La danse macabre - Stage 3

[shionstear]

La danse macabre

Episode 10 – Raid (I+II)

Night-time.

???:

…

…bye-byeee.

Swinging sound.

Sword clanging.

???:

Oh?

Cura:

Shit, saved by being an insomniac!

???:

Don’t do an allnighteeer… It’s bad for your skin, you know!!

Shoving.

Cura:

Agh!! Wake up guys, it’s the enemy!!

Libel:

…!

Fuga:

You’re kidding!? I didn’t even notice!

Arme:

…wh-what’s happening!?

???:

Ahh… how annoying… I wanted to kill you in your sleep.

Libel:

Who are you?

Placer:

Placer from Kokujoh Yako. You guys are Rebellion, right?

Fuga:

Ugh, this is the worst. Just when we were speaking of the devil…

Arme:

…Kokujoh Yako.

Placer:

Who’s the Tenshi guy?

Arme:

…i-it’s me.

Libel:

You don’t need to answer him!

Placer:

Alrighty, then I’ll leave you alive and kill everyone else.

Swinging sound.

Glass shattering.

Fuga:

Watch out!

Cura:

Libel, Fuga! Take the sonny and run!

I’ll hold him back…!

Fuga:

Nah, no matter if he’s Kokujoh Yako, but if it’s 3 against 1 we’re sure to win!

Cura:

Not while protecting sonny! The moment he gets hurt we’re done!

Libel:

Fuga, let’s go! Believe in him!

Fuga:

Ugh… let’s run, Tenshi!

Arme:

Y-yes! Cura, please be safe!

Placer:

Oh man, they ran.

Cura:

You’re not in a hurry huh…

Placer:

I was ready for this too. I’ll just kill you and go after them!

Swinging sound.

Glass shattering.

Cura:

Ugh…!

Placer:

How nimble! It’s been a while since I battled someone that knows how to fight. Makes me happy.

Cura:

Hehe… Swinging around that big weapon must be hard, right?

Placer:

Not really. Maybe I’ll take it up a notch…

Swinging sound.

Cura:

Ugh… He’s fast, damn it!

Swinging sound.

Placer:

Ahahahahahaha!

Swinging sound.

Placer:

…you’re getting slower and slower! Maybe you’re not as fit as you thought…!

Swinging sound.

Cura:

Ugh!!

Glass shattering.

Cura:

Cough… cough…

You see… I’m in charge of desk work.

Placer:

I do feel sorry for you. But it’s your fault for running around with a treasure…

There’s no way we’d overlook that, riiight?

Cura:

Heh… so you just wanna make the Tenshi into money, huh? What a simplistic idea you guys have. Our leader is quite different…

He’s a real big idiot, trying to use the Tenshi to save all of the ground…!

Placer:

…huh.

Whaaatevs. I don’t care.

Cura:

…!

Placer:

That’s pretty weak, in my opinion.

Doing something for complete strangers. …just shows that you can take it easy.

Cut to the others.

Arme:

…!

Libel:

We’re surrounded… To think there were this many Kokujoh Yako soldiers.

Fuga:

They were probably hired, weren’t they? …so they got that kinda money?

Rowdy:

Who’s the Tenshi? The smallest guy?

Rowdy:

In any case, don’t let ‘em escape. Surround them!

Fuga:

What do we do, Libel-san?

Libel:

If this is all of them… Let’s quickly defeat them and head back to help Cura.

Fuga:

Aye aye sir! Tenshi, get behind me!

Arme:

H-hey, fighting against this many is…

Libel:

Ha!

Sword swinging.

Rowdy:

Ugh!

Libel:

Next!

Fuga:

Ora ora ora!

Gun shots.

Fuga:

We got no time! Come at me!

Rowdy:

These guys aren’t half bad!

Fuga:

How often do you think we’ve fought punks like you, huh!?

Arme:

To think… both Libel and Fuga were this strong…!

 

Cura:

Hah… hah… You’re stupidly strong…

Placer:

You’ve done well running away. Must be a new record.

Cura:

Your leader is even stronger than this, right…?

Placer:

Suuure is. Vida is the strongest. As long as he’s around we’re undefeatable.

Cura:

…undefeatable, huh… Then, how come the strong Vida doesn’t fight Ark?

Placer:

Huh?

Cura:

I know why. Fighting 1 on 1 is one thing, but he knows that fighting against Ark he’d lose.

Your numbers don’t even compare. No matter how strong an individual is, before large numbers he has no chance of winning…

Placer:

Shut up… Vida is invincible… He’ll win against Ark too.

Cura:

Listen! If negotiations with Ark go well, you won’t need to fight! That shouldn’t be a bad deal for you either!

Unlike you, we’re thinking of the big picture! Think about it! And if you don’t, then just go back to where you came from!

Instead of immediate money, look at the possibilities of a long-term survival!

Placer:

…

Cura:

It’s no time to be fighting amongst fellow ground dwell---

Placer:

No!!

Cura:

…huh?

Placer:

I don’t get what you’re saying. But I don’t like that it sounds like you’re making fun of me. Vida will win. And I can’t stand you.

Cura:

What are you even talking about…

Placer:

And if I say no, you’ll be troubled, right?

You know, we’ve been going through painful experiences all the time. This is payback…

I’m gonna live my life by being a bother to looots of other people. That’s what I decided.

Ahahaha!!

Cura:

…heh. How convenient, I really despise you too.

Placer:

We’re done talking! Dieee!!

Swinging sound.

Cura:

…yeah, you will!

Bomb exploding.

Placer:

Wha---!?

Huh!? A bomb!?

Cura:

Hahahahahahaha!! I’m a worrywart you see…! I always set bombs in places where I sleep!!

Bomb exploding.

Placer:

Wha, do you have a death wish!? Are you crazy?!

Cura:

Huuuh…!?

Can you survive on the ground if you’re not crazy…!?

Bomb exploding.

Cut back to the others.

Fuga:

Aight! Knocked ‘em all out, Libel-san!

Libel:

Yeah… let’s hurry back to Cura…

Bomb exploding.

Arme:

!?

Libel:

An explosion…?

Fuga:

Wha… Cura-san!?

Arme:

The building is burning… I-is Cura alright!?

Fuga:

Wh-what… did he blow himself up…? You’re kidding… He… Cura-san…

Libel:

…no, it’s alright. Look.

Arme:

Th-there’s a human figure amidst the flames…

Fuga:

Cura-san!?

Cura:

Ahahaha!! I’m feeling awesome!!!

Fuga:

What. You’re all tattered, what’re you talking about!?

Arme:

…but I’m glad you’re safe. After that explosion…

Cura:

No biggie. My clothes are made of fireproof material so I can always blow up things.

Fuga:

I didn’t know that…

Cura:

Woooh, bombs are the best! Hah, really reduced my daily stress, not gonna lie.

Arme:

…I-I think Cura might be the most dangerous one…

Libel:

That’s not true. It’s just said that the amount of gunpowder in his bombs are proportional to his stress levels.

Arme:

Th-that is very bad!

Fuga:

Did you stop the Kokujoh Yako guy?

Cura:

Nope, he barely got away. But I’m sure he got a wound from that at least.

As expected, those guys are crazy strong. Hahaha, next time I’ll go at them directly!

Fuga:

He sure is in high spirits, wooh!

Libel:

I know…

Hey Cura, about the thing we talked about before sleeping…

Cura:

Huh? Ah, sure, whatever you say. Do what you want. You’re our leader after all.

I’ll do whatever you ask of me! I’m the reliable advisor! Hahahahaha!!

Libel:

…make sure to ask Cura for things when his stress gauge hits zero.

Fuga:

Hah…

Episode 11 – Leiden (I+II)

The ground.

Qual:

Was there any information that could serve as a lead?

Unity Order Soldier:

Yes, thanks to our base here we’ve approximately designated the members that accompanied Rebellion’s leader Libel during the kidnapping of Lord Tenshi.

Compared with the outward appearances that you saw when they attacked, it is very likely that those two people are Rebellion’s advisor Cura and a fighting member called Fuga.

The one called Cura seems to be an expert with bombs. It is plausible to assume that he was the one who bombed the church…

Qual:

…unforgivable.

What else? Anything on Rebellion’s whereabouts?

Unity Order Soldier:

That… seems quite impossible.

Unity Order Soldier:

Rebellion itself seems to be quite famous, but there are no records of them ever fighting our base.

Unity Order Soldier:

Since they have been qualified as a low threat to Ark, there haven’t been many activities concerned with them.

Qual:

…understood.

Unity Order Soldier:

Lord Qual, maybe it’d be better after all to return to Ark for now and…

Qual:

No, if I do, I’ll never be allowed back down. Let’s keep searching.

After all, we can just have other bugs tell us about the ones we’re looking for.

Unity Order Soldier:

L-Lord Qual, any further investigation will---

Leiden:

Hey! Qual!

Qual:

…!?

Unity Order Soldier:

Lord Leiden! Why are you on---

Leiden:

I’ve been looking for you, you fool. If you hadn’t contacted our base here,- I would have looked all over for you for the rest of my life.

Qual:

…have you come to take me back?

Leiden:

Obviously. What’s with that unsatisfied expression.

Qual:

…because I am unsatisfied.

Leiden:

Listen now… Come with me for a sec!!

Qual:

…

Unity Order Soldier:

L-Lord Qual…

Short cut.

Leiden:

How many soldiers have you let die? There’s no way you only came with two of them.

Qual:

We lost… 8. In a raid with the bugs…

Leiden:

…and you think nothing of it?

Qual:

There’s no way I wouldn’t! They were noble sacrifices for the sake of Lord Tenshi.

So to make it up for them, I killed over ten times more vermin.

Leiden:

…

You’re lunatic. Weren’t you supposed to be calmer than that?

Why are you so particular about Lord Tenshi? For us, who aren't believers of the church, he looks like nothing more than an ornament!

And even more, the people from Nerve said he’ll come back eventually! They must have their intentions as well! There is no need for you to commit to any more danger!

Qual:

…there is.

Leiden:

Huuuh!?

Qual:

When I was young, I was working as Lord Tenshi’s retainer. …here.

Leiden:

…the “Holy Mark”, huh?

Qual:

Yes. When I was told to serve as His retainer, I joined the Church of Nerve.

 

Leiden:

The retainer… dispatched from Unity Order to look after Lord Tenshi. A perfect job for an elite like you.

So? Apart from experience… you mean you’re devoted to the church?

Qual:

To be quite frank, not that much. But it’s just as you said. Because I was taking care of our Lord Tenshi…

I’ve been watching over Him ever since then. It was as if we were brought up together. And if Lord Tenshi is being put through painful experiences right now… I can’t forgive them.

Leiden:

Hmm…

Qual:

For our Lord Tenshi, who lives a life of solitude for the people, only appearing before others once every 4 years, to fall into hands of lowly insects…!

Why does He have to go through this! We should be doing our utmost to save Him!? Shouldn’t we!!?

I am the only one that knows of Lord Tenshi’s pain! Even now… I can hear His laments!

Leiden:

C-calm down, Qual. I got it, alright.

Qual:

…I pride myself as being the one who understands Lord Tenshi the most. I have… I have to save Him…

Leiden:

Hmm…

I understand the situation. Wanting to save a friend is a very simple reasoning, which I don’t dislike.*

Qual:

Leiden-san…

Leiden:

I don’t dislike seeing you this passionate about something. I always thought you were just unbearably serious and strait-laced with no interesting aspects.

Qual:

That’s what you thought…

Leiden:

Either way, we’re but mere infantrymen! We have to oblige to the unbearable blond clergyman and our lazy General Reue!

By doing what we’re told, we can do what we like otherwise and even receive meals!

Personally, I don’t want to think about difficult things! This is more than enough for me!!

Qual:

…Leiden-san.

Leiden:

There are more important things than personal feelings. I’m an idiot yet I understand that myself, it’s that simple. There is no way you wouldn’t understand it, right?

Qual:

But, I…

Leiden:

We’re going back, Qual. No matter what reasoning there is for your actions, you’re going against orders from above.

Qual:

…

… Fu… Fufufu.

Leiden:

Qual?

Qual:

Leiden-san. You are older than me and I respect you as a senpai…

Leiden:

…?

Qual:

You are second to none in hand-to-hand combat and the one in Unity Order with most actual battle experience.

Leiden:

O-oh? What’s this all of a sudden? I’m not letting you go for complimenting me.

Qual:

But… Leiden-san.

Did you forget that I’m of a higher rank than you?

Leiden:

!?

Qual:

Do take a look at this badge.

Unlike you who only thinks of fighting and are unserious, I have been working since I was young to create results.

Leiden:

Wh-what do you wanna say…

Qual:

I mean, I am your superior! And therefore, if you go against what I say, doesn’t that also mean you’re disregarding orders from above?!

Leiden:

…!!

That’s…

Is that so…?! Is that what it means…!?

Qual:

Indeed!!

Leiden:

Is that so…!? But what about General Reue’s order…? Reue is Qual’s superior, so…? And I am…?

Hmm…??

Uhh??

What does this mean!? I don’t know!! Tell me!

Qual:

Let’s see. This is quite the difficult problem. Why don’t we make it easy, so you have to follow the newest order first.

Leiden:

…!

Y-you’re right, that’s true. New is better than old.

Qual:

Yes, exactly. The new one is better, isn’t it?

Leiden-san, as your superior I command you! Look for Lord Tenshi together with me!!

Leiden:

U-understood!!

Qual:

Alright, let us depart! To look for Lord Tenshi!

Leiden:

…u-understood??

Episode 12 – Kokujoh Yako (III+IV)

The ground.

Horca:

Ahahaha! Hahahahaha!!

Placer:

…hey. Don’t laugh.

Horca:

*wheezing*

I mean… I mean… You lost your temper and left, but then you come back all scorched, never saw that one coming!

Placer:

N-Not like I could help it. I didn’t think they were so crazy to peacefully blow themselves up like that…

Horca:

Haha… Well, true. I thought they’d be more moderate.

But I swear to god, the guards we hired with that large sum of money sure were extraordinarily useless… What a waste of money.

Placer:

Seriously. Why is everyone except for us so weak?

If we just had more people.

Horca:

…not like we can’t help that, can we…

And not like the guy who lost can talk.

Placer:

Huuuh!? If we’d fought normally, I so would’ve won!

Vida:

Huh? You came back, Placer? Where’s the Tenshi?

Placer:

Ah… well… you see.

Vida:

…what’s with that get-up? You messed up an experiment or something?

Horca:

Pff… stop, Vida!!

Vida:

Huuuh?

Placer:

Stop already!! Stop playing with me!!

I’m sooo gonna kill ‘em next time!!

 

Vida:

Well, now I know the story. Nothing we can do. We underestimated them.

So how’s the situation, Horca?

Horca:

The Tenshi is moving with Rebellion. They probably traversed the desert by now.

Vida:

…it would’ve been easier to steal it before they returned to their hideout.

Placer:

Maaan, I already said I’m sorry.

Horca:

Well about that, I’ve got a plan.

Placer:

Seriouslyyy?

Horca:

We’ve got 2 pieces of advantageous information.

First. I made one of the hired guards put a tail on Rebellion…

Their pace seems to be unusually slow. And instead of taking the shortest route they’re taking detours.

Vida:

Why…? ‘Cause they’re with the Tenshi brat…?

Horca:

Dunno. I thought about the possibility of them taking a route that isn’t too harsh on the Tenshi’s stamina, but…

That doesn’t seem to be the case. They’re passing by the 6^th district’s salt lake and through the limestone caverns… Like, aren’t those trails actually more tiring?

Vida:

…dunno.

Placer:

Maybe they’re doing sightseeing around the ground?

Horca:

What are you, an idiot?

Placer:

I’m so not!

Horca:

Well, we dunno why they’re doing it but it’s convenient for us. And secondly.

It seems that Unity Order has descended in pursue of the Tenshi.

Seems they’re doing whatever they want. They even completely crushed the guys from another district.

Placer:

Heee…

Horca:

As far as I know, this is the first time Ark is actively crushing organizations on the ground.

Vida:

Hmm. Their goal is to get information on Rebellion, who kidnapped the Tenshi… Right?

Horca:

Likely.

Vida:

Ahh…

I understand what you’re trying to say.

Let ‘em clash?

Horca:

Yup. I let our information on Rebellion flow into Unity Order’s hands.

It’s faster to let them clash than chasing after them ourselves.

Placer:

Heh, you thought this through, huh?

So we go after Ark once they got the Tenshi back from Rebellion?

Horca:

Though Rebellion might end up winning too, but it should slow them down for sure. And I can more or less guess where exactly they’re going to clash.

Well I guess it’s up to both their timings too.

And hey, as long as the table is set, we can just leave it to our leader, right?

Vida:

Guhaha… Are you inciting me?

Good work, Horca. I’ll be the one going.

Placer:

Yaaaay!

Horca:

Aight, the money is ours.

Let’s see if we can survive with this…

To be continued...