act18d0

*Hiss*...

You love Ursus for how prosperous it is.

In that case, I am sure you can see the parts of the country that rot in the sun.

The newer generation may be slowly forgetting that prosperity, but, as time goes on and things grow worse, they will look back on its magnificence.

But is this truly beneficial to Ursus? Once the benefits war brings with it come to an end, will we be able to solve all of Ursus's problems?

Honor cannot feed the masses.

Is that an advice?

I could merely be talking to myself if it so pleases you. I belong to Ursus no longer.

You belong to Ursus no longer...

So it was the Grand Duke's personal doctor's decision that he passed. Her intention was to reduce his suffering.

I hope you'll make it out of Victorian territory without a hitch.

A shame...

If you understood what it is we are safeguarding, you could've contributed to its prosperity.

Until next time.

We will meet again.

Come back, Mon3tr... He's gone.

I need to... take care of these marks... Hmm.

Kal'tsit!

You should not have come here, Heidi.

You're so badly hurt...! I brought a first aid kit. Ugh, how do you use this...

I can take care of myself.

Kal'tsit, what happened?

Emperor's Blade. Tell your father this name. That's all you have to do. It's nothing you need to worry about, yet.

O-Okay, but was that man from Ursus? What is someone like him doing here?

They are like the shadows of Ursus.

And the size of their vast, dark shadows has to do with only the Empire's sun.

Even if you manage to fend off these shadows, the road beneath our feet remains shrouded in darkness, while the buildings in our surroundings remain unaffected.

This too is Ursus, Heidi. This is a part of Ursus. The Empire's winter, the black snowflakes.

Before that, we need to deceive everyone else in the manor.

We may have avoided the worst outcome, and he didn't scatter his 'Dominion' all across the soil here, but the marks he left behind will take some effort to cover up.

Mon3tr.

(Dissatisfied whining)

Huh—?!

I-Is this yours...?

Kill two wild beasts and bring their bodies back as soon as you can.

(Low roar)

And... Heidi, contact your father immediately. I'll need assistance to put a lid on this the best we can...

H-How are we going to do it?

We need false witnesses, false leads, and all the bribes necessary. Perhaps there is no one out there who knows how to deal with the Mounted Police better than Thomson.

Okay, I understand—Why are you grasping at the snow?

To lower my body temperature.

I was dragged into a fight between two wild beasts and fortunately made it out.

But I am afraid the guards will be punished for letting beasts into the garden.

But those are no minor injuries! Are you still—

We managed to avoid the worst case scenario.

If he had insisted on fighting me to the death... I'm afraid none of us could've gotten out of this alive.

Now, aside from that... find me a Messenger who can reach Sami.

Sami? It's so barren there... It will take a while.

We have time. As long as she's alive, I'll get a reply... and I pray I'll get a reply.

Your wounds...

Hmm... Looks like my blood stained the letter.

Did something happen outside?

Of course not, Count Vincent! Please do not avoid the subject. Tell us how you defeated the Grand Duke's hunters!

Haha, I had no intention to be disrespectful to the Duke, of course, but I lost my temper and could not well control myself in that competition.

It was all because the hunter told me I should never have hired Savras and Zalaks.

He even told me he took pride in hiring only Liberi housemaids and muscly Forte for the upkeep and defense of the mansion the Duke awarded to him.

His words reminded me of an old gardener who once tended to our gardens. He was a Zalak, and he had been working here long before I was born, and I never found anything strange or unsatisfactory about that.

Oh, how progressive.

In the end, I was the one who shot down the fowlbeast, while the Duke's hunter missed his opportunity.

You set a fine example for the rest of us, Count Vincent!

I should've saved the Duke some face, of course.

When the Duke thinks so highly of you, what's wrong with putting your gallantry on full display?

Haha, you are right.

There were the hunter, the bow, and the fowlbeast, but no one knows me better than myself.

Dear Dame Kal'tsit,

It was just as you predicted. The Sarkaz court summoned Her Majesty Theresa for an audience. Although the ancient bloodkin held General Theresis in high esteem, the Lord of the Banshees sent only the youngest successor...

...It was thanks to the General Theresis and the Military Commission that other countries were unable to interfere with Kazdel's rise to prominence. It was also under the General's supervision that they transported construction materials enough for several dozen regular nomadic city plates without issue.

The following is a summary of the past month's events.

Kal'tsit.

(Theresa's handwriting...)

Kal'tsit.

It's such a huge surprise. Who could've imagined that the Great Banshee's successor was a boy?

He is still very young, just a young boy by his looks. The Banshee's bloodline will keep him young for a long time. Despite his age, he was mouthing off Arts left and right. He is a natural-born Caster.

I can see the royal court change through him. The Sarkaz are heading toward a new stage. I can feel it.

Kal'tsit.

Theresis frequently pulls all-nighters at the Commission, and their policies are going off track due to outside pressure. He's started to not listen to whatever I say.

A lot of us are worried. They are worried that once the other countries notice Kazdel's reunification, they will immediately wipe us off the map.

Kal'tsit.

I know that you set your sights on the world at large.

But I am also hoping you would come back.

We must prepare ourselves to take on the challenges we will face in the future. I need you to help me accomplish this.

Aside from that, Rim Billiton's Engineering Department has something new to share. We discovered a set of ruins that match your description. There are only bits and pieces, and the project has reached a bottleneck as a result. The team may need more time to uncover everything. That said—

—Kal'tsit does the name... 'Rhodes Island' mean anything to you?

So soon...

Where will you go?

Ursus...

Chernobog.

Haven't heard of that place before...

What are you doing there?

Why don't you come to Sami with me?

No, I will take Lyudmila to Siracusa.

I will also stop by Victoria on my way.

Isn't this your wish?

I...

I want you to live, Kal'tsit.

Kal'tsit?

Heidi, you and your father will continue our work in Victoria.

Our only objective is to prevent the cities that boast their honor and glory from falling to the Duke's unrest.

Dame Kal'tsit...?

Are you leaving...?