Mentor and Fellows (before battle)

Gah, haah, oh man...

Whew... seriously, the stairwell is the real challenge, isn't it? Not the Kurokumo Clan guys.

Curious... is it not?

Huh? What is?

That they filled the stairwell full of weaklings who clearly don't know what they're doing.

Perhaps they weren't trying to stop us from going upstairs. Perhaps they were afraid of retreating upstairs...

... No, it can't be.

Aeng-du's expression darkened.

Maybe she had an inkling of a bad omen...

Dost thou... worry for thy mentor?

Don Quixote carefully sidled to Aeng-du's side with a sympathetic expression.

... How could I not?

What kind of person was Mr... Uh, Bamboo-hatted Kim?

Aeng-du appeared conflicted, as though she was having trouble organizing her own thoughts. She shook her head and sighed.

He was... a steadfast man.

Protected what needed protecting, killed what needed killing.

He was always one of the Blade Lineage's finest. I daresay that he was one of the most skilled swordsmen within the Lineage.

A man of few words who always sought to take good care of those under his wings.

... If only he hadn't made that decision...

... my fellows would not have met such a terrible fate...

Oh...

Sinclair half-opened his mouth, apparently curious about what that 'decision' might have been,

but he soon realized that this was probably not the time to pry and quietly closed his mouth.

Whichever may be the case, I have no choice but to make haste...

Then... we have no choice but to make haste with her.