Sawed-off runt!
Ignoble boor!
What are you doing, you two?
Hmm?
--Um, well, that is... --Um, well, that is...
--She's the one... --This woman...
--I-It's not like that! --It's not like that!
All right. I'll take you on, then.
And to save time, both of you come at me at once.
If either of your blades manages to even scratch me... Let's see...
I will do whatever you two tell me to do for the whole day.
If that's too much for you, okay. Just make up.
Want some more?
You'd better be good and ready
when you turn dragon gear against a person.
Not when you're quarreling.
Now, shake hands and make up.
Go on.
Legions of voices, multitudes of dreams
Step over them all
Tailwinds, blow hard against our backs
"Lord Marksman and Vanadis"
Up in the skies, stars
Down on the ground, the remains of dreams
Grinding footsteps and the soul's chagrin
are the only route there is to glory
Wind, O wind, whip our hearts aflame
Blazing torches raised to skies that herald victory
What could possibly be gained
by stopping our march?
It is only in our surviving
that we can show we are right
Legions of troops, multitudes of convictions,
onto the swirling battlefield
Until the farthest reaches of the skies are calm,
turn your wailing and anger to strength,
and become a silver flash of wind
Hey!
Thanks for coming here.
That was our agreement.
The little ones are thrilled to see you.
Well, let's start right off with the important matters.
Let's talk about the rude jerk who has set foot in this land.
The Flash Princess of the Thunder Swirl, Elizaveta Fomina.
What pretense is she using to march soldiers?
Elen, I want you to listen to me calmly.
It was about halfway through summer.
Elizaveta and I were working together
to put down a band of pirates along the coast.
We were just tying things up, when she made a complaint to me.
She said that my forces had deliberately conducted the pirates
and directed them toward her forces.
Was that the truth?
I looked at the reports, but I couldn't say either way.
My correspondence with her also broke off midway through autumn.
And so, that's when Lady Elizaveta led her soldiers against you?
That's worse than what you might call impatient!
I wish these little ones, would judge me unworthy to be a war maiden,
and leave me. If they did, I wouldn't have had to turn to you.
But these little ones...
It's great that they like you so much, isn't it?
War maidens are chosen by their dragon gear.
And as a result, you've been put to all this trouble.
Don't you worry, Sasha! Now that I'm here, there's no problem!
I'll drive that idiot out of Legnica,
and let you rest your head again!
By the way, I hear you've been up to
some interesting things lately, haven't you?
I learned in a letter from Sofy that you went to Brune.
Yeah. There's this hapless man there, you see.
I couldn't bear to abandon him, so I'm lending him a hand.
It seems that at times, you're the one having that hand lent to you.
You sound like you're not involved,
but you were rescued by him, too, weren't you? Right on your breast.
You really like this fellow that much, do you?
He's a fascinating guy.
If you met and talked to him, you'd like him, too.
I know! I'll bring him here sometime!
I wouldn't even mind letting you borrow him! What fun!
Oh, yeah? Well, I'll have to hold on a little longer
so I can meet this fellow.
A Zhcted army?
I'd heard that one of the minor noblemen in Brune
had allied himself with a Zhcted army. Hmm...
They've committed several thousand soldiers.
Does Zhcted have that important a reason for doing so?
All right!
Send an envoy! If the war maiden is as beautiful as her reputation,
I will offer my support.
Yes, sire!
If she's not much to look at, feel free to come back empty-handed.
First demerit.
Huh?
The first thing you said was "Thank you for saving us."
Jumping to conclusions is wrong.
Depending on who it is, they may demand compensation without delay.
But you made me tea like this, didn't you?
Sometimes, you have to make it for people you don't like, too.
So you can splash it in their face when talks break off.
What are you doing here?
What do you think? Want me?
I'm asking if you want me, and the 4,000 men under me.
I do!
Second demerit.
I understand your situation, but you're being too greedy.
It exposes your weak footing. I don't want to team up with a fool.
Please help me.
I don't have anything of worth I can offer right now.
But, if you will wait until this fighting is over...
Lift up your face.
I wonder which is better--being honest to a fault, or being a fool.
Well, whichever the case, I give you a passing score.
Then you'll help me?
The negotiation is just starting.
First, you're going to show me what it's worth to you.
In the battle at the Tatra Mountains,
you destroyed the citadel's rear gate, right?
The thing about that gate is, it was bored out in a round fashion.
A gate that was made of three plates of iron,
with each plate having oak planks set between them.
Arifal couldn't pull off something like that.
It was your doing, wasn't it?
Has Eleonora told you not to say anything?
Earlier, I bought into your good faith.
I would sure like to buy into it again this time. How about it?
Hmm, it's a bow antithetical to the term "sophisticated," isn't it?
It happens to be a family heirloom.
Please choose your words a bit more carefully.
Why don't you use the power of this bow?
It has a power comparable to a war maiden's.
I still don't understand this bow's power very well.
Sometimes I black out, as well.
When I do use it, it's as a very last option.
Then you'll be using it less and less in this war, huh?
If the supreme commander loses consciousness,
then you won't be fighting an enemy of 40,000,
you'll be overrun by them.
That's how it is.
I'm sorry.
That's okay. I'll wait for another opportunity to see your power.
I'll leave my terms at wages and expenses,
and I'll also consider it all a loan to you.
So, how did it go?
We managed something.
That's good to hear.
Yeah.
But then, who exactly are you, anyway?
Starting with Eleonora Viltaria,
how are you able to obtain their cooperation, one after the next?
Virtue.
Well, while you're being virtuous, can I ask you to see someone else?
Hey.
My men were worried about you. They want you to eat something.
Be careful; it's hot. I'll eat it together with you.
Mm, it's good.
Could I have your soup?
Huh? But I've already taken a mouthful.
It's so warm...
What's your name?
Regin.
Regin, it's nice to meet you. I'm...
Tigrevurmud.
If that's too long for you, "Tigre" is fine.
Tigre...
I feel better, now that you've eaten something. Well, I'll go.
Excuse me!
What is it?
I have a favor to ask.
Though my eyes may be different colors,
the view that they see is unchanged.
Lady War Maiden!
A report from our scouts. There's a force of 3,000 to the south.
Under what banner?
Two of them--
Paired swords on a yellow field, and a silver flash on black.
So you're here, Elen!
The united forces of Legnica and Leitmeritz, led by Elen,
and the forces of Lebus, led by Elizaveta,
confront each other in Boroszlo, the northeast region of Legnica.
I want you to protect Elen.
After all this time, it's not something I need to tell you,
but even so, I wanted to request it of you once again.
The path that Elen has chosen may be a treacherous one.
Those who disagree with her choices
may plot against her and stand in her way.
When that happens, it won't be her dragon gear that protects her.
It will be people.
People...
As someone who was together with Elen,
as a fellow mercenary, even before she became a war maiden,
this is something I can ask of you. I want you to protect Elen.
"With all the meager strength I possess."
Heterochromia iridum Laziris. A person whose eyes are of different colors. In the principality of Lebus, it is thought to be a good omen.
Charge!
Hmph, no time for talk, huh?
Charge!
Lady Eleonora!
Sorry, Lim! Only a war maiden can stop a war maiden!
Take over leading the rest!
Be careful!
I've missed you, Elen!
I don't ever remember giving you permission to call me that!
Ley Admos!
I wouldn't mind if you called me Liza, Elen!
If you resist me, it's only going to hurt more, Elen.
I'm going to throw that right back in your face!
Compared to the fighting in Brune, this is nothing!
Rise up to action, soldiers of Legnica!
Avenge your homeland for being trampled upon!
All I can do right now is to end this fighting sooner.
Verni!
That power...
What happened to all that enthusiasm you had a moment ago?
Don't boast about winning until after you've won!
Mow down, air and all!
Ley Admos!
Fierce claws leveling heaven and earth! Gron Lazriga!
It appears we're evenly matched.
I've been driven back?
It would seem that that's that.
Your head is still on your shoulders.
Don't you have an urgent matter to attend to, Elen?
Duke Thenardier and Duke Ganelon
have long since readied their soldiers to mobilize.
Up to now, they were just keeping each other in check.
But Duke Ganelon, at least, has decided to send out his soldiers.
I don't know who he's sending them out against, though.
Ganelon?! Don't tell me you...
One other thing. Apparently, Muozinel is invading Brune,
on a scale of tens of thousands.
Which one of us is it that hasn't a moment to lose?
You want my head? You're free to keep this up.
It will take more than a little while for my soldiers to fall.
If you can't trust me...
I know, we can exchange a written pledge.
A written pledge?!
We withdraw our soldiers, and again begin negotiations
regarding the matter of subjugating the pirates.
Also, why don't we say a one-year nonaggression pact? Would that do?
Add one more thing.
What would that be?
Apologize to Sasha. I won't even ask you to grovel.
Make a sincere, honest apology.
As you wish.
And so, the Battle of Boroszlo had come to an end.
Both armies withdraw their own ways, and deal with the aftermath.
Owing to the kindness of the Legnican army,
the next morning, Elen and the others depart for Leitmeritz.
Sit tight, Tigre. Don't do anything rash.
One battle.
We will defeat the Muozinellan army in one battle.
Are you sure we can?
It's not about whether or not we can!
We have to.
She's a lot like Elen, huh?
First demerit!
I know you're tired, but what's the meaning of not paying attention
during an important war council?
Sorry.
Shall we go over this again?
Your soldiers won't hold out more than one more battle, right?
It's not that I'm blaming them.
This is reckless to begin with.
Still, when you say one battle, do you have some kind of plan?
Basically, it's the same thing you did against the enemy of 20,000.
Against an enemy of overwhelming numbers,
all you can do is go after their provisions or their commander.
Provisions are out in this case.
We'd be done in before we could knock out the enemy supply lines.
You're saying that it falls to Sir Tigrevurmud's bow, aren't you?
But this time, the enemy commander is someone to be reckoned with.
You know who he is?
Kureys Shahin Balamir.
Also known as "Babaros," he's the brother of the Muozinellan king.
Is that a famous name?
Judging by the way she said it, I'd say so.
For crying out loud, what has Eleonora been teaching you?!
Sorry.
Ten years ago, was it?
The Sachstein army constructed a fleet of 1,000 ships,
and invaded Muozinel.
When they did, they were intercepted by a mere 200 ships,
but it was Kureys that prevailed.
He won?
Overwhelmingly. The Sachstein force trembled before his strength,
and out of respect, called him "Red Beard,"
or "Barbarossa" in the Sachstein language.
In Muozinellan, that became slightly shortened to "Barbaros."
That is the man that we have to beat.
Listen to me closely. This is our strategy to win in one battle.
Well?
Indeed, there's a chance of us winning this way.
But it's a risky plan.
Lost your nerve?
Why are you doing all this for us?
Simple. Because I believe you can back up a loan this great.
I hope you'll satisfy me in your own way of doing things.
I have great expectations.
Following the advance party's intelligence, the Muozinellan army
march straight down the Agnes highway.
The 40,000 troops moved not as one cluster,
but divided into seven forces,
advancing while keeping a set distance between them.
By doing so, they could quickly handle sneak attacks on the road.
It was a formation devised by Red Beard Kureys.
Well now, whether it be Zhcted or Brune,
how are they going to emerge?
They never did appear, huh?
The messenger we dispatched to the Zhcted army has returned.
Ah, I've been waiting for this.
They asked that I deliver their message orally,
so I shall now repeat what they said.
Mm-hmm.
"The reason we have left our homeland and have come here...
is because we were asked by a dignitary of the Kingdom of Brune
to come to their assistance.
Not like your army, which has invaded a foreign land unlawfully.
Huh?
We have no desire to come out and actively contend with you,
but if you interfere with our actions, we will have no choice.
And?
Return down the road on which you have come without incident."
Right, right.
That is all.
In other words,
go back right now, unless you want to get hurt.
Good work on repeating their message. You may go rest now.
Yes, sire.
It is true, we are without just cause.
The war maiden accuses us of unlawfully invading another land,
and she is absolutely correct; there is no excusing it.
However, Brunemen are one thing,
but the Zhcted have no business pointing fingers.
There are two low hills to the west of the road ahead.
The enemy has taken up a position behind the closer of the two.
We've discovered a gathering of 2,000 to the northwest.
They appear to be the slaves the advance party captured.
We cannot run away now, over the pathetic excuse
that were threatened by the war maiden.
Ludmila Lourie, very well. Let's see who it is that gets hurt.
We will win, for sure. We'll win, you'll see.
The snow started falling. It was too late to call morning,
but too early to call midday.
Afterward, the battle known as the Ormea Campaign would begin.
"Episode 9: Thunder Swirl and Luminous Flame"
Far away, you dwell upon
memories burning bright in your heart
as though to drive away
unforeseen dark omens
While bending back the power
flooding to your fingertips
trace the arc that takes aim at the target
Keep going forth unceasingly
All you have to do is face it down
Even if you cannot win, you can undermine
This arrow will not miss
O pulsing wind and bow of black,
strike through even destiny