The Truth About the Vanguard
Haah!
Phew...
How was that?
Besta showed remarkable skill during training.
Her spear skill, honed against monsters in the Western Disaster Zone, was on full display. But...
I feel something's off about your energy.
Ah... that must be because of the Void Force.
I know how to handle it a little.
...You want to know how I ended up being able to use the Void Force?
Well...
Chirp!
A white-winged snow sparrow. Pretty rare.
What brings you here?
Chirp! Chirp!
Hehe, here for the nuts, are you?
Come to think of it, it's already lunchtime. Captain, shall we?
Wait, you were about to say something important!
Something... important?
...
Do you mean our next training schedule?
No, about how you came to use the Void Force!
Ah... that.
It's nothing special. I drank Void-tainted water when I was little.
Got sick from it and spent a few days in bed.
That's when I first learned not to put random things in my mouth.
That's more like a cautionary tale than a life-changing moment...!
Anyway, Captain, I'm starving. Let's get going.
We cleaned up the training equipment together.
If you want to see the prosperity of Lavistar, look at NOA.
That's what people say. But I disagree.
The West was once just as prosperous as NOA. Not anymore, though...
Still, I am interested in NOA's cuisine.
What does the food of the continent's most advanced city taste like—hmm?
Let go of me!
Freeze! You're under arrest for theft!
Cuffs?! Hey, isn't this excessive?! It was just one apple!
Now that's something you don't see every day...
...
Besta? You've got a nosebleed again!
I'm fine, Captain. It'll stop soon.
Anyway, let's find somewhere to eat...
Ah!
Mm?!
I messed up. Guess I've still got a long way to go with the violin.
Come here a sec.
W-wait...! Y-you're too close...!
Hehe, so what? We're both girls.
You'll get the hang of it if we play together. Like this...
...!
Are you okay?! That nosebleed's worse than before!
We should really go to the hospital.
I'm all right. Really, Captain.
It's just... I tend to get nosebleeds when I start wanting ●●.
...?
●●...?
Too direct? I'll rephrase.
I tend to get nosebleeds when my imagination gets carried away.
There wasn't much material for that in the West...
But NOA is different. It's a goldmine.
Take that thug and the town guard, for instance.
Let go! No matter what you try, I won't give in!
Everyone says that at first. You're no different.
But can you say the same when you're up against my baton of justice?
Incredible... It's thicker than your forearm...!
...Say what?
Or the two women at the music shop.
Be careful. This instrument needs to be handled with care.
I see. So bare hands are off limits? I suppose we'll need some lubrication.
Well then, dear instrument, won't you tell me what kind you are? A string? Percussion?
Fufu. You'll just have to learn as you play, don't you think? Aah...
Whew...
That was refreshing.
...Huh?
We almost forgot what we came here for.
The restaurant is this way, right, Captain?
...Captain?
Are you all right?
Besta's body she mentioned. Her nosebleed on the first day. That comment about NOA being dangerous...
Once all the puzzle pieces came together, the truth became clear.
And now that I understood who Besta really was, my head started to spin.
...Captain? Are we not getting food?