Lost Sword story · Main story, Part 1
Chapter 71: New Beginning
6 scenes, 322 lines
1. Seoul
107 lines
F-Friend...?
I have a pretty solid resume myself, you know.
I've filled a study with comic books...
I've even tried making my own games...
And my desk is packed with limited-edition merch.
I'm the same kind of 'comrade' as you.
Just because I'm going back to Britannia...
That doesn't mean I'll leave you all alone.
...
Why... would you go that far...?
L-Like Morgan said... I'm...
P-Practically a final boss...
What kind of final boss sacrifices herself for humans?
If you protect my friends and family...
Then I'll protect you too.
That's what 'friends' do for each other, right?
...!
I-I've never... heard anyone say that before.
A-All humans ever wanted...
W-Was always... the Red Dragon's Blessing...
...Well, I am human too, but...
Human greed knows no bounds.
Don't worry. I won't tell anyone what you really are.
...
Y-You're... different from other humans.
K-Kind... and gentle.
You're like... the m-main character from the comic I just read...
That's only natural when I'm the one asking for a favor.
If there's anything you want, just say...
Take this!
Gah?!
Why are you moving the conversation along on your own?
Who said we were taking her?
We wouldn't need ten pieces of deadweight like you!
Who are you calling deadweight?!
Ethan... Morgana is worried about you.
We may have defeated Vortigern, but...
Britannia is far too dangerous... for an ordinary human to survive.
...
Hmph. Well said.
You may have survived by sheer luck until now, but not anymore.
Do you really think a stupid pig like you can just wander around unharmed?
You'd be lucky to last half a day!
...
It seems words won't get through to you anymore.
Very well. As the Fairy Queen, I shall educate you myself.
M-Morgana! Please calm down!
Amid the blazing flames... you will learn this well.
Just how fortunate you were to spend those days serving me, the Fairy Queen!
Y-You filthy pig... why are you holding out so well...!
Face my judgment this instant!
...Aren't you underestimating me a little too much?
The Holy Sword's power is gone, but all my experience is still with me.
And your attack patterns, especially... I've seen them more times than I can count.
...!
I've thought this for a while, but your attacks burn way too much energy.
They're powerful, sure, but the risk when one misses is huge.
Without Bedivere helping you, I can handle you just fine.
Grr...!
Well? I think that proves it well enough.
I can't fight as recklessly as I used to...
But there are plenty of ways I can help.
I didn't come back just to be a pack mule.
Ngh...!
Why are all of you just standing there with your mouths shut?
Hurry up and calm that stupid pig down!
...Look around.
Isn't it amazing? The humans in this world can't use magic...
But the city is so peaceful and beautiful.
This must be... a miracle created by humans.
...That is true.
To be honest, I was surprised too.
I've never had such delicious desserts before!
Ethan's weapon... isn't just swordsmanship.
It's the knowledge we don't have... the things he can only learn in this world.
That wisdom has helped us so much already... and it will save many more people in the future.
...
Hehe... I think she'll cry her eyes out, just like when she fell in the training grounds.
And then...
She'll show us a smile... as bright as the sky after the rain clears.
I'm sure she'll be happy.
Grrr...!
Whack.
Gah?!
I don't know why you're acting so proud after already dying twice, but...
Fine.
Experiencing it firsthand will be faster than explaining it.
Morgana grabbed me by the collar and whispered.
...But let me warn you now. There won't be a third time.
If you die protecting me again... I won't let it slide.
I'll hunt down your soul and burn it myself.
...Yeah. I'll remember that.
U-Um...
S-Sorry to interrupt such a touching moment, but...
M-Monsters... have shown up again.
These bastards... they just keep coming.
All right. Then I'll prove it again!
That I can handle this much even without the Holy Sword's power!
2. Seoul
22 lines...What were you thinking, allowing this?
Hm?
I simply cannot understand it.
Is it because Ethan is your contractor?
If you want to be with him that badly...!
Then you... could just stay here.
Why go out of your way to drag that stupid pig back to Britannia?
If we stand in Ethan's way simply because it's dangerous...
Then that would be no different from Oberon's plan, would it?
...!
Oberon was trying to save the world.
But in the process, he took it upon himself to define humanity's limits... and committed a taboo.
None of us... can stop Ethan.
Whatever outcome awaits Ethan... that will be the path Ethan chose.
...
So stop being irritated already... and cheer Ethan on.
If we, Ethan's companions, don't respect that dazzling courage... how hurt would Ethan be?
...Hm?
It's nothing, so focus on the battle.
...Unless you want to see the inside of a slime's stomach.
3. Seoul
36 linesCheol. What are all those bags?
...Why so suddenly?
Is work too hard?
Or... is someone giving you trouble?
...
No, there's somewhere I have to go.
It was the company I wanted to work for more than anywhere... and I really hate to leave it, but...
If I don't go now... I think I'll regret it for the rest of my life.
...
I see... I understand.
Mom handed me a large backpack.
It was filled with daily necessities like meat and drinks.
This is...
Tell me if you need anything else.
I'll prepare everything for you.
Don't tell me... you already knew?
What an obvious question.
Did you think I wouldn't notice anything when you chased those loan sharks off with a wooden sword?
I know everything.
...You've found someone precious, haven't you?
Yes. A person like that isn't easy to find.
Hurry along, then.
...
Mom gently stroked my back.
All right. Take care of yourself.
You have to introduce them to me someday, okay?
And so, I left home and headed for Britannia.
This time, it wasn't some forced return.
It was another story, one beginning by my own choice.
4. Sea of Stars
47 lines
...!
...H-Hey. Long time no see.
You were pretty shocked, huh?
I know, believe me.
The one thing you shouldn't do after dying is come back to life... guh?!
I don't know whose apprentice you are, but... you really are shameless.
Leaving without a single thought for the people you left behind...
And then coming back with that goofy grin on your face.
Squeeze.
Th-Then what should I do...
If you've returned to Britannia... that means you're prepared, doesn't it?
We don't need to search for the Holy Sword anymore, so I'll make full use of you.
It's only natural for an apprentice to serve their master wholeheartedly, isn't it?
W-Wait...!
Hm?
T-The Sea of Stars is... a r-really dangerous place.
It's the kind of... map where a f-final boss could appear and it wouldn't be strange...
S-So...
I'll lend you... a l-little of my power.
A warm aura wrapped around my body with a gesture from Karishara.
It may be... t-too unstable to call a blessing, but...
Y-You should be able... to make good use of it.
...Still, don't let your guard down.
If anything feels even slightly wrong with your body, come back right away. Understand?
...I'll keep that in mind.
And so, we stepped into the portal.
To save Elizabeth.
5. Sea of Stars
58 lines...I think I get why you all got lost.
You can't mark the path you've taken... or even check how long you've been walking.
This isn't the Sea of Stars... it's a prison.
...You finally understand?
This operation cannot be solved with passion alone.
You need outstanding insight and deep wisdom to overcome this obstacle.
...Those are all words that don't suit you at all.
Excuse me?!
But Morgana wasn't wrong.
If we continued searching like this, we'd only keep circling the same spot.
We needed some kind of method.
Bedivere. Is there any way to figure out Elizabeth's location?
In Britannia, we can track a mana signature to get an approximate location, but...
The mana concentration here is too dense... so it's impossible.
It's like the fences around us are too high... and we can't see far.
Then we'll need to find another way.
A way to track her without a mana signature...
In that case, using some power other than mana as a medium...
I'll lend you... a l-little of my power.
It may be... t-too unstable to call a blessing, but...
Y-You should be able... to make good use of it.
No, I'm serious.
I held out my finger to Eva.
Hurry! We don't have time!
...! E-Ethan... what are you doing...!
H-How are you already acting like a pervert again? You only just came back!
Do you have no self-control?!
My companions kept criticizing me, but it didn't matter.
Because this choice would be the key to saving Elizabeth.
Yeah. It's the Red Dragon's Blessing Karishara gave me earlier.
It isn't a perfect blessing, but...
That's exactly why it's perfect for finding Elizabeth.
If you have unstable Red Dragon power within you...
You should be able to sense the perfectly inherited Red Dragon's Blessing more keenly.
Just like when you were... overwhelmed by all the Arke around us, Bedivere.
Then... you deliberately transferred the power to Eva!
That's right. Eva is the spirit of the Holy Grail...
So she should be able to pinpoint things even fairies or humans could never sense.
...Yes. I think I've found her.
...!
Incredible, Ethan!
To find the Princess so easily...
Maybe it really is fate... that we were reunited like this.
...Hmph. It was only luck.
B-But...
6. Sea of Stars
52 linesThis isn't a wish for Ethan.
It's a selfish wish, just for myself.
...
Everything I wished for had come true.
The world had regained peace, and my precious companion had returned home safely.
A perfect happy ending, with nothing more to ask for.
My wish had been perfectly granted.
...Or so I thought.
But the moment I saw my precious companion's face again...
A single ember of hope flared to life.
A cruel hope with no promise of ever coming true.
But then I realized.
An ember can never burn alone.
That somewhere in my heart... I had been longing for salvation all along.
Thank you... for holding on all this time.
Come on, let's go back now.
Yes... Ethan is... so kind...
I'm sure... that's what he would say...
...
...Hm?
E-Ethan...?
H-How did you get here...
Why ask something so obvious?
Did you think I'd just sit still?
You saved me...
So of course I had to come save you.
Waaaah!
Ethan... this... isn't a dream, is it?
After I selfishly... took your wish away from you...
After I... got everything I wanted...
After I foolishly... held onto hope at the very last moment...
Is it really all right... for me to have such a happy moment?
...You keep asking the obvious today.
Elizabeth. You look truly beautiful right now.
Because you saved me, I was able to find you...
And now all of us can be together again.
This is all thanks to you, Elizabeth.
So... let's go back now.
To the place where we first met.