act9mini

What?!

Ashlock's accelerated with her shelling and has sailed right by Brassrust's hatchet!

Too fast, way too fast!!

She's ditched her shield, the barrel's against Ingra's back, she's pulled the trigger!!

The Brassrust Knight is down! The Ashlock Knight has taken the win!!!

Hold on, now Ashlock is aiming the barrel at Brassrust again! Could it be? The day the tyrannical Ingra is humiliated himself?!

...Rgh. A Zalak shrunken in a shell.

Ashlock... Greynuty... I'll remember... you.

When I'm healed... you... you Infected—will not live to tell one tale!

—You!

(Pulls the trigger)

Kgh...

(Aims barrel at the sky)

This shell is an offering to the spectators.

You don't deserve it.

You... urgh...

The Ashlock Knight has not dealt a closing blow to Ingra! With a final blast of a shell, she's left alone for the exit!

Greynuty! Greynuty—!

This match's—lottery—prize—

How did you feel on that run?

Not that good, Father. My hand still gets tremors holding the cannonlance for too long.

Do you want to switch to a lighter weapon?

No. The cannonlance suits me. Its might makes up for what I lack in flexibility.

And besides, someday, I might not be fighting in the arena, but somewhere much vaster.

Just like Grandmother.

When that time comes, this weapon will surely be much more practical.

Alright... as you wish.

My little nut.

Father, I'm not a child anymore. You don't need to call me that...

Fair.

Greynuty.

You did well in training.

If Grandma could see the strides you've made, I'm sure she'd be delighted.

Grandmother...

Before Grandma left, she made an agreement with some of the uncles. As long as you're willing to learn, they'll continue to pay your fees.

So you don't need to worry about money.

Whether or not you become a knight in the end, or inherit the family business.

Keep practicing, and there'll be a day you become a famed cannonlancer of Kazimierz.

Ah, how many generations it's been since the Kaliskas last had a true cannonlancer.

All your ancestors would be proud of you.

Don't let them down.

Yes, Father.

I won't.

Hey, Ashley. Ashley?

Um—muh?

What's the matter?

What were you daydreaming about?

Nothing. Just thinking.

Poor-ass Ingra. Just came out of the hospital and you send him right back.

He deserves it.

And you still fired your last round in the air?

The match was already over. Even if I can't stand the sight of Ingra, I won't do anything else to him.

Otherwise, what would separate me and him?

Shame, I was looking forward to a 'Butcher Suffers Slaughter'-type headline in the papers...

Chances are the Ingra family wouldn't let that news onto the papers at all.

Sona, I've actually been meaning to ask you for a little bit now...

Hm? What's up, Ashley?

What are you—holding there?

An Ashlock water bottle.

Why would you buy something so useless?

It worked out. I was thirsty, I couldn't be bothered to go out to buy water.

Yoo. Our knight returns triumphant.

I'll have to learn from you too, Ashlock, and become stronger.

Justyna, how'd 'that' go?

It's done.

Alrighty. Good work, nice.

Once the reward hits, I'll wire it over to 'that account.' Word is the bank there's already watching frequent transfers.

Can we still use personal expenses for the ruse?

What do you think?

Yeah, fair...

We don't have much time left.

But we don't need to think about it just yet.

First, let's go celebrate!

卡西米尔1.5-野鬃

A breakout from the underground arena, two stages advanced in the preliminaries... a challenger with outstanding skill, Infected knight, 'Wild Mane' Iwona Krukowska...

'Wild Mane?'

What is it, Sona?

...however, caused an improper altercation with other knights in the rest quarters, and was violent in the confrontation...

...may face a 'suspension'...

Here it goes again. Another report on the dark side of Infected knights.

'Improper altercation.' Hah, do you have to imagine? It can't have been anything but losers hooting at the winner.

When it's Infected knights competing, they'll say shit as bad they want to say.

You saw that clip of the match just now, Ashley. This Kuranta's... got some skills.

Her style's pretty distinct from those flower-show nobles, yeah, but she's still a ways off from the top tiers.

Mmm...

You wanna recruit her?

I've heard about her before... some of the knightclub knows her.

What are we still looking for? 'The team leader needs real skill and overpowering force.' Your words, Ashley.

I wanna test our luck. Every independent knight is getting scouted by knightclub agents. If we invite her as an Infected knightclub, that oughta catch her interest.

I've got a feeling she's the one we're looking for.

Are you interested in her skill, or do you think she shares our agenda?

That's what'cha find out in your a little chat.

Firstly, you need a chance to meet and talk at all. You heard it on the news. The K.G.C.C. is considering handing her a 'suspension'. That's not something you settle with a flick of the wrist.

The prelims just started, she's an Infected, and she's green for an independent knight. No one's going to be able to help her.

And what if we actually could, this time?

You need to think this through properly, Sona. It's a risky gamble. If she's already firm on riding this down to the end, we're going to be rivals.

But... if you need to talk to her, it's going to be worth all our strength trying. Where Pinus Sylvestris is right now, every new ally is crucial.

We oughta try and see. If we can get our point across... then things being what they are, I'm pretty sure she'll want to do a little something for the Infected.

Some days later...

Tch. Nobody in the K.G.C.C. wants to hear the facts. If you don't want a fair ruling in the first place, why get all sanctimonious blabbing at me?