act30side

Don't get too excited.

You may have won this round, but at the end of the day you've just gotten yourself even more tough customers.

Should I thank you for bringing Kazimierz back to me?

Enciodes stays silent for a moment, then picks up a broken piece of ice from the ground and points it at the sun.

The ice is dauntingly cold, but it glitters under the sun, almost glaringly.

Yes. Kazimierz has come, Columbia is coming.

Things will only get more complicated.

You can't win every time.

Have you ever lost?

No.

That's too bad. You must never have met an opponent like me.

Oh?

Come with Gnosis to the Tschäggättä's training grounds. I'll take both of you on at the same time.

One hand tied behind my back.

Haha. Gnosis is actually not bad with a sword.

You're in a good mood.

It's all done.

Three years of perseverance have borne fruit at last.

We broke things wide open. Caster is no longer an existential threat.

The independence of Kjerag is no longer a pipe dream.

In order words, you've drawn the attention of both arrogant Victorian nobles and unscrupulous Kazimierz merchants.

Soon to be joined by scientists with no qualms about moral or ethics.

Even more people will hate you for bringing even more chaos to this country.

Let them.

I don't care.

All I care is—

Excuse me—

Are you the Black Knight?

...Yes.

So it's true! The Black Knight is in Kjerag!

It's really the Black Knight! This makes it all worth it!

And you... you're the president of Karlan Trade, aren't you?

I've been a fan of the Black Knight since I was five. Can I get her autograph?

That's up to her.

Do you want to sign for these young folks, Degenbrecher?

...Fine.

The campaign knights eagerly call out to their comrades.

A little line forms on the ice.

It is like one of the many small fan meet-and-greets on the streets of Kazimierz.

The campaign knights give Degenbrecher their cards, and Degenbrecher writes her name on them.

Enciodes chats with the knights every now and then, playing the part of a good host.

It is all very natural. No one has the slightest complaint.

Eventually, the knights leave, satisfied, and calm returns to the ice.

The campaign knights I know aren't that excitable.

Our partnership with Kazimierz has just begun. The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz wouldn't have sent 'real' campaign knights.

This is just the Browntails spending their own money to invite some youths over for a sightseeing trip.

And it probably took the Black Knight's name to get them to agree.

Heh.

How do you feel?

Maybe I'm no different from the Kazimierz that you hated. You're just another chip in my hands.

All of it is the same, be it your identity as the Black Knight, Kazimierz's exploitation of you, your martial strength, and your value as a soldier.

Do you find this unacceptable?

Now?

I've gotten used to it.

Let us once again welcome our friends from far away.

The doors of Kjerag are always open to those who come in good faith. Let us remember the friendships forged today.

By Kjeragandr.

By Kjeragandr.

By Kjeragandr!

By Kjeragandr!

Thank you for the invitation, Saintess.

You're... Muelsyse, from Rhine Lab.

It warms me up that you still remember me.

The mountains and rivers of Kjerag that I saw along the way were awfully pretty. I'm sure we'll have a great partnership.

Rhine Lab's partner is Karlan Trade, Miss Muelsyse.

But you are the one calling the shots in Kjerag.

Building a launch pad on Karlan is a big deal. Mr. Silverash has stressed the need to get the Saintess's blessing.

I have heard about this from Sir Enciodes.

Karlan is the spine and body of Kjeragandr. I must say I have reservations about such a massive project taking place there—

Saintess, Saintess.

Excuse me.

What is it, Kjarr?

That launch pad that they're talking about, it sends things into the sky, right?

If they build it there...

Does it mean that I...?

Er, Kjeragandr, will get a few cannons on Her body?

Cannons...

Kjarr... do you think Kjeragandr would object?

Object? Why?

It sounds so cool!

You should say yes!

Lisburn! What happened?

Those wounds...

It's nothing.

Freya, I have something important to tell you...

What is it, Lisburn?

I, I...

I... love...

'I ♥ Snow'! The knitted words on your clothes look so nice!

The snowy mountains are so beautiful on a fine day like this!

Huh? Oh, uh, yeah.

Aw damn it all!

The berk ran away from <i>THAT?</i> I should shoot him for desertion!

Keep it down, Jack!

Did you all peep on me like this, back in the day, when I proposed to my wife?

Come now, Harold, this isn't personal. We do this to everyone who proposes.

Is Lisburn really going to propose after a fight like that?

What does he have to lose after a fight like that?

She says yes, he gets to bury his bones here. She says no, he gets closure and returns to Victoria. It's going to take him the better part of a full year to recover.

You have a point.