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Understood.

Hmm?

Wait, it looks like there's movement on their side!

No, that can't be...

They've only got... one person over there?

It's her. The Black Knight. Of course. It could only be her.

Although I had guessed that this sort of thing might happen...

Seeing the real deal with your own eyes, it's enough to make a man's heart drum with excitement.

A lone woman holding back a thousand soldiers. Wow. This really is right out of one of those knight novels.

You're joking.

There's no one person who's got the strength to resist a whole army. The Zhayedans can't, the Silverlance Pegasi can't, not even one of the devils' Royal Courts could.

We've seen this sort of thing before ourselves, Harold.

I know. Of course I do. 'You might kill us, but you won't kill any more.'

But do we really have to pay this price to get what we want?

Our army is a machine, consuming an unending amount of fresh meat just so that it can lurch forward once more. Right now, hah, there's just us old boys left.

We can't bear the cost of it much longer.

You know me, Lisburn.

I've always been a bit of a miser.

And a miser's heart weeps at every coin lost. As long as they keep bubbling up to the top of my mind, I can hardly sleep soundly at night.

We're soldiers. We've got no choice.

You're right. It's all for Victoria.

Send the order down, all men, prepare for war!

I'll take the lead, and I'll bring along my top brass to meet the legendary Black Knight face to face!

Yes, sir!

Hey, Harold, I'm not going to stop you now.

But I've got to ask, how's it feel having to face down the Black Knight that you like so much in the ring?

Not great.

Reminds me of one time during my youth, when I was getting teased at one of the Duke's parties. I ended up drinking an entire cup's worth of straight shots at once.

A lot of bitterness, a lot of burning, and a lot of retching.

Enough to make you faint, but I will say that I also feel a bit of... excitement.

Harold Craigavon looked towards Kjerag's endless snowscape.

All about him, frost blanketed the icy surface of Lake Silberneherze, mist gathered in the air, and in the distance, the statue of Kjeragandr loomed, Her face fuzzy and indistinct.

The chill extending all about Her feet made people feel as though they had truly entered the realm of a snow god. The frozen surface of the lake looked as though it was a great shard of rock sugar, covered in icing.

In this unreal, dreamlike environment, these men wearing their valor on their sleeve stood out like a sore thumb, and across from them—

A vague silhouette appeared within the dense fog that laid thick in the air.

Their adversary walked forward, step by step, treading atop the ice and snow towards them. It felt like with every step, she commanded the strength to stop a thousand men in their tracks.

This is as far as you go.

And you will go no further.

If you wish to watch the ceremony, you may watch from here alongside me.

I would be truly honored to have you accompany me, Madam Degenbrecher!

By all rights, I should accept your kind offer, but...

As a most trusted partner, Her Grace is very concerned about Kjerag's development issues, and has given me orders to approach the base of Kjeragandr, so as to show our good faith.

Concern?

Concern armed to the teeth and carrying cannons is a very rare sight indeed.

Force of circumstance, I do hope you understand.

Lately, there has been a most unlawful force at play, wantonly moving prohibited materials about Kjerag under the guise of constructing the statue of Kjeragandr.

According to our intelligence, the stronghold of this force happens to be exactly under this holy statue of yours.

And so, Her Grace was so concerned about this issue that she commissioned me and my men overnight to investigate.

A likely story.

It is, in the end, Her Grace's intent.

Who could say if there truly is such a dangerous power underneath the feet of Kjeragandr's statue?

But if the Great Saintess and Sir Enciodes were to meet with unfortunate accidents, it would be far too late for regrets by then.

Nobody would like to see something like that happen, am I right, Madam Degenbrecher?

I don't really care what you say.

And naturally, what we do here is none of your business.

The people of Kjerag will handle their own issues. We don't need outsiders to order us about.

*sigh*...

I'm afraid that's that, then. I'm truly sorry it came to this, but this is where I must carry out my duty.

Also, please excuse my curiosity, Madam Degenbrecher, but considering you managed to hold your tongue so well while I jabbered on...

You don't plan on causing delay for us, do you?

You talk far too much.

Haha, well, when you're at my age, it's hard not to be a bit of a windbag.

But as for you, Madam Degenbrecher.

As I've now learnt, you're not the sort of person to indulge in mindless chatter.

...Hmph.

That's why I hate overly-chatty smartasses.

The woman says no more, slowly unsheathing her long swordbreaker from about her waist.

The scraping of the metal lets out a ear-piercing shriek, ending with the sound of it burying its point into the ice, a sound that induces a trembling in the men that none are able to stymie.

Since they got the intended message, there is not much more need for words.

This manner is more to my tastes.

I'll say it again.

You will go no further.

—None may enter.