Chapter 8 Episode 2/1-4 - Storyline

Desert Noble, Desert Merchant



Amran	Hey, it's nice of you to come, guys! Since Kamui wanted to introduce them, I was wondering what kind of weirdos they were, but I'm really glad they turned out to be decent people!
Kamui	Amran...
Amran	Isn't it true? If you are serious or talented, he will immediately surround himself with you, right?
Kamui	Never like that...
Amran	Hahaha. You are a man who can't lie to your family. So, what do all of you who are important people in different countries want from me?
Seriolde	It's been a while, Amran...
Amran	Dear Seriolde, I am glad to see that you are doing well.
Seriolde	Please help us. From now on, Gluttony Foss has a policy of treating the Desert Zone as a nation that can rival our own. In other words, you and I are equals. I want you to talk to me as casually as you would with Kamui.
Amran	Hehe, that's a tall order. For a long time, we Desert people were not recognized as a nation, and I ruled this land as a "self-proclaimed" aristocrat. The people of the Holy Order of Babel say: From the point of view of the Seven Great Powers, the status of the Desert Zone is nothing more than an upstart. A land bought with money. And, if you look at it from the "History of Babelism", it is nothing but a fact.
Seriolde	Amran...
Amran	If I were to speak as an equal to you, Lord Seriolde, it would become an excuse for merchants from other regions to exclude our desert merchants. Therefore, please forgive me.
Seriolde	That's right. I was careless.
Amran	Thank you for your understanding.
Fiona	The discrimination that the Desert Zone has suffered is so deep-rooted.
Amran	Hehe... I'm embarrassed to say that she is Fiona, mayor of Redington City, and Rebecca, the new queen of Lustburg. Please, you two, please treat me like that.
Rebecca	...
Fiona	...
Amran	I have heard about everyone's circumstances from Kamui. The Northern Pride's runaway. Those of you who escaped from the clutches of the devil have now come to this land in search of information and safety. Is there a difference in my understanding?
Seriolde	Yeah, definitely... Could you please tell me about the current situation on the continent of Babel?
Amran	Of course. Currently, the continent of Babel is being shaken by the outrages of Northern Pride. Avis, who assumed the throne of Northern Pride as the True Emperor, used all his authority to launch a simultaneous invasion. Slothstein and Lustburg and... Envylia.
Edgar	Even Envylia!? Isn't that place currently under the direct control of Northern Pride?
Amran	Yes, it is, but circumstances have changed. Envylia suddenly crowns a new king and rebels against its Northern Pride rule.
Seriolde	Who do defend the king? To put it simply...
Amran	Logi Crowley, who was considered a great sinner, that returned. And around the same time, a person claiming to be the "real" Pope Aimerlin appeared, and the existence of the holy sword Excalibur... Many factors came together, and as a result, she chose to let the people of that land rise.
Edgar	Is she the real Pope? Isn't it an exaggeration? No, if Logi is there, then it's true...?
Kamui	I was there too. She was the Pope Aimerlin herself, and Excalibur was also real. I'll guarantee that.
Seriolde	The Holy Order, which had lost its power due to the dictatorship of Avis, has begun to move to regain its power...?
Amran	They may have such plans, but the main point is still the voice of the people. They rose against the tyranny of the North, and at great cost they won their freedom. As a result, Envylia has become completely independent, and now it seems that they are glaring at each other across the border from Northern Pride.
Fiona	What is the situation in other countries?
Amran	Slothstein was almost completely conquered by the Northerns.
Fiona	...
Edgar	...
Amran	Lady Fiona...
Fiona	It's okay. Please continue.
Amran	So... The situation in Slothstein is simple. The sudden appearance of the Northern army, the invasion of the Holy Knights of Babel was a disaster.
In the past...

Holy Knights of Babel	...
Amran	The Holy Knights of Babel immediately occupy factories all over Slothstein. It appears that they have forcibly subdued the people assigned to guard them, and are currently taking over the center of Redington City as a temporary headquarters.
The present...

Amran	The good thing about misfortune is that there is little human damage. There is currently no national army in Slothstein... Because there was no major resistance, the damage to the city was minimal.
Edgar	Didn't anyone resist?
Amran	There were some, but they were few... Maybe they did it on purpose. The proof is... It is said that Don Taras, who was the main force of the resistance, and his mafia did not use the city as their main battleground.
Fiona	Their fate...
Amran	Sorry, no more detailed information. Rumor has it that there was once a big explosion at the Redington City Hall.
Fiona	Yes... Is that so...?
Rebecca	And Lustburg!? What's going on!?
Amran	There is still resistance there. It's already been ten days since the invasion of the Holy Knights of Babel began... I think it's been a long time. Half of the country has already been invaded and the royal palace has fallen. Even so, it seems that some mages who escaped the disaster are somehow continuing to resist, mainly at the school.
Rebecca	They're still fighting, aren't they? Could you lend me your strength?
Fiona	Rebecca...
Rebecca	I know it's a good story about insects, but... please...
Edgar	You guys also suffered from their oppression, right? So why not take this opportunity to show us something?
Amran	... I'm sorry, but we desert people cannot participate in this war.
Rebecca	Huh...
Amran	I understand what you are saying. We too have been swayed by the Holy Order of Babel and the Northern Pride politics. But that's why it's impossible. Of course, we can protect you. We will escape from the Northern Pride's eyes and do whatever we can to keep you alive. But we are just a mutual aid group of desert people, a group of people doing their best just to live in the moment. We don't have the energy to go out of the Desert Zone and fight against the tyranny. That is my judgment as a representative of the desert people and a person who calls himself a "noble".

Rebecca	...
Fiona	Rebecca, please be careful.
Rebecca	Fiona...
Fiona	Lustburg is still resisting, right? In that case, you, the queen, should not give up. There's definitely a way. Let's think about it together.
Rebecca	Yes, that's right. I'm sorry for them, Fiona. I think it should be harder for you...
Fiona	I'm fine. As long as there is no human damage to Slothstein, I'm sure we can rebuild it. But to do that, we have to take back our country first.
Rebecca	What is positive?
Fiona	Do you have some budget?
Rebecca	Huh?
Fiona	I'm ashamed to say that I can't take back my country by myself. I'm sure we'll need the cooperation of many, many people, so...
Rebecca	It seems that there are expectations.
Fiona	Yes. So now I entrust you with the best card I have.
Rebecca	The best card...?
Edgar	It's not that big of a deal.
Rebecca	Edgar...?
Edgar	I guess you want to go back, even if you're the only one in the country.
Rebecca	That's...
Edgar	A girl has made such a tragic decision. With me, I can't just stay silent. Honestly, I'm sorry to throw away the escort target...
Fiona	I'm fine... I'll work with Kamui to find a way to contact the resistance forces in Slothstein.
Edgar	"That" Don Taras won't give up so easily. He'll definitely start an underground organization or something.
Fiona	Hehe, that's right... That's why, Rebecca.
Rebecca	Okay... I'll borrow your trump card.
Edgar	Yes, and a farewell from the old man Kamui...
Rebecca	Is this a cane?
Edgar	Anything love? Its name seems to be this, and he told me to give it to Lisbeth if she was going to Lustburg.
Rebecca	This cane? Although it has a mysterious design, it has no special power...
???	That's terrible, that way of saying it.
Rebecca	...!?
Edgar	Who is it?
Nyx	Yeah, good. The specifications are completely different, but it seems like I can hear you properly this time too. Nice to meet you, humans living in the future. My name is Nyx. I came from the past to stop the "last sin beast"... A moderately great magician.
Rebecca	...
Edgar	...
Fiona	...
Nyx	Huh? Can't you hear me? Maybe you have poor sensitivity?
Rebecca Edgar	Hah!?!?
Later...

Kamui	Is it because the Sacred Stones have begun to awaken, or is it because that "tower" has appeared...? The beasts have been making a lot of noise lately.
Amran	Your energy is coming out, Kamui.
Kamui	Amran. I thought I told you that it would be dangerous to go outside the oasis right now.
Amran	But Kamui, you will protect me now, right?
Kamui	Well, that's true.
Amran	Do you despise me?
Kamui	Have you cut off their pleas and thrown them away?
Amran	I understand what they're saying. I understand very well...
Kamui	Yeah. I guess so... Because you are a Sephira people, and you have inherited that blood, albeit a little bit.
Amran	I have a sephira on my body, and I can't use any techniques or anything. I know the pain of the oppressed and the sorrow of the deprived, even though I'm like that...
Kamui	You prioritized protecting the people, and that decision is not a mistake. Everyone tries to protect what is important to them. All of us desert people know your heart that loves your people. It was you who made that decision. Who can blame you for that?
Amran	But you're going, right?
Kamui	My journey is not over yet. I haven't collected enough souvenir stories to tell yet.
Amran	Yeah~ There's always one woman in your heart, right? I wanted to be my brother-in-law, but my sister is...
Kamui	Just kidding. I'm an old man over 100 years old...
Amran	Lord Seriolde has returned to his country.
Kamui	Will that happen after all?
Amran	That person is a scary person. He may not be aware of it, but inside he certainly has the blood of Ceclidis flowing in him. I'm sure that blood whispers, "Now is the perfect opportunity." Lord Seriolde, please realize that the purpose of Avis is not to win this war. That's why he will always do anything to benefit the fishermen. That's the kind of person Lord Seriolde is.
Kamui	... (I see...)
Amran	That expression looks unbelievable.
Kamui	No...
Amran	To be honest, I was chilled by the meeting earlier. How dare he treat us desert people and Gluttony Foss as equals...?
Kamui	What's the problem with that?
Amran	Right now, desert merchants are making the most profits in hundreds of years, and you know why, don't you?
Kamui	It's probably because Gluttony borrowed a lot from us desert people for the reconstruction after the civil war. In return, they released some of the facilities at the port and displayed many of our products in the market.
Amran	That's right. We built many buildings on that land, enriched the market, and maintained the roads. Then, they infiltrated local officials, and little by little, they were gaining "our" allies. For us desert people to take control of Gluttony, which became a parliamentary system a few years later.
Kamui	Amran...
Amran	What if the Desert Zone became a country right here and now? We can't send our personnel! All the preparation so far is a waste! That was definitely noticed! I was noticed, right? I might be assassinated!?
A moment later...
Seriolde	Hmm...
Adelbert	What is it, Your Majesty? You looked gloomy... Maybe you got dizzy? Did the carriage ride a little too fast?
Seriolde	No, he can just hurry up.
Adelbert	Then, what are you worried about? Oh, you mean you left Lady Rebecca and the others behind?
Seriolde	No, they look like leaders of a fine country. Even if we don't show you the way, you'll do what you have to do. I think unnecessary worry is rather rude.
Adelbert	Then what is it?
Seriolde	Amran... He still didn't open up to me. Suddenly wanting to talk as an equal... I guess it was annoying after all.
Adelbert	Well, it seems like they're respected. So it's not a bad thing, right?
Seriolde	Is that so? Hmm... It's difficult to get along with each other.
Adelbert	Well, it was a tense discussion. Well, if the world becomes peaceful, you will be able to do that to Lord Amran.
Seriolde	That's right. I hope so...
A moment later...
Amran	Yes, yes! Lord Seriolde is truly a terrifying person...!
Kamui	Well, you're probably thinking too much about that...
Amran	Therefore, we will join forces with Envylia.
Kamui	As always, switching is quick... But why?
Amran	Kamui, I "want" the Pope. In the end, the misfortune of our desert people was caused by the Holy Order of Babel. If we have the Pope on our side, our future will definitely open up. That's the true meaning, and I can see a future in which we stand alongside the Seven Great Powers. That's what I think.
Kamui	Is that so? This is the reason you called me back to this place in a hurry.
Amran	Yeah. I would like to ask Your Holiness the Pope to help me increase the value of our desert people... Could you please cooperate?
Kamui	Of course. We, the people of Sephira, will never forget the gratitude we have received from the people living in this land.
Amran	Good. I can feel safe if you are on my side.
Kamui	But...
Amran	Is there a problem?
Kamui	Slothstein and Lustburg. We cannot disrespect these two countries. Even if it is difficult to directly rescue them.
Amran	I understand. We don't have any soldiers or authority, but let's still fight what we can. Our battlefield is not on the front lines, but we control large amounts of capital and supplies to crush Northern Pride. Besides, Greed Dike... Isn't that story about how that country finally overcame the curse of the Sacred Stone Mammon? If so, that country is "worth" our investment. It's about time for them, the sleeping lions, to wake up again.