Глава 13

I'll leave it to you.

...Alright.

I won't let a single drop of blood go unaccounted for.

Prepare for battle. The Feranmut will be back soon.

Mon3tr, standby.

There's no way we can be sure who'll be on this return trip.

The gigantic skeleton finally reappears.

The torrents of time seem to have washed away any trace of battle, and it hovers in the air, no different than it was at any other point of time.

Mon3tr!

Hey! Let go of me, you damn—

Ugh. Seems like that old hag's awake. Think you got her backing you up now?

That's my last grenade, so bite onto it tight, you little freak!

(Angry howling)

...Put her down, Mon3tr.

Shitty luck today.

*sigh* I just wanted to give myself a ceremonial salute to announce my return—

Didn't think I'd see an old hag with a scowl on her face once the skeleton stopped.

W, don't forget we have to repair any structures you blow up here after taking over the place.

Anything destroyed will be fixed by the same hand.

Huh? What makes you think I'd even know how to fix this kinda thing?!

Kal'tsit, Doctor.

We've captured the Feranmut's skeleton, as well as Commander Ulšulah.

The rest of the skeleton garrison have been eliminated.

So you're <i>the </i> Dame Kal'tsit?

I've heard so much about you.

You're one of the Scar Market's people.

...You know every little thing that's happening in Kazdel clearly, even from somewhere as far as Victoria.

Seems like those old guys weren't lying.

I'll have a talk with those 'old guys', as you call them, through you when we're done with business here.

They are the ones who stayed behind to watch over Kazdel, and the Lich have already contacted the Military Commission that currently governs the place.

They'll be making their decision soon.

Where's Amiya and Logos?

Doctor!

Amiya.

The little Cautus crashes into your arms.

Welcome back.;......;There's blood all over you. Are you hurt?

I'm fine. The blood... it was the Vampire's.

Amiya.

Your rings... you used them.

Yeah.

Let me see your hands.

A ring on Amiya's hand has already disintegrated, leaving not even a trace or fragment.

I... had to use it against him. I'm sorry.

...You've become more skilled with using emotions and memories.

Amiya, you fainted from releasing a ring before.

Kal'tsit, we need to run another check on Amiya.

No, Doctor. Don't worry.

I'm just... kind of tired.

The ring on your right index remains broken. Fortunately, that's just an effect of exerting yourself.

You were burning from rage again.

Me.. angry?

I thought I'd be angry at the Sanguinarch of Vampires for slaughtering so many people.

But what I felt was not just that.

There was also... sadness.

Sadness.

Kal'tsit pauses briefly and a pair of pink eyes always hiding sadness within flashes through her memory.

A few seconds after, she comes to her senses and takes a second look at Amiya fingers.

These rings are meant to help you adapt to the Lord of Fiends' power, and the surge of emotions that come with it.

Another ring has cracked.

Perhaps... we can do nothing but to witness these wounds open again and again.

Please don't worry, Dr. Kal'tsit. No matter who I've faced, or who I will face next...

I won't fall before they do.

the Sanguinarch of Vampires fell into someplace we don't know about.

His court still remains, but no longer poses a threat to us.

However, we failed to prevent the curse from being cast.

It's coming from Londinium... what's happening over there?

The Self-Salvation Corps originally believed that cutting off this supply line would be a way to end the war.

But things have changed. This 'war' will not last for much longer.

We need to hurry over. This skeleton might be able to become a new stronghold, or an unprecedented means of transport.

Hopefully it can be put to good use.

The decisive battle is right before us.

Mhm. The Sarkaz cannot be the culprits of the next calamity.

Also...

Dr. Kal'tsit. The Vampire's obsession, his hopes, and what he called a curse, is 'Originium'.

...Yes.

The oldest Kazdel came into contact with 'Originium' before any other civilization did.

It was not the remnants of a Catastrophe, or a mineral silently buried within rock formations. It was a hunk of 'Originium' from antiquity.

And it birthed the oldest witchcraft, and the most ancient of... Infected.

If the Vampire really knew of this fact, and developed his obsession from that, thinking it could grant him power...

Then it won't just be Londinium's fate that will be determined next.

Back here again.

Londinium.

Yeah, after all we've been through... we're finally in Victoria's capital.

A pity it's now completely surrounded by the Sarkaz and the Dukes' armies.

Guard, quickly arrange...

Percival, arrange another Oripathy screening for our members. I know some of them are still deteriorating.

Non-combatants will be stationed in this forest. Percival, take good care of them and keep in touch with us.

...Are we really going in there?

The Infected will be everywhere throughout the city, no matter how the war ends.

Sarkaz or Victorian, soldiers or nobles, and even farmers, workers, traders. They won't be able to judge their own identity so quickly.

Perhaps they won't even realize it until peace returns and they're once again marginalized, and then it hits them.

I was reminded of this... because of what happened to Guard.

But, no matter.

We have to let every Infected on this land know that our flag flies high once again.

And more importantly, what it stands for.

Once day, when they become prisoners again, they will think of our flag as they realize the justice on this land must be won through struggle.

What's the plan?

We'll split up. It won't happen overnight.

Other people can handle the task of eradicating the disease, while we'll make sure oppression will no longer be tolerated. We'll need to directly demonstrate this with our strength.

In Victoria, we need to at the very least—