Northwestern Eisengrad, a strange Phantom Mist was observed on the great ice walls of Valentz. The railway continues to Valentz, so we went straight there by Mist Train to check the scaffolding set up on the Wall so that we can climb. We sent Khabarovsk, a veteran soldier. |
--But, Khabarovsk did not return. |
As there was no emergency signal, it is assumed that she was involved in an incident up there. Over time, the operation progressed to phase two, a rescue mission with the main objective of searching and rescuing Khabarovsk. |
Khabarovsk is a professional wall climber. She is said to have climbed 'Walls' all over Eisengrad and won many tough battles. This Valentz was no exception, and she had stayed there to observe the north and inspect the equipment. |
A Phantom Mist broke out above and she was trapped inside a hole from the sides, having escaped into it. That was Yakutsk's view. The holes at the side of Valentz Ice Walls are connected internally. Khabarovsk may have survived inside them, she said. |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Dearest sister." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Bestyakh, how is it up there? I've heard you can climb up there without any problems." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"From what I can observe from here, I don't see any problems, and if anything happened to Instructor Khabarovsk, I should think that Mist should seep out from the side holes in the middle of this wall." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"How secure were the chains and ladders? How far have you been able to confirm this?" |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Up to the fifth scaffold. I've numbered them 1 to 13." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"You've gone quite far up. Thanks for the information, but don't push yourself too hard, okay?" |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"I stopped at the third scaffold as planned, though Tayshet said, 'Can still go beyond'...". |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"Tayshet, did the best. Made sure all the Mist-free areas were safe so that everyone could feel a little safer." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes. Good job Tayshet, but don't proceed too fast when you're with everyone else. And also listen to Conductor and Bestyakh." |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"It's okay. Tayshet, has listened to Bescha earlier. Did the 'confirmation' properly." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Great. You are a good Eisengradian soldier. Keep up the good work." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Dearest sister..." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Bestyakh, you and Tayshet will take the lead. I'll watch your back from the rear, so signal often." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"But wouldn't it be easier for you to command if you were in the lead?" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Your senses are better in snow and ice, I expect you to do as well as you did in Voltarja." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Affirmative, sir. I will serve you well." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Climb steadily, step by step. 'Wall climbing' is different from normal climbing. You can only make intermediate fulcrums on the surface ice. Be careful, if it's aged, it will snap out quickly." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Yes, not as trained, but more than trained." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes. More than trained." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"I'll leave it to you." |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"Yakutsk today, seemed kind of different. She's not squeaking too much." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"That's how focused she is. My dearest sister is already preparing for the worst." |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"Yakutsk, feels to have become kinder since she met Bescha again. She didn't praise Tayshet like that before. Is happy to be told as a fine Eisengradian soldier." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"What are you talking about? You have always been a fine Eisengradian soldier for a long time." |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"To give back to the people in the Northern Army, Tayshet, wants to be more active. Wants to do lots of hard work." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"It is good to work hard. But you should never overdo it. If something happens to you, we will be in trouble." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"A soldier does not work alone. You must do what my dearest sister tells you to do. Do not leave my side during operations." |
![Story Tayshet.png](/images/f/fe/Story_Tayshet.png) Tayshet |
"Acknowledged, Tayshet will not leave Bescha's side, and will be safe with Bescha no matter what." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Tayshet, I am happy to fight together with you like this. But this is an important mission where people's lives are at stake. We must not relax even for a moment." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Think more about protecting your allies than hunting the enemy. This is what your task is all about. This mission is more difficult than defeating a strong enemy. Please go into it with that in mind." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Everyone, are you ready? We are going to climb the Wall of Valentz now." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Our mission objective is to find and rescue Instructor Khabarovsk. But this is not an absolute. If we decide during the ascend that it is impossible, we will immediately turn back. Depending on the situation, we will retreat to the Northern Army base, so be prepared for that." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Yakky-tan, can ask you a question?" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Of course. Ask me anything. The sharper the question, the better it is." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"What if, before we find Khabarovsk, we find an unusual outbreak of Phantom Mist? Assuming the source is nearby and we know for sure it's that one?" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"That's a really astute question." |
![Story Vivienne.png](/images/8/89/Story_Vivienne.png) Vivienne |
"But it's important, because it could be that this Mist is the reason Khabarovsk has not returned." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Yoshino and friends originally came here to investigate the Phantom Mist at the Wall, and the disappearance of Khabarovsk does not mean that the Phantom Mist has disappeared. The objective hasn't changed, merely increased to two." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"If it can be dealt with, we'll deal with it on the spot. But if we're in the middle of climbing a Wall and we're surrounded by Mist, it's difficult to engage in combat properly. We'll flee to the nearest side hole and take out the Mist Monsters there." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Maybe that's how Khabarovsk got stuck outside. Likely the problem is not outside the Wall but inside." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"There have been many investigations into the Valentz Walls, but it's all only about the outside of the wall. Almost nothing is known about the inside." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"That doesn't mean we can just do nothing and withdraw. There is no point in having the SSS if we retreat for fear of the unknown and its dangers." |
![Story Bestyakh.png](/images/f/f0/Story_Bestyakh.png) Bestyakh |
"Dearest sister. We are ready. We will now begin our ascent." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes. I'll leave it to you. Let's keep calm until the end. Everyone present, whatever happens, never get upset." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Even if darkness itself climbs the Wall from the other side..." |