Warming Up

Soldier, you're in my way.

Is this your prophecy for me, Lord Hemetto?

N-No, this is just my request, soldier.

Then I shall comply.

I am Mockingbird. I have a question, and I would like your answer to it.

Oh? What question?

What do I have to do to stop the pointless civil war in Nebu?

What?

What do I have to do to...

I heard you, I heard you.

Interesting.

I have met many, many people as a Diviner, but you are the first to ask me for advice on the important matter of the alliance.

Is Divination omnipotent to you?

Someone told me that you might hold the answers I seek.

This is not the place to talk about it. Come with me.

This is a secret passage only known to my close friends. Come in.

An open-air tavern? Is this place secure?

Safe? Nah. There is no safe place in this world for me. It's just that whatever I say here, nobody outside would take seriously.

Because I'm drunk.

I understand.

Let's say you do understand.

Before I answer your question, I'd like to confirm one thing. How much of Nebu's civil war do you understand?

I have visited Lord Ifurito and Lord Wadjet. As tribal Celestials, they both had reasons to go to war.

...Looks like you did do your homework.

But you overlooked a very important thing, and that is the former leader Nile's abdication.

It is no exaggeration to say that the civil war was single-handedly brought about by the former leader.

Why?!

Because the Second Northern Campaign was doomed to fail from the start.

To most of the soldiers, the enemy in the Northern Campaign was just Bifrost Industries. We didn't need to occupy the whole of Bifrost, we just wanted our sacred land.

But in reality, the Northern Campaign was a declaration of war on all the other factions! All of them! The Empire, Eastrise, Bifrost, all of them.

If that's the case, why did they launch the Second Northern Campaign?

Because Nebu needed a change.

Outside of Nebu, everyone else was researching Echo Crystals, restoring production, and working to adjust to a world full of Echo Crystal Corrosion.

But Nebu was different. The priests worshipped the Echo Crystal like a god, and didn't allow anyone to study them.

Nile's target is the priests?

What I'll tell you next is just my own speculation, and you are free to believe me, or not. It makes no difference.

The former leader Nile launched a war that was doomed to be lost for one purpose only, and that was to destroy the priestly hierarchy that was an obstruction to the development of Nebu. Nile was determined to do so at all costs.

To that person, a mere thing such as civil unrest would not shake the foundation of the nation as long as the stubborn priests do not restrict Nebu.

Pffft. The incompetent one lost the battle and pushed the priests out to deal with the fallout.

Someone's actually trying to clean up the trashy name of this garbage leader?

Why are there discordant notes everywhere?

Phew, much quieter.

What did you look for me for? Oh right, solving problems.

Actually, there is actually a way to solve Nebu's current conflict.

What?

Benefit.

If you can get more than war profits, then there won't be any war.

Hang on. It might be the drunkards who just hurt me.

I've got to heal myself first.

Benefit? What benefit is greater than becoming the leader of the alliance?

This is not a question you should ask me. You're a veteran of war. Ask yourself.

Ask yourself what the reason for the Second Northern Campaign could be.

You just said that it was to break free of the restrictions imposed by the priests. No, wait, that was the purpose. The reason is... the sacred lands, Don River Valley!

Correct.

If you can convince those iron lumps in Bifrost and the alliance to work together to develop Don River Valley, then the question becomes who shall lead the alliance on this end.

Brute force is meaningless when it comes to a test of faith.

So that's it! If you know that this can solve the unrest, why didn't you try to do it?

Why should I do it?

The civil war will not destroy Nebu. It is just the pain Nebu must go through to grow.

...I see. I'll do it.

What?

Y-You? No, you're too weak.

These guys are elite soldiers of the Golden Marsh Tribe. The ones who started a fight earlier are no match for them. How about you exchange a few blows with them?

...I am injured and cannot engage in strenuous combat.

Lord Hemetto, we didn't anger you, did we?

Be at ease. Altercations with drunkards in this place are a daily thing.

We attack together.

Your condition...?

I was injured. It's fine, it's nothing serious.

You can't go on like this. You can't go to Bifrost! Even if you can, she might not agree to meet with you.

But...

Don't get anxious. I'm not stopping you. You just need people that can help you.

So, have you guys heard enough?

Huh? What?

Don't play dumb. I know you are Nile's subordinate. You've been eavesdropping for quite a while so you should reply, yes?

Well, I can't hide from the Diviner. You can leave the escort work to us. We'll take Mockingbird to Bifrost.

Um... Lord Hemetto?

It won't be easy at all to get to Bifrost. They will be able to help you.

This is also Lord Nile's wish.

This... Thank you. I will be sure to bring you good news.

It'll be good enough if you come back alive.

You guys are veterans of the Second Northern Campaign after all, so protect her. Don't let her die.

So are we just going to send her to Bifrost? Or bring her back in one piece?

That depends on what the person you serve wants.

Lord Hemetto, someone's looking for you.

For me? Who?

It's us.

...We're back.

Judging by the looks on your faces, it's bad news.

Yes?

What happened here?

Why didn't Mockingbird return with you?

...

Who was responsible? Bifrost?

Mockingbird was received by General Mori. She firmly refused Mockingbird's proposal, but without hostility.

Mockingbird died from a Raspartan assassination attempt.

Raspartans?

The Bifrost person said that the assassin had hit Mockingbird, and Mockingbird was poisoned.

Mockingbird's body also had an old wound left by Wadjet. The toxin was added to the injury, and although the Bifrost people managed to expel the toxin...

Rasparta, Wadjet...

I see...

...

...

And then?

There is no more. Your mission is complete.

You're not going to react to the death of a child who was willing to fight for peace?

What does it have to do with me?

You instigated that child!

What are you talking about?

You! You caused that child's death!

You bunch of cowards.

From Nebu to Bifrost, and entire continent away, and you didn't discover the old wound caused by Wadjet? And you're pointing fingers at me here?

Trash.

...

You guys are veterans who've been in two campaigns, and those who don't know any better think you're impressive.

What is the reality? The two Northern Campaigns were getting worse. Don't you think it was because of you guys?

You guys don't even want to admit that you can't do anything.

We...

Let's stop here.

Your motley crew will be useless in avenging Mockingbird.

...

That child didn't tell you about the injury. She must have suffered so much while traveling.

What a naive and gentle child.

This makes me want to predict when the civil war will end.

I wonder what price must be paid now.

Why is my photo missing?

Did any one of you take my photo?

What photo?

And you guys took more than one?!

Damn you!

No...

Speak! Where did you put the photo?!

We didn't take it! We cleaned up your room, so tell us what photo you're looking for!

...Is that how it is? Sorry then.

I was looking for the photo of Mockingbird. The one used for identification and proof of old wounds after her death.

The photo of Mockingbird? No, I didn't see it when I was cleaning the room. I thought you carried it with you.

Huh? I left it at home! A thief won't have the guts to steal it from me, right?

Investigate! Find it!

Did you find it?

Yes, when you went drinking the day before, Lord Ifurito of the Kasi Tribe came to visit.

She was the one who took the photo, but she's given it to Nephthys already.

Nephthys? Why her?

You should drink less. Mockingbird was a soldier of Nephthys.

Oh? Was there such a thing? Ah, my head.

Never mind, forget it. Since Nephthys took it, I'll let her have it.