SideQuest!

Video Log #461

"So..." Julia precluded as she walked with the white-haired swordsman. "...what is this place?"

"This is the kingdom of Tosen-Kyushu, my lady – a small country to the far east of Valencia and south of Athenos, home to the brave and noble warriors skilled in the Magyu blade. I presume you hail from Valencia?"

"Yes. How did you know?" Julia asked, feigning ignorance.

"Your attire." Sev replied curtly. "The style is distinctly Valencian."

"Oh." Julia acknowledged. "So, you've been there before? I mean, before today?"

"In a way." Sev replied, smiling. "We have scribes travelling around the world every now and then, and they would go around the villages telling tales of your country. The flying mechanical vessels, the towering buildings made of stone and steel, the people wearing peculiar clothes..." he answered.

"Peculiar? You find Valencian clothing weird?" Julia asked.

"Yes. No offense, though." Sev responded in a somewhat apologetic tone. "But perhaps it's because of the difference in our cultures. I'm not sure. Personally, I'm just not used to seeing such a...revealing apparel on a woman's person."

"I assure you, you haven't seen s**t yet." Julia replied, snickering. "This is still considered a pretty modest attire in Valencia."

"I see. To be honest, I thought our scribes were exaggerating at first when they described what sort of armor the warrior-class women in Valencia were wearing...well, until I brought you here by accident during my trance, that is. 'Too skimpy and impractical – more useful for allure than for combat – but somehow more effective than conventional armor.', as they describe it."

"And such are the wonders of the female armor – the skimpier the armor, the higher the stats." Julia sarcastically replied. "Even I cannot fathom how this piece of Valencian equipment works. But to be fair, it's pretty easy to move around with this armor because it's light and comfortable and complements with my agility. I mean, you can't get hurt if you can't get hit, right?"

"You Valencians are so strange...although I have to admit that the you do make a fine argument looking at it strategy-wise." Sev commented as he paused for a few seconds, looking intently at Julia's face. "You know, I can't really put a finger on it, but I have a strong feeling that we have met before."

"No, we have not. Probably just a bad case of deja vu." Julia responded indifferently to dismiss the topic as she went on with her walk.

"So what brings you to this isolated country, if I might ask?" Sev inquired.

"What brings me here? I vividly recall you dragging me here during your trance...thing." Julia responded with a confused tone.

"Ah, yes. Right." Sev replied.

"Although, I was actually trying to find you..." Julia added.

"You do?" Sev replied, surprised by this revelation. "What would a Valencian swordsman want from a man like me?"

Julia faltered for a moment, as she was unprepared to answer such a question. "Oh, I uhh..."

"I was sent by someone from Valencia to help you on your quest." Grace butted in. "You have to immerse yourself in this world, Julia."

"...I was...sent by someone from Valencia to help you on your quest!" Julia immediately continued, forcing a smile. "I was told to find you in Argos, though obviously you found me first."

"Why would Valencia go out of its way to aid someone it has no political ties with? Although I appreciate the generosity of your host, I'm afraid that this is a personal matter and I have to do this alone." Sev replied sternly, pausing for a few seconds before continuing. "This is an internal political conflict you're getting yourself into. I don't want to drag an outsider into this mess."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. This is a job that I have to see through to the end." Julia argued as she tries to outwalk Sev, who doesn't seem interested in what she has to say.

"No." he curtly refused. "I'm going to escort you to the nearest port town and we go our separate ways."

"What?! No! How dare y-"

Julia's speech was cut short when Grace shook her head, signalling her to stop.

She then took a deep breath. "...look, I know I am an outsider, but you have to trust me. I'm here to help."

"I am sure you are, Valencian. But, I'm afraid you have to sit this one out. This is my fight." Sev replied as he went on his way.

"Well, my agency's already paid me upfront, so might as well make use of my assistance, eh?" argued Julia. "I need to show some...results, otherwise I can't return to my country alive. I will be exiled if you fail. I want this to be over with as much as you do. Please, I can fight well. I promise I won't get in the way. Let me help you."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. I don't know if you are aware of this, but here, a Magyu blader enlisting the aid of a woman in battle is seen as a sign of weakness. I do not mean to be rude, as I am aware of the liberal customs you have in Valencia, and I respect that. But if I am to win this civil war, I need to rally my people under the banner of strong leadership. Our culture dictates that a woman's place is in the home, and it is the responsibility of the man to protect his household. If I send a woman into battle, my leadership will be frowned upon. I cannot risk losing the support of my people in this time of crisis. I hope you can understand that."

"At least give me a chance to prove myself." Julia suggested. " I'm sure your people will understand if they see me fight."

"I'm sorry, Lady Julia. But that's my final word." he firmly replied.

"Come on!" Julia complained, clearly annoyed by Sev's decision. "Be a gentleman and do this lady a favor! I need this job!"

Sev opted not to respond, as he knows he can't afford to grant Julia's request. He paused for a few moments before continuing. "By the way, if you don't mind me asking, who were you talking to earlier when I-"

"My conscience." Julia replied without batting an eye, smiling as she looked intently at Sev. "Why, don't you do that here in Tosen-Kyushu, having a one-on-one with your conscience, hmm?"

"Oh...okaaay." Sev shrugged, side-eyeing Julia.

"Crazy, huh? You know, these days people just don't have the time anymore to get in touch with their inner selves and reflect on their actions, don't you agree?"

Sev, upon being presented with this unusual proposition, began to think long and hard.

"Okay...I'm not really sure if you're being sarcastic or not at this point." Sev commented, smiling at her. "But I agree. Men are undeniably susceptible to corruption, and it's sad that not everyone elects to take the time to examine themselves."

"That's...unexpectedly deep." Julia commended as she retreated into short silence, disappointed at how Sev missed the hint. "Didn't expect that coming. I wasn't aware that you are the philosopher type."

"Philosophy is a mandatory subject for Magyu bladers such as myself." Sev replied calmly. "Without it, our society crumbles."

"This android was reset, right? His programming is good - too good for an operator on base settings." Grace commented. "I wish I was programmed like that. I'm actually quite envious."

"What are you saying? Nothing to be envious of. You're fine the way you are!" Julia replied to Grace.

"Sorry?" Sev exclaimed.

"Nothing. That was just Conscience talking...again." Julia shrugged, trying to brush it off.

"Your conscience is awfully persistent." Sev commented nonchalantly.

"Yeah. Well, I kinda appreciate her persistence, though. She's there to always talk sense into me, even if it's in a...you know, a weird way."

"I suppose so." Sev hesitantly conceded. "Tell me, Lady Julia, I'm quite curious. Why would someone from Valencia hire you to help me? I...I just fail to understand this. What is their stake in all of this?"

"Well, I just get paid to do things, not ask questions. I'm sorry, but I don't have the answer to that." Julia casually replied.

"Ahh. I see. So you're a professional sellsword, then?" he commented.

"Sellsword? Like a mercenary? No...no, I'm not." Julia halfheartedly answered. "I'm an agent, and I earn a living with the contracts that our...superior gives us. I serve the state of Valencia, so I can assure you that this job is not entirely about money."

"An agent? Then you were sent to help me overthrow the emperor?" he asked.

"I suppose. My employers did not explain the mission in detail. My only directives are to assist you in your endeavors. Our organization is quite secretive, so I make do with what information I have. So, if overthrowing the emperor is your business, then I'll be more than happy to help." Julia replied to improvise, as she hasn't the slightest idea what the quest is all about.

"You're joking, right? I refuse to believe that your superiors are that reckless sent you in a mission without you knowing the scope of your objectives." Sev commented.

"Such is the bureaucracy within the upper echelons of Valencia." Julia pouted.

As the two walk further into the bamboo forest, Sev takes note of the light at the end of the path. "We're almost out of the forest, my lady. Yonder this place is the small town of Junjo. We should stop by to get some supplies before I send you on your way to the port town of Manjeoung. There's supposed to be a merchant ship bound for Valencia docked there."

"You really don't want me here, do you?" Julia responded with a faint tone of frustration.

"I'm sorry." Sev replied.

As the two were about to leave the forest, a shadowy figure emerged into the open, walking into the middle of the path leading to the exit. The figure is a man of moderate built, with a long white hair tied in a ponytail wearing a black hood and mask covering the lower half of his face. He wears a black-colored armor, padded with a mixture of light materials such as cloth and leather layered with small, interlocking sheets of metal. Both of his shoulders are protected with overlapping sheets of steel padded on the edges with dark-colored cloth and leather, and on his waist hangs a pair of black faulds covering his hips.

Beneath the strips of cloth that held the faulds in place are tucked two swords of equal length, one of which his hands are firmly grasping.

Being suspicious of the man, Julia immediately primed her sword to attack.

"No. Don't." Sev calmly protested, preventing her from charging. He then turned towards the man in front. "Shinjiro. Report."

"Your Majesty. Urgent news from Manjeoung." " greeted the man in the black armor as he knelt. "We received reports about an attack of a battalion of soldiers from the capital a few days ago, and..."

"What? Speak up, soldier!" urged Sev.

There was a moment of silence after Sev gave the question, as the black-armored swordsman hesitated to answer.

"...they burned the village to the ground, your Highness." Shinjiro replied in a low tone. "When our scouts arrived at the place, they...they saw...bodies...mutilated bodies of women and children, stretched taut by...by bamboo spears...naked. Corpses with flailed skin...bodies burning on wooden stakes...I'll never forget the scout's eyes as he recounted what he saw...."

"Oh, my God..." Julia gasped.

"Forgive me, my liege..." Shinjiro apologized, his fist shaking in anger. "We were not able to save them. We did not expect the emperor to go as far as that to flush us out."

Sev did not reply. He was very silent at that moment, but his fists are visibly shaking. "How many men do we have stationed at Junjo?" he asked.

"A hundred and ten spearmen and twelve Magyu bladers, my liege." Shinjiro reported.

"Assemble them at once. The least that we can do for the people of Manjeoung is to give them a proper burial." Sev ordered with a shaky voice.

He then turned to Julia, who was clearly in shock at this development. "My apologies, my lady. It seems your return trip is delayed indefinitely."

But she didn't answer. The young woman was completely stunned, as she was never expecting the quest to turn out like this. "Why would Mr. Rubio even do this? That's just sick." Julia asked herself in disgust, her head bowed.

"Julia. Are you okay?" Grace commented. "You don't look so good."

After a few minutes of contemplation, she turned her gaze towards Sev, who is visibly as distraught as she is.

"Are you still going to send me away?" she softly asked as her eyes locked with his. Julia felt nothing but pity as she looks into the eyes of Sev. She understands that this world is not real, and that Sev is nothing more than an AI designed to pilot an NPC. She knows that quite well. But as she gazed in Sev's eyes...she saw...something that somehow connected her with him...

It felt like he was actually alive.

"...No." Sev curtly replied. "It would be rude of me to do so at this time. Come stay with us in Junjo for now, my lady."

"Figured you'd say that." Julia commented. "Please, if you may, take me with you to Manjeoung. I want to help."

"The battlefield is not your place, woman. We appreciate your concern, but this is our fight." Shinjiro protested.

Frustrated, Julia let out a sigh. She then walked in front of Shinjiro and drew her sword. "Test my strength, then. Draw your sword." she challenged.

"No." Shinjiro refused. "Fighting will bring us nowhere. Please, my lady. Lower your sword. I'm not the kind of man who picks fights with my lessers."

"If so, fighting me shouldn't be a problem for you then." Julia taunted. "Come on, show me what you're made of...unless you're afraid of a woman."

Shinjiro shook his head as he walked past Julia. "Stubborn foreigner. My liege, requesting permission to engage."

"Denied." Sev declared.

"I will be gentle, my lord." replied Shinjiro. "Grant me a few minutes with the lady. I'm interested in the extent of her abilities."

Sev sighed. "Just...don't hurt her too much, Shinjiro." he remarked.

He then turned to Julia, who hasn't lowered her sword. "Come, there's an open meadow outside this forest. If you want to fight, then let's take this outside. This place is sacred. I don't want either of us to accidentally harm this forest."

"All right." Julia agreed. "Lead the way."