Chapter 9 Episode 1/1-2 - Storyline

Status Quo

Aimerlin Laurel Seriolde	...
Northern Person A	That's the rebel... So does that mean we lost... The Holy Guard... The Holy Order of Babel?
Northern Person B	Looks like... We've turned the entire continent of Babel against us. I knew this would happen sooner or later...
Northern Person C	I don't know what's going to happen to us... They say there's a real Pope over there.
Northern Person A	As I thought, as traitors, we should be treated accordingly...
Aimerlin	People of the royal capital. I am... I am Aimerlin, Pope of the Holy Order of Babel... Airmerlin.
Northern Person A	You are the one...? Are you sure?
Northern Person B	No, because... I've seen you at the previous ceremony... No, wait! The one coming from over there!
Dias	...
Decoy	...
Northern Person B	That's him! That's the Pope we know...
Decoy	We've been expecting you, Your Eminence.
Aimerlin	Yes, we've been waiting for you for a long time.
Decoy	Everyone! Please forgive me! I have been deceiving you! I am a decoy of Her Eminence the Pope!
Northern People	...!
Decoy	It is not my intention... The Bishop of the Holy Order, Waginau Cradle, who was in league with Avis... Her Eminence was captured by this man's plot, and we of the Holy Order had no choice but to follow his words...!
Northern Person C	Oh, no...
Northern Person A	Lord Waginau did such a thing?
Decoy	But Sir Waginau has fallen! The rightful emperor Avis has now lost control of the royal city! Therefore, I now tell you the truth! This is the real Pope Aimerlin! She is the one whom we, the people of Babel who believe in the Holy Order of Babel, must revere and honor!
Aimerlin	People of Northern Pride, hear us. Despite Sir Waginau's intrigues and the machinations of Avis, this whole plot against my throne has been my own fault. Therefore, I do not seek the blame of anyone here in the capital. No, rather, now is the time! I would rather borrow its power! To the faithful, the people of Northern Pride! The order of this continent of Babel, which Avis and his men have disturbed and distorted! With us! With the benevolence, charity, and prayers for peace of all the faithful of the Holy Order of Babel, let us restore it to its "rightful" state...!
Northern People	Oh... Oooooooooh!?

Laurel	We've managed to seize the will of the people of the royal capital. Nice work, Dias. You've brought the Decoy Pope with you. He's very attentive, even for you!
Dias	Don't add a word of your own. You can't be happy. I've seen the way you do things in Envylia, so I figured you must need it.
Laurel	Is that a compliment?
Dias	If that's what it sounded like, that's fine.
Laurel	So you're not complimenting me! Can I hit you?
Aimerlin	Anyway... The occupation of the capital is ours, and all the cardinals of the Holy Order have shown their reverence for us.
Dias	Can we trust them? They didn't take any action during the reign of Avis.
Aimerlin	Lord Commander Dias, not everyone is willing to risk his life in the face of unreason. Some of the cardinals were forced to obey because their families and people were taken hostage.
Dias	That's... Well, that's what you were in the first place, Anym.
Aimerlin	That's what I mean... And also, in the royal city, as much as possible, respect him as a Pope. You can't stand in people's eyes and ears. "The Lord Commander of this generation is impious!" I don't know what kind of rumors will come out of it.
Dias	Uh... That's... Be careful.
Laurel	So, how's the alchemist squad going? Tower of Babel at this rate. Can you attack?
Dias	There is no problem on that point... We all have wounds on our bodies, but our spirits are high. After half a day's rest, they will regain their usual energy.
Laurel	Then we just have to find a way to get to the Tower of Babel. His Majesty King Ceclidis IV, who has been sending out scouts, should be back by now.
Seriolde	If you could, I'd prefer you call me Seriolde. Or Serio, if you prefer.
Laurel	Oh, speak of the devil... So, where are the remnants of the Holy Knights of Babel?
Seriolde	I'd say they've been almost completely destroyed, most of the knights have been transformed by the monster, the Fallen One, I think it's called. And the Fallen were scattered here at the same time that Sir Waginau was killed.
Laurel	I see. And the rest?
Seriolde	It seems that they have gathered at the foot of the Tower of Babel and are trying to reorganize their forces.
Dias	It's not going well, is it?
Seriolde	Yes. It seems that they no longer have a general in command. They don't even have the time to form a line or a curtain.
Laurel	That's... troublesome.
Aimerlin	Why is that? If they can no longer even afford to form up, then why don't they just drive them away?
Laurel	Well, yes, in fact, they will. But...
Dias	Without command, they still gathered under that tower. In other words, they have not given up their will to fight... Dead soldiers. Besides, the absence of a general means that there is no window for negotiation. I doubt that our words, however sweet they may be, will fall on deaf ears.
Laurel	Like the Knights of Wratharis, who once survived the Dawn of Wrath, and still did not stop resisting? Those people are really stubborn. Even if their friends die out and they are left alone, they will resist. They are the kind of people who will make a fool of you if you take them seriously. They're going to die out there, they're going to try to take you with them, and we're going to try to...
Dias	Sacrifice after the game is won or lost, of course, no one wants to be a part of it, and the result is a big difference in morale.
Laurel	In this case, the best way is to stay away from them, take your time, and finish them off from a distance with artillery fire or a military assault...
Dias	That's no good. The Genesis Ceremony by Avis must be going on in the Tower of Babel right now. In order to stop him, we have to get to that tower and clear a way in.
Laurel	I know...
Seriolde	How about a raid with those flying iron ships, for example? Only selected people can enter the tower, right? Then how about we send the alchemists down there and leave immediately? They can take care of the inside of the tower, and we can slowly take care of the remnants of the Holy Knights of Babel.
Laurel	It would be best if we could...
Seriolde	Is there a problem?
Laurel	It's not always that easy to get in and out of the tower. Only selected people can enter, right? We should eliminate as many threats as possible, as long as there is a possibility of getting stuck in front of the tower.
Aimerlin	Then we need to plan our operations based on that policy. We didn't want to let too many troops into the royal capital to minimize chaos, but... Contact the Continental Alliance garrisoned outside the city and inform them of the need for an immediate military meeting to clear out the remnants of the Holy Knights of Babel.
Holy Guard Knight	...
Aimerlin	Dias, you...
Dias	I understand. I'll let Logi and the others know what you just said... You can handle the hunt for the remnants, can't you?
Laurel	Yeah. In fact, tell them never to come to the front lines.
Dias	Copy that.
Laurel	Haaaaaaah... I'll be on my toes until the very end. Yes, that's right!
Dias	Whoa, what is it? This sword is "Hamal"?
Laurel	I'm talking about the seven weapons and the seven stones, then you're the one who has them. Right?
Dias	Yeah, right. ...
Laurel	Get a grip, Dias Elysion, no matter what's in your own heart... ...because now you represent every knight on this continent, no matter how you try to stand on your own two feet.