmoke still wants to arm wrestle you, just once, and win. Chef remembers your bounty hunters owe him three gold coins.

It might be a little late by the time the Messenger reaches Columbia, but even so, I wanted to congratulate you.

I'm glad you could escape it all, Bob. Really.

I still remember your invitation. I'm very grateful you still remember us Sarkaz.

But—

Run! Mudrock!

Run, to Kazdel, to somewhere you can survive...!

No... No, don't say that, don't...

Mudrock—!

And never... never look back!

But...

L... Leave me, run! Run far, until Kazdel, until you... reach... Kazdel...

Chainsmoke...! Chain...

Let... let's go. Hurry.

But it's hard to say we're doing well.

After parting with you, we headed for Leithanien.

We've gone through a lot. One mortifying thing is we're called 'Mudrock Squad' now.

You know I don't like to show myself. But the Infected in Leithanien needed help. They needed to be saved.

I couldn't leave them to their fates, Bob. Just like you'd never leave your bounty hunter brothers behind.

Why, why haven't the scouts reported back yet?

Not them too, right...?

...Don't panic.

The fog in this forest's thick. They wouldn't find us again so easily...

But, but it's been eight days, already!

And we've lost twelve of our own! We don't even know who it is hunting us!

Don't be too hard on anyone... Against enemies like these, it's only natural to panic. It's only right.

Mudrock?

...The one thing we can be sure is that they're casters.

My friends can be my eyes, but that's all. No way to seize their silhouettes in this fog.

But it's been non-stop fireballs, hailstones and hurricanes! They've been right by us all this time, they've... wait!

What if this days-long fog is their Arts as well? This isn't normal weather...! If they can make eyes of fire dance in the sky, they can—

Calm down.

We're leaning on the back foot, though. That's a fact.

We have no clue about their identity, their numbers, or how they're even tracking us.

The moment we leave an opening, someone gets attacked. This is some messed-up exotic guerilla warfare.

...Do Leithanian casters do this? If so, it's news to me...

I... I don't know... I've never known casters like this...

And if the Captain's tremendous gift for Arts... if the Captain can't do anything, what can we do...?

...What do we do?

If we keep pressing forward like we planned, I don't know even how many attacks we'll take before we're out of this forest—

But if we wanted to fight back, we'd be fighting unknown foes in horrible visibility and falling temperatures.

...Take two of us to secure our route ahead. Keep within 500m of us. Report back every minute.

I'll watch the rear personally.

No guarantees they're to our 'rear'.

My friends will guard the main group.

...Fine. But don't go heavy with your Arts.

We can't risk you of all people falling.

I understand that... Thank you.

Mudrock?

...Swear to me one thing, Chef.

What?

So long as you're in contact with the main group, keep leading them forward.

Ignore whatever happens behind you... never look back.

Bob. What kind of place is Columbia?

I've heard that the Infected are allowed a life so long as they work. They form the low-cost workforce she needs to serve her limitless expansion, and nothing more.

Even so, I guess you're all very suited to the work? Is your farm big? Are the wheat fields swept in the autumn winds as beautiful as the movies say?

Though it's hard to admit, I've never seen real hops for myself.

I've asked a lot of people, and I've even sought out books on botany... so I have an idea of what hops flowers look like.

If I find my own calm corner of the world to live in, I'll write to you from there. If I do, could you send me a small sample in return?

What's happening!? What's going on!?

My skin... the crystals are moving, they're moving inside me—I—my—gaaahh—

They're... they're trying to use the Infected as Arts Units...?

They couldn't... they can't! Where the hell are the casters? These Arts... how could someone manage to do this!?

Where's Mudrock!? Is Mudrock still there!?

Are you okay?

Gasp... keep... your distance!

They're nearby, I can feel it, it's like witchcraft... No modern Arts are like this...

They're using... the Originium—ghhak—inside the Infected...!

Snap out of it!

Boulders, find my enemy—!

Don't... don't waste the energy, Mudrock!

You're still... far from returning to the fertile land... You need to live on!

No—!

Your hand! The crystals, piercing your skin... I need to...

Hah-hah... the imagination they must have to 'use' Infected like this... Those hatted casters... they're terrifying.

...Mudrock.

—I'm here.

Take the rest of us, and live... to return to Kazdel. Yes—to return to our home—

Hah, our home...

Didn't we know deep down... we had nothing, wherever we went. As long we can live on, who cares where we go?

Grhk—Like hell I'd let my life be their weapon! Tell all the others—I died fighting!

Wait...!

You... Why...? No warrior's end should be by his own hands...

—Come out here!

Come out, right now—!

Rock echoes the wrathful Sarkaz. The colossus stands tall. Stands as if a monument to the deceased.

The frigid wind howls through the forest.

Figures seem to stand in the far distance. Or perhaps they are only broken, shuddering tree trunks.

The colossus flies forth for them.

Bob. Sorry for rambling on like this.

We've departed Leithanien. To return to Kazdel.

The journey is long. It may be dangerous. In the short time we had, I could not find a Messenger to take this letter for me.

If we can make it to Kazdel safely, and the Infected who've come with us can settle down—

—Afterwards, I might pay a visit to Columbia to see you.

Mudrock, you're okay! The others...

Oh...