Scenario:The Art of Mercy - Chapter 2: Recovery before the Return - Episode 4
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The Art of Mercy - Chapter 2: Recovery before the Return - Episode 4
A celebration is held to commemorate Erdeni's victory at Tatar. In the midst of this, Shura comes to talk to (Captain) and the others and explains her reason for being in Erdeni, as well as her connection to a certain Zilantos general.
The Erdeni army is elated from their newest victory at Tatar.
That night, they decide to hold a celebration at the military base to honor their recent achievements.
Erdeni Soldier 1: This is all thanks to the Silver Strategist! Who woulda thought that we'd be able to recapture Tatar so fast?
Erdeni Soldier 2: I thought they were exaggerating when they said he was a genius who brings in nothing but victories, but I guess it's true!
Erdeni Soldier 3: It's gotta be true. We haven't lost a single battle since he came... Nothing but wins!
Erdeni Soldier 1: As long as we have the Silver Strategist on our side, beating Zilantos is gonna be a piece of cake!
Erdeni Soldier 3: Look who's talking. All we did was lose in the beginning, remember?
Hearing soldiers laughing all around, Vyrn gives a small sigh of satisfaction.
Vyrn: Whaddya know... Specs is all everyone's been talkin' about!
Lyria: Yeah... It feels completely different than when we first arrived.
Altair, however, remains as calm as ever, his expression cool and impassive.
Altair: We've only gotten through the preliminaries. One wrong move here and we will never be able to seize back the city.
Altair: But seeing the soldiers in high spirits upon tasting victory is indeed a wonderful thing.
Vyrn: So next we're finally gonna take back that Zaha place, right?
Altair: The fact that Zilantos was able to stock up on so much food has worked in our favor.
Altair: But in the end, we need to resolve this war as soon as possible.
Altair: Zaha is vital to Zilantos in conquering Erdeni.
Altair: It is unlikely that we will be able to win with clever tactics alone from here on out.
Sensing a fierce battle ahead of them, (Captain) nods.
It is then that Shura comes up to the crew holding a bottle.
Shura: I've been looking for all of you.
Shura: This is from Polaris. It's a bottle of fruit juice she saved for you. And this is from me.
Shura: It's a type of snack made from dried fruit. I'm sure all of you are quite fatigued from battle. Eat this and relax, even if just a little.
Lyria: Wow, thank you so much! I'll have to go and say thank you to Polaris later too!
Seeing (Captain) and the others revel in their small treat puts a faint smile on Shura's lips. But a grim expression soon replaces it.
(Captain) notices Shura brooding and looks over curiously.
Vyrn: Hey, what's with the gloomy face all of a sudden?
Shura: ...
Shura: Next is the recapture of the city of Zaha. It will no doubt prove a crueler battle than what we have faced so far.
Shura: With this in mind... there is something I must tell all of you.
Altair: Is it the reason you are here fighting for Erdeni?
Shura: That, and one other thing. I must warn you of a particular enemy general we may meet in Zaha.
Shura begins to tell Altair and the crew her story.
Shura: Bordering Erdeni is the mercantile nation of Sui. That is where I was born.
Shura: I grew up in a family of four, consisting of my parents, myself, and my younger sister Renfa.
Shura: My family was poor and barely had enough to raise both my sister and myself.
Shura: I went out to look for work at an early age, and was invited to join the Sphiria army.
Shura: Fortunately enough, Renfa was adopted by an affluent family.
Shura: She was soon engaged to a high-ranking official in Sui.
However, the situation took a complete turn when a guest of Renfa's fiance, a certain general from Zilantos, visited Sui.
Shura: The man fell in love with Renfa at first sight and was determined to get his hands on her by any means.
Shura: He killed Renfa's fiance and brought my sister back with him to Zilantos.
Shura: With one of their officials slain, Sui decided to take revenge on Zilantos and launched an attack, causing a war to break out between the two countries.
Shura: I returned to Sui soon after this and joined the Sui army as their strategist in order to rescue my sister.
Shura: However...
One day, in the midst of the war, Renfa appeared on the battlefield.
She was seen commanding the Zilantos troops and ordering an attack on the Sui army.
Shura: As it turns out, Renfa had not been forcefully kidnapped...
Shura: She had betrayed her country and chosen Zilantos of her own free will.
Shura: Furthermore, she had been extracting confidential information from her fiance and passing it to Zilantos all along.
Shura: I'm sure Altair knows this well—once internal information is exposed to the other side, the war is over.
Outraged at this act of betrayal, the people of Sui turned on the traitor's sister, Shura.
After suffering harsh torture at the hands of her own people, Shura managed to escape to Erdeni.
Shura: It was then that Polaris saved me. She persuaded Erdeni to allow me a place to stay, and I have served them ever since.
Lyria: ...
After hearing about Shura's gruesome past, a heavy silence falls over (Captain) and the others.
Shura: The reason I'm fighting is to punish my sister for her crime, and to destroy the country that caused this strife once and for all...
Shura: This way, I can repay Polaris and His Majesty for the kindness they have shown me. That is why I fight.
After listening attentively, Altair finally breaks the silence.
Altair: I see. So that is the full situation... and the reason you are fighting for Erdeni, Shura.
Shura: Quite selfish of me, isn't it? In the end, it is not for the people but for myself that I am fighting.
Altair: Each person has his or her own reason to fight. Whatever the reason, the fact is that you are fighting now. On the battlefield, that is all that matters.
Shura: Huh?
Altair: Regardless of why you are fighting, you are a strategist.
Altair: A strategist must not succumb to emotion. He or she must prioritize the lives of the soldiers and give appropriate instructions.
Altair: If you are aware that your motive for fighting is a selfish one, then you must bear this in mind.
Altair: As strategists, we are responsible for the lives of the soldiers. A strategist's judgment, tactics, and instructions determine the fate of many—whether they live or die.
Shura: ...
Altair pauses and lowers his gaze.
Altair: Time and time again, I have witnessed lives being lost as the result of a strategist's wavering emotions.
Altair: I would hate to see you, someone I once worked with, make the same mistake.
As Altair says this, a faraway look in his eyes, Shura lifts her hand and puts it close to her heart.
Shura: I won't forget your words.
Shura: And... I'm sorry for having kept the truth from all of you up until now.
Shura bows deeply to the crew.
When she raises her head again, a newfound determination is clear in her eyes.
Altair: Now, Shura...
Altair: The Zilantos general in Zaha whom you spoke of earlier...
Shura: He is the very man who triggered Sui's downfall and used his overwhelming power to seize Zaha...
Shura: Luhua... It is him that we will most likely face in the upcoming battle.
Upon hearing the name of their next formidable enemy, (Captain) and the crew brace themselves.
It won't be long until their unavoidable clash with the enemy—and when that time comes, they will be ready for it.