Fayette |
"Alright then, let's go all the way up, Paddington, sure your fasteners' secured?" |
Paddington |
"Yes! I've got a rope round me! Now you and I are one! I can't slip away from you!" |
Fayette |
"Aren't you tying it a bit too tight? I think we'll finish climbing this crevasse in no time..." |
Paddington |
"I'm better prepared than you think I am. Besides, I can feel you warmth Fayette, if I make it this tight..." |
Volgo |
"I see, that's a good idea..." |
Volgo |
"Conductor, why don't you have someone to carry you on their back like Paddington? My back's vacant if you like..." |
Conductor |
No no no, why would I. I don't see the point of requesting you to carry me on your back, Volgo, even if I get injured. I can climb a crevasse of this size by myself. |
Volgo |
"Y-You're right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to underestimate your strength. It's just that..." |
Volgo |
"...No, never mind." |
Conductor |
I mean, I'm sure Paddington can get up there on her own too. Any member of the SSS should be able to handle this amount of climbing. You all are supposed to be trained in that way before you join. Of course, I'm no exception. |
Conductor |
--Very well, I'll demonstrate how serious I am as the commander of the SSS. Crampons, ice picks, check, well-trained biceps, check! |
Volgo |
"Oh, you've got great muscles. But I don't think you should be exposing your bare skin in this cold. Be careful not to get frostbite." |
I gently put my arm away as it was only flexed for Volgo to see, and lightly tapped the wall with my ice pick to check the ice's rigidity. |
Conductor |
Mhm, feels good. This should be a smooth ascent to the top. I'll grab on to the nearest handhold here and start scaling this crevasse! |
Volgo |
"Tick?" |
Volgo |
"Conductor, what's that switch-like thing you just grabbed...?" |
Conductor |
--I'm sorry. I have no idea. |
Fayette |
"Oi oi, what the Hell did you just do?" |
Tayshet |
"This doesn't feel good..." |
Volgo |
"Conductor tried to climb the wall and he pushed some sort of a switch." |
Fayette |
"Truly a concise and clear explanation." |
Volgo |
"Thank you. I think so myself." |
Fayette |
"Sir Conductor, let me have a look at your hand. Is that the one that looks like a pebble buried in the wall?" |
Conductor |
Yeah. I thought it was just the right thing to hook my finger on, but apparently it wasn't just a stone or a protrusion... |
Fayette |
"Oh... this is a mist stone. It is modified to react to strong magic, not force." |
Volgo |
"Why would such a thing be in a crevasse?" |
Fayette |
"I don't know. But this mist stone isn't formed here naturally. It is clearly a trap created by human hands." |
Fayette |
"The bottom's collapsing! Brace yourselves for the fall!" |
Volgo |
"Conductor, hold on to me!" |
Paddington |
"Hawawa! The ice is collapsing beneath our feet!" |
Fayette |
"Hey, dammit, Paddington, hold still. The ropes are getting loose." |
Paddington |
"I'M~FAAAAAAAALIIIIIN!" |
Paddington |
"...Ow ow ow." |
Paddington |
"Wait.. why doesn't it hurt? I fell from such a high place." |
Fayette |
"I hooked my pick against the wall while we're falling to slow both of us down. You're lucky you were with me." |
Fayette |
"Volgo, Tayshet, you both alright!?" |
Tayshet |
"No problem, Tayshet is fine." |
Volgo |
"Me and Conductor are fine, Tayshet saved us with her rope." |
Paddington |
"Hawawa, to fell so hard without any injuries... you're all superhumans." |
Volgo |
"But I didn't know there was such a cavity at the bottom of Lake Baikal." |
Fayette |
"I think we fell into some kind of glacial pothole. Though, it's too big for that... I can't believe we're inside the lake." |
Volgo |
"Lake Baikal is a glacial lake. Not strange to have some places connected to the glaciers. Then again, I've never heard of such a huge cavity in Sector Seven." |
Tayshet |
"But this is a very dangerous place. If we don't get out somehow, it might get worse..." |
Volgo |
"This is... Phantom Mist." |
Fayette |
"Oi oi, come on, ya've got to be kidding me..." |
Fayette |
"Ah, why if it isn't a very familiar face, eh?" |
Volgo |
"Careful. It's stronger than the one we just beat." |
Tayshet |
"Yeah, it looks the same as the one that's just defeated, but this one looks more dangerous." |
Cool Knight |
"------!!" |