act13side

Lazurite Roy walks forward, and the street lights flicker several times.

The blue-brick road stretches forward, not a single person on the street.

There is a bench on the side of the desolate road.

And upon the bench sits a desolate person.

Good evening. And a wonderful one at that, yes?

Did you happen to see the news? Tonight, it's nothing but the Radiant Knight.

This place sure is empty. Haven't seen anyone else around. I hear it hasn't been too peaceful around these parts either.

Ahem.

What are you doing here all by yourself?

Roy... I just finished work. Just resting here for a spell.

My, did you only get off work just now, this late? What a workaholic.

But... What kind of work would you be doing around here?

The only folks around these parts are the Infected, illegal immigrants, and black market traffickers, right?

Just waiting for someone.

What, are you even going to ask who I'm waiting for?

No, no, no, why would I?

Waiting for someone, huh? Let me guess... you had a date with a beautiful lady? Haha, just kidding...

But, we both have business here.

I'm afraid I have to ask you and your friend to step aside.

You mind your business, I mind my business.

Do you have any idea what you're saying, Młynar?

Was I speaking Gaulish?

Oh, come on. If you're here, my underlings might slip up because they're so nervous.

Sigh...

Oh, Młynar, did you know... if I wanted to kill you right now... how little effort it'd take?

Roy slowly lifts his hand.

In the dark, the Armorless Union assassins wait, poised to strike.

Though perhaps nothing than a faulty premonition, the masters of hiding in the shadows always feel most prone to being seen.

Młynar Nearl.

They begin to pray, praying that Roy would not give any signals––

A white-horned Sarkaz with a sword.

*Sigh*...

It really was... a beautiful lady, eh.

Am I late?

No.

What are you looking at me for?

Do your job, Roy.

Hm.

Roy's eyes meet with those of the Sarkaz for a moment.

There is only one thing on his mind.

How to strike up a conversation later, without embarrassing himself too much.

Haha, I suddenly had a change of heart. Turns out it'll rain later tonight, and I happened to forget my umbrella.

But...

Should I take this as evidence that the Nearl family intends to shelter the Infected?

Take it however you'd like.

...You...

Margaret won again.

You ought to stop her.

Forgive me.

But if that is what she wills, then I will support her... I will be her pillar.

You? You're a Sarkaz...

As for the Infected situation, I'll assume you already contacted Rhodes Island.

Your assistance is appreciated... The Armorless Union is a powerful enemy.

If he insisted on slaughtering every Infected hiding in this area, I fear we would be powerless to stop him.

I just wanted to sit here.

Nothing more.

If you want to know what Margaret has been through the last few years, I'm willing to tell you what I know.

Of course, if you'd prefer to ask her yourself...

...I don't care.

I already understand, just from the look in her eyes.

Her mother and father, and even me in the past, all embraced that era of resplendence and glory.

You... are her true family.

You already know everything you need to know. From now on, I won't be lifting even a finger.

You can tell Margaret, and that... 'Rhodes Island.' Tell them beneath the glory-gilded exterior of the Grand Knight Territory... the extent of the rot on the inside.

But a more practical suggestion I have is to leave the Grand Knight Territory as soon as possible. Leave Kazimierz.

Try your best to leave this entire era behind. That's probably one of the few right choices anyone can make.

What a complicated person you are.

You... stay away from me!

Damnit, are you with the Armorless? You––

No, you're not... You're... a Sarkaz?! Who are you?

I come in peace. The Armorless Union has already left.

Wh-What are you talking about...?

Just now, just now, that Sarkaz blocked the Armorless...

Just who are you? How do you have the guts to stand against them?

I'm a physician for the Infected.

A Sarkaz... who claims to treat the Infected? What...

It's so crazy I can almost believe it.

Fine then... So what do you want?

Kazimierz has the means to provide medical treatment to the Infected... That being the case, why do you still hide here, within the cracks of the city?

You're not from Kazimierz?

No, this is something that even most people from Kazimierz wouldn't know... Wait, you said you're a physician for the Infected?

You... You're from Area 0?!

I'm from a pharmaceutical company. This Area 0 that you mentioned... is that the place that shelters the Infected?

The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz has funded the establishment of a clinic hub specifically for the examination and treatment of Infected knights...

Shining is in no hurry to finish her sentence.

In the eyes of the Infected in front of her, she sees doubt, mistrust towards her, fear, and the slightest glimmer of hope.

You really aren't from Kazimierz... But that makes sense, they also hate the Sarkaz here. Ugh, sorry, but that's just how things are.

Do you treat the Infected over there?

Yes.

Don't you think it's strange?

Such a big mobile platform has practically become a cage for the Infected knights. Did you know the Infected knights are examined and treated there, but they also 'live' there?

As if existing like that can be called 'living' at all.

Alright, it seems you outsiders don't even know this much.

But if all the Infected were to live there...

Then there's not enough space, right?

Those Infected who can still make money will step back into the arena, or carry on... finding whatever odd jobs they can.

For those who can't become knights, they'll be sent to off to do some iffy work... Mining, transporting, all in dangerous environments.

And if you get hurt, and you can't even do that kind of manual labor...

Take a guess, outsider. Where do you think those Infected from Area 0 end up?

You may think it's a hospital, and the knights may think it's a prison. But let me tell you, it is neither.