Episode 5 Chapter 10S: Connection

H-Hey... Umm...

Well...

Hm?

Are you okay? You look like you have something to say...

Just say it, Abigail. It's okay.

Aha, I got it! I know what you've been trying to say!

Let me guess. You wanna say how you feel about our little Swifty here...

...

Ehh?

N-No! It's nothing like that...

Unfortunately, Swifty is off the marke...

Aghh! What was that for!

Ugh, I thought you were getting better, but you haven't changed a bit! You're just as clueless and loud as ever!

What did you just call me?

Don't fight on the street.

People are looking.

Abigail would like to formally invite all of you to the villa.

Yes, I want to have you all over for dinner before you leave for Ritania.

I realized I haven't properly thanked you for saving my sister...or apologized for causing all that trouble...

But...

Don't think too much of it.

She's inviting you to stay in the guest room for a few days and have dinner together while you're all there.

Isn't it too soon for Melissa? She hasn't even fully recovered yet.

I'll do the cooking and receiving guests. So don't worry, Haste.

Thanks for your concern, though.

All right.

We have to go to a port in Southern Equilibria to catch a ferry anyway. Her villa is on the way, so it would be nice to stay there for a few days.

An astute point.

Then it's settled. Let's go, everyone!

No, you guys go ahead first.

Eh?

Mr. Eligos...?

There are some personal matters I need to take care of.

I'll join you in a couple of days, so don't worry, all right? And don't even think about following me either.

Veronica's body has...disappeared?

Long story short, yes.

...Then let's hear the long version. What happened?

Don't tell me...she wasn't reborn as a Vampire, was she?

Truth be told, some of us had the same suspicion.

Of course, they lack sufficient knowledge about Vampires or the analytical skills to make that deduction...

...Hmm.

I-In any case, that hypothesis is wrong. Transforming someone into a Vampire requires immense power.

Even a mighty Vampire Lord would be bedridden for a few days if they used such demanding blood magic, but Kane looked far from it.

And, above all...

Huge footprints were left next to her body. Huge, as in those of a beast.

The footprints of a beast...

I need to take a look at them myself.

So it's the Beast of Anguish.

...You already know of it.

I remember any opponent I've encountered at least once.

These footprints continue to the other side... If we hurry, I think we could catch up with them.

Well, you see...

I'm afraid the Slayers need to return to the fort first. We have injured comrades that need to be treated, and...

I know. And you don't have many food supplies left.

Right, so it's best to come back here after regrouping and forming a search party, but then...

Then we could lose the beast's tracks.

...

I'll tell you what, Bernard. You go back to the fort, but leave me a three-day supply of food.

I'll go and find Veronica's body.

Th-Thank you, Eligos!

How much would the request cost? It's not something I can just decide on my own...

Ah, I'm doing it out of my own volition, not as a request.

I have an old friend I'm indebted to, but it's hard to meet him now. So I decided to return the favor to Veronica instead.

This is just my conjecture, one of many untested hypotheses.

Go on.

Umm...

I heard that there's a special type of blood magic Vampire Lords can use.

It allows you to transfer your soul to another body. Of course, there are several tricky conditions to meet, not to mention a high failure rate.

Transferring...souls?

It won't work on just anybody; it has to be someone of the same bloodline as you. Another record says the more closely related you are, the more likely it is to work.

But Vampire Lords already have a near immortal body, so they have no reason to take the risk of changing bodies.

Perhaps that's why there are no records of the magic being practiced in real life.

But it could be a different story for the Beast of Anguish.

Yes, that's exactly...

What I'm worried about.

Escaping the prison of the cursed beast's body and taking over their descendant's body...?

It may sound like an oxymoron, but if their "Human" side is still intact...

It makes sense for it to be plotting something like this.

Ugh... I'm freezing...

Come on, it's not that bad.

We're almost at the northeastern edge of the land.

We've come that far?

Yes, it's safe to say we've traveled across the continent.

Incredible.

Who would've thought some country bumpkins from Wetheric Moor would journey across Erasia?

Excuse me? Let me remind you, we've been to Cidonia too.

When did... Ah, that's right. Yeah, I remember now.

You should pay more attention to your company.

...We brought you the Golden Cocoa Cookie from the trip too.

Yeah, it was really tasty. You should've bought lots of it.

We could only buy a limited amount because it was a seasonal item. And those were really expensive!

By the way, is there a village nearby?

No, we're in one of the least developed areas in Erasia.

So it's going to be another night sleeping in the forest...

Captain, how much longer do we need to do this?

...

Why are we after the Beast of Anguish?

If we could just know why we're after it...

Come on, enough whining, and let's get moving.

It'll certainly help warm up your bodies.

...Captain.

...Hmm?

No, nothing.

You sure? You look like you have something to say to me.

No.

Ah, you're driving me nuts! Just say it.

Ever since I first met you...I've had the impression that you hold a lot of secrets.

Me? A lot of secrets?

Umm... Dingo, you said your first impression of him was that he'd make the perfect ingredient for your cookin...

They're two different things.

...So I'm the best ingredient who holds a lot of secrets?

Well, you were extremely secretive back then.

That's... I didn't tell you things because they didn't really concern you, not because I was hiding them from you. Besides...

Would you have believed me if I had told you that I was a Vampire and a former Shadow Knight who was banished...?

You got a point there.

...How about now? Are you not telling us the reason we're after the Beast of Anguish...

Because it doesn't really concern us?

Well... That's...

It's not because you want to use it as an ingredient for food, right?

...No.

I mean, it's not that I didn't tell you the reason on purpose because I thought it didn't concern you.

...

...Okay.

It's just because I feel like I'm not mentally ready for it yet.

I haven't decided what I am going to do...when we meet.

...The footprints disappeared...? That's weird.

Ahh, found them. So the beast is headed that way.

...

It's clear he's tracking the beast's footprints.

Bernard and the Slayers seem to have retreated to the fort, but why is he...

Especially by himself, after sending all of us ahead?

I'll find out soon if I keep following hi...

Ah!

He disappeared!

Did he notice I was on his tail...? But there's no way.

I completely hid my presence. I'm sure I didn't make a sound either.

It's just bad luck, Coli.

M-Mr. Eligos!

You managed to follow me up until this point without getting caught? No wonder you're called the silent assassin. But...

I picked up your scent when the wind direction changed for a second.

...How do you know my...

Well, we've been working together side by side for years now. Of course, I recognize your scent.

I see.

Where's the rest of the gang?

It's just me.

Hmm... Why?

Why did you decide to follow me all alone instead of joining the others on the way to Bloodrose Villa?

...I was worried.

I thought something might have happened to you.

Tsk... Can't believe you were worried for no reason.

Actually...everyone was quite concerned about you. Well, except Haste.

...What did he say?

He just said... "Maybe Eligos would like some alone time."

...

All right, you can go back now, Coli. I'm taking care of personal matters here.

Then it's also my personal matter to accompany you from this point on.

What are you talking about?

I'm currently completing Cidd's request.

He promised he'd leave me alone for a month if I bring you back to Bloodrose Villa without a scratch.

You two...

Fine, but follow me quietly.

Haha, that's what I do best.

So you saw a large animal passing by?

It was huge.

You'd have to be blind to miss something like that. It was that big.

When I first saw it from a distance, I thought my heart was going to stop...but I snapped out of it quickly and hid behind a rock.

You mean, that rock?

That's right!

I was scared half to death, praying to every god I know that it wouldn't notice me. But then it was probably in a hurry or something. It just ran off without even looking around.

Which way did it go?

That way.

As we thought, Mr. Eligos. It didn't change directions or anything.

So it seems.

Ah, and...is there anything else you want to tell us about that day? Perhaps the beast had something in its mouth...

Mmm...

Come to think of it...I think I saw a limp body on its back. Someone with blonde hair...

...!

I see.

That confirms it. The Beast of Anguish took Veronica.

But why?

Well...

We'll find out when we catch up to it.

Hey, mister.

You came alone? Or you're expecting company...?

Ah... Well... I am waiting for someone.

Who?

My friends.

My old friends, to be exact... Although they're never going to come no matter how long I wait.

How so?

One guy, I don't even know whether he's alive or not, and the other one...has become someone so important that I barely have a chance to meet him outside of work.

Then, I assume I wouldn't offend anyone by sitting here for a while.

Suit yourself.

Will you buy me a drink?

Sure, why not.

This is just a dream anyway.

Oh?

So you're aware that you're dreaming now?

Of course, I am. First of all, Lusicar's Bar has been out of business for a long time.

Ah, so it doesn't exist.

And also, this is a recurring dream.

Although it's not very common for someone like you to appear...

So you're still trapped in the past, Eligos.

Aren't we all?

It's not very easy to get out of the rut you've been in your entire life. How did you know my name, by the way?

I don't think we've met before, Your Ladyship.

Yes, we have. You actually shot at me too... Besides, how did you know I was a noble?

Is it that obvious?

No matter how hard you try to conceal it, from every little move you make, it's clear that you were disciplined and trained from an early age.

Ah... I see.

I didn't know until I befriended the prince of Taranor.

Anyway, looks like you're almost done with that glass, so tell me what you're here for, Your Ladyship.

I've got a request for you.

You wish someone to be dead?

Quite the opposite, actually. There's someone I'd like to keep alive.

...What do you...?

Just keep walking the path you're on right now.

Keep going, following the traces of the mortal's shadow, who dreamt of eternity...

Then you'll find out.

Mr. Eligos?

Ah... I was just going to rest my eyes for a second. I must've dozed off.

How long have I been asleep? I think I even had a dream...

About twenty minutes.

Ha... I must be getting old.

No way, Mr. Eligos! You're never...

Mm?

Ah, n-nothing.

Coli, why don't you get some rest too? I'll stand watch.

I'm all right for now.

...I see.

As I said, I'm getting olde...

No! I don't really...sleep much.

...All right.

Mr. Eligos.

Yeah?

Do you remember what you told us when we separated?

You said you'd join us in a couple of days, but at this rate...

I won't be able to make it on time.

I know. Even if we find the Beast of Anguish today, I wouldn't be able to keep that promise.

My original plan was to rejoin you right after Veronica's funeral. I didn't think the beast would've done something like this.

Mr. Eligos, may I ask you something?

Why are you trying so hard to retrieve Veronica's body?

That's...

I've got my own reasons, as I said before.

Right, I understand, but...

I feel like I've never seen you like this, so I'm a bit confused.

...You're right.

This is a side of me I've never shared with you guys.

...

Let's go. We don't have much time.

Coli, do you happen to remember...

The restaurant all three of us, you, me, and Cidd went to have dinner before heading out to Erasia?

...Yes.

I do remember. It was a restaurant with incomprehensibly expensive menus.

Was it...?

But the food was nice there.

That's a relief then.

And I told you it used to be a small bar owned by Madam Lusicar with quite a few regulars.

Right, you'd frequented even before you formed Dagger Sicar. But...

You didn't mention anything about a madam there.

I didn't? Well...I probably skipped that part because it's not that important.

It isn't?

I wasn't even close with her. Anyway...

You said you were curious about the people I hung out with back then, right?

Yes, but you told us there's not much to tell...

I'll tell you now.

About my...old friends.

...!

Me and the other two, we were an extraordinary bunch that made people wonder how in the world we found each other. At a glance, we had nothing in common, but...

Upon a closer look, we were like brothers to each other, even though we didn't exactly share the same blood.

Madam Lusicar was one of those who could see what's underneath. She said she wished to stop time and take snapshots of the moments she would like to remember forever.

She described our friendship as something that would last for eternity.

Ah... How envious I am of her. It's certainly something I'd love to see as well.

Maybe I should've had someone draw a painting of us...?

No, it wouldn't have been possible anyways... It was something he kept secret even back then.

"He...?" Do I know that person as well?

*sighing*

In hindsight, it's regretful that I didn't even offer him any advice.

I was so fixated on sticking to my own principles that I was no help to him. Hell, I didn't even try.

Umm...

There's no way for you to reunite with that friend anymore?

He disappeared after the war. His body was never found, but it's highly unlikely for him to be alive all this time.

He'd rather die fighting than stand in the court of law alive. I'm sure of it.

Ah...

And for a long time...I'd forgotten all about him.

I still have the image of him from the last time we saw each other in the back of my mind, but I cleared it from my head. It's more like...I've tried not to think about it too much, to be exact.

But then...

I met someone very similar to him here in Erasia.

Someone who has her head buried deep in her own convictions and ideals to the point of being self-destructive...that doesn't really care how frustrated she makes the people around her feel.

You mean Veronica.

Yes, now do you get it?

I wasn't able to find Friedrich, but I don't want to repeat the same history with Veronica. I want to give her a proper burial, if I can.

Call me a fool, but maybe this is how Friedrich is giving me a chance to right my wrong.

I see.

But, Mr. Eligos, I didn't know you were friends with the former king of Taranor...

Hmm? How did you... Ah, I said his name out loud, didn't I?

Yes, you did.

You're the only one I told, so let's just keep this between us, okay?

Keeping things a secret is what I do best, so you can rest assured.

A secret between us... Heh.

Hmm? What was that smile for?

H-Huh? What? What smile? I wasn't smiling.

You weren't...?

We should get going now.

It seems the Beast of Anguish is slowing down, so we should be able to catch up soon.

The first time I met Lady Jane Roland was...when I was in my prime.

I was quite young and reckless. So imagine how I felt meeting a living legend and going on hunts together...

Did you also cook with her?

...I was so full of myself back then.

Why are you asking me about cooking all of a sudden?

Preparing a special dish and serving it is a polite way of showing your respect to someone.

It's only polite and respectful if you're a good cook. But our captain, he's...

In any case, she visited me from time to time, especially on the days she took on a Human form. She said I was quite fun to be around.

You, fun?

He is! I've never met anyone as fun as he is!

As we were spending time together, I got to hear and learn a lot from her. Stories about the first Vampire Lord...and the path my family should take...to name a few.

That's when I learned the forbidden blood magic, so I was waiting for the day to become a Vampire Lord so I could give that a go...

Then...

Umm... The story just took an unexpected turn...

After finding out that awakening was not an option for me...I felt reluctant to meet her again.

...I felt like I had disappointed her.

I postponed our meetups several times, then she stopped coming to see me as well.

So, you never got to meet her again since then?

After some time had passed...

She came to see me right before I left my hometown. Just like most Vampires, she didn't seem to have changed much.

She did look tired though... What did she say to me then...? Ah, she mentioned the intervals between her returning back to Human became longer.

That explains why she couldn't visit you as much as before.

Lady Roland asked me to promise her one thing.

She asked me to end her life with my own hands if she never returned to being Human again.

What happens in the family, stays within the family type of thing.

Ah... I see...

Hmm...

Now do you understand why I insisted on leaving on my own? I didn't think it was fair for me to ask you to share the cross I'm bearing.

But then it seems I've made yet another wrong choice, since the Wild Dog Company is supposed to share everything together, whether it be good or bad.

Captain! The tracks here look fresh. It must've passed by here recently!

Haha... Soon we're going to find out for sure.

Whether it'd make a good ingredient or not.

...Wait!

I'll go check first. You two stay here.

Wh-What?

Why?

It...has no relation whatsoever to what Dingo just said...

Not that it doesn't bother me at all...

Maybe I could still reason with her. It's highly unlikely... But going there with you two, whose faces scream danger from ten feet away, might make her extra cautious and vigilant.

I don't know... She didn't really strike me as the reasonable type.

I have a bad feeling about this...

Don't worry and just wait here. I'll be back in a second.

This is a family matter.

There's no need for Dingo and Cidd to take unnecessary risks when they could get seriously injured if things don't work out.

Yes, even if something were to happen, it should all be on me...

...Eh?

Hmm?

I didn't expect to see you in a place like this, Jenua.

Why are you surprised? Erasia is my home.

I could be homesick, you don't know.

Did the other two from the Wild Dog Company tag along with you?

Ah... Well...we came here together on the same ship...but this is something personal.

I didn't need to bring them here.

The high and mighty former Vampire from Erasia couldn't have come all the way to this remote area for fun...

So it's safe to assume that we're after the same target... Am I right?

Hmph, where are the rest of your minions from Dagger Sicar? They're probably around here hiding, aren't they?

No, it's just me.

Just like you said you were, Captain Jenua.

Ha... If you think I'd be naive enough to believe tha...

Gentlemen?

I did think you two weren't strangers to each other...

But I had no idea you were best friends, haha.

And you are...?

Lady Roland!

Oh my... "Lady?" Jenua, I thought we were on a first-name basis, beyond all the complicated family tree issue.

Though that was long ago.

You're right, ma'a, I-I mean, yes! We did agree on that. It just slipped my mind.

Hmm...

Jane, so you haven't completely lost the Human side of you, right?

Well... Yes and no.

I can no longer return to Human form again. At least, not in real life.

...What's that supposed to mean?

Ah... I see. This place is not real! Look around you, Eligos. We're in an illusion of how Sangerat used to be.

What do you mean, "look around...?" I wouldn't have known anyway. It hasn't even been long since I've been here.

But either way, it's clear that this is not where we were standing a few seconds ago.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for intruding in your dream, Eligos. I just couldn't think of any other way to talk to you besides resorting to petty tricks like this.

You've been...completely swallowed by the curse?

Yes, it's been that way for a while now. And...

This "Jane Roland" is a mere afterimage that is going to disappear soon. I wish I could explain it further, but there's simply no time for that. So I'll just cut to the chase.

What...would you like us to do?

Wait, let me ask you one thing before that.

Go ahead.

It's about Veronica and her stolen body. Bernard actually posed a very interesting hypothesis.

He said you are trying to use her body to escape from the curse.

...

No!

No way, that's just not possible!

I'm not going to deny that.

Jane?

It was the tiny bit of my Human ego left in the Beast of Anguish making a last-ditch effort to save itself...

It thought it was okay to betray and take advantage of an adored descendant who took after it the most.

Then forget it. I'm not going to accept whatever you're going to ask me.

Yes. Yes, you will.

Because this request is for the two gentlemen who know the value of honor and stand by their convictions. I want you to defeat me and stop the ritual before it's complete.

Please...protect Veronica.

...!

Jane...

Mr. Eligos! I've confirmed the Beast of Anguish is right ahead of us. We should...

Huh? Mr. Jenua...?

You said you'd be right back! What happened?

I thought I was going to freeze to death waiting for you!

Ah, Dagger Sicar...?

I was just about to go and pick you up! I swear!

Mhm.

What in the world...

We don't have time to waste, so let's get right to it.

Grrr...

*growling*

It's running away!

It's still got the energy to make a run for it...?

I'll track it now.

Considering the injuries it's sustained, it couldn't have gone far.

...

Yeah... I should put an end to it, for her sake, too.

Weird, I was so sure it would come this way.

You're right... And there's no other way out.

Mr. Eligos, look at the bloody mark on the ground. Doesn't it look familiar...?

I was thinking the same thing. This is...

It's very similar to what I saw facing Conwell in that border town in Taranor a long time ago.

Probably because it's the same type of blood magic. Usually...there's an offering in the middle of the magic circle.

Like that.

...Veronica's body.

Wait... Is the ritual still ongoing?

No, the bloody lines are fading away, which indicates the ritual to transfer into the offering's body has failed.

But?

As you've already seen before, the circle is going to attract monsters nearby, as it brings out their innate desire for the offering.

...!

Forbidden blood magic comes with a lot of side effects, that being one of them.

Then we should be expecting a lot of uninvited guests.

Please...protect Veronica.

...Is that what she meant?

Uh-oh, this doesn't look good, Captain!

Dammit... a horde of good-for-nothings is swarming in.

All right, today is...the day I fight for the honor of my family.

Let's go, Wild Dog Company! It's time to show them what we're made of!

I have your back, Mr. Eligos, as always.

I've never doubted you, Coli.

All right, it looks like we're done her...

Dingo! What are you doing?

It's such a shame to throw away perfectly good dinner ingredients. So I'm trying to salvage some.

...

I just hate seeing good ingredients go to waste.

...Everything has been taken care of, Mr. Eligos.

Good job, now then...

Hmm?

Veronica's body... It's gone.

What kind of situation is this...? I'm sure she was lying there just a moment ago.

Is it possible that someone snuck in and stole her body while we were all distracted trying to fend off those monsters?

But I don't think the situation was chaotic enough for us not to notice that.

Or she just came back to life and walked awa...

Come on, Dingo! You shouldn't make jokes like that now.

No, it may not be a joke if you consider the possibilit...

But there's zero possibility.

What?

I see some footprints. To me, they look a lot like the Beast of Anguish's... What do you think, Captain Jenua?

I agree. They're definitely the beast's footprints.

But then...don't you think it's a bit odd that none of us noticed a thing when a beast of that size came by? Even considering that we were distracted in battle...

Very odd.

I don't quite get it either. And I never miss things like this.

Me neither!

Hold that thought for a second, and let's just follow the footprints now.

Right, we're going to find out what's happening when we get there.

Hey there, little miss.

Are you here alone? It doesn't look like you're here with your parents.

Actually...that's exactly what I was thinking.

How nice it would've been if I came here with them.

Then I wouldn't be here all by myself.

If you came alone, then I guess you wouldn't mind me sitting here.

It's a fun play, isn't it? I've watched it several times too. But did you know that the story changes a little bit depending on the production?

Really?

I didn't know. I watched this play...only once in my life.

Why? You watch it all the time in your subconscious.

I was so terrified of the ending that I didn't want to see it ever again. Even the thought of turning into something completely different is just...

Pfft, you were that scared of becoming like me?

...Yes.

I felt like...everything that makes me who I am was going to disappear forever and everything I ever loved would turn their back on me.

Of course, that's when I had no idea who you were, or that I had Vampire blood in my veins.

Maybe I sensed that this was the fate that awaited me in the end and felt scared ever since.

But you didn't change, Veronica.

Did you?

...

The fate you feared didn't come. Instead, a tragedy befell you in another form.

I guess you're right.

It's just between you and me, but I was also terrified of the idea of turning into something completely different.

I thought I was already being punished enough, but then a curse much worse than that was just around the corner waiting for me.

You mean, having to live as the Beast of Anguish for the rest of your life?

Yeah.

I thought I was ready to do whatever it takes, and that's what I preached about, if it's for a noble cause, for a better future, but...

When the moment actually comes...

Then your mind becomes paralyzed by fear... I'm well aware of what you're talking about.

But you know what?

When the moment passed and I transformed into something else, I realized something. Or it could be that I misunderstood a moment for an epiphany.

What did you...realize?

Even though I'll cease to exist and everything will change, the course of the life I've lived will never change.

Those people I loved, those who loved me...the things I've accomplished with them, the value of what we'd made together.

The will of the past and that will continue on into the future... It won't change. Just like this moment now.

Ah...

Let's get out of this theater. The play is over.

You didn't fail, Veronica.

...Really?

And neither did I. Well...I didn't realize it until a few seconds ago.

Look at those amazing heroes who came to my...and your rescue...at the final moment of my life...

So it's time for you to go out there and meet them.

All right.

How...should I address you? My ancestor? Lady Roland?

Just call me Jane. Well, there's no point since we won't see each other again like this.

Bye now.

Jane...

Thank you.

Umm... Where am I?

...Veronica?

Oh my goodness...

...Now who would like to revise their smug theory about there being "zero possibility?"

I can't believe this.