Lostbelt 1 Summary: Section 12

Section 12: Distance to Genocide



Atalante asks if you are ready. The rebels have already surrounded the town. First they will aim to clean up the Oprichniki occupying the town, and then they will negotiate with the mayor. In order to shake their morale and prevent any resistance from the mayor, a swift blitz is of paramount importance. Atalante gives the order to launch the attack.

The rebels successfully sweep past the defenders, cheering as Atalante defeats the Oprichniki. To the mayor, who has hobbled out frantically at this incursion, Atalante declares their identity: they are an organization formed with the intent of rebelling against Ivan and the Oprichniki.

Atalante Alter:
Despite knowing of the suffering of the oppressed Yaga at the frontiers, you have become sycophants to the Oprichniki and informed on those who have tried to escape, didn't you? In order to live, you bow to the strong. As long as you are Yaga there is no other way. However, now is the time to pay the price! You will hand over sixty percent of the food you have stored up to us, right here!

Yaga Mayor:
That can't be... more than half...!? We would all starve to death!

Atalante Alter:
...Hmph, the stench of lies. Mayor, you would still survive if we took away seventy percent, let alone sixty, wouldn't you?

Yaga Mayor:
There's no way...!

Atalante Alter:
Of course, that is if you don't live extravagantly.

Yaga Mayor:
...!

Atalante Alter:
Do not try to pull the wool over my eyes!


It seems that Atalante has heard from some of the other Yaga that a distinction between "aristocrats" and "citizens" has partially formed. She finds this utter idiocy - in this harsh and frozen world, you must share and work together to survive.


Atalante Alter:
Did you think that you could establish a class of aristocrats who do nothing but fatten themselves!?

Yaga Mayor:
T-That's not it! We would not dare to aspire to aristocracy in front of our glorious Tsar. What we have done is merely segregation. The sick, the orphaned, the elderly... our town works by abandoning these weaklings and having warriors stand guard in the streets, That is how we have protected this town!

Atalante Alter:
Having warriors protect the town? What they really protect are the colonies of the magical beasts, you mean! That you shoot dead Yaga from other villages who come to those places is also something that I have already investigated!


One of the town's Yaga yells at Atalante to shut up, saying that the magical beasts belong to them. She fires a couple of warning shots at him, warning him not to interfere while she is talking to the mayor. The mayor decides to acquiesce and agrees to supply the rebels with food. He tries to bargain it down to forty percent, but Atalante gives her final offer at fifty percent. Then they will spare the town. The rebels don't plan to do this regularly as there are more important things they need to do. The mayor reluctantly agrees.


===


Holmes remarks that though the high pressure approach was meant to reduce resistance from the townspeople, the rebels may be overdoing it a bit. You ask him what he means. Holmes explains that the rebel Yaga have hostility in their eyes. A sad-looking Gordolf says that he understands, as he has been the target of identical glares before.

Guda:
You didn't give up, though.


Gordolf brightens up and begins to brag.


Gordolf:
Indeed. My father was also widely known as the Indomitable Gord, after all...

Fou:
Fout.

Mashu:
Fou-san is gazing at you as if to say, "fight on".

Gordolf:
I don't need such a report! Eei, that damn animal, even though it gets a piece of bacon from me every morning!

Holmes:
Well, the current situation may just be limited to verbal scuffles and spitting at each other, but should something happen, bullets will begin to fly. Mister Guda, please be cautious.


You hear a shout. Running over to the source, you find a rebel Yaga arguing with a Yaga woman. It looks like the rebel bumped into a child and is quite unapologetic about it. He is quite busy. Billy orders both of them to calm down.


Yaga Rebel:
Tch...

Yaga Townswoman:
What is there to rebel about!? The Tsar was the one who carved out this world! How utterly shameless you are to forget his kindness!

Yaga Rebel:
What did you say!? The Oprichniki killed my sister! They trampled her to death with their black horses!

Yaga Townswoman:
That's just because your sister was weak, wasn't she!?

Guda:
The both of you, stop it!

Billy:
That's as far as it goes! I won't let this go on any longer. You should back down too!


Cursing under their breath, the two squabbling Yaga part ways. Mashu sighs, and you ask her if she's alright. Although she's only observing, she says it must be a tough situation.


Mashu:
It's nothing as simple as an outside enemy... no matter which standpoint you take, they each have their own valid reasons...

Guda:
That's right...


Suddenly, one of the Yaga townspeople start shouting.


Yaga Townsman:
It's the Oprichniki! The Oprichniki are coming!


Enemy reinforcements are arriving.


Yaga Rebel:
F-Fight! Ready your guns!

Atalante Alter:
Who said to ready your guns!! Hurry up and transport the food!

Yaga Mayor:
Y-Yes...! The Tsar has not abandoned us after all! O, rebels! Tremble in fear! It is the Oprichniki! They will kill you all!

Atalante Alter:
Are you an idiot!? What kind of situation do you think this is? You'll be caught between both sides!

Yaga Mayor:
..........eh?

Holmes:
....This is the worst timing possible. It is as Avicebron feared. The genocide has begun. Both sides behaved in a way as to minimize casualties, but now both sides would suffer the greatest damage.


You ask Holmes what should be done.


Holmes:
You have no choice but to head towards the Oprichiniki at full speed, and engage them far away from the townspeople. However, it will be difficult to completely stop them, even so. We can only pray that Avicebron makes it in time.

Guda:
Billy!

Billy:
No two ways about it, guess we've gotta stop this! Let's go!


Mashu warns you that the Oprichniki are approaching. They identify the presence of enemies, rebels who would defy the Tsar's glory.


Oprichniki:
Kill them to the last man, without mercy. Return them to dust, without exception.


With Billy's assistance, you'll have to stop them here as best as you can.


===


The fight wears on. Billy fires away at the enemy.


Billy:
I'm reloading, buy me some time!

Guda:
Healing!


You recover Billy's health with magecraft.


Billy:
Ooh, nice one, pretty good.


Holmes says that it is too late. It has begun. In the town, rebels are being slaughtered by Oprichniki left and right. The mayor is cheering gleefully, declaring that this is his town. However, that does not stop the Oprichniki from trampling over him with their horses. He dies, confused. The Oprichniki continue to advance, cutting down any of the town's citizens that happen to be in front of them. One of them close in on a rebel, who is desperately firing his rifle to no avail.


Oprichniki:
...Death to those who would cloud the light of the Tsar's glory. Rest in peace.


The rebel dies in a spray of blood. Cursing, Patsy fires at the Oprichniki's head and successfully takes it down. Meanwhile, the other rebels are frustrated that their guns, able to bring down even magical beasts, have little effect on the Oprichniki. These Oprichniki that have come as reinforcements are far stronger than the ones guarding the town earlier.


Yaga Rebel:
...Take this!


He fires, and hits one of the townspeople.


Patsy:
...!? You shot one of the citizens!

Yaga Rebel:
What are you talking about!? He was holding a weapon!

Patsy:
Look more carefully! That's just a broom!

Yaga Rebel:
Ah---


But it's too late.


Yaga Townsman:
Fire! Fire, fire, fire!

Yaga Rebel:
Kill them, kill them all!

Patsy:
Dammit...!


Shots ring out, hitting one of the citizens in the arm. Atalante Alter shouts at the rebels, ordering them to stop firing upon the townsfolk.


Yaga Rebel:
But, boss! Those bastards are already aiming their guns...! Besides, if they're mixed in with the Oprichniki they'll get dragged in anyway

Atalante Alter:
Ugh... aim for the Oprichniki! That is all I can say!


The rebels move to do as she orders. Atalante looks down, frustrated with the situation.


Atalante Alter:
(Am I... allowing the sacrifice of the citizens with this...!)


Meanwhile, Patsy has run off, searching for his mother.


Patsy:
(Mother... is Mother alright? It doesn't look like she's come outside? It should be fine, there's nothing happening in the direction of our home...)


There is a loud bang.


Yaga Townsman:
I-It's an explosion...! The rebel army are using bombs!

Yaga Rebel:
The Oprichniki are using bombs!


The chaos continues. Patsy can see flames rising. Someone's house has caught on fire, and there are screams.



Mashu:
Ah, this is just...! What should we do...!

Guda:
Just how can we help them...!?

Mashu:
We don't know who did it, but if this fire spreads, it'll be...!

???:
It appears to be a dust explosion. The cause is likely the group who attacked the grain warehouse earlier. The burning from the explosion then arrived at the warehouse filled with oil barrels. But there is no cause for panic, for the blizzard seems to be worsening. The fire will not spread and subsequently be extinguished.


Avicebron has arrived. He apologizes for his tardiness, but says that thanks to the time taken, something can now be done.


Guda:
Y-You mean you can do something about this situation?

Avicebron:
Yes. The preparation and integration has ended. Then, let us turn these chaotic conditions around in one go. Golems, activate. Mine Eyes Sight an Infinite View (Chokmah Bel Infinite).


He snaps his fingers. Golems appear, striding into the mess and destroying the Oprichniki. The fighting rebels and townsfolk scatter in fear.


Avicebron:
Their orders number two. Gather and transport all weapons. Crush the Oprichniki. The golems already buried in the town are moving out. By preparing the material that is to be the core, the surrounding buildings will be turned into material for constructing the golem. Luckily, this town... no, this world's stone walls are infused with magical energy. They are quite suitable as golem materials. With that said, this has caused quite some damage to the buildings and the walls, though as human life is irreplaceable, please pardon me for it. By the way, the surroundings of the fire have been destroyed by the golems, so its spread has been controlled.

Mashu:
T-This... method of use.... though it should have taken time...

Avicebron:
My apologies. It would have been better if I could have deployed earlier, but Master, is there anything else?

Guda:
N-No, that's all...

Avicebron:
Hm. Then as they say, this was worth my labour.


You defeat more of the Oprichniki. Saying that it is about time, Avicebron asks you to step back a bit. The golems are pressing forward in other parts of the town. Though there may be injuries, there will be no more deaths from now.

One of the Yaga townsfolk screams as he fires desperately at the approaching golem. His cries turn to surprise as the golem instead confiscates guns from both rebel and townspeople alike. Atalante asks if the transport of the food is complete. It looks like with the golems' assistance, everything is just about done. Even if it is only at about 70% of what is expected, Atalante says that will be enough. She orders the rebels to withdraw. A horn is blown: the signal to retreat.


Avicebron:
Well then, the Oprichniki should prioritize attacking the golems. Let us take this opportunity to retreat too.


==


Patsy runs through the ruined town, panting.


Patsy:
(It'll be alright, it'll be alright... no, it'll be alright so what am I doing? I shouldn't be showing my face here at this time. In the first place, I'm someone who has given up on this town, who had abandoned it... besides, the food that I gave her last time should be good for a long while...)


Patsy runs into a crying Yaga and approaches him. The Yaga recognizes Patsy, calling him a traitor, but Patsy does not care. He just wants to know where his mother is, and if she's alright.


Yaga Townsman:
Your mother!?


He giggles.


Yaga Townsman:
Hi, hihihi.... hihihihihi! Are you stupid!? Your mother was killed because you joined the rebel army! She was killed by being stoned to death! You, you! It's all because of you! It's all because you're a coward! I'll kill you too---


Patsy shoots the man.


Patsy:
That... can't... aah... it's a lie... a lie...

Patsy:
(---No, it was not a lie. I should have understood that from the beginning. That this town would not forgive the family of betrayers. It was a given that my mother was doomed from the moment I abandoned this place...!)


Patsy runs once more.


Patsy:
(No! No, no, no! It's not my fault, it's not my fault! This rebellion is only natural! They are the sinners! It is the fault of those who live in this town! I'd always feared this place since I was a kid! This town that discards the weak! Even though Father was the head of the militia... when he appealed for food from the Oprichniki as the representative of the town, they killed him without a word! This town is shit! Why, why did Mother not leave this place...! Mother being killed was... my... my fault... no... no, no, no!)


Patsy hears the horn, the signal to retreat.


Patsy:
Dammit... I...

Yaga Rebel:
Patsy, what are you doing!? We're withdrawing!


The rebel asks him to hurry as there are Oprichniki remnants closing in. He'll take the rear, so Patsy should hurry.


Patsy:
.....Sorry.

Guda:
Patsy?

Patsy:
...I...!


He runs away.


Mashu:
Just where is he...!?

Avicebron:
...Let us go, Master. It seems that we are parting ways with him.

Mashu:
That can't be...!?

Guda:
Patsy...


===


In the palace, Kadoc is feeling nervous. The princess asks him what is wrong, and he explains that it is about time for the scheduled report.


Princess:
Ah, him.... um, Kir... Kirschtaria...

Kadoc:
Vodime.

Princess:
Yes, yes, Vodime. It seems that he has had a long history as a mage.

Kadoc:
If it is just that, such mages are a dime a dozen. Amongst even them, Vodime is the real deal with the pedigree, ability, and--- and the confidence to match. It pains me to admit it, but there's none more suited to be the leader than he is.


Even though the Crypters are to contend using the occurences of the Lostbelts, like in a race, Kadoc says that Kirschtaria has all but won it.


Princess:
At the moment?

Kadoc:
At the moment, yes.

???:
---Why, that's great. Looks like you still have the will to fight.


Caenis appears before Kadoc and his Servant, happy that Kadoc is still in the mood to compete. The Oprichniki gather, though they are quickly dismissed by the princess. Caenis is their guest, not someone who would bring harm to the Tsar.


Caenis:
Hah. That depends on you. If you're a useless small fry, I'll crush your king right here before going back!


Kadoc tells Caenis not to be too provocative. He can acknowledge Caenis's effort taken in crossing the seas and the storm, but he can't be too impressed with any attempts to stir up trouble needlessly, as it would be a fight without any profit. Besides...


Kadoc:
I would feel sorry towards Vodime if I reduced his precious Divine Spirit Servants from three to two.


Caenis's eyes glow red.


Caenis:
---Nicely said. I thought you were a weakling, but you're not bad. Hey, Miss Princess. Is he trying to act cool in front of you? Or is he the sort who's been hiding his fangs all this while?

Princess:
That goes without saying. It's both, Divine Spirit Caenis.

Caenis:
I see. Fear and foolhardiness. That's good. There's still room to grow.

Kadoc:
...So, what's it? I have nothing to report. Everything is proceeding as planned.


Caenis seems doubtful.


Caenis:
Your place is the only one yet to take root. The Fantasy Tree hasn't budded, either. Of course my Master's concerned about that. Whether or not the weakling Kadoc is alright, or whether the burden is too heavy to overcome!


Kadoc assures Caenis that everything is progressing well. Even though it is indeed slow, he was late in the first place. He believes that he and Caster will still be the victors in the end. That the Fantasy Tree has not rooted yet is because the Tsar hasn't deemed it necessary. But Kadoc appears confident he will come to do so.


Kadoc:
Until then, it is time for preparation. Reversi... though you wouldn't know of that. Anyway, it is to prepare the foundations for a turnaround.

Caenis:
That's a rather cold gaze. They're the eyes of someone with ambition, flattering the king while sneakily searching for ways to overthrow him.... that's fine. If you can upset that bastard Vodime's plans, then it'd be the best spectacle ever! Alright, there are no problems in Russia. I'll tell Vodime that.


Caenis says that although the foundation of this Lostbelt is poor, its king is a top-class monster.


Caenis:
...Yeah. Though I only caught a glimpse, that was hideous. He might win in a brawl even against our chief deity. Do your best in turning things around unexpectedly, Kadoc Zemlupus. You want to impress the girl, don't you? Isn't that nice, a Master and Servant couple! If that happens then it's finally my turn. I'll make this proud princess into my woman right before your eyes!

Princess:
....How vulgar. I want nothing to do with an uneducated boor of a man.

Caenis:
What a coincidence. I agree with you. I think the same of pampered girls with heads filled with flowery and princessy stuff but can't even catch a single fish.

Princess:
..........

Kadoc:
Caenis, are you that starved for conversation? I'll prepare a seat for you if you want to have a tea party.

Caenis:
Yeah, I'll accept that offer gladly when the princess is not around. Actually, Kadoc, you're pretty slick with your words, aren't you? You should be more sarcastic usually too, hey!


Kadoc replies that he picks his targets to be sharp-tongued with. He asks if Caenis has any other business. There's none, except for the matter of the people from the Panhuman History. Caenis asks if they have appeared in Russia, as Daybit said. Kadoc says that they have and that he'll handle it. Caenis volunteers to clean them up for Kadoc, but he rejects the offer. They have come to Russia, and so belong to him. It is Kadoc's right to do with them as he pleases.


Caenis:
...I see. You're getting carried away, human. Ah, it feels like I'm looking at your past self. I have expectations for your hubris, Kadoc. Right, Russia is your game board. Aim for the top prize as best as you can. Don't let someone else pull the carpet out from under your feet. If you pull it off well, then at that time call me for, what's it called? A tea party?


Caenis leaves the room.


Princess:
...What a farcical Servant. If you had not forbidden it, I would have struck to kill.


Kadoc reminds the princess that they need to avoid troublesome situations. They would have had to enlist the Tsar's assistance if a fight had broken out.


Princess:
Are all heroes from the Age of Gods that ill-mannered? ...It makes me quite angry to be underestimated, too.

Kadoc:
Right, right, it's my fault.

Princess:
Yes, that is so. And if you're at fault, so am I. I'm angry because I understand that.

Kadoc:
...I have some tea leaves I got from Pepe. Even though Servants don't need it, let's fix the mood with this.

Princess:
...Of course, it'll depend on the taste.

Kadoc:
Good grief...