act18d3

Now I really can't let you go.

I already told you. I still have something to take care of, and I am in a hurry.

Looks like we will have to do this again, then.

Ægir, I know you are hurt, and you must be exhausted after fighting the Sea Terrors.

But I will not go easy on you.

What's this? A small shell?

It wasn't you, Ægir... You wouldn't throw this at me.

Perhaps one of the locals vomiting their guts out on the floor? No, it can't be them. They don't even know what it is they are stuffing into their mouths. They wouldn't move against me.

Is it... from the window over to the side?

Who is it?!

Who threw this? Step forward!

Hahh...

You? Did you throw this at me? Are you still trying to get in my way, to protect this Ægir?

Uh, yes! It's me!

Anita, stop it with your nonsense.

Grandma Petra?! Y-You should stay inside...

I did it, Your Honor.

Did you just call me 'Your Honor?'

I know who exactly you are. These ones know nothing.

There's someone still sane here...?

Old woman, perhaps your eyes aren't as good as they used to be. Please step back. We are taking care of something dangerous here.

Look, Your Honor. My eyes are as perfect as they can be. Even if the sky's pitch black, I will have no trouble hitting you as long as you forget to dodge.

Oh, tiny seashells, beautiful waves♪

One shell after another, one beating wave after another...

You admitted it yourself. Now I must—

Inquisitor... Your Honor! Grandma Petra's sick... Please don't blame her?

She's sick? No wonder. Yes, I can see that.

Oh, Little Anita. Enough nonsense. How am I sick?

Grandma Petra, please stop. Please.

Sick... sick!

What's sick is Sal Viento itself! Yes—This place, and all its people! And you, almighty Inquisitor... You are sick as well!

You, take your senile grandmother home.

I have more important things to deal with.

What important things? What's more important than being alive?

As an Inquisitor, there are things that I have to safeguard even with my life. For example, all the things that the law says are correct... as well as our country itself.

You will use your life... to safeguard whose life?

I... Whatever... I shouldn't waste any more of my time with you. Your old age and your illness have done a number on your faculties, citizen. I can overlook your crazy behavior so long as you stand aside and let me take care of what's important.

Your Honor, I'm afraid I don't understand this right or wrong, this country of yours.

I just want to ask you this. This thing you are trying to uphold. We were never part of it, isn't that right?

What...?!

You Inquisitors took our people away. You said they were disrupting order, that they assaulted someone while they were stealing food. They just wanted to live.

That wasn't me... but if they committed a crime, then that's how it should be.

And they've never been back.

You brought your bad guys away, but did that improve our lives?

When you remove all the factors that bring chaos to society in time, there will naturally be order.

Yet there is less and less food to go by... Those of us who got on in years either die of hunger or disease. Even some of our young couldn't endure.

You speak of order... but all you want is for us to die quietly, isn't it? That way, there will be no more noise, and you upper class folks can finally lie down on your fluffy beds for a quiet night of sleep.

That's not it.

All of Iberia is suffering. Not just you.

Shouldn't a criminal who steals resources and harms the people be stopped? Suppose there are ten meals before us. They should feed ten Iberians.

If no one is there to tell them how much they should get, they will fight to no end. In the end, only one of the ten will remain.

The Inquisition draws the boundary of right and wrong amid this chaos and guides the masses to the right path. Otherwise the whole country would've long become a heap of sand.

Everything you said... I don't get it, and it's nothing I can see.

We don't have a way out. When we truly wanted one, where were you?

I... I want to help you. I am working hard to become a full-fledged Inquisitor. I took this path because I want to help the people, and I trust that this is the only way.

Help us...?

I hoped, imagined, thirsted, even dreamt of someone coming to save us. I screamed through so many nights till my throat was hoarse.

You never came.

Will you Inquisitors only come when someone has done something wrong?

Look at these old bones. I never imagined I'd live this long. What a tragedy. Every day is filled with nothing but pain.

Look, I'm attacking you, Your Honor.

Take me away! Take me, and end me! Put me out of my misery!

Hurry, do it! I can't wait no longer—I've waited all these years! *Cough* *cough*...

I...

I don't want to fight you. Your anger... is understandable. My sword should not...

Don't force my hand, citizen.

*Cough* *Cough*...

Grandma!

Oh... Anita... You came to the plaza too.

It's dark... Why is there no singing yet?

Singer, you said you are a singer. Why aren't you singing? Where is your harp? I want to dance. I need a tune.

Look, Your Honor. You're more useless than a wandering singer. She sings for us. She's even brave enough... to stand in front of the rest of us.

I'm not scared of monsters, and I'm not scared of death. What I am scared of is this life. Am I crazy, Anita?

Grandma, it's okay. You're shaking. It's cold here. Why don't we go back? Lie down and get some rest. You'll feel better.

Okay... Okay. Let's go. We'll go home. It isn't like I know where else to go anyway.

You...!

Did you change your mind? If you changed your mind, you can still take me away. That, or kill me. At the very least... I would get to die like a person.

Do it while I'm still alive, Your Honor. I don't have much time left.

Come, let's go... Singer, come with us. I want to hear you sing.

I will let you go... for now.

But I will be back!

And you, Ægir! I'm watching you, and I will get to the end of this! Don't think you can get out of this one!

Phew... That was close.

Singer, are you okay? You look white as a sheet.

I'm fine.

You don't need to act so tough anymore. The Inquisitor is gone.

I'm not afraid of her.

I know. I can tell you aren't afraid. What would someone like you be afraid of?

She's not a bad person.

And it would be a good thing for you if I leave this place.

A good thing? There's nothing good here.

Grandma might've said all that, but she doesn't really hate the Inquisitor. She hates something else. I know it.

Now dance. Haha, I love your singing...

Stop spinning around, Grandma. You're tired. The singer will sing for you. Isn't that right?

Give me your hand, singer. Let me take a look at your wound.

No...

I can't come near you because it's dangerous, right?

It's okay. I trust you. If anything happens, you will win.

Look, your wounds aren't so bad at all. No more bleeding.

Singer, you are amazing. You heal up so quickly.