Operation story: MN-7
< MN-7
| Operation | Story |
| Previous MN-6 | Next MN-ST-2 |
| Characters | |
| Female Tourist Male Tourist Servant Tourist Tourist A Tourist B | |
| Backgrounds | |
 1  2  3  4  5 | |
Before operation
| “ | Zofia, taking Maria's feelings to heart, changes her mind. As the crowd watches, Maria looks like she's made a decision. | ” |
| <Background 1> | |
|---|---|
| Zofia | ...The match started already. I've got to... mm? Wait, why is my sword here? |
| Servant | Ah, Miss Maria brought it over earlier. She said she already gave it some adjustments, too. She guarantees it should be like new. |
| Zofia | ...... |
| [Zofia slashes the sword onto a nearby balustrade which immediately shocks the servant.] | |
| Servant | Byah—! |
| Zofia | Mm... light and limber. I've missed this feeling. |
| Servant | P-Please be careful! Oh, my, you've broken the balustrade again! We just had the stonesmith repair that in the Victorian style last year... |
| Zofia | Oh, you may as well just have someone renovate the whole place. In fact, you're in charge of that. |
| Servant | Really, another one of your whims? |
| Zofia | As long as someone can live in it... ...... |
| Servant | Miss? |
| Zofia | ...Ah, no, I just... feel like I miss something, suddenly. This sword... Maria's grandfather gave it to me. |
| Servant | Miss Maria calls you an aunt, doesn't she? |
| Zofia | Family hierarchy is one unending wordy mess. I still remember how Margaret put it—"This is your... your... you know what, she's your auntie." I'm only about as old as them, aren't I? Really—auntie? |
| Servant | You're very young. So young, and managing such a family enterprise. We take great pride in you, Miss Zofia. |
| Zofia | I snapped up all this land in one breath. Oh, back then, was I thinking I'd prove myself as well? Prove myself worthy of the "Nearl" name, maybe? Worthy of the Radiant Knight... No... now's no time to pine for the past. |
| Servant | The car is all ready for you. Or do you think running there yourself might be faster? |
| Zofia | I think that's obvious— |
| <Background 2> | |
| Greatmouth Mob | Just like a hunter toying with his prey, the Left-hand Knight keeps letting his foe gather herself and try again, and each time, he strikes Maria Nearl back down! |
| Bald Marcin | ...... |
| [Kowal and Vogelweide enter the bar in a rush.] | |
| Old Knight | Marcin! We're back! How's it going?! |
| Old Craftsman | Why's Maria up against someone at that goddamned level? Has the Association gone mad?! |
| Bald Marcin | That'll be a long story... Are those kids safe? |
| Old Craftsman | For the moment, can say that much. But they already got legal knighthood stripped right off them. Pfeh. |
| Old Knight | Never thought I'd see things get so goddarned out of hand... Ashlock, Flametail, two other Infected knights without titles, and all the Infected they bought back from the arenas using everything they had... Fighters! And the people toying with those Infected for fun—for god's sakes, they're all children! Their oldest was only twenty! Youngest was barely—! |
| Bald Marcin | ...... |
| Old Craftsman | Even if they hid themselves in the pipelines, just one full day in city bounds and their safety'd be out the window. Not to mention the crowd we have now. |
| Old Knight | I got some old friends to look after them, but the Infected are Infected, still. Wish things'd be simple as that. |
| Old Craftsman | ...We're not just picking a fight with the companies, now. |
| Old Knight | Scared? |
| Old Craftsman | Scared?! Wasn't even scared when the Ursus were holding spears to my mouth! I'm a goddamned Ursus myself! |
| Old Knight | Fiddlesticks! When'd the Craftsmen ever get off those city walls? |
| Old Craftsman | Huh?! Instead of running up there, you think we should've just sat in the smithy and let the catapult smash all of us flat too? |
| Bald Marcin | ...... ...Maria can't win this. |
| Old Knight | Aye. The Maria we know facing a foe like that, just ain't no way she'll win. |
| Bald Marcin | No, not that there's no way. I mean she just can't. Knights Association have played their hand too hard now. Add in that rotten Czarny popping up, and there's no way it can go ahead that simple. |
| <Background 3> | |
| Maria | Nnh...! (My... my arm's about to dislocate... his spear—I can't get close at all—) (—No, even if I did, there's still no way I'd win... what do I do...?) |
| Left-hand Knight | ...Up. Continue. |
| Maria | (Grit my teeth, and get up.) Nngh... |
| Left-hand Knight | On the verge of toppling? You really are the image of your "family knighthood," struggling for breath. Up. Continue. The best way to stamp out a knight is to stamp out her dignity. |
| Greatmouth Mob | He taunts! He taunts, over and over! A look of disdain and victory in one, aimed square at his opponent! "Left-hand" Tytus will make your blood run cold! Now the prize pool's leaning completely one way, and the odds and figures are both out of control! Don't blink, but the money right now's gotta be on par with every other arena in Kazimierz combined! |
| [The audience cheers.] | |
| Male Tourist | Hey! Give it all you've got, Nearl! If you pull it outta the bag somehow, I'll win enough to buy a whole castle! |
| Female Tourist | Are you nuts? How much money did you put on her? |
| Male Tourist | —I put down even more on Left-hand! But I'm making nothing the way this is going, so I'm just hedging my bets a little! |
| [Topola pressures Maria with his attacks, giving her no opportunity to strike back.] | |
| Maria | Hgghh... hah... hah... |
| Left-hand Knight | ...... A visionary without a vision... wants to be a knight too. I won't kill you. Forfeit. The times of old will not fade for having done so. Abandon this, and you abandon only yourself. |
| Maria | Are you... sympathizing with me? |
| Left-hand Knight | —Correct. As you do not deserve for me to treat you as a knight. |
| Maria | ...... |
| [Topola strikes Maria...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | I've seen footage of your fights. From Szewczyk, through the race, the melee... I went out of my way to observe "the Nearl family's new knight," and every lucky victory of yours was a personal affront to me—look at you. You had the gall to waste my time like this? |
| [...followed up by another.] | |
| Maria | Ughh—! |
| Left-hand Knight | Stand firm, Maria Nearl. I will tell you the worlds that separate you and the Radiant Knight. Her shining light could drown her opponent's will. Her sheer passion made me tremble. Her sheer talent made others envy her. And you—victory against you is trivial. I will extinguish your resolve, to a pile of ash. |
| [Topola knocks Maria's sword off her hand.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | Airtime! Tytus has once against sent Maria's weapon flying! Oh, man, this loop of devastation is too much bear, but no problem! The arena isn't just to let flesh and blood fly—it lets knights go on a rampage of pure strength! Taunting! Pressuring! Destroying! This is "Left-hand" Tytus, mercilessly disposing of the weak! |
| [Maria tries to guard herself from Topola's attacks with her shield, but it immediately shatters.] | |
| Maria | (So forceful...! And my shield split apart?! This is the one Margaret left!) (Traces of Arts on the edge of his blade—his Arts—) Ugh! |
| Left-hand Knight | The Radiant Knight had not the Black Knight's strength, nor the Blood Knight's menace. She went against the lowest tier of the Major, and became champion by no more than a fluke— —Even if I console myself so, I still know deeply the chasm that separated us. Against her, I have only pity for you, seeing your weakness. |
| [Maria uses her Arts ...] | |
| Maria | I might not... compare to my sister... But I am still—a Nearl family knight! |
| [...but Topola strikes her to dispel it.] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ...Eyesore. |
| Maria | (One flick of his hand—?!) |
| Left-hand Knight | Enough! Insult me no longer with the Arts you used on Ingra! |
| Maria | Ungh... ugh... |
| Left-hand Knight | Do not rise again. No matter your armor's resilience, your pain must be excruciating. |
| Maria | ...... |
| Left-hand Knight | You silently raise your arm again. Your tenacity at least deserves recognition. |
| Zofia | Sorry, sorry—make way, make way! I can finally see her... ...Maria. |
| [Topola lands several clean hits on Maria and she is left helpless.] | |
| Maria | ......! |
| Left-hand Knight | What now? You have not even the energy to speak? |
| Maria | ...... |
| Left-hand Knight | Your breaths come wild, your stance is empty... what path to victory could you even speak of? What—mnph. |
| The noble knight, the commercial leviathan, the veteran of the Major, Tytus Topola, once more narrows his eyes— —to the light that pierces them. | |
After operation
| “ | Underestimating his enemy, the Left-hand Knight gives Maria an opening to win with a single blow. But Maria is not happy with her victory, finding herself perplexed. With the Left-hand Knight routed, the undercurrent begins to swell. | ” |
| <Background 3> | |
|---|---|
| 4:12 PM \ Cloudy, Kazimierz Fireblade Arena Independent knight Maria Nearl vs. "Left-hand" Tytus Topola, one hour and twenty minutes in | |
| [As the match between Maria and Topola is growing intense, the audience cheers.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | Right now, this arena... is host to a once-in-a-lifetime event! She gets knocked down, and she gets up, again and again! That spark of light still hasn't left the eyes of the audience! It's as if it's taken root in the smeared blood and soil of the arena! That one spark of light—! Just like a candle lit in the night! Under the ever more oppressive onslaught of Tytus, a man who lives to crush the will of his opponents— —It's still alive! |
| [The audience cheers as Maria is standing back up again.] | |
| Maria | Haahh... haaahh... |
| Left-hand Knight | You... stand once again. You... I see. The most miniscule Arts to heal your wounds, never running out, all the while looking for weaknesses— —Does it feel good? Enduring your flesh on the verge of collapse for so long? |
| Maria | Hah... hah... no, I'm fine... |
| Left-hand Knight | Stubborn. |
| [Topola infuses his glaive with Arts...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | Nothing more than a parlor trick. |
| [...and strikes, but Maria narrowly parries it.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | She—she blocks! It's the first time she's done it! Maria has blocked Tytus's attack! |
| Left-hand Knight | What... did my blade glance...? |
| Maria | No, it was dead on... but you're hitting—a lot less hard. You... you have to get tired too, Tytus... |
| Left-hand Knight | I do? ...... Certainly... I have wasted far too much time on you. Let me end this. |
| [Topola lands numerous clean hits onto Maria.] | |
| Tourist | He hit again—! |
| Tourist | The flow's completely changed... Who knows what'll happen now... |
| Maria | Gugh... |
| Left-hand Knight | Hmph. I know all your little tricks now. No reason to cede you a single chance more. |
| Maria | (Too fast—) |
| [Topola continues to overwhelm Maria with his attacks...] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | He! Gives! No! Quarter! A relentless rush! Not letting Nascent Nearl catch her breath! Will this finally put out that last spark of light?! |
| [...as the audience cheers.] | |
| Tourist A | Can that girl... even hold on anymore? This match's boring now, I'm done... |
| Tourist B | ...That one's Maria Nearl, right...? Margaret's little sister? |
| Tourist A | Really? I've been coming to the Majors for two years now, and she's nowhere on the same level. |
| Tourist B | But when they flip the script, that's what's worth seeing, isn't it? |
| Tourist A | I mean... |
| Zofia | Maria! Maria! Stand up straight! |
| [Maria hears Zofia shouting...] | |
| Maria | ...... |
| Vision's blurry. Don't blink, Maria. Blink, and they'll never open again. | |
| <Background fades out> | |
| Maria, you are gifted with a pair of pegasian eyes. Maria. Stand. Come, come forth. | |
| Maria | Grandpa... |
| Cry not, my child. What is the motto of the Nearl family? | |
| Maria | "Fear neither hardship nor darkness..." |
| I do not regret the past. It brings me so much joy that Margaret chose to walk a different path. | |
| Maria | Margaret...? |
| In confronting all hardship, all darkness, generation after generation, each of our us have made our own choices. Margaret chose the path least realistic. Has she... has your sister ever spoken to you of her vision of a knight? | |
| Maria | "To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land..." |
| Heh, heh. At such a young age... Wishing only to be light. Wishing only to dispel the hardship and darkness. | |
| <Background 3> | |
| [After recalling her memories, Maria stands back up...] | |
| Maria | ——! |
| [...much to the audience's cheer.] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ...One second later, and you may have been freed from this meaningless battle. Why stand up? |
| Maria | ...... Uncle Młynar... was wrong. |
| Left-hand Knight | What? |
| Maria | It wasn't at all... It was only a sigh... |
| [Maria channels her Arts...] | |
| Deep breaths. Deep breaths, Maria. Keep exerting yourself and you won't win. Use his arrogance. Use his overconfidence. What would Margaret do? | |
| <Background fades out> | |
| Just one opening... just one opening. | |
| <Background fades in> | |
| [...and conjures a bright flash that disorients Topola.] | |
| Left-hand Knight | Mph— |
| Greatmouth Mob | And suddenly, a burst of light! What in the world just happened?! Are we gonna have to give out free sunglasses next time—?! This is the first time the Left-hand Knight Tytus has backed off! There's Arts! No doubt about it, this is Maria Nearl's own Arts! Is she using Arts to turn the tables at the last minute?! Ooooh! There's been a small tremor in Maria's figures! But even still, the odds are just astounding! The numbers are rivalling corporate donations, now! Would you look at this prize pool?! |
| [The crowd cheers as Topola recovers...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ...... The Radiant Knight... ...No, only a pale shadow of an imitation. You... you will pay dearly for this act of contempt. |
| [...And then, he lands a clean hit on Maria.] | |
| Zofia | Maria—! |
| Tourist | You can do it! Go, Nearl! |
| Tourist | Hey! Maria Nearl! You can do it! |
| Zofia | Maria! Stay focused—! Beat him into the ground! |
| [The audience cheers for Maria.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | The cheers! Everyone out there is cheering for Maria, now! But even then—! Tytus still has free rein to walk the arena! |
| [Topola strikes, but Maria parries...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | You... |
| Maria | (Blocked it!) |
| [...and riposts the attack.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | And the tale keeps twisting! They're both spent, but she's actually made a massive comeback! Ladies! And! Gentlemen! Keep your eyes right on the prize, whether it's the marvelous match or the extravagant prize pool! It's all shaped up to be the most worthwhile event of the season yet! Let's see more coin and more screams! Gotta let your knights know just how hyped you are! |
| Left-hand Knight | You—you have the nerve to block my attacks! Leaning on your puny smattering of Arts?! |
| <Background 4> | |
| Spokesman Czarny | Arrogant. I hate the arrogant. I loathe them. It is readily apparent that Tytus could have won this. His vision tunneled on trampling the Nearls' dignity. This middling, neglectful means of combat always tends to offer the other side an advantage. |
| Corporate Employee | I-I see... |
| Spokesman Czarny | After all, she is the Radiant Knight's sister, and a certain "Nearl's" granddaughter. Hah. My past self could've only pictured that fear-inspiring old lout upon hearing the name "Nearl." Such is the decline of the knightly family, it would make one weep. Compared to the corporate, a knightly family's dreary class conflicts truly are so fragile. |
| Corporate Employee | The Association controls the entire noble class, now... |
| Spokesman Czarny | And so we control the Knights Association. |
| Corporate Employee | ...... We just... received word from a lot of our sponsors... They want the Left-hand Knight to end the battle ASAP... |
| Spokesman Czarny | They're worried that Tytus will lose. But there is no harm in him losing. The sticking point is how hot that topic is, and on that, I am very much satisfied. |
| Corporate Employee | You, um, think so? |
| Spokesman Czarny | Mm... he is the commander of the Blade Helmet Knightclub. Arrogant, believes the universe revolves around himself. But he is undeniably strong, and sublime in the art of torturing his enemy's will to fight. In all previous competitions, he relished his opponents kneeling in surrender. And so... He is sure to lose. |
| Corporate Employee | Huh? |
| <Background 3> | |
| [Maria and Topola exchanges blows with each other.] | |
| Maria | Haahh... haaahh... (No, need to be steady... can't stand upright... just, stay like this... and breathe...) |
| Left-hand Knight | Enough! |
| Zofia | Maria—! (Maria... should've long since reached her limit... Even in her duel with Ingra, she never got hit this bad...) —You've shed your blood for this! Grit your teeth, Maria! Win! |
| Left-hand Knight | Humiliating... I've wasted my time humoring nothing but trash... Will you beg for my mercy only once I have crippled you? You're just like "Whislash" was—prepare yourself! |
| Maria | Now—! |
| I'm still trying to learn from Margaret. The way she used Arts. That turn of her wrists. | |
| [Maria focuses herself...] | |
| But— | |
| [...and successfully parries an attack from Topola...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | You... block me again?! You utter— |
| Maria | —— |
| [...before riposting it in earnest.] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ......?! |
| Greatmouth Mob | N-Now that's no coincidence! Maria's once again blocked the Left-hand Knight's onslaught! What's going on?! Could Tytus be toying with the already cornered Nearl!? |
| Maria | ...... |
| Left-hand Knight | ...Good. Very good. I don't know what you're thinking... but no matter. I will crush every speck of your light to dust. Come. |
| Greatmouth Mob | Look closely, y'all! This is the first time the Left-hand Knight's ever taken that stance! The first time he's ever let his opponent pull one over on him! Even against Nascent Nearl, don'tcha think this is a little extreme?! No! Anyone who knows Tytus knows it's not! All his fans here in the arena know the score! But he's really hit his head against it today! Maria's resolve hasn't wavered one bit! I've gotta admit, folks, the way she's hanging in there, even I'm shedding a couple tears! Listen up! Everyone who supports Maria Nearl gets an entry in a post-match lottery! Your chance to win is a lofty 0.2%! Who wants to be the lucky one?! |
| Maria | ...... |
| Left-hand Knight | ...... |
| <Background fades out> | |
| —Something isn't right. Fatigued, timid, the fear of humiliation overcoming her, pushed to the edge as she is— In her heart lies only victory. She wills to win. She's conjured countless ways to grasp this one last chance firm. But in this instant, she can only question that victory she's been pursuing all this time. | |
| <Background fades in> | |
| [Maria and Topola enter a deadlocked duel...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ...... ...Maria Nearl, for what reason did you join the Major? Glory? Wealth? Or was it your family? |
| Maria | For... myself. |
| [...which ends when the former striking the latter down with her shield...] | |
| Left-hand Knight | ...... |
| Maria | Nothing more... Mr. Tytus. |
| Left-hand Knight | ...Hmph. An instant's feint. Arts focused on your shield. You really do... have the blood of a pegasus... tch. You fought a radiant fight, Nearl... |
| [...defeating the Left-handed Knight. And the audience immediately cheers at the outcome of the long bout.] | |
| Greatmouth Mob | We've just had—the lengthiest duel of this entire season—! And the one who fell was none other than "Left-hand" Tytus Topola! Who could've seen this coming—! I ask you! Who could've seen this coming?! Completely unreal odds and titanic prize money—hey, show us those numbers, now—this is enough to start your own little business! A miracle—! No doubt about it, this is a miracle! Maria Nearl! The Nearl family has brought us a miracle once again! |
| [The audience cheers for Maria and her hard-fought victory against Topola.] | |
| The audience all wait. They wait for Maria to raise the scratch-ridden sword in her grip, and declare victory. An upset to talk about. Astronomical wagers. A soul-stirring, heartrending comeback. | |
| Maria | (What now?) |
| <Background black> | |
| Is this the Major? What is it you won? What did you get from all this? Glory, wealth, your family's honor, but what is it you're missing...? Hm, what is it you're missing? | |
| |
| And without much time to think about it, as if in pure response to the cheering all around her, Maria holds her sword up high. Only the pain, sharp, radiating from her hand, overcomes the applause. | |
| <Background 3> | |
| Maria | Hfff... (I can't... I can't stand—) |
| Zofia | Maria! |
| Maria | A... Auntie? |
| Zofia | Maria... Maria... |
| Maria | A-Auntie Zofia... let go, let go, it hurts... |
| Zofia | Oh, sorry... did you break a bone?? |
| Maria | Mm-hm... but it's no big deal... |
| Zofia | Maria... I'm sorry... I might've been too harsh on you before. You're just like your sister. You're a knight, and you should be able to choose your own path— |
| Maria | ...No... |
| Zofia | Maria...? |
| Maria | I might... really be nothing like my sister. |
| <Background 5> | |
| Bald Marcin | ...Maria won. That match'll have been broadcast on every terminal in the four cities. |
| Młynar | ...... |
| Bald Marcin | But... it's not that simple. You gotta help her, Młynar. |
| Młynar | Truly a miracle. If you're so worried for Maria, why ask me to help her, and her to give up on her idiotic path to knighthood? |
| Bald Marcin | Młynar! |
| Młynar | That's enough... If the spokesmen and the Knights Association are to directly intervene, I won't have a single hand to lend... This is precisely why I was opposed to Maria becoming a competition knight in the first place. |
| Bald Marcin | Maria decided to do this for her family, y'know. |
| Młynar | Nobody ever asked her to... Don't give me those self-righteous excuses. There are times when responsibility makes a burden. For the sake of a life lived clearer, we should all be a little smarter. |
| Bald Marcin | Młynar, you... |
| Młynar | —If this is all you came to tell me, you can go now. I have other things to deal with. I'm still not done yet with some files the Director wanted... |
| Bald Marcin | ...I thought you were down in a slump, Młynar. |
| Młynar | Don't be presumptuous, Marcin. |
| Bald Marcin | Yeah. Maybe you're right. You've really disappointed us all, Młynar. |
| Młynar | And the same for all of you. |
| Bald Marcin | If you can't even bring yourself to care for Maria's safety... then we'll look after old Nearl's granddaughter for him. |
| Młynar | You're leading her to ruin and you know it clear as day. |
| Bald Marcin | Wasted my breath... go on, pretend I never came, then. |
| [Marcin leaves.] | |
| Młynar | ...Any trouble those two sisters make should be theirs to sort out. |
| <Background 4> | |
| Ashlock Knight | ...How long do we have to keep hiding, Sona? |
| Flametail Knight | Don't rush it, jeez... |
| Ashlock Knight | We can't stop… we don't want any of our Infected here to starve. And we already lost one we could've saved. |
| Flametail Knight | Heading back to the arena's too risky, though. Dunno how the National Council feels about us, either... |
| Ashlock Knight | National schmational... I don't there's any justice in Kazimierz anymore. Not even in the law. |
| Flametail Knight | But we can't let ourselves forget we're all in the right. It's not our fault if they say right's wrong. The problem is if the National Council comes in to say we're guilty, then we lose. Just like the Radiant Knight. But, hey... haha, their minds must be blown. Honestly, I did NOT expect it either... What do you think they'll do next? Think they'll be watching all the Infected now? The ones we bought and freed... |
| Ashlock Knight | ...It's all been one game. Die to the arena, or die to some assassin's arrow. No difference. |
| Flametail Knight | Hahaha. You got that right. But let's just hold out a biiiit longer. No reason to get Nearlie and all her people wrapped up in our stupid underground fight. |
| Ashlock Knight | ...Alright. I'm gonna trust that you have a plan. |
| Flametail Knight | Who the hell knows? We've been doing this dumbass tightrope act since the beginning. Aren't you scared, Ashley? |
| Ashlock Knight | Sona! We're not the sort of people to run into some resistance and think twice about it. Remember all we did just to get some titles... and the blood we spilled for them. |
| Flametail Knight | ...You're right, you're right. I'm thinking too hard. |
| Ashlock Knight | Yeah, you are... long as we're together, long as we've got a pair of fists to fight back with, we're golden. |
| Flametail Knight | Man, you're getting better and better at talking all the time. Where'd that "Ashen Curse" go again? |
| Ashlock Knight | ...... |
| Flametail Knight | Oop. You mad now? |