La danse macabre - Stage 11

[shionstear]

La danse macabre

Episode 36 – Libel’s battle (I+II)

Cathedral.

Qual:

Arme, are you okay? We’ve been running all the time…!

Arme:

I-I’m fine. But to think the church was this big.

Libel:

It’s a lot bigger than necessary. They probably just wanted to show off the church’s privilege.

Qual:

It was necessary… for Ark.

Monitor turns on.

Arme:

What…? The monitor suddenly…

Libel:

…

Misericorde:

Ah… ah… can you hear me?

Qual:

…Lord Misericorde.

Misericorde:

Why hello there, Qual. I am very disappointed in you.

I even made you the Tenshi’s attendant. I think I looked after you quite a bit.

Qual:

…I am grateful. But even if I have to throw away everything, I decided what I should believe in.

Misericorde:

Hmph.

Arme:

H-hey! Misericorde. We just want to talk to you.

Misericorde:

…

Arme:

There are many people living on the ground. Shouldn’t the church save them all no matter what?

Libel:

…

Arme:

Ark and the ground should work hand in hand! It’s not too late yet!

If I really have the power to guide people, then I want to use that power for the ground as well.

Misericorde:

… pff…

Arme:

…?

Misericorde:

Ahahahahaha!! Hahahaha!!

Arme:

…!?

Qual:

…what are you laughing about! Misericorde…!

Misericorde:

Kukuku… but of course I would. To think… to think that he doesn’t know yet!

Arme:

Eh…?

Misericorde:

Qual! You overheard my talk with Reue, didn’t you? And you still haven’t told him?!

Arme:

Qual… What does he mean… you didn’t tell me?

Misericorde:

Hah… it doesn’t matter anymore. Oh Tenshi. You don’t have the power to save or guide people.

The only thing you can do is to completely break humans… Don’t be conceited.

Arme:

…eh?

Libel:

Shut up you bastard…!

Misericorde:

Ah, the man who stole the Tenshi, yes? You’ve been with him for quite some time. …how is your body faring?

Libel:

…

Arme:

…Libel?

Misericorde:

Well, it matters not. I shall be waiting in Lord Eternea’s room. Why don’t we continue our talk there?

Monitor turns off.

Qual:

…he just wanted to provoke us.

Arme:

Qual, what was Misericorde talking about?

Qual:

…that’s…

Arme:

Tell me. You’re hiding something from me, right?

Qual:

…

Arme:

Please tell me the truth.

If you’re my friend.

Qual:

…alright. Let’s talk.

Skip.

Arme:

…I… see.

Qual:

Yes… and because I bear the Church of Nerve’s holy mark I’m not affected by the curse.

Arme:

…

Libel.

Libel:

What?

Arme:

You knew…?

Libel:

Yeah…

Arme:

Why… why didn’t you tell me?! If I’m with you then you’ll die, won’t you?!

Libel:

Because there was no need to.

Arme:

…! Then, at that time…

Flashback to Libel fighting Qual where Libel coughed up blood.

Arme:

Y-You! You had noticed the things happening to your body. You…!

A-Am I… still killing you right now too…?

Libel:

…

Arme:

It’s okay… You don’t need to save me.

Libel:

Why?

Arme:

I-I’m not a Tenshi, right?! I don’t have any power!

I-I’m just a single human! And one that kills others just by living!

It’s not worth saving me while risking your life!

Libel:

I see, our goals don’t align, huh.

Qual:

I’ve been wondering as well. For me it’d work out just like I want, but why are you trying to save Arme?

It would’ve been okay to fall back once you knew the truth. You could’ve left it up to me, I’m not affected by the curse.

Why do you expose your life to such dangers to come this far?

Arme:

…why, Libel?

 

Libel:

…hah. Seems you won’t understand until I say it.

Arme:

If you don’t, I can’t continue forward with you.

Libel:

…

For as long as I can remember I have been fighting for the ground.

I won quite a few times and became more known.

…but the world didn’t change. There was nothing the strength of a single person could change.

Ark would always float in the sky. The poor would remain poor. War would keep on.

I despaired… I was about to give up…

But there was no way I could. …because I had comrades who had come along with me.

And then I met you, Arme.

Arme:

…me.

Libel:

At first, I just wanted to use you for the negotiations. But then, after we spent time together, I thought…

If someone were to change the world, it’d be a person like you, not me.

Arme:

Wh-what are you…

Libel:

You can make the people around you smile.

Arme:

That’s…

Libel:

I can’t change the world on my own. But, if I could save you…

The people from the ground could find hope by seeing you. You could become someone like that.

When you said you wanted to do something for the ground…

I could see the new world that I’d create together with you.

Arme:

…I…

Libel:

The one to change the world isn’t someone strong like me, Qual or Vida.

Qual:

…Libel.

Libel:

It’s someone genuinely kind, who can make people smile, like you.

A human that can push others’ backs and make them look forward.

Arme:

B-But!!

But it was a lie. The Tenshi doesn’t have such a power!

I’m… someone that kills others just by living.

Libel:

Yes. The Tenshi’s role was just a lie. There was no miracle.

And because of that, the power to make us smile is yours alone.

Arme:

…ah…

Libel:

This dark, hopeless world needs an idol that makes people smile and gives them the courage to live.

And that’s you, Arme.

Arme:

…I don’t… I don’t have such a power. I only…

Qual:

I understand what Libel is saying…

Arme:

…even you…

Qual:

I was able to protect my own justice in Unity Order thanks to you…

You… gave me strength. …I’m sure someone like you is necessary for the world.

Arme:

…

Libel:

Arme, even without being the Tenshi, you’re a person that can save people. You’re someone that can change the world with your kindness.

For me, someone who couldn’t change the world, it is worth to risk my life for you.

Arme:

…I don’t know. Can you… do that…?

Libel:

People very rarely encounter something they’d risk their lives for. …it’s the same for everyone.

I am very blessed.

So please let me fight for you until the end, Arme.

Qual:

…

Arme:

I-I…!

Crashing sound.

Libel:

…!?

Qual:

What!?

Vida:

Ahh… made it in time…

Libel:

Vida…!

What happened to Kabane…

Vida:

Ah… I chopped him into pieces, just to be safe. Will probably take a while to regenerate…

Libel:

Ugh…!

Vida:

Well then, let’s start round two…!

Episode 37 – The scars of despair (III-V)

Cathedral.

Vida:

Oraaa!!!

Swing.

Clash.

Libel:

Ugh…!

Qual:

Take this!!

Swing.

Clash.

Vida:

Too naïve!!

Swing.

Qual:

!?!

Libel:

Are you okay, Qual!?

Qual:

Yeah, somehow… I can barely keep up.

Vida:

Hah…! Hah…!

Libel:

It’s probably thanks to the wounds he got from Kabane. But even so…

Qual:

This guy’s too strong…!

Vida:

Oraaa!!

Swing.

Clash.

Libel:

Ugh…! Shi---!

Qual:

No you won’t!!

Swing.

Clash.

Libel:

…! Thanks, Qual.

Qual:

No need! Pick up your weapon!!

Vida:

Hyahaha! Nice cooperation…!

Qual:

Huh!? Where!!

Libel:

…should you really react to that right now!?

Vida:

When did you two become so close? Someone from the ground and someone from Ark…!

Qual:

Hmph, as if someone like you would understand!

You’ve got no business in this as an outsider!!

Vida:

…

That’s it… that is what I can’t stand…!

You have always ignored us…!

Swing.

Clash.

Qual:

Wha…!?

Vida:

You proceed without thinking about us!! The blessed guys and the normal guys!

You don’t even try to understand us who are even lower than you!!

We’ve always been ignored by this world!!

Swing.

Qual:

Gah!?

Vida:

We’ve been alive as well. On this world…!

Libel:

I know that… I know that well enough!!

Vida:

Libel! This is about you! You’ve been thinking about something grand again, huh? By using that brat over there…

Arme:

…!

Vida:

That’s why! I’ll make a mess out of everything!

Engrave my name! Our name! While you despair!!

Uraaa!!

Qual:

No! Arme!!

Arme:

Ah…!

Swing.

Clash.

Libel:

Ugh…! I will protect Arme…!

Vida:

Hyahahaha!! As if you could protect anything with your strength…!

Libel:

This doesn’t concern strength! I will protect him!

There’s no way I’ll lose against someone who does have all that strength yet didn’t change anything…!

Vida:

Ah!? What do you know!?!

My life was decided from the moment I was born!

If you’re born there you live there! That’s how it is!

I sacrifice myself for the souls of the dead in Hell. That’s why I have this strength…!

Libel:

That’s foolish…! What can you do if the living are trapped by the dead…!

You don’t even have the power to break the rules for your comrades…!?!

Vida:

…!

Libel:

Why didn’t you use your power to live!? If you had, you and your comrades might’ve had another destiny!

Vida:

…ahh! Ahhh!!!

Swing.

Clash.

Libel:

Ugh…!!

Vida:

You’re saying the same as Horca… Even though you’re weak…!

Libel:

Of course…! If you’re weak you wish to live, right!?!

Vida:

…!!

Gunshot.

Vida:

Ah!?

Qual:

…!?

Gunshots.

Vida:

Gah…!?

Sh…it…!

Reue:

…

Libel:

…! Th-there’s so many!

Qual:

Captain… Reue…

Reue:

…ready your guns.

Unity Order Soldiers:

…!

 

Reue:

Shoot!!

Gunshots.

Vida:

….!! Gahhh!!

Arme:

…! Just Vida…!?

Qual:

…Captain Reue.

Reue:

Hmph…

Tadaaa! I came to save you, Qual-kuuun.

Libel:

…!?

Qual:

Captain Reue… why…

Arme:

Why… didn’t you come to stop us…?

Reue:

Ah, yes. Lord Misericorde ordered me to kill you all.

Qual:

Then why…?

Reue:

…

It got bothersome. Being the midway manager.

As well as lowering my head to a sickening superior.

Qual:

…!!

Reue:

…my, oh my. I’m gonna lose my job with this, huh?

You owe me a new place of employment.

Qual:

Eh…?

Reue:

What are you so confused for? You people are creating a new shape of the world, right?

Qual:

A new… shape?

Reue:

Eh? Wait, you were, right?

If you came in barging like that it’s because you’ll change the world that revolves around the Tenshi, right?

Change goes hand in hand with sacrifice.

I joined your side thinking you were ready for that? …hm, was that a mistake?

Libel:

No, it’s exactly like you said.

Leave it to me. I’ll create this new shape of the world.

There’s no need for the curse. It’ll be a world where Arme is the people’s hope.

Arme:

…Libel.

Reue:

…oho?

Libel:

We’ll take you in. I’ll give you the best position.

Thanks for helping us.

Reue:

Fufu.

Nice. Please make it a place where I don’t have to work all that much.

Libel:

Will do.

Reue:

…Lord Tenshi. No, Arme-kun.

Arme:

…y-yes.

Reue:

We adults are all cowards and made you go through harsh times.

Arme:

…! I-I…!

I… I ended up killing… Schau… your child…!

Qual:

…!

Reue:

…

Arme:

I-I’m s… I’m sorry.

 

Reue:

I’ve been… fighting ever since I was young, you see. I killed many people of the ground…

Because I had no family. The people of Ark were my family. I thought I had no other choice.

Arme:

…

Reue:

One day, stuff happened, and I picked up a child on the ground. I just kinda decided I’d raise him.

I said it was just a whim, but… I knew, I was probably trying to repent for all the lives I took.

The older Schau grew, the more I realized that there was absolutely no difference between the people from the ground and those on Ark…

But I pretended not to see. Even though there was so much discomfort.

I was scared… that the world where Schau and I could live freely would be destroyed…

Arme:

Th-that’s…

Reue:

That’s why I’m the one who killed him. And I’m the one who didn’t notice that such a cruel fate was forced upon a child like you…

Qual:

…Captain Reue. You…!

Vida:

Aahhhhh!!!

Libel:

…!?

Vida:

Diiiiieeeeeee!!!

Arme:

…!?

Reue:

Oh no!!

Swing.

Reue:

Ahhh!!

Vida:

Hah…! Hah…!

Haha… ha…! One more arm for me…!!

Libel:

Vida…!!

Qual:

How can you move like that…!? Your whole body is pierced from bullets!

Vida:

Haha… hahaha!!

Swing.

Unity Order soldier:

Gah!!

Swing.

Unity Order soldier:

Gah!!

Libel:

Stop, Vida!!

Vida:

Hahahahaha! If this is how I’ll end, I’ll kill as many as possible!!

Arme:

Reue! Reue! Your arm…!

Reue:

It’s okay, don’t worry… Arme.

Kokujoh Yako… Vida… I won’t let you get to more of my family…

I’ll be your opponent…!

Vida:

Hah… hah…! You guys killed my family as well…!

If you just didn’t exist…!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Arme:

Reueeee!!

Gunshot.

Vida:

Ah… ah…!

Reue:

Sorry. Adults are unfair.

The arm you took was an artificial one…

I was a rascal like you, long ago.

Qual:

There was… a gun in the artificial arm…?!

Vida:

That was… dirty…

Reue:

Dirty… dirty, huh…

Humans try a lot of things in order to survive. To think one could always win by playing the cool one…

Hilarious.

Vida:

…gah…!

Collapsing sound.

Vida:

Gah… Is this… the end?

Libel:

…Vida.

Vida:

But… I killed… a lot… I bet… these guys won’t… forget about us…

Horca… Placer…

Oh, what… I can’t hear… the voices anymore…

Ahh…

Ahhhh…!!

If I just hadn’t heard this from the start…! Then I… I…!

It’s… too late…

Libel:

…

Rest assured, Vida. As if I could forget someone like you.

To be continued…