Глава 10

Were you looking for me?

I want to talk about Dagda.;How are you doing?

Dagda... made her decision.

I... When I had to take up the mantle as their leader, I've never stopped thinking about how to do the right thing.

And at Rhodes Island, I saw how you went about doing that.

I'm fine... But, I'm really worried about Dagda.

It's no different from how you're worried about us, though. We both have our own responsibilities to shoulder.

Dagda is... pretty much in the same situation as me.

Every moment she stayed with me, her actions were bound by responsibility. No matter how many times I told her to make her own decisions, she would never be able to choose any other outcome.

When we truly have the capacity to make a choice, what truly matters is having the authority to make that so-called choice. Otherwise, it is nothing more than coercion, wrapped in a more palatable package.

I don't want to have to push her along ever again. She needs to accept herself, and then walk down her own path with conviction.

What about your choice?

You can continue like this and become a regular soldier.;You can also go to them and tell them who you really are.

No matter what you decide, Rhodes Island and I will support you.

Becoming a run-of-the-mill soldier might be the easy way out.

But my family name... No matter what you all decide to call me, I can't deny my name. It's a part of me.

I hope I didn't scare you by telling you the truth, Doctor.

Dr. Kal'tsit said she was willing to tell you, but I decided to do it myself.

Your family name... is Victoria?

You don't seem all that surprised.

Maybe because I don't remember the past.;Maybe because I only care about the present.;Maybe because I'm looking ahead to the future.

...You don't remember the past?

Even though you've suffered so much due to that... I can't help but wonder, is your life a little bit easier because you can't remember?

That's right, what's most important is always the present.

When I made the decision to leave Victoria, all I wanted was for me and Indra to live to see this moment.

The future...

Which way... will my future take me?

Only I can answer that question. Nobody else can.

Phew... When I'm around you, I can always relax so easily.

It might be because... even when you found out the truth, the only person reflected in your eyes was the operator known as 'Siege'.

Instead of... Victoria.

Coming back to Londinium has brought back many memories.

But at the same time, so much has changed.

The decisions I make no longer solely affect my team.

Doctor... I don't actually want 'choice' to be an excuse that holds me back.

I'm here today as a result of my choices.;My choices determine how I move forward.

Someone once said I'd find my own path.

Vina, I want to share those words with you too.

You always have the right to choose.

...Miss Heidi.

Amiya? I'm currently tending to the wounded.

You... practice medicine?

Only some basic nursing techniques.

This job inevitably brings me into emergency situations. To give me and my friends a better shot at survival, I had to at least learn to use a first-aid kit.

You're really amazing.

All we're doing is protecting our home. But Kal'tsit... and you, Amiya, you all carry so much more responsibility on your shoulders.

...We've lost a lot of people on this operation.

I... I feel the pain of the Self-Salvation Corps' soldiers. They've never had to deal with such horrific enemies before.

The Sanguinarch... Did he come here because of us?

Amiya, what you need to hear isn't me saying 'no, it's not your fault.'

Yes...

Clovisia said she was afraid Rhodes Island would get the Self-Salvation Corps involved in a war they weren't a part of.

If working with us puts them at greater risk...

During last night's operation, what would've happened if Rhodes Island had not been there?

Without W colluding, had she not stopped the mercenary leader... and without Rhodes Island's operators keeping Manfred at bay, we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now.

The calculus of exchanging one set of lives for another simply does not exist for Rhodes Island—

But even if Kal'tsit were here, I'm sure she would say every opportunity comes with its risks.

I understand.

That's why we have to be better prepared.

Miss Heidi, I need more information from within the city. Not counting the Sanguinarch, how many kings do the Sarkaz have inside Londinium?

Excuse me, I'd like a bag of bread.

I don't need your money, lass. Take all of these with you.

Huh?

Hurry along, and don't come out here again.

What do you mean...?

I know who you are. Actually, we can all tell.

Even if you took off your equipment and changed your clothes, both your actions and the look in your eyes won't fool anyone.

...Thank you.

I might as well pack up too. Don't think there's business to be had today.

We're doing another sweep of this street! Take away anyone whose name is on the list!

Wh-What's going on? I... I'm just a restauranteur. Didn't you come by to have fried finmeat before...?

You're the one we're after.

Your cover runs pretty deep. Selling fried meat to us by day, peddling information to the rebels by night?

Take them away! And check those buildings next door. They're all rebels!

Why are the Sarkaz suddenly going around grabbing people?

H-Hurry, take a turn at the alley just ahead and find the others—

Ugh—!

Another one down.

You lot, search that alley over there. Don't let a single one of them escape this borough.

Report, we ran into Sarkaz as soon as we came out...

No, they weren't guarding the city exits, they suddenly appeared in the middle of the streets!

Commander, do you think our comms have been compromised?

Please be careful... The soldiers dispatched out of the city have all perished. I can't hide for much longer either!

I—

Bloody hell, why can't I shake them off?

The Sarkaz seem to have suddenly figured out all our passages and networks!

In just... a single night...?

What exactly happened last night?

Haha, wouldn't you like to know.

Huh? What the hell are you? My blade snapped clean in half—

The way you're dressed... Are you a Rhodes Island operator? Thank you. You guys saved us again.

Hurry back.

Wait, be sure to tell Amiya and the Doctor that the underground isn't safe anymore.

The traps we ran into yesterday... aren't the only ones we've discovered.