Liberi Reader

How do you feel? All better now, right?

I'm fine...

I'm totally fine, I'm sure of it. The both of us are.

I'm going out for a bit, so stay put here.

You're going out again the moment you feel a little better?

I've got work to do.

That's fine and all, but shouldn't you at least wait until you've recovered?

Don't worry about me.

Hibiscus said the same thing. After you wake up, it'd be best to keep resting for a while and monitoring your condition.

It's an emergency, one that can't wait. Alright?

But, there's not a whole lot of time left until the concert. I think the most important to do until then is to make sure you're healthy and well-practiced... I'm sure that's what you want too.

Can you stop pestering me with that right now?

Pestering?

That's not what I meant.

But I have to go, so don't get in my way. I'll be back as soon as I can.

And you really... can't tell me what you're going to do?

If everything goes well... you'll know soon enough.

Oh right, your suit.

What about it?

I made an appointment to pick it up this afternoon, but I won't be able to go with you. You should go get it yourself.

Remember to bring your cello with you and play a little passage as you're trying it on. Make sure there aren't any areas that feel uncomfortable.

I'll be back.

You again?

Yes, it's me.

I'm here to ask you to put this concert on hold. Or at least, don't let Ebenholz and Kreide play together.

What did you say?

Something terrible is going to happen in the Afterglow if those two play together!

So if what you're saying is true, my recent improvement was due to this so-called 'false recovery' caused by Ebenholz and Kreide. And as soon as this phase is over, I'll become critically ill and my life will be in danger.

That's right. You've been around them a lot, so the symptoms will also be a lot more pronounced.

Others who've had less contact with them are also affected, and if I let the two of them play together, there's a high possibility that people will die?

Correct. Even though I don't know the exact reason, having the two play together seems to amplify the effect they have on their surroundings.

How likely are we talking about here?

I can't say for sure right now...

Other than me, who else is in life-threatening danger?

Over a dozen people from the Afterglow have already been hospitalized in the Cliffy Patio.

The Cliffy Patio... In other words, they've already left Ebenholz and Kreide's effective range?

That should be the case.

Then I have a clear picture of the situation.

Your answer...

...is no.

What?!

I'm not asking you to cancel the whole concert. You can just cut Ebenholz and Kreide's part, or even have someone else perform the duet!

If you can prove that their duet will cause harm to people other than me, then I'll cancel the concert right away.

But it seems that's not the case. Even you have no idea what would happen if they played together. I can't simply throw away the efforts and aspirations of everyone in the Afterglow over these illusory 'concerns.'

The efforts and aspirations...?

I understand how much this concert means to you, but...

You don't understand anything.

If you truly understood, you wouldn't throw around the word 'but' so lightly.

Unfortunately, I cannot change the concert schedule on your word alone.

Mr. Czerny, please give me a straight answer. What makes this concert more important than the lives of the Infected?

What are you talking about?

Are you suggesting that I'm disregarding peoples' lives?

I'm just saying––

Hibiscus! Hibiscus!

Ms. Ursula?

Come take a little stroll, won't you?

But—

Come now.

Let's head out and calm down first. We can talk about this later, okay?

(If everything Gertrude said is true, then Kreide won't survive this.)

(No, there must be some way... Some way to come out ahead on both fronts...)

(Czerny, Czerny must know something...)

(No, he's just a musician, he won't be able to help.)

(Should I tell Kreide the truth––)

(But what good would that do?)

(Rhodes Island...)

(Someone like Hibiscus is only going to send me back to my cell in Urtica!)

(The Empresses' Voice?)

(What am I even thinking? Is this a suicide mission?!)

(No, I've been going in circles. I'm standing out too much. I need to go somewhere less crowded.)

(Huh? Have I seen that man before?)

Be careful.

Definitely... the crowd.

(Right, the rumor. There was that rumor!)

(I've got to get to the bottom of this rumor. Who knows, there might even be some clues, or the person spreading the rumor might know something!)

(But it's all up to me at this point...)

You sure?

This is the best opportunity we're going to get.

The longer things drag on, the less time we'll have. It'll only make things harder.

Alright, hurry it up then. I'll go report to the higher-ups. I'm counting on you, Herr Lachmann.

Heh. This work sure is demanding, physically and emotionally.

It's hard enough spreading the rumors. Now I even have to go THERE...

(The sewers? He's heading into the sewers?)

(I'd rather not have to follow him down there... Time to act.)

Hold it right there.

Who are you?!

Don't turn around.

Tell me, who sent you to spread rumors in the Afterglow?

You've got the wrong idea, I just happened to overhear...

I've been following you the whole time, Herr Lachmann.

And I connected the dots just now. You were one fanning the flames before, spreading rumors to have that mob accost Hibiscus.

You've got a pretty good memory.

Speak. Who sent you here, and what were you planning to do in the sewers?

What wonderful timing. I am also quite curious as to what Herr Lachmann planned to do in the sewers.

?!

Don't turn around, or else...

What do you think will happen?