A Perilous Road

Siv! The detector's showing one more person up ahead!

Think you can hang in there?

Huff... Huff... I'm fine, let's go...

This place is way too remote, and wasn't in the area covered by the infrared detector...

I applied to advance the range one kilometer this way, and discovered a survivor nearby, but haven't pinpointed the precise location yet. Hurry, hurry...

This town is clearly within the local Catastrophe Messenger's detection range, so how did this happen?!

An earthquake of this magnitude should've had obvious signs. There's no way anyone stationed here could've missed it.

It's already been four and a half days. I'm starting to think it might be...

Besides, Rhodes Island was just passing by, and we're not at all prepared for this level of rescue operation.

Don't talk like that!

Let's go. There's still hope.

Here, right here! They should be under the rubble. Hurry up, Siv!

This is the rescue team! Do you hear me? We're from the rescue team, we're here to help you!

Can you hear me? Please answer!

......

No response. Siv, try tapping a steel pipe!

Got it.

......

Any response?

None... And we weren't assigned a life-detector. Is there a better way of confirming the exact location? There were survivors before who just didn't have the strength to respond. Maybe I should apply for a—

Ugh... It'll be too late by then. Plus, there's no guarantee they even have any to spare. We'll do this the old-fashioned way. Listen carefully—even the scratching of fingernails makes a sound.

I'll try tapping the pipes over there. Or do you have any Originium Arts that can help locate them?

Haha... If I did, then I wouldn't be digging through rubble with my bare hands...

......

.........

I've knocked on this entire area and didn't get any responses.

It's been so long, and this place is so remote. Were we... too late again?

No... there's still another place up ahead. I'll go over and take a look.

!

I hear it! It's the sound of nails on pipe!

Here, over here! Hurry, Siv!

I'm coming! ...Gah! Hiss...

Careful! Take a break if you can't handle it anymore!

I'm fine, I can keep going. We've got a life to save!

Can you hear me? We're from the rescue team, we're here to help you!

Here, let's move this board out of the way. Careful not to hurt yourself. Three, two, one!

Hnngh!

We should still have some saline solution left, so let's pass it down with a hose.

There's saline water on the way! Drink up, and we'll begin the rescue!

*cough*... *cough*...

It's an elderly person?

Granny?

Ugh... I thought... nobody would come...

No way! We're here for you!

Thank goodness...

I've already started scanning the structure with radar. Hold on just a little longer!

......

Granny? Granny?

.........

She's losing consciousness! We can't let her fall asleep here!

I'll handle the scan. Head over and keep her awake!

Granny, Granny? Don't go to sleep just yet, let's have a little chat first!

......

It's dangerous to fall asleep right now. Wake up, and we'll talk, okay?

......

How many days has it been...?

...Um, two! Two days! We were nearby and came as soon as we could! Everything will be okay!

Ngh...

My grandson... Have you seen my grandson?

(Have you seen him? Any young kids?)

(No, I haven't...)

Granny, we're divided into teams who are all responsible for different areas. Maybe another team has already taken him to safety. We'll have a look after we get you out of here!

My grandson... is a little troublemaker...

I don't know where he's run off to...

Don't you worry, I'm sure he's just fine!

(Looks like they also raised fowlbeasts here. The coop has collapsed, and there's nothing left.)

(*Sigh*...)

Granny, your grandson must've been real lucky. Is that a fowlbeast coop I see over there? I love me some fowlbeast eggs!

Is that so... Oh my... little fowlbeasts... golden and shiny...

The eggs... are probably crushed now...

If there are any left... you can try some...

Don't worry, it'll be fine! I'm sure we can have some later!

You're the 30th person we've rescued today. We just dug through an entire house somewhere else, and rescued a whole family...

Mm... Mm...

(Is the scan done yet?)

(Here you go.)

(Is the sinking severe?)

(...It's messy.)

(The sinking's already begun over here, but the other side of the house hasn't collapsed. Probably a different soil layer. The terrain here is... complex. The seismic waves were reflected by its shape as they passed through.)

(The whole house is twisted, and if this side is demolished, the other will lose its support and collapse. It's not an option.)

(Do we seriously have to dismantle and clear out the other side first, just to ensure stability?)

(Do we have time for that...?)

(Not a chance in hell. It's too big of a job for just the two of us anyway.)

(We'll have to talk the old lady through it first, but... if we clear out what we can and think on our feet, there might still be a way.)

Huff... Huff... Ugh...

Ever seen a Lupo before, Granny?

We'll remove the stuff on top first, clean up a little, and get you out of there!

Then you'll get to see a purple Lupo with the biggest, bushiest tail there is!

You know it! Once you're out, you can pat my tail! I bet you've never seen one as big as mine!

Mm... Mm...

......

Hurry up, she can't hold out much longer.

Don't fall asleep just yet! You know, my grandma is about the same age as you... And I want to try some of those eggs too!

I've already cleared all the rubble that can be safely removed. Next I'll try propping up this beam. You think it'll be stable enough?

Three, two, one... Hup!

No good! It's already starting to loosen!

Let's try over here then!

I'll hold up the middle. Head over and chip off that half while I support the other half!

Alright, just tell me when you're reaching your limits.

Don't panic, Granny, we'll... we'll definitely to save you!

......

One more time! I'm going to knock down this section!

Nngh! So... just you wait! We'll go find your grandson once you're safe!

Keep it steady!

We've already cleared one of the beams, Granny! Hang in there!

......

Hang in there, hang in there... The beam over here, once it's cleared...

......

Granny?

......

Don't fall asleep!

......

I can't...

Two days is... a pretty long time...

......

Don't... worry about me...

No, don't say that! Keep going, Provence!

......

I...

......

.........

Can you still hear her breathing underneath? She hasn't responded for a while now...

......

It's been too long. Let's stop.

She's probably already...

No, no! No!

Provence squad? Survivors have been found near point 28, 575. Please hurry.

...We've received new coordinates. 1673, 589. One victim, about 2.7 meters deep. Heavy equipment is needed to dismantle the rubble.

We'll head straight there... Mhm, I'm fine.

......

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. We're... We're going to rescue someone else.

......

Let's go, Siv. We've got someone else to save. The team responsible for finding the casualties will come around later.

Are you okay...?

Aaaaaaaaargh!!

Aaaaaagh!

Stop it! You're not good at—

Aaaaaaaaargh!!

I'm going to dig her out!

*gasp*... *gasp*...

Urgh...

Stop, Siv! You're only destroying your own health, and it's not helping anyone! There are still so many more people to save!

No! I have to—

Aaaaaagh!

I told you, stop!

What more do you want?! Are you going to sacrifice yourself here? Nothing we do will change the situation! Don't sacrifice yourself for someone who's already dead!

We still have others to save! And until we do, your own life takes priority!

......

We need to go, now! We can't afford to fall behind!

......

The team searching for casualties will be here soon. We'll ask where the old lady ended up later, okay? There's someone else waiting for us.

Someone once told me that to save more people, you must first protect your own life.

No matter what happens, you must always value your own life... All lives are equally important, including your own.

So let's go. Together.

......

Okay...

Over here! Found another one over here!

Hang in there a bit longer! Hold onto my hand, we'll have you out soon!

Alright, you're safe now!

Your family? Don't worry, see that tent up front? All our personnel should be over there, so go take a look!

If you have any questions, you can talk to any of the operators there and they'll be glad to help you!

Don’t you worry!

It's okay, calm down. I assure you, you won't have to pay for the treatment.

Yes, yes, I guarantee it. Just sit over there and don't go running off again.

No need to be nervous. You'll be fine.

......

......

......

......

I'm too tired to even speak.

Same.

It's quiet here... Brush away the rocks and come lie down.

Ugh... Ow ow ow, my waist... Ah...

How many... did we manage to save today...?

Dunno... I feel like I can't move a muscle...

But I still find it so weird...

What's weird?

I've been thinking... We're in Victoria, right? This place is pretty remote, but the town's not exactly small, and there was supposed to be a Catastrophe Messenger here.

Uh huh...

So how did all this happen? No Catastrophe Messenger could've failed to detect a Catastrophe of this scale, even if it wasn't obvious.

No idea... Maybe they skimped on the disaster avoidance procedures...

No way... What happened here wasn't just poorly done. It's more like... there were no efforts at all.

Everyone was basically trapped in their homes. No way they'd be indoors if they knew a Catastrophe was coming.

Maybe some kind of fringe belief about accepting Catastrophes...? None of it makes any sense.

Maybe they just didn't believe what their Catastrophe Messenger had to say... That happens too, doesn't it?

Yeah, it happens... and I've been there myself. But a whole town? Never.

Ugh... So many dead...

...How could I... not know... who...

...Right now... they...

...Why... you... should have...

There are still people over there? I'll ask them to come rest with us.

Huh?

(They're not with Rhodes Island?)

(Townsfolk?)

(Not sure. Doesn't seem like it? The locals should all be recovering in the tents. What are they doing all the way out here?)

(Should we sneak a peek?)

We already got the money. What now?

Bloody hell! You're the one who said to put on a show and make it convincing! Who the hell would care if a Catastrophe Messenger wasn't at the site of the disaster? 'Struggled to evacuate everyone but couldn't make it in time' my ass, now I'm all covered in soot!

Look at what happened! The box is buried under the house. Where's the money now, huh? Under a pile of bloody rubble, that's where! You gonna go dig it up?

I...

Was it really okay to cause this big of a scene?

The hell are you talking about? Now's the best time for us to bounce! Everything's a bloody mess outside, so hurry up and dig out the money so we can leave by tonight!

Change our names, leave the country. This money should last for a while, and with so many bloody Catastrophes everywhere, there'll never be a shortage of ways to make more.

Fine...

So stop dilly-dallying and dig it up already! I'm covered head-to-toe in dust, and you expect me to do it?

(Those bastards...!)

(It's not that the townspeople didn't believe it, they weren't even warned!)

(They... got all those people killed!)

(Wait, cool your jets!)

Hold it right there!

Who the hell are you?!

That uniform... From that rescue organization...?

It doesn't matter who I am, but you're not getting out of here!

Dereliction of duty! And you call yourself a Catastrophe Messenger?!

......

Think this kid overheard us? We can't have him spilling the beans!

*Sigh*...

Provence squad here. Is this the landship? Requesting field op support at 683, 447.

Our goal is just to detain them... Don't go overboard.

Provence, we finished our investigation...

......

What's wrong? You don't look so good.

So, you're already aware of what happened.

Here's the rub: the Catastrophe Messenger DID report this... to the nobles. If that's true, the only error is that many people who should've been taking refuge died instead.

But as you know, nobles... don't exactly care about human lives, as long as there are enough left to collect taxes from.

And these two scumbags are on the nobles' side. If they grease the right palms, they might even be spared from legal action.

We're leaving the day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning. We only stopped here for the rescue operation, and we don't have the luxury of getting involved in some drawn-out court case.

...So you're saying that's it? We should just give up, because there's a chance we might not get the outcome we want?

No... That's not what I'm saying.

Why do you have to make me feel like the bad guy here?

I REALLY don't want hear that from you.

There was no need for any of those people to lose their lives. Not a single one should've died! I, I...

......

Suing them is one thing, but I've seen their victims with my own eyes... Those people who should not have died...

If we just walk away, how are we supposed to make those bastards pay for this? For all the lives they snatched away?

I get where you're coming from... But we'll still be bringing a case against them.

We've already prepared the documents, but there's no telling what the result might be. And we can't afford to wait either, just for the sake of intervening in a process that we're far from sure will produce a favorable outcome.

So you're telling us to not get our hopes up...

I suppose I've been naive about this from the start.

......

What's the point of even filing it then? Forget the death penalty, they'll probably get away with a small payment and a slap on the wrist. It'll mean nothing to them, and make us look like fools.

Damn it all! All those people, dying for nothing!

*Sigh*...

I know it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Let's not overthink this and focus on what we CAN do.

Let me see those documents. We're leaving the morning after, right?

Around 10 AM.

Alright.

I won't be leaving with you then.

What will you do...?

Only what I should do... What I can do.

Excuse me, sir, are you the judge here? I'm Provence, Rhodes Island Operator—

—Don't bother me!

Can't you see we're busy with repairs here?!

I know, but it's really important and—

I told you not to bother me!

I... Eh...?

Hello, is anyone here? I'm Provence, Rhodes Island Operator.

Hello?

Nobody's in, huh...

She left. Don't open the door for strangers at times like these! You never know what kind of misfortune you might invite!

Thank you so much for letting me in. These are Rhodes Island's documents regarding the Catastrophe. We wanted to file an action against the Catastrophe Messenger Whelan...

Ah!

......

File for legal action? With me? Matters concerning Catastrophe Messengers should be brought to the High Court, and it's up to their discretion whether to...

I know, I know, but can you hear me out first? Just take a look at these documents, please!

...I suppose I can do that.

So there's the situation. We're holding two of them at Rhodes Island for now, but we don't have the right to detain them indefinitely. Besides, we're leaving the day after tomorrow.

If this is turned over to the High Court, the nobles might just refuse to even hear it. This is brought up in the documents as well—the case may well be left without a conclusion.

Exploiting Catastrophes to make money, trampling over peoples' lives, knowing the horrors to come yet deliberately not informing people—only truly vile people would do these things!

To him this was simply a way to make money. If he cannot be punished under the law, in a situation we can control, who knows how many more murders he will go on to commit?

I understand.

But... even if I do file the case at the local level, once it's submitted up the chain, it may inevitably end up...

I'll inform the townspeople! I'll get in touch with the locals, and even people from neighboring towns! I'll take care of all that!

Fine...

Alright, I'll see what I can do. Given the situation... I can apply for a higher court to accept the case after about half a month.

Thank you so much, Mr. Tal! I'll go hand the culprits over to a security guard. Please, send me a Messenger as soon as you get a follow-up!

Here's the temporary shelter for the townspeople we rescued...

Sorry for bothering you, everyone, but I have an announcement to make!

What's the matter?

Oh, it's the purple lass! She rescued me with one of her buddies!

I am a Catastrophe Messenger and one of the Rhodes Island operators involved in the rescue operation. The earthquake was indeed a Catastrophe, but the local Catastrophe Messenger failed to inform you!

What?

Instead, he took advantage of it—and your very lives—to make money. Yesterday, he was going to flee with the cash in hand!

What?!

Where is he now?!

We'll kill the bastard!

Judge Tal will be reviewing the case, but the nobles may let it go unresolved in order to help the two criminals escape the reach of the law. Therefore, I would like to ask this of all of you—

Can we work together to keep the nobles from interfering in this case?

Alright! You saved my life, lassie. Whatever you say, we're behind you!

But how is that even possible...? How can we get the nobles to listen to us?

Lass! Do you think we'll have enough people?

What if I recruited people from other towns too?

Maybe... but even that might not be enough to persuade the nobles!

Yeah. When have they ever lifted a finger for us?

I... I'll do whatever I can!

This is the center of town.

Hello? Excuse me, I'm from the next town over...

What? I'm busy right now, so scram!

The neighboring town was just hit by a Catastrophe...

Catastrophes, huh? Yeah, we get plenty around here too! Lost half the town to one. Thought we'd never seen one before?

I know! And they can be avoided, but because of the Catastrophe Messenger—

Whatever, I've heard enough. I told you, I don't have time for this!

......

Excuse me, the neighboring town suffered a terrible tragedy because their Catastrophe Messenger hid the truth from them. We hope you can support us in preventing the nobles from interfering with the case...

Is that supposed to be a joke? Where's the punchline?

No, I'm serious! We're planning to escalate the case, so if you're—

You wish.

Yes, so that's what happened... Please, are you able to help us? We really need all the help we can get...

Thank you so much! Here's my contact information; I'll be reaching out in about half a month!

Thank you so much!

Hello, I was wondering...

Sorry to bother you, but...

Thank you so much! I'll be contacting you in about half a month!

Provence! There's a letter for you!

Coming!

I wonder who'd be writing me...

......

Take a look at this.

What?

Remember that town that suffered an earthquake? They sent a letter.

......

They did it... They...

They really did it?

Yeah... They really did it.

Really? They got the sentence?

I... *sob*...

I never thought... I didn't think it was possible, but you...

Stop bawling your eyes out already. Here, a handkerchief.

*sob*... Ugh, th-thank you...

Is this the reason you were away from the landship for so long, Provence?

More or less. It wasn't quick, that's for sure...

I never knew... I, I've been wallowing in misery, but you...

I'm such a letdown.

Don't say that. Practically speaking, we couldn't really intervene in what happened afterwards.

But call this my own selfishness. I just couldn't leave things hanging like that.

And even if we did manage to secure some kind of justice... It's still too late for those who already suffered in the Catastrophe.

......

Ugh, but that's enough of that! Let's pay a visit to that Granny's grave some time.

I'd like to put some yellow rocks in front of her resting place... to remind her of all those little fowlbeasts she raised...

Mhm, let's do that then. I'm sure she'd be happy.