Chapter 09 - Dialogue Nelpha Maxi: You caught a glimpse of a family packing their stuff and leaving a while ago, correct? Eleu Coge: Yes, I saw two, in fact. Nelpha Maxi: Something may have happened in the capital. Do you really think it’s safe for us to take Thecto and the others along? Eleu Coge: We don’t have enough information to make that judgment yet. That’s precisely why I sent Balaeno out to scout ahead. Eleu Coge: Personally, I suspect some kind of civil war may have broken out. Nelpha Maxi: Civil war? Not something caused by the Federation? Eleu Coge: Our new leader wishes for peace. He believes that we ought to cooperate and devise a strategy against the darkness together instead of hunting each other like wolves. Nelpha Maxi: Hmph. As if I could trust such flowery words. Eleu Coge: You could, if you met him. Nelpha Maxi: How are you so sure? Eleu Coge: The man named Euro is remarkably lacking in any desire for external rewards, such as power or money. Eleu Coge: If you were to meet him, you would sense it immediately. Furthermore, judging from his words, his actions, and his responses to various situations, there is a consistent inclination toward peaceful resolution... Nelpha Maxi: Get to the point. Eleu Coge: Euro is a selfless man. You can feel it the moment you meet him. Nelpha Maxi: Don’t spout poetic nonsense the moment I ask you to drop the jargon! Eleu Coge: He’s the kind of man who makes people wax poetics. I believe you’ll come to like him too. Nelpha Maxi: Impossible! How could I possibly feel sympathy towards His Majesty’s enemy? ...But still... Nelpha Maxi: Thank you, for earlier. Eleu Coge: …… Nelpha Maxi: What are you looking at? Eleu Coge: Are you talking to me? Nelpha Maxi: Yes I am, Eleu Coge. Eleu Coge: ... Nelpha Maxi: Thanks for examining Thecto, you helped a lot. So you know your way with medicine? Eleu Coge: I picked up a thing or two from an acquaintance a long time ago, that’s all. Eleu Coge: You’ve been taking very good care of the children despite being injured. Color me impressed. Nelpha Maxi: What, so you thought all I’m good for is being a killing machine? Eleu Coge: Why do you always belittle yourself? That is neither constructive nor rational. Eleu Coge: I have never once thought of you in that way. Nelpha Maxi: ... Eleu Coge: Is the rumor about that echo fusion true? Nelpha Maxi: ...What rumor? Eleu Coge: That, on Nuxma’s orders, you went through deliberate body modifications to infiltrate the ruins of Sepharo... Nelpha Maxi: That is none of your business. Eleu Coge: Hm... Eleu Coge: Fair enough. Nelpha Maxi: Sigh... Nelpha Maxi: Let me guess what you’re thinking right now. Eleu Coge: Oh? Nelpha Maxi: You think I’m difficult to talk to. Eleu Coge: You are quite perceptive. Nelpha Maxi: Let me tell you, you’re plenty difficult to talk to yourself. Eleu Coge: Eleu is fine. Nelpha Maxi: What? Eleu Coge: That’s what people call me. Everyone calls me by that name. I will call you Nel, in turn. Nelpha Maxi: ...Really now…? Eleu Coge: That day when my unit clashed with you, when battle broke out and the darkness appeared... Eleu Coge: For what purpose did your unit, the Imperial army, approach the Altaria Vetus ruins? Nelpha Maxi: ... Eleu Coge: You guys were the ones who crossed the border without permission, mind you. Eleu Coge: I regret that your commanding officer was swallowed by the darkness, but I cannot accept being condemned for it. Eleu Coge: For what purpose did you approach the ruins? Nelpha Maxi: Mh... Nelpha Maxi: ...I don’t know. Eleu Coge: There is no way you wouldn’t know. Nelpha Maxi: I really don’t know. I was never told anything. I simply followed orders... Eleu Coge: Is that how they used to treat you? Nelpha Maxi: And what’s wrong with that? That’s what being a soldier entails. Eleu Coge: Using you as nothing but a vessel to follow orders without explanation? That’s how one treats a tool, not a person. Nelpha Maxi: Haha... Is that the Federation's way of doing things? Eleu Coge: It’s my way at the very least. Nelpha Maxi: Gh... Nelpha Maxi: Damn it, this is pissing me off... Eleu Coge: Why is that? Nelpha Maxi: Because I feel like I finally understand why your subordinates were so devoted to you. Eleu Coge: ... Nelpha Maxi: I feel like I understand, and that makes me angry...Because... Nelpha Maxi: I was the one who threw them into the darkness. And at this point... at this point, nothing can change. Nelpha Maxi: Even if I come to know you now, even if I respect you or like you, it will not undo anything, will it? Nelpha Maxi: Lord Nuxma was all I had. I cannot forgive you for being the cause that led to losing him. Nelpha Maxi: I don’t want to forgive you... Eleu Coge: ... Nelpha Maxi: ...Once we safely bring the children back to the village, I want this to be over. Nelpha Maxi: I cannot bear to remain by your side any longer than this. Nelpha Maxi: If you intend to settle in that village, then I will leave it. Eleu Coge: ...No. Eleu Coge: I will be the one to leave. Nelpha Maxi: ... Eleu Coge: Nel. There’s one last thing I would like to ask you. Nelpha Maxi: ...Sure. Eleu Coge: Between the excavation of the Sepharo ruins and your visit to the Altaria Vetus ruins... Eleu Coge: Did you notice Nuxma changing in any way during that time? Nelpha Maxi: Changing... Let me think... He’s always been secretive. Nelpha Maxi: But he did start mentioning an unfamiliar name quite often. Eleu Coge: ...An unfamiliar name? Nelpha Maxi: Ebisu... Nelpha Maxi: He often went to meet someone called Ebisu along with a Song Seeker he hired. Eleu Coge: ...Someone from the Empire? Or perhaps... Nelpha Maxi: I don’t know... Though there were times, rare as they were, when he seemed unusually excited... Nelpha Maxi: He said something about how, if a certain thing had not been destroyed, he could have had Ebisu sing... Something along those lines... Eleu Coge: Sing... An Arca Song, perhaps...? Eleu Coge: Then could this Ebisu person be an Echo Master...? Nelpha Maxi: I’m not sure… Honestly I was just jealous. Nelpha Maxi: ...I kept thinking that I could be more useful than them. Eleu Coge: ... Eleu Coge: Ebisu, huh... To be continued...