Void Trial
Alright, alright! Great work on this morning's training! Give yourselves a hand!
Here's to getting through the rest of the day without a single mishap... Cheers!
Ugh...
...Cheers.
What's with you two? It's such a nice day. Why are you two so down?
After the competition trial, the Voyager Savior Party has been undergoing intensive extra training in addition to its schedule.
The only one in peak condition is Luna, who regularly skips the extra training.
Omega's been running around the training grounds all morning, so Omega's hungry...
Tsk tsk. You don't get it. I'm just working hard to optimize our party composition, you know?
I mean... In that strategy game Captain used to play, you level mages by focusing on strength, right?
Oracles count as mages, so I'm basically one. That means vitality training would throw my whole build out of whack.
Irrefutable! My efforts have reached their peak!
...I don't even have the energy to argue.
You know. Omega's hungry. Can we eat first?
Omega wants to order everything from here to there!
Food expenses expected to rise sharply due to Omega's appetite. High risk of the party finances falling into the red.
Then... Omega can't have anything yummy?
You can, as long as Luna returns the funds she embezzled this morning.
"Embezzlement" is a bit of a strong word. It was simply a well-intentioned investment to improve our finances, you know?
Use of the term "investment" strongly suggests the funds were lost as gambling stakes.
[Gambling's all about momentum! The bigger the bet, the bigger the payout!]
...or something to that effect.
That's true! You know me so well, Smile!
Asherah was so focused on training that she hadn't spent any of the Journey support funds, so this morning, I may have helped myself to a little of it—
...Ah.
Case closed. The culprit confessed. Q.E.D.
I-I take it back! What I just said was, well... just a figure of speech. A slip of the tongue!
Captain, you believe me, right?
Pay it back by tomorrow.
No way!!
After the uproar in the Duchy of Monastir came to an end, we returned to NOA.
The chaos passed as though it had never happened, and our ordinary days carried on as always.
Though if anything had changed from before...
Sorry. I don't mean your guidance is lacking, Captain.
But when I faced Gille in the Duchy of Monastir... I came to realize something.
That the way I am now, I can't become the Star Savior I've dreamed of.
You're putting in plenty of effort.
No. Even then, the ones who really turned the tide were Charlotte and Tyria.
If I'd been the one standing there... I couldn't have protected the Duchy. Even you, Captain.
So for a while, I want to face my limits on my own.
Having someone beside me would be reassuring, but I'd end up leaning on them again without realizing.
And so, whenever even a little free time came up, Asherah went off to train alone.
I told her rest is important too, but there was no dampening that drive.
...And, maybe it's just my imagination, but...
There was one more person who'd changed, if only a little.
I said it was a well-intentioned investment, didn't I? This time I bet on [a sure thing]. I can't lose!
A sure thing?
That's right! I just so happened to spot it this morning.
You could place your bets on whether...
The Voyager Savior Party will complete the Journey or fail!
...Don't tell me you bet on that.
On us successfully completing the Journey...
I bet it all on us!
You idiot!!
After that [certain incident] in Flora a while back.
Luna's once-pessimistic stance toward the future of the Voyager Savior Party and the Journey had changed a little.
...
If only her everyday habits would change as well...!
As for that [certain incident], I decided to think it over again some other time...
...So Luna has to stand over there and listen as punishment... Right?
Don't worry about it too much. She brought it on herself.
Uuh... I'm sorry...
But! This time I only bet the spare funds, I swear! It's true!
The problem is those [spare funds] include every bit of the sponsorship from the [Morel Ocean Traders]!
Eek...!
...Anyway. What I have to tell you today is important, so please listen carefully.
As I mentioned, I came to see you all today to talk about your upcoming schedule.
You mean what's next on our schedule?
The next stage per the official curriculum is the [Void Trial].
A stage that verifies the capability to engage and eliminate Voidborns in real combat.
Yes. The upcoming trial is called the Void trial, as Smile said.
It's a trial where you test your abilities against Voidborns projected from Dirac's Well, the imaginary space projector beneath the Astro Sanctum.
...Normally, that's how it goes, but...
Is there something different about this trial too?
Before I get into the full explanation...
Have you ever heard of the place called the [Western lands]?
I don't know much about it.
After Aldebaran, the Void Star, was defeated by the Star Savior long ago...
The [Void Core] was formed where its largest fragment crashed down, and now lies buried there.
The Void's influence there is stronger than anywhere else. It's an endless battlefield where Voidborns pour in without a single day's respite.
Due to their life-and-death environment, warriors of the West are renowned for their exceptional combat skills.
People even say that just hearing the name "Western Liberators" is enough to make children stop crying.
The Western Liberators?
As the name suggests, they're an organization formed to reclaim the former western territories corrupted by the Void Core.
Before the Void Core tainted the land, the West was a beautiful place of forests, lakes, and golden fields...
But it's long since become a land no one can live in, full of red soil and Voidborns.
The Western Liberators are NOA's shield, holding the great rampart of Raven Wall as their defensive line and stopping the Voidborns that surge in from beyond it.
They also hope to one day destroy the Void Core and make the West habitable again.
That's what the Western Liberators are fighting for.
...Yes. A little while ago, the Void Core's activity shot straight up to dangerous levels.
Along with it, the number of Voidborns surged, and the situation in the West grew extremely dire.
Because of that, the Western Liberators are said to be giving their all just to hold back the swarming Voidborns.
So for this Void trial...
The [Voyager Savior Party] will be supporting the [Western Liberators].
For the duration of the trial, you'll help the Western Liberators defend Raven Wall.
You'll be taking part in combat against Voidborns, so it won't stray far from the trial's true intent.
Hmm... is that so?
Combat against Voidborns...
Of course, you're there only to provide [support].
It won't be as dangerous as the frontline Liberator troops, but...
If you take it lightly, you may end up regretting it.
The [West] is truly not a place to be underestimated.
Yeah. The situation's turned out a bit different from what I expected, but that doesn't change much.
We'll go to the West and show them how much stronger we've become!
Everyone, let's prepare thoroughly before we set out!
...Confirmed. I'll service [Happy End] more thoroughly than usual.
Yes, I believe all of you are more than capable of passing the trial!
Yeah! Leave it to us!
...Oh, and Captain?
Could we talk for a moment?
Me?
There is something I need to tell you, Captain.
I don't think it's something that needs to be [kept from] the other members, but...
I received word that there's no particular need to inform anyone besides you about this.
So you received a message?
...Yes. It's from Lady Alicia.
Then... ahem!
I'll read it for you. Listen carefully.
I expect you've heard the gist through Lisa.
I'd like nothing more than to meet you in person and explain in detail...
But now does not seem to be the time for such indulgence.
So, allow me to come straight to the point.
The [Voyager Savior Party]'s [trial] will instead involve responding to the disaster in the Western lands.
And... there's one more thing I'd ask of you in addition to supporting the [Western Liberators].
Should the Western Liberators be planning a direct attack on the [Void Core]...
Please intervene and prevent that from happening.
Right...?
Yes... that's how I explained it, too.
Then is there really any need to stop them?
If luck gives us a chance to go after the Void Core...
Supporting the Liberators and destroying the Void Core would be the logical course of action.
It's probably... because she's worried the cost would be too great.
As I explained, the Western Liberators are made up primarily of refugees from the West who lost their homes to the Void Core.
They came together from the very start with one purpose, to destroy the Void Core.
...That's why operations to destroy the Void Core have been carried out time and again.
But every single time...
...They failed.
Their latest operation to destroy the Void Core was a few years ago.
It claimed the life of their commander, and the veteran troops who fought beside her were wiped out. The losses were devastating.
It took a long time for the Western Liberators to recover.
Their current commander is the younger sister of the commander who fell in that operation.
She's also known for her uncompromising stance on reclaiming the Western lands.
Revenge for her sister... is part of it too, then.
If the Voyager Savior Party joins them, they might attempt to destroy the Void Core again.
But that would mean an all-out battle, and casualties would be inevitable.
I understand what you're saying.
So beyond just supporting the Western Liberators, she's asking me to keep the fighting from escalating.
It was a reasonable explanation, but something about it still felt off.
Once we finish the Void trial and head back to NOA...
Will the Western Liberators have to keep fighting against the Voidborns forever after?
It seems something's weighing on you.
Mmm... I can't exactly put it into words, but...
In case this gives you the wrong impression, let me add...
Lady Alicia's message wasn't an order. It was simply a request to keep things from escalating in that direction.
How you handle the situation in the field is entirely at your discretion, Captain.
If the situation calls for a different course of action, she'll leave that decision to you.
She said that she'll respect whatever decision you make, Captain.
...And so will I.
I'm sure you'll make the right call, Captain.
Well, well...
...What's with that face?
What...!
Wh-when did I ever make a disappointed face?!
From the very first time we met, I never once doubted your abilities!
Oh really?
I can't explain it clearly, but I had a feeling there were things going on beneath the surface that I didn't know about.
...Whatever they are, I'll find out once I get to the West.
Well then, I'm off.
Grade 3.
I told you! You don't have to keep saying that! And don't try to slip away! Hey! You! Get back here!