act9mini

Are you hungry?

A-Auntie!

Let's give Margaret some time to rest.

...Hello?

My apologies. I just got home, and I had some family matters to deal with... Not a problem. The documents have been annotated.

Sponsoring the Major...? Me? No, please, stop pulling my leg. You know I'm not suited to something like that...

Right... Of course. It's work. I shouldn't be trying to bargain. My apologies.

Yes, of course. I will be there right away.

The window's open, Toland.

You're getting rusty. I could sense your presence.

But, please, come in through the front door next time.

Okay... Doesn't look like you're hurt.

He held back.

Yeah... He didn't use his Arts after all.

And actually, it's been a long time since he had that look on his face...

—Alright! Get up.

So what's your plan now? You need to report to the Knights Association, don't you?

There is a complicated process, but it's not time yet.

Margaret... We barged into that unfinished match... Is it really going to be alright?

Alright? You're looking at an exiled Infected, Maria. She smashed through the arena walls and waltzed onto the field, remember?

With all that she has done, what's interrupting a match or two?

R-Right... You have a point...

Trouble is an old friend. Be it then or now, so long as Kazimierz remains as it is, we will face all manner of obstacle in our path.

So are you going to compete in the Major, Margaret?

I am.

Is that... something that you absolutely have to do?

...Maria.

It's just... you finally got to come home... I don't think the Association would make things difficult for Uncle and the family...

But if the Chamber of Commerce have their eyes on you again like they did a few years ago, then we—

Maria has a point, Margaret.

It doesn't matter how the Knights Association deals with this, or what the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi's decision is. To the masses and the knights, you are still the Radiant Knight.

I have to admit... I don't get it either. I don't understand why you insist on competing again... I don't understand what you're thinking.

But I'm sure you have it figured out. Stubbornness may run in the family, but that's not the same thing as recklessness.

This is just the beginning...

Whether I take the crown or not... it's just a beginning.

Maria, Auntie Zofia. If all we do is cower on the sidelines and look on at society with indifference, if we only comfort ourselves, insisting that nothing can be done—

—then when will we truly regain our glory?

Are the knights of Kazimierz destined to wallow forever in times long past?

So you want to...

Shining light on the tragedies of the world is not a permanent commitment to dispelling the darkness.

Sometimes... Sometimes, it's just to illuminate the path forward, to help those who are lost see things from a new perspective.

Even in today's Kazimierz, there is still meaning to keeping our faith.

Margaret...

Alright... Sounds like you've made up your mind.

But you put on such a show as soon as you got back to Kazimierz. If there's a chance... Margaret.

Don't forget you're home. You have family and memories here. You have Maria... and me.

At the very least, give Maria some time to fawn on you.

A-Auntie! What are you saying?!

She's been working really hard lately, you know?

I-I haven't...

Yes, I know. I'm proud of you, Maria. You've really... really grown up.

Maria Nearl, you will be an excellent knight.

Oh... right.

About that... Margaret. If you're thinking of joining the Major, you probably won't have time to rack up the points you need, right?

It will be difficult, but not impossible.

Right... Just like the Candle Knight who's been popular the past few years. I understand it didn't even take her a month to earn enough points.

That may be the case, but the Candle Knight racked up her points early in the preliminaries. Even if Margaret gains the Knights Association's approval right away, we'd still be cutting it close.

What's your plan?

The competition's rules have changed, but the basics are still the same. So long as I scrape together a win in the melees, I should still stand a chance.

But... that's too risky! I drew a lot of attention when I stepped into the ring. If you take to the arena yourself, you're bound to attract even greater opponents...!

Right, and we can't say for sure that the corporations won't pull their dirty tricks on you.

Anyway, we need to come up with a plan as soon...

I... I have an idea.

Maria?

Independent knights... like me and Margaret... aren't part of a knightclub, so we compete as part of a 'knight family,' right?

That's true... You used the Nearl family coat of arms during your matches.

And, if I remember correctly, it's not just knights of the same knightclub who are allowed to transfer their points, right? Those from the same knight family are allowed to do the same?

—Maria?!

No, I can't accept that.

Maria, those points are proof of your gallantry as a knight. I can't—

—I don't care!

I... I chose to become a knight because I wanted our home to be ours.

The Nearl family's ancestors... Grandfather... Father... and you. I didn't want to lose all that. I wanted to protect the Nearls' glory.

But... But then I realized... I was too naive about all this.

If we followed them into the Major, if we became their knights just to uphold our knightly name... then... we wouldn't have changed anything.

Margaret...

...I don't actually want to become a knight.

Knights can't change the knighthood, Margaret.

Maria...

If there is something only you can do, I beg you to do it.

I... I just want this home to still be our home...

I understand, but I still need some time to think.

Alright now... Don't be so gloomy. We've got lots of ways to go about this.

Why don't we go to Old Marcin's bar for a drink later? It's been such a long time. I'm sure he wants to talk to you.

What about Uncle...?

You should try not to bother him. I'll check up on him.

There's one thing, Margaret.

There are a lot more Infected in the city than before, and the Armorless Union is also much more active.

Be careful.

Report.

What's the situation?

The Radiant Knight and Młynar Nearl just fought each other in a duel.

I read their lips. Neither looked very happy.

*Sigh*... I seriously hope she'll just stay home and spend some time with her family. They haven't seen each other in so long.

Please don't get yourself mixed up in anything you shouldn't, Radiant Knight. I don't want any more trouble to deal with.

Uh, Platinum, so what should we do...?

Keep an eye on her.

If she tries anything, let me know right away.

Of course.

What are the others up to? Mission-wise?