Paddington uttered words as if possessed by something and flew through the air, but she never went far, just continued to hover around the altar while repeating the same words. |
Finally, Islington's "Sis Tackle" knocked her back to the ground, but she still did not come to her senses. |
Paddington |
"Power has returned to the land of destruction. The railroad wakes up from its sleep and clears the Mist.“ |
Paddington |
"The thorns of the Poison rot the roots of the Giant Tree, blocking out the light. Poison is Steel. Steel is Poison." |
Paddington |
"Ahead is the terminus of St. Iris, where the Thorn Railway continues." |
Queensway |
"The terminus of St. Iris?" |
Conductor |
――The Guardian Room.
Paddington once mentioned something like that back when she was in this state in the St. Iris Giant Tree. |
Putra |
"I remember now. I think it was when she went into the Giant Tree and went up all the way to the top, wasn't it?" |
Yoshino |
"Right after that Ricardo came out, and Yoshino gave back the steel doll arm there." |
Conductor |
The Thorn Railway continues. If we continue on, we will reach the "Guardian Room". |
Conductor |
――That means we're on the right track. |
Paddington |
"Poisonous thorns block the light. The iridescent light pouring from above the clouds cannot reach..." |
Islington |
"She's been unconscious too long. If she stays like this, she may not be able to come back." |
Islington |
"Paddington, can you hear me?" |
Paddington |
"......" |
Islington |
"Not working. She's not responding or saying anything. Queensway, Yoshino, hold her down just in case." |
Canaria |
"Wait. You can't touch the Divine Child in that state." |
Islington |
"You must be... Canaria then." |
Canaria |
"You two, get away from that crazy Divine Child right now. Especially the little Nishikese one. You will be strongly repelled. You will be sent flying." |
Yoshino |
"...... Got it. It's rikai." |
Queensway |
"I don't understand at all. ......" |
Islington |
"You mean the power of the Iridescent God. Does that mean that Paddington is now more like a Giant Tree Guardian?" |
Canaria |
"I know you're playing coy, but it doesn't make sense. I know very little about this world." |
Islington |
"Then how do you know not to touch her?" |
Canaria |
"If a Divine Child who can't use her powers is going crazy, it means that something stronger than a Divine Child has taken over her mind and body. I think that much is obvious if you think about it for a minute." |
Islington |
"Tch, you're as nasty as they say." |
Yoshino |
"Is that so? Compared to the previous Canaria, she's a much nicer person." |
Islington |
"Well, isn't she a new type from another world? I heard that she is the alter ego of that Canaria who was doing whatever she wanted?" |
Canaria |
"The one who was here first is my alter ego. The poor girl who mistook my wavering in the depths of her consciousness for her 'mother'..." |
Canaria |
"Better yet, you should stop that Divine Child from going off the rails first. If you let her go on like this, her self will die and she won't be able to come back." |
Canaria |
"You are also a Divine Child, right? If so, you can call her back. You can use your Divine Child's power and hit her soul to wake her up by force." |
Canaria |
"...... Isn't there such a technique on your side of the world?" |
Islington |
"......" |
Islington |
"So I have to end up using such forbidden techniques... I knew that Farringdon was right. It wasn't just a mere comforting thought that my presence would help." |
Queensway |
"Lady Islington, what did she mean by applying the Divine Child's power to the soul? I have never heard of such a technique..." |
Islington |
"It means exactly what it sounds like. It's a secret technique passed down in the old Divine Child family, like thunderbolting Paddinton's 'insides'." |
Vivienne |
"What in the world would you use such a technique for?" |
Islington |
"Originally, it was used when the Divine Child turned into 'something other than human'. I heard that many Divine Children in the past went crazy when they received divine revelations." |
Islington |
"I'm not really supposed to say anything about this in public. That's why I'd appreciate it if you could all pretend you didn't see what I'm about to do." |
Islington |
"Mr. Conductor you too, okay? I'll do it." |
Conductor |
I understand. I also have knowledge of the technique, but I have never actually tried it because my mother didn't tell me the details. I'll leave this to you, Islington. It would be best for a blood relative to do it. |
Islington |
"I have to do it." |
Islington |
"Paddington... you might have some scary dreams. But don't worry, it will be over soon." |
Paddington |
"......" |
Islington |
"I'll get started..." |
Islington's expression changed. Those around Paddington reflexively stepped back and let Islington take her place. |
Islington |
"I, blessed by the Iridescent God. He who clears the Mists and clouds, and brings light to the sky and earth――" |
Islington |
"I beg for thy power to bathe and shine in the light of the seven colors, and to bring to my people the words given to me by the clouds of old, and to bring harmony to the world." |
Islington |
"――and entrust His soul to me." |
Paddington |
"――――AAH!" |
Queensway |
"Miss Paddington!" |
Islington |
"It's alright. That was Paddington's scream." |
Islington |
"Hang on there, Paddington. Your sister is here for you." |
Islington uttered a prayer and touched Paddington's body, who glowed and then hovered in the air. |
There was no magic power, it was pure light. A white, beautiful, holy light surrounded the area. |
Paddington |
"......" |
Paddington |
"......Hawawa?" |
Vivienne & Putra |
"She's back!" |
Paddington |
"Wha? Sis? Why are you holding me?" |
Islington |
"Hmmhmm, well, because I'm your big sis after all." |
Paddington |
"I see, that makes sense!" |
Canaria |
"Now that's the power of a St. Irish Divine Child... It's more violent than I thought it would be." |
Canaria |
"!" |
Canaria |
"The altar is filled with the light from earlier... In this state, a Divine Child might be able to pour magic into it." |
Islington |
"Mhm. That's Mr. Conductor's job, isn't it?" |
Conductor |
I understand. This is an incomparable response to what we just saw. I'm sure I will inject iron into it. |
The light emanating from Paddington's body directly inhabited the altar, creating a sort of crest around it.
If I pour our magic into it... the Thorn Railway will be revealed. |
Queensway |
"The wall of thorns is..." |
Yakutsk |
"It's gone clean..." |
Vivienne |
"You see that steel tree over there? It's so big." |
Putra |
"That's how close we came. The tracks are straight up there. All we have to do is keep going." |
Canaria |
"It's definitely a straight line. But even with that train, it's not safe to go that fast, right?" |
Canaria |
"Before we get to the steel tree... we have to deal with the hordes of demons." |
Putra |
"Ah, huh~? I wonder where so many of them appeared there." |
Vivienne |
"And they're staring right at us. It's like they're ready to attack us." |
Islington |
"What are you talking about? What are you Train Knights for? Have you ever won a battle without a fight?" |
Queensway |
"No, we haven't." |
Queensway |
"And it's coming our way bit by bit. I was wondering if they would let us off the hook if we retreated." |
Islington |
"We'll take care of it as best we can. Sister Farringdon will give us a hard time if we bring those things back to the Station." |
Islington |
"And if it's possible, I'd like to check the entrance to the steel tree~ maybe." |
Yoshino |
"As long as the enemy zouen don't come, then likely we can make it. If there are this many of them, we can manage with Islington's help." |
Islington |
"Exaaactly! I'll kick the crap out of them and clear a path for us!" |
Islington |
"So, you girls go out there and crush the enemies that seem to be the source of the outbreak and reduce their numbers. How about we just keep moooving forward at a very slow pace?" |
Conductor |
No objections. Islington, you're not slowing down, are you? |
Islington |
"Of course not. If anything, they're getting stronger." |
Islington |
"This might happen one day, I knew it always." |
Conductor |
Then march on; the Special Steel Squad will continue to advance on the Mist Train. But take it easy. We will only check the entrance area of the steel tree.
If we can't do that, we will retreat at full speed and return here. |
Conductor |
Depending on the opponent's movements, we also want to avoid retreating to the Station. We can also consider using the fork we encountered before we got here to escape. In that case... we will rely on Paddington's memory. Can you do that? |
Paddington |
"Of course! I'll take care of everything!" |
Putra |
"Mhm, that's our usual Paddington!" |
Vivienne |
"Our usual Paddington! I feel like I can't trust you at all! |
Yoshino |
"May Yoshino here make a bold suggestion?" |
Islington |
"Of course, if it's little Yoshino's suggestion, welcome welcome~" |
Yoshino |
"Wondering if Canaria could help us out too." |
Islington |
"Huh...?" |
Yoshino |
"She's very tsuyo, and if she and Islington work together, both should be very tsuyo, not sure though." |
Canaria |
"I'm sorry, but I'm going alone. The steel tree is right in front of me, so there's no reason to bother detouring." |
Islington |
"Ah! A Gate! That's not fair! You should take us with you!" |
Canaria |
"You shouldn't. You'll all be wandering between dimensions forever." |
Canaria |
"Besides, you can't leave the Mist Train behind, can you?" |
Islington |
"Grrr..." |
Canaria |
"Islington, you said? That was quite a technique you pulled off earlier. It's quite impressive that you can handle that much power at such a young age." |
Canaria |
"To tell you the truth, I was in a bit of a bind myself, but thanks to you all, I was saved. I'd like to thank you in advance. Thank you." |
Islington |
"......" |
Islington |
"Wait, Canaria." |
Canaria |
"What is it?" |
Islington |
"Thanks about Paddington. That would have been bad if everyone touched her first." |
Canaria |
"Of course it was. I knew it would be bad, that's why I called out to you. I don't want to die yet either." |
Islington |
"Was it that bad?" |
Canaria |
"Yes. Really bad." |
Islington |
"I see. I'll be careful in the future." |
Canaria |
"Okay, bye." |
Islington |
"That woman... I'd hate to make enemies with her." |
Paddington |
"Big sis, get on the train please. Mist Train, all aboard!" |
Islington |
"......" |
Islington |
"Ooh! Sure thing, vice-captain!" |