Metabasis of Ashen Embers · Chapter 2
Request for Assistance
I'm in a very difficult situation.
Reason being...
Luna
Waaaah!
...
Luna
I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right here, you hear me?!
Luna latched onto my leg and was rolling around on the ground right in the middle of a busy street.
Let go of me...!
Luna
Just this once! Just play along and help me, Captain!
Hmm? Please? Pleeease?
Smile
Luna once again achieved a new low in personal dignity.
I applaud Luna's personality for reaching new depths at an astonishing speed.
Luna
Oh, shut up! What, do you expect me to spend the rest of my life working in some coal mine?!
Smile
No one forced you to borrow money from loan sharks and waste it all at a casino.
Asherah
...Especially with the Void Trial just around the corner.
I heard you even took an advance on our travel expenses for the trip west... and gambled all of it away.
Luna
If I'd won, we all could've traveled first class!
You think I only did it for myself?!
Asherah
Captain, enough is enough. This is our chance to finally break Luna of this awful habit.
Let's just send her to the coal mine and make her pay off her debt herself.
Luna
That's so cruel, Asherah! You're really going to let a delicate, adorable party member come back covered in coal dust?!
Asherah
Nope. Not changing my mind. Go away.
Luna
Hnnnngh...!
It was Hubble's idea!
She said if the Captain helped just once, she'd wipe out my debt completely! That's why I'm asking you to help!
If we let an opportunity like this slip away, wouldn't that be a loss for the entire Voyager Savior Party?
*Sigh...*
So... what exactly does she want my help with?
Luna
Well...
I have no idea!
But I do remember her saying this.
We need someone we can trust.
And as far as I know, there's only one person we can trust completely. The Captain.
She said you're the only one who fits the bill!
She also said you wouldn't need to bring anything!
Just show up in person!
Easy side job! Great pay guaranteed! All we need is you!
Nope...!!!
Luna
W-what?! Why?!
Because this couldn't sound any shadier...!!!
Like I'd ever take a job like that!
Hubble
I wasn't trying to eavesdrop...
...But it seems there has been a slight misunderstanding.
Hubble
At this point... I'm beginning to regret asking Ms. Luna to relay the message in the first place...
Luna
Whoa?!
Hubble...?
Asherah
W-what?! The machine can talk?!
Smile
...Whether a machine can develop a personality remains a subject of curiosity for many scholars.
Currently exercising maximum restraint against the urge to take her apart...
Hubble
...I'd appreciate it if you would stop fiddling with my body.
Since you're here in person...
Why don't you explain what's really going on?
Hubble
Please don't misunderstand. I never intended to use Ms. Luna's predicament to pressure you, Captain.
However, it is absolutely true that we desperately need your help.
In order to catch your attention... I simply attached somewhat enticing conditions to my request.
If you find that underhanded, you're welcome to criticize me.
If you put it that way...
...I'll at least hear you out.
Hubble
Very well. This isn't something we should discuss out here. Allow me to show you inside.
Hubble
This is a VIP room free of bugs and surveillance devices. No secret shared here will ever leak outside.
What kind of request requires this much secrecy?
Hubble
We have no choice but to be cautious. This matter...
...Concerns the Executors.
I'm sure you've heard of them. Those who accepted the Void Force and became its servants.
Captain, you've even encountered them before.
...How much do you know?
Hubble
Heh. You seem surprised. I suppose you've underestimated my information network.
Now then, enough preamble. Let's get straight to the point. We would like you...
Cristelle
...To help us track down the Executor Morcerf. That is our request.
Ufufu. My apologies for interrupting you so suddenly, Hubble.
And you are...?
Hubble
My apologies for the late introduction. This is the true client behind this request.
Cristelle
As for myself, I am Cristelle of the Morrel Ocean Traders. And this here is...
Haydee
Haydee.
Cristelle
Haydee, wouldn't it be better to elaborate just a little in situations like this?
Haydee
*Sigh...* Do they really need to know that to get the job done?
I'm the vice president of Morrel Ocean Traders. Happy now?
Hmm... There's something I'd like to ask.
Cristelle
Questions are always welcome. Ask away.
This Executor called Morcerf...
Why are you hunting her?
Thinking back to Gille, the Executors seemed to share the goal of destroying Lavistar.
Tyria may have been an exception, but even she was probably no different before she grew attached to Monastir.
That being the case, it was hard to understand why an ordinary trading company would pursue such a dangerous being.
I'd understand if it were Polaris or Alicia.
Cristelle
Ufufu! Straight to the heart of the matter, I see.
Very well, very well. Partners should never keep secrets from one another if they expect to get anything done.
As for your question... I can answer it with a single word.
Revenge.
Revenge...?
Cristelle
Yes. R. E. V. E. N. G. E. Revenge.
My—
No. Our blood-soaked revenge against the monster who took everything from us.
Haydee
Morcerf's title is the Executor of Deception.
She's a psychopath who takes pleasure in deceiving and manipulating people.
Over countless ages, she's changed her face and identity more times than anyone could count, deceiving people and driving them into despair.
Cristelle
Captain. Our only wish is to hunt her down and kill her.
No... It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we've lived for that purpose alone.
And now... we may finally have found a lead.
Haydee
We simply ran into a small problem along the way, which is why we're asking for your help.
Then why me?
Cristelle
Morcerf's spies could be anywhere. That's how she's remained hidden throughout the ages.
So we need absolute certainty that our ally isn't one of her lackeys.
Haydee
Polaris, along with the First Observer Alicia, who seek to protect Lavistar, can never coexist with the Executors.
And you're the Captain whom Alicia trusts without reservation.
No voucher speaks louder than that.
Then what about the Voyager Savior Party?
They're all companions I trust completely.
Cristelle
I'm afraid I must reject that suggestion.
Why...?
Isn't it better to have more companions?
Cristelle
Captain. I don't think... you realize just how much attention your group attracts.
Think about it. Your Savior Party is extraordinary by any standard.
A mysterious Captain personally chosen by Alicia.
A newly formed Savior Party allowed to join the Journey as an organization rather than as individuals.
And on top of that, you're called the Voyager Savior Party?
Whether you realize it or not, people can't help but keep their eyes on you.
Haydee
If a group like that suddenly travels somewhere together...
*Sigh* You don't seriously think she wouldn't notice, do you? Assuming she isn't an idiot.
That's why we need to keep our numbers to a minimum. Besides, we don't need that many people in the first place.
...Does that make sense now?
So what you're saying is...
...That I'm the only real option, right?
Cristelle
Exactly.
Though please don't misunderstand. We have no intention of forcing you.
If you refuse, it will merely delay our plan for revenge...
But what could we possibly do to someone like you, the Captain of the Journey?
This proposal is simply our way of asking for your answer.
To bring down an Executor lurking in the shadows...
Tyria
That obnoxious former coworker of mine... came to see me not long ago and said...
Lord Aldebaran would return.
I'd been living peacefully in Monastir all this time.
I did try carrying out my so-called duties as an Executor a few times in the past, but things never really worked out.
Just what kind of people are Executors, anyway?
Tyria
...You normally ask one of them that? Are you messing with me?
What? You're serious?
*Sigh...* I don't know why you're so curious, but to put it simply...
They're those who accepted the power and will of the Void Star.
That's probably the simplest way to describe them.
But why are you asking me this all of a sudden?
Don't tell me...
...*Sigh* Just in case, let me give you one piece of friendly advice.
Stay away from them if you can.
You saw it yourself this time. They're full of psychos like Gille. You never know what they'll do.
...Hmm. Though judging by the way you are, I doubt you'll actually listen to me.
What do I mean?
Well... I don't know if it's fate or just the way you're wired...
In the end, I think you're going to get hopelessly tangled up with them anyway.
There. Does that answer your question?
...If they were enemies I'd inevitably have to face, then it seemed better to accept help while it was being offered.
...All right. I'll help you.
Cristelle
Ufufu! Shall I take that as your acceptance of our request?
Splendid. I like you already. Handsome, and refreshingly straightforward.
Had you ever shown your face in Faren's salons, I'm sure you would've stolen the hearts of countless ladies.
Once this request is safely concluded, why not pay Faren a visit?
A man like you could probably gather a harem of beautiful women without much effort.
Ah, and don't worry if you already have someone special.
In Faren's salons, as long as you've got the charm, a single night of romance is perfectly acceptable.
H-huh...?
Haydee
Hey. That's enough pointless chatter, Cristelle.
Can't you see you're making him uncomfortable?
Cristelle
Mm...? Is that so? What a pity.
Haydee
Of course. The Journey Captain isn't some unprincipled libertine like you.
...
Someday, if I ever had the time, I thought it might be nice to visit Faren.
It definitely wasn't because I'd been tempted by the word harem.
Definitely not.
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