act13side

Hrrm... just ignore him.

I've been getting the twitchiest eyes since last night... Can't shake the feeling something big's going to happen.

Finally hit the right age for insomnia?

Eh? I'm fit as a fiddle! What do you know! It was the twitches back then that told me we had incoming artillery fire—

What the hell big's going to happen to you? Are you going to squeeze olive oil out of your toothpaste tomorrow morning?

—Hmm.

Marcin. I can sense their aura now... it's someone major.

I've never had a premonition strange as this before... here's hoping they won't make trouble.

(Here they come. Nice and fast, too... mmm, I'll just let it happen.)

–– (Ancient language) The young hunter sets out on his Khaganquest ♪

–– (Ancient language) From dreams he goes, towards the shores of gold ♪

(This language...!)

What's going on? Kids these days wander into bars singing their own songs? What's the point of the jukebox, then?

The Nearls' light can't really have stuck to my lonely little bar, can it? But I've never met a knight like you in my time... V? What's wrong?

I... I don't know, it's just suddenly my heart feels a little...

(Ancient language) ...Batbayar, brethren, the last descendant.

(Ancient language) Why be in a place like this?

You...! You know that name?

The silent knight looks around. Where his gaze touches, the light hides.

Answer me. How do you know that name?

Hey, V, this a friend of yours?

Would you like a drink? Sir? If you've got no business, I have to tell you we don't welcome armed knights too warmly here.

(Ancient language) How sorry this is.

Hold on, don't just up and go—

Kowal, Maria will be borrowing your workshop a while longer—

—Er.

Zo—Zofia, slow down... agh!

Why did you—stop, what's going on?

...You are...

...Nightmare Knight?

What's the rising star of the year doing here? Are you trying to sneak out intel on Maria and Margaret?

If so—

How clamorous.

Watch out!

Wh... What are you trying to do here!?

Pegasus... a weak race. Only those pegasi with blood of flowing gold are worthy rivals.

But once the pegasi abdicated, this so-called 'Land of the Knights'...

Its grasslands turned feeble. You cannot be blind to it, can you, Kuranta?

In present Kazimierz, you people, all are called knights?

And in those... pompous arenas, you test your martial skills?

After your little act just now, I'm not finding the will to talk to you all nice and happy.

Hold it... boy, I still have things to ask you. The last thing I want right now is to put a bolt through your head.

Not bad... you have the will to fight still.

What about you, then?

Uh, me? Like, me? I'm just a fan of knights, just in the neighborhood. No need to waste the effort pretending I exist, I'll be fine.

I can't do a thing anyway, not a single thing, mm-hm.

(Tremoriron Marcin, proficient with warhammers. Vogelweide, campaign knight marksman. Whislash Knight, not much of a threat since she was injured... Maria, no need to monitor for the time being.)

(But none of that really matters... mm-hm... the Nightzmora came looking for Vogelweide after all...)

(Alright... now... what to do. Will the Radiant Knight come?)

This place is not worth even a quick visit. Keeping company with you people makes one uneasy to stand still.

Alright, boy, who d'you think you're looking down on?

(Ancient language) Batbayar, in the past you campaigned on the battlesands, fought with your own two hands, yet could only barely manage to protect your homeland.

(What's he saying?!)

War... you're a campaign knight? You recognize me?

(Ancient language) No, I'm no 'knight.' Nothing so ridiculous. Simply put, war is the only path in which you never shamed your ancestry, descendant.

(Ancient language) Though you stand here... in this city of steel and concrete, neon flitting through the rain, descendant, I hope you can still remember the breathing of the grasslands, and the vow the Khagan swore.

Khagan? What...?

You're going on about some stodgy old tale?

(Ancient language) I intended... before setting out once again, to seek my surviving brethren in this so-called land of the knights. It seems, now, I was simply deluded.

(Ancient language) No matter.

(Ancient language) Kazimierz's frailty spits on Khagan's accomplishments. Someone must set such conduct straight.

Stop right there! You still haven't answered me!

Hm... Though now you've lost all that made you, you're still at least half a brother... I should answer your question.

It was an old veteran who told me your name, and he, he was ruined in his age, not even able to run.

I seek every one of my brethren in Kazimierz. No matter how weak their relation, I seek them and nothing more.

Come again? Brethren? In Kazimierz, is that right?

It's no longer your concern, Kazimierzian.

Hold it.

Nightmare Knight... I've heard plenty about the badly-behaved newcomer you were.

You should've known we wouldn't let you go so easily after you kindly brandished your sword at us.

How about you take off your helmet and we have a nice chat?

'Nightmare'...? Ah, the title those city slaves plastered on me without permission?

Ridiculous... that knights are so obsessed with these names now...

It is only their inherent beliefs, and desire to grasp destiny, that urge knights to embark on their journey.

The Knights Association won't be happy to look the other way with you picking arguments like this. Do you want to be stripped of Major qualifications?

If... only vapid knights like you remain in Kazimierz... then I really am wasting my energy. What harm would losing worthless qualifications be?

However, this pegasus by your side... seems to very much resemble someone I wanted to find...

What?! You mean... my sister?

—What do you want with the Radiant Knight?

What I want...? Look at all the Grand Knights Kazimierz elevates as champions—if there remains any opponent worth conquering in this present country, I fear it may be among them.

Of course... it may also happen that they're all disappointments.

You've gone mad, haven't you. You came here just for a fight?

(Ancient language) Mad?

(Ancient language) Yes... the people who choose to live in the Kazimierz of now often tell me so...

(Ancient language) ...which is why we are no longer brethren.

I said stop! Are you just leaving like nothing even happened?

Given this endeavor is fruitless, I have no need to stay...

Goodbye, descendant.

Grr...

What in the world was wrong with that man, all high and mighty...

I can only hope Margaret doesn't meet him in the arena.

Seems he came for a quick look at you, then? Is he from your home place?

He's... a Nightzmora?

What? There's still Nightzmora alive today?

Here I thought they were all in legends, or they were holing up in Sargon or some sort.

So what? What's someone from your grandpa's grandpa's side doing finding you?

...He's calling to us.

...Tch.

Oh! Oh! This is history, being made before our eyes!

Can 'Left-hand' Tytus Topola lead the Blade Helmet Knightclub in a breakthrough here, and return to his spot as one of the top sixteen tyrants?!