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—I'm here to remind them of their long forgotten glory.

Remind? How will you... remind Kazimierz of anything, given its current state?

You want an answer from me... but I'm afraid I don't necessarily have that right. This isn't something that can be done through simple conversation.

My... You can read minds with your Arts?

I'm only grasping more and more of your honesty by the minute.

Also, you asked me what I saw in my years of exile.

I've witnessed... the greatest tragedy this world has seen.

I've seen the Infected's struggles at death's door, I've seen great cities crumble and fall as Catastrophes rained down upon them.

Is that the suffering you've seen...? In this world that you pity...?

I have excellent companions.

No... excellent doesn't adequately describe them anymore. They... possess a brilliant shine, a testament to their ideals.

It's true. I was once lost, Viviana.

Anyone would be lost if they had taken the crown and been exiled at your age.

But things are different now. At the end of my long journey, I found friends whom I can trust. I realized where my beliefs lie.

I'm alone no longer.

Margaret lodges her longsword into the ground.

Without a sound, the knight's radiance emanates throughout the arena, with gold seemingly flowing through her eyes.

She will be the lighthouse and foundation of everything here.

She will stand solemnly in this place till she ceases, perhaps even till the end of times.

Even if no one has walked the path she alone illuminates—

—There is nothing to fear any more.

Report. Platinum, ma'am... We've already informed the Knights Association.

However, the match is still ongoing.

I sure wish the Knights Association would get on with this already. Otherwise, her sister's going to have to suffer.

I told you. Margaret isn't going to forfeit.

No biggie. I'm sure she won't be in any mood for her next match when she sees your fingers laid out side by side at your family's front door.

Look at your eyes... So defiant. You're a weird one. No, both you and your sister are weird.

You may come from a famous line of heroes, but do you know how many lackeys the General Chamber has here in the Grand Knight Territory?

So you have the Radiant Knight and Młynar. The two of them together might put up a little fight, but what can they really do? Can they really take on the thousands of assassins here in the GKT and escape legal liability?

I don't remember you being such a talkative gal... Are you nervous?

Maybe.

I mean, before, all I had to do was draw my bowstring, aim, and let go. Then, my target would die after a quick flash of pain.

These orders I've been getting, though? Not only do I have to go after kids now, I also have to arm wrestle with the Radiant Knight. *Sigh*... Work sucks.

The Armorless Union's really gone to hell lately, hasn't it?

Report!

Did the Radiant Knight give up?

No, it's just... E7 and E9 didn't answer during the regular check-in just now...

Why are you standing there, then? Get ready to fight.

All units, deploy immediately. Secure vantage points A1 and A2. Do not give the target a chance to escape.

Numbers three and four, cover me. We'll deal with the infiltrators.

(An explosion? They aren't the least bit worried about the hostage, are they—?)

(—No, that's not right. They're not here to rescue Maria.)

Hostiles in the smoke! Watch for attacks—

Nngh–...

(Loud clicking noises)

What's this...? A delivery cart?

Well, hello, Armorless lackeys.

Grr... Infected knights, huh...?

Whoa, huge backflip. Look at that distance. You're a nimble one—Hm?

Maria Nearl? What are you doing here?

It's... it's you...

Hey, can you move?

Y-Yes!

I don't know what's going on, but I ain't about to complain if this means the Radiant Knight's gonna owe me a favor.

Let's get this out of the way first. It's a serious crime to assault the Armorless Union. Haha, not in the legal sense, but whatever.

You can run away if you want, or—

—If I don't stop them here, they will keep going after my sister.

Whew, not a bit of hesitation. I'm starting to like you.

Too bad, though. I'm not gonna have it on my conscience to drag anybody into our fight against the Armorless. Besides, I get the feeling Sona's pretty fond of you. You'll have to do this another time!

Toland!

W-What?

Huh? Who are you?!

Come with me, will you, Young Lady Nearl? Oh, and by the by? You and your uncle are nothing alike.

Report to the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi... It's confirmed. The Armorless Union and the Infected knights' skirmish has begun. Maria Nearl's been taken away too.

It will do as long as the Radiant Knight's match goes uninterrupted. Over.

How long has it been since the match started? No one in the arena today has ever seen two knights duel like this!

Even Arts laymen can tell right away theirs are on another level!

This is a battle of lights! There's no doubt this has become the theme of this match! A weak candlelight versus a full-blown radiance!

Up till 9 o'clock, we've had two million viewers watching this match via the intercity net and other means!

For the first time since the 22nd Major, when the Radiant Knight took her title, we've broken the highest concurrent viewer record! There are countless viewers watching Margaret's heroics right this moment!

Ah, what a shame! I wish we lived in one of those sci-fi novels where fans from all the other countries could watch this match live—Ahhh!

The giant rays of light clash again—How blindingly bright! But amidst the rolling waves of light—That's right! The Candle Knight remains unscathed!

Phew...

Brilliant... Viviana.

With light and shadows... you weaved an untreadable swath of land.

I am honored that my little candle-flame could hold the Radiant Knight down for so long.

But you don't seem to be giving it your all. Are you perhaps worried about your family?

What are you doing is contradictory, Margaret.

You take pride in having such wonderful companions, but the course that you have charted for yourself... will cause you to leave your friends behind.

Perhaps one day, your sister will meet her fate in one of the Armorless Union's conspiracies, and the General Chamber will stand in your way, wherever you will be.

Viviana.

When the knight charged toward the endless waves, did you imagine that he was trying to overcome the entire world?

Ahh, so you are familiar with that knight legend.

My sister's a big fan of the book.

Centaurea's been ambushed by the Infected. It was Wild Mane.

If she can't take care of the likes of Wild Mane, then she should hand in her resignation already.

That said... What should we do? The K.G.C.C. made it clear they want the Infected dealt with... and as soon as possible.

Hmm... They are quite a pain in the rear... but we need them to keep stirring up a ruckus for us...

You're our star performer. It's your call.

Oh? Was that a compliment? You know, I've always thought that I look kinda like some star out there, ever since I dyed my hair blue.

Okay, okay, stop glaring at me like that. It's very simple. Kill a few of them, and as cruelly as possible, too. Spread the fear.

The ones left behind will come to hate Kazimierz and the K.G.C.C. even more, and things will only get more intense.

So?

Eh, so, let's dump all the troublesome mess on our little Platinum.

Let's kill some Infected. The ones who aren't knights or in the limelight. Just the perfect amount of cruelty, like we're hunting them down.

...Huff...

I see, so the moment your candle goes out is when you actually start casting.

Even a brief moment of darkness is enough to swallow my Arts whole. In that case, perhaps you can engulf the entire arena's light with each flicker of your candle's flame?

Impressive observation. There has never been a knight who saw through my Arts during a duel. Is this the result of your years-long exile?

Too bad, then. It seems I have yet to truly make contact with you.