Hero Stories: Unspoken Words

You're saying there's a way we can go back to Eureka?

Yes. I found a Chaos Gate connected to Wintenberg in an abandoned mansion.

Though, it disappeared after Luna pushed me off the cliff and sent me back here to Ritania.

Now that we know that we can move between continents using Chaos Gates...

We must find one that will bring us back to Eureka.

In the end, our search for Schniel brought us to Ritania. And here, in a twist of fate, we also met Cecilia, Queen of Wintenberg.

Cecilia informed us that she found Schniel working in the Phantom CIC under the alias "Digitus."

When we finally spoke with Schniel, we learned that he had been infected with Dragon's poison. He told us that he did not treat the poison quickly enough, causing him to contract an incurable disease and subsequently leave us and Lefundos behind.

We finally found him, and now he may die...

I swore that I would find a treatment, but it seemed that Schniel had already given up.

I began to feel pressure to find either a treatment for the illness or a way to return to Eureka.

Schniel, you said that the Phantom CIC is investigating Lands of Death and Chaos Gates, right?

Have you learned anything about them?

Well, I don't know. My plan was just to spend the rest of my life trying to find out more about the Black Knight.

I never even considered going back. How should I know how to get back to Lefundos?

*sighing* ...How useless.

That's why you shouldn't have any expectations of me in the first place.

You little...

Romann, that's enough. He's ill, give him a break.

No, I'm fine... *coughing*...

...! Are you okay? Why don't you get some rest, Your Majesty?

Thanks, Tywin. You're my only true friend.

*sighing* ...Okay, stop being annoying and just take a nap already.

Too bad, I wanted to enjoy a nice cup of tea while you get all worked up.

...Your Majesty, I think that's enough for one day.

Oh, alright. I am infirm, after all. *coughing*

...Has he always been like that?

Believe me, he was worse back in Lefundos. I guess he is really sick.

By the way, you mentioned Luna... Isn't she the half-Dragon who protects the royal family of Wintenberg?

Why did she send you to Ritania?

Well, I thought about it for a long time...but I couldn't figure out why.

Maybe she betrayed you.

I've had my fair share of people swear their loyalty to me and then turn their backs at the next whim.

No, her eyes said something different.

If anything, looking into her eyes... It felt like I did something horrible to her, something unforgivable.

I want to know the meaning behind it, so I must go back.

...You've never thought things might be better off this way? I mean, not going back.

Never. Not even once.

I see. Wintenberg's Dragon Knight is strong indeed.

After that ambiguous comment, Schniel left.

I had so many questions for him... But I decided to let him rest first.

And before long, I came to regret not asking him.

Because the next morning, he left us once again without a word.

I cannot believe this. How can he do this to us again? His talent for upsetting us is astounding.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have taken a nap...

It's not your fault. That brat is the problem.

He was here when I came back early this morning, so he can't have gotten far. Let's go look for him.

I'll help too. It's dangerous to let someone ill roam around by themselves.

Why didn't we consider that Schniel might try to disappear again?

I knew he wouldn't want to return to Lefundos...

Ah, I can't stand nobles. Their thoughts are written all over their faces.

I'd bet even the Archdemon himself has more subtlety.

They always come to me with their requests the second Romann is gone.

And I have no choice but to pretend to fall for it, even though their real intentions are obvious...

Honestly, everyone would be better off if Romann or Ervalen was king.

Don't say that. You are the king of Lefundos.

I know, I know. I shouldn't talk like that.

But...I also know I'm not wrong.

Not long after that conversation, Schniel disappeared.

Would he have stayed if I acted differently?

Would I have been able to stop him even if I had done something else?

It was too late anyway.

Just like now.

Looks like he got pretty far... Maybe we should split up.

Cecilia and I will check out the forest, you go search the swamp.

Alright.

Let's move.

...Wait. Before we go, I want to ask you something.

About Schniel's disease.

Schniel's disease? What do you...

If he was poisoned by a Dragon, that must have been three years ago, when we were attacked by Dragons on our way to Wintenberg.

But the thing is, I've never heard of a poison that has an incubation period of three years. And if he had any symptoms, he would have had it treated right away.

...I see. You already noticed he was lying.

To be honest with you, his disease...

Dragon poison isn't really the cause, is it?

...Huh?

Did he intentionally leave a small amount of poison in his body and hide it from us? To allow the remaining poison to slowly destroy his organs?

To become so ill that we wouldn't be able to save him even if we found him.

That way, he wouldn't have to return to his throne even if we tried to force him.

Mmm...

I always knew that he didn't want to be king.

But I didn't know he hated it so much that would do something like this to himself.

If I'd realized a little sooner, I wouldn't have...

No, Sir Romann. It's not what you're thinking.

Schniel told me not to tell anyone before he does, but the truth is...

...There you are, Your Majesty.

Wow, I thought you'd never be able to find me here. Do knights have a sixth sense?

Why did you disappear without a word again...?

Haha, I just wanted some fresh air. I was planning on heading back soon.

Your Majesty, the swamp is a dangerous place. One misstep can kill you here.

Who cares! Actually, I'm not afraid of death. I'm braver than you think.

...

I wasn't expecting you to take that so seriously, Tywin. It was a joke. When I say things like that, you should say something like, "Don't joke about that."

...I know you weren't joking.

I know that you would leave anything and anyone behind.

How can a man with no attachments fear death?

Tywin...?

Before you disappear once again, I must ask you this.

Why do you keep trying to leave?

Don't you know that Romann and I will look for you? Or does it simply not matter to you?

We've known you for so long, but we never meant anything to you? Not friends, not subjects...not anything?

Umm... Listen, Tywin.

Yes, I'm listening.

I'm sorry, but...

For what? Sorry that we mean nothing to you?

No, that's not what I...

Well, anyway, let's get going... Romann might actually kill me if we stay here any longer.

Schniel just dropped things like that, again.

He didn't even try to come up with an obvious excuse.

What should I do? I think I went too far.

I wasn't expecting Tywin to get that upset. I think I'm way past the point where I can just say sorry and patch things up...

Schniel...

In Lefundos, I couldn't do anything because there were always too many people watching, but here... I think I can finally strangle you.

Haha...ha... You all are certainly angrier than I expected.

What should I do, Tywin? Help me out here.

...Oh, what can I say, Your Majesty? It seems that no matter what I do, I won't be of any help anyway...

T-Tywin? Where are you going? You're not leaving me alone with Romann, are you?

I think I need some fresh air and some time alone.

*sighing*...

What's wrong with Sir Tywin? Did you say something to him?

I did not. Maybe that's the problem...

Anyway, Romann, I'm sorry I snuck out.

You looked tired after poring over all those documents, and I didn't want to wake Tywin up...

I heard everything from Cecilia.

That you've been lying to us about your disease.

I thought we promised to keep it a secret...

I'm sorry. I couldn't stand to see their sorrow any longer.

It's not fair for you to say that to Cecilia. You shouldn't have lied about something like this!

Do you have any idea how worried we were?

Of course you don't. Because if you did, you wouldn't have even considered doing this to us in the first place.

Let me explain. He did lie about the Dragon's poison...

But his intention wasn't to deceive you.

...That's odd. Didn't you say you were poisoned by a Dragon?

Yes. The only explanation I could think of for this poison was the time I was attacked by a Dragon.

The doctor said my symptoms resemble the symptoms of Dragon poisoning, and that the longer I've been poisoned, the lower my chances of survival.

Though Dragon poison has an incubation period, symptoms usually start to show within a year.

I've never heard of anyone who survived for three years after being poisoned.

So what you're saying is...

I think you were poisoned more recently than that. To be precise, you may have been repeatedly exposed to small amounts of poison.

But, on the bright side, it looks like you're still in the early stages, which means that it can be cured if you take an antidote regularly.

...I don't know if I should be happy or sad about this.

This means that there's a cure, but at the same time, there's someone who was poisoning me.

...It appears so.

Should I go back after being cured?

Wouldn't it be better to just disappear like they wanted me to...?

No one will find me anyway.

Schniel...

...Could you keep this a secret? I want to think about this a little more.

So that's when we came to find you.

But even if you're gone, I'm next in line for the throne.

If I hadn't told them to keep your absence a secret until I'm able to bring you back...

Well, who knows what they were plotting? Since we both left Lefundos.

Now we have more reasons to go back as soon as possible.

What are you going to do?

What am I going to do? I didn't know my opinion mattered here. Weren't you planning to tie me up and force me to go back?

...I won't force you this time.

Although it turned out to be my misunderstanding, I kind of regretted pushing you so hard to tell me the truth.

If you tell me you're leaving that damn palace after treating your disease, I won't stop you.

Anything would be better than losing you forever.

Romann...

Are you really Romann? It's so weird. This is definitely not the Romann I know.

Stop messing around, and figure out how to talk to Tywin about this.

I took this like a reasonable man, but if Tywin finds out that you lied to him...

Would he get even angrier than he is now?

Of course. Maybe he'll even resign, saying he's tired of you messing around.

Mmm... Okay. I'll find a way to tell him the truth.

Cecilia, would you please keep this a secret for a little longer?

...I'll do my best.

Tywin said he wanted time alone... He finally returned after quite a while.

Schniel said he would tell the truth when Tywin was less upset, but his mood didn't seem to change.

If anything, he looked worse every day.

I started to become worried that he might even collapse... So one day, I decided to follow him to his training.

Are you planning on training all day? Your body won't be able to handle it.

And you don't look so well these past few days.

My mind fills with unnecessary thoughts whenever I try to rest. I won't think so much if my body is tired.

I'd rather my body suffer than my mind.

...I see.

Also, don't feel pressure to keep up with me. Please feel free to take a break or go back whenever you'd like.

That's very thoughtful of you. Thank you, Sir Tywin.

Cecilia, your skills are remarkable, as is your strength.

I did not expect that I'd have to put my sword down first.

It's only because I'm not wearing heavy armor like you, Sir Tywin.

If I was wearing armor like yours, I wouldn't have been able to do even half of what you've done today.

Did you train like this back in Lefundos as well?

Yes. I joined the Royal Guard after winning the swordsmanship tournament, and beginning that day, I did not miss a single day of training.

I wanted to become the perfect sword for Schniel so that I could help him whenever he was in need.

Because I always thought that was the only way I could repay his kindness. He had faith in me, even though I didn't deserve to participate in the tournament.

...Although, now that I think about it, I suppose it didn't mean anything to him.

Don't say that. I'm sure that Schniel...

It's alright, you don't need to try to comfort me.

Because he said nothing when I asked him if I mean nothing to him.

I suppose he didn't know how to...

Oh, no. That...!

That's just because you seemed really hurt, and Schniel was too flustered to say anything. He told me later.

He said that he was going to tell you the truth, but then he couldn't find the timing to...

W-What do you mean? The truth?

Oh, forgive me, Schniel. I just can't turn a blind eye to this anymore.

Okay. To be honest, Schniel...

...So he lied to me. He's not actually incurable.

That's right.

Let me get this straight. What I saw...wasn't a grin of resignation. He thought it was genuinely funny when I got worried.

I...I don't think that's it.

...At least, I hope not.

...Let's go back.

I need to hear it from him.

Now.

Where is Schniel?

Tywin? Why are you looking for...

...! Did you...?

I'm sorry, I just couldn't watch him suffer anymore.

...I see. Ugh, this is why I told Schniel to tell him as soon as possible...

Okay, Tywin, relax.

Romann. I've had enough. How much longer do I need to put up with this?

If you try to stop me, I won't go easy on you.

You can't have a reasonable conversation with Schniel like this.

I sure can.

Of course you can't. You're not thinking straight even just talking to me.

You might say or do something that you'll regret later. And I won't let that happen.

If you still insist...then I'll just have to stop you.

And Cecilia, it appears that you're on Tywin's side.

Because I'm the one who told him the truth. I should take responsibility for what I've done.

Alright then.

I don't really care who wins, as long as I can make him calm down.

Enough, both of you.

Schniel.

Your Majesty.

Is what Cecilia told me the truth?

Yes. It's true.

Then why did you lie to me!? I had no idea, and...

...I'm sorry. I was just too happy.

You were happy?

I thought that even if I disappeared, no one would really care.

Because I would rather be remembered as an irresponsible king who disappeared than a king who died slowly from an incurable disease.

So I thought people would just accept it if I disappeared, you know.

But you two came all the way from Lefundos to find me.

I was happy that I meant something to you, at least.

So I just wanted to enjoy that feeling a little longer. That's all.

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and I'm so sorry. I sincerely apologize.

So, please, will you forgive me one last time?

...

...You said you're happy we came to find you? I assume that means that we did mean something to you?

Of course.

Then promise me you'll never lie or disappear without a word again.

And never let me question you like this again.

I'll forgive you if you promise me that.

Alright, I promise.

Phew... I think that took ten years off my life.

I'm so glad you were able to talk things out in the end.

You planned this whole thing out, didn't you?

How long did you spend trying to figure out how to make him pity you?

Wow, you're good.

I wasn't born yesterday. You've done this so many times before.

And yet Tywin seems to fall for that crap every time.

And you also join in on that crap every time.

Anyway, I don't remember hearing what you plan to do next.

...I'll go back. To Lefundos.

Now that I know I have friends who'd follow me to the ends of the world, I'm sure they'll find a way to cure this incurable disease.

Knowing that, I don't think I'll be lonely anymore.

Yes. I'm glad to hear it.

Schniel, are you sure you did this right? I've already found three spots you didn't mark on the map.

Oh yeah? I think this fever's made my eyesight worse. *coughing*...

Are you alright, Your Majesty? I think you should get some rest.

He just got out of bed!

Schniel, you do want to go back to Lefundos...right?

Of course, Cecilia. Have you ever seen me lie?

Yeah, right. Of course, you never lie!

I can never tell if Schniel is being serious or joking.

I've known him for so long, but I still can't figure that out.

But I am certain about one thing, his smile got brighter.

That's clearer than anything else, so I no longer have any questions or doubts left.

That's more than enough for me.