﻿\setgamedatatitle("The Situation Inside Kiros 2")

\text("Glace")
...How is the Demon Lord's army doing?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
We've confirmed the Demon Lord's army near Lusario. It's
probably just reconnaissance... but I expect they'll make a
move soon.
\endtext

\text
Ever since Lusario's declaration of war, the Kiros army and
the Winga Church had been on high alert.
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\text
No matter how this battle ends, Kiros will have no choice
but to act.
\endtext

\text
A nation that had remained uninvolved until now had decided
to approve of invading other countries.
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\text
For Kiros, this was a very convenient turn of events.
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\text("Priest")
The Demon Lord's army and Lusario don't matter. Our only
real enemy is Shuka, right in front of us.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
What's going on with Shuka?
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\text("Günther")
Shuka's spies have been increasing. ...They might be
planning something.
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\text("Priest")
They probably intend to fight us.
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\text("Günther")
It's not certain yet.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
You're too naive. The increase in spies is proof enough.
They plan to destroy us before the Demon Lord does, Lady
Glace.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
............
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\text("Günther")
(So, you're saying we should fight Shuka too?)
\endtext

\text("Priest")
For the past few years, the climate hasn't recovered and we
can't even secure enough food.
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\text("Glace")
I know that... That's why―
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Yes. That's why we must offer you, Lady Glace, to Lady Winga
and quickly save our people.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
But that salvation won't last forever. Therefore, we must
destroy Shuka and Lusario and seize their fertile lands!
\endtext

\text
Exactly. For that reason, too, Lusario's declaration of war
was convenient.
\endtext

\text
Lusario invaded Hados. That alone is enough to be seen as
intent to invade other countries.
\endtext

\text
So, as neighboring nations, we have no choice but to
respond.
\endtext

\text
Especially since Kiros is burdened with so many starving
people.
\endtext

\text
That's why the Forest of Arda was a territory they
desperately wanted.
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\text("Priest")
If we do that, our people won't have to suffer from hunger
for decades, even centuries to come.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
That's true―if we do that, no one will suffer from hunger.
But if we're trying to save the starving, there are better
ways.
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\text("Priest")
Such as?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
We could adopt other countries' farming methods or import
crops that are resistant to the cold.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Or we could form an alliance between the three nations. If
we have the cause of defeating the Demon Lord's army, it
should be possible.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
If we can avoid fighting, that's always for the best.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
That won't do, Günther-dono.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Relying on heretics is the same as betraying Winga-sama...!
Let alone joining hands with them, that's absolutely out of
the question!
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\text("Günther")
...The final decision rests with Lady Glace.
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\text("Glace")
............
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\text("Günther")
Above all, what we must protect are the lives of the people.
Even if you uphold your teachings, you can't save them.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Watch your words. This country exists because of Winga-sama.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
The people, Lady Glace, everything in this country exists
for Winga-sama.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
And we are Winga-sama's hands, feet, eyes, and ears. These
words are Winga-sama's own...
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\text("Priest")
No matter what the commander says, our words are the truth.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
The one and only, absolute justice. I hope you understand
that.
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\text("Glace")
...But I want to avoid conflict if possible. If I offer
myself, that should be enough, right?
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\text("Günther")
Lady Glace...!
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\text("Priest")
Yes, of course. If Lady Glace fulfills Winga-sama's wishes.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Well then, I'll take my leave.
\endtext

\text
With a triumphant smirk directed at Günther, the priest left
the throne room.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
............
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\text
Günther's gaze naturally followed that retreating figure.
\endtext

\text
If this were a battlefield, he would have cut the priest
down, robe and all, without hesitation.
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\text("Günther")
Then, I'll be going as well. I have patrol duty to attend
to, so please excuse me.
\endtext

\text
The only regret was that this wasn't a battlefield... and
that it was in front of Glace.
\endtext

\text
Suppressing his irritation, Günther left the throne room.
\endtext

\text
....................
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\text
............
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\text
......
\endtext

\text
Kiros capital, Barathorn.
\endtext

\text
Even in the castle town, there are still people starving due
to food shortages.
\endtext

\text
As night approached, the streets grew empty. Even if a lone
soldier wandered into an alley, no one paid any mind.
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\text
No, the residents of this city no longer even had the energy
to care.
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
Sorry as always, Günther-san. Munch... chomp, gulp...
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Don't worry about it.
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\text("Vagrant")
But are you sure? You swiped this from the meager supplies,
didn't you?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
I made this at my own house. I couldn't do something like
this with the people's hard-earned taxes.
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
Huh. But you still hand over your harvest to the castle,
right? Are you sure it's okay?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Don't worry about it.
\endtext

\text
In Kiros, because of the lack of supplies, a strict
rationing system is enforced.
\endtext

\text
The military... or more precisely, the Winga Church,
strictly controls the food supply.
\endtext

\text
Even so, Günther sometimes harvests and prepares food
himself to give to the vagrants.
\endtext

\text
Technically, that's forbidden too, but there's no way he
could just abandon them.
\endtext

\text
The vagrants have neither homes nor jobs. That's because
they've been forsaken by Winga.
\endtext

\text
――People like that aren't considered citizens of Kiros.
That's the Winga Church's stance.
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
How long do you think this kind of life will go on?
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\text("Günther")
I'm sorry... Please, just hang in there until the ceremony.
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
Haha. So that's why the commander has been looking so down
lately.
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\text("Günther")
...I didn't think it showed on my face.
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\text("Vagrant")
Nah, it's obvious. ...We don't care what happens to us. But
could you at least save Lady Glace?
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\text("Günther")
............
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\text
――How was he supposed to answer that?
\endtext

\text
Günther dropped his gaze, and the vagrant scratched his head
awkwardly.
\endtext

\text
Suddenly, something came to mind and he spoke up, Oh yeah,
that reminds me...
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\text("Vagrant")
This is recent, but did you know the priests have been
holding a lot of meetings lately?
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\text("Günther")
Yeah... I saw them before. Did something happen?
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
It's not just here. They're doing it in other places too.
Haven't heard anything good about it.
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\text("Günther")
What are they talking about?
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\text("Vagrant")
Stuff like 'offer up your daughters'... or 'wipe out other
countries'... Real crazy talk.
\endtext

\text("Vagrant")
You might want to be careful.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Hmm...
\endtext

\text
Since the restoration of Hados, the Winga Church's
gatherings have continued.
\endtext

\text
Ever since then, a 'poison' has been slowly seeping into
Kiros.
\endtext

\text
If left unchecked, it will numb the limbs and eventually
reach the heart.
\endtext

\text
Something must be done before that happens.



















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