act8mini

Yes... I understand what you mean.

Allow me to ask one more question. Scout, what's your verdict?

I respect your judgment, but per my opinion, he should be taken into custody immediately and locked up.

According to military law, there can be only one outcome.

Indeed, this is but one choice. We are always faced with countless choices.

No matter what schemes or designs he may have, he will be unable to resist that desire.

This won't be the last time you see actions like this.

Theresa, if your tolerance creates further troubles, it will eventually threaten your safety.

He simply made an unfortunate decision.

No, Your Majesty...! P-Please, I can explain...

I am... Sarkaz... a Sarkaz of Kazdel...! I just couldn't bear the thought... of you and Babel being so far away from Kazdel!

Initially, this was the thing I resisted the most. Underhanded tactics and tricks... If this was not the only way to achieve a lasting peace, I would not be able to swallow this pill.

But the Sarkaz have been waiting for too long.

Among the countless wars, we must utilize this war, along with equally innumerable lives, to open up this world and understand its emotions.

Kal'tsit, Doctor, this will be the attitude I have towards you. We share the same beliefs, and we can complement each other. Therefore, I choose to respect the Doctor's choice.

Doctor, please tell me how you'd like this to end.

This Sarkaz... He carried out an act of betrayal, not against me, but against an image of Theresa in his heart that had disappointed him.

He cannot be called a traitor. As far as I can see, Her Majesty Theresa is willing to grant freedom to so many people—

—Why not exile this Sarkaz, and see what choices he makes?

Let him fend for himself upon this land.

He may find a new faith, maybe in you, or someone else.

—You... Why are you doing this...

I'm opposed.

Even if the existing evidence does not prove his involvement with the Military Council, I do not deem it prudent to release a soldier who openly attacked his commander.

Theresa.

Y-Your Majesty...

Leave it to the army.

Yes, Marco, you are... a Sarkaz mercenary.

So, Scout, take him to see Ascalon.

Babel will decide your fate. Ascalon will decide your fate.

That you consider yourself a Sarkaz of Kazdel means you cannot leave.

—Your Majesty! You, you're putting me to death—?

Scout, before he has any outbursts of emotion, restrain—

——No!

No! No! No! You— You're right— That's right, kill me! You're doing the right thing, sending a flake like me to hell!

—You were a war hero! To execute a traitor, a nobody like me, is what you should do!

Behave yourself!

I was wrong... I was wrong. Your Majesty, you still have what we long for, the story we've heard for decades!

The banner of the six heroes still flies. How many have grown up listening to the tales of you leading the Sarkaz against foreign invaders? The masses wait for that era to come again!

I've been waiting— We've all been waiting!

We're still waiting for those legends to reappear, waiting for that bloodstained history to reignite!

That is what Sarkaz should be— that is what the Sarkaz must be!

Your Majesty! Now, this is justice. You have become justice!

Your Majesty!

This is the current situation. The mercenaries we've been able to contact will arrive in two days.

Whose team is it?

Hoederer's.

Hoederer is an excellent commander, but he seems to despise war even more than he lets on.

I will ensure that he arrives on time.

Good work, Kal'tsit.

Perhaps one day... the Sarkaz can finally escape meaningless conflict and sacrifice.

There's sorrow written all over your face. Is it because of the incident with Marco?

In him... I saw a microcosm.

The road ahead of us is still long, Kal'tsit.

It's too long, Theresa. Such that your people want an answer, and they want it placed before them.

But you'll accompany me down that road, won't you?

Of course...

That said, I heard you were doing some... fashion design last night?

Oh no, are you going to discipline me?

No, why would I? Proper relaxation is necessary for stress relief.

The situation isn't optimistic. Your every move will affect the morale of all Sarkaz.

I know.

Theresa.

Hm, Doctor, what's the matter?

Ascalon sends word that Marco committed suicide, out of fear of punishment...

In order to avoid embarrassing his King.

Theresa...

I... I know.

Doctor... What are you going to do next?

In addition to the mercenaries, all Sarkaz hiding under Kazdel's sphere of influence are paying close attention to our movements.

This is a comprehensive relocation, and we have no margin of error when it comes to intelligence and logistics work.

Thank you... I'll speak with Ascalon later.

She'll find good candidates.

Very well.

Doctor...

Don't worry, I trust you.

Thank you.

Hopefully, the visions that I've seen will... No, rather, as long as we can still see, let us move forward a bit.

That's right.

I've already gotten used to it.

My words don't matter much. Only when you live free, in every moment, are you truly alive.

Go and experience the world for yourself. It will take many months to form your own ideas.

Kal'tsit, I hope you will...

5:39 P.M. \ Clear

Outdoors, Rhodes Island Deck

You've been quite busy lately, right? There are many things you have to do.

Proper rest is also necessary. There have been some small fluctuations in your psychological indicators as of late, and I will continue to monitor them.

Right, Blaze will be here to give you a report tonight. She was the one who led the raid yesterday.

1:23 A.M. \ Rainy

Babel Temporary Operational Command Center

Scout's outside, he was in charge of last night's operation.

This is the record of one of his rare mission failures since enlisting in Babel.

Come in.

Commander, Dame, you're both here. Let me briefly explain what happened last night.

When my squad was sweeping the battlefield, they found traces of enemy troops that could be tracked. I made the decision that this was an opportunity to sniff out the enemy's position, insisted on giving chase, and ended up being ambushed.

The responsibility is mine alone, and I am willing to accept the army's punishment.

This is not a decision an old Sarkaz mercenary would make.

Regrettably, all my experience failed to let me know anything was wrong.

Something has to actually happen for your experience to be worth anything. You lost no team members after the crisis occurred, indicating that your command was calm as you retreated, and thus proper.

You deserve recognition, not punishment.