Глава 8

Nnng...

...Talulah. Or should I say, Kashchey... I don't care who you are.

No matter who you are... No, that's not right. You're Talulah. It was Kashchey that created you.

Talulah, you're not touching a single strand of her hair.

How brave you are, Hui-chieh, to point a sword at your own relative over an outsider.

No matter who it is by my side, Talulah, a good person would never strike at my friends to get at me.

Hui-chieh, you have not seen the Northern Plains of Ursus. You're just like a delicate flower grown in a greenhouse. You haven't seen how cruel this world can be.

You don't know what changed me to become like this.

Of course! I want to know... How would I not?

I want to know everything that's happened to you. I want you to tell me yourself.

Then... why not come to my side? Right now, Ch'en... I don't want to fight you anymore. I don't want to harm you again.

Hah.

You've got it all wrong.

——The reason I want to know is so I can prevent such things from happening ever again.

I want to know, so I can judge your actions, figure out your motives, compare your deeds.

...I want to know, so that I can see clearly what you want to do, how you want to do it, how far you want to go with it...

I want to know, so that I can see the extent of your sins!

As for you, Talulah...

What's done is done, Talulah. Despite my wishes, you've grown up and become as you are now.

You too, Hui-chieh. You've become something that saddens me.

My actions sadden you? Reunion invaded my city, killed my friends, harmed countless Ursus citizens and decimated so many Infected... who's saddening who?

I watched as Reunion members helped each other at Lungmen, willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their comrades. Even in the wilderness, they have nowhere to go. Who's saddening who?

You are their enemy. You are the one who stopped my people, you prevented them from taking Lungmen.

Sorry, Talulah. I wouldn't believe you if you said that sending them off to die in Lungmen wasn't just a way to get this moment here with me.

You've never believed anything I said, Hui-chieh. You've never trusted me.

You asked if I knew Talulah, I do. You asked if I believe Talulah, of course I do.

That's why I came here of my own free will, to verify this thought of mine.

But, I did not come here to prove your innocence... No, definitely not.

Why? Didn't you just say that you trust me, Hui-chieh?

Right now, we are both Infected. Why can't we just stand together? Isn't our reunion supposed to be something happy?

(Her thoughts are really shaking... ugh...)

Don't change the topic. You're the leader of Reunion!

I need proof, judgment and verification.

The L.G.D. Officer Ch'en and the present Ch'en Hui-chieh... I'm not trying to prove that 'you are innocent.' No, how could I?

The Talulah of the past? Excuse me?

No matter what caused you to become like this, since when can we look at Talulah as two distinct halves?

It's because I knew you in the past that I want to understand even more... Who and what turned you into this!

The pain and suffering you've experienced, the truth behind your father's death, your hate towards Wei Yenwu. I can understand all that. Maybe they all pushed you down this road.

But what was it that caused you to become someone so cruel?

What was it that turned you into the vanguard of the Ursus invasion? Did you deceive your people too, Talulah?

You're judging me? You abandoned everything to come here, just to tell me off?

Was it Wei Yenwu who turned you into such a blind, cold-blooded person? Shouldn't you be asking the reasons behind my actions?

No. That can wait for later. I can reconstruct the flow of events from the garbage heap.

I came to fulfill my duty.

If you really weren't responsible for these, I would fire a flare. It wouldn't matter even if you killed me, I'd still be able to prove that you didn't deserve death.

But if you're conspiring to do harm, then we will gladly give up our lives just to stop you.

I want to see to what extent you're wrong. Taking a life without a trial? That's murder. And the city is guilty of murdering the Infected.

Right now, I see it all clearly.

My sword, my thoughts, my ideas, they're all on you.

As for the past, let it remain in the past. The past...

Will never return.

I will never forgive a schemer who toys with lives, no matter who they are.

You cannot break the law with impunity.

Heh heh...

You wish to cut your ties with me, Hui-chieh.

Hmph...

It's pointless to try and taunt me. Feel free to guilt me or whatever.

This is who I am. A woman of my word. You're the one who's forgotten all this.

Amiya, I won't ask what else you need to prepare. Instead, what do you want me to do?

Ah, Madam Ch'en... I need a bit more time.

How long?

Three minutes at most.

Then I'll give you at least three minutes.

This time, we're really fighting 'shoulder to shoulder', Amiya. It's just the two of us.

But we're carrying the burden of countless lives. You know as well as I.

Three minutes, Amiya. In the next three minutes, you will not die. I guarantee it.

So, once we're done with this, I really hope you'll give me a proper explanation.

You have to help me to understand exactly what my sister's become...

Also, I want to know if we'll be able to face this thing's true nature in the end, instead of just an empty shell with a theatrical streak!

I'll accept the outcome, no matter what it is!

Alright, I promise, Madam Ch'en. And, thank you... thank you for your perseverance.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Talulah, your actions, your words... I've been watching!

I'm relying on you, Madam Ch'en!

Cautus, I don't know how you manipulated my sister's thoughts, or what sort of dirty deals you have with the Sarkaz.

Is the shadow controlling you and the mastermind behind W the same person?

Don't bother answering. I need my flames to teach you a lesson... You should not have attached yourself to the Sarkaz. You should not have used their power to disgrace the relationship between my sister and me.

Dirty deeds and sinful pasts are acceptable. The generosity and benevolence of one's country would still be willing to accept you and your repentance.

Yet, to go along with the Sarkaz and fall in with Kazdel?

... Both you and the one who raised you should be exiled forevermore, to roam aimlessly in the wastelands, thirsty without any hope of water, hungry without a dream of food, to be eaten alive by maggots as you struggle to live, yet unable to find peace as you die.

... Are you really Talulah?!

Hui-chieh, if you want to know the truth, stop protecting that seed of evil by your side. She is tearing us apart, twisting the truth and using my memories to mislead you...

Cautus, you! Buldrokkas'tee left in search of the light, yet you walk towards darkness... You're not worthy of killing him!

If the devils you're talking about are the Sarkaz I know, and if the people you're talking about are like you...

If the light you're talking about is slaughter, spreading pain, harm and deception, whereas the darkness you refer to is to salvation, sympathy, and the fight for justice...

Then I am willing to continue onwards together with the Sarkaz!

Has your identity as an Infected blinded you? Did you misunderstand their goals because of how the Sarkaz use the Infected? Are you not aware that you are the pawn in their hands?

You're trying to drag my sister into the abyss for this?

My flames will burn through your deceit and reveal the truth hidden behind you. Take care, for this will hurt. However, I have no choice but to do it.

You should ask my permission first.

I don't wish to do this, Hui-chieh.

Haven't you already done this before? I've had enough of your... hypocrisy.

Your hate is blinding you, preventing you from seeing yourself and escaping your upbringing...

You're the one who hasn't left that fire still, 'Talulah'!

Still not enough. You won't be able to overcome my flames like this.

*Pant* *pant*...

With neither wisdom nor courage. Who would enjoy such a performance?

Ch'en Hui-chieh, how much longer will you swing your sword for the sake of others? Have you ever drawn that sword for yourself?

Lord of Fiends, haha... Perhaps the courts managed to create an inferior piece of trash.

Still not enough. Just not enough, you two.