Episode 27

Waiting Wanderer

This happens after Episode 26.

Somewhere...
	Platton: That's enough. You should stop now.
	Colt: Get outta my way! I was about to finish it.
	Platton: You haven't changed a bit - still picking fights everywhere you go. We'll no longer tolerate you fighting without orders, Colt.
	Colt: What? How can you say that, knowing who that jerk is? (To Rudy) Hey! I said HEY! Where do you think you're going, huh?! We're going to finish this!
	Platton: I told you to stop.
	Colt: Are you insane?! Do you realize what you've just done? You let one of the seven knights go when they were in our grasp!
	Platton: That's an order straight from the Captain, Colt.
	Colt: What? That's ridiculous... I don't believe you!
	Platton: Ask her yourself, then.
	Colt: What was she thinking?! And since when is she so lenient to our enemies, huh? Is it some new tactic, or something? Letting our prey go after they've infiltrated our base?
	Platton: You need to calm down. I will explain as we walk back.
	Colt: Guhh ... You blew my chance at having a real fight. This sucks!
	Colt: You'd better have a really good explanation for this.
	Platton: Well, you know the seven knights follow Rudy like he's their leader, right? He came here to scout us - he wouldn't attack on his own. Since he's discovered our location, he'll soon try to invade with his allies.
	Colt: So you're saying we wait until he brings his seven knights friends to us, and strike them all together?
	Platton: And when it comes, I'll let you make as big a ruckus as you want.
	Colt: But, isn't it risky to let him go alive when we've exposed our location? Wouldn't it be safer to just deal with them one at a time?
	Platton: Maybe, but this will surely be faster, because they now have a compass in their hands that will lead them right to us. Moreover, it was our initial plan to lure them out here.
	Colt: Well, yeah, I guess....
	Platton: If you still doubt about this decision, I'll tell you this - the sacrifice is ready. We've already managed to collect a great many fragments of destruction while we've been out here. As soon as the seven knights set foot in our perimeter, the process will begin to absorb the power of destruction from them.
	Colt: So, what do I do? Just sit around until they pay us a visit?
	Platton: I understand where you're coming from, but we're not here to engage in war. We're here to collect the power of destruction.
	Colt: Alright, alright. But how the hell did he find us that fast, anyway?
	Platton: ... The path that connects this place to the Heavenly Stairs was recently discovered. Rudy found the stairs too, without being noticed by the Night Crows. But they'll find out soon enough.
	Colt: Then we should act fast.
	Platton: That's why I asked Brans & Bransel to bring everyone back. You'll meet them all here any minute as they're not far way.
	Colt: Oh, is that so? It's been awhile since we've all gotten together.
	Mercure: What a mess...
	Colt: Huh? what the...? Those kiddos got the great magician real bad!
	Mercure: If you've come here to mock me, you can just leave.
	Platton: Wait, they didn't damage your research materials, did they?
	Mercure: Don't worry. I put them in a safe place.
	Colt: Of course you did - you value them more than your life. Man, this dude's totally obsessed with this power of destruction thing.
	Mercure: It's not something that can be lightly handled by odds and sods like those brats. This will lead me to achieve new dark powers.
	Colt: Oh, it will? I knew the power of god was beyond us, but that's even more amazing than I expected.
	Mercure: The power of destruction is the root of all the wars of this world since its creation. Even a tiny fragment is enough to bring great consequences that leads to one's death or awakening.
	Platton: ... How peculiar. The very power that will resurrect our world will also bring about its destruction.
	Mercure: When we collect all the fragments, it will yield a great power that nothing in this world can stop. It's much greater than the power of the Goddess Nestra that you serve.
	Colt: I heard people in this world tried to collect the power of destruction twice in the past, but never succeeded.
	Platton: But then how such a great power was kept here....
	Colt: Beats me. What concerns me more is...that Mercure fell so deep into this power. You'd better watch your back.
	Mercure: What are you two whispering about?
	Colt: Ah, nothing special. Just telling him you're a research freak.
	Mercure: what? Is that your way of challenging me to a duel?
	Platton: ... Anyway, we don't have much time. If the Night Crows make a move, war will break out sooner than expected. When it begins, it will last long and reach far, so prepare yourself.
	Colt: Hmm, a priest going off to war. That doesn't sound much like a priest to me...
	Platton: War is inevitable in this world. That's nothing I can do about it.
	Colt: Oh, for shame. A soft, gentle man driven to a war by a woman. But she still hasn't recognized how you glare at her. How cruel.
	Platton: ...Now you're crossing the line.
	Colt: Oh, am I? Or am i too thoughtful to not tell this to anyone?
	Mercure: Would you mind not whispering? I'm right here.
	Colt: Oh, don't worry. It's nothing you don't already know. I told him you're a fool who thinks of the battlefield as a lab where you can go on a rampage in war like you're running some kind of experiment.
	Mercure: Go on. I'll dig your grave right here and now.
	Colt: Wouldn't it be too much of a loss for you? You're on the verge of war. Anyway, where were we, priest? Right - why don't you and i make a special friendship? I promise to be nice.
	Platton: Haven't you done enough? I know you don't mean it, so keep your filthy hands off of me.
	Colt: No, I mean it. I like you, you know... I 'like' like you.
	Platton: I know you're just saying that.
	Colt: Pff, somebody sure knows how to say no...
	Mercure: Get a room, you two.
	Platton: It's now what you think.
	Colt: Phew, so when does the party start? This world is too ancient. There's no communication system. People contact each other by sending letters!
	Platton: Just be patient a little longer. The plan is underway as scheduled.