act9mini

That's all we can do.

It's you...

Hey there, 'Fartooth' Knight, I still haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your title. Nice job there.

I saw a piece on you. Popularity's through the roof, huh?

Announcing a new knightclub, getting real controversial, pushing that popularity up, hm? Hmph, looks like you've kicked a hornet's nest to me.

Infected knights...

That's enough of that.

Ugh...

Alright, anyway, the fight's fought, what's done is done. *Sigh*.

Flametail, and Ashlock... What are you doing here?

Do you know who these people are?

Like the back of my hand. But this isn't a good place for a chat... these guys are looking to make a scene, and the media will be here before long. That wouldn't end well for you.

And anyway, you're probably hurt, right?

Just come with us, all nice and quiet-like, and we'll explain nice and slow what's going on. What do you say?

Do you have to say it like you're kidnapping her?

Huh? Did I?

A little.

I'll go. I trust you.

Sorry, what?

Just take me along, wherever you're going. I trust you.

I feel like...

We're the same. I can trust you.

Where are we...?

Oh! That was fast. Your wounds all better?

Yes.

Are all these people here Infected?

Sure are. Everyone who lives here is. Most got unlucky, got sick in an accident or something, lost their jobs and homes, ended up with nowhere to go.

Granted, the room and board here is a little rough, but... it's better than nothing, right?

Sona, Iwona's in trouble, I'll go see what I can do.

The Armorless Union is probably still active. I'll tell the others to be careful too.

Alright. Don't worry, I'm on it.

Right. You've got it.

She...

Hm? Oh, you mean Ashley? She's a good girl. The way she talks is just a little too straight up sometimes.

She hasn't said a word to me since we first met.

Ahaha! Ashley's a little shy with strangers too.

*Sigh*. Well, alright...

Ashley just thinks you're too different from us, like you've walked a different path.

I mean, you're a star of the Major, with a shiny new knight title, so hot right now!

No matter which way you look at it, you've got a bright future!

No... I don't.

An Infected... an Infected knight... has no future.

That doesn't sound like something a big competition winner would say.

I used to think that as long as I could be a knight, there was still hope. If I could win in the arena, maybe...

Maybe you could even earn some respect, be seen as a true knight, and win back the life you used to have?

Yes... That's what I thought.

But that's not how it works. An Infected knight is still Infected. And that's all that matters.

Yeah. That's pretty much what I've said to Ashley.

And besides, so what if you're a knight? Just look what happened to you back there in that crowd. Those folks who jumped you didn't care if you're Infected or noble or whatever.

You were saying they're with the Armorless Union?

Knight-Assassins... the words feel gross in my mouth.

Yeah, that's them.

They sell themselves to the General Chamber of Commerce, bumping off knights who don't play ball... They call themselves experts in handling knights, and wear that with pride.

And add on the rewards, in cheers and treasure, that the audience heaps upon the knights, proper or not, how much dignity is left in the title? That's before you even talk about us.

So me getting attacked this time, that was the K.G.C.C.'s orders?

Probably. You've got the spotlight on you, and you're turning down all the knightclub invitations, and talking like you do out there... sooner or later, you get a knock like that at your door.

And if you won't be their goldmine, then they find you a 'dishonorable' exit, so you won't get in the way of their business.

So you know, not that crazy you'd get attacked.

Two three-week periods.

Huh?

On my way to the Grand Knight Territory, I got infected.

And since I was Infected, they wouldn't let me register as a knight. So I wandered around for three weeks with nowhere to stay.

Hmm...

It was during the third week that the Blood Knight won the Major.

Then, three weeks later, they opened the registration window for Infected knights.

I didn't have any money left on me, so I went to the black market ring, working up enough money to pay the registration fees.

That... couldn't have been easy.

Underground knight sports for infected knights is pretty much the same as the black market.

From the underground competitions to the Major, I've seen too many ridiculous things to be surprised anymore.

Haha! Fair enough. There's definitely stuff going on in the underground fights that tops whatever the Armorless Union can come up with.

We've all been through stuff like that, more or less, and that's how we end up here.

There sure are a lot of Infected here.

Right... how can I put it? You can make a lot in the knight competitions, at least enough to buy a place for these people who have nowhere else to go.

So that means the money's still worth something, right?

Right.

Heh. Nice.

You're easier to get along with than we might've thought. When I first bumped into you, I was worried you were all icy cold.

Oh? You got all quiet?

I don't know...

I just... I just don't know... I guess I don't know what to say at times like this.

Ugh.

Alright... I think I get it now. You and Ashley are both shy with strangers.

And this habit of yours where you say half a thing up front, I think I'm getting used to it. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just tricky to follow sometimes.

Either way, thanks for helping me.

Ah, it was nothing. Don't sweat it.

So anyway, where are you gonna go? If you pop right back out, they're gonna go after you again.

That scuffle back there is gonna get reported soon. What do you think we'll see on the news?

No idea. Whatever they want.

Honestly... I don't know where I'd go. I haven't had anywhere to go for a long time.

Hmm...

Well, you may think I'm just throwing it out there to hold it over you, but this is an honest offer, out of the kindness of my heart.

There's me, and Ashley, and Iwona, you've seen her, with the big loud mouth?

Yes, I know her.

The truth is... we had the same idea as you, in your little statement about setting up an independent knightclub.

I came up with the name already. Pinus Sylvestris. The Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub, a club of our very own.

And since you've got nowhere to go, Justyna, wouldn't you consider maybe joining us?

You're... inviting me?

Are you sure?

Sure as sure can be. Can I spell it out any clearer for you?

Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub...