milu

They told me it was all over.

My homeland, my companions, everything buried now.

But I knew, it had only just begun.

...And I'm on my way.

04:50 P.M. \ Overcast

A town in northern Kazimierz

Here you go. Bread and clean water, all in here.

Incredible, you are! Fought 'em off, no, wiped 'em out alone, all those gloompincers... Didn't expect one young lady like you'd finish up that job in half an afternoon.

Even going out all together, the young'uns couldn't handle it.

Frankly, it gave me a scare, our town being so small. And I've never seen someone fight as ferocious as you.

...I'll be fine without.

Don't want any bread or water? Well... alright, we've got some medicine here too.

It's from the caravan that passed through last time. We had to trade them a good amount for it. They were worth plenty, I'll tell you.

By the sights of it, you've been hurt bad, haven't you? You could probably use it.

I don't need it.

Th-Then what do you need? Gold coins? That'll be tough. We're only a little town, and rabble comes by shaking us down every few days, plus all the beasts making trouble out there...

Our pockets are all emptied out by the end of the year. Barely a penny we've got.

The day before. People sighted a Kuranta the day before, black clothing and a crossbow, heading this way.

Tell me where they are.

Crossbow? The kind you use for hunting?

The kind to murder.

M-Murder?

You've got to be joking... no, the look in your eyes says you aren't joking one bit... how frightful... *cough* How could someone like that show up in a little place like ours?

Don't screw with me.

I-I-I-I-Is that a weapon? Don't, erm, please don't shoot! I swear, I haven't seen anyone like the person you describe—

The ones in the last village saw. And told me. They went this way.

Per... perhaps they already passed through here, went south? There's an even bigger town that way, more food, cleaner water...

Oh, god, Heaven above! Miss, god, believe me, please, I've got no reason to lie to you at all.

Look, please, here, this is the last of my family's money, we were saving it for the year-end tax, this is all we've got, have it, have it all...

I said, I don't need it.

Forget it. You can go.

Another day, empty-handed.

But no matter. You can't hide much longer.

I'll be following you. All the way—until I find you, one, by one, all of you.

What's this?

Bread, and water. And medicine.

He was scared so bad, he ran off without a trace, and yet he still deliberately came back in after.

Is he trying to show thanks? But it was only a few gloompincers, nothing more. It took no effort on my part.

People like him... do remind me... of back then.

Grandpa, who are they? Are they the nice knights everyone talks about?

They aren't...?

Are the things they're carrying like the ones the bad people use to pick on us?

I... I'm sort of scared.

But they're good people, right? They helped us fight off the bad people.

I want to say thank you to them.

I don't really have any good stuff to give them. Would this half of my scone be okay? I can play a harmonica song for them too.

Mm-hm, I hope they can stay with.

With all of us, forever.

Now all that's left is this harmonica.

Nice knights? *sigh*...

Whether then, or now... it's all the same.

If they're still around... if...

It's too bad—there is no 'if.'

Hey, someone's here!

Whoa, and a bunch of food—not much good, but good enough to eat tonight.

Leave.

Did you just tell me to leave? Who do you think you are?

It's just sitting here. Is there a name on it? I don't see you eating it. I found it now, so it's mine.

Then just take it and get lost.

Wait up, what's that you're holding? A harmonica? Heh, some tacky toy. Whatever. Take it to the city, you might find some boring old guy who thinks it's worth something.

This is not for you to touch.

Oh, you talk pretty tough, don't you?

Who do you even think I am, brat?

Just look at you. How long has it been since you ate something?

I'm warning you—*cough*, *cough* *cough*.

Jeez. You seem pretty sick at that. You'd best believe I could knock you over with a single poke.

What'cha playing at? Don't spook me now, it's dark out here. You think you can threaten anyone with a bare tree branch?

I gave you plenty of warning. You didn't listen.

Ow, ff-ow-ow-ow—that's a crossbow! That's the kind that kills people, isn't it?!

Get. Lost.

I don't want to kill anyone tonight. At the very least, not you.

Spare me... bud, just spare me! You can have this, have it all back.

I'm outta here, I promise!

Mm... *cough* *cough*, *cough* *cough* *cough*.

Who's there?

I...

*cough* *cough* *cough* *cough*...

I have to stay up... stay awake.

I still haven't... I...

I still haven't found those traitors yet.

So long as that day doesn't come, they can never rest in peace—

And I can never, ever stop.

Hello? Are you okay?

Seems she hasn't passed out completely... though she's at the point she can't stand.

Identity confirmation... yes, just like in the mission description. This should be the target, no mistake.

Serious wounds, fever temperatures, and gravely malnourished... she hasn't eaten properly in forever, and hasn't slept, either.

Nutritional supplements... and some emergency meds... Lucky I packed enough for the road. Dr. Kal'tsit really sees every last thing coming.

You're up.

Who are you?!

Don't be alarmed, I mean you no harm. I'm employed by a pharmaceutical company named Rhodes Island. I'm responsible for field work in this area. Here, this is my work ID.

That doesn't prove anything. IDs and papers and whatever can all be forged.

Fair enough, they can. Haha, you're just like I heard. An extremely cautious youngster.

Heard? From who?

Oh, jeez, don't get all tense again.

Look, I'm serious, I'm not anyone bad. I don't even have any weapons that big or lethal on me. At best, I've got a couple of tools for defending myself from beasts.

I've got nothing on you. I see that crossbow of yours... look, it's still right there. You could reach out and grab it.

Can we have a real talk now?

If you're up to something, you'll regret having stepped into this forest.

Yes. I believe you. The crossbow in your hands has already told me that much.

Right now, you need to tell me. Who was it that told you anything about me?