We ask Kalderina for advice again and she says we should head to Harlin's place (again). Hope we'll be a bit more lucky this time.
I suppose we'll try again.
I tried probing the surroundings a bit, but this time soldiers didn't seem to be hiding around...
Old hag... are you here?
Ohh? Took quite a bit of time of you.
Phew. You finally were here.
What's with your sour face? It seems you got into quite a trouble when I was not here ... the shop's all messy too...
~~
GT: Anyway, that spicy face ... It seems to have been terrible eyes while I was away, but something shabby was taken away ...
...How did you know?
I do have eyes, you know.
Well ... all right. But why did you summon me here?
We're not in that much of a hurry, are we?
Oh, aren't you too a temple priest candidate?
Ah... yes. I'm number two.
Oh, that's high.
~~
No, not if compared to Minvi-oneesama...
A position is not something you compare to others'.
Yours is actually pretty significant, and besides, doesn't Jamrock over there too trust you?
Right, Jamrock?
Hm? Yeah, of course...
...............
...Really?
Yeah.
............
All right, I believe you.
Let's stop with the chatter for now and move on to business?
Oh ... right.
Actually, in the meanwhile, I've been investigating quite a bit myself too. I got the idea that you were having trouble?
Yeah.
And then ... what was it called ... that claw people's heretical group...
~~
Dark, Blood, and Claw?
Yes, that one.
Recently, they've come to this town too.
...What? This is the capital, no? They shouldn't be able to just waltz in...
Of course, they've likely made plenty of preparations to that effect in advance ... and even so, I couldn't just leave the situation be.
~~~~
But, wouldn't it been better to leave this issue to the guards?
Do you think they'd have listened to the ramblings of a senile old lady? With no proof either?
..............
All right. We'll investigate it somehow.
Ah, I thought you would.
...............
Do you have anything we could work on? This is a large town -- no use searching around blind.
Well... I guess you could search for places that look different than before?
...That's it?
That's it.
You really did have no proof after all...
In any case, the lives of this town's people depend on you. I'm counting on you.
Not lives-lives in the sense that they'll die, but... that this town might become a more hostile place to live in.
I see... Let's do it then.
I stood up with my expression still showing bitterness.
Take care, will you?
...Thank you for your concern.
We left Harlin's shop...
Jamrock has gained the courage to knock on people's doors now. However, he doesn't really get new information from those encounters.
A couple of people he met that way recognise him or are about to.
Other assorted rumours:
- A small girl told us that a lot of people have entered some building but never came out.
- One claw person was offended about us asking about masked claw people, saying that the masks are only used for festivals. But then he recalled that he indeed had seen some at night, in the castle's direction.
- Another claw person said he saw some masked claw people, wearing their standard festival masks, in the east.
- The dojo is closed until they get a new instructor, and the students of the dojo miss me.
- One old man was saying that the soldiers are now more violent and have no respect unlike in the old days when he wore onions on his belt...
And then we come to the dojo.
The fencing dojo, eh... Probably irrelevant to our search...
...? Hey, Jamrock. The door's open.
What?
Strange... It was closed earlier. Did someone open it?
We decided to go inside.
............
For a while, the not-in-use dojo indeed looked deserted. ~~
Was it this big?
In the memories I had of this place, it had always been filled with students, and now that we were here alone, it somehow felt much bigger.
...!?
I moved my gaze at the sound that broke the silence.
...!? The door?
The entrance suddenly closed tight. ~~~
*hisssss*
I've previously translated this sound effect as "slash" or something, but I now think it is a feline hiss.
...!!
In an instant, several masked claw people attacked us.
Let's go!
I drew the sword from my back.
Fight. Two claw religious assassins. No problems.
Looks like we made it?
*hiss*
...! More!?
Three claw people religious assassins. Pamela gets poisoned, Kalderina gets to use her healing skill again. Not that it's necessary or anything...
Was it over now?
We should check a bit deeper...
Jamrock! Over there!
................
I saw the masked claw person running away from the back door.
We probably can't catch him any more...
This place must've become a hideout of the Dark, Blood, and Claw after it was closed.
The noise was coming from here, right?
This is bad... We should leave through the back door too...
We left the dojo and circled from the rear.
They should be posting guards here now and the Order should no longer be able to work in Altamina.
I guess we should tell Harlin about this...
We decided to leave this place, avoiding the guards' gaze.
Er. Is this it? We chanced upon a claw people safehouse and fought a bunch of them and that's it? No information or anything? We went to jail for this? A vague promise that Altamina is safe now?
Let's explore a bit more, in case there's still something juicy out here.
We find an old acquaintance who mentions to us that the king is in ill health and he doesn't have an heir set...
We also go prowl around the castle.
These are the gates of Altamina castle.
Oh, those obsidian things were gates?
As I peek inside the gates, I see soldiers patrolling there as usual.
Alongside them, a familiar face caught my eye.
Minister Galiba...
He was conversing with the soldiers, apparently giving out some sort of orders.
And then, his gaze suddenly turned towards me.
...!
Before I had the chance to avoid his gaze, his eyes had turned straight towards me.
............
............
For a moment, he seemed to be laughing.
And then, he continued conversing with the troops, as if nothing had happened.
Did he not notice me? No, that can't be...
I'm sure he was looking straight at me.
Did he ignore us on purpose?
If so, his attitude at the dungeon now feels curious...
What does this all mean?
I leave the place with a niggling feeling...
We also learn from an acquaintance that there are more soldiers on the streets than previously.
Then we meet this little claw girl.
Hey, Mister!
...? What?
I want to go to West Comet, but Mum won't let me! Mister, won't you take me there?
If I did, they'd call me a kidnapper.
It's aall riight!
You're already being called a kidnapper ...
Hey...
Go ask your mother to take you.
Rats!
The girl left, pouting slightly.
The game told us to go to Harlin, so we finally go there.
Old hag?
As could be seen, the place was deserted, nobody there.
Though she should have been here until just recently, Harlin could now not be found.
I guess she went somewhere again...
Anyway, we did what she asked us, and we don't particularly have to meet her again...
We decided to leave Harlin's place.
Well then, we're done investigating.
Jamrock the kidnapper! I'd never have thought I'd find you here...
..............
I felt something cold on my back.
A blade between my shoulders.
But... what on earth is this? If this assailant managed to hide his presence this well, and then put a sword to my back...
The blade was pulled away.
You let your guard down.
Minardi!?
You've grown weak, Jamrock. So many blind spots.
E-er... Jamrock-san, who might this...
Oh, she's Minardi, a war buddy of mine.
I heard that you've been sighted in the towns nearby, so I decided to search you out.
Why? ...Were you assigned to take part in the manhunt for me?
Her name's been included in the discussions for the next chivalry captain. Why would she be made to do the tasks -- such as capturing a criminal -- of a regular rank-and-file soldier? ~~~
GT: Minardi who also has a story of the next Knight's Headquarters does not have to bother to make a mockery of a security guard, such as arresting the kidnappers ...
Certainly not! Well, I did see the notice.
Besides, I don't even believe that you kidnapped anyone.
Everyone in the chivalry who knows you says the same.
...?
Then...
I was just curious...
...?
If it were just a false charge, you'd come back to the castle and prove your innocence, but...
It seems to me that you were set up.
.............
I can't say that the thought hadn't crossed my mind.
When I was made to be Minvi's kidnapper... and then the net that has been cast around me ... It's all just orchestrated way too well... ~~
GT: ... It is indeed too good for dressing ...
But, who would...
............
Minardi was silent for a while, as if hesitating, and then...
I suspect Minister Galiba.
But that is...!?
What!?
That day, when temple priest candidate number one Minvi had an audience with His Majesty Pharmacy IV... Only Minister Galiba then had too much of a blank space where I could not account for his whereabouts.
..............
But it's not just that. I've heard rumours that he's doing suspicious things inside the castle too.
But... Why would Minister Galiba hatch such a scheme to get me? What would he have to gain?
That I do not know, right now.
No way...
Don't you believe me?
He was a superior officer of mine. I can't just accept such a thing that easily.
Well, what if I were to ask for your personal opinion? Do you believe me, or not?
................
Right...
- I believe you.
- I don't believe you.
- It's not that simple to say.
Hmm, it's not that I don't believe you, but I'd like some more proof first, and we don't really have that yet.
It's not that simple to say...
.............
If I'm asked whether I believe or not, I generally try to believe. But...
To put it bluntly, it's not a subject I can leave to a snap judgement.
I can understand that...
Then, Jamrock.
...?
Take me with. To your journey.
...!?
I'd like to see it with my own eyes, what this is all about.
..............
Minardi's expression was serious when she said that.
How is it? I guess you won't take me?
~~~
.......
Minardi does have considerable skill with her sword.
If she was with us, it'd indeed be quite reassuring.
But on the other hand, should I really let her get involved? That thought worries me.
- Let her come with.
- Refuse her.
One waifu, coming up!
Are you really fine with that?
Yes, of course.
The reputation you've been building might just go poof into the air, no?
If it goes poof when helping you, let it go poof!
.................
I guess that line was unlike me.
Minardi joined our party!
I will just send out a request for a leave, and then join you. Where can I find you?
Oh, we'll be staying in the temple church this night. Come visit us there.
Oh... Got it. Good-bye then...
As she said that, she left, somewhat hastily.
GT: That said, like a little panic, Minardi left us ahead of us
We should probably be on our way too...
One more round through the city.
I visit the dojo and the soldiers seem to be investigating inside.
The only possibly meaningful event we find has to do with Kalderina.
Today's exploration's done, so the only thing's left is returning to the church...
Quite a bit happened today...
Yeah... that's right.
As I said that, I remembered how she behaved at the dungeons.
That she took Minister Galiba's cue to silence her...
Kalderina...
...? Yes, what is it?
Earlier today...
...Yes.
Kalderina's expression darkened with her brief response.
..............
...No, never mind.
Er... Jamrock-san...
Hm?
.............
Never... mind.
Oh.
We don't have anything to do here now.
Guess we'll leave.
Can't find anything more, so let's give out the performance evaluations and leave. No, we did not meet Harlin again.
Can't bother copypasting/translating them since they're the same script every time, but:
Kalderina 3/5
Sandrake 3/5
Pamela 4/5
Also, here's the random encounter breakdown:
- bounty hunters, times 3
- guards + guard dogs, times 5
- guards with guard horses (they bite)
- a regular guard patrol with no animals
- out of control horses, times 2
- eagles, times 2
- wild dogs, times 3
- thugs who are of the opinion that we have entered their turf without their permission
The streets of Altamina sure are dangerous.
I avoided the guards as before, but I guess I'll stop doing that starting next post since it's kind of a drag and probably doesn't matter.
Kalderina got a total of 6 activity points, Sandrake 14, and Pamela 7
(I'm just keeping track of them in case I see some pattern emerge...)