Heishou Pack - Wei Branch: Don Quixote's Story

Oh, ooh...!

The Backstreets of Hongyuan, where buildings crowd and cave into one another, leaving only the narrowest gaps through which the artificial sky above can be glimpsed.

The child turned her gaze upward, locking her twinkling eyes on the distant firmament.

However, in her vision entered not only the sky, but also a towering castle that had devoured countless stacks of rooms and walls to amass its bulk.

Dost thou see that, O Adept of Hares? The castle yonder, how glorious it is!

Verily, 'tis the semblance of the bourne our lord hath spoken of... Thither we must make our way...!

Then it is a relief there is no need for us to search the perimeters to find it.

The Psychoment user our lord commanded to retrieve must be located inside the castle.

Yet 'tis... 'tis... Aaah...

Achoo! *snuffle* 'tis none other than the Backstreets of Hongyuan.

The castle that standeth before us - 'tis built so broad and high, meant to make a show of its magnificence!

Verily, I misdoubt the champion of justice our lord doth seek would dwell in an abode so sumptuous!

... What does it matter if they are just or not? Our lord has spoken. We but obey.

Our lord also commands that we bear 32 palanquins full of treasure there.

Surely there is someone in that castle whose worth matches the weight of the burden on our backs.

The Heishou might, from time to time, question their leash-holder's orders, but the idea of disobedience is the one thing they would never entertain. This applies to the vast majority of them.

They also tend to be indifferent to their own Packmates, much less inclined to engage in a friendly conversation with other Heishou Packs.

Perhaps that is why these cold-eyed Heishou were so aloof and unresponsive to one another even though they were tasked to travel together.

Hehe... Rocinante, yet again do I place my faith in thee on this adventure!

The child, who seemed used to the attitude of the other Heishou, started chatting up her shoes instead...

Until the Mao Branch Adept, who cleared her throat lightly to draw the child's attention, chose to grace her with an explanation.

Even those who have never walked in justice will be enlightened in the Way of humanity and righteousness under the banner of our lord.

...!

By my troth, ye noble Adepts see farther than the rest of us! Prithee, I have heard tell that all who heed our lord's teachings are tempered into paragons of justice... Is this, in sooth, the tru - aaah... aaah...

Aeee... aaah... *sniff* that sneeze got stuck.

.......

Anyhow... didst thou speak the truth?

Yes. Follow our lord's Way, and justice will be found in due course.

Hmm... I recall that our lord assembled the Heishou and delivered his teachings the other day, albeit in simpler language.

Oh... Thou speakest of that time... when we of the Wei heard naught.

The bitter frost of that day did freeze our ears red, and not a word did we manage to hear...

... I am aware that sheep are vulnerable to cold, but with so many layers of clothing in this weather, don't you feel overheated?

The Backstreets of Hongyuan trap the heat of the great fires that are lit to produce the Boluses, as well as the body warmth of the passersby that walk through the alleys.

Of course, asking a hundred people on the street won't all yield the same answer, as what counts as hot or cold varies depending on the person, after all.

But here where the heat gathers, the child would probably be the only one to say it's freezing cold - like her Packmates who were all cooped up in their quarters.

'Tis cold... 'Tis so, so very cold.

The chill doth seize my bones... Verily, I fear I shall be turned to a frozen statue ere long...

The child continued to shiver as though she were dropped in the middle of a snow field.

And that... is one of the effects of the Wei Bolus, the same trait shared by an enigmatic Outskirts creature that Hongyuan's Pack of Sheep stems from.

The creature in question, you see, can suddenly grow - or rather, burst out - heavy layers of fleece from its skin due to its sensitivity to the cold.

And along with that trait, another of its physical features was woven into the effect of the Wei Bolus: the tough, sturdy horns that the child and her Packmates possess.

... I have come to discover that the Wei's tolerance for cold is far lower than I had expected. I am learning something new every day.

I give thanks for thy fellowship in my misery... Oh, I would not deny a warm cup of tea on a day such as this...

The child, busily surveying the flashy signboards along the Backstreets, paused in her tracks when one of the shops caught her eye.

There had to be patrons coming in despite the hot weather,

because the dumpling joint was adding to the heat with steam rolling from its wide-open doors.

*sniff* Ooh! That's...!

Entranced by the sight of steamers stacked above head height, the child happily skipped across the road...

Uh... Um...

... only to trudge back looking dejected, her hand awkwardly fumbling over her padded clothes.

P-pray, might any soul here purchase for me but five dumplings...? Only five...

Purchase them yourself.

... These clothes bind me so. I am unable to reach my pocket.

Verily, should I cast off but a single layer... I shall perish of the bitter cold forthwith...

.......

I can buy some for you, but I doubt it will help you feel any warmer.

Any heat your meal provides will immediately be extinguished by the effect of the Wei Bolus.

*shiver* Aye, I know... yet my spirits will surely... Achoo!

By the way, whither goest thou, Sir Rooster?

... I'm goin' back to the inn. Call me when the mission starts.

There's no fun where there's no fight.

I don't think all the dumplings the shop has to offer could sate the hunger of us oxlords.

We'll get our own dinner at a kezhan somewhere and return to the inn.

Ehhh...? Cold as winter's breath, every one of you... Our quest beginneth in the dark hours of the night. We shall meet then...!

The ox and the rooster left without an answer.

As soon as the two were out of sight, the child, timid as she was, shamelessly begged the Mao Branch Adept:

... Ahem. Lady Adept... I beseech thee this favor, then...

.......

If... if five be too many, then perchance two...? N-nay, one! Buy me but a single dumpling, and my thanks are thine!

I... am not a cheapskate. Please have as many dumplings as you like.

After some time...

Ooh, the castle! It doth exceed mine expectation!

A-and 'tis yet too cold, forsooth...

P-pray tell, am I alone in feeling this... chill?

The weather is so hot that even a short walk feels suffocating... and then it's suddenly snowing now.

I know our venture doth begin at nightfall... but is it wise to bring down the castle now?

It should be fine. This castle... is not an approved residential area.

It won't be considered a breach of the City's Taboo.

Verily, 'tis a comfort that the roosters shall keep the Sweepers at bay...

Yet such a mighty castle as this... 10 sheep alone cannot hope to cast it down apace.

Not to worry. You don't need to destroy the entire castle. The Mao Branch will guide you to the walls that need breaking.

And, should the need arise, the Chou Branch will assist you with your task.

... Can't deliver the palanquins without a way ahead.

These walls... we're pushing, but they won't budge.

X Corp.'s alloys and P Corp.'s construction technology.

The City's protective technologies have progressed in tandem with its destructive ones.

However... only those in the uppermost echelons of the society, with enormous wealth and influence to match, can enjoy the benefits of these technologies.

... 'Tis fashioned merely of snow and rock... yet it withstandeth our blow like structures shielded by Singularities.

To think that one with no station in any Wing nor companies should own such a castle and bend weathers to their will... How is such a thing possible?

Precisely. That is why our lord has need of them -

Psychoment users.

And that is also why E.G.O and Distortions were able to cause such a sweeping change in the City.

Simply by heeding the call of their hearts... even those without a single coin to their name could gain the strength to protect themselves.

But...

... Will you be able to handle this?

Hmm...

Hmmmm...

Unfortunately, the human will cannot always overcome the heights of technology.

... I think so. Prithee, let us hear our lord's commandment!

Very well... This is the decree of our lord.

"The Heishou of the Wei Branch... are to submit to the leash-holder's command and open the way."

...!

No sooner had the words fallen on the child's ears than horns started to force their way out of her arms with a sickening crack.

Hrrk... Gah...!

The horns then extended, spiraling and digging into the siege weapon in the child's hands, binding it tightly to her arms.

Even as her face twisted in pain, the child's eyes darted restlessly around her...

The same way her Packmates' did.

Our lord's commandment... approacheth.

H-hark...! It draweth nigh! W-we must hasten!

When the leash-holder issues a command, the sheep are gripped by the sense that something is chasing them from behind.

The command must be obeyed. The approaching terror must be eluded.

Only when those two thoughts alone remain to drive their minds can the pack of sheep finally stampede ahead to crush and shatter all that stands in their path.

Forth... Battering Ram Horns(衝破角)!

Battering Ram Horns! Forth!

Shatter...! *slam*

Crush...! *slam*

A tremendous force focused on one spot brought the wall crashing down. With heavy breaths, the child advanced slowly...

While her horns continued to snake under her skin.

The tougher the obstacle, the more their strength surged. Nothing could impede the march of the Wei.

I must hurry onward...

Farther, farther onward.