Crownslayer

[Code Name] Crownslayer

[Gender] Female

[Combat Experience] 7 Years

[Place of Birth] Ursus

[Date of Birth] Jul 22

[Race] Reproba

[Height] 161cm

[Infection Status]

Originium crystals distributed across surface of body, confirmed Infected by medical examination.

[Physical Strength] Standard

[Mobility] Outstanding

[Physical Resilience] Standard

[Tactical Acumen] Standard

[Combat Skill] Excellent

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Excellent

Lyudmila Ilyinichna, a former Reunion squad leader who dealt in covert operations and assassinations, specializing in melee combat and breaking through defensive lines. She parted with Reunion in the wake of the Chernobog-Lungmen Incident, and approached Rhodes Island at the end of 1100. She is currently receiving Oripathy treatment while under supervision.

Imaging tests show the indistinct outlines of internal organs, obscured by abnormal shadows. Originium granules detected in the circulatory system. The subject is confirmed to be infected with Oripathy.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 18%

Crownslayer has suffered from Oripathy for a very long time, with distinct crystallization in her upper respiratory tract. Many of her organs are heavily infected, and the organs between her oral cavity and throat also display hyperplasia. She reports no foreign body sensation, and staunchly refuses our suggestion of surgery.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.45u/L

Crownslayer has not received any systematic Oripathy treatment. Her BOCD is rather high, and seems to be trending upwards. Her organ crystallization accelerates rapidly whenever she uses her Arts, worsening her condition. Medical has already given her a proposal on how we can keep her condition under control.

Crownslayer's arrival at Rhodes Island left a deep impression on us. She suddenly appeared in front of the landship on its course, with Operator Projekt Red held hostage by her side. Before the ship's defensive alarms even sounded, S.W.E.E.P. had already secured Red and subdued Crownslayer.

We were quick to notice the changes in Projekt Red. She was unharmed, but had a blank look on her face, as though she had sunk into some sort of delirium. Our medical operators hurried to give her a comprehensive examination, and confirmed that this was the result of drastic emotional fluctuation. From her fragmented replies, we pieced together that something happened during a personal visit to Siracusa, and we determined that her odd behavior had nothing to do with Crownslayer, who had even helped her during a suicide attempt. During the course of our examination, the subdued Crownslayer was shouting Dr. Kal'tsit's name and things such as 'Come and take care of your wolf cub already,' along with an unending tirade in both Ursine and Siracusan. As Dr. Kal'tsit was not on the ship at the time, we temporarily locked her in a cell under strict supervision while we sent an urgent communique to Dr. Kal'tsit asking how to handle her.

A few months later, we received her reply. Surprisingly, she suggested we lift Crownslayer's confinement and allow her some measure of monitored freedom, including but not limited to access to the low security areas of the ship and the right to participate in Rhodes Island missions.

This was how a former Reunion member came aboard Rhodes Island using undisclosed means and became, in a sense, one of our members.

The following is only for staff with high clearance:

In light of Crownslayer's identity as a former member of Reunion, she is to be placed under observation by both S.W.E.E.P. and the HR department. This is to prevent her doing anything unnecessary, but also to ensure her personal safety. Though the conflict between Rhodes Island and Reunion is long over, many of our people still feel the pain of losing our comrades. Even if she does not have their blood on her hands, anger cannot be controlled once it boils over. We will keep her under surveillance until she truly becomes one of us.

We have entrusted Operator Mudrock with this task. Considering their shared backgrounds as former Reunion members, this will hopefully help us better evaluate how Crownslayer is doing aboard Rhodes Island.

'I just spotted Mudrock with Crownslayer—yes, I know she's our informant, let me finish—and she was standing right next to Crownslayer, nodding along to everything she said! I bet she was bought off! Man, this is becoming a headache—Dammit, they ran into the kitchen! I'll follow them, you go get some backup!'

'Knives? White masks? Didn't those thugs use those in Chernobog and Lungmen? Do they have an inside man in Logistics? That's real sly of them, hiding weapons in the cafeteria! Are they about to raise Reunion's flag again aboard Rhodes—N-No way!'

'They closed the kitchen doors and pulled down the curtains, I can't get a read on the inside. This is an emergency, no time to report to the higher-ups, and no time to look for a floor plan. Gonna head in first to keep things under control!'

'Those thugs are... having a culinary club meeting around the table? Some are busy by the stoves and ovens. There's a redhead kneading some dough who noticed me real quick. She stopped her kneading and cut me a slice of pizza, fresh out the oven, even though I'm holding a weapon. I think she knows me, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen her before.'

'The operators behind me stowed their weapons, and they all got a slice too. It was good pizza. Instead of the usual sausage, it's got Ursus-style salted meat. Since it's right out the oven, the heat's just right, and the bread's got just the right amount of chew. I gobbled up my slice real quick. The red-headed lady has been all over the kitchen: kneading, chopping the meat, pouring the sauce, keeping an eye on the pizzas in the oven and occasionally dealing with people trying to rush her. She seems really into it. People are calling her Lyudmila. Kind of a pretty name, Lyudmila... Wait, Lyudmila?!'

—Excerpts from a monitor's real-time voice logs

'I asked Lyudmila why she was staying aboard Rhodes Island, and she told me she was waiting for that hag Dr. Kal'tsit to come back. Her words, not mine. She wanted to ask her if she knew about her master when she was sent to live with her uncle. If she knew about the wolf pack's game. If she did, why didn't she do anything about it? If she didn't, and things were always out of her control, then why did she always act so sure of herself? In short, she is ready to give Dr. Kal'tsit a verbal beatdown in front of everyone.

'Look past her sharp tongue for a moment. Lyudmila wants answers out of Dr. Kal'tsit, but... she's gotten used to waiting here. I've seen her buying magazines from the store, killing time in the Convalescent Garden... doodling on the bridge with charcoal. Maybe life here is a rare chance for her to relax. It's not hard to understand. When I first got here, people were saying a Reunion hammer-wielder had infiltrated the landship... but all I was thinking about was that I finally had a place I could, err, go for a light stroll.'

—Excerpt from a recorded conversation between HR and Mudrock

[Field Mission Voice Log 03]

'In a few hours, I'll be meeting with the operators from the Trieste branch to help them complete negotiations with the local famiglie.'

The nomadic city out at the edge of the barrens could be faintly seen in the distance. This was the third time Lyudmila was going to Siracusa.

The first was when she was still seven. Kal'tsit had entrusted someone to take her there, to her uncle. It seems even the all-knowing Kal'tsit can still be blindsided by unexpected factors, no matter how well-thought-out her choices are.

The second was when she split from Reunion, leading a band of brothers and sisters who didn't want to follow Nine to Victoria. Over the course of two years, Lyudmila saw them back to their hometowns, one by one. For those with no home to go back to, she found them work. Finally, she walked back to her master's house in Siracusa, as though it were all one big farewell ceremony. But what came after was hardly an ending deserving of such ceremony.

Reunion, the Truckers' Union, Ursus, Siracusa... None of them were places associated with pleasant memories to her, but when the Field Operators Department was discussing who to entrust this mission to, there were eyes that fell on her. She doesn't know why she didn't refuse.

[Field Mission Voice Log 05]

'This would be easy to settle if you just took out a few famiglia dons—problem solved. Fine, fine, I know that's not how you do things.'

The negotiating operator was murdered in broad daylight, and so the cooperation between Rhodes Island and one of the local famiglie was all for naught. The other famiglie were very satisfied with this state of affairs, and their alliance of convenience broke down back into their usual territorial selves. About a week later, the canceled press conference went ahead as scheduled, to the surprise of many. That dead negotiating operator was on TV, declaring that Rhodes Island had managed to reach an agreement with their partner famiglia, and that the supplies included in the deal had already been transferred. Only now did the other famiglie realize that it was all a trick, and that they had been scammed.

'—If they're out for blood, then we'll just have to do it ourselves before they get a chance. A killer without a target's not going to swing their knives around for no reason. Here, I'll show you. See? If I stab you with this collapsible knife, then the fake blood will—Ow, some got in my eye... Give me a sec. The bathroom's that way, yeah...?'

[Field Mission Voice Log 09]

'...I've run into a personal matter I gotta deal with.'

A truck driver on the streets of Trieste had noticed Lyudmila and called out her, trying to drag her back to Nuova Volsinii with him. He yammered on in excitement about how the drivers didn't want to move camp, and how City Hall was preparing to build the resettlement area in their camp. Eirene had brought Sommer's daughter to the new city too. Her condition is stable, and she's about to go to school... The chance reunion only ended after he forced Lyudmila into drinking three cans of salt soda.

She couldn't deny her own happiness right then. There's no doubt that Eirene, as head of the union, was able to grasp something during Carnevale that could change her fate. Change countless people's fates. The changes in her were clear, but the Truckers' Union never deviated from its original goal: to give the drivers better lives. She had a sudden recollection of the day she joined Reunion. The Infected were kicking about some nobles in the snow, gathering around the bonfires while eating meat and potato stew, even dreaming about how one day, they would demand an explanation from the Emperor himself, and let everyone on this great land breath freely for once. The Truckers' Union couldn't hold a candle to Reunion, but to her, they really were more alike than not: they both appeared along her path to vengeance, and thanks to some bitter experiences and some rather absurd changes, she chose to leave them both. It seems she has managed to make one big loop in life before learning something about herself: she is someone easily waylaid by hate. She should keep an eye on the one in the lead, while not completely denying the fact that her past comrades had, for a time, given her a reason to live, given her faith and flame.

[Field Mission Voice Log 11]

'Mission complete, heading back to the landship soon.'

To the most esteemed Director Kal'tsit:

Sergei hasn't shown up for several days now, and I cannot confirm if he has been arrested or not. For the sake of the institute's safety, we must be prepared. Our government contacts have begun their work, and I pray they will have good news for us. At the same time, we must send away our families, seal off the sarcophagus, copy or destroy our data... There's simply too much to do, and I may not have time to see Lyuda. If you do see her, please give her a kiss on the cheek for me.

Ever since Sophina passed away, Lyuda's hate for Chernobog has grown by the day. Staying here will only cause her to suffer more. As her closest family, I should be with her right now. But I am a selfish man. Our progress at the institute has reached a rate where I do not wish to take even a single day off to go home, slice some bread, and make breakfast for her. I truly wish I was the type of person who could give up everything in the name of science, but I love my little Lyuda so. It torments me, and makes me tarry when I should be sending her off somewhere more suited for her.

But now, Ursus has made my decision for me.

No matter if we survive this oncoming calamity or not, Director Kal'tsit, I ask you send Lyuda to Siracusa. Sophina's elder brother has an estate in a small town there, and when she was still alive, he once offered us shelter. I believe having Lyuda live there for a while is the most suitable choice. She can complete her studies in a foreign land, open herself up to the arts and sciences, become the sort of person she wants to be—a navigator who charts the course of scientific research, or a politician striving for the well-being of all.

I hope you can leave the city without any trouble, and that our research will see fruition soon, realizing both our plans and yours.

Yours, Ilia.

As the surveillance team rushed over to the landship's middle layer to turn off the alarm, Crownslayer slipped out of Dr. Kal'tsit's office. She held in her hand a letter as she waited for the team to come and subdue her. It was just like the first time she stepped aboard Rhodes Island, except she was calmer this time around.

'It's obvious that I'm not going to be a navigator or politician anymore, Papa.

'Tell Kal'tsit that when she gets back to the landship, I need to be the first to see her. She needs to tell me all the reasons why that research institute was set up, about the research itself, everything about her own history... All of Ursus's secrets. All of them.'

A Sargonian dancer whirls lithely, her white skirts brushing past the padishah's face, a deadly tail spike following soon after.

Bolívar's Viceroy drinks a toast from a glass handed to him by a Perro waiter and soon dies amidst a lavish feast.

Victoria's tyrant closes his eyes as his servant girl strangles him in his bed.

Gaul's soldiers turn their artillery on the emperor's carriage and blast it to pieces.

In the story she just finished reading, a Yanese chef grabs a fintail fresh off the stove, and thrusts the dagger hidden within into some prince's throat, fin flesh and bone included. Lyudmila closes the book, and places it back on the shelf in the reading room.

Lyudmila learned to read at a very young age, but aside from 'Truth and Justice', she hasn't actually finished many books. She couldn't really explain why she was randomly flipping through a book on Sargonian history in Rhodes Island's reading room, or why she was drawn to a record detailing how a dancer assassinated a padishah. Soon after, she looked for more material, finding similar tales in the histories of every nation.

A dancer, a waiter, a servant, a soldier... Most of them left behind no name, and even less of them met a happy end. But their very existence is enough to remind kings and sovereigns about one simple fact: They can play with politics, with the people, even the order of the entire nation, but even an insignificant grain of sand can become a blade hanging above their heads—a 'Crownslayer'.

Crownslayer likes these stories.