act18d0

5下

Modern Day

4:14 P.M. \ Clear

Central Sargon, Ibut Region, Warzone

I find myself looking back on those events often, during my most difficult times.

Whenever I grow tired of striking the iron, whenever I am unsatisfied with inferior materials that result in products less than satisfactory—The events I witnessed that day immediately come to mind.

—So you took care of all those mercenaries by yourself—?

No, he planted those weapons beforehand... and they self-destructed.

I'm surprised you could bring yourself to actually do it... Didn't you make all those things yourself...?

What kind of craftsman has lingering affection for their creations? The reason we pour our emotions into our work is to create an even more refined product, not to be tied down by our feelings.

So you had it all figured out beforehand, eh?

I eliminated all the factors unbeneficial to us. What is wrong about that?

—Ugh, this burnt smell stinks...

Don't tell me Rhodes Island claims to be pacifist.

Though I can certainly tell you two are not.

So... what did you see that day again...?

Ah, has either of you personally seen her in combat?

It is as though she had a birds-eye view from up in the sky. Everything was under her control.

We're close. Very close.

Sarkaz... Devils... She won. She won indeed. Old Isin knew this is exactly how it would turn out...

Ahem, do you have to follow me around?

Of course, Lady Kal'tsit asked Old Isin to. Until the moment she steps out of Sargon, her wish is Old Isin's command.

Hmm, is that her over there...?

On the other side of the hills, the smell of Originium gunpowder and blood yet lingers in the sandstorm, a phenomenon that has become all but natural to Elliot.

A gust of wind blows past, carrying away with it the dust. Under the clear sun, the strange creature's large stature appears as though it is distorting even the sunlight.

There, Kal'tsit stands solemnly.

She is as calm and quiet as one can be.

*Cough*—

You could've become a warrior, nameless mercenary. A Sarkaz Warrior.

My death... is for a greater purpose, Caster.

Not going to finish me?

Let's see—

(Angry low roar)

Tsk... This monster... I'm more than ready to die. Are a few extra scratches that much to ask for?

(Roars)

Enough, Mon3tr.

He's a dead man with those injuries.

(Dissatisfied hisses)

Hah... Looks like we saved the padishah some trouble...

Sarkaz... What's your name...?

Pfft... Which one?

Tell me, Caster. The Kazdel you were talking about... How does it look now?

Terrible still.

But the Sarkaz are rebuilding their homes.

Home...? How could us devils... us Infected possibly have one...

I've never left Sargon...

The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild 'Kazdel', their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded.

Everyone has a different idea as to what the term 'homeland' means, but as it stands right now, Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning.

The 'Teekaz' deserve a home.

Tsk... That does...

...have a nice ring to it...

Poor devil, poor devil. He is gone, no longer with us.

You two shouldn't have come.

You made quite a ruckus here. Old Isin thinks this place could use some cleaning to avoid catching anyone's attention...

You took all of them down by yourself...?

(Shakes head in dissatisfaction)

Um, okay. You two... took down a whole mercenary squad? How many of them were there?

It was no easy task. I would've been in quite a tight spot if they weren't as afraid of Mon3tr as they were.

Let's pick up the pace. We've already found ourselves in seven skirmishes since we left Redhorn.

And now we have an entire Sarkaz mercenary squad. We'll likely face the lord ameer's guards next or the padishah's elite troops. No matter the case, the more we run, the more fierce our enemies become.

Old Isin gets the impression that you didn't want to kill them?

You're not wrong.

You seem to have special feelings for Sarkaz... Oh, pardon Old Isin. Old Isin should not have asked.

The sun is setting soon, Lady Kal'tsit. We must bury these bodies right away. It looks like their sand buggy will save us quite a bit...

We need to be quick.

Can knowledge be a means to buy over a person's heart? Elliot has never so much as thought about that. He used to be naive, but he was also gifted precisely because of this. Of course, he cannot understand why Old Isin would follow everything Kal'tsit says after that exchange of theirs.

It is as though he lives in the distant past. He merely gazes at the far end of Sargon's golden sands, waiting for someone to come give him the answer he has always sought.

Is knowing what the answer is all that he ever wanted?

This... is the entrance to the old market. This is the Reefsteep Town.

Yet another Sargon town...

Old Isin knows where the entrance is... The old market is no secret. Anyone has the right to look for that which they want here.

Come with Old Isin.

Old Isin...? I thought you died in the golden sands!

Old Isin is fortunate to survive.

Hm, are those two behind you Columbians...? Columbians on the run. That box they have gotta be worth some money, then.

Oh, relax. Why so tense? I'll give you 400 gold coins for that box.

Sorry, but it's not for sale.

Ah, that's too bad...

No worries, I'm sure we'll have more chances to do business with each other. Isn't that right, Old Isin? Haha.

Please don't let it get to you, Lady. This happens often here.

She isn't actually that curious about the box...

If she actually had her mind set on it, we well wouldn't be getting much sleep in the future.

She opened at 400 coins...?

This is the Reefsteep Black Market. The vibrant heart of Ibut.

How long are we staying here...?

This will be a long journey. It will take Old Isin time to prepare. Perhaps two weeks.

Isin, I'm counting on you.

Mm, what is this for...? Gold coins? Old Isin needs no money at all...

Our enemies are still coming after us. We need to get the preparations done as soon as possible.

Old Isin understands, but please keep your coins. Old Isin is in no place to take them... and Old Isin still has much to ask you.

Very well, I understand... Feel free to ask me any time. Even now.

Thank you... Old Isin is far too old... Old Isin has forgotten far too many important things.

Alas, most of those who remembers what I wish to know have come and gone. That is why Old Isin is looking for clues...

Lady, you are young. Normally, Old Isin would not hold out hope for those your age... but you know of that city, the secrets that disappeared in those great winds long ago.

What do you want to remember, old Savra?

Old Isin once served a padishah... The Padishah of the Land of Reefsteep. The padishah saw Old Isin as a friend and would even die for Old Isin. An honor Old Isin can never fully repay...

Yet... it has been far too long. Old Isin has forgotten the words of the padishah. Before Old Isin dies, Old Isin must remember his words.

The disaster that destroyed the city left you directionless.

It has been too long, Lady. Look, you remember even that Catastrophe—

The padishah who ruled Reefsteep doesn't show up in the history books much, but, at the very least, the written accounts and folklores do not mention a Savra fortune teller.