![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) ??? |
"Special Steel Squad, happy to see you. I am Youko. Hexcastress from the Land of Nishiki. I am always happy to see Youko." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"'Always Happy to See Youko'-san, your name sounds like a bright and cheerful person who seems to be allowed to do anything." |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"No, I don't think that's her name." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"What's with the 'Happy to see Youko'? It's creepy that you're always in a happy mood." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Yes, it is. Yoshino doesn't think 'always happy' would be appropriate right after you've ripped so many monsters to a bloody mess." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Ufufufufu. The SSS is special after all. There are many young, cute and funny people here." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Thank you for the compliment. If possible, it would be appreciated if you could just stick to 'cute and funny' in the future. People who are above the average age of this group are a bit out of touch at the moment." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Come to think of it, I don't see that skilled sorceress around. I would have loved to meet her and talk to her in person..." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"I think, her name is Yuuzen, isn't it? Ufufufufu..." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"What with this girl? She's disgusting." |
![Story Vivienne.png](/images/8/89/Story_Vivienne.png) Vivienne |
"She sounds polite, but it amplifies her nasty character." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"Yeah, exactly what it sounds like. This brat, I think I've seen her somewhere..." |
Conductor |
You say that you are Youko. Thank you for getting us out from that predicament. You've saved our lives. |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"No, no, don't worry about it. I never intended to help you in the first place." |
Conductor |
You are honest. But that saves us a lot of unnecessary hassle. I know from what you just said that you are not on our side. |
Conductor |
I have many questions, but I will ask just one first. |
Conductor |
What is the Steel Tree? How did the Giant Tree of St. Iris come to look like that? |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"I don't know the details either. However, I'm almost certain that the 'worst case scenario' you're probably thinking of has happened." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"The fact that a troublesome Steel Seeker was born is good evidence. That one is under a caster. I don't know what she's up to, but her goal is the same as mine... The Steel Tree of St. Iris." |
Conductor |
As I thought, the Poison of the otherworlds has corrupted the Giant Tree... |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"The Giant Tree of St. Iris has no Guardian. I think it would be impossible to purify it after being corrupted by such a strong Poison." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Nothing to worry about anymore." |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"What?" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"There's nothing you can do to purify it. The EN Server of MTG is dead." |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"The EN Server is... dead?" |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"You've got to be kidding me! How can that be! This community is finished if the game dies! I don't know what being put on hold is, but the EN Server is protected by the whales. MTG that doesn't shut down even when it has no updates can't die so quickly!" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Heh, that's why I'm telling you that this community is finished." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"What the..." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"Say that again! I'll make it impossible for you to speak to me ever again!" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Detroit, calm down!" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"She's an important witness. Conductor is questioning her. It's going well so far. Are you going to interrupt him?" |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"......" |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes. That's fine. You are a Knight of the Order of St. Iris. You're a Train Knight of the SSS. You could do it without Fayette." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"... I'm sorry... I'll cool my head." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Detroit, only daughter of Michigan - Heroine of the Forgotten Factories. The powers she has acquired in the cursed places of northern St. Iris had, for better or worse, led her to the source of the Phantom Mist." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"I ain't taking no more provocations. That's already in the Order's archives." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Yes. But it is not mentioned in the usual documents that you murdered your own father or that you took the lives of many people with your own hands." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"...But I did tell that to people and there are actual documents that go into that much detail." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"That scarf of yours. It belongs to your team." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"......" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"You were so close to having your Volunteer Army endorsed by the Order, but the incident happened at an unfortunate time." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"How was the end of your friends that you saw in the sandstorm? You never thought that the source of that thing was your own father, did you? How did it feel, to end the lives of the folks who loved you so much?" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"You disgraced the Volunteer Army and you, yourself were arrested. It's simply amazing that you were not executed yet. Did the oh-so-great people of the Out-Siders defend you?" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"You are so fortunate to be the daughter of the heroine Michigan. A typical criminal would have been shot on sight." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"SHUT THE HELL UP! SPEAK ANY MORE AND I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" |
Conductor |
Calm down Yakutsk, you're doing exactly what this woman wants you to do. |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"I know! But she's pissing me off! I want to beat her up with my own hands right now!" |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"Sei sei sei. Yakky-tan, sei." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"You shouldn't do that. You'll probably be the one who gets hit, and you won't be able to speak anymore within a single blow. Everyone in Nishiki is strong. Remember this." |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"You're very convincing when you say that while restraining Yakutsk completely." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Ufufufu. There are some really interesting people in the SSS. Some were involved in the development of silver ore weapons; some even possess the Dark Blood. Not surprising that they're being targeted by the Steel Tree and the Poisons of the otherworlds." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Above all, there exists the Divine Child who have the forbidden art of the Steel Railway. A human who can pour power into the Mist Core is not good for any world. Even more so while he is unaware that he himself is the life-threatening being." |
Conductor |
You talk as if you know some things outside of this world. You seem to know a lot of details about our past battles. |
Conductor |
Youko, who are you really? Which organisation do you belong to and what is your goal? |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"I am again just Youko, a hexcastress from the land of Nishiki." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"My goal is power. I want to get power so strong that this world can be destroyed." |
Conductor |
Is that power inside the Steel Tree? |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"I can't say for sure. I'm just here to have a look." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"But you hit the 'jackpot'. Look over there. The Steel Tree has begun to tighten its defences against us." |
Following Youko's eyes, In the morning glow, the steel tree can be seen in the distance. |
Conductor |
An eerie shadow emerged around it. Something seemed to be popping out of the ground, forming a wall. |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Those are the roots of the Steel Tree. They must have appeared to block intruders." |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"Who does the Steel Tree recognise as 'intruders'?" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Every single one of us." |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"But we didn't approach the Steel Tree, did we?" |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"There are those who have approached it. The person who was controlling the Steel Seeker earlier may have been in a hurry and failed to do anything." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"I will try to get closer. If you are interested, why don't you come? If you are lucky, you may receive the blessing of the Steel Tree." |
![Story Youko.png](/images/d/d7/Story_Youko.png) Youko |
"Well then, happy to see you." |
Youko said this and then created a Gate in front of her. The gates created by Mary and Yuuzen had a slightly different shape, but could be considered almost identical. |
After leaping into her Gate, Youko disappeared without a trace, and the monsters eliminated by Youko's hexes did not revive or create new Phantom Mist, and dawn was breaking in the hills north of St. Iris. |
---- |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"It's dawn." |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"Conductor, what do you we do? Youko seems to be heading for that bad-looking misty place." |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"Of course we're going." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes, I can see the tracks. We can take the Mist Train straight there now." |
Conductor |
We can go, but it's quite dangerous. One option is to go back and meet up with Mary and Yuuzen, and then the Out-Siders and the Order. |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"But it's now or never, the way is clear." |
![Story Yakutsk.png](/images/b/b6/Story_Yakutsk.png) Yakutsk |
"Yes, it is. If we turn back here, we may never get close to that place again." |
--The Mist has lifted ahead. This is our best chance. |
Conductor |
Can you girls follow me? |
![Story Queensway.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Queensway.png) Queensway |
"Of course!" |
![Story Putra.png](/images/b/bc/Story_Putra.png) Putra |
"That's why we came all this way." |
![Story Yoshino.png](/images/b/bd/Story_Yoshino.png) Yoshino |
"The tracks are straight. It must be for today." |
![Story Vivienne.png](/images/8/89/Story_Vivienne.png) Vivienne |
"If we get that far, I'm sure there's a way to save St. Iris." |
All the Train Knights looked in the same direction, and expressed their resolve to fight the Poison that is corrupting St. Iris and Iris Cloud. |
Conductor |
It's decided. We will chase after Youko on the Mist Train. If the person who controlled the Steel Seeker is there, we will get new information. |
![Story Detroit.png](/images/3/3e/Story_Detroit.png) Detroit |
"Roger. Let's all hurry back to the Mist Train. I'll take the lead. Stay alert and watch your surroundings at all times. If we mess up here, it will all be pointless." |
Conductor |
Via the single track railway, we boarded the Train to approach the Giant Tree of St. Iris, now the Steel Tree. |