wildmn

To the glory of victory!

Oh right, Iwona. What was your last name again?

I seem to vaguely recall hearing of other knights with that name before.

Krukowska.

Actually, some of my family also happen to be campa—

One second, let me take this call.

Marsov, didn't we agree to meet beneath Mieszko HQ? Where'd you go?

I... I had to take care of a little business.

What kind of business?

Uhh...

Stop making shit up. We all saw you walk into a bar with some competition knight-looking chick!

Never thought you of all people would fall so far.

...That's not true at all!

I'm heading over right now–

Hahaha, don't worry about it. We're already outside the bar!

Your colleague?

Mm...hmm.

Marsov stands up stiffly and heads out the door.

Against the sunlight, Iwona sees three campaign knights waiting for him to leave.

Playing the long game, are we, Marsov? Cozying up with a competition knight just to steal a drink?

I did nothing of the sort. Stop joking around like that.

Get out of there. Can't believe you'd slither into this den of commoners. We'll be lucky if you don't get a stomachache from that competition knight liquor.

Or don't tell me you've fallen in love with her, and plan to—

Shut up already!

C'mon, stop messing with him. He must've had his reasons forcing him to consort with scum like her, the sort that parade around with the title of knight. Isn't that right, Marsov?

Marsov turns his head and looks at Iwona with embarrassment.

She is still shocked by their remarks, and has no time to respond to his pleading eyes.

He then turns back around.

S-S-Stop making crass jokes like that!

Oooh, and now he's getting angry.

Like hell I know who she is. She just grabbed me and forced me to drink with her!

Who'd cozy up to a girl like that, so infatuated with campaign knights but can't even fit in with them?

I wouldn't have been drinking in a shithole like this in the first place if you guys hadn't been late!

Yeah right! We saw you happily chatting and laughing with her a moment ago.

I was just being polite. Besides, isn't the whole job of a competition knight to provide entertainment?

Alright, alright. We can talk about this later.

Marsov, why?!

Ohoh? What's this? A card?

Haha, never thought an honest-looking guy like you would have such a salacious move in his playbook.

Is this how the two of you planned to secretly stay in touch? Something like the real letters appear when you hold it over a fire?

Ridiculous!

Iwona sees Marsov throw the card bearing the crest of Pinus Sylvestris onto the ground, before viciously grinding his heel on it several times.

I told you I was just having a bit of fun, but you guys won't listen.

She's an Infected anyway. If she weren't stalking me, I'd never have come to a place like this.

Urgh, an Infected?

Tsk, tsk.

Let's find a place that serves some proper wine. The swill in this shop is so vile that no decent person would be able to swallow it.

The campaign knights swagger away noisily.

Iwona remains frozen in place. The only thing she can think to do is to pick up the card from the ground.

Gray boot prints are imprinted on its surface, dense and overlapping.

So this... is a campaign knight?

Iwona thinks back to how he had acted from beginning to end.

Which one was the real Marsov?

He was willing to stand up for the safety of the Infected, and even to drink with an Infected knight he had only just met.

Yet, he also stomped on the card symbolizing her knightclub. He lied that she had stalked him, and belittled the competition knights by saying they were only good for entertainment.

He...

This is for you, girl.

An extra-large mug of Żubrówka vodka?

I didn't order this...

This is the finest liquor I serve. It's on the house.

Don't worry too much about that guy. The hotshot knights are all like that.

You mean... him?

Who else?

Seeing you like this... Forget it, I'll pay for your drinks this time.

Why though?

You helped me drive away a mean drunk just now, didn't you? Treat it as fair payment.

So enjoy your drink. After all, wasn't this bar opened specifically for people like us?

...Alrighty!

Whew, you downed that whole thing in one go?

It'd be an insult if I didn't!

After all, I've earned this afternoon off!

Still not sure how exactly to spend it, but I can't let it go to waste.

*hic*.

Iwona?

Didn't we agree you'd take the afternoon off? Why are you back so soon?

(Mutters incomprehensibly)

Oh, because you're smashed.

Did you hit the bars with that campaign knight?

(Nods)

I see. Go ahead and take a nap then.

Woah, she's already out cold.

She's always had a high alcohol tolerance, and only lets herself get drunk when she's in a bad mood. I wonder what happened to get her like this?

Hiyah!

What's wrong, Iwona?

J-J-J-Justice Knight! Assemble!

Beep beep!

(Oh, she was just sleeptalking...)

The other day... I... wanted to paint you... sterling silver!

Beep?

And then, ch-ch-change your name... to Silverlance Pegasus, Justice and Campaign Knight!

Beep-beep-beep?!

But I changed my mind! From now on... you'll just be Justice Knight, okay? No need to paint, no need for brushes!

Beep...

Dismissed!

Beep beep.

A small card falls out of Iwona's pocket, bearing the crest of the Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub along with a tessellation of boot prints.

As Sona comes to cover her with a blanket, the card does not escape her eyes.

When she connects the unfamiliar boot prints on the card to the contents of Iwona's sleeptalking, she has a rough idea of how she got drunk like this.

'What do I fight for?'

(whispers) Iwona?