Chapter 8 Episode 2/1-5 - Storyline

The Devil Dances in the Serpent Nest

Kino	Hmm... It's progressing a bit, isn't it? Labandart? Isn't it a bit late for work?
Labandart	What, Kino? Aren't you being a bit too pretentious? I managed to lose the slowness in ten days.
Kino	That's true, but... there are still resistance forces left, right?
Labandart	My job is to clean up above ground. Everything underground is Al's job.
???	Can you please stop calling me that?
Labandart	Huh? Al is Al, right?
???	So stop it! Every time I hear that name, a hateful junk face flashes through my mind...! You don't have enough delicacy towards the dead who just crawled out of hell.
Kino	So...
Labandart	I don't know.
Kino	So, what is the situation with you, "Al"?
???	I was an idiot for expecting you to learn... I'm using a refurbished combat alkaloid to search underground... But I haven't found any response after three days of searching. Does it really exist? What is the hideout of the resistance forces? In that town called Lost Blue?
Kino	No matter what you say, I'm from there. It's an irreversible truth that that place is the perfect place for such anti-social activities. Therefore, I'm sure there will be. Don Taras, the mafia boss, and Ethan, the clock tower keeper, would definitely have taken refuge in that town.
???	In that case, you should go and find it yourself...
Kino	I want to do that, but there are various restrictions, right?
???	Did something get mixed up when you became a Phantom Soldier like me?
Kino	It's not like that... Well, it's the price of strength.
Labandart	Kino is really clumsy.
Kino	Oh, you're good with your hands, aren't you?
Labandart	It's not about being a stooge, it's about a way of life. Strength can only be found in comparison. You're really a boy, after all.
Kino	If you're like that, you have a very skillful way of life. Even with the weathercock, I think he's a little more modest, right, Chief Inquisitor under the direct control of the Holy Order of Babel.
Labandart	Please restore my head, my dear. Well, today's Inquisitors are almost like Corpse. It was inevitable that this would happen.
Kino	Couldn't they have taken sides with Lord Waginau?
Labandart	No no! Research won't progress at all over there. No matter how much time passes, he has no progress about the vessel of reincarnation. If he wants to see you again, he should train everyone like I did. Well, with today's alchemy, the alchemy of Nimul and Emmel, the founders, will be distorted in some way, right?
Kino	Is that so?
Labandart	Lucifer's "memories" are vague~ Maybe even if he can be transmuted, he will almost become a completely different person, right? In that respect, my research is perfect. I can forge a Phantom Soldier like this without relying on something unstable like a Sacred Stone!
???	Don't bash me! Don't bash me! I only trust your technical ability.
Labandart	Right? Even the pseudo-Sacred Stones you guys are using are my inventions. Please be more grateful to me.
Kino	Oh, shouldn't the development of pseudo-Sacred Stones have started over a hundred years ago?
Labandart	Sorry. Forgive me. Today's lie: I'm a modern person, so I don't care about pseudo-Sacred Stones!
???	Hey, Kino, is it okay if this woman pushes you up?
Labandart	What are you going to say to your master, Al?
???	I'm afraid that you'll summon me from the other world without permission and try to get the master's attention... I just sympathized with Avis's thoughts. He has no right to be used by a woman like you.
Labandart	Hey, Kino. Can you beat this guy?
Kino	Because we are on good terms... What about you? "As a fellow Phantom Soldier" do you have any opinions?
???	I'm not interested.
Kino	Oops, boring words.
Labandart	You hate me, Kino?
Kino	That's right. That's sad.
Avis	Looks like you have everything.
???	...
???	...
Kino Labandart	...
Avis	Kino, report.
Kino	Leave it to me. Currently, the amount of Alchemy supplied to the pseudo-Sacred Stones installed at the base of the "tower" is reaching the standard value. As expected, choosing war as the method to obtain the Alchemy of Sin was the correct choice. If the plan continues as it is, the "Tower" will be fully manifested in no time. It involved the countries of the continent of Babel, and it is an Alchemist who is covered in the "sins" of the people born in large numbers due to this war... By using this as fuel...
Labandart	By the way, I would like to add something. The more tragic the battlefield, the bigger the war, the better. That's because it consumes humans' "sins" and uses it as its driving force.
Avis	Does that mean it's the same as the Sacred Stones?
Labandart	That's right, Grand Exiel, the source of our alchemy, has become a mass of "sin". You're crazy to try to recreate the world with things like that, Avis. Or maybe it's your last stand? If the world continues to rot like this...
Avis	Labandart, do I look like such a lucky man to you?
Labandart	Hmm, what do you think? I'm sure you're arrogant, but...
???	Either way, the creation will be done, won't it?
Avis	Oh, of course it is.
???	In that case, I have no objection. Shouldn't we just continue to escalate the war? It's said to be a cheap item.
???	I... As long as you keep your promise, that's fine.
Avis	Of course... When you conquer Lustburg with your own hands, I will fulfill my promise.
???	Well then, fine.
Kino	Oh, where you go?
???	I'm going back to work. I'm a strong-willed and patient witch. It's a foolish idea to give me time to such a weak person.
Avis	In that case, let's hope Sarah Helkovara, the witch of "betrayal" from 200 years ago. She once hunted down Queen Venus, and I hope she will show off her magical skills to the fullest to modern witches.
Sarah	I don't need to be told...
Later...

Lisbeth	!
Holy Knights of Babel	...
Lisbeth	Icicle...! Well, just freeze everything...!!
Holy Knights of Babel	...
Holy Knight of Babel	Damn...! This technique is not magic! It's alchemy! All members, equipment for extraterrestrial alchemists...!
Lisbeth	Mr. Salomo!!
Salomo	Yes, great job! Are you guys ready!?
Bugmail A	Of course! Magic gun, Alchemy fully charged...!
Salomo	Okay, let it go...!!
Bugmail	!
Holy Knights of Babel	...
Holy Knight of Babel	Guuuuuuuu! It's time to retreat! Get out of this area!
Holy Knights of Babel	...
Salomo	Haha...! What did you see?
Bugmail B	Captain Salomo! Pursuit!?
Salomo	That's right, now... No.
Lisbeth	Huf, huf, huf, huf...!
Salomo	Our ace is at her limit. You'll go down for now. The best we can do is fill the magic gun with Alchemy, but... Firing magic like this one after another makes you breathless.
Lisbeth	I-I'm fine... I-I'm still...!
Salomo	With such a blue face, there's nothing wrong with it! It will go down once! You've already decided! You guys, set plenty of traps! I'm going down to the school grounds...!
Bugmail	Understood...!
Salomo Lisbeth	...
Bugmail	...
Lisbeth	Ah, no... I... (Don't do it... I thought I trained and became stronger... I guess I can protect everyone with this...)
However, the reality is so harsh that I hesitate to take back the city in front of me and end up becoming Mr. Salomo's burden.
Lisbeth	(This is me, me...) I... I'm just like I used to be, a dropout...
Salomo	No way... Tsk, did you faint? Absolutely... I don't even think about being a good person. I carry other people's luggage on my back, and it becomes so heavy... You guys are stuck! Hey, run, run!! We haven't lost yet! There's no time to look down...!