Liberi Reader

What? Sir Enciodes was attacked in the mountains yesterday?!

Huh? Is that true?

Of course it's true. Sir Arctosz had General Gulo rush people over to report to the Great Elder.

The other nephew of my third uncle came back with General Gulo.

They arrived just now, and I heard the news from him.

What a good lad. Now that's some big news!

Heh!

But, who would be so foolhardy as to attack Sir Enciodes? On his way to the Holy Hunt, no less!

Do you think it could've been a Tschäggättä?

How the hell could've it been a Tschäggättä? Didn't we already say a person did it?

If you ask me, it must've been the doing of the Paleroches or the Browntails.

They tried so hard to suppress the Silverashes, saying something about how Sir Enciodes had trampled upon our teachings.

But who knows, maybe they were really after the Silverash clan's land.

I wouldn't go around making spurious claims like that.

Spurious? Do you have any idea how much Silverash land the Browntail clan gobbled up after Sir Enciodes left Kjerag to study abroad?

......

Now that Sir Enciodes has had a change of heart and took the initiative to show favor to the Saintess, the other two clans are panicking because they no longer have an excuse to keep the Silverashes down.

Well...

Wh-Who do you belong to?!

I'm with the Browntail clan. So what?

You're a Browntail? How can you say those things about your own clan?!

Because I've been working down in the valley for so long, I honestly feel that Sir Enciodes has been wronged!

Sir Enciodes has brought so many good things to Kjerag, but has been kept down in the Tri-Clan Council.

Even now after he has offered to return to the government and taken the initiative to repair his relationship with the Vine-Bead Court and the Saintess, look how they treat him.

Even if you're a Paleroche, does that not make your conscience ache?

You...

You have a point...

That's right. No matter what the circumstances are, an attack on Sir Enciodes is simply going too far.

Besides, to do it during a ceremony as important as the Holy Hunt is also a grave insult to Kjeragandr.

Exactly! No matter what the facts are regarding this situation, there must be some kind of explanation!

You said it.

That's right, the perpetrator must be found!

What's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night? You don't look so good.

Mm. Word of it has spread, and everyone's talking about.

I can see that many people are already demanding an explanation for this matter.

Judging from the look on your face, did you not expect this at all?

Huh? Then what's got you in a twist?

Gnosis doesn't see eye to eye with Enciodes, and he's been plotting to overthrow him since they parted ways.

You didn't think Enciodes would leave himself so open, nor did you want to interfere in the affairs of the three clans, so you came to the ceremony as a guest.

I'm just talking about superficial appearances here. From that angle, that is how the situation seems, right?

I don't have a clue what goes on in that head of yours all day.

But I feel like you've infected me into enjoying thinking about these things, so let's do just that.

Hmm... Since Enciodes used to be good friends with Gnosis and we know the latter to be a crafty man, he must've been prepared for Gnosis's betrayal from the very beginning.

But he was attacked anyway, and it became a pretty big deal...

In other words, he engineered this situation to become more sympathetic in the eyes of the public?

But, what exactly does this accomplish?

Right now, the Holy Hunt party should be on its way back.

Shortly, the Grand Ceremony come to its final ritual, including the ceremonial crowning of the Saintess.

If he can catch the perpetrator at the ceremony, that'll increase people's faith in Enciodes... but that's it, right?

What would that be?

The Saintess shot and killed the prey herself during the Holy Hunt?

Yes.

And news of the attack on Enciodes has already spread among the people.

Yes.

Not only that, but a number of people are demanding that the perpetrator be punished before the coronation ceremony.

To injure a countryman during the Holy Hunt is to gravely disrespect Kjeragandr. Of course this deserves punishment!

But, this is still the Saintess's coronation ceremony.

Both of you bring up good points... Great Elder, your judgment?

......

Given Enciodes's superb abilities, there is little chance that the mastermind behind this will not be sniffed out, regardless of who it is––

If only things were that simple.

Please do explain, Great Elder.

The Saintess's behavior has gone increasingly out-of-line, yet Enciodes's response has been quite uncharacteristic.

What are those siblings planning?

What does the Great Elder mean by 'those siblings?'

No, there is no possibility of any collusion between the two.

But perhaps, this is the Silverash blood that runs through their veins––

Everyone, the Elders, the Great Elder, and the Saintess's teams are about to arrive.

Enough. Let's go to meet the Saintess.

Hurry, it's the Holy Hunt party!

Look, Sir Enciodes's wounds have been bandaged!

The rumors were true after all!

Great Saintess, please deliver justice for Sir Enciodes!

Find the perpetrator who sabotaged the Holy Hunt!

Matriarch Ratatos and Sir Arctosz appear ill at ease.

Might they be connected in some way to this incident?

The Great Elder is here!

The Vine-Bead Court must uphold justice for Sir Enciodes!

We won't accept this ceremony if you just try to sweep things under the rug and move on!

My friends, I am very grateful for your concern.

Though the perpetrator has not been found yet, it is only a matter of time.

For now, let us first prioritize the ceremony.

What say you, Saintess?

As Sir Enciodes is so faithful to Kjeragandr, I have no objections.

Then, children of Kjeragandr, know that this year's ceremony holds a different meaning.

The proposal by the head of the Silverash clan, Enciodes, to have the Saintess restored to power passed the previous Tri-Clan Council, and this was announced throughout our territory.

And today, on the day of Kjerag's grandest celebration, we hold the coronation ceremony for the Saintess.

This will also be the last ceremony that I preside over.

Kjeragandr gave Her own flesh to the Paleroche clan, making the land fertile so that the people of Kjerag would go hungry no longer.

Valais.

Sir.

I am a researcher. Even should I lie, I would never lie about my research.

You may distrust the results of my analysis, yet you still hold onto my sample from back then.

You can use it as an experiment, to verify the things that I said.

Or, are you ready to accept this 'truth?'

Do you truly believe that your father died for 'blaspheming Kjeragandr?'

......

I offer this wine made from nourishing grain to Kjeragandr, so that we may be blessed with a bountiful harvest next year.

As head of the Paleroche clan, I, Arctosz Paleroche, pay the highest tribute to Kjeragandr.

Your prayers will surely reach Kjeragandr.

Kjeragandr gave Her own hide to the Browntail clan, making the forests lush and full of beast-life so that the people of Kjerag would no longer succumb to the cold.

Yucatan.

Matriarch.

I offer this cloth knit from warming fur to Kjeragandr, so that we may be blessed with comfort and good health next year.

As head of the Browntail clan, I, Ratatos Browntail, pay the highest tribute to Kjeragandr.

Your prayers will surely reach Kjeragandr.

Finally, Kjeragandr gave Her own bones to the Silverash clan, making the mountains rich with metal so that the people of Kjerag could forge tools and weapons.

Matterhorn.

Sir.

I offer this weapon of refined ore to Kjeragandr, so that we may be blessed with peace next year.

As head of the Silverash clan, I, Enciodes Silverash, pay the highest tribute to Kjeragandr.

Your prayers will surely reach Kjeragandr.

Next––

Master, the perpetrator has been found.

Great Elder, now that the perpetrator has been found, I know not whether to continue the ceremony or interrogate the perpetrator.

This perpetrator must be brought to justice!

That's right! The perpetrator must be punished!

Since the people worry about this matter, bring the perpetrator.

Very well.

Come.

......!

(Monch?!)

(What's going on? Why is Monch in custody? D-Does this have something to do with the assassination attempt?!)

(Dammit, that idiot!)

(Wait, Rus, what are you doing?!)

Assassin who dares disrupt the Holy Hunt, state your name.

......

Why... *could* *cough*... would you seek to take Sir Enciodes's life?

......

I kill what needs to die.

......

Assassin, keeping your mouth shut will not spare your life.

Your sacrilege against Kjeragandr during a sacred ceremony is a sin that must be punished accordingly.

Know that if you persist, then by the Commandments, I can order your execution on the spot!

......

Fine. Then you shall be dealt with according to the Commandments.

Even if you choose not to speak, your identity will not be difficult to uncover.

......

Wait, hold on!

––!

Sciurus!

Yucatan, what are you doing? Let go of me!

Monch is one of my people! I won't let you hurt her!

Is this true, Sciurus?

...Sciurus! You get back here this instant!

This isn't the time or place to be fooling around. Yucatan, get your wife under control!

...Rus, you don't understand the situation. Let's not make a scene here, alright?

Come, over here, by me.

What am I not understanding? And I am not making a scene!

They're all like that. If I didn't speak up, they would've condemned Monch as an assassin!

I—

Silence!!

––!

Ratatos, I...

......

Looks like that saves us the trouble of identifying the assassin.

Detain Sciurus.

W-Wait, why are you arresting me?!

I'm telling you, I never had Monch do anything of the sort! Someone must be trying to frame us!

......

Great Elder, surely it cannot be appropriate to use force against a member of the Browntail clan solely due to the words of an insignificant person who knows nothing of the situation.

As you can see, my stupid little sister could not possibly seek to assassinate Sir Enciodes, for she clearly lacks the brain cells to do so.

Hey, what are you trying to say?!

I told you to shut up!

(...Sciurus, know your place.)

......

What, you mean to say that your sister has been deceived, Ratotos? Do you not find something unusual about that?

Very perceptive, Great Elder.

*cough* *cough*... Enciodes... *cough*... What do you think?

Ratatos has always treated me kindly. and I have always trusted her. Even if we have our differences, I believe she would not resort to such drastic measures.

......

Ratatos, I have no reason to believe you to be of so little faith as to behave in such a manner during a celebration of Kjeragandr.

While my well-being is of little consequence, this disrespect to Kjeragandr cannot be tolerated.

What do you mean by that?

Now that we know that the perpetrator is a member of the Browntail clan, no one will believe the empty rhetoric that the Browntails have nothing to do with this matter.

Without providing some concrete evidence, or turning over the real perpetrator, even if I am willing to turn the other cheek... I'm afraid that the house of Browntail will be hard-pressed to convince the public.

......

......

Great Elder, what is your opinion?

*cough*... Your words ring true, Enciodes... *cough* *cough*...

Great Elder, is there something wrong?

I'm fine... *gurgle*...

Great Elder, what's happening?!

......

There's some green liquid coming from the Great Elder's lips... He's been poisoned!

Someone poisoned the Great Elder!

Let me see.

Stay back, Saintess! There may be other poison!

I'm not afraid.

No... the poison is too potent and is suppressing my healing Arts. I can only barely maintain the Great Elder's life for a while.

Who would poison the Great Elder?! And, when...

Wine! It must've been that cup of wine that Arctosz offered to the Great Elder!

Bring the cup!

H-Here it is!

Without a doubt... there are traces of poison.

That's impossible!

...So that's your game.

Arctosz, I never could've imagined that you would dare poison the Great Elder in your bid to take over Kjerag!

What?! What reason would I possibly have to poison the Great Elder?!

Hmph. The Paleroche clan has always been on good terms with the Vine-Bead Court, but you leveraged this relationship to gain many privileges throughout Kjerag. The people gathered here are all witnesses to that.

Over these years, you have used this privilege to suppress me, something I endure to this day. You have all seen this with your own eyes.

And now, even as I have compromised by proposing to return temporal power to the Saintess, you still have to terrorize the house of Silverash.

Once the Saintess holds all the power and the three clans are equal under her leadership, will the Paleroche clan still enjoy its privileges as it does now?

Perhaps because the Great Elder was no longer willing to support you, you then chose to contact Madame Sciurus, plotting the scheme unfolding before our very eyes.

Madame Sciurus was responsible for assassinating me, you would poison the Great Elder, and the two of you would take advantage of the situation to seize power in Kjerag... Not a bad plan, Arctosz.

You dare slander me, Enciodes!

Slander?

It is a fact that your clan is on good terms with the Vine-Bead Court. It is a fact that the Browntail clan is now allied with yours. It is a fact that the Elders agreed to return temporal power to the Saintess.

And as of now, it is a fact that you poisoned the Great Elder.

I would ask all of you present to pass judgment – am I the one who slanders, or is Arctosz the one who deceives?!

But... Sir Arctosz isn't that kind of person...

Sir Enciodes was injured during the Holy Hunt, and a Browntail was responsible. Now, Arctosz poisoned the Great Elder. What is there to doubt?

I can't believe I had such a wrong impression of Arctosz! I never thought he was faking his piety all these years!

...I refuse to believe it!

Wake up already!

Pin down the murderer and Madame Sciurus.

Right away.

Get your hands off me, you bastard!

Sciurus!

Matriarch...!

Wait––

Guh...

Who's there?!

Ice Arts, and from such a long range? Could it be––

Who is it?!

Look over there!

Warriors, it's time to rescue your clan leader.

That's... Gnosis! Why is he here, and, why are the Browntails with him?!

I haven't heard from him since he was blacklisted from Karlan Trade. From the looks of things, he's defected to the Browntail clan?!

Enciodes, you've gone to such great lengths to paint yourself as some pious victim, making your high-and-mighty proclamations atop that stage of yours. Have you no sense of shame?

......

I was wondering where you were hiding, Gnosis. Turns out you fell in with Ratatos.

Hiding? No, I've been biding my time for this moment.

Ratatos, what are you hesitating for?

Gnosis, you––

Take a good look at the people around you, and the distrust they harbor for you in their eyes!

Ratatos has betrayed Kjeragandr! She must be punished!

Arctosz, I thought better of you!

Strike them down, Sir Enciodes! Strike them down!!

Get a good look at your sister. Enciodes is about to take her away!

Let go! Let go of me!!

Don't you dare hurt my wife!

Hmph!

Argh...

Yucatan!

Sciurus! Yucatan!

Now is your last chance.

Enciodes said that he trusted you. But did he ever actually trust you?

You should've seen through this long ago. He's just forcing you to make a decision. But do you really think you can protect your Browntail clan simply by turning over the 'assassin' that he wants?

Look around you. See how the people are looking at you.

Do you have any idea what will become of your clans should Enciodes take over Kjerag?

I...

Matriarch!

......

Ratatos, don't tell me that you intend to protect neither your clan nor your lands, and instead will simply relinquish your public image and privileges?

If you still choose to do nothing, even at this point...

Then allow me to help you.

Gnosis, you disappoint me.

What a coincidence, Enciodes. I was just thinking the same thing.

––Degenbrecher.

Guh...

As you should know, these Arts are nothing to me.

Alright, don't waste my time.

Let's put you down, Gnosis.

......

Grr.

Arctosz.

What?

Do you believe me, or Enciodes?!

I don't trust either of you!

Then you should at least know very clearly now, who the real enemy is!

Browntail clan warriors, prepare for battle!

First, we rescue Sciurus. Then, bring Enciodes to me!

Yes, Matriarch!

Fy faen... Paleroche warriors, in formation!

Take down the traitor! Expose to the masses that Enciodes is the real traitor!

Yessir!

Yessir!

Degenbrecher.

Get Gnosis.

You don't need me?

I don't.

Alright.

Matterhorn.

Sir.

Take care of the Great Elder and the Saintess.

Right away.

Weiss.

Sir.

Bring me Arctosz and Ratatos.

Try to avoid taking any lives. Now isn't the time for that.

Understood.

It shall be done.

......

So what was all of that?

Didn't we know that all along?

Huh?

Do you mean that––

Your orders, Doctor?

...I'm not sure I understand.

...I need a reason to act, Doctor. This goes beyond my duty to protect you.

......

My duty is to uphold Rhodes Island's interests, and protect you.

And from a practical standpoint, the things going on here have nothing to do with you, Doctor.

Even if Enciodes wins, no harm would come to you, as you are his guest.

From another perspective, he was the one who formed business ties with Rhodes Island, not the other two clans, let alone Kjerag as a whole.

If anything, interfering with Enciodes's plans is more likely to threaten Rhodes Island's interests, as well as put your safety at risk.

......

Doctor, people are dying in every corner of this world.

If you go around committed to saving people, genuinely devoting yourself to that cause, you're just going to end up overcome with guilt when you fail.

I break with a lot of Rhodes Island when I often find myself thinking that saving and protecting lives is kind of pointless.

I believe in the victories you bring, and the discernable value that comes with those victories.

Kjerag's population is in the millions. The people you are talking about aren't just a few. Not dozens, or hundreds, but tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands.

...Is this the victory you promised today?

Alright. I'll see it done.

Guh...

Ugh... Launching a sneak attack during the chaos? Don't let them get away!

Sciurus!

Yucatan!

Hurry!

Stop!

Out of the way!

Stand down, Yucatan of the Browntail clan.

If you come peacefully, the Master will treat you mercifully. He has no interest in taking your lives.

(As long as Rus can get away––)

Gah...

*cough*... Rus, hurry...

Sorry.

Hurry, Sciurus!

Yucatan is still back there! And, Monch too!

You're still talking about the assassin? You idiot!

...She didn't do anything!

......

But Yucatan... What about Yucatan?! He's my husband!

Look at what's going on around you! Yucatan sacrificed everything to save you, and you plan on jumping back into the fire?!

So you're just going to abandon him?!

If I was giving up on him, I wouldn't be fighting back!

Now stop being a damned fool!

Fine fine, I'll just keep running!

(Yucatan...)

Gah... Where'd these freaks and their weird armor come from?

Sir, Enciodes's forces outnumber us too heavily! We're getting overwhelmed!

What do we do?

There are no cowards in the Paleroche clan!

Arctosz, stop trying to play the hero! We need to team up and cut our way out of here!

How do you expect me to live that down?!

You won't have a say in the matter if you die here!

Dammit... Damn it all!

Gulo, gather the warriors and follow me! We're going to break out of here!

Yessir!

(*whispers*) Sorry about this.

The Tschäggättä already have this place surrounded.

You still have the option to surrender before you pass the point of no return.

Lackey of Enciodes, you speak only lies! We will fight our way out!

I would prefer if you calmed down first. You stand no chance.

You can't run.

Actually, they can.

Who's there?

You... Who are you?

You're... that Doctor's...

Why are you saving us?

It's not my job to tell you things.

The exit is this way. I've already dealt with the guards outside.

Aurora, escort them out.

Got it!

You aren't getting away!

Urgh...

Who's next? Try me.

Don't do anything rash! Get in formation!

Get in formation? Just for a single person?

GET IN FORMATION!!

...Understood.

Very good.

Captain Sharp...

I'm so sorry.

There's no need to apologize to me, Courier. Nothing personal.

It's just business.

Captain! You... You're injured?

There were a lot of 'em, and Courier's blade is still pretty quick.

Captain... Courier, he...

I spared him, don't worry.

So, what's next?

We're all done with work over here.

On to the next job.

How's the Great Elder doing?

It's not looking good.

Send the Great Elder back to the Vine-Bead Court. Sir Enciodes will arrange for a special doctor.

And, great Saintess, Sir Enciodes has invited you to return to the Vine-Bead Court and hold the coronation ceremony again after things have settled down.

...I know.