1. I'm not picky about a lot of things.
Copy !req
2. Most things, I really just don't care about.
Copy !req
3. But even so, I do have preferences.
Copy !req
4. Even if it's not really important to me,
Copy !req
5. I like what I like, and I don't like what I don't like.
Copy !req
6. I classify those things as insignificant things I like
Copy !req
7. and insignificant things I don't like.
Copy !req
8. One of the insignificant things that I like...
Copy !req
9. That would be hot springs.
Copy !req
10. All of this, I'll risk it now
Copy !req
11. I just stretch out my hand until reaches my ideals
Copy !req
12. The choices that extend before my eyes
Copy !req
13. The gears of good and evil go on
Copy !req
14. Toward just one conclusion
Copy !req
15. Everything is a Choice of chance
Copy !req
16. And a signal to the next step
Copy !req
17. To the edge of possibility
Copy !req
18. I gaze at that destination
Copy !req
19. Only one, I don't need anything else
Copy !req
20. I only want to fix my gaze, to the one
Copy !req
21. I will never yield this belief and determination
Copy !req
22. I'll keep them hidden in my heart
Copy !req
23. Highest, highest, I'm going on
Copy !req
24. Go to the shadows that are truer than truth
Copy !req
25. Highest, highest, I'll carry on
Copy !req
26. Right or wrong, if you desire, maintain your aloofness
Copy !req
27. I guess you're all healed now.
Copy !req
28. Yup, all better.
Copy !req
29. Really?
Copy !req
30. I cut you up pretty badly when I lost my temper.
Copy !req
31. I'm glad you survived.
Copy !req
32. Is that how killing machines give compliments?
Copy !req
33. Did you say something?
Copy !req
34. Nope, not a word.
Copy !req
35. So what brings you to Lindwurm?
Copy !req
36. I'm a special guest for the Goddess's Trial.
Copy !req
37. And you?
Copy !req
38. A friend invited me,
said there was a really fun event going on.
Copy !req
39. I think the event is probably this Goddess's Trial thing,
but what exactly do people do there?
Copy !req
40. You came all the way here and you don't even know?
Copy !req
41. The Goddess's Trial is an annual event
Copy !req
42. held on the one day of the year
when the door to the Sanctuary is opened.
Copy !req
43. It's a fighting ritual.
Copy !req
44. Fighting...
Copy !req
45. Ancient warriors awaken and
come out of the Sanctuary
Copy !req
46. to compete against challengers.
Copy !req
47. So basically you're saying they're fighting ghosts?
Copy !req
48. Is that what Alpha was talking about?
Copy !req
49. If you were hoping to participate, you're too late.
Copy !req
50. You have to apply in advance.
Copy !req
51. The ancient warriors only answer
the call of challengers they deem worthy.
Copy !req
52. Hundreds of hopefuls try their luck every year,
but only about ten actually get to battle.
Copy !req
53. Although, a few years ago,
Copy !req
54. the Wandering Swordsman Venom made waves
by summoning the hero Olivier.
Copy !req
55. Did he beat him?
Copy !req
56. Apparently not.
Copy !req
57. But it's not like I was there to see it, so I don't know.
Copy !req
58. I couldn't even say if the warrior he summoned
was actually the real Olivier.
Copy !req
59. In case you were wondering, I won't be fighting.
Copy !req
60. I have more important things to do.
Copy !req
61. They haven't made this information public yet,
Copy !req
62. but the archbishop at the cathedral here
has been murdered.
Copy !req
63. There always were unsavory rumors
going around about him.
Copy !req
64. I was supposed to be here to audit him...
Copy !req
65. Oh, but I can't say any more to an outsider.
Copy !req
66. If you want to know more,
you'll have to join the Crimson Knights.
Copy !req
67. No, thanks.
Copy !req
68. Join after you graduate.
Copy !req
69. No, thanks.
Copy !req
70. I'll fill out an application for you.
Copy !req
71. Don't!
Copy !req
72. You're stubborn.
Copy !req
73. I had assumed you would ogle me
like you were trying to eat me with your eyes.
Copy !req
74. But I see I was wrong.
Copy !req
75. I make it a point not to look at people much
while at a hot spring.
Copy !req
76. It keeps us all more comfortable while bathing.
Copy !req
77. In that spirit,
Copy !req
78. might I ask you to stop glancing over at my Excalibur?
Copy !req
79. You call that "Excalibur"?
Copy !req
80. I think the word you're looking for is "worm."
Copy !req
81. You mustn't judge a book by its cover.
Copy !req
82. You may come to find out
that what you thought was a worm
Copy !req
83. was merely still contained in its sheath.
Copy !req
84. What do you mean?
Copy !req
85. When a holy sword is removed from its sheath...
Copy !req
86. its sparkling blade is set free.
Copy !req
87. And it sets off on a quest for the Garden of Chaos.
Copy !req
88. Long ago, to drive off of the demon Diablos,
Copy !req
89. the Goddess Beatrix bestowed her powers
upon the hero Olivier.
Copy !req
90. Olivier fought valiantly against the demon,
Copy !req
91. eventually severing his left arm,
which is said to be sealed away in this very Sanctuary.
Copy !req
92. And to this day, the ancient warriors
who fought at Olivier's side in this crusade
Copy !req
93. await you on the other side of the Sanctuary door.
Copy !req
94. You all know what it is that they are hoping for.
Copy !req
95. They seek those who will carry on their just legacy,
Copy !req
96. I don't like it.
They seek those who will carry on their just legacy,
Copy !req
97. those who will wield their swords in the next holy war.
Copy !req
98. Acting Archbishop Jack Nelson...
those who will wield their swords in the next holy war.
Copy !req
99. Under the Divine Teachings of the Goddess Beatrix...
Copy !req
100. Freaking baldy...
Under the Divine Teachings of the Goddess Beatrix...
Copy !req
101. You might want to mourn at least a little!
Under the Divine Teachings of the Goddess Beatrix...
Copy !req
102. You're canceling the audit?
How can you do that?
Copy !req
103. How can I not?
Copy !req
104. The royal family sent you here to investigate
His Grace the Archbishop,
Copy !req
105. but as you can see, he has met with grave misfortune.
Copy !req
106. We in the Church must find the vile fiend
who committed this heinous act
Copy !req
107. and apprehend them without delay.
Copy !req
108. And if we are to ensure that the Goddess's Trial
is carried out successfully,
Copy !req
109. then I have no time to indulge your hobbies-
Copy !req
110. Oh, excuse me.
Copy !req
111. In any case,
Copy !req
112. I ask that you please leave Church matters
to the Church, as you always have.
Copy !req
113. I will personally compose a letter
to His Majesty the King.
Copy !req
114. So you, Princess Alexia,
may just sit back and enjoy the Godess's Trial.
Copy !req
115. I need to get back to the Royal Capital and convince
my father to give his authorization again
Copy !req
116. so the Crimson Knights can do the audit.
Copy !req
117. Do you have any idea how many days
it will take just for the trip?
Copy !req
118. Obviously, all of the important evidence
will be disposed of while I'm gone!
Copy !req
119. I could do the audit anyway,
Copy !req
120. but I don't want to sour relations between
the royal family and the Divine Teachings.
Copy !req
121. And Mr. Baldy is right here in front of me
screaming prime suspect!
Copy !req
122. I just don't like it!
Copy !req
123. Miss Natsume!
Copy !req
124. I love your work!
Copy !req
125. Speaking of things not to like...
Copy !req
126. Thank you so much for your support!
Copy !req
127. Natsume Kafka...
Copy !req
128. She's supposedly a popular new author.
Copy !req
129. But that perfectly polished demeanor...
Copy !req
130. That dignity that could hardly come
from a rookie writer...
Copy !req
131. I'm not buying it.
Copy !req
132. Everybody knows the more somebody
is like that on the outside,
Copy !req
133. the more corrupt they are on the inside.
Copy !req
134. Long live Princess Alexia!
Copy !req
135. Hello, everyone!
Copy !req
136. Let's give the fighters all our support, okay?
Copy !req
137. I don't like it.
Copy !req
138. Alexia Midgar...
Copy !req
139. This woman is not worthy of
"The Chronicles of Lord Shadow: Complete Edition."
Copy !req
140. Taking advantage of her position
as princess and classmate
Copy !req
141. to get close to Lord Shadow, the pest!
Copy !req
142. As if she weren't sadly lacking in talent, beauty,
and love for Lord Shadow.
Copy !req
143. As if she weren't inferior in every way.
Copy !req
144. The role she's taken
Copy !req
145. is vastly better suited to a charming, silver-haired,
blue-eyed elf with a beauty mark on her cheek!
Copy !req
146. Everybody knows that it's exactly women like her
who are the most corrupt on the inside.
Copy !req
147. Of course Lord Shadow would never be attracted
to a woman of such shoddy charact-
Copy !req
148. Pr-Princess Alexia, my foot...
Copy !req
149. Oh my, is something the matter?
Copy !req
150. My foot is...
Copy !req
151. Oh my!
Copy !req
152. Is something the matter?
Copy !req
153. You little...
Copy !req
154. The time has come!
Copy !req
155. O Divine Beatrix, hear our prayer!
Copy !req
156. Allow the warriors gathered here to undergo your trial!
Copy !req
157. And now, let the Goddess's Trial begin!
Copy !req
158. Our first contender is a challenger from
the Oriana Kingdom, Toppe Batterius!
Copy !req
159. Did you know?
Copy !req
160. If an ancient warrior appears,
Copy !req
161. he won't be able to leave that dome of light
until one of them is down for the count.
Copy !req
162. Last year, somebody died.
Copy !req
163. Died?
Copy !req
164. Why would you pay hundreds of thousands of zeni
to potentially get yourself killed?
Copy !req
165. Because!
Copy !req
166. If you manage to beat an ancient warrior,
you get a commemorative medal!
Copy !req
167. With one of those babies,
Copy !req
168. you can go to any knight order
in any nation in the world,
Copy !req
169. and they'll hire you for sure!
Copy !req
170. Wow, that is something to write home about!
Copy !req
171. I see.
Copy !req
172. Thank you for your perfect example of
background character exposition.
Copy !req
173. But never mind that,
Copy !req
174. I don't suppose I'll get to do anything
eminence-in-shadowy during this event.
Copy !req
175. O ancient warrior!
Copy !req
176. Hear my call and answer my summons!
Copy !req
177. Now, from the Midgar Knight Order,
we have Neks Tinline!
Copy !req
178. I mean, it's such a big event,
it'd be a shame to just
Copy !req
179. accept my background character status
and do nothing.
Copy !req
180. I wanna, you know, make a dashing entrance,
Copy !req
181. show off my eminent powers,
Copy !req
182. and have them all go,
"Who is that mysterious man?"
Copy !req
183. Next, from the Laugus Vigilante Corps,
Stihl-Aint Hapnin!
Copy !req
184. If only they would accept walk-in entries...
Copy !req
185. I mean, I could say rules be damned and
jump into the competition anyway,
Copy !req
186. but I would kind of prefer to save
a juicy appearance like that
Copy !req
187. for a more important, more appropriate scene.
Copy !req
188. And is each fighter only allowed
one battle in this tournament?
Copy !req
189. As Eminence in Shadow, what I really want to do
is disguise myself as a weakling nobody
Copy !req
190. and win my way through under the radar.
Copy !req
191. Oh well, guess I'll just accept my role as
background character this time.
Copy !req
192. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Alpha.
Copy !req
193. I hope this will be over soon.
Copy !req
194. After all that, it looks like someone named Annerose
Copy !req
195. is the only one who managed to
summon an ancient warrior.
Copy !req
196. Next! A student from the Midgar Academy
for Dark Knights, Cid Kagenou!
Copy !req
197. Next is a guy named Cid Kagenou?
Copy !req
198. That is such a background character name.
Copy !req
199. Cid Kagenou...
Copy !req
200. Well, well, a student of the Dark Knight academy.
Copy !req
201. He must be quite the skilled fighter.
Copy !req
202. Once we've traversed the thorny path,
our happy future awaits!
Copy !req
203. I can hardly believe it!
Copy !req
204. A student attempting the Goddess's Trial?
What a commendable young person!
Copy !req
205. Yeah! You can bet he's one of the most
popular kids in the whole school!
Copy !req
206. We're not gonna want to miss this!
Copy !req
207. Option One: Resign myself and fight in the Trial.
Copy !req
208. But if a really powerful ancient warrior pops out,
everyone will find out that I have eminent powers.
Copy !req
209. They seem to match everyone's level
pretty accurately, after all.
Copy !req
210. Option Two: Run away.
Copy !req
211. That's a hard pass.
Copy !req
212. They already know that I'm a student
at the Dark Knight academy.
Copy !req
213. If the administrators find out I incurred the wrath
of the Divine Teachings, I could be expelled.
Copy !req
214. What would my sister say?
Copy !req
215. Option Three...
Copy !req
216. Cid Kagenou!
Copy !req
217. Can we take this to mean you withdraw?
Copy !req
218. He isn't coming out.
Copy !req
219. Well, we do have two or three each year
who get cold feet.
Copy !req
220. What is that light?
Copy !req
221. Hmm, we didn't plan for a show.
Copy !req
222. Look!
Copy !req
223. What is that?
Copy !req
224. It can't be...
Copy !req
225. Shadow?
Copy !req
226. Option Three: Confuse the matter.
Copy !req
227. By my calculations, no matter how intense the fighting,
confusion ensues when a bomb goes off!
Copy !req
228. My name is Shadow.
Copy !req
229. He who lurks in the shadows,
and hunts the shadows.
Copy !req
230. Shadow...
Copy !req
231. Why on earth would he...
Copy !req
232. Where's Cid?
Copy !req
233. Shadow...
Copy !req
234. the filthy rat that's been skittering around at our feet.
Copy !req
235. You have overestimated your power,
and you will rue that foolishness.
Copy !req
236. Ancient memories lie slumbering within the Sanctuary.
Copy !req
237. This night, we shall set them free!
Copy !req
238. How? I didn't activate it!
Copy !req
239. An ancient warrior is answering his call.
Copy !req
240. This has turned into a pretty big deal.
Copy !req
241. It can't be! That's impossible!
Copy !req
242. Aurora, the Witch of Calamity...
Copy !req
243. Miss Natsume, who is Aurora?
Copy !req
244. Aurora, the Witch of Calamity...
Copy !req
245. She once rained chaos and destruction
down on our world.
Copy !req
246. I've never heard of her.
Copy !req
247. How do you know about her?
Copy !req
248. It comes from being an author.
Copy !req
249. That being said,
Copy !req
250. through the ages, they have called Aurora
the Witch of Calamity.
Copy !req
251. But as to what chaos she caused or
destruction she wrought,
Copy !req
252. there are no records left that describe it.
Copy !req
253. Dear Archbishop?
Copy !req
254. If you would be so kind, please tell me
more about the Witch of Calamity?
Copy !req
255. Of course, I'd be glad to.
Copy !req
256. Yes, indeed, it is only to be expected that
Your Highnesses wouldn't have heard of her.
Copy !req
257. In fact, I am quite surprised that
Miss Natsume recognizes her.
Copy !req
258. After all, even in the Church,
Copy !req
259. the name Aurora is known only to a very select few.
Copy !req
260. Still, this Shadow person is rather unfortunate.
Copy !req
261. I can hardly believe anyone would summon Aurora.
Copy !req
262. She was known as the most powerful witch
in all of history.
Copy !req
263. A lowly bandit such as him will be
utterly helpless against her.
Copy !req
264. I'm not so sure.
Copy !req
265. If the Goddess's Trial summoned this Aurora woman
as an appropriate opponent for Shadow,
Copy !req
266. that means that Shadow's powers have reached the
same level as one who destroyed the world.
Copy !req
267. I doubt this will be over quickly.
Copy !req
268. She feels the same way I do.
Copy !req
269. A battle is a conversation.
Copy !req
270. The shifting of a sword's point...
Copy !req
271. The movement of one's gaze...
Copy !req
272. The placement of the feet...
Copy !req
273. All of them reflect your opponent's will.
Copy !req
274. We read those cues to give each other better responses,
back and forth, again and again.
Copy !req
275. This is the real essence of battle.
Copy !req
276. Well, it appears that my prediction was right.
Copy !req
277. That's an ancient battle technique!
Copy !req
278. He's more persistent than I expected,
but I think it's clear that he's outmatched.
Copy !req
279. But not a single one of her spears has hit him.
Copy !req
280. Isn't that right, Princess Alexia?
Copy !req
281. Yes, you're right.
Copy !req
282. That woman is strong.
Copy !req
283. No ordinary Dark Knight could
manage against her attacks.
Copy !req
284. But Shadow is still only watching.
Copy !req
285. I am loving this, my violet-eyed opponent.
Copy !req
286. Actually, let me call you Violet,
with my deepest affections.
Copy !req
287. I haven't been able to have a decent
conversation like this in a very long time.
Copy !req
288. Which is why, dear Violet,
Copy !req
289. I'm so happy I get to speak with you.
Copy !req
290. That's also how I know.
Copy !req
291. It's too bad.
Copy !req
292. I wish I could have fought you at full strength.
Copy !req
293. He won.
Copy !req
294. Yes, he did.
Copy !req
295. Impossible!
Copy !req
296. You mean she lost?
Copy !req
297. But it was Aurora who was on the offensive!
Copy !req
298. What?
Copy !req
299. The Sanctuary answered his call.
Copy !req
300. Shadow...
Copy !req
301. So it's true, you're...
Copy !req
302. People say there is no night with no dawn
Copy !req
303. But I would think it's better without a dawn
Copy !req
304. The scars we want to hide
Copy !req
305. All the memories we want to forget
Copy !req
306. The sun shines light on all of them
Copy !req
307. Looking for falling stars
Copy !req
308. I would wander
Copy !req
309. Until the moment I met you
Copy !req
310. Those stars that twinkle in the sky
Copy !req
311. Lead to a path of hope, I'll go to the end of it
Copy !req
312. I can go forward with no more uncertainty
Copy !req
313. I'll chase after the prayers that traverse the dark night
Copy !req
314. Because even if I can't reach you yet
Copy !req
315. I still want to tell you
Copy !req
316. Thank you
Copy !req