MN-7 Mieszko Group

...The match started already.

I've got to... mm?

Wait, why is my sword here?

Ah, Miss Maria brought it over earlier.

She said she already gave it some adjustments, too. She guarantees it should be like new.

......

Byah—!

Mm... light and limber. I've missed this feeling.

P-Please be careful! Oh, my, you've broken the balustrade again! We just had the stonesmith repair that in the Victorian style last year...

Oh, you may as well just have someone renovate the whole place. In fact, you're in charge of that.

Really, another one of your whims?

As long as someone can live in it...

......

Miss?

...Ah, no, I just... feel like I miss something, suddenly.

This sword... Maria's grandfather gave it to me.

Miss Maria calls you an aunt, doesn't she?

Family hierarchy is one unending wordy mess. I still remember how Margaret put it—'This is your... your... you know what, she's your auntie.'

I'm only about as old as them, aren't I? Really—auntie?

You're very young. So young, and managing such a family enterprise. We take great pride in you, Miss Zofia.

I snapped up all this land in one breath. Oh, back then, was I thinking I'd prove myself as well? Prove myself worthy of the 'Nearl' name, maybe? Worthy of the Radiant Knight...

No... now's no time to pine for the past.

The car is all ready for you. Or do you think running there yourself might be faster?

I think that's obvious—

Just like a hunter toying with his prey, the Left-hand Knight keeps letting his foe gather herself and try again, and each time, he strikes Maria Nearl back down!

......

Marcin! We're back! How's it going?!

Why's Maria up against someone at that goddamned level? Has the Association gone mad?!

That'll be a long story... Are those kids safe?

For the moment, can say that much. But they already got legal knighthood stripped right off them. Pfeh.

Never thought I'd see things get so goddarned out of hand...

Ashlock, Flametail, two other Infected knights without titles, and all the Infected they bought back from the arenas using everything they had...

Fighters! And the people toying with those Infected for fun—for god's sakes, they're all children! Their oldest was only twenty! Youngest was barely—!

......

Even if they hid themselves in the pipelines, just one full day in city bounds and their safety'd be out the window. Not to mention the crowd we have now.

I got some old friends to look after them, but the Infected are Infected, still. Wish things'd be simple as that.

...We're not just picking a fight with the companies, now.

Scared?

Scared?! Wasn't even scared when the Ursus were holding spears to my mouth! I'm a goddamned Ursus myself!

Fiddlesticks! When'd the Craftsmen ever get off those city walls?

Huh?! Instead of running up there, you think we should've just sat in the smithy and let the catapult smash all of us flat too?

......

...Maria can't win this.

Aye. The Maria we know facing a foe like that, just ain't no way she'll win.

No, not that there's no way. I mean she just can't.

Knights Association have played their hand too hard now. Add in that rotten Czarny popping up, and there's no way it can go ahead that simple.

Nnh...!

(My... my arm's about to dislocate... his spear—I can't get close at all—)

(—No, even if I did, there's still no way I'd win... what do I do...?)

...Up.

Continue.

(Grit my teeth, and get up.) Nngh...

On the verge of toppling? You really are the image of your 'family knighthood,' struggling for breath.

Up. Continue. The best way to stamp out a knight is to stamp out her dignity.

He taunts! He taunts, over and over! A look of disdain and victory in one, aimed square at his opponent! 'Left-hand' Tytus will make your blood run cold!

Now the prize pool's leaning completely one way, and the odds and figures are both out of control! Don't blink, but the money right now's gotta be on par with every other arena in Kazimierz combined!

Hey! Give it all you've got, Nearl! If you pull it outta the bag somehow, I'll win enough to buy a whole castle!

Are you nuts? How much money did you put on her?

—I put down even more on Left-hand! But I'm making nothing the way this is going, so I'm just hedging my bets a little!

Hgghh... hah... hah...

......

A visionary without a vision... wants to be a knight too.

I won't kill you. Forfeit. The times of old will not fade for having done so. Abandon this, and you abandon only yourself.

Are you... sympathizing with me?

—Correct. As you do not deserve for me to treat you as a knight.

......

I've seen footage of your fights. From Szewczyk, through the race, the melee...

I went out of my way to observe 'the Nearl family's new knight,' and every lucky victory of yours was a personal affront to me—look at you. You had the gall to waste my time like this?

Ughh—!

Stand firm, Maria Nearl. I will tell you the worlds that separate you and the Radiant Knight.

Her shining light could drown her opponent's will. Her sheer passion made me tremble. Her sheer talent made others envy her.

And you—victory against you is trivial. I will extinguish your resolve, to a pile of ash.

Airtime! Tytus has once against sent Maria's weapon flying!

Oh, man, this loop of devastation is too much bear, but no problem! The arena isn't just to let flesh and blood fly—it lets knights go on a rampage of pure strength!

Taunting! Pressuring! Destroying! This is 'Left-hand' Tytus, mercilessly disposing of the weak!

(So forceful...! And my shield split apart?! This is the one Margaret left!)

(Traces of Arts on the edge of his blade—his Arts—)

Ugh!

The Radiant Knight had not the Black Knight's strength, nor the Blood Knight's menace. She went against the lowest tier of the Major, and became champion by no more than a fluke—

—Even if I console myself so, I still know deeply the chasm that separated us. Against her, I have only pity for you, seeing your weakness.

I might not... compare to my sister...

But I am still—a Nearl family knight!

...Eyesore.

(One flick of his hand—?!)

Enough! Insult me no longer with the Arts you used on Ingra!

Ungh... ugh...

Do not rise again. No matter your armor's resilience, your pain must be excruciating.

......

You silently raise your arm again. Your tenacity at least deserves recognition.

Sorry, sorry—make way, make way!

I can finally see her...

...Maria.

......!

What now? You have not even the energy to speak?

......

Your breaths come wild, your stance is empty... what path to victory could you even speak of?

What—mnph.

Right now, this arena... is host to a once-in-a-lifetime event!

She gets knocked down, and she gets up, again and again! That spark of light still hasn't left the eyes of the audience! It's as if it's taken root in the smeared blood and soil of the arena!

That one spark of light—! Just like a candle lit in the night! Under the ever more oppressive onslaught of Tytus, a man who lives to crush the will of his opponents—

—It's still alive!

Haahh... haaahh...

You... stand once again. You...

I see. The most miniscule Arts to heal your wounds, never running out, all the while looking for weaknesses—

—Does it feel good? Enduring your flesh on the verge of collapse for so long?

Hah... hah... no, I'm fine...

Stubborn.

Nothing more than a parlor trick.

She—she blocks! It's the first time she's done it! Maria has blocked Tytus's attack!

What... did my blade glance...?

No, it was dead on... but you're hitting—a lot less hard.

You... you have to get tired too, Tytus...

I do?

......

Certainly... I have wasted far too much time on you.

Let me end this.

He hit again—!

The flow's completely changed... Who knows what'll happen now...

Gugh...

Hmph. I know all your little tricks now. No reason to cede you a single chance more.

(Too fast—)

He! Gives! No! Quarter!

A relentless rush! Not letting Nascent Nearl catch her breath! Will this finally put out that last spark of light?!

Can that girl... even hold on anymore? This match's boring now, I'm done...

...That one's Maria Nearl, right...? Margaret's little sister?

Really? I've been coming to the Majors for two years now, and she's nowhere on the same level.

But when they flip the script, that's what's worth seeing, isn't it?

I mean...

Maria!

Maria! Stand up straight!

......

Grandpa...

'Fear neither hardship nor darkness...'

Margaret...?

'To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land...'

——!

...One second later, and you may have been freed from this meaningless battle. Why stand up?

......

Uncle Młynar... was wrong.

What?

It wasn't at all... It was only a sigh...

Mph—

And suddenly, a burst of light! What in the world just happened?! Are we gonna have to give out free sunglasses next time—?!

This is the first time the Left-hand Knight Tytus has backed off! There's Arts! No doubt about it, this is Maria Nearl's own Arts! Is she using Arts to turn the tables at the last minute?!

Ooooh! There's been a small tremor in Maria's figures! But even still, the odds are just astounding! The numbers are rivalling corporate donations, now! Would you look at this prize pool?!

......

The Radiant Knight...

...No, only a pale shadow of an imitation.

You... you will pay dearly for this act of contempt.

Maria—!

You can do it! Go, Nearl!

Hey! Maria Nearl! You can do it!

Maria! Stay focused—! Beat him into the ground!

The cheers! Everyone out there is cheering for Maria, now!

But even then—! Tytus still has free rein to walk the arena!

You...

(Blocked it!)

And the tale keeps twisting! They're both spent, but she's actually made a massive comeback!

Ladies! And! Gentlemen! Keep your eyes right on the prize, whether it's the marvelous match or the extravagant prize pool! It's all shaped up to be the most worthwhile event of the season yet!

Let's see more coin and more screams! Gotta let your knights know just how hyped you are!

You—you have the nerve to block my attacks! Leaning on your puny smattering of Arts?!

Arrogant. I hate the arrogant. I loathe them.

It is readily apparent that Tytus could have won this. His vision tunneled on trampling the Nearls' dignity. This middling, neglectful means of combat always tends to offer the other side an advantage.

I-I see...

After all, she is the Radiant Knight's sister, and the granddaughter of a certain 'Nearl.' Hah. My past self could've only pictured that fear-inspiring old lout upon hearing the name 'Nearl.'

Such is the decline of the knightly family, it would make one weep. Compared to the corporate, a knightly family's dreary class conflicts truly are so fragile.

The Association controls the entire noble class, now...

And so we control the Knights Association.

......

We just... received word from a lot of our sponsors... They want the Left-hand Knight to end the battle ASAP...

They're worried that Tytus will lose. But there is no harm in him losing. The sticking point is how hot that topic is, and on that, I am very much satisfied.

You, um, think so?

Mm... he is the commander of the Blade Helmet Knightclub. Arrogant, believes the universe revolves around himself. But he is undeniably strong, and sublime in the art of torturing his enemy's will to fight.

In all previous competitions, he relished his opponents kneeling in surrender. And so...

He is sure to lose.

Huh?

Haahh... haaahh...

(No, need to be steady... can't stand upright... just, stay like this... and breathe...)

Enough!

Maria—!

(Maria... should've long since reached her limit... Even in her duel with Ingra, she never got hit this bad...)

—You've shed your blood for this! Grit your teeth, Maria!

Win!

Humiliating... I've wasted my time humoring nothing but trash...

Will you beg for my mercy only once I have crippled you?

You're just like 'Whislash' was—prepare yourself!

Now—!

You... block me again?!

You utter—

——

......?!

N-Now that's no coincidence! Maria's once again blocked the Left-hand Knight's onslaught! What's going on?! Could Tytus be toying with the already cornered Nearl!?

......

...Good. Very good. I don't know what you're thinking... but no matter. I will crush every speck of your light to dust.

Come.

Look closely, y'all! This is the first time the Left-hand Knight's ever taken that stance! The first time he's ever let his opponent pull one over on him!

Even against Nascent Nearl, don'tcha think this is a little extreme?! No! Anyone who knows Tytus knows it's not! All his fans here in the arena know the score!

But he's really hit his head against it today! Maria's resolve hasn't wavered one bit! I've gotta admit, folks, the way she's hanging in there, even I'm shedding a couple tears!

Listen up! Everyone who supports Maria Nearl gets an entry in a post-match lottery! Your chance to win is a lofty 0.2%! Who wants to be the lucky one?!

......

......

......

...Maria Nearl, for what reason did you join the Major? Glory? Wealth? Or was it your family?

For... myself.

......

Nothing more... Mr. Tytus.

...Hmph.

An instant's feint. Arts focused on your shield. You really do... have the blood of a pegasus... tch.

You fought a radiant fight, Nearl...

We've just had—the lengthiest duel of this entire season—! And the one who fell was none other than 'Left-hand' Tytus Topola!

Who could've seen this coming—! I ask you! Who could've seen this coming?!

Completely unreal odds and titanic prize money—hey, show us those numbers, now—this is enough to start your own little business!

A miracle—! No doubt about it, this is a miracle! Maria Nearl! The Nearl family has brought us a miracle once again!

(What now?)

Hfff...

(I can't... I can't stand—)

Maria!

A... Auntie?

Maria... Maria...

A-Auntie Zofia... let go, let go, it hurts...

Oh, sorry... did you break a bone??

Mm-hm... but it's no big deal...

Maria... I'm sorry... I might've been too harsh on you before.

You're just like your sister. You're a knight, and you should be able to choose your own path—

...No...

Maria...?

I might... really be nothing like my sister.

...Maria won. That match'll have been broadcast on every terminal in the four cities.

......

But... it's not that simple. You gotta help her, Młynar.

Truly a miracle. If you're so worried for Maria, why ask me to help her, and her to give up on her idiotic path to knighthood?

Młynar!

That's enough... If the spokesmen and the Knights Association are to directly intervene, I won't have a single hand to lend...

This is precisely why I was opposed to Maria becoming a competition knight in the first place.

Maria decided to do this for her family, y'know.

Nobody ever asked her to... Don't give me those self-righteous excuses.

There are times when responsibility makes a burden. For the sake of a life lived clearer, we should all be a little smarter.

Młynar, you...

—If this is all you came to tell me, you can go now. I have other things to deal with. I'm still not done yet with some files the Director wanted...

...I thought you were down in a slump, Młynar.

Don't be presumptuous, Marcin.

Yeah. Maybe you're right. You've really disappointed us all, Młynar.

And the same for all of you.

If you can't even bring yourself to care for Maria's safety... then we'll look after old Nearl's granddaughter for him.

You're leading her to ruin and you know it clear as day.

Wasted my breath... go on, pretend I never came, then.

...Any trouble those two sisters make should be theirs to sort out.

...How long do we have to keep hiding, Sona?

Don't rush it, jeez...

We can't stop... we don't want any of our Infected here to starve. And we already lost one we could've saved.

Heading back to the arena's too risky, though. Dunno how the National Council feels about us, either...

National schmational... I don't there's any justice in Kazimierz anymore. Not even in the law.

But we can't let ourselves forget we're all in the right. It's not our fault if they say right's wrong. The problem is if the National Council comes in to say we're guilty, then we lose. Just like the Radiant Knight.

But, hey... haha, their minds must be blown. Honestly, I did NOT expect it either... What do you think they'll do next?

Think they'll be watching all the Infected now? The ones we bought and freed...

...It's all been one game. Die to the arena, or die to some assassin's arrow. No difference.

Hahaha. You got that right.

But let's just hold out a biiiit longer. No reason to get Nearlie and all her people wrapped up in our stupid underground fight.

...Alright. I'm gonna trust that you have a plan.

Who the hell knows? We've been doing this dumbass tightrope act since the beginning.

Aren't you scared, Ashley?

Sona!

We're not the sort of people to run into some resistance and think twice about it. Remember all we did just to get some titles... and the blood we spilled for them.

...You're right, you're right. I'm thinking too hard.

Yeah, you are... long as we're together, long as we've got a pair of fists to fight back with, we're golden.

Man, you're getting better and better at talking all the time. Where'd that 'Ashen Curse' go again?

......

Oop. You mad now?