act9mini

I'll join too then.

Nah.

'Scuse me? Why won'tcha let me in on this?! What, you guys already have stuff to talk behind my back?

Do you even have time? There's a mountain of paperwork from the Knights Association...

Agh... don't remind me.

We'll just be belly-aching the whole time, and you hate that stuff. Besides, you're not that good with liquor, and you don't like staying at bars all night.

Ugh... no lie. If that's what you're planning, you're your own.

Right, Iwona, if you're not busy, there's a few things I need to tell you about, regarding a few projects Pinus Sylvestris has going...

Those, yeah? Greynuty just told me about 'em.

Rescuing Infected, and Infected knights, and using prize money to help more Infected get legal identities...

Huh, you're all wised up already... so, what'cha think?

All the prize money I earn can go to you guys. I was training to become a campaign knight. Never thought about doing this to earn big bucks. If it wasn't for... ugh.

Whatever. But in terms of the, uh, more detailed plans, I didn't actually get any of it.

Greynuty said, what Pinus Sylvestris is gonna do for the Infected, how we should do it... you do all that planning.

So I get it now. You can think this stuff through and put it into practice. That's mad mighty.

Mmm—it's not all that mighty, heh...

I've been thinking about doing something for the Infected forever... just like the Blood Knight! He does some good, fine stuff.

The Blood Knight reformed the Major's regulations, but us... Pinus Sylvestris looks to bring together a big group, form an even greater bloc, and do even more for the Infected.

Then I'm definitely part of it.

So it's settled, I'll follow you all the way. I believe you're what's right, and whatever bigger challenges come, I'll be there to help you deal with 'em.

But, if you can help me sort out a few problems of my own first, I'll worship you all the more.

Heheh. If it'll win more trust, of course I'm happy to do it. What'cha need helping with?

Uh... what's this?

My pet.

Peeehhh... pet?

A pet, huh... that's... it's pretty cute! Iwona, how'd you come across it?

Ha, just saw it in a dump by the roadside, felt like I could get some use. They say you know a reliable engineer or some sort?

Engineer? I don't know what kind you're talking about...

Oh, I think there are a few in the neighborhood who know their machine stuff.

Just a bit ago you were having hell finding a weapons repair guy, but now you've got people who understand these machines? What's the deal?

Haha... well, he might take an interest in your weapon too. Should I take you?

Whatever, I'll take it over myself. You and Greynuty have other stuff to talk about, so go get chattering. Where's that engineer live?

...I see now. This fine outer hull and internal design...

How is it? Good stuff, right? This weapon's been with me for years now.

But something I don't get... if you really are that strong, why was your major lance's hull so broken when you were coming out of the K.G.C.C.?

You wanna know?

So long as you don't blow up the story too big, I'll hear you out. I wanna know how you use it, principally.

Ha. Where should I start, then—

Back when I was still readying to be a campaign knight, this lance was drawn up for the real battlefield, designed to open the way for the forces behind.

My major lance takes a tremendous amount of force and impact, multiple times over.

After the way's opened up, I'd switch over to a minor lance.

But, ever since I started in the arena, I've never let this big thing break.

In other words... you haven't used your full strength, because you don't actually want to take anyone's life?

In those grimy underground arenas...

Whether it's orders blaring at top volume or captions on the screen, it's all pushing me to do vicious work on someone, and they don't call it a win until they see every other Infected on the ground...

I never once seriously injured 'em before.

But when I finally clawed my way to being a competition knight, I heard what those old nobleheads were saying about me in the lounge...

Well, I hadn't treaded the ground in a long, long time. Took out my minor lance, aimed it right at the armor over those acid-spitters' hearts—

You understand? I was really, actually hoping to run them straight through.

Cheers to that. Would've been feel-good!

Feel-good nothing. Just give my pet a look already!

Oh, right...

Examination's done. This is an old Raythean model... and it shouldn't be too complicated to reboot it.

But it's got fairly limited capability. It probably won't understand your commands too well.

I'm good as long as it knows its own name.

Name? What will you name it?

I decided a long time ago—I'm calling it Justice Knight. Here's hoping it's a little doer of a pet.

Its original function was cover fire, it seems.

Well, isn't that peachy? It'll clean up nobodies for me. More boring than I'd like for a function, though. Can you make it more useful?

Depends whether there's any other compatible modules it can make use of...

You need to find other parts to fit? Leave it for later, then. Let's see if we can get to light up first?

Taking a look now...

(Sound of machine activating)

Ooh, there it goes.