Western Liberators
There were quite a few Voidborns, but the fight didn't last long.
The Western Liberators fought the horde of Voidborns with flawless skill and seamless coordination.
If the Monastir Knights were experienced in fighting monsters, the Western Liberators were clearly experts at fighting Voidborns.
If anything, Asherah and I had to be careful not to get in the Liberators' way after jumping in to help.
As for the silver-haired girl at the very front...
She had cut down countless Voidborns on her own, then walked toward us as calmly as if nothing had happened.
All units.
To your positions.
At the girl's gesture, the troops immediately surrounded us.
Sloppy formation. Undisciplined movements...
And yet you had the nerve to barge into the Western Liberators' battle.
It's clear enough you're not from the West. Where did you come from?
We're...
Wait, we were just passing by when we saw you being attacked by Voidborns. We jumped in to help.
Why are you surrounding us and questioning us?
So you keep saying.
Help? You? Us?
Do the Western Liberators look so pathetic to you that we need outsiders to handle Voidborns?
Your clumsy [help] only got in our way.
The girl they called Ceres leveled her blade at us.
Wait! You've got this all wrong—
All units, subdue them.
Just hear us out!
Lay one finger on him and see what happens!
Such a noble spirit of sacrifice, throwing yourself into harm's way for a comrade.
But the nobler the will, the more striking the moment it crumbles.
Shaking your head, stubbornly refusing, until your breath grows ragged... and you finally give in...
Nngh!!
Wh-what? Where did she come from—
Eek?! What are these tentacles?!
Adjutant [Besta], could you keep those unnecessary comments to yourself around outsiders?
And... you'd all be better off not making any unnecessary moves.
[Kuku] may look docile, but resist, and he'll only coil tighter.
Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know who Kuku is. That's the name of my adorable pet book here.
Since fate brought us together, why don't you give him a hug?
How am I supposed to hug something this slimy...?! It feels absolutely awful!
Oh, you just don't get it. Kuku's incredibly cute if you look close, you know?
Every now and then, people he touches even let out joyful little screams!
That means they hate it, not like it!
I'll ask once more.
You lot. Who are you, really?
The Voyager Savior Party, from NOA...?
Oh, our poor naive Commander. Surely you're not about to fall for a lie like that?
It's obviously a lie. What could NOA's Savior Party possibly want in the West?
You could spend your whole life happily touring NOA's best dessert spots.
That... is certainly true—
N-no! Stop! Don't tempt me with such devilish examples!
Merely holding such a thought in your head softens your resolve!
Above all, baseless speculation is... Ahem. I believe I told you to refrain from that.
But Commander, there is also no evidence to back up their claims.
They're clearly no ordinary fighters, so it would be best not to lower our guard.
Come to think of it, we had some troublesome visitors a few months back. Hunters after some relic supposedly buried beyond Raven Wall.
When we told them they absolutely couldn't go beyond the wall, they even tried digging a tunnel under it.
You've no idea how much trouble we had recovering the bodies later...
...The only people who'd come to a worthless place like this are Westerners making a long-overdue visit home, or people up to no good.
The Captain and I aren't lying! We came here for the trial!
Hm...? If you mean the competition trial, we already gave you our answer.
Voidborn activity has been unusual lately, so we can't easily leave our posts.
You aren't aware of that...? Are you really the Voyager Savior Party?
No, I'm not talking about the competition trial—
Asherah. I'll speak.
I shook my head to stop her from going on.
Since this place hadn't suffered the major damage we expected, talking any further would only deepen the misunderstanding.
Rather than explain the situation now, it'd be better to prove who we are first.
Captain, Captain of the Voyager Savior Party.
Deputy Commander Lydia. Is that true?
Yes, well... I believe the Observer we were corresponding with was named Lisa.
But isn't it strange? You have ways to contact us as well as communication magic, so why come all the way here in person?
Something felt off, though I couldn't quite place it.
We were supposed to support the Western Liberators and fight the Voidborns because the West was in danger.
That was supposed to be the plan for this Void trial.
Why was she talking as if she had no idea we'd be coming to the West?
...Lydia? Am I missing something?
No, Commander.
This is the first I'm hearing of it too.
That can't be...?!
Regrettably, the last contact we received from NOA was a letter concerning the competition trial.
And for the past week, there's been no contact from anyone outside at all.
As things stand, there seems to be no clear evidence proving that you are the Voyager Savior Party.
Don't be ridiculous! Even if you doubt who we are, what gives you the right to corner people like this?
On our way here, Voidborns appeared out of nowhere and attacked the train we were on.
That's how we got separated from the others, and now it's just me and the Captain here!
So at the very least, help us find our companions! Please!
Voidborns struck the train you were on? Where did this happen?
It was on the tracks, farther down this road...
...
...
...Huh? Wh-what's wrong...?
If what you just said is true...
We can't simply let you go.
The Western Liberators formed ranks and surrounded us in an instant.
Our scouts have been keeping constant watch on the tracks. The supplies due today still haven't arrived.
As you said, we can't allow Voidborns to attack the train or destroy the tracks.
Those supplies were loaded on the very train we rode in on!
But... the scout unit reported nothing unusual.
What...?
Hmm. The supplies that should've arrived haven't, and yet you two are claiming you rode in on that very train?
The discrepancies in our stories were unsettling, but on reflection, it didn't seem like a serious problem.
If we calmly talked things through and figured out where the misunderstanding came from—
Huh?
Hey, Captain.
We... set out to help the people in the West, didn't we?
We did.
Our stories didn't quite line up, but it was nothing we couldn't talk through.
That's right.
Then why...
Are we being detained right now?
...
The reason for that...
I don't know either.
What...
What is going on...?!