11 - The Path I Chose

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:13] Ralf
    This... is really bad.
[00:16] Ralf
    Three healers won't be enough to handle it.
[00:21] Neema
    Those wounds are awful.
[00:23] Neema
    Fights with adventurers can get this bad?
[00:27] Will
    Those injuries... They were attacked
    by a carnivorous beast.
[00:31] Will
    And the cuts to their torsos
    were caused by wind magic.
[00:34] Neema
    Beasts and magic?
[00:37] Ralf
    I'll lend a hand!
[00:39] Ralf
    Please continue praying!
[00:41] Neema
    I don't have any magic, but I'll pray too!
[00:44] Ralf
    Recumora Dieusahé Cresiolle.
[00:49] Neema
    Healing magic calls upon the Goddess's power.
[00:51] Neema
    Our prayers will strengthen it.
[00:54] Neema
    Please, may they be saved!
[01:08] Knight A
    The pain's gone...?
[01:10] Ralf
    Thank goodness.
[01:11] Noctis
    How incredible!
[01:14] Ralf
    If you're injured, gather around!
[01:16] Ralf
    I'll heal you all at once!
[01:18] Will
    Did you apprehend who caused all this?
[01:20] Knight A
    They're in the dungeons below.
[01:22] Knight A
    One of the culprits is a beastmaster,
    and we also had to isolate his beast.
[01:29] Neema
    Another job that specializes in beasts,
    like what Lestin and the Beast Knights do.
[01:33] Neema
    Except they don't just ride them...
[01:35] Neema
    They take advantage of animals'
    abilities to kill and track.
[01:39] Neema
    They use their beasts as partners
    on their adventures.
[01:42] Will
    I see... So we have hold-out criminals
    calling themselves adventurers.
[01:59] Sign
    Fluffy Paradise
[03:21] Sign
    Episode 11   The Path I Chose
[03:24] Neema
    I'm so exhausted...
[03:27] Neema
    We had all that trouble involving the
    beastmaster right after visiting the kobolds.
[03:31] Neema
    That's a lot for a little kid!
[03:35] Neema
    Good night, Ralf...
[03:38] Neema
    Healran!
[03:43] Neema
    A-Are you okay?
[03:46] Healran
    I would never blow my cover.
[03:49] Neema
    Then could you tell us why
    you were with the knights
[03:51] Neema
    and report any information you've gathered?
[03:54] Healran
    Yes.
[03:55] Healran
    While investigating the collusion
    between the adventurers and knights,
[03:59] Healran
    I wound up being questioned by the knights.
[04:01] Healran
    I got out of it by telling them
     I had a falling out
[04:04] Healran
    with my adventurer buddies
    and was looking for work.
[04:07] Healran
    They then recommended me for a desk job,
[04:10] Healran
    and now, I'm investigating the
    knighthood from the inside.
[04:13] Neema
    I can't believe it! The knights
    he talked to were way too nice!
[04:17] Healran
    I have indeed found the
     regional commander to be shady.
[04:21] Healran
    He's been stealing relief aid, embezzling
    funds, and taking bribes from adventurers...
[04:26] Healran
    All clearly dubious acts.
[04:28] Neema
    Why are adventurers involved, though?
[04:30] Healran
    To make them look good at the guild.
[04:32] Healran
    If they pay him,
    he'll overreport their achievements.
[04:37] Will
    Do you have any proof of this?
[04:39] Healran
    I haven't been able to track
     the flow of money.
[04:42] Will
    We need some physical evidence.
[04:44] Healran
    I'll try to follow the money trail, but...
[04:47] Will
    That could be difficult.
[04:51] Will
    The knights are known
    for their shoddy management.
[04:54] Will
    Even back home, I hear
    commanders are always arguing
[04:57] Will
    with the accounting department
    about how funds are used.
[05:00] Will
    So the regional knights must also be...
[05:03] Will
    That's it!
[05:04] Healran
    They're submitting inflated claims!
[05:06] Will
    Yes. The knights regularly overorder
     supplies in case of emergencies.
[05:12] Healran
    If we go through their orders and deliveries,
    we might find something!
[05:17] Will
    Healran.
[05:20] Will
    I leave you with my royal crest.
[05:26] Will
    Don't let them get away.
[05:28] Healran
    I won't.
[05:30] Neema
    Now that he's under the auspices of both
    the Osphe family and the royal family,
[05:34] Neema
    Healran's life will be in even more jeopardy.
[05:39] Neema
    Healran, as long as you can find proof, Will
     and the others will take care of the rest.
[05:44] Neema
    So make sure you put your safety first.
[05:48] Healran
    I understand.
[05:50] Neema
    Please protect him, spirits.
[05:53] Ralf
    Okay, now that that's settled,
    let's get you to bed.
[05:57] Ralf
    You're getting into the
    habit of staying up too late.
[06:00] Healran
    I will also take my leave.
[06:02] Ralf
    Healran.
[06:04] Healran
    Yes?
[06:05] Ralf
    Make sure you don't do anything
    that'll make Neema sad.
[06:08] Healran
    I owe Lady Neema for taking me in.
    I will do everything in my power for her.
[06:15] Neema
    You're my friend, Healran!
[06:20] Healran
    Thank you very much.
[06:26] Neema
    I never knew that Healran
    could smile like that.
[06:33] Will
    Red Hlaada will be arriving tomorrow.
[06:37] Ralf
    Things will be set in motion the day after.
[06:39] Ralf
    This is probably going to be hard on Neema.
[06:44] Will
    It's unavoidable.
    This is the path that she chose...
[06:48] Will
    even if she doesn't realize it.
[06:58] Spica
    Quiet, everyone!
[07:00] Spica
    This is our last strategy meeting for
    tomorrow and it's really important!
[07:07] Sicily
    Are the children in the way?
[07:09] Will
    They're fine.
[07:11] Will
    Everyone needs to know what's going
    on, even if they aren't fighting.
[07:16] Will
    Foremost, I need all of you to understand
[07:19] Will
    that this battle is so we can move
     your pack somewhere safe.
[07:24] Will
    Also, do not forget that we are here
[07:27] Will
    to help you because that is Nefertima's wish.
[07:33] Will
    Let's get right into it.
[07:35] Will
    The extermination squad includes
     53 knights and two healers.
[07:39] Will
    The adventurers have 34 melee fighters,
[07:42] Will
    28 mages, ten mid-range fighters,
    eight healers, and twelve scouts,
[07:48] Will
    totaling 92 members in fifteen parties.
[07:50] Will
    Note that this does not include Red Hlaada,
[07:54] Will
    as we have no detailed intel on them,
     or the knights on our side.
[07:55] Neema
    Will is the prince of this kingdom.
[07:58] Neema
    He can't sacrifice his knights or people
    for the sake of monsters.
[07:58] Will
    With safety in mind, we must dispatch
     the adventurers thusly...
[08:02] Neema
    We've thought this through
    as thoroughly as possible.
[08:05] Will
    When we hit the designated casualties,
[08:07] Will
    Ralfreed, who is in the extermination
    squad, will order a retreat.
[08:11] Neema
    Am I okay with this?
[08:13] Neema
    Can we really protect the kobolds this way?
[08:17] Will
    Neema.
[08:19] Will
    Is there anything you'd like to say as well?
[08:25] Neema
    Shinki.
[08:29] Neema
    There will most likely
     be fatalities in this battle.
[08:34] Neema
    Everyone participating needs to be prepared!
[08:49] Will
    Stop making that face.
[08:51] Will
    Everyone will panic if they
    see their leader looking uneasy.
[08:53] Will
    Don't let them know you're troubled,
    though you should remain circumspect.
[08:58] Will
    But once you've chosen your path,
     do not waver.
[09:02] Neema
    Is that what you always do, Will?
[09:05] Will
    Of course.
[09:07] Will
    I'm going to follow in my father's
    footsteps and become king someday.
[09:11] Will
    I constantly question myself.
[09:13] Will
    Will my choices betray the hopes
    of the people around me and my citizens?
[09:21] Will
    But what I decide firmly,
    I have no problem giving voice to.
[09:25] Will
    You need to think more before you speak.
[09:28] Neema
    He's right. I need to prepare myself, too.
[09:32] Neema
    But how...?
[09:35] Will
    A report from Ralf?
[09:39] Neema
    What's wrong?
[09:40] Will
    This isn't good. The beastmaster and the person
    he was fighting have been released.
[09:44] Neema
    Why?
[09:45] Will
    To bolster their forces.
[09:48] Will
    Curse that fox of a commander.
    How dare he overstep his authority?
[09:54] Neema
    It seems like the situation
    just keeps getting worse.
[09:58] Neema
    The plan begins tomorrow...
[10:01] Neema
    God, what am I supposed to do?
[10:12] Ralf
    Okay, Neema, be careful.
[10:14] Neema
    I will.
[10:17] Neema
    After everything, I couldn't sleep well.
[10:21] Neema
    Hey, that tickles! What's the matter?
[10:25] Fighter Leader
    They're trying to cheer you up.
[10:27] Neema
    Mr. Fighter Leader...
[10:30] Fighter Leader
    I cannot blame you for worrying.
    But we're with you.
[10:35] Neema
    You're not scared?
[10:39] Fighter Leader
    I've lived a very long time in a world
     where death may find me at any moment.
[10:43] Fighter Leader
    I tore my fear down to size many moons ago.
[10:46] Fighter Leader
    And if I ever let it get the best of me,
[10:50] Fighter Leader
    I wouldn't be able to protect these two.
[10:53] Fighter Leader
    Of course, I plan to protect your life
    as well. Even if it means my own.
[10:59] Fighter Leader
    We've chosen to put our fate in your hands.
[11:03] Fighter Leader
    We made that decision ourselves.
[11:06] Fighter Leader
    You've just gotta do what you've gotta do.
[11:16] Neema
    Right!
[11:19] Will
    The battle is nigh,
    but I'm changing our target priorities.
[11:22] Will
    We've learned that Red Hlaada has arrived
    and the beastmaster has been released.
[11:28] Will
    The beastmaster gravely injured many knights
    and should be considered dangerous.
[11:33] Will
    Make sure to incapacitate him first
    and hand him over to the inquisitor.
[11:37] Spica
    Lady Neema.
[11:40] Spica
    Are you okay?
[11:45] Spica
    Thank you. I'm fine.
[11:47] Neema
    I need to get a grip.
[11:49] Neema
    I'm the one who sowed these seeds, after all.
[11:53] Spica
    What's the matter?
[11:55] Spica
    They're here.
[12:03] Spica
    The extermination squad!
[12:13] Noctis
    Our enemy is the kobolds
    with a werewolf among them!
[12:16] Noctis
    Don't let your guard down!
[12:21] Luck
    Say, Yuga...
[12:23] Yuga
    What is it, Luck?
[12:24] Luck
    I think there's something more to this job.
[12:27] Charlene
    I agree. The closer we got to Lenice,
    the more hardship we encountered.
[12:33] Yuga
    Probably just a coincidence.
[12:34] Charlene
    Well, I can't say for certain it wasn't...
[12:37] Yuga
    Still, she has a point.
[12:39] Yuga
    Our rations spoiled in that sudden downpour,
    we got lost once we entered the forest...
[12:43] Yuga
    It's like...
[12:45] Seira
    It's like some invisible force
     is getting in our way.
[12:48] Luck
    Well, my nose knows for sure.
[12:52] Luck
    There are folks around here who
    reek of malice and money.
[13:03] Neema
    The squad is about to reach the checkpoint
    for putting the plan into effect.
[13:08] Neema
    Shinki, Lars, are you ready?
[13:14] Neema
    I'm also counting on you, Herbs.
[13:19] Neema
    This will all ride on how many troops
    we can incapacitate out of the gate!
[13:23] Will
    Let's go.
[13:24] Neema
    Yeah.
[13:26] Will
    Three. Two.
[13:27] Neema
    We'll have Shinki conjure a dense fog
    with the spirits to obscure their vision.
[13:29] Will
    One...
[13:29] Extermination Squad Member A
    Wh-What the?
[13:31] Will
    Zero!
[13:34] Neema
    Lars will amplify Will's air raid.
[13:39] Luck
    Get down!
[13:48] Luck
    Kobolds?!
[13:49] Yuga
    We're toast if the high-ranking ones are here.
[13:52] Yuga
    If you see the werewolf, take it out first!
[13:56] Extermination Squad Member B
    Damn it! I can't hear anything!
[13:58] Extermination Squad Member C
    It's no use! We can't repel
    this fog with magic!
[14:00] Neema
    While the spirits are helping us,
    we'll take advantage of the confusion.
[14:00] Extermination Squad Member D
    Do something!
[14:02] Extermination Squad Member A
    Stay close together until
    we get out of the fog!
[14:05] Neema
    The Herbs will incapacitate
    as many people as possible.
[14:10] Fika
    Bring the adventurers over here!
[14:14] Neema
    The undercover knights are making their move!
[14:19] Will
    Apparently the beastmaster
    has been captured.
[14:26] Neema
    Where's the beast?
[14:31] Beastmaster
    Sic 'em!
[14:33] Neema
    Look out!
[14:39] Neema
    Gratia?
[14:46] Neema
    I-Is he dead?
[14:48] Herb
    No, he's just paralyzed.
[14:50] Neema
    That was amazing, Gratia!
[14:52] Neema
    I guess she's venomous!
[14:55] Extermination Squad Member A
    I think I heard voices over here!
[14:57] Extermination Squad Member B
    Is it kobolds?
[14:58] Extermination Squad Member C
    Don't let them get away this time!
[14:58] Will
    They're onto us now.
[15:00] Will
    Begin the next phase!
[15:09] Extermination Squad Member D
    Wh-What the?!
[15:11] Extermination Squad Member E
    Did the kobolds set this trap?
[15:16] Extermination Squad Member E
    Wh-What now?!
[15:17] Extermination Squad Member F
    There are blades mixed in!
[15:18] Noctis
    Onward! We're breaking through this fog!
[15:30] Extermination Squad Member D
    A-A slime?
[15:30] Extermination Squad Member E
    I-It's melting my stuff!
[15:30] Extermination Squad Member F
    Save me!
[15:32] Neema
    Haku's down at the bottom!
[15:35] (Flashback) Neema
    You can eat all of the enemies'
    weapons and equipment, okay?
[15:38] Luck
    See? I told you.
[15:40] Charlene
    It's too dangerous to move
    recklessly at times like this.
[15:44] Yuga
    Seira, save them.
[15:54] Will
    She's casting Central Pillar!
[15:56] Neema
    The only thing we can use
    against an intermediate earth spell
[16:00] Neema
    would be an unaligned spell
    or an advanced fire spell,
[16:02] Neema
    which is earth's opposing element.
[16:04] Neema
    In that case...
[16:05] Neema
    Sol! Please help us!
[16:09] Sol
    I cannot.
[16:10] Sol
    If I do from this location,
    some of you would be harmed as well.
[16:14] Neema
    Oh no!
[16:15] Will
    Their vanguard approaches! Engage them!
[16:19] Noctis
    The kobolds are upon us! Look alive!
[16:29] Neema
    A bear beastperson?!
[16:30] Will
    That's Red Hlaada.
[16:33] Neema
    That's them?
[16:38] Luck
    Did you notice, Yuga?
[16:40] Luck
    The kobolds... No, this whole
    battle reeks of humans.
[16:45] Luck
    I don't know who it is,
    but someone's helping them out.
[16:52] (Flashback) Neema
    Look out!
[16:54] Yuga
    A child?
[16:56] Yuga
    So I wasn't imagining things.
[16:59] Luck
    What should we do?
[17:04] Yuga
    A third of our forces are injured.
[17:06] Yuga
    Most will be back on their feet soon.
[17:08] Yuga
    The problem is those who've lost their gear.
[17:14] Yuga
    Everyone with intermediate magic,
    protect the wounded and the healers!
[17:19] Yuga
    Anyone with advanced magic, advance!
[17:21] Yuga
    Commander Noctis!
[17:22] Yuga
    Please lend us five knights as guards.
[17:25] Yuga
    Let's go, vanguard adventurers!
[17:28] Neema
    They're so strong...
[17:31] Will
    Don't look away, Neema.
[17:33] Will
    This is the path you chose.
[17:36] Will
    Even if everyone else forgets,
    you must always remember this.
[17:52] Yuga
    They have mages with advanced fire magic?
[17:55] Yuga
    Luck, we're falling back for now.
[18:00] Yuga
    Our enemies are tougher than we thought.
[18:02] Yuga
    We should retreat and prioritize defense
     while tending to the wounded.
[18:05] Noctis
    We've only exterminated about half of them.
[18:09] Yuga
    This'll be pointless
    if we lose our people too!
[18:12] Yuga
    Actually... Despite how hard
    they've been attacking,
[18:15] Yuga
    we've yet to suffer any casualties?
[18:17] Yuga
    How is that possible?
[18:19] Yuga
    I'm also concerned
    that I only see knights here.
[18:23] Yuga
    What happened to the other adventurers?
[18:25] Seira
    You know, this whole extermination
    mission might be some kind of scheme.
[18:30] Ralf
    Pardon me. I couldn't help overhearing.
[18:34] Noctis
    Lord Ralfreed!
[18:35] Ralf
    Considering our current stalemate,
[18:37] Ralf
    I believe we could pull out
    without casualties.
[18:40] Charlene
    Right?
[18:41] Charlene
    Even if we tend to the wounded,
    we'll only last as long as the healers' magic.
[18:46] Seira
    Not to mention it's really fishy
    that there are so few wounded on our side.
[18:52] Ralf
    Do you think the kobolds
    are plotting something?
[18:55] Seira
    Werewolves are their third evolutionary form,
     and each one has unique abilities.
[19:01] Seira
    If theirs specializes in magic,
    it may be difficult to exterminate.
[19:05] Ralf
    Evolution makes that much of a difference?
[19:08] Yuga
    Monsters are divided into those
    who can evolve and those who can't,
[19:12] Yuga
    and the number of times they evolve varies.
[19:15] Yuga
    When they reach higher evolutions,
    they gain unique traits...
[19:18] Yuga
    But those are all highly individualized.
[19:21] Yuga
    They might concern strength, magic, or speed.
[19:24] Noctis
    That's exactly why I want us to get rid
    of the werewolf here and now!
[19:31] Ralf
    I suppose we've no choice.
[19:33] Ralf
    Cast a barrier, please.
[19:34] Seira
    O-Okay.
[19:41] Ralf
    Commander Noctis
    and the members of Red Hlaada...
[19:44] Ralf
    Swear upon your names that you will
    not repeat what I'm about to tell you.
[19:54] Noctis
    Very well.
[19:55] Noctis
    I, Dylan Noctis, swear upon my name
    that I will not repeat a word of it.
[20:00] Yuga
    I, Yuga Alsto, represent Red Hlaada.
[20:03] Yuga
    We also swear not to repeat
    what we hear here.
[20:06] Ralf
    Thank you.
[20:07] Ralf
    We've discovered there's a high chance
    that the increase in monster attacks
[20:11] Ralf
    in the north is being artificially
    orchestrated by some organization.
[20:17] Ralf
    We haven't figured out why or who's behind it,
[20:20] Ralf
    but we've decided to call this
    mysterious organization "Runohark."
[20:25] Noctis
    So you're saying that the kobolds were
    driven here by this organization?
[20:28] Ralf
    In smaller packs,
    kobolds rarely attack humans.
[20:32] Ralf
    We can probably retreat if we can
    thin their numbers a little.
[20:35] Luck
    But the kobolds have a human
     on their side, don't they?
[20:39] Ralf
    What do you mean?
[20:40] Yuga
    Luck mentioned that he smelled
    a human among the kobolds.
[20:44] Yuga
    Also, I thought I heard...
[20:47] Yuga
    the voice of a little girl.
[20:50] Ralf
    Are you sure it wasn't just
    a female adventurer or a kobold?
[20:55] Yuga
    When you put it like that,
    I'll admit that I don't know.
[20:58] Luck
    My ears were pretty shot
    from all the ruckus, too.
[21:02] Ralf
    Even if the kobolds have
    a human on their side,
[21:04] Ralf
    it doesn't change the fact that we
    need to make a swift decision.
[21:08] Ralf
    People are still fighting
    while we stand here.
[21:13] Noctis
    Hmm...
[21:14] Noctis
    If all that's true,
    the kobolds aren't the only threat.
[21:19] Noctis
    There's a possibility that much more savage
    monsters may beset our town...
[21:24] Noctis
    And if that ever happens,
    we cannot afford to waste manpower.
[21:30] Noctis
    Very well. Begin the retreat!
[21:34] Ralf
    Thank goodness.
[21:40] Luck
    What in the world?
[21:41] Yuga
    Lightning!
[21:50] Yuga
    Where are the kobolds?
[21:53] Luck
    Did the lightning take them away?
[21:55] Yuga
    You can't be serious.
    What's going on with this battle?!
[23:35] Sign
    Next Time
[23:35] Sign
    After the Battle