act14side

My sister's been awfully busy lately. Even I haven't had a chance to see her.

But if you really need me to, I can climb up the mountain and pay a secret visit.

Ugh, I just wanted to help you out, but I just made you worry even more about me...

Hmm, can you tell me some Kjerag folk tales then? Like, about the Tschäggättä?

Woah, where'd you hear that word?

Well... It's actually an old legend that goes way back.

Thousands of years ago, when Kjeragandr was protecting Her people from the wind and snow, a group of mountain savages rejected Her blessings. Among them––

We've confirmed that several segments of track suffered similar damage. The losses have been tabulated, and repairing them will take some time.

But more critically, of the points of access between Kjerag and the outside world, several of the routes that were completely under our control have been cut off.

In other words, outside forces will no longer be able to enter Kjerag without great effort.

But we still have a relative abundance of various supplies and materials in our reserves, enough to hold out while the tracks are being repaired...

That's not the important part.

Additionally, we've confirmed that Gnosis and Ratatos have been in contact and have been lingering around our borders.

Of course.

And what of the Doctor?

The Paleroche clan is no longer keeping a close watch on the Doctor. The guards are so discreet that we're unable to track them.

Very well. You may go now.

Yessir.

Well done.

I must admit, this came as a bit of a surprise, but Gnosis indeed has the capacity to pull off something like this.

Your idea of trust is rather twisted.

He bore the burdens of Karlan Trade for so many years, so it's only natural that he would have the ability to exceed my expectations in certain areas.

This is not trust, but rather a base requirement. A requirement that the Silverash clan has of its associates.

I always thought I would have the right to shoulder Kjeragandr's burden only when I was prepared to shoulder all of Kjerag.

It has been too long since the Tri-Clan Council and the Vine-Bead Court left this burden.

Don't tell me that's why you and the Saintess have to shoulder all of Kjerag.

She may eventually come to make the same choice.

And I need to prepare for the next step.

What? Sir Enciodes was attacked in the mountains yesterday?!

Huh? Is that true?

Of course it's true. Sir Arctosz had General Gulo rush people over to report to the Great Elder.

The other nephew of my third uncle came back with General Gulo.

They arrived just now, and I heard the news from him.

What a good lad. Now that's some big news!

Heh!

But, who would be so foolhardy as to attack Sir Enciodes? On his way to the Holy Hunt, no less!

Do you think it could've been a Tschäggättä?

How the hell could've it been a Tschäggättä? Didn't we already say a person did it?

If you ask me, it must've been the doing of the Paleroches or the Browntails.

They tried so hard to suppress the Silverashes, saying something about how Sir Enciodes had trampled upon our teachings.

But who knows, maybe they were really after the Silverash clan's land.

I wouldn't go around making spurious claims like that.

Spurious? Do you have any idea how much Silverash land the Browntail clan gobbled up after Sir Enciodes left Kjerag to study abroad?

Now that Sir Enciodes has had a change of heart and took the initiative to show favor to the Saintess, the other two clans are panicking because they no longer have an excuse to keep the Silverashes down.

Well...

Wh-Who do you belong to?!

I'm with the Browntail clan. So what?

You're a Browntail? How can you say those things about your own clan?!

Because I've been working down in the valley for so long, I honestly feel that Sir Enciodes has been wronged!

Sir Enciodes has brought so many good things to Kjerag, but has been kept down in the Tri-Clan Council.

Even now after he has offered to return to the government and taken the initiative to repair his relationship with the Vine-Bead Court and the Saintess, look how they treat him.

Even if you're a Paleroche, does that not make your conscience ache?

You...

You have a point...

That's right. No matter what the circumstances are, an attack on Sir Enciodes is simply going too far.

Besides, to do it during a ceremony as important as the Holy Hunt is also a grave insult to Kjeragandr.

Exactly! No matter what the facts are regarding this situation, there must be some kind of explanation!

You said it.

That's right, the perpetrator must be found!

What's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night? You don't look so good.

Enciodes ended up running into trouble after all.

Mm. Word of it has spread, and everyone's talking about.

I can see that many people are already demanding an explanation for this matter.

Judging from the look on your face, did you not expect this at all?

It's precisely because I DID expect it.

Huh? Then what's got you in a twist?

Gnosis doesn't see eye to eye with Enciodes, and he's been plotting to overthrow him since they parted ways.

You didn't think Enciodes would leave himself so open, nor did you want to interfere in the affairs of the three clans, so you came to the ceremony as a guest.

I'm just talking about superficial appearances here. From that angle, that is how the situation seems, right?

Everyone has a skewed understanding of the situation.;Not necessarily.

I don't have a clue what goes on in that head of yours all day.

But I feel like you've infected me into enjoying thinking about these things, so let's do just that.

Hmm... Since Enciodes used to be good friends with Gnosis and we know the latter to be a crafty man, he must've been prepared for Gnosis's betrayal from the very beginning.

But he was attacked anyway, and it became a pretty big deal...

In other words, he engineered this situation to become more sympathetic in the eyes of the public?

But, what exactly does this accomplish?

Right now, the Holy Hunt party should be on its way back.

Shortly, the Grand Ceremony come to its final ritual, including the ceremonial crowning of the Saintess.

If he can catch the perpetrator at the ceremony, that'll increase people's faith in Enciodes... but that's it, right?

Actually, there's another possibility.

What would that be?

It's just a possibility.;You'll find out soon enough.

The Saintess shot and killed the prey herself during the Holy Hunt?

Yes.

And news of the attack on Enciodes has already spread among the people.

Yes.

Not only that, but a number of people are demanding that the perpetrator be punished before the coronation ceremony.

To injure a countryman during the Holy Hunt is to gravely disrespect Kjeragandr. Of course this deserves punishment!

But, this is still the Saintess's coronation ceremony.

Both of you bring up good points... Great Elder, your judgment?

Given Enciodes's superb abilities, there is little chance that the mastermind behind this will not be sniffed out, regardless of who it is––

If only things were that simple.

Please do explain, Great Elder.

The Saintess's behavior has gone increasingly out-of-line, yet Enciodes's response has been quite uncharacteristic.

What are those siblings planning?

What does the Great Elder mean by 'those siblings?'

No, there is no possibility of any collusion between the two.

But perhaps, this is the Silverash blood that runs through their veins––

Everyone, the Elders, the Great Elder, and the Saintess's teams are about to arrive.

Enough. Let's go to meet the Saintess.