Leave It to Me!
The New Year's festival in NOA has begun.
To lift Charlotte's spirits, we decided to go enjoy the festivities together.
Though she still hesitated about heading into the city, she was persuaded once again by the phrase, "If you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest."
This is delicious!
Bingsu never gets old!
Om nom nom...
...
...Captain, may I have another bowl?
They're giving out prizes if you knock over the cups with a ball?
All right! Me! I want to try!
Wait, n-no... Ahem!
I, Charlotte, Grand Master of the Knights of the Duchy of Monastir, accept this challenge!
...Captain, that sausage bun from the food stall earlier...
Would it be too much to ask... if we went back for just one more?
We continued enjoying the festival, all the way through the final event, the rocket launch.
I was just about to say it was time to head back when...
F-FIRE!!
Fire...?!
What...? Oh no, over there...!
Looking in the direction Charlotte pointed, I saw flames rising from between the houses.
Fire...! Charlotte...!
When I was just about to tell her to stay back because it was dangerous...
Captain, please help evacuate everyone and get the fire and rescue teams!
I'll check if anyone is still inside the building!
It might be too late if we wait for the rescue team! Please, I need your help!
Before I could stop her, she was already running into the distance.
Please, be safe...!
*Huff* *Huff*
Good, the fire didn't spread too far... Wait, what?
It's a super old building and it's starting to collapse!
*Rumble*
W-what do we do?!
There's still someone in there...!
!!
Are there still people inside?
A mother and her child on the first floor haven't evacuated yet!
I'm going in! Everyone else, stay back!
It's too dangerous! It could come crashing down any second!
Hello?! Is anyone left inside?!
Has anyone not made it out yet?!
*Rumble*
Over here! Please help us!
Hold on! I'm coming!
F-found you... We need to get out now!
I-I know, but...
Waaah! It hurts!
His leg got pinned under the collapsed wall...!
Is there any way to lift this...?
Yes, b-but if I move it the wrong way...
*Rumble*
Oh no! It's going to bring the ceiling down!
*Crash*
Th-the exit collapsed...
Ahh! The ceiling...!
Hrrrgh!!
Nnngh!! I... I managed to hold it up with my body, but...!
This is the end...
Momma!
I-It's okay! I can hold it, really, I'm fine! Hrgh!
Ah... Ahh...
Th-there's no way you can hold it up until the rescue team arrives...
I can hold it! I can!
I'm sturdy, you see? Being sturdy is the one thing I'm good at! Hrgh!!
Haha... With just this much weight, I can easily last another thirty minutes! Ha...! Ha...!
*Sniffle* Momma...! Waaaaah!!
Don't worry! I got you...!
As a knight, I'll make sure to get you out of here!
You... are a knight?
Uh-huh! I... I may not look like one, but...
I'm the Grand Master of the Monastir Knights!
The rescue team will be here soon! So don't give up!
I'll hold out no matter what! We're in this together, all right?
Hngh...
It's okay! Here, look at me. I'm smiling, aren't I?
You'll make it out safe, don't worry!
O-okay...!
I trust you, Miss Knight! I won't cry anymore!
That's the spirit!
...Hehe... Captain...
What you told me back then...
I think... I think I might finally understand a little... Hrrrgh!
...
...
...
...! I think I hear something...
Charlotte! Where are you?!
Captain! Over here! I'm over here!
The rescue team is here! Just hold on a little longer!
The rescue team dug through the wreckage. When they finally brought out the mother and child safely, along with Charlotte, she was on the verge of collapse.
...Hehehe.
Captain, about what you told me earlier...
About why I became the Grand Master...
And what I'm actually good at as one...
I think... I might understand a little now...
If you hadn't told me those words, I don't think I could've held out to the end.
Now... I feel like I have a bit more confidence...
Lying on the stretcher, her face covered in sweat and dust, Charlotte smiled with deep satisfaction...
And then...
She closed her eyes...
Charlotte...? Charlotte, come on! Open your eyes!
CHARLOOOOOTTEEE!!!!
...
Captain... I'm not... dead...
I'm just so tired... I need to sleep now...
Oh... S-sorry.
Guess I'll have to call it a day for me... And Captain...?
See you... at the training grounds tomorrow...
Tomorrow... Yeah. I'll see you at the training grounds.
Before, I assumed she wouldn't make it in the morning and headed there late.
Tomorrow, I'll be there first thing.
