act13side

What young knights need is experience, not the decadence brought by competition knights weaned on the teats of prosperity!

Rhodes Island is a trustworthy company. They've won Gravel's loyalty, and there's no reason not to let her go out and see the world.

––That is what the Grand Knight said to my master.

Woah, Gravel, your impression is pretty dead-on, even if you don't change your voice at all.

I agree. It's amazing.;......;How come you never told me you could do that?

The key is to hit all the important points. I wouldn't even call it a skill. It's just that I had to relay messages to my master a lot.

This 'master', do you mean the Knight Primus of the family that raised you?

Yes.

Did he agree to let you go?

I... haven't tried to convince him yet. But I will do it.

The last time I brought it up, he got so mad he chased me out of the house...

I see...

*cough* *cough*... Haah... Ugh...

Almost there... Just a bit more...

Huh?

In a flash, Gravel's blade finds its way to Platinum's neck.

The only reason she stays her hand is the total exhaustion of the powerful enemy before her. Killing her couldn't be any easier.

Are you okay?

Ow, owwww... I'm fine, but... Agh! You're seriously hurt!

Trouble seems to have found you, Platinum.

None of your business... hng.

Sh-She can't walk straight, but I'm not seeing any open wounds... Is she just exhausted, or...

It's the Armorless Union. They've caught up.

Rebel? Or are you the traitor?

D-Doctor!

The Armorless collapsed on the ground before you is nothing like the elegant assassin of your impressions.

You're... the Doctor... from Rhodes Island...

Are the outsiders... all like you?

Gravel.

I'm here.

I don't expect the Armorless Union to let us off easily.;We may be in danger as soon as we leave the protection of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi.;The K.G.C.C. is just a single shield, one that won't hold for long.

To be honest, I was hoping to bring this up with you.

After all, the enemy operates from the shadows. In Kazimierz, the Armorless Union has countless ways to torment your company.

Right.

Hibiscus, tend to her wounds first!;Gravel, hold back the Armorless Union!

Hehe, as you wish.

Hold on, okay? You listening, Miss Armorless?

Why?

I'll explain on the way back. We can talk about your payment later.;......;I just have a big heart. Helping others is like helping myself.

After her! We mustn't let her get away! Contact Monique!

Damn it! Why are you getting on our way?!

Who knows?

Maybe this is why the Radiant Knight was willing to trust Rhodes Island.

We don't have time to waste on you.

That's right.

We're short on time. To make matters worse, our activities have been exposed to a campaign knight.

Judging by your tone, you plan on killing me?

Sigh...

For some time now, it seems that whenever I try to get some work done, uninvited guests always end up getting in my way.

Heh. So sorry about that, Lazurite.

I have a request from the Doctor. By its nature, that takes priority over work.

I can't take you in a fight head-on, but stopping you from landing a clean shot should be no problem for me.

Rhodes Island, huh.

Without the Radiant Knight and those strange Sarkaz behind you, don't you think you're overestimating yourself a bit?

Even from this distance, I can easily put an arrow through both that Doctor of yours and Platinum. Hardly a tall ask.

Your presumptuousness is about to cost you a lot more lives, knight.

Let's see if you can stop me.

––Hah!

Wait, hold on!

Monique!

I know! And who gave you permission to order me around?!

...Platinum. We have no more need for a Platinum.

Go to hell, along with that meddlesome Sarkaz doctor.

Dammit!

Her pride forbids her from missing again.

Monique draws back her longbow.

Who dares to harm Rhodes Island's medical staff?

What?

The arrow's steel head corrodes and deteriorates. The shaft gradually softens into a branch with young shoots, falling gently into her hand.

The figure in the distance is but a wavering speck, and Monique feels a discomfort spreading throughout her entire body.

It is a sense of imminent danger.

The small Caprinae takes gentle steps forward, bearing a calm and leisurely casting pose that seems ill-suited to the battlefield.

I was just thinking how rarely my line of work brings me back to the landship, and how nice it would be to touch base again. Imagine my surprise when I happened across this lovely scene.

Who are you?

You aren't privy to that information, Armorless.

It's normally against my principles to interfere with matters outside of work, but just now, you seem to have shown clear hostilities against a fleeing member of Rhodes Island.

That isn't allowed, Armorless.

Nngh...

Easy now. Your wounds are deep.

Ugh... I...

Don't worry. Once we get through the commercial sector, we'll be able to see Rhodes Island.

Platinum has not slept since she started running three days ago.

She dared not eat or drink, out of fear that anything she bought might be a trap set by the Armorless Union.

Rhodes Island...

She turns and casts her gaze backwards. It's the Doctor of Rhodes Island.

The leader of a foreign organization that always ruins her plans.

Her savior.

Ironic.

She contemplates whether or not she wants to keep up appearances in front of the Doctor. She ponders whether or not she wants to ask to be taken away from the Grand Knight Territory. She...

...still has not awoken from beneath that ensorcelled sky.

Hm...

It would appear that optimism alone is not enough for just two to stop a Lazurite.

Really? I think we've already done a pretty good job, given how many we're up against.

Grr. That campaign knight is still able to put up a fight after taking such a beating because of your Arts, huh?

How do you know who I am? Are you from Kazimierz?

You ask too many questions, Armorless. Let's try to work things out slowly.

If that's what you want. You seem to be more of a medic than that Sarkaz–– But in other words, you can't hold me off for as long.

Since you seem to know so much about the Armorless Union, then you should know that we have something much more terrifying–

Please, go on.

This knight and I, we're not the kind to kick others when they're down.