The way this was handled... was quite the surprise.
Calm Nobleman
How should we proceed now?
???
How should we proceed? We don't.
???
This never had anything to do with you to begin with. All we're doing now is making adjustments to how the territory in question will be handled. How does that have anything to do with you?
Calm Nobleman
You're right about that, but with how things turned out, those Infected will get to stay on that city plate. It'll be difficult to keep them from gossiping about this.
Andante said the infection deterioration caused by the incident was unusual. Most infections went into a continuous, stable phase, and I'm no exception.
Nervous Infected
It's not going to get worse again like before, right?
Dispirited Infected
Andante said they looked into the phenomenon pretty thoroughly. Apparently nearly all of the Originium that got activated during the incident has gone into an extended low-activity state.
Dispirited Infected
In other words, I get to hang around a little longer.
Nervous Infected
Thank goodness...
Nervous Infected
Right, does Andante know what the Herzog is going to do with the Afterglow?
Dispirited Infected
Well, this is just what she said she heard, but apparently the Empresses' Voice has requested the Herzog not lay a finger on the Afterglow.
Nervous Infected
Oh, thank heavens, and thank Their Majesties' kindnessβ
Dispirited Infected
Keep it down!
Nervous Infected
......
Nervous Infected
*Sigh*, what should we do from here on out...?
Dispirited Infected
Oh, shut up. You don't think things have gotten out of hand enough as is?
Dispirited Infected
What to do from here on out? Live one day at a time, that's what.
It was your men who tricked Kreide into coming to Vyseheim, right?
Biegler
......
Grandpa
Everything you said was the truth, except for the bit about payment. You knew he was in a hurry to make money for my treatment, and you lured him into this mess with that.
Grandpa
But you two had nothing against each other! Why did you do it?!
Biegler
If I told you, I'd have to kill you.
Grandpa
I don't have much longer to live to begin with.
Biegler
Alright then. Seeing as we're old colleagues, I will tell you.
Biegler
GrΓ€fin Strollo was already looking for Kreide, and she was very close to finding him.
Grandpa
So what? Kreide was always there by my side, and that practically meant you had full control of him!
Biegler
You read her research notes. You know full well just how terrifying her work on the Voice of Mundane was.
Biegler
Until I got my hands on her notes, all I knew was that she had put a lot of time into researching this subject, but I never knew the true extent of her research.
Biegler
If we'd let her continue working, she might just have been able to do something even more appalling with the Voice of Mundane. Say, triggering and inducing Resonanz at much greater ranges.
Biegler
You could've woken up in the morning and found your grandson transformed into a monster. Would you have wanted that?
Biegler
Rather than letting things come to that, it was much better to bring Kreide right to her. Put the rush on her, and let her put her plan in motion before she could work out the kinks.
Biegler
So? Any more questions?
Grandpa
What would you have done if Ebenholz hadn't found the amplifiers in the Afterglow Hall?
Biegler
What do you think?
Biegler
However the Afterglow turned out, that's how I would've turned out myself.
Grandpa
No further questions.
Biegler
Come with me, then.
Grandpa
Not going to kill me?
Biegler
I've got no reason to kill you, and it would've given me yet another thing to weigh on my conscience.
Biegler
Come. Let's head to my shop for a cup of coffee. We'll talk about those stupid, honorable young men.
Why'd you push yourself like that? If anything happened to you, I'd never, ever forgive you!
Hibiscus
Huh?
Hibiscus
Oh, you're talking about what happened in Vyseheim, right? Look, I'm all fineβ
Lava
And who was it who had a standoff with an angry mob, who didn't evacuate even knowing that she'd be affected by the Voice of Mundane, and who fought those people even though she barely learned any Arts?
Hibiscus
I don't remember telling you any of this...
Lava
I already talked to Mr. Czerny! He told me everything!
Hibiscus
Uh... If you wanted to know all the whys and wherefores, why didn't you come talk to me directly?
Lava
I actually visited Mr. Czerny to ask him about my piano teacher in Leithanien, Mr. Johann, and it was only after we kept talking that I found out you almostβ
Lava
Almost...
Lava
......
Lava
βI'm warning you! If something like this happens again, don't you dare push yourself like that! Y-You hear me?! You hear me?!
Thanks for your concern, Doctor. I'm feeling very well.
Czerny
And I must thank you again for the protection you are offering the Afterglow.
Czerny
If you and Rhodes Island hadn't intervened, the Empresses' Voice would never have lifted a finger for my home.
Just doing my job.
Czerny
You're too humble.
Helping the Infected is Rhodes Island's creed.
Czerny
It's exactly as you said, and I'm starting to appreciate that more and more.
The Afterglow is a lot easier to handle than Ebenholz.
Czerny
......
Czerny
I suppose there must be a reason you summoned me here?
You asked to be deployed to the front lines, and I have to confirm your intentions.
Czerny
I've already written my thoughts in full on the report.
Your condition's stable, but your infection's serious.
Anything can happen in battle.
Czerny
I'm prepared.
Czerny
Truth be told, Doctor. When Hibiscus helped me up and walked me to the concert hall, I was already prepared to die.
Czerny
Even though so much has happened, and things turned out nothing like I had imagined, I... lived.
Czerny
It really feels quite peculiar, and I cannot describe it very well, whether through words or music.
Czerny
I'm not expecting to find how to express this feeling on the battlefield, but I'm thinking that it might prove beneficial if I try to fight for the Infected in an entirely different way.
I understand how you feel.
But do wait for your evaluation results.
Czerny
I understand.
Czerny
Speaking of which, Ebenholz is here too, is he?
Of course.Why do you ask?
Czerny
I haven't seen him at all since the day after we arrived at Rhodes Island.
Czerny
Sometimes, I can't help but think that the black-clad Graf Urtica might have actually died.
According to Leithanien's official reports, he's indeed gone.He's alive and well. Give him some time.Ironically, that actually helped get our cooperation with Leithanien on track.
Czerny
You're right.
Czerny
Well then, I'll take my leave now, Doctor.
Speaking of Ebenholz, it happens the next thing on my agenda has to do with him.
Do you want to see him?
Czerny
......
Czerny
Never mind. I don't dare to claim I know how much this incident has affected him. I can only imagine.
Czerny
If there comes a day when he's willing to see me or Hibiscus, we'll talk then.
Czerny
Goodbye, Doctor.
Goodbye.......I look forward to hearing the music you'll write off the battlefield, and hope it'll be no less impressive than your past work.
Congratulations on the freedom that you have been longing for.
I am writing this letter to inform you that our common enemy, Graf Urtica, has passed away.
I would like to extent my sincerest apologies to you in regard to the troubles he and his friends have brought about.
It is my hope that this letter and the file enclosed may reach you as a consolation.
P.S. Please ensure that the death of Graf Urtica remains a cold hard fact.
Otherwise our joint effort will eventually go down the drain.
Ebenholz
It's not signed... An anonymous letter?
Ebenholz
Just my impression of her.
Rhodes Island Operator Ebenholz presses the tip of his wand to the letter and sets it ablaze.
Not long after, the flames reach the passport, then the Count of Urtica's death certificate, and then Kreide's.
The smell of burning paper spreads across the deck.
Ebenholz picks up the cello next to him.
He thinks back to how his dear friend played the cello, closes his eyes, and begins to play a simple, lively melody.
When the Twin Empresses first took control, countless pieces of music singing their praises sprung up all over Leithanien. This, too, is one of those pieces.
Today, the second half of the song has long been forgotten. Only the first half is still sung by a small number of people, thanks to its uplifting melody and the lyrics openly express the singer's cheerful mood.
