﻿\setgamedatatitle("Shuka\nConquest of the Third City, Hakusha")

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
P-Please, I'm begging you, forgive us! We were wrong! We
were wrong, so...
\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
Don't screw with me! You bastards really enjoyed tormenting
us, didn't you!
\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
Don't think you'll get away with it...! We're going to make
you feel the same pain!
\endtext

\text
The Diabolica group surrounds the powerless Shuka soldiers.

\endtext

\text
All of them were once prisoners here.
\endtext

\text
Both sides had their wounds healed by Tiela and the
others... but now, the tables had turned.
\endtext

\text
If left alone, the soldiers would be slaughtered by their
hands.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Hey, hey, take it easy. Even if you do that...

\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
Stay out of this, outsider! This is between us and these
bastards!
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Yeah, yeah, I get that, but still.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
No. Don't do it.
\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
But...!
\endtext

\text
Unable to contain his emotions, Diabolica is gently
admonished by Agri.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
If you want payback, do it after these bastards are thrown
in the cells.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
You're not the only ones who hold a grudge. If only you get
to take revenge... that's not fair, is it?

\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
...Damn it. Fine. But I will get my revenge... Once this is
all over, I swear it.

\endtext

\text
Agri thinks that's fine.
\endtext

\text
Some things shouldn't be forgiven. But now doesn't feel like
the right time.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Oh... I thought all you could do was fight, but you can
actually handle things pretty well.
\endtext

\text("Noro")
Redeeming your reputation as a meathead?
\endtext

\text("Agri")
...Are you complimenting me? Or making fun of me?

\endtext

\text("Diabolica")
They're making fun of you.
\endtext

\text
As the tense atmosphere loosens, Caym's frustrated groans
echo low through Hakusha.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Nngghhh... Damn it... How could I let this happen...!!

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...Risbell-san, Caym-sama is wiggling around and doing some
strange dance. Is something wrong?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Ah, just ignore him. Magahime-san just got away from him,
that's all.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
She didn't get away! She was taken from me...!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Just to confirm, who took Magahime-san?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I don't know who... just some pervert covered head to toe in
a black cloak...
\endtext

\text("El")
A black cloak?
\endtext

\text
The first to react wasn't Risbell, but El.

\endtext

\text("El")
Did they hide their face? They did, right? I know who that
is!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
What?
\endtext

\text("El")
I've seen them sneaking around with Lord Rudol. It's
definitely the same person.
\endtext

\text
As El declared this triumphantly, Risbell offered a word of
caution.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's too soon to say for sure they're the same person.
Though, I do think it's highly likely.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
But why would they take Magahime-chan? That's pretty
dangerous, coming onto the battlefield like that.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. And I'm also curious what reason they had to risk being
seen.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We should probably look into Magahime-san.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Then while you're at it, could you also look into the
royal family of Shuka? There's something that's been
bothering me.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Understood.
\endtext

\text
The usurper... Magahime's wariness of Tsushin probably has
something to do with that.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Well, whatever the case, this country will be mine soon
enough, so it doesn't matter.)
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...Still, maybe letting Magahime get taken was a mistake.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah... My ambitions have slipped even further away.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
That's not what I meant. Do you remember what those soldiers
said?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah... Those guys, or rather, the bureaucrats. They sounded
like they wanted Magahime dead.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Unlike with Lusario, many of the bureaucrats want that. The
military officers are a mess...

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Right now, Magahime-san has few allies... In other words,
she's in danger. And then there's that spy...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Do you think Magahime will be executed?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
The spy risked everything to save her. If she's worth that
much, she'll probably be safe for a while.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... Then there's no need to rush.
\endtext

\text
As Caym recalled the lingering softness of Magahime's body,
he tried to convince himself.

\endtext

\text
Pleasure is something best saved for later, after all.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text
――Shuka's capital, Shinrenga.
\endtext

\text
A carriage stops in front of the palace gates.
\endtext

\text("Spy")
This way, Magahime-sama.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
............
\endtext

\text
Magahime steps out of the carriage as prompted.
\endtext

\text
Captured by Caym in Hakusha, Magahime had been rescued in
the chaos by this person.
\endtext

\text
They didn't seem to belong to the Demon Lord's army, the
Kiros army... or even the Shuka army, for that matter.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Who are you? You're not from Shuka, at least.

\endtext

\text("Spy")
I'm an ally of Shuka.
\endtext

\text
An ally of Shuka―that vague phrasing only made Magahime more
wary.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Are you acting on Two-Shin's orders?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
No... I helped you entirely on my own initiative.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(...So they won't deny being connected.)
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Even by the slimmest chance, I can't let the 'Dragon's
Power' fall into the hands of that Demon Lord.
\endtext

\text
Magahime instinctively takes a step back to protect herself.

\endtext

\text
The 'Dragon's Power'... How does this person, who isn't even
from Shuka, know about that?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Well, whatever. A lapdog should act like a lapdog and go
back to its master.

\endtext

\text
Obeying her words, the spy vanishes without a sound.

\endtext

\text
And so, though still uneasy about Two-Shin's intentions,
Magahime returned to her room.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...So, Magahime is safe?
\endtext

\text
While Magahime rested in her room, Two-Shin and the others
gathered at the throne.
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Yes. Not a scratch on her... But shouldn't you make sure
your soldiers are better trained?

\endtext

\text("Spy")
It wasn't the Demon Lord who tried to kill Magahime-sama―it
was your own men.
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
They only did it out of loyalty to you, Two-Shin-sama... It
couldn't be helped.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...So, what did you find?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Here.
\endtext

\text
The spy handed Two-Shin a vision stone.

\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Hmm.
\endtext

\text
What appeared was a scene of Caym and Magahime standing side
by side, looking at the detention center.

\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
Oh ho, what's this...
\endtext

\text("Spy")
It seems they just happened to be together, but this should
be enough.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Yeah... Even this alone is enough to bring Magahime down.

\endtext

\text("Spy")
That's good to hear. However... as things are now, we can't
defeat the Demon Lord's army.

\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...What?
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
You bastard! Are you saying we can't win!? Are you mocking
us!?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
I'm just stating the facts.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...Even if we use the 'power of the dragon'?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Yes... If you do that, Magahime-sama will go easy on them.

\endtext

\text
At the spy's words, Two-Shin narrowed his eyes.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Go easy, huh... Are you saying Magahime is attracted to the
Demon Lord?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
...Not that far. But Magahime-sama is a kind person.

\endtext

\text("Spy")
But a weapon doesn't need a heart. As long as we can use
that power, that's all that matters to us.

\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...We'll draw out the 'dragon' on our end. I'll leave the
mind control to you, alright?
\endtext

\text("Spy")
Of course, leave it to me.
\endtext

\text
With a cheerful nod, the spy vanished from the scene as if
his business was done.
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
As elusive as ever.
\endtext

\text
Two-Shin didn't answer, lost in thought.
\endtext

\text
He had said he'd do anything if it meant defeating the Demon
Lord.
\endtext

\text
So, Two-Shin had no objections to his agreement.

\endtext

\text
...But that's as far as it goes.
\endtext

\text
If it meant defeating the Demon Lord, sacrificing Shuka was
entirely possible.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
(I'll get rid of you along with the Demon Lord. Sooner or
later.)
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
Now, at last, we can put our plan into action.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Yeah... but.
\endtext

\text
Two-Shin glanced at the door.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...Eavesdropping isn't very nice, General.
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
Eh...!
\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
G-General Honju!?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
No need to be so surprised, Grand Minister. I was just
passing by.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
...Or were you talking about something you didn't want
anyone to hear? In a place like this?
\endtext

\text
Honju and Two-Shin glared at each other.
\endtext

\text
Two-Shin couldn't tell if they'd been overheard or not.

\endtext

\text
He'd only just noticed Honju a moment ago.

\endtext

\text
But if he said even one wrong word, Honju would start to
suspect him.
\endtext

\text
If Honju drew the sword at his waist, Two-Shin's fate would
be sealed right here―
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
...Even a general must have one or two things they don't
want others to hear, right?

\endtext

\text("Honju")
So you're telling me to just accept that?
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
Please don't be so suspicious. Didn't Lady Magahime herself
say it? Not to fight among ourselves.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
\endtext

\text
―You're one to talk.
\endtext

\text
Swallowing those words, Honju turned on his heel.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
...That's right. So don't try anything funny.

\endtext

\text
He probably hadn't actually noticed anything.
\endtext

\text
But Honju and Two-Shin had been at odds in this place for
years.
\endtext

\text
Just by looking at each other's faces, they could tell what
the other was thinking, at least to some extent.
\endtext

\text("Two-Shin")
(...I wonder how much he heard. I can't afford to relax.)

\endtext