Whose Justice

Hey, grandad! Tell me about Paladin Anna.

You really like Anna, don't you, Anabel. Let me see now...

Wow! Anna really was cool! When I grow up, I want to be a knight like her!

Oh, yes. That's what everyone in the village wants for you. After all, the name Anabel means, "she who follows after Anna." You have the same birthmark as her, too, don't you?

Birthmark?

The pretty pattern on your chest. You might even be Anna reborn!

Really?!

Hehehe. Now, you be sure to slay lots and lots of fell beasts!

Oh my, oh my... Tales of old always seem to depart from the truth. It might be just the right for a children's story, but... I might be the only one left here who knows what really happened.

Morning, Anabel. Did you sleep well?

Yes, it's a wonderful inn. I worried when I heard it had gone downhill with the increasing beast invasions, but... I'm quite relieved.

Hm!

Huh? You there... You're acting very suspiciously. What was that over-the-top reaction when I mentioned the beasts all about? And why are you wearing your hood up here indoors? Hold it!

Aldo, that was a beast in disguise! Quick, after him!

What? It was? Really?!

We can't have a beast holing up somewhere, it's too dangerous. Let's ask people if they've seen a hooded figure!

Hey, have you seen a suspicious guy with his hood up around here?

Oh, a suspicious guy? You don't mean a beast, do you?!

Huh? Why would you, ?

Aldo!

Huh?

The townsfolk are clearly sensitive about anything to do with beasts. Don't go upsetting them!

Argh, you're right... Thanks for reminding me, Anabel.

No, err, it's just we're supposed to be meeting this guy wearing a hood...

But didn't you just say he was suspicious?

Err, yeah, he's suspicious, what with the hood and all, but he's not a bad guy. if you see him, tell us straight away!

Hey, have you seen a suspicious guy with his hood up around here?

Err, let me think? No, none with their hood up... But, yeah, I did see a suspicious guy.

Really?!

Yes, you two. You're the guy who killed the Beast King, and you're the Paladin of the Royal Order of Knights, aren't you? You can't fool me! You two together? Now, that's right suspicious. You're not go...

No, no, you've got it all wrong. We aren't who you think we are! Quick, Anabel, let's get out of here!

R-Right!

Hey, you there, wait! I want to ask you some more questions!

Hey, have you seen a suspicious guy with his hood up around here?

Food? Did you say food?

Yeah. Do you know anything?

Food, eh? Nothing I like as much as curried bat.

No, no, not food, hood! Wait, what? Curried bat?

It's so piquant and tasty... It's my soul food.

......

Hm. Let's ask someone else, Anabe...

Where can I find some of this curried bat?

Anabel?!

So, no witnesses.

If no one here has seen him, there's a good chance he's left town.

Left town... Making for the Serena Coast, probably.

Hey, have you seen a suspicious guy with his hood up around here?

A suspicious hood?

I did! He was running towards the Serena Coast.

Just as I thought!

Let's give chase. He might be plotting another attack on Unigan!

Look!

All right, boys. Today's the day we avenge the Beast King!

You beasts have been plotting to attack Unigan. Well, I won't let you get away with it!

Huh?! Who are you? How do you know about our plans?!

Your luck ran out when Anabel saw you at the inn in Rinde.

Rinde? Inn? What you're talking about, human?

Playing dumb? How pathetic. Even when you lie, you betray your foul and foolish nature! In any case, I cannot forgive those who would attack the capital. Prepare yourselves!

Guh... They're too strong for us!

Wait, did I hear that right? Are you Anabel? Damn, it's that Paladin that every beast's been talking about. No wonder we didn't stand a chance!

H-Hey, Anabel. These guys weren't wearing hoods. Do you think they might be different beasts from th...

You fools! Brawling again for no good reason!

Huh? Are you a compatriot? You might be able to fool humans with that outfit, but you can't fool my beastly nose! He's here to back us up, guys!

Quiet, fool. We're leaving!

Ugh, my eyes!

They got us... Where did they go?!

Beasts will always be beasts. They're full of stupid tricks like that!

They can't have gone far. Let's pursue them, Aldo!

What cowardice is this, running away like that? How can you call yourself a proud beast?!

I'm not running away! I'm telling you that if you keep doing that the only thing you'll get is more sadness!

And I say that's running away! Don't you understand the regrets King Guildna's left with us?!

Something's not right. Are they arguing?

Infighting...how ugly. But not surprising coming from beasts.

Anabel... (I knew it. She's been acting weird.)

Tch! Now they've caught up with us, thanks to you! Well, you can at least buy us some time. We can't afford to be held back here!

Wait! I haven't finished talking to you! ...... Idiots...

So, you're here to impede our progress, are you? In that case, no merc...

My apologies. I'm sorry you had to witness that.

Huh?

You may not believe me, but... I am the descendant of a beast whose life was saved by a human woman.

What are you talking about. Is that the best you can come up with?!

I thought it was a ridiculous story myself. But after I met...her... I couldn't laugh it off as a fairy tale anymore. Now I believe it. Or, I want to... I want to believe that the day will come when humans and beasts live in mutual understanding.

......

I'll do whatever it takes to stop my fellow beasts. The chain of hatred must be broken here!

So, there are beasts who think like that?

No... I can't be deceived. It must be a trap.

Anyway, let's get after them. We can't pretend to ignore them.

You again... If you carry on like this, I won't show any mercy, beast or not.

Lower your weapons! It's all for nothing, if we don't solve this peacefully through talking!

There ain't no place for talking! We're gonna obliterate you and then the humans next!

My life means nothing... But I won't let you harm the humans!

You're crazy! Why are you so obsessed with...

My ancestor's life was saved by a human woman named Anna. I must pay back that debt, whether or not it costs me my life!

Anabel?!

Finally... The time has come.

Wh-What? Two Anabels?

Anabel. Truly, you have worked so hard. As have you, Aldo. Without you I could not have done what I have...

You know who we are?!

Indeed I do. Anabel... For I am the voice that has whispered in your ear for so long. The impulse behind your drive, your ambition...

I am Anna.

Anna? You mean you're the First Paladin?!

None other. The holy knight you have depicted who crushes evil with justice. The original.

Yes. His words were the truth.

If you must know... Each and every life must one day come to an end. This is merely the beginning of my plan to return all life to...nothing.

Return all life to nothing?!

Anabel, dear Anabel... You have no inkling of the real me. It is only natural that you should be surprised.

So let me explain. Once, desiring a world without conflict, I assisted a beast although as a knight I was sworn to destroy them. Some few among the Order understood my motivations. But I was court-martialed and adjudged to be a spy by the captain of the time.

That's... That's not right! You were the First Paladin, right? You couldn't have been a spy...

A small coterie understood my actions. I was canonized and worshipped in secret by this cult for many years. But history, or at least our memory of it, changes with the passage of time. Eventually, none remained who knew the truth of the incident, and I became a symbol of the fight against the beasts.

It matters not. I make no complaints in this regard. In any case, my fate was... To be accused and despised as a beast spy and banished to the desert. The bright sun. The burning sands. Nothing. A barren and empty world. Ironically, my mercy and respect for all life led me to a continent of death. Thirsting and gasping for breath. Starving and grieving, enduring my solitude... Yet even as my consciousness left me, my salvation presented itself.

Salvation?

Yes, salvation. I learned that, a world with nothing has no conflict.

......

Humans, beasts, it matters not, all life gives birth to conflict. My ideal is a world without conflict. So there can only be one conclusion.

Wait, because of that you, ?!

Yes, I came to the decision that I must eliminate any and all life. But of course, I lacked the power to achieve that then. Even as I willed it not to, my body crumbled, and soon I became nothing but my desire, my will to power. This will drifted upon the river of time until I ended up in this era. Until the moment when a certain girl was born in my hometown...

That girl was my reincarnated self... And she would grow up to be a fine Paladin. And finally, she heard my voice... My will to power... My desire to create a world free from conflict.

I know not of what you speak.

Anabel, without your cooperation, I could not have achieved my aims. Your efforts are stand out amongst Paladins of the past. Your feats of arms have filled the position of Paladin with the power of prayer... And with that power, I was able to manifest in this world. Without you, this could never have been. My joy is boundless.

Now all I need do is imbue my holy blade with the prayers offered up to the Paladins, and then release that power. The power of all those accumulated dreams, if released, will be more than enough to annihilate all life on this planet.

My design is ripe for implementation. Trust me now... Without fail, I shall... I shall eliminate any and all conflict from this world.

Anabel...

Don't be so harsh on yourself! It's obvious to me that you wished for peace from the bottom of your heart. But between your hometown, and your duties as a Paladin... Maybe you had so much on your plate you didn't have time to think things through.

Anyway, she plans to eliminate all life... Beasts, humans, all living things...

If we don't stop her, the world as we know it will be destroyed...