Глава 14

Uh, sorry, I guess I shouldn't be asking that before an operation?

It's fine. I know what it is you're worried about.

But there's no need to worry. A great many people stood up, raised their heads, and woke from their dreams because of this calamity, whether willingly or forced.

You are far from the only ones.

We need to focus on the problem at hand: How to break through the battlefield for our Londinium counter-offensive, as well as how to stop the Shard's strikes.

It won't be easy.;The next step in the Sarkaz plan most likely has to do with Originium.

It's very likely that they will apply ancient Sarkaz research on Originium.;We don't have time. We need to decide on a route for our advance.

Taking the battlefield head-on is our one and only choice.

We received a transmission indicating we have several Rhodes Island support teams on the way.

There are many things we will only be able to accomplish here as Rhodes Island.

I will command their operation.;I will see our strategy executed flawlessly.

And put this crisis behind us.

It seems none of us have any objections. That being the case...

Everyone turns to Amiya.

Suddenly, you feel a hint of relief, gratification, excitement, and pride.

After all, you are standing right beside her.

This war has come to a head, and Theresis intends to use some more decisive and forceful means to tear Victoria to shreds.

This has nothing to do with whether the Sarkaz truly have a right to revenge. It has nothing to do with whether the nobles may bear this heavy burden for Victoria.

If we solve all our problems by destroying our enemies, then this land, plagued by war from the beginning, has no hope.

The Confessarii and Theresis are there, at the heart of Londinium, toppling this empire standing on shaky ground.

I will go to them. And I will stop them.

For <i>that</i> future, and for the future of all.

Isn't a big gap like this a waste?

I got some real juicy explosives from Closure, enough to pack every corner of this place full.

Hah, and they're still cooking up stupid ideas like mounting an attack on Londinium. This is the <i>Military Commission</i> we're talking about. Who knows what tricks Theresis's got up his sleeve?

So?

Bomb the place, straight up.

Heh, why do you think the Military Commission went through all that trouble to hide this skeleton, instead of treating it as a second airship?

This thing is fragile. It's only thanks to the witchcraft device that we can communicate with the Feranmut's lingering breath of life. An attack, no matter how weak, could spell the end of it.

You think I'm talking about dropping bombs out of it? I'm saying let's make <i>it</i> the bomb.

A bomb that can fly just about anywhere it wants, that can fly right into Theresis's face at any moment. The perfect bomb.

What? You're still thinking about letting it take us back to Kazdel? If we don't deal with Theresis, we aren't going anywhere.

Let's take the simplest path to solving our problems here.

*sigh*.

Got something to share with the class?

Nothing at all, but I didn't expect to see you so tense.

Should I teach you a few deep breathing techniques?

Huh?

Whatever, W. Get in the right frame of mind for this operation. Otherwise, no amount of explosives is going to fix what's going on in your head.

That just means we're gonna need even more bombs.

If you say so.

Phew...

Ines.

What?

Remember when we ran into that Lich the other day...? Never mind. Forget it—

You're wondering whether the Theresa out there's real or not again, aren't you?

Hmph, enough of that already. I'm not the one you need to convince.

I wasn't the one who called her a fake first either.

Ugh... Did I ever tell you your Arts are disgusting?

I didn't need to read your shadow. You've been pretty anxious for a while now.

What will you do, if you run into her again?

I told you. It's a fake. I'm gonna kill it and be done with this.

And what if it's not?

Then I'll rescue her and get to the bottom of everything.

That's Theresa.

I know.

I think you don't. You haven't figured out how to treat Theresa, how to handle an... <i>enemy leader.</i>

That's a taboo, and you know it far better than I do.

*Sarkaz expletive*, Ines. You know what pisses me off the most?

I remember a lot of stuff. I remember the crystal on the head of the old fart who taught me how to make explosives. I remember the prices on your heads...

I remember how Her Highness wrestled with that door, and how Kal'tsit once got her hair caught in the same door.

I remember all these things that don't fucking matter!

...But I don't remember—

I can't for the life of me remember when the last time I saw her was, or even... what we talked about.

Yeah, yeah, I barely ever had a normal conversation with her.

There were so many of us on the ship. I was small potatoes, and she was Babel's chairman. It was probably a joke, some silly complaint or nagging—

But it definitely wasn't... a goodbye.

This time, I'll make up for that and say it. Then, I won't forget.

Anyways... I've gotta get my mercs checking over their equipment. This is gonna be one hell of a job.

Whatever you say.

But if your legs give out on you and you need somebody to give you a good kick in the ass, you know who to call.

Yeah.

This nightmare has gone on long enough. We should be looking straight ahead.

All preparations are complete. The airship is ready to take flight.

Yes.

It will all be over soon.

Come, walk with me one last time, Theresis.

Very well...

The Military Commission of Kazdel has secretly constructed airship docks just like this one in the support layers of several sectors throughout Londinium. This is the largest among them, and it is where the airship was born.

The ship is seen as a terrifying weapon of war, a herald of destruction, and a flying fortress.

But very few are aware of the original intent behind the airship's construction. It is to uncover a buried secret...

And, beyond that, it is to break free of an eternal shackle.

The brother and sister are walking in the great ship dock, down a long passageway, where every Sarkaz they pass stops and greets the two of them.

When was the last time they had a nice walk like this together? Thinking about it, compared to the amount of time they have spent together, the days that have passed is nothing.

But they were also long enough.

What's on your mind, Theresa?

I suddenly remembered that when Kazdel was rebuilt into a nomadic city, we stood next to each other on the city walls, shoulder-to-shoulder, just like this.

It was supposed to be a happy day, but then it rained.

Some said it was a bad omen, but I still remember how the Soul Furnace's flames looked all the brighter in the rain.

And there's more. I'm suddenly remembering so, so much... It's been too long.

It has been too long indeed.

From Kazdel to Kazdel... our goal lies right before us. There is but one last step in our plan.

Those who walk after us will find a great city standing tall upon this land, and we Sarkaz will do as we wish, seizing control of our own fate.

I need you.

Yes... I know.

The warriors who once firmly believed in your path, the girl who is called the King of Sarkaz... They've all come before you now.

Of course they came. I've always believed they would.

Have you decided how you will confront them?

I've never once been confused, but... I had hoped this day would take longer to arrive. Now that it's come to this, I actually feel...

I underestimated those I should have had faith in.