slchan

His Holiness the Pope supported Reverend Regis's position, and Reverend Legis chose to go into exile.

Reverend Regis knew that Reverend Legis would not return to Laterano as long as he was there, so his hope was that Legis might return after his death.

If Reverend Legis is already...

He included instructions to bring back a token of Reverend Legis's, so that the brothers may be interred together.

To reunite a pair of estranged brothers...

I'm totally on board!

Any other details to go on?

I asked around and nobody had much contact with Reverend Legis, with the exception of a hunter by the name of Tiana.

I wasn't able to find her, so I started searching the nearby mountains.

A hunter?

Ah... that explains a lot.

Oh?

(Whisper) Maybe you didn't notice because you were injured, but we were followed.

(Whisper) What?!

(Whisper) I thought it was bandits looking for their mark, but now it seems likely it's the hunter you were talking about—

(Whisper) Head down.

Tsk.

Wait here.

I'll go after her!

Is there a signal here? Oh, thank goodness, I can reach one of the nearby nomadic cities.

Executor Samara reporting in. I need assistance.

Oh... Your Eminence?

She's a fast climber.

But I'm not too shabby myself!

Stop right there!

Hmph.

You're Tiana, aren't you?

Just a hunter passing by.

Drop the act. You wouldn't have tailed us for so long if you were just passing by.

You know why Samara is here.

You're Sarkaz?!

So what if I am?

Why would a Sarkaz—

Whoa—

You can move, I'll give you that.

Well, you sure can't shoot!

You think so?

(Wait, she's not aiming for me.)

(Could it be—!)

Too late.

Crap—!

Ouch—

Well, this is a deep pit.

You were luring me into a pit trap from the beginning, weren't you?

Not just that. I also saw how good you were at mountaineering and took your climbing gear.

The Sarkaz hunter pokes her head out and shows Cliffheart her backpack.

When did you...?

Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. I'll go into town and tell them to send help.

I'll leave your backpack there. Once the rescuers arrive, take your stuff, and scram.

Why are you doing this?

My demands are simple.

Tell the Notarial Hall that Legis is not going back to Laterano.

I really should be more careful.

Ugh, this is a spiked cage...

Looks like it was a beast trap, the kind that poachers use.

But the spikes have been removed. I guess she really didn't want to kill me.

She probably removed them, in preparation for a day like this.

And in that case...

That Feline looks like she's tough enough to survive for a while.

I'll get the old man's stuff, then report to the town.

What a bother.

What?!

You left enough of the trap's mechanisms for me to climb out.

My hook's faster than your bow at this range.

Gah.

I just want to see Reverend Legis.

He doesn't want to see you. Get lost.

Take this, then!

Hmph—

Huh?

Look out! That rock isn't stable!

Wha—

Grab my hook!

Let go! I'm too heavy!

No!

I'm not leaving you behind!

If I can't pull you up... brace for impact!

Ghh—

Are you okay?

You should have let go.

You spared my life. One good turn for another.

That's not how it works.

I didn't mean anything by it when I mentioned you were Sarkaz. I was just surprised.

...I don't blame you. Anyone would be.

You might know that he has a brother—

Regis. Let me guess, he's dead, and now he wants his brother to go back to Laterano, is that it?

Yes.

He's not going back.

You're looking for him now? After so many decades?

It's Reverend Regis's last wish.

Plus, no matter how big their differences, settling these differences is what family is all about.

What makes you say that?

My brother and sister aren't on good terms.

B-But they're still siblings at the end of the day. All they need is the chance to open their hearts to each other.

You're trying to convince me when you don't even sound sure yourself.

Because if I give up, we'll never sit together again as a family.

And I know that, deep down, they care about each other.

There's nothing you can do.

Why's that?

Because...