act20side

What are you anxious about?

I...

We're at the halfway point, 300m point.

What's that? It's 400m already? Alright.

Anyway, the order hasn't changed since the start of the race, with Gavial in the lead, Avdotya in second place, and Elysium in third.

Al-though Elysium has not overtaken the others, his form is a thing of beauty!

Is he staying in third place on purpose?

I just feel uneasy.

Like I've dumped everything on them.

I agreed to compete with Catch on a design for a new Zeruertzan landmark... but how can I convince the people? I have no confidence there.

You'll get along so much better with Catch if you're being honest about your feelings with him.

...It won't happen.

I'll never like him, and he'll never like me.

Hm... well, I'm just looking for a place to take a break. It's none of my business if you want to keep staring at a blank piece of paper.

But if you want to check things out—

Deculture, Deculture. The first boat for the railway project is complete and ready by the lakeside.

The excavation and survey equipment that Master Edge asked for. You can help me deliver it.

Thanks.

Deculture, Deculture, taking care of Stitch.

I'm not the only one taking care of him.

Well, I can take a nap now that he's gone.

I'll leave the rest to you and the surface-dwellers.

Do not worry. Zumama, our friend, will help. Do not worry.

You like her that much?

Zumama cares for us. We like Zumama.

What a strange surface-dweller.

We're here by the lake to get a better view!

Hey, is that Stitch the architect over there?

Wait, stop fidgeting! I'll lose my footing!

Whoa!!!

The Durins have made a Durin tower for Croque, so she can see the race better.

It is not easy to keep up a tower consisting of dozens of Durins, however, and it begins to lean at Croque's movement, eventually—

Ouch, my butt...

The robot said the boat is parked around here.

This is the equipment that Master Edge asked for?

I'll load Gavial's equipment onto it as well, and ask someone to bring the boat across.

Hff... phew...

This is the boat?

Stitch? I think so.

Off I go then.

Huh?

Oh, he just got onto the boat that the robots brought to the lakeside, and he's sailing across the lake!

Did he come to join the competition?

Come to think of it, the rules don't say you can't use vehicles!

Zumama, boat assembly: correct?

It looks structurally sound, but there are a few things we can tweak. For example—

There, that should make it more solid.

Zumama, Zumama: amazing.

Just the product of experience.

There you are, Zumama.

Inam? What are you doing here?

This survey equipment has to get across, right? I came to help since I didn't have anything else to do.

Thanks.

Why are you thanking me? Looks like you're actually becoming one of these robots.

Yes, I'm glad to make so many new friends.

Zumama, Zumama: friend!

And I've been trying to find a date for Lancet-2.

Lancet-2 is the robot that came with Rhodes Island, right?

Yes, she's my big sister now.

I'm not skilled enough to make a robot as smart as Lancet-2, so I'm trying to find one in this group.

And...?

They're very nice, but not really her type.

She likes intellectuals, like the Doctor. It's a bit of a headache.

Never mind, you're not the only weirdo in Tiacauh.

Hey everybody, this is Croque, and I've found a safer vantage point to continue the broadcast from.

How far until goal? 300m? Ah, forget it.

What's really important is that the architect Stitch Canvas, the only student of Master Finch, has found a boat and jumped into the race!

Oh? Looks like he's talking to us. Let's zoom in and see what he's saying...

'I'm gonna win,' I think. Yup, I'm sure that's it.

And he just raised his middle finger to show his motivation. Looks like there's a fiery heart beneath this architect's cold surface!

He may have gotten a late start, but that vehicle is definitely a huge advantage.

He's closing the distance as we speak!

Things are pretty lively over there.

I wanted to say that this is what happens with Gavial around, but she's not the only one who's let her hair down.

You're not used to it?

You have to get used to it, living in Acahualla.

You get so used to it I feel weird if there's no one arguing and making noise around me.

You're a proper Tiacauh now.

Of course I am.

Speaking of which, Zumama, if Gavial didn't come back the year before last, you were planning to become the Great Chief of Acahualla, weren't you?

Becoming Great Chief wasn't the real goal; it was a way for me to prove myself.

I wanted to build the most powerful machine ever.

I knew I shouldn't have placed any expectations on you.

Are you thinking about being lord ameer?

Good to see that you and Tomimi have learned something about politics, unlike Gavial.

I don't know how she's survived on the outside all these years.

Some things we deal with as a matter of course just don't factor in for Gavial. Like adapting to your environment.

Haha, that's true.

So you want her to become lord ameer? Are you sure she's suitable?

Pretty sure you could pick somebody off any street in Sargon and get a better lord ameer than her.

Agreed.

But if we're choosing a Tiacauh to lead Acahualla, there's no one more suitable than her.

Are you speaking as a Tiacauh, or as a Sargon Messenger?

We're entering the final stretch of the race!

Gavial remains in first place, but her lead continues to shrink.

It's not Avdotya who's closing the distance, though!

Despite her valiant effort, her choice of clothing has become dead weight.

Literally, as the weight of her clothes is slowing her down!

Meanwhile, Elysium is rapidly closing in!

Conserving his strength in the first half, Elysium now shows off his true ability.