Inquisitors 2 (before battle)

Getting back on the bus, Vergilius greets us by casually lifting a hand.

Weren't they a little trickier to deal with than your usual foes?

I keep saying we could be done with 'em a lot faster if you lent a hand~

And as I always answer, there won't be any point to this if I help you.

Those people… They labelled us as heretics. Just what is their judgement based on?

<I think they were targeting me.>

Nagel und Hammer… The Wing that values experience above all else.

Meursault muttered vaguely.

<Experience?>

Humans are made to have experiences and actions appropriate for their worth… That is what they say of it.

They told us to offer up the severed head of our manager.

That means…

…They're back. They didn't forget. Coming back like that, to -

Sinclair was almost having a fit at this point.

Rodya looked at him with pitying eyes, but there was little she could do about it.

Verg-verg, the sound box is being noisy.

…Looks like the advance team has words for us.

Various radio noises were emitted.

*Pzzt Zzzt Zzzt* This is… *Pzzz…*

*Zzzt Pzzt* Saude is… *Pzzz…*

Gimme that.

Effie, this is the bus. How are things over there?

Hellish screams come through the speakers.

"…You shall bear here your every sin and be purified."

Effie?

Was that… Effie's voice? Or something else?

No, actually… Was that even a human voice at all?

Whistles…

Sinclair, what are you talking about?

You heard the whistles! Right at the end… Faintly…

Was there now…?

It's her! That wretch is there! After all this time… To destroy the rest of our town…

<Calm down, Sinclair. What do you mean by whistles, and who is this "wretched" woman?>

She's waiting for me. That was a message calling for me!

Resentful tears were streaming from Sinclair's face as he rambled.

Hang on, there are people like the ones we met on the road up ahead…

We should go back…

<What?>

Can't we… just head back? I don't wanna go - let's just turn around. Just tip the steering wheel and…

Kiddo… What's wrong? What're you so worried you'll walk into?

We shouldn't go. We'll all die - we need to go back.

Emil Sinclair. Don't be absurd…

……

Thud.

Outis was calmly flicking her wrist.

I delivered a light blow to the stomach to knock him unconscious for a short while, nothing more.

We're in agreement for once, it seems. I was this close to stepping in.

I don't need cowards on my battlefield. Can't I throw him out of the bus?

<That… might be a bit too far.>

…If you say so, Manager.

Outis looked down at Sinclair with a displeased face.

Even though he was the timid sort, he's never opposed something so strongly until now.

This unprecedented behavior of his bothered me…

But I couldn't bring myself to ask him why, as he didn't seem to be in any state to tell me.

Soon enough, Sinclair came back to his senses. He stared out the window with vacant eyes.

<…The others are all out fighting.>

I'm… sorry. I'll go join them.

I can't keep dragging others down.