act18side

Is that all there is?

I'm not hiding even a shred of truth from you.

The way this was handled... was quite the surprise.

How should we proceed now?

How should we proceed? We don't.

This never had anything to do with you to begin with. All we're doing now is making adjustments to how the territory in question will be handled. How does that have anything to do with you?

You're right about that, but with how things turned out, those Infected will get to stay on that city plate. It'll be difficult to keep them from gossiping about this.

And? Who would believe Infected nonsense?

Then what shall we do next...?

What shall we do next?

There's no rush. We still have lots to do.

That's all I have to report for this incident.

Thank you.

Have you located the piece that this Czerny man wrote during the incident?

The Empresses' Voice is ready to transcribe it at any moment and can personally play it for you in a few hours.

No need. I can listen to the recording.

Not bad. I can even hear him crying from the bottom of his heart as he wrote the piece.

He's a talented man. Too bad he's not quite talented enough.

So how did it go?

Not bad. It didn't get worse.

Andante said the infection deterioration caused by the incident was unusual. Most infections went into a continuous, stable phase, and I'm no exception.

It's not going to get worse again like before, right?

Andante said they looked into the phenomenon pretty thoroughly. Apparently nearly all of the Originium that got activated during the incident has gone into an extended low-activity state.

In other words, I get to hang around a little longer.

Thank goodness...

Right, does Andante know what the Herzog is going to do with the Afterglow?

Well, this is just what she said she heard, but apparently the Empresses' Voice has requested the Herzog not lay a finger on the Afterglow.

Oh, thank heavens, and thank Their Majesties' kindness—

Keep it down!

*Sigh*, what should we do from here on out...?

Oh, shut up. You don't think things have gotten out of hand enough as is?

What to do from here on out? Live one day at a time, that's what.

I want to live more than a day, though.

Then you should really keep your mouth shut.

Hibiscus, I finally get it now. There are some things that you're better off not knowing anything about.

I guess I'll apply to be transferred somewhere else as soon as I'm done with the follow-up work here.

Maybe I'll go to the landship. That sounds nice.

Don't move.

It took a lot of effort just to find you.

Do you have anything to say?

It was your men who tricked Kreide into coming to Vyseheim, right?

Everything you said was the truth, except for the bit about payment. You knew he was in a hurry to make money for my treatment, and you lured him into this mess with that.

But you two had nothing against each other! Why did you do it?!

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

I don't have much longer to live to begin with.

Alright then. Seeing as we're old colleagues, I will tell you.

Gräfin Strollo was already looking for Kreide, and she was very close to finding him.

So what? Kreide was always there by my side, and that practically meant you had full control of him!

You read her research notes. You know full well just how terrifying her work on the Voice of Mundane was.

Until I got my hands on her notes, all I knew was that she had put a lot of time into researching this subject, but I never knew the true extent of her research.

If we'd let her continue working, she might just have been able to do something even more appalling with the Voice of Mundane. Say, triggering and inducing Resonanz at much greater ranges.

You could've woken up in the morning and found your grandson transformed into a monster. Would you have wanted that?

Rather than letting things come to that, it was much better to bring Kreide right to her. Put the rush on her, and let her put her plan in motion before she could work out the kinks.

So? Any more questions?

What would you have done if Ebenholz hadn't found the amplifiers in the Afterglow Hall?

What do you think?

However the Afterglow turned out, that's how I would've turned out myself.

No further questions.

Come with me, then.

Not going to kill me?

I've got no reason to kill you, and it would've given me yet another thing to weigh on my conscience.

Come. Let's head to my shop for a cup of coffee. We'll talk about those stupid, honorable young men.

Must I?

What do you think?

Lava?

Why'd you push yourself like that? If anything happened to you, I'd never, ever forgive you!

Huh?

Oh, you're talking about what happened in Vyseheim, right? Look, I'm all fine—

And who was it who had a standoff with an angry mob, who didn't evacuate even knowing that she'd be affected by the Voice of Mundane, and who fought those people even though she barely learned any Arts?

I don't remember telling you any of this...

I already talked to Mr. Czerny! He told me everything!

Uh... If you wanted to know all the whys and wherefores, why didn't you come talk to me directly?

I actually visited Mr. Czerny to ask him about my piano teacher in Leithanien, Mr. Johann, and it was only after we kept talking that I found out you almost—

Almost...

—I'm warning you! If something like this happens again, don't you dare push yourself like that! Y-You hear me?! You hear me?!

Alright, don't cry anymore. Look, see? I'm alright.

But your infection—!

Yes, it's got rather severe thanks to the Voice of Mundane, but it's under control now, so...

No! That's not enough! You're always on my case about my health, but you don't care about what happens to you at all!

If you... If I lost you... I... I...

Lava, I promise you I'll look out for myself more, okay?

Really?

Really.

Don't you dare lie to me!

Why would I? The Doctor gave me quite a long holiday, you know? I'm going to spend this time well and get some quality rest in.

Alright, now, you said you asked him about Mr. Johann? How is he?

Mr. Czerny said he saw Mr. Johann at a gathering a year ago and that he was fine and well.

Speaking of, you went all the way to Leithanien yourself and even got a flute for your wand. Did you learn how to play while you were there?

You mean this?

The most I'm doing with it is treating it as a wand. I don't know how to play.

Really?

Of course really.

You're just being shy, aren't you?

Why would I be shy about this?

I don't believe you! Play something!

Well... Alright, here goes...

Alright!

That's the worst sound I've ever heard in my life!

Thanks for your concern, Doctor. I'm feeling very well.

And I must thank you again for the protection you are offering the Afterglow.