act18d0

...Hufff...

Mon3tr, stop!

(Dissatisfied whining)

What is this...? You let your chance get away. Your one and only chance...

I know your tactics. If I let Mon3tr attack, you would've pierced right through my chest with those black spikes of yours.

*Hiss*... Looks like I need not test you anymore. You know like the back of your hand how the Royal Guards operate... You called me inhuman, and now you address me as man?

Suppose you still have a shred of my approval, it would have nothing to do with the will that you are executing right now.

As long as you are still resisting, you remain a stalwart barricade of mankind. No one can take from you your honor of having been born a human.

At the very least, before you find yourself fooled by that illusion that is destined to be destroyed.

*Hiss*...

You are right... Indeed, there are many things I misjudged...

'Knowledge' is how they grow in strength. To fend them off, the passing down of all knowledge of them was suppressed, an unwritten law of all nations.

You are not a Sami Snowpriest, and you have nothing to do with Sargon's Eternal Army... Those who have the privilege of seeing the sights beyond Terra with their own eyes have always been at the top of their country's academic authority... Who are you?

Someone who fulfilled her duty.

And what is your duty?

You already know the answer in your heart. I did far less than you've accomplished.

Hmph...

I must admit... I have never met an outsider who knows the Royal Guards' secrets.

The crimes you committed and the secrets you hold make you guilty beyond measure, but I have never met such a strange creature so evenly matched against me.

(Taunting roars)

*Hiss*... You are full of surprises... The mystery surrounding you worries me. It seems I must be more cautious when dealing with you.

Let us pretend I am following your advice, 'Ursus citizen,' but do not forget that the Emperor's Blade is watching you.

Hm...

We don't have much time left. Ursus has not had the chance to catch its breath, but the moment the Count finds you, it will be plunged into a whole new whirlpool.

And it will happen, the people be damned.

Don't get so cocky... I simply did not expect it would take this much time to deal with a traitor.

*Huff*...

You are worthy of my caution, traitor.

It was your responsibility to guard Grand Duke Vanya, and finding the cause of his 'accidental' death is your one and only mission.

I ensured a quiet death for him. I then escaped from Ursus territory. Perhaps what I have done can't truly be considered a violation of Ursus's rights.

If so, it stands to reason that a life is too great a price. I trust all of you Royal Guards are capable of making a sensible decision.

You—

—Mmm!

Regardless, you must return to Ursus right this moment.

The pain may mean nothing to you, but, with your windpipe ripped by Mon3tr, you will suffocate—and drown in the demon's influence, even just a shard of its corpse.

Be quick about it. You might still make it back to Ursus territory in one piece.

A target worrying about my wellbeing... This will indeed be a valuable experience.

On top of that, you are a traitor, and you understand me far better than the men in our armies.

I've never had such a long chat with a Royal Guard of the Emperor's Blade either.

—How long have you lived? And who exactly are you?

I used to be the Grand Duke's private doctor, nothing more.

You should've killed me while I was making my escape.

Perhaps it isn't too late.

I await the news of your success.

—Hah!

You should've served your country, traitor! Your limitless potential could have flourished magnificently in Ursus, yet you betrayed it!

Sounds like I should feel bad about that.

*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!