act30side

Thinking back to old times?

I remember that year when we had just arrived back in Kjerag from Victoria, we had crossed Lake Silberneherze as well.

But back then, it was because all the roads had been snowed out.

With no railroads or mechanized shovels or vehicles specially designed to handle snow, we were barely able to maintain a handful of flat main streets.

Under such heavy snowfalls, and with Karlan Trade only barely having started up, goods piled up behind snowbanks blocking the road, and the trade routes stagnated. We were on the brink of coming to a complete stop...

In the end, it was you who helped Leones gather up his burdenbeasts, and by using them to carry those goods across Lake Silberneherze, we were able to alleviate that particular crisis.

You talk too much, Enciodes.

I assumed that you would have shown more solemnity in light of the ceremony, not take it as an opportunity to babble about old happenings.

My apologies.

Some things are simply too unexpected in the moment, and so it is hard not to constantly bring them back to the forefront of one's mind, especially during interesting times such as these.

Who would have expected the great Black Knight to be so proficient at riding a burdenbeast.

Enciodes.

What?

If you are curious as to why I know how to ride a burdenbeast, then you need only ask.

I learnt it when I was young.

In Leithanien?

In Leithanien.

If there is ever the opportunity, I could bring the both of you to do some sightseeing.

It's not a very exciting place, so don't expect too much.

How is it, compared to Kjerag?

It's not as good.

Kjerag is nowhere near as cold.

This is the first time I've ever heard you give such an idealistic assessment.

That's enough out of you.

Alright. We've arrived.

Everyone, please come forward.

With Kjeragandr as our witness, this ceremony shall soon begin.

Let us pray—

...It appears that some of our more excitable guests can't wait for their cue.

Just who is causing that clamor there?

(Gah, I didn't need this pain in my ass right now!)

Yucatan! Why the hell isn't your wife here yet?!

I just got in contact with her, and she says she's nearly here...!

What do you mean 'nearly here'?!

Listen, you get back in touch with her right now, tell her to go to the moons or something, as far away as possible, just don't come over!

What is going on over here?! What's all this commotion about?!

Sir! Those Victorians don't look as friendly as they usually do!

I saw that they've got some pretty big weapons of some kind, and they looked real enough to me!

I knew that they were going stab us in the back!

Let them come! It's a good thing I told the Paleroche boys to prepare for this! We meet them in battle!

Hold, Sir Arctosz!

But... Saintess!

Saintess! Sir Enciodes!

The Victorian troops have broken through our guards who were maintaining order, they draw near!

Send out several squads, and prioritize the safety of any commoners about!

Yes, Saintess!

They have made their move. It appears they have several squads of their own lined up to approach us.

And at their head is that viscount.

What's the plan?

Where are Weiss and Matterhorn?

We haven't received any news from them since last night.

They should have been watching the movements of the Victorian Army very closely, and an operation of this size would have prompted a report by now.

Unless they had no way of sending that report.

Beware Victorians, even as they bear gifts.

Despite my belief that I had managed to establish a strong enough relationship with Viscount Craigavon, it appears that we have not been able to move his heart from its course.

This is no time to stand around licking your wounds, Enciodes.

They're already far past the point of pretending to be friendly with us.

They are professional Victorian troops. Whether using drone arrays to bombard us, or hiding their casters in the crowd, their ruthless efficacy is clear.

This is still what they consider 'pressure'. They have not begin to use 'force' just yet.

And I assume you have some sort of plan for this?

We cannot allow them to disrupt the ceremony.

Not only will the Vine-Bead Court and the three clans suffer a drastic blow to their reputations, they will lose the trust of the people of Kjerag, alongside the respect of those outside its borders... We would be caught in truly dire straits.

Not exactly the easiest task.

Indeed.

You sound concerned, Enciodes.

We must not allow a true war with Victoria to begin. We need only wait until the next perso... the next distinguished guest arrives.

But at the very least, we cannot allow them to get any closer to the statue of Kjeragandr.

But they're pretty much here already.

I'll go stop them.

Now's not a good time for jokes.

They've got at least two thousand troops out there, how exactly are you going to fight them alone?

It will be easier than me having to handle you after a night out, Gnosis.

Like I said, this really isn't a good time to joke around!

Who do you think, out of the many people that he knows, Enciodes always calls first?

...*sigh* You're going to get yourself killed.

If you don't want me to be killed, then you should put in some more work, Gnosis.

Degenbrecher, I'm sure you're already aware of the risks at hand.

I need you to hold them back, at least until we have settled our arrangements here.

At this time, Karlan Trade, no, 'Kjerag' cannot assist you in the slightest. This is to be the sole work of the Black Knight.

Are you able to do it?

Heh. This wouldn't be the first time.

You all wait here.

It's not good to hold your anger in, Gnosis.

The two of you have talked it over already. I'm not one to make a fuss.

At least while Degenbrecher holds back those Victorians, I can send out men to find Weiss and Matterhorn, as well as our 'distinguished guests'.

If they arrive a bit sooner than expected, things might just start looking up for us.

I'll leave that to you then.

News of what is happening here will spread fast. I should be bracing myself right about now, so that I can deal with these beasts who saw fit to bare their fangs.

Hark, they come.

Halt! Everyone, gather up!

Get back into formation!

Yes, sir!

This fog's mighty thick.

Strange, have the Tschäggättä not made their move yet? Why are they just watching from all around the sides?

Sure, our operation might have caught them with their pants down, but surely they're going to put up some resistance, right?

Don't be so quick to dismiss them. The head of the Silverash clan's one wily fellow.

*sigh* Kjerag can't afford to go to war with Victoria, but us? We can pretty much take a crap atop their holiest of holies. It's a real funny thing, diplomacy.

The way things are now, I don't think they've got any room to play defense at the moment.

Well, you won't know until you give them a poke.

Let some other men advance for now! If the Saintess and Clan Silverash still don't react, then we continue with our original plan and prepare to bombard the statue of Kjeragandr.