🔍
Grab my hand.
Hrh—Hah!
Alright!
We met on the train back there, but I never imagined you'd save my life here.
How fortunate for you to be here to lend me a hand. Who knows how long I'd be stuck in here otherwise.
Thank you very, very much for your altruistic assistance, Madam Rosalind Tatyanovna Larina.
Well, wasn't much. Don't mention it.
You definitely don't look like a local, so I'm guessing you're a tourist going up the mountain?
Precisely.
So why didn't you follow the main road, instead of falling into a pitfall out here in the forest?
What were you gonna do if I didn't happen to pass by?
I was merely attracted by the scenic view, and didn't expect to run into a trap like this in the snow.
If you hadn't happened by... perhaps I would have stayed here for a while longer. I'd calm down first before figuring out a way to climb out myself.
But now I see how fortunate I am.
Hmm...
Madam Larina, are you going to continue your journey up the mountain?
Huh? Yeah, I am.
We could travel together for a while, if you wouldn't mind.
I'd like to admire the view of Kjerag's mountains from the summit as well.
Sure.
I don't mind. Let's go.
We still have a long way to the top.
That was...
Riley!
I just checked our traps and saw a pitfall collapsed. Thought we caught something!
But when I took a look, there was nothing inside. Guessing it might have escaped.
Did you see the man who passed by earlier? Doesn't he look like the guy Turiels asked us to look out for?
You mean the one Degenbrecher asked us to find?
All dressed in black, pretentious looking, wearing a hat and hiding his face. No doubt about it!
Come! Let's hurry back and tell Degenbrecher!
......
Hey, uh... say, I still don't know your name.
Aren't you guys pretty particular about uh, introducing yourselves when you first meet?
An oversight on my part.
You may call me John Smith. Or anything you prefer.
John...?
The name John Smith...
What do you think of it?
Sounds... right out of a spy movie I watched with the Doctor!
Yeah, that was definitely the name of the spy guy!
I remember he had a really pretty sidekick too, so John, you... Never mind, coming up to this make-out point all alone means you're definitely single.
......
A fascinating coincidence.
Right?
Alright, let's get back on track. I figure we still have a while to go before the summit.
I heard it gets colder the higher you go, and it gets harder to breathe too.
So, you tired yet? Need a break?
Please, don't worry about me.
Do you need to rest, Madam Larina?
Nah, I'm good.
You've got some real stamina, huh, Mr. Spy?
...Haha.
🔍
Seems like you really deceived him.
I fabricated no lies, Degenbrecher.
There's no slipping your average falsehoods by a Trilby Asher collecting information for his Duke.
But I'm fully aware that these types usually know 'suspicion' best.
'The heir to the Paleroche Clan has secretly returned to the country' is a reality he first discovered by himself, so he'll believe it.
And will definitely be watching Rosalind Tatyanovna Larina.
Your guesses are always right.
The girl's already on the mountain, and Ratatos has contacted Arctosz.
I hear tell the Trilby Asher is also on his way up.
He's hiding from me.
No matter.
Just make sure he remains focused on the girl.
It's time for you to move as well.
Fine, I'll treat it as after-meal exercise.
However, are you sure the Doctor won't mind you letting the Trilby Asher close to the girl?
He's a spy, not an assassin. What he's after is information, not a life.
Is that how you plan to explain it to the Doctor?
To the Doctor, I shall offer my—apologies.
You certainly owe them.
How I act is unimportant. Rather, I'm more curious—
Degenbrecher, you remember the Doctor?
Sharp's a good opponent. Stronger than most of those clumsy knights.
There's no harm in noting down someone who has the respect of a warrior like that and can also make you suffer.
You're curious about the Doctor?
You could put it that way.
Alright, the idle chatter stops here.
I'm going to work.
🔍
URA—!!!
We're finally here——!!
Hoo. We must have climbed a few hours?
I'm beat. No wonder everyone quits halfway. That was exhausting.
Though...
The view up here is really pretty... isn't that Lake Silberneherze over there?
Hahaha, the Kjeragandr statue looks smaller than my thumb from up here!
Lake Silberneherze freezes over in the winter, and resembles a pure and clear gemstone when viewed from this peak.
As such, the locals here believe the lake is a precious stone bestowed by Kjeragandr.
Truly a view you can only see from such a height.
It does look like a gem.
Oh, you can even see the station over there!
Huh, there's actually plenty of railroads in Kjerag, but the trains all look like toys from here...
I wouldn't call this plenty for a country that's still developing.
It might seem like a lot, but that's because Lake Silberneherze and the Kjeragandr statue are here.
There might be more roads around Karlan currently, but the operating lines will all pass through and transfer here...
...They will, won't they...?
......
Hey, John, you still with us? I need a favor?
Can you help me see if there are two trees growing into each other around here?
They should be old, with intertwining branches, and they look pretty strange too!
It would be my pleasure.
Appreciate it!
You know, John.
Aren't you curious why I'm looking for those trees?
Or what I'm doing up here on the mountain?
I mulled it over... and decided to handle things the old fashioned way.
What...?
'Fess up, and don't move!
What is the meaning of this, Madam Larina?
You're not supposed to say that line yet, I haven't even done anything to you.
Spit it out though. You've been following me for ages, just following. What are you after here?
I don't understand.
Quit playing dumb!
I don't remember telling you my name.
This is a misunderstanding.
You know the Viscount Harold Craigavon and I have history together, and it was he who told me your name.
Oh?
You think I'm stupid?
I never told him my full name either.
And you managed to climb up the summit without taking a single break. There's no way you could have fallen into a simple hunter's trap!
Even if you did, you could have just climbed out.
Anna and the girls always tell me to think before I act, but I have to say, sometimes there's no use in thinking too much either.
......
You are much more careful than I expected, Madam Larina.
So you admit it?
John Smith is probably a fake name too, right? Maybe... you really are a spy?
What if I said yes?
Then you'd be pretty bad at your job.
Cause even I could tell something was up.
Your accusation is absolutely correct.
It's true. I have been quite careless, and life in Kjerag has made me so.
I have considerable freedom here, and there aren't many who pose a threat to me.
Hah, look at you talk.
I'm warning you, you'd better behave. And don't move an inch.
You're standing on the edge of a cliff, and there's nothing but snow under your feet.
I just have to stomp my feet to send you falling, and I can't promise I'll catch you if that happens.
Alright, Madam Larina. I'll come clean, yesterday...
Victorian scum!
Arctosz is here! You stay away from her!
Whoa! Wh-Where did you come from?
Ah-ah-ah-ah, wait! Watch your footfalls, the snow—
Wahh—!
R-Rosalind!
Grab my—
......
It's somewhat funny, but Arctosz is clearly charging towards me—
Could Rosalind really have come here for something?
No matter. He's coming, and I can only jump.
—!
...The Black Knight.
All rested up?
Not yet.
That's not good.
You'll be less fun to fight.
Going straight into it?
Problem with that?
I'll get straight to my point too then.
You convinced the Viscount that everything on the train was a misunderstanding. I was only half-convinced at the time.
But now, I know that even the stately Black Knight tells lies.
That only proves that you don't know me at all.
There's still time to turn around and go down the mountain for a nice lunch.
I'm sorry, but I tend to throw myself fully into my work.
