peper

How's she doing?

She's still here, following along.

You know what a stubborn runt she is.

Try to talk to her again...

Damn it, Grimm, you're going senile, aren't you?

If you're going to regret it now, why did you even bring her here?

Cut the crap.

We were in sticky situation with that deal at the black market. Both of them moneybags wanted each other dead. And with the merch gone, they'd only blame us for the mess.

If we hadn't brought the kid with us, she would've died in the city.

I know that, but now you're chasing her away, and she's got nowhere to go.

Just gotta find her a random town... As long as there's work, there's still a way out for her.

You really believe that?

I mean it. For her sake, you should just train her. Has she ever seen blood? I mean real blood, not a couple hornbeasts getting slaughtered.

Grimm, enough daydreaming. We're already on our way to Londinium. We'll run into more clashes.

And she's a Sarkaz.

Yeah. Shut up already.

I know what to do with her.

He's not the first one to try to talk me into this, and I know he won't be the last.

Am I too soft on that Paprika kid? I'll admit it. Maybe a little.

When the rotten girl came onboard a few years ago, she was still a kid, through and through. She lost her parents and had to make a living to keep herself and her grandma back home from going hungry.

I figured I'd take care of her some, given how young she was.

When I was her age...

Whenever I had nothing to eat, I had to pluck out all the metal trinkets from the dead bodies' at the burial sites. A bag got me a big loaf of bread.

When you think about it like that, life may still be tough for kids these days, but they have it much better than our generation.

They've got food, clothes, and the strength to scream about how unfair Columbia treats the Sarkaz—What do kids like her know?

Does she know what this trip to Londinium is about?

Hah, like hell she would.

Her little punk ass hasn't even seen Kazdel for real.

Jerk, jerk... you great big jerk...

Treating me like a kid again... I'll make you regret this someday!

Hey.

—! A raid?!

If this was a raid, you'd be dead already.

Oh... what? Don't scare me like that.

I don't have time to come scare you. You're scaring yourself, not being alert enough.

I'm a medic. I wasn't <i>that</i> good at fighting to begin with.

Besides, I was... I was thinking about things. That's why I didn't notice.

Fine, whatever you say.

So? Still mad about Old Grimm?

Hmph... Of course!

He wanted me off the team <i>now?</i> Don't you think that's awful?

Ugh.

I'm a merc. I'm part of the team. Why'd he want me gone?

Why doesn't he want me to come with you guys to Londinium? I've been on so many missions with you!

This gig's different.

I don't see what's so special about it... It's a bit far, but there's lots of money in it!

If there's one thing that's not the same as usual...

It's when Grimm came back that day and said we had to pack and leave right away. I'd never seen him so worked up.

Usually, nothing matters to him, but not then. He even said that if we win this time, we'll have a much better future.

Is that true?

Who knows?

I just want my money up front. The rest I haven't thought about.

Eh, that's fair.

Grimm thinks I don't know nothing, but what does it matter as long as we make money?

As long as Nana doesn't go hungry, all gigs are the same. What else do I have to know?

If we really get that much money... I want to buy Nana a better house. The place she's living in now has a leaky roof, and she keeps telling me her knees hurt.

Oh, right. If Grimm wants one, I could even buy him a decent birthday present.

You want to celebrate <i>his</i> birthday? Does he even remember something as pointless as his birthday?

How is that pointless? It's like the opposite of pointless!

If you don't remind yourself every year, you might just forget that a year has come and gone, that you've gotten a year bigger, a year older.

Doesn't that sound scary to you?

Kinda?

What kind of lame answer is that?

Fine, whatever you say.

The way I see it, if you told Grimm himself what you just told me, he might just agree... No, he might even be less inclined to let you follow us.

Huh? What's that mean...?

(And I was going to convince her to leave...)

(Forget it.)

Never mind. Keep following, then. I'm heading back to the front.

Sheesh, what's with that? I hate people who don't finish their thoughts.

Acting all mysterious...

The man has already walked away. There are roughly twenty men in the team up ahead. Paprika can only faintly make out the shadow of the last man in the group.

The girl stays quiet for a moment. She looks down and pulls something out of her pocket.

A finger sleeve made of wool and bright in color.

Grimm's definitely gonna say it looks too colorful.

Well, what does it matter? It looks prettier when it's colorful.

If he tells me to go away one more time...

I won't give him his present!

(What's that noise?)

(Was that just my imagination?)

Who's there? Come out!

Hmph!

Got you!

Who are you? And what are you after?

Hey, you—

Wait... Don't even think about it!

Huff... hah...

G-Got you...!

I never expected a young lass like you would spot me.

What does that make you? You got yourself caught by a young lass.

You won't get away. Now spill it! Who are you?!

Hah, what a naive kid. I'll admit you're not half bad. The Sarkaz really live up to their reputation.

But you...

It doesn't matter how good a naive, boneheaded kid fights. It doesn't change the fact that you're a kid.

Why you...!

(No, Paprika. He's provoking you on purpose... Don't fall for it. Calm down.)

I'm warning you. Don't you try to buy time with stupid stuff.

Now answer my question, if you know what's good for you!

Here's a free lesson, Sarkaz punk.

Answer me!